Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 17-02-2019

17th February, 2019

CHIEF JUSTICE MISDIRECTED HERSELF

No.105551

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Former CCJ Judge, Professor Duke Pollard

…former CCJ Judge knocks ruling that government 03 must resign immediately PAGE

… says articles 106 (6) and 106 (7) must be read conjunctively

Gov't is your servant

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–– Harmon tells Achawib residents

‘Mighty Believer’ is Calypso king 12 PAGE

The children’s leg of the National Mashramani celebrations ended on a high note with a colourful and spirited march on the streets of Georgetown. This young lady was part of merry band on Saturday (Delano Williams photo) (Delano Williams photo)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 17, 2019

Charrandass’ explanation didn’t add up – Rupertee’ councillor

– says Parliament should be cleansed of duel citizen MPs By Svetlana Marshall RUPERTEE’s councillor, Suresh Andries, rubbished the explanation given by embattled politician Charrandass Persaud that his vote to bring down his own government was a conscience one.

Cultural Centre on Saturday. In justifying his position on the matter, Andries pointed out that days before Persaud used his seat in the National Assembly to bring down his own government, he sang praises to that very government. After his December 21,

Rupertee councillor Suresh Andries addressing the meeting on Saturday “It just does not add up,” Andries told the residents of Rupertee in the presence of Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan during a meeting at the Rupertee

2018 vote, the controversial politician was expelled from the Alliance For Change (AFC) and recalled from the Parliament. He is now being investigated by the police for allegedly engaging in money-laundering and gold smuggling. Additionally, his vote in the National Assembly is being challenged See page 18

CJ misdirected herself 3

SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 17, 2019

… former CCJ judge knocks ruling that government must resign immediately

… insists administration continuance in office constitutional … says article 106 and 106 (7) must be read conjunctively

FORMER Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Professor Duke Pollard, has asserted that President David Granger’s government is in full compliance with the constitution of Guyana and charged that Chief Justice (ag) , Roxane George-Wiltshire misdirected herself in ruling that the Cabinet ought to have resigned immediately after the passage of the no-confidence motion. Attorney General Basil Williams has since applied to the Court of Appeal for an interim stay to halt the decision of the High Court, and to preserve the status quo of the Cabinet. The court will hear the application for a stay on Wednesday. Justice Pollard who was also Director of the CARICOM Legislative Drafting facility for some two years, made the comments in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Saturday. Political leaders and newspaper commentators have been arguing that the government was acting unconstitutionally and that Cabinet ought not to meet and must resign. Some of these commentators have even gone as far as suggesting that the country was heading into its worst constitutional crisis since independence. “Firstly, I wish to make it quite clear that up to this point in time in my respectful submission,

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire the government has acted in full compliance with the constitution of Guyana,” Justice Pollard stated, adding “ the learned chief justice in my respectful opinion has misdirected herself in some important particulars.” Professor Pollard advanced that as concerning the alleged requirement for the government to resign, “this is clearly not consistent with the language of commitment employed by the drafters of the constitution.” He said the relevant provisions of article 106 (6) of the constitution require the government to resign if it is ‘defeated’ by the vote of a majority of all

the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence. However, Justice Pollard said the timeline and procedure to effect such resignation are set out in Article 106 (7), which states: “Notwithstanding its defeat, the government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.” Consequently, Professor Pollard stated, “Articles 106 and 106 (7) must be construed conjunctively and not disjunctively as the learned chief justice did.” Justice Pollard said in this context, the chief justice’s ruling that the Cabinet should have resigned on the night of December 21, 2018 immediately on the passage of the motion of confidence is misdirected. He told this newspaper that “If this is what the draftsman intended he would have said “the government shall be deemed to have resigned on the passage of the confidence motion.” “Clearly, the draftsman did not intend this since his intention was definitively set out in article 106 (7). According to Justice Pollard, in the result, there

is no requirement of automaticity or resignation by the operation of law and further argued that “in the premises it is respectfully submitted that the government’s continuance in office is entirely consistent with the language of commitment employed by the draftsman and the conditions required for demitting office have not yet been satisfied.” STAY OF JUDGEMENT Justice Pollard also weighed in on the chief justice not granting the interim stay of her decision, saying “in the normal course of events, it is expected that the Court of Appeal will grant a stay and conservatory order to properly ventilate the issues in the chief justice’s decision. He stated however that it is “in the nature of a curious curiosity that the learned chief justice was reluctant to grant a stay of her judgement, given that it was taken for granted that the plaintiffs would have appealed her decision right up to the Caribbean Court of Justice if necessary.” VALIDLY PASSED The chief justice had ruled that the no-confidence motion was validly passed with the opposition securing a majority (33) over the government (32).

Former CCJ Judge, Professor Duke Pollard Justice George-Wiltshire had also ruled that with the government being defeated, the Cabinet, including the President, ought to have resigned with immediate effect. She handed down the judgements in the cases– The Attorney General v The Speaker and Leader of the Opposition, and Christopher Ram v The Attorney General and the Opposition Leader. The attorney general has filed appeals in both cases; however, in the interim, he is asking the Appellate Court to issue an order for an interim stay of the effect of the judgements and orders of the chief justice, and a conser-

vatory order preserving the status quo ante of the Cabinet. He wants the President, Cabinet and all ministers of the government to remain in office until the hearing and determination of the appeal in the matter. Subsequent to the ruling, the AG had maintained that the chief justice’s assessments failed to comprehend the difference between a simple majority and an absolute majority; the latter would have required the motion to secure 34 votes to be carried. The argument is based on the sitting members of the National Assembly being 65, an odd number; half of the House would be equal to 32.5 members. Considering there can be no “half of a person”, the legal minds had contended that 33, therefore, represents half of the House, while 34 would then constitute an absolute majority. Williams reminded the media that former CCJ President, Sir Charles Byron, had similarly determined Guyana’s Assembly to have both a simple and absolute majority. The legal affairs minister stated further, that similar rulings on the simple and absolute majority in other jurisdictions have been pronounced upon by current President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders.

Two new schools, smart classrooms commissioned in Lethem MINISTER of Education, Nicolette Henry, on Friday commissioned the Parikwarunau Nursery School as well as the Arapaima Nursery School in Linden, before commissioning a smart classroom at the Lethem Learning Resource Centre at the Tabatinga Annex. Henry told residents of Lethem, at a community meeting, that this reflects some of the improvements of her ministry since this gov-

– curriculum reform benefitting students of Region 9

ernment took office. Taking precedence in Henry’s address was curriculum reform, which is benefiting the students of the Rupununi Region, since improvements in their performances have been noted. She in detail, explained the need for curriculum reform, since the 1976 version has been deemed outdated. “This government has taken education

as a priority and therefore we believe that it is important, that first of all, you have to modernise what you are doing and make it relevant for the today’s world and that is important,” she said. Curriculum reform, she told parents sitting in the audience, will enable their children to matriculate better, to become productive citizens and to reach their full potential.

Similarly the smart classrooms, as the one recently commissioned, coupled with the curriculum reform, will enable the students to function in real time and will enable the children of Region Nine to have similar opportunities as those in the coastal regions. “Fortunately we have begun to see a shift in paradigm and I have noticed that particularly in 2018, we

have had good examination results, coming out of the hinterland regions, I want to say that is a start and I trust that we will work together to see the day when we will have comparative results,” the education minister Posited. Henry also noted that her ministry would have made strides in teachers’ training and have established the first hinterland training facility in

Region Seven, which is definitely a start to great things in the hinterland region. The residents praised Henry for her continuous contribution to education improvement in Guyana, many of which were highlighted in her ministry’s publication, ‘An Educated Nation’, which was widely distributed in Lethem on Friday.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE , February 17, 2019

Pence chastises EU

MUNICH (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence rebuked European powers over Iran and Venezuela on Saturday in a renewed attack on Washington’s traditional allies, rejecting a call by Germany’s chancellor to include Russia in global cooperation efforts. In speeches and in private talks at the Munich Security Conference, Pence and Chancellor Angela Merkel laid out competing visions for how the West should address world crises. “America is stronger than ever before, and America is leading on the world stage once again,” Pence told European and Asian officials in Munich, listing what he described as U.S. foreign policy successes from Afghanistan to North Korea, and urging support from American allies. “America First does not mean America alone,” he said, hailing the results of Donald Trump’s presidency as “remarkable” and “extraordinary”, and calling on the EU to follow Washington in quitting the Iran nuclear deal, and recognising the head of Venezuela’s congress, Juan Guaido, as the country’s president.

Sunday, February 17, 2019

Addressing an audience that included Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, Pence’s speech was the latest attempt by a Trump administration official to put the president’s “America First” agenda into a coherent policy plan. European leaders are troubled by Trump’s rhetoric, which they say is erratic and disruptive, citing his decision to pull out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal as undermining an arms control agreement that prevented Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb. But Pence, who last week accused Britain, Germany and France of undermining U.S. sanctions on Iran, repeated his demand for European powers to withdraw from the deal. “The time has come for our European partners to withdraw from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal,” he said, and later pressed Merkel over the issue in bilateral talks. He also reiterated to her Washington’s opposition to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline under construction between Russia and Germany under the Baltic Sea. “We cannot strengthen the West by becoming dependent on the East,” Pence said.

– rejects Merkel’s call to work with Russia

Merkel, who made a robust defence of Germany’s foreign trade relations and ties with Russia during her speech, said later it was unreasonable to assume that Russia would be an unreliable energy supplier. ‘AMERICA WILL BE BACK’ Speaking before Pence, Merkel questioned whether the U.S. decision to leave the Iran nuclear deal and withdrawal from Syria was the best way to tackle Tehran in the region. During a question-and-answer session, she added that it would be wrong to exclude Russia politically, but Pence said Washington was “holding Russia accountable” for its 2014 seizure of Ukraine, and what the West says are efforts to destabilise it through cyber attacks, disinformation and covert operations. “Geostrategically, Europe can’t have an interest in cutting off all relations with Russia,” Merkel said. Pence, who used his trip to Europe to push Trump’s policy of favouring sovereign states as opposed to alliances and blocs, took aim at

the EU over Venezuela’s political crisis. “Today, we call on the European Union to step forward for freedom and recognise Juan Guaido as the only legitimate president of Venezuela,” he said, calling President Nicolas Maduro a dictator who must step down. In his roving address, Pence also stepped up U.S. pressure on Chinese telecoms gear companies such as Huawei Technologies Co, urging allies to avoid the firms, and saying Chinese law requires them to give Beijing access to networks and data. China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi rejected Pence’s comments. “Chinese law doesn’t require companies to install back doors to collect intelligence,” Yang told the conference. Yang, one of the architects of Chinese foreign policy, echoed Merkel’s vision, saying the world should “pull together” to address global challenges, while former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden got a standing ovation for a speech in which he said that after Trump, close traditional U.S.-EU would resume. “America will be back,” he said.

03:30hrs. - 05:00hrs./14:30hrs. - 16:00hrs.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 17, 2019

More US aid for Venezuela touches down amid distribution uncertainty CUCUTA, Colombia (Reuters) - A U.S. military transport plane carrying humanitarian aid meant for Venezuelans landed in the Colombian border city of Cucuta on Saturday, where food and medicine is being stored amidst uncertainty over how and where aid will be distributed. The shipment will be the second arrival of large-scale U.S. and international aid for Venezuelans, many of whom have scant access to food and medicine, since opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president in defiance of socialist President Nicolas Maduro. Guaido, who invoked constitutional provisions to

declare himself the country’s leader last month, arguing Maduro’s 2018 re-election was a sham, has said aid will enter Venezuela on Feb23. But it remains unclear whether Maduro, who has called the aid a U.S.-orchestrated show and denies any crisis, will allow the supplies to cross into Venezuela. Speaking in Caracas to supporters who had volunteered to help with the aid effort, Guaido said he would announce further details on Monday about how he planned to get aid into the country from Colombia, Brazil and Curacao despite Maduro’s opposition. “We will organize ourselves into brigades,” Guaido said, call-

Prince Charles, Camilla to visit St. Lucia CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – Britain’s Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, are due visit St. Lucia as part of a visit to the Caribbean next month, according to a government statement issued here Friday. It said that the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will arrive here on March 17, and will be guests of honour at an event to mark the island’s 40th anniversary of political independence from Britain. St. Lucia gained its independence on February 22, 1979. Governor General, Sir Neville Cenac and Prime Minister Allen Chastanet will

welcome the royal visitors. “This is the second time the Prince of Wales will be celebrating St. Lucia’s Independence with nationals. The Prince of Wales visited in 1989 to commemorate the 10thanniversary,” the statement said, adding that the Duchess of Cornwall is also marking her second visit to the island, having first visited in March 2008. The visit here forms part of a March 17-29 Caribbean tour that will take the royal visitors to Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts-Nevis and Grenada, Cuba and the Cayman Islands. The visit to Cuba will be the first for members of the British Royal family.

ing on the military to allow the aid through. “The message we have to get through to the armed forces is that they have one week to do the right thing. Will you be on the side of your family and your people, or of the usurper who keeps lying?” Millions of Venezuelans will be travelling to the border to safeguard arriving aid, Lester Toledo, a Guaido representative, said at a press conference in Cucuta. “We are seven days from this being a reality; we are going to have the accompaniment of people, of hundreds of

thousands of millions of Venezuelans that our president Juan Guaido has called upon, who we have asked to go to the border dressed in white as a sign of peace,” Toledo said. A U.S. official told Reuters the aid delivered on Saturday amounted to more than 200 tonnes, but a U.S. embassy representative said they had no measurements of the shipment. Toledo said three planes would eventually arrive. Most western countries and many of Venezuela’s neighbours have recognised Guaido as the legitimate head

Four die in early morning crash in T&T PORT OF SPAIN, CMC – Four people, including a fireman, died after the vehicle in which they were travelling crashed into a lamp post in Central Trinidad early Saturday morning, police said. They have identified two of those killed as fireman Kerwin Duncan and 28-year-old disc jockey, Dwayne Dick. Police said the four men were returning from a party when the driver lost control and crashed into a utility pole in Longdenville, near Chaguanas. Two of them were

thrown out of the vehicle and died instantly, while the other two men, who have not yet been identified, died at the Chaguanas Health Facility. Relatives said that Dick had played at a party in Caparo and his three friends also attended the event to support him. “I am still in shock. I still can’t believe he is gone. This is so hard for me. I am just out of it right now,” Dick’s girlfriend, Shenell Sealey, told reporters, adding “I just wish this was a dream and I would wake up and see him”.

of state, while Maduro retains the backing of Russia and China, and control of Venezuelan State institutions including the military. The supplies, including hygiene kits and special products meant for children suffering malnutrition, are arriving from an air force base in Florida aboard C-17 military cargo planes, the U.S. embassy said in a statement. Additional aid flights will take place over the coming days, the statement added, and medical supplies and pharmaceuticals meant for use in hospitals will arrive early next week. The first aid shipment, which included basic foodstuffs and medical supplies,

arrived Feb. 8, and is being stored in a Cucuta warehouse. Two bridges outside Cucuta which mark the border between the two countries were open as normal on Saturday. A road bridge outside Tienditas, Venezuela, which has never been used, remains blocked on the Venezuelan side by shipping containers. Medical patients were expected hold a protest in Tienditas, calling for aid to be allowed in, while Venezuela government supporters nearby were planning a “hug-athon” in protest of “American interventionism”. British billionaire Richard Branson is organising a Feb. 22 concert to raise funds for more aid

J‘ca police warn about illegal use of social media KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has warned the public about posting on social media “images that are extremely distressing to law abiding persons” indicating that it had been flooded with complaints that people’s images, along with incorrect information, are being circulated on social media networks. The JCF said that in one recent case, the image of a member of the JCF was posted on the social media platform and wrongfully labelled as a criminal suspect.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE , February 17, 2019

The Geneva Agreement at 53

TODAY marks the 53rd anniversary of the signing of the Geneva Agreement. As with any anniversary, this one must become a moment for sober reflection. By any stretch of the imagination, Guyana -- a small state in the international system – has, in an exemplary manner, discharged its obligations under this agreement. Guyana has not violated the various clauses of this agreement, nor has it engaged in acts of aggression against its western neighbour, even in the face of the most glaring provocation. And this could only be because Guyana, from the advent of independence, has declared that it seeks peaceful and productive relations with all states, and has refused to engage in policies which are likely to undermine the peaceful development and security of the Region in which it finds itself. This anniversary finds us having exhausted the Good Offices process, pressing on to ensure that our morally and legally sound case having been submitted to the International Court of Justice

(ICJ) for juridical settlement is upheld. Both President David Granger and Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge had recognised that the Good Offices process allowed Venezuela to prolong the border controversy, while engaging in frequent acts of aggression-- the most recent being late last year. The President, in particular, in addressing the issue on the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Agreement, was quoted in the press as saying that he is “fed up with Venezuelan aggression and harassment.” This mindset is understandable, considering that Venezuela’s aggression has been ongoing from the time of our independence. More recently, President Granger said the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) must remain ready to deter aggression, defend national sovereignty and ensure the development of Guyana as a safe, secure and strong state. The President was at the time addressing officers of the Guyana Defence Force, during the opening ceremony of the GDF’s Annual Officers’ Conference held at the

Baridi Benab, State House, back in January this year. President Granger recalled the force’s swift action to suppress the Rupununi Rebellion that erupted 50 years ago on January 2, 1969 and reminded that Guyana has always been victim to claims on its territory despite international recognition of its land mass, territorial borders, territorial sea and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). “Guyana’s territorial integrity was violated again on December 22, 2018, just last month. A Venezuelan Navy corvette- the Karina PC-14 – made a hostile incursion into Guyana’s EEZ. The incursion took place at approximately 144 kilometres from the boundary that separates Venezuela from Guyana,” the Commander in Chief said. He also assured that the government through its enlightened and progressive defence policy is strengthening the Defence Force to help it to secure our borders and safeguard Guyana. “The nation can be assured of the government’s resolve to protect the people and preserve

the national patrimony. It commits to continuing to take measures to shield the people from the perils of transnational crime. The Defence Force will continue to work with frontier villages to protect our territory and natural resources and repel threats to human safety and national security,” he said. Also, Venezuela’s propaganda has been matched by information booklets and other materials and government has sought to get the country to unite, not only around the issue of our national sovereignty, but also as a direct policy to help heal the wounds of political and racial tensions that have blighted this nation in the past. We urge again that we do so as a nation that is fully informed on this issue and its implications for our future development. Additionally, an extended period of education, modelled on what had transpired in the 70s and 80s, might be in order. And we must not fail to prepare for the consequences of decisions taken in Caracas, especially as Venezuela lurches from one crisis to the next. One

lesson this nation has learnt over the years is that a united, informed and prepared nation is more than a match for an aggressive Venezuela. A diplomacy founded on these factors is most likely to be successful. Even though Venezuela has claimed to be an adherent to the philosophy of the great Simon Bolivar, and has signed the Geneva Agreement, its various administrations have engaged in naked aggression against Guyana, in violation of international norms and peaceful practices. It has seized Guyana’s territory even while the Mixed Commission established by the Geneva Agreement was meeting. Caracas has been the architect of several incidents of provocation on our border. And it has engaged in the exercise of economic aggression against a small state with the express purpose of frustrating and stymieing its development. We will recall not so long ago an act which is unprecedented in this Region, the President of Venezuela issued a decree claiming sovereignty over

Guyana’s territorial waters. It is ironic that these acts of aggression are based on a perverse interpretation of the Geneva Agreement, which says that it is not an instrument for proving the Venezuelan contention of nullity of the 1899 Arbitration Tribunal Award; yet Venezuela has embraced the opportunity to seize Guyana’s land and territorial waters. Ultimately, the Guyana Government and the Guyanese people have no quarrel with the people of Venezuela. This is the 21st century, in which there is no place for 19th century notions of grabbing the land and territorial waters of a small neighbouring country. Georgetown and Caracas have, over the years, cooperated successfully in many important areas, among them medicine and trade. If Caracas can find it possible to abandon outmoded notions of power, an era of cooperation can be re-opened between our two countries. The Geneva Agreement makes provision for such a peaceful and enlightened development.

The hypocrisy of Freddie Kissoon Dear Editor IT requires patience Freddie, but I am overwhelmingly disappointed of this ‘mercenary’ other self-emergence. I understand that to the many that desire the serfhood status of that particular constituency of the APNU+AFC to remain outside of any aspect of an economic re-emergence, due from that tremendous historical contribution paid by a lineage past. To that effect, the fulfilment of that historical disenfranchisement now rests with the crusade of legitimising and hero-propping of Charrandass Persaud’s act in parliament. In your article on Wednesday, February 06, 2019 Kaieteur News, you mentioned my

reference to Charrandass Persaud’s tainted no- confidence motion as an act of bribery. Yes, I did and you are not a foolish person; whether the obvious political polarisation or reasons driven by business dictate that the media keep this issue alive is irrelevant. My conclusion is based on the following: 1) Charrandass is a habitual gambler and loser (Chronicle January 4, 2019); he is a gambling addict. I have had some exposure to addictive persons, it is not a casual condition. 2) Charrandass had problems that had placed him in conflict with the law. According to Ryan Crawford, he (Charrandass) was supposed to have been charged that said day, Sunday, Jan 13, 2019 Kaieteur News 3) He admits to being in arrangement

to handle US1M in gold to secret buyers. Now that raises eyebrows, we all know that gold is collateral for all types of nether-world transactions. Then the rules of parliament that were broken, due to his deceptions according to his own party, but most of all the obvious above nothing , below nothing, expected of anything who were in place to escort their pawn. 4- The police force of this country did tell the nation that they were investigating Charrandass Persaud for bribery and gold smuggling (Chronicle Jan. 19, 2019). How can any thinking citizen paying attention seek to justify the Charrandass fiasco as a legal act? The circumstantial evidence points to a man in a psychological and economic

quagmire, vulnerable and available for a way out, the entourage defines the nature of that event. I don’t have ready access to having my views published as some do, but like many in the public arena, we know the facades, the posture and knowledge pretence that our most decadent social citizens hide behind. I am not a political writer, that category of scribes have always had the repugnance of ‘mercenary’ attached to their names. I am aware enough to know that the APNU+AFC represents the majority of Guyanese whom they owe the responsibility to address the ugly reality of this situation. TURN TO PAGE 7

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 17, 2019

What impending constitutional crisis? Dear Editor: A VERY small band of bellicose individuals are shouting everyday that the “worst” constitutional crisis in our history is impending. It reminds us of the Henny Penny story that made famous the line, “The sky is falling”, which has now become a metaphor signalling danger is imminent. For the man in the street, however, tomorrow is just another day. As a matter of fact, every generation thinks the challenges occuring in its epoch are the worst in history, so at first glance it is easy to accept such rhetoric of an impending constitutional crisis without closer scrutiny. But history would show that other events of a similar nature under the People’s Progressive Party / Civic (PPP/C), instead, did push us to the worst constitutional crisis in our nation’s history. Yet with true Guyanese tenacity and resolve we have overcome and are the stronger for it. The Guyanese people are indeed a match for anything. THE FIRST major constitutional crisis in this nation surrounded the 1997 elections which culminated with the end of the Herdmanston Accord in 2001 and the second, the subsequent voiding of those elections on the basis that they were unconstitutional. As the Cummingsburg Accord drew to an end on January 17, 2001, the CAR-

ICOM-brokered Accord, which was expected to ensure governance between Janurary 1998 and Janurary 2001, should have produced an election immediately upon its expiry. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. As one commentator of the period noted in one of the daily newspapers, “After the elections of 1997 and as a result of the non-declaration of official results, the arbitrary behaviour of Mr. Doodnauth Singh, the secret and illegal swearing in of Mrs. Jagan as President, and the resultant acts of protestations, there was a void of constitutional rule in Guyana. It therefore means that at January 16, 1998, there was no legitimate government. The constitution, the people’s contract for governance, the fundamental law of the land, having been violated and observed in the breach, caused the people to take extra-constitutional measures to reinstate constitutional rule and respect for the supremacy of the constitution. The reinstatement finally came about through the Herdmanston Accord. The Herdmanston Accord was signed by the two parties which manifestly represented the vast majority of the people. The Accord reinstated the constitution with one proviso: that new elections must be held by January 17, 2001.” THIS NEVER HAPPENED. The PPP/C government chose instead to put “voluntary limits”

FROM PAGE 6

The hypocrisy of... The reality that is veiled from media debates, but not from the suspicions of perceived ordinary folk, the harbingers of lawlessness, greed, murder and bigotry who now call to heed the constitution that they trampled on mere years ago. It is impossible Freddie, to make the mundane majestic. Charrandass is not the material of heroes, as his entourage was not the references of solid citizens. Next, you mentioned my connection to the Ethnic Relations Commission; you know I was elected to that commission by the Afro-Guyanese constituency groups, and I must remind you that many of the creatures identified and publicly representing the Charrandass fiasco are all known to have always stood on the opposing side of the interests of that constituency, by their actions or economic inactions, political pursuits and cultural interferences. You also know that I have had a career spanning [1982-2019]37 years in the media, as writer and illustrator, both

fiction and non-fiction, columnist and letter writer and cartoonist. One of the more serious aspects of the ERC is also to promote discourse on the known but shied-away-from ‘hidden agendas,’ so unless you can point to my promoting racism, hatred and public hysteria separate the ERC from my career as media activist and commentator. I know where my responsibilities rest. I am also a cultural activist; you grew up in a creolised ward of Georgetown, so you know the term ‘Fat-Fowl.’ This term applies to bribing women for affection; also, you of some female relative offering up themselves to obtain a job or some material gain, ‘Fat Fowl’ is a term of contempt of reproach and insult, never a compliment, it also applies to the Charrandass incident, the origins of that air of contempt I will explain in a following letter. Regards Barry Braithwaite

on its governance. Elections were held in March 2001. An editorial of the period states, “There was of course the ground-breaking meeting at the Office of the President between President Jagdeo, Mr. Hoyte and the leaders of the other two parliamentary parties, but it failed ultimately in providing the basis for a governance agreement.” THE SECOND major constitutional crisis, the mother of all local constitutional crises, as said before also of 2001, was the decision of Justice Claudette Singh in the Elections Petition Case of 1997. Justice Singh vitiated those elections, stating among other things that the Voter ID Card legislation at that time was unconstitutional. In spite of this, the PPP/C declared its government to be legal and vowed to remain in office, even though then President Bharrat Jagdeo himself described the period between Janurary 15, 2001-- when Justice Singh announced her decision -and when she announced her final order, Janurary 26, 2001, as “difficult and disturbing for our country and unprecedented in its history.” One major newspaper frontpage headline, read, “Business as usual -- Jagdeo” It is interesting to note as well, that Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran representing co-respondent and former President Janet Jagan, in contrast to previous

arguments that the judge having voided the elections on a constitutional point did not have the power to make consequential orders, he presented a proposal for the court to rule that: “(1) All acts and things done by the National Assembly, the court and all state agencies, bodies and institutions from December 15, 1997 are valid, lawful and binding. (2) The National Assembly, the government, and all state agencies, bodies and institutions shall remain in existence and shall continue functioning until the president is sworn in and are valid, lawful and binding. (3) And all acts and things done by the above until the president is sworn in are valid, lawful and binding. At the heart of the argument is the need to create a remedy which will avoid that which can lead to anarchy...and plunging our country into constitutional crisis.” But what I have found most insightful is that Chief Justice Claudette Singh stressed repeatedly at the beginning of delivering her judgement which voided the 1997 General and Regional Elections for unconstitutionality, “I have no jurisdiction to order the President or the government to demit office.” Regards Sherod Avery Duncan Citizen

Government should encourage farmers to grow hemp Dear Editor INDUSTRIAL hemp has tremendous potential and Guyana desperately needs another agricultural commodity. The market for industrial hemp globally includes over 25,000 products. Guyanese farmers and manufacturers urgently call for the removal of the barriers to facilitate the commercial production of industrial hemp in the country. Industrial hemp is derived from the same cannabis family as marijuana, but contains insignificant levels of THC, the chemical that gets users high. Industrial hemp can be used to produce things ranging from clothing, food, building materials, cosmetics and body care products, furniture, textile, automobiles and paints to name

a few. The industrial hemp plant grows quickly, is easy to cultivate and can be used as a staple in any industry; in addition, this plant is a renewable resource that ecologically benefits the environment in which it is planted. Mr. Editor, the Guyanese people will be thrilled with this revolutionary breakthrough in a time of economic and environmental disaster and when legalised will be lauded as timely solution for a number of Guyana’s pressing problems. This plant exists and human beings have been using it for thousands of years. In fact research shows that early human civilisation was built on this crop. It is illegal to grow industrial hemp in Guyana, because of hemp’s unfortunate cousin marijuana; but despite the fact

that the two plants are biologically very different and that smoking hemp will not get you high. The country’s laws make no distinction between the two plants, although Guyana signed unto and appeal for the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotics in 1961, renaming it as a narcotic. Industrial hemp is a crop with seemly unlimited potential and it’s time for President Granger and his APNU+AFC administration to give the No-objection for its production in the country. Considering the benefits of growing industrial hemp, not only should it be legalised now, but the government should encourage farmers to grow it. Regards Maressa Prahalad

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE , February 17, 2019

Creditinfo spreads awareness of financial ‘Ol’ Higue’ CREDITINFO Guyana Inc. is continuously seeking creative ways to educate locals about responsible borrowing for consumers and businesses. The agency seized another opportunity to promote its important message by sponsoring another year of beautiful, vibrant costumes for St Ambrose Primary School in the junior category of the Children’s Mashramani Costume Parade. Under the theme “Scoring Victory over Ol’ Higue”, the company used local folklore to highlight the danger of bad borrowing practices. Creditinfo’s Chief Executive Officer, Judy Semple-Joseph, told the Guyana Chronicle that Guyanese consumers, since the entry of Creditinfo into the market in 2013, now have credit profiles based on their own borrowing habits. “Like the effect of the Ol’ Higue which sucks the blood of unsuspecting victims as they sleep, if consumers and businesses do not pay atten-

tion, their bad borrowing habits could come back to haunt them,” Semple-Joseph said. The key to wealth creation, the CEO said, is effectively managing one’s financial profile and the first step in the process is knowing one’s credit score. The children’s float was done in three sections to highlight this matter: a red costume with a paddle, gold costume with a broom and green costume with a key depicting poor, fair and good credit profiles respectively. With a credit score ranging from 250 to 900, the CEO said the paddle in the red section indicated a struggle, since the individual or business entity with a credit score within the range of 250-499 would have several credit issues, and is unlikely to qualify for a loan as credit may be denied altogether. The broom in the gold section speaks to sharing and gaining knowledge to improve one’s credit profile (500 to 650), because this score

St Ambrose Primary School students proudly display their “Ol’ Higue” credit-themed costumes

could still provide challenges in accessing credit. The key in the green section with a range of 680 to 900 means victory against odds or difficulties and the opening up of opportunities.

The CEO said consumers are continuously reminded that consistency with simple payment habits such as timely payment of utility and other bills; effective management of credit cards within limits;

keeping outstanding balances low; and reducing the number of applications for credit within a short period of time, can help to improve scores and create a good credit profile.

The Ministry of Education, Unit of Allied Arts has shown keen interest in progressively improving the Children’s Mashramani Costume Parade over the years. Semple-Joseph said this has been accomplished, thanks to the support of notable local designers. “This has been the third year since Creditinfo has, following the initial recommendation of the Unit of Allied Arts, collaborated with St Ambrose Primary and is proud to have the children deliver useful information about Creditinfo and its importance in Guyana’s changing business environment,” she said. Creditinfo is an information and decision solutions company that helps lenders and businesses make better informed decisions in the entire credit life cycle for individuals and companies. The agency is governed by The Credit Reporting Act 2010. It sponsored 30 children and seven teachers for the float parade.

A commendable initiative on the part of the MoE Dear Editor

IN the first-ever training of its kind, teachers from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) recently received training to equip them with skills to handle domestic violence cases in their schools. The Caribbean Voice (TCV) applauds the Ministry of Education (MoE) for this initiative. TCV has been advocating for this training for years. In

fact, our teachers workshop covers domestic violence, suicide prevention, sexual abuse, self-harm, bullying and self care. To date, TCV has held a number of teachers workshops in Regions Four, Six and Three. Teachers have also attended similar workshops held for communities in these regions as well as in Regions Two, Five and Seven. As one teacher pointed out after attending one of our workshops, ‘this is the first time our psycho-social needs are being catered for’. TCV urges the MoE to make their training inclusive

of the other issues addressed by our workshops and take it to all regions and then designate all teachers as mandatory reporters with respect to all issues covered in the training. We also urge a quick-referral mechanism to facilitate easy and quick reportage and urgent follow-up action. Regards The Caribbean Voice

There should be a proper probe into workings of LGC Dear Editor

IT is not funny that members of the Local Government Commission (LGC) seem to think that they can disregard the request of the Minister of Communities and run to the press to put out their side of a story. It is a mark of disrespect and I hope the minister deals with this crassness. More importantly, I believe that there should be a proper investigation into the workings of this LGC. Something seems very odd with this newly minted commission. It has not yet completed a year, but it is embroiled with this controversy. The situation must be arrested now. However, two things struck me as I read a report in the Guyana Times on this matter attributed to the General-Secretary of the AFC, Marlon Williams, on Thursday, February 14, 2019. First, the commission is apparently oblivious to where it falls in the scheme of things, in the system of local governance in Guyana; it is heady and running beyond itself.

The commission as a statutory body with limited powers cannot do as it very well pleases. It has reporting responsibilities to the Minister of Communities. It must be accountable and act responsibly, thereby setting a good example for the local government organs for which it has oversight responsibilities. According to media reports, for more than three weeks the Ministry of Communities had requested certain documents, but the commission failed to submit same. This along is much cause for concern. Seems to me that the commission is not interested in what the ministry wants; members are pursuing their own agendas. But what could anyone expect when there are three commissioners from the PPP/C side, Ms. Carol Sooba, Mr. Norman Whittaker and Mr. Clinton Collymore, all of whom presided over the degrading of Guyana’s capital. The track records of those individuals demonstrate that they allowed Georgetown to fall into a ruinous condition because they had their own agenda – degrade Georgetown because it is the stronghold of the PNC/R.

Their collective attitude has not changed and in a very subtle way they are attempting to embarrass the Minster of Communities by going public on this matter, when they full well know that they are required to follow certain procedures Surprisingly, the APNU+AFC commissioners are going along with this plan to bring the minister to public ridicule. But if the commission is functioning as it ought to, then there should be no difficulty for it to submit its work plan and a cash flow to the ministry. After all, the commission is making all sorts of demands of municipalities. Second, under what financial system is the Local Government Commission spending 91 per cent of its total budgetary allocation on wages and salaries. How much money is being paid to commissioners? I believe the public has a right to know because this is money from the public purse supported by taxpayers. It is ridiculously financially imprudent for the LGC to whimsically pay out all of its money in salaries. But this raises another fundamental question: what do commissioners do to earn the

hefty sums they have been paying themselves? Because they have apportioned only about nine per cent of its budget for operational and associated costs. Another serious question is who is really managing and monitoring the work of this commission? No other commission in this country is doing that. In fact, the stipends given to commissioners of other commissions, example, the Public Service Commission, Police Service Commission, Lands Commission and boards are very small. How is it that this LGC is paying itself so much? Perhaps, it sees itself superior to all other commissions. And when one sees and hears Mr. Marlon Williams in the media, one must wonder whether the AFC has learned anything from the Charrandass Persaud saga. Individual members of the AFC continue to behave insensitively to the political reality of the day. It is a shame. Regards Daniel Fischer

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 17, 2019

FAN OUT, SPREAD OUT, REACH OUT! FOR our indigenous peoples and other residents of the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine), the fan-out by government ministers is being celebrated as a significant grassroots exercise. The government has taken to the people good news about a new international airport at Lethem, the region’s capital town; upgrade of the Linden-Lethem road, with paved highway initially from Linden to Mabura; asphalted roads in Lethem; possible resuscitation of the hydro-power plant at Moco-Moco, a solar farm for affordable, reliable renewable energy, etc. The ministers on Operation Fan-out are spreading out in this vast 5,000 square miles (57,750 sq. km) region. It is over two times the size of Trinidad, and 30 times the size of Barbados. There are some 80 communities scattered in the savannahs, at the foot of hills and mountains, and around swamps and wetlands. SOMETHING GOOD The ministers have something good to tell and to offer the people, and would do so in some places with the assistance of translators, as our indigenous peoples speak nine languages. They have something to throw into the “tuma” pot, from which all could benefit in this pristine and beautiful Amazonian-Guiana Shield zone. As I noted in an earlier column that was published two days after the no- confidence motion in the National Assembly, that unexpected event was an early eye-opener for the coalition. “If it has learned anything, it is that it must hit the electoral trail to console and motivate its supporters; and to energise them to re-elect the coalition with a bigger majority”, I had advised. Upon being elected to office in 2015, the APNU+AFC coalition embarked on a revolutionary course of taking government to the people, and bringing the people to government. To his credit, Minister of State Joseph Harmon organised “out-reaches” in Georgetown, Linden, Corriverton, New Amsterdam, Linden, Lethem and on the Essequibo Coast. We hit the road with other ministers, who listened to our people, reached out to them and gave answers to their many concerns. In Berbice, I saw an incompetent former Regional Executive Officer (REO) fretting and sweating when small contractors complained about favouritism and corrupt practices in the region. The REO resigned sometime after. ON-THE-SPOT LOTTERIES In Essequibo, when farmers complained that a few millers owed them for their paddy and rice,

we telephoned the millers who immediately made commitments to pay up. At some locations where homeless families had been waiting for years for their house lot applications to be processed, Minister Valerie Patterson-Yearwood held on-the-spot lotteries. Many families, with a sweet mixture of joy and tears, pulled from bags, numbers for their house lots. At complaints desks under the big tents in open spaces, our people openly and freely lodged complaints about their NIS pensions, social security benefits, firearm licences, pastures for cattle, drainage and irrigation etc. Rice farmers were ecstatic when, shortly afterwards, high-speed pumps were commissioned in major rice cultivation areas such as Canje and Black Bush Polder in the Corentyne, and at Lima and Three Friends on the Essequibo Coast. From those initial outreaches, our government expedited the setting up of regional offices to deal with issuance of passports, birth and death certificates and, more recently, Guyana Revenue offices. De-centralisation of public services resulted in the creation of four new towns; construction of Magistrates’ Courts at far-off places such as Lethem; the establishment of six regional radio stations in Lethem, Aishalton, Mabaruma, Bartica, Mahdia and Orealla, and expansion of internet connectivity to hinterland communities. Today, there are some 172 internet hubs at schools and government offices, many in the remote interior areas. It was a mistake to have discontinued the ministerial outreaches, but the fact that ministers are now collectively putting boots on the ground tell the story that this coalition has not lost the common touch. We are stubbornly committed to inclusive, participatory democracy; and going into the communities is not a public relations jaunt, but a genuine move to ground with the grassroots. FRETTING AND FUMING Anti-government groupings, including the parliamentary opposition, are fretting and fuming over the ease with which the government continues in spite of their determined efforts to force a shut-down. They try to paint a doomsday scenario where there is no President, no Cabinet, no government. Like the unrealised Y2K prediction that the world would end by 2000, they see March 21 as the end of government

in Guyana. Beyond that, they revel in glee over a nightmare scenario of the army taking over, sanctions being imposed on Guyana, citizens’ visas being cancelled, banks being shuttered and contractors going to jail for receiving pay to do state jobs. But no such things would happen. The government fully obeys the ruling of the court at first instance, but disagrees with its reasoning and findings. It has a right to do so, and to trigger appeal proceedings – all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice. In America, the Donald Trump administration has declared a National State of Emergency to access funds to build the much-vaunted and controversial border wall. What have his opponents done? They threatened to take recourse to the courts to reverse the emergency. And this is what a democracy allows. JURISTIC HYPOTHESIS The opposition barks against ministers of the government meeting in Plenary as if this were a breach of the order of court. However, the learned chief justice had emphasised that as at December 21, 2018, the President and the Cabinet were resigned. But in what I interpret as a juristic hypothesis, to borrow Hans Kelsen’s explanation of the grundnorm theory of pure law, the chief justice had also ruled that “the President and all Ministers of Government remain in office” for a period defined by the constitution. The ruling does not preclude meetings of ministers “though not in the context of the Cabinet.” Cabinet could call itself a book shelf for all you know, but it would meet legally and properly as ministers, just as there are a collection of books on a shelf. Once Cabinet does not meet as Cabinet, the President and ministers remain in office. This, the chief justice said, was agreed on by all parties in the court proceedings to ensure “the continuity of government.” The work to prepare for elections is that of the Guyana Elections Commission which has total control and supervision over any poll. Until it says that it is ready for new elections, the President and his government remain in office and continue to do the things for which the people on May 11, 2015 voted them into office. As Guyanese would say, the opposition should relax itself. February 17, 2019.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 17, 2019

Factual update on the political situation in Guyana By Imran Khan Director of Public Information

THERE are many Guyanese here in Guyana and in the diaspora, who are concerned about what is happening in our country and want to know what is the government’s position. Some persons are still not clear on what the situation is. It is simple. THE CHIEF JUSTICE’S RULING The chief justice presented a ruling on January 31st, in which she articulated her legal opinion on the issue of the infamous vote in Parliament on December 21st, 2018. The Government of Guyana respects the chief justice’s decision, but disagrees with it. APPEAL PROCESS Guyana’s judicial system allows

for appeals and as such, the government has filed an appeal in the Appeal Court and will await the verdict of that court. If the Appeal Court, which is a higher court than the High Court where the chief justice presides, overrules her ruling, then the status quo remains and elections are due in 2020. If the Appeal Court does not overturn the chief justice’s ruling, then the Government will take the case to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which is Guyana’s final court of appeal. When the CCJ rules, then, and only then will the matter be finally settled in court. If the CCJ rules that the vote on December 21 was not valid then elections are due in 2020. If the CCJ rules that the vote was valid, then elections would have to be called at a time when GECOM is prepared and ready to hold elections.

GECOM PREPAREDNESS Elections cost several billion dollars and monies have not been budgeted in the 2019 budget for GECOM to hold elections. Monies were budgeted for houseto-house registration to allow for a clean Voters’ List. It is known that tens of thousands of dead persons remain on the Voters’ List, which is heavily bloated. It is also known that tens of thousands of young people who have turned 18 since the last elections in 2015 are not on the list. These persons have to be registered to vote. They are first-time voters and to deny them their constitutional right to vote would be voter suppression and undemocratic. HOUSE-TO-HOUSE REGISTRATION House-to-house registration takes about six months to complete. In addition, the life of the current Voters’ List comes to an end in April, so therefore house-to-house registration is inevitable once this time comes. Back in 2014, long before the coalition government came into office, GECOM had made it clear that it needs at least six months to prepare for any unscheduled elections. Six months. There is no way therefore that elections can be held in three months. NEED FOR OPPOSITION TO ACT RESPONSIBLY If the CCJ were to rule that the vote was validly passed on December 21, then it would be incumbent on the opposition to act responsibly and vote for an extension to allow GECOM to prepare for elections. Anything other than this would be to hold Guyana and Guyanese to ransom and under siege. You should be warned that the opposition leader has already signalled his intent to do so by saying that Guyana is heading for a constitutional crisis. Guyana will only head to a constitutional crisis if he as opposition leader acts irresponsibly and does not agree for Parliament to vote for an extension by a two-thirds majority. It is he and his parliamentarians who would have to vote in support of an extension of time. GUYANA CANNOT BE LEADERLESS Now about this issue of resignation. Guyana cannot be left leaderless and without a government. How can there be a country with no government, no president, no Cabinet,

Director of Public Information, Imran Khan no ministers? How would medications be procured and provided to the hospitals and medical centres for people to get treatment? How would the schools function? How would public servants be paid? It is madness to think that a country can have no government. CONSTITUTION IS CLEAR To have no government would result in anarchy and chaos. For this government to resign and leave the country leaderless would be irresponsible and a dereliction of duty and a betrayal of those who voted it into office. The constitution is also clear. It says that article 106 (6) notwithstanding, the government shall remain in office. Guyana has a duly elected government which remains in place until another government is elected by the people. This government is confident that its record speaks for itself and it will be re-elected whenever the elections are held. There is NO QUESTION of resignation until the CCJ rules and until the elections are held and the new government takes office. CONSTITUTIONALLY LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT The irresponsible bluster about resignation is being done to score cheap political points by the opposition leader and his cohorts and surrogates. It is their usual modus operandi. Do not be fooled or duped by cheap politicking and misinformation. Your government remains firmly, properly and constitutionally in office. We await the outcome of the court matters which have to run their full course. In the meantime, the business of management of the affairs of the state continues peacefully and you should not fall prey to attempts to create panic and anxiety in the society. Even though we are in uncharted waters, everything is moving along quite smoothly. These are the facts, hope that you have a better understanding and the situation.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 17, 2019

Understanding Energy

New Discoveries

EARLY this month, the Exxon-led consortium drilling for oil in the Stabroek Block announced more good news for Guyana— two additional discoveries that could add substantially to Guyana’s already impressive series of oil finds. These discoveries are the 11th and 12th made in the offshore Stabroek Block so far, cementing Guyana’s place as a rapidly developing industry success story. So far, the success rate for commercial oil and gas finds has been more than 80 per cent, compared to 20 per cent in other frontier exploration regions which don’t have any history of oil production. In a press conference which addressed the new finds, Department of Energy Director, Dr. Mark Bynoe, noted that these discoveries at the Tilapia-1 and Haimara-1 wells closely follow the find in December at the Pluma-1 prospect that pushed Guyana’s reserves to over 5 billion barrels. Although the estimated reserves of these new finds haven’t been released yet, they could add substantially to that figure. Tilapia-1 was the fourth find in the Turbot area, 3.4 miles west of the older Long-

tail-1 find and near the Turbot and Pluma discoveries. Drill ships found 93 metres of oil-bearing sandstone at a depth of more than 5700 metres in this increasingly important corner of the Stabroek Block. Haimara-1 contained 63 metres of “high-quality gas condensate bearing sandstone” in an area farther to the east of the Pluma well that is being closely studied by the consortium for further development. Dr. Bynoe noted that these discoveries continue to de-risk the deepwater areas off the coast but until full production commences, and more finds are made outside the Stabroek, the area will remain relatively risky. Drilling efforts outside the Stabroek are still in their infancy, but UK-based Tullow Oil has indicated that it plans to drill a new well on the Orinduik Block later this year. The series of discoveries, of which these are just the latest, helped propel unusually strong growth in Guyana last year. According to a new report from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Guyana grew at 3.4 per cent—well above the regional average of 1.9 per cent and trailing behind only three countries: Grenada, Antigua, and

Barbuda. Guyana’s growth is especially impressive since much of the growth in Antigua and Barbuda was a consequence of a one-time construction boom caused by the recovery from 2017’s Hurricane Irma. The Bank attributed this increase to a boom in construction and investment from the energy industry to prepare the country for first oil production in 2020. The involvement of local companies has been rapidly accelerating with several joint ventures announced in the past few months and growing interest from the Guyanese business community. The interest in development and investment will hopefully continue to accelerate with Liza Phase 1 going into production next year, followed by Liza Phase 2. As has been noted before, Guyana may eventually see as many as five floating production, storage, and offloading vessels in operation, which could produce more than 750,000 barrels per day on the Stabroek. Offshore operations of this scale will entail substantial investment into shore facilities, support vessels, and contractor services. Recent reports from international oil and gas analysts at Wood Mackenzie have pre-

dicted that Guyana will easily have a place within the top four oil producers in Latin America and the Caribbean by the mid-2020s and could potentially even surpass Mexico and Venezuela if their production continues to decline. That would put Guyana’s production in the number two spot just behind Brazil and establish Guyana as a major international oil producer. This outlook closely matches the projections made by the CDB. According to Exxon executives quoted in media reports, the next target for the drillship, Tom Madden, will be the Yellowtail prospect near the Tilapia-1 discovery. Exxon-contracted vessels are currently doing 4-D seismic surveys in that area to get a better picture of what the sub-sea geology might look like. According to reports from Wood Mackenzie, there are still around 17 target sites left to drill on the Stabroek Block, which could contain significant additional reserves and there is always the possibility that Exxon’s renewed sub-sea seismic exploration campaign finds more locations for exploratory drilling and, hopefully, more opportunities for Guyana.

By virtue of its necessity, there must be a government

IT is this writer’s view that governments are better off and genuinely legitimate when they respect rules and their constitutions. However, it is worthy to note that the letter of the constitution cannot always manifest in its exact form due to extenuating circumstances. Where such a situation obtains, it is the moral responsibility of the government to always act in the public good and maintain public order. In pursuance of that interest, the spirit of the constitution may have to be its central focus. This is the basis and the origins for the arguments proffered for the doctrine of necessity and the argument that there always has to be a government in place, regardless of circumstances. The public debate on the no-confidence motion deserves some information on these phenomena. It was the mediaeval Jurist Henry De Bracton, who first notably advanced the relevance of this doctrine in the 13th Century. This Oxford student and holder of a doctor’s degree in civil and canon law, shocked constitutionalists when he submitted: ‘That which is otherwise not lawful is made lawful by necessity; the principle that, in a situation of emergency or exigent circumstance, a state may legitimately act in ways that would normally be illegal.’ This disputation was echoed by the likes of the English Jurist, Judge and Tory politician, William Blackstone. Perhaps, a few examples can efficiently elucidate the thrust of this documentation. In 1985, the Chief Justice of the High Court of Grenada presided over a case in which the

litigants argued that the charges brought were based on an illegal ‘People’s Law’ that was introduced by an illegal revolutionary government. This was litigated in the context where the court was trying, for murder, persons who had conducted a coup against former leader Maurice Bishop. The chief justice ruled the doctrine of necessity validated all laws on the basis of necessity. The President of Nigeria in 2010, Umaru YarAdua, once left his country for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia for 78 days. Due to his frail condition, he was unable to formally empower the vice-president to perform the functions as stipulated by Section 145 of Nigeria’s constitution. On February 9th, 2010, the Nigerian National Assembly passed a resolution making Vice-President Goodluck Johnathan the Acting President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces; no provision in the constitution of Nigeria allowed this arrangement. The Senate President, David Mark, asserted that necessity made the resolution legal. All the above were made legal by virtue of the government’s necessity. There must be a government. There are examples that demonstrate the chaos and anarchy that is unceremoniously invited when there is a vacuum in political leadership. Somalia had no government for 15 years, during that period, the country was ripped apart beyond repair. In 2010, Iraq was without a government and extremists and the dark forces of anarchy almost destroyed that nation. In the case of Germany in times of no government, Ministers carry on as ‘Acting Ministers’ to ensure there is public order and policy implementation.

In his speech to the British House of Commons on November 18, 1783, William Pitt stated, ‘Necessity is the plea of Tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.’ This dismissal of the necessity argument in the context of government must never go unchallenged. There are those who argue that the doctrine of necessity is a shield and not a sword. Some constitutionalists would demand adherence to the constitution. They allude to the fear of autocrats using the necessity argument to abuse power. This fear is real, but in cases where the government’s intentions are honourable, the welfare of the people is the supreme law. In conclusion, Guyana is on the precipice of oil wealth and faces an existential geopolitical threat from its neighbourhood. The Venezuelan crisis and the nascent oil and gas economy, present the strongest case for the necessity of which our constitution empowers the President to be so guided if needed.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE , February 17, 2019

‘Mighty Believer’ is new Calypso king WITH a song that had the crowd in fits of laughter and jokes about a rastaman eating Church’s Chicken, former junior Calypso champion Kenroy “The Mighty Believer” Fraser, took his first adult calypso title on Friday night. His memorable moment happened at the 2019 Banks Senior Calypso Monarch competition held at the National Park Tarmac. The Believer, who dished out “Guyana must be a paradise”, had an overall score of 246.5 points to finish ahead of Young Bill Rogers, another well received act of the night. Young Rogers sang “No Third Term” and received an overall score of 243. Former junior and senior Calypso champion, Diana Chapman, continued as a staple in the top four this year, finishing in third place with her rendition “The killing of another woman”. Overall, she scored 236.5 points. With 231 points, Abigail Nelson took the fourth spot with her song “It’s About Time”, which addressed the need for updated copyright laws in the country. A veteran to the game, Believer established that he came out this year with a point to prove and was happy he made his mark. According to his song, “people saying last Calypso they proper rob Believer”. “I didn’t space last year.

I don’t know what transpired but that would’ve motivated me a lot to come so hard this year,” the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Marine Engineer explained. “I wasn’t surprised at all [by the win]. I always see myself as a champion and a winner because there are few persons I know in this country, who are alive and who could sing Calypso as good as me. For a man always knocking at the door, I know it was just a matter of time for it to open.” Reigning as the Junior

Calypso Monarch in 2005, Believer first took on the adult Calypso competition in 2008 and saved for not entering in 2013, has never missed a year since. He first began spacing at the competition in 2010, when he finished in third place, and ever since then has been consistently spacing within the top four. When his name was announced late Saturday night, he breathed a sigh of relief as his hard work finally paid off. His fans quickly jumped about as they celebrate, with a

The well-dressed 34-yearold stepped out in a well-tailored white pants, a Guyana flag jacket over a white T-shirt, white gloves, and of course, crisp white shoes to match. His kaiso “Guyana must be a paradise”, was a patriotic number, with Believer saying that he was “using this opportunity to showcase my country”. The night had started out with Nelson performing her plea for copyright laws, which would ensure singers are compensated for their work, and

“The Mighty Believer” Fraser took his first senior Calypso title Saturday night at the Banks Senior Calypso Monarch competition (Adrian Narine photo)

Young Bill Rogers dressed as former President Cheddi Jagan to perform his song “No Third Term” (Adrian Narine photo)

homage to the country. This year did not see as much politically-themed

domestic violence, the issue of racism was addressed by Cromwell “The mighty

Fans were quick to celebrate when “The Mighty Believer” was announced the winner of the 2019 Banks Senior Calypso Monarch competition (Adrian Narine photo)

Notwithstanding a pleasing performance, Onikha Joseph was dethroned at the 2019 Banks Senior Calypso Monarch Competition (Adrian Narine photo)

few evening dashing on stage to embrace the singer. The fifth act of the night, Believer entered at a point when the crowd was yearning for something a little upbeat to remind them why they turned up, and from start to finish, he did what he always does. He had the crowd in fits of laughter.

ended with Dawn “Lady D” Edwards performing “Ask Them Judges”. In all, the nigh saw a total of 11 performers taking to the stage, but it was Rudolph “Sweet Kendendo” Kendall, in the third spot of the night that really got the crowd animated. His song “Guyana Nice” was another paying

songs as would usually be the case, except for Young Bill Rogers’ “No Third Term”, which poked fun at former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s hopes of running for a third term, which he is constitutionally barred from doing. Aside from those clamouring for copyright laws and lamenting the effects of

Voltage” Mentis in his song “Mixturize The Land”, which was also well received. Dethroned 2018 champion, Onikha Joseph, gave a pleasing performance with her song “Side Chick”. While she did not place among the top, she definitely delivered on an earlier promise to please her fans.

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Rupertee residents want primary school

SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 17, 2019

–– applaud gov’t for investing in school-feeding programme

By Svetlana Marshall RESIDENTS of Rupertee in the North Rupununi, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, lobbied the government to open a primary school in the satellite village as a solution to the challenges children currently face in accessing primary education. In an open and frank discussion with Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan on Saturday at the Rupertee Cultural Centre, the residents explained that while the village of Rupertee has a nursery school, children between the ages of six and 12 would have to walk, in most instances, close to three miles to attend the Annai

waters to attend the primary school in Annai. Toshao of Annai, Zackarius Norman, who is responsible for five satellite villages including Rupertee, endorsed the calls for a primary school. “Annai Primary School is crowded, and why can’t we have a primary school rather than having the children walk,” Norman said. Lloyd Vanlong said that in the absence of a primary school, the children should be provided with bicycles so that they can ride to school. However, he made it clear that the overall hope of the village is to have a primary school constructed there. David Scipio, a father and resident of Rupertee, told Minister Bulkan that it is ex-

vided with meals under the government’s school-feeding programme, transporting the meals to the school during the rainy season is also a challenge. Scipio recommended that the meals be cooked right there at Rupertee. “We have a kitchen here, we have the water system installed, if we could get help from the ministry to get a stove and kitchen utensils, it would be much closer to the nursery school that we have here,” he explained. In response, Minister Bulkan said he will put the village’s recommendations to central government, in particular the need for a primary school in Rupertee given the challenges faced and the expanding population.

Toshao of Annai Zackarius Norman, who is responsible for Rupertee and four other satellite villages, makes a point at the meeting Primary School. In the dry season, it is usually in the scorching sun, but the situation quickly moves from bad to worse during the rainy season. Then, children are left with little or no choice than to trek through slush and murky

tremely difficult for children to attend the Annai Primary School, and would welcome the construction of a primary school in Rupertee. That aside, he said while the village is thankful that its nursery school children are pro-

Turning his attention to the government’s school-feeding programme, he said the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration has been investing in the programme

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, handing over the presidential grant of $800,000 to Rupertee Senior Councillor Suresh Andries which sees thousands of children being provided with hot meals at school. Bulkan said while he was not at Rupertee to speak “ill” of the opposition, the record would show that from 2014, when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was in government, to 2018, under the current A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), the feeding programme has received significant financial increases. He pointed out that in 2014 when the PPP/C was in government, 21 schools in the Rupununi comprising a total of 3,553 students benefited from the schools’ feeding programme to the tune of $117.6M. In 2015, the number of schools remained the same; however, the number of beneficiaries increased to 3641 students. Some $121M was budgeted for the programme that year. In 2016, the APNU+AFC government took a decision to increase the number of schools benefitting to 35. It meant that more children (5,167) benefitted that year with an injection of $129M. In 2017, $198M was injected

into the programme to cater for 6,350 students from 52 schools. Last year, the programme benefited from another increase. That year, the programme received a financial injection of $255M, benefiting 7,261 students at 64 schools. “That’s part of our investment in education – by providing hot meals to the school- children here in this region, from a $117.6M to $255M; but that is only under the Ministry of Education,” the Communities Minister told the residents. While stating clearly that he would not commit to having a primary school in Rupertee or the preparation of the hot meals there, all the village’s recommendations would be put to central government and the respective ministries. “This government makes decisions on the basis of information and if the circumstances support the need and there is a justification that you need a primary school here; and that if you have the facilities to administer the hot meals here and not Annai, we will have an open mind,” he told the residents.

He further pointed out that the four dorms located at Sand Creek, St. Ignatius, Annai and Aishalton, have increased subventions. In 2018, the dorms received a collective subvention of $10Minister Bulkan said, when compared to 2014, the dorms received a total subvention of $105M when compared to $65M in 2014. Other residents like Aubrey Mario expressed the need for the satellite village to have ready access to an ambulance to transport sick residents to the Lethem Regional Hospital. Mario cited the case of a sick, unemployed woman who faced difficulty in accessing healthcare, because she lacked the financial resources to get to the Lethem Regional Hospital. According to reports, Annai, the neighbouring village has an ambulance; however, it has been “down” for almost two years. Ivor Marslow also used the opportunity to advocate for the Annai Health Centre to be upgraded and fully equipped to treat arising illnesses. “Although you might See page 14

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 17, 2019

Rupertee residents want primary ... From page 13

Residents of Rupertee at the meeting on Saturday have trained staff, if you don’t have the necessary tools to work with, it is quite useless,” Marslow posited. Meanwhile, Gloria Duarte, the Culture Group Leader in the village, asked for assistance for the extension and rehabilitation of the Rupertee Cultural Centre. She added too that a cultural group was asked to perform in Brazil, however, acquiring passports for the children in the group has proven to be challenging. It was noted, however, that government has been decentralising its services to ensure that they are provided to the people within their communities and sub-districts, and districts. After committing to make representation

on behalf of the people of Rupertee, Minister Bulkan handed over the presidential grant to the tune of $800,000 to Rupertee’s Senior Councillor Suresh Andries. Andries said that the grant was earmarked for upgrading their water system; however, on Friday, officials from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) met with the village leaders and agreed to assist with the supply of water. As such, the leaders will now decide on a general project for utilisation of the grant to the benefit of the residents of Rupertee. Agricultural tools, sports gear and footwear were also handed over to the villagers by the minister and his team.

Minister Bulkan hands over several pieces of equipment to the village on saturday

Gov't is your servant

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 17, 2019

–– Harmon tells Achawib residents By Vanessa Braithwaite

MINISTER of State Joseph Harmon on Saturday told the residents of the South Rupununi village of Achiwuib that his government is on a trajectory for development and this must be reflected in the smallest village and community across the length and breadth of Guyana. Reliable information on this developmental thrust must be disseminated to all Guyanese so that the residents themselves can challenge those who may come with misleading information that the government has forgotten hinterland villages, Harmon said. The minister and a regional team were welcomed into the village with dances, songs and a standing ovation before being garlanded. In his address to the residents, the minister of state said the purpose of the ministerial outreach to the villages is to merely listen to the concerns of the people and to bring needed solutions to them so that all Guyanese can enjoy the good life. “Every inch of every metre of this country is important to us, so there is nothing like a long journey; Guyana is Guyana and every part of Guyana is important… I am here today as your servant, as a public servant, as a minister of the government and that is why I am here; to listen, to hear you. You who are masters and you are the ones who voted us into office and you are the ones who will keep us in office, so it important that we understand what it is that affects you so that we can fix it,” the minister said. In the recent past, Region Nine has benefitted from tremendous development and Harmon highlighted these to the Achiwuib residents. He spoke of the pure water facilities with assistance from the Brazilian army which will be soon followed by the laying of pipes which

will enable residents of Achiwuib and other South Rupununi villages to access water through taps. “When we speak of the good life of all Guyanese, we mean that the good life must come to every Guyanese, so if you never had water, the good life means getting water to you; if you never had a radio, the good life means getting information and radio to you; if you never had electricity in any form, the good life means getting that to you and so your government is on a trajectory, is on a path to developing this country, house by house, community by community, village by village, town by town and all across this country, we will develop it in an equitable manner,” he said. The provision of fresh water wells also came with a two-fold benefit since the main thoroughfare throughout South Rupununi was upgraded to facilitate this process. BETTER ROAD While the residents were appreciative of this, they pleaded for the road to be done to a better standard, since it will deteriorate during the rainy season in its present state. Harmon was not all talks to the residents but they were recipients of handsome gifts. These included an ATV bike which was presented to the Basharizun Health Worker. This is a satellite village to Achiwuib and residents, in expressing their concerns, raised the need for that form of transportation to expeditiously transport residents to the village’s health post. Without even knowing that Friday would have been their lucky day, Harmon surprised them with the ATV. He urged the health worker to use the transportation for its purpose as it is a service to the entire village and to improve their health care system. A motorcycle was also donated to the village, in addition to clothes,

A section of the gathering at the meeting with Minister Harmon on Saturday

Minister of State Joseph Harmon being garlanded by a young girl on his visit to the South Rupununi village of Achiwuib footwear and, most importantly, farming tools to aid in their production of cassava and other ground provision. The residents of Achiwuib noted that farming is one of their main economic activity and this fine gesture is a great boost in this regard. Some of the major concerns raised by the residents include the improvement of their educational and sporting facilities, the provision of birth certificates-- since most of the children are home-birthed-- timely payment for sweeper-cleaners, provision of a school bus to take students to the Aishalton Secondary School and land titling. Minister Harmon made commitments to upgrade the sporting facilities and to

make representation with the regional officials and the requisite ministers on the matters that were raised. Toshao of Achiwuib, Vanessa Richard, said she is pleased with Harmon’s visit as it brought hope to the residents that they are not forgotten. She also lauded the government for the initial works done on the roads while looking forward for works to continue, the provision of presidential grants which funded projects in the village and the provision of the HEYS programme which enabled some youths in the village to become employed.

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Enhanced partnerships essential in addressing crime –– Commander tells vendors THE need for partnerships between police ranks and citizens was underscored during a walkabout with Commander of “D” Division, Senior Superintendent Edmond Cooper and his administrative team at the Leonora and Zeeburg Markets. Interactions were held on Saturday with several consumers, vendors and business owners, all of whom noted that there is a need for enhanced security for the markets. Other issues that were raised included the need

for regular patrols, clamping down on noise nuisance and intelligence sharing. The commander noted that the exercises will be a continuous feature in the West Bank Demerara-East Bank Essequibo division to ensure that persons are safe in their communities while the police provide quality service to citizens. “Community policing is an approach to policing that recognizes the interdependence and shared responsibility of the police and the community in ensuring a safe and

secure environment for all citizens. It aims at establishing an active and equal partnership between the police and the public through which crime and community safety issues can jointly be discussed and solutions determined and implemented,” the commander noted. Meanwhile, a simple ceremony was also recently held at the Barnwell Events Space, West Coast Demerara (WCD) in recognition of the dedication of several officers of the Guyana Police Force ‘D’ Division. Several junior members received trophies and medals from the Divisional Commander and other senior ranks of the force. According to Com-

Commander, Senior Superintendent Edmond Cooper listens to the concerns of a vendor during the walkabout ly behaved cops but I am pleased to be a part of this activity that will honour and shine the spotlight on

your night, enjoy it,” the commander said. He further stated that the activity will become an

Businessman Halim Khan receiving his award from Commander Edmond Cooper for his support to the Guyana Police Force. mander Cooper, the activity was organised for the sole purpose of recognising the excellent performances of ranks within the division. “Oftentimes people sensationalise the few, and I mean very few, bad-

the many police officers who have behaved exceptionally well over the last years. Recognising our junior officers will give them that sense of pride to aim higher and to continue to display behaviour of a high standard. Tonight is

annual feature in his calendar of events and next year will see more officers being honoured. The awards were categorised as per department, namely Traffic, CID, General Duty and Commander’s Award.

Five officers received the Commander’s Award, which was the highest. The five outstanding officers are Sergeant Wilson, Constables Alleyne, Monilall, Jones and Moffett. Other awardees include Sergeant Griffith, Corporals Hope and Rose, Constables Awar, Britton, Hubbard, James, Jones, Henry, Hills, Gittens, McBeth and Pyle and Rural Constables, Sealey and Sam. The C-PETS (Creating Positive Environments Through Safer Communities and Partnerships) group, which is a body that comprises business and religious persons from Region Three, presented tokens of appreciation to the senior officers for their level of leadership and hard work at changing the image of the force to one of positivity in the region. The activity also recognised members of the business community who have always been supportive of the work of the police force. Businessman Halim Khan, who was recognized for his support of the police force, described Senior Superintendent Edmond Cooper as an exceptional officer who will one day make an excellent Commissioner of Police.

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Persistence and profits pay off

KNOCKING on closed doors is something Renu Bala is very good at. First, it was the doors of her neighbours in Panjor Bhanga, her home village in northern Bangladesh. She had an idea for them: what if they formed a milk cooperative? They didn’t have much to lose. “The women of this village are very poor and raise only local Deshi cattle,” Renu explains. “I thought that if I could start a dairy business, and encourage other women to join, if I could make them aware, then we could all profit.” In Panjor Bhanga, profit through agriculture is increasingly hard to come by as frequent flooding submerges farmland and roads. Bangladesh is one of the countries most threatened by the effects of climate change. With this in mind, Renu Bala went from house to house and pitched her plan. Most of the women, and their husbands, were skeptical at first. “Generally, the village women are very shy. That’s why it is very difficult to bring them all together,” she says. “At first they

farmer organizations around the country improve their access to financing, technology, value chains and markets. Renu Bala’s story is one of many. FAO has more than four decades of experience supporting investment policies, programmes and ca-

Renu Bala and her husband counting daily receipts from milk sales by the Panjor Bhanga Women’s Milk Cooperative (FAO/Mohammad Rakibul Hasan) thought we were trafficking women.” But in the end, she won them over. By 2011, 15 women had joined the Panjor Bhanga Women’s Milk Cooperative. Their next challenge: finding a way to buy high-yielding cattle, especially when none of the women had sufficient collateral for a bank loan. In 2014, Renu Bala took part in a training programme led by FAO where she learned about a special credit policy in Bangladesh that provides loans to small dairy businesses at low interest rates and with long repayment periods.

But first, she had to find a bank that would lend to her under that policy. Her door-knocking skills and perseverance kicked in again. After many attempts, Renu Bala worked with FAO and received a loan from a local bank. With the money, the 15-member cooperative was able to buy high-yielding Friesian cows. From the sale of their first heifers, they paid back the loan and secured a new loan from another bank. By this time the cooperative had doubled in membership. With the Friesian cows, milk production

Renu Bala was one of over 5 500 farmers, government staff and agricultural technicians who took part in capacity development programmes led by FAO (FAO/Mohammad Rakibul Hasan)

increased from up to two litres per cow, per day to over ten litres. The cooperative began selling the high-quality milk to local sweet shops and milk processing companies, generating precious income for the women - and collective savings for future investments. It also earned Renu Bala national recognition for her work. In 2016, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh bestowed a national agricultural award on her for establishing and leading the cooperative. The success of the cooperative has eased the women’s lives and given them a new sense of optimism. “This dairy business is very good for me and other women, because we can do it alongside other household chores,” Renu Bala says. “That’s why I really like the dairy business. Now we can earn money from home.” Support for women entrepreneurs like Renu Bala and the Panjor Bhanga Women’s Milk Cooperative is set to continue through the Missing Middle Initiative (MMI) in Bangladesh, also funded by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP). The MMI will help 50

pacity development in Bangladesh, including working with farmer organizations. The evidence is clear; countries, like Bangladesh, that have consistently invested in agriculture have reaped the most benefits in boosting incomes whilst reducing hunger and malnutrition.

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Charrandass’ explanation ... From page 2

in the courts by Compton Reid on the grounds that he breached the Constitution of Guyana by having dual citizenship while being a Member of Parliament. The Constitution bars Members of Parliament from having dual citizenship. Adding his voice to the issue of MPs with dual citizenship, Andries said the current situation presents an opportunity for the House to be swept clean of all parliamentarians in breach of the Constitution. “This situation creates

an opportunity to clean up Parliament regarding dual citizenship. The Constitution is clear! I have been made to understand… that you have on the Opposition and on government sides, MPs with dual citizenship when the Constitution says you must not be dual citizen,” the Rupertee councillor told the community minister. He said the Constitution should no longer be breached . ORCHESTRATED PLAN Minister Bulkan, who visited Rupertee on Satur-

day as part of a ministerial outreach to the Rupununi in the Upper Essequibo-Upper Takutu District, told the residents that the vote was not a coincidence. According to him, it was a well “orchestrated” plan. While putting the vote of no-confidence motion into historical perspective, Minister Bulkan explained that while the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland’s ruling that the motion was carried by a vote of a majority was upheld by Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire,

the matter is still engaging the attention of the courts. Two appeals have been filed at the level of the Court of Appeal; however, the final decision would be handed down by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as the cases evolve. He said while the Opposition has been calling on the Cabinet to resign in light of the government’s perceived defeat, the Constitution does not provide for a caretaker government. According to the Constitution, the Cabinet must resign while the government, notwithstanding its

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan during his interaction with residents at the Rupertee Cultural Centre defeat, remains in office. es into the four hinterland He called on the residents regions. “The facts would not to be distracted by the support that we have worked utterances of the Opposi- to deliver on that mission tion that the government is and on that vision to help to violating the Constitution. remove the inequalities,” the Bulkan made it clear that the communities minister said. government has not engaged In 2014, the Ministry in any illegality and is legal- of Indigenous People’s ly in office. It is a legitimate Affairs received a total of government, the minister $1.142B for capital projects emphasised. and $434.6M for current “I urge you residents of expenditures. The following Rupertee, do not allow your- year, 2015, it was allocated self to be distracted by this $315.9M for capital projects message that is being pro- and $668.2M for its current moted that this government programme; however, the is unlawful or illegal. allocations increased in 2016 W e h a v e a b u d g e t with $1.407B allocated for that has been passed; the capital projects under the 2019 budget that allows ministry and an additional the government to spend $776,533M to offset current $300.7B,” he said. expenditures. In 2017, there were adGOV’T FOR ALL ditional increases, $1.471B Bulkan said although and $991.7M, for capital the PPP/C secured 61 and current expenditures per cent of the votes in respectively. In 2018, the Region Nine (Upper Es- Ministry of Indigenous sequibo-Upper Takutu) People’s Affairs received during the 2015 General $1.183B and $1.036B for and Regional Elections, capital and current projects. the A Partnership for Na- Notably, while the capital tional Unity + Alliance allocations reduced that for Change (APNU+AFC) year, current expenditures Government did not at- increased, surpassing $1 biltempt to undermine devel- lion. This year, the ministry opment, but rather foster has been given $815.3M growth and development and $1.115B to carry out in the district. its work programmes and He said the APNU+AFC projects. He lobbied the is a government of all the residents to throw their suppeople, regardless of po- port behind the President litical affiliation. Minister and his government, noting Bulkan told the villagers that that they should be allowed it is the vision of President the opportunity to complete David Granger to provide their mission. equal services to the people “We are confident that of the country, regardless whenever the next general of their geographical loca- elections are held, whether tion. Bridging the social, they are held shortly, later educational, technological this year or whether they and economic divides are are held next year, based on critical to the government as an objective analysis, we it seeks to provide equitable believe that people would development, he empha- want to see a return of this sised. As such, tremendous administration,” he said. emphasis has been placed With Guyana months on the hinterland regions, in away from first oil, Bulkan particular, the Upper Esse- told the residents that it is quibo-Upper Takutu District important for them to elect (Region Nine). the right leaders to office In the five budgets pre- that will ensure that the sented since taking office in revenues streaming from May 2015, the APNU+AFC oil production are effecadministration injected tre- tively managed and utilised mendous financial resourc- to the benefit of the people.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 17, 2019

ARIES Money is on your mind as you seek ways to increase your personal wealth. If you are considering developing new streams of income now, it’s not too soon to make your move. But it’s also possible to improve your cash flow by budgeting your expenditures. Whether additional money comes in or less goes out, the result is having access to adequate resources when you need them. But don’t set your expectations so high that they are impossible to achieve. Even an apparently insubstantial change in your finances can significantly enhance your relationship with the material world. TAURUS Carefully sharing your thoughts today may not be enough since people hear what they want to hear anyway. Others experience you through their own optimisation filters, which makes everything about you look and sound better than it actually is. It can be awkward when someone places you on a pedestal because your self-esteem is fine without their approval. The best way to deal with this energetic imbalance is to swiftly set your two feet back down to ground level. Philosopher George Santayana wrote, “Wisdom comes by disillusionment.” GEMINI You have a lot to say today, but there’s so much on your mind that it’s difficult to know where to start. Although you’re known for your conversational skills, you might feel as if you’re stuck behind the proverbial eight ball with no easy route to satisfaction. Fortunately, you can reduce the pressure by telling just part of your story for now. You may happily discover that people are on your side because they want you to succeed. However, staying quiet prevents you from receiving the level of support you deserve. Reverend Jesse Jackson said, “When everyone is included, everyone wins.” CANCER You may be very cautious about revealing your heart today, but that won’t stop you from talking. In fact, you can take command in any conversation as long as you avoid subjects that make you feel vulnerable. You might even shift the subject to wax philosophic on an impersonal topic without anyone realizing you successfully took your emotions out of the spotlight. Do what you must to feel emotionally safe but remember your fear of rejection is less connected to the present moment than a past memory. Here and now is where the magic happens. LEO Although your thoughts naturally gravitate toward achieving success at work today, you’re eager to find time to network with others about more personal issues. Conversations about health, exercise and diet may be tied to concerns over healing wounds from the past. Of course, there’s no better time than the present moment to consider what you can do to improve your future. Becoming aware of the alternatives gives you more control of your physical and mental well-being. Disneys Grandmother Willow says, “Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one.” VIRGO It’s awkward when your emotions are so close to the surface, forcing you to acknowledge that everyone knows how you’re feeling now whether or not you share your inner process. You prefer to lead with a cool head, displaying your superior analytical prowess and sharp intelligence. Nevertheless, the Moons visit to your sign softens your hard edges and allows others to see your heart, rather than just your brain. Oscar Wilde wrote, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” LIBRA Your declarations carry more influence today than you realize, but your impact goes beyond the moment. Paradoxically, your intention creates a direct pathway that allows your message to hit the target, even if it runs into someone’s defences. Nevertheless, choose your words carefully because they wield the power to heal or hurt. Meanwhile, keep in mind what is left unsaid also speaks volumes. Rumi wrote, Listen to silence. It has so much to say. SCORPIO This is your chance to speak about something that’s close to your heart. You are known to be ruthless in your search for integrity and truth, but your passion makes some people feel uncomfortable. You are often tempted to bring up subjects that are not meant for the faint of heart, yet set these discussions aside for fear of offending someone or scaring them away. Fortunately, you can talk about the most sensitive issues now without stirring any negativity. You may not reach resolution in one short conversation, but opening the door gently is a significant first step in the right direction. SAGITTARIUS You are a person on a mission today and will not stop until you deliver your message. Although there are many approaches to fix a stressful situation at work, your analysis is clear and you believe sharing the facts as you see them will be convincing to others, too. The danger of your current single-mindedness is that people may react negatively to your self-righteousness, even if your conclusion is correct. Rather than presenting your solution as the only one, share yours as a viable possibility and let the ensuing dialogue unfold. CAPRICORN You are clear that your current goals are based upon the needs of many, rather than your personal desires. Although you don’t want to disappoint anyone, you’re at a loss trying to figure out how to turn your plan into reality. You realize the necessity of having others involved, for your vision is greater than the work of one person. Initiating a conversation with your peers can get the ball rolling as long as you don’t expect too much too fast. Baseball player Leon Brown said, “The more you try to control something, the more it controls you. Free yourself, and let things take their own natural course.” AQUARIUS People who know you expect the unexpected, however, your current actions may still surprise them. You can’t understand why they are shocked since you believe your behaviour is consistent with your intentions. Instead of ignoring others as you move forward with your plans, devote whatever time is necessary to share your strategy. Rather than alienating your friends, you can turn this experience into a learning moment which fosters mutual cooperation and stronger connections. PISCES Your thoughts are racing full speed ahead just to keep up with the rapid pace of conversations today. It may seem as if everyone has overdosed on caffeine, with their words coming at you faster than you are able to sort them out. Nevertheless, you’re skilled at understanding the subtle nuances of everyone’s verbal machinations. Thankfully, you can rise to the occasion and dazzle them with your fancy factual footwork. Professor Andrew Murphy wrote, “You are confined only by the walls you build yourself.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 17, 2019

UG unions pinpoint areas of concern into UG finances

THE University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) and University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) have identified several specific areas of concern into the finances of the University of Guyana (UG). On Monday last, the two unions began a protest on the Turkeyen Campus where

members of the teaching staff called for a financial audit to be done at the institution; they said that funds are being misappropriated instead of being used to develop the teaching space. This protest was also done because the unions do not accept the three per cent salary increase for UA (academic) staff, and a four

per cent increase for UB (support) staff imposed last November and retroactive to January 1, 2018. The university has since stated that it cannot afford further increases. This misappropriation of funds, the unions allege, is the reason the university is unable to pay further increases to staff.

“This [protest] action served to alert the nation to the situation at the university. Staff are extremely concerned about the university’s finances and believe that the key to resolving the current situation at the institution lies in closely examining those accounts,” a release from the two unions read. In this release, the unions

highlighted that members of staff are unclear about the expenditure of the university, particularly about the funding of certain “units” within the institution. “The core units of the university (faculties and schools) have been told that there is no money for costs relating to their functioning (essential repairs; payment for stationery and so on) but there is always money available for expenditure on various lectures, conferences and symposia, as well as trips abroad for senior administrators,” the release noted. Last year, the unions also indicated that there were funds allocated for the Diaspora Centre and the Centre of Excellence for Teaching and Learning, which did not exist at the time. Detailing their concerns, the unions indicated that they would like to know what became of those funds. Further, they enquired how much money has been spent on “non-essential events” in the last two and half years; a breakdown of any donations made, whether in cash or in kind, along with the university’s own spending; the amount of money has been spent on travel abroad by senior administrators of the university over the same time period; the benefits members of the senior administration now receive and how much money has been spent on such benefits. Further, the unions opined that UG now has a “bloated senior administration” which has received ‘questionable’ increases. “While there has been no equivalent expansion in the number of campuses or even in the student body, the institution now has three deputy vice-chancellors (DVCs) as well as a post called the director of strategic initiatives,” the release noted. “We still do not know exactly what the director of strategic initiatives does, because no terms of reference or job description has ever been provided for the post, despite requests.” And each DVC, as well as the Strategic Initiatives section has their own unit with “ever-increasing staff” –which incur a myriad of costs, according to the unions. “The staff would like to know whether any analysis has ever been done of the costs of each unit, balanced against the benefits they bring to the university,” it unions said. The unions further contended that the income and

expenditure statements for 2018, shown to them, only illustrate that one of the Faculties/Schools overspent its budget. However, they said that all of the units headed by the DVCs and the vice-chancellery overspent their budgets. They also want to know why this happened. “There are also questions to be asked about income: are all the university’s income streams for the last two and half years properly accounted for?” they questioned. According to them, a statement of the university’s gifts and grants received for the last two and half years has never been presented to the current council and they maintain that this is relevant to their queries about sponsorship of various events and travel abroad by senior administrators. “The public should know that there has been no meeting of the Audit Committee of the current council. There have been no audited statements of the university since 2014,” they said. The unions also mentioned that they had learned that the university’s senior administration paid themselves the same three percent increase that was imposed on staff in December. According to them, this was not stated at the time that the payment was announced and stressed: “the lack of transparency is striking.” Exacerbating this particular situation, according to the release, is that the senior administration is appointed by council, and as such would first need to submit their requests for increases to council, which should then be considered by that body. “The workers of the university are calling on the University Council to exercise proper financial oversight,” the stressed. “We wish to have a forensic audit done to help answer the questions outlined in this release. The administration has not responded to our call for an audit – instead offering to have a ‘competent, independent arbiter’ examine the financial statements already given to the unions,” they disclosed. This would not suffice according to them, since this cannot replace an audit. “The information gained by a forensic audit would enable all parties to have an objective and factual way forward in dealing with the many matters related to the university’s finances,” the unions’ release said.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 17, 2019

Child drowns at Reliance

By Indrawattie Natram THE most loving day of the year, Valentine’s Day, ended in tragedy for the Jaigobin family, after one of their grandsons drowned in a nearby trench. Dead is Ricardo Jaigobin, two, of Reliance Seawall, Essequibo Coast. The incident occurred at around 10:00hrs on Thursday. Ricardo was the fifth child for his parents. According to his mother, Shavanie Persaud, her son left to visit his grandmother, Basmattie Sooknarine, but never returned. The houses are in the same yard and is located next to a black water trench. The mother, who is pregnant, said her mother-in-law raised an alert that her son was missing. Struggling to control her tears, the grandmother related that the toddler was left in his grandfather’s care when he suddenly disappeared. “His grandfather was picking bora in the garden. I just showered, so I went inside to change my clothes. I heard my husband speaking to my grandson while he was picking the bora, then when I come out, I did not see him. I asked my husband where

regret not doing that,” the grandfather said. The child’s body was retrieved from the trench and was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where it was certified dead by doctors. The body is at the Suddie Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Two-year-old Ricardo Jaigobin he went but he said he just saw him,” the tearful grandmother related. After the child could not be found, a search was conducted around the neighbourhood but he was nowhere to be seen. The child’s father went into the nearby trench that is located next to their house, and found him at the bottom of the water. “It was shocking, I was right there and I didn’t hear no plunge, nothing. We are always careful of the grands and the water; we supposed to fence our yard but the money wasn’t there. I totally

President mourns passing of Colonel Martindale

PRESIDENT David Granger said he is deeply saddened at the passing of Colonel Cecil Edgar Martindale MSS, MSM, ED, this morning at the age of 93 in Toronto, Canada. Colonel Martindale’s military career started in 1948 when he enlisted in the British Guiana Volunteer Force (BGVF). Three years later, he was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant. In March 1966, he was seconded from the Public Service to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and appointed Officer Commanding Head Quarter Company 1 GDF. The following year, he was appointed Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion GDF and in December 1971, was recalled to the Public Service. Colonel Martindale, however, returned to military service when he was appointed Commandant, Guyana Peoples Militia in May 1976. He was the recipient of several military awards: The Military Service Star, the Military Service Medal, the Military Efficiency Medal, The Border Defence Medal, The Independence Medal and the Efficiency Decoration. Colonel Martindale contributed immensely to the development of the Reserves and was the First Commandant of the Guyana People’s Militia, the President said. “In over 40 years of military service to Guyana, Colonel Martindale enriched the life and development of the defence forces, and in recognition of his exemplary service, the GDF Staff School-- Colonel Cecil Martindale Command and Staff School-- was named in his honour. “President Granger extends heartfelt sympathy to Colonel Martindale’s wife Bernice, children Melanie and Noel, and other relatives,” a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, said.

The trench where the child reportedly drowned

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Children’s ‘Mash’ a hit yet again - improvements being made each year, says coordinator

THE children’s leg of the national Mashramani celebrations ended on a high note as just about 50 bands marched down the streets of Georgetown in their bright colours and pumped up spirits. As is the norm, the march began at the Parade Ground and the hundreds of children from every region in Guyana made their way to the National Park. Their bright colours shone in the hot sun and the streets were lined with persons eager to catch a glimpse of what the children portrayed.

Administrator (ag) at the Unit of Allied Arts and the Children’s Mash coordinator, Lorraine Barker-King said, “Today’s event is basically to showcase our children’s talent in costume.” This children’s parade was the grand conclusion to the string of children’s activities organised for Mashramani 2019. There were also dance, song, drama and masquerade events held. This year, all educational districts (each administrative region and Georgetown) were represented throughout

the activities, according to Barker-King. The costumes will be retained for the larger, national Mashramani float parade which will be held on Republic Day, February 23. “We have seen a lot of improvement in terms of the quality of performances [and] the types of movement [over the years],” she commented. “The Unit of Allied Arts is the centre for the promotion of arts in schools. This unit is the only unit in the Caribbean that looks at the arts in that specific way. We have our

schools doing dance, drama, music, physical education and visual arts.” There were eight nursery school bands that crafted their designs under the theme of “Celebration of Flora and Fauna”; the primary bands designed under “Folklore”; the secondary bands doing their take on “Technology”; other children’s organisations “green industries” or “celebration of an organisation”; eight individual participants and the 10 regional bands.

The float for the Demerara-Mahaica Band, “Rediscovering the Garden City- Georgetown through Infrastructural development and patrimony” [Vishani Ragobeer photo]

A forest fairy from the Lodge Nursery school [Vishani Ragobeer photo]

The Freeburg Secondary School- “Embracing Technology for a brighter future” [Delano Williams photo]

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The Open Doors Centre delighting with their “Victory over the disabled” [Delano Williams photo]

A portrayal of folklore [Delano Williams photo]

An adorable child portraying the Victoria Regia Lily, Guyana’s national flower [Delano Williams photo]

The Regional band for Mahaica-Berbice crafted under the theme: “Embracing unity and diversity for growth anf development through aquaculture in Corriverton” [Vishani Ragobeer photo]

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Colonel Cecil ‘Pluto’ Martindale dies at 93 By Frederick Halley

ONE of the most decorated military officers in Guyana, Colonel Cecil Edgar “Pluto” Martindale died Saturday morning at the Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, Canada. The 93-year-old Martindale, who celebrated his birthday on February 2 last, had been ailing for the past few weeks. An active member of the Guyana Ex-Soldiers of Canada (GESAC) until the time of his demise, Martindale attended the association’s annual dinner and dance, held on December 2 last where he delivered prayers. GESAC president Gordon Winter, in an invited comment, described Martindale as “the epitome of an officer

and a giant of a man who will be sorely missed. His attention to detail, experience, wisdom; [your] fatherly figure and much-needed advice have made us a much better association.” In February 2016, Martindale was the toast of GESAC’s fraternity at an extravagant and entertaining 90th birth anniversary celebration held at the Elite Banquet Hall in Toronto. Martindale, who served with distinction in both the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana People’s Militia (GPM), was fittingly honoured for his sterling contributions to both organisations over the years. Tributes were also received from Guyana’s President, Brigadier David Granger, who disclosed that he had the

FLASHBACK: Colonel Martindale examines the certificate of appreciation presented to him on behalf of Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, by Secretary of the Guyana Ex-Soldiers of Canada, Ingrid King, at his 90th birthday celebration honour of serving under Colonel Mar- Boxing Board of Control (GBBC); and tindale when he was appointed com- as Vice-President of the Guyana Rugby manding officer of the Second Battalion Football Union (GRFU). He was first in June, 1967. the secretary and later became president The Guyanese President also recalled of the Boys Brigade Council of Guyana. working with Martindale when the latter Colonel Martindale’s military career was the planning officer responsible for started in 1948, when he enlisted in the designing the architecture of the new ranks of the British Guiana Volunteer force. Force (BGVF). In August 1951, he was According to Granger, Colonel Mar- commissioned in the rank of Second tindale “contributed immensely to the Lieutenant, and was promoted to Lieudevelopment of the Guyana Defence tenant a year later, after which he became Force.” President Granger also pointed a Captain in November 1955, a Major out that the Colonel Cecil Martindale in February 1961, Lieutenant-Colonel Command and Staff School “stands as in May 1967, and Colonel in May 1976. an enduring testimony of the high esteem Prior to embarking on his outstandin which Colonel Cecil Edgar Martindale ing military career, Colonel Martindale was held during his military service.” taught for a few years before joining Canada’s Prime Minister Justin the Public Service in 1946, serving in Trudeau also sent a certificate of appreci- the Customs & Excise Department as a ation, which was presented to Martindale Customs Officer. by GESAC Secretary, Ingrid King. During his military service, he reAn avid sports enthusiast, Colonel ceived six awards: the Efficiency DecMartindale was also deeply interested in oration, 1962; the Independence Medal, band music and promoted the playing of 1966; the Border Defence Medal, 1967; steelband music in the GDF, as well as the Military Service Medal, 1972; Milithe early development of hockey. He also tary Service Star, 1981; and the Military served as President of the Guyana Olym- Efficiency Medal, 1984. pic Association (GOA), the Guyana Martindale is survived by his wife Football Federation (GFF), the Guyana Bernice, children and grandchildren.

Juveniles escape – three returned, from NOC two still at large JUST one day after five juveniles were recaptured, they escaped for a second time at the New Opportunity Corps on Thursday. The administrator for the correctional institution had put the five in special cells at the facility, after they were recently recaptured. However, on Valentine’s night at around 23:20hrs, the students cut the bolts from their cells and escaped.

The young offenders are serving time for offences such as simple larceny, robbery with violence, unlawful wounding, burglary and wandering. They were expected to be released from the facility in 2020. During the wee hours of Friday morning, three of the juveniles returned, leaving two of their colleagues at large. Police are searching for the remaining two.

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GNBS keeps spotlight on fuel pumps countrywide

THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) continues to verify fuel pumps at gas stations countrywide, bulk storage tanks and meters and the compartments of tanker wagons owned by the large fuel companies. According to GNBS Public Relations Officer (PRO) Lloyd David, the bureau is empowered under the “Weights and Measures Act of 1981” to check and verify the accuracy of bulk meters, fuel pumps and other mea-

suring devices used in the petroleum sector. “These verifications ensure that the quantities of fuel dispensed using these devices are within the acceptable tolerances. Hence, vehicle owners and other consumers can continually rely on the quantities of fuel provided to them during purchase,” he explained. In addition, he added that the compartments of a significant number of privatelyowned fuel tankers (trucks) were verified and inspected during the last few years to

ensure that accuracy and safety requirements are maintained. During the verification process, David said several test measures are used to determine the accuracy of the petrol pumps, bulk meters and wagon compartments. “For devices which are inaccurate, the necessary adjustments are made and security seals are affixed to the adjusting mechanisms. This is to maintain the integrity of the verification process,” he noted. He added: “If a subsequent check is conducted by inspectors of the GNBS and the affixed seals are found to be tampered with or removed, the operators or owners can face prosecution.” He also noted that if for one reason or another, a verified measuring device is not functioning properly, and cannot be verified immediately, the inspector would seal the dispensing nuzzle to prevent further usage until its accuracy can be verified.

The entire verification process, David emphasised, is intended to protect both suppliers and consumers. “When a pump is over-delivering fuel, the station is selling at a financial loss. If a pump is under-delivering, then drivers are being short-changed. Similarly, fuel terminals also need to supply the correct quantities of fuel to petrol stations that are their customers, so that they too can be satisfied.” He advised that consumers make purchases in quantities such as litres and decalitres and to check fuel pumps for the GNBS seals. “The presence of an approval seal on a fuel pump indicates that the pump was checked for the corresponding period. However, if as a consumer, you have doubts about the quantity of fuel you bought from a particular gas station, give the GNBS a call and the necessary actions will be taken to re-check the petrol meters at that station,” he said.

Oil will be a game changer, says Gaskin MINISTER of Business Dominic Gaskin has assured that the newly established oil and gas sector will create more jobs for Guyanese. On a recent podcast programme with opposition Member of Parliament Juan Edghill, the minister said the government has created a local content policy which is in its final stage of drafting. This, he explained, will benefit many locals, once implemented. Whilst the opposition MP contended that, “the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest) has failed the nation,” Minister Gaskin refuted this. He said that Go-Invest has been institutionally strengthened with the establishment of policies such as legislation to deal with what he called the free- for-all economy which Guyana had enjoyed pre- 2015. Minister Gaskin said that with the putting in place of the Anti-Money

Laundering Terrorism and Financing Act legislation, Guyana has tightened its systems, allowing for more accountability and transparency. The minister opined that a more investment-friendly tax regime would be needed to make Guyana more investment-friendly, and noted that this is being pursued. He added that the administration has managed to bring the issue of public security, piracy and crime to significantly low rates. These are just some key issues that affect potential investors. The government, Minister Gaskin added, sees the issue of better infrastructure, value-added sector, tourism and better education as frontier policies for this administration as it continues to work on measures designed to ease doing business and enhance the investment climate.

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'Nations' benefits from robotics training in Canada

SIX students and one teacher of the School of the Nations were trained in the field of robotics during a seven-day programme which was held in Ontario, Canada.

dents to drive the robotics programme at School of the Nations and to give them exposure to the limitless applications in all careers. The training involved

programme to write codes. 'Nations' students had the opportunity to work along and share ideas with students at LIA,” said the institution. After two days of train-

The teams from School of the Nations working on a project in Ontario, Canada According to a press statement from the institution, the programme, which started on February 9, was made possible through an ongoing partnership between Nations and the London International Academy (LIA). The main aim of the training was to use stu-

programming and building robots, but emphasis were also placed on designing robotic parts using FreeCAD and printing those parts using 3D printers. “Nations students were tasked with the challenge of assembling a 3D printer; they also used the Python

ing, the students were taken to the University of Western Ontario for a visit and to present their work to students of the university. “The students at the university were impressed by what the team achieved in just two days. 'Nations' students were exposed to

President mourns passing of Colonel Martindale PRESIDENT David Granger said he is deeply saddened at the passing of Colonel Cecil Edgar Martindale MSS, MSM, ED, this morning at the age of 93 in Toronto, Canada. Colonel Martindale’s military career started in 1948 when he enlisted in the British Guiana Volunteer Force (BGVF). Three years later, he was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant. In March 1966, he was seconded from the Public Service to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and appointed Officer Commanding Head Quarter Company 1 GDF. The following year, he was appointed Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion GDF and in December 1971, was recalled to the Public Service. Colonel Martindale, however, returned to military service when he was appointed Commandant, Guyana Peoples Militia in May 1976. He was the recipient of several mil-

itary awards: The Military Service Star, the Military Service Medal, the Military Efficiency Medal, The Border Defence Medal, The Independence Medal and the Efficiency Decoration. Colonel Martindale contributed immensely to the development of the Reserves and was the First Commandant of the Guyana People’s Militia, the President said. “In over 40 years of military service to Guyana, Colonel Martindale enriched the life and development of the defence forces, and in recognition of his exemplary service, the GDF Staff School-- Colonel Cecil Martindale Command and Staff School-- was named in his honour. “President Granger extends heartfelt sympathy to Colonel Martindale’s wife Bernice, children Melanie and Noel, and other relatives,” a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, said.

approximately 10 hours of training per day and did not show any sign of exhaustion; they now plan to return,” the release said. In addition to their practical work, students were privileged to have a video conference with Dr. Marcin Jakubowski, who is the founder of Open Source Ecology (OSE, www.opensourceecology.org), an open collaboration of engineers, producers and builders developing the Global Village

Construction Set (GVCS). He planted 100 trees in a day, made 500 blocks in a day and built a tractor in six days. Dr. Jakubowski was amazed by the students’ designs of a motor and wants to put it on an open source site and upload videos of their work on YouTube, Facebook, Wiki and other sites so that it can be available to everyone. The team will continue to collaborate with stu-

dents from LIA on projects and share information and designs on an open source called Gitlab. Last year, 11 students were trained in robotics and two students, Ryan Benschop (team captain) and Othniel Lewis, were selected to represent Guyana in the first Global Robotics Tournament. T h i s y ea r, L I A is planning to bring a team to 'Nations' to collaborate on various projects.

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Free Movement Committee resuscitated –– VAT appeal tribunal amended, NDMA reconstituted

THE government has resuscitated the Free Movement Committee which will allow Guyanese with specified skills to travel freely within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In 2006, the committee was established to facilitate the free movement of Guyanese with specified skills but, after a few meetings, the committee became dormant, said Minister of State Joseph Harmon during a press briefing on Friday. According to CARICOM, the free movement

of skills initiative originated in the 1989 Grand Anse Declaration, but the original concept has been modified over the years in order to facilitate the implementation of this mandate. Basically, the free movement of skills entails the right to seek employment in any member state and the elimination of the need for work permits and permits of stay. It is important to note from the outset that free movement is an important pillar of any genuine single market and

economy. Government, in an effort to promote free movement, has resuscitated the committee and expanded it to include new members such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of The Presidency, Department of Citizenship and Immigration, the National Accreditation Council, the Government Technical Institute, the Council for Technical Vocational and Education Training, the Guyana Office for Investment and the Guyana Nursing Council. Minister Harmon said approval has also been

granted for the committee to convene regular meetings. As part of efforts to revamp and improve committees, government has also granted approval for the amendment of the Value Added Tax (VAT)

Appeal Tribunal which will now be headed by Attorney-at-Law Ronald Burch-Smith. The tribunal will also include Pamela Drakes, Nizam Ally, John Seeram and a new member, Trevor Bowen. Harmon said the parliamentary opposition is yet to identify a representative from their side.

In addition to the tribunal, the board of directors of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) was also reconstituted and will now be chaired by Clement Henry and will include Floyd Levi, Raymond Khan, Michael Griffith, Marcia Thomas and Lance Hinds.

Lands Commission warns against unauthorised surveyors THE Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) says all surveyors, both local and foreign, are required to apply to be registered annually in keeping with the Land Surveyors (Profession Act) of 2014. The commission in a release noted that all foreign surveyors must be registered before approval is granted for them to practise in Guyana. It pointed out that approval must be sought in writing from the commissioner of

GL&SC and only approved and registered surveyors will be permitted to undertake surveys. The commission emphasised that under Section Four of the GL&SC Act, Chapter 59:05, it is authorised to execute geodetic, topographic, hydrographic and cadastral surveys in relation to land and water resources. Those found in breach of the regulations will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, the release said.

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Natural Resources Fund signed into law PRESIDENT David Granger has signed into law, the Natural Resources Fund Act No. 12 of 2019, which was passed by the National Assembly. The Act provides the legal framework for establishment of the Natural Resources Fund, which will manage the natural resource wealth of Guyana, said Minister of State Joseph Harmon during a press briefing on Friday. “It will manage the wealth of Guyana for the present and future benefit of the people and for the sustainable development of the country,” said Harmon, adding that it is part of the preparation for imminent oil wealth. The Natural Resources Fund Bill 2018 was passed on January 3, 2019, in the National Assembly without

objections. Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, in moving the second and third readings of the bill, stressed that a Public Accountability Oversight Committee, as catered for in the bill, will be appointed. Jordan said that the Public Accountability Oversight Committee will not feature any representative from the government or any ministry, or anyone from the opposition’s side of the House. Harmon echoed the sentiments of the finance minister, noting that the law includes provisions for public oversight; withdrawals, including parliamentary approval and amounts to be withdrawn; eligible investments for its resources; accounting reporting and auditing of records; and codes of conduct for members of the Oversight

Guyana establishes diplomatic ties with San Marino –– Gov’t approves appointment of new India high commissioner

GUYANA has established diplomatic relations with the Republic of San Marino, a move that further strengthen ties with the European nation. Minister of State Joseph Harmon made the announcement at a post-Ministerial Plenary press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency on Friday. “This relationship is pursuant with Government’s policy to develop relations with as many friendly countries in the international community,” said Harmon. San Marino is described as a mountainous microstate surrounded by north-central Italy. Among the world’s oldest republics, it retains much of its historic architecture. On the slopes of Monte Titano sits the capital, also called San Marino, known for its medieval walled old town and narrow cobblestone streets. The Three Towers, castle-like citadels dating to the 11th century, sit atop Titano’s neighbouring peaks. As Guyana continues to grow and strengthen ties with new countries, it also has to maintain its diplomatic relationships with other countries, such as India, which have been contributing toward local development. In light of that, Harmon announced the appointment of K.J. Srinivasa as the new High Commissioner of India to Guyana. Srinivasa will replace High Commissioner V. Mahalingam who has served in the capacity since 2014. “Guyana and India share strong diplomatic relations which is evidenced by the close bilateral relations… the maintenance of this relationship will provide further opportunities for relations between Guyana and India,” said the minister of state. Meanwhile, Government also approved the appointment of a new non-resident Ambassador of Kuwait to Guyana. Harmon said the appointment will create momentum for existing and new partnerships between Guyana and Kuwait.

and Investment Committee. Included in the Act is the first schedule, which outlines procedures and considerations which shall obtain in calculating the fiscally sustainable amount of the fund. Harmon said it also includes a second schedule which sets out the sealing for investment of the fund, with a purpose of long-term savings. The Caribbean Develop-

ment Bank (CDB) has lauded the government’s Natural Resource Fund as a positive step in the right direction towards protecting Guyana from the ‘resource curse.’ CDB Director of Economics, Dr. Justin Ram, spoke extensively on the fund being set up to manage the country’s large expected flow of oil revenue. “I think that the proposals from the government

are sound with respect to the Natural Resource Fund, whereby, the revenues go into the fund first and then there are applications by the government to spend those resources. That, I think, is critical and can help with mitigation, so that the ‘Dutch Disease’ or ‘Resource Curse’ does not happen in Guyana,” he told this newspaper.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

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Guyana looking to increase visitation –– hopes to have eight per cent visitor growth each year

AS part of an effort to increase visitation and promote Guyana as an emerging and sustainable destination, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) has enlisted the services of Concept Farm. Concept Farm is an advertising agency based in Long Island City, New York; the agency has expertise in

integrated marketing and communications strategy. Virtually untouched, Guyana lies on South America’s northern coast and is home to pristine rainforests, immense waterfalls, savannahs, mountains, rivers and rich biodiversity found nowhere else on the planet. Guyana also boasts a healthy birding population,

many of the world’s giant species, welcoming indigenous peoples and diverse cultural and heritage roots. According to a press statement from the GTA, unique to the destination is its fusion of Caribbean and South American influences and the fact that it is the only English-speaking nation in South America.

“We have an opportunity to be recognised locally and internationally as a premier destination for protecting our natural and cultural heritage,” said GTA Director Brian Mullis. “From their work in tourism and their expertise and depth of their people, Concept Farm has the right credentials, knowledge and experience to develop a new strategy for us and build the capacity of our Destination Marketing team to evolve it over time,” he added. The GTA said Guyana has seen incremental visitor growth over the last few years, but looks to grow sustainably at eight per cent every year. According to the authority, the emphasis is on highlighting the “spectacular” birding, fishing, wildlife, outdoor adventure, and indigenous culture and attracting travellers seeking authentic experiences, who tend to stay longer and spend more in pristine destinations such as Guyana. Chief among its priorities will be to identify the right audiences for sustainable growth and develop a comprehensive strategy that will

include digital and social media, content development, web development, public relations, partnerships, influencers and email marketing to maximise exposure, engagement and ROI, through the core markets in North America, Canada, and the United Kingdom (UK). Guyana will also look at investment markets such as Germany and the Netherlands. Concept Farm will develop the strategy and plan to fully integrate the communications mix across North America, Europe and Latin America. In addition, they will develop a plan for the authority to become a leading benchmark in sustainable tourism by the year 2025. Working in tandem with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the plan aims to achieve green growth and social inclusiveness, while increasing employment, environmental protection and resource efficiency and the protection and promotion of cultural values, diversity and heritage of the Region. “We’re honoured to be chosen to take the lead on this initiative to develop a blueprint for one of the last untouched places on the planet,” stated Strategy

Director for Concept Farm, John Speers. “It’s a huge responsibility and to do this in a sustainable manner is a rare privilege and opportunity,” he said. Speers, an Allied Board member of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, has developed programmes that showcase the cultural identity and diversity in the Caribbean, drawing significant visitation and spending. With a specialisation in tourism, Concept Farm has worked with many partners to help shape and build their destinations and products to the right audiences. They recently launched an Authentic Aruba campaign, using local voices to distinguish the island from its Caribbean competitors. The activation won Aruba and Concept Farm 11 HSMAI Adrian Awards – the most for any destination – for best use of content strategy, virtual reality, social media, video content and the prestigious Pioneer of Visual Storytelling honour. This expertise, knowledge and strategic way of thinking will not only build the profile of Destination Guyana, but aim to create a long-lasting, impactful image of the destination to current and potential travellers.

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`Too Sharp’ Allen outdoes Webster to win WBA Gold super middleweight title LENNOX ‘Too Sharp’ Allen went the distance (10 rounds) with American Derrick Webster, but, when the dust settled, it was the Guyanese who walked out of the ring with a Unanimous Decision (UD) win and the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Gold super middleweight title. Allen knocked down Webster in the third round (for a 10-8 round), and was ahead on the scorecards from that point forward in the fight which took place at the Grand Casino, Hinckley, Minnesota, USA on Friday (February 15). At the end of the contest, two judges scored the fight 98-91, while the other had it 97-92, all in favour of Allen.

Allen, 33, who started his boxing career at the former Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym, has now improved his ring-record to 22 wins and one draw in 23 outings; maintaining his unbeaten streak. The defeat was Webster’s second in 30 fights, winning 28, 14 of which came by knockouts. The hard-hitting Guyanese after the fight said that he expected the result, adding that finally all his hard work had paid off. Allen said he’s excited to return home and enjoy the moment with his fans here in Guyana, but said he’s also looking forward to stepping into the ring soon.

United dethrone Showstoppers to lift title

AFTER a pulsating night of football on the West Bank of Demerara at the Pouderoyen tarmac, Brothers

United emerged as the new champions of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ in the West Demerara Zone by defeating Showstoppers on penalty kicks. Showstoppers, who are three-time champions of the zone, were frustrated and denied goal-scoring opportunities. It was much the same for Brothers United, but after regulation time and extra time failed to produce a winner, it was the latter who held their nerve to secure the title from the penalty spot.

Showstoppers’ penalty kick-takers failed to convert a single chance while United needed just one to hit the back of the net to claim victory. Meanwhile, West Side Ballers edged ESPN in the Plate Final 2-1 in a thriller. ESPN took the lead early on in the game off the boot of Tefon Daly in the eighth minute but Ballers netted a Guinness goal (worth 2 goals in the final minutes of the game) through Dwayne St Gibbs in the 28th minute to

seal the deal. In the third-place playoff, Ballers Empire dispatched Up-Top Bosses 3-0 with Quincy Dos Santos netting in the seventh minute while Colin McCalmon struck in the 28th minute to register a Guinness goal. For their victory, Brothers United walked away with $500 000, a trophy and automatic qualification for the National Playoffs while Plate winners West Side Ballers pocketed $50 000 for their effort.

Dinesh Karthik left out; Pant recalled for Australia ODIs RISHABH Pant and KL Rahul have been recalled to India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming five-match ODI series against Australia. Dinesh Karthik, on the other hand, has been axed from the squad for the series, which will be India’s last 50-over assignment before the 2019 World Cup. “We have included him [Pant] considering the fact that he is a left-hander and we are going to discuss with the team management. We will try and figure the best possible batting position for Pant. With a lefthander in the side, there is an advantage of leftright combination,” MSK Prasad, India’s chairman of selectors, said. “We want to give Pant a few ODIs before taking a final call on World Cup.” Ravindra Jadeja, Khaleel Ahmed, Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj - all of whom were part of the squad in the recent tour of New Zealand, have also been left out. Meanwhile, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been rested for the first two games of the series. “Siddarth Kaul has been doing very well in whatever opportunities has been given and also at India A level,” he said. “Khaleel has been playing for the last two series and we have seen him. We would like to see Siddarth Kaul also. We have shortlisted about 18 players and we are going to rotate among them.”

India’s squad for 1st and 2nd ODI against Australia: Virat Kohli (Capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Rishabh Pant, Siddharth Kaul, KL Rahul.

through 2018 in Test cricket - which included centuries in England and Australia - has propelled his case, besides his reasonably good show in the New Zealand T20Is. Meanwhile, since making his debut last year, Khaleel has picked up 11 wickets in 9 matches at an economy rate of 5.36. His variation as a left-arm

Rishabh Pant

Karthik’s exclusion is noteworthy given India had groomed him to play the finisher’s role. The 33-year-old registered scores of 38* (38), 25* (14), 12 (21) and 0(1) in the limited opportunities he got with the bat in the last two series - in Australia and New Zealand. Apart from averaging 75, he struck at over run a ball and helped India see off the target in two chases. Pant, on the other hand, hasn’t had the same impact as yet in his brief three-match ODI career so far, totalling 41 runs. However, a break-

pacer proved to his biggest asset. However, his inability to seal a spot in the limited chances to go with Mohammed Shami’s impressive showing in New Zealand has edged him out from the third pacer’s slot. With Bumrah returning after sitting out the limited-overs assignment in Australia and New Zealand, India’s pace attack is almost near full strength. Bhuvneshwar will join the squad from the third ODI onwards with Sidharth Kaul filling in as a fast-bowling alternative for the first two games. (Cricbuzz.com)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 17, 2019

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We will be ready for Belize - head coach Johnson, as training camp ends THE Golden Jaguars will be well-prepared and ready to beat Belize in their crucial final CONCACAF Nations League/Gold Cup qualifier at home on Saturday, March 23, according to head coach Michael Johnson at the conclusion of his 10-day training and assessment trip. A win for Guyana should guarantee qualification to the Gold Cup for the first time in the history of the senior men’s team. Performing at the premier regional tournament will represent a huge boost for the development of football and the nation, offering an international platform for players and national investment. “I believe this is our time. We have a really good run at making sure the players are tactically, technically and mentally prepared,” Johnson said during his visit. “We will be where we should be, come game time. We are on the road.” “(Assistant coach) Charles Pollard is doing a great job, as is (GFF fitness expert) Wilson Toledo - so I’m very confident that we will be ready for the game, come March 23. We have 100 percent total belief in what we are going to do.” Pointing to factors behind the recent 2-1 defeat to French Guiana, Johnson said special attention was being paid to ensuring the final squad will be psychologically fit to cope with the pressures of one of the biggest games in the history of Guyanese football. “Everybody talks about technique and tactics, but if

you are not mentally prepared, sometimes your body shuts down in the heat of the moment,” he said. “I’ve played in the Gold Cup so I’d like to share my experiences of those big-time occasions with the players, but also to try to take the sting out of it.”

by County and Birmingham City in the higher echelons of the British football pyramid. He has since completed the UEFA Pro coaching licence – the highest coaching qualification in football. Guyana currently lie in eighth place on six points in

tion of 26 players is currently participating in an 8-week training schedule at the GFF National Training Centre in Providence and Space Gym in Georgetown. International-based Golden Jaguars will become available for national team training when

Head coach Michael Johnson says the Golden Jaguars will be ready come March 23.

“It’s important that the staff absorb all that pressure around the game and allow the players to concentrate. You have to play the game, not the occasion.” Former Jamaica international and Premier League defender, Johnson, enjoyed a long and successful career playing for clubs such as Der-

the CONCACAF qualification table, with Belize in 13th position. After the forthcoming round, the top ten teams will join the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago in the 15th edition of the Gold Cup, which takes place between June 15 and July 7. A Guyana-based selec-

the FIFA international window opens on March 18. Johnson and his team will select a final match squad of 23 players one week before the match. GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood said every player in the current set up had a chance to make the final squad.

Argentines pay tribute to Sala at special memorial By Miguel Lo Bianco PROGRESO, Argentina (Reuters) - Grieving Argentines paid tribute to footballer Emiliano Sala yesterday at a special memorial in his home region of Santa Fe. The body of the 28-year old Sala, who died in a plane crash last month, was laid out in a gymnasium in the town where he grew up so friends and family could pay their last respects. A single-engine plane carrying Sala from French club Nantes to his new team Cardiff City crashed on January 21 in the English Channel, before he made his debut for the Premier League side who bought him for a club record £15M. Wreckage was found on February 3 following a privately-funded underwater search and a body recovered three days later. Sala’s body was flown back to Argentina and arrived in Buenos Aires on Friday morning before being driven

the 538 km (334 miles) to Progreso, where he grew up. The gymnasium of the Atletico y Social San Martin de Progreso club hosted boys’ teams where Sala played as a child. Residents in the town of around 2 500 people, many

wearing the red and black shirt of the local side with the name EMI on the back, began arriving at about 07:00hrs yesterday to see the body and pay their last respects. Outside, fans draped a banner saying, ‘Emi, nunca camina-

Residents arrived early yesterday morning to pay their last respects to Emiliano Sala, former striker of French club Nantes, who died in a plane crash in the English Channel.

ras solo’ or ‘Emi, You’ll Never Walk Alone.’ “It’s as if he was a member of my family,” said a sobbing Lucia Torres, who lives nearby. “It’s something I can’t understand nor accept because it hurts so much. The town has been in darkness since January 21.” Sala’s body was scheduled to be taken to the nearby city of Santa Fe for cremation yesterday evening but his family did not give details of what would happen to his ashes. Cardiff manager Neil Warnock, along with the Welsh club’s chief executive Ken Choo and president Mehmet Dalman, is among those attending the ceremony, as is Sala’s former Nantes team mate Nicolas Pallois. “I would like to find a responsible person... someone who says to me, ‘This happened’, but, well, it seems this was just an accident,” said Sala’s aunt, Mirta Taffarel.

“It is ultimately up to the players to play themselves into the squad,” he said. “There is no quota on the number of international and local-based players. We are looking for the strongest 23 players who can get us over the line against Belize. It is up to the players - the pathway is there for them.” Johnson said he was confident that Guyana had the talent, strategy and platform to succeed at the regional level. “We have seen that we can score goals against anyone. We are a threat. We have got players who, at the top of their game, are a threat to anyone in the CONCACAF region,” he said. “Because of the work that the technical director has done and the president as well Guyanese football is in a great place. You look at the training facilities, you look at the U-15s; you look at the work across the coaches to help deliver the messages to the football clubs; the referees. Behind the scenes is a very solid background. What has probably not been there before is that solid background. So I really believe we are in a good place.” HOPING FOR PROVIDENCE The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has requested the use of the national stadium at Providence for the Golden Jaguar’s final CONCACAF qualifier against Belize on March 23, according to GFF technical director Ian Greenwood.

The venue for the match has yet to be confirmed, with both Providence and Leonora seen as possible options for the clash, which could see Guyana qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time in the history of the senior men’s team. “We are really hoping this match will be played at the national stadium in Providence,” Greenwood said. “It is the Guyana national team - it is going to be the greatest day in Guyana’s footballing history, when we beat Belize and qualify for Gold Cup. Providence is a great central location and really fits the importance of the occasion. We want to fill that stadium with Guyanese cheering on the Golden Jaguars.” “The correspondence is with the government to secure the venue, and we are hoping for a positive response from them. It will make all the difference for this special occasion. I think everyone sees this event as a matter of huge importance not just for football, but for the nation as a whole.” Golden Jaguars head coach Michael Johnson supported the call for the match to be played at Providence. “Playing at the stadium is really important, so as soon as we can get the green light for the national stadium, the better for all parties,” Johnson said. “It will allow us to really maximise the opportunity of this big match.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 17, 2019

Perera blasts Sri Lanka to victory in first South Africa Test

Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj took two more wickets in quick succession to reduce Sri Lanka to 226 for 9, still 78 away. Kusal Perera, though, scored 67 of those and finished on an unbeaten 153 to see Sri Lanka home. (Getty Images)

DURBAN, South Africa (Reuters) - Sri Lanka middle-order batsman Kusal Perera scored a brilliant unbeaten century to lead them to a famous one-wicket win over South Africa in a thrilling first Test at Kingsmead yesterday. Perera was not out on 153, his highest Test score, as he put on 78 for the last wicket with number 11 Vishwa Fernando (six not out), taking Sri Lanka to a victory target of 304 that had looked out of sight for much of the innings. South Africa appeared odds-on for victory when they claimed the ninth Sri Lankan wicket with the score on 226, but Perera launched a brilliant counter-attack with a mix of powerful hitting and intelligent farming of the strike. The win, Sri Lanka’s first in any format since October, ends South Africa’s run of seven home series victories with

the second and final Test in Port Elizabeth from February 21-25. “I don’t know what to say, it was a great effort as a team, the lower order batsmen gave me great support,” Perera said at the post-match presentation. “I played my part, but we win as a team. This is a special game for us.” The winning total is the third-highest run chase ever in Durban and leaves Sri Lanka unbeaten in three Tests at Kingsmead, with two wins and a draw. PHILANDER MISSING South Africa were missing seamer Vernon Philander with a hamstring injury yesterday, but the much-vaunted seam attack that had seen off Pakistan earlier in the season was expected to complete the win when Sri Lanka resumed the day on 83 for three. Dale Steyn picked up two

wickets in an over to leave the tourists on 110 for five, but Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva (48) put on 96 runs for the sixth wicket to take Sri Lanka to

within a hundred of their target. But Keshav Maharaj (371) removed the latter and along with Duanne Olivier (235) took four wickets for the addition of 20 runs to leave South Africa on the brink of what looked like being a routine victory. But Perera, with only one previous Test hundred to his name, continued to attack the bowling and, along with the stout rear-guard from Fernando, kept South Africa at bay. The last-wicket stand of 78 is the highest ever to win a first class game of cricket, while the previous highest in Tests was 57 by Pakistan against Australia in 1994. “It was an incredible game of cricket, and obviously very disappointing to be on the losing side,” South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said. “Well played to Sri Lanka, Perera was unbelievable; he deserves all the accolades that will come to him. “Our bowlers were pretty good over the last two days, apart from a superhuman effort from Perera. I thought 300 was enough on this wicket, but great batting took it away from us.”

SCOREBOARD

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 235 all out SRI LANKA 1st innings 191 all out SOUTH AFRICA 2nd innings 259 all out SRI LANKA 2nd innings o/n Dimuth Karunaratne lbw Vernon Philander 20 Lahiru Thirimanne c Faf du Plessis b Kagiso Rabada 21 Oshada Fernando c Faf du Plessis b Dale Steyn 37 Kusal Mendis c Quinton de Kock b Duanne Olivier 0 Kusal Perera not out 153 Niroshan Dickwella c & b Dale Steyn 0 Dhananjaya de Silva lbw Keshav Maharaj 48 Suranga Lakmal c Faf du Plessis b Keshav Maharaj 0 Lasith Embuldeniya c Aiden Markram b Duanne Olivier 4 Kasun Rajitha lbw Keshav Maharaj 1 Vishwa Fernando not out 6 Extras: (lb-13, w-1) 14 Total: (nine wkts, 85.3 overs) 304 Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-42, 3-52, 4-110, 5-110, 6-206, 7-206, 8-215, 9-226. Bowling: Dale Steyn 18-1-71-2, Vernon Philander 8-3-13-1, Keshav Maharaj 20-1-71- 3, Kagiso Rabada 22.3-3-97-1 (w-1), Duanne Olivier 16-3-35-2.

Guptill second century guides New Zealand home

MARTIN Guptill hit his second consecutive ODI century as New Zealand cantered to an eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Christchurch. The Black Caps secured the three-match series in convincing fashion at Hagley Oval, chasing down a target of 227 in just 36.1 overs. Opener Guptill, fresh from an unbeaten 117 in Napier, went one better yesterday, eventually holing out for 118 after cracking 14 fours and four sixes during his 88ball stay.

His 143-run partnership with Kane Williamson for the second wicket put New Zealand well on their way to victory. Williamson, who was unbeaten on 65 from 86 deliveries, completed the victory via a boundary with 83 balls to spare. After being sent in Bangladesh lost their openers inside seven overs, with Liton Das caught on the boundary off Trent Boult for one before Tamim Iqbal was trapped lbw for five by Matt Henry. Mohammad Mithun top-

Martin Guptill is the star of the show, as Black Caps claim series-clinching victory in style. (AAP photo)

UG suffer ten-wicket defeat at the hands of Everest

Openers Dwayne Adams (left) and Ronaldo Renee HOSTS, Everest Cricket Club, crushed University of Guyana (UG) by 10 wickets yesterday in the latest round of the Georgetown Cricket Association New Building Society (NBS) 40-over second-division cricket competition. The result is a further blow to the brittle confidence of the UG students, ahead of today’s fixture against Malteenoes Sports Club, which is set for the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC). Winning the toss and deciding to bat, UG were bundled out for just 96 in 24 overs. The hosts’ spinners had done the damage earlier in the day, Javed Rasheed taking three wickets for 16; former National U-19 cricketer Richie Looknauth (2-38) and skipper Dwayne Adams (1-5). However, it was medium pacer Roylex Payne who claimed three wickets for 27 runs and started the slide for the University side. The students lost wickets right from the start and continued throughout the innings. Suresh Dhanai made a fighting 23 while Linden Austin and Irshad contributed 12 runs apiece in a disappointing batting display. The run chase was always easy as the hosts’ openers, Adams and Ronaldo Renee, smashed their way to a comfortable win with 26.1 overs to spare. They eventually reached 97 without loss in 13.5 overs. The 31-year-old Adams who struck a magnificent century (128) against the Diplomats Sports Club previously, again showed form, hitting an unbeaten 53 while the right-handed Renee made a composed 35 not out. The left-handed Adams struck six fours and two sixes while Renee hit four boundaries in his knock. Today’s match starts at 11:00hrs. (Rajiv Bisnauth)

Roylex Payne and Javed Rasheed claimed three wickets apiece.

scored with 57 and Sabbir Rahman (43) was the other major contributor as the pair put on 75 for the sixth wicket. H o w e v e r, t h e N e w Zealand attack were never stressed, with pace bowler Lockie Ferguson (3-43) leading the way as Bangladesh were dismissed for 226 with two balls remaining. In response, New Zealand were halfway to their target within 19 overs for the loss of opener Henry Nicholls (14) who was caught at deep square leg off Mustafizur Rahman. Rahman also claimed Guptill when only 39, at which point the home side only needed 39 leaving Williamson and Ross Taylor (21) to complete successive victories by eight wickets. (AAP)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 17, 2019

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Ramdhani wins two badminton titles at GUMDAC Open Doubles tournament

Kings University coach confident Ramdhani will make Canada’s college nationals

HEAD coach of the Kings University Eagles Naeem Haque is confident that Guyana’s national champion Narayan Ramdhani will make it to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic

Narayan Ramdhani is one of the favourites to win the Men’s singles at the ACAC championships this weekend.

The winners pose for a photo on Friday night at the National Gymnasium.

THE competition in the female division was not enough for Priyanna Ramdhani and the results proved why - two titles including one in the men’s doubles. The Caribbean champion, who is our highest rated female player, was a dominant force in the GUMDAC Open Doubles tournament, which was played on Friday at the National Gymnasium. The 17-year-old, who was also allowed to participate in the male competition due to her skillset, teamed up with Avinash Odit to defeat Ronald Chang Yeng and Jonathan Mangra 21-19, 13-21, 22-20 in a thrilling male double final. In the semi-finals, Ramdhani and Odit had defeated Darrell Carpenay and Avian Rodrigues 21-15, 21-13, while Yuen and Mangra edged out Akili Haynes and Tyrese Jeffrey 21-18, 20-22, 22-20. Ramdhani, who captained the national team at the Li Ning BWF World Juniors Mixed team and Individual Badminton

Championships in Markham, Canada last year November, was also dominant in the female doubles. The teen teamed up with Priscilla Moore in the women’s doubles to defeat Ayanna Watson and Christina Kumar 21-8, 2111 in the final. Earlier the winners had defeated Jayde DaSilva and Stephanie Sanjar 21-5, 21-8, while the second-place finishers had gotten past Roseann Bulkan and Anna Perreira 21-12, 21-18. Meanwhile in the consolation rounds (for players knocked out early), Easa Sanichara and Jamal Shamsudeen got past Vikash Mootoo and Matthew Beharry 21-13, 21-11 in the male final, while Nina Ramdeholl and Kayle Anthon defeated Kaya Boswick and Sasha Paramanand 21-18, 20-22, 21-19 in the female final clash. According to information from the Guyana Badminton Association, Carpenay had organised the competition - the first of the calendar year - for the seventh consecutive year.

Former CONCACAF boss Webb has sentence put off for ninth time DISGRACED former CONCACAF boss Jeffrey Webb has had his sentencing pushed back for a ninth time as he remains under house arrest in the United States. Webb is currently facing charges of money-laundering and corruption relating to his time as head of CONCACAF and as a FIFA executive. The former official pleaded guilty to the charges in 2015 but has seen his attorneys constantly appeal to have the sentencing

Former CONCACAF boss Jeffrey Webb

put off. Webb, who was due to be sentenced this month, has been under house arrest in the U.S. and has already forfeited $6.7M in illicit proceeds. The 54-year-old Webb was banned for life by FIFA’s Ethics Committee and fined CHF1M (£759 000, US$1M). Despite admitting to racketeering charges, Webb seems increasingly likely to serve jail time if the current trend continues.

Association championships. The 20-year-old, who has been a star player for his university team, with three wins in the men’s singles competi-

tion seems almost set to take the Eagles to the next level, but first he has to get them past three other schools in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) championships, which is set for this weekend. Although the Eagles are without a title, Haque is confident that Ramdhani will be their saviour, in at least the individual battle. He told a local writer that the team is a different team to the one that went to nationals in 2018. “Last year I had a mixed team that went to provincials and nationals and they are not back. I have a new whole team. But I have one guy, Narayan Ramdhani (1st year, Business, Georgetown, Guyana/Marian Academy) who has done really well in the ACAC. I am pretty sure he will be going to nationals. He has only lost one match this year and that was at Olds and he was pretty sick then. He is 3-1 in men’s singles. Things are looking up for us.” All games will be played at Ralph King Athletics Centre.

Ferguson set for Man United return in charity match

Sir Alex Ferguson in the stands before the match at Southampton, Britain - December 1, 2018 (Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs)

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson will return to the dugout for a charity match to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the team’s treble-winning season, the Premier League club said yesterday. The 77-year-old Scot will take charge of a legends side against Bayern Munich at Old Trafford on May 26. Ferguson, who won the Champions League twice, the Premier League 13 times and five FA Cups with United, had emergency surgery for a brain haemorrhage in May last year but has since recovered and is a regular visitor to Old Trafford on match days. “I’m really looking forward to what will be a special day at Old Trafford,” Ferguson told the club website. “It will be great to catch up with some familiar faces and a great opportunity to support the work of Manchester United Foundation.” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, currently United’s interim manager, scored an added-time winner to secure a 2-1 victory over Bayern in the 1999 Champions League final and complete an unprecedented treble, which included the Premier League title and the FA Cup.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 17, 2019

Windies plan to fight fire with fire, says upbeat Hope BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – With the odds yet again firmly stacked against West Indies in the upcoming One-Day International series, marquee batsman Shai Hope says the Caribbean are bracing for a strong challenge from England, but also plan to counter with firepower of their own. West Indies are ranked ninth in the ICC one-day rankings and face a number one-ranked England side, already pencilled in as firm favourites to win the World Cup at home later this year. However, Hope said while the Windies were cognizant of the challenge, they were not intimidated and would be looking to spring a surprise, similar to what occurred in the preceding three-Test series. “We’re an international team, we’ve come here to play cricket and we just view it as a challenge. We know they’re going to come at us hard and we’ve got to do the same – fight fire with fire,” Hope said here yesterday. “It’s a lot to look forward to, very exciting times espe-

cially leading up to the World Cup so I’m sure the guys are ready and raring to go. We’re just coming off a Test series win so it’s important for us to continue in that vein and try to get the series win as well.”

ton Oval here, with the hosts seeking their first series win over their opponents in 12 years. They will be motivated by their performance in the Test series, however, where

Shai Hope

He added: “We can use this as a good gauge for us going into the World Cup. We’re still looking at some plans (in terms of) what is the best fit and (team) combination but it’s a good challenge for us and we’ve got some work to do.” The two teams clash in the opening ODI at Kensing-

they tore up the form books to crush the English in the opening two Tests, and regain the Wisden Trophy or the first time in a decade. “We will use it as a motivator,” said Hope, who has emerged as the side’s leading ODI batsman in recent times with an average of 47. “We knew what they

(pundits) were saying about us and we’ve got to do the same (as we did in the Test series) – make sure that we know we’re coming here to play cricket and put up a fight. And it’s just not to put up a fight either but to win so we’ve got to make sure we do that.” Hope was outstanding in the last ODI series in Bangladesh last December, accumulating 297 runs and only being dismissed once. His last two innings featured unbeaten hundreds but his 108 not out in the last ODI came in a losing cause, and Hope said while he hoped to be among the runs again, more importantly for him was helping West Indies win matches. “I’m thinking runs. If I score 99 in every game, I’d be happy with that rather than a hundred and a zero … but definitely hundreds is something you want to score as a batter and big hundreds as well,” Hope said. “(Winning hundreds) are the main things. It doesn’t make sense scoring a hundred and the team doesn’t win.”

Frabrace coach to become Warwickshire sport director

Paul Farbrace

ENGLAND assistant coach Paul Farbrace is to become the sport director of county side Warwickshire. The 51-year-old former wicketkeeper will succeed Ashley Giles, who left Edgbaston to become managing director of England men’s cricket last month. Farbrace first became England assistant coach under Peter Moores in 2014 and stayed on when Trevor Bayliss was appointed the following year.

He will join Warwickshire after the West Indies tour, which ends in March. Farbrace will work with head coach Jim Troughton, with the club back in the top flight of the County Championship after winning the Division Two title in 2018. But his responsibilities will also cover the women’s teams and performance pathway. The appointment means he will not be part of England’s coaching team for the World Cup and Ashes series. “Warwickshire is a very special club with incredibly proud traditions, and I’m very excited at being given this opportunity,” Farbrace said. “Whilst having won trophies across all formats in the last 10 years, the squad has gone through a major transition process in the last two years and it has a very exciting future following the emergence of several talented young players.” (BBC Sport)

Man City end Newport’s Cup dream to reach FA Cup quarter-finals By Martyn Herman (REUTERS) - Manchester City endured some anxious moments but escaped from fourth-tier Newport County with their FA Cup hopes intact as Phil Foden scored twice in an ultimately comfortable 4-1 fifth-round victory on Saturday. Newport, 82 rungs below City on the English football ladder, rattled Pep Guardiola’s aristocrats in the first half and Tyreeq Bakinson almost gave them the lead at a rocking Rodney Parade. But City’s class showed in the second half and once Leroy Sane’s powerful shot from a tight angle put them in front after 51 minutes the chances of a seismic Cup shock faded away. Foden’s 75th-minute shot crept in at the near post

to subdue the home fans but when Padraig Amond maintained his run of scoring in every round with an 88th minute lob it seemed possible Newport’s fairytale might have a late twist. But a second goal for youngster Foden arrived 71 seconds later before Riyad Mahrez rubbed salt into Newport’s wounds with virtually the last kick of the game as City claimed a 12th win in 13 matches in all competitions. “It was a really tough game and it was lucky that Phil got the third goal,” Guardiola, whose side are still chasing silverware on four fronts, said. “Newport used their strengths and we are not used to playing against that every week. That’s why the Cup is so special.”

In the day’s other ties Brighton and Hove Albion shrugged off their poor Premier League form to beat Frank Lampard’s Derby County 2-1 thanks to first-half goals by Anthony Knockaert and Juergen Locadia.

had outclassed top-flight West Ham United in the previous round. Three more ties take place on Sunday, with topflight Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace both in action, while on Monday Chelsea host Man-

before kick off as the home fans gathered in hope of witnessing what manager Michael Flynn claimed would be the greatest FA Cup shock of all time. At times during the first half Guardiola’s City slickers, who put six goals

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday, Febrary 16, 2019)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) (1) (2)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Gus Logie & Phil Simmons 250 catches/19 stumpings

Today’s Quiz: What was the result of the recent WI/ENG Test series? (1) (2) Who was declared ‘Player of the Series’?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez scores their fourth goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Former Chelsea and England left back Ashley Cole grabbed Derby’s consolation — his first FA Cup goal. Millwall booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over an AFC Wimbledon side who

chester United in a repeat of last season’s FA Cup final won by Chelsea.

THROW-IN BARRAGE Newport’s historic Rodney Parade stadium was packed to the rafters long

past Chelsea last week, appeared decidedly uncomfortable under a barrage of long throw-ins. From one such delivery Newport seemed certain to take the lead when the ball bounced up invitingly

for Bakinson who had all the goal to aim for with a close-range header, but City keeper Ederson appeared from nowhere to make a stunning save. City dominated possession with Sane grazing the bar and Mahrez going close but Newport were always a threat and Joss Labadie skewed a half chance wide from another long throw. Six minutes after the break City went ahead when Sane’s fierce shot smashed Joe Day straight in the face on its way into the net — the keeper getting a bloody nose for his trouble. Day, who sprinted off the pitch to attend the birth of his twins following Newport’s fourth-round win over second-tier Middlesbrough, was at fault as Foden made it 2-0. The 30-year-old Amond took advantage of a lapse to dink Newport’s reply, briefly restoring the decibel-level in the stadium, but Foden’s sweet left-foot strike and Mahrez’s cool finish spared City any late anxiety. “I am very proud to have scored in every round but disappointed we didn’t get the grand slam finish we were hoping for,” Irish striker Amond said.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 17, 2019

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Windies call up Campbell, Braithwaite and Cottrell as injury replacements BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Left-handed opener John Campbell is poised to make his one-day debut less than a month following his first Test cap, after being drafted into West Indies’ 14-man squad as one of three injury replacements, ahead of Wednesday’s

start of the five-match series. The 25-year-old has been joined by Twenty20 skipper Carlos Brathwaite along with left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell, the trio replacing opener Evin Lewis and all-rounders Keemo Paul and Rovman Powell. “With our squad suf-

Carlos Brathwaite

fering from a few players with injuries even before a ball is bowled, an opportunity presents itself for other players to make a claim for ICC Cricket World Cup spots,” chief selector Courtney Browne said. After a good showing as an opener in the Test matches, John Campbell – a fearless and attacking opening batter – will replace Evin Lewis who had to be withdrawn from the squad with a groin injury.” He added: “Carlos Brathwaite, who last played in the ICC World Cup qualifiers and who was a replacement in the last ODI series in Bangladesh, will also join the squad along with Sheldon Cottrell who last played against Bangladesh last year in the Caribbean. “They will replace Rovman Powell and Keemo Paul who are also both

sidelined with injuries. The panel takes this opportunity to wish the injured players a speedy recovery and to wish the team success in the upcoming ODIs.” Campbell made his Test debut in the first of the three-match series against England at Kensington Oval last month, going on to make 176 runs at an average of 35. His ODI selection now is likely to see him paired with veteran left-hander and fellow Jamaican Chris Gayle at the top of the order. Brathwaite, meanwhile, has not played ODIs in 12 months, despite his inclusion in the squad to tour Bangladesh last December. He is currently campaigning in the Pakistan Super League for Lahore Qalanders in Dubai, where he played his first match on Thursday, and is due to arrive back in the Caribbean today.

Cottrell, 29, played the last of his six ODIs last July against Bangladesh in the Caribbean. The opening ODI is part of a Kensington Oval double-header which sees the two teams clash again on Friday in the second match. West Indies have not beaten England in an ODI

series in 12 years. SQUAD – Jason Holder (captain), Fabian Allen, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, John Campbell, Ashley Nurse, Carlos Brathwaite, Nicholas Pooran, Sheldon Cottrell, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas.

Sheldon Cottrell

Mekdeci, Ince-Carvalhal progress to quarters Nine goals scored as Milo U-18 football continues A TOTAL of nine goals were scored on the third day of action in the 2019 Milo U-18 schools football tournament yesterday. Played at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue, the opening encounter between Charlestown Secondary and Tucville was the most thrilling game. Isaiah Moore, in the 18th minute, put Charlestown ahead before Dante

Part of the action in the 2019 Bounty Farm Limited Handicap Guyana Squash Association tournament. (Delano Williams photo)

IAN Mekdeci (5) and Samuel Ince-Carvalhal (3) joined Medhi Ramdhani (8) and Jonathan Antczak (6) in the quarter- final stage of the ongoing Bounty Farm Limited Handicap squash tournament. It was a quiet Saturday afternoon at the Georgetown Club as quarter-finals for the plates were played. First up were Mekdeci (5) and Lydia Fraser (10). Fraser started off in good form to

win the first game 15-11, but Mekdeci warmed up in the second to dominate a 15-9 win. In his stride now, Mekdeci comfortably earned nine straight points in the third, before Fraser managed to win back the serve, but she was unable to hold on and Mekdeci powered home to a 15-8 match game; securing his place in the Open Plate semi-finals this evening. Also moving on to the

Open Plate semis are Samuel Ince-Carvalhal who defeated Tony Farnum (10) 15-8, 15-8; Medhi Ramdhani (8), who bested Dane Pereira (10) 15-10, 15-13; and Jonathan Antczak (6) with a walkover. In the only Category A Plate match, Ethen Jonas (-4) beat Brenno DaSilva (13) 1514, 15-13. Last night’s matches began at 18:00hrs and will decide who will play in today’s final.

Sookram sent them two clear in the 38th minute. Tucville. on the other hand. were just getting warmed up, and one minute after Sookram’s strike, Dwayne Jones added his team’s first of the game. On the surge and looking for a comeback, Tucville forced an error in their opponents back line which resulted in an own goal, bringing the score to 2-0.

Cummings Lodge scorers Keion Hamer (left) and Simon Ifill

Golden Grove played to a 2-0 win against St Cuthbert’s Mission.

In the second match, Golden Grove thumped St Cuthbert’s Mission 2-0. Jeffrey Charles (32nd) and Andrew Sathwell (64th) were the scorers for Golden Grove. There was also a win for Cummings Lodge who defeated West Demerara side Uitvlugt 2-1. Keion Hamer (10th) and Simon Ifill (56th) were on target for the winners with Uitvlugt having Mickel McKend (68th) on target. Three more matches are carded for today. Friendship Secondary will battle Ann’s Grove from noon to open the proceedings with Christianburg/Wismar Secondary taking on St John’s College, followed by Vergenoegen Secondary versus Tutorial. The tournament is sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health under its ‘Stop Gender-based Violence’ campaign.

‘Too Sharp’ Allen Page

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outdoes Webster to win WBA Gold super middleweight title Page

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Lennox ‘Too Sharp’ Allen is all smiles after his Unanimous Decision win over Derrick Webster in the WBA ‘Gold’ super middleweight title.

Guinness ‘Greatest of the streets’ West Demerara Zone

united dethrone showstoppers to lift title Page

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The West Demerara champions, Brothers United, pose with Guinness brand manager Lee Baptiste (right) after beating Showstoppers.

Former CONCACAF boss Webb has sentence put off for ninth time ► Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 32 43-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 52 04, 2 2 7- 52 16. Fax:2 2 7- 52 08 Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

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saturday, SUNDAY, February FEBRUARY 16, 17, 2019 2018