Guyana Chronicle E-paper 8-20-2019

TUESDAY 20th AUGUST, 2019

No.105735

Coalition to begin review of Cummingsburg Accord this week ‌parties agree on core principles to guide way forward 03 ‌joint campaign financing, manifesto among issues already settled PAGE

Brazil bus company to launch Lethem-G/Town service PAGE

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Child hit down 14 during PPP/C protest PAGE

JetBlue team for September visit- Minister Patterson PAGE

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Baracara gets $16M 02 river ambulance PAGE

Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence pours coconut water on the new vessel signalling its formal commissioning in the presence of other top officials

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, AUGUST 20, 2019

Baracara gets its own river ambulance

RESIDENTS of Baracara and other nearby communities along the Canje River in East Berbice will no longer have to flounder about to find transportation to get them to the nearest hospital in case of a medical emergency, thanks to the $16M river ambulance the Ministry of Public Health has put at their disposal.

The vessel was commissioned on Monday at the Canje Creek, in the vicinity of the Canje Bridge, and Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, who did the honours, noted that the vessel will be stationed at Baracara, so as to ensure there is timely access to health services at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

It was noted that although there is a health centre at Baracara to service folks in the Canje River, in

cases of emergencies, such as snake bites and deliveries, it is sometimes financially challenging for the residents to access a higher level of healthcare, as the nearest hospital is some 25 miles away.

The boat, which will be manned by trained staff, comes fully equipped with emergency paraphernalia such as oxygen, should the need arise.

This is the second river ambulance Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) will have gotten.

Also at the ceremony were the Permanent Secretary and Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, as well as Regional Health Services Director, Jevaughn Stephens, and Focal Point Coordinator, Alex Foster along with other health officials.

Top 10 performer writes CSEC at 14yrs: Age is not a barrier – wants to become a doctor

Manoj Lachhman [centre] with his parents.

“YOU don’t really feel the difference because after a while you just blend in, and you don’t really remember who is what age,” said 14-year old Manoj Lachhman, who claimed his rightful place among Guyana’s top 10 outstanding performers at this year’s CSEC. In his words of encouragement for other students, Lachhman said that academic success “depends on how much you focus in class. If you focus in class, then you don’t really have to do much studying because you retain most of the information from class… focus on class. Do not get distracted at all. When you come home every night,

revise what you did for the day.”

According to the young scholar, his tender age did not adversely affect the relationship shared with his classmates. “Sometimes if they don’t understand something, they would come to me. If I don’t understand, I would then try to understand and explain to them,” Lachhman explained.

A student of the Swarswati Vidya Niketan School on the West Coast of Demerara, Lachhman’s parents were particularly overjoyed with his performance.

“I cried, but it was tears of joy. I was so excited…

I feel on top of the world.

I feel like God is so great.

God did a wonderful job,” the lad’s teary-eyed mother stated. She noted that she is most proud of teaching the CSEC top student to read from an early age.

Meanwhile, Lachhman’s father shared that his son’s performance came as a happy surprise. “I advised him to continue to do what he is doing because he has a goal to become a doctor,” the proud father related.

The young man is currently enrolled to sit the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), after which he plans to attend the University of Guyana (UG) to further his studies. (DPI)

A close-up of the vessel

Sod turned for $70M mortuary at New Amsterdam THE sod was turned for the construction of a state-of-theart $70M mortuary, which will replace the current facility that is housed within the New Amsterdam Hospital Complex.

The facility will be built within the compound of the National Psychiatric Hospital.

In remarks, Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence while thanking the Ministry of Finance for believing and having confidence in the project recognised that the current mortuary’s location was not conducive to proper working conditions.

“Consequently, fruitful discussions were held and we are here to turn the sod for the first public mortuary which has its own building,” the minister concluded.

Meanwhile, the 3000 square-foot concrete structure will have a freezer, gallery for viewing post mortem examinations in progress, administrative section, and a chapel. It will also cater for infectious cases.

Those attending the sod-turning ceremony were: Ministry of Public Health Permanent Secretary, Ms Colette Adams, and her Deputy; Director, Regional Health Services, Jevaughn Stephens,

An artist’s impression of the new mortuary

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence turns the sod for the construction of the mortuary

and other Senior health officials; Regional Executive Officer Ms Kim Williams Stephens and Project Con-

tractor Andrew Vincente.

The project is expected to be completed by year end.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, AUGUST 20, 2019

Coalition to begin review of Cummingsburg Accord this week …parties agree on core principles to guide way forward …joint campaign financing, manifesto among issues already settled

By Svetlana Marshall THE A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) are expected to commence negotiation on the Cummingsburg Accord this week or latest next week, according to APNU General Secretary, Joseph Harmon.

While Harmon did not disclose the critical issues to be discussed around the negotiating table, Guyana Chronicle understands that the issue of a prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming General and Regional Elections, and the formula for the allocation of Parliamentary Seats are among critical issues that would be hammered out by the two teams.

Under the Cummingsburg Accord, which brought the two political parties together as a coalition on February 14, 2015, the APNU nominates the Presidential Candidate and the AFC, the Prime Ministerial Candidate. Added to that, under the accord which also led to them defeating the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in May 2015, the APNU was allocated 60 per cent of the seats won by the Government in the National

Assembly while the AFC received the remaining 40 per cent.

According to a source close to the parties, during this round of negotiation, the teams representing the APNU and AFC will determine whether they will retain the 60:40 formula as the Cummingsburg Accord is revised. This formula would also guide the allocation of ministries between the APNU and the AFC. Under the existing accord, the AFC had requested certain ministries such as the Ministry of Public Security.

Harmon, who is leading APNU at the negotiations, declined to comment on the issues to be discussed. “I cannot clarify because the discussions have not started.

We expect that sometime this week or next week, we will commence those discussions, and so I cannot say what is on the table… because we haven’t really started the discussion,” Harmon told Guyana Chronicle.

However, he reminded that the APNU and AFC, ahead of the planned negotiation, have agreed on some core principles. “The discussions between the APNU and AFC are imminent but I can’t comment on any issue or aspect of what the discus-

sions will be premised on,” the APNU General Secretary maintained.

APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon

In a separate interview on Monday, AFC General Secretary David Patterson said while AFC would like to have sections of the Cummingsburg Accord revised, it would like to retain the 60:40 formula and the current method of appointing the Prime Ministerial Candidate. Patterson is leading the AFC negotiating team which includes its National Executive Members Dominic Gaskin and Dr. Vincent Adams. During this round of negotiation, which is expected to last approximately four weeks, the functionality of the Grievance Committee and other areas within the existing Cummingsburg

Accord which need strengthening are expected to be addressed.

AFC General Secretary David Patterson

“It is likely that they would look at areas of the first accord that didn’t work well, and one area that didn’t work well is that they have set up a committee, a grievance committee, whereby if the parties had problems they can go to this committee and this committee would mediate between the two parties along the way; now that committee didn’t work well during the first time around, and I think that is going to be another issue that they will have to deal with,” the source reasoned.

According to the source, the four-week timeframe set by the APNU and the AFC to hammer out a revised accord is realistic. The source

Driver killed, four injured in Teperu crash A 31 year-old driver was killed and four passengers were injured after the motor pick-up GLL 1388, in which they were travelling, turned turtle along the Teperu Trail, Mazaruni River, Region Seven, on Sunday.

The dead driver was identified as Carlos David of Four and Half Miles, Bartica, Region Seven.

Those injured are: Wesely Rodrigues, 27 Lot 158 Four Miles Housing Scheme Bartica; Emanuel Williams, 28, of Five Miles Bartica; Denzil Lindore, 24, of Four Miles Bartica and Chris Williams, 27, of Five Miles Bartica.

David’s body is currently at the Bartica Regional Hospital’s mortuary awaiting autopsy, while Emanuel

Williams and Lindore were reportedly treated at the Hospital and sent away and Williams and Rodrigues were admitted as patients. Based on information received, the pick-up was proceeding along the Teperu Trail at a fast rate when it is alleged that David, the now dead driver, pulled from a pot hole and lost control. As a result, the pick-up collided with an

object causing it to topple several times before coming to a halt.

The occupants of the vehicle all received injuries and were picked up and taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital where David was pronounced dead on arrival. Investigations continue.

noted that the parties have already laid the foundation by agreeing to core principles that would guide the negotiation.

The core principles, the source said, include the vision of the APNU + AFC Coalition. Those principles also touch on areas of unity, the creation of a joint manifesto, the selection of candidates and the management of shared resources.

Explaining the ‘management of shared resources,’ the source said the parties have agreed to finance their elections campaign as a unified force. “They will put all that money in one place and they will manage it together.

So rather than the AFC raising their own resources, and the APNU using their own resources and then spend it as they like, they want a commitment that they will pool their resources together and that there will be shared management of the resources,” he explained.

The Cummingsburg Accord is due to expire on February 14, 2020 but with General and Regional Elections expected this year, the parties have agreed to revise the accord ahead of the elections. Last Monday, the AFC confirmed that there is a broad agreement between

the two parties that the existing Accord can be amended for better alignment with the Constitution and can accommodate additional guiding principles that may previously have been omitted.

However, it noted that the existing accord remains in effect, until its life expires or it is amended by mutual agreement. “The AFC remains fully committed to coalition politics in the national interest. Coalition politics in this regard reinforces our core belief of a functional multi-ethnic, ‘multi-viewic’ society to unleash the energies of all our people regardless of race, class, religion or gender enabling all Guyanese to enjoy their fullest potential,” it said. APNU General Secretary, in a recent interview, told Guyana Chronicle the partnership is also committed to the coalition, and as such, would work with the AFC to revise the Cummingsburg Accord ahead of the elections. It was the coming together of the APNU and AFC that resulted in the defeat of the PPP/C Government.

Minister’s bodyguard shot, injured The bodyguard of Junior Social protection Minister, Keith Scott was on Monday shot and injured by two men at Market Street, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Injured is Michael Williams. Police said about 06:30hrs two bandits on a motorcycle pounced on the bodyguard and demanded his jewellery. The 62-yearold victim who is a member of the Rural Constabulary and was armed with a Force-issued handgun

refused to comply and was shot twice by the pillion rider in the lower region of his body with a handgun.

The suspects however were forced to flee the scene empty-handed after the victim drew his service weapon and discharged a round in their direction.

The victim is reportedly in a stable condition at a medical institution. No arrest has been made at this time.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 20, 2019

Gina Lopez, Philippine anti-mining advocate, dies aged 65

(BBC) Staunch eco-campaigner and former Philippine Environment Minister Gina Lopez has died at the age of 65.

She was known for her strong stance against mining, closing down many of the country's quarries during her ten months in office in 2016.

Ms Lopez was also an advocate for children's rights and protection.

ABS-CBN, the broadcasting company her family founded, said she was a "pillar of strength".

She was chair of the company's social development organisation.

"Her caring heart and selfless kind of love inspired people within and beyond the organisation to help and serve others," ABS-CBN said in a statement.

What was she known for?

Serving under President Rodrigo Duterte's government, Gina Lopez led a crackdown on mining in a country known for its nickel ore production.

Lopez closed 23 mines and suspended five others, as well as banning open-pit mining.

A campaign followed, led by the country's mining industry, which argued the move threatened the lives of some 1.2 million people who depended

on the industry.

A congressional committee rejected her appointment as environment secretary and she was forced to step down after 10 months in the role.

Many of the mines then resumed and Gina Lopez later referred to her time in the post as "painful".

"I really do sincerely hope something can be done about the destruction that mining brings on," she said in a Facebook post in July, while in the grip of what she referred to as a "health crisis".

She died from multiple organ failure but the cause of this has not been confirmed.

According to Senator Bam Aquino, a Filipino politician and social entrepreneur, Gina Lopez "created generations of environmental warriors and inspired Filipinos to unite for a common cause".

Gina Lopez was the second of seven children and her family founded the broadcasting cooperation ABS-CBN

before it was captured by the military under the rule of the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, in the 1970s.

As a teenager, Gina Lopez left the Philippines to study in the United States, before working as a yoga missionary in Portugal, India and Africa.

"I lived as the poor lived, so I learned how not to be wasteful - a trait I carry to this day where I use every bit of everything," she wrote in an essay in 2016, according to ABS-CBN. "It is in Africa that I learned the quality of persistence," she added. "Hardship has its value."

"At an age when people are just figuring out what they want to do in life, she already knew her purpose," said her cousin Mark Lopez, chairman of ABS-CBN. "She left a comfortable life to devote her time and energy to help uplift other people's lives."

Gina Lopez also campaigned against child abuse, setting up a rescue hotline for children in Asia.

20 August, 2019 - 05:00hrs ~ 06:30hrs

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Gina Lopez spoke out against deforestation and mining in the Philippines

"We will miss Gina's light, as a private person, as a leader, and as a crusader," Mark Lopez added.

"While she left us a void that cannot be filled, we take

comfort in knowing that with love, like she had shown us, there remains hope and beauty in the world we live in."

Syrian civil war: 'Three killed' in attack on Turkish convoy (BBC) A Syrian government air strike aiming to stop a Turkish convoy reaching a rebel-held town in northern Syria has killed three civilians, Turkey alleges.

Another 12 people were injured in the attack in Idlib province on Monday, the Turkish defence ministry said.

Idlib, one of the few areas not under government control, was supposed to be protected by a buffer zone agreed with rebel-backing Turkey last year.

But government assaults have been on the increase since April. Hundreds of civilians have already been killed as a result, and there are fears many more will die if the situation continues to escalate.

"This is our worst nightmare coming true," Jan Egeland, from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), told the BBC. "We have for years now warned against the ultimate catastrophe being Idlib, where there was no escape for three million civilians. There are some very bad militants inside.

"But a wholesale attack on this area of Idlib and adjacent northern Hama would mean that a million children would

come in horrific crossfire, and it's that that now seems to be happening."

Why is Turkey sending a convoy into Syria?

Turkey, which backs some, but not all, the rebels, has forces in Idlib as part of last year's agreement with Russia.

According to Naji Mustafa, a spokesman for the National Liberation Front rebel grouping, the convoy was heading to one of its observation points with "reinforcements" when the attack took place.

An AFP correspondent who saw the convoy reported it included about 50 armoured vehicles, at least five of which were tanks.

But Syria has said the convoy's arrival in the region is an act of aggression. It said the munitions would not stop government forces "hunting the remnants of terrorists".

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a Russian aircraft carried out strikes near the convoy on 19 August.

Turkey has said the attack breaches last year's agreement, with the incident raising fears of direct clashes between the countries.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 20, 2019

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El Salvador: Evelyn Hernández cleared over baby's death

(BBC) A 21-year-old woman in El Salvador whose baby was found dead in the toilet where she gave birth has been cleared during a retrial.

Evelyn Hernández had always maintained she was innocent, saying that she did not know she was pregnant and lost consciousness during the birth.

Prosecutors had asked for a prison sentence of 40 years.

Her case has been closely watched in El Salvador and abroad with women's rights activists demanding she be acquitted.

El Salvador has one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the world. Abortion is illegal in all circumstances and those found guilty face between two and eight years in jail.

But in many cases, including the one against Ms Hernández, the charge is changed to one of aggravated homicide, which carries a minimum sentence of 30 years.

Ms Hernández's case was the first of its kind in El Salvador in which a full retrial had been ordered.

Previously, women accused of aborting their babies had had their sentences commuted after their 30-year jail terms were deemed "disproportionate and immoral", but their verdicts were not overturned.

"I am about to explode with happiness," her defence lawyer, Bertha Maria Deleon, tweeted. "Today is a great day for justice.

"We can and we will continue fighting because there are still are women accused who need justice urgently. But today we can smile."

Women's rights activists now hope Ms Hernández's

retrial will set a precedent allowing other women jailed under El Salvador's strict anti-abortion laws to fight their sentences.

The campaign group 'Justice for Evelyn in El Salvador' also tweeted its thanks for their "support of and commitment to the freedom of all women who suffer an obstetric emergency".

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has in the past called on El Salvador to reform its "draconian" abortion laws.

WHAT HAPPENED? Evelyn Hernández said she experienced severe stomach pains and bleeding while at her home in rural El Salvador on 6 April 2016.

She went to the toilet, located in an outhouse, where she fainted. Her mother took her to a hospital, where doctors found she had given birth.

She was arrested after the body of her baby was found in the toilet's septic tank.

Ms Hernández, who was 18 at the time, said she had been raped by a gang member but that she had no idea that she was pregnant.

She said she had confused the symptoms of pregnancy with stomach ache because she had experienced intermittent bleeding, which she thought was her menstrual period.

"If I'd known I was pregnant I would have awaited [the birth] with pride and joy," she said in the past.

She also said that while she had "felt something come loose" inside her, she did not hear a baby cry out and did not realise she was giving birth.

around 30 through evidence reviews.

Ms Hernández's retrial is the first such case to be heard under new President Nayib Bukele, who took office in June, and women's groups are hoping he could usher in a more lenient stance on the issue. President Bukele has said that he opposes abortion but has expressed sympathy Evelyn Hernández celebrates in court on Monday

She was initially accused of abortion but the charge was changed to one of aggravated homicide with prosecutors arguing she had hidden her pregnancy and not sought antenatal care.

In July 2017, the judge ruled that Ms Hernández knew she was pregnant and found her guilty. She was sentenced to 30 years in prison of which she has already served 33 months.

WHY WAS THERE A RETRIAL? Ms Hernández's lawyers appealed against the judge's decision. They said forensic tests showed that the baby had died of meconium aspiration, inhaling his own early stool. This can happen while the baby is still in the uterus, during delivery or immediately after birth.

The lawyers said the test proved that Ms Hernández had not tried to abort the baby but that it had died of natural causes. "There is no crime," defence lawyer Bertha María Deleón said. n February 2019, El Salvador's supreme court annulled the 2017 conviction citing ab-

sence of evidence and ordered a retrial with a new judge.

Ms Hernández was released from jail pending the retrial, which started in July.

Prosecutors in the retrial asked for an even harsher sentence - 40 years in prison - than that originally imposed.

Salvadorean pro-choice campaigner Morena Herrera said the prosecutors' demand for such a steep sentence was "extremely grave". She accused them of not taking into consideration the circumstances in which the birth took place and the severe blood loss Ms Hernández suffered.

Why is the case significant?

Rights organisations in El Salvador say there are at least 17 other women in jail under the country's strict abortion laws.

Over the last decade, campaigners have managed to free

with women suffering miscarriages who then come under suspicion.

"If a poor woman suffers a miscarriage, she's immediately suspected of having had an abortion. That's where the issue of social inequality comes into play," he said while he was running for president.

T&T: Missing journalist found

(TRINIDAD NEWSDAY) Western Division police have confirmed that journalist Suzanne Mills was found yesterday and is safe with relatives.

Police said Mills, 56, was found in Port of Spain at around 9 am by the person who reported her missing on Saturday.

Mills was last seen at her Aquamarine Drive, Diamond Vale, Diego Martin, home at around 6.30 am on Friday, when she left home to go to the Tru Valu supermarket.

Mills's late mother Therese Mills was a journalist and founding editor-in-chief of the Newsday newspaper.

MISSING: Suzanne Mills.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 20, 2019

Youth and development

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UYANA last week joined youths the world over in celebrating International Youth Day under the theme, “Transforming education”, which, according to the United Nations, highlights efforts to make education more relevant, equitable and inclusive for all youth, including efforts by youth themselves.

Rooted in Goal 4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: To “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”, International Youth Day 2019 accordingly sought to examine how governments, young people and youth-led and youth-focused organisations, as well as other stakeholders are transforming education, and how these efforts are contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

According to the UN, statistics remind us that significant transformations are still required to make education systems more inclusive and accessible: (1) Only 10% of people have completed upper secondary edu-

cation in low-income countries; (2) 40 % of the global population is not taught in a language they speak or fully understand; and (3) over 75 % of secondary school age refugees are out of school.

In addition, Indigenous youth, young people with disabilities, young women, young people belonging to vulnerable groups or in vulnerable situations etc. are facing additional challenges to access education that respects their diverse needs and abilities, as well as reflects and embraces their unique realities and identities.

The UN said making education more relevant, equitable and inclusive is crucial to achieving sustainable development. “Education is a ‘development multiplier’, in that it plays a pivotal role in accelerating progress across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals, be it poverty eradication, good health, gender equality, decent work and growth, reduced inequalities, action on climate or building peaceful societies. Education should lead to effective learning outcomes, with the content of school curricula and pedagogy being fit for

purpose, not only for the 4th industrial revolution and the future of work and life, but also for the opportunities and challenges that rapidly-changing social contexts bring,” according to the UN. Here in Guyana, youths are widely accepted as agents of change, and with 65 per cent of the population below age 35, Guyana can be considered a youthful nation; full of energy and creativity but not fully harnessed. In Guyana, youths can be found in every sphere of national life, be it in the public service, the teaching profession, the legal profession, in business and in politics. The impact of youths here cannot be underestimated. Many would recall the “Vote like a Boss” campaign managed by youths, and the impact it had in getting young people out to vote in the 2015 regional and general elections.

More recently, a group of young Guyanese was part of the spotlight on the world stage. The Guyana Robotics Team, participating in the International Robotics Championship in Washington, USA, for the first time, secured a place in the top 10, despite coming up

against great odds.

These simple lessons have indicated that youths here, if given the opportunity, can be as good and equal to anyone else in any part of the world. And being the majority in Guyana, they hold the keys to change, to the social, economic and political development of Guyana, and it is important for this reason that more and more youths play a role in shaping the peaceful, inclusive and prosperous Guyana they all envision. This is not asking too much of them, since they are ideal agents of change, generally see things differently from their senior counterparts, and are in the driver’s seat when it comes to making a genuine difference, including breaking down barriers to Guyana’s divisive political culture.

While young people in Guyana have been making a meaningful contribution to the development of Guyana, they can do a lot more, but would require support from government and other stakeholders.

Robust efforts must be made in galvanising parents, spiritual and community leaders in ensuring that every youth, whether rich or

poor, receives an education, and is positioned on a path of making a meaningful contribution to their family, community and country.

It is heartening to know that the ‘Coalition Government’ has been contributing towards this process through the award of scholarships since it has come into office, a process it has executed without much fanfare.

Scholarships have increased from 464 for the period 2011 to 2014 under the former administration, to 1,251 between 2015 and 2018 while the current allocation to the education sector is over $52B. It goes without saying that an investment in education is an investment in people, an investment in skills development, and an investment in nation-building. It is against this background we again commend President David Granger for his commitment to restoring the constitutionally-mandated free education from nursery to tertiary.

Aside from education, government has also paid attention in encouraging young people into the world of business, since entrepreneurship is a vital means

of youth empowerment, rolling back unemployment levels and creating avenues for innovation. Hundreds of young people have benefitted from training programmes geared at equipping them to manage their own businesses.

The young people of today all aspire to have a good job, a home and a secure future, and education and entrepreneurship are the avenues that will help them realise their dreams.

But all of this will be incomplete if they are not imbued with good values, such as honestly, respect, discipline and hard work, which, when combined with education, allows for the all-round development of individuals and the creation of genuine and capable leaders. Since Guyana is a nation where the majority of her population are youth, it cannot be overemphasised that due attention has to be paid to this segment of the population in ensuring both their growth and development, and their participation in the process of national development.

PPP/C wants to force President's hand on GECOM ...to hold elections without credible voter’s list

Dear Editor,

P

LEASE permit me space in your newspaper to respond to a statement that was publicly made on the “Matters of Public Importance Programme”, which was hosted by PPP/C Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira on August 15, 2019 on CNS Television Station Ch. 6.

According to Teixeira, “The president has not abided by the Constitution since the CCJ ruled”.

Editor, it is so embarrassing and misleading to listen to Ms. Teixeira, who is one of the most recognised politician in the Opposition PPP/C publicly trying to mislead the Guyanese nation with false propaganda.

When the no-confidence motion was passed in the National Assembly in December 2018, in February 2019, President Granger committed to securing parliamentary funding for holding general elections, and affording GECOM sufficient

time to prepare for the polls.

He also specifically advised the Commission to begin preparations for Guyanese to go to the polls.

In addition, The Court decided, therefore, that the most sensible approach to operationalise Article 161 (2) was for the Opposition Leader and the President to communicate with each other in good faith, and to perhaps even meet to discuss the eligibility of each candidate for Chairman before the list is

formally submitted.

President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo arrived at a consensus on the selection of the new chairperson of GECOM. Justice(ret’d) Claudette Singh was selected by the President from a list of six names proposed by the Opposition Leader in keeping with the ruling of the CCJ. At this moment, I am really trying to understand in what way the president is not abiding by the CCJ’s ruling. According

to my understanding, the president has performed his duties and responsibilities to have finance for GECOM to prepare for the general and regional elections, and have a chairperson appointed.

So Ms. Teixeira, please be reminded that GECOM is a constitutional and autonomous body, and cannot be dictated to by the President, who has said, ad nauseam, that he will announce a date for the elections when he is so advised by the

GECOM. So the Opposition expectation for the president to bully GECOM cannot occur, because he has not exhibited any inclination that the executive will interfere with or intervene in GECOM’s mandate. We as Guyanese need to seek the relevant information and not be misled by the PPP/C and their trickery.

Regards, Ceion Rollox

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 20, 2019

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President Granger has kept the country together

Dear Editor,

M

R. Fredrick Kissoon’s July 31, 2019 column captioned, “Forms of degeneracy after 2015 that killed Guyana’s future” demonstrated his obsession with the WPA, and his aversion to giving an iota of credit to President David Granger and the APNU+AFC coalition.

In this election season, Kissoon’s anti-coalition utterances should not be ignored or go unchallenged; to do so exposes young readers to his self-serving distortions. Kissoon is a popular analyst and opinion maker in society who skillfully mixes propagandising with analysis; it is this that makes him dangerous.

He often assumes the right to demean individuals or organisations whose actions or perceived actions he disagrees with. Kissoon also wants readers to treat what he writes as divine inspiration as well as infallible. He hopes that readers will not see his writings for what it is: Propagandising. Above all, he wants his writings to be treated as academic brilliance, which, often, it is not.

Kissoon, in his column, wrote “… the nation’s curiosity about the newness David Granger would bring to Guyana was shattered when he proved that he lacked leadership qualities”. Kissoon is partisan to the extent that he is unwilling to concede that as President, Granger

kept the country together.

And in his capacity as a leader, he also kept his six-party APNU+AFC coalition united. Whatever one may think about the President‘s overall leadership, these two achievements are demonstrations of leadership. Kissoon, given his political malice, can’t concede this undeniable fact; yet he claimed to be objective.

Turning his attention to the WPA, he erroneously claimed that the party has become an African party. Kissoon said, “...the atrophy of the WPA from a Rodneyite, revolutionary, multi-racial party to a racial outfit, catering to the interest of African Guyanese only”. The WPA has never declared that it is an African party, “catering to the interest of African Guyanese only”. This false claim is an invention by Kissoon’s to discredit the leadership of the WPA. It is not incidental that he is peddling this propaganda at this time; his aim is to mobilise the Indian community against the WPA and the ‘Coalition’ to benefit the PPP. In this response, I decided that an effective way to deal with Freddie’s machinations is to provide information to young readers to allow them to have a more objective understanding of national politics.

The WPA came into existence out of cooperation between the African Society for Cultural Relations with Independent Africa (ASCRIA) and the Indian Political Revo-

lutionary Associates (IPRA).

This took place before the arrival of Walter Rodney on the political scene. Given the commitment to working across racial and political lines, the WPA worked with the Indian community, Dr. Jagan and the PPP in opposing Burnham’s authoritarian rule. This relationship with the PPP ended after the failed PCD talks (for a consensus Presidential Candidate and a single slate) in the runup to the 1992 General and Regional Elections. In spite of the racially polarised election results, the WPA did not seek political accommodation with the PNC; we resisted pressures from the African community to do so. Instead, we struck an agreement with the PPP that benefited both parties, by giving each an extra seat in the Parliament to the disadvantage of the PNC. When it became clear after the PPP return to office in 1992 that that party was on an anti-workingclass path and was committed to racial domination rather than reconciliation and national unity, the WPA was forced to reassess its politics. The following developments informed our thinking: (a) The shooting with rubber bullets of nurses engaged in peaceful protest; (b) the regime policy of criminalisation of the civic right of protest; (c) the daily execution of African young men by the “Black Clothes” police; (d) the rise of State-sponsored death squads; the phantom killers; (e) the alliance between the

rulers and drug lords; (f) the economic and social marginalisation of the African and Indigenous communities.

These serious divisive policies emerged long before the PNCR/WPA alliance in 2011 that resulted in the formation of the APNU. In both periods, pre- and post-1992, WPA politics was guided by the conviction that those in power were not governing in the national interest, and were consciously exploiting the racial insecurity between African and Indians.

This “divide-and-rule” policy has destroyed the country, to an extent that it is the second poorest country the hemisphere.

Any objective observer of Guyanese politics would appreciate that the WPA‘s political decline started with the assassination of Walter Rodney. The racially-polarised elections in 1992 demonstrated that the multi-racial constituency that existed at the time of the Civil Rebellion had virtually disappeared because of the “genius” of Hoyte and Jagan in publicly defining the elections as a fight between themselves and their parties. In the context of Guyanese politics, it became a race battle, with both communities responding to the call of their respective leadership. The rest is history.

While this information may not be part of the young reader’s consciousness, the same can’t be said for Kissoon. He is well aware of these matters, but he conveniently ignores them in his

analysis. He knows that the WPA, in every election since 1992, contested on its own, or in alliance with GLP or GAP, and did poorly. In fact, on those occasions, we would not have gotten into the Parliament if it was not for the votes of the Indigenous Peoples. To that community, the WPA is eternally grateful.

Readers should note that in those elections, we were not accused by our detractors of betraying “Rodney”, but our electoral showings were poor anyhow.

Kissoon is a social/political scientist and a longstanding political activist who knows from his studies and research that no electoral party in any part of the world can do well in elections in the absence of a constituency that is responsive to its politics. The destruction of the multi-racial constituency in the run-up to 1992 and all post-1992 elections is the dilemma that confronts the WPA. Kissoon never addresses this reality in his analysis of the political situation when dealing with the WPA. Why? To do so deprives him of advancing his false thesis on WPA’s politics.

I have said all the above to establish that in Guyana, there is no credible multi-racial constituency that could make a meaningful difference electorally. Further, the present constitutional requirement for the pre-election coalition is detrimental to third parties. This has been borne out by our contemporary history, as in the

case of the AFC. However, it suits Kissoon, the PPP, and our detractors to ignore this constitutional sleight of hand inserted into law in 1980.

The WPA and other smaller parties are unable to change a law that is not of their own making.

Editor, WPA has been on the national political landscape for four-and-a-half decades. To the extent that the party members and leadership do not reflect what it was when the organisation was founded in 1974, or the period of the Civil Rebellion or the early post-Rodney years has more to do with the racial/political polarisation, the disappearance of the multi-racial constituency, and the migration of members and supporters to foreign shores rather than any policy action taken or not taken by the party’s leadership. This contradicts what is often peddled by our detractors, including Freddie Kissoon, who blames the leadership for all the present difficulties facing the party.

In closing, the WPA is mature enough (45 years) to appreciate the reality of Guyanese politics, and we accommodate this reality, since to do otherwise is “infantile politics”. In writing this response to Kissoon, it is my hope that young readers have a more objective understanding of the political challenges facing the WPA. Regards, Tacuma Ogunseye

The politics of opposition at all cost Dear Editor,

Y

OUR report on “Opposition–led town council at Corrivertown stymieing progress – Gov’t ministers hear”, of August 18, 2019 is not a surprise, and should not be, if one understands what has been the PPP/C’s traditional practice of politics at the local government or grass roots level. In this same vein, one hastens to add that if such a backward, asinine, and decrepit action is taking place in a new dispensation, just think of what it was like during the fossilised era of blinkered PPP/C approach to local government, particular-

ly in communities that were denied critical social amenities because of perceived ethnicity and political loyalty. **At the heart of the Corriverton–led town council’s orchestrated action is the political strategy of creating disaffection between its citizens and Central Government by refusing its sponsored social programmes that will redound to the improvement of the community, particularly its security environment.

For, under what logic can this municipality refuse 200 street lamps for its community?

Editor, it cannot be emphasised enough how anti-citizen and anti-community

such political ignorance is practised by a council whose members are still sitting in the dark room of PPP/C politics. Sure enough, they can only be described as unfit to govern in the name of social development for their communities and citizens.

It is this particular type of political backwater politics which the APNU+AFC government, led by President David Granger, campaigned against during the last local government elections when they urged communities to elect citizens, irrespective of ethnicity and political affiliation, who are prepared to govern only in the best inter-

ests of their communities and their citizens. **Surely, the community and citizens did not heed such wisdom, but reverted to the known pattern and have paid the price.

Citizens in such communities are reminded that in their hands lies the power of effective change from such archaic political culture, and it should be used appropriately when occasioned.

The fact that residents were bold enough to defy the illogical PPP/C’s call of ‘chase them out’ by coming out to engage ministers of the government about the politically repugnant behaviour of their municipality points

to a maturity which must be commended. It also heralds a realisation that they are fully aware of the critical social issues within their community which affects their daily lives; recognition that their municipality has failed them; and that the government has been working in the interests of all Guyanese and their communities, irrespective of ethnicity and political affiliation.

The businessman must be commended for speaking out; but one wonders why the region’s Chambers of Commerce, given their pivotal role within the entire region, did not confront the recalci-

trant municipality about the many deficiencies that were brought to the ministers’ attention. It is time that they use their collective voice on such key matters, and not be selective.

Again, which municipality would want to refuse 200 street lamps, facilitated

by Central Government, for enhancing the social environment of their community, by pursuing such anti-development obsolescence? This is a question for the Zamal Husseins of the Region.

Regards, Mark Dacosta

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, AUGUST 20, 2019

MNR clears air on forestry activities in Region 10 The Ministry of Natural Resources takes note of a Kaieteur News August 14th Letter to the Editor headlined “Calling on our President to help small loggers in Region 10”. Though the concerns of Mr. Terrence Williams are understood, the MNR sees it fit to offer some clarifications, and hope that Mr. Williams and the general public better understands.

The letter firstly states that the Region 10 concessions are out of stock, this is not so. The Region 10 area has approximately 190 of the 500 small forest concessions in Guyana. This represents approximately seven hundred thousand (700,000) hectares of State Forest (or about one million, eight hundred acres (1,800,000 acres). Though a small percentage of these concessions have low timber stands, inventory studies of concessions within the region reveal that the majority of concessions have sufficient merchantable tree species with acceptable diameter classes to make the concession viable.

However, due to lack of appropriate equipment, technical inventory skills and an interest in harvesting only the prime species rather than a wider range of species including the Lesser Used Species, it is erroneously concluded that the concessions are out of stock.

More importantly, Region 10 concessions have declared the highest production for 2019 to date, making the notion of concessions being out of stock untrue. A summary table of concessions and area occupied in Region 10 is attached at the end of this release.

Secondly, there is claim that the land is small, with many members having to work a little area. As readers will see in the summary table attached, the Small Loggers Associations within Region 10 were granted multiple con-

cessions to accommodate the increased membership. This is true for almost all other Com-

the level of harvesting within State Forests providing detectable evidence on the

provide additional technical assistance to Small loggers to encourage greater value-add-

munity Forestry Organisations country-wide. The statistics show however, that Region 10 has approximately 38% of all the small concessions issued country-wide. Additional concession areas are very limited; the loggers in Region 10, and in other parts of the country, have been consistently encouraged to reduce the sale of logs and to be involved in more added-value activities.

Unfortunately, despite the assistance of the Government, this has not materialized to any appreciable level. Only recently (July 2019), the GFC advertised over 60 areas as being available for allocation.

459 applications were received and the GFC Board is currently finalizing its review of these applications. This review process is transparent and applications are evaluated in accordance with published criteria.

Another misconception contained in the August 14 letter, is that the tags quota is small as against large members in associations, and a claim that there aren’t any rich species. It’s fitting to know that the log-tracking system in Guyana was introduced in 2000 to verify the origin of raw material and to control

legitimacy, geographical location, and magnitude of forest operations. The log tracking system is regulated by the use of log tags, which are assigned to SFA operators for trees to be felled in all concessions in accordance with the GFC allocated quota. The quota is based on the area of productive forest and exceeding the quota goes against the fundamentals of sustainable forest management principles. The quota is equated to the approximate number of standing trees which will yield the volume; the number of trees computed gives an estimate of the number of tags to be issued (one tag is equivalent to one tree). The quota systems facilitate sustainable forest management within concessions. The GFC and concessionaires must adhere to the system.

More importantly, the 2018 revised National Forest Policy underscores the importance of value-added products in the Forestry Sector for national development, including the creation of new jobs and new economic opportunities.

Growth in value adding is an integral part of sustainable forest management. The GFC has indicated its willingness to

ed processes in the industry.

It must be noted also that the Government in 2019, approved the extension of the small concession lease period from two (2) years to three (3) years. Small concessionaires were also afforded the opportunity to get an advance of up to 50 % of the 2020 quota, in 2019.

The letter also briefly comments on the state of the roads. The Ministry only hopes that citizens understand that we are currently experiencing unkind weather which contribute to this.

However, in the best interest of stakeholders, the Ministry

of Natural Resources and the Guyana Forestry Commission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, has awarded several road rehabilitation contracts to loggers in areas that are predominantly traversed by loggers. This intervention was viewed by many loggers in the geographic range as a positive step. Also, this was the first time for forestry operators to be awarded contracts. Miners would usually get assistance from Government for Road construction/ rehabilitation.

The roads that were approved for rehabilitation were, Armeu Road (0 – 70km) by Bhola Sawmill, Iteballi to Puruni

by Toolsie Persaud Limited, Unamco Road (0 – 70km) by Variety Woods and Greenheart Ltd., and Bissaruni Road (0 – 47km) by R. Razack Business Enterprise.

The small concessions that have directly benefitted from the road rehabilitation (Unamco and Bissaruni) are concessions in the Kwakwani, Bissaruni and on the UNAMCO Road. The graph below shows that their production relative to their quota for 2019 is between 41% and 71%.

This clearly demonstrates that the intervention of awarding

road rehabilitation contracts to loggers has a positive impact on production particularly where more small concessionaires are situated.

Finally, the comments made regarding the Log Export Policy, noting that it prohibits the small loggers from consolidating exports across the various communities in region 10. It should be known that the third phase of the Log Export Policy is currently being finalized by the GFC Board of Directors and is set to be implemented during the third (3rd) quarter of 2019 by the Guyana Forestry Commission on behalf of the Government of Guyana over the years 2019 to 2022. This policy considers the many requests and concerns of forest sector operators and is expected to lead to an increase in forest production by at least 10%.

This will bring additional relief to loggers; it will also see an increase in revenues from royalties and export levies to make GFC more financially stable and improve the economic and social components of sustainable forest management.

See table below showing summary as indicated in paragraph 2

Cameraman granted bail still to be released DAYS after former TVG cameraman Andre Hetsberger was granted $200,000 High Court bail on a rape charge, he is yet to be released from prison due to an “administrative hiccup.”

In July, Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud allowed an appeal and set aside a conviction for rape and 25-year sentence for Hetsberger. The Appeal Court also ordered a retrial

for Hetsberger.

In February 2016, Hetsberger, 42, was found guilty by a 12-member mixed jury and was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment by Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court. Hetsberger was on trial for sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl on October 17, 2014.

In April 2019, an appeal was filed by attorney-at-law Dexter Todd against the severity of the sentence handed down by the trial judge.

However, on August

Andre Hetsberger

9, 2019, an application for bail was made before Justice Jo Ann Barlow at the

High Court. Hetsberger was granted bail in the sum of $200,000.

Since that date, Hetsberger has not been released from the prison due to an “administrative hiccup.”

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, August 19, 2019, Hetsberger’s attorney, Todd, explained that when his client was tried at the Magistrate’s Court, he was indicted on two counts, which occurred on October 15, 2014, and October 17, 2014.

According to Todd, Hetsberger was committed to stand trial at the High Court for the two offences, but he was only tried for the offence which occurred on October 17, 2014.

Hetsberger was later convicted and sentenced on that charge at the High Court, which has been successfully appealed.

The lawyer stressed that his client was wrongly committed by the Magistrate for the charge dated October 15, 2014, since there was no

evidence.

That charge should have been withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Todd pointed out.

Nevertheless, when Hetsberger was granted bail by Justice Barlow, the latter charge arose and caused him to remain on remand.

Todd explained that he has since written to the DPP seeking for the October 15, 2014 offence to be withdrawn. A reply is awaited.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, AUGUST 20, 2019

Lichfield residents welcome community projects

RESIDENTS of Lichfield, West Coast Berbice are keen to see projects earmarked for their community realised. The projects at reference include the construction of an all-weather road, community ground bleachers and several bus sheds.

Councillor Desney Mentore, the chairperson for Seafield/Tempe and Lichfield, explained that the projects resulted from requests made by residents following consultations.

Several bus sheds, for example, had their genesis due to the onset of the usually heavy rains, also the recognised need for school children to have somewhere to shelter while awaiting transportation, Mentore explained.

She added that the move to construct approximately three miles of all-weather road, will enable rice and cash crop farmers to better access their farmlands. Work on the road has started, with other works set to begin on August 19.

Meanwhile, the stands or bleachers for the community ground will serve as a boost for the community’s youths, and too, as an encouragement for more of them to utilise the facility for sports.

Additional requests were made for solar-powered streetlights, a rehabilitated

NDC office, a small incinerator for disposal of medical waste, and the use of a portion of land belonging to GuySuco (Guyana Sugar Corporation) for a dumpsite.

These issues were highlighted during a well-attended community meeting, preceded by a walkabout and school bag distribution,

ministers will be apprised of the issues raised.

Among several measures that Minister Jordan highlighted were that pensions could be doubled in the next five years, and plans to increase available cash grants via the Small Business Bureau (SBB) from $250M to $500M. He urged that

Chairperson of Seafield/ Tempe and Lichfield, Councillor Desney Mentore

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, with Lichfield’s oldest resident, 103-year-old James Lane

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan and Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, distributing schoolbags to children of Lichfield Village

co-hosted by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams SC, and Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, according to the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Meanwhile, the relevant

persons take advantage of opportunities available.

“We will prepare the wicket favourably for you, but you got to bat! Lichfield, like communities countrywide, will continue to see development and all will

benefit.”

Supporting his Cabinet colleague, the attorney general said that since taking office, the government has impacted positively on lives countrywide, as he reminded of the well-known transgres-

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan and AttorneyGeneral Basil Williams interacting with some Lichfield residents during a walkabout in the community

sions by the previous administration.

Further, he urged everyone eligible to vote, to ensure that they too can get a fair share of the gains that will continue under the Coalition Government. The

legal affairs minister further called on residents to take advantage of the technical/ vocational courses available.

“Get your young people educated…” he urged, and reminded that “if you don’t use it, you will lose it!”

Brazil bus company to launch Lethem-G/Town service in November DEEMED an international line, Brazilian company, AMATUR, plans to commence a bus service linking Lethem with Georgetown

by November this year.

President of the Brazil-Guyana Chamber of Commerce, Remídio Monai, confirmed the plans of the company with Brazilian media entit, Radio Folha.

He said, too, that trade and investment opportunities in Guyana appear bright.

Monai highlighted Guyana's economic growth and its future and how the service could benefit the state of Roraima. “Great entrepreneurs want to make a port in Georgetown and others want to go into agribusiness.

Guyana, in a few years, will be exploring more oil than Venezuela and so people will have large purchasing power to invest in Roraima, consume as well. The new fact is that Guyana will be exploring oil and there are companies from various states that are aware of this exploration,”

he said.

The line is part of the bilateral International Passenger and Freight Road transport agreement and, according to Monai, the anticipated establishment of the service came to fruition in the last set of meetings of the chamber. “Our relationship with Guyana has been around since 1968. We reactivated the Chamber of Commerce and created some guidelines to seek support. Among 14 items that we defined in our

agenda, there was the Passenger and Cargo Transport Agreement. This agreement was signed in 2003 and now we set our main goal to get it off the ground. Everything went a long way and 80% of what we were trying to solve was solved, ”he explained.

AMATUR or Amatur Amazônia Turismo Ltda provides passenger transportation services to the municipalities of the state of Roraima and also to Manaus using its fleet of 50 vehicles,

including its popular double-decker buses. The company said its fleet includes vehicles which can operate on paved and unpaved roads.

Previously, the company operated along the route in partnership with a local company under the INTRASEV brand. AMATUR says that in addition to its plans to launch the service between Lethem and the Coastland, it plans to establish facilities at both locations.

A Lethem-based travel

One of several double-decker buses which AMATUR operates

President of the Brazil-Guyana Chamber of Commerce, Remídio Monai.(Credit: FolhaBV)

agency, Fly Brazil Travel Agency, has noted that AMATUR is aware of the condition of the roadway and, as such, engineers from the neighbouring country will be undertaking the maintenance between the Kurupukari Crossing on the Essequibo River and Linden, in order for the buses to operate with a reasonable traffic flow along the route.

Guyana has been the target of several international

companies in various sectors including the financial, transportation, airline and oil and gas as the country prepares to capitalize on more than a dozen oil discoveries since May 2015.

Thus far, American oil giant ExxonMobil has made 13 oil discoveries offshore Guyana in the Stabroek Block. Recently, UK-based Tullow oil also announced that it struck oil in commercial quantities in the Orinduik Block and according to a report in online portal, OilNow, Tullow estimates that here are approximately 100 million barrels of oil in the Jethro-1 well where it struck oil. Norway-based energy research and business intelligence company, Rystad Energy, has said Guyana’s total estimated income from the 13 discoveries made so far by ExxonMobil is now projected at $117.5 billion US dollars.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, AUGUST 20, 2019

Bauxite workers issue ultimatum to RUSAL …as they await word on new CLA, salary hike

By Tamica Garnett BAUXITE Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), owned by Russian company RUSAL, has up until this week to get back to the Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GB&GWU), on negotiations for salary and a new Collective Labour Agreement (CLA), before the workers begin contemplating their options to deal with the low wages and salaries and poor working conditions.

Workers are contending that conditions at the company remain the same for employees, GB&GWU BCGI Vice-President, Garfield Brutus, said workers are particularly distressed by the state of the roads, and the situation with the transportation provided by the company.

Brutus says reports made to the management of the company continue to fall on deaf ears. He noted that reports are mainly made to the company’s Personnel Manager, Mikhail Krupenin. Calls made to company’s office for a response, have gone unanswered.

“Yes we ask them to fix the place and they’re not doing anything,” Brutus stated “They does give you a negative answer, they always give you a negative answer. They don’t tell you nothing proper, sometimes they don’t say anything at all, or sometimes they say they fixing and they not fixing anything.”

Over five months have passed since employees ended a five-week strike, and the company agreed to recognise the Union, work on a new CLA, and address salary and other concerns of workers. In early May, 2019, a proposed CLA was submitted by the Union to the company but nothing has been forthcoming from the company since. And this has not been sitting well with the workers.

“It is brewing in the air that the guys are very, very upset,” explained the BCGI Union Branch President Ephraim Velloza.

The Union says the company has up until this week to say something on the matter.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed that by Monday they make a decision so that we can go into negotiations. They said they would’ve gotten back to us, but the time frame would be expiring Monday, so I don’t know if tomorrow or Tuesday they would call us in for re-negotiations, because we still have outstanding discussions and things to put in place like the CLA,” he disclosed.

If the company doesn’t give a response by this week the Union is considering its options.

“I don’t want to transmit our

Officials of GB&GWU and BCGI pose for a photograph after the signing of the ToR for the resumption of duties for dismissed workers in March

Working conditions at RUSAL/BCGI bauxite mines

plans but the guys are getting frustrated and when people get frustrated all kinds of things happen, so I am not saying what we would do or what we wouldn’t do, but what we are saying is that we are giving them up to Monday. The workers are very, very tense at the present moment because the working conditions are deplorable in the mechanical section, the guys are getting very, very agitated,” he emphasized.

The last word from the company representatives on receiving the CLA and other proposals from the Union was that they had to transmit the proposals to their principals in Russia. Velloza believes that’s simply a delaying tactic by the company.

“Everything for them have to go to Russia for them to make decisions, I don’t know what’s happening. Why is it they are operating here? I have a problem with that because we can make decisions why can’t they make decisions and they have persons here who are in charge. The last thing we heard was that they had to take it to their superiors and they will get back to us, so we are waiting for them to get back to us now. I think it’s just a

gimmick game that they are playing for us to get frustrated and forfeit our agreement,” he pointed out.

Earlier this year on February 15, several workers initiated strike action after the company imposed an arbitrary one percent pay increase on employees, three days later some 61 employees were fired and the Department of Labour (DoL) summoned the company. Sometime later another 30 employees were laid off.

The company was refusing to recognise the Union as the legitimate representative of the workers.

Employees blocked a river that the company was using to transport its bauxite, halting the company’s operations. By early March the company eventually agreed to recognise the Union, and the strike officially came to an end on March 21, as the two sides agreed to begin work on a new CLA, after none had been in place since 2009.

All terminated workers were reinstated. Since then, Velloza said, a few employee complaints have been addressed.

“We have been able to accomplish some things like putting the Union in place, start getting one

A truck that toppled last Saturday at the RUSAL/BCGI bauxite mines

and two benefits like the overtime, holiday pay, we’re getting some small things in place, at least we are starting to make inroads. They have acknowledged the presence of the Union it’s just waiting for the agreements to come off the table and we go on a smooth flow again.

So that is our point standing at the current moment,” he shared.

It was initially agreed, between the company and the Union, that the two sides would settle on the CLA before moving forward in the negotiations on other concerns including the salary. Velloza said the company is now back pedaling and wants to deal with the salary negotiations first, with no indication of what is holding up negotiations on the CLA. “I feel it’s just a delaying tactic that they are doing. They say they are going to deal with the financial aspect first and then we are going to deal with the labour agreement,” Velloza said.

“I thought that [the CLA] would’ve been the easiest thing to negotiate, because it’s nothing really new just a little fine change.

For me they are running from the CLA, and I think that is the most important agreement because there are benefits for every worker and their family. I don’t know, for some reason or the other all these people come to do is come here and extract the bauxite.”

Velloza said the Union has not yet made a report to the DoL, but has plans to if the negotiations do not begin this week.

In the salary proposal the Union said it looked at the salary scale at other bauxite companies, for the similar and same job categories.

According to a statement from the Union, the company currently pays minimum and maximum wages at a rate of $335 and $655 per hour, respectively. The Union is proposing wages of $572 and $1040 per hour for the minimum and maximum, respectively, in their application.

Deplorable working conditions Meanwhile workers are calling on the relevant authorities to look into the conditions under which workers at the company are made to endure. Due to bad conditions of the roads, a truck is said to have toppled with a worker inside, last week.

“This situation with this condition of the road has been going on for years, year after year. Every time the rain falls it’s in a very bad state,” explained Brutus, himself an employee of the company.

Brutus resides in Mapletown, Aroaima, a community owned by the company where workers are housed.

Outside of the working conditions, another issue of concern he says is the transportation provided by the company to transport workers from Mapletown to the work site, as well as to the mines.

He contends the buses come on time to take employees to work, however it at time takes hours before those employees leaving be taken back home. Employees start work at 6:00 hours, however shift employees coming off at 6:00 hours are made to wait before buses can take them back home.

“They making sure they bring us early when we come in the morning, but going home that’s where the problem lies, and it is unfair to the workers. When we hand over there we have to wait until sometimes minutes to 7am before we can leave. We are going through this thing over, and over.

Repeatedly we talk about this transportation issue and nothing at all ain’t doing.,” Brutus said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, AUGUST 20, 2019

13 awarded Chevening scholarships

By Navendra Seoraj SINCE the academic year 2015-2016, the United Kingdom (UK) has expended $503 million on all but four of 83 Chevening scholarships which went to Guyana.

“I am proud of the fact that we have committed this amount of funding to develop and train those people who will help develop Guyana. I am also proud that we have shown an increasing commitment to Suriname over the same period,” said British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn, during a farewell ceremony for 13 persons-- 11 from Guyana and two from Suriname-- who benefited from the Chevening Scholarship this year.

This year’s scholarships represented an investment by the British Government of some $93 million.

The Chevening is an international scholarship scheme which enables students with leadership qualities from 144 countries and territories to undertake post-graduate study or courses in universities in the UK. The scholars will be studying for postgraduate qualifications in a variety of topics including marine planning, oil and gas law, health studies, the environment, human rights, economics, information technology, media and cultural studies and for the first time ever in Guyana and Suriname, Sports Science, which will be under-

Scholars share a moment with British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn and other officials (Adrian Narine photo)

taken by Jaime Skeete.

After these scholars have been awarded their degrees, the UK expects them to come back and work for the benefit of Guyana and Suriname.

“That is the purpose of Chevening, to give people the skills and knowledge needed to help develop their own country… not to go and work elsewhere but to return and work here. It is the least that we can expect. We are not spending money to have people vanish off elsewhere.

We are spending money to help them develop Guyana and Suriname,” said Quinn.

He said Chevening is all about having the opportunity to learn and develop, and then coming back to use the teachings and experience to benefit Guyana and everyone who lives here.

The high commissioner encouraged the scholars to meet up with other scholars, old and new because building and enhancing the scholars’ alumni group is fundamental

to the UK. The British Government wants all scholars to exchange ideas and encourage discussion around key issues; by doing so, they will be part of a group which has shared experiences.

These experiences will allow them to become effective advocates for the development of Guyana.

By playing a part in the Chevening Alumni, scholars join several hundred peers and colleagues who have

Sugar records $1.3B increase in export sales …over 37,000 tonnes exported in first half of the year

THE Guyana Sugar Corporation has exported 37,836.7 tonnes of sugar in the first half of the year.

This was according to information from the Ministry of Finance’s 2019 mid-year report, which was issued a week ago. According to the report, 32,263 tonnes were sold to the European Union (EU) market at a higher price than budgeted, resulting in an increase of $1.3 billion in export sales. At the end of June 2019, GuySuCo had a cash surplus of $834 million, reflecting an improved performance, when compared to a deficit of $3.8 billion in the same period in 2018.

Total receipts were $9.3 billion, of which $3.9 billion was received from the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited/ Special Purpose Unit to fund GuySuCo’s operations and capital projects.

GuySuCo’s expenditure was $8.1 billion in the period

under review.

It was $2.7 billion lower than the corresponding period in 2018.

The corporation’s capital expenditure was $334 million, 90.3 per cent lower than the budgeted amount of $3.4 billion, primarily due to delays in funding for capital works.

Despite the corporation’s performance at the end of June, the sugar company projected a deficit of $920 million at the end of 2019.

Although there are grim projections, GuySuCo continued to focus on cost reduction measures and improved efficiencies in order to position the company to compete in and take advantage of lucrative markets.

In this regard, GuySuCo had received tractors and other equipment that will increase cane yield and lower the cost of production of sugarcane.

According to the report, this will provide the base for

a productive and profitable industry that will include, among other projects, cogenerated electricity from surplus bagasse, from the Albion factor, in the first instance.

The refurbishment and modernisation of this factory is expected to lead to the commercial production of plantation white sugar in 2022.

PRODUCTION GuySuCo fell short of its production target for the first crop by one per cent, with output reaching 33,531 metric tonnes of sugar.

There were delays in the start of production that were due to the late delivery of materials for critical repairs to boilers in all factories, as well as extended equipment maintenance at the Uitvlugt factory.

Thus, the commencement of cane harvesting was pushed to late February.

However, once harvesting began, industry yields were

higher than the same period last year, by 1.4 per cent, with considerable gains being made at Uitvlugt.

There were also noticeable improvements in the recovery of sugar at both the Uitvlugt and Blairmont estates.

The corporation estimates that production for the second crop will be 73,516 metric tonnes, resulting in the growth rate of 2.3 per cent in 2019, down from the 15.6 per cent forecasted at the time of the budget, The first round of cane assessment for the 2019 second crop was completed; the canes are relatively well grown and continue to develop in favourable conditions. However, it is noted that delays in the procurement of inputs, including fertilisers and spare parts, could affect production for the remainder of 2019, as well as 2020.

shared similar experiences and who can support each other.

A former beneficiary of the Chevening Scholarship, Dr. Quincy Jones outlined what he called three simple truths from the experience.

The first, he said, was a shot at a master’s degree in the UK, which is an experience of a lifetime, something persons should make full use of. It is an opportunity to be lectured by some of the brightest minds ever.

Jones said persons are able to create networks and tap into it to further Guyana’s developmental agenda.

“Returning home is the hardest… learning in the UK is easy but coming back to Guyana is when it gets rough…Your MSC, MBA, LLM will not entitle you to a job that will allow you to expose your talents… It took us more than a year to get a job that could maximise our skill sets,” he said, adding that persons should not be discouraged by this, but should persevere and make the most of the opportunity.

Principal of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), Viola Rowe, on behalf of Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, said being part of the programme provides promise for Guyana. She thanked the people of the UK for helping Guyana to embrace globalisation through study programme.

Rowe said experiences garnered from international education have the potential to reduce academic in-breathing.

Eligible candidates were encouraged to apply for next year’s Chevening scholarship scheme. Applications opened on August 5 and will close on November 5, for those who will go to the UK in September 2020.

For more information, persons should look at the official Chevening website www.chevening.org/apply or the High Commission Facebook page.

Man charged with multiple offences remanded SENIOR Magistrate Leron Daly on Monday August 19, 2019, remanded a twenty-four-year-old man who was alleged to have committed several offences.

Carlton Bourne, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and denied the charges when they were read to him.

Particulars of The first charge stated that, on July 23, 2019, at Norton and Chapel Streets, while in the company of others and armed with a knife, he robbed Nicholas Jemon of a ring and other items valued at $189,000.

The second charge stated that, on July 26, 2019, at Norton Street Lodge, armed with a knife, he robbed John Nedd of his phones and other items totalling $382,000.

The third charge stated that, on August 2, 2019, at Princess Street and armed

with a gun, he robbed Jomo Paul of $220,000 cash and a chain valued at $252,000.

The fourth charge stated that, on August 13, 2019, at Middle Road La Penitence, he discharged a firearm at Sherryann Persaud with intent to cause her bodily harm.

The last charge stated that, on August 13, 2019, at Middle Road La Penitence, armed with a gun, he robbed Sherryann Persaud of two phones valued at $343,000.

Police prosecutor objected to bail being granted to Bourne on grounds of the seriousness of the offences and told the court that Bourne had similar matters before the Court.

Magistrate Leron Daly refused bail and remanded Bourne to prison and adjourned the matter until September 23, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Over 50 employers in court for NIS payment, other breaches – Minister Ally says labour laws must be adhered to THE Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Labour, is aggressively pursuing cases of labour breaches by private employers to keep them in line, thus ensuring they remain in compliance with labour laws. Presently, there are over 50 employers before the courts for being negligent for various labour offences. In addition to being prosecuted, other legal ramifications these employers can face include the withdrawal of their operating licence. On Monday, this was made vehemently clear by Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, on INSIGHT, VOG 102.5FM. The Minister revealed

that there are labour officers present in every administrative region, to mitigate labour issues affecting employees of, particularly, private companies all across Guyana. She stressed that the private security sector is one of the most negligent sectors as it relates to salary payments being below the $42,400 threshold and non-payment of workers National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions. Despite the labour law stipulates that workers must be paid $255 per hour, some security companies are paying their workers as low as $120 per hour.

Ally said that the Ministry delved into at least one case and found it to be true. The matter is presently before the courts and the possibil-

ity lies that the company’s license can be revoked. “We cannot allow the workers out there to suffer at the hands of these people….they have to comply with the labour laws, they have to and once they don’t comply, we are going to make every effort to bring them in line,” Ally said.

Over the last few years, owners of several security firms found themselves in hot water with their employees for non-payment of their NIS, despite deducting same from their salaries. In many instances, the workers are only made aware of this, when they approach NIS for health and other social benefits. It is then they are told that they have not met the

required contribution to have such benefits.

Last month NIS had issued the names of several security firms, as well as of other companies, that owed tens of millions of dollars in payment. Some who were on the list include Strategic Action Security Services, Hopkinson Mining Security Services Inc., Camex Security Services Inc., Atlas Security Service Inc., Amazon Security and Investigation Services and Sentinel Security Inc. Some of these entities’ including Camex Security Services had denied being in default.

Employers are expected to make contributions on or before the 15th day of every month for the preceding

month. If this is not done, more so if employers miss up to five months payment, the employee will be denied benefits. The individual would then have to make an appeal to the Tribunal for a hearing, yet receiving these benefits can still take time as it is ultimately dependent on the time period in which the employer makes these payments. This shows that if employers make late contributions, it becomes very problematic for the beneficiaries and the NIS which often times receives the blame for challenges experienced as a result.

Ally related that the Ministry is putting systems in place to do routine checks to ensure the remit-

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally

tances are documented as paid in NIS’system and at other agencies as well, such as health insurance companies. She met with the Labour Department to discuss how this tracking process can be expedited and be executed in the most efficient way. “We are seeking to ensure that in all respects, they comply with the law, it is not going unnoticed and it is not a question of being harsh, we are saying that this is a requirement and they must face the requirement,” Ally said.

Residents welcome imminent road work

Edward Cort showing the Guyana Chronicle part of his vehicle which was damaged because of the conditions of the road (Adrian Narine photo)

Navendra Seoraj

THE National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) has approved the award of contracts for the rehabilitation of several roads in Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

This was according to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, in a post on his Facebook Page.

Patterson said NPTAB approved awards for several roads including Aubrey Barker Road; Titus Street, Agricola; William Street, Kitty; Meadowbank Access Road; Bun Bush Dam and

others.

The minister posted a list of all the roads which are slated to be rehabilitated and some of those included Primary School Street, Manchester, Berbice; Semple Street, Sheet Anchor, Berbice; First Cross Street, Section B Grant at Crabwood Creek; Middle Walk Dam Letter Kenny, Berbice; William Street, Kitty; Critchlow Avenue, South Ruimveldt; and others.

A resident of Critchlow Avenue, Edward Cort was elated after hearing that Government has decided to rehabilitate the road which runs from Aubrey Barker Road to Cane View.

The current state of Critchlow Avenue (Adrian Narine photo)

“They more than need to do it over…this road was in a terrible condition since Noah was a scout,” said Cort, adding that in the past the authorities rehabilitated the road in parts, but it never lasted.

He said sections of the road were so terrible that cars, buses and even bicycles could not maneuver themselves through.

“So this rehabilitation is late but we welcome it… I living here for over 20 years and I feel is time the road get do,” said the resident, who had just returned from changing a part of his car which was damaged because of the condition of the road.

Over in William Street, residents were surprised that Government decided to do work there because the road is in a fairly good condition.

Residents said some parts of the road are bumpy and could do with some repairs, so they welcomed Government’s initiative.

In May, Government, in keeping with its commitment to improve the conditions, under which people operate, injected an additional $2B into the public infrastructure sector for the construction of new roads, bridges and drains.

This is in addition to the installation of highway lights, and completion of

the billion- dollar East Coast Road Widening and Improvement Project.

The sum, which complements the $15.5B already received by the Public Infrastructure Ministry for 2019, formed part of a $7.9B supplementary provision approved by the National Assembly.

Of the more than $2B approved for the ministry, $500M will be used for the construction and rehabilitation of roads and drains in urban areas. Minister Patterson told the House that residents in all 10 administrative regions will benefit from this injection. He said the government is pleased

with the projects completed.

“The roads that we did in 2015, they are still standing, they are still standing sir. I remember there was something that they use to call ‘elections roads,’ but we don’t have that,” he posited.

Also, to complement the $1.9B that was approved for the construction and rehabilitation of main roads and drains for the Public Infrastructure Ministry, the House approved an additional $150M. It was said that the money would be used to construct and rehabilitate main access roads and drains in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 20, 2019

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'Labour laws must be complied with' – Min. Ally THE Ministry of Social Protection has reinforced its policy on ensuring that businesses and organisations in Guyana operate in occurrence with the stipulated laws which govern the nation.

Additionally, it was emphasised that specifically private businesses “must comply with the laws,” which the ministry will ensure happens.

This pronouncement was made by Minister of Social Protection, Hon. Amna

Minister of Social Protection, Hon. Amna Ally on ‘INSIGHT’, Voice of Guyana (VOG).

WCB motorcyclist dies after crashing into parked car A 24-year-old motorcyclist died after he lost control of his motorcycle while riding on the #40 Village Public Road on the West Coast Berbice Sunday night last.

The dead man was identified as Latchman Hansraj also known as Kevin of Lot 116 Block D Bath Settlement West Coast Berbice. The accident occurred at around 22:45 hrs at Seafield Village West Coast Bebice.

Reports stated that Hansraj was riding his motorcycle along the roadway when he collided with some persons who were standing alongside the roadway following the Guyana Cup Horse Race Meeting at Rising Sun West Coast Berbice.

He lost control of the motorcycle which then crashed into a vehicle parked alongside the roadway. He was picked up in an unconscious condition and rushed to the Fort Wellington Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Two females who had been hit by the motorcycle were treated at the Fort Wellington Hospital and sent away.

The twenty four-year-old man was described as a very talented Graphic Arts Designer. He was an employee of Impressive Signs Graphics and Printery located in Church Street New Amsterdam Berbice.

The Police are investigating.

Ally, on Monday, during an interview on the National Communication’s Network’s programme ‘INSIGHT’ on Voice of Guyana (VOG).

Minister Ally said that her office has been working to initiate the legal requirements for various agencies regarding the dos and don’ts of employment of staff. According to Minister Ally, just recently a complaint was made to her office about a particular security agency underpaying its workers.

“The situation was inves-

tigated and we have found it to be true. We are going to take action because we cannot allow workers out there to suffer … We are going to take the agency to court,” Minister Ally emphasised, adding that there is a possibility that the company’s license will be revoked.

According to Minister Ally, the Labour Department has also encountered situations where managers are deducting monies from employees’ salaries for their National Insurance Scheme

(NIS) contributions, but no records of such are being reflected at NIS. Currently over 50 employers were taken to court for acting against the law, she said.

“We assure that these practices will not go unnoticed and it is not being harsh to managers. We are seeking to ensure that in all respects they comply with the requirements.” (DPI)

Manager of supermarket freed of murder charge A 28-year-old manager of Fresh Co. Supermarket, was on Monday, August 19, 2019, freed from a murder charge

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, due to insufficient evidence in the case.

Xino Xi Qu, of Block X, Section B, Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where the preliminary inquiry was conducted.

The charge alleged that, the defendant, on April 22, 2019, at Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara, wounded Gregory Sanmoogan with intent to commit murder.

The matter was prosecuted

by Inspector Neville Jeffers while Qu was represented by attorney-at-law George Thomas.

The Chief Magistrate, on Monday, discharged the mater against Qu, since the prosecution failed to prove its case.

According to the reports, on the day in question, around 20:15hrs, Sanmoogan went into the supermarket to purchase a few items.

After he left the building to await transportation, the defendant attacked him, inflicting a blow to his head and dealt him

Xino Xi Qu (Kaieteur News Photo)

several blows about his body.

Sanmoogan then went to the Golden Grove Police Station to make a report when he collapsed and was rushed

to the hospital. The defendant reportedly went into hiding and was later contacted by the police and charged with the said offence.

Masked gunman attacks Grove Housing Scheme family

Deceased, Latchman Hansraj

A lone gunman robbed and terrorized a Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) family in the wee hours of Monday morning causing a mother and her daughters to abandon their house which they are renting. Forty-nine-year-old Marcia Fredericks was in her yard waiting for a taxi to take a relative to Parika when a masked gunman jumped the fence and grabbed her hair dragging her into the house.

Ms. Fredericks said she was gun-butted as the bandit demanded cash, something which she told him was unavailable and not in her possession.

Her two daughters then

The scene where the robbery occurred.

began screaming, one sprinted for cover while the other confronted the gunman who threatened to shoot her. Realizing things were getting out of control; the woman related to the gunman that she had no money, and instead he snatched her phone and ran into the yard shooting in the direction of a

dog.

The bandit then made good his escape on foot. The ordeal which lasted several minutes ended with neighbours assisting the family as police visited hours later. The family expressed fear at returning to the house as police investigations continue.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, AUGUST 20, 2019

Child hit down during PPP/C protest

WEST Berbice People’s Progressive Party/Civic Officials who allowed an eight-year-old girl to take part in a picketing exercise had to rush the child to hospital for medical treatment after she was hit by a passing vehicle.

The accident occurred around 18:00 hours Sunday last while the PPP/C supporters were picketing a meet the people meeting at Blairmont

Primary School West Bank Berbice in which Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan were participants.

Reports at the Fort Wellington Hospital stated that the child was treated for a head injury at 18:40 hrs.

She was allowed to leave afterwards but her parents were instructed to return with her Monday for further

treatment.

Meanwhile the presence of a child on a picket line and her subsequent misfortune sparked indignation at the level of the Regional Administration of Region 5. Regional Executive Officer Ovid Morrison said that his Administration had dispatched a letter to the Child Protection Agency asking them to investigate the circumstances of the child.

He also chided the PPP/C officials including PPP MP Harry Gill for allowing a child at such a tender age to participate in a picketing demonstration.

He said:” I was on my way to the meeting when I saw this child in the picket line. The placard in her hand dwarfed her. She was so short that all I could see were her two feet. In the same line were PPP Member of Parliament Harry Gill and Chairman of the PPP controlled Neighborhood Democratic Council E Budhai. I was so amazed at this that I took out my telephone and took a picture of her. I learnt a bit later that she had been injured by a passing vehicle.”

He complained: “Putting a child in a picket line was such a callous act. Nothing less than child abuse. I don’t think that child could have even read what was written on the placard she was holding.” He reiterated that the Child Protection Agency had been contacted and asked to take investigative action into the domestic circumstances

of the eight-year-old. He also called on the PPP/C to desist from using children in such a ruthless manner in aid of their “political shenanigans.”

There were other reports that children were used in a picket demonstration outside the venue of a meet the people meeting at Bath Settlement on the West Coast of Berbice at around the same time Sunday last.

Gill in a letter late Monday afternoon said he had discouraged the little girl from being there, but the child’s mother assured him she would be safe as there was no one at home to send her to. “Since he was so concerned for this child’s safety and welfare, why did Morrison not call me, or ask the police officer standing nearby to talk to me about his concerns, rather than take photographs he can use as evidence to tarnish the image of the PPP/C and to score cheap political points.”

Gill said the child that had the accident with the cyclist was not the same child in the picket line that

Morrison referred to and took photos of. He noted that a three-year-old boy was with his mother passing near the protesters, when the child broke away, ran onto the roadway and was struck by a pedal cyclist. “The mother of this child was not one of our protesters, had no placards, and may just have been a bystander going about her own business.

Nevertheless, my EMT-D training immediately kicked into high gear, and I examined the child for head injury. Fortunately, a woman was nearby with a first-aid kit, and after applying pressure, gauze and bandage to stop the bleeding, I first dropped off the cyclist at the Blairmont Police Station to give a statement, then drove the mother and the injured child to the Fort Wellington hospital in my vehicle where he received immediate medical attention.”

3% increase in rice production …production of non-traditional crops on the rise

RICE production from the first crop of 2019 is reported to be 3.4% higher than that recorded for the first crop of 2018.

This information was revealed in the Ministry of Finance’s Mid-Year Report on the agriculture sector. The report showed that the expansion and diversification of the agricultural sector have seen considerable progress. This is especially true for non-traditional agriculture produce and value-added production.

Rice production specifically has benefitted exponentially from the work of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) which has resolved many of the challenges faced by rice farmers in the field. This helped in not only retaining yield and production levels but resulted in the aforementioned marked increase for the first crop this year despite challenges with paddy bugs.

While production levels of the traditional crops such as rice have shown improve-

ment, the effort to expand non-traditional crops was advanced through land-clearing and on-farm development in

Additionally, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) had trained many farmers in the technique of growing onions. This has since resulted in the harvesting of 20kg of onions solely from these

Ithaca, Mocha, Buxton and Triumph. This has resulted in more than 150 acres of land in these communities being brought under cultivation, employing 156 farmers.

These farmers received planting materials for their crop production and are benefitting from full-time agricultural extension services.

This includes works from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) in the grading of access dams in several areas such as Fyrish, Free and Easy and La Parfait Harmonie, thereby allowing farmers to better utilise these opened lands.

demonstration exercises and as such NAREI has projected that onion cultivation is expected to increase to 5 Hectares by the end of 2019, in Regions 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10. There have also been collaborative efforts between NAREI and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 1 geared towards the increase of production and processing of ginger and turmeric for the local market.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 20, 2019

800 Venezuelan children enrolled in schools …Region One teachers to undergo training to teach English to migrant students

SINCE the Venezuelan migrant crisis took effect, 800 children have been enrolled in the school system here and the Ministry of Education will soon train 19 North West District teachers to be equipped with skills to teach English as a second language to migrant students.

According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, the Government, through the Ministry of Education, has been working with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to develop educational interventions, which will improve the learning and communication skills of these children. Eight communities in the region are expected to benefit from this initiative.

UNHCR representative on the Multi-Stakeholder Committee, Ms. Cecilie Guerrero, made this announcement at Monday’s stakeholder meeting, which was held at the Department of Citizenship.

The Committee is tasked with monitoring the arrival of Venezuelan migrants into Guyana.

Ms. Guerrero informed the Committee that 17 teachers from Region One and two from Georgetown will gather in Mabaruma later this week for the training, which will last until the end of the month. The two Georgetown-based teach-

A mother being interviewed by an official of the International Organisation for Migration at Kumaka, Mabaruma sub-region. (IOM photo)

ers, she said, will be trained to be trainers. The teachers will be tasked with training their colleagues wherever the need arises.

The Committee was informed too that the Canadian based facilitator, who will be conducting the training, arrived in Guyana early on Monday.

Although the figures may have since risen, as of February this year, Guyana hosted approx-

Manager of supermarket freed of murder charge A 28-year-old manager of Fresh Co. Supermarket, was on Monday, August 19, 2019, freed from a murder charge

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, due to insufficient evidence in the case.

Xino Xi Qu, of Block X, Section B, Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where the preliminary inquiry was conducted. The charge alleged that, the defendant, on April 22, 2019, at Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara, wounded Gregory Sanmoogan with intent to commit murder. The matter was prosecuted by Inspector Neville Jeffers while Qu was represented by attorney-at-law George Thomas.

The Chief Magistrate, on Monday, discharged the mater against Qu, since the prosecution failed to prove its case. According to the reports, on the day in question, around 20:15hrs, Sanmoogan went into the supermarket to purchase a few items. After

Xino Xi Qu (Kaieteur News Photo)

he left the building to await transportation, the defendant attacked him, inflicting a blow to his head and dealt him several blows about his body.

Sanmoogan then went to the Golden Grove Police Station to make a report when he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. The defendant reportedly went into hiding and was later contacted by the police and charged with the said offence.

imately 36,400 Venezuelan migrants.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) reported that a survey of 1100 Venezuelan migrants in Guyana indicates that 17 per cent of that population, which is school-aged, is attending school here. USAID said that its partners are working with the Government of Guyana to address educational needs among Venezuelans, including launching a safe-school initiative to increase service delivery in host communities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, AUGUST 20, 2019

Guyana: A Year in a Day - ‘Guyana Night’ at CARIFESTA XIV showcases the country’s diverse culture through its festivals and observances

By Vishani Ragobeer THE 'Guyana Night' feature of CARIFESTA XIV was a compact performance that showcased Guyana's diverse culture by presenting some of the country's festivals and observances on Sunday Night at the Queen's Park Savannah in Trinidad and Tobago.

Suitably named "Guyana: A Year in a Day", the performance presented a chronological sequence of those Guyanese holidays observed throughout the year.

The diverse culture of the country's many ethnic groups was what underpinned the entire performance, which sought to show that there may be many different people in Guyana, but they all come together as one.

In fact, member of the National Drama Company, Keon Heywood, who was the orator that strung the entire performance together, highlighted: "All ah we does celebrate in unity."

The performance began with a rendition of the National Anthem and one of Guyana's National songs, Oh Beautiful Guyana. That was simply a euphonious introduction to the actual performance that would come right after.

'Big Red', with her powerful voice singing folk tunes, made her way into the Stabroek square on Trinidad's Savannah Grand stage. She was soon met by a newspaper vendor plying her trade,

belting: "Guyana is the #1 Eco-Tourism destination in the World" and "Exxon

whetted the audience's appetites with a short dance, did Heywood take to the stage

Keon Heywood (right) and other members of the National Drama Company re-enacting a “Soiree” for Emancipation during the Guyana Night performance

The masqueraders came out on the Savannah stage to show a bit of what Christmas in Guyana is like

strikes more oil offshore".

More persons came on stage in this manner, re-enacting the everyday hustle and bustle at the Stabroek. It was only after all of the actors had made their way on stage, and the National Dance Company

and carried the spectators on a year-long journey in Guyana.

The performances went from New Year's to Mashramani, Phagwah to Easter, Emancipation to Indigenous People's Heritage month, and

The National Dance Company took to the Grand Stage at the Queen's Park Savannah with their routine of Vanilla's “One Voice" to end the Guyana Night country performance of CARIFESTA XIV on Sunday Night

Guyana’s Indian Dance delegation taking the crowd through the festivities of Phagwah

then from Eid to Diwali before finally ending at Christmas time. Each observance was backed with their own little dramatization, dance, song or a combination of those genres.

As the performance

winded down at Christmas time, members of the National Steel Orchestra played Slingshot's Christmas in Guyana, which was a melodious but gentle precursor to energetic masqueraders that followed.

The drums and the energy of the masqueraders were enough to get patrons clapping their hands and tapping their feet, but it was local designer, Maxi Wiliams, who stole their attention. Maxi came out as a 'tall man' with the masqueraders, and as he towered over everyone else, his elaborately designed costume replicating the Golden Arrowhead added that finesse and touch of class to the Stabroek Market kaleidoscope. That year-long performance culminated with another dance from the National Dance Company. They danced to Vanilla's 'One Voice' which served to reaffirm the social cohesion message of the Guyana Night performance.

Essequibo businessman makes donations to Region Two top CSEC performers

By Indrawattie Natram RECOGNIZING that the Pomeroon-Supenaam region’s children have done exceedingly well at the recent sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations prominent businessman Alfro Alphonso has decided to honour the region’s top performers.

Through one of his company’s, Pinnacle Communications, Alfonso honoured the top 5 CSEC performers of Region Two. The country’s top performer Riana Toney received $100,000 while the other top four performers, Charrandat Narine, Premchand Rampersaud, Ushanna Mohan and Begum Baksh each received

tion ceremony, thanked the businessman and his company for recognizing the efforts of the children.

She said that Essequibo is indeed proud of all the children's achievements.

The students were hap-

py for the donation and thanked the businessman for his kind contribution.

CSEC top performer, Riana Toney as she uplifted her financial prize from Pinnacle Communications representative Ava Thompson.

$50,000.

Representing the company at a simple ceremony in the ‘Cinderella County’ was Ava Thompson who said that Alphonso was impressed with the performances of the students and wanted to make the cash donation so that other students can see

and be motivated to aim for similar spots in next year's examinations. Thompson said that Alphonso will continue to support and promote the educational achievements of students in Guyana.

Regional Education Officer, Nicola Matthews who was present at the presenta-

The students and their parents stand with the Regional Education Officers Ms. Nicola Matthews(second left) and representatives of Pinnacle Communications.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, AUGUST 20, 2019

Blairmont residents upbeat after community engagement RESIDENTS of the Mahaica-Berbice region, on Sunday, had yet another opportunity to meet and discuss issues affecting them with ministers and government officials, who had fanned out across the region and conducted community meetings in several areas.

The interactive discussion is all part of the government’s continued efforts to fulfil its mandate and engage residents at the grassroots level.

As was expected, residents of Blairmont turned out in their numbers and wasted no time in engaging Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, as they sought answers to their issues.

In commending those present for taking full advantage of the opportunity, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said, “This is what this meeting is about, and our out-

In the composite photo, from left: Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, address residents of Blairmont who attended the fan-out meeting. (DPI photo)

reaches throughout Guyana have been able to make connections with ordinary folks in the villages who have problems but find it difficult to have them solved.”

Minister Bulkan also

assured the gathering that the issues raised will be addressed while noting that since assuming office, the Coalition Government has ensured that every community across the country has

benefited.

“The records are there to show that budgetary allocations are made without focus on political allegiance and political loyalties. We understand that Guyana be-

longs to all of its people, and this is the philosophy that underpins this administration,” he added.

The residents were also reminded that through unity,

Government reopens guest house at Mabaruma GOVERNMENT has reopened the Government’s Guest House at Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini).

The refurbished facility was commissioned by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings when she visited the community, last Thursday.

According to a press statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the building was repaired and upgraded at a cost of $11 million.

At a simple ribbon-cutting ceremony, Regional Executive Officer of Region One, Colonel (ret’d) Randolph Storm, said that the work carried out on the guest house was done in an effort to improve its aesthetics and comfort, so that guests can enjoy a more relaxing and memorable stay.

“With GUY$11M, we were able to do a lot to significantly improve this building. It now has a completely new roof as well as a new ceiling, and we have also been able to rewire the entire building. Moreover, the kitchenette has been expanded and the dining room has been tiled. The upper floor has been re-polished, and

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings cutting the ceremonial ribbon to reopen the Guest house

The refurbished Government Guest house at Mabaruma

the guest house now has four fully self-contained rooms with air conditioning,” said REO Storm.

Minister Cummings, in expressing her pleasure at seeing the newly-renovated guesthouse, congratulated the REO and his staff for the work they have done to modernise the building.

“I am very pleased with the way the guest house looks. Clearly a lot of thought has gone into the type of work that has been done to bring a contemporary feel and look to the government guest house here at Mabaruma. Like everything else, it will need proper maintenance and care.

To this end, I ask that the Regional Authority that has oversight and responsibility for this building preserve it, so that it can withstand the test of time and serve its purpose well into the future,” Minister Cummings said.

The Government Guest House at Mabaruma has been truly transformed. It is another clear demonstration of the changing landscape of Mabaruma and its immediate environs.

there will be national growth and development.

Janelle Dover, a bus warden, was among the several residents who left the meeting with a sense of appreciation that they were able to interact with the government officials and satisfied that some action would be taken.

So too were Eshri and Lennox Mc Donald. It was Dover’s desire that the region gets a new school bus to transport school children and was overjoyed to learn that a new vehicle will be procured in 2020.

A new vehicle would be welcomed in the region. “I am very happy to know that the ministers could come to the people and listen to them,” the Department of Public Information reported her as saying.

Both Persaud and Mc Donald commended the government for taking the initiative to meet with the people and address their concerns.

Man charged for robbery granted bail Senior Magistrate Leron Daly on Monday August 19, 2019, granted $80,000 bail to a twenty-four-year-old man who was charged with robbery.

Shawn Bobb of Independent Boulevard, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

Particulars of the charge stated that, on July 16, 2019, at High Street Georgetown, he robbed Nick Smith of $30,000 cash and other items totalling $246,000.

Magistrate Leron Daly granted $80,000 bail to Bobb and adjourned the matter until September 23, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, AUGUST 20, 2019

One step closer to home-ownership --CH&PA comes through for residents of Broad and Lombard Streets

Lovern Brummell (second right) and Philip Chase (extreme left), two of the residents who will be making the move, staking their claim to their house lots with the help of CH&PA officials (Photos by Sydel Thomas)

Broad and Lombard Streets residents who will be moving to Prospect

SQUATTERS of Broad and Lombard Streets have moved one step closer to realising their dream of home-ownership.

Officials of both the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and the NGO, Food For The Poor (FFTP), were present on site at the newly-developed Prospect Housing Scheme on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), to point out to the beneficiaries the plot of land they’ve each been allocated.

The squatters were given the opportunity to put their names and lot numbers on their respective house lot.

The main purpose of the site visit was for the residents to familiarise themselves with the Prospect Housing Scheme area where they will soon be living, and to know exactly where their houses will be located when the construction process is completed.

After each being served a court order, the Broad and Lombard residents, who had been squatting in the area for some 30 years, were forced to move.

Speaking with Lovern Brummell, one of the beneficiaries, she expressed her joy at the prospect of having a better home to house her five children.

“I feel very happy with the initiative to have a comfortable home for myself and kids,” she said. “I also feel very safe in the new environment, and it’s perfect for the kids to grow up in.”

This strategy to relocate the Broad and Lombard Streets people was implemented by former Minister with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Yearwood, who helped developed the project back in 2017. This was done as part of an effort to end squatting and to assist residents.

A total of 83 persons, 51 of whom are children, will be occupying the new homes at Prospect, which will all have modern amenities at their convenience.

More so, The CH&PA, through the Projects Community Development Departments, with the help of Food for the Poor, will kick-start the construction of these homes, which will commence next week.

The next phase that will be rolled out for the Broad and Lombard Streets residents will see 31 families relocated to Cummings Lodge on the lower East Coast Demerara.

Man charged for possession of drugs granted bail A 28 –year-old man, was, on Monday 19, 2019, released on $25,000 bail by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly on a drug possession charge.

Shaloma Watts of Charles Street, Georgetown, denied that on August 16, 2019 he was found with 28 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Magistrate Daly adjourned the matter until August 30, 2019.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 20, 2019

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Unattended sluice door causes flooding in Vriesland and Patentia

Residents in Vriesland woke on Monday morning to find some streets and yards flooded after a sluice door was left opened by an attendant (Tamica Garnett photo)

FLOODING in the villages of Patentia Housing Scheme and Vriesland on the West Bank of Demerara was the result of a blocked waterway in the Wales Estate Backdam on Saturday, while the situation was compounded on Monday by a sluice attendant leaving a sluice door open during high tide.

The sluice attendant of the Vriesland koker, who had been disciplined in the past for similar error in duty, has since been moved to the Patentia pump until disciplinary actions are laid against him.

The blockage in the Estate backdam had been fixed since Sunday.

Residents of Vriesland awoke on Monday morning to find the drains overtopping and sections of their yards and streets inundated, with reports quickly circulating that the sluice attendant forgot to lock the sluice door prior to the high tide on Monday.

The pressure of the water prevented the door from being closed once the water from the high tide had already started to flow inland.

“It had to do with the sluice attendant not closing the sluice door in time. He opened the door gone home and sleep and over sleep and the tide turn around and started to come back in. The koker ain’t break down or nothing. He went home and sleep way, by the time he come back the tide already come in, that was the cause of the problem,” one resident of the area explained.

The issue returned flooding to the adjoining community of Patentia which had already first experienced flooding on Saturday due to the Wales Estate blockage.

Overseer for the Toeuvlugt/Patentia Neigbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Glennis Castello, reported that it was by chance that she discovered the flooding while

out investigating another issue in Patentia. She was also informed of the sluice door of the Vriesland koker [door] being left open. However, she noted that the Vriesland does not come under her NDC. “I did not get a report but I was in the area investigating another complaint and I realised that the place was flooded. So I did a little walk around, and people start telling me that this thing was since before, but that this morning the koker was left open so they had more water than was expected,” Castello explained.

The Vriesland community comes under the Regional Democratic Council’s jurisdiction. Regional Chairman, Julius Faerber, confirmed that he was informed about the Estate’s blockage, but received no reports about the any issues with the koker.

“I was told that the Wales Estate had cleaned one of their sideline dams, and some stuff floated up to the front and caused the water not to drain properly, so the water raised and went into the scheme and flood some of the houses, and streets and so on,” Faerber explained.

Regional Engineer, Vaughn Solomon, confirmed that reports were received on Monday morning and a Regional Democratic Council (RDC) team was dispatched to investigate the situation.

Officer in Charge of the Wales Estate, Charles Brown, confirmed that the Estate had an issue with a blocked drain on Saturday, but said the issue was dealt with on Sunday. He too confirmed receiving reports of the sluice door being left open.

“In Patentia is not the

Cabbage vendor to stand trial for murder

CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan on Monday, August 19, 2019, committed a 22-year-old cabbage vendor to stand trial at the Demerara High Court, for the capital offence of murder.

Rickland Bovell, of Swan Village, East Bank Demerara, allegedly murdered 18-yearold David Toney on April 19, 2019, at the Timehri Docks, East Bank Demerara.

On Monday, the preliminary inquiry into the matter came to an end before the Chief Magistrate who ruled that a sufficient case was

made out against Bovell for him to stand trial before a judge and jury at the next practical sitting of the Demerara Assizes.

Evidence in the case was led by police prosecutor, Neville Jeffers.

According to reports, on April 19, 2019, at about 15:30hrs, Bovell was engaged in a heated argument with Toney and his parents over the payment for cabbage that he took.

It was during this argument that the defendant whipped out a knife and

Rickland Bovell

stabbed the victim. Toney was then picked up by public-spirited persons and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

An investigation was launched into the matter which led to the arrest of Bovell.

sluice had the problem. Saturday there was an issue with a blockage in the sideline in the backdam, the water didn’t get to come out, and that cause the water to back up.

That was fixed the next day.

It was already cleared around 9am – 10am. Now then last night the sluice was opened and not closed back in time, [Monday] morning one of the residents came to my house to report the problem,” Browne

explained.

“It’s not the first time it happens the same guy left the koker before. Sometime in 2017 it happened and he was suspended for one month.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Teaching Lindeners how to fish – rather than give them bucketsful of fish

By Vanessa Braithwaite TEACHING hundreds of residents in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) how to fish their way into business by providing them with the wherewithal to evolve into successful entrepreneurs is what the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) is all about.

This government-owned financial institution is transforming the lives of many residents in the mining town of Linden who have taken advantage of its many services so they could stop being just another unemployed Lindener.

With the recent allocation of $200M by Central government, the latest of three since 2015, LEN is now in a better position to fulfil its mission, which is to broaden the economic base of Region Ten through economic diversification that will contribute to improving the living conditions of its residents, thereby reducing social tension.

Many have since testified how assistance from LEN has allowed their business to expand tremendously, thus transforming their lives and

need to separate business from pleasure. That is something I had to learn to do; you can’t take the money and do nails and hair; you have to focus on your business. It takes time and sacrifice; you can start with 100 chickens, and you would see how it would grow in front of you.”

Lewis’ goal is to be one of the main wholesale suppliers of meat in Region Ten.

Abiola Lewis

that of their families for the better. Their ability to make inroads into the business arena in Linden has also had a ripple effect on the town’s economy, since residents no longer have to source certain services externally, hence the money continues to circulate internally.

One of those lucky persons to have been given a leg up the business ladder

by LEN is poultry and pig rearer, Abiola Lewis, who, through continuous coaching and financing from the institution is now able to supply

both the wholesale and retail markets of Region Ten. At first, she was only supplying retail customers in Linden, but now she is supplying wholesale customers in other Region Ten communities such as Kwakwani and Itun.

“I started with one pen at my home, and then I took some loans and I have seen massive improvement. And there will continue to be improvement,” Abiola said. Now she has several other pens filled with meat birds at other locations and has also expanded into pig rearing. From the

pig, she processes ham and bacon and pickled pork for her growing markets. She is one of the few persons in Linden who processes ham and bacon, and has now begun to purchase beef and process parts of it as well.

Now Lewis has a rented shop in Mackenzie, but because her operation has grown so much, she is looking for a larger and more permanent space, where her customers can enjoy a better service from her. She now also sells other culinary products, as well as wild meat, which she has obtained a licence to do. “When customers come, they asking for other things, and so I had to stock up with more stuff other than meat,” Abiola said, adding: “So now I sell seasonings. And these things and wild meat sell as well.”

MOST SOUGHT-AFTER She believes she is one of the most sought-after meat sellers in Linden because of the effort she puts into ensuring her customers are eating healthy foods. “I ensure that when my customers are eating, it is proper, healthy things they are eating; not any chemical-laden meat. It must be quality stuff,” Ms. Lewis said.

The LEN beneficiary is encouraging all residents of Region Ten, particularly single mothers who are unemployed, to seek out LEN, get a loan and start their own small business and see it grow right before their very eyes as hers did. “I spoke to a lot of my associates, and I advise them,” Abiola said.

“I even went and get couple forms for them to full up. I told them it might look hard, but they need to start somewhere. The first thing is to register their business, and when they get the loan, they

ALSO INTO POULTRY Another LEN beneficiary who is witnessing the expansion of his business is Charles Fredericks, who also testified how making such a decision has helped transform his life and that of his family. Fredericks is also into poultry, but is more focused on layers and becoming one of the major egg suppliers in Linden. He, however, suffered a huge setback recently, after many of his birds died of Duck Flu. With the coaching he received from LEN, however, and the continuous support, Fredericks was able to break his fall, and stand up even stronger. “We were able to replenish our stock, and right now we are in the process of moving to a larger location on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, because where we are now at our home it is a residential area, and not suitable for poultry,” Fredericks said, adding: “We have already acquired our land; we are constructing our pens, and there our operation is expected to grow even more.” While the operation is currently family- managed, Fredericks related that he will have to seek additional staff, which will also be a plus for Linden. He expects to rear 3000 layers and about 15 pigs.

In describing his relationship with LEN, he said it has indeed contributed to his expansion and continued success. “Despite our losses,” he said, “we have made good income. And we were able to even venture into pigs. We acquired some pigs from GSA; some ‘fatteners’ and some ‘breeders’ for which we’ve already secured markets .”

Pretty much like Lewis, his goal too, is to become the main supplier of poultry products in Linden. He also wants to venture into food processing. His advice to Lindeners is to assess the needs of the community, and to seek out a demand

Charles Fredericks

that will enable them to get continuous markets. “You need to study the needs of the community and the country as a whole,” Fredericks said.

“People have to eat; food will always be in demand; it will never be too much.”

With LEN being pregnant with money to lend for businesses, he is encouraging everyone to strike while the iron is hot, and take up the opportunity.

He said that potential entrepreneurs should not look at the negatives in business, as there will always be bad days as well as good ones.

But as long as you put your heart into it, if you start small, the only thing that will happen is that you will grow big. “Don’t wait for someone to put out a vacancy,” he said. “Try on your own; you can start with 20 birds, and little by little, you will expand.”

LEN LOANS LEN provides loans for business initiatives from as low as $50,000 to $1M. The Board of Directors is however considering raising the ceiling for lending, and will submit a proposal to the Ministry of Finance for approval. The proposal suggests that loans can be approved for as much as $7M, and there will also be case-by-case evaluations for much larger businesses.

LEN’s most basic requirement is the submission of working capital. The age requirement is between 18 to 65 years old. LEN’s interest rate is eight per cent acrossthe-board. Persons do not have to be employed to get their business plan approved, as there are several options to tap into. LEN also monitors the growth of the business, and assists entrepreneurs step-by-step, to ensure the business does not fail.

In 2015, LEN was rebranded and received it’s first ever subvention from Central Government to the tune of $150M. In 2016, it received $90M.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 20, 2019

JetBlue team for September visit

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- Minister Patterson A team of officials from American carrier, JetBlue, is expected to visit Guyana next month.

This is according to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, who told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the team is expected to undertake a scoping mission. “They will be mounting a mission next month, the first or second week of next month. They will start looking at things like facilities, hotels, staffing,” Patterson told DPI. He said that the expected launch of the carrier's operations here has been pushed back from November this year."From my understanding, they received the aircraft

late, so it is pushed back a bit.

They were supposed to start in November and they are still pushing [towards the launch of operations in Guyana],"Minister Patterson explained. He also spoke about connectivity with Europe and plans by UKbased carrier Virgin Atlantic to operate here in 2020.

“The High Commissioner in the UK contacted us saying that Virgin Atlantic was looking at Guyana and they are doing their 2020 routes-hubs programme, and they say they want Guyana to be a part of it,” Patterson said.

Minister Patterson stated that he will work alongside the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan to examine the feasi-

bility of Virgin Atlantic’s expansion of service to Guyana.

“That hasn’t been resolved as yet, but there is an ongoing discussion. I have made phone calls directly to the [Guyana] High Commissioner to the UK and empowered him to talk directly to Virgin about bringing their services here,” Patterson said. Minister Patterson expressed confidence that with 'first oil' in 2020, many more airlines are expected to come on stream. Last Friday at a forum where the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority(GCAA) turned the sod for its new headquarters at Providence, East Bank Demerara, Patterson said "the need for a robust and an increased GCAA is indis-

putable." Several months ago, this newspaper reported that JetBlue announced plans with its staff to add Guyana to its international destinations.

Since the discovery of oil here, several international carriers have expressed an interest in Guyana as a travel destination. Thus far Ameri-

can oil giant Exxon Mobil has made 13 oil discoveries while UK-based Tullow oil recently made its first oil discovery.

East Coast girls to help champion literacy --via inaugural ‘Ms Teen with a Purpose’ pageant

UNDER the theme, “Eradicating illiteracy through reading” the first ever Region Four ‘Miss Teen With A Purpose Pageant’ will be held in September 2019.

This is according to the coordinator, Miss Pamela Vaughn, known as ‘Promoter Pammy’.

She said the initiative stemmed from her love for pageantry, fashion and entertainment.

Miss Vaughn is currently an English Language teacher at the Hope Secondary School.

She is well-known for hosting maypole activities along the East Coast of Demerara, but in her current endeavor, she wants to host an event of elegance, which would attract a different type of crowd while giving back to communities and empowering young girls.

Hence, she said the idea was born with the help of several organisers and the Neighbourhood Democratic Council.

The pageant will involve nine young ladies from the villages of Haslington, Enmore, Clonbrook, Ann’s Grove, Covent Gardens, Victoria, Beterverwagting, Bareroot and Buxton.

On Sunday August 18, 2019, Miss Vaughn held a workshop at her Belfield home with the delegates.

She was supported by her sister, Michelle Vaughn, a former athlete and graduate

The nine delegates and organizers (Photo by Picha Perfect Photography)

of Queen’s College and Auburn University.

Michelle Vaughn is also currently a Professor at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in the USA. The workshop dealt with sexual education, toxic and abusive relationships, peer pressure, maintaining healthy relationships and building self-confidence.

It was held with the intention of educating and empowering the young delegates.

This newspaper was able

to speak with a few of the delegates in an exclusive interview.

Seventeen-year-old Ava Seline, representing the village of Ann’s Grove, believes being in a pageant is not just about beauty, it’s more about service to the community and being a role model to younger girls. Her platform is violence against women.

Miss Seline intends on using the “Miss Teen With A Purpose Pageant” to bring greater awareness to violence

against women in her community and advocate against same.

Also vying for the crown is Christel De Jesus, a 17-year-old aspiring nurse.

She quoted the words of Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”, during the interview.

Miss De Jesus will be representing the village of Victoria under the platform, ‘the positive impact of formal and informal learning’.

If crowned queen, she intends on making a proposal to the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Cohesion and Food for the Poor to facilitate a program or foundation to provide school supplies to young people who fell short in life or are unable to afford to attend school.

She said “being a part of this pageant has allowed me to view life in many perspectives. It has helped me to gain more confidence in myself, especially being a ‘plus’ size. I have become a

better public speaker and an inspiration to other girls with thicker thighs.”

Shawanna Sydney is truly a force to be reckoned with; her bold personality demands your attention when she walks into a room. The 15- year-old will be representing Covent Gardens under the platform ‘effects of dancehall music on women’.

She says “I am a young lady that never settles for less, not if but when I am crowned Miss Region 4, I will use my title to increase awareness by volunteering to help the less fortunate and homeless.”

Miss Sydney also intends on hosting fund-raising activities and women empowerment symposia. She also hopes to, one day, take her pageantry to the big stage and represent Guyana at the Miss Universe pageant.

So far, the delegates, along with the help of their organizers, have hosted a take away lunch and a oneweek reading camp at the St Andrews Primary school in Cove and John, which helped children ages 5-14 develop better literacy skills.

The launching of the pageant will be held at the Grove Haslington Community Centre on Sunday, August 25, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday August 20, 2019

Invasion of sargassum weed causes contraction in fishing subsector--Finance Minister

THE fishing subsector faced significant challenges in the first half of 2019, as reflected in the estimated contraction of 12.2 percent since the invasion of the sargassum weed, which provides a habitat and source of food for many aquatic species, has proven disruptive to fisherfolk across the Caribbean.

This is according to Finance Minister Winston Jordan in his 2019 Mid-Year Report.

A floating mass of seaweed stretching from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico is now the biggest seaweed bloom in the world, accord-

ing to satellite observations.

The algal explosion in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea could signify a new normal, say US scientists.

In Guyana, the Finance Minister noted that the shrimp subsector has been particularly hard hit by the current invasion, with total shrimp production declining by 36 percent, at the end of the first half of 2019.

While the number of vessels harvesting prawns has fallen to 45 percent of the fleet, in the first half of 2019, Minister Jordon in his report noted that there has been an increase in the vessels targeting red snapper,

which has resulted in a 63.3 percent increase in the production of this species at the end of the first half of 2019.

Artisanal fishermen have also realised significant gains, with their catch of finfish growing by 10.8 percent at the end of the first half.

However, the Finance Minister noted that these

gains were offset by declines in production in the industrial finfish and tuna categories, which resulted in overall growth in finfish production of 1.4 percent.

The Minister noted that based on the outturn at the half-year, the growth rate for the fishing sector has been revised downwards.

Livestock subsector to see growth year end

– Finance Ministry’s midyear report

THE livestock subsector, which recorded remarkable growth in 2018, is estimated to have contracted by 8.1 percent, in the first half of 2019 as a result of a decline in broiler meat production and, to a lesser extent, milk production, which fell by 8.2 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively.

This is according to the Finance Ministry’s 2019 MidYear Report.

The report noted that the contraction in the former was due to a supply imbalance of a large producer, who reduced output so as to run down stocks.

Subsequently, the report noted that there was a shortage in the supply of chicken on the local market, and Livestock Production efforts to address this have been hampered by poor hatchability of eggs and the stunted growth of chickens.

“Beef and pork production continued to make steady gains, growing by an estimated 37.6 percent and 40.9 percent, respectively. This was on account of the ongoing artificial insemination and training programmes, which have helped to improve animal productivity, as well as an increased number of farmers involved in animal production,” the report underscored.

The output of table eggs also benefited from more farm-

ers becoming involved in this activity, which has increased the national laying flock.

In the first half of 2019, the midyear report stated that imports of layer chicks and eggs grew by 25 percent and 186.7 percent, respectively, to reach 45,000 chicks and 129,000 eggs.

At the same time, many birds are currently in the laying stage, which has resulted in production rising by 51.4 percent, at the end of the first half.

The livestock subsector is expected to grow by 0.7 percent in 2019, with the expectation that the supply of broiler meat will expand in the second half, as private producers take corrective action to meet the current shortfall in the market.

The report stated that, despite this expected increase in production in the second half of 2019, the anticipated outturn is 1.6 percentage points lower than projected in Budget 2019.

Man charged for fraud remanded

SENIOR Magistrate, Leron Daly, on Monday August 19, 2019, remanded a 38-year-old contractor to prison, on two fraud charges.

Cliff Ryan Jacob of Low Creek, Linden-Soesdyke highway appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ court to answer to the charges. He pleaded not guilty.

Particulars of the two charges stated that, on 24 September, 2018 at Church Street, Georgetown, he obtained a sum of 1.1 million dollars from Oslyn Munroe by means of fraud.

The second charge stated that, on 26 September, 2018,

at Charlotte Street, with intent to defraud, he obtained $800, 000 from Bishwar Singh falsely pretending to be the owner of Lot 38 Better Hope, East Coast Demerara. He collected the money.

Police Prosecutor noted that Jacob was known to the court and was previously charged in October, 2018 for similar matters. He had previously given the court false identification and should therefore be considered a flight risk.

Magistrate Daly remanded Jacob until September 13, 2019.

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Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Boxing Tournament

Guyana retain title with comprehensive victory ... Harvey, Jokhu and Jackman win Best Boxer trophies

By Faizool Deo FOUR wins in six bouts on the final night and a total of eight wins in 11 international clashes propelled Guyana to championship honours when the 2019 Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Boxing Tournament ended on Sunday night.

The home team, which has dominated the competition since its inception in 2016, finished with 30 points, while their main rivals Trinidad and Tobago finished on 12 points and St. Lucia on five points.

Boxers from the Cayman Islands, Barbados, Dominica and Grenada also competed in the three-night event, which was held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Among the standouts was Patrick Harvey, whose performance in the 60kg Junior division propelled him to win the Best Junior Boxer trophy at the tournament.

Another Guyanese, Alesha Jackman, who destroyed her opponent from T&T in the lone female clash, was named Best Female Boxer, while Trinidadian Al Jaleel Jokhu was adjudged Best School Boy Boxer.

(52 kg Junior Women) on the final night was by far the most memorable.

Jackman had Shirley Wolfe from T&T dazed and confused seconds into their three-round battle. The 14-year-old Guyanese was relentless from the starting bell. Within 10 seconds, the referee was administering a standing eight-count on the Trinidadian. Jackman did not give her opponent a chance to breathe afterwards as she belted combinations and pressed her to near submission.

After the second standing-eight count, Wolfe’s expression of shock and fright summed up the fight—the hard-hitting clinic by Jackman continued as she bounced her opponent off the ropes in what had become a “beatdown” which forced the referee to stop the fight 1:16 into the first round.

Guyana started the final night with Richard Howard getting past St. Lucia’s Krishone Pierre in the 52kg Youth battle. Although Howard threw several punches, it was not until the dying moments of the first round that he started to dominate the fight. Pierre dropped his guard and the Guyanese

UNSTOPPABLE Although the tournament was a male-dominated affair, its lone female clash

boxer pounced on him, forcing a standing eight-count.

The St. Lucian recovered in the second round to deliver a solid upper cut, but the body shots by the Guyanese boxers proved to be too much which resulted in another standing eight-count.

Pierre was aggressive in the third round, but he was again caught by a body shot, which forced the referee to intervene for a third and final time.

Guyana’s Wayne Castillo had to use brute strength and aggression against the taller Gilchris Medard in their 52kg Junior battle. The Guyanese fared well in the opening round and had his opponent on the ropes, but the St. Lucian made the necessary changes.

By the second round, Medard began using his jabs with more accuracy, which resulted in him landing a higher percentage of his shots. Although Castillo battled hard to the end, the St. Lucian had done enough to claim victory.

Guyana’s other loss of the night was in the 57kg Juniors final. T&T’s Nyrel Hosein used his excellent conditioning and superb boxing skills to best Travis Inverary over three rounds.

Grenadian boxer Jaffer Shade, who fought on Sunday morning, settled for the bronze.

Earlier in the night, Guyanese Emmanuel Pompey had powered his way past Cayman Islands’ Deshane Vousden in the 81+ kg junior bout. Pompey was too quick and too powerful for his opponent as he caught him with several solid shots, which resulted in a standing eight-count in the first round and a solid two hit: cross and hook which ended the fight one minute 57 seconds into the second round.

Guyana also claimed victory in the final bout when an aggressive Harvey powered past Juan Rodriguez of T&T in the 60kg Junior division.

Harvey knocked down his opponent in the first round via a hard right hand, and although the Trinidadian recovered, he had no answers for the crisp and solid punches of the Guyanese.

Meanwhile, president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, announced on the final night that Harold Hopkinson from Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc. would give each of the gold medal winners a cash prize.

Holder retains all-rounders top spot ahead of Antigua Test

West Indies captain Jason Holder.

LONDON, (CMC) – West Indies captain Jason Holder has retained his all-rounder top-ranking ahead of Thursday’s start of the two-Test series against India in Antigua.

The 27-year-old Barbadian topped the all-rounders’ charts in Tests back in January following his stunning double hundred in the first Test against England at

Bridgetown, that propelled the home side to a massive 381-run victory.

Holder also picked up two wickets in that match, to move up two places to the top rung.

He will lead West Indies in the opening Test at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground where he will look to further solidify his status in the rankings.

Holder is also the highest ranked West Indian in the bowling charts at number eight having retained that spot, while fellow Kemar Roach has also retained his 11th place ranking.

Speedster Shannon Gabriel is the other West Indies bowler in the top 20 at number 12.

Australian pacer Pat Cummins sits on top the bowling rankings with South African seamer Kagiso Rabada second and veteran England seamer Jimmy Anderson, third.

In the batting rankings, West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite is the highest-ranked Caribbean player at 36th with Holder popping up at 37th.

Roston Chase (41st), Shane Dowrich (46th) and Shimron Hetmyer (48th) round out the top 50.

India captain Virat Kohli tops the charts with Australian Steve Smith having climbed one place to second spot, and New Zealand Kane Williamson lying third.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Neck guards may become mandatory for batters A BRUTAL blow to Steve Smith’s exposed neck has reignited debate over the

use of neck guards in cricket, which could potentially become mandatory in Aus-

tralia as soon as next year.

Smith wasn’t wearing a StemGuard, the protective

attachment designed by helmet manufacturer Masuri in the aftermath of Phillip Hughes’ tragic death in 2014.

Smith has occasionally worn the neck guards but has ditched it in recent times.

The former skipper tried using the clip-on attachment in the nets when it was launched in 2015 but felt the guard was uncomfortable and irritating.

For somebody as eccentric as the unique batsman, whose quirks include taping his shoelaces to his socks so they don’t serve as an unsightly distraction, it was always going to be a hard sell.

Smith’s scare, having hit the deck after a rocket delivered by express paceman Jofra Archer struck him flush on the neck at Lord’s, may prompt the 30-year-old to revisit his stance.

The broader question is whether players should be forced to wear neck guards, made of plastic and foam, when they don a helmet.

AAP understands Cricket Australia (CA) is likely to review ongoing research about the efficacy of the guards in 2020, when a change to its policy is expected to be given strong consideration.

CA annually reviews its head and trauma policy and the 2019-20 version was rolled out on July 1 without any major changes. It lists the use of neck guards as “recommended” but not

Steve Smith wears a version of the neck protector in a February 2016 Test match against New Zealand // Getty

mandatory.

The governing body has been a pacesetter regarding head knocks in cricket.

CA introduced concussion substitutes domestically in 2016 then successfully lobbied the International Cricket Council to make the same change at the highest level.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they (neck protectors) become mandatory in the future,” Australia coach Justin Langer said.

“I didn’t realise they weren’t mandatory until today. “It’ll get talked about again. I know they came in after the tragedy of Hughesy.

“He (Smith) might rethink it now after seeing what happened today.”

The issue was covered in the findings of NSW state coroner Michael Barnes into the death of Hughes, released in 2016.

Barnes recommended CA and helmet manufacturers continue to work on developing a neck guard that is comfortable and provides better protection, with a view to it becoming mandatory. Barnes also made it clear a neck guard would have been unlikely to prevent the death of Hughes.

David Warner noted in 2016 he does “not and will not wear” a neck guard because it “digs into my neck, it is uncomfortable and is a distraction”. Manufacturers have worked hard to improve the design in recent years.

Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara, incoming president of the powerful Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and one of the first players to use a StemGuard, argued neck protection should become mandatory “sooner rather than later”.(AAP)

England name unchanged 12-man squad for Third Ashes Test (REUTERS) - England have named an unchanged 12-man squad for the third Ashes test against Australia starting on Thursday, with recovering seamer James Anderson set to play for Lancashire’s second XI to step up his rehabilitation.

Anderson, who is recuperating from a right calf injury, will feature against Leicestershire in a three-day friendly match starting on Tuesday.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said the 37-year-old will be assessed on “an ongoing basis” and will be considered for selection ahead of the fourth Test at Old Trafford starting Sept.

4.

England’s leading test wicket-taker Anderson aggravated his calf injury during the first test at Edgbaston, which Australia won by 251 runs.

Fast bowler Jofra Archer, who replaced Anderson in the second Test, claimed five wickets on debut at Lord’s and bowled consistently over 90 mph.

The second Test ended in a draw on Sunday, with Australia leading the five-test series 1-0.

Squad: Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 20, 2019

29

Bayern Munich sign Coutinho on loan from Barcelona (REUTERS) - Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have signed Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho on loan for the season, the two clubs confirmed on Monday, with the player hoping for better times than at his previous team.

Bayern will pay a loan fee of 8.5 million euros (7.8 million pounds) and pay his wages. They have the option of making the deal permanent for a fee of 120 million euros.

Coutinho, who joined Barcelona in January last year for approximately 142 million pounds ($172.25 million), was the third most expensive transfer in history but he failed to hit the same heights at the Camp Nou as he did with Liverpool.

“FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich have reached an

agreement for the loan of the player Philippe Coutinho to the German club for the 2019/20 season,” Barcelona said in a statement.

“Barcelona would like to thank to publicly thank Philippe Coutinho for his commitment and dedication wishes him all the best in this new stage of his career.”

Coutinho will wear the number 10 shirt previously worn by Dutchman Arjen Robben, who retired at the end of last season.

The Brazilian told reporters he hoped for better times than in Spain.

“In Barcelona a lot of things did not turn out as we had imagined,” he said at his official presentation in Munich. “But this is now history. I hope to stay here a long time and win many titles.”

Coutinho, 27, had joined Barca from Liverpool in

Byern Munich’s CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (L), Bayern Munich’s Croatian sports director Hasan Salihamidzic (R) and Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho pose with his jersey during his presentation in the stadium in Munich, southern Germany, on Monday. Photo: CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP

January 2018 for a club record fee of 120 million euros plus 45 million euros in

Belgium joins race to host women’s World Cup in 2023

FIFA president Gianni Infantino

(REUTERS) - The Belgian Football Association has expressed interest in hosting the 2023 edition of the women’s World Cup to join nine other member associations in the bidding process, the sport’s world governing body FIFA said on Monday.

Belgium’s decision follows the FIFA Council agreeing to increase the number of participating teams for the 2023 event from 24 to 32 and the subsequent reopening of the bidding process.

By registering interest, Belgium joins the race alongside Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and South Korea which is interested in a joint bid

with its North Korean counterpart.

“All ten MAs (member associations) have received the overview of the bidding process (including updated high-level hosting requirements) and will have until Sept. 2, 2019 to confirm their participation,” FIFA said in a statement here “Furthermore, up until the deadline for bid submissions, any member association wishing to join an existing bid will be permitted to do so provided that it also submits a bidding registration to FIFA.” The tournament’s expansion was pledged by FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the close of this year’s edition in France, which was won for a record-extending fourth time by the United States.

Interest in the women’s game has arguably never been higher, with broadcast records broken all over the globe in the June-July showpiece. Almost 59 million people watched France beat potential 2023 hosts Brazil in the last 16, becoming the most viewed women’s soccer match of all time.

FIFA will dispatch bidding and hosting documents next month and the deadline for bid submission is Dec. 13. The hosts are expected to be appointed in May next year.

variables.

He played 76 games for the Catalans in all competi-

tions, scoring 21 goals, but struggled to dovetail with his fellow attackers despite

winning two consecutive La Liga titles.

Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said the price paid for the one-year loan was very reasonable.

“We’ve been working on bringing in Philippe Coutinho for quite some time and we’re very happy that we’ve been able to complete this transfer,” Rummenigge said.

“The 8.5 million is somehow a friendship price,” he added. “(Club president) Uli Hoeness and myself know the Barcelona leadership a very long time now and there are few clubs with whom we have such a good relationship.”

Bayern, who drew their first league game 2-2 with Hertha Berlin last weekend, play away at Schalke on Saturday.

Quick turnaround may see Smith miss third Ashes Test …player needs to be symptom free for 24 hours MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Batsman Steve Smith must be free of concussion symptoms for 24 hours before he can begin return to play protocols, Australia’s sports medicine manager has said, making him a doubt for the third Ashes Test starting on Thursday.

Smith suffered a sickening blow to the neck from a Joffra Archer bouncer during the second test at Lord’s, forcing him off the ground for a medical assessment.

The right-hander returned to the crease 40 minutes later before being dismissed for 92 but he was then ruled out of the final day’s play and replaced by Marnus Labuschagne, who became Test cricket’s first concussion substitute.

With the third Test starting at Headingley in Leeds on Thursday, time may be Smith’s biggest enemy.

“He needs to be symptom free for 24 hours before he even gets to start the process,” Cricket Australia’s Alex Kountouris told reporters in Melbourne on Monday.

“So he is just recovering and sleeping, taking some time to feel better then after that he begins the process but there is obviously a very short time before the next test.”

Australia’s sports medicine manager Alex Kountouris

Kountouris added that the decision on when Smith was able to return would be made solely by team doctor Richard Saw, who would follow the Cricket Australia protocols.

Saw made the decision to take Smith from the field on Saturday and, after a series of tests indicated no signs of concussion, allowed the batsman to continue his innings.

Smith, however, had developed symptoms overnight and after further testing on Sunday, which is part of the process, Saw ruled him

out of the fifth day.

“Delayed concussions are reasonably common,” Kountouris added. “About 30% of concussions are delayed. So it’s not uncommon and why we test the players the next day.”

Kountouris added that any criticism about allowing Smith to return to the crease was misguided, given he had not presented with any signs.

“Everything he (Saw) did was according to the protocol,” Kountouris said.

“At the time Steve did not have a concussion. He was fine to play.

If we left him out of the game it would have been for only what we saw on the field.

“The reality is that only about one in five or six head impacts end up being concussions, which is why we monitor them. If you look at that game there were three other head impacts and only Steve developed a concussion.

“If we pulled every player out who had a head impact we’d be pulling out 80% of the players who don’t have a concussion. That would be an over reaction.”

The second Test ended in a draw, with Australia leading the series 1-0 after winning the opener at Edgbaston.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Tropical Shipping continues ‘invaluable’ motorsport support TROPICAL Shipping continues to share an invaluable partnership with motorsport locally, with the shipping provider yesterday assisting with three 40ft containers for Guyanese cars heading to Barbados next month.

Rameez Momamed’s Group 2 and 3 Honda Civic, Danny Persaud’s (Group 3 and 4 Mazda Miata), Mohan Rangasammy’s Group 4 Mazda Rx7, Andrew King’s Group 4 Mazda Rx7 and Kristian Jeffrey’s SR3 Radicals are the five cars that have been loaded.

The five fulfilled a request by the Bushy Park Motorsport Inc, (BPMSI) for their Williams Industries International Racemeet on September 1.

Mohamed, who is also the President of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club, commented on the support that tropical shipping has offered the sport.

“Tropical shipping has become a pillar for motorsport in this country. They take our cars and our bikes where we need to go and their support is obviously something that is invaluable

Rameez Mohamed’s Honda civic being loaded into the Topical Shipping-sponsored container

to the sport.”

1320 Heat drag race meet Apart from loading cars for Barbados, the company is also shipping four vehicles from Trinidad for the upcoming 1320 heat drag racing event next weekend.

A rail car belonging to Sheldon Bissessar, along with the Nissan Skyline of Jagdeo ‘Mad Cow’ Seecharran and two drag bikes, is expected here in the next few days.

The rail car, which was here a few years ago, has sent out a strong challenge to the Team Mohamed’s Enterprise GTR Godzilla.

The 1320 heat event is set for August 25 at the South Dakota Circuit. Admission for the event is $2000 for adults and $1000 for children.

Sponsors include ISG, DEL CO ICE, R.kissoon Contracting, Deryckv Jaisingh Trucking Service and Machinery Rentals, Mohamed’s Enterprise, BM Soat, Prem Electrical, E-Networks, Trans-Pacific Auto Sales, Cyril’s Taxi, Blue Spring Water, Choke Gas Station, Miracle Optical, Tropical shipping and Hand in Hand.

592 Street Kings to showcase ‘Best of Lucrative COURTS 10K the Best’ in Georgetown Street Ball set for September 15 - Over $600,000 in Prize money up for grabs

Team representatives pose for a photo opportunity at the launch of the ‘592 Street Kings’ Tournament.

BEVERAGE giant Ansa McAl has once again thrown its weight behind the youths and sports in Guyana; this time through the sponsorship of the 592 Lager Beer brand which will power the inaugural ‘592 Street Kings’ street football tournament.

The tournament, which

was officially launched yesterday at the recently opened Jamrock Café (Jamaican Cuisine) on Church Street, will see 16 of Georgetown’s best street-ball teams vie for some $675,000 in cash.

At the launch, 592 Brand Manager, Seweon McGarrell, pointed out that his collaboration with the organis-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Tuesday August 20, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: 1. 24 players (India) 2. 29 players (WI) Today’s Quiz: 1. What was the result of the recent WI/India ODI series?

2. Who was declared Man of the Match?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

er of the tournament is all about providing a platform for the youth of the various communities in and around Georgetown to showcase their talent and earn while doing so.

The tournament will pit some of Guyana’s top street ball teams against up and coming outfits in a mixture of experience versus youth.

Although in its inaugural stage, an overwhelming response from the various communities of Georgetown has been received; however, plans are in the pipeline for the tournament to be taken countrywide with the next zone more than likely slated for Essequibo.

The tournament will be played across three nights (September 7, 14, 21) and fans will witness 19 high-octane matches.

The opening night (September 7) will be staged at the Berlin Tarmac (Drysdale and High Streets) while the second night (September

14) will be played at the Burnham Court on Carmichael and Middle Streets.

The final venue will be announced following the first two match days.

It will be a straight knockout competition with eight games on night one.

The eight winners will advance to the quarter-finals on night two. The winners of the quarter-finals will then advance to the semi-finals which will be played on the same night while the losers will be eligible for the Plate section.

On the final night, fans will see the semi-finals and final of the ‘Plate Section’ along with the third-place playoff and final.

Among the teams that will be aiming for the 592 crown are Sparta Boss, Gold is Money, Tiger Bay-A, Tiger Bay-B, Albouystown, Alexander Village, Back-Circle, Broad Street, LA Ballers, Future Stars, John Street, Melanie, Diamond Upsetters, Stabroek Ballers and Leopold Street.

At the tournament, patrons will have a chance to win prizes and 592 merchandise.

The ‘592 Street Kings’ of 2019 will pocket $300,000 while the runners-up will collect $150,000. The third-place finishers will grab $100,000 while fourth-placers will receive $75,000 and the winners of the ‘Plate’ section will collect $50,000.

COURTS Marketing Manager, Odetta Aaron (left) makes a presentation to AAG president, Aubrey Hutson, to mark the launch of the COURTS 10k. (Adrian Narine photo)

UNICOMER Guyana Inc., under the COURTS brand, has once again collaborated with the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) for the ninth staging of its annual 10K Road Race.

Considered as one of the most anticipated events on the AAG’s calendar, the event caters for athletes from gyms and clubs across the country competing for cash prizes, trophies and medals.

At a simple presentation held yesterday, COURTS committed $2M towards the hosting of the 10K race, which will feature athletes in Masters, Seniors and Juniors categories, all having both male and female representation.

The 10K race will commence at the COURTS Main Street Store at 06:00hrs. Staff will participate in a 3K race as the company continues to encourage staff towards living a healthy lifestyle.

Last year, it was not business as usual at the office for Cleveland Forde, Guyana’s leading distance athlete, and for the first time in the eight-year-old COURTS 10K road race, the man known as the ‘little Kenyan’ did not cross the finish line first, thanks to a sensational run by Winston Missigher.

With $100,000 on the line, Missigher out-sprinted Forde to cross the line in a time of 33 minutes and 29 seconds.

Forde, the five-time winner, had to settle for second place (33:30), while 2016 winner, Cleveland Thomas (34:13) was third. Jonathan Fagundes (35:09), Odwin Tudor (35:34) and Tyshon Bentick (35:44) rounded out the top six.

Kezra Murray, Ashanti Scott, Leyanna Charles, Maria Urquhart, Shaunsel Adams and Latoya Perreira were the top six finishers in the female open category.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, August 20, 2019

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Lady Jags depart for 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship qualifiers A 20-member National U-17 shortlisted squad departed Guyana yesterday for Curacao to compete in the 2020 CONCACF Women’s Under-17 Championship first-round Qualifiers in Curacao, which began on August 17 and will conclude on August 25.

The squad comprises six international-based and 14 Guyana-based players including two Goalkeepers, five Defenders, eight Midfielders and five Forwards.

Head Coach of the National U-17 Women’s team, Akilah Castello said while some last-minute squad changes had to be made, individual technical and physical evaluations influenced the selection of the final 20.

“Continuous individual

technical and physical assessments were done to arrive at the final squad.

We believe that providing the girls are technical and physically prepared, we will have a better chance at managing tactical decisions one match at a time,” Castello said.

Guyana will play host Curacao in its first match, scheduled for tomorrow at 20:30hrs at the Stadion Ergilio Hato Willemstad and will face St Vincent and the Grenadines on August 23 at 18:00hrs, and the Bahamas on August 25 at 17:00hrs.

According to CONCACAF, there will be 32 participating teams. The qualifiers comprise the lowest-ranked 16 teams, based on the Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Ranking as of

Part of the Guyana-based National U-17 Women’s Team

July 2018, where the topfinisher of each group will advance to the knock-out stage of the championship.

These teams are: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Guy-

CAREBACO U-19 Badminton Championships

Ramdhani leads Guyana to three gold medals

The Guyana badminton team currently in Barbados. Priyanna Ramdhani at the centre.

GUYANA’S top female badminton player, Priyanna Ramdhani, rallied her way to three gold medals on the final day of the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO) Junior U-19 International Championships, which took place on Sunday in St. Michael, Barbados.

The 2018 NSC Junior Sportswoman of the Year, who was an U-17 triple champion last year, proved that she had what it takes to beat the best at the U-19 level this year.

Two of her victories were doubles, while she also powered her way to the singles title.

In the Ladies U-19 Sin-

gles final, the 17-year-old defeated Imani Mangroe of Suriname, 2-1, in a three-set thriller.

She easily won the opener 21-8, but the Surinamese player fought back to even the game (18-21), before the Guyanese closed out the victory at 21-17. Priyanna also won gold with Tyrese Jeffery in the Mix Doubles final. The Guyanese pair defeated Barbadians Dominick Scantlebury & Sobers Robyn (21-11, 21-9).

For her other gold medal, Ramdhani teamed up with Trinidadian Chequeda De Boulet to defeat Mangroe and Chaista Soemodipoero of Suriname (21-18, 21-11).

Along with the three gold medals, Guyana gained

a bronze when Jeffrey and Akili Haynes teamed up in the U-19 Men’s Doubles.

According to president of the Guyana Badminton Association, Gokarn Ramdhani, who incidentally is Priyanna’s father: “The (Guyanese) players were very focused and their determination were only to win.”

The older Ramdhani added, in a release, that the side prepared well and he was happy to see the association’s training methods executed on the court. “It was a very proud moment for us when the Guyanese National Anthem was played three times for the three gold.”

The competition continues today with the senior championships.

ana, Honduras, Martinique, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines and the US Virgin Islands.

The remaining 16 teams, consisting of top-ranked teams, based on the Concacaf Women’s Under-17

Ranking as of July 2018, will participate in the Final Championship. Each has been placed in four groups – E, F, G and H – and will play round-robin following which “the top three finishers in each of the groups will join the winners of

Groups A, B, C and D (from the qualifiers) in the round of 16,” according to CONCACF. “The 16 teams participating in the group stage of the Final Championship are: Bermuda, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago and the United States.

The knockout stage of the competition -- round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and final -- will be played in its entirety in a single match elimination format, with the finalists and third place finisher automatically qualifying for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2020.”

Winfield Braithwaite Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Boxing Tournament

Guyana retain title with comprehensive victory ... Harvey, Jokhu and Jackman win Best Boxer trophies

Alesha Jackman (left) whipped Shirley Wolfe from T&T in the lone female bout of the tournament.

Best boxers (l-r) Patrick Harvey, Alesha Jackman and T&T’s Al Jaleel Jokhu. (Photos By Faizool Deo)

The Guyanese boxers dominated the championships to win their fourth consecutive title.

Michael Johnson resigns as Golden Jaguars Head Coach!

By Rawle Toney JUST one year after being named as Head Coach of the ‘Golden Jaguars’, Michael Johnson resigned from the post, according to the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), to accept “a position in England that will be announced soon.”

Johnson’s last official date as head coach of the country’s Senior Men’s National team, the GFF said in a release, was August 13, while the Wayne Forde-led Federation named Brazilian Márcio Máximo as the Interim Head Coach and man that will be in charge of the Golden Jaguars when they roar in the up-coming Concacaf Nations League.

Johnson, 46, stood on the sidelines for 10 matches during his one year stint with the Golden Jaguars, but only mustered two wins, losing to Suriname, French Guiana (2 – 1), Haiti (3 – 1), Bermuda (1 – 0),

See Page 27

...Brazilian Márcio Máximo named as interim replacement

the USA (4 – 1), Panama the Executive Commit(4 – 2), while drawing tee, stated that he was with Barbados (2 – 2) proud of the work done and Trinidad and Tobago

by Johnson, especially (1 – 1). in aiding the profesUnder Johnson, Guysional development of ana defeated only Turks the senior national proand Caicos (8 – 0) and gramme and the credBelize (2 – 1). The game itable performance of against Barbados was the team at its inaugural later won on technicality Gold Cup participation. after the Island fielded a Meanwhile, Máxplayer who was deemed imo, the GFF noted, ineligible by FIFA and comes to the post with as such, a 3 – 0 result a CONMEBOL pro liMárcio Máximo Michael Johnson was returned in favor of cence and over 30 years Guyana. experience as a Coach to qualify for the To Johnson’s credit, he would CONCACAF showpiece, and also, and Coaching Instructor at both go down as the first coach to qual- given the fact that had Barbados not club and national team levels. ify the senior men’s team for their blundered and made their technical To date, he has coached the Brafirst major tournament in the sport mistake with regards to proper doc- zil National U-17 and U-20 teams – the CONCACAF Gold Cup. umentation to one of their players, (1992-1993), Qatar National U-20 However, some pundits had the Golden Jaguars would not have Team, Cayman Islands National discredited Johnson’s accomplish- made the journey to the USA this Team (1999-2002), which resulted ment, stating that the qualifica- summer. in Caribbean Cup and World Cup tion process was not as difficult as Wayne Forde, president of the Qualification respectively and the those his predecessors had to play GFF, the release said, on behalf of Tanzania National Team (2006 –

2010), when they reached qualifiers for the World Cup – Germany and South Africa – and also qualified for the African Cup of Nations for the first time ever.

The coach has also worked with club teams across the world including Germany, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica and Scotland (United Kingdom). The new Head Coach, who is expected to arrive in Guyana next week, will reside in Guyana during his eight-month tenure and will work with the Guyana-based senior national team players to improve their chances of breaking into the team.

The GFF release pointed out that Máximo is also expected to contribute to the national development programmes and Coaching Education initiatives.

Following the conclusion of the CONCACAF Nations League, a performance evaluation will be done, which will inform the next steps to be taken.

Lady Jags depart for 2020 CONCACAF

See Page 31

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2019