Guyana chronicle 15 12 13 by Chronicle

SUNDAY No. 103681

SUNDAY DECEMBER 15, 2013

The Chronicle is at http://www.guyanachronicle.com

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President accuses M&CC of fiddling while the city flounders

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- during visit to areas inundated by heavy rainfall

President Donald Ramotar and Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn during their visit yesterday to South Ruimveldt to assess the situation there

Gov’t declares today a National Day of Mourning

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Here for the long haul! - TravelSpan officially begins servicing GT/New York route

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- in honour of the late Nelson Mandela

Mandela’s long 4 walk nears journey’s end Page

Passengers getting off the plane yesterday after it touched down at Cheddi Jagan International

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

Here for the long haul! - TravelSpan officially begins servicing GT/New York route

TRAVELSPAN & Vision Airlines yesterday officially launched its service between New York and Georgetown, effectively climaxing several months of planning and preparation. When the Boeing 767 touched down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) early yesterday, bringing more than 229 passengers from New York, it signalled a momentous occasion that augurs well for the aviation sector, Public Works and Transport Minister Robeson Benn has been quoted as saying. Travelspan joins the Venezuelan airline CONVIASA as the two newest airlines to ply the Guyana route; and signalling encouraging response to the service, company officials have said that all their pre-Christmas flights coming to Georgetown from New York are literally ‘sold out’. “We are all about providing quality service, untimed performance, and excellent prices,” said top Travelspan official, David Gooberdhan shortly after the Boeing 767 landed at the CJIA. Airport CEO Ramesh Ghir expressed appreciation for the

airline officials’ confidence in returning to Guyana, and the TravelSpan President & CEO remarked that TravelSpan is very excited and enthusiastic to embrace the opportunity to serve the Guyanese public. “We are thankful and overwhelmed by the support that the Guyanese people have shown TravelSpan,” he said. The company expects that its full flight loads will continue to be reflective of the Guyanese people’s support of TravelSpan. TravelSpan is optimistic that the introductory fare of US$647, tax inclusive, for a roundtrip from Georgetown to New York, and US$349 tax inclusive for a one-way fare will continue. An informed source has said the airline already has flights for the Guyana route scheduled in its system until September 2014. The schedule for the remainder of 2014 would be added by the end of December 2013. TravelSpan flights would depart the John F Kennedy International Airport for Guyana on Thursdays and Saturdays, but the airline is catering for

Passengers getting off the plane yesterday after it touched down at Cheddi Jagan International

additional flights just for the holiday and peak seasons. TravelSpan and Vision Airlines were granted permission by the US Department of Transportation and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to operate a non-stop service between New York and Georgetown earlier this year. TravelSpan is no stranger to Guyana, and is a leader in the Caribbean travel industry. The airline has served these markets for decades prior to its departure, and now recognizes the need for an additional carrier to again operate this route.

Heavy rains severely affect Regions 2, 3 & 4 - but NDIA on top of the situation

THE above-normal rainfall, which commenced at midnight on Friday, December 13, and continued throughout Saturday, December 14, has seen water accumulation of 50 mm in Regions Two, Three and Four. The Hydrometeorological Department of the Ministry of Agriculture has declared this figure the highest rainfall re-

corded during the current rainy period. The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), having made timely preparation in anticipation of responding to the expected rainfall, has dispatched a team of engineers and technical staffers to assess the situation. Thus far, excess water accumulation has been recorded in Regions Two, Three and Four. EMERGENCY INTERVENTION Since commencement of the above-normal rainy period, the Ministry of Agriculture has started a number of emergency interventions, which have seen outfall channels excavated and desilted. Thus far, flood waters are receding satisfactorily. REGION TWO Water accumulation was recorded at Cotton Field, Bush Lot, Anna Regina, La Bell Alli-

ance and Three Friend. Thus far, all sluices and outfall channels are operable, as works have been completed at Anna Regina, Andrews, Lima, Hampton Court and Winsor Castle outfall channels. While work has been completed in several areas, work in other areas is yet to be completed. REGION THREE Low-lying residential areas such as Parfaite Harmonie, Bagotville and Good Hope in Canal No. 1 have all been affected by the weather pattern. While work is moving apace to have the situation rectified, all sluices and pumps in the areas are functional, as the NDIA continues its monthly maintenance of drainage structures, especially in areas prone to flash flooding. REGION FOUR Sveral communities affected include Buxton and Vigilance. The weather pattern has also had an adverse effect on the fortunes of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), as agricultural lands from Ogle to Haslington have been inundated, resulting in a halt to operations. WEATHER OUTLOOK Overcast conditions with possible thunderstorms that occurred on Saturday have been predicted at a magnitude of 30mm in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight and Ten. The Ministry of Agriculture wishes to remind residents that while the NDIA has made interventions to see the situation is remedied, precautionary measures must be taken at the community level to assist the situation.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

President accuses M&CC of fiddling while the city flounders - during visit to areas inundated by heavy rainfall

PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar, accompanied by Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, paid a visit late yesterday to several areas in the city left under water by consistent heavy rainfall, which began overnight and continued, at intervals, all day yesterday. Among areas he visited so as to gauge the situation were sections of D’Urban Street (which begins in Lodge in the east and ends in Werk-en-Rust to the west); parts of Albouystown; South and North Georgetown; and along Sussex Street. While at the Sussex Street koker, he told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that many of the problems currently being encountered whenever it rains heavily are because of poor drainage, which is something the government will have to look into at the earliest opportunity. He however noted that the Ministry of Public Works has been working assiduously to clear the drainage canals around the city and ensure there is a smooth flow of water, so as to bring relief to the residents living in the relevant communities. Upon learning that Albouystown was the area most affected by the recent rains, President Ramotar said: “The City Council, which has more than 900 workers and spends more than $80M a month to pay [their] salaries, I don’t know what they are doing... The Government is ready and willing to assist, but the City Council is not doing anything at all in these areas.” According to Minister Benn, yesterday’s deluge alone saw the accumulation of about two to four inches of rainfall; he was however swift to note that the ministry has deployed four teams to work in specific areas in an effort to stem the floods. He said, too, that the ministry will continue to monitor the Meeting with the attendant of the Sussex Street koker

President Donald Ramotar and Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn during their visit yesterday to Albouystown to assess the situation there.

situation and continue its works; however it will have to map out a programme for the next four to five years to moderate the situation over that period. “We will have to look at the designs with the City and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, and come up with a plan to re-establish kokers and pump stations, and put a programme in place to improve the secondary and tertiary drainage in the communities,” Minister Benn said. The ministry’s interventions will cost over $40M, which money will go towards the cleaning outfalls in Albouystown, South Georgetown and other areas, and the removal of garbage. The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development has also been playing a major role in this regard, in terms of rendering whatever assistance may be needed, especially in the area of solid waste disposal. (GINA)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

Mandela’s long walk nears journey’s end By Ed Cropley

Mandela, who died on December 5 aged 95, will be buried in his family homestead today after a state funeral combining military pomp and the traditional rites of his Xhosa abaThembu clan. It will be the final act in ten days of mourning for the ‘Father of the Nation’, who suffered 27 years in prison before emerging to preach forgiveness and reconciliation in the quest to build a multi-racial democracy from the ashes of apartheid. But in a sign of tensions in South Africa’s complicated post-apartheid social fabric, there were suggestions that the peace prevailing in Qunu, a hamlet of a few hundred houses 700 km (450 miles) south of Johannesburg, was not replicated across the nation of 53 million. Retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a leading light of ‘The Struggle’ while Mandela was in prison, said he had not been invited to the funeral of “Tata”, the Xhosa word for father by which Mandela

QUNU, South Africa -(Reuters) - The body of Nelson Mandela arrived yesterdayy at his ancestral home in the rolling hills of South Africa’s Eastern Cape and w a s g re e t e d b y s i n g i n g , dancing locals ahead of the anti-apartheid leader’s state funeral set for the following day. As the hearse bearing the remains of South Africa’s first black president appeared on the horizon, crowds by the road broke into “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” (God Bless Africa), the evocative national anthem adopted after the end of apartheid in 1994. “I’m so excited and at the same time I’m so hurt because I’m seeing him for the last time,” said grandmother Victoria Ntsingo, as military helicopters escorting the cortege clattered overhead. “After his long life and illness he can now rest. Madiba is home. His work is done,” she said, referring to Mandela by his clan name.

is affectionately known. “Much as I would have loved to attend the service to say a final farewell to someone I loved and treasured, it would have been disrespectful to Tata to gatecrash what was billed as a private family funeral,” Tutu said in

NELSON MANDELA a statement. “Had I or my office been informed that I would be welcome there is no way on earth that I would have missed it,” said Tutu, whose testy relationship with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) has soured in the last decade. Presidency Minister Collins Chabane confirmed that

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no specific invitation was sent to Tutu, but said the accreditation he had used at an earlier memorial on Tuesday would have allowed him in principle to attend the Qunu event. “We would like to reiterate that anyone wanting to attend the funeral service is welcome to do so,” Chabane said. “GO WELL, TATA” Earlier yesterday, the ANC, the 101-year-old former liberation movement to which Mandela dedicated his life, bid its own farewell in a rousing ceremony at a Pretoria military air base. With revolutionary songs, clenched fists and cries of “Amandla” (Power) in honor of “Comrade Mandela”, it was the most overtly political of all the ceremonies since Mandela’s death. “Go well Tata, you have played your part,” President Jacob Zuma said in a eulogy that recalled Mandela’s life as a fighter in the armed struggle for freedom as well his later, more widely recognized role as unifier and nation-builder. “We will always remember you,” he said, before leading the packed hall in spirited renditions of anti-apartheid anthems. After the ANC send-off, Mandela’s body was flown by military transport plane, escorted by two fighter jets, to Mthatha, the nearest airport to Qunu. Thousands lined the streets as the hearse proceed-

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ed through the town. Mandela’s widow, Graca Machel, and his former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, followed the cortege, looking drained and emotional after nine days of memorials in Johannesburg and Pretoria. The rites included three days of lying in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, at which more than 100,000 people queued for hours to say a last goodbye. One of Mandela’s grandchildren, Mandla, thanked those who had come. “I have witnessed his army. I have witnessed his people. I have witnessed ordinary South Africans who walked this long walk to freedom with him and I can assure the African National Congress today that the future of this country looks bright.” FLAGS AND FLY-PAST Sunday’s funeral will be attended by 4,500 people, from family members and national leaders to foreign guests including Britain’s Prince Charles and American civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson. The Air Force is expected to stage a fly-past, followed by three military helicopters with giant South African flags in tow, an echo of the historic scenes nearly two decades ago when Mandela was sworn in as president.

At a mass memorial in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Zuma was subjected to a humiliating barrage of boos and jeers from the crowd, a worrying sign for the ruling party six months before elections. Although it is widely expected to win, the ANC is losing support even among South Africa’s black majority because of its perceived inability to tackle chronic poverty and joblessness. Africa’s biggest economy has enjoyed strong growth since the end of apartheid, but unemployment has remained above 25 percent and it remains one of the world’s most unequal societies, with the average white household earning six times more than the average black one. Besides the booing of Zuma, there has also been a storm of outrage over a sign-language interpreter accused of miming nonsense at the Johannesburg memorial. The signer has defended himself, saying he suffered a schizophrenic attack. In Qunu too, there were also a few dissenting voices, mainly from those disappointed at being excluded from the funeral of the man who to them was a local leader first, and a world leader second. “Tata Mandela is a man of the people. When he was alive we used to go to his compound. Whatever was going on, we used to go in the compound and it was never a problem for the people of Qunu,” said resident Malibonwe Gamakhulu. “And today he is dead and we are being pushed out.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

CRIMINALITY

Judge accuses journalists of promoting criminality MONTEGO BAY, St James — President of the Court of Appeal Justice Seymour Panton has accused some journalists of promoting criminal activities. “We have a situation where media houses are, in my view, in many instances, encouraging criminality. Why do I say that? They promote individuals who may be suspect in criminal activities at a level which is unbecoming,” said Justice Panton. “They are giving youngsters the impression that if you can get yourself into this category you will be a hero and you will be all over the papers daily,” said the judge. “There are media houses that have it advertised to people JUSTICE SEYMOUR PANTON

in the communities all around the country that when you know news is going to happen to tell them. So what happens? They plan to block the road and the media house is there photographing it, filming it. The question I would like to ask them is did they tell the police ‘look there is a problem going to be brewing in such and such a place. The road to Montego Bay airport is going to be blocked’. Do they do that?” he questioned “I haven’t asked the director of public prosecutions about this, but I want to find out if the media house that had on its (television) screen a certain shooting, whether they cooperated with the production of the person who made that film. Did they cooperate? They should say so. If they did not, then they should stand condemned,” said the Court of Appeal judge. He did not say which shooting he was referring to. Justice Panton, who was addressing Thursday night’s monthly meeting of the Rotary Club of Montego Bay East at the Sunset Beach Resort, also urged journalists to be accurate in their reports. He recalled a recent news item which described an individual who was arrested and charged as a former judge. But he was quick to point out that the person was not a judge, but had acted in the position temporarily. He said: “I heard on the radio that a former judge is to be tried for something. It is not true. The individual was not a judge. When the learned director of public prosecutions went on leave and someone acts for her as director and then ceases to act, is that person director of public prosecutions? It would be appropriate if persons writing news items do so accurately. “The individual concerned was appointed to act briefly as a resident magistrate, and was reverted, so it is not true to say that this individual was a judge,” he explained. (Extracted from Jamaica Observer,)

Jamaica gets IDB loan WASHINGTON (CMC) – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a US$31.6 million loan to improve the efficiency of the Jamaican public sector by strengthening the capacity of the government in several areas. Yesterday, the Washington-based financial institution said the loan will help the government’s efforts to improve in the areas of human resource management, information and communications technologies management and control systems and accountability mechanisms. The loan, which supports the strategic goals of Jamaica’s ongoing stabilization programme, came on the same day that the World Bank approved a US $130.0 million economic stabilization loan for the country. “The objective of the project is to support the Government of Jamaica’s implementation of a set of policy and institutional reforms to increase competitiveness and improve fiscal management,” said

the World Bank in a statement, stating that Jamaica’s most pressing challenge is its debt. The IDB said the Government of Jamaica has identified results in human capital management systems, institutional strengthening of information and communications systems and modernization of budget control systems as “high priorities given their significant potential for efficiency gains and longterm budget savings. “These reforms are expected to contribute to the government’s ambitious fiscal consolidation program over the next four years,” the IDB said. Among other outputs, the programme expects to train 1 200 government employees in new procurement curricula, the implementation of new E-tendering software, establishing a new technical office to enhance the oversight role of parliament and training more auditors, the IDB said.

GUYANA

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

EDITORIAL

Of economic woes and a helping hand GUYANESE who could well recall some of the social, economic and political horrors of life under the long rule of the People’s National Congress would certainly be appreciative of the latest report originating from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). It has pointed to Guyana’s persistent annual economic growth rate, varying between three and five per cent, over the past five years in particular, with four per cent in 2012. This observation is not for the purpose of gloating; it’s simply to emphasise the stark contrast between the quality of enlightened economic management and democratic governance, under successive People’s Progressive Party-led administrations, and the litany of failures that the PNC had offered, right up the humiliating tragic status of Guyana as one of the highest indebted and poorest countries of the world. Neither today’s Opposition Leader, David Granger, nor his Party’s erstwhile chief spokesman on fiscal and economic matters, ex-Finance Minister Carl Greenidge, can pretend ignorance of this

dreaded comparison, although they were functioning in different roles during varying phases of PNC’s “paramountcy” rule. It was part of the post-Independence ‘dark time’ for Guyana that had lasted for almost a quarter-century. During that period, thousands of Guyanese, of all ethnicities and political affiliations, kept voting with their feet to foreign lands, mainly to the USA, Canada and Britain, but a good many also settled in countries of the Caribbean Community, primarily in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia and Grenada. Ironically, in 2013, while the Guyana Government continues to cope with varying challenges to further improve social and economic benefits for the Guyanese people -- including honouring pledges to maintain annual minimum increases for public sector workers, as well as ensuring that GUYSUCO provides bonus payments due to sugar workers -- some CARICOM countries are experiencing severe social and economic problems. The negative consequences of these developments include depressing statistics on gun-related murders and other serious crimes, such as armed robberies and rapes -- horrors too well known also to Guyanese -- with the latest challenge of spreading unemployment now threatening thousands of public sector workers in various CARICOM states, including, of all countries,

Barbados. It is a period for reflection by Guyana on creative initiatives to help encourage and sustain national unity that could further increase production for wider economic growth. This would require Guyana to be in a position to also extend employment and other opportunities to affected CARICOM citizens in their pursuit of alternatives to job losses and related displacements at home. Of course, this is an issue which may require consultations involving the government and opposition as well as the private sector and trade unions. Such a caring approach would reflect a genuine desire to further help in making a reality of our Caribbean ‘neighbourliness’. Needless to say that at this season of “peace and goodwill”, any initiative to help influence more meaningful cooperation among CARICOM partner states could well beat back the negative forces currently seeking to foster regional fragmentation, instead of strengthening integration. In this context, the recurring cases of Community citizens too often being denied free intra-regional movement at some ports of entry must be seriously addressed by all governments.

The Unruly Horse …

Gaggers in the National Assembly

By Mr Anil Nandlall, MP PARLIAMENT, in our constitutional structure, is one of the epicentres of democracy. It is that forum through which representatives of the people, elected by the people, oversight executive actions to ensure that there is accountability in relation to the expenditure of public funds; that the Government of the day acts within the confines of the law and the constitution; that the people’s constitutional and legal rights are not violated; that laws are passed in accordance with the Constitution and are designed to advance the welfare of the people or to rectify some social or other dilemma which they may be confronting. Dr. Jagan gagged In short, the entire Parliamentary process has one golden thread running through it. It must at every level have as its ultimate objective, the advancement of the welfare of the people. Indeed, that is the singular mandate of every Parliamentarian. They sit in the Parliament at the people’s expense and at the people’s pleasure. The level and quality of democracy in any country can safely be measured by how its Parliament functions and what level of participation that Parliament offers to its people, directly or through their elected representatives. During the PNC dictatorship, the people’s will and

the people’s votes were stolen. Consequently the people’s representation in the National Assembly was unlawfully and undemocratically diminished. Hence, after the 1985 elections, the People’s Progressive Party, though universally recognized as the most popular representative of the people of Guyana, was granted eight seats in the National Assembly, as the people’s ballots were hijacked and their freedom to elect a government of their choice, massacred. Even that minuscule representation which was given to the people was dealt another blow when Dr. Cheddi Jagan was unlawfully and undemocratically prevented from speaking for several years in the National Assembly. He was gagged by the then PNC speaker, Mr. Sase Narine. On October the 5th 1992, the people’s freedom to vote for a Government of their choice was restored after 28 years. The PPP/Civic was elected to office. We renewed our pledge then to the people of this country that we will remain at the forefront of every struggle to ensure that the democracy and freedom which were won will always be enjoyed and that we will resist with our every might, any attempt to whittle away this freedom. Indeed the PPP/ Civic, through President Dr. Cheddi Jagan, in his first

address to the sixth (6th) Parliament of Guyana, vowed to take the Parliament to the people and make the Parliament a truly deliberative forum where the people’s welfare will be given the priority it deserves.

ANIL NANDLALL Parliamentary reforms In pursuit of this pledge, the PPP/Civic Administration, over the last 21 years, has made wide ranging reforms to the Parliamentary system. We have established the best committee system in the history of our Parliament. We have reformed the Constitution and the standing orders to increase the powers of these committees in order to ensure greater and more effective participation of the Opposition. We have restored

the Auditor General’s Report after an absence of over twelve years. We have implemented a system where any question can be asked of any Minister regarding any matter relating to his sector by any Opposition Member and the Minister is obliged to answer. Additionally from 1992 to 2011, when the PPP/Civic enjoyed a majority, the democratic practice of receiving and presenting to the House, Petitions from individuals as well as representative organisations, were developed. In this regard, Petitions from organisations representing the Amerindians, the religious community, the labour movement, the business community and civil society were received and tabled in the House by both the Government and the Opposition without any objections from the PPP/Civic in National Assembly. The obvious rationale is that we feel that the National Assembly is a forum at which the people’s voice must be heard by their representatives and through their representatives. PSC gagged It is against this background that I view with deep concern a trend which is now developing in the Tenth (10th) Parliament, in which the Opposition controls a majority. A month ago, the Private Sector Commission requested Mr. Manzoor Nadir, MP, to present a Petition on their behalf

in the National Assembly. The Petition simply called upon the National Assembly to pass the Anti-Money Laundering Bill and explained the significance of passing the Bill and the impact that it will have on the people of Guyana if it is not passed. The PSC is an umbrella body which represents 18 (eighteen) business organisations engaged in every sphere of the financial, commercial and economic sectors of our country. These activities are carried on in every corner of the country. These organisations, directly and indirectly, employ hundreds of thousands Guyanese and contribute significantly to our economy. The Opposition voted against the Petition being tabled. In effect, they prevented the voices of hundreds of thousands of Guyanese from being heard in their own National Assembly. Cricket stakeholders gagged At the last sitting of the National Assembly, a similar Petition was presented. This time by persons who consider themselves stakeholders of cricket. The Petition was signed by nearly four thousand (4000) persons from all three counties and more particularly, Region 10. The Petition simply calls for the expeditious passage of the Cricket Administration Bill, which is pending in the National Assembly. Again, the Opposition voted against this Petition being presented.

Again, they have gagged the voices of thousands of people from being heard in their own National Assembly. Rohee gagged I expressed similar apprehensions when they gagged Minister Clement Rohee from speaking. I said then, that when the rights of one free man are taken away, the freedom of every free man is threatened. We challenged it in the Court. The Chief Justice upheld my arguments. The Speaker subsequently agreed in a ruling handed down. They have now gagged thousands of Guyanese. This is nothing short of authoritarianism. This despotic approach is captured by the words of two of the most senior politicians on the Opposition’s benches. APNU’s Mr. Carl Greenidge labelled the PSC “a propaganda outfit”. AFC’s Mr. Moses Nagamootoo said, “They have no vote here and should have no voice here.” These are not matters which must be taken lightly. They are but expressions of a deep seated anti-democratic philosophy and thinking. If nothing else, it gives an insight of what will happen in our dear land should they ever assume the reigns of Executive Government. Dictatorship and authoritarianism shall undoubtedly return.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

Time for drastic action By Keith Burrowes AS is the old saying, “Once bitten, twice shy”. This is one bit of traditional wisdom that doesn’t seem to apply to us here in Guyana, particularly when it comes to keeping our capital city from being submerged every year. If ever we needed a hard lesson on how devastating today’s rainy seasons can be, the flood of 2005 was it. Of recent, we had a gentle reminder about two weeks ago with a one-day downpour, and again yesterday with another deluge which threatened to swamp the city and its environs. In a land that has not known natural disaster as intimately as many of our continental neighbours, we received an extremely traumatic introduction. We may not have had a massive headline-making death toll as we often see coming out of Asian natural disasters, for example, but the disruption to the quality and rhythm of life was unprecedented. The complexities of Guyana’s coastal drainage system cannot be given justice in a single article, but the situation in Georgetown is one that begs attention, given that it is ultimately preventable. We know the two stock excuses: Climate change and the blockage of the drainage system by the indiscriminate and improper disposal of garbage. This is unacceptable. Climate change and improper garbage disposal are not excuses; they are related causes which deserve proactive attention. There is nothing that can be done about climate change in the short term. It is a global phenomenon that is going to take decades of concerted international effort to stop, and probably decades more to reverse. Indeed, if anything, this should spur us to be

even more proactive in adopting systems to mitigate its potential impact, particularly dealing with excessive rainfall. The fact of garbage clogging the drainage system of Guyana’s capital city is preventable. I am surprised that there is not greater public advocacy geared towards reversing this

that flood waters mixing with raw sewage can be anything but harmful to public health, which in itself has an attached economic element. It is therefore an opportune time to remind ourselves, as citizens, to play our part by ensuring the city’s coffer is replenished in order for the Council to effectively address this issue. This can be done through fulfilling our responsibility by paying our taxes. If we all take this bold step, the onus will be on the responsible officers at City Hall to return same. Whether it is school children dumping food boxes in

‘The complexities of Guyana’s coastal drainage system cannot be given justice in a single article but the situation in Georgetown is one that begs attention, given that it is ultimately preventable’ phenomenon. We are not incapable of public action for positive change here in Guyana – when our abortion laws were about to be changed, there was great public outcry; the War on Bad Manners had tremendous public support and more recently, the seat belt (road safety) regulation was adopted and being enforced through the efforts of Mothers in Black. How is it that something that affects us so profoundly doesn’t have the same level of attention? Maybe we are just culturally opposed to recognising the tremendous impact that the annual flooding of the City has on so many areas. With regard to the economy, it costs money to institute stop-gap measures to prevent the water from damaging property, as well as cleaning up when those measures don’t work. And there is no way

gutters, weekend revellers disposing of beverage bottles at whichever location is most convenient to their state of intoxication, city residents failing to take full advantage of what has been a commendable public garbage pick-up system, or business owners concerned only with having refuse removed from their immediate vicinity with no concern where it ultimately ends up, no one seems to be concerned at how their actions contribute to the problem. If we were to give an extremely conservative estimate of improper garbage disposal contributing to ten percent of the accumulation of water in the City’s drainage system, it is still an avoidable ten percent. The time has come for the excuses to stop. What is lacking is proper enforcement of current garbage disposal laws; or even Draconian amendments to existing legislation and, of course, proper enforcement.

KEITH BURROWES We have reached a point where there is need for a proactive system of surveillance – possibly including the use of Closed-Circuit Television cameras (CCTV) positioned at ‘hot’ points - and prosecution, one that is incorruptible and objective in its operation, in which standard penalties are set with regard to the improper disposal of refuse, infractions monitored and reported, and offenders brought to face the law without fear or favour. Additionally, as may be necessary, penalties should be set for the inability of officials - those who are primarily responsible for solid waste man-

agement - to carry out their duties. Something needs to be done or the cost of this con-

tinuing irresponsibility may be too much to bear – that is if it isn’t already.

Ramphal’s strange absence at Mandela’s memorial service - Was it just a case of ‘oversight’? Analysis by Rickey Singh

THERE was the strange notable absence of an internationally-renowned citizen of this region -- Sir Shridath Ramphal -- for the Caribbean Community’s quite encouraging “togetherness” at last Tuesday’s unique official “memorial service” in South Africa for the legendary Nelson Mandela. Knowing him, as others may perhaps be better aware, ‘Sonny’ Ramphal could be amused by this journalist’s intervention to enquire: How could the governments of CARIC0M, among them that of Trinidad and Tobago – which currently holds the chairmanship -- and even his native Guyana, have failed to recognise the appropriateness; the validity in extending an invitation for him to be present for that historic memorial service in Johannesburg? Those acquainted with better-known literature involving

the various significant contributions of Mandela and Ramphal would be aware of how the late fighter for freedom and human dignity had publicly voiced personal admiration for the internationally-recognised Caribbean intellectual and diplomat. As three-term Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Ramphal had played significant enabling roles during South Africa’s gigantic struggle to end the heinous apartheid governance system in South Africa and, more specifically, for the freeing of Mandela, the 95-yearold titan among the greatest of the world’s great who died on December 5, from 27 years of imprisonment. In his 2008-released ‘Shridath Ramphal: The Commonwealth and the World’ essays by leading contributors in honour of the long-serving Guyana-born advocate for wider and deeper Caribbean integration and unity, Richard Bourne

quotes Mandela in his introduction as commending Ramphal, as “one of those men who have become famous because, in their fight for human justice, they have chosen the entire world as their theatre…”

with Sweden’s Ingvar Carlson. EMINENT PERSONS GROUP

SIR SHRIDATH RAMPHAL

MR. NELSON MANDELA

Earlier, Mandela had recommended as “a timely work deserving our full attention” the 1997-published 410-page report, ‘Our Global Neighbourhood’ from The Commission on Global Governance, of which Ramphal was Co-Chairman,

Summit in The Bahamas, Ramphal was to be fully engaged in helping to establish what came to be known as the “Eminent Persons Group” (EPG) on South Africa’s struggle to end apartheid rule, and the establishment of the first democratically-elected government, with Mandela as President. Among the seven chosen members of the EPG was a lone woman, the distinguished first female Governor-General of Barbados, and internationally recognised otherwise, the now late Dame Nita Barrow. The EPG representatives held two meetings with Mandela, while he was in prison, and their report was to prove an effective political weapon in the decline of apartheid, and the freeing of Mandela to become the first democratically-elected President of South Africa. However, it so happened that for last Tuesday’s memorial service, when the Caribbean region did well in

A dozen years earlier, in 1985, at the Commonwealth

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

showcasing an impressive regional presence -- thanks to an initiative by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar (current chairperson of CARICOM), Ramphal was not among any of the delegations. Was it a terrible oversight?

PRIME MINISTER, MS. KAMLA PERSAD-BISSESSAR Or was it just plain political ignorance about the sterling contributions to regional and international affairs by this widely recognized, articulate, most competent and committed son of the Caribbean? In sharp contrast that perhaps reveals a better concept of people-oriented governance, or enlightened appreciation for its citizens who have made international contributions for a better world, the government of New Zealand chose to have among its delegation for the Mandela memorial service its well-known citizen and former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Sir Don McKinnon. DESERVING PRAISE The Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister deserves the praise being showered on her at home for not only including in her delegation the country’s

Opposition Leader (Dr Keith Rowley) as well as the chairman of the local Emancipation Support Committee (Khafra Kambon), but also for facilitating representatives of member governments of the Community to travel to South Africa from Piarco International for the ‘Mandela Memorial Service” on board state-owned Caribbean Airline Limited (CAL). That particular aircraft has since been named after Nelson Mandela, as requested by the Prime Minister. However, as Chairman of CARICOM, she should perhaps explain whether it was just a surprising oversight that Shridath Ramphal, whose years in public life have been so deeply involved in Caribbean affairs, was not invited to be part of the “CARICOM presence” in South Africa. For his part, on the day of the announcement of Mandela’s passing (December 5) Ramphal, in his tribute to the towering international icon, had reflected: “Tomorrow’s children will not be able to say, as we can with pride and a deep sense of privilege, that we lived in the time of Nelson Mandela, a unique and memorable human being. ‘Madiba’ has gone from us; but he is part of eternity, and will always belong to the entire world… “His indomitable spirit will forever inspire people in pursuit of freedom and justice; his humility will be a beacon for all who are wronged. He made our troubled age less shameful by his own nobility. “He enriched my own life by the small part I played, as Commonwealth Secretary-General, in restoring him to freedom—even though he showed that truly ‘stone walls not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage’…”

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

Police nab three in sting operation

- as crackdown on illegal wildlife hunting begins

A JOINT operation to curb illegal hunting and fishing has resulted in three hunters being nabbed on Thursday by a river patrol at the mouth of the Burro–Burro River in the vicinity of Iwokrama. The trio was caught with approximately 13 labbas, having a combined weight of 170 pounds, and six powis, weighing accumulatively 30 pounds. The meat and the freezer in which it was found were confiscated. The operation was conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment; Iwokrama; the Fisheries Department and the Guyana Police Force. The team’s objective was to intercept any fishing and hunting activity and to ascertain whether it was commercial, a release from the Ministry of Natural Resources said. Following investigations, a small aluminum boat was discovered on the right bank of the Burro-Burro River with a small generator powering a small freezer. Further investigations revealed the presence of a significant quantity of wild-meat in the freezer, with evidence of powis being cleaned (plucked and degutted) in the immediate vicinity, the release said. The team subsequently detained three individuals, and uncovered several rounds of ammunition which one of the men was apparently attempting to hide. The police rank informed the three young men caught that they were hunting illegally, and that they would be charged. He then invited them to Kurupukari Police Outpost, where all the items seized were properly inventorised and appropriately stored. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has meanwhile said it would continue collaborating with the various agencies, to continue similar operations with a view to protecting endangered animals and indigenous communities that depend on hunting for a livelihood. As recently as last Thursday, the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Hon. Robert M. Persaud, submitted to the National Assembly the Wildlife Import and Export Bill of 2013 to be enforced by the Wildlife Management Authority, and signed the Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulation of 2013, to be enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Christmas break

THE regular Sunday column, Perspectives, will not be featured in the ensuing weeks, due to the absence of its author, Dr Prem Misir, who has other pressing matters to attend to abroad. Rest assured, however, it will be resumed just as soon as he returns to the country.

Perspectives BY DR. PREM MISIR

pmperspectives@aol.com; themisirpost.wordpress.com

The three suspects

Gov’t declares today a National Day of Mourning - in honour of the late Nelson Mandela

THE Office of the President has declared today, Sunday, December 15, 2013 a National Day of Mourning for the late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela who died on December 5, 2013 at the age of 95. The observation coincides with the State Funeral for Mandela, scheduled for today in Qunu, in Eastern Cape, where he grew up. Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist who served as President from 1994 to 1999. He was also South Africa’s first Black chief executive, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation. Politically an African nationalist and democratic socialist, he served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1991 to 1997. Internationally, Mandela was Secretary-General of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) from 1998 to 1999.

Mandela spent over 27 years in prison, initially on Robben Island, and later at the Pollsmoor Victor Verster Prisons. An international campaign lobbied for his release, saw him finally being set free in 1990, during a time of escalating civil strife. Mandela joined negotiations with President F. W. de Klerk to abolish apartheid and establish multiracial elections in 1994, in which he led the ANC to victory and became South Africa’s first black president. He gained international acclaim for his activism, having received more than 250 honours, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Soviet Order of Lenin and the Bharat Ratna. President Donald Ramotar and delegation were in South Africa on December 10 for the Memorial Service that was attended by many world leaders. (GINA)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

Georgetown discomfited by extensive flooding -as overnight rainfall continued yesterday

RAINFALL, which began on Friday night continued throughout yesterday, causing extensive flooding in almost every Ward of Georgetown, and great discomfiture to residents at this critical time of year. Some downtown city businesses had to remain closed amidst the emerging hectic Christmastime season, and shoppers visiting municipal markets had to make up their minds to wade through shin-deep water, or had to be served by vendors while standing on the roadside. Apart from effectively decimating commercial activities, the flooding greatly reduced mobility and forced a multitude of citizens to employ precautionary measures to prevent being infected by water-borne diseases. In some residential areas, house hold furniture, appliances and

electronic gadgetry had to be stacked up wherever higher ground could be found or created, in an effort to prevent their being damaged by water from the implacable flooding that intruded homes. A similar situation obtained at certain shops and grocery stores in sections of the outskirts of Georgetown, and in its various wards and communities. RESIGNED Flooding is something disgusted city residents seem resigned to confront every time there is a deluge. Despite extensive works having been recently carried out at various channels and outfalls that drain the city, and in numerous

drains in numerous communities, most areas of the city continue to experience this unwelcome phenomenon. Ironically, remedial clearings and cleanings are undertaken after the rains would have already established a presence, thereby rendering the work mostly ineffective. Yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flooding could have spelled grave disaster for residents, had the rain fallen in a volume similar to what obtained two weeks ago, when businesses and schools had to close their doors in remedial action. Following that experience, some works had been done in respect to drainage and irrigation of the city; and those works might have been responsible for mitigating what could have been a devastation yesterday.

The pump station at Kitty worked assiduously to send the flood waters into the Atlantic Ocean

There was hardly a roadway in Georgetown that was not inundated by yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rainfall

As usual, the water brings the elements to the surface, and expose the lawlessness of citizens who continue to practise improper solid waste disposal

Mounted: Both shoppers and vendors at the Bourda Market try their utmost to avoid coming into contact with yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flood waters.

Some repair work will definitely have to be done on the Christmas Village tent and Christmas tree set up on Main Street.

Not only did the rains come, creating a sheet of water on this empty field opposite the 1763 Monument; but accompanying high winds brought down billboards as well. (Photos by Cullen Bess-Nelson and Adrian Narine)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

Joshua House ‘six’ rewarded for showing remarkable artistic promise - at annual ‘This is my México’ drawing contest

THE Embassy of Mexico in Guyana presented Certificates of Participation last Tuesday to six children from the Joshua House children’s facility, located at 255 Thomas Street, Georgetown, because they had participated in the 17th children’s drawing competition, “This is My Mexico”. The presentation was made by His Excellency Mr. Francisco Olguín, Ambassador of Mexico to Guyana, in the presence of Ms. María-Elena Alcaraz, Deputy Head of Mission, and several other representatives of the embassy. The awarded children were Robin and Ryan Rogers, Ronald and Marian Bovell, Julia Evans and Kenrick Halley. “THIS IS MY MEXICO” is a worldwide competition in which children aged between seven and 11 submit drawings portraying their knowledge of and sentiments on Mexico’s history and culture. The Institute for Mexicans Abroad, falling under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, has, since 1996, convened an annual Children’s Drawing competition called “Este es mi México” (This is my Mexico). Originally, it was intended to strengthen ties be-

tween children of the Mexican Diáspora, born mainly in the United States and Canada, with their motherland. Eventually, however, the Mexican authorities discovered that non-Mexican children were often willing to participate as well. Conscious that understanding among peoples is more easily achieved through cultural and artistic expressions, and cognizant of the importance of fostering children’s creativity through their learning ability

to communicate about cultures different from theirs, the 11th edition of the drawing contest was opened in 2006 for children aged seven to 11 from schools and orphanages all over the world, whether or not they were of Mexican heritage. They were invited to express their artistic abilities and imagination by drawing different aspects of Mexican life, culture and history. As the Mexican Embassy officially opened in Georgetown in July 2009, local children have

been invited to participate, starting in 2010. In October 2012, the embassy invited children from public and private schools to visit the embassy to see an Exhibit of participación drawings of the 14th and 15th contest editions. They also perused Mexican art, geography and history books; saw assorted videos about Mexico, and were provided with cardboard and colouring pencils and crayons so they could get started on their own drawings to enter the

Deputy Head of the Mexican Mission, Senora María-Elena Alcaraz, presents the Director of Joshua House, Ms. Gladys Accra, with a contribution for the library

Mexican Ambassador to Guyana, Senor Francisco Olguin, and other representatives from the Embassy of Mexico, pose with some of the participants of the “This is my Mexico” drawing competition

17th edition of the “Este es mi México” competition. Six children from Joshua House entered their drawings in that competition; and on behalf of the jurors, a panel of Mexican painters and sculptors led by renowned artist Jorge Marin, the Institute of Mexicans Abroad sent each a Certificate of Recognition for their efforts. The certificate includes a “winged” child painted by Marin, whose work is always inspired by winged characters (www.alas-

delaciudad.com). A statement from the embassy said it was an occasion ahead of the Christmas season to share a joyous time with all 60 children living in Joshua House. All residents of the home, as well as their teachers and caretakers, were feted with gifts and snacks after conclusion of the ceremony. The Embassy also made a contribution of books to the library of the children’s home.

Santa and entourage take Christmas cheer to Kamarang By Shirley Thomas

WHEN Trans-Guyana Airways’ flight BR-GAB deplaned at the airstrip with jolly ole’ Santa Claus and his entourage at approximately 14:30 hrs on Friday, it evoked great excitement among the children of Kamarang, in Region Seven. Santa and his entourage were on a mission to bring cheer to more than 200 well deserving primary and nursery school children, and ‘tweenies’ as well, compliments of Trans-Guyana Airways. Has anyone ever seen Santa in the cockpit of an aeroplane? Well, sure as day, this flight was piloted by none other than Santa himself; and he did a remarkable job of piloting the aircraft safely from Ogle to Kamarang and back. Of course the weather was bad, and flight departure from Ogle initially had to be rescheduled by about three hours; but the weather relented, and Santa, who turned out to be Captain Connor Allen, jumped into the pilot’s seat, ably assisted by Chief Pilot Captain Andre Farinha, and took the aircraft on a pleasant and safe ‘one hop, non-stop’ jaunt to Kamarang and back.

Captain Connor Allen hails from Canada, “way up North, where the cold wind blows,” he says. Support staff for Santa’s mission was garnered from the Operations Department of Trans-Guyana Airways, with Evergreen Tours playing a key role as well. And you should have seen Santa go! Not dashing through the snow, but darting through the clouds, bereft of reindeer but with a jolly crew on board, complete with bags and boxes piled high with gift items for every little boy and girl. Waiting to welcome Santa and his crew at the airstrip were almost 300 eager persons, including parents who had accompanied their children. Distribution of gifts was done at Barry Constantine’s Shop at the Kamarang Airstrip; and kids, under the supervision of teachers, lined up with faces aglow, eager to receive their highly-awaited gifts. Items included backpacks and other school items, toys, and goodies. Chief Captain Andre Farinha, who coordinated this event, said the gesture was started last year. “We usually give yearly tidings of good cheer to the less fortunate,” said

Captain Andre Farinha. “We are delighted to be able to bring cheer to the hearts of the children of this remote community of Kamarang.” He said that, last Christmas, the airline considered decentralizing its ‘Christmas Cheer’ activity by taking it to Kamarang. “It was well received, and so we’ve come back bigger and stronger this year, and hope to make it an annual feature,” he said.

Santa presents a toy to this smiling ‘tweeny’

Kamarang children pose with Santa and his entourage before he departed for Georgetown (Photos by Shirley Thomas)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

Central African Republic: A Genocide Forestalled almost unnoticed. Until this time, because Michel Djotodia is the first Muslim president in a mostly Christian country, and he was brought to power by Muslim fighters many of whom don’t even come from the CAR. Djotodia has been trying to seize the presidency for eight years. Coming from the Muslim northeast of the country, he recruited some fighters from that area – but up to 80 percent of the soldiers in his Seleka (alliance) militia were Muslim mercenaries whom he hired from Chad and Sudan. Except that he didn’t actually have the money to pay them; he just tacitly offered them the chance to loot if they won. So when he ordered Seleka to disband last March, having fought his way into power in Bangui, they did nothing of the sort. They hadn’t come all this way just to steal a few things and go home again. Like Djotodia, the mercenaries are in the game to get rich, but while he can now do his thieving from the presidential palace, they still have to do it in the traditional way. So the majority of Seleka’s fighters have broken up into bands of marauders who plunder, rape and burn their way around the country. Many of the country’s villages now lie abandoned, while their former inhabitants hide from the bandits in the fields or the woods. Tens of thousands may have already died in the more remote parts of the CAR, and at least four hundred were killed right in Bangui last week. Worse may follow: there is now a serious risk of genocide. The Christian majority and the Muslim minority in the CAR have generally lived alongside each other in peace. However, the ex-Seleka mercenaries, being Muslims, tend to spare Muslim communities and target Christian ones. In self-defence, the Christians have begun banding together in vigilante groups – and there are a lot more Christians than Muslims.

Inevitably, they suspect the local Muslims of helping the ex-Seleka killers, so they are starting to see them as enemies as well. In the circumstances of extreme deprivation and fear that now prevail in country areas – at least a million people are living in severe hunger or actual famine – this could quickly slide into a genocidal level of killing. That’s why France moved so fast. It got the approval of the United Nations Security Council and the African Union for the intervention last Thursday, and by Saturday it had troops on the ground in Bangui. Djotodia, who could not be found last week, has also belatedly endorsed the intervention. The need for speed is still paramount, and French Defence Minister Jean-Yves le Drian said that the job of disarming the ex-Seleka fighters got underway on Monday: “First we’ll ask nicely and if they don’t react, we’ll do it by force.” This is the second time this year that French troops have been sent in to stop an African state from collapsing into slaughter and anarchy. (The French intervention in Mali in January saved that country from conquest by jihadis.) It is deeply embarrassing for the African Union to admit that its own peace-keeping force cannot do the job in time, but it hasn’t let its pride get in the way of preventing a genocide in the CAR. (Gwynne Dyer is a London-based independent journalist, and military historian.)

BY GWYNNE DYER

THE Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the poorest and most inaccessible countries in the world. It’s the size of France, but it only has four-and-a-half million people. It is a serious contender for the title of Worst Governed Country in Africa, and it is now teetering on the brink of a genocide. Something has to be done, and only France was able and willing to do it. France moves fast. There are already 600 French troops in the capital, Bangui, and another thousand will be moving out into country areas by the end of the week. (There are already 2,500 African peace-keeping troops in the CAR, but they lack transport and don’t have orders to shoot.) It has all happened so fast that France hasn’t even decided yet if it supports the man who currently claims to be the president of the CAR. Asked last Saturday if Michel Djotodia, who seized power last March, should stay as “interim president”, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said: “I don’t think we need (to create) more difficulties by adding the departure of the president.” On Sunday, however, President Francois Hollande said exactly the opposite: “We cannot leave in place a president who was not able to do anything, or even worse, has let (some very bad) things happen.” Fabius and Hollande may simply not have had time yet to talk to each other about Djotodia’s future – and besides, it doesn’t much matter: he controls virtually nothing. The CAR has had eight coups since it got its independence from France in 1960, and got eight bad leaders out of it. The worst was Jean-Bedel Bokassa, who proclaimed himself emperor of the “Central African Empire” and used his “Imperial Guard” to murder people, including schoolchildren, who defied his rule, but even he had little impact on life outside Bangui, the capital. The vast majority of people in the CAR are herdsmen or subsistence farmers who have little or no contact with the institutions of the state: the coup leaders and “presidents” came and went

Twenty shortlisted for Mash 2014 Adult Calypso competition - Chutney, HIV/AIDS competitions still in planning stage By Alex Wayne FOLLOWING several recent auditions, the Mash Secretariat has announced that 20 persons have been shortlisted for the 2014 Adult Calypso Competition. The semi-final staging of this competition is slated for February 8, 2014 at a venue to be announced. But even as the Secretariat is proud to make this declaration, it is deeply concerned about the inability of organisers of the Mash Chutney and HIV/AIDS Song Competition to submit their planning schedules, even though the year has almost ended. Sources at the Secretariat have reportedly grown tired of contacting a particular member of the organising team for the Chutney segment, only to be told that he is not ready, or has not been able to do any work on that competition. This reporter was present to witness employees of the Mash Secretariat desperately trying to locate the party at reference on his cellular phone and office number on Thursday, but to no avail. The Secretariat is very concerned about this surprising lapse in planning for the Chutney Competition, since participants need time to prepare for the event, but cannot do so until receiving word from the organisers. In the meantime, several seasoned chutney singers are annoyed

and infuriated that their auditions are being delayed, while the Calypso auditions were concluded over a week ago. Several of them have already visited the Office of the Mash Secretariat and have not hesitated to blow off their steam.

ADULT CALYPSO Those shortlisted for the Adult Calypso Competition are Roger Hinds (Young Bill Rogers), Dereck Mangal (Bright Colours), Martin Byrne (Mighty Voter), Karen Bennett (Queen

Some of the faces shortlisted for the Mash 2014 Adult Calypso Competition HIV/AIDS SONG COMPETITION The Mash Secretariat is equally concerned about the same set of responses they are getting from organisers of the HIV/ AIDS Song Competition, who have apparently not begun planning for that event, since no information has been submitted to them. While that competition was not staged last year, this year has seen several persons indicating their interest to compete in that category.

Maceeba), Garfield Campbell (Roots), Malcolm Corrica (Lord Canary), Daria Barrow (Queen Dairy), Pearl Lewis (Precious Pearl), John Marcus (Ras Marcus), Abigail James, Linden Thomas (Sniper), Dawn Edwards (Lady D), Lassel Duke, Winfield James, Kenroy Fraser, Sherldon Lyken, Aaron Blackman, Melford Inniss, John Persaud (Blue Flame), and Edward Perez (Young Fyah) Updates on the various Mashramani 2014 competitions would be brought to you as they are supplied to us.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

Chief Justice grants 17 offenders $4M bail By George Barclay ACTING Chief Justice Mr. Ian Chang, SC, on Friday granted 17 offenders a total of $4,115,000 bail pending the hearing of their cases. Details follow: For possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, Karan Singh was granted

â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;pending the hearing of their cases

$100,000 bail; John Baptiste and Talishman Singh were each granted $250,000 bail; Shawn McKay was granted $300,000 bail, and John Sammoogan was granted $400,000 bail. For breaking and entering a place of Divine worship, Ryon Samuels was granted $350,000

bail. For receiving stolen property, Ryon Jones was granted $500,000 bail. For causing death by dangerous driving, Lennox Griffith was granted $450,000, and Ketalini Bishop was granted $150,000 bail. For attempted murder,

Shawn Embleton was granted $340,000 bail. For robbery under arms, Randy Garett was granted $390,000 bail. For unlawful wounding, Junior Williams and Cenroy Adams were each granted $75,000 bail. Michael Higgings was granted $200,000 bail for the offence of robbery, and $125,000 bail for the offence of assault causing actual bodily harm. For unlawful possession of firearms, Plioticia Beharry was granted $60,000 bail; and for the offence of simple larceny, Larnell Duke was granted $100,000 bail.

FOR SUNDAY DECEMBER 15, 2013- 14:30HRS FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 16, 2013- 14:30HRS FOR TUESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2013- 05:30HRS

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

‘Richard Ishmael’ old students give generously to school’s welfare By Tash Van Doimen

BORN out of the nostalgia of a group of past students from the class of ’79, the Indian Education Trust College/Richard Ishmael Secondary School Old Students’ Association is a guardian angel for the Richard Ishmael Secondary School. With the primary objectives of bringing past students together and giving back to the school, the association have done just that through donations and several initiatives that involved refurbishing the school’s library, providing awards for the annual graduation and awards ceremony, and providing primary healthcare services for the students and staff. The Old Students Association was initiated by Carl Greene, a past student from the class of ’79 whose home visits resulted in the friendly gatherings that led to the creation of the association. By early 2010, the process to formalize the association had begun, and the association was launched in February 2011 after being registered under the Friendly Societies Act. The first m a j o r e v e n t

Old Students Association also cleaned the school compound, and subsequently made a major contribution to the annual graduation and awards ceremony. This contribution would later become a tradition as, every year after that, the association would contribute to the graduation ceremony. The association usually donates trophies for the graduating students, and even the lower level students have been rewarded, as all high achievers (students who placed first to third) were presented with gift vouchers. Most notably, the library continues to benefit from the donation of books. So far, the school has received more than 300 titles, including CSEC texts for about 15 subject areas, as well as a desktop computer which the association had asked Bisham Persaud (a past student) of Crown Mining to donate on that company’s behalf. Moreover, the Old Students Association partnered with the Ministry of Health on two occasions to offer some primary healthcare services to both the students and staff of the Richard Ishmael Secondary School. The school population benefited from eye tests, dental

The Indian Education Trust College/Richard Ishmael Secondary School Old Students’ Association logo planned by the association was the school reunion, and this was held in July that year and resulted in a Library Update project by which several book donations were made and the school library was refurbished. Before the reunion, the

examinations, blood pressure and glucose screening, and 13 teachers took the opportunity to be screened for cervical cancer. Literature on many health-related issues was also distributed. According to the Associa-

A group of past students at the Richard Ishmael School Reunion in 2011 tion’s Secretary, Fayne Ramsaran-Bhudu, “The New Year will see the hosting of a few fundraising events to aid the financing of major projects - the establishment of a permanent sick bay and the purchase of a photocopying machine”. She continued, “There are also plans in the works to harness the Association’s human resources pool to assist students in areas such as career guidance”. The new executive body elected earlier this year comprises Arnold DeMendonca, President of the association; Dyreck Babb, Vice President; Fayne Ramsaran-Bhudu, Secretary; Nandranie (Janet) Persaud, the new Treasurer; Nazima Ali-Fordyce the Assistant Secretary/Treasurer; and Basil Persaud the association’s Public Relations Officer. Other committee members include Salima Ali, Rudra Chinapen, Nikita Inniss, Shearon Persaud and Steven Telford. The executive has expressed intention to invite all past students to join the association and make a meaningful contribution to their alumni. And the school is appre-

ciative. In a recent interview, Head Mistress Ms. Chandroutie Persaud told the Guy-

ana Chronicle: “The Old Students Association has always been very supportive of this

school, and they always play an active role in all school activities.”

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

Strive for an eco-friendly holiday

FOR many, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! Yes! The holiday season is here, filling the air with the usual anticipation and excitement! The streets throng with shoppers eagerly cashing in on deals on decorations, furniture, appliances, toys and clothing. Houses, offices and stores are all decked out, adding to the festive atmosphere. As you go about enjoying the season’s festivities, be mindful of the Earth and think of what steps you can take to reduce your impact on it for this season and others to come. Here are a few ideas to help you to do right by the Earth for this holiday season: DECORATIONS Buy durable: When you buy new furniture or appliances, think about its durability. You may think you can only afford a cheap sofa, but if you replace it in a few years, you lose in two ways: first, by buying twice (therefore spending more money), and second, by creating more waste since the discarded item would be discarded and end up in a waste disposal site or landfill. A good-quality piece, although a bit more expensive, is usually a better bargain in the long run, both for you and the environment. Buy only what you need: When you buy a lot of stuff you don’t need –this adds to clutter. Develop a habit of asking yourself three little questions: * * stead? * over?”

Do I really need this? Do I have something at home I could use inHow will I dispose of it when its useful life is

This simple habit could go a long way towards making you more environmentally friendly and thrifty. It can also help you to simplify your life and home Be creative: Use natural material such as wood to make decorations. Additionally, you can make decorations out of newspaper, old magazine and used

paper and cloth to reduce waste. ECO-FRIENDLY GIFTS Be creative in choosing gifts: It is better to purchase gifts that are long-lasting or that can be reused. If an item has several layers of paper and plastic packaging, try to find a similar product that leaves less waste. Nothing is wrong with ‘re-gifting’: It is almost inevitable to receive a gift that you do not like/need. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to give that item to someone who is really in need of it. Reuse magazines/calendars/newspapers: Over the holidays, wrap your presents in magazines/newspaper (comics, travel and holiday sections are colourful, but the regular news section can look nice too) and tie with recycled string; or make cloth bags the recipient can reuse for shopping or their own gifts. FOOD • Buy in bulk: It is better to buy items in one large package than to buy items in many small containers. It produces less waste and is more economical. • Plan meals wisely: Do not overindulge. If there are leftovers, place them in plastic containers or bags and send them home with guests or save them for later. • Compost: Where possible, compost leftover food scraps from holiday dinners and parties. Remember compost fruit and vegetable wastes only, not meat or grease. CLOTHING Manufacturing clothing uses a lot of resources from our environment –an enormous quantity of water is used up to grow/make and colour material to make clothing - so think before you buy new clothing. Practice the skill of mixing the clothing you already have in different ways to reduce the amount of new clothing you buy. Purchase good quality clothing when you can - even though they are a little more expensive, you will spend less in the long-term. Sources: http://www.styleathome.com/decorating-and-design/green-living/25-environmentally-friendly-decorating-ideas/a/38713 http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Lifestyle/2013/Oct-24/235546-green-is-the-new-black-witheco-friendly-clothes.ashx#axzz2nBdoLXzQ You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN or email us at eit.epaguyana@gmail.com.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

Steve Clarke sacked as West Brom head coach ENGLISH Carlisle 08:15 hrs Vice Et Vertu 08:45 hrs Etxalar 09:20 hrs Lie Porrit 09:55 hrs KingOf The Wolds 10:25 hrs Oscars Den 10:55 hrs Fiddlers Reel 11:25 hrs Stonebrook

STEVE Clarke has been sacked as head coach of West Bromwich Albion following a fourth straight Premier League loss. The 50-year-old Scot’s last game in charge was a 1-0 defeat by Cardiff yesterday, which left the Baggies two points above the relegation zone Albion have won only sev-

A West Brom statement said Clarke has been placed on gardening leave with immediate effect, along with his other assistant, Kevin Keen. West Brom sporting and

SOUTHWELL 08:25 hrs Roc D’apsis 08:55 hrs Oscat The Myth 09:30 hrs Red Sherlock 10:05 hrs Cappa Bleu 10:35 hrs Midnight Belle 11:05 hrs Le Bacardy 11:35 hrs Iconic Rose IRISH RACING TIPS Navan 08:05 hrs Kick On Boss 08:35 hrs College Boy 09:05 hrs Briar Hill 09:40 hrs Call Me Bubbles 10:15 hrs Folsom Blue 10:45 hrs Come To The Party 11:20 hrs Royal Caviar FRENCH RACING TIPS Pau 08:15 hrs Cherco 08:45 hrs Ulodene 09:15 hrs Jeeves 09:50 hrs Vichello 10:25 hrs Bougival 10:55 hrs Dream’s Bird 11:30 hrs Sappo 12:00 hrs Miss Catsy GERMAN RACING TIPS Neuss 12:00 hrs Roman Senate 12:30 hrs Panesidora

STEVE CLARKE en of their 34 Premier League games in 2013. Joint-assistant head coach Keith Downing will take control of first-team affairs while the club look for a new head coach.

technical director Richard Garlick said: “We have reluctantly come to the decision to relieve Steve of his duties after very careful consideration. “It has been well documented that we have not had the rub

of the green in certain games this season but that does not cloud the generally disappointing points return during this calendar year. “This club’s track record proves we do not take such decisions lightly, having only enforced a change in this position three times in approximately 14 years. “But with key games coming thick and fast, we felt it was important we acted now to give the club the best possible chance of a successful outcome this season. “Our player wage bill is the highest in the club’s history and we feel we have built a squad capable of being very competitive in the Premier League.” West Brom were eighth last season - their best Premier League finish - but have struggled this term without the goals of striker Romelu Lukaku, who was on loan from Chelsea They invested heavily in the summer, signing attacker Stephane Sessegnon for a club-record figure and Everton striker Victor Anichebe for a fee which could rise to £6m.

Clarke, who took over at The Hawthorns in June 2012, was out of contract at the end of the season and becomes the fourth Premier League manager to lose his job this campaign, with all four of

those teams in the division’s bottom five. Paolo Di Canio was sacked by Sunderland in September, Ian Holloway left Crystal Palace a month later and Martin Jol lost his job at Fulham two weeks ago. Baggies midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu described Clarke’s departure as “really sad news”. “I feel sorry for the manager,” Mulumbu tweeted. “Us players are on the pitch but he’s the one who’s getting the consequences of our bad play. I wish him all the best for the future.” Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer said Clarke is unlucky to lose his job. “It’s very harsh,” Shearer commented. “They overachieved last year and that put pressure on him. When you have a slow start to the season questions will always be asked. The chairman might look at it and think other clubs have improved [after changing manager]. But even so, you have to say it’s extremely harsh.” Cl arke repl aced Roy Hodgson at the Black Country club after his predecessor was appointed England manager. It was Clarke’s first managerial role, having previously been assistant manager at Chelsea, West Ham and Liverpool. (BBC Sport)

Embarrassed, lack ... From back page but we are losing wickets often in first spells.” NOTHING NEW New Zealand’s bowlers had exploited the conditions at Wellington, Gibson said, and he felt there was not a technical or mental problem facing his batters, who had dealt with high quality, swing bowling at pace in the past. “We have faced swing bowling before. Last time we went to England we faced swing bowling,” Gibson said. “We have seen these bowlers over the last two weeks, they’re quality bowlers in these conditions, but these are the same bowlers we saw in the West Indies 12 months ago and we won. “So it’s a question of advice, backing your ability and having pride in the West Indies brand and showing better.

“I know we can do it, because we have done it before.” The biggest concern for Gibson was that his pace bowlers were struggling to get accustomed to New Zealand conditions and still bowling too short. They had also squandered the green pitches that had been prepared for the first two tests. “Any time you see a wicket with grass on like we have here, especially this one where the ball swung as well, of course you expect better from your attack when you win the toss and put the opposition in,” Gibson said. “Our bowlers are probably a little quicker than theirs and we have bowled a bit short. “We have been inconsistent with everything we have done. As a bowling group we haven’t stuck to plans for long enough. “We know the guys can deliver because they’ve done it before for us. It’s just getting them to do it consistently. “That’s the key word for the whole series.”

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

Neymar brace as Barca sink Villarreal, Real held By Tim Hanlon (REUTERS) - Free-scoring Neymar hit a double as Barcelona beat Villarreal 2-1 to move three points clear at the top of La Liga while 10-man Real Madrid lost ground as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Osasuna after Sergio Ramos was sent off. Brazil forward Neymar, who got a treble in a 6-1 Champions League win over Celtic in midweek, scored with a firsthalf penalty and then put Barca back in front late on after Mateo Musacchio headed the visitors level early in the second period. The Catalan side are now on 43 points, three more than Atletico Madrid who host Valencia today, and five in front of rivals Real Madrid who fought back from two goals down to claim a draw after

Barca defence dozing as he headed the ball home from a corner after the restart. Cesc Fabregas missed a good chance before Alexis Sanchez broke the offside trap and found Neymar who scored from close range. Neymar was inches away from getting his second successive hat-trick in injury time with a shot which grazed the crossbar. MARTINO HAPPY “This performance has made me the happiest yet as it follows on from the good performances against Cartagena (4-1 win in the King’s Cup) and Celtic, and we were against a strong Villarreal side,” Barca coach Gerardo Martino told a news conference. “We are on a good run but I always think we are able to improve. It wasn’t always easy for us and that’s not a bad

thing either as it is something that you can learn from. “Villarreal knew how to wait and attack the spaces while later in the game they were able to pressure us. “Winning like that gives confidence to the players and it’s only a shame that the (Christmas) break is coming up.” Real seemed ready to seize the chance to keep the pressure on the leaders as Carlo Ancelotti’s side began confidently, having won their last five league games, scoring 24 goals, but they were undone by two first-half headers from Oriol Riera. Sergio Ramos, whose discipline has been questioned, was just returning from suspension but saw red again after 43 minutes. But despite Real’s numerical disadvantage, Isco

Barcelona’s soccer player Neymar (L) and Marc Bartra celebrate a goal against Villarreal during their Spanish First division League match at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, yesterday.. (Credit: Reuters/Albert Gea) being reduced to 10 men in the 44th minute. Two first-half headers from Oriol Riera gave Osasuna the advantage but Isco pulled a goal back before the break and a Pepe header salvaged a draw a minute after the home side had Francisco Silva sent off in the 79th minute. Barca coach Gerardo Martino rotated his squad and Alex Song, who came in for Xavi, was inches away from breaking the deadlock against Villarreal with only a few minutes gone but his volley cannoned against the bar and back into play from a tight angle. Villarreal have excelled this season by attacking but, missing key players Bruno Soriano and Cani, they resorted to a defensive formation with Giovani dos Santos alone in attack. The home side had trouble breaking them down but were helped with a penalty for handball by Mario Perez. Neymar, who has started scoring in the absence of the injured Lionel Messi, kept his cool to send keeper Sergio Asenjo the wrong way. Villarreal were forced to open up in search of the equaliser and Musacchio caught the

pulled a goal back on the stroke of halftime to give the visitors hope. The ineffective Bale was taken off 10 minutes into the second half as they searched for an equaliser that eventually came from a Pepe header a minute after Osasuna were reduced to 10 men with Francisco Silva’s dismissal in the 79th minute. Bale, a 100 million euros (84.2 million pounds) signing, scored a hat-trick in his last league game against Valladolid but was unable to make an impact against Osasuna who also managed to earn a draw against Barcelona earlier in the season. GOOD RESPONSE “The first 20 minutes were very good and it is incredible that we went 2-0 down and had ten men,” Ancelotti told a news conference. “We responded well but we suffered a lot.” “We were showing quality and rhythm and we lost control after the first goal but we did show character and the right attitude to battle back.” Real zipped the ball around with pace and confidence early on with Osasuna at full stretch to contain Cristiano Ronaldo, who dragged an early shot wide, and striker Karim Benzema. So it was a shock when Osasuna took the lead with Riera left totally unmarked to head in Marc Bertran’s cross.

The goal took the wind out of Real and they again failed to mark properly when Damia Abella won a header which keeper Diego Lopez beat away, only for Riera to nod in the rebound. It went from bad to worse as Ramos then received a second yellow card for a foul on Roberto Torres. Isco got real back into the

match, finding the corner with a drive from the edge of the area. Bale was then replaced by Angel Di Maria after the restart and it was Osasuna who looked more like scoring again. The match changed, however, when Silva was dismissed for a foul on Ronaldo and Isco’s free kick was headed in by Pepe.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

Australia wrest back control again in Perth By Nick Mulvenney PERTH, (Reuters) - Australia wrested control of the third Test back from England for the second day in a row yesterday, reducing the tourists to 180 for four at the close of play and taking another step towards reclaiming the Ashes. Ian Bell, who had made nine not out, and Ben Stokes, unbeaten on 14, will resume on day three today with England trailing Australia’s first innings tally of 385 by 205 runs. The tourists need at least a draw to keep the series alive and had built a solid platform when Alastair Cook and Michael Carberry put together the highest opening partnership in eight tests against Australia this year. Australia’s bowlers, though, are charged with confidence after dominating the English batsmen in the first two tests in Brisbane and Adelaide and defied energy-sapping temperatures in excess of 40 degrees Celsius to strike back. Carberry and Joe Root, controversially, fell in the half an hour before tea and Cook and Kevin Pietersen were dismissed in the final session - all without the standout bowler of the first two tests, Mitchell Johnson, taking a single wicket. “Other bowlers are getting vital wickets at vital times,” Australia bowling coach Craig McDermott told reporters. “Everyone’s chipping in,

... Kevin Pietersen becomes fifth England player to score 8,000 Test runs

bowling tightly, bowling good lines and more importantly swinging the old ball. “We’ve got 12 overs until the new ball tomorrow, so a

The tourists would probably have been happy to get to tea with just one wicket down only for Root to follow Carberry to the dressing room for four some

Kevin Pietersen was dismissed by Peter Siddle again - the 10th time it has happened in Test cricket so far. wicket early would be ideal and we can get stuck into them with the new ball.” England dealt with the first new ball reasonably well but Carberry had already survived a couple of scares when he played on a Ryan Harris delivery from around the wicket for 43 half an hour before tea with 85 runs on the board.

20 minutes later. Shane Watson’s delivery beat his bat and umpire Marais Erasmus raised his finger in the midst of a frenzied appeal from the Australians, who thought they had heard a nick. Root immediately sought a review but departed shaking his head as the TV umpire and the battery of technology available to him did not find sufficient ev-

idence to overturn the decision. “It was obviously a disappointing dismissal for us, and a key dismissal for us,” said Carberry. “He obviously felt he didn’t hit the ball, so he reviewed it. Obviously we’re bitterly disappointed.” Cook dug in with a circumspect Pietersen, though, and they successfully weathered a difficult period after tea when the “Freo Doctor” sea breeze enabled the Australian pacemen to get some movement from the ball. The England captain cut a short Peter Siddle delivery for his sixth four to reach his half century and looked set for his first big score of the series. But just when the pair looked they might be ready to start attacking the bowlers, Cook’s counterpart Michael Clarke brought on spinner Nathan Lyon and was immediately rewarded with the most prized England wicket. When Lyon’s fourth ball took a bit of bounce off the wicket, Cook failed to properly execute his cut shot and the ball flew into the safe hands of David Warner at point. SUPERB CATCH With his captain gone for 72, Pietersen seemed to lose interest in the conservative gameplan and, after becoming the fifth England player to score 8,000 Test runs, fell victim to Siddle for the 10th time in his

career. Attempting to punish a short ball from the Victorian, Pietersen did not really get hold of his shot and Johnson leaped to take a superb catch at mid on and send him packing for 19. “I just thought it was fantastic piece of athleticism really, great catch and a really important wicket for us,” McDermott added. “The two wickets in that last session were very crucial to our day. And the last three hours of bowling and fielding were superb.” Johnson’s was the first wicket to fall in a day which started when England removed

the last four Australian batsmen at a cost of an additional 59 runs to their overnight tally of 326. The England attack, though, will rue not driving home their advantage when they had Australia floundering at 143-5 on the opening day of the match. “Ideally we’d have liked to have lost a few less wickets,” Carberry added. “But having said that Australia, credit to them, bowled very well. “We’re still in the hunt. We’re 200 behind so we have to get through the new ball tomorrow and get up near the Australians’ total.”

SCOREBOARD

AUSTRALIA first innings (overnight 326-6) C. Rogers run out 11 D. Warner c Carberry b Swann 60 S. Watson c Swann b Broad 18 M. Clarke c Cook b Swann 24 S. Smith c Prior b Haddin 111 G. Bailey c Pietersen b Broad 7 B. Haddin c Anderson b Stokes 55 M. Johnson c Prior b Broad 39 P. Siddle c Prior b Bresnan 21 R. Harris c Root b Anderson 12 N. Lyon not out 17 Extras (lb-6, w-3, nb-1) 10 Total (all out, 103.3 overs) 385 Fall of wickets: 1-13 2-52 3-106 4-129 5-143 6-267 7-326 8-338 9-354 Bowling: Anderson 23-5-60-2 (w-1), Broad 22-2-100-3 (w-1), Bresnan 23.3-4-81-1, Stokes 17-3-63-

1 (w-1, nb-1), Swann 17-0-71-2, Root 1-0-4-0

ENGLAND first innings A. Cook c Warner b Lyon 72 M. Carberry b Harris 43 J. Root c Haddin b Watson 4 K. Pietersen c Johnson b Siddle 19 I. Bell not out 9 B. Stokes not out 14 Extras (b-6, lb-7, w-5, nb-1) 19 Total (for four wickets, 68 overs) 180 Still to bat: M. Prior, S. Broad, G. Swann, J. Anderson, T. Bresnan Fall of wickets: 1-85 2-90 3-136 4-146 Bowling (to date): Harris 15-7-26-1, Johnson 15-6-43-0 (nb-1), Watson 9-2-32-1, Siddle 135-27-1, Lyon 16-6-39-1.

City slickers hit Arsenal for six, Chelsea win By Toby Davis LONDON-(Reuters) - Manchester City exposed the first cracks in Arsenal’s title challenge, beating the Premier League leaders 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium as their attacking talents cut loose in another free-scoring home display yesterday. City’s stylish showmen sealed their eighth consecutive home league success by out-punching Arsenal, whose lead at the top of the table was cut to two points after Chelsea snuck a 2-1 win at home to Crystal Palace. Everton also kept their noses in the title-race trough with a 4-1 win at home to Fulham moving them fourth, while at the bottom of the table West Ham United and Sunderland played out a 0-0 draw that was little use to either side. Cardiff City beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0, while Newcastle United and Southampton drew 1-1. Arsenal’s previously watertight defence was prised open at will by the hosts’ marauding all-out attack. It was the third time this season that City scored six or

more, after they dished out similarly crushing blows to Tottenham Hotspur and Norwich City and moved them to third within three points of the leaders. The win also put down a light blue marker in a now-congested title race that could have turned decisively in Arsenal’s favour had they managed to conjure a win. “At times the tempo was frightening,” City captain Vincent Kompany told BT Sport.

“We looked to be in control of the game for most of it. There were no standout individual performances but collectively we’ve done incredibly well. “It is a real fortress here.” City, whose early opener from Sergio Aguero was cancelled out by Theo Walcott, opened up a two-goal lead with Alvaro Negredo and Fernandinho efforts either side of halftime. Arsenal briefly rallied with a superb second from Walcott,

but David Silva restored the two-goal lead from close range and Fernandinho poked home his second to maintain City’s 100 percent home league record. Even Per Mertesacker’s late consolation for Arsenal was trumped by City as Yaya Toure stroked in a stoppage time penalty. Fifth-placed Liverpool can move back into second if they beat sixth-placed Tottenham Hotspur today.

Manchester City’s Fernandinho (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during their English Premier League soccer match against Arsenal at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, northern England Credit: REUTERS/ Darren Staples

Worker dies after falling off Manaus stadium roof MANAUS, BRAZIL- (Reuters) - A construction worker died after falling off the roof of the Arena Amazonia in Brazil on S a t u r d a y, F I FA a n d t h e Wo r l d C u p o r g a n i s i n g committee confirmed yesterday. “ F I FA a n d t h e L o c a l Organising Committee (LOC) learnt of the death of the worker on Saturday at the Arena Amazonia site with great sadness,” the statement read. “We would like to send our most sincere condolenc-

es to his family, relatives, colleagues and friends.” Marcleudo de Melo F e r re i r a ’s d e a t h h i g h lighted the safety conc e r n s s u r ro u n d i n g B r a z i l ’s a b i l i t y t o h o s t t h e 2014 World Cup as he was the fifth worker to die while building Brazil’s 12 World Cup stadiums. Ferreira died in hospital after a broken cable led to him falling nearly 35 meters (115 feet). Fatal accidents have occurred in Manaus, Brasilia and most recently in Sao

Paulo, where two people died on November 27 after a crane collapsed in the arena that is to host the opening game on June 12. A nothe r w or ke r die d while working on Palmeir a s a re n a i n S a o P a u l o , but that stadium will not be used in the World Cup. The tournament will take place in 12 Brazilian cities. Preparations for the competition - the first to be held in South America since 1978 - have been plagued by delays, accidents, cost

overruns, and public anger over government waste that contributed to massive nationwide street protests last year. The third death in less than a month again raised concerns that safety of workers was being ignored as officials rush to f i n i s h t h e i r a re n a s . S i x stadiums are due to be delivered between now and April, and several are well behind schedule. F I FA p r e s i d e n t S e p p Blatter last week appealed to “God, Allah and whoev-

er” to ensure the stadiums will be ready in time. Andrade Gutierrez, the Brazilian firm building the Amazonia stadium, said in a statement that Ferreira worked for a company that had been contracted to build the arena’s cover and an internal investigation of the incident would be conducted. Manaus will host four games, including the high-profile encounter between former World Cup winner England and Italy.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

Kohli needs to stay confident’ - Jennings Ray Jennings, the former South Africa coach and the current coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore, believes his ward, Virat Kohli, faces a difficult test in South Africa. Virat Kohli and Ray Jennings go back a long way. In 2008, Virat Kohli’s Under-19 team was bowled out for 159 in the World Cup final, he had seen some of Ray Jennings’ South African boys “playing football and relaxed as if they had come for a picnic” during the break. He had heard Bradley Barnes, the wicketkeeper, say they had sent India packing. After pulling off a win that day, Kohli made it a point to be in the faces of the South African players as he swore with a stump in hand. Jennings, the South Africa coach, congratulated Kohli, shook his hand, and was Kohli’s coach at Royal Challengers Bangalore a few months later. Over the last five years, Jennings has worked closely with Kohli and, along with Anil Kumble, has been credited with moulding the batsman’s attitude; he knows Kohli’s game well. In those five years, Kohli has progressed impressively in international cricket, becoming adept at chases in ODIs, and showing he can cut it in Tests as well. Jennings feels these two Tests in South Africa will be a difficult examination for Kohli, especially considering his per-

formance in the ODI series - 31 runs in two innings. Both his dismissals followed shortish deliveries, which raised some flags. Jennings believes if there is a weakness in Kohli’s game, it is against quick bowling, and South African conditions won’t provide the Indian batsman any respite. “It’s going to be quite a difficult test for him,” Jennings said. “South Africa in South African conditions will try to exploit his weaknesses. When you look at Virat Kohli as a batsman, he’s a superb player of spin. If there is any weakness, it’s while facing fast bowling. He will definitely be tested in South Africa, like he has been during the ODIs. He has to rise above that challenge in these conditions. It’s a pity that it’s only two Test matches because if he does well, people will say it’s only two Tests. If he does badly, they’ll say he failed in only two Tests. That is, unfortunately, the issue.” Jennings has spotted a weakness or two, but is in no mood to help the South Africa think-tank either. “I have seen one or two things in the last two innings,” he said. “I’m sure he’s good enough and Duncan Fletcher is smart enough to rectify those issues. It’s unfair for me to publicly talk about those weaknesses. You know I’ve grown up in South Africa, and

I’m very aware of what people need to do to do well here. It’s incorrect for me to put it out in the media because, obviously, the South African team and people like that will try to exploit those things.” Jennings feels that, along with Cheteshwar Pujara,

VIRAT KOHLI Kohli is going to be key to how India do in the two Tests, especially because of the vast gulf between the two bowling attacks. “I think India do have fourfive players who are key,” Jennings said. “I think Pujara is good. You have [MS] Dhoni. Their batting has more key players than the bowling. In South Africa, the Indian bowling needs to step up a little bit to level the playing field, because if the South Af-

All Seasons Racing Service dominoes

International Six edge countrywide champs INTERNATIONAL Six erased a three-game deficit to emerge winners of the All Seasons

Racing Service sponsored three-way aggregate dominoes tournament which ended in

ricans prepare green wickets and exploit the Indian batting, and the Indian bowlers aren’t up to scratch, they can’t exploit the South African batsmen.” Kohli, a No. 3 batsman in ODIs, has been batting at No. 5 for India in the Tests. Now with

spectacular fashion at Ernest Shop, Canal Number One West Bank Demerara, last

Sachin Tendulkar gone, there might be a chance to move one step up. According to Jennings, it won’t make much difference for Kohli as long as he doesn’t move up to No. 3. If he were the coach, he would want to keep Kohli confident despite the failures in the ODIs. “I know Virat is a very moody and confident type of player,” Jennings said. “So the most important thing for him right now is to get his mind into that confident state. To Sunday. Entering the final leg, three games adrift of front-runners All Seasons Racing Service with the scores reading 159 -156 and Canal Six lagging behind on 140, the game lived up to its pre-game hype with the eventual winners decided in the final sitting. So intense was the battle between the two top contenders, International Six entered the final sitting a mere one game ahead of All Seasons and

make sure he feels good about himself. “I know Virat likes hitting a lot of balls and making himself feel good. If you see him walk very confidently to the wicket, he’s a very destructive player. He needs to be in that mood. And you know players get built up with performances and things like that . After a few failures, you don’t feel bad about yourself, but you are not confident about your skills. A confident player can deliver his skills while an unconfident player tends to hold back and finds it difficult to score runs. That to me will be a very important thing for Virat to look at.” Asked if Kohli might have a problem with the short ball - there were moments of discomfort in the West Indies in 2011, and he has copped a blow in the ODIs here - Jennings said it was all about getting used to the pace and bounce of the short ball in South Africa. “The short ball in India is different to the short ball in South Africa,” he said. “The important thing is, Virat and all the Indian players need to come to terms with the short ball in South Africa. It’s all depending on how long they spend on the wicket and get used to the pace. “I think when you look at India, it’s a type of tour where you needed to come here two or three weeks before. While India has the slowest wickets in the world, South Africa has

probably the quickest wickets in the world. As an Indian group of players, they should have come here a little earlier and planned a little better, if they consistently want to perform because by the time they get used to the wickets, the tour can be finished. Jennings noted that the Indian batsmen have been rattled a bit, but said it was not unexpected. “If you drive a car that goes a 100 kilometres an hour, and then I put you in one that is going at 170 kph, of course, you will be rattled and be troubled till you get used to the car going at 170kph,” Jennings said. “In South Africa, the wickets are quicker. You are playing on our soil, where the ball swings differently, swings quicker and moves off the wicket quicker. “When you compare the bounce, in India you need to put the ball a lot shorter and it lollipops to you. In South Africa, you don’t need to pitch it that short. It comes up to you quickly. So it’s a lot more intense and the conditions need to be adapted to before people start playing competitive cricket. If not, India will always find it difficult over here. They experience and adapt to the conditions over time.They will get better and better but, by the time they are really good, the series might be finished.” (ESPN Cricinfo)

the overall results still hanging in the balance. Both teams however scored 13 games in the decider much to the delight of International Six and their supporters. In the end, International Six won with 76 games with Canal two behind on 74 and All Seasons on 72, the overall scores being - International Six 232, All Seasons 231 and Canal Six 214. Sunday’s top players for International Six were Intikab “Corbie” Ali with 15 games, Martin Permaul 14 and Prem Basant 13. For Canal Six, there were 15 games for Scotty Ramroop, 14 each for Chibar Seopaul and Ramroop Sukhai and 13 for Basdeo Persaud. John Freeman with 15 games and Frankie Seaforth 13 were All Seasons top mark-

ers while Avie Persaud of Canal was the lone lovebird. Trophies were presented to the winning and runner-up teams, the three best players on the winning team, the two top players on the second and the leading player in the third team. The prize-winners for International Six were Edmund Sammy and Intikab Ali with 41 games each, while Prem Basant made 30 games in two matches to end with the impressive average of 15 games per match. All Seasons John Freeman topped for his side with 45 games, while the other prize went to Frankie Seaforth who ended with 43, the same as Hazim Hack. Seaforth, however, gave away 73 games to Hack’s 75. Chibar Seopaul was the main player for Canal Six registering 43 games.

NBS final postponed

SPONSOR Raymond Ali (left) of All Seasons Racing Service hands over the winning trophy to International Six skipper Manniram Shew while other members of the victorious team look on.

THE BCB/ New Building Society Limited forty overs second division final, which was slated to be played at the No. 69 ground today, has been postponed due to heavy rainfall. The much awaited match will be played as early as the weather holds The teams are No 71 Cricket Club from the Upper Corentyne area and The Young Warriors Cricket Club from Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

GCB/HIH/GTT Senior Inter-County Four-Day Competition...

Weather permitting, final round commences today ...Berbice holds edge as they battle weak Essequibo

POINTS leaders and former champions Berbice must be smiling broadly, knowing that their opponents for the final round of the Guyana Cricket Board organised Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company/Hand-in-Hand jointly sponsored four day tournament, Essequibo, have lost both matches to date and are no threat to them. The final round is set to bowl off today –weather permitting- with Berbice who have 18 points following their 10 wicket victory over defending champions Demerara in the last round and first innings win over President’s XI, take on the pointless Essequibo at the Everest Cricket Club ground at 09:30hrs. At the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground, the second placed President’s XI who are on 15 points, will take on Demerara (12 points) in a game, which will not change the position at the top, unless Berbice loses to Essequibo or if there is no play at Everest ,and Demerara loses the con-

test outright. Berbice’ task to record another victory and take the four-day title will rest on the shoulders of inform batsman and the tournament’s leading runscorer , Royston Crandon (207 runs), skipper Sewnarine Chattergoon, Assad Fudadin, Jonathan Foo and Krisendat Ramoo. Added support will come from Kandasammy Surujnarine, Rajiv Ivan, Devon Clements, Anthony D’Andrade, wicketkeeper/batsman Anthony Bramble and discarded West Indies leg spinner Devendra Bishoo, who is no rabbit with the bat. Bishoo has 19 wickets with the ball, including a 10 wicket haul against Demerara in the last round, while Crandon has been giving him worthy and valuable support with his offspin, even as Raun Johnson and Keon Joseph do their amicable best with the new ball. This Essequibo team selected is a young and relatively inexperienced group,

with only Royan Fredericks, Kevon Boodie, Dillon Heyliger and skipper Anthony Adams having the experience at this

DEVENDRA BISHOO level before. Despite such, they have struggled against the spin of Collis Butts and Steven Sankar for the President’s XI and Amir Khan and Zaheer Mohammed

Windies to play on opening day of U-19 World Cup DUBAI, UAE, (CMC) – West Indies will play South Africa at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, in one of four matches on the opening day of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Cricket World Cup on February 14. The West Indies is also grouped with Zimbabwe and Canada in the 16-team tournament. The tournament will be staged across seven venues in the United Arab Emirates from February 14 to March 1, 2014, and will also include Afghanistan, Canada, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Scotland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) besides the 10 Full Members. Other matches scheduled for the opening day include 1998 winner England taking on the UAE at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi; Zimbabwe locking horns with Canada at Abu Dhabi Oval 1 and New Zealand meeting Sri Lanka at Sharjah Cricket Stadium India will open its title defence against traditional rival and one-time former champion Pakistan on February 15. In the 16-day tournament, 48 matches will be played across seven venues, which are: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi; Abu Dhabi Oval 1; Abu Dhabi Oval 2; Sharjah Cricket Stadium; Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai Sports City; ICC Academy Oval 1, Dubai, and ICC Academy Oval 2, Dubai. The format of the competition is such that the 16 teams have been divided into four groups, with the top two teams progressing to the Super League quarter-finals, while the two bottom teams from each group qualify for the Plate Championship quarter-finals. The four groups are:

Group A India Pakistan Scotland PNG

Group B Australia Bangladesh Afghanistan Namibia

Group C South Africa West Indies Zimbabwe Canada

Group D New Zealand England Sri Lanka UAE

“The ICC U19 Cricket World Cup is a hugely important event for international teams and for the ICC, as it showcases the future stars of international cricket,” said ICC General Manager of Cricket, Geoff Allardice, while announcing the groups and fixtures in Dubai. “The tournament has produced more than 40 Full Member players that have gone on to captain their side in international cricket in different formats - Brian Lara, Graeme Smith and Inzamam-ul-Haq, to name a few. The ICC U19 CWC gives the world’s best young cricketers a chance to test their skills in a truly global event. “Teams will need to be at their best every day if they want to win the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. We expect to see some spectacular cricket.” The UAE tournament will be the 10th edition of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup since its inception in 1988. Australia won the tournament in 1988, 2002 and 2010, England was the champion in 1998, India held aloft the trophy in 2000, 2008 and 2012 and Pakistan was the winner in 2004 and 2006. The West Indies best finished in the tournament was runner-up to Pakistan when the tournament was hosted in Bangladesh in 2004.

for Demerara and taking into consideration the present form of Bishoo and Crandon, its impossible to even fathom the Essequibians counter-acting this duo. Fredericks will have to be the one leading from the front with the bat, since Heyliger, who has played semi-professionally in England, seems content on bragging about his past achievements, while the County needs it now. Seventeen (17) year old Parsram Parsotam, Kemo Paul and Ricardo Peters, are all useful customers with the bat, but surprisingly, the technical staff asked Peters, who was productive for the Cinderella County in the GCB Under-19 tournament earlier this year, to bat at number eight. Heyliger, Adams, Freder-

icks, Mark Tyrell, Keanu Harry and Heemchand Persaud will take charge of the bowling department for Essequibo, who even if they don’t come away with the win, will be looking to at least garner some points and salvage their pride, whether rain assisted or not. At Uitvlugt, the star studded Demerara line up led by Leon Johnson and including Ramnaresh Sarwan, Derwin Christian, Amir Khan and Christopher Barnwell who all have West Indies experience at some level or the other, will be looking at redemption. There is also, Trevon Griffith, who like Khan played for the West Indies at the Under-19 level, Zaheer Mohammed, Christopher Pattadin, Steven Jacobs, Trevon Griffith, Paul Wintz, Totaram Bishun and Rajendra Chandrika, who all have experience for Guyana in various age groups. Yet still, they succumbed to Berbice inside two days and a session, as Bishoo and Crandon went on a wicket taking spree, backed by Joseph and Johnson. The President’s XI are no pushovers, as they showed against both Berbice and Essequibo, since they held the

former to a draw with skipper Vishal Singh hitting a resilient century, which he followed up with a polish 85 against Essequibo, backed by debut half centuries from Jason Sinclair and Shaquille Williams and a patient Ryan Ramdass. Their bowling has been spot on as well, with left arm pacer Andre Stoll hitting the right line and length, while getting the ball to move away and into the batsmen, even as Seon Daniels and Romario Shepherd-DeJonge are coming into their own at the other end. Butts, Williams and Sankar are all worthy customers with the ball in hand, especially after the pacers have taken the sheen off of it, and with several players such as Kellon Carmichael and Shemroy Barrington looking to stake a claim for national selection, this encounter, if it gets underway will be an interesting one to witness. Umpires Matthew Kissoon and Zaheer Mohamed will officiate in the match at Uitvlugt ground, with Sukhdeo being the standby and at Everest, Nigel Duguid and Colin Alfred will take the field while Shannon Crawford will be the standby official.

GFA/Banks Beer Knockout Tournament

Winners Connection arrest Police, Tigers maul Kwakwani Strikers ––G/Town and East Coast teams clash this evening at GFC By Michael DaSilva WINNERS Connection arrested Police while BK Western Tigers mauled Kwakwani Strikers, when action in the Georgetown Football Association (GFA)/Banks Beer knockout tournament continued on Friday evening at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground. Winners Connection edged Guyana Police Force 2-1 through Rawle Gittens and Clovis Youngs goals in the 16th and 79th minute respectively. Keron Crandon scored the lawmen’s lone goal in the 67th minute. In the feature match of the double- header card, Hubert Pedro registered a helmet-trick with goals coming in the 61st, 63rd, 80th and 89th minute. Stellon David and Ryan Thomas supported with one goal each in the 34th and 91 st minute respectively. BK Western Tigers will next meet Milerock in a second round match at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground on Wednesday from 20:00hrs, while Winners Connection’s next opponent is defending champions Sunburst Camptown and this match is scheduled for the Georgetown Football Club, ground on December 20.

The tournament will continue this evening at the GFC ground, weather permitting, with a double header card. In the opening game from 18:00hrs, Northern FC will face BV/Triumph in a second round fixture, while Santos faces Buxton United in the feature match from 20:00hrs. With all four teams for this evening’s card seeking to qualify for the next round which is the quarter final round, Football fans and supporters can expect some enthralling football. Santos secured their spot in the second round by disposing of Houston Stars 10-1, while

Buxton United beat Seawall United 2-0. Northern FC beat Black Pearl 4-1 in a penalty shoot-out after the two teams were locked 2-2 at the end of regulation and extra time. BV/Triumph on the other hand beat GFC 2-0. The eight quarter finalists will each receive $250,000 and a chance to win the top prize of $4M or the second, third or fourth place prize monies which is $2.5m, $1.5M and $1M respectively. The 32-team tournament has so far seen 16 teams being eliminated and 66 goals scored to date.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday December 15, 2013) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Jack Noriega-9/95 (WI vs IND, Trinidad, 1971) 204 dismissals (183 catches; 21 stumpings)

Today’s Quiz:

Which two never played a Test match against New Zealand? Rohan Kanhai; Mike Findlay; Joey Carew; Charlie Davis; Bernard Julien Who is the first West Indian to hit an ODI century?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 15, 2013

K&S/CHICO ELITE GENERATION NEXT C’SHIPS

Muhammad pleased with results and performances to date -Waramadong looking to make impact By Calvin Roberts CO-DIRECTOR of the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation (K&$) and organiser of the inaugural Chico Elite Generation Next Championships, Kashif Muhammad, last Wednesday evening told Chronicle Sport, he is highly impressed with the level of performance from the teams competing in the tournament. Muhammad was at the time, enjoying the contest between Lodge Secondary School and Charlestown Secondary School along with his business partner Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major, Chief Education Officer Olata Sam, former president of BK Western Tigers Gordon Gilhuys and other invited guests, at the Georgetown Football Club ground. “I must say we had a fantastic opening ceremony and today is our second day and I am very, very pleased with the level of football we are seeing… for today’s matches alone, we had an interesting first game which was decided through penalty kicks. We saw some outstanding goalkeeping and I am sure that individual, whom I do not wish to name, will be selected for the All-Star squad, while at the moment we are witnessing another intense and interesting contest between two evenly balanced teams,” said Muhammad. He added, “This game between Lodge and Charlestown is showing us more seasoned football players and tons of talent. As a matter of fact, this game can even level out to some of the first division games in Georgetown and what they would normally look like, but that aside we are impressed with the level of play and we are satisfied with the support we have received so far.”

Alluding to the weather which they were experiencing earlier, Muhammad said it was fantastic and conducive for the playing of the game, whilst he complimented the Guyana Football Referees Council, for the fine conduct and display

forget during all this, the young level of football, even though we talked about it a lot. We did try to do something, but this (negotiations between K&S and GFF) came as a blessing in disguise, for even though things did not

mented by the K&S/ Chico Elite Generation Next Championships tournament. However, he did mention that the K&S/ Chico Elite Generation Next Championships is not the tournament which will be used as the climax to the other youth tournaments, but the All-Star team playing against other teams from across

in Easter when the international tournament is held,” said Muhammad. Meanwhile, twice runners-up at the Digicel nationwide, Waramadong Secondary School, is presently undergoing rigorous training with the aim of making a huge and lasting impression, when they open their campaign for

The Waramadong Secondary School team strike a pose following another intense training session for their opening game against North Georgetown Secondary in the K&S/ Chico Elite Generation Next Championships this Wednesday at the GFC ground. shown by their officials, adding that things are really beautiful for this young tournament. Quizzed on if he felt his Organisation should have ran off a tournament of such nature before, Muhammad said, “That can be answered with both a yes and no. Our focus at that time was the senior level of football and we tried our best to see what we can do to uplift the Golden Jaguars and I think we did a splendid job. “One of the main things is we were able to open doors for 55 players to leave these shores and play abroad, developing contacts internationally along the way. Then we met Jamaal Shabazz, who helped Guyana’s football climb up the ladder big time and that was another significant achievement in a beautiful way.” He added, “We tend to

work out the way we wanted it to, but we are extremely happy. “This is the level of football we are dealing with now and our aim is to develop it, so that it can better serve the Golden Jaguars. With that in mind, we had a very fruitful meeting with the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders for competition at the younger level and we honestly think that if we really and sincerely need Guyana’s football to be sustained, we need to start with the youngsters.” He alluded to the work that is being done by the Petra Organisation, as it relates to the playing of their Courts Pee-Wee and Milo Under-18, along with Digicel and their nation wide Inter-secondary School tournament and Scotia/Pepsi Football Academy, which is now being comple-

the Caribbean, will be the one. “I was not thinking about our tournament being the one in such a manner. We created the December period as the football period, giving the fans exciting football for the past 23 years and we definitely will be staying right here. It just so happens…its going to be good football with all the school tournaments being played, beginning from pretty early. “We also have another plan wherein we will be doing a tournament in August. However, our climax is not really in December. We will have our tournament in December, but out of it, we will be selecting an All-Star team to represent Guyana against Suriname and St. Lucia next April, hence our climax is not now, but it will be

supremacy in the championships. The team is schedule to be in Georgetown three days ahead of their December 21 engagement with North Georgetown Secondary who defeated Patentia Secondary on penalty kicks, following a 1-1 draw, thanks to the generosity of Bushy Park Sawmills and the Ministry of Sport. Seeded second in this tournament to two times Digicel champions Wismar/Christianburg Secondary, whom they lost to in the 2012 and 2013 finals, Waramadong will be looking to avenge that defeat so as to start 2014 as the Secondary Schools champion team. The tournament continues today with four matches being played at the Den Amstel and Mackenzie Sports Club ground respectively.

At the Den Amstel ground on the West Coast of Demerara, President’s College, who won the prize for Best Dressed School at the March Past, and Stewartville Secondary will meet in the first encounter at 14:00hrs. In the second game, Annandale Secondary from the East Coast of Demerara will go head-to-head with Uitvlugt Secondary, in another East-meetsWest encounter from 16:00hrs, while in Linden, the action will remain on schedule which will see from 16:00hrs, New Silvercity Secondary and Friendship Secondary colliding followed by the matchup between Mackenzie High and Queenstown Secondary at 18:00hrs. The winners of the tournament which culminates on January 1, 2014 (New Year’s Day) at the Guyana National Stadium, will pocket a record G$1.2M with 75% going towards a project identified by the school, along with the Championship trophy and 25 replicas which will be on display throughout the tournament. The second-, third- and fourth-placed finishers will receive $750 000, $500 000 and $250 000 respectively, with 75% going towards a project as well, while the second- and third-placed teams will be presented with silver and bronze medallions and the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) will receive one laptop and a stint with a Trinidad and Tobago pro-team. Admission for school children to all matches leading up to the semifinals is FREE and the K&S Organisation is asking that all schoolchildren who will be attending the matches, be on their best behaviour for they are being seen as an ambassador of their respective schools.

Fernandes maintains world ranking

NICOLETTE FERNANDES

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, (CMC) – World class Guyanese squash player Nicolette Fernandes maintained her world ranking of 19, according to the latest release from the World International Squash Players Association (WISPA). The 30-year-old achieved the career-best ranking of 19 in October, and has managed to maintain that position in the December release of WISPA. Since the start of October, Fernandes has competed in five tournaments, and though her performance has not been spectacular by any stretch of imagination, she has done enough to preserve her ranking. The England-based Guyanese participated in the Carol Weymuller Open in the USA, the US Open and the China Open in October, the Monte Carlo Classic in Monaco in November and the Hong Kong Open earlier this month. Fernandes failed to get pass the first round in the Carol Weymuller Open and the US Open; she made it to the qualifying final of the China Open, the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Classic and was knocked out at the second round of the Hong Kong Open. Her rise up the ranking is a remarkable turnaround for

Fernandes, who only at the start of 2009 was rated a lowly 249 after a recurring knee injury had kept her out of competition for a protracted period of time. Since returning from injury however, Guyana’s most decorated squash player has been on the rise, significantly moving up the ranking with each passing competition. Such was her outstanding performance that at the end of 2009, Fernandes, under the guidance of award-winning coach Carl Ince, had taken her ranking below 100, ending the year at 88. Ever since, it has been a steady climb up the ladder for the multiple Sportswoman-of-the-Year, consistently racking up points and making her way up the WISPA leader board. In 2013, Fernandes has played in 13 WSA World Tour/Series in seven countries: United States of America, Malaysia, Ireland, England, China, Monaco and Hong Kong. In August this year, Fernandes returned to Guyana to claim her fifth Caribbean senior title, taking less than 30 minutes to dispose of Barbados’ Karen Meakins 11-6, 11-2, 11-5 in the final of the Caribbean Area Squash Association Senior Championships at the Georgetown Club.

Sport CHRONICLE

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Muhammad pleased with results and performances please see to date story page 31

Embarrassed, lack of fight

- Windies’ Gibson gives it straight By Greg Stutchbury

Shane Shillingford is distraught over his dismissal on the 3rd and last day of the second Test in Wellington

WELLINGTON -(Reuters)-West Indies coach Ottis Gibson pulled no punches in the dressing room after his team capitulated to New Zealand inside three days in the second test at the Basin Reserve. “Embarrassed was mentioned. Lack of fight was mentioned,” Gibson told reporters after a training session yesterday, which was supposed to be the fourth day of the Test. “Those are things you

don’t want to be hearing too often in your dressing room. We haven’t heard those things too often in our dressing room recently. We have played some pretty good cricket ... but we come here and we are making it tough for ourselves. “New Zealand are playing very well but we’re not standing up to what they’re offering. That’s the disappointing thing.” New Zealand took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series on Friday after beating the visitors by an innings and

73 runs, with left arm pace bowler Trent Boult capturing career-best figures of 10-80. Boult and fellow pace bowler Tim Southee bowled full and allowed the northerly wind, pitch and overhead conditions to help them exert tremendous pressure on the visitors’ batsmen. The effect of that pressure was evident in the dip in performance of Darren Bravo. In the drawn first Test in Dunedin, the lefthander had scored 218 in West Indies’ second innings of 507 and batted

for more than nine hours. In Wellington, Bravo scored a total of four runs and faced 14 balls. “As a batting group we aren’t riding out the good periods when New Zealand are on top,” Gibson said. “All it requires is a bit of application and someone to dig in, ride out that tough period then understand it will get a bit easier. “We talk about getting bowlers into their second and third spells then capitalising

please see page 26

Ali records fastest kayo win on opening day of Gatorade Pepsi U-16 boxing By Calvin Roberts BARTICA’S Maziel Ali recorded the fastest knockout on the opening day of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA)/ Demerara Distillers Limited Pepsi/Gatorade Under-16 Boxing championships at the Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis gym yesterday. Also in winners’ row were Ali’s teammates in Stevie and Steven DePrado of Bartica Golden Boys Gym, who chalked up contrasting victories over Romel Maxwell and Anthony Gomes respectively. However, it was Ali who stole the spotlight for the day, wherein he had a short stint in the ‘squared circle’, hardly breaking a sweat after he disposed of Harpy Eagles’ Isaiah Moore within 20 seconds of the first round. Due to a power outage which affected the area, the

-wins for DePrado brothers action got underway later than the anticipated 12:00hrs start, but Kevon Mullings did not let that deter him, as he scored a points victory over Anson Wolfe, to give Harpy Eagles a positive start. It was later dented by Ali’s devastating win over Moore, while Essequibo’s Dishawn Elcock ensured Harpy Eagles endured another tough time, with his points win over Ezekiel Benjamin, even as Devon Armstrong forced the nurse to stop his contest against Shemar Howard, at four seconds into the second round. The DePrados siblings, who were representing a gym that was making its second appearance in a GBA organised contest, following a successful debut in Bartica last month, showed that they deserved to be there and even in future

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tournaments, which is certainly a plus for the GBA’s technical committee. Stevie took the ring first and came away with a points decision win over a seasoned Romel Maxwell, before Steven used the first round and 59 seconds of the second to dispose of Anthony Gomes, making it a 3-0 decision for the Bartica contingent on the day. Like his brother Kevon, Kevin Mulling walked away with a points decision over Shaquancie Wright, before Stephon Edwards gained a walkover victory from Osafa Barker, who failed to keep their ring date. The action will continue this morning from 11:00hrs at the same venue, while later this afternoon, the upper floor of the venue will be buzzing with activity, when the GBA

KEVON MULLINGS for the first time in seven years, host an Annual Awards and Appreciation ceremony for boxers and officials.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2013