Guyana chronicle 20 11 13 by Chronicle

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No. 103656 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2013 GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

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Need for stronger teamwork, judicious use of resources Page

highlighted at CBSI Commission meeting

Record-breaking year for rice production – over 529,000 tonnes produced Page 9

Apsara presents 2012 Budget cut case put back to ‘An Evening of Dance’ December 10

Page

In Black Bush murder trial…

Mannar sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for killing ex-girlfriend

Convicted: Satrohan Mannar

Page 10

Dead: Indranie Basdeo

Suspect in custody over Jamaican businessman killing

Page 14 ‘Miss Guyana Universe 2013, Katherina Roshana (centre) and Apsara’s Chandini Rambalack (right) and a close associate pose for the Chronicle cameras

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

In Black Bush murder trial…

Mannar sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for killing ex-girlfriend By Jeune Vankeric AFTER a month long hearing, the Black Bush murder trial concluded with Satrohan Mannar, called Andrew, being sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. The jury returned the unanimous verdict within 25 minutes after retiring. Mannaru, 23, fatally stabbed his 14-year-old ex-girlfriend Indranie Basdeo, alias Cynthia, during school sports at Mibicuri Secondary School Ground, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, on Oc-

tober 7, 2011. In her summary, the judge advised the jury that, as they consider the caution statement attributed to the convict, they must ask themselves whether it was of his own statement, or the words of the police who dictated the document. The jury was reminded to consider the four elements which constituted the offence of murder, in that Indranie Basdeo died within a year and a day of receiving the injuries, the injuries were inflicted by the accused, the accused acted unlawfully, and that when the accused

inflicted the injury, the intention was to kill or to cause serious injury. “The defence is saying that the caution statement was not free and voluntary. They are saying that the police tricked the accused into signing the statement on a promise that he will be released to go to the hospital to see Basdeo”. Rehashing the case for the defence, it was stated that Mannaru was acting in self defence when Basdeo was killed. The now convicted man’s case was that he was scared when he saw his girlfriend’s brother-in- law, Reddi, running towards him, and as a result he pulled out the knife to protect himself. However, the twelve member jury did not believe his story. An eye witness, Chandinie Narine, 12, who currently lives in Suriname with her mother, who was deemed competent to give sworn evidence by presiding

Convicted: Satrohan Mannar

Dead: Indranie Basdeo

Judge Dawn Gregory, recalled to the mixed jury that she was in company with her now deceased cousin, Indranie Basdeo, when she saw the accused ‘come out from behind a boy’. ‘We were going to the school sports. He [ the accused ]asked my cousin where she was going and my cousin replied that she did not come to see him, but was there to meet with her sister’. ‘He held her hand and he pushed me away. He pulled a knife form his left side back pocket. He cut her chin. When she tried to save herself he cut her hand, then he bore her left side breast. I holler and my cousin Roshni and her husband Arnold came. A dark skinned boy pulled away the knife and threw it away. I started to cry. Cynthia was on the ground and Andrew was on top of her. I was ten feet away from the scene. I remember the knife it was black handled. Nothing blocked my view’. Responding to questions by senior counsel, Bernard De Santos, the witness said during the period in which the accused asked Cynthia where she was going, she [the witness] was pushed away, and she fell in the process. ‘I did not see the knife prior to falling. I gave sworn evidence in the Magistrate Court. I remained on the ground until a dark-skinned boy throw away the knife. Re-examined by state prosecutrix, Ms Renita Singh, the witness said the fist time she saw the knife was when it was pulled from the accused back pocket. In her opening address to the jury, state prosecutrix, Renita Singh stated that on October 7, 2011, Basdeo had made arrangements with her sister, Tulseidai, and brother-in-law, Arnold Reddy, to attend the school sports. The girl’s sister and brother-in- law were at the school sports when they noticed the accused grab Basdeo. By the time they ran to the accused the teenager was on the ground, while the accused was over her. Mannaru had a knife in his hand and the deceased was seen bleeding. Basdeo’s brother-in-law pulled the accused away from her and the knife was taken away. Basdeo was rushed to the New Amsterdam hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The defence team consisted of senior counsel, Bernard De Santos and his wife Pamela.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

UNFPA annual report features worldwide success stories of teenaged mothers - Jamaica tackles teenage pregnancy problem head-on By Jimmy Roos LAST week the UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) released its annual report entitled “The State of World Population Report,” and the focus is adolescent motherhood. The report features success stories of teenaged mothers from all over the world who overcame what they thought was a roadblock in their lives. Teenage pregnancy is not a new problem and it is also not limited to Guyana. It is a worldwide problem that affects almost all countries. Some countries have responded to the problem better than others, to the point that they have significantly reduced the number of pregnancies. JAMAICA AS A MODEL One country that has tackled the problem head-on and considerably brought down the number of pregnancies is Jamaica. The Jamaica Women’s Centre Foundation has an Adolescent Mothers Programme that is held up by UNFPA as a model that other countries can learn from. The programme which started in 1978 has been offering continuing education, counselling and practical skills training for mothers under age 17. After their babies are born, girls are allowed to pursue their education at the nearest Women’s Centre for at least one semester, before they return to the formal school system. The Ministry of Education has changed its policy to make this possible, but previously girls who became pregnant were routinely kept out of school. The Foundation operates seven main centres and nine outreach

Stray catcher granted $80,000 bail on assault charge A TWENTY-YEAR-OLD Ministry of Home Affairs stray catcher was granted $80,000 bail yesterday, on a common assault charge. Before Magistrate Judy Latchman, Colin Peters, of Lot 134 Victoria Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, denied the allegation that, on Friday, November 15, in James Street, Albouystown, he unlawfully assaulted Derrick Norton. Police Sergeant Vishnu Hunt, prosecuting, told the court that the defendant took a beer bottle and lashed the virtual complainant. The prosecutor did not object to the application for pre-trial freedom by defence counsel, Paul Fung-a-Fat and the case was put off to November 27. **********************************************

$40,000 bail on exposing genitals charge

FORTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD Dexter Bobb, a miner of Lot 15 D’Urban Backlands, Georgetown, was yesterday ordered to post $40,000 bail on charges of exposing his genitals and threatening language. Before Magistrate Judy Latchman, he pleaded not guilty to the offences that said, on Wednesday, November 6, in D’Urban Backlands, a public place; he exposed his penis in an indecent manner to Lloyda Hughes and used threatening language to her. Attorney-at-law, Mr. Paul Fung-a-Fat made the successful application for Bobb’s pre-trial freedom. The lawyer said the defendant was using an outdoor toilet which was some 100 yards away when Hughes claimed she saw him. The case has been adjourned to November 27.

stations across Jamaica, and provides continuing education to 1,402 adolescent mothers in the 2011-2012 school year, more than half of whom successfully returned to the formal school system. ‘BABY FATHERS’ COUNSELLING The Centre also offers a range of other services such as daycare facilities and walk-in counselling for women and men of all ages. This includes counselling for ‘baby fathers’, their parents and the parents of teen mothers. The interventions spearheaded by the Women’s Centre Foundation and other NGOs have slashed Jamaica’s adolescent pregnancy rate from a high of 31 per cent in 1978 to just 18 per cent in 2008. EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION Other countries, including Guyana, can certainly replicate the results achieved by Jamaica. All the speakers at the UNFPA launch stressed the importance of education to reduce teenage pregnancy. And we can see from the Jamaican model that they too placed a lot of emphasis on education, as Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsarran said, an educated mother is a better mother. WOMEN ACROSS DIFFERENCES There is already an NGO in Guyana called Women Across Differences, which is doing stellar work to prevent teenage pregnancies and to support adolescent mothers so that they can overcome the challenges they face. The next step, as Dr. Ramsarran said, is for the work of this organisation to be replicated all across the country. The ministries of Health and Education also need to work to-

gether, more closely, to see how they can introduce a reproductive education curriculum in schools. The issue also needs to be raised at the PTA level, because there are parents who may be resistant to the idea of their children being exposed to the topic of sex, because of their religious beliefs or because they are just uncomfortable with talking about the topic. Dr. Ramsarran has already stated that they are ready to work more closely with the education ministry in this regard. There is also a need to look at policies that may block girls who become pregnant from resuming their education. And if there are such policies they should be amended. Something needs to be done if Guyana is to realise the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) it set. DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEM The Minister of Health, speaking at the launch, described teenage pregnancy as a developmental problem first, because it stunts the development of the mother by limiting her opportunities. It also jeopardizes the future of the children of that mother. However it is also a health problem, and an economic problem, because it not only leads to more health problems, but going to the hospital and being given medicine costs money. It creates unnecessary expenditure of billions of dollars per year, which the state could have saved and used for other development projects. It also takes away time and care that could have been given to someone else, who has a real disease. Jamaica, a fellow CARICOM country, has shown us that teenage pregnancy can be tackled and dealt with successfully. So there’s no reason why we can’t do it too.

Apsara presents ‘An Evening of Dance’ THE Apsara dance group will present “An Evening of Dance” at the Pegasus Hotel November monthend. Patrons can expect a beautiful and cultural evening, with special guest of honour Miss India Worldwide 2014 Nehal Bhogaita. The United Kingdom beauty is an inspiration to many, as the first deaf contestant to win the title. Miss India Guyana and Miss Guyana Universe, Katherina Roshana will also be in attendance. Those who would have missed Apsara shows held at the National Cultural Centre have a treat in store – their chance to see what Apsara, which is known for its fusion dances that draw inspiration from around the world, is all ‘Miss Guyana Universe 2013, Katherina Roshana (centre) and Apsara’s Chandini Rambalack about. (right) and a close associate pose for the Chronicle cameras

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

Detained suspect in hotel murder awaiting identification parade

THE main suspect in the murder of hotelier Joseph Jagdeo, who had been a guest, is in police custody awaiting an identification parade to be attended by hotel staffers. The widow of the deceased, Fazia Hack told the Guyana Chronicle that an employee of her husband’s South Central Hotel and Bar, on South Road,

Georgetown, telephoned her with the information yesterday morning. Hack, herself, disclosed that her dead husband will be cremated today at Good Hope Crematorium, East Coast Demerara, following a funeral service at Brickdam Cathedral, also in the city. She said, however, that the

business will remain closed, indefinitely, until she decides what will happen to the hotel that has been in existence for more than 20 years. Jagdeo, 62, of Lot 218 South Road, whose trussed up body was found under a bed in the hotel last Thursday morn-

ing, was allegedly, murdered over the theft of two of his cell phones. He had been in an altercation after he expressed his displeasure during a confrontation with the suspect, who was staying there. Hack informed that she was told two cell phones belonging to her husband were recently stolen by a male guest, who was scheduled to vacate the hotel last Wednesday. She said her husband got wind of the identity of the perpetrator and confronted the man, who had been invited to the hotel, last week Sunday, by a known female Joseph Alexander Jagdeo who frequents the place. LAST SEEN Jagdeo was last seen early Wednesday morning in his office, as usual tending to paper work and after that his movements were unaccounted for until his corpse was discovered under a bed in room ten. His hands were tied, his mouth was stuffed with a pillow case and blood was oozing from his nose. Hack, a mother of one, divulged, to this publication, that

Jagdeo’s children at South Central Hotel and Bar. her husband had abandoned his house in Bel Air Park and lived in an apartment in the hotel, so he could manage the business effectively. She lives with her teenage son in Alexander Village, another part of the city, but would visit South Central Hotel and Bar almost on a daily basis since they were a close couple and, when she was last there, the Tuesday before yesterday, nothing regarding her husband was different. The woman learnt, subsequently, about the theft of her husband’s cell phones and what happened after from hotel employees, who revealed that the police detained a man who said he bought one of the cell phones from a third man.

It is believed that the killer concealed himself in the building and left after he murdered Jagdeo since no one recalled seeing the latter on Wednesday morning. A female employee discovered Jagdeo’s body in a room of the three-storey hotel which employs about 15 persons, mostly women. Jagdeo, after remigrating to Guyana 31 years ago, took over the family business and invested his time and money and, during that time, he was described as a very generous person. Police reported that a post mortem, performed on Jagdeo’s body, by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh, determined the cause of death to be asphyxia due to manual strangulation.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

Suspect in custody over Jamaican businessman killing

ASSISTANT Commissioner George Vyphius, who is acting Commander of Police ‘A’ Division, said, yesterday, that a suspect is in custody for the execution-style killing of Jamaican businessman, Patrick Forbes, in Orange

Walk, Bourda, Georgetown, on November 13. Forbes, who was riddled with bullets at about 00:10 hr while at a popular ‘hang out’ spot, had been involved in a game of dominoes but was shot by a lone gunman, who escaped,

when he got up. The deceased, who had operated a boutique in another city ward, succumbed to the gunshot injuries a few days later at a private hospital. Forbes, 36, of Lot 186 Lance Gibbs Street, Queen-

stown, also in Georgetown, was in company with several other persons when a volley of bullets shattered the early morning quiet. He was hit in his abdomen and right thigh but, since the shooting, relatives were not inclined to speak to this newspaper. However, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud related that a group of men were in a shop playing dominoes when Forbes was shot multiple times. Other persons heard the gunfire but did not see the shooter. Meanwhile, although no law enforcement official would link the killings of Forbes and ex-Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officer, Denzil Mingo, the police said, yesterday, they are in receipt of some information which cannot be disclosed but the investigations are ongoing. HIGH-POWERED RIFLES Mingo, 21, of Third Street, Alberttown, in Georgetown,

Murdered: Patrick Forbes

Denzil Mingo

too, was killed when two men with what appeared to be high-powered rifles surrounded the vehicle which he and two friends entered as they emerged from the Edge Nightclub on Main Street early Saturday morning. Police confirmed that it happened about 04:30 hrs and that two men, armed with firearms, opened fire on Mingo, Joseph Barker of Fifth Street, Alberttown and Earlson Murray, 23, of Norton Street, Wortmanville,

while they were in a motor vehicle on Main Street, in the city, too. Mingo was hit several times about the body and pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) while Barker, who was injured, as well, has been admitted to a hospital. Their motor vehicle, which was damaged by the gunfire, has been detained by the police but no arrests have been made since the incident.

Sunday morning murder suspect still at large THE man who is alleged to have knifed his neighbour, Lloyd Benjamin, to death on Sunday morning is still on the run, police confirmed yesterday. Following the murder, the suspect and his brother, with whom Benjamin had a tiff, fled the scene and are being hunted. Police said Benjamin, 24, of Lot 131 King Edward Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, was killed at about 10:00 hrs on November 17, just in front his home. Investigations revealed that he and another man had an altercation, after which the man’s brother confronted Benjamin and fatally stabbed him. The wounded man was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH). Residents, who live in the upper flat of the building where Murdered: Lloyd Benjamin Benjamin was a tenant, said they are unsure what started the quarrel and did not see the wounding because it was after it happened that they came out. One of them said Benjamin was stabbed multiple times and collapsed and died on Independence Boulevard (Punt Trench Dam), a short distance from where he resided. Benjamin was a Muslim and lived alone in an apartment which was padlocked and the suspect brothers a few houses away.

Sophia miner clubbed to death in Cuyuni MINER, Michael Morris, 42, of Sophia, was clubbed to the head with a piece of wood and killed during a row with some miners at West Park Backdam, Cuyuni. Police reported that at about 12:00hrs on November 18, 2013, Morris was involved in an altercation with some other miners at West Park Backdam, Cuyuni, during which one of them is alleged to have dealt him a blow to his head with a piece of wood. Morris succumbed to his injury and efforts are being made to have the body brought out to Bartica. The suspect has not been arrested as yet.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

Scrap metal dealers banned from the city By Clifford Stanley SCRAP metal dealers have been banned from operating in Georgetown. The ban has been inflicted by the Ministry of Housing and Water following the recent discovery of the theft of 15 metal manhole covers from streets in Georgetown, a source at the Ministry said. The ban is being supported by the members of the Guyana Metal Recyclers Association (GMRA) whose Executive Director Mr. Desmond Sears said that the legitimate dealers will

not allow any situation which tarnishes the name of the industry to remain unaddressed. He said, “A few illegal and unscrupulous dealers are responsible for this kind of vandalising and destruction of property and are so jeopardising the trade. This trade is so sensitive that we cannot afford to lapse. The GRMA fully supports the ban,” he added. The ban affects all dealers, legal or illegal. It was imposed by the ministry late October and legal dealers were given a month to take

their operations out of the city. Illegal traders were not granted such notice but have been warned that those who are caught face confiscation of scrap metal and prosecution. Sears said that at the time of the ban there were about fifteen illegal scrap metal traders in Georgetown. The legal traders in Georgetown have already begun to relocate to areas outside of Georgetown. He urged the legal traders to continue not to purchase metals from dubious sources.

Sears disclosed that the scrap metal trade creates jobs for both skilled and unskilled workers which add up to approximately 1,200 persons. The industry also creates space and contributes to a clean and healthy environment by getting rid of the scrap metal in an environmentally friendly manner; especially when taken in context of the Low Carbon Development Strategy which is being stoutly promoted.

He stressed, “The survival of the trade is dependent on honesty by legal dealers who must ensure that they acquire scrap metal from legitimate sources. All must know that the sanctions are not against individuals who use shortcuts, but against the trade itself.” Information from the GMRA disclosed that the trade is alive, though there has been a reduction in containers of scrap metal leaving Guyana

for international markets when compared to last year. GMRA records show that 1522 containers of scrapped metal were shipped out of Guyana during the period January to November 2012, as against 923 for the same period this year. Sears explained that the 39% decrease in exports could have stemmed from the relatively low price of scrap metal on the international market at the moment.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

Importance of individual responsibility highlighted – at five-day Monitoring and Evaluation Workshop

MINISTER of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh Monday highlighted the need for individual responsibility to Senior Programme Managers and Divisional Managers of various ministries at a five-day Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) Workshop at the Guyana International Conference Centre. The Ministry of Finance’s workshop targeted managers from the Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Human Services, Labour, Health, Education, Tourism, Housing, Water, Legal Affairs and Public Works Ministries, as well as the Parliament Office. The workshop will focus on designing and building of a results-based M & E system. Briefly reviewing his address to permanent secretaries and their deputies on November 15 at their workshop, the minister reiterated the need for more effective management. Minister Singh emphasised their responsibility for mobilising and managing resources and their teams, with emphasis on ultimately delivering results to their superiors. This, he pointed out, is not different at any level, whether their respective areas are large or small. “Whatever the scope and scale of your responsibility, the issue of managing more effectively, of delivering more results in a timelier, effective manner, is one you can’t escape from,” the minister emphasised. He said that government has recognised the need to actively promote more effective management within the system, and pointed out this would rest with the workers and individuals within the system who have the respon-

sibility to ensure that they do their part. A more robust system to measure this would help, the minister noted. He pointed out that even as results are measured, “the system for results based management must be one that also sets targets, and measures the results of the individuals.” Emphasis can be placed on achieving this by constant monitoring and measuring the indicators or feedback which would set the targets needed he said. “There has to be a greater emphasis on measuring results so that we can manage more effectively.” The minister observed that this performance based management in the M & E framework will be applied when government reports to parliamentary committees on sectoral performances and the Cabinet sub-committees. Additionally, ministries would hold the employees accountable for their performance by setting annual targets and monitoring feedback against those targets. Minister Singh also pointed to individual responsibility which he noted was essential, since all government workers are active participants. “A good start would be for you to do more…if you go to work early, work hard, work a full day, go to work every day, make sure you discharge your responsibilities every day diligently…you are contributing to a more efficient industry.” The workshop is being conducted by Dr. Ray Rist, a renowned world authority on developing monitoring and evaluation systems and co-founder of the International Program

Dr. Ray Rist addressing participants at the Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) workshop. At the head table are Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and Director of Budget, Sonya Roopnauth for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET). Dr. Rist said that the current workshop is a condensed version and deals with public policy and evaluation at a diploma level. The participants will work in groups and develop presentations. “This is how you start to build an evidence based public sector,” Dr. Rist explained, pointing out that evidence is what the 21st Century world needs for policy and decision making. Dr Rist will focus on topics which cover the understanding of the evaluation context and the programme theory of change; developing evaluation questions and starting the design matrix; selecting designs, data collection, data analysis and presenting results. This is part of an ongoing series of capacity building initiatives on monitoring and evaluation across government which

Participants at the five-day Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) workshop at the Guyana International Conference Centre is being led by the Ministry of Finance. The aim is to address demands and pressures for improving the lives of citizens and public management. Improvements may include greater accountability and transparency and enhanced effectiveness of interventions. M & E is

a management tool to help track progress and demonstrate the impact of development projects, programmes and policies. IPDET is an executive training programme that aims to provide managers and practitioners with the generic tools required to evaluate

development policies, programmes, and projects at the local, national, regional, and global levels. The programme features in-depth workshops, taught by renowned international faculty members drawn from Southern and Northern organisations. (GINA)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

Child friendly booklets on three child laws created for distribution

CHILDREN across the country will now be more au fait with some of their fundamental rights, following the creation for distribution country-wide of booklets of child friendly versions of three recent updated laws: the Adoption of Children Act (2009 & 2011), the Custody, Contact, Guardianship and Maintenance Act 2011, and the Status of Children Act No 19 of 2009. The documents were produced by the Rights of the Child Commission, and the Child Right Division, Childcare and Protection Agency, and the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, with technical and financial support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Minister of Human Services and Social Security Jennifer Webster, as she received copies of the three booklets from Chairperson of Commission, Aleema Nasir, at the Commission’s Peter Rose and Anira Streets building Monday, credited the late Rights of the Child

Commissioner Shirley Ferguson for starting the initiative. “Shirley, in herself, would have been happy today that this really became a reality because she was working on it,” Minister Webster said. She explained that “Shirley was one of those persons who advocated that things for children, especially sensitising our children, should be done in a very child-friendly way.” Translating the documents from their legal language into simple terms was the passion of the late Commissioner; but Ferguson, regrettably died earlier this year before the project was completed. Minister Webster also commended the commission for the initiative of having the laws that pertain to children become child-friendly, so that children throughout Guyana would be familiar with the laws that exist. She said that the ministry is committed to ensuring that all the booklets are distributed as widely as possible, recognising the impor-

Copies of the three booklets produced by the Rights of the Child Commission, the Child Right Division, the Childcare and Protection Agency, and UNICEF

tance of ensuring that children understand their basic human rights in keeping with the Conventions of the Right of Child. “I think the more our children become au fait with their rights, Guyana will become a better society,” she said. Nasir explained that the need for the booklets was recognised at a recent child participation workshop attended by children from all 10 regions. She said that at this workshop, the children spoke very assertively about all the things that they would like to see happen with regard to child care and child rights in Guyana. She said that one aspect that the children were very vocal about was the need to better understand their rights. Nasir also recognised the effort of Ferguson who, she said, had a passion for children, and was meticulous in her oversight of the project and worked meticulously and with much enthusiasm on it. In attendance also was UNICEF Representative for Guyana and Suriname, Marianne Flach. (GINA)

Chairperson of the Rights of the Child Commission, Aleema Nasir in the company of UNICEF Representative for Guyana and Suriname, Marianne Flach, presents Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Jennifer Webster with copies of the three booklets

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Jennifer Webster, with UNICEF Representative for Guyana and Suriname, Marianne Flach, Chairperson of Rights of the Child Commission, Aleema Nasir and other staff of the Commission, holding copies of the booklets

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

National Drama Festival continues with two plays By Jimmy Roos

THE National Drama Festival continued on Monday night with two plays in the junior category, ‘The Professor’ by Randolph Critchlow and ‘Planned to Perfection’ by Mark Luke-Edwards. They hit the stage in that order, Critchlow’s being a classic Caribbean production set in Trinidad during the mid twentieth century. The plot in it centres on the middle class Jordan family who were visited by an art professor, purportedly visiting from England. The Jordans’ maid, Mabel, who hails from Grenada had been keeping her personal life secret from her boss, including the fact that she was married and had a baby. The baby’s existence was only revealed when the child started crying in the kitchen. But, still, the Jordans did not know the identity of Mabel’s husband. Meanwhile, Mrs. Jordan who was an avid art student had invited Professor Waters to her home to give her some tips on painting. While they waited for him to arrive, she gushed about her coming guest, causing Mabel to ask how the professor looks. Unfortunately, Mrs. Jordan could not come up with an accurate description, except to say that he “looks like all artists

look, I suppose.” PRETTY WOMEN However, after the professor arrived, it was clear that he had an eye not only for painting but also for pretty women. In this case, Mrs. Jordan was squarely in his sights and he duly put his moves on her in his exaggerated high class English. Mr. Jordan did not seem to pick up on this as he, himself, suddenly, became intensely interested in art. When the Jordans’ daughter emerged from the bedroom, the professor eyed her, as well, making her question whether he was really an artist. This inflamed and irked the learned man, to the point, where he decided to paint a portrait of Mrs. Jordan while he was in the nude. Mr. Jordan, though, would have none of it and attempted to restrain the professor who, nevertheless, managed to strip down to his brief. With the professor subdued and, finally out of the room, Mabel re-emerged to tell Mrs. Jordan about her troubles with her husband. Mrs. Jordan sends her back into the kitchen, temporarily, to get something just as the professor returns and they miss each other. When Mabel re-emerges from the kitchen, she comes face-to-face with the professor and recognises him as her troublesome husband. Just then, the Trinidadian immigration authorities, who had been tracking him, barged into the house determined to arrest the professor. The scene ends with Mabel pleading for clemency on behalf of her naughty husband. Next on the platform was ‘Planned to Perfection’ which began with an office scene showing a secretary making moves on her boss, the company accountant. However, as hard as she tried he remained focused on the task at hand and the woman, who was so busy trying to seduce him failed to notice the entry of the company head. Needless to say, the bigger boss was not too pleased and sent the secretary out of the office. The reason soon became obvious, as she, too, began moving on the accountant, who rebuffed her approaches. FIRED HIM

Scene from the play ‘The Professor’

This infuriated her so much that she ordered him to manipulate the company’s financial statement and when he refused, she promptly, fired him. That very night, after the accountant left, a bandit entered the office building and killed the company’s boss. Mr. Phillip Williams, the former accountant became an immediate suspect and was arrested. Not only did he have a motive, but he also had an opportunity, as he couldn’t provide a corroborated alibi.

Scene from the play ‘Planned to Perfection’ While Williams sat in jail, his wife was visited by her husband’s former secretary and it quickly became obvious that the two were lesbian lovers and she actually had planned the murder of Ms. Boswick, the head of the company and implicated Williams by leaving some of his hair at the crime scene. What they did not count on, though, was Williams’ daughter recording their entire incriminating conversation as well as the murder of the hitman, who was killed because he wanted more money for the killing of Boswick. Armed with the new evidence, the Police arrested the duo, who thought they had it planned to perfection, only to realise that the daughter held the ace in the end. Both plays were refreshing and entertaining, according to opinions offered by some members of the audience, who all declared they thoroughly enjoyed them.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

Need for stronger teamwork, judicious use of resources highlighted at CBSI Commission meeting

THE Fourth Meeting of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) Commission was deemed a tremendous success by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Security of St. Kitts and Nevis Astona Browne, who is also the Commission’s co-chair. Speaking at a press conference subsequent to the closing of the two-day conference at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), Liliendaal, she said that the Commission was able to discuss all the agenda items. The progress made thus far with CBSI projects was reviewed and recommendations were proffered with regard to areas that require improvement, as well as the overall operations of agencies that are tasked with

maintaining security throughout the region. Browne expressed appreciation at the reaffirmed commitment of donor partners such as the Canadian, French and British Governments to continue supporting this initiative. The CBSI is a joint venture built upon a dialogue in order to identify areas where cooperation is needed, particularly as it relates to security in the Region. It was launched by US President Barack Obama in May 2010. Working closely with the US Government, the Commission has already put in place several programmes and initiatives that are reflective of the strategic goals advanced in CARICOM’s crime and security strategy for the region. Speaking on behalf of the local delegation, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Angela Johnson, remarked that Guyana welcomes the continued progress that is being made under the CBSI to address at-risk youths, trafficking in firearms, digitising of regional ballistic information, and development of advanced fingerprint system in the Region. She noted that the deliberations at the meeting highlighted

the benefits of collaboration among countries in the Region, the US and other international partners to counter the negative effects of crime. “The Government of Guyana recognises the importance of the CBSI to the overall crime and security strategy of the Region. The Government is spending significant sums of its own money to carry out reforms in the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Prison Service and Guyana Fire Service. We are of the view that the CBSI initiatives will complement these reforms,” Johnson stated. Director of the Office of Caribbean Affairs in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs of the US Department of State, Juan Alsace, who assisted in co-chairing the meeting, reminded that transnational crime transcends national borders and as such it requires a collaborative effort and better management of resources. This he said will be the underlying theme for the Fourth Annual Caribbean-United States Security Cooperation Dialogue slated for December 5 and 6 in Washington D.C. The US Government has dedicated more than US $263M to CBSI over the last four years despite its own budgetary con-

From left: Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Angela Johnson, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Security of St. Kitts and Nevis Astona Browne, Director of the Office of Caribbean Affairs in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs of the US Department of State Juan Alsace, and US Ambassador Dr. Brent Hardt straints. This includes US $60M that was allocated this year. “Despite our budgetary concerns, the US Government considers what we are doing in the Caribbean so very important that there was an additional $60M for 2013 and that had strong US congressional bi-partisan support,” Alsace said.

The CBSI is a partnership that seeks to meet the varied threats arising from increasing crime and violence throughout the Region. It has emerged as a genuine partnership among 14 countries, each bearing responsibility for ensuring progress towards the collective goals and objectives.

These countries include: Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. (GINA)

2012 Budget cut case put back to December 10 THE appeal filed by Opposition Leader David Granger was heard by Justices Rishi Persaud and James Bovell Drakes yesterday, as the 2012 budget cut High Court case continued. Appearing on behalf of Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall were Attorneys Ashton Chase SC, Safraz Hussein and Ariana McLean. They requested that the hearing be put down for a later date due to the AG being overseas. Minister Nandlall is part of a high - level team meeting the Caribbean Financial Action

Task Force in The Bahamas to discuss Guyana’s failure to pass it Anti-money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Bill. On June 19, a decision was taken by acting Chief Justice Ian Chang to remove the opposition leader, as well as Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, as respondents from the ongoing 2012 budget cuts case, on the basis that as members of parliament, the Constitution provides them with immunity. Granger has since sought to waive his immunity and appealed the decision.

Minister Nandlall has requested that the court dismiss the appeal filed by Granger, “as it was misconceived and wholly flawed”. He has stressed that the case was out of the High Court’s jurisdiction. Justice Chang, in a preliminary ruling on the case, said the National Assembly cannot cut the budget and the finance minister has the authority to allocate monies as needed. But the Opposition again in 2013 slashed more than $30B from the estimates, prompting a return to the court for a final ruling on the issue. The High Court case is set to continue hearing on December 10, 2013. Attorney Basil Williams, Granger’s lawyer, argued that Justice Chang’s decision to exclude Granger from the budget cuts case was unfair to the Opposition, and that Granger was not dismissed, but struck out of the case. (GINA)

CANU agents seek man in cocaine bust

Reports have indicated that Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) agents are looking for a man who is believed to be able to assist them with the probe of a recent discovery of a quantity of cocaine that was destined for the USA. CANU sources have identified the wanted man as 43-year- old Robin Llewellyn Wills. To date three addresses have been supplied for the wanted man: 20 J Duncan Street, Campbellville, Georgetown; 145 Guyhoc Park, North East La Penitence, Georgetown and 625 Republic Park, East Bank of Demerara. CANU authorities are urging persons with any knowledge of the whereabouts of this individual to call the CANU Department on phone number 227-3507. CANU agents believe that the man has vital information that could assist them in their investigations. The anti-drug agency has recorded 80 seizures so far for the year, compared to 20 by the Guyana Police Force.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

Cricketer freed of Orange Walk murder charge

Robin Llewellyn Wills

CRICKETER Carlyle Barton, 23, had the murder charge against him dismissed yesterday by Magistrate Fabayo Azore. At the end of the preliminary inquiry (PI) the court found that insufficient evidence was offered by the prosecution against he accused, of Lot 39 Hadfield Street, Georgetown. A prima facie case had not been made out against Barton because of the absence of prosecution witnesses to testify. It had been alleged that, on May 27, about 06:30 hrs at Orange walk, Barton murdered 39-year-old Shawn Nelson, of Joseph Pollydore Street, also in Georgetown. The accused was represented by attorney at law, Mr. Mark Waldron. Police had reported that Nelson died from a gunshot wound in his head after being shot, while walking on his way to work, by a man who disembarked a motorcar and fired at him. He had been taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where he died and a post-mortem determined that Nelson’s cause of death was shock and haemorrhage due to gunshot injury. The accused, a wellAccused- Carlyle Barton known member of the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), is alleged to have fled the murder scene and crashed the motor car he was driving into a utility pole. Nelson, who was employed at Eagles Bar on Robb Street, was involved in an argument with another man on Orange Walk, when he was killed and the shooter, who was caught in video footage from a surveillance camera at a nearby business place, later surrendered to police.

Duo refused bail in armed robbery case TWO men were, yesterday, remanded to prison on a robbery under arms charge by Magistrate Judy Latchman. Ronell France, a 22- year-old machine operator at Banks DIH and of Lot 108 and Nico Devonish, 19, a mason of Lot 351, both of ‘BB’ Eccles, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the offence, particulars of which said, on Saturday, November 16, in Lombard Street, Georgetown, being armed with guns, they robbed Keswick Miller of one pair of sneakers, two cellular phones, one motorcycle key and $60,000 cash, together value $196,000. Police Sergeant Vishnu Hunt, prosecuting, told the court that it was around 00:45 hrs and the victim was in an abandoned building on Lombard Street talking to someone when the two defendants and another man armed with a hand gun relieved him of his belongings and made their good escape. However, later, Miller saw the duo on Lombard Street and pointed out them to a policeman. Attorney-at-law, Mr. Paul Fung-a-Fat made a bail application for France and Devonish but the prosecutor made a successful objection, based on the quantum involved and the fact that a gun was used in committing the crime. The latter also said, if the defendants were allowed the grant, it is likely they might interfere with the witness and pervert the course of justice. The case was transferred to Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry for Novembers 28.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

CDC reports successful completion of ‘Exercise floodgate 2013’ THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has, successfully, conducted its annual disaster preparedness and response programme called ‘Exercise floodgate 2013’. It was executed during the period October 30 to 31, according to a CDC press release. International evaluator, Brigadier General (ret’d) Earl Arthurs, of the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Coordinating Unit, expressed his satisfaction with the planning and execution of Floodgate 2013, release said. It added:“General Arthurs commended the Director General and Staff of the CDC for their commitment to building the nation’s disaster risk management capacity and resilience, while indicating the importance of Regional Democratic and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils in the DRM process.” Exercise Floodgate was designed to test the state of readiness and capacities of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in Georgetown and the Regional Emergency Operations Centres (REOCs) in Regions 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam), 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), 4 (Demerara/Mahaica), 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) and 6(East Berbice/Corentyne) during emergencies/disasters. “Various hazard impact scenarios were issued to the different regions involved in the exercise and they were required to take appropriate actions in response to the messages received. The exercise also allowed the CDC, the various regions, and stakeholders, members of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Platform involved, to test their message handling and communication capacities, while at the same time, allowing for the testing of relevant policies, procedures, and protocols,” the release explained. It also stated that Exercise Floodgate 2013 was the first time all of the coastal regions were tested at once and, as well, temporary emergency shelters were established in them during any such annual operation.

With UNDP assistance…

CDC extends Volunteer Corps to Region 9 THE Volunteer Corps (VC) of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), with financial assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has extended its membership to include persons from Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo). A CDC press release, which made the disclosure, said it was done in an effort to ensure that the beneficiaries, successfully, achieve their mandate. It said, on Wednesday, November 13, the CDC VC officially launched its Region 9 arm, registering members comprising persons from North, South and Central Rupununi, who were issued their CDC VC pins along with the CDC VC branded polo jerseys and hats. The Commission also announced, in the release, that the Region 9 members elected a three member management committee, comprising Coordinator, Mr. Richard Rennie; Deputy Coordinator, Mr. Alister Charlie and Secretary, Ms. Kateri Joseph. Those persons will be responsible for the routine management of the Region 9 arm of the CDC VC. According to the release, the VC has in excess of 200 registered members and they intend to officially establish themselves in all ten Administrative Regions of Guyana. “Thus far, this has been done in Regions 4, 6 and 9, with plans to have official launchings in the remaining Regions within the next twenty-four months,” the release said. The CDC VC work towards assisting the Commission in achieving its mandate, of promoting comprehensive disaster management nationwide while building the disaster risk management capacity of all Guyanese. The CDC said, as well, that it is focused on working with communities across Guyana.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

Christopher Ram sues Mon Repos rum Guyana Times & Nigel spree murder trial ends tomorrow Williams for $100M By George Barclay

IN an Ex Parte Application by way of Affidavit for Interim Injunction, Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram filed an Action against Guyana Times & Nigel Williams, claiming damages in excess of $100,000,000 for libel. The Plaintiff is complaining that during the month of October, 2013, the defendants published or caused to be published at least nine articles including some with photographs of the plaintiff in Guyana Times including on Page 9 of the issue of Tuesday October 8, 2013 ‘describing me as “Guyana’s

leading bookkeeper” on page 9 of the issue of Thursday October10, 2013 associating me with non-compliance by Guyana Stores Limited with the Companies Act.1991 etc. That by reason of the said publications I have been severely injured in my credit character and reputation and in the way of my profession as an Attorney-at- Law and Managing Partner of Ram and Mc Rae, Chartered Accountants. That I have filed an action against the defendants herein in the High Court claiming the following relief: 1) Damages in excess of $100,000,000 for libel con-

tained and published by the defendants of and concerning me in the said series of articles with photographs of me in the Guyana Times newspaper on page 9 etc. 2) An injunction restraining the defendants and each of them by themselves, their directors, their servants or agents or otherwise, howsever, whomsoever from further printing, circulating or distributing the said or any similar libel upon the plaintiff. The matter was called up before Chief Justice (ag.) Mr. Ian Chang on Monday and was postponed to November 28 at 10:00 a.m.

… Judge will hand over case to jury for consideration and verdict By George Barclay

JUSTICE Diana Insanally who presided at the Mon Repos murder trial where the jury heard a story about a man who died mysteriously following a rum spree will explain the law to the jury tomorrow. Thereafter, she will hand over the case to them, the judges of the facts, for their consideration and verdict in relation to the accused Chanderban Indar. Indar’s story was that Ragendra Singh who participated in an all-day rum spree with him, slept at his home that night and was found dead the next morning. Police investigations that followed resulted in Indar being charged with the murder of his dead friend Ragendra Singh. Indar said to the police in a statement: “On 31st of May, 2010, Ragendra Singh visited me and we were drinking non-stop. Singh did not go home that night. “The next morning I found his body motionless. I threw a bucket of water on him before calling in the police.” Indar who was later charged with the murder of his friend told the police that he did not see any bloodstains around nor did he see any marks of violence on Singh’s body. But another friend who visited the home told a different story - he said that he saw what appeared to be bloodstains on the floor and blood oozing from the deceased’s mouth and nose. Attorney-at-Law, Mr. George Thomas who defended alluded to discrepancies in the evidence and declared that there was doubt as to what caused death – whether it was manual strangulation as opined by the doctor through scratches around the neck. There was no eyewitness in the case, which, according to the Prosecutrix, Miss Dhanika Singh was built on circumstantial evidence. But she urged the jury to return a verdict in keeping with the evidence and the oath they had taken. The trial ends tomorrow Thursday November 21st.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

Miner remanded on gold mat theft charge A MINER accused of stealing a 20-foot gold mat was remanded to prison yesterday on a simple larceny charge. Teon Grant, 25, of Lot 237

Thomas Street, Pattensen, Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Wednesday , November 20, 2013 – 05:30hrs

Thursday , November 21, 2013 – 05:30hrs Friday , November 22, 2013 – 05:30hrs

It is alleged that the defendant, on November 15 at Eight Miles Backdam, in the North West District, stole the gold mat, valued $90,000, property of Anthony Rodericks. Sergeant Vishnu Hunt, prosecuting, said Grant admitted the theft and that others were also involved but have not yet been charged. But Defence Counsel Paul Fung-a-Fat said nothing was found in Grant’s possession and made an application for bail. The magistrate, however, refused the grant and transferred the case to the Chief Magistrate for November 27.

Aries

This isn’t a good time to send any mixed messages. The people you’re dealing with at the moment need clear, concise statements from you and if you can’t seem to say what’s on your mind, write it down. Using smaller words might do the trick, especially if you have a tendency to try to impress people with a big vocabulary. It’s imperative that you get your point across, which means it’s not the time to show off.

Taurus

Planning for the short term is a piece of cake, but the long term is a whole other story. For some reason, you don’t have any problem seeing the immediate future, but when looking ahead, the details begin to blur. Stick with what you know and what feels comfortable for now -- there will be plenty of chances to go outside of your comfort zone another time. Trying to set something up for anything that is more than a day or two away is simply foolish, so avoid it if possible.

Gemini

Flirting is your favourite way to get attention and you aren’t happy if even one person in the room is distracted by anything other than you. There’s nothing wrong with trying to captivate the masses, but it might help if you have something important or wise to say once you finally are on stage. Your communication skills are at their best, so giving a witty speech or tear-jerking toast should be no problem. The sound of applause is like music to your ears.

Cancer

There’s still so much to do and you have so very little time to complete all of the tasks that were assigned to you. It might be time to swallow your pride and beg for a little assistance. If getting the deadline extended is an option, that’s your best course of action; if not, work as quickly as possible and call in the cavalry. You can count on your friends to help you out of one or two jams. Look on the bright side -- how great are your friends?!

Leo

You better hope the road you’re on doesn’t come to a fork, because with the mood you’re in, you’ll be standing there for hours trying to decide which way to go. In other words, decisions aren’t exactly your forte at the moment. What’s worse is not that you can’t make up your mind, but that you don’t want to listen to anyone else’s opinion about what you should do. Don’t wallow in indecision rather than admit you need help, or you might just be standing at the crossroads for a long, long time.

Virgo

You don’t mean to put your foot in your mouth, but for some reason, you keep doing it over and over again. It might be best to try to get your message across using as few words as possible right now to avoid misunderstandings. In other words, keep a lid on it until you feel more in command of your verbal skills. Don’t worry -- your friends and family will be intrigued by this new you.

Libra

A new topic of discussion would be appreciated. Everyone you know has been talking about the same thing forever, and you’d love to have something different to discuss, if only for a moment. Don’t be afraid to bring up a topic that interests you -- perhaps the only reason your friends are talking about the same old thing is that they need someone like you to liven up the conversation. You can really shake things up if you want to.

Scorpio

You’re the first person to step up and take a dare, but don’t be surprised if your willingness to try just about anything doesn’t pay off. Don’t try too hard to impress other people -- it’s never worth the effort. Take a step back and think about whether you’d be doing this if you were by yourself or with old and trusted pals. If the answer is no, there’s really no reason to proceed with your current behaviour.

Sagittarius

You waste no time, mostly because you can’t afford to. You have a million things to do and everyone wants more of your attention than they already have. While it’s nice to feel this popular, you may have to put up some barriers. You’ll need to spend some time alone to concentrate on the tasks at hand. You’ll be better off if you close the door and turn off the TV and telephone while you try to get your work done. Socialising should be secondary to other responsibilities right now.

Capricorn

Your ideas are certainly commendable, but are they too complicated for most people to understand? If you work in a technical field or have a particularly intellectual hobby, don’t expect your friends and relatives to know automatically what you’re talking about today. You may have to go into much more detail than you normally would -- but you don’t mind, especially when it’s for a good cause.

Aquarius

Someone telling you that you’re unique, odd or strange would be the best compliment you could receive. You love to stand apart from the rest of the crowd and you don’t mind it in the least. The people closest to you can’t seem to figure out why you try so hard to be different, and you can’t for the life of you understand why they settle for being so ordinary. Instead of arguing just to argue, why not simply agree to disagree?

Pisces

You have a better chance of being right if you’re just a little less specific than you usually are. Instead of guessing a certain number, state a range of numbers and hope that the winning one is in between. Lady Luck is hanging out elsewhere, so this isn’t the best time to enter into contests, competitions or anything else where being in the right place at the right time might come into play. Your creativity is in full effect, but even that will only take you so far right now.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

International Men’s Day Activities…

Men’s Affairs Bureau to focus on male suicide, male role models, among five priority areas - in keeping with theme: ‘Keeping Men and Boys Safe’ By Tash Van Doimen THE Men’s Affairs Bureau (MAB), in celebrating International Men’s Day, launched a week of activities last Sunday under the theme ‘Keeping Men and Boys Safe’, and the entire programme is geared to reflect the five priority areas identified under this theme. These five areas were highlighted by MAB Administrator Diego Alphonso at the Theatre Guild on Sunday in his opening remarks at the ‘Magnificent Man 3’ programme which included a cultural display of male talents in all genres as well as discussions on male-related issues in Guyanese society. The five priority areas highlighted were: keeping men and boys safe by tackling male suicide; keeping boys safe so as to become tomorrow’s role models; tackling tolerance of violence against men and boys; boosting men’s life expectancy by keeping men and boys safe from avoidable illness and death; and keeping men and boys safe by promoting fathers and male role models. Alphonso declared: “We are so used to seeing men as protectors and providers but how often do we consider our actions and what we can do to protect men and boys from harm and provide them with a safe world where they can strive and prosper.” MAB in COLLABORATION WITH WAB In a telephone interview Tuesday morning, Alphonso told the Guyana Chronicle that the week of activities is expected to conclude with several roadside presentations around Greater Georgetown on

Men’s Affairs Bureau Administrator Diego Alphonso. November 24. This schedule is geared to allow the MAB to collaborate with the Women’s Affairs Bureau (WAB) for their sixteen days of activities with regard to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to be observed on November 25.

PM calls for more stringent monitoring and evaluation of CBSI projects PRIME MINISTER Samuel Hinds has issued a call to CARICOM countries to do all that is necessary to create the right security related conditions to encourage and attract investments in the region. He was at the time speaking at the opening of the Fourth Meeting of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) Commission at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), Liliendaal on Monday. “Our economies are in many instances fragile… scarce taxpayer funds of the donor countries are being expended to support our countries in tackling crime and security… we should not expect that there will be no end to this support from the US Government and other partners,” the Prime Minister remarked. As a result, he emphasised the need for effective monitoring and evaluation with regard to the implementation of the programmes so

as to ensure that objectives set are being met. He pointed out that countries should consider setting up working groups, as Guyana has done, to monitor projects undertaken under the CBSI in their respective territories. The Home Affairs Ministry has established groups that mirror four main thematic areas under the CBSI. These are law enforcement information sharing, law enforcement cooperation and capacity building, crime prevention by focusing on vulnerable youths and risk populations, and maritime domain. Additionally, US Ambassador, Dr. Brent Hardt has agreed to meet with the relevant officials. These engagements, which are ongoing, are held on a quarterly basis at the Home Affairs Ministry. “They seek to ensure that we are aware of each other’s views

Aside from their routine activities, MAB intends to host several roadside presentations highlighting male-related issues, setting up big screens around Greater Georgetown at locations men are known to congregate and socialize. They also scheduled panel discussions based on the theme of International Men’s Day with an emphasis on domestic violence, interpersonal violence and male suicide which are more relevant to the Guyanese society. This was expected to be aired on NCN Channel 11 yesterday at 20:30hrs; and later on TVG Channel 28 on Friday, November 22 at 19:30hrs. Recently, there have been alarming numbers of domestic violence fatalities with men being the main perpetrators. In an address to all men in Guyana, Alphonso said: “Violence and suicide is not the solution to your problems, however, it is becoming a major problem in our society.” He is also urging all men to visit the Men’s Affairs Bureau located in the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security at Lot 1 Water and Cornhill Street Georgetown. Counselling is provided for men who feel that they are being victimized, that they are not being heard and so on. Counselling sessions are offered as a part of the Men’s Affairs Bureau programmes and services, particularly their outreach programme. International Men’s Day is celebrated in over 70 countries worldwide, however, it’s not an official UN observance. It’s an occasion for all individuals to celebrate men, their achievements and contributions, specifically their contributions to community, family, marriage, and childcare while highlighting the discrimination and stereotypes against them. as the projects roll-out and can concur on any adjustments. I believe that this initiative has aided Guyana in a tremendous way in ensuring that we implement and monitor the respective CBSI projects in an effective way,” the Prime Minister said. This process would also assist in ensuring that value is derived from the sums spent. Earlier this year, Guyana and the US signed a 2012- 2013 Letter of Agreement to modify specific objectives under the CBSI which saw funding to the tune of $172M (US860, 000). Meanwhile, in October, the US Coast Guard and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) completed an initial site survey of the GDF Coast Guard’s location, geared Prime Minister at providing a variety of support Samuel Hinds under the CBSI. (GINA)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

GTU/MoE/Digicel 53rd Annual Schools Athletic Championships

Nicholson, Harper shine as District 5 make positive start to Track and Field championships … Beverley Ignacio wins for District 9 By Michael DaSilva MARLON Nicholson and Dehcia Harper made a positive start for District 5 (West Coast Berbice) in the Track and Field championships as the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU)/ Ministry of Education (MoE)/Digicel sponsored 53rd Annual Track and Field, Cycling and Swimming Championships got underway yesterday. District 5 who are known for producing strong middle and long distance athletes won the boys 10K road race through Nicholson, while Harper placed second in the girls’ category yesterday to secure 18 points in total for their District. Nicholson in winning the event, clocked 37 minutes 27 seconds, a far cry from the record 33 minutes 20 seconds recorded by Cleveland Forde for District 11 (North Georgetown) in 2002. Harper on the other hand clocked 48 minutes 18 seconds in placing second to District 9’s (Rupununi) Beverley Ignacio who returned a winning time of 43 minutes 30 seconds. District 6’s Marissa Lawson finished third in 58 minutes 26 seconds. The current record for the girls open event is 40 minutes 47 seconds which was set by Alika Morgan (East Georgetown) in 2006. Danziel Leitch of District 6 (Corentyne) placed second in the boys open 10K road race in a time of 37 minutes 52 seconds, while District 9’s Aran Francis placed third with a time of 37 minutes 59 seconds. District 4’s (East Coast Demerara) Ornesto Thomas was fourth in 38 minutes 31 seconds, while District 11’s (North Georgetown) Cort McKenzie was fifth with a time of 38 minutes 43 seconds. The track and field aspect for school and teachers athletes as well as the cycling championships will get underway today from 09:00hrs at the Providence National Stadium where District 11 will be going all out to retain the title they have won on 13 occasions. District 11 will however have to be wary of another 13-time champion in District 10 (Upper Demerara/Kwakwani). Fifty-five finals are slated to be completed today and those events are: long jump for girls’ under-8, under-10 and under-12, as well as for teachers’ under-21, under-30, 31-40, and 41 and over. There will also be boys’ shot-put under-12, under-14, under-16, under-18 and under-20. The same shot-put events will go for the girls in those age groups. There will also be shot-put events for male and female teachers’ under-31, under-21, 31-40, and 41 years and over. Triple jump events will be held for under-14, under-16, under-18, and under-20 boys and girls, and the cricket ball throw for boys and girls’ under-8 and under-10. No track events are carded for today, however, tomorrow, some of the country’s top track athletes will do battle in a number of boys and girls’ heats over varying distances. With regards cycling, several finals are carded for today.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

Cricket leadership ‘weak, self-interested’ - Ian Chappell

(IAN CHAPPELL) – THE former Australia captain, has described the leadership of cricket as “weak and self-interested” and called on the game’s administrators to do more to stamp out corruption. Delivering the keynote address at the ESPNcricinfo at 20 event in Brisbane on Tuesday night, Chappell said cricket had for some time been “a runaway train with no one at the lead,” particularly in regard to scheduling between the three formats.

He described India’s cricket administration as arrogant, but was equally critical of the other major nations for their failure to stand up to the BCCI on various issues. And while Chappell said an overcrowded schedule and disparity between the quality of Test teams were major issues for the game’s administrators, he said corruption was clearly the most pressing problem in the sport. “What has bothered me particularly in recent times has been this seeming ob-

session with the bottom line,” Chappell said. “Most cricket administration decisions seem to be made purely with the bottom line in mind. I would like cricket administrators to get back to where priority number one, and easily priority number one, is the best interests of the game. “I think now the most important issue for cricket administration is corruption. I can’t think of anything other than corruption that can bring this game down. “Players have got to become

whistle-blowers, and they’ve got to be educated how important this is. You cannot tell me that if you’re in a dressing room and there’s some funny stuff going on, surely to Christ you’re going to know. “I think if you look at the

Ian Chappell felt a happy balance needed to be struck between the sport and business aspect of the game. (Getty Images) history of people who have been pinged with corruption charges, not much of it has come from cricket. Not much of it has come from the anti-corruption unit. Most of it has come from televi-

sion stings, newspaper stings.” Chappell called for a zero-tolerance approach to fixing from the game’s administrators, including bans for players suspected of corruption, regardless of whether such suspicions would hold up in court. Although he echoed Rahul Dravid’s recent comments that making jail time would be the most effective deterrent to players tempted into corruption, he said cricket-based punishments were just as important. “I think if cricket is going to rely on prosecuting these guys in court, you’re going to catch about one every hundred years. “It’s damn near impossible,” he said. “Cricket has to have a cricket punishment, which is obviously leaving guys out of the team if they think they’re dodgy, and I know that can be fraught with danger, but this is not a Marquess of Queensberry game. “They’re not going to play by the rules, and I don’t think cricket can afford to. “If you look at what cricket has done, the only convictions cricket has got seem to me to be very, very soft targets. I don’t think that all the people, all the players, mixed up in this are all

soft targets.” Chappell said the only way for the game to deal with corruption and its other problems was through strong, impartial leadership at ICC level and through the national boards. But he believed the game’s administrators had shown themselves to be too weak and self-interested to look beyond the bottom line of profit. “The game needs strong leadership, both on and off the field,” he said. “It’s quite fashionable in recent times to blame India for arrogance in their administration, and I would have to say that I agree with those feelings. “But equally, I feel that the rest of the countries, particularly the major nations, are equally to blame, because none of them have stood up to India, and if you’re not going to stand up to India, then I don’t think you can criticise India for the way they are administering the game. “I think what the game needs is some strong and impartial leadership, and at the moment I think what it’s getting is weak and self-interested leadership. Is it a game or is it a business? It needs a happy balance. It needs to take the middle ground somewhere.” (ESPN Cricinfo)

Pietersen says his confidence is mistaken for arrogance (REUTERS) - ENGLAND batsman, Kevin Pietersen, believes his self-confidence is often perceived as arrogance but says he can live with that public image. The 33-year-old batsman, who left his native South Africa to pursue cricket in England, will be playing his 100th test match at the Brisbane Ashes opener starting tomorrow. P i e t e r s e n ’s b r a s h public persona alienates many fans in his adopted country and he has had problems with England team mates as well. It is his ability to Kevin Pietersen prepares for his reduce some of the best 100th Test in Brisbane, yesterday. bowlers to hapless bystanders that makes it i m p o s s i b l e t o i g n o re dent in my ability,” he told reporters him and Pietersen cred- on Tuesday. “As a South African ited it to his self-confi- coming to England, I had to really dence. fight some tough battles and had to “I’ve got to be confi- be single minded in achieving what

I’ve had to achieve. “I can’t help people thinking I’m arrogant. I think a lot of great sportsmen out there have that little bit something special to them that makes them want to be the best. “I call it confidence. You guys call it arrogance.” Pietersen’s relations with the country’s cricket board hit a low in 2012 when he was dropped for the final test against South Africa at Lord’s in August following a controversial text-message row. The top order batsman, who has made 7887 runs with 23 centuries in test, said he has learnt lessons from his mistakes. “We’re getting on really well, all winning together,” he said. “We’ve all played a lot of cricket together ... these things happen. You have ups and downs. We all make mistakes.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

NZ delay Test squad for first Test against WI to assess fitness DANIEL VETTORI

Ghana lose to Egypt but still qualify for Brazil (REUTERS) -GHANA secured a third successive World Cup finals appearance despite a 2-1 defeat by Egypt. The Ghanaians triumphed 7-3 on aggregate, having done the hard work in the first leg in Kumasi last month, and will now get the opportunity to improve on their quarter-final finish at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. Egypt, playing in strife-torn Cairo for the first time in two years, restored some pride with victory on the night, thanks to goals by former Wigan Athletic forward Amr Zaki and Gedo. Kevin-Prince Boateng grabbed a late goal for Ghana. For Egypt it is another heart-breaking qualification near-miss, having not appeared at the World Cup since Italia 90 despite winning an unmatched four African Nations Cup titles in the same period.

IOC to retest frozen samples using new method (REUTERS):Samples stored from the 2006 Torino winter Olympics are being retested by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the eight-year statute of limitations runs out next year, an official said yesterday. The IOC official said the retests were in no way connected to a German state television report about two doping labs finding hundreds of positive tests using new methods. The IOC is eager to root out cheats long after Olympic Games by using new methods of tracing known banned substances or substances that were not known at the time. “We are re-testing Torino Games samples as planned. This is not linked to that report,” the official told Reuters. The IOC can re-test athletes’ samples from its own events up to eight years after the Games and can sanction them. They did so with five samples from the 2004 Athens Olympics coming back positive. According to German ARD broadcaster, labs in Cologne and Moscow found traces of anabolic steroids in hundreds of urine samples using the new testing method. It was not clear which athletes and what sports were involved and when the samples were taken. “This case is a good example of the necessity of performing retests on Olympic doping samples. I would certainly conduct retests here,” Arne Ljungqvist, head of the IOC’s medical commission told ARD. “We have the mandate for that, after all,” Germany’s Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) said yesterday none of the positive tests unearthed in tests it had authorised since late last year involved German athletes, adding, however, it would start re-testing older samples with the new methods. “Since the end of 2012, NADA tested more than 3,500 samples using the refined methods. All samples of German athletes tested negative,” it said in a statement. “NADA also plans to re-analyse samples of selected sports and disciplines that have been stored for a longer period of time.

NEW Zealand have delayed naming their squad for the first Test against West Indies in order to assess the fitness of key players, with a suggestion that Daniel Vettori may be in line for a quicker than expected comeback. Vettori has been impressive since returning to action after recovering from the Achilles surgery he underwent following the Champions Trophy in England. In his one first-class match this season he took six wickets in the game and, more importantly from a fitness perspective, sent down 49 overs. He has since played four Twenty20s and is due another Plunket Shield outing next week. Initially, Vettori had targeted a return against India in January but there is now a chance he could play his first Test since July 2012 next month although there will be understandable caution. “It’s over to Dan when he’s ready,” Bruce Edgar, the national selector, told Fairfax NZ. “He knows his body but we would welcome his availability sooner rather than later, of course. It depends entirely on his recovery.” But Kane Williamson’s chances of recovering from his broken thumb in time to take his place at No. 3 are slim with Dean Brownlie shaping as the favourite to fill that position. There is more promising news on Ross Taylor (knee) and Corey Anderson (rib) who

are both expected to play domestic cricket next week. Williamson’s likely absence, at least for the first Test, also hits New Zealand’s spin bowling as his offspin has become an increasingly important tool for Brendon McCullum.

ri, Taylor and Anderson will be playing - plus the New Zealand XI taking on the West Indians in Christchurch, although only seven of the visitors will be in the country for the warm-up match and the team will be bolstered by locals. With only two of the do-

COREY ANDERSON The Test squad was due to be named on November 25, but that has now been pushed to November 29 so the selectors can watch the performances in the Plunket Shield match between Northern Districts and Central Districts - where Vetto-

mestic sides in action next week, the New Zealand XI includes a number of Test players searching for form ahead of the series, not least the captain McCullum who returned home early from the Bangladesh tour with a back

problem. Hamish Rutherford and Peter Fulton, the opening batsmen, are also in the lineup alongside Tom Latham and Brownlie. Although Rutherford has not passed fifty since making 171 on debut against England, in Dunedin, he is expected to keep his place at the top of the order alongside Fulton. But there could be pressure from Latham, who made his maiden international fifty in the one-day series in Sri Lanka, or Aaron Redmond, the 34-year-old, who will open the batting as a guest of the depleted West Indian side. If Vettori was to be recalled against West Indies it would mean a demotion for Ish Sodhi, the legspinner, who made his debut in Bangladesh and became the sole frontline spinner in the second Test when Bruce Martin was dropped. The seam-bowling positions are likely to be filled by three out of Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Doug Bracewell, although the latter has recently been suspended for a domestic match following a late night out. Anderson’s emergence in Bangladesh, where he scored a maiden Test hundred, provides an all-round option in the middle order although he still needs to prove he is over his injury if he is to be given the ball. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Real-Time Snickometer to be part of DRS in Ashes sries THE International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday confirmed that Real-Time Snickometer (RTS) will be part of the Decision Review System (DRS) in the forthcoming Ashes series, which begins in Brisbane tomorrow. The decision-making technology that will be used as part of the Nine Network’s coverage of the Ashes includes Virtual Eye (ball tracking technology), Hot Spot and RTS. Both Virtual Eye and Hot Spot are on the list of approved DRS technologies and can be used by TV umpires in any series in which they are available. The RTS is not yet on the list, but the ICC commenced the process of evaluating it for inclusion following the meeting of ICC member country Chief Executives in September, where broad support was shown for the new technology.

To assist with this evaluation, Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board have agreed to use the RTS as part of the DRS during the upcoming Ashes series. The ICC and the host broadcaster, the Nine Network, have supported this initiative. ICC’s General Manager - Cricket, Geoff Allardice, said: “The ICC has been monitoring the development of the RTS for the past 12 months, including its use in more than 50 days of cricket coverage during the English summer. “We were happy to support the initiative of CA and the ECB because we believe it can improve the DRS by getting more decisions correct involving faint edges, to help the umpires make those decisions faster, and to help spectators and viewers better understand

those decisions.” ICC Umpire Performance and Training Manager, Simon Taufel, yesterday conducted a training session with the umpires on the use of the RTS, and has also briefed both teams on the protocols that have been developed for its use, and the interpretations that will be used by the umpires. Taufel said: “The RTS will complement Hot Spot by providing an extra tool that umpires can use to find the conclusive evidence needed to overturn an on-field decision.” The only other change to the DRS from the previous Ashes series is that teams will have their number of reviews topped-up to two after 80 overs of an innings. The DRS Playing Conditions are covered in Appendix 2 of the Standard Test Match Playing Conditions.

ICC Umpire Performance and Training Manager, Simon Taufel

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

France, Portugal reach World Cup after heroics ... Sakho instrumental in remarkable France comeback; Sizzling Ronaldo hat-trick sends Portugal to Brazil (REUTERS)-France progate triumph. Ghana and Algeria after they ... Algeria, Croatia, Ghana and Greece also progress duced one of soccer’s most Ronaldo’s stunning treble prevailed in their second leg famous comebacks yesterday to scrape into next year’s World Cup finals via the play-

playoffs. France had to overturn a 2-0 deficit at home

took Portugal to the 2014 tournament in Brazil after three breakaway goals in a 3-2 win in

France’s soccer team coach Didier Deschamps and team mates celebrate after winning their 2014 World Cup qualifying second leg playoff soccer match against Ukraine at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis near Paris , yesterday. offs while Portugal blazed through after Cristiano Ronaldo conjured up a sensational hat-trick. The two European heavyweights will be joined in next June’s finals by Croatia, Greece,

to Ukraine and did so with aplomb, Mamadou Sakho, an offside Karim Benzema and an Oleg Gusev own goal after 72 minutes sending the Stade de France wild as the fans celebrated a 3-2 aggre-

Sweden completed a 4-2 aggregate success after rival Zlatan Ibrahimovic came to life with his own second-half double. Croatia won 2-0 on aggregate and on the night despite playing most of their home leg against tiny Iceland with 10

men after Mario Mandzukic opened the scoring midway through the first half only to be sent off for a studs up tackle soon after. Kostas Mitroglou again shone to help Greece reach soccer’s greatest showpiece after his composed early finish in a 1-1 draw in Romania set up a 4-2 aggregate victory following his two goals in the first leg. Ghana, who led 6-1 going into their second leg, secured a third straight World Cup finals appearance despite a 2-1 defeat by Egypt in their African playoff in strife-torn Cairo. FLUKE GOAL The Ghanaians went through 7-3 on aggregate after goals by Egypt forwards Amr Zaki and Gedo were followed up by a late reply from Kevin-Prince Boateng. Egypt have now failed to reach the World Cup since their last appearance in 1990 despite

winning an unmatched four African Nations Cup titles during that time. Algeria beat Burkina Faso on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate draw and 1-0 home win in the second leg, Madjid Bougherra scoring with a fluke goal when the ball deflected in off his head following Bakary Kone’s attempted clearance. Ghana and Algeria join fellow Africans Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast in the finals after they qualified at the weekend. The two remaining spots in Brazil will be decided today when Mexico visit New Zealand with a 5-1 advantage from the first leg of their intercontinental playoff and Uruguay host Jordan 5-0 up from the Amman encounter. Qualifiers Spain and the United States suffered blows in friendlies, the world champions beaten 1-0 by eliminated South Africa and the

DCB to host three-day trial at Everest from tomorrow

Barnwell and Johnson to lead teams By Calvin Roberts FOLLOWING the cancellation of their first proposed two-day trial match last week, the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) will be hosting the said game, this time with an additional day at the Everest Cricket Club ground commencing at 09:00hrs from tomorrow. Guyana and West Indies ‘A’ Team middle order batsman, Leon Johnson, and his Guyana and West Indies T20 all-rounder, Christopher Barnwell, have been tasked with the role of leading the two teams in the trials, which would be used as a yardstick to select the Demerara team for the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board four team four-day championships which bowls off next Thursday.

Two former West Indies Test players in Ramnaresh Sarwan and Ryan Ramdass will be featuring in this trial match, along with several other national and promising players who aspire to represent not only Guyana, but the West Indies. The 30 year old Ramdass, played his lone Test against Sri Lanka eight years ago and was belatedly added to the squad, despite an eight year absence from the Guyana national team, during which time, several openers such as Rajendra Chandrika, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Shemroy Barrington, just to name a few, represented Guyana. Following a successful season in Canada, the Everest Cricket Club stocky right hand-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday November 20, 2013)

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Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 63 (2) Brett Lee (171 matches)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Against which cricketing nation Shiv Chanderpaul has scored most Test centuries to date? How many? (2) How many ODI Man of the Match Awards Chris Gayle has won to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

ed batsman, now gets a chance to show the DCB selectors, that including him in the trials was the right thing to do, despite the presence of several opening batsmen around the county. There is no doubt when it comes to Sarwan’s ability as a middle order batsman, as on his day he can destroy any bowling attack on the local, regional and international stages, even earning for himself, the tag of ‘World’s Best Finisher’ that was first worn unofficially by Australia’s Michael Bevan. He has played 87 Test matches for the West Indies and scored 15 tons, with his last Test match being against India in July of 2011 against India at Bridgetown, a game that was drawn, with Sarwan scores being 18 and 8. He has not played the longer version of the game on local soil in a long time, even though he led Leicestershire in English County Cricket earlier this year, while he has played a few T20 games for Georgetown Cricket Club, in the Georgetown Cricket Association/ Carib Beer tournament. How well he will fare on his return to the longer version following a wrist injury is left to be seen, but certainly he would be looking to ink his name not only in the books of the DCB selectors, but also the GCB Senior Selection panel, with the West Indies Cricket Board Regional four- day season starting soon. On the same note, same can be said for Barrington who has

been in form lately in the shorter version of the game for Malteenoes Sports Club and Universal Solutions Bermine. Chandrika, Vishal ‘Cheesy’ Singh, Zaheer Mohammed, Totaram Bishun and Raj Nannan, will all be looking to impress the selectors. While some baulk at the exclusion of Derwin Christian from both squads, what needs to be noted was his performance for Guyana in this year’s WICB Regional four-day tournament both in front and behind the stumps.

The inclusion of young Kemol Savory and the tried and still to be proven Joseph Perry ahead of Christian, should be a wake up call for the experienced gloveman, who was replaced by Anthony Bramble for Guyana’s last two games at home earlier this year. That being said, both sides consist of players who are eager to showcase their talent to both sets of selectors, with the aim of representing their County and later country and

Americans losing 1-0 at usually hapless Austria. In friendlies played between World Cup finalists, Per Mertesacker’s header sealed Germany’s 1-0 win over England at Wembley, the Netherlands drew 0-0 with Colombia and much-hyped Belgium went down 3-2 at home to Japan. Ange Postecoglou enjoyed a winning start to his tenure as Australia coach with a 1-0 win over Costa Rica and Russia saw off South Korea 2-1 in a friendly in Dubai. Striker Sergio Aguero scored twice to give Argentina a 2-0 win over Bosnia at the Busch baseball stadium in St Louis, Missouri on Monday, when Italy drew 2-2 with Nigeria in another neutral venue - London. In a landmark friendly, Gibraltar drew 0-0 with Slovakia yesterday in Portugal in their first match since being admitted to UEFA, Europe’s governing soccer bod one would hope that the weather smile on the players for the duration of this contest, which can be a keenly contested one. Johnson’s Team: Leon Johnson (Captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shemroy Barrington, Balbinder Shivpersaud, Zaheer Mohamed, Vishal Singh, Amir Khan, Joseph Perry, Randy Knights, Shaquille Williams, Andre Stoll, Paul Wintz, Totaram Bishun, Raj Nannan, Trevon Griffith and Ryan Ramdass Barnwell’s Team: Christopher Barnwell (Captain), Rajendra Chandrika, Yetesh Dhanpaul, Arvin Seepersaud, Kemol Savory, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Pattadin, Carl Rambharose, Trevor Benn, Kellon Carmichael, Antonell Atwell, Robin Bacchus, Jeetendra Sookdeo.

London lands Wartsila Golf Trophy

Winners at last weekend’s Wartsila golf tournament pose with their prizes PHILBERT London took top honours last Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Club, winning the Wartsila Golf Tournament. London shot a gross 92, playing off a 28 handicap for a best net score of 64. Second place went to Avinash Persaud who shot an effortless gross 70, parring the course for a net 66. Third place went to Robert Hanoman

who scored 92 (24) net 68. Persaud chose to take the net prize for second place, so Jaipaul Seenanan was awarded the Best Gross Prize with a 75 winning on a count back from the 75 of Munaf Arjune, who also won for Nearest to the Pin. Best lady was Christine

Sookram with a gross 80 (9) net 71. Club President, Jerome Khan, thanked Wartsila for its sponsorship of the tournament which also included a barbeque and a generous happy hour that was greatly appreciated by the members.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

District 11 with 313 points finish ahead of District 10 to cart off swimming championships By Tamica Garnett AS the annual National Schools’ Swimming, Cycling, Track and Field Championships got off to a start yesterday, North Georgetown, District 11, armed with its usual arsenal of national swimmers, collected the first win of the competition, when the swimming division of the competition came to a close at Castellani Swimming Pool. Backed by the authority of Olympian Britany van Lange, along with Accalia Khan, Dylan Nurse, and Hannibal Gaskin, the District 11 team effortlessly amassed 313 points to once again finish ahead of their arch rivals, District 10, Upper Demerara Kwakwani, which finished with 205 points.

Members of the victorious North Georgetown, District 11, swimming team.

SCA 33rd annual presentation

HACC take lion’s share of top awards By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada - Guyanese-owned Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club (HACC) cemented their position as the leading club in the Scarborough Cricket Association when they carted off the lion’s share of the top awards at the 33rd annual presentation ceremony, held last Sunday night at Easton Banquet Hall, Scarborough, here. A delighted and proud owner Archie Mohan told Chronicle Sport he’s determined to maintain the tradition and will continue his trend of endeavouring to acquire the best available players. Among those in the ranks this year were former Guyana fast bowler, Trevon Garraway, who was the Most Valuable Player in a lop-sided final, all-rounder, Royston Crandon, and former Guyana and West Indies Under-19 batsman, Hemnarine Chattergoon. Both Garraway and Crandon, who are back in Guyana, were unavoidably absent from Saturday night’s gala presentation. Garraway had the astonishing figures of four for six in the Premiere League final against Bawan XI, while Crandon and Chattergoon registered useful allround performances in the preliminary round matches. Saturday’s auspicious ceremony was graced by the presence of several dignitaries, including Member of Parliament for Scarborough/Agincourt, Jim Karygiannis, and Consul General for Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Vidhya Tota-Maharaj. Karygiannis commended the SCA on its hosting of the event, pointing out that the SCA has had an amazing year and should be justifiably proud that its members have worked hard to receive this recognition. “I am pleased to see the work you are doing. Canada

is a country rich in culture. The contributions that you are making are strengthening the social fabric of Canada.” Dr Tota-Maharaj, a medical doctor by profession, disclosed that she was pleased to convey greetings to executives and players of the SCA and touched briefly on the performance of the West Indies team in the just-concluded Test series versus India, expressing her desire that the results could

stand “where you come from and where you are going” and to also be supportive of the efforts of the people who run the game. SCA president, Deo Samaroo, gave kudos to his executives for the job they have been doing and expressed sincere thanks to the several sponsors for their continued commitment over the years. Among the sponsors were: Action Honda, Speedway Motors, IR General Contracting, Primerica, Hawaiian Arctic, Platypus Sporting Goods, Pow-

the Second Division Season Points champions Islanders United claimed the Action Honda trophy. The Norman Sue Trophy for Second Division teams also went to Islanders United with the runners-up being Scarborough/Star Cricket Club B. Percy Cummins 20/20 champions, Bilal Cricket Club, carted off Caribbean Wave Restaurant Trophy with Victoria Park as runners-up, while the 20/20 Consolation Trophy win-

MEMBERS of Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club pose with their winnings. At extreme right is SCA president, Deo Samaroo. Chief Financial Officer, Vish Jadunauth, is extreme left, while HACC owner, Archie Mohan, is fourth from right (standing). (Picture courtesy of Azad Khan) have been better. According to the Consul General, she was excited to see the contributions being made by the young cricketers and the full use they are making of the available facilities. She further congratulated the various recipients and urged the executives to keep up the good work. Prominent member of the media, Kenti Khan, in brief remarks stressed on the importance of the history of the SCA, paying glowing tributes to the association’s first president, Richard Ramlall, who now serves as the Public Relations Officer. Khan urged the many cricketers present to take some time off to under-

erplay Sports, Blackash Sports, Norman Sue Bakery, Caribbean Wave restaurant, Paradise Travel, Active Green and Ross, S&S Trophy and 80Print - Toronto. HACC retained the Frank Faubert Trophy, sponsored by Shiv Persaud of Primerica for winning the Premiere Division and also copped the Speedway Motors sponsored trophy for being Conference One champions. Highland Creek B were crowned First Division champions and received the Richard Ramlall Trophy sponsored by Paradise Travel with the runners-up being Youngstar Cricket Club. The First Division Season Points champions Bawa XI B took the IR Construction Trophy, while

ners were Durham United who collected the Hawaiian Arctic Heating & A/C Trophy. The runners-up were JD Cricketers Cricket Club. Victoria Park were the Under-19 winners with SCA being the runners-up. Several young and aspiring junior players were among the many awardees as part of the SCA’s Junior Cricket Development Programme. They have been given the added incentive to perform since according to Ontario Cricket Association (OCA) representative, Melvin John, the association plans to send a junior team to Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago next year.

One hundred and seventy-four points put District 7, Cuyuni Mazuruni, in the third place position, while District 1, North West, with 127 points, and District 9, Rupununi, with 95 points rounded out the top five positions. Competing in the open category, van Lange led the way for District 11 with her wins in the 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle. Van Lange was also scheduled to compete in the 100m backstroke but was unable due to the cutting short of yesterday’s events, a decision that did not go down well with all of the district teams. The official points were tallied after the completion of 44 of the 50 events scheduled for yesterday’s competition, which marked the opening day of competition in the prominent event.

The remaining six events, those of the 100m backstroke category, were cancelled after it was largely agreed to close off the days event without them going off, which left some district feeling it unfair to those swimmers who were to participate in the events. As competition played out into the late afternoon and only a few minutes of daylight remaining, eleven of the 16 competing districts voted to discard the rest of the day’s activities, a decision which was upheld by the presiding officials. However parents, swimmers and district officials, including those of District 11, felt slighted and voiced their contention against the decision.

Lara questions selectors’ decision to ignore Bravo and Narine MUMBAI, India, (CMC)-Former West Indies Captain Brian Lara has questioned the decision by selectors to ignore Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine for the Test leg of West Indies’ tour of India. Lara has described Bravo as having equal or stronger credentials as an allrounder than West Indies captain Darren Sammy, who made only 25 runs in the series and went wicketless. The cricket legend says he is also baffled at Narine’s omission describing him as the best spinner in Caribbean first-class cricket. “I don’t need any confirmation from Sammy, I know for a fact that his confidence was shattered and he started to wonder what’s going to happen next,” said Lara writing in his column for the Times of India. “Well what we saw in the Test series is a result of this chain of events. A captain that looked lost on the field and his personal display especially with the bat, was one even he would like to forget.” West Indies crashed to innings defeat inside three days in their two test matches against India. The former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd has blamed the losses on poor batting, weak bowling and SUNIL NARINE a heavy diet of T20 cricket. “A more baffling omission is Sunil Narine, the most successful bowler in West Indies regional 4-day cricket,” Lara said. “You would think that he knows Indian pitches like the back of his hand. Another one of world’s best cricketers labeled by our selectors as not good enough.” According to Lara the selectors had benched the wrong people and the consequences had badly hurt the team. “What about the Test squad selected for this tour? The very day that Sammy was elected as captain of the team it made it very difficult for someone like Dwayne Bravo to be considered,”wrote Lara. “Dwayne hasn’t played Test cricket for about three years now and knowing him closely it pains him that the selectors seem to only require him for the shorter versions of the game”.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships opening today THE Opening Ceremony of the National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships will be held today at 9.00hrsat the National Stadium, Providence. Acting President, Samuel Hinds, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand as well as a representative from main sponsor, Digicel, are expected to address the Opening Ceremony, which will also feature performances from the Ministry of Education Unit of Allied Arts.

53RD NATIONAL SCHOOLS TRACK AND FIELD, SWIMMING AND CYCLING C’SHIPS

Eastman takes 40km road race from DeNobrega By Calvin Roberts FOLLOWING his top podium finish in the Junior Category of the just concluded seventh annual ‘Ride for Life’ five-stage cycle road race, Hamza Eastman stamped his authority on a field of cyclists yesterday morning to take the top spot in the Digicel sponsored 53rd Ministry of Education/ Guyana Teachers’ Union National Schools, Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field championships 4o km road race. He out-sprinted 2012 Junior Caribbean Cycling Champion Paul DeNobrega to finish in a time of 1h. 03mins: 27secs, to hand District 11 maximum points, while DeNobrega who represented District 13, gained the second place accolades for his District. District 11’s Alonzo Ambrose, represented well to finish a creditable third behind Eastman and DeNobrega, with his winning time being 1m: 39 seconds slower than the top two finishers. On the distaff side, Toshawna Doris took the top podium spot from record holder Marica Dick, with a winning time of 55m: 01secs for their 25km event, while Crystal Lambert was third, crossing the line 3m: 27seconds after both Doris and Dick. From the onset, Eastman displayed his willingness to dominate and take the event which saw the male cyclists riding from Ocean View to Belfield and back, when he took the pole position for the peloton of 32 male cyclists, followed by Ambrose and Shaquille Agard, with DeNobrega, Michael Anthony, Silvio Inniss and Kurt Larose, all being a part of the peloton. As they approached Plaisance on the upward journey, Eastman, Ambrose, Jermaine Jordan and Andrew Holder, broke away from the peloton and held a lead of 75 meters, which they increased by the second, even as the peloton struggled to come to grips with the strong head wind from the nearby Atlantic Ocean. DeNobrega though he had enough of the cat and mouse game that was going on with the peloton and joined the front runners as they passed through Strasthpey, following which, Holder suffered a puncture just after the Non Pariel turn. Together, the four cyclists at the front worked their way to the turn-back point at Belfield, East Coast Demerara, where they stayed at the front with a lead of over two minutes, before Ambrose and Jordan found the pace too hot and were dropped. As they approached Montrose on the downward journey, DeNobrega attacked Eastman, but it was done too early and left him winded, as Eastman got into overdrive and powered his way past DeNobrega to take the event. The females journeyed from Ocean View to Strasthpey and back, wherein Dick began to suffer from cramps as she approached the University of Guyana road on her way to the finish line and was forced to watch as Doris took the win with ease.

District 11 Hamza Eastman raises his hand in triumph after outsprinting Paul De Nobrega to take the 40km.

GTU/MoE/Digicel 53rd Annual Schools Athletic Championships

Nicholson, Harper shine as District 5 make positive start to Track and Field Pleaseonseepagestory31 championships … Beverley Ignacio wins for District 9

And the winner is? Timekeepers at the finish line pay keen attention to their clocks, as District 5’s Marlon Nicholson crosses the line to take the first gold medal in this year’s Digicel sponsored 53rd Ministry of Education/Guyana Teachers’ Union National Schools, Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field championships yesterday morning. (Photo by Cullen Bess Nelson)

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

The first female winner of this year’s Digicel sponsored 53rd Ministry of Education/Guyana Teachers’ Union National Schools, Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field championships, Beverly Ignacios of District 9, crosses the finish line

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2013

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

Suicide bombings kill 23 near Iran embassy in Beirut (REUTERS) - TWO suicide bombings rocked Iran’s embassy compound in Lebanon on Tuesday, killing at least 23 people including an Iranian cultural attache and hurling bodies and burning wreckage across a debris-strewn street. A Lebanon-based al Qaeda-linked group, the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, claimed responsibility and threatened further attacks unless Iran withdraws forces from Syria, where they have backed President Bashar al-Assad’s 2-1/2-yearold war against rebels. Security camera footage showed a man in an explosives belt rushing towards the outer wall of the embassy in Beirut before blowing himself up, Lebanese officials said. They said a car bomb parked two buildings away from the com-

Schoolchildren cry near the site of explosions near the Iranian embassy in Beirut November 19, 2013. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

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pound had caused the second, deadlier explosion. The Lebanese army described both blasts as suicide attacks. In a Twitter post, Sheikh Sirajeddine Zuraiqat, the religious guide of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, said the group had carried out the attack. “It was a double martyrdom operation by two of the Sunni heroes of Lebanon,” he wrote. Lebanon has suffered a series of sectarian clashes and bomb attacks on Sunni and Shi’ite Muslim targets which have been linked to the Syrian conflict and which had already killed scores of people this year. Tuesday’s bombing took place on the eve of more talks between world powers and Iran over Tehran’s disputed nuclear program. They came close to agreeing to an interim deal during negotiations earlier this month. The bombs also struck as Assad’s forces extended their military gains in Syria before peace talks which the United

Nations hopes to convene in mid-December and which Iran says it is ready to attend. Shi’ite Iran actively supports Assad against mostly Sunni rebels, and two of its Revolutionary Guard commanders have been killed in Syria this year. Along with fighters from the Lebanese Shi’ite movement Hezbollah, Iran has helped to turn the tide in Assad’s favor at the expense of rebels backed and armed by Sunni powers Saudi Arabia and Qatar. A Reuters cameraman at the scene counted six bodies outside one entrance to the embassy compound. Body parts were strewn as far as two streets away and several cars were badly damaged. The embassy’s sturdy metal gate was twisted by the blasts, which Lebanese Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said killed 23 people and wounded 146. An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said the bombs were “an inhuman and vicious act perpetrated by Israel and its terror agents”, Iran’s IRNA news agency reported.

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Haiti clashes as protesters demand President Martelly resign (BBC NEWS)–PROTESTORS in Haiti have clashed with police as thousands rallied to demand the resignation of President Michel Martelly. The police fired tear gas to try to disperse stone-throwing protesters in the capital, Portau-Prince. Haiti has recently seen a series of protest marches amid growing public anger over the cost of living and claims of high levels of corruption. Meanwhile, Mr Martelly appealed for unity in the impoverished nation. He took office two years ago promising a fresh start for Haiti, devastated by an earthquake in 2010. But Haiti - which shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with The Dominican Republic - remains one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere. ‘GUNSHOTS’ On Monday, the protesters set up burning barricades of discarded tyres as they

marched in the capital, demanding that Mr Martelly stand down immediately. “We are moving forward to removing him from power and won’t stop until he leaves,” demonstrator Jean Daniel was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

A number of demonstrators hurled stones at the police, who responded with tear gas. There were also reports that gunshots were fired in Port-au-Prince, but it was not immediately known whether there were any injuries. A rival pro-Martelly rally

was also held in the capital, and two sides later confronted each other by throwing rocks. In the northern city of Cap-Haitien, a smaller opposition demonstration was organised. Monday’s protests were among the biggest since Mr Mar-

The BBC’s Emily Thomas: “Determination is rising to see President Michel Martelly step down”

telly took office two years ago. Speaking in Cap-Haitien during a ceremony to mark Haiti’s final battle before it secured independence from France in 1804, the president made an impassionate plea for political unity. “If we didn’t put our heads together, we wouldn’t have had the Battle of Vertieres,” he said. “`If we didn’t have our heads together, we wouldn’t have a Haitian state.’’ The former pop star

vowed after his election victory to bridge the gap between Haiti’s tragic past with the aspirations of a new generation. But the opposition accuses him of wasting public money in luxury vehicles and international trips. It also says the government has failed to hold legislative and local elections. Mr Martelly denies the allegations, saying his government is addressing economic and political problems.

GUYANA

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

Mahaica has lost a role model

EDITORIAL

A question of legality and ethics

SINCE attention was called to the increased practice of organ trading in Guyana, more specifically the sale of kidneys, the burning question hones in on its consequences – a question of both legality and ethics. The matter of legality is more simply answered, since Guyana has no laws that prevent organ trading. While most countries have legislation that makes this practice illegal, there are still countries with no legal framework to prevent it, notably Iran, where kidney sales are regulated. The Charity Association for the Support of Kidney Patients (CASKP) and the Charity Foundation for Special Diseases (CFSD) control the trade of organs with the support of the government. The organisations match donors to recipients, setting up tests to ensure compatibility. The amounts paid to the donor vary in Iran, but the average figures are US$1,200 per kidney. However, it has been argued that the Iranian system is in some ways coercive, as over 70 per cent of donors are considered poor by Iranian standards. Herein lies the more difficult task of answering the ethics question – a dual tragedy. On one hand, there are people dying because they are not able to secure a donor match; and on the other, is the human rights debacle where the donor (a person in need of a payout in most cases) is misled on the nature of the surgical procedures and the recipient runs the risk of the “new” kidney failing,thereby causing death. The debate considering the pros and cons of organ trading is not a black and white issue, but one that falls into grey territory. Several years ago, prominent transplant surgeon Nadley Hakim at St. Mary’s Hospital in London pointed out that “this trade is going on anyway, why not have a controlled trade where if someone wants to donate a kidney for a particular price, that would be acceptable? If it is done safely, the donor will not suffer.” The counter argument of concurring professionals is that the high demand for organs can result-in many cases is resulting-in the exploitation of poverty-stricken people by alluring them with financial gains – manifesting, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the fear that the line between selling organs and actually selling people is a rather fine one. Also, unlike other similar exploitative social situations, organ donation requires an invasive surgical procedure that has both physical and psychological implications. In Guyana, the arguments proffered revolve around the fact that the fledgling kidney transplant can be ended if the trading of kidneys continues, as evidenced in several countries that were forced to take urgent action to preserve the standard of the transplant programme. The shortage of organs, not only kidneys, is not a problem unique to Guyana, but this business of organ trading cannot be allowed to spiral into something beyond what it already is. The matter of kidney sales is undoubtedly a thorny issue, making clear the need for both the Government and local medical professionals to have a firm stance on the matter.

IT cannot be denied that the reputable Mahaica community lost a daughter, mother, teacher and most of all, a significant community leader with the passing of the truly great comrade Anoopwattie Veeren. Ms. Vereen was born on October 5, 1945. During her childhood, she was a student who had a positive attitude towards learning and a sincere interest in education. She was destined to become an educator of genuine quality. This wonderful teacher was in the school system for more than 50 years. As a teacher, she had a significant impact on countless lives. At her funeral the quiet and solemn remark: “Ms. Veeren is the person who made me what I am” was often heard from both eminent and ordinary mourners. She was responsible for laying the foundation for hundreds of people who received tertiary and university education. There could not be a more splendid legacy. Miss Veeren received the Teacher of the Year Award for Region 4 from the Ministry of Education in 1989. She also received the Bahai Woman of Distinction Award for laudable and selfless service to society, in 1999. Anoopwattie Veeren may not have been a declared politician, but she was certainly an undeclared politician. I could vividly recall serving as Regional Democratic Councillor in Region 4 with her. While I was Red Hot and ready for all the challenges to get things right in the region,Councillor Veeren, like a genuine sister, would look at me sending the message to “cool out.” At our caucus meetings she was full of confidence that the PPP/C Councillors would win out eventually. She was always that quiet and unassuming person who had an eye for details and believed in fair play. One who never exaggerated a situation. However, she was always with the collective. Because of her quality work in the Region 4 Regional Democratic Council, she was elected as a member to the Central Committee of the People’s Progressive Party. I recall her telling me that the PPP leadership is very thorough and indeed loves Guyana.

Because of her exceptional qualities, Ms. Veeren was elected/ appointed and served with distinction, as member, of the following: * The Central Board of Health * Regional Democratic Council of Region 4 * Chairman of the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute * The University of Guyana Council * Board Member of the Hindu College * Board Member of President’s College * Member of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child This reputable woman of integrity was appointed as Justice of Peace/Commissioner of Oaths and her service to her community in this capacity was greatly appreciated. Comrade Veeren went home to the Lord while serving as: * Chairman of the Unity Vereeniging NDC * Teaching Service Commissioner * Chairman of the Upper East Coast Local Board of Guardians * Chairman of the Mahaica WPO * Central Committee Member of the WPO * Member of the Project Steering Committee of the Basic Needs Trust Fund * Education Secretary of the PPP Upper East Demerara region Ms. Veeren lived a highly respectable life that should be an inspiration to us all. She was a loving woman who leaves her loving children, grandchildren and people a rich legacy. A legacy of what an eminent mother must be. Her life will be celebrated for all that is bright and beautiful. To our Comrade Veeren, let us say that you will be forever fondly remembered for the great and small ways in which you enriched our lives. As your immediate family says, you are with the angels now. May your soul rest in Peace! NEIL KUMAR

A famous adage says hindsight is 20/20 A FAMOUS adage says hindsight is 20/20. A simple translation would be in retrospect anyone could become an instant analyst while attempting to present all the right answers to every situation in chronology. Keeping this in mind, I will try to present an objective analysis of the bizarre events which unfolded on Middle Street on the afternoon of Tuesday last week. General assumption: From indications, there seems to be limited public sympathy for the police following the death of two officers, even among foreign nationals. Given the high degree of emotional distress showed by several members of the Guyana Police Force(GPF) (which include senior officers whose chief function is to maintain professional composure at all times). Many Guyanese and foreigners alike are of the view that members of the GPF have not received the necessary training which would allow them to launch a proper tactical response to such crimes, or to psychologically withstand, and cope with the stressful episodes that accompany police standoff operations. This author subscribes to this view, as many police officers were seen conducting themselves in an unprofessional manner during periods of intense gunfire as if they were involved in a game of “childhood cowboy” sometimes frisking,

jumping and rolling aimlessly on the ground with a loaded firearm as if it were a cricket bat. The encroachment of several hundred people who risked limb and life to zoom in for a closer look, compounded what should have been a “cordoned situation”. As such, it would not be unfair to conclude that the police’s approach to the incident was abysmal at best, devoid of a scientifically sound and well thought-out plan that clearly outlined which tactical manoeuvre held ascendance over others. In fact, many are of the view that the reason the police did not cordon the entire area was because they were unable to mobilise the human and material resources to do so. Breakdown in intelligence management: It was reported in the media that the shooter showed a propensity for violence, had previously shot himself with an unlicensed firearm, and was known to go on frequent firing tirades which caused public hysteria; by whatever means this sequence of activities missed the attention of the relevant authorities is indeed mind boggling, and does not bode well for intelligence and public safety. Some police sources are blaming one of the now dead first responding officers for providing misleading information to the ranks that arrived later, which according to them, resulted in the bizarre outcome. The police are currently in possession of information which supports

their assumption that at least one of the first responding officers maintained a very close relationship with the now dead miner. At least two persons recalled seeing the particular officer receiving money from the miner in the past. One taxi driver recalled delivering a substantial sum of money to the now dead officer one Sunday evening while he was socialising with friends at the seawall in the vicinity of Camp Street. A jeweller who spoke under condition of anonymity, said that the miner once said that he felt the police were exploiting him especially at a time when he owed a person or persons $43M. Tell signs: Had information of the shooter’s grandiose and apparent” entrenched privilege mentality” been reported officially to “police authorities” in a timely manner, the outcome of this event could have been much different, since the acknowledgement of past violence, is the best predictor of future violent behaviour. Mental health state: Sometime back, then Minister of Health, the Hon. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, while being interviewed by a reporter was asked if the incidence of mental health problems in Guyana was higher than the international average, to which the minister answered no. Sometime later senior officials in the Ministry of Health conceded that Guyana had a higher than usual incidence of mental health problems. This case I believe should

be viewed within the wider context of our failure as a nation to address mental health problems early enough. The paucity of public facilities for social intercourse and the absence of robust social crime prevention initiatives are but two other contributing factors. Today, significant sections of our youth population are swearing allegiance to gangs and a life of crime. On a visit to the Fort Canje Mental Hospital about eight years ago, me and my students learnt that teachers constituted the largest single group of persons institutionalised or treated at the hospital. On that trip, there were eight trained teachers either institionalised or receiving treatment through the outpatient modality. It is to be remembered too, that this is the sixth case of an individual running amok and unleashing mass assault on the citizenry which resulted in multiple deaths. Crisis intervention: The average domestic crisis intervention team response takes about 45 minutes to one hour (Spaulding, 1987). Thus, the most crucial moments of the situation will rely on the skills of the first responding officer(s). One reliable witness said that one of the police officers who lost his life was one of the first responding officers( who according to the witness) did not follow police departmental protocol as he walked into the yard like the terminator, a conduct reminiscent of the ingrained mindset which

Please see page 7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

The police have to respond with deadly force in certain situations THERE is an unhealthy, despicable theory circulating in the camp of those opposed to law and order and good governance, especially when it comes to the operations of the police force. It goes like this: the police should be very careful when dealing with criminals, that is, they should exercise utmost care and caution when engaging a suspect. Suspect here means an individual/s with weapon/s of mass destruction who has killed and has all the potential to kill and injure many more. This individual should be approached with the utmost care and attention. I don’t know if you are getting the gist of their argument and the erroneous message these people are peddling; that the police should be careful about whom they shoot while the criminal can indiscriminately shoot and kill in reckless abandon. Shoot all you want criminal but police, “please be careful how you shoot.” This is the notion they are getting across in the simplest version I can possibly muster. You the criminal can dis-

charge your weapon even to the point of killing the police who are there to protect and keep the peace, but whenever the lawmen respond they ought to do so with great restraint. Utter hogwash! They should try that dogma when faced with a dangerous man. However you put it, this is their music, this is their song, this is their mantra and once you take that position there is bound to be a lopsided, demonic discussion on police work. Stabroek News has done just that in a recent editorial on the Kanhai case. They contend that at the time when this felon was busily engaged in discharging deadly rounds everywhere, the police should have gotten on to their phone to try and coax him out of the situation or in another asinine comment of theirs, call his brother or some other relative to find out why he is acting in this manner. Or another ridiculous advice is for the police to have managed what they claim was an amusing crowd. There again, Stabroek News was of the opinion that the crowd was loud in their praise of Kanhai’s defiance and

A famous adage says ... From page 6 affects many Guyanese police officers. “There are generally four choices for police commanders responding to a barricade crisis situation. The first traditional confrontational response is to amass officers and massive firepower and assault. The second is to use selective sniper fire. The third is to use chemical agents. The fourth is to contain the area and negotiate with a specially trained negotiator. The first three will almost always result in injury and or death”. Thus, during tactical operations, police snipers and other specialists cannot be expected to learn from error, except during training, since they are expected to demonstrate “professional conduct” which is predicated on precision, therefore tactical police training must be consistent and properly choreographed. Sub- culture of miners: Without a doubt, the peculiar sub-culture of the mining industry could have contributed significantly to the precipitating factors of this crime. Behind a façade of opulence, many miners face strident financial constraints. Miners, especially dredge owners and senior management personnel often

lead highly mobile and stressful lives, the transient nature of their profession is often punctuated by the pursuit of unhealthy and unwholesome stress release outlets. Fortified homes: The building seemed to have withstood the test of time, if indeed it is as fortified as rumours make it out to be; then, there are several lessons

his brazen standoff with the police, which has bad journalism written all over it and was counterproductive to the lawmen’s valiant efforts to curb crime. So, the next time. God forbid, we have such a dangerous situation law enforcement need to bring along their telephone directory and possibly call up Kissoon, Benschop or even Winston Felix, who in their eyes is a “security expert” to get that “expert” advice as to the next step forward. Listen to this: in my book, the police should have gone there first to protect themselves and secondly to get the gun-toting criminal. If he cannot come out to lawmen then flush him out, not with teargas but with other lethal devices. Or the patient approach, cordon off the area and wait for him to come out. He must come out, he has to come out. Kanhai has to come out and he better do so in a peaceful manner or else. I am not going into that deadly situation. Let me explain with a story from the Bronx, New York, where the police were confronted with a similar situation like to be learnt from this incident. For example, what might have been the likely outcome had an attack been launched, say on the President of Guyana, from a similar fortified edifice? Be that as it may, the presidential guards should examine whatever implication this case might hold for them. CLAIRMONT FEATHERSTONE

the Middle Street incident in Georgetown. The gunmen were holed up in the building firing indiscriminately at the police, who immediately dashed for cover secluding themselves while engaging the shooter. Well in that case they were not so sure as to how many shooters were there so they did their best at self preservation while in singleness of approach set out to get the shooter/s. The long and short of it is the police simply tore up that building. Lethal grenade force brought the building and their man down. In the Bronx story, the family took the police to court for damage to property to which the judge replied that

“this was legitimate police work that is not actionable in a court of law.” If property is damaged in the course of police pursuing a criminal, then so be it. This should have been the approach in the Kanhai case. So this nonsense as to

how, when, where and whom the police can shoot has to stop. My contention is whether it is Tom, Dick, Harry or Beharry becomes a criminal the answer for that is to take you out - more likely dead than alive. NEIL ADAMS

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

Telling it like it is: Kaieteur News and the Opposition’s evil alliance out to destroy Guyana IT is with much annoyance that I write this piece to the media to protest the action of certain Opposition elements and the media, in particular, the Kaieteur News on the proposed Recycling Plant for Guyana. God and all of us know we need a recycling plant in this country with all the waste we produce. Waste that could be put to good use! Waste recycling that will create employment for our citizens. As an industry it will pay taxes eventually, even if given a tax-free shelter, and taxes which will be paid into to the system from employees’ salaries, and from which money will circulate and benefit the country directly and indirectly. So I welcome the recycling plant with all my heart, and so should all Guyanese. A recycling plant will help to eliminate the waste that is dumped all over the place, some of which clog our drains, causes flooding, and which makes our lives miserable. It also causes much disrespect to ourselves, as we appear indiscipline and careless, even dirty and unhygienic. Metallic materials can be converted right here. We see waste dumped all over the country, and in our cities, particularly Georgetown. The waste makes us look like a major shantytown without control and manageability. Is that what the Opposition and evil alliance want? Now, when a plant is in the works to turn the waste into useful items, for which the dumpers and transporters can make money, the political weirdoes, the attack-

ers, the fault finders, the destructive geniuses, the national saboteurs, the economic backward fools wish to sabotage the project. Why? Because they do not wish for Guyana to progress; because it will cause the Government of the day to look progressive; because Guyana will look good, and the political weirdoes, attackers, the fault finders, the destructive geniuses, the national saboteurs, the economic backward fools, will stand little chance in the next elections, maybe that is their thought…. sad! While I am not a political person and I care not for a particular political entity, I care about Guyana, our future, our development, our growth, employment for citizens, tax money for our coffers. I wish to see prosperity everywhere; factories flourish, so that instead of exporting our labour and brains, we import them. If the Government of the day was in Opposition and they were doing the same, I would curse them out the same way. He who is without sin should cast the first stone. Look at the AFC, virtually a babe, and its bowels nationally caught in corruption by its elite, even confusion and disillusionment. The PNC, they had their time, what they did, but even in their time the then Opposition tackled them everywhere with strikes and international protestations. This is a historical reality. Notwithstanding, for the sake of national development, the then

Opposition PPP gave ‘critical support’ to the then PNC government. That stands as a major difference. Not everything this Government of the day do will be perfect and good, but I believe that not everything they do is also evil. Those with the evil eye will see evil; those with ‘cocked eyes’ will see ‘cocked things’. The evil alliance will see only evil as they see what they want to see. Those objectionists, professional ones now, they object to every damn thing under the sun that the Government tries to construct or implement for the national good. They try to sabotage every act of development. The Republicans of the USA, they are against ‘Obama Care’ because it will make the Democrats invincible. They are against immigration reforms, as if done by the Obama Government; the Republicans will be in the dustbins for maybe another 50 years. Is this the cause of the perpetual sabotage by the ‘cadres of evil…the evil alliance.’ Well, the Opposition and the Kaieteur News have their axes to grind. I am not a hater of the PNC. I have many great friends there and I respect their constitution, but in many things they do, they become the agents of backwardness working in tandem with the publisher of the Kaieteur News, who has his axe to grind. How can one so tainted with the filth of criminality and wealth by criminal endeavours,

only see filth in what is even good…because that is what they are. I say cast the first stone, he who is without sin. Is there any company or business anywhere in the world that may not have skeletons in its closet? Is there anyone anywhere as persons that do not have some dirty laundry? The Kaieteur News love to find negatives for companies that are awarded contracts or intend to invest in projects that will do Guyana good. They dig, and may find, then they magnify, and allude and at times make imagination reality, as they see filth and have it in them so much, that everything is filthy and questionable. I recall when I once won part of the contract for the Regional Security Contract because the company accustomed to winning security contracts submitted a false GRA compliance. Yet that Kaieteur News management allowed the owner of that company to manipulate and use them to attack and embarrass this writer and his business, in every nook and cranny…the Kaieteur News will not listen to me and tried to ridicule me for months, and then they pulled their tails between their legs and humbled themselves but never apologised after discovering the truth. How can this publisher ever be respected, not mentioning his lifestyle and personal history, but I will not dwell on that. I am annoyed, most highly because they wish to sabotage this project as they have done with almost every other project or at least tainted them. From the Timehri Airport contract, the One Laptop Project, the national internet connectivity, the protection of our jungles and forest projects, the road contracts, the Ogle Airport, to the Marriott

Hotel, and so much more, everything this alliance of evil tried to destroy, every project. They even slaughtered in a most heinous and unforgivable way our one chance of Hydro electricity. Yippe! The evil alliance did it. Now ladies and gentlemen, fellow Guyanese they wish to derail a massive investment in Guyana, a US$30M investment because of the most asinine reasons: that the major stakeholder has no experience in building a plant. Our tax money is not involved in this, so shut your traps and let the people invest. If they have no experience, why they need it? Do they need it? Oh, by the way intelligent Opposition and educated Kaieteur News Publisher, there is something called Consultants you knooooo…..aaaowwwwww, oh you did not know; well now you know, aowwwwwww! Now you know! Riiigggghghhhht! There is something called architects you know, aowwwwwww! Now you know! There are Contractors who can build you know, aaaowwwww! Now you know. Glenn Lall calls an editor, like Adam Harris, a specialist; the same way there are Chief Executive Officers internationally who can be employed, from the USA, from China, from India, from Russia, from the Ukraine…or anywhere else fools. Aowwwwww…. now you know!!! And if you did not know also, there are some CEO’s who are known to invest and manage as partners. Then you will foolishly say they have no experience in waste recycling; well, aowwwwwww! There is something called ‘Specialists in Fields’…you intelligent idiots! Sad I have to use such words to describe your macabre and clandestine mentalities; jackass is more

appropriate, when people would use hate for the fact that they have been losing every elections in the history of Guyana, though they may have paraded as Government by deceit, to destroy everything good. I recall the Satellite launching site the Opposition fought against until the investors lost their interest. As they try now to bring Guyana to its knees by failure to support the anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (amendment) bill, as if only the PPP Government will suffer, the Opposition parties and Kaieteur News are having what seem to be orgasmic explosions in their mentalities as a result of the non-cooperation. So we may have a Minister’s offspring who is educated, qualified (unlike Glenn Lall), and can raise the money or has some and wish to invest and/or support this investment in the recycling of waste, but because one of the investors is a Government Minister’s child, that person cannot and or should not open a factory or business or partner with someone. Automatically to these sinister minds something fishy is involved. People of Guyana, you have become a rumourised society, be careful, support projects that will be good for Guyana. Think, if someone never built a factory, can he not employ specialists to build one. I never construct buildings, but I hire architects, reputable contractors, and in my businesses, I employ various kinds of people who will manage my various businesses. Same for the investors. Let the project continue. Opposition and negative media, and the evil alliance, stop sabotaging development. Everyone has a right to invest, create employment or open a business, whether it is a Minister’s child or not. ROSHAN KHAN Patriotic Guyanese

Suggestions on improving VOG’s service THE Voice of Guyana (VOG) needs to do several simple things to improve itself and give a better service to listeners:(1) Programme schedules should be published and should be strictly followed – this is a standard procedure by all proper radio stations. VOG changes its regular programmes without notice to the inconvenience and disgust of listeners. (2) Recently, the station stopped rebroadcasting BBC at midnight and has replaced it with a never-ending tape of low-grade music, Indian ones included.The BBC’s programmes are always international, enlightening, educative and high grade and to substitute low-grade music tapes for the BBC is doing both the station and its listeners a great dis-service. Restoration of the BBC would be restoring the station to deserved class and to unique distinctiveness in

the broadcasting milieu. This should be done immediately. (3) In the past the station aired a fair amount of time for classical music each day. Now they have four 30-minute or less classical programmes per week and these are aired at 10 O’clock in the day when people are at work. The Sunday Concert Hall programme which comes over erratically at 9:00 pm has no presenter and the person playing the music sometimes openly admits that he has no idea of classical music. Very often, the music is merely played anonymously. The station should have a proper presenter or if they can’t, then the announcer/technician should at least read the title of the music in full so that listeners would know the composer, the name of the

piece played and the orchestra. By so doing, the station would continue to bring the world’s cultural treasures to Guyanese. (4) If there could be no proper presenter, the station may well consider rebroadcasting the ‘Proms’. Even the older editions would be welcomed and these could be obtained from the BBC. (5) The station identifies itself as broadcasting from “the Georgetown City” of Georgetown. It would be better to merely identify as ‘Georgetown’ for obvious reasons. I would humbly implore Dr Roger Luncheon, as Head of the Presidential Secretariat, and a gentleman who knows about high cultural standards, the Broadcast Authority and the management of the station to correct these deficiencies and begin to restore Guyana to cultural standards. VICTORIA GILES

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday November 20, 2013

Record-breaking year for rice production

THE rice industry continues its outstanding performance, hitting an all time high this year, surpassing the fixed targets as well as the 2012 figure by over 107,000 tonnes. Rice production for 2013 topped 529,384 tonnes, exceeding the 422,057 tonnes produced in 2012, the yield increasing by 25.43 percent. According to figures provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, both crops for 2013 far outperformed their targets. Rice yield for 2013 has

– over 529,000 tonnes produced

exceeded the targeted production of 413,031 tonnes, by 28.17 percent or 116,353 tonnes. This year’s first crop target was 203,553 tonnes, but its yield was 264,321 tonnes, an increase of 29.85 percent. The second crop target of 209,478 was exceeded by 26.54 percent, reaching a production figure of 265,063 tonnes. Rice farmers sowed a total

of 165,461 hectares, harvested 160,742 hectares and produced 805,121 metric tonnes of paddy in 2013. This in itself is historic as the projection was that Guyana would have achieved 500,000 tonnes, but only by the end of 2015. This also pushes forward the possibility of Guyana possibly reaching 600,000 tonnes before the 2020 projection. The sector continues to experience yearly increase in rice

production due to more land being brought under cultivation, and the provision of improved farming techniques with better seed varieties, which in turn have led to improved yields per hectare. A major incentive for the latter has been the price for Guyana’s rice improving, which thus far has been stable. The 2012 rice production grew by 5 percent over the 2011 output. (GINA)

PM wants end to row

A NINE-MEMBER special prison committee, appointed by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar ,will meet today to start investigations into the state of the nation’s prisons and address major issues, including a current impasse at Golden Grove, Arouca. The meeting comes on the heels of more than a week of protest by prison officers complaining of health and safety conditions in the country’s main prison facilities. That action in turn brought protest from prisoners, who complained of their treatment as a result of the officers’ action. Persad-Bissessar announced the establishment of the committee in a press release yesterday. The meeting of the committee, which is to be chaired by criminologist Professor Ramesh Deosaran, is expected to take place at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair. The other committee members are Prison Commissioner Martin Martinez, Inspector of Prisons Daniel Khan, National Security Minister Gary Griffith, Justice Minister Emmanuel George, acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams, attorney Prime Minister Kamla Wayne Sturge and general Persad-Bissessar secretary of the Prisons Officers’ Association (POA) Gerard Gordon. The release initially stated that a representative from the prison population would sit on the committee but a subsequent release late yesterday corrected the first and said the prisoners’ interests would instead be represented by Khan. The release said: “The Prime Minister said she had been personally monitoring the ongoing situation at the Golden Grove state prison and stated that she was deeply concerned over recent and continuing developments related to the prison and to the situation in general.”

Diesel racket smashed Protesters hit Cairo’s Tahrir on anniversary of deaths Rice being harvested in Region 5

(Reuters) - HUNDREDS of Egyptians gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Tuesday to commemorate the deaths of protesters killed two years ago and call for reforms, with many in the crowd calling for the power of the security forces to be curbed. Supporters of army chief General Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, who promised stability and free elections when he overthrew elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July, also showed up at Tahrir but was chased away by activists. The army and the police have been lionized in the press and public since the fall of Mursi and his Muslim Brotherhood backers. Many Egyptians believe Sisi would become president if he runs for office. But the protesters who gathered in Tahrir said the goals of the popular

People wave banners depicting people who died in previous Egyptian revolutions around a monument, erected in honour of the victims, draped with an Egyptian flag after security forces fired teargas at protesters in Tahrir square in downtown Cairo November 19, 2013. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany uprising which toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011 had not been met and accused the security forces of acting mostly with impunity in the intervening

two years. “Down with the military regime,” the protesters chanted. “We want to protect our country from oppression.”

They criticized the bloody crushing of a pro-Mursi protest camp at Rabaa al-Adawiya in Cairo in August. At one point, security forces fired teargas to try to disperse the crowd, but they were unsuccessful and finally melted away, apparently hoping to avoid clashes on a sensitive anniversary. “I am not for the Brotherhood. But I sympathize with them because of what happened at Rabaa. It was a horrible massacre. There was more freedom under Mursi,” said Salma, a high school student who joined the demonstrations. “The Interior Ministry is stronger than it was before,” she said, referring to the ministry which oversees the police. The overthrow of Mubarak raised hopes among Egyptians that they would enjoy more political freedoms after three decades of iron-fisted rule.

(Newsday) PORT-OF-SPAIN police officers swept down on the Sea Lots community Monday afternoon as they smashed yet another diesel smuggling racket. Up to late last night, officers from Port-of-Spain CID, Besson Street Police Station and the Inter Agency Task Force, were stationed in the Sea Lots community in the vicinity of the mangroves, as they oversaw an operation to secure the illegally stored fuel. It was reported that about 2.30 pm, a party of officers went to the Sea Lots community in the vicinity of the mangroves, where they discovered two partially buried tanks which had diesel stored inside. The area was cordoned off, and officials from the National Petroleum (NP) Gas Company were notified, and visited the scene. Up to press time yesterday police officers were still on the scene processing their find and trying to remove the two tanks with the assistance of an excavator. While the exact dimensions were unavailable, one tank, police sources said, appeared to be about 12 feet deep, and it appeared to have about “five to six” feet of diesel inside. The other tank, police said, appeared to have similar dimensions, but they were still awaiting exact measurements. Sources said they believed the officers may have discovered a million dollar operation, where boats will pull up close to the mangroves, and from there they would take the fuel. Diesel currently costs $1.50 per litre at a subsidised price for nationals of this country, and persons who took advantage of the locally subsidised prices could potentially earn anywhere between US$6-8 per litre. Investigations are continuing.