Guyana chronicle November 06 2013

GUYANA No. 103642 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2013

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

GUYANA'S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

PRICE: $60

INCLUDING VVA AT

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

As ambassador of goodwill…

Katherina Roshanna continues to win hearts in Moscow

By Alex Wayne GUYANA’s representative at this year’s Miss Universe, Katherina Roshanna continues to win hearts and to be an ambassador of goodwill of her country.

At the National Costume Competition, with her plumage of wonder, representing the Cock-of-the Rock, she was a magical experience, with the masterpiece of Dereck Moore’s magic, artistry and vision.

One cannot truly get the splendour of the reality on stage and

backstage of a newspaper’s copy but this is a superb way of allowing the mass Guyanese population to get a majestic idea of the moment on the ground and the stage, with the thousands, shouting and applauding in Moscow, Russia.

Katherina, with her ‘Best Smile’ and ‘Most Beautiful Skin’ appealed to the audience with her poise, grace, charm and skill. She moved her arms, representing the wings of the Cock-of-the Rock, and as she waved them, one felt as if she would have taken off with the grace of flight for which the famous landmark bird is known.

The Cock-of-the Rock inhabits the Kaieteur Falls highlands and

Katherina Roshanna signs autographs for her fans after showcasing her National Costume in Russia. is known to live only there in Guyana, is non-migratory and cannot be domesticated or transferred anywhere else.

It is legendary and tourists to Guyana flock to see it in the vicinity of the amazing Kaieteur, the world’s highest single drop waterfall that quadruples the height of Niagara.

Katherina’s skin shimmered with the fabric to the point of creating eye intoxication, with cameras clicking and numerous requests for autographs.

While Dereck Moore’s artistry is truly hypnotic, her smile was most mesmerising and captivated the hearts of people, as she continues to portray and represent her beloved Guyana, land of many waters.

Katherina Roshanna, Guyana’s beauty queen sends her love and respect to the Guyanese nation, particularly His Excellency President Donald Ramotar, First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar, Opposition Leader David Granger and other members of Parliament, asking that they sit and work to make Guyana a land and nation of respect and honour, from where the world can take an example, especially in facing issues surrounding the growth and development of Guyana.

SENDING THANKS She ends her message by sending thanks and appreciation to the Franchise Holder of Miss Guyana Universe, Mr. Odinga Lumumba and his team, Mrs. Pat Coates of Village Couture; famous designer Dereck Moore and artist and, of course, her dear friend and adviser Mr. Richard Young of Trinidad; Mr. Ronnie Morris of Barbados; Ms. Sonia Noel of Guyana Fashion Week and Randy, designer and friend, as well as others too numerous to mention.

Roshanna extends special thanks, too, to fans Fazil Rahaman, Anil Baichu, Kevin Bhagrat, Pamela Dillon, and others for their constancy in love.

Katherina also remembers Mr. Joel Ghanshyam of NTN for his encouragement and said, while she is in Moscow, she hears of his support on various radio and television programmes hosted by him.

To her founder and constant supporters and friends, Chandini Rambalak and the entire team of the Apsara Entertainment Group and Hashim Ali of Entertainers Platform, she is grateful.

She also expresses profound gratitude to all Guyana for the constant love, as she wishes peace and harmony for the hearts of all.

3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Three White Water girls fall ill after eating suspected cocaine-laced sweets

By Leroy Smith THREE days after their community celebrated the first visit by a sitting President in the person of President Donald Ramotar, the Region 1 community of White Water was plunged into a state of worry when three young girls from the community were rushed to the Mabaruma Hospital after eating what appeared to be cocaine-laced sweets.

The Guyana Chronicle newspaper was informed that on Sunday, three girls from the Wauna White Water community, two being ages 12 and 14, were rushed to the Regional Hospital after they complained of feeling unwell. The girls were taken to the health facility at about 20:30hrs and discharged the following morning.

This publication was reliably informed that one of the girls appeared quite intoxicated and health officials were immediately able to determine that the children were under the influence of some sort of illicit sub-

stance.

According to reports, the children purchased sweets, which quite unusually tasted bitter and caused their tongues to become numb.

The children then decided to speak about this to adults in the area who cracked the sweets open and found a whitish substance inside.

In speaking with a source close to the police investigation of this matter, the Guyana Chronicle was informed that the children also became unconscious for a while after eating the sweets.

The girls also complained of feeling weakness in their legs and were unable to stand.

The girls reported that they bought the sweets, called taffies, from a shop in the area. An examination of the taffies remaining in the jar from which the children were sold revealed that it contained a powdery substance suspected to be cocaine. The police were called in and investigations are continuing.

Yesterday, this newspaper was informed that while several packets of the taffies were removed from the village shop in the little Amerindian community, there is no positive confirmation as yet that the substance found within the sweets is cocaine.

It was further related that due to unforeseen circumstances yesterday morning the detectives were unable to travel to the city with the packets of taffies for testing. However, they are scheduled in Georgetown this morning and are expected to take the taffies to the lab for testing.

Meanwhile, the individual who operates the shop has been questioned about the matter.

The incident has attracted the attention of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and a source at the ministry confirmed to this newspaper that they are paying close attention to the investigation. The ministry was informed of the situation by its Community Support Officer.

PPP/C expresses deep concern over Guyana Times gagging THE governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), in a statement yesterday, registered its “deep concern” on the gag ordered against the Guyana Times newspaper, issued by a High Court judge.

The statement, a reiteration of sentiments expressed by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, said:“We support the Attorney General’s contention that the order of the learned Judge may be an abuse of press freedom and is in violation of the Constitution of Guyana…as a party that has fought so many battles and contributed to so many advances in the pursuit of freedom of the press, we view this as a most retrograde step.”

The ruling party called for the decision to be reversed.

It said:”We may not agree with many of what the press publishes, but we must respect their right to publish it, once it is lawful for them to do so.”

Previously, in October 2013, the Guyana Times carried a series of articles about the annual returns of a public company, Guyana Stores Limited (GSL) and its shareholders and directors, as these were felt to be of public importance.

The statement said the newspaper was advised that the issues reported on concerned pending litigation before the High

Court and the reports are, therefore, inappropriate.

After the ruling was made, the AG stated that it was in collision with freedom of expression and freedom of the press which is a right guaranteed by the Constitution.

RESPECTFUL VIEW He continued:“In the circumstances, I am of the respectful view that the learned judge fell into error by issuing the said gag order. It is my view that the information which the newspaper was prohibited from publishing, are, indeed, matters of public interest. It involves public funds. The disclosures are from public records. Even the trial itself, is a public hearing under Article 144 (9) of the Constitution of Guyana.”

The court case was initiated by the Government against the majority shareholder of GSL, Royal Investments Inc. and is being heard before Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire.

The lawsuit was instituted by Government some eight years ago, claiming US$2M and interest, allegedly owed after the privatisation of the company for US$6M. The PPP/C maintained that what was published by the Guyana

Times relates to the proceeds from a sale of a state asset, Guyana Stores Ltd, making the funds public funds, hence the public interest in the story.

According to the PPP/C :“From its inception, the PPP/C has been in the forefront of every form of struggle to ensure that Guyanese from all races, creed and class enjoy the universally recognised basic human rights, freedom from exploitation of every kind, access to justice and, indeed, a better quality of life.

“In particular, we have a long history of championing freedom of expression in all its forms, including, freedom of the press….newspapers, television outfits, radio stations and news agencies operate freely and without any form of undue and unlawful censorship or interference from the Government.

“In fact, it is well known that many of their publications are scathingly critical of the Government, some scandalous, libelous, and even malicious. But they continue to operate without pressure from the Government.”

The trial at the centre of the controversy started in late 2010, but saw a one-year break in court. After some progress in the matter, there was a two-year break. The matter comes up again for hearing on December 2 and 5.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Bangladesh to execute 152 soldiers for mutiny crimes

Art looted by Nazis found in German apartment, media report (CNN) — A CACHE of 1,500 works of art — including masterpieces by Picasso, Matisse and Chagall — confiscated by the Nazis and missing for more than 70 years has been found in Germany, according to German media reports.

The huge haul of paintings, estimated to be worth more than $1 billion, was discovered in an apartment in Munich in the spring of 2011 during a raid by Bavarian tax authorities, but its existence has only just come to light with an article in the German news magazine Focus.

The collection is said to include works by Modernist masters Paul Klee, Oskar Kokoschka, Franz Marc, Max Beckmann, Emil Nolde and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, many of which had been believed destroyed during World War II. Focus reports that the pictures were found when customs police raided a rundown apartment in the Schwabing district of Munich during an investigation into suspected tax evasion. The recovered paintings are said to have been kept in storage in a secure warehouse in the city ever since.

“The German government is supporting the state prosecution in Augsburg by supplying advice from experts in the field of so-called degenerate art and the entire issue of Nazi-looted art,” government spokesman Steffen Seibert said. “But we cannot comment any of the issues of the ongoing investigation.”

The full extent of the find is expected to be revealed by art historian Meike Hoffmann, an expert on “degenerate art” from the Freie Universitaet Berlin, at a news conference in Augsburg on Tuesday.

Thousands of pieces of art labeled “degenerate” by the Nazis were looted from private collections and confiscated from galleries during the 1930s and 1940s; other works were stolen from Jewish families or sold for a fraction of their true value as the owners tried to flee the country. Many paintings remain missing decades later.

(BBC News) A COURT in Bangladesh has sentenced at least 152 soldiers to death over a bloody border guard mutiny in 2009.

More than 150 others, mostly border guards, were given life sentences.

Most of the 800 soldiers who packed the civilian court had already been jailed over the mutiny, but had not been tried for murder, torture and other charges.

The 30-hour revolt began over pay and other grievances and spread from Dhaka to bases around the country. It left 74 people dead, 57 of them officers.

While the army courts investigated breaches of military law - jailing nearly 6,000 troops - the maximum sentence they could pass was seven years. The civilian court could try people for much more serious crimes carrying the death penalty.

Some out of a group of 23 civilians were also found guilty of conspiracy charges.

Those convicted have the right to appeal, a process which could take many months given the number of cases. The prosecution said that it too would appeal in the cases of those who were acquitted.

BBC Bengali editor Sabir Mustafa says it will be very difficult for the authorities not

Some of those convicted say they had nothing to do with the uprising to carry out the death sentences - to do otherwise would anger the army and send the wrong message to future would-be mutineers.

Our correspondent says public sentiment was initially sympathetic towards the mutineers, but turned against them once the mass killings became apparent.

Murder and torture The mutiny began on 25 February, 2009 at the Bangladeshi Rifles headquarters in the capital.

Senior officers were killed and their bodies dumped in sewers and shallow graves before the mutineers surrendered.

“The atrocities were so heinous that even the dead bodies were not given their rights,” Judge Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman said as he read out the verdicts over several hours by using the serial numbers of defendants and their corresponding sentences.

The judge said that the soldiers should have been given better pay and privileges to de-

fuse resentment, adding they could not afford to send their children to military-owned schools.

Several of those convicted screamed at the judge in rage, with one elderly soldier crying out: “I am innocent. You will face Allah’s wrath.”

“I don’t need a life term.

Hang me, hang me,” another shouted.

The trial of the mutineers on Tuesday has been one of the biggest in Bangladesh’s history.

Germany asks British ambassador to explain spying report BERLIN (Reuters) - GERMANY on Tuesday asked the British ambassador to come to the foreign ministry to discuss a newspaper report that a covert spying station was operating in Berlin with hi-tech equipment mounted on the embassy roof.

Documents leaked by former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden show that Britain’s surveillance agency is operating a network of “electronic spy posts” from within a stone’s throw of the Bundestag and German chancellor’s office, the Independent reported.

“At the instigation of Foreign Minister (Guido) Westerwelle, the British ambassador was asked to come for a talk at the foreign ministry,” a German statement said.

“The director of the European department asked for an explanation of current reports in British media and indicated that tapping communications from a diplomatic mission would be a violation of international law.”

The foreign ministry’s request for an explanation is a less serious diplomatic move than formally summoning the ambassador.

In London, a spokesman for British Prime Minister David Cameron said: “We don’t comment on intelligence questions.

It’s my understanding that he was invited. It’s the British ambassador’s job to talk to the German government and I’ll let him do that. The prime minister has not spoken to Merkel. We have an excellent relationship with the German government and I think that will continue.”

DATE: 30/10/2013 C 11 15 19 26 13 21 08 DATE: 02/11/2013 K 12 13 22 27 16 23 11

2013/11/02

03

08

14

17

22

2013/11/05

12

04

11

07

18

2013/11/02

4

6

9

2013/11/02

01 05 06 12 15 20 21

2013/11/05

8

7

1

2013/11/05

13 11 05 07 17 09 19

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Argentina finds 1,500 secret military junta files Ignacio de los Reyes reports on the secret junta files (BBC News) Some 1,500 secret files, dating back to the years of military rule in Argentina, have been discovered in Buenos Aires.

They were found in an abandoned wing of the Air Force headquarters.

The files contain the transcripts of all meetings held by the military junta, which ruled the country from 1976 to 1983, said Defence Minister Agustin Rossi.

The documents also name famous artists and intellectuals who were blacklisted.

Folk singer Mercedes Sosa, writer Julio Cortazar, tango musician Osvaldo Pugliese and actress Norma Aleandro are among many banned or subjected to censorship for opposing the government.

“They were classified from F1 to F4 according to their [perceived] level of threat [to society],” said Mr Rossi.

For the first time we have access to documents covering the whole period of military rule” AGUSTIN ROSSI ARGENTINE DEFENCE MINISTER It is still unclear whether the files will shed light on thousands of legal cases of opponents of the regime killed or disappeared by the military government, says the Gen Videla died in BBC’s Ignacio de los Reyes in prison, aged 87, while Buenos Aires. serving a life sentence for crimes against hu‘CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER’ manity In the 1,500 files, were found 280 documents with the official records of meetings of the military junta.

“For the first time we have access to documents covering the whole period of military rule,” said Mr Rossi.

“And the material is filed in chronological order and also classified by subject.”

The findings were announced at a media conference in Buenos Aires. There was no mention of files concerning the Falklands War, which ultimately precipitated the end of military rule.

Gen Videla died in prison, aged 87, while serving a life sentence for crimes against humanity The Argentine government says the files will be published soon.

The junta came to power in a military coup on 24 March 1976, deposing President Isabel Peron.

Gen Jorge Rafael Videla became the president of the junta and handed over power to Gen Roberto Viola in 1981.

The junta’s other two members were Air Force Gen Orlando Ramon Agosti and Admiral Emilio Massera.

Gen Videla died in jail in May, while serving a life sentence for crimes against humanity.

Human rights groups say an estimated 30,000 people were killed during seven years of military rule in Argentina.

Rowley: Four losses in a row for ‘Guinness Book of Records’

By Joel Julien (Trinidad Express) POLITICAL Leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM) Dr Keith Rowley last night described the People’s Partnership inability to win any of the four elections called this year as a “Guinness Book World Record”.

Rowley was speaking as the PNM celebrated victory in the St Joseph by-election at the PNM’s Petit Bourg office.

Terrence Deyalsingh last night claimed the St Joseph seat in the Parliament for the PNM. From as early as 6 p.m. when the polls were closed yesterday the PNM faithful started to gather outside the party’s campaign office located along Mt Hope Road.

Election results were being relayed to the crowd during the course of the night.

At 9.15 p.m. the PNM supporters started a street party after news came that Deyalsingh had won.

Ian Alleyne, the United National Congress’ candidate, was Deyalsingh’s closest rival.

The PNM supporters shouted catch phrases from Alleyne’s popular Crime Watch programme as part of their revelry.

“It is wetting after wetting,” one woman shouted.

“It is not alleged, it is a fact,” another chimed in.

Ten minutes later Deyalsingh arrived outside the campaign office in a car.

He was mobbed.

At 9.45 p.m. Rowley arrived.

Rowley, Deyalsingh and campaign manager John Rahael along with other members of the PNM hierarchy held a press conference in the assigned media room.

“We now have a second victory in two weeks time and we will build on that for the general election,” PNM chair-

man Franklin Khan said.

Rowley said the government tried every trick possible in this election.

“The government of

DR KEITH ROWLEY Trinidad and Tobago has thrown every single thing at its opponents in this election. The government has misbehaved once again, has broken the law, it has disgraced itself and I think the result even after all that to have lost is poetic jus-

tice,” Rowley said.

Rowley said one party was caught giving out cellphones and cash for votes yesterday.

However, the “most vulgar action” was the use of State funds to bribe farmers from Aranjuez with compensation for flooding the day before the election.

Rowley said he will be writing the Integrity Commission on the matter.

“The government has lost its mandate, it was rejected in Tobago, it was rejected in Chaguanas, rejected in the Local Government election and here in St Joseph rejected again,” Rowley said.

“This has to be in the Guinness Book of Records.

Four elections inside on one year. This government has no mandate to continue to operate in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.

He again called for the general election to be called now.

“We will savour the victory and others will analyse it,”

Rowley said.

Deyalsingh said the St Joseph constituents showed their integrity by refusing all the government’s inducements and tricks.

Deyalsingh said he will be asking for the cellphone numbers of all government Ministers in order to continue in the pattern started

by Alleyne to call on them to initiate work in the area.

Rowley called on the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) to investigate the situation surrounding Alleyne’s registration.

“There are certain legal requirements to get your name on the voters’ list. If your name is on the voters’ list you are entitled to vote. It is only if an objection is lodged and sustained. As far as we know we lodged no objection,” Rowley said.

Rowley said in the interest of “preserving free and fair elections” the EBC has to investigate the matter and take the necessary action.

6

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

GUYANA

A shameless attempt to cover up an embarrassing political blunder

EDITORIAL

Road safety is everybody’s business SAFETY on our roads continues to be a pressing problem as there is an accident almost daily on our roadways due to reckless and lawless driving.

The problem has become more complex as we struggle with the significant increase in the number of vehicles which outstrips the increase of road networks. This is one of the serious dilemmas in countries where there is continuous economic growth and improved living standards.

In our case, the rate of accidents is extremely high and per capita we are the countries with the highest number of accidents.

What is most disturbing, is the fact that most road accidents are preventable. They simply occur because road users do not adhere to traffic rules.

While some blame must be placed on the police force for this unfortunate state of affairs, it must at the same time be borne in mind that it is impossible for police officers to be everywhere at the same time. It is the duty of all road users to adhere to traffic rules and to act responsibly when using the roadways. No matter how many police officers patrol our roads, accidents will continue to happen at an alarming rate if road users do not obey the rules of the road and act in a responsible manner. So the fundamental issue is that road users have safety on our roads in their hands.

The agonising loss of life, limbs and property in Guyana and globally cannot be over emphasised and this has to be stopped now, because the trend is indeed a frightening one. One shudders to think what our country would become in a few years time if this trend continues.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), nearly 3,400 people die on the world’s roads every day. Tens of millions of people are injured or disabled every year. Children, pedestrians, cyclists and the elderly are among the most vulnerable of road users. WHO works with partners - governmental and non-governmental - around the world to raise the profile of the preventability of road-traffic injuries and promote good practices related to helmet and seat-belt wearing, not drinking and driving, not speeding and being visible in traffic.

WHO adds that about 1.24 million people die each year on the world’s roads; and between 20 and 50 million sustain nonfatal injuries. Young adults aged between 15 and 44 years account for 59% of global road traffic deaths.

This fact file presents data from the Global status report on road safety 2013. This is the second broad assessment of the road-safety situation and provides the baseline for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011–2020. The report shows that road-traffic injuries remain an important public health problem despite progress in a number of countries. To reduce the number of road-traffic injuries, the pace of legislative change and enforcement needs to be hastened and more attention paid to vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists and motor cyclists.

Apart from the actual deaths, injuries and suffering caused by accidents also put a tremendous financial squeeze on the public health care system and depletes a country’s human resources capacity.

ON Thursday October 24, the Honourable Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, held a press briefing to announce to the nation that five Guyanese students topped the entire Caribbean in this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination.

Then on Thursday October 31, while delivering brief remarks at the Ministry of Education’s 17th National Award Ceremony for Outstanding Performance at the National Cultural Centre, she made the following statement: “It is absolutely disgraceful, shameful… with all we have to celebrate. Eight days ago we announced to this nation that five of our Guyanese sons and daughters topped the Region, the whole Caribbean… other countries are celebrating us and blogging about us and writing editorials about us… so it is absolutely shameful and disgraceful that not one single leader of the Opposition as yet has found it appropriate to congratulate our children.”

In a letter last Monday, “Minister Manickchand shouldn’t use students’ achievements to gain political mileage” (Kaieteur News, November 3), the AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan asserted that “I have commented on several AFC television shows across the country that these students deserve our praises.”

This is not true. This is a shameless attempt to cover up an embarrassing political blunder. At least David Granger had the decency not to lie about his party’s failure to recognise the outstanding academic achievement of the ‘Magnificent Five.’

I therefore challenge Khemraj Ramjattan to publish the dates of any television show or any newspaper article where he or any member of the AFC expressed any form of congratulatory remarks to Yogeeta Persaud; Cecil Cox; Sasha Woodroffe; Rafena Mustafa; and Zimeena Rasheed, for receiving the Caribbean’s Most Outstanding awards at the 2013 CSEC examinations. And if he cannot do so, an apology to the Honourable Minister of Education and to those five students is appropriate.

In an effort to distance himself from Minister Manickchand’s accusation, Ramjattan referred to an AFC press conference held on August 14, 2013 “after the results were made known to the public, I was present when appropriately our Youth Section leader, Mr. Trevor Williams, read out an AFC press release which was carried extensively in the Stabroek News of August 15, 2013.” Additionally, he said that the following was printed in the AFC’s column in Kaieteur News on August 18, 2013: “The Alliance For Change (AFC) wishes to congratulate the top performers at the 2013 sittings of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).”

Mr Ramjattan may be a lawyer, but judging from the above time-line, he’s not a very smart one. When he and Trevor Williams issued those congratulatory remarks, they were congratulating the National “top performers at the 2013 sittings of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).”

But when Minister Manickchand said “It is absolutely shameful and disgraceful that not one single leader of the opposition as yet has found it appropriate to congratulate our children”, she was obviously referring to the ‘Magnificent Five’ who copped five out of the eight CXC awards. This announcement was known to the nation only during the minister’s press briefing on Thursday, October 24. So it would have been highly impossible for Khemraj Ramjattan and his AFC to issue statements of congratulations to the Regional awardees, 71 days before on August 14.

And in his usual cock-eyed way of distorting the evidence before him, Ramjattan made this ludicrous reference to the minister, “She must know by now that these superlative performances by our Caribbean winners had nothing specifically to do with her ministry or her PPP government, but everything to do with their personal attributes; their outstanding parents’ support; and private lessons, and (in a couple of cases) the private teachers provided to them.”

Although personal attributes; supportive parents and teachIt is therefore of absolute necessity that no effort be spared to minimise the unacceptable number of accidents on our roads.

Unlike what some are wont to believe, the problem is not exclusively one for the government. On the contrary, road safety is everybody’s business and it has to be tackled from every possible angle and level.

Therefore to begin, drivers must be better trained and educated in road usage; traffic education should be intensified in schools and other educational institutions and at the community level; traffic laws and regulations and penalties need to be periodically reviewed and amended if necessary and of course road networks have to be modernised and expanded to cope with increasing volumes of traffic. With regard to the latter, availability of finance would be a key factor, but with the trend in Guyana this is becoming an imperative.

ers played a major role in these students’ magnificent performance, it would have been tremendously more difficult without the government’s unwavering commitment to the education sector as reflected in education being allocated the largest sectorial share of resources in our national budget: $28.7 Billion this year and $26.5 Billion last year. With this allocation, the Ministry of Education was able to train more teachers and ensure all schools receive the necessary resources and teaching aids to produce increasingly better results year after year. Anyone but an unscrupulous politician with his own agenda would have seen that.

But this new trend of attacking Education Minister Priya Manickchand is sure to backfire, as it will only strengthen her resolve and make her more popular than she is presently.

The many parents, teachers and students who have come to know this hard-working, dedicated public servant, can testify to her sincerity and commitment to doing the very best for Guyana’s children.

But as I’m so often reminded, dogs don’t bark at parked cars. It must be that she’s viewed as a potential threat to the Opposition, as they’re using every nasty trick in the book to discredit, frustrate and distract this honourable woman at a time when she is poised to raise standards in English and Mathematics and has just introduced Portuguese as a new foreign language in schools. But if she succeeds, as I’m confident she will, there will be nothing left for the AFC and PNC/APNU to be critical of the education sector again.

I hope I’m wrong, but is this a strategic ploy designed by the Joint Opposition to stymie the progress of education under the PPP/C? I wonder.

HARRY GILL

Gross hypocrisy exists in legal circles JUSTICE Dawn Gregory gave a gag order on The Editor of Guyana Times newspaper, banning him from publishing any information pertaining to Guyana Stores. She contends that the matter is in the process of adjudication and as such he should not make public, matters of this case. She asserts that the matter involving Guyana Stores is a matter for her court to decide and while that matter is before her the newspaper editor is in breach of the law by publishing aspects of that case.

Be that as it may, the learned judge should be mindful of the fact that her assumption of the newspaper’s report is on hearsay and not factual matters already dealt with in this case, as such the editor is duty bound to report this. He is not in breach of any law that could preclude him from reporting such matters.

Her actions therefore constitute an attack on free speech, an assault on fair and balanced reporting. Furthermore, the editor has not expressed an opinion; therefore he is not guilty of anything.

He was just simply expressing the facts of the case as it unfolded. Nevertheless, what misgivings the learned judge might have had were allayed with a polite apology.

Attorney General Mr Anil Nandlall aptly explained, with which I am in total agreement, that the judge’s ruling amounts to an overstepping of her bounds to which he was greeted with a derogatory letter penned by Senior Counsel Rex McKay. He, in predictable style, ran off on a tangent with that blind support for the judge without even examining the fundamental issues put forward by the Attorney General.

I read Rex’s article, a contortion of facts mixed with legal jargon and nothing else. Rex’s ramblings lacked substance; he was just making objections without any real cause.

Speaking about facts and raising one’s voice in denunciation, I would like to ask the senior counsel where was his voice when Nigel Hughes flagrantly flaunted the law in the case of the two accused in the Lusignan Massacre? Where was Rex McKay? Have himself and other legal personalities gone senile on that matter? So far I’ve only seen one article written by another Senior Counsel, Brynor Pollard, staunchly supporting Hughes in his actions. He stood in strong defence of Hughes in that matter. He contends that a counsel has no reason to reveal his/her association with a standing juror. Utter trash! And Pollard knows this fully well. But it goes to show the gross hypocrisy that exists in legal circles in Guyana today and make no mistake, Rex McKay is part of this. Far more important is the Nigel Hughes matter and the so-called legal minds are glossing over it as if nothing ever happened; no breach of the law, hence no punishment for him? These are the matters that should be engaging their attention and not the flimsy peripheral issues that are innocuous at best and does not subvert justice.

NEIL ADAMS

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

More dads like the one at Annandale needed UPON reading your daily of October 23 I choose to express my sincere feelings if you permit.

First of all, how can we stop the pain and agony our people have to endure almost every day?

I have read with great concern of a father kicking a bandit off his steps who had a knife placed to the neck of his daughter at his Annandale home.

Sir, I can only imagine what went through the mind of the father to do what he did, although a knife was placed at the neck of his 13-year-old daughter.

Anyhow, I must confess the need for more daddies, like the one mentioned. Daddy, you are indeed a hero. I wish to reach you face to face and touch your blessed feet.

If at any time our government wishes to award someone for bravery, myself, friends and entire family strongly recommend that brave father.

May he continue to love and defend his family always.

May the Lord continue to shower his blessing upon you.

WANITA EVANS

Restricting heavy-duty vehicles a good move THE media reported that heavy-duty vehicles would be restricted on the East Bank during the rush hour, but the traffic chief indicated that there will be no charge for those in breach.: It is good that no charge will be laid against those in breach, but there should be a charge for a second-time breach.

Do not lift this restriction since there is only one major road leading to our airport.

It is very scary what these big vehicle drivers do on that tiny road.You have to move out of their way or they move you.

There must be restrictions on all roads in Guyana, especially the newly built ones, because big business people do not care what they break up or damage in order to get their goods to its destination, then turn around and blame government for not doing anything.

Heavy loads on vehicles are damaging and breaking up roads faster than they could be repaired.

These business people can hire small trucks to make several trips with their goods.

Government must ensure that these business people do no jack up their prices for goods delivered this way.

Or let the business people fix all roads immediately once they break them.

Then again, they will pass on the cost to consumers. A nowin situation for government.

T. KING

Improved service at CJIA needed for passengers in wheelchairs THIS 90-year-old senior has just returned to my homeland. At 7:30 pm on Monday October 21, I searched the television channels for Jeopardy which exercise I maintain is chiefly responsible for my being able to pen you this letter; and is also responsible for my not suffering from Dementia or Alzheimer.

Management of Channel Seven, I know you love this dear land, Guyana, as much or more than this senior. I appeal to you to institute with regularity the Jeopardy programme to ensure that citizens of this dear land maintain a high level of knowledge and maybe intelligence through the exercise. This senior will be happy to know that by my daily participation, I am assured that Dementia and Alzheimer will never happen to me.

Mr. Editor, on my arrival at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Saturday last, my wheelchair was added to a line of wheelchairs. I was number eight in line. I had an urgent need to use the restroom – can you imagine the turmoil in my mind? At the JFK Airport wheelchair occupants are taken to a serving immigration officer to be served immediately after the one being served on our arrival there. I will be happy if consideration is given to us who are incapacitated in one way or the other. Do be kind to us seniors; we once gave yeoman service; help us to maintain our dignity by adopting a more humane system.

ESSIE HOLDER

Where were the critics of Ms. Manickchand when APNU put top NGSA student on the political platform?

I AM not personally acquainted with our Minister of Education, Madam Priya Manickchand, but I do admire the courageous way she approaches her mandate. That aside, I am perplexed at the level of intellectual debauchery on the part of some who have recently risen to criticise Minister Manickchand after she raised concerns as to why congratulations were not forthcoming from the opposition, particularly APNU and its leader Brigadier David Granger, to the top students who were recognised by the Caribbean Examinations Council recently and duly rewarded for their efforts and achievements. Incidentally, these students all happened to be from one ethnic grouping which raises even further questions of the actions of APNU, the acronym incidentally for A Partnership for National Unity.

This concern is justified and might I say scandalous, when consideration is given to the fact that the APNU and Mr. Granger not only congratulated and honoured the National Grade SIx Assessment (NGSA) top student in 2011, who happened to hail from the mining township of Linden, but also placed this child on their political platform during one of their pre-election rallies, while they berated the government and its education system. Where, were all these vocal critics of Minister Manickhand? Were they out of the

country, or is it that APNU is held to a different standard in their minds and putting a child on a political platform is ok, when it comes to the Opposition, but if any PPP/C government official ever dares to expose the inconsistency of the Opposition on such issues, they are attacked from several quarters and efforts made to beat them, figuratively speaking, into submission?

Incidentally, I am from Linden so I vividly remember the spectacle of that particular day. How ironic was Mr. Granger facilitating this young child he placed on his political stage for excelling and being the first Lindener to emerge the top student and at the same time accuse the PPP/C Government of doing nothing for education, particularly in Linden. From what I read in the press, he continues with this charade, but in closing, I am reminded of a Martin Luther King, Jr. quote, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Congratulations to all our students who excelled and for those who fell short this time around, please be reminded that there is always a second chance to excel once you remain purposeful and ambitious.

PATRICE HARDING

Diwali celebrations marred by use of explosives THE Diwali celebrations have evolved in Guyana over the 175 years or so since the first Hindus landed in Guyana. However, the recent years have seen the ugliness of the ‘bombs’ squibs and fire crackers and other devices which now seem to work against the spirit of what our foreparents created as a contemplative and reflective festival.

Hindus in Guyana, especially those involved in the distribution and explosion of the bombs and firecrackers have to figure out how we deal with this modern day ‘darkness’ of the callous disregard for the people and the animals who are affected by the noise.

While the noise is a symbol of the lawlessness which pervades Guyana , do we just accept that there will be less and less diyas and more and more bombs as the years go by? Who are the importers? Which countries make these devices and who are selling them here? Are they smuggled in the same way that guns and drugs are smuggled in and show the failure of our authorities to stop smuggling?

The explanation that ‘Diwali in India is also loud and full of noise and injury’ might hold well with people who desire Hindus to become like modern-day Indians. However, there is no religious

requirement to make any of our festivals disruptive to the population. The police of course seem to have decided to let the bombs explode. The authorities probably want the citizens to shy their bombs and so on during religious festivals, rather than say during protest actions or times when the authorities fail in doing their duties.

Perhaps many persons confuse the symbol of light with destructiveness of fire. There was a time in Guyana when police were not needed to protect Diwali celebrations. Now we hear of mandirs and individuals under attack by bombs and squibs. Would banning Diwali celebrations be part of our future so as to prevent the bombers and fire crackers from disrupting the enjoyment of the festival?

Are we going to just throw our hands up, and have Diwali destroyed by those who have other interests which are not peaceful?

Is there some analogy in this degradation of an important festival a symbol of what is happening in other aspects of Guyanese life and culture?

VIDYARATHA KISSOON

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Nation on threshold of very serious sanctions - as a result of obdurate and non-cooperative parliamentary opposition parties

A

nation is on the threshold of having what can be described as very serious sanctions instituted because it has so far been unable to have crucial legisla tion passed by its National Assembly as a result of its obdurate and non-cooperative parliamentary opposition parties.

As is well known to the nation, Guyana has been requested to reform its Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism laws, by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), thus bringing it in line with proper legislation.

Of course, this is a matter where no attempt at political brinkmanship, power play, or any attempt at gaining political mileage should ever be attempted by any of our opposition parties, given that what is at stake is the nation’s integrity, or more specifically - its national interest.

But the blueprints of both A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance

For Change (AFC) have followed their usual pattern of non-cooperation, mostly in this the 10th Parliament. So many socio-economic projects have been stymied because of deliberate acts that can only be deemed harmful to national development.

Specifically, the AFC party is demanding that Government effect legislation for a National Procurement Commission, in exchange for its support for legislating the AML/CFT Bill. Now, is this not extortion, pure and simple, that is politically criminal in every way? How can a political opposition party that acclaims itself as introducing a new kind of political morality, stoop so low to shameful proportions? Their many supporters, inclusive of business and commerce constituents, by now, must have regretted their initial support, given that their very financial transactions stand to be threatened.

Pilots strike takes LIAT by surprise

By Leroy Smith

FULL CREDIT

SEVERAL flights around the Caribbean were affected for the most part of yesterday, as pilots connected to regional airline LIAT stayed off the job.

A statement, issued by the carrier, said it advised its passengers that due to action taken by the pilots’ trade union, LIALPA, those who were scheduled to fly yesterday failed to show up for duty.

LIAT said it was not provided with the required notification of the industrial action, as required under the agreement between the airline and its pilots. As such, the strike resulted in morning flight disruptions and it was expected to flow into the later part of the day.

Among the destinations hit due to the unannounced strike action by the pilots were Antigua, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada, Trinidad, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Santo Domingo, St. Croix, Guyana, Tortola, Nevis and San Juan.

However, because of the resulting inconvenience to customers, the company has given them the option of rebooking their flights within one week of their original scheduled date of travel without any charge.

After that one-week grace period, passengers will then be required to pay the applicable fares and change fees when rebooking.

Meanwhile, those persons who are unable to travel as planned due to the work stoppage will be issued with a full credit for future trips at their request, according to the airline. But there are some terms and conditions which will apply to that arrangement.

Those arrangements will be in place when the services are resumed and the passengers, who were affected are asked to contact LIAT Reservations to rebook before heading to the respective airports.

Expressing its apologies to the regional passengers, LIAT also advised passengers who decide to travel but are unable to complete their journey due to the disruption yesterday will not be provided with meals, transportation, hotel accommodation etc and those with onward connections must contact their respective carriers.

Yesterday, the Guyana Chronicle e-mailed the communications officer of LIAT, to ascertain how many persons were inconvenienced by the strike and the destinations to which they were to travel.

In a release, subsequent, to the first, only mentioned the destination to which flights were scheduled to go but did not disclose how many people were affected or stranded as a result of the strike action.

The airline promised to update its travelling public of the development with respect to the strike as it becomes available. It also urged passengers to contact the airline’s business office in Antigua on telephone numbers 1-268-480-5582; toll free from the rest of the Caribbean on 1-888-844-5428 and from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on 1-866-549-5428.

Foreign investment, private initiatives welcome once they bring benefits IN the deep sea of Guyana, fishes have been more plentiful since our fishermen do not use the very fine, meshed net which catches even the smallest fish. According to Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy: “ Government is not considering granting fishing licences but has a Memorandum of Understanding with a Chinese company to undertake a study of seafood species that can be fished in the country’s deep waters without impacting on local fishermen”.

The fishermen and trawler companies of Guyana are now convinced that this decision by the minister is not a sound one. The Chinese net and operations will lead to a rapid exhaustion of stocks and seafood species, because the ministry cannot monitor the Chinese operation on the deep sea. By using Chinese in preference to our local fishermen and trawlers, we are robbing the future.

However, they will not respect the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), because there will be no police or army patrol boats. They will quickly sort through their catch and throw the smallest dead fish back into the sea. There should be laws if the government wants to proceed with the licensing of the Chinese company, any trawlers or fishers caught with fine mesh nets and endangered species, is subjected to a fine and their nets burned.

Material which is impregnated with toxic substances (pesticides), will also pose a danger to public health and the environment in our waters. Chinese fishers in breach of the law will also face heavy fines-and expelled from Guyana.

In the deep waters where these gillnets are still used, stocks of fish that spawn have declined substantially from fishers crossing into Guyana’s waters, though they run the risk of being arrested and having all their equipment confiscated.

We welcome Chinese and foreign investment and private initiative once they bring employment and many benefits to our people in creating jobs and advancing both workers and the country’s welfare. Do not deny our people that right! A country which depends for its fish supply on external sources is in a vulnerable position. It is incapable of regulating and maintaining fish prices at reasonable levels.

In 1978-1983, the plan covers the areas of fleet development, onshore facilities, including processing plants; marketing and distribution; industrial linkages and research and it takes into account the special needs of small fishermen. Here we are speaking of selling off our fishing assets which were built up by generations of Guyanese labour.

MOHAMED KHAN

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

PSC petitions National Assembly for passage of AMLCFT Bill It was pointed out that foreign payments regarding goods and services will become difficult, causing delays in imports.

Additionally, investors will leave Guyana, bringing a halt to

tion; Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors; Institute of Private Enterprise Development; Linden Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Development; National Aquaculture Association of Guyana; Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Shipping Association of

jurisdiction, and invites countries to take such counter-measures as they deem necessary to protect themselves from the money-laundering and terrorism risks which Guyana poses.

As Parliament prepares to reconvene sittings of the House tomorrow, calls have been made by various sections of society for the combined Opposition to also be supportive of the legislation that would bring Guyana in line with other Caribbean countries.

President Donald

CHIEF WHIP GAIL TEIXEIRA

ATTORNEY GENERAL ANIL NANDLALL

OPPOSITION LEADER DAVID GRANGER

the growth in the economy.

The PSC petitioners are: Aircraft Owners of Guyana; Forest Products Association of Guyana; Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Guyana Association of Bankers; Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association; Guyana Association of Private Security Organisations; Guyana Manufacturing and Services Associa-

Guyana; Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry Ltd; Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana; Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce.

The CFATF draft report, which is to be issued after the November meeting, has declared Guyana to be a non-compliant

Ramotar has also called on all Guyanese to stand by the government and show support for the AMLCFT Bill.

He said many of the arguments put forward by the Opposition parties, with regard to the bill, are being deliberately made more complicated than they actually are.

“This bill is to bring our legislation at the same level as the rest of the Caribbean’s

– to be heard at tomorrow’s sitting THE rapidly approaching November 18 deadline for the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) Bill has seen increased calls for the House to approve its passage.

The most recent action taken by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) was the presentation of a petition to members of the National Assembly to pass the Bill as a “matter of national and economic priority”.

The Parliament Office yesterday issued a supplementary order paper for tomorrow’s sitting, in which it is stated that the presentation of petitions will be done as a supplementary business on that day.

The PSC said while it notes the concerns expressed by the Opposition parties, no written submissions have been forthcoming as they relate to adjustments to the bill as deemed amendable by the political Opposition. Additionally, the PSC stated, whilst the Bill has been reviewed by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force(CFATF), and has been deemed acceptable, it has been with the Special Select Committee of Parliament for approximately six months. The AML/ CFT Bill was first tabled in Parliament on April 22, 2013.

The PSC reiterated that failure to enact the legislation will

PRESIDENT DONALD RAMOTAR result in the blacklisting of Guyana by other countries which will result in severe hardship for the business community and ordinary citizens of Guyana.

The petition also pointed to the repercussions Guyana will face as a result of being blacklisted, observing that foreign banks have already begun to sever ties with local banks and branches. It was also pointed out that remittances which make up 40% of the Gross Domestic Product will be reduced to the detriment of poorer citizens.

legislation to fight against money laundering, drug trafficking…it’s to close all loopholes where people are getting illicit funds, either from drug trafficking or whatever…so all the countries in the Region will have one legislation,” the President said.

As Chairperson of the Special Select Committee on the AML/CFT Bill, Government’s Chief Whip Gail Teixeira is expected to present the committee’s report on the Bill tomorrow. Stakeholders from the financial sector, in particular, have expressed their concerns over the potential consequences of being blacklisted, should Guyana fail to implement the recommendations of the CFATF. Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General Anil Nandlall said recently that the only window of opportunity for Guyana is for the delegation in November to attend the CFATF meeting with the AMLCFT Bill in hand, which has been passed into law, then it will not be able to prevent the draft report from being adopted.

Opposition Leader David Granger has said the A Partnership for National Unity coalition will not be supporting the amendments to the Bill, due to their absence in the entire process, and the need for it to be properly done. The Alliance For Change (AFC), on the other hand, said it will support the bill, but has stipulated that it will only do so on condition that Government moves to set up the Public Procurement Commission (PPC). (GINA)

Swan Amerindian Community Housing Project commissioned

By Savitri Laikram FOOD for the Poor (Guyana) Inc., yesterday, commissioned the Swan Community Deveopment Housing Project, established at a cost of some $80M, at the Swan Amerindian Community on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

The event took place at the Swan Community Centre which was also built by Food for the Poor as a part of this project.

In his remarks, Manager of Food For the Poor (Guyana) Mr. Kent Vincent explained that after seeing the condition of the area in 2012, the organisation commenced the housing project. After two phases of the project, from May 2012 to June 2013, a total of 65 homes were constructed along with a community centre, a play park and a water panel.

He acknowledged the contribution of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in providing the village with water and solar panels.

Representative for Food for the Poor (Florida) Inc., Mrs Susan James-Casserly expressed her pride at the newly- established community.

She told the villagers that they now have a different lifestyle as to when they had first moved into the area.

She posited that they no longer have thatched roofs that leak when there is rainfall; they have zinc sheets and a wooden floor above the ground.

She urged them to take good care of the houses provided for them and promote a healthy living environment and to also work for betterment in the community.

The villagers were also encouraged to promote their village by working hard to make a change in Guyana, starting with their very own village.

Chairman of Food for the Poor (Guyana), Mr. Paul Chan-ASue expressed his hope and expectations that the village will grow and develop itself. He pointed out that Food for the Poor is working with GWI to ensure that the village has the best quality of water.

He urged that they also take good care of the solar panel as it provides light for them when darkness falls.

Chairman of the Management Committee of Swan Village, Mr James Domingo, recalling the history of the village, pointed out that the first man to move to the plot of land was his secretary “Charles” who came from the hinterland and slept under the trees.

Gradually more persons came out and a shabby community was constructed when Food for the Poor decided to visit them.

He promised that the community will develop itself and move forward as time goes by.

National Director for Community Development Philomena Sahoye-Shury explained that Amerindians lived in poverty in

Please see page 10

Mrs Rainey distributing toys to the children of Swan Village.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Swan Amerindian Community ...

From page 9 the area but the Amerindian people are a developing nation and lauded Food for the Poor for helping them to develop their community.

She emphasised that education is vital for the betterment of the community and as Mr Domingo requested transportation for the children to get to school on a daily basis, this will be looked into as it is important that the village children be educated.

One of the benefactors from the USA, Mr Patrick Rainey who has contributed generously to the project expressed his delight at how the community has been developed.

He said that he would like to see continued progress in the village and persons doing everything to care the homes provided for them.

Representative of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, Ms Sharon Hincks lauded the organisation for the housing development initiative as it comes as a great help to the villagers.

She noted that Food for The Poor has done its part, and it is now the responsibility of the villagers to support each other and work together for a better community.

One of the beneficiaries in her words of appreciation acknowledged the organisation for the good work that they have done and promised to work hard to care the homes provided for them.

Craft made by one of the villagers, Ms Elcen Kattow. (Photos by Savitri Laikram) She pointed out that villagers now have a restful place where they can have a good night’s rest.

The programme included a number of cultural presentations from the Swan Dance Group as well as talented villagers who sang folk songs and displayed their art and craft

talent while two gentlemen displayed their skill in guitar and violin renditions.

Mr and Mrs Rainey distributed toys to the children of the community at the end of the programme and they were also presented with tokens of appreciation from the community for their efforts to make the project a reality.

A cultural presentation by the Swan Dance Group.

Benefactors, beneficiaries and Food for the Poor officials officially open the Swan Village Housing Project with the ribbon cutting.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Trinidad UWI offers Guyana help to combat piracy THE University of the West Indies (UWI) Trinidad Campus has indicated its willingness to assist Guyana as this country embarks on a drive to combat piracy.

A press release said, to initiate such intentions, the UWI will be using low-cost mobile smart-phone tracking technology that can link up ‘fisherfolk’ with Guyana’s Police and Defence Force.

The release, issued by Senior Lecturer Kim Mallalieu, from the Department of Engineering, who is in Kigali, Rwanda, reported that her department, recently, executed a presentation dictating the method used by Trinidad and Tobago fisherfolk, which entails the use of mFisheries application suite on their mobile phones to seek emergency response and also acquire specific advice on how to deal with technical glitches, such as engine failure and other related is-

sues while at sea.

Mallalieu said the technology could be provided to Guyana free of cost to help in summoning the Coast Guard to precise areas where they may have been attacks by pirates.

Mallalieu is also Principal Investigator of the Trinidadbased Caribbean ICT Research Programme, also located at www.cirp.org.tt.

If Guyanese authorities were to agree with the UWI intentions, the mFisheries Mobile App would be customised for Guyana and the Guyanese Atlantic Coast and inland marine areas vulnerable to piracy would be “geo-fenced.”

Mallalieu said training for the GDF Coast Guard and other response agencies would be provided to acquaint such bodies with the techniques to monitor the tracks of the web application. In that case, all the authorities here will have to do

Israel’s first-ever Ambassador to CARICOM presents his credentials

Israel’s first-ever Ambassador to CARICOM presents his credentials (CARICOM Secretariat) Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, on Tuesday said he looked forward to the development of a more structured and formal mechanism for cooperation between Israel and CARICOM. He made this statement during a ceremony at the CARICOM Secretariat headquarters, Turkeyen, Guyana, where Ambassador to CARICOM from Israel, Amiram Magid, presented his credentials.

Ambassador Magid is the first Israeli Ambassador to CARICOM. In his remarks, Ambassador LaRocque said he was convinced that the new Ambassador’s record as a fully engaged and diligent diplomat will serve to further enhance relations between Israel and CARICOM. “CARICOM has much to gain and learn from Israel and, as in any meaningful partnership, I am sure that Israel has much to learn from the Caribbean Community” he said.

According to the Secretary General, there were two important areas in which CARICOM could benefit from a strengthened relationship at the regional level: Protected Agriculture and Water Management. He said CARCOM welcomed the opportunity to begin discussions in that regard.

Ambassador LaRocque thanked the Israeli Ambassa-

dor for his country’s contribution to the Permanent Memorial for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave trade being spearheaded by CARICOM. He also used the opportunity to draw the new Ambassador’s attention to what he referred to as a call being sounded by the Region’s leaders for attention to be paid to the issue of reparations for the consequences of slavery.

is sponsor or cover flight, accommodation and ground transportation costs for personnel that would travel here to conduct the necessary training.

LITERACY SKILLS Answering questions as to how the application caters for users with limited literacy skills, she responded that, making an SOS call “is trivial” and emphasised that literacy is not required because there is an SOS button which is not textual.

She said it is the standard SOS signal that is recognised all over the world and there is a confirm button, thus making ready a simple two-step process.

The UWI Department of Engineering has already adapted the mFisheries application to work in the Cook Islands in the Pacific and Trinidad and Tobago.

The tracking application is triggered when a user with the phone turned on, crosses the coastal boundary and then sends information packets to the server, periodically, to the web server.

The packets contain unique phone and SIM card identifiers that log the time, date and GPS location of the vessels. When the user goes out of cellular coverage, the tracking information is stored locally on the phone and then uploaded upon the person’s return to an area of cell coverage.

Mallalieu related that all registered mFisheries users are required to formally agree to authorise the Coast Guard to access their GPS coordinates.

When an SOS text message is sent, automatically phone calls, SMS and emails are sent to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard. Fisherfolk can also add other persons they would like to receive SOS alerts.

The mFisheries App suite also aids fisherfolk in locating fishing grounds, record the types of available fish, to communicate with potential buyers and know the available prices.

Happy New Year from the CIOG THE Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (C.I.O.G.) wishes to extend a Happy New Year to you and your family.

The New Year began with the month of Muharram 1435 AH, yesterday.

The fasts of Ashura will be observed on the 13th/14th or the 14th/15th of November (9th/10th or the 10th/11th Muharram).

May Allah bless us all with good in this life and in the hereafter.

Senior Lecturer at UWI’s Department of Engineering, Kim Mallalieu

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Towards bettering health care...

Doobay’s Medical Centre opens a school THE Doobay Medical Centre has opened a school where its students are trained in, among other things, phlebotomy, laboratory technology, and to become pharmaceutical assistants.

With its mandate to provide better healthcare for the Guyanese public, the Director, Mr. Vickram Oditt said training started last September, in commemoration of Doobay’s Medical Centre’s second anniversary.

He said the costs for classes are kept at a very minimal level and students are allowed to pay on a monthly basis.

Oditt said special lecturers were hired, as it was recognised that a number of students were poised and

willing to learn when the registration date was announced.

He said several persons with hopes and expectations turned up and expressed their eagerness to learn.

Oditt declared that Doobay’s is a ‘Centre of Excellence’ and it is important to keep its standards high, be it in academics or dialysis treatment.

He said classes are conducted in a comfortable classroom. However, with 105 students, they have to be held twice a day to accommodate everyone.

Oditt said the “modernised” classroom was made possible only because of donations from certain entities, for example, the television was donated by

COURTS Guyana Inc, the panels by the St. Stanislaus Group, and furniture by Kissoon’s Store.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES He acknowledged that, although similar classes are provided by the Ministry of Health, he is positive that employment opportunities will be given to the Doobay’s students after they have completed their courses.

He said the latter group will be sitting a local as well as an external examination, so as to ensure employment if they decide to leave Guyana.

Oditt said the school, which is a non-profit organisation, has been reg-

Guinness Bar murder accused jailed for 10 years for manslaughter MURDER accused Alwyn Kisean Azore who was involved in a killing at Guinness Bar on Durban Street in 2008 was jailed for 10 years, yesterday, after pleading guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Azore had appeared in court last month before Justice Diana Insanally when a probation report was ordered after he pleaded not guilty to the capital charge and guilty to the lesser count.

Following the presentation of the probation report yesterday, the accused was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Miss Dhanika Singh represented the prosecution, while Mr. Mark Waldron defended.

istered with the Ministry of Health and functions mainly through donations, for which all donors are recognised and the accounts are audited.

He said the management is extremely proud of the progress that the institution has made in only two years of its existence, and in a matter of weeks construction will commence on the new hospital building.

Oditt said that the expansion of the edifice will con-

tinue and the dialysis treatment will not stop as they would build around it and gradually join the structures.

He said, upon completion of the project, the centre will be a hospital comprising three storeys, inclusive of operating theatres and a pharmacy, among other health facilities.

“We are bringing medicine to East Coast,” he pointed out, stating that the Renal Centre, presently, has 40 patients and Doobay’s is working closely with the pri-

vate and public sectors as well as the Ministry of Health to provide proper healthcare.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed, enabling Doobay’s to be financially assisted by the Ministry and even offer services at a more reduced cost.

Only recently, equipment to operate a new renal centre at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) was donated by Doobay’s, in the effort to make health care better.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Towards road safety...

Mc Lean calls for breathalysers at all police stations

By Michel Outridge ACTING Chairman of the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC), retired Major General Norman McLean said, last week, there is need for the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to have breathalysers at all stations or at least two in each division.

Speaking at a press briefing to usher in Road Safety Month, he was responding to questions on how equipped the GPF Traffic Department is with breathalysers.

He noted that there is only one in ‘D’ Division but the police there are doing well despite the limitations.

McLean, himself a former Traffic Chief, said he knows, for a fact, that there are not enough breathalysers at Police Stations because, for example, a man had an accident on the East Coast Demerara and since there was no such instrument there, he was taken to Georgetown where there was none too.

Eventually, the man was transported to West Coast Demerara where the test was done.

In the meantime, if the man was under the influence of alcohol, he had time to sober up, given the limitations of the police and the time it took for a breathalyser test to be administered, McLean related.

However, Chairman of the ‘D’ Division RSC, Shahab Hack said the police on West Coast

Demerara are doing a good job as shown by the number of prosecutions, although they only have one breathalyser.

GARNERING FUNDS He added that, as such, they are in the process of garnering funds for the purchase of a breathalyser for the police in that division and, at the end of their list of activities to mark Road Safety Month, they will donate 15 traffic cones.

Hack said it is especially during the night that the Traffic Police do not have the tools to carry out their duties and they are on the roads stopping vehicles with their hands, without vests and cones.

He said they want to make those things available for the police, so they will be equipped to function effectively on traffic duties.

Hack pointed out, as well, that they are in the process of putting up signs, to illuminate dark areas on public roads where there is heavy overgrowth of grass and weeds.

For Road Safety Month, the GNRSC has planned a series of activities in all Police Divisions to have a hyped awareness on the impact of road accidents and fatalities.

The GNRSC will, next year, erect a wall, at a cost of $5.2M, with the names o f t r a f f i c v i c t i m s t o b e p l a c e d i n t h e N a t i o n a l P a r k , C a r i f e s t a Av e n u e , Georgetown.

They are working, as well, with ‘Mothers in Black’ to raise funds for the undertaking.

The theme for Road Safety Month 2013 is ‘Alcohol, speed and inattentiveness cause accidents; drive wisely to save lives.’

So far for this year, the GPF Traffic Department recorded 77 road accidents with 83 deaths as compared to 82 accidents and a similar number of deaths in 2012, for the corresponding period.

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Ahead of Parliament resumption…

PPP/C makes another appeal for Opposition CFATF support THE Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) Bill will be read for the third time when Guyana’s Parliament convenes tomorrow, with the hope that the legislation will receive the sup-

liament (MP) Faizal Jaffarally, told the Guyana Chronicle that the proposal is vital for future development in Guyana and is calling on the APNU and AFC to collaborate with the Government in passing the law, which was proposed by the Carib-

PPP/C Member of Parliament Faizal Jaffarally port of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC).

The legislation, which was previously tendered on April 22 and May 7 this year, did not receive approval from the Opposition which, together, hold a one-seat majority in the National Assembly.

People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Par-

bean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) to ensure transparency in all international financial transactions.

“This Bill did not come out of the back pocket of anyone from the PPP. It came from the CFATF. Hence, the Opposition needs to stop playing vexation politics and support this Bill for a national cause.

“They need to think about

those persons who depend on remittances to survive,” he emphasised.

Jaffarally called on all Guyanese to stand behind the bill and urged the APNU and AFC to rethink their position and cast aside partisan politics, so as to prevent Guyana from being blacklisted.

Failure to pass the legislation before November 18 could see the CFATF blacklisting Guyana as a non-compliant country.

The Opposition parties were invited to be part of a Select Committee that was established to deal with their concerns, following their refusal to support the Bill; but the work of the group was stalled due to the non-participation of the former.

“The APNU and AFC, deliberately, frustrated the work of the Committee, forcing Ms. Gail Teixeira to abort the roles of the Committee and make recommendations in Parliament.

“The ordinary people will be the first to feel the impact of Guyana being blacklisted and the Opposition needs to understand that, if we are blacklisted, it can take as much as seven years for us to become regularised,” Jaffarally lamented.

The PPP/C Member of Parliament was very vocal in pointing out that politics should not play any role in the

degradation of any country, adding:”From a Government perspective, it will be difficult for us to procure mate-

rials that are needed to build Guyana in the absence of this Bill. We would not be able to do banking transactions

with overseas-based institutions as it relates to payment for imported commodities.”

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Guyana Times/TVG reporter resigns … two other female reporters quit, fear Glenn Lall’s retaliation LEANA Bradshaw, a reporter employed at Guyana Times/Television Guyana (TVG) Channel 28, resigned yesterday, citing fear for her safety in light of a recent series of investigative articles and stories the publication and the Evening News have been carrying about owner and publisher of the Kaieteur News Mohan Lall, aka Glenn Lall.

Two other female reporters also resigned, apparently in sympathy with their colleague’s fear. The resignations were submitted Tuesday to management following an editorial meeting involving reporters and staff.

On Sunday, the reporter initially met with an editor and explained that she had serious fear and reservations reading a story about Lall on television, as she believed she could be identified and targeted, being one of the news anchors for the television station’s newscast.

Later that Sunday afternoon, when the reporter was told to read the story, she demurred and subsequently without the knowledge and approval of the editor, proceeded to excise the story about Lall from the newscast for the Sunday Evening News.

“I am of the view that reading such articles puts my life at risk, as persons can associate the content with me, contrary to the newspaper reports where no bylines are given or faces shown,” she said in an e-mail communication to the editor.

So great was her fear of retaliation from Lall that Bradshaw told her editor that she was willing to voice the script once her face was not shown on television. This was confirmed by one of her colleagues who quit in sympathy. Bradshaw’s stance showed she had no substantive problem with the script, but reacted out of fear.

That expression of fear was repeated at an editorial meeting and was further supported by one of the reporters who also quit.

The management of Guyana Times/Television Guyana regrets the decision taken by the reporters and wishes them well for the future. “It is indeed a sad day when journalists have to operate in fear of certain personalities because they dare to investigate them and make public their findings,” said general manager Daniel Singh.

“Journalists ought to be able to do their jobs without any fear of consequences at the hands of those whom they publish stories about,” he added. “I take this opportunity to wish them well and thank them for their services to Guyana Times/Television Guyana.”

Singh added that, even after her complaints, one of the editors of the media group met with Bradshaw and assured her of the company’s support as well as for other staff members who feel threatened. The editor also held similar discussions with all three of the reporters minutes before they left the office following their resignations.

“Journalists ought to be able to do their jobs without any fear of consequences at the hands of those whom they publish stories about,” Singh stressed.

The management of Guyana Times/TVG is in the process of bolstering security for its staff in view of this recent development.

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Taking a break from the motorcade…

Mon Repos Mandir distributes hampers for Diwali

By Leroy Smith WHILE many mandirs were busy taking part in motorcades across the country in observance of Diwali, there was at least one which saw the need to celebrate the triumph of good over evil

and light over darkness by reaching out to the less fortunate.

Over the course of two days, Thursday and Friday last week, the Mon Repos Shree Satya Narayan Mandir headed by Pandit Deenanauth Seemadray took

cheer to hundreds of residents who are less fortunate in the East Coast Demerara villages of Good Hope, Triumph, Mon Repos and Lusignan.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle after the distribution exercise, Pandit Seemadray dis-

NA mayor signalling goodbye MAYOR of New Amsterdam Claude Henry signalled an end to his political career as Local Government Elections appear on the horizon.

Speaking at the chambers of the Mayor and Town Council (M&TC) during a budget presentation yesterday, Henry said that he is pleased to have been associated with the management of the municipality for the past 11 years and sees the second half of 2014 as a period of change in the township.

“You will see new persons (councillors) here including, a new mayor and a new deputy mayor - this is my last discussion on the (municipal) budget. I will be around to attend meetings to have fruitful discussions for the development of New Amsterdam,” he revealed.

Mayor Henry noted that based on the information he received from the Guyana Elections Commission and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Local Government Elections will be held next year for the first time since 1994 and he hopes that after the long awaited process, the new faces of the M&TC will work in the best interest of New Amsterdam.

“I am hoping that politics will stay out of this Council (M&TC) and only development should be discussed; this Council don’t rant about politics - there’s a place and time for that,” he emphasised.

Henry took the opportunity to extend best wishes to the future office bearers and those who have served the M&TC. He concluded: “I want to thank you all for your support, including the media, over the years and I wish you well as we continue to contribute towards the development of New Amsterdam.”(Michael Khan)

closed that the mandir members decided to forgo taking part in this year’s motorcade activities and to reach out to those in need.

He said that their members set out to identify the less fortunate in the four communities who would be recipients of the hampers and over 300 persons benefited.

According to the religious leader, while many persons sing and chant prayers for meals and other necessities for persons during Diwali, not many find the time to reach out to families who really have no means of accessing support.

Asked about the connection between those who attend the mandir and those who benefited, the Pandit explained that there is very little connection since most of those who benefitted are

from the communities around but are not necessarily connected to the mandir. He described the response and gratitude of the recipients as overwhelming.

Come next year the Mon Repos Shree Satya Narayan Mandir, once it has enough hands on board, intends to take part in the Diwali motorcade as well as reach out to the less fortunate, according to Pandit Seemadray.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Gov’t Forensic

Pathologist testifies in ‘Picture Boy’ murder trial

By George Barclay FORENSIC Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh yesterday used a Supreme Court marshal to demonstrate to the jury of the Demerara Assizes, the locations of the wounds on murder victims Ray Walcott called ‘Sugar’ and Carl Andrews called ‘Alo’.

The pathologist was testifying at the murder trial of Cyon Collier, called ‘Picture Boy’, who is indicted with the double murder of Walcott and Andrews who were gunned down at Victoria Village, East Coast, Demerara, on the morning of September 23, 2006.

The pathologist who had performed autopsies on both bodies said that on the examination of ‘Sugar’ he found seven gunshot wounds from front to back and left to right.

He gave the cause of death of ‘Sugar’ as multiple gunshot injuries and death, he said, would have been caused instantaneously.

‘Alo’, he said, received three bullet wounds, one on the forehead and two which were grazing wounds.

‘Alo’, the pathologist said died as a result of perforation of the lung due to gunshot injuries. He would have died within 20 minutes. Dr. Singh also said that he recovered a bullet from the body which he handed over to the police.

Also giving evidence yesterday about his analytical examination of the weapons found in possession of the accused was Sergeant Eon Jackson, Police firearm and ammunition expert.

Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Lyndon Amsterdam, is defending ‘Picture Boy’ while Senior State Counsel Mrs. Judith Gildharie-Mursalin is prosecuting.

The hearing is continuing.

Confession allegedly made by murder accused admitted in evidence AN alleged confession statement said to be made by murder accused Khemraj Bhoodhoo in the Boyo murder trial has been admitted in evidence.

Justice James Bovell-Drakes who conducted the voir dire (a trial within a trial) to determine the admissibility of the caution statement, ruled that the statement was obtained freely and voluntarily.

Defence Counsel Kevon Bess has subjected the person who took the statement, Inspector Chabinauth Singh, to a lengthy crossexamination,which is intended to prove that the statement was fabricated.

In the caution statement, the accused is recorded as saying that he killed Liendra Roopnarine called ‘Boyo’ because he heard that Boyo had killed his brother Munaa whose body was found at Huntley, Mahaicony.

Inspector Singh admitted that up to the time he put the allegation to the accused, he had information about the killing by the accused, but he did not have written evidence.

But he denied a defence suggestion that was one of the reasons he went out of his way to get a confession.

Bhoodoo, 27, a labourer of 21 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara is charged with having on the 5th day of December 2005, in the County of Demerara, murdered Liendra Roopnarine, called ‘Boyo’.

Singh under further cross-examination admitted that it is normal to put an allegation to an accused more than three times.

He denied that since he used hearsay evidence to put the allegation to the accused, he had no basis to put the charge to the accused.

In his confession, Bhoodoo called ’Shammy’ had disclosed how he went to the Annandale seawall with ‘Boyo’ where he held his neck in a vice, pulled him down in the swampy area and pushed his head in the mud and held him until he was drowned.

Prosecutrix Miss Natasha Backer is conducting the case for the prosecution.

The trial is continuing.

21

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

ENSURE THE SAFETY OF TOYS AND PLAYTHINGS FOR CHILDREN THE Guyana Standard Specification for the Safety of toys and playthings GYS 234:2003 was specifically developed by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) to provide guidelines to importers, retailers and consumers on the safety requirements for toys and playthings intended for children. Toys and playthings are one of the commodities monitored by the GNBS under its Standards Compliance Programme and during this Christmas season, great emphasis will be placed on the monitoring of this commodity.

Importing and distributing toys and playthings that conform

to the requirements of the Guyana Standard is necessary to prevent children coming into contact with those toys that are harmful to their health and safety, specifically in relation to harmful materials that some toys are made of, and inadequate labelling which does not inform users of caution to be taken during use.

The National Standard specifies requirements for toxicological hazards which include criteria for deciding if a substance is non-toxic, a non-irritant, corrosive or a strong sensitiser. Other hazards, such

as, mechanical hazards, inflammability hazards, hygienic hazards, electrical hazards, thermal hazards and simulated protective devices are addressed in the standard.

Further, precautionary instructions and warnings, requirements for the packaging and labelling, and inspection and testing procedures, which include preconditioning for shipping and storage, and requirements for normal use testing, abuse testing, impact testing, drop testing and bite testing etc. are also addressed in the standard.

Children can be protected

against the use of unsafe toys and playthings if manufacturers follow the safety requirements for manufacturing as stipulated in the standard, and

if manufacturers fail to adhere to these requirements, the standard can certainly guide importers, dealers and consumers when purchasing these items.

Therefore, with the fast approaching Christmas season, importers and retailers are urged to only distribute and sell toys and playthings that meet the quality and labelling requirements as stipulated in the National Standard. Parents are also urged to carefully read labels of toys and playthings and select those that are appropriate for their children, based on their ages.

For further information on this subject, call the GNBS on Telephone number: 2190065 or visit the Bureau’s website: www.gnbsgy.org

Currency Rate Below rates for November 5, 2013 CURRENCY G$/US$ G$/GBP G$/CAD$ G$/EURO G$/BDOS$ G$/EC$ G$/TT$

BU3ING 205.48500 329.76233 196.99514 277.11707 101.49563 75.18194 31.69015

SELLING 207.93125 333.89600 199.26390 280.62402 102.51313 75.93563 32.00784

For Wednesday November 06, 2013 - 05:30hrs For Thursday November 07, 2013 - 05:30hrs For Friday November 08, 2013 - 08:30hrs

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Aries March 21 - April 19 Do more today! More what, you might ask? It doesn't really matter. You just need to start busy and stay busy all day long. Being active will put a smile on your face and help you make a lot of progress in a big project. Action is your aim, and action is its own reward. There is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you ride a wave of momentum all day long -- you will feel like you are invincible among your friends and irreplaceable among your coworkers.

Taurus April 20 - May 20 You're going to get to know a casual acquaintance a lot better today when the two of you accidentally get into a long and philosophical conversation. Their confessions and proclamations might reveal some shocking things about how they've lived their life, but you shouldn't let that negatively affect how you feel about them. This could be the beginning of a new phase for the two of you, when you'll see each other as more complicated and thus more interesting people.

Gemini May 21 - June 21 The deep flexibility you'll have today doesn't come around very often, and it's here now for a very good reason -- you are going to need it! Don't be too dogmatic about your plans, no matter how long they took you to put together and how perfect you think they are. If other people are going to be involved, then other people need to have some input too. It might not make you overjoyed to have to modify your vision, but in the end you will be better off for it.

Cancer June 22 - July 22 The good news is that any problems you have in your life right now will be so manageable that they could actually end up being fun! The problems are the same as they have always been, so what is the real reason for the change? The key is your newer, fresher perspective! In order to encourage this change in attitude, do a thorough inventory of your current projects and activities. Sort the bad from the good, and you will be able to check a lot of things off your list.

Leo July 23 - August 22 Today, combine your passion for travel with the huge burst of organisational energy that's buzzing in your brain. Get to planning your next adventure! Start doing some research and let your travelling companions know that you are kicking things into high gear. Get their input and ideas, too -- it's very important to keep this group outing a group effort! But there is no denying that you're the right person to be in charge. No one can wrangle up all the details as well as you can.

Virgo August 23 - September 22 Your ability to be flexible and just go with the flow will come in extremely handy today! People aren't totally sure about their plans, and their confusion is something you have to be prepared for. You could be asked to make many more compromises than you usually like to. These people might be too demanding for your personal tastes today, but don't worry -- it's a very temporary situation. You've got to try to see things from other people's point of view. Cut them some slack.

Libra September 23 - October 22 Balance is the key to achieving more happiness in your life right now. You need to do everything in moderation and avoid getting too obsessed with reaching one goal or connecting with one person. Spread your attentions around and give everyone a chance to spend some quality time with you -- especially older family members. Getting back your equilibrium will help you regain confidence and prepare you to take on the bigger and better things that are right around the corner.

Scorpio October 23 - November 21 Whether you want to move forward in a job, a relationship or a personal goal, you won't go anywhere without formulating a plan first -- and today is a great day to do it. You're in a great phase of clarity, and you are ready to do what it takes to make big leaps forward. So think big, and accept the fact that there may be a certain level of risk involved. It won't be as bad as you fear, and it's sure to be much better than you hoped. This could be the start of a very busy and exciting time.

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21 No matter what you're feeling when you wake up -- sad, worried, excited or nervous - do your best to put on a happy face! Use your incredibly rich imagination to figure out a way to fake it until you feel it. There is little doubt that if you decide to show the world that you're feeling good, the world will start to give you reasons to actually feel good, deep down to your toes. People like to be nice to smiling faces, so brighten up. Put your best foot forward.

Capricorn December 22 - January 19 As tempting as it might be to go along with the crowd today, you simply cannot afford to let popular opinion shape even a single one of your decisions -- it may seem harmless to do something just to make everyone else happy, but in the end it will put you in uncomfortable, false situations. Being popular is not worth sacrificing your independent thinking or your goals. So do what you want to do -- push as hard as you want and ignore what other people think. You have to stay true to your idealistic nature.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18 New members in your social group bring new energy -- and that is sorely needed right now. So it's time to reach out and branch out. Who says you have to hang out with the same people all of the time? Now is the time to get to know that intriguing person a little bit better. You don't have to commit to an evening out on the town -- just ask them to coffee, or see if they wouldn't mind if you joined them for lunch. You could discover quite an exciting new connection.

Pisces February 19 - March 20 Today, your bright energy could cause you some problems at work. You'll be moving fast while everyone else is on a much slower track. While this isn't necessarily something to be too worried about, you should definitely be careful not to step on anyone's toes or make anyone feel like they're not doing as good of a job as you. And office politics demand that you treat the leader like the leader -- even if you think you could do a better job. So be respectful.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Dates announced for seventh annual ‘Ride for Life' five-stage SEVERAL leading local and regional cyclists will be converging on Guyana from next Thursday, to battle for the top prize of US$1,000 (G$200,000) when the seventh annual Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Sport and Guyana Cycling Federation 'Ride for Life' five-stage cycle road race is held.

According to a press release which was sent from National Cycling Coach, Hassan Mohammed, the event which covers a distance of 266 miles (430km) will commence next Thursday 14th November with the first stage and culminate on Sunday 17th November with the final stage.

Next Thursday's first stage, will see the cyclists pedaling off from the Corriverton Police Station at 0730 hrs and proceeding to Alexander Street in New Amsterdam, covering a distance of 46.6 miles or 75km.

The second stage takes place that same day from 1400 hrs, with the remaining riders who finish the first stage, riding from the Rosignol Stelling to Carifesta Avenue, a distance of 60.4 miles or 96 km, and the following morning, the third stage will see them going from Wales to Bushy Park, Parika, which is a 35 miles or 56 km journey that commences at 0800hrs.

They then proceed to Supenaam, where after a rest period, they will be back in their saddles early Saturday morning to compete on the longest stage for this event, a 67 mile or 107.5 km journey from Supenaam to Charity and back to Suddie for the finish.

The fifth and final leg takes place two Sundays from today and it is one that will cover a distance of 64.6 miles (103.3 km), starting at Kara Kara in Linden and proceeding to Homestretch Avenue for the finish, following which, the presentation of prizes will be done at either the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall or the National Cultural Centre.

Cyclists and officials are asked to note that transportation will leave the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Main Street at 12:30h on Wednesday November 13 for Corriverton, after the usual pep talk from Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony.

Registration for cyclists closes two days before the departure for Springlands, which is Monday, November 11 (next Monday) with Mohamed at his Middle Street office during normal working hours.

Team Coco's Florida Jaime Ramirez won last year's event, covering the distance in a time of 9h. 46mins: 51secs, with Paul DeNobrega taking the top junior title having finished 10mins:10secs after Ramirez, while Kennard Lovell won the Veteran category in a time of 10h.

15mins:24secs.

ENGLISH Nottingham 08:30 hrs Hopefilly 09:00 hrs Pull The Pin 09:30 hrs Boniface 10:00 hrs Jefferson City 10:30 hrs Fulbright 11:05 hrs Steel Rain 11:40 hrs Mon Brav 12:10 hrs Hyperlink WARWICK 08:50 hrs Pret A Thou 09:20 hrs Forest Walker 09:50 hrs Harristown 10:20 hrs Balder Succes 10:50 hrs Willoughby Hedge 11:25 hrs Timpo 12:00 hrs Balmusette CHEPSTOW 09:10 hrs Jean De Florette 09:40 hrs Vice Et Vertu 10:10 hrs Red vRiverman

10:40 hrs Promised Wings 11:15 hrs Brave Buck 11:50 hrs Merlin's Wish 12:20 hrs Meirig's Dream SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Kenilworth 08:50 hrs Gold Academy 09:25 hrs Boniface 10:05 hrs Surruptitious 10:40 hrs Elusive Love 11:15 hrs Diplomatic IRISH RACING TIPS Fairyhouse 08:55 hrs Alelchi 09:25 hrs Mr Fiftyone 09:55 hrs Kick On Boss 10:25 hrs Dancers Dilemma 11:00 hrs Lapse Of Reason 11:35 hrs Refused A Name 12:05 hrs Blissful Moment

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

BCB, ECCB and GCA pen letter to WICB president and executives THE BERBICE Cricket Board (BCB) under the presidency of Keith Foster, the Bissoondyal Singh steward, East Coast, Cricket Board (ECCB), and the Roger Harper led Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) have written to President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Whycliffe "Dave" Cameron, a letter addressing their concerns as it relates to a letter which was sent to the Clerk of the National Assembly.

This letter dated 24th October, 2013, was sent from the desk of Cameron in relation to the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill and below is a full copy of the letter that was sent to the WICB president and several other executives of the Regional body.

Mr. Whycliffe "Dave" Cameron President WEST INDIES CRICKET BOARD INC. St John's, Antigua WEST INDIES Dear President, We note with extreme concern the content of your letter, dated 24 October 2013, and addressed to Mr. Sherlock Isaacs, Clerk of the National Assembly.

We are compelled to respond as it is clear that there has been some amount of misinformation disseminated in relation to the participation, process and intent of the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill 2012 (GCAB 2012).

Firstly, we wish to state that the authors of this letter are the "Majority Constituent Members of Guyana Cricket" and that we have played a part in the Parliamentary process which took place over a three-month period and which allowed the opportunity for all cricket stakeholders throughout Guyana to make contributions.

We categorically state that the subject Bill was drafted with our full knowledge and consent. We note that the West Indies Cricket Board Inc. (WICB) is on record as having itself made a contribution to the GCAB 2012.

It is our contention that there does not exist a legitimate Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) as only one of the three (3) constituent Member Boards of the GCB took part in the purported elections held in July 2011 and again in January 2013. The persons holding themselves as officers of the GCB have for the past three (3) years foisted themselves on the administration of cricket in Guyana, and the WICB had been advised accordingly. Those persons do not reflect the will nor do they represent the interest of the cricket stakeholders of Guyana at any level.

The apparent collusion between the WICB and the illegal GCB regime has severely undermined cricket development in Guyana to the extent that our cricket has been in chaos and confusion for over three (3) years.

This collusion is evident in the fact that the WICB had sent three (3) observers (Imran Khan, Paul Slowe and Conde Riley) to the purported GCB elections held on 27 January 2013 in an apparent charade to accept the results of those elections as quid pro quo for Guyana's support for the re-election of Dr. Julian Hunte as President of the WICB. Meanwhile, at the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) level, Raj Singh, Anand Sanasie and persons unknown to the DCB constituent members have reportedly usurped the functions of a legitimate DCB Executive. This is the first time since the formation of the DCB in 1991 that the major constituent members of the DCB - the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) and the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) - along with the Guyanese cricketing public, do not know who the executive members of the DCB are.

The GCA and the ECCB wrote a letter to the WICB in February 2013 (copy attached) informing that there is no legitimate DCB as a court order was issued prohibiting the holding of elections for the DCB. Further, that letter sought the intervention of the WICB to determine who were the persons holding themselves as Executive Members of the DCB, and who represented the DCB at the purported elections of the GCB on 27 January 2013. To date, there has been no reply.

The fact that the DCB is illegal and that one of the other two (2) constituent Member Boards of the GCB, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), did not take part in the purported elections of the GCB on 27 January 2013 meant that there could not possibly have been constitutional elections.

The WICB has therefore been sending monies over the past three (3) years to an illegal GCB, and much of those remittances have been consumed in GCB legal fees. It is apposite to note that none of the monies has gone to those constituent members that make up ninety percent (90) of the strength of Guyana Cricket. Moreover, the assets of the DCB and the assets of the GCB have been illegally transferred to private individuals without the knowledge and authorisation of the constituent members of those Boards and ipso facto are no longer the property of those constituent members.

All the while, the WICB continues to recognise the GCB as the governing body for cricket in Guyana, without addressing the critical issue that the Majority Constituent Members of the GCB had on several occasions informed the WICB that the present GCB is illegal and is not a properly-constituted entity. We had many times requested the intervention of the WICB in this matter but instead the Parent Board has apparently accepted the claims of the illegal GCB. What would be the position of the WICB should we, the Majority Constituent Members of Guyana cricket, hold elections and present ourselves as the GCB? It is expected that the WICB would accept only a properly and legally-constituted Member Board, in keeping with Clauses 2 to 9(A) of the ICC Rules.

We wish to remind you that in April 2013 at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, a delegation from the Majority Constituent Members of Guyana Cricket met and apprised you of the untenable situation to which Guyana cricket had regressed. We delivered several documents to you including injunctions / orders supporting the widely-held position that the GCB is an illegal body. Importantly, you had given an undertaking then that the "Guyana problem" would be high on your agenda and that under your watch there would be transparency, accountability and credibility in the election processes of the Member Boards of the WICB. Further, we wish to remind you that, after a discussion on the Parliamentary process, you conceded that this process was the best solution to resolve the cricket impasse in Guyana, and you pledged your support. However, nothing has been done by the WICB to address the problems that exist in Guyana Cricket. Instead, we note with concern that some amount of criticism has been leveled in relation to the passage of the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill 2012.

This Bill is noble in its intent to bring order to Guyana Cricket and has the support of the vast amount of the stakeholders of Guyana Cricket.

Also, we are aware that the very persons who illegally occupy the GCB recently embarked on a campaign to garner the support of WICB officials to discredit the Bill in an attempt to ultimately derail the Parliamentary process. It is clear that those persons are very uncomfortable with the Parliamentary process which will result in a free, democratic and fair process for the holding of elections for the GCB and its constituent Member Boards.

With regard to the content of your letter, we note that some of your issues seem to be misplaced.

It is unfortunate that we were not given an opportunity to clarify these issues. Please note the following: 1.

We recognize that the Bill seeks to pave the way for the holding of fresh, free and fair elections for the constituent members of Guyana Cricket Board and for the Guyana Cricket Board itself.

2.

We are assured that, with both the Bill and the GCB constitution, there will be no involvement by Government in the administration of cricket.

3.

It is important to note that the Guyana Cricket Board is not a self-serving and independent entity; it is a body constituted by the three (3) Member Boards and is answerable to those Boards. The constituent members of Guyana Cricket are the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) and the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB), and these Boards biennially elect an Executive Committee, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), to administrate cricket. Constitutionally, the supreme authority for cricket in Guyana is the General Membership which is made up of the three (3) above-named Member Boards. The Guyana Cricket Board Executives can be recalled at any time by the three (3) County Boards.

4.

The setting of the membership of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) is a constitutional matter for the constituent members of the Demerara Cricket Board. The Demerara Cricket Board is merely an executive body that is elected biennially by the constituent members of the Demerara Cricket Board and cannot on its own make any constitutional change. (Please note that submissions to Parliament were made by the major constituent members of Demerara Cricket).

5.

We also hope that the parties will come to final resolution but we are mindful that there is a very small clique that seems bent on staying in illegal control of Guyana Cricket.

It is incumbent on the WICB to "rally round" any process that is noble in its intent to bring order in any area within its jurisdiction. Towards this end, the WICB would have been better placed to make a fair and proper judgment on the Guyana Cricket problems had it consulted the bona fide stakeholders of Guyana Cricket. This was never done.

In closing, we the Majority and Major Constituent Members of Guyana Cricket have perused both the Bill and the attached schedules and wish to state categorically that we are in full support of these documents pursuant to the passage of the Cricket Administration Bill 2012. Also, we look forward to the support of the WICB in the general interest of West Indies cricket.

We avail ourselves to meet with you at any time to discuss these troubling issues and we wish to assure you of our fullest cooperation towards a fair resolution.

We hope that this will be the final resolution to the troubles that have consumed cricket in Guyana for too long.

Yours sincerely, …………………………….

Keith Foster President Berbice Cricket Board …………………………….

Bissoondyal Singh President East Coast Cricket Board ……………………………..

Roger Harper President Georgetown Cricket Association Cc: Mr. Emmanuel Nanthan Vice-President West Indies Cricket Board Inc Mr. Michael Muirhead CEO West Indies Cricket Board Inc Directors West Indies Cricket Board Inc Secretary Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board Secretary Jamaica Cricket Association Secretary Barbados Cricket Association Secretary Windward Islands Cricket Association Secretary Leeward Islands Cricket Association Mr. David Richardson CEO International Cricket Council H.E. Donald Ramotar President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony MP Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport and Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Cricket Hon. Mohabir Nandlall MP Attorney General of Guyana and Minister of Legal Affairs Mr. David Granger MP Leader of the opposition and A Partnership for National Unity Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine MP Member of Special Select Committee (Cricket) Mr. Joseph Harmon MP Member of Special Select Committee (Cricket) Mr. Basil Williams MP Member of Special Select Committee (Cricket) Mr. Christopher Jones MP Member of Special Select Committee (Cricket) Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan MP Member of Special Select Committee (Cricket) Mr. Odinga Lumumba MP Member of Special Select Committee (Cricket) Mr. Neend Kumar MP Member of Special Select Committee (Cricket) Hon. Erwin Larocque Secretary General - Caribbean Community Secretariat

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Nigerian Eaglets fly past Sweden to U-17 World Cup final NIGERIA were made to work for their 3-0 semi-final win over Sweden in Dubai, a result that sends them to the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Taiwo Awoniyi scored his third goal in two games to help send the Golden Eaglets through to the final, where they will meet Mexico in another Group F rematch.

The game started at a tremendous pace, both sides carving out half-chances inside the first 60 seconds.

After the initial frenzy of attacks cooled, the pattern of play became clear. The Nigerians pressed forward in waves, trying to pin Sweden back and cut off the supply lines to foraging striker Valmir Berisha.

The Africans were far more dangerous in the first

half and they got the goal their dominance deserved after just 21 minutes.

It was the same combination that produced both goals in the quarter-final win over Uruguay as Kelechi Iheanacho - one of the best players here in UAE - pushed the ball up through midfield and chipped in a looping pass for Awoniyi, who hardly had to break stride before pummeling past Sixten Mohlin for his third goal in two games.

Iheanacho continued to be a thorn in the Swedes' side, no wonder considering he's scored five of Nigeria's goals and assisted on seven.

The Scandinavians seemed to wilt in the heavy heat and humidity of their first game in Dubai.

Only seconds had ticked

Musa Yahaya of Nigeria (R) fights for the ball against Erdal Rakip of Sweden during the two teams' semi-final match in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Dubai's Rashid Stadium, yesterday.(. AFP PHOTO/KARIM SAHIB)

off the clock in the second half when Chidera Ezeh headed against the upright. It was a warning from the free-attacking Nigerians, who kept pressing for a second goal.

Coach Roland Larsson threw on big striker Carlos Strandberg for the last half-hour, desperately trying to find a way to breach the Nigerian rearguard. But the Eaglets kept pushing. Musa Ya h a y a t r i e d a n e ff o r t from the corner of the box in the 66th minute that skimmed the outside of the post. Awoniyi had the ball in the net a few seconds after, only to be denied by an offside call, much to the chagrin of the partying fans in green.

Sweden would not go

q u i e t l y, a n d S t r a n d b e r g nearly volleyed home with a quarter-hour to go, only to be denied by Alampasu. The resulting corner kick was headed hard at goal by Linus Wa h l q v i t , b u t h i s t r y w a s saved again by the Nigerian keeper, who had his gloves on the right way around at the Rashid Stadium.

In the end, the Nigerians were in no mood to be charitable. They got their insurance goals inside the last ten minutes.

Samuel Okon cut in from the left and hammered his shot low and inside the post to end Sweden's dream. It was all over even before Chidera Ezeh added a third seconds later to make it 3-0 and send Nigeria to the final, where they will be pressing hard for their fourth title. (FIFA.com)

Ochoa brace fires Mexican miracle DEFENDING champions Mexico continued their miraculous recovery here in UAE by beating nine-man Argentina 3-0 in Abu Dhabi to book their place in the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The semi-final from the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium was dominated by El Tri, who took full advantage of set pieces and got two goals from Ivan Ochoa.

Mexico now move on to face Nigeria - the team that beat them 6-1 in their opener - in the final.

The game started at break-neck pace and a physical edge quickly developed. As early as the third minute, the Argentines had a golden opportunity to take the lead when Sebastian Driussi was clattered in the penalty area by Solomon Wbias.

Mexican keeper Raul Gudino once again showed his penchant for keeping out spot-kicks, diving to his left to beat away a welltaken effort by Driussi.

It's the third penalty the tall Gudino has saved here in UAE after blocking two in the quarter-final shootout win over Brazil.

Twice champions El Tri were in no mood to let the Argentines off the hook, either. Two minutes after the early scare, they took the lead. Wbias made amends for his earlier error by flicking on a corner-kick with his head, and Ivan Ochoa finished at the back post with aplomb.

The contest continued on with the throttle wide open. Argentina pressed for the equaliser and Mexico were eager to hit them out on the counter-attack. But while the South Americans looked dangerous in patches, the holders were far more clinical in front of goal and totally dangerous on set pieces. A free-kick from midfield was flicked on near the penalty spot after 21 minutes and Ochoa was once again on hand at the back post to hit home his fourth goal of the finals.

Things went from bad to worse for frustrated Argentina

just after the half-hour mark when Joaquin Ibanez was shown a straight red for a two-studded tackle on Omar Govea.

Argentina were able to carve out a bit more of the possession in the second period, with the Mexicans happy enough to sit back and absorb pressure against their tiring opponents. But the more the Albiceleste pressed, the more they were exposed. Mexico hunted their insurance goal with precise passing in the attacking third as the clock wound down, and they got the pay-off their good play deserved when substitute Marco Granados hammered home after a delicate through-ball at the edge of the penalty area.

The game finished with Argentina reduced to nine men after goalkeeper Augusto Batalla was sent off for a professional foul.

It hardly mattered, and the 3-0 scoreline sees Mexico press onto the final, where they have a chance for some revenge against Nigeria, who sunk Sweden 3-0 in yesterday's other semi-final in Dubai. (FIFA.com)

33

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

GCA Carib Beer T20 Competition ...

Griffith, Barnwell and bowlers steer DCC past MSC …Carmichael hit half- century A TYPICAL robust innings from national opener Trevon Griffith and Guyana and West Indies T20 all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, helped host Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) defeat a hapless looking Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) by 54 runs in their replayed fixture of this year's Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) organized Carib Beer sponsored first division T20 competition last Monday.

Playing at the DCC ground in Queenstown last Monday, after their scheduled first round game was washed out by the rain two Sundays ago, DCC won the toss and opted to bat first, following which openers

TREVON GRIFFITH

Griffith 58 (4x4, 4x6) and Andrew Lyght Jnr 34 (3x6, 2x4) posted 80 from 10 overs for the first wicket.

However, MSC through the efforts of Shaquille Williams dislodged Lyght Jnr who lost his middle stump immediately after the water break and he was quickly followed by Griffith who was bowled by Steven Sankar (2-36).

Their demise paved the way for Barnwell and certainly the robust right handed middle -order batsman did not disappoint his fans, hitting a belligerent 44 that was decorated with five sixes and one four, before he was dismissed off a slower delivery from Kellon Carmichael (2 for 35).

NAMILCO/Bakewell first division T20 …

Albion, West Berbice, Bermine join RHTGG in semis …Bishoo snares 4 for 5, Baldeo 3 for 21 and 40* GUYANA and West Indies leg-spinner, Devendra Bishoo, produced a destructive spell of bowling to end with 4 for 5, which together with Balchand Baldeo's 3 for 21 and unbeaten 40, guided Albion Cricket Club to a nine wicket victory over Police last Saturday.

The two sides were meeting in the quarter-finals of the Berbice Cricket Board/ NAMILCO/Bakewell first division T20 competition and with the win, Albion joined Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets in the semi-finals.

Also making it to the semi-finals were recently crowned BCB/Universal DVD T20 champions Universal Solutions Bermine and West Berbice, who both defeated Upper Corentyne and Universal DVD Young Warriors in their respective matches on the same day.

Asked to bat first, Police found the bowling of Bishoo, who played for the Barbados Tridents in the inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League, and Baldeo too much to handle and were skittled out for 56 in 16.2 overs.

Only Philbert Wilburg who made 17 offered some resistance to the duo following which Baldeo came back with the bat to steer Albion to 57 for 1 from 13.4 overs.

In the West Berbice versus Young Warriors encounter, the former was restricted

to 123 for 7, with Arthley Bailey 35, Quacy McPherson 24 and Andrew Dutchin 23 not out leading their batting.

Linden Austin took 3 for 28 and Kevin Ramdeen 2 for 16 for Young Warriors, who in their turn at the crease faced a raging Raun

Warriors to their eventual total, with Ramoo and Keon Joseph taking two wickets each for 10 and 21 runs respectively, while Adams ended with 1 for 14.

Shemroy Barrington led the way for Universal Solutions Bermine to see them post 150

DEVENDRA BISHOO Johnson, whose 4 for 19 limited them to 117 for 9, handing West Berbice the win by 4 runs.

Johnson took the first four wickets to fall, leaving Young Warriors on 25 for 4 in the fifth over, before Ishwar Singh and Linden Austin added 57 for the 5th wicket in 9 overs.

After Singh was bowled by off-spinner Steffon Adams for 29 at 82 for 5, Adams and offspinner Krishna at Ramoo choked the scoring rate as wickets kept falling, limiting Young

for 7 against GUYTRAC Upper Corentyne, receiving support from Damion Vantull (27) and Romario DeJonge who made an unbeaten 24.

In reply, GUYTRAC Upper Corentyne were given a solid start by Parmeshwar Chatterpaul (22), and Faraz Mohamed (16), who added 40 for the first wicket from six overs, before Kevin Pellew (3 for 16), Devon Clements (3 for 28) and Eugene LaFleur (2 for 14) bowled them out for 98 in 18.5 overs.

In their hunt to score quickly, the home team who won the last GCA organised T20 tournament three years ago by defeating Guyana National Industrial Corporation in a rain ruined final at DCC, lost wickets regularly but managed to reach 199 for 7 from their 20 overs.

Cordell Mars took 2 for 28 to support Sankar and Carmichael in the bowling department for MSC, who in reply were tottering on 12 for 3 in the third over, as they lost their opener and skipper Shemroy Barrington in the first over when he was trapped lbw

by Paul Wintz.

He was followed back to the cool comforts of the pavilion by Williams, who was caught off Andre Stoll, before Carmichael, who topscored with 64 (5x6, 4x4) and

Nichosie Barker joined forces to repair the early damage with their 62 runs fourth wicket partnership.

Left arm spinner Totaram Bishun, who two weeks ago spun DCC to the GCA/Hadi's Mall Inc. two day first division title, dismissed Barker for 20 (2x6) before Carmichael hoisted him over the midwicket boundary for one of his five sixes, to

realize his half- century.

The task of getting to their target proved to be a huge one for the Thomas Lands based MSC lineup, who called it quits and were limited to 145 for 7, even though Sankar returned to hit three sixes in his unbeaten 34, even as Bishun, Wintz and Kevin George took two wickets each for DCC. The GCA's Competitions Committee, led by Chairman Shaun Massiah, will now look to complete the other unplayed first round fixture featuring GNIC and Everest Cricket Club at an early date, even as they focus on getting the second round started, as well as commencing their 2013-2014 Hadi's Mall Inc. first division tournament.(Calvin Roberts)

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Sunich expresses confidence in teams ahead of GSC 111

By Calvin Roberts WITH the presence of last year's tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP) Wasim Haslim back in the male lineup, along with inspirational female skipper June Ogle-Thomas and her West Indies teammate Tremayne Smartt available, Managing Director of Trophy Stall,Ramesh Sunich, is confident his teams will go one step further this year around, when they do battle in the third annual Guyana Softball Cup. Speaking with Chronicle Sport yesterday morning, Sunich said his male side which also includes the Deosarran brothers in Surujpaul and Krishna, with the latter recently returning from Canada where he had a productive season, along with Randy Ketwaroo, is ready and raring to go.

The Guyana Softball Cup 111 bowls off on Friday with several first round matches in both the Male Open and Masters Category respectively and despite the

heavy presence of several overseas teams and even local ones who at times can be a thorn in the Trophy Stall

JUNE OGLE-THOMAS lineup, Sunich is not flustered.

"I know a lot of teams will be looking to take away the first place prize of $800,000, but so too do Trophy Stall; and the

way the guys have been playing of late, I am pretty confident that at the end of this year's Guyana Softball Cup 11, we will be hoisting the Male Open trophy in the air," said Sunich.

Quizzed on why he is so confident, Sunich said, "We have been training assiduously hard for this tournament, entering competitions and gearing our minds towards playing with the big ball and having reached the finals last year when we lost, all the players are eager to go one step further.

When we won the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company nationwide 10/10 tournament in 2010, all the players were in the same frame of mind as they are now and that gives me the confidence to say we will be carting off the top prize in this tournament."

He added, "Added to that, the Haslim's MVP award last year will serve as a boost for us, while Krishna Deosarran is joining the team following a productive season in Canada and coming off the back of a century in the Trophy Stall

sponsored tournament that is being used as a warm up for the Guyana Softball Cup 111."

WASIM HASLIM Looking at the team from the distaff side, who won the exhibition encounter last year, Sunich said the likes of OgleThomas, who has led the team to the GT&T 10/10 champion-

Bayern and Man. City through to Champions League last 16

By Mike Collett LONDON: (Reuters) - European champions Bayern Munich and Manchester City qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League after beating Viktoria Plzen and CSKA Moscow respectively in Group D yesterday.

Bayern edged Czech side Plzen 1-0 away with a header from Mario Mandzukic midway through the second half to make it four wins out of four while City punished visitors CSKA 5-2 with an Alvaro Negredo hat-trick and Sergio Aguero double.

City have reached the knockout round for the first time.

Real Madrid could have clinched a place in the last 16 phase with a win but drew 22 at Juventus in Group B. Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale scored for Real while Arturo Vidal, with a firsthalf penalty, and Fernando Llorente, with an equaliser, netted for Juve, who slip to the bottom of the group below FC Copenhagen who beat visiting Galatasary 1-0.

Paris St Germain would also have qualified for the knockout stage with a win

but were held to a 1-1 home draw by Anderlecht, who finished with 10 men after Sacha Kljestan was sent off.

Demy de Zeeuw scored Anderlecht's first goal of the

C match to consolidate second place three points behind PSG, who have 10, and three ahead of the Portuguese side.

Manchester United were held to a 0-0 draw at Real

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday November 06, 2013) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055)

Answers to yesterday's quiz: (1) Wes Hall and Alf Valentine (2) 10.3/0/51/7 (Winston Davis-Leeds, 1983) Today's Quiz: (1) What is the highest score made by a WI wicketkeeper in a Test innings?

(2) Who is the one hundredth player to represent the West Indies in ODIs?

Answers in tomorrow's issue

Manchester City's Costel Pantilimon reacts after their Champions League soccer match against CSKA Moscow at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northern England,yesterday. (REUTERS/Phil Noble) campaign after 68 minutes to put the Belgian champions ahead in their Group C match before Zlatan Ibrahimovic equalised for PSG two minutes later, poking home at the second attempt.

Olympiakos Piraeus beat Benfica 1-0 in the other Group

Sociedad in their Group A match with Robin van Persie missing a penalty for United who had Marouane Fellaini sent off late on.

United stay top of the group, a point ahead of Bayer Leverkusen who drew 0-0 at Shakhtar Donetsk.

ships last year, along with Smartt, Kavita Yadram and Alicia Alleyne amongst others are all go getters.

"The work that Coach Lyndon Wilson has been putting in with these girls is tremendous ever since he took over the role last year during the GT&T tournament and one thing they do say during their team meetings is, 'Lets do this for Coachman.

It is their aim to make him proud, as they have already made me proud based on their performances on

the field and when they take the field to compete in the exhibition encounters on Sunday, prior to the playing of the finals, they will be doing so as defending champions whose aim it is to retain that title."

The ladies, who are known as Trophy Stall Angels, will be competing against 4R Lioness, Karibee Rice Girls and Wellwoman in the exhibition encounter, which will be a three-match affair, comprising two semifinals and final, with trophy and cash prize up for grabs.

F&H Printing countrywide qualifier continues today MOMENTUM continues to build in the F&H Printing Establishment Million Dollar Plus countrywide dominoes competition, as teams in all the Regions are preparing for the elimination stage.

The qualifying round for matches in Georgetown and some of its environs, continues today at various venues across Guyana, while the Corporation zones will continue at the F&H 90 John Street, Campbellville, venue today and Friday, with double six time on both playing days being 18:00hrs (6pm).

In this regard, the coordinators are reminding the Corporation's teams who have not played as yet to come forward and do so this week, as no matches will commence after November 11th, the last playing day before the playoffs which is set to commence on November 13.

All logistics pertaining to accommodation and meals for far reaching areas teams will be put in place and the respective teams through their sub coordinators will be informed by no later than 08:00hrs on the morning of Thursday, November 14.

The Playoffs which commences at 18:00hrs on Friday November 15 at the National Gymnasium is expected to be bigger than last year's and projections show that it will most likely attract 66 teams, with 28 coming from Georgetown, divided equally into Corporations and Georgetown zone winners respectively.

Based upon matches currently being played, the projected compositions are as follows: From Georgetown (28 teams) and Out of Town, 38 teams with West Demerara having 8 qualifying teams, Bartica 6, East Coast Demerara and Essequibo Coast 4 each and Essequibo Islands, West Coast Berbice, NA/ Canje/Corentyne, Linden and Kwakwani, Port Kaituma, Mahdia and Mabaruma 2 each.

The drawing system from last year will again be used and a slight variation to further make the occurrence of collusion among teams more difficult will be added.

The following Out of Town teams have already made it to the playoffs; out of Bartica- Upsetters, All Stars, Police and the infamous Limpy Lotto, who placed third in last year's competition, and out of Essequibo Islands - Dynamite and Atomic.

Meanwhile, in the Corporation's Zones, Regal, KTS, Caricom and Ivan's Grocery qualified for the playoffs last Friday, while the West Coast Demerara and some finals in Georgetown were contested last Monday.

Explaining the reason for commencing Friday afternoon, Sponsor Hazim Hakh said that recently domino playing is extended into the wee hours of the morning and he did not wish to see it happen with this year's tournament.

Players will assemble on Friday for the March Past at 18:00hrs, followed by the drawing of the fixtures which will be handed out to the various teams immediately after it is done, to ensure a adherence to time for Saturday when the action commences at 10:00hrs sharp, hence teams who may be affected by the opening of Demerara Harbour Bridge, are asked to take note, while the quarter, semi-finals and finals will be contested on Sunday, with Double Six time being 12:30hrs.

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Combating spin is key to victory over India, says Sammy KOLKATA, India, (CMC)West Indies captain Darren Sammy says the key to victory against India in their two Test series here is to combat the spin bowlers.

The two sides were scheduled to meet in the first Test, starting on Wednesday at the historic Eden Gardens in

this eastern Indian city.

"Looking at the way teams like Australia and England have played in previous series here, spin played a major factor," said Sammy.

"We have not played the spin bowling well in our last few Tests, but once we can

GTU/MoE 52nd Annual National Schools Track and Field, cycling and swimming C/ships

District 7 rearing to go as time draws near

By Michael Da Silva DISTRICT 7, Bartica, is rearing to go as the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU)/Ministry of Education's 52nd Annual National Schools Track and Field, Cycling and Swimming Championships draw near.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport via telephone yesterday, District 7's Sports Chairman/Team Manager, Leon Stewart, said his team members are all fired up to take on the rest of the districts by storm.

"The athletes have been training very hard every day of the week including Saturdays and Sundays and are now just waiting to take on the opposition," Stewart stated.

According to Stewart, District 7 will contest all four championships (Track and Field, Cycling, Swimming and Teachers) and he is confident that his charges will give a good account of themselves.

Stewart informed that District 7's best overall placing at the championships was back in 2006 when they placed second overall at the GCC ground, Bourda.

He said for the past six or seven years, District 7 has been averaging fourth overall.

Asked how the team has been responding to training sessions, Stewart's response was, "I think I can safely say over 90 percent of the athletes have been attending training sessions and I have seen tremendous improvement from most of them," adding, "We're ready to go, we don't back down at these championships, so when we come for the championships, other Districts wonder what we are coming with, they just don't know what to expect."

Stewart said despite District 7 not having the facilities as District 11 or District 10, they make do with what they have, so they are determined to prove their worth.

According to the team manager, the team of 104 athletes and six officials will arrive in Georgetown on November 17 for the championships which begins two days later.

He informed that yesterday was the first day for registration of teams and this will come to an end tomorrow.

Among the athletes expected to give account of themselves are; Feona Mentis and Carmel Williams in the teachers under-40 long jump and 80-metre track events.

Stewart informed that both Mentis and Williams returned record breaking performances in their two events at last year's championships.

Other teachers who are expected to give a good account of themselves are; Clifton Bobb in the teachers under-21 field events, Festus Benn (90-metre and long jump) under-40 and Hilbert Knights (shot-put and discus) under-40.

Shawn Caesar (field events) boys under-20, Derika Marshall (100, 200 and 400 metres) under-12, Keifon Jack (100 and 200 metres) boys under-10 and Cornell Playtner (100 and 200 metres, long and triple jumps) under-16.

In the cycling events, Stewart is anticipating good performances from Corin Chase (800, 1000 and 1500-metre), Victoria Wong (1500, 2000 and 3000-metre) and Rondel Lopes (1000, 2000 and 3000-metre).

In the swimming championships, Stewart named Daniel Jeffrey (50-metre free and back strokes), Recia Toris (50-metre free and back strokes), Brittina Simmons (50-metre free and back strokes) and Andrew Simmons (50-metre butterfly, breast stroke and 50-metre freestyle.

"We have not played the spin bowling well in our last few Tests"- Skipper Darren Sammy

counteract their spin bowlers and put runs on the board - a good first innings total is always important in a Test - over 400 and then we have to bowl well to restrict them and get a lead of over 100".

West Indies have not won a Test series against a side rated higher on the International Cricket Council's Test Ranking system for four years.

The last time they won a Test against a higher ranked side was when they beat Pakistan two years ago in Guyana.

"It will require a total team effort and all three disciplines of the game must click for us. We know over the years we have played really well and put ourselves in good

positions, only to lose the Test match due to one bad session of play," said Sammy.

"We cannot afford that in this series. We have to be on our Ps and Qs, and go hard at the Indians because we know they will come hard at us."

Sammy said it was good to be playing Test matches again, following a heavy diet of Oneday and Twenty20 matches over the last seven months.

West Indies' previous Test against Zimbabwe finished on March 22 this year at Windsor Park in Roseau - and they won by an innings and 65 runs.

"These Tests and the remainder against New Zealand

are very important, especially for players like Shiv, Shane, Kirk and others that only play Tests," he said.

"It is also another opportunity for us to further work on the goals we have. We broke into the top five earlier this year and this is another chance for us to move a little higher in the rankings."

Sammy said the farewell for cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has energised the bowling unit with everyone seeking to have the privilege of being the bowler to snare him for the last time in Tests - but he hedged no bets on who it will be.

"All I know is that I will be part of that wicket," he said.

Spor t CHRONICLE

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

Dates announced for seventh annual 'Ride Page for Life' five-stage 35 Please see story on page 30

Fears for Brazil World Cup 2014 as Soccerex conference axed FEARS about disruption to next year's World Cup have been raised after the key global football conference Soccerex was cancelled because of continuing civil unrest.

It was due to start in just three weeks time at the Macarana stadium.

The England manager, Roy Hodgson, was among a number of high-profile figures who were planning to attend the event.

The organisers and Rio's

state government disagreed over why the event is being called off.

In a statement, the organisers said the government took the decision because of "ongoing civil unrest" in Brazil.

This was later "strongly denied" by the state government of Rio, citing instead funding problems "The governor says he encouraged the organisers to seek cultural and sports incentive funding to finance

the event, but the organisers failed to do so," it said in a statement read out by Fifa's head of media at a news conference in London.

'APOLOGY' The event would have been the last of four scheduled Soccerex conventions to be held in Rio. The organisers said they would be taking legal action against the Rio authorities responsible.

"Preparations for the

Bolt among three for World Athlete-of-the-Year MONACO, (CMC) - Sprint sensation, Jamaica's Usain Bolt, is among three athletes selected as finalists for the 2013 male World Athlete-ofthe-Year, the IAAF announced yesterday.

Britain's Mo Farah and Ukranian high jumper Bohdan Bondarenko are the other two finalists.

Bolt, an eight-time World

champion is the reigning Olympic champion in the 100, 200 and 4x100m while Farah is the current 10 000m Olympic and World Champion and also the Olympic, World and European champion in the 5 000m.

The finalists were selected after a month-long poll of the World Athletics Family including members of the international press.

The Council of the International Athletics Foundation will select the male and female winners, with the announcement taking place live on stage during the 2013 World Athletics Gala in Monaco, on Saturday, November 16.

The three women's finalists will be announced today.

Adrian Bolt, an eight-time World champion is the reigning Olympic champion in the 100, 200 and 4x100m.

event at the Maracana Stadium were well advanced with content planned, speakers confirmed and partnerships in place," a statement said.

"To be summarily cancelled in such a cavalier fashion, having hosted 33 events over five continents is extremely frustrating but nevertheless it has happened and is in contravention of all of the contractual obligations of the Rio State Government, who have been notified of our intention to instigate legal proceedings for substantial compensation."

Soccerex chief executive Duncan Revie called the cancellation "cruel" and said he wanted to apologise to "every business, football club, league, federation and media organisation affected by this news".

Despite the sudden cancellation, world football governing body Fifa said it did not suggest heightened security fears for the World Cup. FIFA'S marketing director, Thierry Weil, said: "We do not believe this will have any

Soccerex chief executive Duncan Revie influence in any way or form on the organisation of the FIFA World Cup." Brazil, one of the fastgrowing Brics nations, has seen its growth rate fall far from the 7.5% recorded in 2010 and is now growing at just short of 3% a year.

That, and a sharp fall in the value of its currency, the real, has sparked a number of often violent anti-government protests this year.

SECURITY Among the protesters' concerns are corruption in public life as well as spending on hosting the World Cup and Olympics.

People are also asking for more investment in public services, better public schools, hospitals and transportation.

These demonstrations affected the Confederations Cup in June, prompting fears about safety and security for next summer's World Cup finals.

Soccerex has been running for the last 18 years.

It brings together football federations and associations, major clubs, rights holders, leading brands, businessmen and others in the industry.

Next year it moves to Manchester in the UK, which has been the host of Soccerex Europe since 2010. (BBC Sport)

WICB pleased with plans for Super 50 in Trinidad PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC)-The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is said to be pleased with the state of preparations for the staging of the Caribbean Super50 in Trinidad in January.

WICB president Dave Cameron was in Port of Spain over the weekend meeting with officials of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) and the Ministry of Tourism.

"Cameron came in for talks with the T&T Cricket Board, as well as the Ministry of Tourism and he left pleased with the progress so far," WICB director Baldath Mahabir has reported.

"The meeting we had was very successful and everyone left pleased. We intend to meet with our sponsors all the way

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208

through to ensure that they get maximum exposure for their investment and this is why the president was here".

The Caribbean Super 50

will be played in Trinidad for the next three years sponsored by this country's ministry of Tourism in an effort to showcase T&T as a sport

tourism destination.

The TTCB, who initiated talks with the ministry of Tourism, is acting as caretakers until the WICB puts a committee in place for the tournament.

"We are hoping to build this tournament as a major sporting attraction in Trinidad and Tobago and the region as a whole and this is why we are keeping it close to Carnival," said Mahabir.

"We are hoping to offer fans the double package of cricket and carnival and this is why the ministry's involvement in the planning process is so critical".

Windward Islands are the defending champions of the regional super 50 after defeating Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) by nine wickets in the finals at Kensington Over earlier this year.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2013