2014 12 18

GUYANA No. 104045 THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2014

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

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A victory for Latin America and Caribbean – President

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The Peshawar tragedy...

President Ramotar sends his condolences Page

Page President Raul Castro

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President Donald Ramotar

...as he reacts to move by US to improve relations with Cuba

GPL’s Georgetown sub-station commissioned …propels electricity distribution by a great leap, says Prime Minister

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Granger’s legal challenge begs the question Why? - HPS Page

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PSC, Bar Associations, DDL Boss boycott ‘farcical’ civil society summit Page 9 After GLGOU/M&CC markets shutdown...

Vendors to retaliate with ‘punch of their own’ Page

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and GPL CEO, Bharrat Dindyal, during a tour of the Georgetown sub-station’s control room

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Public Works Ministry buries sperm whale Page

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

A victory for Latin America and Caribbean – President – as he reacts to move by US to improve relations with Cuba

THE latest move by the United States of America’s President, Barrack Obama, to establish formal relations with Cuba has been welcomed by President Donald Ramotar who described it as “a major step forward in the right direction”.

President Ramotar, in an invited comment by the Government Information Agency (GINA), said it was the culmination of struggles against the Cuban blockade, which began decades ago, one which few leaders dared to oppose. Dr. Cheddi Jagan, even though

President Donald Ramotar

President Raul Castro

Guyana was still a colony, was one who voiced his support for the Cuban Government and its people and moved to break the blockade, the President noted.

“He traded with Cuba, with rice and sugar, and timber”. It was the struggle of the People’s Progressive Party, along with other progressive regional forces, he added, that led to four Caribbean countries, formally recognising Cuba in 1972. “This was a very important step towards breaking the isolation of Cuba in the Region”.

Cuba and the United Sates

must be congratulated for the steps being taken at present, the President said, as it was “long overdue, but better late than never”.

The change in the US stance will be important to the Region too, as the Caribbean nation has contributed a great deal to human resource development within all the countries of the Region and Latin America, President Ramotar emphasised. He said Cuba has helped to train people so that Guyana could have technical skills, “so this is a victory for the hemisphere, Latin America

and the Caribbean”.

The US and Cuba have agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations and open economic and travel ties, marking a historic shift in U.S. policy toward the communist island after a half-century of enmity dating back to the Cold War, American officials said Wednesday.

The announcement came amid a series of sudden confidence-building measures between the longtime foes, including the release of American prisoner Alan Gross and a U.S. spy held in Cuba, and the freeing of three Cubans jailed in the U.S.

Giftland again brightens Tiger Bay with Christmas cheer – for fifth year running GIFTLAND OfficeMax continues its tradition of spreading Christmas cheer to the Tiger Bay community, as the Giftland family on Sunday donated gifts

and hampers valued approximately $520,000, to the residents of the community at the School of the Nation compound.

Speaking to the media,

Public Relations Manager, Delroy Dash, said: “Giftland makes donations throughout the year to the Tiger Bay community for education, entertainment and sports and therefore embraces its corporate social responsibilities.”

The event, which is in its fifth year, caters for not just the children but the elderly in the community as well.

Dash noted that the gifts given to the children, which included toys and clothing, were age specific, from toddlers to teenagers.

Fitness Ambassador Devon Davis presents a young lady with her Christmas gift

Twenty-five elderly persons were given Hampers containing products such as personal care items and foodstuff.

In addition to receiving these food hampers, the residents were also treated to snacks and joyful entertain-

ment by members of the extended Giftland family. They included Giftland Sports and Fitness Ambassadors Hugh Ross and Devon Davis, Champion Athlete Alicia Fortune and national hockey player Aleaya Gordon.

Also present were

members of the “Nothing to Laugh About” cast, Lyndon “Jumbie” Jones, Michael Ignatius, Chris Gopaul and others. They happily assisted with the distribution of hampers and with entertaining the children.

The children of Tiger Bay enjoy participating in singing Christmas songs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

GPL’s Georgetown sub-station commissioned …propels electricity distribution by a great leap, says Prime Minister

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh; GPL CEO Bharrat Dindyal; and Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, during a tour of the Georgetown sub-station’s control room From left, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh; Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Zhang Limin; GPL CEO, Bharrat Dindyal; Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and a Bishops’ High School student, during the ribbon cutting

GUYANA now boasts a modern integrated electricity grid, linking Berbice and Demerara, and the final component of the new system, the Guyana Power and Light’s Georgetown sub-station, Ruimveldt, was commissioned yesterday.

Completed under GPL’s US$38.9M Infrastructure Development Programme (IDP), the new system is expected to facilitate and upgrade voltage stability and efficient electricity distribu-

tion. The IPD was funded by the Government of Guyana and in part by a concessional loan from the Export-Import Bank of China.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who delivered the feature address at yesterday’s event, stressed that the integrated electricity grid has propelled Guyana’s electricity distribution system by a “great” leap.

According to him, continued advances in the provision of electricity in Guyana depends on a strong in-

ter-connected system, such as integrated electricity grid.

The Prime Minister, who has responsibility for the energy sector, contends that the advances to date are the result of huge financial investments, adding that Guyana still has some way to go.

Hinds underscored that the successes by GPL have not been accomplished without challenges, some of which still persist, particularly as it relates to the company’s losses.

He disclosed that cur-

rently GPL’s losses amount to approximately 30 per cent, about 14 per cent technical and 16 per cent non-technical, the latter including instances of theft.

“It is time to end it… it is Turn to page 9 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

Syria conflict: 230 Pakistan school attack: PM Sharif vows to end ‘terrorism’ bodies ‘found in mass

PAKISTAN’S prime minister has vowed to rid his country of terrorism after a Taliban attack at a school in Peshawar killed 141 people, mostly children.

Nawaz Sharif spoke after talks between political parties about the massacre.

Gunmen went from class to class shooting the students in the Pakistani Taliban’s deadliest attack to date. Funerals of the victims are continuing.

The Afghan president says the “time has come” for his country to work with Pakistan to fight “extremism.”

Ashraf Ghani said the two countries should “jointly take effective actions”

grave’ in Deir al-Zour

The following a surprise meeting with Pakistan’s army chief in Kabul to discuss security co-ordination.

New images of the school published by a BBC team that gained access to the site on Wednesday showed the scale and brutality of the attack, with pools of blood on the ground and walls covered in pockmarks from hundreds of bullets.

‘Stand united’ The Pakistani Taliban

school children are buried (TTP) said they had car- be no distinction between ried out the attack against “good and bad” Taliban. the Army Public School to “We...have resolved to avenge army-led operations continue the war against teragainst them in the Khyber rorism till the last terrorist is and North Waziristan areas. eliminated,” he added.

Prime Minister Nawaz He also announced an Sharif said Pakistan stood end to the moratorium on united to ensure the deaths the death penalty for terof the children were not rorism cases, which corwasted, after meeting par- respondents say is a move ty leaders in Peshawar on aimed at countering a view Wednesday. held by many Pakistanis In any action against the that many terror suspects militants, he said, there would end up evading justice.

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THE bodies of more than 230 people believed to have been killed by Islamic State (IS) have been found in a mass grave in eastern Syria, activists say.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said they were thought to be members of a tribe that fought the jihadist group in Deir al-Zour province in the summer.

The mass grave was discovered after the Sheitat were allowed to return to their homes by IS leaders, it added.

Last month, the UN said it had received reports of a massacre there in August.

Investigators said it appeared to have been perpetrated

by IS in a struggle for control of oil resources near the town of Mohassan. One survivor described seeing “many heads hanging on walls while I and my family escaped”, while locals saw several freshly-dug mass graves.

Video published online also indicated that IS fighters had conducted a mass execution of fighting-age Sheitat tribesmen.

In early November, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi reportedly issued a statement granting members of the tribe permission to return to their homes upon the condition that they did not assemble. They were also told to surrender all weapons and inform on all “apostates” to the group.

All “traitors” would be killed, Baghdadi’s statement warned. On Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory reported that it had been informed by a trusted source that the 230 bodies had been found by returning members of the Sheitat in a mass grave in the desert near the village of Kashkiya, in eastern Deir al-Zour.

The UK-based group said the “vast majority” of the victims had been civilians and that many of them had been executed in cold blood.

The discovery brought the number of Sheitat tribes people killed during the summer to more than 900, it added. Hundreds more are still missing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

Obama hails ‘new PM defends chapter’ in US-Cuba ties hamper drive (BBC News) US PRESIDENT Barack Obama has hailed a “new chapter” in US relations with Cuba, announcing moves to normalise diplomatic and economic ties.

Mr Obama said the US’ current approach was “outdated” and the changes were the “most significant” in US policy towards Cuba in 50 years.

Cuban President Raul Castro said he welcomed the

Raul Castro and Barack Obama shift in a TV address. release of US contractor The move includes the Alan Gross and three Cubans held in the US. We d n e s d a y ’ s a n nouncement follows more than a year of secret talks in Canada and at the Vatican, directly involving the Pope.

The US is looking to open an embassy in Havana in the coming months, Mr Obama said.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (CMC) – THE United States The plans set out in a Coast Guard says it has detained two suspected smugglers White House statement also and seized 71 pounds of cocaine during an operation in include: the Caribbean Sea. * Reviewing the desThe Coast Guard said that the operation on Tuesday was a ignation of Cuba as a state multi-agency law enforcement effort in support of Operation sponsor of terrorism Caribbean Guard and Coast Guard Operation Unified Resolve. * Easing a travel ban for It said a marine surveillance aircraft last week detected US citizens a suspicious 20-foot go-fast vessel with two people aboard * Easing financial re“transiting the area without the use of their navigational

US Coast Guard nabs two smugglers, seizes cocaine in Caribbean Sea

lights”.

It said the Cutter Dependable was diverted to interdict the suspect vessel and observed the suspected smugglers jettisoning multiple packages overboard during the pursuit.

“The small-boat crew employed warning shots and disabling fire, stopping the vessel and recovering one of the jettisoned bales from the water,” the Coast Guard said.

Since September 2012, the Coast Guard, in partnership with regional law enforcement authorities and international partners in the Caribbean, seized over 25,500 kilograms of cocaine and 8,000 pounds of marijuana during multiple law enforcement at-sea interdictions under Operation Unified Resolve.

The Coast Guard said that the drugs seized since 2012 are worth more than US$640 million.

strictions * Increasing telecommunications links * Efforts to lift the 54-year-old trade embargo Mr Castro said the changes were something Cuba had been pressing for for a long time.

“Ever since my election... I have reiterated on many occasions our preparedness to hold a respectful dialogue with the government of the United States based on sovereign equality,” he said.

President Castro urged Washington to lift a trade and economic embargo imposed on the communist-run island - a move that can only be made by Congress.

President Obama appealed to lawmakers to consider doing this, saying that the US policy of isolating Cuba had clearly failed.

for vulnerable

Trinidad observer PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has defended her decision to host a Christmas hamper drive for the needy at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s today, saying the move was in keeping with her promise to open up the facility to citizens. She made the comment Tuesday as she responded to a call by Arouca/Maloney MP Alicia Hospedales for invitees to stay away from the event.

“I didn’t hear (the statement) but if such a statement was made I think it was most unfortunate,” Persad-Bissessar said during the PM’s Christmas Treats function at the Mayaro Resource Centre, Mayaro. “Remember when I became PM, I said I would open up the Diplomatic Centre to everyone. Because these persons may be vulnerable does not mean that they cannot come to the Diplomatic Centre for any event.”

Labelling Hospedales’ statement unfortunate, the PM added: “No, I took a decision and I am very happy with that decision that we would invite them there, we would treat them and of course also give them their hampers.” In a press release, Hospedales knocked the PM for “exploiting poor people” who would have to find money to travel to the centre for a hamper. But Persad-Bissessar said the recipients would not have to worry about transport.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

Good news never tasted so sweet IT has to be good news, both for the country and the entity itself, that GuySuCo (Guyana Sugar Corporation) is in the process of achieving its 2014 target of 216,000 tonnes of sugar.

Again, this would be a well-deserved milestone, given the many trials and tribulations of an industry that has given so much to the nation, but has been experiencing its fair share of challenges within recent years.

GuySuCo is indeed one of Guyana’s major industrial giants, with its produce, sugar, inherently a seminal part of this nation’s histor-

ical evolution of working class struggle, beginning from the days of slavery right through to the system of indentureship.

It would also be appropriate to state that its most significant period of struggle occurred when that indomitable champion of the working class, the late revered Father of the Nation, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, championed the cause of the many thousands who laboured under the abysmal conditions of the plantocracy.

Thus, it has taken decades of cruel toil and bloody sacrifice, including that historical event of the Enmore Martyrs in June, 1948, for

the gradual gains that have gone into making GuySuCo, what it is to the nation and the many thousands in its employ.

As the State’s largest employer, of over 20,000 personnel, and a further 100,000 dependents of many kinds, GuySuCo is indeed Guyana!

It is too big to fail! Therefore, the decision of the Government to invest in the building of the Skeldon flagship project has to be understood, especially against the background of the European Union’s decision to reduce the sugar importation quotas of the ACP (African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries) grouping, which threatened

not only the local industry, but the need to produce sugar at competitive market prices as well.

Hence, it was an enlightened decision of the Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic(PPP/C) Government to ensure the viability of this vital industry, in addition to protecting and ensuring the jobs of the many thousands whose contribution are absolutely integral to its productive success.

Any Government, especially one with such a working-class pedigree as the PPP/C’s, would have taken similar action, and continue to aid this national industry in its hour of need. This line

of reasoning is extended to those political Opposition parties, whose many wild suggestion about what to do with GuySuCo could only be branded as anti-worker and anti-national.

Many would have since parted company with the sugar industry, perhaps unsure as to its future. Nevertheless, they must be thanked for their contributions. But very special commendations should be given to those whose faith in the industry has compelled them to remain within its employ. It is these industrious workers whose daily conscientious toil have caused GuySuCo’s productive capacity to be very much improved at this

point in time.

The truism that “rain does not fall continuously, but will cease”, when applied to GuySuCo does seem to forecast that blue skies are now gradually re-appearing over this well-deserving industry that will continue to play a lead role in the nation’s development.

As such we join with all patriotic Guyanese in wishing this industry the very best as it seeks to regain its renowned status as a champion centre of national economic productivity, and once again saluting those workers who are aiding in GuySuCo’s recovery.

Defence application results in voir dire for stepfather murder conspiracy FOLLOWING an application by defence counsel for the adoption of a certain action to be taken in the West Coast Demerara stepfather murder conspiracy, Presiding Judge, Madame Dawn Gregory yesterday conducted a voir dire to determine the matter.

After hearing arguments

in the absence of the jury, from counsel on both sides, the judge has reserved her ruling at the trial within a trial to be delivered this morning.

Accused Bibi Shamiza Khan, also called ‘Sham’, Hoosman Khan, also called ‘Strong Man’ and Bibi Farida Khan, called ‘Pum’, are

accused of murdering their stepfather, Motilall Singh, on September 7, 2009.

The prosecution conducted by Miss Natasha Backer, in association with Miss Mercedes Thompson, is contending that the murder resulted from a breakdown in relationship between the mother of the accused and

the deceased, who were residing in the United States.

The Prosecution is alledging that a plot was hatched by the mother who allegedly sent US$ 7M to the accused with instructions to hire a killer to murder Motilall who was on a visit to Guyana.

The prosecution said

that it is in possession of statements from the accused implicating themselves; but the accused, represented by Senior Counsel, Mr. Bernard De Santos, is denying this and is saying that while they were sick and receiving medication for diabetes, the police gave them a paper with instructions to sign their

name.

In their defence from the witness box they said they had nothing to do with the death of Motilall Singh.

To sum it up, the accused Farida, represented

by Mr. Bernard De Santos, has said exactly what the number one and two accused earlier testified.

Murder accused Lohing jailed for 83 years for the murder of his lover ACCUSED Paul Anthony Lohing was found guilty by the jury of the murder of his lover, Shoala Gilgeous, who died from strangulation.

Neither he nor his counsel said anything in mitigation.

Justice Navindra Singh imposed a sentence of 83

years.

According to the evidence led, the woman and the accused lived together at Sophia.

On the day in question she was found dead. No one witnessed the killing.

The doctor who performed the post-mortem

stated that death was due to strangulation.

Following Police investigations, the accused was arrested and charged with murder. The trial, which ended yesterday, was a retrial.

The first trial ended with a hung jury.

In her opening address

on Monday, Prosecutrix Miss Narissa Leander disclosed that medical evidence would be led to show that the deceased, who lived together with the accused at their home as man and wife, died from strangulation.

According to her, there is no eye witness to the act and

the case is based on circumstantial evidence.

Alain Gilgeous, the brother of the deceased, who lives in Trinidad, gave evidence via the communication system.

In answer to prosecutrix Mrs. Teshana Lake, the witness, when asked

whether the accused used to beat his sister, he replied that on one occasion they were fighting and he had to part them.

But in answer to defence counsel Mr. Keavon Bess, the witness said “I have never seen Lohing hit my sister”.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

Civil society needs to wake up Concoctions

THE call by supposed ‘civil society,’ that the Attorney General must go, rests upon the concoctions and figments of Kaieteur News.

The noxious way the entity is still (mis)behaving, as regards this issue, is like trying to infect a non-existent sore, claiming, on behalf of (some imaginary) civil society, that there is illegality,a threat that is imagined by implication and omission, in the ‘peeped and staged’ conversation, between the AG and possibly a planted KN reporter.

This threat is overtly absent linguistically; semantically, a whiff has to be inserted by virtue of implication and omission.

Yet the unholy triumvir of Christopher Ram, Dr. David Hinds, and Glenn Lall are seeking to resurrect it. The members know that they have no solid legal ground to stand on. There is definitely too ‘much ado about nothing’ in the matter.

Issues-One This unholy ‘trinity-Christopher Ram, Dr. David Hinds and Glenn

Lall- did not speak out, nor protest’ in the aftermath of the March 2003 Brian Hamilton execution-style killing.

This is hard core stuff and needs no mental contortions to discern ‘right and wrong’ and ‘moral versus immoral.’

The revelations can stimulate a sickening burst of vomiting.

When Hamilton was killed, at the gas station in Buxton, Nigel Hughes showed up, but this was kept low, as it had (and still has) that ring of collusion.

Erstwhile President Bharat Jagdeo knew that there was a video recording of the killing, but opined that Hughes had surreptitiously shown up and taken away the tape and that the police subsequently never recovered the recording, or its un-doctored version.

When this clandestine deed was revealed, only then Hughes tried to clear the air, and even now his embarrassing knee-jerk reaction smacks of criminality.

“I visited Mr. Oscar Hamilton, Brian’s father, who informed me that the Police had requested that he (Hughes) attend his petrol

station, as there was a surveillance tape still in the recording machine, which the Police were unable to eject.”

Hughes further elaborated: “Mr. Hamilton asked me if I would take him to Buxton which I did. He further informed me that he was concerned about the police securing the tape without providing him with a copy….On arrival at Buxton … Mr. Hamilton ejected the tape and asked the crime scene officer if he could keep the tape for the purpose of making a copy. He was granted permission.”

This is from a supposed seasoned lawyer.

Freddie Kissoon’s View This so incensed Frederick Kissoon, Hughes’ ardent and almost catamitish devotee, that he wrote to Stabroek News almost immediately, calling for Nigel Hughes to “resign his leadership role in the Guyana Bar Association.”

He asked in that missive: “Did Mr. Hughes commit an offence?” He also emphatically stated his conviction: “I believe a lawyer can argue that it has to be proven under the Criminal Act that Mr. Hughes meant to defeat the course of justice. But the law is no fool. Anyone could

Guyana welcomes Obama, Castro decision THE Government of Guyana welcomes the decision announced yesterday by President Barrack Obama to normalise diplomatic and economic ties with the Republic of Cuba.

In a press statement last evening, the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Georgetown said the Government of Guyana views this as a progressive step towards the development of constructive relations between the United States of America and Cuba which will redound to the benefit of these two countries and the hemisphere as whole.

“The Government wishes to congratulate President Obama on this brave and just decision and hopes that these actions will lead to an early end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade which the United States of America has pursued for the last 54 years against the Cuban people. It is our hope that the measures announced will be implemented without any hindrance.

“We congratulate and salute President Raul Castro on the headways made which were no doubt occasioned by his continued willingness to dialogue with President Barack Obama.

“We also wish to acknowledge the critical role played by Pope Francis and the Vatican and the Government of Canada in facilitating the discussions between the United States of America and Cuba which have resulted in this promising end.

“The Government of Guyana will continue to stand in solidarity with the Government and people of Cuba in pursuit of the removal of the blockade, even as we salute the nation of Cuba for their unwavering strength against this unjust policy,” the statement concluded..

be allowed to take away evidence and innocently claim that they were acting in the best interest of the murdered victim. Surely the law cannot be that stupid to assume that persons can take away evidence from a crime scene with good intentions.”

Amen!

He continued and explained that “… The fact that Mr. Hughes kept the tape for three days opens himself to diverse types of suspicion. It is reasonable for a curious mind to ask if the tape was tampered with. Two senior policemen and a well-placed journalist told me that the tape was altered.”

He then concluded, “Now what is my opinion?

I have read the Criminal Law Act (Offences) and it is clear to me that Chap.

8:01 applies to what Mr. Hughes did at the gas station. Here are the relevant passages.”

329-Anyone who conspires with any person to obstruct, prevent, pervert, or defeat the course of justice shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and liable to imprisonment for two years.

330-Anyone who willfully attempts in any way, though not otherwise criminal, to obstruct, prevent, pervert, or default the course of justice or the administration of the law, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and liable to imprisonment for one year.

Issues-Two Again, the dirty ‘trinity-Christopher Ram, Dr. David Hinds, and Glenn Lall- did not speak out, nor protest’ in August 2013, when Vernon Griffith, the jury foreman in the Lusignan massacre trial, had to be ‘banned for life,’ from sitting as a juror in this country, after he failed to disclose that he was a longstanding client of the Defence Attorney.

Hughes himself did not advise him to do so, something which should have been natural for any lawyer.

He however again waited to be exposed then offered a long winding permutation that lost grounding, by virtue of prolixity and irrelevance.

His obvious reason was to obfuscate; the end result is that he was acting like a man, trying to extricate himself (after the fact).

Reputation According to an Observer entry, Nigel Hughes is a lawyer with a history of criminal association. He seems very closely connected to an alleged drug kingpin, said to be wanted in the U.S. This kind of infamy is consistent with Hughes’ record too, showing that the man has a proclivity for providing pro-bono legal representation to criminal elements.

Hughes’s party (AFC) has repeatedly joined APNU in voting against several pieces of crime fighting legislation. People just have to wonder now.

So what is this clamouring now, that Government’s position, in allowing the AG to remain in office reflects “poorly” on the Administration (saying that even the Bar Association of Guyana has called for Nandlall’s resignation?).

The trio of Ram, Hinds and Lall must be mentally torpid! The three form a

most sordid ménage-a-trois.

Classic Cases-‘wiretapping’ is serious Two from this year suffice.

Adam “Ademo” Mueller got himself in big trouble; he was sentenced to three months in jail A jury found Mueller guilty of illegal wiretapping in a police-brutality case.

And British journalist Andy Coulson was sentenced to 18 months in prison, in a case of massive phone tapping.

Rohee’s Call-time to act

against Lall The contradiction is that Lall is part of the group, protesting the AG; this is the very man he is guilty of committing a crime against.

Glen Lall planted a venal and colloguing reporter and invaded the privacy of Anil Nandlall and all Guyana are silent. The crime of invading privacy is heinous and disgusting. It is tantamount to voyeurism at times and makes of Lall, not just a criminal, but one who loves self-titillating.

Lall seems likely to have been in this ‘wire-phonetapping business for some time now. He is most likely still with it.

A number of sources have it that Lall has illegal phone recordings of members of almost every sector of society, including the Judiciary, the Police, the Army, the business community, the Diplomatic Corps and Government and Opposition officials.

This is probably what is fuelling his actions of impunity and dare, to the point of going against the very man he has offended.

Clement Rohee must act-not just call

Clement Rohee is upset and says that “… if there are more recordings, then let the recordings be released …”

Maybe Lall is bluffing.

However, it is time he be raided and be turned in. He must answer for his egregious sin and crime.

He has contravened the sacred law that forbids ‘wiretapping.’ It is this statute that allows for a commodious life in civil society; it must be upheld.

FARUK MOHAMED

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

The Peshawar tragedy...

President Ramotar sends his condolences

– assures Pakistani colleague of Guyana’s solidarity

PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar yesterday sent President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr Mamnoon Hussain, his deepest sympathy for the terror unleashed on the people of Peshawar on Tuesday, resulting in the tragic loss of as many as 141 innocent lives.

He also reassured him of Guyana’s unwavering committment to helping “eliminate the shameful and cowardly scourge of terrorism,” and asked that he convey to the people of Pakistan that the thoughts and prayers of the people of Guyana are with them in this their hour of bereavement.

The following is the full text of President Ramotar’s message to President Hus-

sain:

“Excellency, “It is with deep sadness that I received the news of the terrorist attack which occurred on December 16, 2014 at a school in Peshawar, resulting in the tragic death of 141 persons, the majority of them innocent children.

“Guyana strongly condemns this heinous act of violence which has been perpetrated in your country.

We mourn the loss of innocent lives, and pray for the mental and physical recovery of those who have survived.

“Terrorist attacks and other crimes committed by extremist organisations, particularly on children, violate the fundamental human rights

of all, and must therefore be tackled with determination and necessary zeal. The attack on a school sends a message to the international community that all are vulnerable, and therefore we must cooperate to eliminate the shameful and cowardly scourge of terrorism.

“On behalf of the Government and the people of Guyana and on my own behalf, I submit our prayers and sympathies for all those affected by this tragedy.

“Please convey to the bereaved families, relatives, and all the people of Pakistan that Guyana stands with them in their time of sorrow.

“Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

Burying the school children in Peshawar

Santa Rosa, Matthew’s Ridge to Christmas traffic plan working OK - Traffic Chief get electrification for holidays

– Suggests car pooling to ease traffic congestion downtown TRAFFIC Chief, Hugh Denhert yesterday assessed that the traffic arrangements for the Christmas season is working as planned although there are a few hiccups with the added influx of traffic and people in the downtown shopping area.

He said that in its initial stages the plan mapped out for the sectors in the city was in order and people are complying but they are hoping for more compliance as it relates to drivers and all road users.

DRIVING ATTITUDE He noted that the driving attitude of some minibus drivers and taxi operators leaves much to be desired but at the same time some of them are refusing to traverse Regent Street and other busy areas in Georgetown.

The Traffic Chief added that with more people on the roads, especially in the busy shopping areas, people must

Traffic Chief Hugh Denhert

be considerate of each other since “we all have to utilise the limited space since the pavements are occupied by vendors.”

CAR-POOL Denhert said that at this time it is wise that persons car-pool because parking is an issue in some congested areas in the city and it is also advisable that some people park their vehicles at a secure

area and walk to do their shopping, etc.

He stated that in addition to regular traffic cops on the roads, there will also be police on mobile patrols policing all sections of the city and there are also police booths at designated spots in Georgetown.

Since the police instituted one-way streets in the city, it has been working well as there is a more controlled traffic flow. However, at this time of the year it is advisable for everyone to be defensive in driving, alert and cautious.

Denhert also urged all road users to exercise care and caution when using the roads and since it is the busy time of the year with the approach to Christmas, the downtown shopping areas will be extra crowded and there is need to be alert and to utilise secure parking areas as well. (Michel Outridge)

THE Hinterland Electrification Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister intends to make the Christmas season brighter and merrier for several residents of Region 1 (Barima/Waini) by way of energising households at Santa Rosa and Matthew’s Ridge for the holidays.

An expected 200 households from Matthew’s Ridge where the generation and distribution system was recently completed and is ready to commence service, will ben-

efit from electrification as a Christmas gift from the HEU. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the HEU, Mr. Horace Williams disclosed that the people of Matthew’s Ridge had been served by a limited distribution network in the 1950s and the 1960s but not much of a public electricity system since then.

The project at Matthew’s Ridge was executed at a cost of $43M. Eighty homes from Santa Rosa are also to similarly benefit as a result of the completion of a $35M

upgrade of the system in the village.

Williams said that the onus is on the residents to hurry and get their domestic wiring approved, since this is the only remaining obstacle to generation.

He said: “We are ready to generate electricity for these households. Everything is in place. Once 50% or close to 50% of the two communities are ready for safe connection to the grid, the current will start flowing.”

GEA to hold seminar today on energy efficient procurement THE Guyana Energy Authority (GEA) will be briefing persons responsible for procurement in both the public and private sector today on the topic: “Taking account of energy efficiency in your procurement”.

The venue is the Ballet Room of Cara Lodge Hotel in Quamina Street today from 09.00hrs to 11.00 hrs and the event is being facilitated by Dr. Mahender Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of the GEA. An official from the

GEA disclosed that the aim will be to stimulate dialogue and heighten awareness on what ‘energy efficient procurement’ entails and what its benefits are.

The seminar will highlight the Procurement Policy statement which states that: “All public procurement of electrical appliances shall include, as part of the decision-making process, an evaluation of the annual operating energy costs of the various electrical appliances”.

Participants will be made aware of elements of the energy policy and encouraged to ensure that the annual operating energy costs of electrical appliances must be included as part of the evaluation in the procurement process.

Ideally, the official said, representatives should be persons responsible for procurement.

Though specifically targeting Government ministries and agencies, the seminar is also open to the private sector.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

Granger’s legal challenge begs the question Why? - HPS HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon at his weekly post cabinet press briefing again reiterated cabinet’s position that all spending being undertaken by the Government is legitimate.

He said that Cabinet was briefed by the Attorney General on the status of the legal action brought by the Leader of the Opposition Brigadier (rtd), David Granger. He said, “The Chief Justice, in his earlier ruling, has dealt with this matter conclusively and yet the Leader of the Opposition thought it necessary and convenient to apply to the constitutional court, a legal action against the Minister (of Finance) and Speaker (of the National Assembly); our understanding having being aware of the Chief Justice ruling begs the question, why?”

Dr. Luncheon said that there is a lack of understanding as to what lies behind that resort. He said that the Leader of the Opposition has again sought, on consti-

tutional ground, to question and take to the Constitutional court, actions by the Minister of Finance that, by the Chief Justice's earlier ruling, are perfectly legitimate.

Further, he pointed out that from the Attorney General’s presentation, the legal arguments on the efforts by the Leader of the Opposition to prevent the Minister of Finance from expending sums of money under constitutional coverage are not expected to commence before December 29, 2014, and is unlikely to conclude before December 31, 2014, the date which the expenditure being queried by the Leader of the Opposition, is being sought to be stayed.

The Leader of the Opposition on Thursday last filed a writ in the High Court naming the Minister of Finance, the Attorney General and the Speaker of the National Assembly as defendants. He is seeking to stay all spending by Government on projects not approved in the 2014 Budget. The Attorney General was on Monday, on request,

granted seven days by the Chief Justice to reply to the action after which the lawyer for the Opposition Leader will have a further five days to reply before the matter comes up for report on December 29, 2014, when a date will be set for the hearing.

The Head of the Presidential Secretariat said also that the Attorney General updated Cabinet on the State’s effort with regard to the appeal for a stay of execution of the Chief Justice ruling in the matter of the petition by an attorney in support of a client under the Sexual Violence Act was successful. He said that the Attorney General had advised Cabinet that the efforts of the State had prevailed and a stay of execution of the Chief Justice ruling, which essentially had said that paper committals were unconstitutional, had been granted. This, he said, will allow for paper committal to be concluded and those in abeyance to be concluded.

PSC, Bar Associations, DDL Boss boycott ‘farcical’ civil society summit

By Derwayne Wills IT is unclear whether the actions of the Private Sector Commission, Bar Associations and Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) Chairman, Dr. Yesu Persaud were heeding the advice of the Office of the President to “dissociate themselves from this farcical event,” but clearly there was some consensus that the event was not worth the while.

Representatives from Civil Society organisations were yesterday gathered at the Guyana International Conference Centre under the flag of the Guyana National Civil Society Council (GNCSC), but things appeared ‘iffy’ when keynote speaker, Dr. Yesu Persaud was called to give an address even though he was not in attendance.

Similar calls were made for representation from the legal fraternity, for which there was no response from the gathering. It was unclear whether the Guyana Bar Association was informed by invitation of the forum; but this could not be confirmed since efforts to contact the President of that body, Ronald BurchSmith, were unsuccessful.

Similar efforts to contact DDL’s, Dr. Yesu Per-

GPL’s Georgetown sub... time to end the theft of electricity,” Hinds said.

The Prime Minister maintains that the cost of electricity is no reason for the “self-perpetuating” act of theft, particularly since the cost in Guyana, an average of $67per kilowatt hour, is lower than the Caribbean average of between $63 and $83 per kilowatt hour.

On that note, he made it clear that there must be a move to reduce losses, to as low as between six and eight per cent, but acknowledged that this would require the cooperation of all Guyanese.

Hinds also assured that advances will continue to be made to further improve the supply of electricity in Guyana.

Also making remarks was Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Zhang Limin, who noted that the electricity sector in Guyana is a major cornerstone in the development of the country, given its role in the country’s economic and social advance.

“The Government, today, has delivered an important project to its people,” he said, via a translator.

PREREQUISITE FOR AMAILA Meanwhile, Chairman of GPL’s Board of Directors, Winston Brassington, stated that the integrated electricity grid was not only

done to meet international standards, but is also a pre-requisite for the Amaila Falls Hydro Project (AFHP), which is a project that is considered important by GPL. The hydropower project is touted to be able to provide Guyanese with a cheaper, reliable and sustainable electricity supply. It involves the construction of a hydropower plant in the area of West-Central Guyana, where the Amaila and Kuribrong Rivers meet. Electricity produced there would be delivered to Georgetown and Guyana’s second largest town, Linden.

The AFHP is anticipated to result in substantial savings to the nation’s coffers, particularly in terms of foreign exchange and the purchase of heavy fuel oil.

President Donald Ramotar’s consistent position on developing hydropower is that economies must serve the people, not vice-versa, and with an expected saving of $9B in electricity subsidies, as well as savings on the $40B fuel bill, enormous contributions can be made to the infrastructural development, which is particularly needed in Guyana’s hinterland to aid and accelerate economic progress.

Mr. Ramotar has also stressed that, despite the disposition of the combined Opposition, the project is not dead. “We are very close to taking a decision on what direction

saud and the PSC’s Chairman, Ramesh Persaud were unsuccessful.

During his weekly press briefing, Cabinet Secretary, Roger Luncheon had expressed the position of the Government which has dissociated itself from the forum and from association with organiser, Phillip Mozart Thomas.

“The administration, cognisant of the sensitivities involved and noting the reactions of many wouldbe fellow supporters, has made [the decision to dissociate] itself from this effort to organise civil society entities in Guyana.”

In an invited comment from this publication, Thomas expressed concern on the position taken by the Government.

In a statement seen by this publication, the Office of the President recently declared: “It has been brought to the attention of the Office of the President that the qualifications Mr. Thomas purports to possess are highly suspicious.”

At Wednesday’s summit, representatives from the Private Sector Commission were nowhere in sight; but this comes as no surprise, since the PSC too has distanced itself from the happenings.

Senior officials within

that civil society body told this publication that while they are aware of the event being planned, as a major constituent representative of civil society, it has no knowledge of the organisation, nor do they know anything about its mandate.”

Following full page ads which appeared in major newspapers for more than two days, the question of where the funding for such an affair is coming was being asked. Thomas told the Chronicle that funding for the Summit comes from a number of organisations as well as businesses which are to be named at an upcoming event.

The Summit’s organising committee has come under fire for the nomination of prominent persons to its Advisory Council Board, as well as to the full Council. Explaining this process, Thomas said “Individuals out of the 400 groups ... put up their own persons for nominations.” It is however unclear whether persons are aware of whom they were nominated by.

The Summit held at the Conference Centre continues until December 19 and members of the 10th Parliament have been requested to attend by invitation.

From page 3

to go to put Amaila back on stream,” the President has said.

Additionally, the potential benefits of a more stable and reliable source of energy through the advancement of hydroelectricity was also targeted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), last December, as an area for continued focus.

Brassington said, “We need an integrated grid and a modern transmission system…we spend $23B in fuel last year alone.”

He highlighted that the integrated electricity grid will allow GPL to continue to make advance, even as it addressed challenges. “Despite these improvements, a lot more still needs to be done in terms of ensuring uninterrupted distribution of electricity,” Brassington declared.

GPL’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bharrat Dindyal, yesterday, also made remarks and provided a technical overview of the project.

The contractor for the IDP, started in 2009, was the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation. The project’s consultant was Caribbean Engineering and Management Consultants Inc., in a joint venture, with SMP Consulting A pictorial representation of the DemeraraElectrical Engineers.

Berbice interconnected system

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

After GLGOU/M&CC markets shutdown...

Vendors to retaliate with ‘punch of their own’

By Derwayne Wills

FOLLOWING a recently resolved dispute between the Georgetown Mayor & City Council and the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU) which came after a three-day shutdown of the city’s major markets, a group purporting to be the vendors’ association has indicated a backlash of their own.

Being the third party in the GLGOU/M&CC affair, vendors decried their losses after their places of work were shutdown for some 48 or so hours, until the Government’s intervention eased the

situation.

“The impasse ‘has’ passed over, [and] they’ve come to an understanding. The markets have reopened, but while the vendors were not deliberately targeted, I think the vendors would have suffered losses,” according to Odo Best, President of the Movement of Civil Unions.

Best said he had been in contact with Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green even before the markets were shutdown but he told this publication that he “wasn’t very clear what was happening but it became very clear Monday after.”

On Monday, GLGOU

President Dale Beresford had the onerous task of explaining to Stabroek Market vendors why their businesses would be closed for the coming days.

Last week, during a press conference at the Mayor’s Office, Beresford threatened the shutdown of municipal buildings if the City Council did not approve five percent wages and salary increases for local government officers represented by his union.

His concern was that the Mayor & Councillors had placed a conditionality on the five percent approval. That conditionality was that similar increases would be given to the City’s Councillors,

although that union does not represent the city’s elected councillors.

Beresford had told reporters that the increase of advances, allowances and increases for councillors are subject to approval by the Local Government Minister, according to provisions in the Municipal and District Councils Act, Cap 28:01.

These events caused the Ministry of Labour to intervene, urging the Council to summon an Extraordinary Meeting. At that extraordinary meeting the Council approved the wages and salary increases for officers represented by the GLGOU, resulting in

the reopening of the markets today.

The shutdown during the Christmas season compounds losses vendors had already suffered from damage to goods when citizens of Georgetown woke up to a flooded city in early December.

MAY HOLD BACK RENT Best is adamant that the M&CC owes the vendors an apology for the unwarranted economic losses. “They should issue an apology and they should find a way of giving back to the vendors and make them feel comfortable again.”

Failure to do so, according the Vendors’ Association President, would see vendors “holding back two consecutive months’ rents collectively... to let them [M&CC] know that they [vendors] have a punch of their own.”

This is expected to begin in January after the Christmas season and will run until February.

He is confident this will work since “they [vendors] contribute to a large portion of the budgets of the Council so that whenever they are planning activities, they need to consider the vendors above it all and how it will affect them.”

Public Works Ministry buries sperm whale …22-ft deep on Kitty foreshore

AFTER dedicated efforts to remove the dead sperm whale from the Kitty foreshore on

Tuesday proved futile, the Ministry of Public Works decided to dig a 22-feet deep grave and buried the male adolescent whale right at the foreshore.

For the entire day on Tuesday the ministry had been attempting to remove the whale from the seashore with the use of excavators but the weight of the sea giant made the task extremely difficult.

The burial on Tuesday night was facilitated by personnel from the Wild Life Conservation committee and students from the Natural Sciences Faculty of the University of Guyana.

Following the burial a temporary cross was placed at the location to mark the spot. However, it remains unclear what permanent measures would be employed to secure the remains in an effort to retrieve its skeleton in a year’s time for educational purposes, according to the initial plan by the local authorities.

The burial of the sperm whale, which was identified as being about sixyears-old, weighing thirty tons and measuring 45 feet, comes about even as local zoologist Mario De Freitas had advised the Ministers of Public Works and Agriculture that the whale should not be buried anywhere along the coast, given the potential it has to hit the entire city with its stench for as much as two months.

On Tuesday while speaking with media operatives at the Kitty foreshore, Romaine De Freitas of the Marine Turtle Conservation Society told reporters that it was important to have the whale bur-

Mario De Freitas speaking with reporters on the importance of burying the whale away from the coast

ied in the white sand area along the Soesdyke-Linden highway since most of the whale’s body is made up of fat and if it is buried anywhere in Georgetown it has the potential to give off a stench for as long as two months. In addition, the fat and oil from the animal has the potential to seep into the waterways and that would have other implications.

EXPERT ADVICE Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday morning, Annette Arjoon-Martins, foremost wildlife conservationist, said that the decision to bury the animal in a 22feet deep grave was given to them from experts outside of Guyana, persons who have been guiding them along the way since Saturday when it was reported that the whale was first spotted.

On Tuesday she had admitted that Guyana does not have the capabilities or personnel to deal with capturing and or freeing whales which are in distress. She noted too that the incidents over the last few days when the whale was spotted and later

found dead will be used as a learning experience for those in the marine industry.

When the Guyana Chronicle revisited the l o c a t i o n o n We d n e s d a y afternoon, there were still several persons around who were unaware that the whale had been removed.

Others showed up to get a glimpse of the burial site.

In one part of the world several years ago a sperm whale which had beached itself was blown up with the use of dynamite after the countrymen were not sure of how to dispose of the creature, which was almost ten times bigger than the baby whale discovered in Guyana on Tuesday.

Whales generally move in packs but the male whales are known to venture away from the others as they become older as a sign of independence.

The sperm whale was first spotted on Sunday by a fisherman who claimed that it was caught in his net but his attempts to free it proved futile as it was too large for him to handle. Whales in distress are known to react violently and in some cases can be deadly.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

One hundred and seven more youths acquire skills through SKYE

Charge d’ Affaires of the US Embassy, Bryan Hunt, during his feature address to the gathering

By Raveena Mangal THE convocation ceremony for youths who successfully completed training in the USAID/Skills and Knowledge for Youth Empowerment (SKYE) project was Tuesday held at the Red Cross building, Eve Leary.

The event celebrated 107 youths trained in the Work Ready Plus and Work Ready Now! curricula as part of the project. The SKYE project works with at-risk youth who are school dropouts; youth who have completed formal education but do not have the necessary skills to find employment; and youth

who have fallen foul of the juvenile justice system.

Charge d’ Affaires of the US Embassy, Bryan Hunt, in his feature address to the gathering encouraged the youths to recognise their efforts that have brought them thus far, but in doing so, to acknowledge the hard work ahead. As they have acquired the skills and knowledge necessary for a job, they must now strive to sell themselves and their abilities to their potential employers.

He asserted that the skills they developed will take them further than towards gaining a job; those skills will allow them to build character in their lives. “It is

A section of the Convocation ceremony

not about the circumstances you came from, but about what you make of your circumstances.”

The youths were additionally motivated by Technet Solutions CEO, Kerry Small, who illustrated the struggles he had passed through and the ways the SKYE programme and his mentor helped him to become the young, successful entrepreneur he is today.

Chief of Party for the SKYE Project, Magda Wills, urged the youths to instill within themselves a desire to succeed and to utilise the links they have made with their coaches; success for youths means success for the project.

A total of 1,500 youth in Regions 4, 6, 9, and 10 will receive Work Ready Now! training by August 2015. The training is funded through USAID’s Skills and Knowledge for Youth Empowerment (SKYE) programme.

It was implemented by the programme’s local partners, Catholic Relief Services and Youth Challenge International Guyana. The SKYE programme is part of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative partnership between the United States and the Caribbean.

Windsor Forest pump station to be operational soon – Ramsammy THE Windsor Forest pump station, which will house one of the eight fixed site Surendra pumps, will be operational soon, according to Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.

“The pump has been installed and we are preparing for it to be operational soon,” he said in an invited comment.

Once completed the pump station will support drainage from La Jalousie to Vreed-en-Hoop, several communities along the West Coast Demerara corridor.

The work at Windsor Forest is being done by Samaroo Construction.

Other on-site works ongoing

In 2012 the contract was signed for the 14 pumps to be supplied by Surendra Engineering Company; six mobile and eight fixed site pumps, but initially the programme consisted of 39 pumps which will be

Work ongoing to connect the drainage pump to the Windsor Forest pump station (Photos by Vanessa Narine)

placed across the coastland of Guyana. However, only 14 are to be supplied by Surendra.

The other seven fixed site Surendra pumps will be placed at Canal Number One, Rose Hall, Gangaram, Eversham, Number 43 Village and Lima and Paradise.

Several of the new pumps are expected to be commissioned over the next few weeks.

The US$4M award was given to Surendra Engineering Company after competitive bidding and approval by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, in 2012. The company was not contracted to build the machines, but rather to supply them, fabricate or procure from another firm, for drainage purposes.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

Digicel makes annual presentations to Hope Foundation, Lifeline Counselling

DIGICEL Guyana, Tuesday made its annual presentation to two charitable organisations during a handing-over ceremony at its headquarters, Fort and Barrack Streets, Kingston, Georgetown.

The Hope Foundation based in Region 7 (Cuyuni/ Mazaruni) – Bartica was

presented a cheque of $1M and a representative, Carol Livan, Youth Advisor-Director of the Board was on hand to accept the donation on behalf of the the non-governmental organisation.

Digicel Events and Sponsorship Manager, Gavin Hope said this is the seventh year the cell phone giant has

made monetary contributions to the Hope Foundation for the continuation of their work in reaching out to persons in their community, who are infected and affected by HIV/Aids.

He added that it is their way of giving back during the festive season and they have made several donations

of cash and kind to other organisations as well.

Hope stated that they have recognised the work of the Foundation and it is their way of sharing and giving at this time of the year.

He told the media yesterday morning that they have had parties for children across the country including,

Digicel Events and Sponsorship Manager, Gavin Hope as he presented the cheque to Youth Advisor of Hope Foundation, Carol Livan, yesterday morning

Linden, Blairmont, Santa Rosa and Mocha-Arcadia and next week they will have a similar party for children in the Kingston area.

Hope added that toys and goodies were also distributed to those parties via Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and their helpers Elves.

He pointed out that since the start of December, they have had many charitable drives around the country as they do annually and next year will be no different.

Speaking on behalf of the Foundation, Carol Livan

said she was grateful for the gesture and it will be used to facilitate the work of the organisation in which they provide a variety of services free of cost to members of the public. These services take the forms of after-school programmes; youth programmes; and care and support for persons infected and affected by HIV/ Aids.

Lifeline Counselling was also gifted a cheque of $1M, but a representative was not present to accept the donation yesterday.

Thursday, December 18, 2014 - 14:30 hrs Friday, Decemeber 19, 2014 - 14:30 hrs Saturday, Decemeber 20, 2014 - 14:30 hrs

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

Police East Bank GPL refutes KN story about searches net two weapons, losing millions annually to ammo, marijuana

THE police on Tuesday during a search in two separate East Bank Demerara locations recovered two unlicensed weapons and also netted a quantity of ammunition and marijuana.

During a search at a house at Diamond Housing

Scheme, East Bank Demerara, police recovered an unlicensed .38 Magnum revolver with three rounds. A man has been arrested and is in police custody assisting with the investigations.

In another search on a house at Middle Street,

Mc Doom, police found an unlicensed 9mm pistol with eight rounds, along with 36 grams of marijuana. Four men were arrested and are assisting with investigations.

The gun and ammunition recovered by the police during an exercise at McDoom on Tuesday

GT&T and cable operators GUYANA Power and Light Inc. (GPL) says that the determination that millions are lost annually to GT&T and cable operators is entirely a Kaieteur News concoction.

The power company was refuting an article on page 11 of last T h u r s d a y ’s K a i e t e u r News, headlined “GPL loses $$millions annually through cable operators, GT&T”.

The power company stated in a press release, h o w e v e r, t h a t a s t h e article indicated, GPL cannot accurately state now, how many of its poles are being used by other parties.

GPL said further that its CEO never advised Kaieteur News reporter, Gary Eleazar of the rental fee being charged and explained why during the interview.

Without knowing the number of poles being used and the annual rental, Kaieteur News determined that it had to be millions. Paragraph 7 of the article confirms that the annual estimate of loss revenue came from Kaieteur News, GPL added.

The second paragraph of the article was written in a way to construe that the CEO confirmed that GPL was

losing millions annually. This may have been deliberate to achieve the real designs of the article, the release noted.

In the interview with Eleazar, no mention was made of E-Networks, therefore mention of this entity in the article was also the result of Kaieteur News’ engineering. The fact is that GPL has four agreements with E-Networks for pole re n t a l . T h e s e a g re ements were executed on January 16, 2012, March 16, 2012, March 11, 2013 and May 15, 2013 and are valid for three years, the release concluded.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

Private school hosts Christmas Party – for Convalescent Home children

Mrs. Maylene Singh, Director of the Guyana Training College for International Skills

THE management, staff and graduates of the Guyana Training College for International Skills, located at 60 Station Street, Kitty last Wednesday hosted a Christmas party for children of the Red Cross Convalescent Home, D’Urban Backlands.

Held at the College, the party which catered for some 25 children, including the mentally challenged, was organised through the initiative of Director of the Guyana Training College, Ms. Maylene Singh.

Singh who has remigrated to Guyana after residing in Canada for more than 40 years, says she loves caring for needy people, children and the elderly. She says she’s been performing such humanitarian acts from time to time, but this has been the first for the Red Cross Convalescent Home.

Whereas she’s been taking cheer to the needy and/ or vulnerable, on this occasion she opted to bring the children to the College, so as to present them with the ideal ‘day out’, and experience what the world outside

Director, Ms. Maylene Singh (front row, third right) with her students and kids of the Red Cross Convalescent Home at the party last Wednesday.

With them also are two ranks from the nearby Kitty Police Station

An appreciation souvenir from the kids of the Convalescent Home for Ms. Singh

the Rehabilitation Centre is like.

The kids were given a catered meal and snacks and Santa was also there to add to their fun and amusement, and to present each of them with a toy. They were entertained by the Police band and were enthralled by the lusty singing of Christmas carols.

On this grand occasion,

the kids were made to feel special since they were accorded individual attention.

One student of the college was assigned to each child whom they served, allowing them to exercise the power of choice as to what they would prefer.

They escorted them up to Santa to receive their toys and it was certainly a learning experience for the

students who enjoyed every moment of it.

Before the day was out, the kids all had new-found friends, and were pampered with an abundance of love.

Maylene Singh, who hails from Plantation Foulis, West Coast Berbice, first returned to Guyana from Canada in 2005 with her husband, Howard Narine Singh and their two sons,

Dr. Shawn Singh and Christopher Singh, both of whom are Canadians.

She opened up her school in August 2005, conducting classes at Ocean View International Hotel and in June 2007 relocated to 60 Station Street, now a permanent establishment.

Courses delivered are Care for the Elderly; Care for Children; First Aid and

Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation and Health and Safety Practices.

Mrs. Singh’s vision is that by the end of her tenth year in business (2015) she would move on to open up a second campus, this time in Berbice and add more training programmes to suit the needs of Guyanese and other nationalities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

Salvation Army continues tradition...

Over 1200 senior, needy citizens get Christmas hampers

Senior citizens gratefully assembled for the Salvation Army’s Christmas Hampers distribution on Monday

MORE than 1200 needy senior citizens on Monday received food hampers when the Salvation Army held its annual Christmas Hampers distribution at its Divisional Headquarters, South Road and Alexander Streets.

It was a spirited pro-

gramme, which commenced with the lusty singing of carols by all assembled, and headed by Major Carolinda Cumberbatch, Divisional Director of Women’s Ministries and Divisional Youth Secretary, Captain Jona Yangil Augusto.

There was a great display

of discipline on the part of the recipients, as they obeyed instructions to the letter. Beaming with delight when called upon to receive their hampers, they quietly arose in an orderly fashion, expressed thanks and graciously made their way out of the church. It was about

Overjoyed at receiving her hamper, this senior spontaneously gives thanks with a grateful heart and blows a kiss to Chairman, Mr. Edward Boyer

the most orderly distribution process experienced in years and everyone went away feeling happy.

Opening remarks and Scripture reading were done

by Divisional Commander, Major Emmerson Cumberbatch, while Divisional Secretary, Major Laura

Yangil-Augusto offered the opening prayer.

Chairman of the Advisory Board, Mr. Edward Boyer, in his remarks to the seniors assembled to receive their hampers, commented on just how good they were looking, and urged them to age gracefully. He cautioned that, regardless of their circumstances, they should strive to be happy, taking into consideration that there are other people who are less fortunate than they. “You have to be strong,” he urged, adding: “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us.”

And calling on the gathering to see the world around them as beautiful, he admonished them not to dwell on what they lack and on misgivings, but to look for ways to maximise strengths rather than dwell on misgivings.

“Beauty is all around you – in your spouse, in your children, your grandchildren; in the flower you

put into your plant pot. Keep nurturing and looking at it and one day you will experience its beauty,” Mr. Boyer said.

Mr. Boyer in concluding imparted these virtues to the seniors: ● Strive everyday to be stronger. ● Do not procrastinate, do what you have to do now and don’t put it off for later ● Do not send out thoughts of sickness. Send out positive thoughts, affirming: “I am well and I am going to make the best of this day.”

Meanwhile, Advisory Board member, Pastor/Justice Oslen Small called on the gathering to ever be thankful to God for what He has done for them and to give thanks with a grateful heart.

He concluded with the timely affirmation, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring the Good News to the poor.”

Justice Oslen Small presents a hamper to a senior citizen

Kyron Abena Williams wanted by police over fraud matter THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday issued a wanted bulletin for Kyron Abena Williams for questioning in relation to a matter of fraudulent conversion committed at

the Industry/Plaisance Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and which is under investigation.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Kyron

Abena Williams is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 2256411, 225-8196, 2292569, 229-2701, 2292557, 911 or the nearest police station.

All information will

be treated with strict confidence, the police stated in a press release.

Name: Kyron Abena Williams

Date of Birth: 1978-

01-07

Ethnic Origin: African

Last known address: 108 Republic Drive, Triumph, East Coast Demerara

Kyron Abena Williams

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

Rice production for 2014 totals 633,000 tonnes – Preparation for first 2015 crop underway

GUYANA’s rice production in the final crop this year has brought the total in 2014 to a record-breaking 633,000 tonnes for 2014.

And according to Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, at a press briefing yesterday, a small percentage of rice acreage is still to be

harvested.

The production in the final crop this year surpassed the first crop, which recorded just over 300,000 tonnes.

The production for 2013 was 535,212 tonnes, which was far above the original target of 413,000 tonnes, and reflected a 27 per cent increase

over the production in 2012.

The average production per hectare was some five tonnes.

EXPORTS AT ALL-TIME HIGH Asked about exports to date, Dr. Ramsammy disclosed that some 481,000 tonnes of rice has been ex-

ported already, with additional shipments to be made before the end of the year.

“We are likely to exceed the 500,000 tonnes export mark,” he said, adding that revenues for export of rice are in excess of US$250M. Exports for 2014 are pegged at an all-time high,

with several new trade agreements inked this year.

Guyana currently has export agreements with several countries in the Caribbean, Venezuela and Panama, among others. Also, arrangements for rice shipments to countries in West Africa are still being finalised.

The export mark of 400,000 tonnes was surpassed in mid-October, excluding a number of contracts for rice exports that still had to be met. The 500,000 tonnes of rice was the 2020 target for production but in 2011, for the first time, the 400,000-tonne mark was passed and repeated in 2012 and 2013.

The export in 2013 was 394,000 tonnes, from a production of 535,212 tonnes, which was far above the original target of 413,000 tonnes.

It is expected that exports will soon overcome the barrier which will bring Guyana in line with the world’s largest producers of rice. As such, focus is being placed on exploring new and emerging global markets, tackling the crucial and critical issues to facilitate increasing production.

MEETING WITH MILLERS The Agriculture Minister also stated that paddy sales for the year have totalled some $45B. He added that a meeting with rice millers is scheduled for this week to ensure that all farmers are paid in full.

According to him, some $42B has been paid out for the year, with $3.2B in payments still to be made.

Dr. Ramsammy acknowledged that while looking at the big picture, the sums paid out to date are “huge” sums, for the small farmers the outstanding monies are also significant.

On that note, he assured that all efforts will be made to ensure that farmers are paid their full amounts.

SOWING UNDERWAY Meanwhile, head of the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (RPA), Dharamkumar Seeraj, told the Guyana Chronicle that sowing for the first crop of 2015 is progressing well, with some 60 per cent of rice acreage in Guyana already cultivated.

He noted that most of the rice lands are expected to be under cultivation by the end of the year, some 90 per cent of the lands.

However, Seeraj admitted

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

that there are minor challenges in Region 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne) relative to irrigation.

“The weather is dry in Region 6 and that is proving to be a challenge because Region 6 has no conservancy.

Farmers there depend on water being channelled from the Canje River,” he said.

According to him, steps are being taken to address this issue. “We are looking at boosting pumping capacity, as well as ensuring that there is not wastage of water,” he said.

Seeraj stated too that similar problems exist in Regions 3, 4 and 5, but to a lesser extent, given that there has been some amount of rainfall in those rice producing regions.

“The hardest hit region by far is Region 6,” he said.

Seeraj contends that 2015 is expected to be another record-breaking year for the industry.

Rice production was at its lowest in Guyana in the late 1980s, due to neglect of the industry which saw a lack of sound agricultural policies and programmes, and little or no investment in agricultural infrastructure and research and training. Today, there are greater investments in agriculture infrastructure, education and training of farmers, research, and more guaranteed markets as well.

Secure drainage, new and improved farming technologies and new rice varieties are among some of the interventions over the years, on the part of Government that have been fuelling the rice industry’s growth. Government has also moved to secure several markets for rice farmers, the largest being with Venezuela.

Government, cognisant of maintaining the strong performance of the rice industry, has set aside in Budget 2014 the sum of $500M to help maintain its competitiveness. The industry will also benefit from this year’s investment in drainage and irrigation. (Vanessa Narine)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

Stella Maris looking ...

From Page 27 sports-oriented.

“I must say that the hard work put in has paid off with them reaching this far and will be rewarding when they lift the title, as they themselves are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to cart off the crown, turning up everyday at the practice sessions from Monday to now and putting in their extra efforts.”

However, while David is very optimistic about her school’s fortunate run in the tournament that resulted in quarterfinal victory over North Georgetown, before they stopped West Ruimveldt in the semis, winning both contests by penalty kicks, St Stephen’s can relate with her when it comes to the performance of their players and will be coming as their stumbling block.

A 2-1 penalty-kicks vic-

tory over South Ruimveldt in the quarterfinal was followed by a 10-9 sudden-death penalty-kicks semi-final victory over Enterprise, where their custodian Kezia Parkinson was their hero on both occasions.

The short custodian looks out of sorts during the course of regulation time, but gets an adrenaline drive when it comes to penalty kicks, using her feet to keep out four of South Ruimveldt’s kicks in the quarterfinal, followed by an incredible save in the sudden-death shoot out with Enterprise.

It may very well boil down to the battle of the custodians, since Reynolds comes from goal-keeping genes. Her father Richard Reynolds executed similar duties for the Golden Jaguars, while Parkinson brings out her ‘A’ game at that moment.

Tiesha Conway, Destiny George, Sara Matthias, Ran-

nata Fox, Aaliyah Parks, Shawntel Stewart and Akeila Glasglow will look to penetrate Parkinson’s goal area during regulation time for Stella Maris and hand them the win.

Players of the calibre of Naomi Curry, Shevon Forde, Melissa Watkinson, Odelli Straughn, Ashanti Corlette and Breanna Jordan will be looking to breach Stella Maris’ defence and rock the back of the net, for St Stephen’s, thus making the contest a mouthwatering one.

In the third place playoff Enterprise, led by the experienced Aliyah Alleyne, includes Akeisha Glasglow, Alliana George and Jada Alleyne, going up against a determined West Ruimveldt Primary, for whom Amanda McKenzie, Latisha Sutherland and Ashanti Sampson will look to lead them to the thirdplace position.

Windies sweating on Roach injury CENTURION, South Africa, CMC – West Indies have been left sweating on the fitness of frontline fast bowler Kemar Roach after he pulled up with an ankle injury during the first day of the opening Test against South Africa here yesterday.

The 26-year-old sustained an injury to his right ankle while running into bowl his 16th over, in the evening session with the hosts in command at SuperSport Park here.

Roach was treated on

Kemar Roach the field by physio CJ Clark and then taken to a medical facility in Pretoria, where he underwent a MRI scan. The results are supposed to be known later Wednesday.

Team spokesman Philip Spooner said team manage-

ment was hopeful Roach would be fit to participate in the second day’s play today.

Roach was the best bowler for the visitors yesterday, finishing with 2 for 52 as South Africa piled up 340 for three after being sent in.

Struggling at 57 for three just after the first hour, South Africa recovered through a record 283run fourth wicket stand between AB de Villiers who hit 141 not out and captain Hashim Amla, who scored an unbeaten 133.

Cook: It’s been a ...

From Page 23

have hit upon first.

Scoring at a winning tempo, without a damaging risk factor, is a balance they find difficult to strike.

Cook, however, is not above learning from others and adapting to effect improvement.

“The way Sanga (Kumar Sangakkara) and Dilshan played in particular, they’ve obviously taken the right options - good

enough to hit the boundaries, and stay in. We’ve been hitting the boundaries, and not staying in.”

As for his own continued lack of productivity at the top of the order - 119 runs in six innings at an average of 19.83 and strike rate of 67.23 - he knows much, much better is required.

He said: “There are not many players who’ve been at the top of the game for long periods and haven’t

had tough moments.

“There’s no one, I don’t think ... maybe Bradman is one. Everyone has really tough moments, as a batter particularly, because it’s a hard game. You’re playing against the best players in the world, week in week out, at the top of the order. It’s very easy sitting watching ... it’s harder walking out and doing it.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

Amla, de Villiers share record stand to flay Windies

By Nick Said (REUTERS) - Captain Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers shared a record unbroken double-century stand as South Africa took control of the first Test against West Indies on the opening day at Centurion yesterday.

South Africa were rocked as West Indies took three wickets for no runs with the score on 57 but Amla and de Villiers took the bowling apart as the hosts, who were tottering on 57 for 3, ended on 340 for three, the pair adding 283 for the fourth wicket as

West Indies bowlers toiled in favourable, overcast conditions.

The stand beat the previous highest mark for the fourth wicket for South Africa in Tests of 249 set by Jacques Kallis and Gary Kirsten against West Indies in Durban in 2003.

Amla, captaining the side on home soil for the first time, will resume in the morning on 133 from 241 balls, while de Villiers was more fluent in his unbeaten 141 off 211 balls, the pair showing their full array of strokes as they punished the wayward West Indies bowling.

Amla had a big slice of fortune when he was on 25 as a delivery from West Indies’ top performing bowler, Kemar Roach, brushed his offstump in the first over after lunch, but with not enough force to dislodge the bails.

The tourists’ day worsened when Roach limped off the pitch in the final session and with the West Indies’ most likely wicket-taker out of the attack, South Africa took advantage.

It might have been a different story though.

Put in to bat, South Af-

rica raced to 57 without loss but a fired-up Roach, denied the new ball by captain Dinesh Ramdin, produced the line and length the opening bowlers had lacked.

Jerome Taylor and Sheldon Cottrell sprayed the ball either side of the wicket and bowled too short on a slow pitch that allowed openers Alviro Petersen and Dean Elgar to put on 50 inside 10 overs before Roach was introduced.

He induced an edge from Petersen (27) to Devon Smith at first slip, while in the next over a confident-looking Elgar smashed a wide delivery from Cottrell

straight to Marlon Samuels in the gully for 28.

A poor few minutes for South Africa got worse when Faf du Ples-

sis feathered an edge off Roach to wicketkeeper Ramdin without scoring, but after that it was one-

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings A. Petersen c Smith b Roach 27 D. Elgar c Samuels b Cottrell 28 F. du Plessis c wkpr Ramdin b Roach 0 H. Amla not out 133 AB de Villiers not out 141 Extras: (b-3, lb-5, w-2, nb-1) 11 Total: (3 wkts, 91 overs) 340 Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-57,

3-57.

Bowling: Taylor 16.1-2-77-0, Cottrell 17-1-74-1 (w-1, nb1), Roach 15.5-4-52-2 (w-1), Benn 30-5-82-0, Samuels 11-045-0, Brathwaite 1-0-2-0.

WEST INDIES – D. Ramdin (captain), K. Brathwaite, D. Smith, L. Johnson, M. Samuels, S. Chanderpaul, J. Blackwood, J. Taylor, K. Roach, S. Cottrell, S. Benn.

Cook: It’s been a hell of a year ALASTAIR Cook will be 30 on Christmas Day and should be able to celebrate his landmark birthday as England’s World Cup captain.

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After a “hell of a year”, though, he will be taking nothing for granted as the selectors consider - as they have promised - all aspects of

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Alastair Cook

England’s 5-2 defeat in Sri Lanka as part of their scheduled series review, before announcing a 16man tri-series squad on Saturday.

Cook conceded after the margin of his fifth successive one-day international series defeat was confirmed on Tuesday as 5-2, by an 87-run trouncing at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium, that he has no “divine right” to be selected to lead the team to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand early next year.

He can be encouraged, however, by England and

Wales Cricket Board managing director Paul Downton’s strong hint that - despite his “miserable” run of form - he is highly likely to retain the gig.

For Cook, it’s a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity because however England fare down under, with or without him, it is hard to envisage him being back for much more with his sheet-anchor skills in a fast-developing format.

Downton also described 2014 as a “traumatic” 12 months as he reflected on his tenure which began at the start of

January, as England were completing their unexpected whitewash Ashes defeat.

One crisis after another followed, the messy aftermath of the Ashes including the sacking of Kevin Pietersen and resignation of coach Andy Flower.

As Cook and Flower’s replacement, the returning Peter Moores, tried to forge a “new era”, the captain especially endured the most taxing of summers as calls for his resignation started to wane only once England turned round their Test fortunes en route to a 3-1 win over India.

After Tillakaratne Dilshan’s century had helped to inflict England’s final defeat of 2014, Cook said: “It’s been a hell of a year.

“We haven’t won a lot of games, and there’s been a big change in personnel. It’s certainly been a year of transition - from 15 months ago, when we were winning the Ashes at home, to what’s happened. It’s been a year you wouldn’t expect, but England have found some outstanding cricketers as well.”

Among them, perhaps

most prominent are Moeen Ali and Gary Ballance - the latter palpably unlucky to be omitted from England’s ODI squad in Sri Lanka and, even now, a plausible outsider to make the final 15 for that World Cup. Others, such as pacebowling pair Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan, have made late surges for central roles at the global tournament while Joe Root alone excelled himself amid the inconsistency elsewhere from the tourists.

Asked to identify where England struggled most, Cook said: “One of the hardest things was taking wickets up front - so Sri Lanka, most of the time, had a good base to get going from.

“The one game we did take early wickets, we won. Also, batting at the right rate without losing wickets. We were scoring at a good rate, but we weren’t good enough to do it and keep wickets in hand.”

E n g l a n d a re s t i l l searching for that successful ODI formula, with the bat especially, which others seem to

See Page 22

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

Murali Vijay ton puts tourists on top BRISBANE, Australia Murali Vijay made Australia’s bowlers toil in the brutal Brisbane heat with a defiant century as India frolicked in the second Test at the Gabba yesterday.

Vijay profited from two dropped catches by Shaun Marsh to raise his fourth Test century against Australia and the first in this country, to put the tourists in a commanding position after the opening day.

The Chennai righthander, cruelly out for 99 in the Adelaide series opener, made it look easy on a Gabba pitch where the Australians have not been conquered in 26 years.

Vijay was out late in the day, caught behind off-spinner Nathan Lyon for 144, equalling Sourav Ganguly’s 2003 knock as the highest score by an Indian at the Gabba, batting for 332 minutes, where he faced 213 balls with 22 fours and put on 124 runs with Ajinkya Rahane for the fourth wicket.

At the close, India were 311 for four after choosing to bat, with Rahane unbeaten on 75 and Rohit Sharma not out on 26.

The century continued Vijay’s impressive start to the four-match series, with scores

of 53 and 99 in India’s 48run defeat in the first Test.

He was helped along the way by two chances put down by Marsh on 36 and 102, both off Mitchell Johnson’s bowling, and a tiring Australian bowling attack on a sweltering day.

It was a sorry day in the field for the Australians, with both new pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc having problems with the heat and a third bowler, Mitchell Marsh, off the field with hamstring trouble.

Vijay’s dominance came after India had their third bad umpire’s call in the series with the dubious dismissal of Cheteshwar Pujara. Pujara appeared to be caught off the grille of his helmet 40 minutes after lunch and was sent on his way by English umpire Ian Gould for 18.

Pujara attempted to sway out of the way of a Hazlewood bouncer and his gloves went up to shield his face, only for the ball to come off the grille to Brad Haddin. Pujara stood at the wicket before leaving, shaking his head at the umpire’s decision, which followed dubious calls suffered by Shikhar Dhawan and Rahane in the first

… equals Ganguly’s record score at Gabba

India’s Murali Vijay converted his fifty into a century and held his team’s innings together. (Getty Images) Test.

India appear to be paying for their refusal to use the decision referral system in Test cricket over accuracy fears.

Hazlewood, playing in his debut Test, grabbed the key wicket of Virat Kohli for 19 in the 45th over, giving Brad Haddin his

third catch of the innings after Kohli attempted to cut but was beaten by the extra bounce and edged to the keeper.

It was a tough first day for new skipper Steve Smith as his bowlers failed to press on after having the tourists at 137 for three halfway through the day

Penalty saves highlight Casillas’ return to form for Real (REUTERS) - Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has shown remarkable resilience to bounce back from a run of poor performances and doubts over his future at the club earlier this year.

The Real captain saved his second penalty in consecutive matches when he kept out a spot kick against Cruz Azul at the Club World Cup last Tuesday to emphasise his return to form.

Casillas was whistled by his own supporters when Real lost the La Liga derby with Atletico Madrid in mid-September but he has since enjoyed a renaissance that has coincided with their Spanish record 21-match winning streak.

“I have always been the

over Cruz Azul in the Club World Cup semi-final, having stopped a spot-kick in last Friday’s 4-1 victory at Almeria in La Liga.

“It is always good to have in mind what you have achieved although you can’t live off it. Making two penalty saves is a nice anecdote if and when things work out and we win the titles,” he added.

Iker Casillas same but players clearly go through good and bad runs.

In the end all you can do is keep your head up and keep going,” Casillas told reporters.

He parried a first half penalty in Real’s 4-0 win

SECOND FIDDLE Casillas lost his firstteam place during Jose Mourinho’s tenure, which ended in 2013, and last term under Carlo Ancelotti he played second fiddle to Diego Lopez in La Liga matches.

When Real signed Levante goalkeeper Keylor

Navas, who was impressive for Costa Rica at the World Cup, Casillas seemed to be on borrowed time.

However, Ancelotti gave Casillas another chance to prove himself and after a stuttering start to the season the man known as ‘St Iker’ is again showing his old reflexes.

“I feel better now than I did 16 years ago. I have more desire,” said the keeper. “I’m not young but I have a different way of looking at training and being professional.

It is positive to be like this when you are 33. On an individual note it has been a good year although there have been disappointments like the World Cup.”

INDIA 1st innings M. Vijay c Haddin b Lyon 144 S. Dhawan c Haddin b M. Marsh 24 C. Pujara c Haddin b Hazlewood 18 V. Kohli c Haddin b Hazlewood 19 A. Rahane not out 75 Ro. Sharma not out 26 Extras: (b-4, nb-1) 5

and Smith’s situation was not helped by Mitchell Marsh’s hamstring injury just after lunch.

Dhawan’s was the only wicket in the morning session and it was all-rounder Mitchell Marsh who made the breakthrough. He claimed his first Test victim when Dhawan slashed away from his body and top-edged to Haddin for 24. But he pulled up in pain after bowling his sixth over and left the field.

India have not won in five Tests at the Gabba, where the Australians have not lost since a nine-wicket defeat to the Viv Richards-led West Indies in 1988.

Total: (for 4 wickets, 83 overs) 311 Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-100, 3-137, 4-261 Bowling: M. Johnson 15-2-640, J. Hazlewood 15.2-5-44-2, M. Starc 14-1-56-0, M. Marsh 6-1-14-1, N. Lyon 20-1-87-1, S. Watson 10.4-5-29-0, D. Warner 1-0-9-0 (nb-1), S. Smith 1-0-4-0.

Queenstown, Tutorial into semis

QUEENSTOWN Secondary and Tutorial High both booked semi-final places in the Premiership Sports Promotion (PSP) Inter-School Under-17 football competition, following victories at the Ministry of Education ground yesterday.

Tutorial brushed aside St Mary’s 4-1 while Queenstown edged out pre-tournament favourites Lodge Secondary 1-0 in the second match of a double-header card. After a goalless first half, Tutorial dominated the second segment of the game to reduce St Mary’s to onlookers.

The game saw its first goal when Tutorial went ahead in the 38th minute following a strike from Mario Padmore, but Terrence Shepherd equalised for St Mary’s in the 59th minute and his side kept the score balanced until David Coates proved a game-changer.

Coates netted the first of a double in the 60th minute and returned to crown a stellar performance when he found the net in the 70th minute. Zion Gray drove the nail in St Mary’s coffin with a 73rd minute strike.

In the other match, Rappaill Bollers scored the lone goal in the 30th minute to hand Queenstown a well-earned semifinal spot. The tournament continues tomorrow at the same venue where the finalists would be decided.

Tutorial will clash with St George’s in the first semifinal scheduled to start at 13:00hrs followed by the second semifinal which kicks off at 15:00hrs and features Queenstown against North Ruimveldt Multilateral, with the winners clashing in Sunday’s final for a guaranteed purse of $200 000.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

Guyana to get new Technical Director by January 2015 WITH APPLICATIONS coming from as far as Romania, along with the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will announce its new Technical Director of Football early January 2015, according to Chairman of the Normalisation Committee Clinton Urling.

The GFF yesterday hosted its end-of-year Press Conference where it was noted by Urling that since advertising the vacancy, the GFF has received an overwhelming response from applicants who the German’s Restaurant proprietor said are all highly qualified.

... GFF outlines National team’s participation Since the exit of Jamaal Shabazz; considered as the most successful technical director, Guyana sank into oblivion and had fallen by the wayside on the international football circuit.

Canada-based Guyanese Mark Rodrigues was appointed as Technical Director under the FIFA-disbanded, Christopher Matthias-led GFF. However, according to Urling, “The TD position became vacant. In

fact, one of the applicants was Mark Rodrigues and when we came in, FIFA made it clear to us that we needed the services of a resident technical director.

While Mark was the TD, he wasn’t resident here in Guyana so we had to move in the direction where we had to fill that post with someone who will commit to living in Guyana.”

Urling told the gathering of reporters at the GFF’s head office that Guyana will participate in the CONCA-

CAF Olympic Qualifiers (Under-23) and the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers in 2015 and as such, the TD’s position is one of importance since it will be responsible for the composition of teams and the gathering/identifying players suitable to represent Guyana.

The announcing of a technical director will come after Guyana play Barbados in an international friendly in the Land of the Flying Fish, which the Normalisation Committee’s chairman

pointed out will be paid for by the Barbados Football Federation (BFF).

GFF in debt Urling said that GFF is currently in debt in excess of approximately US$400 000 to US$450 000 and with 2015 being a busy year for the GFF; it will face an uphill task in procuring the required finances.

“What we have done is to register for the World Cup and Olympic Qualifiers and the only one we might

have some funding is the Barbados game because the Barbados Federation will be taking care of us and all we will have to do is find the airfare.”

He added “Nothing is etched in stone in terms of how the financing will come so we will have to rely on private sector sponsorship for most of our projects along with some of the funds the GFF will raise through our tournaments and some of it will come through FIFA”.

Williamson ton helps New Zealand level series with Pakistan (REUTERS) - Kane Williamson hit a brilliant 123 as New Zealand staved off Pakistan’s spirited challenge to eke out a serieslevelling seven-run victory in the fourth one-day international in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Williamson’s fourth ODI century helped New Zealand post 299 for five but Younus

Khan hit 103 and Shahid Afridi blasted 49 runs off 25 balls as Pakistan looked very much in the hunt before eventually finishing on 292 for eight.

There was uncertainty over whether the match would be played following the attack by Taliban gunmen on a school in Peshawar on Tuesday

that killed at least 132 students.

It eventually got under way with players and match officials wearing black armbands and observing twominute silence before Williamson won the toss and decided to bat at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

The decision was soon vindicated by the 81-run

opening stand between Martin Guptill (58) and Dean Brownlie (42) that gave the Kiwis a perfect start that was broken by Pakistan captain Afridi when Umar Akmal took a diving catch at short midwicket to dismiss Brownlie.

Sohail Tanvir dismissed Guptill but stand-in captain Williamson led from the

Guyana sees three new referees on FIFA list

KLEON Kindey, Kevin Stephens and Lenval Pearts are the new faces on the FIFA list of referees

as the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday unveiled the eight FIFA-accredited Guyanese

officials.

The three will join returning referees Sherwin Moore and Sherwin

Johnson, alongside Venton Mars, Trevor Porter and lone female Maurees Skeete.

Guyana’s FIFA referees and other officials of the GFF at yesterday’s Press Conference

front, adding 63 runs with Ross Taylor (26) and 72 with Tom Latham (14 not out) as he completed his century in 92 balls.

New Zealand hit 91 runs off the last 10 overs and finished just shy of the 300-mark as Mohammad Irfan ended Williamson’s 105-ball knock, which included 12 boundaries, with the final delivery of the innings.

Pakistan lost opener Ahmed Shehzad for no score in the first over of the innings and looked in trouble at 82 for four but Younus added 91 runs with Akmal (29) and

66 with Afridi to revive the chase.

Afridi fell in the 44th o v e r, l e a v i n g P a k i s t a n needing 62 runs off 41 balls but Daniel Vettori then sent down a tight over in which he also dismissed Younus.

Down the order, Anwar Ali scored an unbeaten 20 from 13 balls but Pakistan could not score the 16 runs they needed off the last over to seal the series they led 2-1 going into the contest. Both teams stay put in Abu Dhabi for the fifth and final match tomorrow.

Lord’s recommended to stage 2019 World Cup final (REUTERS) - LORD’S should host the 2019 World Cup final, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) recommended to the International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday.

Lord’s, which staged the World Cup final in 1975, 1979, 1983 and 1999, has also been put forward to host the Women’s World Cup final in 2017.

The ECB also suggested to the ICC that the opening game of the 2019 tournament should be staged at The Oval, London with the semi-finals to take place at Old Trafford, Manchester and Edgbaston, Birmingham.

The ECB also confirmed that Edgbaston and Old Trafford have been allocated Ashes Tests for the 2019 series.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

IPA on board with KMTC Boxing Day meeting

AS the day draws near, when the Kennard Memorial Turf Club will host its annual Boxing Day meeting, turfites will not have to worry about prize money for J3 and Lower event, as Lloyd Singh’s International Pharmaceutical Group of Companies under its Clear Water brand of products, has it all covered.

Yesterday at its Camp Street-based office, IPA’s chief executive officer (CEO) Lloyd Singh presented Honorary President of KMTC, Retired Chief Justice Cecil Kennard with the first prize money ($150 000) and the winning trophy for the J3 event.

Singh noted the IPA had supported the development of the sport and more particularly, Justice Kennard’s events for

Retired Chief Justice Cecil Kennard (right) accepts the winning trophy for the J3 event from IPA CEO Lloyd Singh in the presence of IPA manager Bowhan Balkarran.

the past 12 years and had no problem doing so once again, noting that his company was heartened by the strides made

by Kennard to the extent that he could not reasonably say no when he was approached for sponsorship.

Furthermore, Singh admitted that he has seen immense improvement because of Justice Kennard’s input.

“Horseracing is on the move and we could safely say that it is because of Justice Kennard’s efforts,” said the IPA boss.

Kennard thanked IPA and assured the company that their corporate intervention will go a long way to the success of the event, pointing out that sports is in need of such interventions and without them nothing could be accomplished.

“On behalf of the Ken-

nard Memorial Turf Club I wish to express heartfelt gratitude for your assistance,” Kennard said. “Turfites attending the day’s meeting would be entertained by horses of exceptionally high quality.”

Eight races are billed for the day with the A1 and Lower race being the feature event with a first-place purse of $1M. Registration for this event closes this Sunday, following which no late entries will be accepted.

Horses can be entered through Roopnarine Matadial on 325-3192; Ivan Dipnarine on 331-0316; Cecil Kennard on 623-7609, 2254818 or 226-1399; Dennis DeRoop on 325-3301 or 609-9143; and Fazil Habibula on 657-7010. (Calvin Roberts)

Guyana junior hockey team remain perfect in T&T

By Leeron Brumell A SECOND win in as many days is what was on the script for Guyana’s National Junior Men’s team on their developmental tour of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T).

Last Monday, Guyana edged out Paragon Hockey Club 2-1 in a warmup match at the National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua and last Tuesday evening at the same venue, they claimed a come-from-behind victory by a similar margin over T&T’s Under-19 Developmental

Boys ‘A’ Team.

T&T looked most threatening early on and were rewarded for their efforts when Jordan Reynos dispatched a penalty corner drag flick to give the home-side a 1-0 lead.

Guyana responded when winger Aroydy Branford, who scored a brace in Guyana’s win on Monday, showed some tidy dribbling skills down the left before squaring the ball back for Ato Greene to tap home just before the half-time break.

The winning goal came late in the second half from a penalty cor-

ner rebound, which saw Guyana’s captain Mark Sargeant convert to the keeper’s left.

The two teams met again last night, with the final encounter of their three-game series on to-

day at 16:00hrs This is the team’s first overseas outing since they were called together

just over four months ago and T&T are the leading hockey nation in the Caribbean.

NOTABLE DATES

IVAN VIVIAN Harris (Vivian Harris) won his second professional fight on December 18, 1997. The orthodox fighter punished Adam Salas to win by TKO in the last round of a four-round fight, held at the Holiday Inn in Newark, New Jersey.

The Guyanese had turned pro earlier in the year following an amateur career that brought him 45 victories against five defeats.

Harris was crowned WBA welterweight champion in October 2002, following a second-round technical knockout (TKO) of champion Diosbelys Hurtado in Houston, Texas and after having three successful defences, was dethroned by little known Colombian Carlos Maussa via a seventh-round knockout.

He would secure three victories before unsuccessfully challenging Junior Witter of England for the WBC junior welterweight title. Of the four male Guyanese to have won world titles, Harris is the only one still to have a professional fight at home.

Guyana’s Aroydy Branford (forefront with ball) drives past the T&T defence during his team’s win last Tuesday. (Photo courtesy the TTHB)

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday December 18, 2014

Smartt looking to revive women’s cricket in Berbice

… using exhibition game as stepping stone

By Calvin Roberts

WITH female cricketers in the Ancient County being inactive for 95% of the cricketing season, cricket enthusiast Vicram Seubarran ahs organised an exhibition game which will whet the appetite of fans who turn up at the Albion Community Centre ground this Saturday, to witness the third place and final of the Universal DVD Club/Universal Solutions ninth anniversary T20 Festival.

To this end, female Guyana and West Indies player Tremayne Smartt is looking to use the occasion to revive the sport for the distaff side and she applauds the efforts of Seubarran in helping her to make the first step towards such an achievement.

When you look at Smartt training with the opposite sex, you see a passionate side about her as it relates to the game of cricket, since she competes with them evenly, as was evident last Tuesday afternoon at the Port Mourant Commu-

Tremayne Smartt nity Centre ground, where she and about 13 other females were undergoing net sessions for Saturday’s fixture.

In an invited comment after, Smartt said she is eager to go out there and compete on Saturday, even as she is willing to offer guidance and advice to those young

females who are interested in playing the sport.

Berbice is known for producing players at all levels for Guyana and to an extent the West Indies team, but Smartt is in a unique bunch alongside Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings and Sabrina Munroe as the female players from the Ancient County to have represented the Regional side.

In fact, the trio was part of the squad which toured Australia recently and is likely to be named in the World Cup squad as well, but despite this achievement, the pains of not seeing the game flourish and develop further for the females in the Ancient County is paining Smartt a lot.

“It will be great, first of all, for us to go out there on Saturday and showcase to the Berbice people the talent female cricketers possess, since female cricket is not some-

Erva Giddings thing that is played all year round, but only done when the Guyana Cricket Board needs us for an Inter-county tournament which is not until late July to early August.

Just to play this exhibition match alone is fantastic, as we as female cricketers would like if an individual or businessman can help keep us together, as nothing goes on for us until the GCB calls

us for the Inter-county,” said Smartt.

She added, “Most of the girls would be unfit and just up and go when called to prepare for the Intercounty, but it would be nice if we can have somebody or individuals who can help keep us active throughout the year.”

Smartt said she is willing to help the new players especially with Saturday’s game which while being short, they can still gather something from the game and continue to develop, as she herself is willing to impart her knowledge gained to the younger players and help them develop.

Smartt said the idea of forming a female unit and travel around Guyana to play competitively against other female sides, can also aid in the development and resuscitation of the game for the opposite sex, something she is more than willing to be a part of, anytime.

Shemaine Campbelle Both Smartt and Campbelle will lead the respective female teams in the exhibition match on Saturday which will be a T20 affair prior to the third place playoff, with other players such as Giddings, Phaffiana Millington and Melanie Henry also set to make an appearance.

MoH/Health 2000 Inc./Ansa McAl Girls U-11

Stella Maris looking to do double today

By Calvin Roberts HAVING seen their male counterparts defy the odds to take the Petra Organisation/Courts Pee Wee Under-11 football championships earlier this year, Stella Maris Girls Under-11 team will be looking to emulate the Boys and walk off with the Ministry of Health/ Health (Guy) 2000 Inc./ McAl Smalta Girls Under-11 Pee Wee crown this afternoon.

They go up against giant killers St Stephen’s Primary in the final which kicks off at 14:00hrs with the third place playoff in the said tournament between pre-tournament favourites Enterprise Primary and West Ruimveldt Primary at the Ministry of Education ground.

In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport yesterday, Ms. Gale David, who accompanied her students to all their matches, said they were all excited and ecstatic about com-

peting in the final and completing the double, even though they were surprised by the results the girls give them.

“To be honest with you, we are all happy for them that they have reached this far and it would be great for them to complete the double and follow in the same footsteps of their male counterparts and if they do, we have something in store for them.

“However, having said that, I must say that we are surprised they have reached this far, since most of them save one - Ludesha Reynolds - have no knowledge of the game, so we were tasked with taking them through fundamental drills such as passing, taking the ball etc,” said David.

She added, “The girls were eager to learn and even compete in the tournament and when they made the semifinals, the excitement coming from them was overwhelming and all they kept talking

about is winning and being like the boys, who are more

See Page 22

… St Stephen’s a stumbling block

Flashback! Part of the semifinal action between giant-killers St Stephen’s Primary (yellow) and pre-tournament favourites Enterprise Primary which the former won 10-9 on sudden death penalty kicks last Sunday.

CHRONICLE

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

Amla, de Villiers share record stand to flay Windies

Smartt looking to revive women’s cricket in Berbice See Story on Page 27

West Indies celebrate the opening breakthrough when Kemar Roach, seen here receiving a high-five from Shiv Chanderpaul, removed Alviro Petersen.

See Story on Page 23

South Africa’s Hashim Amla (right) and AB de Villiers embrace each other as the records keep piling up yesterday.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014