2014 12 28

SUNDAY No. 104053 SUNDAY DECEMBER 28, 2014

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

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President Ramotar, daughter spread Christmas cheer at GPHC Paediatric Ward Page

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Four Christmas babies delivered at GPHC Centre

Tuschen triple murder…

Police apprehend suspect in Tuschen backdam Page

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Speeding Tundra allegedly kills youth on Essequibo Public Road Page

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Seven left homeless in Alberttown fire

President Donald Ramotar offers words of comfort to a child on Christmas day

2 Seven Christmas Day babies delivered at NA Hospital Page

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Body of missing man found in Demerara River Page

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Father of teenaged accident victim missing Page

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28 2014

Seven Christmas Day babies delivered at NA Hospital – boys outnumber girls five to two FIVE boys and two girls were ushered safely into the world through the skillful hands of midwives at the New Amsterdam (NA) Hospital on Christmas Day. The first delivery was, a girl, born to 21-year-old Felicia Wilson of Mount Sinai, West Canje Berbice.

This bundle of exquisite joy entered the world weighing three kilogrammes at 04:55 hrs on the most celebrated day in the year.

The young mother told reporters that her expected date for delivery of her first child was said to be January 6, but she started to experience labour pains on Christmas Eve Day, and got her heart’s desire hours after being hospitalised.

She said the experience was painful, as doctors induced labour. “I did not expect to get a Christmas baby, but I am very happy.”

The success of the first delivery continued throughout the day, with 20-yearold Owamattie Seepersaud of Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder delivering a boy who weighed 3.4kg. This baby was also Omawattie’s first child. She was expected to deliver on December 23,

and travelled to the New Amsterdam Hospital upon the advice of her primary health care givers who had noted that the Mibicuri Hospital does not deliver first babies.

H o w e v e r, w h i l e t h e young mother is glad to have her baby, she said the experience is not one she wants to remember. “It was too much of pain. I could not sleep all night; could not

sit, could not stand…I had to walk all night.”

Wi t h i n a n h o u r a f ter Omawattie’s delivery, 16-year-old Andrea Gaskin delivered a son weighing 3.6kg. Although disappointed because she had wanted a daughter, the elated teen was grateful for the safe delivery of her child.

Meanwhile, the busyness of the labour room continued when 25-year-old Shonette Mendonza of Moleson Creek, Upper Corentyne delivered her third child at 07:15h - a boy weighing 2.92kg.

Mendonza was initially admitted to the Skeldon Hospital during the wee hours of December 25, but, after experiencing a constant decline in her blood pressure, was transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Neerupa Teekram of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, who had travelled to the New Amsterdam Hospital for her delivery upon the advice of the doctor at the Woodley Park Health Centre, delivered a boy, much to her delight, at 08:00 hrs.

The young mother said she had become extremely worried after her November 18 due date had passed, but was assured by medical staff

at the health centre that all would be well.

These infants were all delivered by midwife Candesa Caesar.

During the next shift, nurse Marlyn Tinnie assisted 28-year-old Denise La Fleur of Bara Cara, Canje River to deliver her fourth child, a girl, into the world.

“I am happy because next year I will have both Christmas and my baby’s first birthday the same day,” La Fleur mused.

As the most experienced mother to deliver a baby at that regional health institution on Christmas Day

2014, La Fleur commended the nurses for their care and treatment. “They have come a long way, and I am pleased”, she said.

Just as this publication was about to leave the institution, yet another baby was delivered, this time to 22-year-old Delisa Haywood of Sandvoort Village, West Canje. The time was 15:00 hrs, and Delisa’s baby, a boy, weighed 3.16kg.

Collectively, the delivery room staffers were highly praised by the mothers for their support, resilience and expertise.

(Jeune Bailey-VanKeric)

Speeding Tundra allegedly kills youth on driver allegedly did not render Essequibo Public Road –assistance to accident victim

By Rajendra Prabhulall NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD mechanic Davendra Jaipaul of Perth Village, Essequibo Coast was struck down and killed on the Exmouth Public Road by a Toyota Tundra vehicle on

Christmas Night.

Davendra was reportedly riding a BMX bicycle when the Tundra, driven by a businessman of Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast, struck him.

D a v e n d r a ’s b r o t h e r, Bharrat Jaipaul, said he was standing on the road near

a culvert not far from his home when Davendra left with the BMX bicycle for his grand-mother’s house at Exmouth.

Bharrat said he saw an approaching vehicle with bright white lights speeding along the road in a northerly direction to Charity and suddenly heard a loud bang coming from the direction of the road, but he did not take it too seriously because he surmised that it might have being an animal that had

been hit in that very dark and lonely area.

Bharrat said the vehicle, which he recognised as a green Tundra, stopped about forty rods (some 500 feet) from the scene of the impact then the vehicle turned back and drove away.

Bharrat said he went home thinking that it was some animal that had been struck down.

He said his sister later told him that his grandmother had called to say that

Davendra had not reached her home as yet. He became worried and quickly rushed along the public road to the spot where the vehicle had hit “something.” When he got to the spot, his cousin was already there with a torchlight and he immediately recognised his brother lying lifeless alongside his broken BMX bicycle on the road parapet. There was blood on the road, along with a broken mirror from the vehicle and pieces of

glass.

Bharrat said his brother’s body was badly damaged, and there was blood oozing from his mouth, ears and nose, while his arms and feet were obviously broken.

After allegedly hitting the cyclist, the businessman is reported to have just driven away without offering any assistance; and returned to the scene some two hours later with a CID officer.

Police are investigating this incident.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28 2014

President Ramotar, daughter spread Christmas cheer at GPHC Paediatric Ward

THOUGH in their own pain and distress, having to be away from home and their families, the smiles were evident on the faces of children at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC) Paediatric Ward as President Donald Ramotar and his daughter Lisa Ramotar visited that ward.

During their rounds to

the children, some of whom were in the care of their parents, the Head of State and his daughter offered words of comfort and hope to both the children and their parents.

The children were also presented gifts as a token to lift their spirits in keeping with the festive season.

Meanwhile, President Ramotar noted his pleasure

at being able to visit the children and to contribute in some way to bring smiles to their faces.

“I’m very happy to do so to come to the hospital to spend some time with those who are sick, and those who are away from home so that we can share with them the wonderful feelings of the season, of sharing of giving and letting them know that

they are in our thoughts.”

The President also lauded the work of the nurses, doctors and other staff of the GPHC for their relentless efforts throughout the year and more so at this time.

“I want to first of all on behalf of the Government and nation, extend a big thank you to them and let them know how much we

appreciate what they are doing.”

Married to a nurse for more than two decades, the President said he is quite aware of the sacrifices made and the life of a nurse.

He added too that his visit is simply continuing a tradition that has been ongoing for years by Presidents before him.

“This has been a tradi-

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tion for a long time where Presidents will come to try to make some effort to assuage their suffering and pain and help our nurses to alleviate it in a little way.”

Meanwhile, the President also visited the patients of the Intensive Care Unit as he sought to bring some amount of hope to relatives of those patients. (GINA)

Christmas celebrated in traditional style in G/town

Dancers from First Assembly Of God Church Dancing on the Streets as they took Christmas to the Homes of Residents on Durban Street

CHRISTMAS celebrations around the capital city saw many citizens engaged in the tradition-

al activities of attending church and participating in carol singing in the streets, while others were

busy with last minute shopping and partying in the streets.

At St George’s Cathedral, as in many Christian churches in Guyana, the traditional mass was held on Christmas Eve night. Conducted by Dean of Georgetown, the Very Reverend Father Andrew Carto, the mass began with the blessing of the Nativity Scene. In his stirring sermon, Father Carto asked worshippers to look at the images displayed not as images to be worshipped, but to be used to reflect on the first Christmas and the The Dean Of Georgetown, The Very Rev. Fr

Persons gathered to enjoy the caroling and dances

promise of hope which it brought.

The mass commenced at 22:45 hrs and the traditional Christmas greetings were exchanged at midnight before the celebration of the Eucharist, which ended the service. Another mass was held on Christmas morning for persons who were unable to attend the Christmas Eve Mass.

In another part of the city, the residents of Durban Street were treated to an evening of carols, music and dance as the members of the First Assembly of God church took their Christmas Service outdoors.

This tradition, started a

number of years ago, allowed the residents of that community and those doing their last minute shopping to be a part of the service, while putting the finishing touches to the decorations in their homes.

Members of the church entertained with singing, dances by the youth and children, and steelpan music.

Even as some chose to usher in Christmas in the traditional way, other participated in the not-so-traditional activities. In Regent Street, many stores remained open way after midnight as some persons sought to make last min-

ute purchases of gifts and goodies to be consumed on Christmas Day. Others, mainly the youths, enjoyed revelling in the area in front of the Stabroek Market and East Coast Bus Park, which was transformed into a street party venue as the merry making went way into the next morning.

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force were observed working through the night to ensure that shoppers, merrymakers and worshippers were all allowed to usher in Christmas as they chose without encumbering others.

(Raymond Cummings)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28, 2014

North Korea blames U.S. Kiev, rebels exchange POWs; trains, buses to Crimea suspended for Internet outages, calls Obama ‘monkey’

By Pavel Polityuk and Alessandra Prentice

(Reuters) - NORTH Korea called U.S. President Barack Obama a “monkey” and blamed Washington on Saturday for Internet outages it has experienced during a confrontation with the United States over the hacking of the film studio Sony Pictures.

The National Defense Commission, the North’s ruling body chaired by state leader Kim Jong Un, said Obama was responsible for Sony’s belated decision to release the action comedy “The Interview”, which depicts a plot to assassinate Kim. “Obama always goes reckless in words and deeds like a monkey in a tropical forest,” an unnamed spokesman for the commission said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency, using a term seemingly designed to cause racial offense that North Korea has resorted to previously.

In Hawaii, where Obama is vacationing, a White House official said the administration had no immediate comment on the latest

North Korean statement blaming the United States for the Internet outages and insulting the president.

Sony cancelled the release of the film when large cinema chains refused to screen it following threats of violence from hackers, but then put it out on limited release after Obama said Sony was caving in to North Korean pressure.

Obama promised retaliation against North Korea, but did not specify what form it would take.

North Korea’s main

(Reuters) - UKRAINE’S government and pro-Russian separatists on Friday exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war while Kiev said it would suspend all train and bus service to Crimea, effectively creating a transportation blockade to and from the region.

The agreement to swap 150 Ukrainian servicemen for 222 rebels followed peace talks between envoys of Ukraine, Russia, the separatists and European security watchdog Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on Wednesday.

Ukrainian transportation chiefs said the reason for suspending train and bus service was the need to protect passengers due to a “deteriorating” security situation on the Black Sea pen-

Internet sites suffered intermittent disruptions this week, including a complete outage of nearly nine hours, before links were largely restored on Tuesday.

1 of 4. Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko (C) shakes hands with a Ukrainian prisoner of war (POW) returning home after being exchanged for pro-Russian separatist prisoners, in Kiev December 27, 2014. Credit: REUTERS/ Mikhail Palinchak/Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/ Handout via Reuters insula, annexed by Russia in March.

Crimea is controlled by Russia, but its only land link is with Ukraine and it has remained dependent on the Ukrainian mainland for

most of its supplies, including much of its electricity and water. Ukraine already has banned sea and air traffic with Crimea, which is still serviced by Russian airlines.

U.S., allies conduct 12 air strikes against Islamic State: Task Force (Reuters) - The United States and its allies carried out 12 air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria on Saturday, the Combined Joint Task Force said.

Six strikes near the Syrian town of Kobani on the Turkish border destroyed Islamic State buildings, fighting

positions and vehicles, a task force statement said.

In Iraq, targets including buildings, vehicles and an Islamic State refinery were hit in six strikes near Al Asad, Mosul, Falluja, Al Qaim and Baiji, it said.

(Reporting by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Toby Chopra)

An explosion following an air strike is seen in western Kobani neighbourhood, November 23, 2014. Credit: Reuters/ Osman Orsa

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28, 2014

Brazilian oil Kidnapped company Mexican priest Petrobras sued found shot dead in

by US city Guerrero state

(BBC News) THE US city of Providence, Rhode Island is suing the Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras over investor losses due to a corruption scandal.

Unlike other class actions, some of the company’s senior executives have also been named as defendants.

Providence alleges that Petrobras made false statements to investors that inflated the company’s value.

Its lawyers say that when the corruption scandal broke, the city’s investments plummeted.

So far, 39 people in Brazil have been indicted on

charges that include corruption, money laundering and racketeering.

They have been accused of forming a cartel to drive up the prices of major Petrobras infrastructure projects and of channelling money into a kickback scheme at Petrobras to pay politicians.

(BBC News) A PRIEST who was kidnapped in Mexico’s south-western state of Guerrero on Monday has been found shot dead, officials say.

The body of Father Gregorio Lopez was discovered near the city of Ciudad Altamirano.

A group of priests later rallied in the city to condemn the murder.

Father Lopez was seized by gunmen from Ciudad Altamirano’s seminary, where he taught. The motive for the killing remains unclear.

A friend of the priest told local media that Father Lo-

pez was kidnapped after he accused drug gang Guerreros Unidos of the abduction and alleged murder of 43 students in September.

He is the third priest to be killed this year in Guerrero state, which has been at the centre of drug-related violence in Mexico.

The motive for the killing of Father Gregorio Lopez remains un-

The city of Providence and other US investors are suing Petrobras over losses due to a corruption scandal

FARC says it has freed Colombian soldier

HAVANA (AP) ¡ª Latin America’s oldest and strongest rebel group said Friday that it had released a soldier who was captured earlier this month.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia said in a statement that it had turned Carlos

Becerra Ojeda over to representatives of the International Red Cross and Cuba and Norway, two countries that have hosted peace talks between the rebels and the government since they began in the fall of 2012.

According to the government, the FARC ab-

ducted Becerra earlier this month after he survived a rebel attack north of the southwestern department of Cauca.

Last week, the FARC declared a unilateral ceasefire in an effort to move the peace talks forward, and urged the government to do the same.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28, 2014

EDITORIAL Christmas has always been a special time

CHRISTMAS has always been a special time from the very first Christmas when the birth of a child to a chosen couple brought joy to many. But Christmas has also been marred by tragedies and unfortunate incidents. Even at the time of celebration for Mary and Joseph and the Jews, who were looking for a messiah and believed that the messiah had come, they were the ones who did not welcome this message.

As the Christian Holy Scriptures tells the story that as many were expressing joy at the birth of Jesus, King Herod ordered the execution of all males in the kingdom went he got the news. We are reminded that even as some took time to share in the good news of

hope for all mankind and share cheer to the less fortunate there are others who will always see the negatives in every occasion.

Like King Herod, the message of hope for people will never be welcomed by them as they seek to capitalise on the misfortunes of individuals to ensure that they achieve their narrow personal agendas.

If one were to reflect on Guyana over the past year it is not difficult to see the hope and confidence that people, ordinary Guyanese continue to place in this country. Like the message of hope that came that first Christmas to the ordinary people, so the personal successes of the ordinary citizens of Guyana inspire

GUYANA

hope for all. These successes are reflected in every family that now lives in their own home as a result of the massive housing drive unveiled by the Government after taking office. They also include the number of small businesses that allow individuals to be self-employed, whether it is the minibus or taxi owners or the shop-front business.

What about the families who are now hopeful as they see their children enjoying a better quality education as a result of the new schools that were established in their communities and an intensified training teacher-training programme, the improved access to health care because of the increase in trained medical personnel

manning the facilities in all communities? These are the messages of hope that the ordinary Guyanese should understand. These stories should be seen as an inspiration to others to utilise the opportunities available to them to work towards improving their lot.

Like the story of the first Christmas, the joy that was felt by those who heard and understood the news should

be shared and explained to those who still wonder from where their inspiration comes.

It may be important and inspiring as the celebrations of the Christmas winds down and the hope and challenges of the New Year approaches that all reflect on the progress made over the years and draw inspiration.

Let progress continue.

AFC leaders are masters of deception, lies AT this juncture it will be fruitful for this Nation to carefully scrutinise the achievements of the Alliance For Change (AFC) in terms of contributing to the social and economic development of this country. In fact, all their energies have so far been focused on derailing such developmental efforts by the democratically elected PPP/C Government. It is also a fact that nowhere else in the Caribbean has any miniscule Opposition political party worked so tirelessly to achieve what can be seen as a hopeless mirage of power. This party will never be able to muster enough votes to form a Government and its leaders are keenly aware of that but they are willing to eat the crumbs from their master’s table- the PNCR. Firstly, they have led the ‘scissoring’ of all the budgets in Parliament since 2012. These budget cuts are not only unconscionable but anti-developmental as well. The items that were repeatedly cut from these budgets are the very items which the AFC has in their manifesto which they called their Action Plan! This definitely is a misnomer- the ‘Action Cut’ would have been a more appropriate name. Some of these can be found in the ‘Action Plan’ under Hinterland Development, Trade Policy, Renewable Energy, Health Care System, Tourism, and

Educational Policy. The AFC in the 2014 Budget cut $ 1.1 billion from the Amerindian Development Fund which could have benefited more than 180 Amerindian Communities; they have voted against the Anti-money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill; they have voted against the Amaila Falls Hydro Project; they have voted against the Capital Expenditure of the Regional and Clinical Services programs; they have cut the funds for the improvement and expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and they have cut the University of Guyana Student Loan. Then the AFC have been vociferously calling for the closure of the Guyana Sugar Corporation which will directly and indirectly affect the lives of more than 100,000 persons! Charrandass and Ramayya have done this repeatedly on DTV 8 in Berbice.

Secondly, the AFC in its quest to outdo the PNC/R supported the violent protest in Linden which resulted in arson of businesses and a school, looting and the beatings and sexual harassment of Indians and then they embarked in orchestrating a violent protest of their own at Agricola. Again, Indians were targeted- they were beaten, robbed, sexually molested and abused. How can leaders like Ramjattan and Nagamootoo allowed

this to happen to Indians in Agricola and then come to Berbice and ask Indians to vote for them? Do they believe that Indians in Berbice are that stupid? Why did they not agitate for the perpetrators to be brought to justice? Why did they not call for an inquiry to be held if they are not culpable? All they had done was to deny their involvement. Would Trotman and Hughes have done that to their own people?

But the fact is that Nagamootoo had to gain acceptance from the PNC/R – his nomination as Speaker was rejected by the PNC so he had to prove himself.

Thirdly, the AFC condemned each and everything that the PPP/C Government did. They condemned the One Lap Top Per Family initiative; they condemned the Old Age Pension increase; they condemned the $10,000 Grant given to each child; they condemned the poor salaries of policemen then they condemned the one month salary bonus given to each policeman and soldier; they condemned the poor health service and then they cut the capital expenditure in the Health Sector; they complained about the high electricity cost and they destroyed the Amaila Hydro Project; they condemned the Education sector yet we have topped the CSEC awards; they said that the economic progress of this

country is a big lie yet the U.S. Embassy gave out 55,000 tourists visas; they vigorously spoke about corruption in the Government but refuses to deal with the high degree of corruption within the AFC; they spoke about the immoral behaviour of Government officials but refused to condemn the lewd and immoral behaviour of some of the Executives of the AFC; they spoke about accountability yet they cannot account for millions of dollars of donations; they condemned the PPP/C Government for acting within the realm of the Constitution yet they failed even to act within the Articles of their Party’s Constitution; they spoke about democracy and yet they rigged their own elections; they spoke about conflict of interest and they are masters at it.

Just ask Nigel and Cathy Hughes!

The list goes on. They accused the PPP/C of corruption and are yet to prove that, but on the other hand I have proven my claims about corruption and cronyism and the lack of democracy within the AFC beyond a reasonable doubt!

Fourthly, the AFC leaders are masters of deception and lies. Until now Ramjattan cannot provide the names of the three APNU members of Parliament who were willing to sell out to the PPP/C Government for $ 30 million; they lied about the consequences of the Anti-Mon-

ey laundering Bill; they lied about ex-President Jagdeo’s medical bills; they lied about the infamous Agricola protest; they lied about providing financial statements at the 2014 Conference; they lied about not being racially divided; they lied about the spending of the $ 4.5 billion by the Finance Minister and above all they had lied to their AFC supporters and members during the 2011 Elections Campaign that they will never support or form a coalition with the PNC! There are many more lies which they have peddled in Berbice and I had dealt with these in my earlier letters.

Lastly, the AFC’s Naagman made a final bid to oust the PPP/C Government when he filed and failed to pass the now infamous ‘No Confidence Motion.’ This would have been the ‘greatest achievement’ of the AFC to date but acting constitutionally the President has proven to the AFC neophyte lawyers that they have extremely little knowledge of the Constitutional Laws of Guyana.

It is time to reflect on these ‘achievements’ of the AFC and ensure that they do not achieve their goals of getting the PNC/R into power once again! This country cannot survive another 28 years of PNC misrule!

HASEEF YUSUF AFC Councillor- Region 6

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28, 2014

Last longer or shorter than four hours…

By Keith Burrowes IN the past I’ve written what I believe to be fairly serious articles on the dangers of medication, whether prescribed or over the counter.

It’s a subject that I believe needs continuous exploration in Guyana and I will continue looking at it from whatever serious angle I can come up with.

For example, suppose you are prescribed one medication. Very often, you might get a small print document with specific drugs to avoid. The problem is, you might already be on some other medication that contains the active ingredient you’ve been warned to avoid.

Suppose you take an antibiotic for a stomach infection. You are warned to avoid a certain drug but you don’t know that it is one of the active ingredients in the medication you’re taking for foot fungus. The next thing you know, your toes start growing long flowing hair.

Or something like that. As farfetched as that sounds, anyone playing close attention the drug ads on television could recall that last part at the bit that they read through quickly in as upbeat a voice as possible against a backdrop of happy people and inspirational music.

For example, there is this ad I once saw for an anti-depressant medication

enhancer called Abilify. After 20 seconds of trying to convince you that the drug can help you feel better, the ad then goes on to talk about the side effects for almost a minute. These include mood swings, depression (remember this is an anti-depressant), and thoughts of suicide in younger people. Additionally, you are warned

alli.”

However, the original was slightly more graphic, but honest on those changes.

“The fat which remains undigested from your diet can cause changes in your bowel habit, resulting in wind, loose stools and oily spotting from your back passage. Reducing the amount of

“If you are the sort of person who has taken Viagra for one lasting shorter than four minutes, this might be a side effect you’d learn to live with.” to look out for high fever, stiff muscles and confusion since they could indicate a ‘life-threatening’ reaction, and old people are especially at risk of dying.

The medication that is perhaps made most fun of however is the ‘miracle’ weight loss brand, alli. Currently, the side effects page of the company’s website has the relatively mild disclaimer that reads in part: “You’ve probably heard about alli’s diet-related side effects that some users experience. They are bowel-related changes that can happen, especially during the first few weeks that you use

fat you eat in your meals will reduce the likelihood of these harmless, but unpleasant side-effects.”

Also, it warned that: “Undigested fat cannot be absorbed and passes through the body naturally. The excess fat is not harmful. In fact, you may recognise it in the toilet as something that looks like the oil on top of a pizza.”

After reading that I don’t think I want to ever eat pizza again. Basically the drug gives you the choice of being overweight and unhappy with yourself, or taking it and risk being the butt,

Keith Burrowes no pun intended, of family, friends and office jokes from now till the end of your life, or send you into further depression which might lead you to take some Abilify.

That said, not all side effects might be unwanted. Every man knows that as he gets older, not everything works as well as it once did. Sometimes you need to get a little boost and that is where drugs like Viagra and Cialis come in, well handy. The problem is that even these have their side effects.

Viagra for example warns you that you can get headache, nausea, shortness of breath (some men might argue that those are regular side effects of marriage) as well as in a small number of cases, blindness. The one side effect however is the one that I’m sure has actually served to sell more of the drugs than it has prevent the sale of, where the company warns about what to do if experiencing an erection lasting longer than four hours. If you are the sort of person who has taken Viagra for one lasting shorter than four minutes, this might be a side effect you’d learn to live with.

I want to wish you a happy and prosperous new year.

Disclaimer I am no longer working in the health sector and what I write is not official.

Amused by T&T, Barbados deportation of Guyanese I AM amused by the recent developments regarding the issue of Guyanese being deported from specifically Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. Guyana is busy welcoming Trinidad investors in the agricultural sector in the true spirit of CARICOM brotherhood, and pursuing an enlightened path of interCaricom immigration policy; Trinidad and Barbados are refining tools of

expulsion directed at Guyanese who have made sterling contributions to their development over the years.

But this is to be expected. The mentality of a people and their nations is fashioned by their geographical circumstance. What else do we expect from people living on specks of dust floating in the Caribbean Sea, or rather on pieces of rocks tenuously anchored therein? Their

insular mentality is consistent with their geographical circumstance and must be factored into our interactions with them.

Guyana sits on the large continent of South America and faithfully in accordance with our geographic circumstance, Guyanese evince a wide breadth of tolerance, hospitality and acceptance of others – sharply contrasting with narrow, insular

concerns and interests.

I had hoped that making these “islands” part of a bigger bloc – CARICOM – would have widened their horizons and elevated their mentality. These recent developments relative to inter-Caricom immigration issues show that we still have a lot of work to do.

WILBERT M. STEPHENSON

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Father of teenaged accident victim

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28 2014

Tuschen triple murder…

Police apprehend suspect in Tuschen backdam

missing

By Clifford Stanley THE father of the teenager who died in an accident on the West Coast Berbice public road on Tuesday night last has been missing for the past four days.

Alfred Branche, 62, of McKenzie Street Rosignol West Bank Berbice was driving the wagon at the time it collided with a parked vehicle on the # 29 public road resulting in the death of his daughter Yonette 16.

Relatives told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that the man had been continuously distraught and inconsolable after the accident.

“He cried all the time .

He kept blaming himself for the accident. He kept saying that it was he who had killed his daughter and we couldn’t get him to stop blaming himself,” another daughter Shonette said.

Branche is self-employed as a taxi driver and is a popular resident of Rosignol.

His daughter Shonette said that her father left home around 08:00 hours on Christmas Eve day unknown to her and the rest of the family.

A resident of Rosignol subsequently informed the family that he had seen the

Alfred Branche (extreme left with his family in happier times)

missing sexagenarian heading into the backdam/wooded area behind Rosignol earlier in the day.

He was wearing a blue shirt, dark blue jeans, soft yatching shoes and was bareheaded.

A search party hastily put together, combed the bushes but found no trace of the missing man.

The relatives made a report to the Police on Christmas Day and search parties of villagers have been combing

the backdam on a daily basis since then, but without any success up to late yesterday afternoon.

Relatives have also placed an advertisement on Berbice Television asking for public assistance in locating him.

Yonette Branche, 16, was a student of the New Amsterdam Multilateral School who had gone with her parents to uplift a barrel and two boxes of gifts sent to her by her aunt who lives overseas.

The family had collected the items in Georgetown and were on their way home around 20:00 hours on Tuesday December 23 when the wagon driven by her father Alfred collided with a parked Canter on the side of the road at # 29 village West Coast Berbice.

Reports suggested that the older Blanche had been dazzled by the lights of an incoming vehicle and had pulled into the corner without seeing the vehicle parked alongside the road.

A post mortem done on Yonette Branche yesterday found that she had died from massive head injuries.

The family have made plans for a funeral on Tuesday but are now in the grips of an additional source of distress due to the disappearance of the head of the household.

The family can be contacted by anyone who may have any information on the whereabouts of the missing man. on telephone numbers 330-2816 or 626-0178.

Joshua Franklin is in police custody

POLICE from West Dem e r a r a a p p re h e n d e d Joshua Franklin, wanted for questioning in relation to the murders of his nine-year-old stepdaughter; his mother-inlaw; and Floyd Drakes, his reputed wife’s male friend, at Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo in the wee hours of December 18, 2014.

Franklin’s arrest reportedly took place in the Tuschen backdam at about 08:00 hours on Boxing Day. He is presently in custody at Wales Police Station, and would be charged and arraigned in court on Monday.

‘D’ Division Commander Ian Amsterdam had assured the public that it was only a matter of time before Joshua Franklin was apprehended and he credited Franklin’s arrest to cooperation between the police and the community.

Amsterdam told this publication that the police had to travel about three-quarters of a mile behind the village before they located the suspect; and he did not resist arrest, although he had been

moving in and out of the backdam.

The Commander added that Franklin had been spotted in the village several times at nights, but persons were afraid to apprehend him, so they related the relevant information to the police which led to his arrest on Boxing Day. Amsterdam said the police had learnt that Franklin had contacted a section of the print media via telephone, and their intelligence sleuths had been working to have that telephone number traced in an effort to locate him.

In the mayhem he created on December 18, Franklin had also chopped his reputed wife Geeta Boodhoo multiple times about the body, but she was able to cheat death by escaping from the house and secreting herself in the verandah of a neighbour’s house.

She has lost her left hand from the wrist down in that cutlass attack, and has since undergone surgical operation, being in need of ‘O’ positive blood at the GPHC. Her five children are presently staying with her

sister, and she has since been alerted about the suspect’s presence in the community.

Franklin has allegedly confessed to a private newspaper via telephone that he has been responsible for the slayings, and he has reportedly said he would ‘finish off’ his reputed wife and her sister, whom he blames for their domestic problems.

Last week the seemingly ‘quiet’ cane cutter, in a fit of rage, broke into the home he once shared with Boodhoo and hacked to death her alleged lover, his mother-in-law, and step daughter, besides chopping her several times.

The body of Floyd Drakes was found at the rear of the yard behind a latrine, while the body of nine-year-old Ashley Boodhoo was discovered in the kitchen, and her grandmother’s body was found in the living room where the attack started after Franklin had broken into the house.

Bibi Zalima Khan, 55, and nine-year-old Ashley Boodhoo were laid to rest according to Muslim rites on December 19, 2014 following a post-mortem.

Police reported that Khan, Boodhoo and Floyd Drakes all died as a result of multiple incised wounds to the body.

The rest of Geeta Boodhoo’s children, including twins, survived the brutal cutlass attack by hiding under a bed.

Franklin’s son, who resides in a cottage in the same yard as the Boodhoos, was arrested but has since been released from custody.

He was held for questioning since sleuths believe he had a hand in the murder of Floyd Drakes.

It was reported that he may have helped his father to subdue Drakes after Drakes had fled the house and was cornered at the back of the yard.

(Michel Outridge)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28 2014

Anti-prorogation arguments undemocratic

By Dr. Prem Misir

THE President’s proclamation of prorogation would be a useful case study on the traditional Opposition (elected Opposition representatives of the National Assembly) and the new Opposition’s (mass media, inclusive of the social media and the partisan civil society) modus operandi on Guyana ‘s development. The media onslaught that followed the proclamation was no different from the many Government of Guyana capital projects that are now languishing in some corner of nothingness, thanks to the traditional and new Opposition groups.

In this sordid political context, many people present their political positions where they use democracy as a password to justify those positions. Invariably, these positions are opinions and not facts, but are presented as facts. At the present time, many critics are still having a field day with their anti-prorogation arguments, presenting their opinions, not facts; and then in an attempt to justify this position, they would say that prorogation has silenced the voice of democracy. The Constitution of Guyana states clearly in Article 70 (1) thus “The President may at any time by proclamation prorogue Parliament.” Prorogation is a done deal! And the

ident’s call, even though he is accused of making that call too late, demonstrated that his position is one which encourages a plurality of thinking, contrary to that of both Opposition groups. However, the view that only the Opposition groups’ disposition is valid is

does not deny the existence of truth; and the trait that shows the differences between these undemocratic forces and liberal democracy is scepticism (Bufacchi, 2001, pp.24-25).

Scepticism is defined thus: ‘No conception of the good can justifiably be held with a

knowledge and by implication imposing it on the people; as by their definition, knowledge is absolute, so people have no choice, but to buy into this so-called absolute knowledge.

The anti-prorogation camp (used interchangeably with Opposition groups) professes unreasonable certainty, meaning that they present their commentaries to be true knowledge beyond doubt, that is, their knowledge is absolute.

a threat to democracy and an anti-democratic position.

Let me clarify. This discussion so far on the anti-prorogation camp is an attempt to apply a theory of sceptical democracy which sees liberal democracy as having a space between two undemocratic forces – unreasonable certainty and denial of the reality of truth – and facing a double threat from them; liberal democracy does not claim certainty of knowledge and

degree of certainty that warrants its imposition on those who reject it’ (Barry, 1995, p.169). Liberal democracy makes no claim to absolute knowledge; there are always doubts about knowledge in a liberal democracy; and liberal democracy does not impose its views on the people.

The media onslaught against the Government is a case in point to demonstrate both Opposition groups’ determination to present absolute

But no knowledge is absolute. Let me explain. In reviewing philosophical worldviews for research design purposes, there is a distinct movement away from positivism to postpositivism.

Positivism tends to suggest that there is absolute truth of knowledge (Phillips and Burbules, 2000) which postpositivism has challenged, acknowledging that people cannot be certain about their claims to knowledge; in this

“The traditional Opposition and the new Opposition, through utilising democracy to support their opinions, really are a threat to democracy because they see their opinions as factual beyond any reasonable doubt; where only their position is correct; and in the process shutting out and dismissing other commentaries not supportive of theirs, claiming them to be erroneous.”

President is in compliance with the Constitution.

The traditional Opposition and the new Opposition, through utilising democracy to support their opinions, really are a threat to democracy because they see their opinions as factual beyond any reasonable doubt; where only their position is correct; and in the process shutting out and dismissing other commentaries not supportive of theirs, claiming them to be erroneous.

In fact, these two Opposition groups present their anti-prorogation stance as a cast-iron certainty, that is, they see their position as the only one that is certainly real and truthful, as a safe bet, and as the only correct position, where no one should harbour doubts about their remarks on prorogation.

But if you accept these Opposition groups’ points of view, then the President’s position is invalid, notwithstanding that the President’s decision to prorogue is in sync with the Constitution.

And subsequent to the proclamation of prorogation, the President issued a call to the traditional Opposition to discuss high matters of State, but to no avail; in effect, the Pres-

9

sense, knowledge is imperfect and fallible (Phillips and Burbules, 2000). And that is precisely the problem with the anti-prorogation camp; this camp believes that its position is akin to some form of absolute knowledge.

Once you believe that your point of view is a claim to absolute knowledge, then there can be no plurality of views, since yours is by definition absolute. And that is what makes the anti-proro-

gation arguments of the traditional and new Opposition groups’ undemocratic.

References BARRY, B. M. 1995.

Justice as impartiality.

BUFACCHI, V. 2001.

Sceptical Democracy. Politics, 21, 23-30.

PHILLIPS, D. C. & BURBULES, N. C. 2000.

Postpositivism and educational research, Rowman & Littlefield.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28, 2014

Body of missing man found in Demerara River

By Shirley Thomas THE body of an East Bank Demerara man who went missing last Monday was on Wednesday discovered floating in the Demerara River off New Hope, bloated and bearing marks of violence.

Dead is Trevor Melville, 51, also called “Wrong Turn” of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara. Melville who hails from Matthew’s Ridge, North West District, had been residing at the home of his sister, Thelma Charles, for several years, but would very often visit another sister, Jenny, who lives at Lot 19, New Hope, also on the East Bank Demerara.

His fearful and deeply distraught sister Thelma recalled that on Monday afternoon around 16:30 hours, Trevor left her home to visit Jenny and her family, but as night approached and she did not see him return, she phoned Jenny who confirmed that he had never reached her home. They immediately became concerned since it was not like him to “sleep out” or even stay away from the home without letting them know where he was.

Together, the concerned family members mounted a search which took them to Friendship Village, where they gathered he had dismounted from a bus and entered the yard of a man he had previously performed weeding and other chores for.

When questioned, the man acknowledged having seen Trevor, but claimed that he hid from him, since he would normally want to buy a “quarter” and imbibe. But sources, on condition of anonymity, claimed that they saw Trevor go into the man’s yard around 17:30 hours, but never saw him come out. They insisted it was the last place they saw him.

Based on the information the missing man’s relatives received, his sisters, Thelma and Jenny, along with his children and nephews all mounted a search of the village, enquiring of almost every household, but it yielded nothing.

They finally returned home, where they spent a restless night and the following day, lodged a “missing persons” report with the Grove Police Station. The police advised them to keep searching and promised that should they receive any information about his whereabouts, they would call the family.

However, Jenny claimed she became suspicious about the information the businessman in Friendship had given them. She said: “On Tuesday morning, I don’t know what was carrying me there, but I went straight back to the man’s place.” She claimed he maintained his story about hiding from “Wrong Turn” (Trevor), which was that he did not want to sell him alcohol.

She said that on Tuesday night, the search party returned to the man’s home and strangely, his home, quite unlike others at Christmas time, was in darkness. “We nervously continued searching. This time, flashing our flashlight from side to side of the road, but it was all in vain,” Jenny said.

On the third day, Wednesday, driven by compulsion, Jenny and other family members paid another visit to the businessman’s premises and he insisted that Trevor was in the village, but had not stopped by. Meanwhile, other residents said they did not see him.

Around 12:30 hours that same day, the businessman headed back to Jenny’s home at New Hope and on arriving there asked her, “Yuh find Trevor?” and she replied, “No!” At that the man retorted: “The way how Trevor does behave, is the whole of Friendship waan kill he.” The man went away shortly after.

Previously, Trevor worked in the goldmining interior on his family’s claim, but several years ago had the misfortune of being involved in motor vehicular accidents on about three occasions.

On one occasion, he sustained such severe life-threatening head injuries and was on life support systems in the Intensive Care Unit (IC U) of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) for several days.

Doctors had almost Dead: Trevor Melville given him up, but he made a miraculous recovery.

Ever since then, he has been a victim of dementia (forgetfulness) and other head- related abnormalities.

Later in the day on Wednesday the sisters received a phone call from the Grove Police Station, informing them that a body was spotted in the Demerara River and that a family member should accompany them to identify it. Their worst fear was confirmed when his nephew, Errol James and others went out and positively identified the corpse as that of Trevor Melville.

Relatives claimed the man’s face was badly peeled, as though he was dragged for some distance and his neck appeared broken and swollen, among other things.

“Whoever did it and for whatever reason, I know that my brother was murdered and he did not deserve to die that way. He was brain damaged and suffered broken bones in multiple accidents and still survived. Why should someone come and kill our brother now?” the sisters asked as they broke down and wept bitterly.

Police are continuing their investigation and an autopsy is expected to be performed on Monday, after which the body will be released to the relatives for burial.

Technician killed in Boxing Day accident at Belle Vue, WBD TWENTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD, Richard Giddings of Diamond Housing Scheme East Bank Demerara, allegedly a former technician employed at a popular fishing establishment, was killed on Friday morning when the vehicle he was driving slammed into a culvert at Belle Vue Public Road, West Bank Demerara.

The man was allegedly heading in a southerly direction when he attempted to negotiate a narrow bridge bordered by two concrete rails, lost control, and slammed the left side of the left-hand-drive car into the left side of the bridge rail.

There was minimal damage to the right side of the vehicle.

One man who rushed to the scene shortly after the accident told the Guyana Chronicle that he and another man were standing at the corner when he heard a loud impact and observed a car lying on its side bracing one of the bridge rails. He Richard Giddings and the other man rushed to the scene and found a man lying on the road. They immediately checked to see if any other person was in the vehicle, and the other persons who eventually responded to the crash attempted to place the still alive injured man in an appropriate position to enable him to breathe with ease.

The man, however, died before reaching the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

When the chronicle showed up at the man’s relatives’ home on the West Bank Demerara, no one there was willing to speak about the accident, as they all claimed unfamiliarity with the facts of the mishap. The police are, however, investigating the circumstances attending the accident.

Man stabbed to death by niece, reputed husband

By Leroy Smith

SUNIL Ramsundar, 39, of Patentia, West Bank Demerara and a father of four was stabbed to death on Boxing Day by his niece, Vishwani Ragnuath, 35 also known as “Shelly” and her reputed husband, Nyron Thakurdyal, 35, following a misunderstanding.

The Chronicle, which spoke with the dead man’s 14- year- old daughter was told that the man who works as a miner in the interior was at the time of his death standing with her at the fence of his reputed wife’s home shortly after intervening in a dispute between his sister and the reputed husband of his niece.

According to the child, her father observed that his sister crying and asked her what was the matter, and the woman related to him that “the one-eye man “Nyron Thakurdyal” had beaten her up.

The child said that her father then approached the man and enquired what the problem was and why he had raised his hands at his sister; but at that time Vishwani Ragnuath rushed up to Ramsundar.

The two then had a scuffle and Vishwani Ragnuath and her reputed husband Thakurdyal then retreated to their home, which is located just next door; but the two then re-emerged and Shelly began hitting her uncle, the 14-year-old recalled.

She explained that at first she thought “Shelly” was cuffing her father, but became aware that she was stabbing him with a knife, only when she paused to hand the knife over to her reputed husband to continue the act.

Thakurdyal was initially holding the hands of the man while “Shelly” was stabbing him, in an attempt to prevent him from retaliating.

The young lady said that her father after realising that he was being stabbed by the

two, asked his niece “Shelly what you doing to me girl”? to which her reputed husband replied: “Is not ‘Shelly’ alone is me too,” as he took the knife and continued to attack the defenceless man.

Zalena also informed this newspaper that during the ordeal no one knew what was happening, since everyone was inside the yard and the music was playing loudly.

She however said that they were only made aware that something was wrong when she began to scream and when her mother came rushing to her she told her mother that “Shelly” had just stabbed her father.

Vishwani Ragnuath and Nyron Thakurdyal have been seeing each other for the past year, according to the dead man’s sister who is also the mother of Vishwani Ragnuath.

Speaking with the chronicle yesterday, the dead man’s “children mother” said that after

she had received word of what transpired, she immediately along with others picked the injured man up and rushed him to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Ramsundar leaves to mourn his sick parents and four children ages 12, 14, 17 and 18. The man had returned from the interior location only some six days ago in time to spend Christmas with his family.

When this publication visited the scene yesterday, blood stains could be seen at the corner of the fence where the man was stabbed, and the house from which the two suspects had emerged to launch the attack was locked as they remained in police custody.

Yesterday also, when this publication visited the home of the dead man’s motherin-law, investigators were present taking a statement from the daughter of the deceased.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28 2014

Prime Minister joins Dharm Shala residents for Christmas lunch THE Dharm Shala, Home of Benevolence for All Races which is the country’s longest existing humanitarian charity, on December 25 held a Christmas lunch at its King Edward Street, Albouystown, location. Prime Minister (PM) Samuel Hinds graced the occasion with his presence.

The ceremony saw recitations of verses from the Holy Bible along with beautiful renditions of songs of worship.

The PM during his brief remarks recalled his many visits to the institution and pointed out that there have been some changes. He also noted that Christmas is a well celebrated occasion, which allows people to reflect on the year gone by and their lives.

Remembering some of the great souls that were once a part of the institution but have now passed on, the

PM urged the gathering to make the most of the time they have.

He then reflected on the celebration of Christmas in the golden days when the country wasn’t in such a good position and it was difficult to bake cakes because butter was rarely available.

He said it was a pleasure to be a part of the ceremony and share in the spirit of Christmas. He then extended warm wishes on behalf of his family and self, as well as the Government to the gathering.

He also extended best wishes to the Ramsaroop family and commended them for the wonderful job they have been doing.

One resident expressed gratitude on behalf of herself and other inmates to the Government and the facility for their undertaking and support throughout the year.

The Dharm Shala which this year celebrated its 93rd

anniversary, is a charity which was founded in 1921 by the late Pandit Ramsaroop Maraj, whose heart was moved by the plight of society, and gave up his trade as a jeweller and devoted his life to helping the needy. He was born on November 3, 1889 at Friendship, Wakenaam, in the Essequibo River.

His life’s work was conducted through the Hindu Religious Society, which was also founded by him, and which in turn set up and managed the Dharm Shala.

His main focus was to have the organisation emphasise housing the poor and providing religious, medical and educational facilities for them.

However, due to the unavailability of buildings and finances, the Dharm Shala commenced with a soup kitchen.

The institution was officially declared open in 1929 and in 1941, the Dharm Shala

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds serves an elderly woman lunch at the Dharam Shala

extended its service to Berbice, with a building of similar capacity to its Georgetown counterpart, a Hindu temple and a chapel.

In October 1950 at the

age of 60 after the Pandit had developed health-related complications, his work was continued by his son, Harry Saran Ramsaroop, who also dedicated his life to serving

the less fortunate.

The institution continues to grow, with 11 different buildings across the country housing the less fortunate. (GINA)

Seven left homeless in Alberttown fire – reportedly caused by child playing with matches

The Sixth Street Alberttown house which went up in flames yesterday (Photo by News Source)

By Ravin Singh THE quiet afternoon a t m o s p h e re o f S i x t h Street, Alberttown, Georgetown was suddenly transformed into

chaos in the onslaught of a fire that completely gutted a house at Lot 76, Sixth Street Alberttown, leaving homeless 91-year-old Enid Duesbury and one of her

sons, 54-year-old Edwin Oudkerk, his spouse and her four children, w h o a re a l l b e t w e e n the ages of three and 10 years.

Oudkerk said he was

at the dentist at about minutes to four when he received a call informing that his house was on fire. Upon arriving home, he said he saw his house well alit and

subsequently learnt that one of his sons had been playing with matches.

“I get di call about an hour/hour-and-a-half ago and I ride and come down here, and duh is wuh I come to!” the heavily dispirited man said, adding: “Everything for me gone up in de air!”

Oudkerk said he later learnt that the children were in one room with their mother, but his four-year-old son slipped into the other room and lit a match which landed on a mattress, resulting in the fire consuming the entire house.

“I hear that the mother and these lil children been in one bedroom and one a de lil boy slip out and go in de other bedroom, and like he light a match and it get ketch on the mattress,” Oudkirk told reporters.

He stressed that the family does not encourage the children to play with matches, and he is of the belief that, after cooking today, he acci-

dently left the matches on the dresser, which could have been easily accessed by the children.

“I cook today and I don’t know if I accidently left the matches on the dresser and the little guy go and pick up the matches and play with the matches,” Oudkerk said.

Reports reaching this publication are that neighbours, upon being alerted to the fire, assisted the aged woman and the children to exit the house, because at the time of the fire they were still in the house.

The Guyana Fire Service reportedly responded to the call when the h o u s e h a d b e e n c o mpletely destroyed, but w as h o w e v er, ab le to prevent the fire from spreading to neighbouring houses.

The elderly Enid Duesbury, who is also sightless, and her son’s spouse were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital for medical treatment.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28, 2014

2014: A challenging but exciting year for Local Gov’t sector A GINA Feature

THE Local Government Ministry continued to effectively carry out its mandate in 2014 with continued emphasis on the implementation of policies and development programmes, in accordance with the provision of good services to the Guyanese people.

Allocations To support its mandate, $24B was proposed and approved for the country’s ten Administrative Regions. Of this $1.765B was allocated to Region One, $2.638B-Region Two, $3.26B-Region Three, $3.547B-Region Four, $1.982B-Region Five, $4.48B-Region Six, $ 1 .6 2 0 - Re g i o n S e v e n , $944.77M-Region Eight, $1.461B-Region Nine and $2.225B-Region 10.

The sum of $26.9B was also allocated to fund the current and capital estimates of the ten Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs), an increase over the 2013 allocation.

Infrastructure These allocations catered for various developmental projects in the areas of health, education, agriculture, finance and administration along with public works projects in the 10 regions, several of which were completed and commissioned during the year.

This saw the refurbishing of schools to improve the quality of education in various regions, along with emphasis on the health care, agriculture and other key areas that are recognised as necessary for the people.

Regional Health Services The Local Government Ministry in collaboration

with the Ministry of Health had been engaged in several meetings aimed at enabling the system and those involved to become more responsive to the regions’ health needs.

Regional Health Education work shop Emphasis has been placed on the movement of health care providers along with pharmaceuticals as it relates to malaria, dengue and infections in Amerindian villages.

NDCs and Municipalities The capital subvention to NDCs and municipalities increased by $77M, from $282M in 2013 to $350M in 2014, thus, providing avenues for more services in the regions, primarily in the areas of infrastructure, sanitation and environment.

In 2014, most of the resources were used for drainage works, road and bridge maintenance, and for solid waste management among others.

Further, five mini excavators have been procured under the ‘Clean-up my country’ initiative which will be used primarily in NDCs, 45 tractors and trailers for the transportation of solid waste along with 6,000 bins which will be distributed to the neediest areas. A number of brush cutters were also bought.

Collaborative efforts The India Brazil South Africa Cooperation (IBSA) provided funding for three contracts that focused on the execution of additional projects under the Guyana

A training workshop hosted by the Local Government Ministry

Solid Waste Management Improvement Project.

These one-year projects commenced in April, with the IBSA providing financing to the tune of US $1.9M while the Government of Guyana contributed US $475,000. The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Local Government with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Work was carried out on the tarmac at Annandale, East Coast Demerara at the cost of $14.4M; a sanitary block at Annandale was built at the cost of $2.2M and the New Amsterdam Market was extended at the cost of $3.1M. Also the Grove/Diamond market tarmac was fenced and two garbage disposal trucks and 30, 1100M bins along with two excavators were procured.

Under the Caribbean Local Economic Development (CARILED) several projects were completed including the Canals’ Polder green initiative, and Tapakuma Women’s Agricultural Diversification project among many others.

In addition, 29 persons were also trained in local economic development under this project. Emphasis was placed on women in business and accessing micro financing.

The green house at Canals Poulder is one such initiative.

The Youth Empowerment, Inclusion and Reconciliation Project (YEIRP), executed by the Local Government Ministry is funded by the UNDP. This project addresses challenges of inadequate youth participation in governance, and the persistent social challenges which deprive youths of fulfillment of their rights.

U n d er th is p r o jec t,

Participants at an environmental health workshop hosted by the Local Government Ministry in collaboration with the Health Ministry commuters from Supenaam for the clean-up of George- on the creation of new marbenefited from the training town. This project which ket space to avoid illegal and they have thus far sub- began in August is almost vending and the removal of mitted a project proposal completed. It focused on roadside vending. In this refor a waiting area in the Le Repentir Cemetery, the gard several market tarmacs region. main drainage canals and were constructed and some Further, several ICT communities within the refurbished, including Buxhubs were constructed in wards of Georgetown. ton and Mabaruma market various communities under This undertaking by tarmacs. this project. Other areas Government is as a reThe Anna Regina Marof focus include the reha- sult of the mismanagement ket, benefited from infrabilitation of the children’s by the incumbent mayor structural work valued at $ ward at the West Demer- and City Council. Thus far 4.1 M through funding from ara Regional Hospital, and $498.9M has been spent on the IBSA. Rehabilitation the Literacy enhancement the cleaning of 28 commu- work was also done on the projects. nities, and an additional 24 Annandale market along

on which works are still on- with the extension of the Capacity building going, and another 8 which New Amsterdam Market During the course of were recently identified. under this project. the year, the Ministry con- This include the desilting Also under the cleanducted a series of institu- of several canals, repairs up campaign rehabilitation tional strengthening and to the Ruimveldt sluice, work was done on severcapacity building training update and replacement al markets including La workshops. These educa- of lights at the Bourda, Penitence, Stabroek, and tional activities sought to Stabroek and La Penitence Bourda. strengthen the work force markets, the reconstruction

of the Ministry and all of its of a portion of the pave 2015 plans connecting agencies. ment and a sanitary block The Ministry hopes A series of Monitoring at La Penitence market to continue its success and Evaluation workshops among many others. story of 2014 in the were held to enhance the Further as it relates to new year. Solid waste skills of the persons work- the regional aspect, work is management will coning in this line of work still ongoing and 130 skip tinue to be a key focus while Regional Health Offi- metal bins and 44,500 metal in the upcoming year cers were exposed to train- barrels have been procured as the Ministry plans ing in environmental health. for distribution countrywide to work along with its

to ensure effective waste regional offices to tackClean up my disposal. le issues such as noise country initiative

and dust nuisance along The sum of $1B was Markets with illegal building allocated in the National The Ministry has been on reserves and illegal Budget for the ‘Clean up placing a lot of emphasis vending. my country’ initiative, of which $500M was allocated

A cleaned Le Repentir Cemetery

Cleaning ongoing on a city canal

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28 2014

In keeping with its corporate social responsibility…

COPA Airlines makes Christmas donation to Red Cross

By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally

COPA Airlines Guyana ticketing office staff last Tuesday donated food, clothing and books to the Guyana Red Cross Society as part of their contribution for the festive season.

Nadine Oudkerk, Country Sales Manager, said at the simple handing- over ceremony: “In this season of giving, Copa Airlines is very grateful for the opportunity to add to the valiant efforts of the Guyana Red Cross Society and we hope that our small contribution can alleviate the needs of the less fortunate.”

She expressed the hope that the donation will bring the joy of the Christmas season to the less fortunate through the hard work and support of the many kind-hearted persons who work or volunteer at the Red Cross. “The social responsibility commitments are an

integral part of our company values and we will continue to add to the positive impact of such organisations in Guyana,” she emphasised.

“On behalf of the Copa Airlines team, I take this opportunity to wish our staff, partners and friends a Merry Christmas and a new year that brings all the success and happiness that is wished for,” Oudkerk said; and she noted also that in the new year the airline is expected to continue in the same vein and will be looking for other associations and areas in which it can make contributions.

Copa Airlines has established itself and believes that all companies must contribute to the communities they serve. In his statement on corporate social responsibility, Copa’s CEO Pedro Heilbron explained that Copa Airlines corporate social responsibility is an integral part of our effort to

AG hosts Christmas party for children, elderly

Attorney General Anil Nandlall reaches out to a senior citizen at a party at Annandale, East Coast Demerara

The Copa team hands over the donation to the Red Cross

achieve our corporate vision of being the leading airline in Latin American aviation.

Sustainable development is not only the responsibility of governments and non-governmental organizations, it is everyone’s task.

For this reason, we strive to be responsible in all aspects of our business, channelling our efforts towards our pil-

lars of youth, education, and the environment.”

The initiative which was led by the staff of the airline is in keeping with the company’s values of giving back to the society in some manner. The donation is expected to help the Red Cross to continue supporting the less fortunate.

AT T O R N E Y G e n e r al (AG) and Minister of Justice, Anil Nandlall, in keeping with the tradition of countrywide Christmas parties, on Tuesday hosted a party for over 250 persons at Annandale,East Coast Demerara.

It saw the attendance of persons from Annandale, Buxton and Lusignan. Of the lot, 79 were elderly persons and 171 were children.

The minister underscored the importance of the elderly who were in-

tegral to the development of the country. He also addressed the children, citing the importance the young generation has to play in the further development of the country.

Those gathered were entertained with Christmas music, puppet skits and balloon tricks. Food and sweets were shared to everyone and subsequently the children were given gifts, much to their enjoyment, while the elders were given hampers.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28, 2014

Four Christmas babies delivere at G.P.H.C

23-year-old Olivia Brathwaite, gave birth to her second child, a baby boy at 00:05 hours

The youngest Christmas baby mother is 15-year-old Lilaitie Isree from Strathspey who gave birth to a baby girl at 01:40 hours.

Shivon Watson, 31-year- old mother, gave bir

19-year-old Marine Persaud from Golden Grove g (Sonell Nelson photos)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28, 2014

s ed

Bourda Cemetery clean-up to be completed today UNDER the Georgetown aspect of the Clean-Up My Country Programme, allocation was made for the Clean-up of Bourda Cemetery.

A press release stated that during a meeting held by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, (MLGRD)Norman Whittaker and representatives of the Georgetown Municipality, including Ms. Carol Sooba, Town Clerk (Ag), on November 28, 2014, the cleanup of Bourda Cemetery (which the Council is directly responsible for) was raised. During that discussion, Whittaker extended further assistance to the Council by making provision for the cleanup of the cemetery under the Georgetown aspect of the Clean-Up My Country Programme.

Subsequently, the Guyana Prison Service was contracted to undertake the de-bushing exercise of the Cemetery. A group of 15

inmates was provided with tools and safety implements to commence the de-bushing exercise on Sunday December 14, 2014.

The cemetery under the watch of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council had become an illegal dumpsite in Georgetown’s busiest shopping area. Hence, in light of the resources which were injected in to the clean-up of the Bourda Cemetery, the LGRD Ministry is calling on the Municipality to install a gate at the Regent Street entrance to help deter persons from dumping garbage in the Cemetery.

Only recently the inmates detected bees in one of the tombs and the bee-keeper was called in for assistance. Hence, the workers resumed cleaning up the Cemetery yesterday and anticipate completing the project today

rth to a baby girl, her 7th child at 00:55 hours

gave birth to a bouncing baby girl at 03:20 hours

A section of the Bourda Cemetery after it had been cleaned

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28, 2014

Chronicle Weekend Roundup with Telesha Ramnarine December 22-25, 2014 Monday 22

Former world-rated boxer arrested for non-payment of ‘child support’ FORMER world title boxing contender Howard Eastman was arrested and taken to court for owing $276,000 in affiliation fees (Child Support). The money is owed for the maintenance of a child birthed to Ms Yuless

Grosvenor, who shared a common- law relationship with the once internationally recognised boxer. Eastman appeared in the New Amsterdam Magistrates Court before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, after he was arrested for not paying the weekly sums of $3,000 as agreed. In court, Eastman told the magistrate that he had no money to pay. However, Grosvenor, who was also present in court, said she had $50,000 to pay for him. She later disclosed that the two had since reconciled and had a second son.

Eastman, who had not paid the affiliation fees for 92 weeks, is expected to return to the Reliance Magistrates Court on January 14.

359 more trained teachers join education system TEACHER training is a major area of focus for the Education Ministry (MoE), and the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) yearly turns out large numbers of graduates. At its 80th graduation ceremony held at the National Cultural Centre, 359 more persons were certified as trained teachers. The ceremony, held under the theme “21st Century Pedagogical Transformers”, saw the graduates gaining certification in three categories: the Associate Degree in Education, the Trained Teacher’s Certificate, and the Teacher Upgrading Programme.

Paradise pump up and running –to be commissioned in early 2015 THE Paradise pump is one of the new pumps that the Ministry of Agriculture added to boost drainage capacity in 2014.

It has a pump capacity of 200 cuft/sec, and is of benefit to 4,500 acres of land, both residential and agricultural. Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy explained that though completed the pump has not yet been commissioned. He said that thus far, the ministry has only had one occasion to use the pump, and that was a few weeks ago, when the country experienced about two to three days of heavy rains.

Tuesday 23

Former magistrate slams her car into parked pick-up FORMER magistrate, Hazel Octave Hamilton slammed the Toyota Aventis she was driving into a parked Hilux openback pick-up on the Good Hope Public Road. Hamilton hit the vehicle that was parked on the shoulder of the road opposite a bar as she was heading east along the carriageway.

Asked if she was under the influence, one police officer said that he could not confirm this. The former magistrate’s badly damaged car was being placed on a tow truck even as the pick-up truck which belonged to a popular city businessman remained on the scene, as the businessman was entertaining acquaintances at the bar across the road.

24-hour electricity will transform lives of Leguan, Wakenaam residents THE island communities of Leguan and Wakenaam, in the Essequibo River, are now experiencing a 24-hour power supply thanks to the upgrades done by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Company. The historic transition was formally acknowledged when President Donald Ramotar declared operational the rehabilitated power station serving the islands.

“Now we expect to hear that the children of Leguan and Wakenaam are challenging the rest of the country in producing top students as well, because we are now investing in you.

Indirectly, it might be said, but you will be having 24 hours electricity to study,” Ramotar said. He also urged that students look less at soap operas and turn to the Learning Channel.

No evidence to proceed with charges against Attorney General – DPP THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack recommended that no charges be filed against the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, in the See Page 17 controversial private conversation

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28, 2014

Chronicle Weekend Roundup with Telesha Ramnarine December 22-25, 2014 between him and a senior Kaieteur News reporter. The 19-minuute recording of the conversation on October 25 last, between the Attorney General the senior Kaieteur News reporter, Leonard Gildharie, a former schoolmate of the Attorney General, was released days after.

The release was done by publisher of the Kaieteur News, Mohan Lall, also known as Glenn Lall. He subsequently made a report to the Deputy Police Commissioner, Mr. Balram Persaud, premised on the contention that the contents of the recording indicate that his life, the lives of his family and staff members, were under threat.

From Page 16

Boat captain missing in Essequibo River mishap THE captain of a boat powered by two outboard engines is feared missing after the vessel capsized in the Essequibo River.

The missing man’s name has been given as Patrick Reynolds, 65, of Big Hope Essequibo. According to the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), six other persons who were in the ill-fated boat besides Reynolds when it went down were subsequently rescued and taken safely to shore by a passing vessel.

They were all reportedly travelling from Itaballi to Teperu, on the Essequibo River, when the incident occurred. Both MARAD and the Bartica Police are investigating the incident, and trying to locate another vessel which allegedly caused the vessel to capsize.

Charge against Lloyd Singh dismissed

copped the Best Batsman award even as 17-year-old Levroy Miggins was voted Best Bowler-of-the-Year for the club, whose president Troy Khan delivered the feature address and said he was happy to see joy on the faces of the players. Sheldon Alexander picked up the All-rounder-of-the-Year award, A NEW beer has taken our entertainment fraternity by storm wicketkeeper batsman Adrian Johnson was voted Emerging for 2014 and left tons of fans hooked on its ‘Golden Magical Player-of-the-Year, with all-rounder Travis Mohammed colExperience.’ And this was made possible by Southland Interna- lecting the Teen Player-of-the-Year award. tional Inc., who brought the very smooth and satisfying beverage to the local shores. With a superb launch earlier this year at the 704 Sports Bar and Lounge (Lamaha Street, Georgetown), the Carlsberg fever was unleashed. Then soon on the heels of this mega event, came their official Launch Party which FOUR persons have been confirmed dead in two separate featured the International Chutney Star, ‘KI’ out of Trinidad. accidents in Berbice. One of the accidents occurred around

CARLSBERG Beer/Southland International says… ‘Happy Holidays’ after a ‘Golden Fiesta’

Four dead in two separate accidents

Thursday 25

Another Bosai employee crushed to death THE family of Bosai Bauxite Company employee Bertram Pollard of Wismar Housing Scheme, Linden is now in mourning after the apprentice was crushed by a heavy duty truck.

This newspaper understands that the incident occurred on the morning of Christmas Eve and is the second death to happen on the Chinese run company’s compound, dating three weeks back when another employee was found murdered. Bertram’s suffered similar faith like the Bosai workers who were crushed last year when a 767 truck ran over their pick in a mining site.

Rajkumar is Meten-Meer-Zorg CC Cricketer-of-the-Year

MAGISTRATE Fay Mc Gusty has dismissed a charge made out against Lloyd Singh, CEO of the International Pharmaceutical VINOD RAJKUMAR was named the Meten-Meer-Zorg Agency (IPA) at Camp Street, Georgetown, wherein he was acCricket Club’s Cricketer-of-the-Year, when the club held its cused of breaching the Labour Ordinance by not paying the proper wage to an employee. Singh had been charged with breaching the 2014 Presentation Ceremony and Dinner at its West Coast Labour Act by having failed to pay to Anthony Hazel the sum of Demerara based pavilion. On the same night, Seymour Evans $120,000, being wage or salary owed to him on a monthly basis.

Wednesday 24

JAGS Aviation turns things up a notch –adds US$4M ‘Skytruck’ to growing fleet JAGS Aviation, a member of the BK Group of Companies, took possession of a new PZL M28 Skytruck cargo and passenger aircraft, which has been described as “a game-changer” for the local domestic aviation sector. The twin-engined M28 Skytruck, acquired at a cost of US $4M, touched down at Ogle International at 12.53 hours to a traditional water salute by the Guyana Fire Service. The arrival of the M28 Skytruck now makes it the largest aircraft operating out of the Ogle International Airport, and the second aircraft acquired by JAGS Aviation for commercial operations in the domestic aviation sector in recent months. JAGS Aviation, a subsidiary of BK International Group of Companies, was launched as an airline in August last when it received its first aircraft, a brand new Cessna Grand Caravan 208B EX.

Guyana, Brazil working on developing hydro-power plants here COOPERATION continues to be strengthened between Guyana and Brazil as consultations were recently held with the private sector and residents in the Upper Mazaruni on the development of hydro-power plants in the Upper and Middle Mazaruni areas. This is according to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett. “We are at a stage of feasibility studies, and what we are currently working on is a Treaty with Brazil on the sale of energy,” she said. Brazil will be submitting a draft treaty shortly, which the Ministry will be looking at with the prime minister and also other expertise, because this is the first time Guyana will take part in such a project as well.

21:00 hours on Tuesday on the No. 6 Public Road, West Coast Berbice, which resulted in the death of Deva ‘Pash’ Jeinarine, 35, of Bath, WCB; and Rakesh Sukdeo, 33, of Bush Lot, WCB. Investigations have revealed that Jeinarine was driving motor car PMM 8763 along the roadway allegedly at a fast rate of speed, when he lost control of the vehicle and collided with a lamp pole.

Jeinarine, and Rakesh Sukdeo who was a passenger in the car, received injuries and were taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival.

Chaitram Mangru, 27, of Bush Lot Village, WCB, who went to render assistance to the injured persons, came into contact with a live electrical wire and was electrocuted. Meanwhile, the police are investigating a fatal accident that occurred the same Tuesday on the No. 29 Public Road, WCB, which resulted in the death of Yonette Branche, 16, of Mc Kenzie Street, Rosignol, West Bank Berbice (WBB). Investigations have revealed that the driver of motor car, PLL 4691, was proceeding along the roadway, allegedly at a fast rate of speed, when he lost control of the vehicle and collided with a parked motor canter. Yonette Branche, who was in the motor car received injuries and was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The driver is in police custody assisting with the investigation.

ACIC receives donation of multi-media projector -family social evenings at Complex to be greatly enhanced

THE Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) has received a much needed multi-media projector through the benevolence of a former member of the Complex, now Imam of one of the largest mosques of people of West Indian origin in New York, Masjid Al Abdin, Shaikh Safraz Bacchus and his wife, Sister Nazelene Bacchus.

The donation came following a request made

by ACIC to Shaikh Safraz a short while ago, and the Shaikh delivered on his promise.

The projector will be used mainly for the social evenings at the Complex, where persons would be engaged in games, recreational and other social activities. The Complex

The Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) has already purchased a large all-weather projector screen to be used with the donation.

The social evenings are designed to move young people off the streets and other areas which can encourage harmful behaviours; and, as usual, attendance at

the social evenings is open to both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Shaikh Safraz expressed pleasure on behalf of his wife and on his own behalf at being able to continue to support ACIC as it continues to lead the Muslim commu-

nity in Guyana and to be recognised all over the world for its superb presentation of Islam as a religion of peace and tolerance.

President General of ACIC, Hakeem Khan, thanked Shaikh and Sister Nazalene for their response to the request for donation, and said the donation would go a long way towards enhancing activities at ACIC. Shaikh Safraz has been recipient of the prestigious National Islamic Award in 2012.

ACIC’s facilities have always been open to attendance from both Muslims and non-Muslims, and it shares a good relationship with all Islamic organisations in Guyana as well as all other religious groups.

(Michel Outridge)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28, 2014

Slingerz FC defeat ...

From back page

Hilliman, who was already considered a hero for his classic header to equalise the scores, after Millington’s regulation time goal, stepped up for his spot kick and missed the opportunity to level, as his right-footed effort slammed into the zinc fence, missing the goal by miles. explicitly The Den Amstel supporters voiced their frustration overtly and to rub salt in their wounds, Joshua Browne made it 3-1 in favour of Slingerz with

his spot kick.

Delon Lanferman was summoned by coach O’Neal Heywood to help claw them back into the game, but, the player who had brought much joy to the Den Amstel supporters became he one to pierce their hearts as his kick ended in similar fashion as Hilliman’s.

In what turned out to be the million-dollar kick, Millington magically slipped the ball past the Den Amstel custodian, who this time, picked the right side but was slow to the task as Slingerz and their sprinkle of fans celebrated in a fashion befitting champions.

Den Amstel received a loud reception upon their introduction while Slingerz FC were greeted with a mixture of boos and applause, a clearing indication of who the crowd favoured prior to the start of the contest.

However, Millington showed why on any given night he can be the most dangerous player on the field when he latched onto a poor clearance by the Den Amstel custodian and tucked the ball into the left corner, silencing the biased crowd just three minutes into the finale.

Den Amstel came close when Lanferman’s thunderous free kick from approximately 30 yards sailed just inches from the crossbar, 15 minutes after Millington’s go-ahead goal.

Hilliman had earlier threatened the goal with a header that also just went wide of the goal but in the 28th minute he scored what could be the goal of the tournament; racing onto a ball taken from a corner kick and brought the crowd storming onto the pitch when he connected with a beautiful header that stunned the Slingerz goalkeeper who froze on his line when the ball flew into the back of the net.

Both teams failed to impress thereafter with the only ‘almost goal’ chance coming from Slingerz skipper (Tichard Joseph) whose shot slammed onto the crossbar in the second half of extra time.

Meanwhile, in the third place play-off, Marvin Frank (18th minute) and Lloyd Prince (43rd and 72nd minute) helped Pouderoyen to a 3-1 defeat of Uitvlugt to go home with the $300 000 prize.

Keon Duke had scored the opening goal of the clash between the two for Uitvlugt but that was not enough and they settled for $200 000.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28, 2014

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Smith belts big ton as tail frustrates India

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Captain Steven Smith took a sharp catch to snare India’s first wicket after scoring a big century to fire Australia to a mammoth first-innings total of 530 on day two of the third Test in Melbourne yesterday.

Standing in for the injured Michael Clarke, Smith scored a career-high 192 to anchor a stunning tail-end assault on India’s bowlers, who leaked 314 runs for the final five wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“Our tail have come out and taken the bowlers on,” Smith told reporters after pacemen Mitchell Johnson (28) and Ryan Harris (74) piled on the runs.

“Mitch Johnson again today looked good and Ryan Harris came out and batted beautifully.

“I don’t think they (India) had an answer for the way they were playing. It’s great for us that the tail can come out and do that and be

really aggressive.”

Returning to the field after tea, Smith ended a 55run opening partnership by diving low at second slip to catch an edge from Shikhar Dhawan (28) off the bowling of Ryan Harris.

Opener Murali Vijay (55 not out) and number three batsman Cheteshwar Pujara (25 not out) pushed India to 108-1 at stumps, still 422 runs adrift of the hosts’ total.

The tourists were lucky not to be two wickets down, however, with wicketkeeper Brad Haddin spilling an edge from Pujara when the batsman was on 12.

Vijay’s unbeaten halfcentury, his fourth knock over 50 in the series, will give India some hope of reeling in the total on the benign drop-in wicket.

“They got a (few) too many runs for our liking,” said spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who finished with three wickets but conceded 134 runs.

“But if you look at the overall game, the score is pretty par for this wicket ...

Australia captain Steven Smith gets a round of applause as he walks off the MCG after being dismissed for 192.

It seems slow and pretty flat as well.”

Smith’s third century from three Tests, however, has all but sealed the fourmatch series for Australia, who lead 2-0.

The 25-year-old smashed 15 boundaries and two sixes to all corners of the sun-bathed ground,

before falling short of a maiden double-century when attempting an audacious ramp shot off paceman Umesh Yadav.

Smith’s wicket brought the innings to a close and he walked off at tea to a standing ovation from the crowd of over 51 000.

Smith and Haddin had

Sri Lanka openers recover after following-on … Ball dominates, as 13 wickets fall on second day

Pacer Trent Boult slipped and fell during his follow-through on the second day of the first Test. However he finished with figures of three for 25 in Sri Lanka’s first innings.

(REUTERS) Sri Lanka openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva safely guided their side to 84 without loss in their second innings at the close of the second day’s play in the first Test against New Zealand yesterday, after being forced to followon.

Karunaratne was on 49, while Silva was 33 not out at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, still 219 runs from making

New Zealand bat again.

The visitors had capitulated for 138 in their first innings as New Zealand’s pace attack tore through their lineup by pitching the ball up and allowing it to swing.

Opening bowler Trent Boult had reduced the visitors to 15 for three in the morning session before Tim Southee removed Lahiru Thirimanne and Niroshan Dickwella in the same over to send them tumbling to 60 for five after

lunch.

“Those are the spells and conditions you dream about,” Boult told RadioSport of his figures of 3-11 in seven overs before lunch. “It came out pretty nicely. There was a bit of swing and it seamed around a bit as well.”

Neil Wagner then ran through the tail with three wickets, with Jimmy Neesham taking the other two as the hosts dismissed Sri Lanka just after the umpires had delayed the tea break and extended the afternoon session by 30 minutes.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum immediately enforced the follow-on and Boult said, given the conditions and match situation, there had been little discussion about batting again.

“I think with the overhead conditions, the greenness of the wickets and with the ball swinging around I thought it

was the best decision,” Boult added.

“We were right to do it, but there was just some good batting on Sri Lanka’s behalf.

They aimed to get through that first spell and found if they did that it turned into a good batting wicket.”

While Karunaratne and Silva provided a solid foundation to Sri Lanka’s second innings, the match was very much in New Zealand’s favour with the pitch still offering assistance to the bowlers, Boult added.

“We’re in a brilliant position,” he said.

“The wicket is lush. There is still a lot of grass cover (and) ... some are seaming and some are not. Some are swinging and some are not.

“So if you can be in that area and ask those questions then the ones that do a little bit more than the others then you’ll be in the game.”

Scoreboard AUSTRALIA 1st innings (o/n 259-5) C. Rogers c Dhoni b Shami 57 D. Warner c Dhawan b U. Yadav 0 S. Watson lbw b Ashwin 52 S. Smith b U. Yadav 192 S. Marsh c Dhoni b Shami 32 J. Burns c Dhoni b U. Yadav 13 B. Haddin c Dhoni b Shami 55 M.Johnsonstp.DhonibAshwin 28 R. Harris lbw b Ashwin 74 N. Lyon b Shami 11 J. Hazlewood not out 0 Extras: (b-1, lb-9, nb-5, w-1) 16 Total: (all out, 142.3 overs) 530 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-115, 3-115, 4-184, 5-216, 6-326, 7-376, 8-482, 9-530.

Bowling: I. Sharma 32-7-104-0 (nb-5), U. Yadav 32.3-3-130-3, M. Shami 29-4-138-4 (w-1), R. Ashwin 44-9-134-3, M. Vijay 5-0-14-0.

INDIA 1st innings M. Vijay not out 55 S. Dhawan c Smith b Harris 28 C. Pujara not out 25 Extras: 0 Total: (for 1 wickets, 37 overs) 108 Fall of wickets: 1-55.

Bowling: M. Johnson 9-3-24-0, R. Harris 7-3-19-1, J. Hazlewood 9-419-0, S. Watson 4-0-14-0, N. Lyon 8-0-32-0.

resumed in the morning with Australia still vulnerable on 259-5 but plundered 67 runs before the wicketkeeper dismissed himself with a botched leave that bottomedged through to India captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Mitchell Johnson bolted to 28 before he was stumped

trying to slog Ashwin. Bulky paceman Ryan Harris joined in the run feast, belting a career-high 74, his third Test half-century.

He hoisted a big six to reach his final score and was out next ball, trapped lbw by Ashwin. By then, Australia were 482-8 and in complete command.

Scoreboard NEW ZEALAND 1st innings (o/n: 429-7) T. Latham c Kaushal b Eranga 27 H. Rutherford b Lakmal 18 K. Williamson b Prasad 54 R. Taylor run-out (K. Silva) 7 B. McCullum c Karunaratne b Kaushal 195 J. Neesham c Sangakkara b Mathews 85 B. Watling lbw b Mathews 26 M. Craig not out 12 T. Southee c Thirimanne b Mathews 0 N. Wagner c Kaushal b Lakmal 4 T. Boult c P. Jayawardene b Lakmal 0 Extras: (lb-4, nb-7, w-2) 13 Total: (all out, 85.5 overs) 441 Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-60, 3-88, 4-214, 5-367, 6-420, 7-429, 8-431, 9-440.

Bowling: S. Lakmal 19.5-3-90-3 (nb-2), S. Eranga 18-1-82-1, A. Mathews 12-2-39-3, D. Prasad 12-2-62-1 (w-2), T. Kaushal 22-0-159-1 (nb-5), L. Thirimanne 2-0-5-0.

SRI LANKA 1st innings D. Karunaratne lbw b Boult 0 K. Silva lbw b Boult 4 K. Sangakkara c Southee b Boult 6

L.ThirimannecCraigbSouthee 24 A.MathewscLathambWagner 50 N. Dickwella c B. McCullum b Southee 2 P. Jayawardene c Williamson b Wagner 10 D. Prasad c B. McCullum b Neesham 18 T. Kaushal c Williamson b Wagner 6 S. Eranga not out 10 S. Lakmal c B. McCullum b Neesham 2 Extras: (lb-3, nb-1, w-2) 6 Total: (all out, 42.4 overs) 138 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-8, 3-15, 4-58, 5-60, 6-88, 7-105, 8-118, 9-128.

Bowling: T. Boult 11-4-25-3 (w-1), T. Southee 12-4-17-2, J. Neesham 6.4-1-28-2 (w-1), N. Wagner 11-0-60-3 (nb-1), M. Craig 2-0-5-0.

SRI LANKA 2nd innings D. Karunaratne not out 49 K. Silva not out 33 Extras: (lb-1, nb-1) 2 Total: (for no loss, 35 overs) 84 Fall of wickets: 0 Bowling: T. Boult 7-2-16-0, T. Southee 7-2-11-0, N. Wagner 11-1-37-0 (nb-1), M. Craig 7-212-0, J. Neesham 2-1- 4-0, B. McCullum 1-0-3-0.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28, 2014

UDFA/GT Beer Supa 16 Semi-finals on tonight at MSC ground … Topp XX versus HI Stars, Eagles face winners

By Joe Chapman TONIGHT is semifinals night in this second edition of the Upper Demerara Football Association/GT Beer Supa 16 Christmas knockout championship where the line-ups read: At 19:00hrs defending champions Winners Connection face Eagles United and at 21:00hrs Bakewell Topp XX meet Hi Stars at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

The stage is set for two ripping final four match-ups since on Boxing Night the semifinalists were decided with Winners Connection taking the field for the first time after given the bye, surviving where others with that good fortune failed. They registered a 3-1 win over Botofago in one game and the other brought victory for Eagles United over Silver Shattas by a 1-0 score-line.

Interestingly, only Winners Connection were able to go past their opponents at this stage as they came from a goal down after Botofago had secured the lead in the 49th the minute off the boot of Mark Hope to rebound through striker Rawle Gittens with goals in the

80th and 85th minutes of play and the third from Derrol Dainty one minute before regulation time ended.

In the second game of the night Romain Adams was there to boot home the winner

but never got going.

They joined wild card entrants Bakewell Topp XX like the other qualifiers who had to get past two rounds of play, to beat Net Rockers who took the field for

Romain Adams

Duquan Hercules

in the 41st minute as Eagles shattered the hopes of Silver Shattas who also were playing their first game in this tournament

the first time on Christmas Day. Topp XX won 1-0 while another casualty happened to be last year’s runners-up Milerock who

stumbled in their first game playing their quarterfinal match against Hi Stars who also had to win two times before reaching that stage.

In this evening’s encounters therefore the defending champions hope to reach their second final in as many matches when they face Topp XX, the Upper Demerara’s most celebrated team, in what should be a scorcher as the ‘bread boys’ play another semifinal at this Christmas championship for the first time in over two decades without their former national forward Collie Hercules.

Hercules‘ teenage nephew Clive is among the emerging players for this Topp XX unit but Hi Stars with the lanky striker Tony ‘Spirit’ Adams in fine form will seek to reach their first final at this level.

In the other game, Winners Connection will see the veteran Rawle ‘Boney’ Gittens, who got the brace in their quarterfinal game against Botofago, and Derrol Dainty as their spearhead, while Eagles United’s young Romain Adams who got the lone goal against Silver Shattas will team up with Dellon Charter to bring the Christianburg side victory.

T&T get green light for GCB sends CONCACAF tournament condolences

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago Under-20s will participate in the CONCACAF Championship in Jamaica next month after all, following a commitment by the Ministry of Sport and the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago to fund the squad’s campaign.

According to the Trinidad Express newspaper, team

manager William Wallace held discussions with both entities, and secured a commitment for financial assistance, which will see T&T through the January 9-24 tournament.

Doubt surrounded the squad’s participation earlier this week when Wallace said that government had reneged on a commitment to fund the team.

Further, T&T will also head to Miami in the United

States for a training camp starting New Year’s Day, as they beef up their preparation for the tournament.

The camp will be funded by the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT).

“This camp is a much welcome one for the team. It’s an excellent opportunity for us to be together as a team in a camp environment before our first match in the

tournament,” said head coach Derek King.

T&T won the Caribbean Under-20 title last September, as they qualified for the CONCACAF Championship, which serves as a qualifier for next year’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

They are down to do battle in Group A alongside Aruba, Panama, United States, Guatemala and hosts Jamaica.

NOTABLE DATES `Hurricane’ Hugo Lewis had the first of 18 professional fights on December 27, 1994. 21 years old at the time, Lewis was ahead on points when the four-round fight against Nigel Boston came to an end.

He went on to win the national super featherweight title in 2001 and the WBC CABOFE title three years later. Lewis last fought in 2004 and exited the ring with the impressive record of never being defeated.

Anthony `The Pearl’ Andrews secured his second win over Pascal David on December 27, 1994. Andrews won by TKO in round eight. The fight was the last before he unsuccessfully challenged Argentine Jorge Castro for the WBA middleweight title.

Cruiserweight Wayne `Big Truck’ Braithwaite had three encounters with Trinidadian Ken Sharpe. The first two were held in Guyana and Braithwaite won via points. The third was held in Trinidad on December 27, 1999 and the Guyanese rolled over Sharpe in three rounds.

Braithwaite won the WBC cruiserweight title in October 2002 and made three successful defences.

FOLLOWING the sad news of the sudden death of East Coast Cricket Board first vice-president Samaroo Jailall, the executive members of the Drubahadur-steward Guyana Cricket Board offered condolences to Jailall’s bereaved family.

Below is the full excerpt of that message: “THE president, executive and members of the Guyana Cricket Board wish to extend their solemn regards to the family and friends of Mr Samaroo Jailall at this most unfortunate time of loss. The GCB wishes to record its sincerest thanks and appreciation to Mr Jailall for having served the Demerara Cricket Board and the East Coast Cricket Board in various capacities and he will surely be missed by these entities for his administrative contributions

Samaroo Jailall over the past years.

It is never the right time for any family to suffer the loss of a loved one but more so during this yuletide season, it would be most tragic for the family of Samaroo Jailall. The GCB and its member boards wish to reassure the family of Jai that he will be in our thoughts and prayers throughout the ordeal of their loss.”

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28, 2014

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Stag Super XV1 semifinals showdown at Buxton ground today … Grove Hi Tech tackle NA United; Ann’s Grove match skills with Cougars THE right to clash for the $1.5M first-place prize will be known tonight at the Buxton Community Centre ground when the semifinals of the inaugural Stag Super XV1 knock-out football tournament are contested.

The last four teams of 16 will compete in what is anticipated to be two riveting showdowns.

First up at 18:00hrs, Grove Hi Tech, who needled Buxton United in their feature quarter-final game on Christmas night, will come up against New Amsterdam who turned back the challenge of Monedderlust 5-4 on penalty kicks.

The feature game pits the respective Boxing Night winners Cougars, who upstaged Mahaica Determinators 3-2, against the party spoilers Ann’s Grove, who pulled out all the stops to knockout the mighty Victoria Kings, 5-4 on sudden death penalty kicks.

The respective semifinalists have earned their places as a result of hard work in recording two wins apiece.

Ann’s Grove accounted for Kings and Agricola Red

Triangle (1-0); Cougars defeated Mahaica and Soesdyke Falcons (3-0); Grove Hi Tech got past Buxton United and BV Triumph United (2-0) while New Amsterdam United recorded the largest margin of victory in a single game to date when they hammered Timehri Panthers 10-1 before taking out Monedderlust.

Grove Hi Tech and Ann’s Grove have not conceded any goals in regulation play and extra time play in the case of the latter’s game against the Kings which was decided on penalty kicks.

The respective goalkeepers Rondell Alleyne (Grove) and Travis Allen (Ann’s Grove) have been impressive to date and much will depend on their form if they are to lead their teams to yet another win which will give them the chance to play for the ultimate prize.

Also showing excellent form so far are Cougars and New Amsterdam United.

Their custodians have shone and will be important fixtures in securing wins. Other players to watch out for are Adrian Adams of New Amsterdam who has scored in both games so far and is the

leading scorer with six to his name, Domini Garnett and Sherman Doris of Grove, Roger Crandon of Cougars and Maxton Adams of Ann’s

Victoria who muffed a penalty during the game. It was a mistake that came back to haunt them.

With no goals material-

lead five minutes before the end of the first half through a Quincy Holder goal. Crandon netted the first of his double six minutes after the

Battle in the air between Grove Hi Tech (green) and Buxton United. .

Grove.

Whatever happens this evening, fans are in for an enthralling evening of entertainment at the Buxton Community Centre ground.

Meanwhile, in quarterfinals action on Boxing Night at the Victoria ground, home team Victoria Kings were odds-on favourites to win against the determined Ann’s Grove side who came to the venue with other ideas.

As it turned out, the Kings were in for a rough time as the Ann’s Grove boys matched the top East Coast side play for play. Opportunities came the way of both teams but more so,

ising during regulation and extra time, penalty kicks were required to decide the winner. At the end of the first five kicks, the scores were locked at 4, which meant that sudden death penalty kicks had to be the next step.

Ann’s Grove ensured that they sank their shots but Victoria missed theirs which sent them packing as Ann’s Grove celebrated a hardfought win.

The opening game at that venue saw Roger Crandon net a double which secured a come-from-behind win for Cougars against home team Mahaica Determinators.

Determinators took the

break to nullify the advantage of the Determinators.

Three minutes later, Crandon handed Cougars the lead which they never relinquished.

In the 65th minute, the advantage was further increased with a Shawn Parris goal and despite Azumah Roberts’ 80th-minute effort, Determinators could not hinder the forward trust of the Berbice side. Final score: Cougars 3 Mahaica Determinators 2.

The series of upsets in this inaugural three-association tournament between East Demerara, East Bank and Berbice started on Christmas Night at the Buxton ground when Grove Hi

Tech through a sixth-minute penalty by their captain Sherman Doris (after their main marksman Domini Garnett was brought down in the area) secured a solid win for the East Bank side.

Buxton are no pushovers and tried their utmost to get back into the game but solid defending by Grove kept their dream of winning the competition alive.

New Amsterdam United came with a plan and looked the part in their win over Monedderlust who took the lead in the 24th minute through a Leroy Halley strike. But New Amsterdam fired back immediately from the penalty spot when their inspirational captain Adrian Adams rocked the nets to take his overall tally to six.

Monedderlust never looked their lethal self on the night and could have sealed the deal in the final moments of regulation time but the shot went just wide of the upright.

In the first period of extra time, New Amsterdam could have also taken the lead but their shot also went wide of the mark.

Spot kicks were then taken which saw New Amsterdam win 5-

KMTC BOXING DAY MEET

Score’s Even dominates field to take feature event

By Calvin Roberts DESPITE a 45-minute delay, along with the addition of extra weights, Dennis DeRoop’s steed Score’s Even ruled the track in the feature event for horses classified A1 and Lower at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club’s Boxing Day horse race meeting, held at the Bush Lot, Corentyne track last Friday.

It was the fifth first-place finish from eight starts for Score’s Even, closing the curtain on another year of horseracing that was not short of confusion, as DeRoop seamlessly put it without fear and favour in a post-race interview, “I am fed up of the nonsense prevailing in horseracing.”

He was referring to the several start/stop procedures that occurred before the running of the six furlongs event that saw the prize money reduced from $1M to $700 000, due to the lack of competitors, as only four horses entered, despite the presence of seven

names on the programme.

Nevertheless, jockey Rad Drepaul wasted no time in piloting Score’s Even to a gate-to-pole win, doing so by five lengths over stable mate Run Nana Run, who was piloted by jockey Ajai to the second-place prize of $300 000, with California Strike and Monsoon taking the other two non-paying positions.

The day’s seven-race programme began with Winston Appadoo piloting Royal Intention to victory in the K and Lower five-furlong event over Royal Stallion, It’s My Time and Turn About, followed by Cassie, with Richmond in her saddle, easing to the pole in the G3 and Lower five furlongs race from Send from Above, Top of the Line and Book Rules.

The Right to Rule proved just that in the D3 and Lower six furlongs race, dominating the field to complete a gateto-pole win, despite a strong challenge in the final 200metres from Run Nana Run and Settle in Seattle.

Sunny Silence with Yhap Drepaul

before the penultimate turn to the pole position with Smarty Light following like a shadow, even as Paul Delph tried his best to get his charge Royal Intention in the running for the top-two prize.

However, Sunny Silence and Smarty Light did not let their hard work go to waste and the battle for the top position was decided between the two, with Sunny Silence silencing the crowd in sweltering heat to win by a neck from Smarty Light, with Royal Intention third one length behind.

Silent Night was taken to a gateto-pole win by two lengths in the G3 and Lower handicap seven furlongs race by jockey Richmond over the Jockey Rad Drepaul finds it difficult to contain the excitement that was flowing hardworking Bridal Stone Corner from within, after guiding Score’s Even to another dominating win at the and The Legend and following Score’s Even devastating win, the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club Boxing Day horse race meeting last Friday. day’s activity culminated with Easy on board and Smarty Light, piloted furlong event, running neck and neck to Win riding off with the I and

by Appadoo, give the crowd on hand for the pole.

Lower six furlongs, bringing an end something to cheer about, when they It was Sunny Silence who made its to another fantastic day of horse contested the J3 and Lower five- way from the middle of the field just racing.

26

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28, 2014

Table Tennis Year in Review

GTTA made strides in 2014

THE Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) made lots of strides during the year 2014, organising and coordinating numerous training programmes

However, Johnson’s doubles partner soon became his greatest challenge as he and Corlette battled in the final of the Boys 18 years and under category.

more than 220 participants from 16 categories and approximately 22 schools. Participants came from schools and clubs in Linden, Berbice, from Bartica, on the

and-under competition with Mae’s ‘B’ finishing second and Rama Krishna Primary third.

With their dominance in the two categories Mae’s

of-the-Year Chelsea Edghill went to Shanghai, China where she took part in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Road to Nanjing Training Camp.

their country proud after their determination and skills saw them topple the higherranked Scotland team in the women’s Team competition.

However, with the men’s

Digicel’s Gavin Hope, Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony, GTTA’s president Godfrey Munroe and National table tennis coach Linden Johnson (all in front row, seated) pose with all the school children at the closing ceremony of the Digicel-sponsored tournament. and tournaments during the year and also sending teams overseas for international exposure.

The GTTA’s first programme for the year was the Mashramani tournament where national junior player Elishaba Johnson celebrated his birthday in fine style by playing his way to three titles in the National Sports Commission (NSC)-sponsored Mashramani tournament.

Johnson started his day by teaming up with Stephan Corlette to win the Boys doubles competition, before going on to capture the 15 years and under category in easy fashion by defeating Kyle Edghill 4-0 in their final encounter.

In the semifinals Johnson beat Scott Garraway 3-1, while Corlette beat number one seed Shemar Britton 3-2.

Meanwhile, Chelsea Edghill was in top form, running away with three titles of her own, as she captured the Mixed doubles, the Girls doubles and the Girls 18 and under category, while Nevaeh Clarkston won two titles in the Girls 11 years and under and the Girls 13 years and under categories.

Some of the top performers in the tournament included Chelsea Edghill, Elishaba Johnson, Shemar Britton, Nevaeh Clarkston, Kristie Lopes, Khalil and Kaysan Ninvalle.

The tournament had

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday December 28, 2014) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 26 matches (2) Wavell Hinds/Allan Donald Today’s Quiz: (1)In what year the WI first played a Test match?

What of South Africa?

(2) How many Test wickets leg-spinner DinanathRamnarine took against SA? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara and in West Demerara.

A representative 10-member national table tennis team, comprising some new and emerging potential talented young players went to Suriname to participate in a Hinterland Table Tennis championships and Developmental Engagement involving Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname. The Guyanese team comprised Nigel Bryan, Shemar Britton, Joel Alleyne (senior ‘A’ team), Orin Hickerson, Stefan Corlette, Kevon Corbin (senior ‘B’ team), Elishaba Johnson, Kyle Edghill and Alec Hopkinson (junior team).

The championship which was split into three divisions (senior ‘A’, senior ‘B’ and juniors) saw the locals defeat their Surinamese counterparts in the `A’ division 3-0 and French Guiana ‘A’ 3-1 to win the gold.

In the ‘B’ Teams, Guyana ‘B’ beat Suriname ‘B’ 3-0, and came from behind two down, to beat French Guiana 3-2 to cop the gold medal.

In the juniors’ division, Guyana blanked French Guiana 3-0 and Suriname 3-0 to walk away with the gold medal. During the month of March, the GTTA staged the Business School Mini Cadet, Cadet and Juniors Teams and Singles tournament which attracted approximately 150 students from 15 schools.

Mae’s Primary ‘A’ team won the 11-years-and-under team competition with Mae’s ‘B’ coming second in the category. Mae’s Secondary ‘A’ team then won the 13-years-

School won the overall teams contest with 36 points with Marian Academy finishing second with 14 points after winning the 15-yearsand-under competition. Central High School were third with 11 points.

Some 15 schools participated in the competition, including St Stanislaus College, who finished fourth with nine points, Chase Academy fifth with five points, while Queen’s College, Rama Krishna Primary and The Business School tied for sixth with four points each. East La Penitence Primary held the next position ahead of North Ruimveldt Primary.

A training camp was held during the Easter holidays and attracted 27 players between the ages of four to 18 years old.

The association also staged its annual Independence tournament in conjunction with the National Sports Commission (NSC).

The tournament attracted some of the top players in the nation, including Kaysan Ninvalle, Cieara Sukhu, Niran Bissu, Joshua Khan, Nevaeh Clarkston, Abigail Martin, Khalil Ninvalle, Tyriq Saunders, Jeremey Singh, Selenas Jackman, Aneka Phillips, Brittany Bunbury, Kyle Edghill, Elishaba Johnson, Miguel Wong, Priscilla Greaves, Kristie Lopes, Jamaali Homer, Shemar Britton, Stefan Corlette, Sheldon Atherly, Chelsea Edghill, Akeicia Nedd, Nigel Bryan, Orin Hickerson, Joel Alleyne, Jonathan Sankar and Brandon Belle.

Junior Sportswoman-

She joined Shemar Britton, and Trenace Lowe, who were already in China for the training programme at the Shanghai Sport Training Base. Overseas-based Guyanese Paul David was also in China but at a different training programme in Beijing.

The GTTA held its annual Teach Them Young training camp during the month of July, targeting children 18 years and younger and was aimed at developing and improving the level of table tennis; to help children with the basic skills; to be better prepared for future tournaments; to increase the number of participants involved in table tennis; to create an integrated coaching programme, that incorporates the coach’s education and generally develops players.

The GTTA also sent a female team to the Olympic Festival in Mexico where the Guyanese females qualified for the event during the Caribbean Table Tennis Championships held last year in St. Lucia.

The three females who represented Guyana at the festival were Natalie Cummings, Trenace Lowe and Chelsea Edghill.

During the month of August, the GTTA hosted an International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Level One and Level Two Coaching Certification Programme.

GTTA also sent a team to the Commonwealth Games in Scotland where the Guyanese women’s team of Chelsea Edghill, Trenace Lowe and Natalie Cummings did

side, Christopher Franklin, Paul David, Idi Lewis and Shemar Britton, things were not as bright, and there was mention of the need for some players to hang up their racquets.

The local racquet-wielders outplayed their Dutch and French neighbours to come out on top in the InterGuiana Games championships.

Elishaba Johnson (St Stanislaus College) won the Caribbean Boys Pre Cadet silver medal; Kyle Edghill (Mae’s School) - Caribbean Boys Pre Cadet bronze medal, Priscilla Greaves (Marian Academy) - Caribbean Girls Cadet silver medal, Selenas Jackman (St John College) – Caribbean Girls Mini Cadet silver medal.

Guyana’s foursome, led

by Elishaba Johnson dominated the hosts and their French counterparts on their way to sweeping the gold medals for each category.

Playing in front of the top brass of the NSC at the Anthony Nesty Sport Hall, the local racquet-wielders, Kyle Edghill, Priscilla Greaves, Johnson and the pint-size Selenas Jackman did not disappoint and earned the praises from those in attendance.

The female racquetwielders topped Suriname `A’ 3-0 and gained a similar result against Suriname `B’, before inflicting defeat of the same score line against French Guiana in the ‘gold medal’ game.

The Guyanese boys were also in a no-nonsense mood, toppling Suriname `A’ and `B’ and French Guiana, all by 3-0 margins.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 28, 2014

27

Banks Beer Cup semi-final action on tonight at GFC ... Alpha face Tigers, GDF meet Pele

By Calvin Roberts

FOLLOWING their hardfought semi-final victories last Thursday and Friday, the four semi-finalists for this year’s fourth annual Georgetown Football Association-organised Banks DIH’s Banks Beer Cup were decided and will go into action tonight at the Georgetown Football Club ground.

National champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United will go head-to-head with Western Tigers in one matchup, while giant-killers Guyana Defence Force and the Rawle ‘Overseas’ Jonescoached Pele Football Club will meet in the other, with the winners clashing in the final at the Guyana National Stadium on New Year’s Day for the $3M first-place purse.

On Christmas night’s action, Alpha met and were forced to work hard to overcome a hardworking Georgetown Football Club 3-0, with Dwight Peters (49th), Sheldon Holder

(76th) and Dwain Jacobs (83rd) finding the back of the net for Alpha.

In the second game of the night’s double-header, Pele made three rebounds in a gruelling encounter with Riddim Squad, doing so after losing the services of Okenny Fraser and Konata Mannings who were both issued with marching orders from the referee and later after their opponents equalised, to claim a 3-2 victory.

That contest started with Amos Ramsey of Riddim Squad hitting the last post with Pele custodian Shawn Johnson in no man’s land on the first post, in the fifth minute and following several raids on their opponents’ goal area, it was Omallo Williams of Pele who scored the opening goal of the contest in the 36th minute.

Following a 1-0 lead at halftime, Williams doubled his and Pele’s goals in the 61st minute, when Fraser latched onto a well-weighted pass on the right side deep

Dwight Peters in Riddim Squad’s third and squared the ball to an unmarked Williams who calmly placed same into the back of the net.

The contest became very physical after that goal, resulting in both Fraser and Mannings being given second bookable offences, hence the automatic red cards, with Riddim Squad scoring their first goal in the 69th minute through Sheldon

Dwain Jacobs Hope and 10 minutes later the equaliser off the boot of Lyliton Ramsey who had muffed several goal-scoring opportunities earlier.

But some fantastic footwork from Calvin Shepherd, who picked up the ball in his midfield area and, like Diego Maradona did in the 1986 World Cup encounter, worked his way deep into Riddim Squad’s half with ease, going through

their defence like a hot knife through butter.

And when many felt he would have finished the act, unselfishly, he gave Deon Alfred a gem of a pass. The diminutive striker controlled the ball, turned safely and drilled his shot low to the right of the Riddim Squad custodian to give Pele the go-ahead goal in the 81st minute.

The resulting goal was the final nail in the coffin of Riddim Squad as a nine-man Pele unit played defensive football for the remaining nine minutes and even for the added-on six minutes, to come away with the win.

Last Friday night at the same venue, Western Tigers resisted arrest and later filed a complaint of nonresistance on Police, coming away with a 7-0 win.

Phillip Rowley opened the scoring for the winners as he found the back of the net in the 25th minute, Joshua Britton open his account four minutes later and the lead ballooned to

3-0, as Britton completed his double with a 38th-minute conversion.

Britton wasted little or not time in completing his hat-trick, compliments of a 50th-minute effort to make it 4-0 before Randolph Wagner got into the scoring act and he found the back of the net in the 64th minute to hand the Tigers a 5-0 cushion.

It then became 6-0 six minutes later, thanks to Andre Webber’s goal, with the score line being completed in the 76th minute, when Marvin Joseph got into the goal-scoring act.

GDF clinched their spot in the semi-final round with a dominant 2-0 win over ousted champions Sunburst Camptown, with Selwyn Isaacs scoring a beauty of a header from a Eusi ‘Boneyman’ Phillips free kick (26th) - a goal that was complemented

by Delwyn Fraser’s 89th minute strike, handing Sunburst Camptown their marching orders from the tournament.

Rain wrecks second day after du Plessis century

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (CMC) – Persistent rain allowed just six overs on the second day of the second Test here yesterday, frustrating South Africa’s bid to take a firm grip on the game but easing the pressure building on embattled West Indies at St George’s Park.

When play was finally called off at 17:05hrs, South Africa had reached 289 for three, with captain Hashim Amla unbeaten on 23 and AB de Villiers not out on nine.

The adverse weather delayed the start by two hours and when players finally took to the field, play lasted just half-hour before the rain returned.

However, it was enough time for West Indies to claim the wicket of Faf du Plessis but not before the righthander completed his fourth Test century.

Starting the day on 99 with South Africa on 270 for two, du Plessis clipped the first ball of the day – a wayward full-length delivery from pacer Jerome Taylor – to the square boundary to reach three figures.

The celebrations were short-lived, however. He nicked the very next ball through to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin and though initially given not out by umpire Paul Reiffel, was sent on his way following a successful review.

He faced 230 balls in just over 5-1/2 hours at the crease, and counted 13 fours and two sixes.

Taylor, and fellow seamer Jason Holder, then troubled both Amla de Villiers in the next few overs, generating movement to hit both batsmen’s edges on a couple of occasions.

Despite this, de Villiers latched onto anything

successive overs.

With the stage set for an intriguing contest, the

rains returned to have a decisive say in the day’s play.

NOTABLE DATES

Faf du Plessis raises a fourth Test hundred on the second morning before the rains came. remotely loose, delightfully stroking Holder to the long-off boundary and

then unfurling a majestic straight drive, when the bowler missed his length in

LENNOX Beckles, one of the legends from Guyana, chose Boxing Day in 1965 to defeat Jamaican Kid Bassey II. Beckles won the 10-round by pointsdecision. In August of the same year Beckles won the local welterweight title when he defeated Ivelaw Stephenson.

Lennox Blackmoore, the first Guyanese to win a Commonwealth title, stopped Barry Michael in the seventh round on December 26, 1978. The fight was held at the National Sports Hall. Michael was born in England but fought out of Australia.

Three years later Blackmoore was stopped by Aaron `The Hawk’ Pryor while attempting to win the WBA junior welterweight title.

Mark Harris gained revenge when he defeated nemesis Brian Muller on December 26, 1980. Harris won the 12-round fight at the National Sports Hall by a split decision to hand Muller his first pro loss.

Muller had gained a victory over Harris in August of the previous year. Anthony `The Pearl’ Andrews won by TKO in the ninth round, against Pascal David, on December 26, 1990. Andrews then turned his attention to Vidal Rawlins who suffered a TKO in the fourth round on December 26, 1992.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Banks Beer Cup semi-final action on tonight at GFC ... Alpha face Tigers, GDF meet Pele

See story on page 27

Champs Again! Slingerz Football Club players and staff celebrate after winning the inaugural WDFA Banks Vita Malt/Aqua Mist Water KO tournament on Boxing Day.

WDFA Vita Malt/Aqua Mist Water KO

Slingerz FC defeat Den Amstel 4-1 on penalties to win inaugural title

By Rawle Toney THE West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) could not have asked for a better climax to their inaugural Banks DIH Vita Malt/Aqua Mist Water-sponsored knockout tournament last Friday night, as Slingerz Football Club remained unbeaten on the ‘West Side’ following their 4-1 penalty kicks win over Den Amstel.

With the win, Slingerz FC not

only kept their unblemished record of not being defeated by any team playing under the jurisdiction of the WDFA, but they also walked away with the tournament’s $1M first-place prize while Den Amstel had to settle for $500 000.

Slingerz custodian Joao Filho was adjudged the best goalkeeper while goalscorer on the night Devon Millington also from the victorious side was named the tournament’s most

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valuable player (MVP).

Millington (3rd minute) and Travis Hilliman (28th minute) scored for their respective team, but at the end of regulation and extra time, the teams could not be separated, sending the game into a penalty shootout.

The mammoth crowd at the Den Amstel Community Centre bordered the penalty area, all seeking to get closer to the action and saw Slingerz skipper Tichard Joseph do

nothing wrong when he hammered a right-footed shot flat and hard into the left corner for the 1-0 advantage in the shootout.

Cheered and encouraged by the crowd of mostly their supporters, Ryan Hunte stepped up the penalty area and equalled the score with his effort, before national defender Colin Nelson sent the eventual champions into the lead with his clinical finish.

Turn to page 22

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2014