2014 12 8

GUYANA No. 104035 MONDAY DECEMBER 8, 2014

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

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

At CARICOM-Cuba Summit today…

Guyana will be ‘full participant’ in all discussions Page

PRICE: $60

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Finance Minister lauds GCCI’s contributions to economy Page 11

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Minister Ashni Singh President Donald Ramotar

First Family sets tone to Yuletide Season

Page

Opposition peeved President Page 7 has not called elections

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–with annual ‘Evening of Carols’ at State House

––in total disregard of all the implications

Bandits Page 8 rob Presidential Guard at gunpoint

––just outside his home

PSC welcomes President’s Page ‘early next year’ announcement

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‘Mama Bibiana’s turns 102 Page 16

The First Family seemingly had the time of their lives last evening as they obeyed the every command of Bandmaster, Assistant Commissioner, Mr Cecil Bovell (Photo by Cullen Bess-Nelson)

Mrs. Bibiana Hernandez

First Family sets tone to Yuletide Season –with annual ‘Evening of Carols’ at State House

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AMIDST a very festive atmosphere of beautifully illuminated trees, State House, home of the First Family on downtown Main Street resounded with the sweet sounds of caroling last evening.

President Donald Ramotar and First Lady, Madame Deolatchmee Ramotar welcomed a large number of guests that included members of the Diplomatic Corps, Government Ministers and other officials and invited guests to their annual event, ‘An Evening of Christmas Carols’ to usher in the festive season.

As the name of the event implies, invitees were treated to an evening of carolling by the Police Military Band, Police Choir, and as the night wore on, even the audience got in on the act and belted out such Season favourites as ‘Hark the Herald

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

Angels Sing’ and ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’.

Speaking briefly at the event, President Ramotar noted that he was growing accustomed to the event, and applauded the Police Band and Choir for their melodious renditions. He also thanked them for helping him usher in this festive season.

The Head of State, on behalf of his family, wished all gathered a Joyous and Peaceful Season, saying that after working all year round, it was high time “to relax and enjoy the season.”

Moving the Vote of Thanks was Alexei Ramotar, one of the President’s sons, who acknowledged the contribution of the Police Military Band and Police Choir in making the event a success.

A section of the gathering at last night’s event at State House (Photo by Cullen Bess-Nelson)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

At CARICOM-Cuba Summit today…

Guyana will be ‘full participant’ in all discussions THE Fifth Summit of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba starts today in the Cuban capital, Havana.

And according to President Donald Ramotar, who is heading Guyana’s delegation to the meeting, Guyana will be fully participating in every aspect of the talks.

“Guyana will be fully participating in all the topics that are there to be dealt with; and we will be making our contributions,” he told the Guyana Chronicle Saturday in an invited comment.

He also noted Cuba’s sterling contribution to the Caribbean Region.

AREAS OF FOCUS At the last meeting in the Trinidad capital, Port of Spain, CARICOM Heads agreed to continue to give priority to trade relations between CARICOM and Cuba; revisit efforts to update and implement the CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement; and revitalise the CARICOM-Cuba Joint Commission.

At that meet also, Heads underscored the importance of strengthening existing regional institutions and mechanisms, such as the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC), which advance the regional integrative effort, convinced that cooperation, solidarity, complementarity and the will to advance to higher levels of development that will best

serve the expectations and interests of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, and preserve their independence, sovereignty and identity, and will thus continue working towards the consolidation of CELAC, ensuring that priorities of Caribbean Community Member States are accorded full cognisance within that framework.

Other issues addressed at the last CARICOM-Cuba Summit included: * A shared conviction that efforts at National, Regional and International Development must be people-centred; that human sustainable development must be at the centre of regional cooperation efforts; that poverty, social exclusion, the scourge of AIDS, illiteracy, food security, crime and violence and effects of natural disasters must be addressed. * A commitment to ensure access to knowledge by all as a means of fulfilling our goal of education for all, recognising that our societies can only advance with improved living standards through quality education that affords the opportunity of social inclusion. * A renewed call for mechanisms that facilitate the transfer of clean and environmentally respectful technologies from Developed to Developing Countries, particularly Small Island Developing States, recognising this is of utmost importance in achieving sustainable development in the Caribbean Region. * A commitment to in-

crease protection and conservation efforts in the environmental context and in the sustainable use of the Region’s natural resources, particularly the Caribbean Sea, and to continue efforts at multilateral fora, the ACS and UN, aimed at achieving recognition of the Caribbean Sea as a Special Area in the context of sustainable development.

At the last meeting, there was also a commitment to actively engage in the process of formulation of the Post2015 Development Agenda, and the need for transparent and inclusive negotiations, whose final outcome should respond in general to developing countries concerns, problems, needs and priorities.

CARICOM Heads’ determination to combat the most prominent non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and cancer, including the risk factors of physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol, and recognise as the most feasible combative strategy an approach that would include risk factor reduction, health system reform, equitable access to affordable medicines, and, improved surveillance and monitoring and assessment programmes, also featured.

CARICOM’s initiative concerning persons with disabilities and special needs and the serious threat posed

by Climate Change to Small Island Developing States,

Developing Countries with low-lying coastal areas were two other major issues that attracted attention at the last meeting.

EVERY THREE YEARS The CARICOM-Cuba Summit is held every three years, in accordance with the Havana Declaration of December 2002, on the date that the leaders of Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago broke a diplomatic embargo and visited Cuba. As such, the date December 8 has been designated CARICOM-Cuba Day. According to a pro-

gramme released to the press by the Cuban Foreign Ministry here, the Presidents of Suriname, Grenada, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda were scheduled to arrive on different flights yesterday at the José Martí International Airport, in Havana.

Heads of Delegation of Barbados, Jamaica and St Vincent and the Grenadines and Heads of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OACS) were also scheduled to arrive yesterday.

President Donald Ramotar Previous Summit declarations of December 2002 (Havana), December 2005 (Bridgetown), December 2008 (Santiago de Cuba), and December 2011 (Port of Spain) have been acknowledged to have manifested advancements in the cooperative efforts on international and regional challenges.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

NYC braced for more protests over police violence after West Coast clashes

By Sebastien Malo and Emmett Berg N E W Y O R K / BERKELEY,(Reuters) - A fifth day of nationwide protests against police violence was set to begin yesterday after overnight clashes in two West Coast cities as New York’s police commissioner said an internal investigation into a chokehold death could last four months.

After a relatively calm night in New York City, 13 people were arrested overnight in angry demonstrations in Seattle, where crowds threw rocks and attacked police, and in the California university town of Berkeley, where windows were smashed, stores looted and tear gas fired at protesters.

Protests were planned on Sunday in dozens of cities across the country, including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami and Minneapolis.

Nightly demonstrations, which were mostly peaceful until the unrest on the West Coast, have followed a New

Protesters walk by a billboard during a march for chokehold death victim Eric Garner in New York. Credit: REUTERS/Andrew Kelly The killings of Garner York grand jury›s decision and Michael Brown, an unnot to indict a white po- armed black teen, in Fergulice officer who put an un- son, Missouri, have higharmed black man in a banned lighted the strained relations chokehold that killed him. between police and AfricanNew York Police Com- Americans and rekindled a missioner Bill Bratton said national debate over race reSunday he would review the lations in the United States. results of an internal invesThe protests turned viotigation of the July incident lent overnight in Berkeley, a to decide whether any police city near San Francisco that wrongdoing was involved in has been a hotbed of protest Eric Garner’s death. movements since the 1960s.

A man smashed a grocery store window with a skateboard as others proceeded to loot the store and at least two other businesses.

Police fired tear gas after a splinter group of pro-

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testers pelted officers with rocks, pipes and bottles, Officer Jennifer Coats of the Berkeley Police Department related. One officer hit by a sandbag suffered a dislocated shoulder, she said, and six people were arrested.

Several police vehicles were damaged and the disturbance forced the closure of the local Bay Area Rapid Transit station.

In Seattle, protesters threw rocks and attacked

police who blocked them from marching onto State Route 99, resulting in seven arrests for assault and other charges, said Seattle Detective Patrick Michaud.

The streets of New York were mostly quiet on a rainy Saturday after three nights of demonstrations following the decision by the Garner grand jury. Protesters and police alike have showed restraint and no major violence has flared.

A dozen protesters lay down again on the floor in New York’s Grand Central Terminal in one of the nowfamiliar “die-ins” featured in the wave of protests this week. Tourists and commuters stopped to watch the silent protest and snap pictures before going on their way.

As of Saturday night, police have made about a total of 300 arrests, mostly for disorderly conduct.

Six Guantanamo prisoners fly to Uruguay for resettlement

By Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON ,(Reuters) - SIX men held for more than a decade at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were flown to Uruguay for resettlement yesterday, the latest step in a slow-moving push by President Barack Obama’s administration to close the facility.

The release of four Syrians, a Tunisian and a Palestinian, who arrived in South America aboard a U.S. military transport plane, represent-

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ed the largest single group to leave the internationally condemned U.S. detention camp since 2009, U.S. officials said.

Obama promised to shut the prison when he took office nearly six years ago, citing the damage it inflicted on America’s image around the world. But he has been unable to do so, partly because of obstacles posed by the U.S. Congress.

The latest transfer of prisoners to Uruguay had been delayed for months. A move initially planned earlier this year was apparently held up by the Defense Department.

Differences over the pace of such transfers, said one U.S. official, added to friction between Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Obama’s inner circle that culminated

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in Hagel’s resignation last month.

The release of the six was put off again in August when Uruguay became concerned about political risks in the runup to its October presidential election. But outgoing President Jose Mujica then pressed ahead with the transfer.

Mujica, who has called Guantanamo a “disgrace,” reiterated in an interview aired on Friday that he had rejected a U.S. proposal to ban the detainees from traveling for two years after their release from Guantanamo.

“They are coming as refugees and the first day that they want to leave, they can leave,” he said in an interview with state television that was posted on YouTube.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

Mexico confirms missing student identity MEXICAN Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam has confirmed that forensic experts have identified the remains of one of 43 missing students.

Mr Karam said that tests in Austria matched a piece of bone retrieved from a rubbish dump in Guerrero state to the DNA of missing student Alexander Mora.

Relatives of Mr Mora had vowed to carry on fighting for justice.

The students’ disappearance in September has led to protests across Mexico against corruption and violence.

Mr Karam told journal-

ists in Mexico City that the students were handed over by corrupt officials to a criminal gang called Guerreros Unidos (United Warriors), after taking part in a protest in the town of Iguala on 26 September. .

They were taken to a waste disposal site near the town of Cocula and killed.

The criminals burned their bodies before scattering their ashes in a river, Mr Karam said.

Eighty people in total have been detained in connection with the trainee teachers’ disappearance, including gang members,

Demonstrators in Mexico City demanded justice for Alexander Mora and the other 42 missing students.

‘Keep fighting’ corrupt officials and local The news that Alexander police.

Mora’s remains had been identified first emerged on Saturday, when relatives posted a message on Facebook.

During a demonstration in Mexico City on Saturday, parents of students spoke about the identification.

“If [the government] thinks that, because one of our boys’ DNA was identified, we will sit and cry, we want to tell them that they’re wrong,” Felipe de la Cruz, father of a missing student, told the crowd.

“We will keep fighting until we find the other 42.”

The unrest has seen President Enrique Pena Nieto’s popularity rating drop to its

lowest point since he took office two years ago.

In response, he has submitted a package of reforms to Congress that include replacing all 1,800 municipal police forces with state-level units.

Iguala Mayor Jose Luis Abarca and his wife, Maria de los Angeles Pineda were arrested at the beginning of November in Mexico City.

Mexican officials accused Mr Abarca of ordering police to confront the students to prevent them from disrupting a public speech given by his wife.

(BBC News)

Gonsalves condemns ‘criminal blockade’ against Cuba

HAVANA,Cuba, (CMC) –PRIME Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and The Grenadines has condemned what he described as the “criminal blockade against Cuba,” and called for “the liberation of the five antiterrorists from US prisons.”

Gonsavles made the statement shortly after arriving here on Saturday for the Caribbean Com-

munity (CARICOM)/Cuba Summit.

“We have to work together in this globalized world to address international issues affecting our hemisphere. This includes demanding an end to the economic sanctions against Cuba,” he said.

St. Vincent and The Grenadines, will participate

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves

along with other CARICOM member states in the fifth Summit, scheduled to begin today .

The events will take place at the Palace of the Revolution, where several regional leaders will meet to continue dialogue on integration and cooperation between the neighboring nations.

Topics of discussion will include poverty, equality, and social justice.

The first summit between Cuba and CARICOM member states took place in 2002 to commemorate 30 years of diplomatic relations between Havana and its Caribbean neighbors.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

EDITORIAL On co-operatives and Mashramani SUBSEQUENT to our country’s attainment of political independence on the 26th May 1966, the Jaycees of Linden, in particular one, Pastor Albert Fiedtkou, began to organise annual celebrations.

This initiative was genesis of the national Mashramani independence celebrations.

Prior to becoming a Co-operative Republic on the 23rd February 1970, Pastor Fiedtkou suggested to the Jaycees that the cel-

ebration at Linden be called Mashramani.

Tota Mangar, writing in History This Year, posits that it would have been extremely difficult to come up with a more appropriate name for such a major national event. After all, our history is replete with the cooperative spirit and cooperative efforts by people of diverse backgrounds.

Working together on a cooperative basis, on communally shared activities, represents an inherent quality in the day-to-day activ-

ities of indigenous Guyanese, especially the Arawak tribe. It represents the ethos of cohesion that lies at the heart of the Amerindian way of life.

Mashramani is an Amerindian word, basically Arawak in origin, which means, in essence, “a celebratory festivity after a cooperative effort or venture.” It grew out of the feasting and dancing, or any mass celebration that characterised spontaneous joy consequent upon the successful completion of land preparation and cassava

planting, or even hunting and raiding expeditions by our indigenous peoples.

Co-operative efforts hallmarked the very existence of our ancestors on various fronts, but mainly in the labour, social, and political arenas.

The sterling contributions by the Father of Trade Unionism in Guyana, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, and others in the early 20th century contributed immensely to labour organisation and the formation of trade unions to improve pay and working

GUYANA

conditions for the Guyanese labour force.

Mangar laments that the efforts by our two major political leaders, Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Mr. Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, to awaken the political consciousness of the Guyanese people was derailed by foreign intervention, which created a serious rift between these leaders that still adversely affects the cohesion of our people and consequently the development paradigm of our country.

Mashramani, which engenders a spirit of camaraderie and the evocation of pride of things Guyanese that transcends the divides, does much to heal the wounded soul of this nation.

As the one festival shared by all Guyanese, apart from Christmas, one hopes that the celebratory aspects and camaraderie this engenders will dissipate all the rancor created by dissenting and acrimonious Opposition politicians, who seem bent on creating disunity between the Guyanese peoples.

President assures stakeholders that his ‘door remains open’ IN light of the Private Sector Commission (PSC)’s proposed solution to the political gridlock, President Donald Ramotar has stressed that his door remains open to any stakeholder group.

His assurance was made against the backdrop of Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Brigadier (rtd) David Granger’s nixing of the merits of the proposal, which was

Donald Ramotar made public on Thursday.

“This letter should be

David Granger sent directly to the President for him to come to the Op-

position and resolve these problems,” Granger said Friday at APNU’s weekly press conference.

The PSC has called for an end to the November 10 prorogation of Parliament, as well as the staying of the Alliance For Change (AFC)- sponsored no-confidence motion.

The Commission’s call was made in a statement in which several actions were detailed as necessary to move past the current political gridlock that is pushing

Guyanese to early elections.

The statement essentially includes three calls: an end to the prorogation and staying of the no-confidence motion; a one-month period once the prorogation is lifted and the no-confidence motion stayed, which will allow for dialogue before any consideration is given to dissolution of Parliament and subsequent general elections; and an agreement that representatives of civil society will be allowed to observe

the dialogue process in full, once commenced during this period.

Given the current political state of affairs, the Government’s attempts at dialogue and the Opposition’s refusal of the President’s most recent invitation to talks, Mr. Ramotar announced yesterday that Guyana will be heading to early general and regional elections.

The last election was held in November 2011.

Ramjattan stands by Nagamootoo as presidential candidate AN earlier expressed endorsement of Moses Nagamootoo, Vice Chairman of the Alliance for Change (AFC), by the Party leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, was cemented on Saturday during the AFC’s fourth Biennial Conference.

“That is my right,” he said, addressing the controversy over his endorsement of Nagamootoo, who, like himself, is a former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) member and represented the Party in the National Assembly.

Saturday’s conference drew a crowd of just over 200 persons, and was at the St. Stanislaus College Au-

ditorium, under the theme ‘Unity for healing, reconciliation of our people and equitable growth of our nation’.

Addressing the gathering, Ramjattan explained that while there was no vote of the selection of presidential and prime ministerial candidates, as previously expected, it will happen at a special conference, once a date for general and regional elections is set.

The AFC leader gave the assurance that the election of the Party’s candidates, when it happens, will be a democratic process.

“This Party is a united party,” Ramjattan declared.

--favours Hughes as second-in-command

Moses Nagamootoo

Nigel Hughes

However, despite his assurance, there are some who contend that the challenges of internal wrangling, as a result of his endorsement of Nagamootoo as the Party’s presidential candidate, re-

main unaddressed.

The Party’s conference, which was initially slated for October, came at a time when the AFC is facing major challenges, some of which were expected to

cause some amount of unease at Saturday’s caucus.

In addition to the alleged internal wrangling, as a result of Ramjattan’s endorsement, another challenge is the perception that the AFC is aligned with the Main Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), particularly as it relates to the divisions in the Party, which has seen two factions emerging: The Ramjattan faction and the Hughes faction.

Hughes has been favoured as the best person to be the party’s sec-

Khemraj Ramjattan ond-in-command and the prime ministerial candidate.

It remains to be seen whether those matters were addressed or not, since members of the media corps were only allowed to sit in on the opening session of the Conference.

GUYANA CHRONICLE MONDAY December 8, 2014

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Opposition peeved President has not called elections --in total disregard of all the implications

President Donald Ramotar THE Combined Opposition is peeved that the President did not set a date Saturday for the holding of general and regional elections as was expected, despite knowing the implications of making such an announcement.

As President Donald Ramotar has painstakingly explained, once a date is set, it will translate into the dissolution of Parliament, which currently still stands suspended under the November

APNU’s Joseph Harmon prorogation proclamation.

Had he done so on Saturday, it then meant that political parties would have had to kick into campaign mode, which would have spanned the entire Christmas season.

Also, once a proclamation announcing a date is made by the President to go to general and regional elections, constitutionally, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has three months within which to deliver; and the Commission is currently engaged in the

seventh cycle of continuous registration, which started on December 1.

The Head of State was clear that a date for the early return to the polls will be announced long before the Mashramani celebrations, possibly as early as in his New Year’s Message to the nation, and he reasoned that this way, Guyanese people’s Christmas holidays, less than three weeks away, will not be disrupted.

AFC’s Khemraj Ramjattan “I have considered, and I have consulted; and this is my resolve. We will go to elections. I have also since written to the international community, alerting them to the possibility of early elections, and the desire for them to field observer missions,” he said.

However, the leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) are insisting that a date be set, now that the intention to move to early general and regional elections has been made clear.

APNU’s General-Secretary Joseph Harmon told the Guyana Chronicle that the President’s announcement gives the Guyanese people nothing to hold on to.

“His announcement is bereft of specifics and all President Donald Ramotar is doing is keeping the country on hold,” he declared, adding that the country was put on “pause” after the November 10 prorogation of Parliament.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan termed the President’s announcement as farcical.

According to him, the President’s announcement is disappointing and he also

contends that Mr. Ramotar is “buying” time.

Ramjattan added that the President’s reasoning is a sham. “The President should call the elections and finish with it,” he declared.

Additionally, GECOM Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally has repeated that the Commission is ready for a move to early general and regional elections.

Mr. Ramotar’s announcement of a move to

general and regional elections comes after his November 18 invitation for dialogue to Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Brigadier (rtd) David Granger was rejected.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

PSC welcomes President’s ‘early next year’ announcement

––for calling of general, regional elections THE announcement of a move to general and regional elections early next year, and the provision of timeframes for a return to the polls were welcomed by Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Persaud.

“I am happy that some timeframes were provided to end the prorogation, even though a specific date was not given,” he told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday in an invited comment.

On Saturday during a press briefing, President Donald Ramotar ended the wait of the Guyanese people with the much anticipated announcement on the way forward to bring an end to the current political impasse.

“I have considered, and I have consulted; and this is my resolve. We will go to elections. I have also since written to the international community alerting them to the possibility of early elections and the desire for them to field observer missions,” he declared.

Mr. Ramotar reasoned that this way, the Guyanese Christmas holidays, less than three weeks away, will not be disrupted.

CAMPAIGN MODE A move by the President to set a date will have a bearing on several processes.

Once a date is set it will translate to the dissolution of Parliament, which currently still stands suspended under the November prorogation proclamation. Political parties will then kick into campaign mode. And once a proclamation announcing a date is made by the President to go to general and regional elections, constitutionally, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has three months within which to deliver.

Asked for clarity on a timeline within which a date will be set for a return to the polls, the President assured that he will make the proclamation before the Mashramani celebrations, possibly in his New Year’s Message to the nation.

CLEAR MANDATE All considered, the PSC Chairman noted that a move to general and regional elections will provide local politicians with clarity on a mandate to move Guyana forward, as determined by the electorate.

“I am not so hopeful that election alone

RAMESH PERSAUD will solve our political problems and I hope the citizens will use the next elections to clear up the doubts that the politicians have currently about the mandate they received in the last election,” Persaud said.

CONFIDENCE On Saturday, the Head of State expressed confidence in regaining the parlia-

Guyana Country Page launched on EITI website ––to ensure transparency in mining sector

GUYANA has taken steps to ensure transparency in its quest to improve openness and accountable management of revenues from the mining sector.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNR&E) has disclosed that a Country Page for Guyana has been launched on the website of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

The Guyana Country Page can be found at the following link: www.eiti.org/guyana.

EITI is the global coalition of governments, companies and civil society working together to improve openness in the extractive industries in member countries.

Through the EITI companies in the mining sector in member states are required to publish what they pay to governments and governments are required to publish what they receive from companies, thereby increasing transparency and building trust between Governments Companies and the public.

EITI COMPLIANCE The EITI compliance empowers the public to more effectively hold government accountable for mining resource revenues. Guyana announced its commitment to implement the EITI in May 2010 In May 2012, the MNR&E and the EITI International Secretariat signed a Memorandum of Understanding to assist Guyana in its preparation for EITI candidacy and membership.

The U.S. Department of State has allocated almost $300,000 from the Fiscal Transparency Innovation

Fund (FTIF), including a full-time technical advisor within the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank are providing technical advice to the government of Guyana in its efforts towards EITI candidacy.

Currently, Guyana is undergoing a scoping study which will determine its readiness for the principles and standards of the EITI. The study is being conducted by Moore Stephens International and a report will be submitted to MNR&E

by January 2015.

As at early 2014 there were 29 EITI compliant countries and 17 candidate countries and 35 countries had produced EITI reports.

EITI members include Azerbaijan, Liberia, Albania, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Mauritania, Madagascar, Mongolia, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, Sao Tome & Principe, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Yemen, and Zambia to name a few.

The creation of the Guyana Country Page at EITI was requested by Minister Robert Persaud on behalf of the Government of Guyana.

The Guyana Country Page will be updated by the EITI Internal Secretariat regularly to show Guyana’s progress towards application for candidacy.

mentary majority his party lost in the 2011 general and regional elections by one seat.

At the last elections the combined Opposition gained control of the National Assembly by a one-seat majority, in a 33-32 split.

Mr. Ramotar credited his confidence to the Government’s performance in moving the country forward for the benefit of the Guyanese people and to the experiences of the Guyanese people in the last three years.

At a prior press conference, in mid-November, he had underscored that his administration is not afraid of the electorate, since the Guyanese people are perfectly capable of judging the accomplishments made relative to national development and improved livelihoods of the nation’s people.

“The Opposition will have to win the elections to do so (make good on their threats), which I doubt they will be able to do, because this time I am going back for my majority bigger than ever before,” he said.

The PPP/C has won every consecutive general election since 1992.

Mr. Ramotar’s announcement of a move to general and regional elections comes after his November 18 invitation for dialogue to Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Brigadier (rtd) David Granger was rejected.

Bandits rob Presidential Guard at gunpoint ––just outside his home

JASPER Carter, a presidential guard of Lot 103 Middle Road, La Penitence, is grateful to be alive today after he was robbed at gunpoint just in front his home.

Twenty-eight-year-old Carter, originally of Leguan, on the Essequibo River, was exiting his yard around 07:00hrs when two men on bicycles rode up to him and began using a series of expletives, and demanding whatever he had.

Carter told the Chronicle that that one of the men pulled out a .38 revolver and pointed it him; and that while one stripped him of his gold chain and ring, the other was saying, “Shoot him! Shoot him!”

Carter’s total losses have amounted to about $240,000.

JASPER CARTER By the time his neighbours went to his aid, the two men had made good their escape east of Middle Road.

This is the third time that Carter has been robbed in the same area, and he could not believe how the entire robbery took place within about two minutes. “Thank God I came out alive,” he said.

His report is being looked at by the Ruimveldt Police Station.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

Comfort Sleep to host Xmas Party at Princess Hotel --for almost 400 children

FUN City, Princess Hotel will come alive on Saturday, as some 375 kids are expected to have a rollicking time when Comfort Sleep hosts its annual Christmas Party for children who are beneficiaries of its school feeding programmes executed in West Demerara and Berbice.

The party will be held from 10:00 hrs to 14:00 hrs.

REHAB CENTRE CHRISTMAS PARTY Meanwhile, on Wednesday a separate Kids Christmas party will be held at the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre for the children on that programme beginning at 10:00 hrs.

The organisation has had a longstanding and ongoing relationship with the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre and makes generous contributions towards the

humanitarian cause.

Comfort Sleep, a good corporate citizen and Guyana’s leading manufacturer of foam mattresses and pillows, has been hosting such parties in the respective regions for the last eight years, bringing joy to the hearts of little children who would otherwise probably not have a fun time to look forward to for the Christmas holidays.

However, Administrative Manager, Ms. Amanda Chung said that this year, instead of having separate parties, the children from the Feeding Programmes will all be brought to Fun City, Princess Hotel where they will all have a grand time.

During the school year the children are fed hot nutritious meals three days perweek, and at Christmastime they are given a bumper party. They are treated to lots

of goodies; given take-away bags and of course, Santa is always on hand to present a Christmas gift to every child at the party.

Schools benefitting from the programme are: Malgre Tout Primary School; La Grange Primary; Bagotville Primary and Parfait Harmonie Primary School. Throughout the school year, with supplies provided by Comfort Sleep, meals are prepared by the Malgre Tout Roman Catholic Church and distributed to these schools.

And in Berbice, there is a similar liaison with the Church of the Ascension in New Amsterdam, whereby Comfort Sleep provides cooking materials to the Church which oversees the preparation of meals for Edinburgh Primary School and Friends Primary School, East Bank Berbice.

Other humanitarian programmes executed by Comfort Sleep include the distribution of takeaway hampers during the August holidays.

The feeding programmes and the Christmas parties are the brainchild of Comfort Sleep’s Managing Director, Mr. Dennis Charran. Mr. Charran said that derives an inner peace and gratification from these initiatives, and singlehandedly and cheerfully finances the project.

Charran is a father of three, and has a great love for little children.

He recalled that he was motivated to begin his feeding programme when, one day, he gave a meal to a child and the little boy divided it into two and said he was taking the other portion for his brother at home, who had nothing to eat.

Rupununi Christmas Fair preparations well underway

--now a successful local tradition Scenes from last year’s Rupununi Christmas Fair

PREPARATIONS are well underway for the fifth annual Christmas Fair to be hosted by the Kanuku Mountains Community Representative Group (KMCRG) at Lethem next Saturday.

The theme is “Celebrating nature’s gifts, using our skills and traditional knowledge.”

The venue is the Lethem Market and the event starts at 9 am.

The KMCRG and its annual Christmas Fair is supported by Conservation International-Guyana (CI-Guyana) through projects funded by donors such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)/ Multi-Lateral Investment Fund (MIF) and the European Union (EU).

The KMCRG comprises community leaders from 11 Amerindian villages and 7 satellite communities in the

recently designated Kanuku Mountains Protected Area (KMPA) in the Central and South Rupununi.

The fair provides space for producers, growers and craftspeople to sell their products, connect to and be part of, the wider Rupununi community, and meet new customers and start the process of building a strong relationship with them.

LOCALLY PRODUCED ITEMS Individuals and groups from across the Rupununi Region are expected to have on display and for purchase preserved foods, cassava products, meat and fish, snacks, dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables, handicraft and traditional Amerindian remedies.

The fair was first held in 2010 with the objective of raising the profile of local and indigenous knowledge and skills (with a focus on women) while providing access to markets for traditional and indigenous products.

CI- Guyana disclosed that the event is organised as a family and community- oriented activity which offers only locally produced items. To date this has attracted the interest of public and private sector stakeholders despite the long distances which have to be traveled to attend and participate.

The fair has also received tremendous support from agencies such as the Regional Democratic Council of Region 9, Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture IICA) , New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC) Trans Guyana Airways (TGA), Air Services Limited (ASL), CUSO-Guyana, and many local stores, CI-Guyana disclosed.

With over 100 individual participants and more than 25 participant groups, the Rupununi Christmas Fair has found its niche and has become a successful local tradition, CI-Guyana recently disclosed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

Region One briefed on political situation, other issues

--as Minister Edghill concludes two-day outreach MINISTER in the Ministry of Finance, Juan Edghill, has concluded a series of community meetings in the Santa Rosa Sub-District, Region One. Over two days, on December 4-5, the Minister held engagements in the communities of Assakata, Kamwatta, Kwebanna, Mora, Parakeese, Santa Cruz, and Warapoka.

During these engagements, the minster brought the residents up to date on the current situation in the country, including the president’s decision to prorogue the 10th Parliament.

The residents were told of the reason why the President took such action, as he and his administration were confronted with a no-confidence motion once Parliament would have resumed.

He explained that in suspending the 10th Parliament, the Head of State created room for all political parties to have meaningful dialogue.

Unfortunately, the Opposition Leader David Granger declined the President’s invitation to have talks.

The Minister also sought to enlighten the residents as to why the combined Opposition arrived at a no-confidence motion. The Motion stemmed from the fact that the Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh had restored some of the money that was cut by the Opposition.

“Even though we have the largest number of seats in Parliament,” Minister Edghill told residents, “the combined Opposition, when they combine their voting

strength in the Parliament, they have one seat more than the PPP/C.” Minister Edghill went on to inform the residents that for three successive years, 2012, 2013 and 2014, the combined Opposition denied Amerindian communities and the Guyanese nation as a whole of billions of dollars worth in development.

“This year was the worst for Amerindians,” he said, “because all of the money for the Amerindian Development Fund, Presidential Grants and the money for paying Community Support Officers, who are helping to develop the communities, were cut.”

Minister Edghill explained that while there is a Government bringing development in keeping with the desires of citizens, there is the combined Opposition which is taking developments away from the people.

Further, the Minister sought to remind the residents of the many transformative projects, which their communities have benefited from since the PPP/C administration came into power.

He pointed out that for years under a different government the rights of Guyana’s indigenous people were neglected and trampled on.

However, the PPP/C through its many programmes and policies has brought not only development through the Presidential Grants, and Community Development Programmes, but they also restored dignity to Guyana’s

Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Bishop Juan Edghill, addressing residents at Assakata first people.

Mention was made of this year’s cuts to the National budget, which saw the combined opposition voting against funds for the specialty hospital project, the Amaila Falls Hydro project, and money to rehabilitate several hinterland airstrips.

Nevertheless, the Minister called on residents to continue to play their role in the development of their communities, and their country.

He urged them to work along with their village leaders as Government continues to provide the necessary framework for development.

Meanwhile at each meeting, residents were given the opportunity to raise issues that are affecting them. At Kamwatta, the residents took the opportunity to thank the administration for the developments their community

Children at Assakata benefitting from Government’s hot meal programme

Residents at the meeting in Kamwatta has seen over the years.

The residents inquired about projects they have submitted for approval for which the Minister promised to

intervene.

At Kwebanna, residents called on the Administration to look into the possibility of bringing some

early relief to their road issues. Another issue raised at the meetings was that of land titles and extensions.

(GINA)

Children in the classroom at Kwebanna Primary

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

11

Finance Minister lauds GCCI’s contributions to economy –restates Government’s faith in dialogue to move country forward

FINANCE Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh has commended the gations of investors, inquiring about business opportunities us coming out a stronger country, having used the lessons of Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in Guyana.” political gridlock.” for its 125 years of distinguished representation of business Noting that even though the quoted words were not those Meanwhile the chamber’s president in his address notinterests in Guyana. of the PPP/C Administration’s, they still express the same sen- ed that while there were challenges, quite a few members Minister Singh was at the time delivering the feature timents, as the minister alluded to the strong macro-economic expanded their operations during this year as he singled out address at the annual GCCI ‘dinner and awards’ ceremony, performance and good governance of Government.

Courts for opening a distribution centre at Eccles, Massy which was held at the Pegasus Hotel on Thursday evening.

“I rather suspect that I would be accused of politicking, Guyana for a similar venture, and the opening of the True In offering his congratulations to Chamber members, giving objective commentary, such as that offered by the Value supermarket.

Dr. Singh said that they all follow an illustrious tradition of GCCI ... I chose the chamber’s assessment in this regard, and “ We clearly live in interesting, potentially exciting times achievements in business, as amongst them, their predeces- I thank you for your candid stand of the business and gover- … it seems every time we turn around there is a delegation, sors are some of Guyana’s most renowned and best known nance assessment in Guyana ... one which I share and which a large company seeking to visit the chamber to discuss the business houses.

I think Guyanese share equally.” possibility of entering the market seeking to get a complete To the older and more mature awardees, including those

picture of the local business environment. So what all this businesses that have been around for a very long time, the GOVERNMENT’S FAITH IN DIALOGUE means is that Guyana has become a significant interest,” minister made special mention of their longevity and staying Further, the minister took the opportunity to restate Hinds stated. power.

Government’s faith in dialogue, to move Guyana forward.

He said now more than ever, the GCCI needs to be pru“To the younger companies among the awardees, I say to He noted that the challenges faced by Guyana are not dent and responsible as “everybody is watching to see how you that you have amongst your membership in the cham- unique. Referring to the United States of America, which is we conduct ourselves during this period of uncertainty.” He ber, an abundance of examples of firms that started with very modest beginnings, and emerged to be towering giants of commercial and industrial activities in Guyana ... major pillars in our economic landscape,” he said.

The awardees were also urged to consider the good examples of older businesses for emulation. President of the GCCI, Lance Hinds, was also lauded for his good stewardship, as Dr. Singh noted, he comes as the latest in a long succession of business leaders, who have served this coalition of industry and commerce well, and as an interlocutor between the business community and the national policy maker, and this with great effect.

Meanwhile, describing himself as a person who does not like to use the quotes of others, the minister did make Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh addressing the annual Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI)’s Dinner and Awards an exception when he quoted Ceremony from the GCCI’s 2014 “Business Guyana” magazine. over 238 years old, compared with Guyana, which is just 48 was referring to the political situation that currently obtains.

“I would quote from it; I do believe that in this instance years old, Dr. Singh pointed out that the U.S. can still be seen Speaking of the Chamber’s hopes and aspirations, he I would not know better words to capture the intended sen- as a state with democracy at work. identified that affordable, reliable power is needed for the timents.”

“From the Federal shutdown to gun control, stalemate development of the country, but remained unfulfilled in 2014.

In an article on Page 17, the minister quoted: “Guyana’s is America’s political norm. Congress is more interested in He said they had hoped for the telecoms sector reform for the strengths cover a broad spectrum of industry, like a thriving playing politics than in solving problems.” development of the ICT sector, among other areas. blooming orchid. Guyana is strategically located along the From this analogy, the minister connected Guyana’s curMeanwhile, Massy Guyana Limited took away the GCCI’s north eastern coast of South America ... this English speaking rent political impasse, to that of the older, more established Large Business of the Year Award for its good performance in country boasts a multi-cultural society, with a friendly and USA. the areas of financial growth, customer satisfaction, internal receptive population, spread out over its ten administrative reMinister Singh also dismissed the notion that the current processes improvements, employee relations, development gions.” Guyana’s location makes it an economically ideal hub Prorogation of Parliament makes the current Government un- and corporate citizenship. for global trade and commerce, providing cost-feasible access democratic, and explained that when similar action is taken in The New Guyana School copped the small business award to international market and links to South American locations. other developed countries; those persons are not being accused of the year while China Trading Corporation’s proprietor, The economy boasts a diversified platform and has en- of being unpatriotic or undemocratic.

Jason Wang was given the Young Business Executive Award. joyed dynamic economic growth for the last eight years, with Through similar examples, the minister highlighted that it The Government’s Analyst Food and Drug Department an average annual GDP growth of 5%. Its sound macroeco- was incumbent upon all responsible leaders, to talk and engage copped the Public Service Award of Excellence while the nomic policies and good governance have resulted in a most in dialogue, in the interest of Guyana. He elaborated that Presi- Corporate Citizenship Award went to Republic Bank Limited. favourable business environment that makes Guyana one of dent Ramotar and his Administration have been willing to have Gordon Lyken of Lyken’s Funeral Parlour took away the today’s most appealing investment destinations, anywhere in dialogue throughout all of the frustrations of the 10th Parliament. Lifetime Achievement Award while the award for innovation the world.

Reference was made to the cutting of the National Budget, was granted to Sterling Products Limited. Modern Industries This extract, Minister Singh said, makes an extremely for the past three years, as among some of the major chal- Limited was given the Long Service Award. eloquent case for Guyana, as an attractive place for doing lenges, all of which never caused the President to throw in The Chamber’s Award was presented to Patrick Sooklall of business. his hands and gave up, on the hope that dialogue could see all Impressions and Christopher Ram while Stabroek News took Dr. Singh made mention of the strong favourable condi- stakeholders, reaching common grounds. home the Media Award. tion, that “... we have managed to achieve as a country, and “…To the business community, we should not be unduly The President’s Award was copped by Camex Restauthat has resulted in the flood of inquiries, that Hinds referred harsh to ourselves ... as a country we have to build through rant Incorporated, while past president of the GCCI, to, when he spoke of the almost weekly pilgrimage of dele- the growing pain. This current experience I believe will see Clinton Urling also received an award. (GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

Pearson, Daniels, Mohabir steal the spotlight

––at 2014 Health Journalism Awards ceremony

WITH numerous submissions made for this year’s Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation Media Awards for Excellence in Health Journalism, Stabroek News’ Jeanna Pearson and Desilon Daniels and Guyana Times’ Tajeram Mohabir stole the night as they walked away with the honours for their unrelenting efforts to push Guyana’s health agenda.

Revived by PAHO’s Guyana Representative, Dr. William Adu Krow after an almost nine-year hiatus, the award recognises the work of journalists and media personnel in health and development while improving the standard of reporting on health issues in Guyana.

“The media plays an important role in highlighting public health issues and is a good medium for advocacy, communication and education,” Dr. Adu Krow said as he addressed the gathering Saturday evening at the Pegaus Hotel, Kingston.

With the media continuously evolving, Dr. Adu Krow said those new social media like Facebook, Twitter and Youtube “attends to the needs of modern health consumers who are highly engaged and desire to be involved in their health more than ever before.”

“Journalists often forget that we have the immense power to share with citizens of all ages from all walks of life truly lifesaving knowledge and information that can in fact change our country,” said Chief Judge Cathy Hughes, who has practised in the media for many years.

“The media in today’s technology driven world is therefore an essential partner as they are the primary source of information for the general public and can often shape public

Media award recipients pose with PAHO representative, Dr. William Adu Krow and Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud discourse on issues,” Hughes continued.

She explained also that pieces were judged from the ability of the writer to place one scenario in the context of a broader agenda with focus on the further implications of root causes.

Making her point clearer, the Chief Judge referred to a case of domestic violence that resulted in the death of one spouse and the root cause was alcohol abuse as a health issue, rather than “focusing on the sensationalist aspect of the story.”

Gordon Moseley, who is no stranger to the media as he heads one of the leading Online news agencies, News Source Guyana, had a few words of caution to media practitioners.

“We must take our role seriously, and always act professionally and responsibly,” he said, adding: “What we might consider a simple mistake while reporting on a health issue could cause major panic.”

A section of the gathering

BEING INFORMED He drew attention to the recent Ebola-scare across the world that was fuelled by media speculations. “Our jobs as journalists must be to inform but we should also ensure that we ourselves are informed before we inform,” Moseley said.

He similarly called on health professionals to practice more open-door policies as they must recognise the media as an agent of education and change. “We must work hand in hand,” he said as he explained his ordeal while searching for information from officials in Guyana’s health system.

Renewable energy should be at top of Guyana’s agenda –Canadian High Commissioner at GCCI Dinner THE importance of cheap reliable energy as an economic driver was underscored Thursday by Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. Nicole Giles, while addressing the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Award and Dinner at the Pegasus Hotel.

“The potential for renewable resources is going fast around the world,” Dr. Giles

said. She bolstered her argument by quoting a recently released five-year report published by the International Energy Agency, which projects that renewable energy will edge out natural gas as the biggest source of electricity by the Fall of 2016.

It’s a projection Dr Giles finds is nothing short of a remarkable development, given that just a few years ago, the cost of renewable

technology was prohibitive.

Noting that the cost of renewable technology, particularly solar and wind, has fallen dramatically, Dr Giles said, “Renewable energy presents a huge opportunity for Guyana to begin diversifying its natural energy supply to create more molecules and less fossil fuel.”

With one of Canada’s greatest economic advantages, and the key to its prosperity being its natural resources, Dr Giles said things back home have gotten so that energy now

accounts for a sizeable and quality share of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product.

“Canada has abundant energy resources of all kinds; Canada is the third largest producer of natural gas and hard electric power in the world. We are the world’s sixth largest producer of oil,” she said.

Dr. Giles also noted the employment benefits that the country has gained beSee page 13

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

16 birding guides certified after two-month training A TWO-MONTH preliminary birding programme which was supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaftfür InternationaleZusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH , also referred to as the German Agency for International Cooperation and the Caribbean Public Health Agency ( CARPHA) recently concluded with the certification of sixteen members from the coastal communities of Victoria, Belfield, Hope Beach and Greenfield.

According to a press release, the programme was endorsed by the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and was also supported by both the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG).

The training was provided by Iwokrama which utilised its wide range of skilled trainers, such as professional birding guides, tour operations and leadership trainers, to ensure delivery of a well rounded package of skills to the trainees.

HOPE BEACH BIRDING SITE As the focus was on coastal birding in mangrove ecosystems, the field training was conducted at Hope Beach which was identified as a national birding site and Felicity, one of the sites that benefited from mangrove restoration efforts. Classroom sessions consisted of various elements of tourism such as tour guiding techniques and communication and leadership skills.

A round table session by representatives from Wilderness Explorers, Shell Beach Adventures and Tarantula Tours exposed the trainees to a wide range of industry issues such as itinerary development, dealing with challenging clients and ensuring client satisfaction.

Trainees with their certificates at Wilderness Explorers office (Photo by Annette Arjoon-Martins)

Wilderness Explorers provided sterling support as not only did it provide the group with additional equipment and books at the beginning of the course but it also afforded one of the trainees with a trip to Kaieteur and Orinduik Falls during the training. Additionally, three trainees benefitted by receiving internships upon completion.

At the end of the course, five of the participants were selected to visit the Iwokrama Field Station and Canopy Walkway, as well as Surama Eco Lodge where they gave presentations on the mangrove restoration project and their fledgling mangrove reserve horse-cart tour.

At Surama Eco Lodge not only did they witness first-hand the ingredients contributing to what is considered Guyana’s premier community-owned and managed ecotourism product, but they were also exposed to the cultural aspects of Surama’s tourism package.

Presentations by Guyana’s vibrant indigenous Makushi dance and music groups provided the visitors with a sterling example of how they could enhance their birding tours by expanding on elements of the rich natural heritage existing in their coastal communities.

Local programme coordinator Mrs. Annette Arjoon-Martins expressed deep gratitude to GIZ whose invaluable support enabled the achievement such as the creation of a cadre of local tour guides, equipped with preliminary birding skills, to support the development of birding tours at Hope Beach.

The follow-up would entail the participants putting this training to use by offering complimentary birding tours which will commence at 6.00am at Hope Beach during the last two Saturday’s in December 2014, the release added.

Renewable energy should ...

From page 12 cause of its ventures with energy resources.

She said that directly or indirectly Canada’s energy sector accounts for hundreds of thousands of jobs for Canadians in every sector of the economy including in the skilled trades, manufacturing, clerical jobs, ICT, marketing and financial sector.

She however advised about maintaining a balance between energy consumption and the sustainable management of environmental re-

sources. She noted that Canada is a global energy leader in maintaining social responsibility with regards to environmental protection.

Noting the benefit of development in the energy sector, Dr. Giles said that developing countries such as Guyana cannot afford to look the other way.

The PPP/C Government has been pursuing renewable energy in the form of the Amaila Falls Hydro project, but budgetary allocations for this project became a victim of the Opposition’s scissors. (GINA)

14

Guyanese woman enjoys fame as supermodel ‘look-alike’

A NAOMI Campbell look -alike who was bullied at school for being ‘too tall and nerdy’ says she can’t walk down the road without being pestered for autographs.

Guyanese-born Lystra

Adams was constantly teased while at school in Montserrat for being taller than everyone else in her school and looking like a geek.

The name calling and snide whispering was so vicious that the young Lystra

used to suffer panic attacks before going to class.

Now the 37-year-old stunner has conquered the bullies and has carved out a successful career in modelling and being the supermodel’s lookalike.

Striking Lystra said: “I was constantly bullied at school – I was always tall and used to tower above most of the older boys, let alone girls my age, and I wore these thick glasses.

“This one girl – who thought she was a top dog – was always calling me names like ‘freak’ and ‘nerd’ and she used to lead everyone in whispering behind my back.

“It doesn’t sound much, but when you’re younger and just want to fit in, the constant whispering and teasing caused me to have panic attacks every day before school.

“It was horrible and really knocked my confidence at the time but looking back it has made me a stronger person – all I think now is look at me now!”

Astonishingly when Lystra arrived from Montserrat in 1997 – the height of the supermodel’s catwalk fame – she had no idea who Naomi Campbell was.

The then 20-year-old, originally from Guyana, found herself in Halifax, Yorkshire – a far cry from the runways of Paris, Milan and New York – but was still stared at in the street.

Lystra, who now lives in Staffordshire, joked: “When all these people stared at me I

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

The arresting Lystra Adams, the ‘Naomi Campbell lookalike’ thought there was something wrong with me!

“I had no clue until one day, about a year after I’d arrived, this woman came up to me and told me I looked like Naomi Campbell.

“I just said “Who?!” but when I looked it up I was flattered and started doing lookalike work.

“I signed up with the Model Bank modelling agency in Birmingham, and I have been in work ever since.

“She’s been a bit less of a diva recently though – I need her to throw some more phones so the calls start coming back in!”

For the last 15 years she has been turning up at functions and events in stretch limos and being ‘papped’ on the red carpet.

She laughs when describing one event where she was surrounded by bodyguards, who took their role so seriously they even followed her into the toilet.

As the supermodel – the first black model to appear on the cover of French Vogue in 1988 – has calmed down and shied away from the press,

lookalike work has slowed for Lystra.

However she is still stopped in the street wherever she goes – even if she is just out shopping with her partner and her daughter Jasmine, 13.

Lystra said: “Still there isn’t a day goes by where I’m not told I look like her – if I had a pound for every time that happened I’d have as much money as her!

“Whenever we go on holiday I’m always stopped for autographs – it probably doesn’t help that I’m wearing sunglasses which makes me look more of a diva!

“I had one woman stop me in the airport and ask for my autograph for her daughter as she was a big fan – even after I told her I wasn’t Naomi.

“On the other hand, another woman shouted at me at the races the other day because she didn’t believe I wasn’t Naomi and said I was lying and being a bitch and a diva!

“Sometimes I just can’t win, but I try not to complain – there are worse people to look like!”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

Guyana still in top 20 as ...

15

Miss World 2014 intensifies IT certainly seems like Guyana will make a name for itself at this year’s Miss World Pageant, as our delegate, the delightful Rafieya Aasieya Husain, secures a spot in the Top 20 as the preliminary competitions continue.

In less than 10 days, a new Miss World will be crowned when the pageant finale is held in London, England. The 120 delegates hoping to wear the crown arrived in London for two weeks of activities leading up to the grand finale set for December 14, 2014.

DOING WELL Upon their arrival, the delegates were immediately judged and this continues on a daily basis. Husain is competing well and hopes to earn a spot in the top 10 on the night of the finale. She has so far placed among the top 15 in the Beauty with a Purpose competition. Her presentation was based on “Domestic Violence” and educated the audience about the scourge in Guyana.

In terms of the rankings, Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss remains in first place, with a near-perfect score, but now has competition from Miss Russia Anastasia Kostenko, who seems to be gaining in popularity by the minute in London.

Miss Turkey Amine Gulse entered the top five for the first time, in third place, followed by Miss Australia Courtney Thorpe who jumped from 13th to fourth. Miss Thailand, Maeya Nonthawan Thongleng is now in fifth place.

The results of the Beauty with a Purpose segment saw

CARICOM, Cuba leaders to talk trade in Havana today ECONOMIC and Trade Relations will be among the issues to be discussed at the Fifth Summit of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba.

The meeting takes place in Havana, Cuba today, December 8.

In accordance with the Havana Declaration of December 2002, the Summit is held every three years on the date that the leaders of Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago broke a diplomatic embargo and visited Cuba.

To this end, the date, December 8, has been designated CARICOM-Cuba Day. Today’s meeting will give the leaders an opportunity to look at the present situation with the Trade and Economic Agreement which the two parties signed in 2000. They will benefit from the result of discussions held last October in Havana by the CARICOM-Cuba Joint Commission, which sought ways of making the Agreement more effective.

The two sides will also discuss strengthening co-operation in multi-lateral fora. This assumes added importance in light of the on-going global negotiations for a Climate Change Agreement and the upcoming negotiations on the United Nations Post- 2015 Development Agenda.

Chairman of CARICOM, the Honourable Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda; His Excellency Raoul Castro Ruz, President of Cuba and His Excellency Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of CARICOM will address Monday’s opening ceremony at the Palace of the Revolution.

The Summit was preceded yesterday by a meeting of the foreign ministers.

a huge shuffle in the leader board, with fierce competition from the delegates.

The Guyana Chronicle joins hands with other well wishers in wishing Miss Husain ultimate success at this prestigious event.

Miss Guyana World, Rafieya Aasieya Husain

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GUYANA CHRONICLE MONDAY December 8, 2014

‘Mama Bibiana’s turns 102 THE North West Region’s oldest recorded centenarian proudly celebrated her 102nd birth anniversary last Tuesday.

Bibiana Hernandez, now affectionately known as ‘Mama’, was born on December 2, 1912 at Barima River, North West Region, where she grew up and was later married to Diaz Hernandez. Together they migrated to Bumbary Hill, where Mr. Hernandez eventually died.

Her union with her husband Diaz produced eight wonderful children — three boys and five girls, who were all educated at Hosororo Roman Catholic Primary School, and each did his/ her parents proud.

‘Mama’now resides with her grandson Paul Hernandez, his wife Edna, and their children at Bumbary Hill, Mabaruma Sub-Region.

She spends the day quietly enjoying the usual warmth and their tender loving care

affectionately bestowed on her.

On Mama’s 100th birthday, her grandchildren hosted a gala celebration for her. She had a birthday cake, plenty of fun, and lots to eat and drink; and the parish priest celebrated a mass in her honour at her home. But on her 101st and 102nd birth anniversaries, the focus was more on thanking God for His love and mercies, for health and strength, for caring family

members, and to be able to live in a home where love abounds.

Mama’s children and grandchildren still have proud recollections of the ‘looker’ Mrs Hernandez had been during her youthful days, and of the long, black curly hair she had sported.

She’s of mixed ancestry, and has a combination of Spanish, African, Portuguese and Arawak (Amerindian) ex-

fee as a beverage. In fact, up until now, she delights in a hot cup of strong coffee to complement her favourite -hot pepperpot with cassava bread.

In times gone by, Mama reared poultry and had lots of yard (creole) fowls; and since soup is one of her favourite dishes, she would occasionally (on someone’s birthday, Easter Sunday, Christmas

BIBIANA Hernandez

Mama Bibiana Hernandez surrounded by her granddaughters on a recent visit to the city of Georgetown tractions, her granddaughter Bernadette Mc Kinnon recalls.

She and he husband Diaz were staunch Catholics, and brought up the family in the fear and love of God. “She was a faithful soul. She would round the family up every Sunday and walk more than one mile to attend Mass at the Hosororo Roman Catholic Church. Mama never liked to miss a Sunday Mass,” Bernadette recalled.

Mama’s daily routine, in her time, was to get up by 4:00 hrs promptly, offer prayers, then prepare breakfast. She’d then pack the children’s lunch kits and, by 5:00 hrs, she and grandpa would head off to the farm in the backlands. There they’d work until noon, then return home.

“On the farm they planted ground provisions, citrus fruits, cocoa and coffee beans, and that probably led to her avid love for cof-

or New Year’s Day) deplete the stock in order to prepare a sumptuous meal of chicken soup.

The Guyana Chronicle had featured mama on the occasion of her 101st birthday. At that time she was still fairly strong, and even though hearing impaired, was able to see. Her routine was to sit on a bench out in the yard and watch the children play cricket.

This time around, however, she’s confined to bed, having last year suffered a fall which fractured her hip.

She is also no longer able to see, but is still as pleasant as ever she was, and still looks forward to having the priest, or even her Parish Lay Assistant (PLA) visit the home to bring her Holy Communion.

And just what would make Mama’s day? A fond hug, the stroke of her hair, or the gentle whisper of her loved ones asserting “Mama, I love you.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE MONDAY December 8, 2014

17

Christmas comes early for 10 NGOs

-courtesy P&P Insurance Brokers TEN non-profit organisations (NGOs) benefited from a $1M donation from P&P Insurance Brokers & Consultants Limited to commemorate their humanitarian services in Guyana.

At a small gathering at the Georgetown Cricket Club Pavilion yesterday, cheques of $100,000 were delivered by Mrs. Ahilia Panday wife of Managing Director of P&P Insurance Brokers & Consultants Limited to representatives of the 10 organisations , all of whom extended their gratitude for the firm’s noble gesture.

The fortunate organisations to have benefited from the firm’s philanthropy were: Bless the Children Home; Canaan Children’s Home; the Ptolemy Reid Rehab Centre; Uncle Eddie’s Home; Friends of the Archer’s Home; The Dharm Shala; the David Rose School for the Handicapped;

The Cheshire Homes Guyana; Hauraruni Girls Home and Bright Horizon Family.

Bish Panday, Managing Director of the firm underscored that “P&P Insurance Brokers & Consultants Limited is very happy today to be making these presentations to your organisations.” He further expounded that “All of you in your own way have been making a positive impact on the lives of the less fortunate and we are happy to contribute to this cause.”

Moreover, Panday spared no words in emphasising the ills that finance has on organisations and as such is immensely pleased with the firm’s initiative to aid in combating poverty to an extent. Additionally, this insurance scheme has made this charitable deed an annual “ritual.” “Today is another manifestation of that commitment which we hope to continue with in the future,” lastly added Panday.

Guyana sees launch today of www.gylist.com --the lastest in classified advertising THE first classified website of its kind within the Caribbean, www.gylist.com, will be officially launched in Guyana today by the enterprising Renik Evelyn.

According to Mr. Evelyn, who is the founder and managing director of the site, Gylist.com was designed to give users the opportunity to post FREE 30day listings with a maximum of ten digital photos.

“Registration is simple and easy; besides, anyone can use Gylist.com,” Evelyn said, adding that he hopes Gylist.com will revolutionise the way that consumers and sellers transact business within the local market area by bridging the gap in communication.

The site will also provide job opportunities for persons seeking employment, and according to Evelyn, users of Gylist.com can also use it for employment purposes, by listing and responding to job vacancies – not just in Guyana, but internationally.

“With Gylist.com, small business owners and individuals will now be able to advertise and promote them-

selves more meaningfully.

They have nothing to lose,” he said, adding that, the new site targets an audience made up of small business owners, tourists, job seekers, and Guyanese living overseas.

Evelyn stated too that his target audience would be interested in his offering because it is an affordable and reliable medium to connect with thousands of customers in a mere matter of minutes.

“This development has been in the works for some time, and now that we are off the drawing board and fully functional, we are very happy and anxiously awaiting the launch date for Gylist. com,” he said, pointing out that his website is in keeping with the technological evolution.

Evelyn expressed his optimism in “having stepped up to the plate” and stated that he is ready to “bat confidently” for his fellow Guyanese nationals who will now be able to post classified listings with photos free of cost.

All listings last for a 30-day cycle, and users are able to upload a maximum of ten digital photos.

P&P Managing Director, Mr Bish Panday,and his wife, Mrs. Ahilia Panday (standing left and right respectively) with representatives of the 10 NGOs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

American held with 40lbs cocaine in baking powder at CJIA –‘ganja’ found in mattress at Ogle Int’l

AN American citizen was busted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) last Friday while he was an outgoing passenger on a flight to the U.S. with a quantity of cocaine concealed in baking and custard powders.

Police reported that the find was made at about 16:05 hours last Friday when ranks of the Police Narcotics Unit conducted a search on the baggage of a male American citizen who was an outgoing passenger on a flight to the USA, during which a total of 18 kilograms 295 grams of cocaine was found concealed among baking powder and custard powder.

He has been arrested and is in police custody assisting with the investigations.

GANJA BUST In a separate incident another man is in police custody following another cocaine bust at Ogle International Airport last Thursday.

Police reported that at about 09:35 hours last Friday, ranks of the Police Narcotics Branch at the Ogle Airport conducted a search on the baggage of a

man travelling on a flight to Kaikan, and 794 grams of marijuana was found concealed in a mattress.

DOG HANDLER ON DRUGS CHARGE And on May 28, 2014, a 24-year-old Police Detective appeared before the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court charged in connection with the drug bust at the Ogle International Airport on May 21 last.

Ian Johnson, a dog handler attached to the Canine Unit of the Police Narcotics Branch, is charged jointly with 19-yearold Anastasia Crawford.

Crawford was initially charged for attempting to smuggle 5.574 kilograms of marijuana and 2.286 kg of cocaine via the Ogle International Airport last week. However, the initial charge was withdrawn and a joint charge has been instituted instead.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge when they appeared before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell.

The allegation is that Johnson, a dog handler, who was on duty at the time

that the 19-year-old was getting ready to board a LIAT flight to Barbados, intentionally allowed the outgoing passenger’s luggage to pass security verification points without being checked by the drug sniffing dog that was in his charge.

Details of the case are that inves-

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tigations conducted by ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) further revealed that Johnson met and befriended the 19-year-old Anastasia Crawford. Together, along with other persons, they planned to transport the drugs through the Ogle International Airport.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

Labour Minister stresses importance of technical education --as 476 graduate from BIT training programme in Region 3

By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally “NO country can develop if we have illiteracy around,” said Labour Minister, Dr. Nanda Gopaul at the graduation ceremony of the Board of Industrial Training Leonora Centre, where some 476 students graduated.

The graduation, which was held at the Leonora Technical and Vocational Training Centre, last Friday graduated persons in different disciplines and from two programmes: the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE) and the Single Parents Training Programme.

The Government has, over the years, been working to ensure that all Guyanese have a chance to be trained in some aspect of work, and the training programmes are administered

targeted are between the ages of 15 and 25. Most of them do not have the requisite CSEC qualifications to enter the job market, or may not have completed secondary education At the Leonora Centre, some 334 trainees graduated in the following occupational sectors: 70 persons in engineering: 36 in building construction; 18 in electrical installation; eight in the health services; 24 in information technology and clerical skills and 100 in home economics. There are also 78 persons who graduated under the Single Parents Training programme.

Speaking briefly at the graduation, Chief Executive Officer of BIT, Maria Khelawan, explained that the board continues its focus on community-based training programmes whereby youths become gainfully

Labour Minister, Dr N K Gopaul addressing the graduates

by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT). These training programmes have been providing opportunities for persons to acquire various skills themselves with varying skills; additionally, the work force is reinforced annually by skilled persons who have undergone training under BIT programmes.

This year’s batch represents a three-fold increase over the number of persons trained in 2013 in the region under the programme. The programme consists of onthe-job training and exposure to life skills educational classes. The youth who are

employed in the private and public sectors after they would have completed their training.

Khelawan emphasised that for the first time in 2014, the board commenced evening and Saturday classes in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the technical and vocational training institutes countrywide.

Vice- Chairman of BIT, Nowrang Persaud, in brief remarks, noted that industrial training plays a huge part in today’s society, as he encouraged the graduates to continue elevating themselves, and play a part in the

A section of the graduating class economic development of the country.

During his feature address, Minister of Labour, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, congratulated the students as he encouraged them not to become complacent, but to continue elevating themselves, as they hold the key to the country’s future.

The Labour Minister re-stated to the gathering that over the years, Government has been investing heavily in the development of its people through educational programmes. He made reference to the fact that Government has been supporting families through its school uniforms, schoolfeeding and transportation

programmes, and more recently, its $10,000 education grant initiative, which have all contributed to a higher number of schoolchildren entering the education system.

Dr. Gopaul explained that the belief is that technical education is only for school dropouts, “But let me tell you that a technical education is very important,” he asserted. He explained also that with the direction of the country’s development, in a few years’ time, you will see the need for technical education “and you, yourself would want to invest in having a technical education.”

The minister noted that

the Ministry of Labour has an agency, the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA), where the ministry can find jobs for persons and urged the graduates to utilise the facilities that are available to them.

About 3,000 persons graduated in 2013 from t h e B I T p ro g r a m m e s , while more than 8,000 people have accessed training under the programmes overall since B I T ’s i n t ro d u c t i o n i n 2005. Guyana’s BIT was hailed by Mexico and Colombia in 2013 as a model for youth training and for reducing unemployment.

Deaf Association of Guyana graduating students with Dr. Nanda Gopaul

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

Legal Affairs Ministry to begin law Review exercise today

THE Ministry of Legal Affairs has pledged to provide all the requisite support to ensure that the deficiencies found in the newly revised Laws of Guyana are rectified, and that the exercise is successfully completed.

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, on Friday, discussed the exercise with Justice Abdullah Zuru, a Law Revision Consultant attached to the Legal and Institutional Framework of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat.

In the meeting, Justice Zuru was apprised by the Attorney-General of the deficiencies that have been attributed to the newly-revised laws, such as omissions and mistakes which have to be corrected. And Justice Zuru noted that such deficiencies are not uncommon when Law Revision is done, specifically after a protracted period. In the case of Guyana, the last law revision exercise occurred nearly 40 years ago.

Justice Zuru outlined that paramount to addressing the deficiencies of the Revised Laws is the establishment of an index, which would be the beginning of the process of rectifying the omissions and mistakes that have been made in the newly-revised laws.

Once the index is completed, the other steps would be taken to rectify the problems associated with the Revised Laws.

A draft of this new index has already been prepared and submitted to the Attorney-General. Justice Zuru has the magnitude of experience necessary to address the deficiencies associated with the newly-revised Laws of Guyana. He has successfully remedied similar discrepancies associated with revised laws in countries such as Fiji, Belize, Dominica, and many others, including CARICOM member countries.

Also, a team has been set up within the Law Revision Unit of the Ministry of Legal Affairs – to be

GTA head proposes making Lethem airstrip a hub ––for regional, international travel SPEAKING at a press conference yesterday at the Guyana Tourism Authority’s (GTA) boardroom, President of the GTA, Indranauth Haralsingh, noted that making the Lethem airstrip an access point for regional travel will be beneficial for tourism and Guyana as a whole.

Haralsingh noted that as Guyana strives to be a hub for regional transportation, there will be greater need for access points or airports in Guyana.

He noted that Lethem, which is located in Region 9, is one of the most strategic areas in terms of trading in Guyana.

Lethem has one of the largest runways in Guyana, and is second only to the one at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), he said.

Haralsingh noted that such a huge runway should be converted in such a way that there could be both international and regional flights in and out of Guyana.

He further stated that “the Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn and the Government are committed to building an airport facility at the Lethem airstrip by next year.”

BENEFITS OF AIRPORT The GTA’s director stated that currently there are no direct flights to and from Brazil, and when converted the Lethem airstrip will open opportunities to make these flights a possibility.

Haralsingh added that northern Brazil has been looking to locate markets in Guyana for a while now and the implementing of the airport facility at Lethem will allow for more communication and transportation of goods and services between the two countries.

Apart from Brazil, he noted that there could also be other flights from Europe and other South American countries, thereby allowing Guyana’s tourism industry to expand.

headed by Justice Zuru -- to begin the process of addressing the deficiencies.

Included on the team are Ms. Cheyenne Lall, State Counsel assigned to the Law Revision Unit, and Ms. Renée K. Sandiford, legal assistant within the Law Revision Unit.

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From left are Ms. Renée K. Sandiford, Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, Justice Abdullah Zuru, and Ms. Cheyenne Lall

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

Assistant Commissioner Balram Persaud hospitalised THE second in command of the Guyana Police Force, Assistant Commissioner of Police Balram Persaud, was up to late yesterday a patient in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Persaud who a few years ago underwent a heart surgery was reportedly rushed to the health facility on Saturday following a misunderstanding with a family member but was discharged.

However yesterday morning

ACP Balram Persaud

the senior police officer was again rushed to the health facility, this time in a more serious condition and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the police on Saturday received a report of a development at the home of the senior police officer which had the potential to get out of hand.

The police responded and Persaud and another relative were invited to the police station where they

each made a report pertaining to the incident but so far no statements were taken in relation to the matter.

Sources close to the senior police officer have confirmed reports that Persaud is alert and responding to relatives and friends who have paid him visits, which are being monitored by doctors.

Persaud has been serving the Guyana Police Force for many years and in many capacities, including divisional commander of at least two po-

lice divisions. He served in the Police ‘C’ and ‘D’ Divisions.

While serving as the ‘C’ Division Commander he was hospitalised with a heart problem and after returning to work he was then posted to ‘D’ Division where he has been credited with being one of the most effective commanders within that division, bringing crime and other unlawful activities under control.

Assistance Commissioner of Police Balram Persaud is at present serving as the

Assistant Commissioner of Police for the force’s administration. He was removed as the Commander of ‘D’ Division after his driver reportedly shot and killed a drug rehabilitation counselor a few years back while he was performing chauffeur duties for the then commander. Ironically, the policeman who was a sergeant at the time and was charged for murder was recently freed by the High Court.

CID brings cheer to police youth club in Rosemary Lane ALTHOUGH he was not there in person, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud, in collaboration with Crime Chief Leslie James and the Criminal Investigation Department ranks yesterday held the Force’s annual Christmas luncheon for the children of the Rosemary Lane youth group, a tradition which started in 1992 under the late Commissioner of Police, Laurie Lewis, DSM. Speaking on behalf of

the Top Cop, the Crime Chief expressed appreciation that the Force has been able to continue the tradition.

James said that he was pleased with the talent which the children displayed, since the hallmark of the initiative between the Police and the community of Rosemary Lane was to have the children engaged in vocational skills, building interpersonal skills and other disciplines.

He commended the police ranks and the other contribu-

tors to the programme for a job well done in their tutoring of the young boys and girls.

Gratitude was also offered to Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud and the police administrative team.

Meanwhile, Woman Cadet Officer Halley, who gave an overview of the programme, said that for the New Year the police will be looking to expand its programme in Rosemary Lane. She said that the children during this year were exposed to various skills

A Rosemary Lane group renders a song at their Christmas party

A young man is all smiles as he is about to collect a gift from Crime Chief Leslie James Senior police ranks who were present at the Rosemary Lane event yesterday

Monday December 8, 2014 – 05:00hrs Tuesday December 9, 2014 – 05:00hrs

training which included lectures on child, domestic and other forms of abuse.

They were also given religious guidance and the methods and practices they should adopt to abstain from drugs.

Also this year, 18 of the children were participants in the Women Police Youth Camp on the Linden Highway.

There was also a summer camp, which was organised by the CID, where the young children were exposed to developmental classes in Mathematics and English. There are also persons from the Supreme Court who have been working with the young people, according to the young senior officer during her overview.

For the New Year also, the children would also be engaged in photography and music and would also be encouraged to make the Guyana Police Force their career of choice.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 8, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE MONDAY December 8, 2014

Australia brace for emotional Test in Adelaide

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - The first Test Australia hosts against India this week is set to be fraught with conflicting emotions as players return to battle with a mixture of relief and apprehension after the tragic death of Phillip Hughes.

The Adelaide Oval was Hughes’ adopted home ground after his move from New South Wales, and both teams will pay tribute there to the batsman who died in hospital last month, two days after being struck by a short ball during a Sheffield Shield match.

A number of his Australia team mates were fielding for New South Wales when Hughes was felled at the Sydney Cricket Ground and all were present at his funeral last Wednesday, along with India batsman Virat Kohli.

Though the first Test was delayed and switched to Adelaide to allow players time to grieve, tomorrow’s opening day will be a leap into the unknown for a number of them.

“It’s been the most challenging, mental, couple of days I’ve had to go through in my career,” Australia all-

rounder Shane Watson, who was fielding when Hughes was struck, told reporters at training in Adelaide yesterday.- “Trying to process everything that happened, especially being there at the SCG. “But there’s no doubt I’ll be ready to go on Tuesday.”

Among a number of tributes, the Australian team will wear armbands and the number 408 on their playing shirts, a reference to Hughes, the 408th cricketer to play a Test match for Australia.

The fast bowler’s use of the bouncer has come under scrutiny in the wake of Hughes’ death, with some pundits calling for it to be further limited or even banned altogether.

Few expect either team’s pacemen to eschew the delivery at Adelaide, however, and former Australia players have called on them to send down a bouncer first thing to “clear the air”.

Australia have long prided themselves on “tough, aggressive” cricket, particularly on their fast and bouncy home pitches, but their approach to the game will be under heavy scrutiny.

India will head into the match underdone, having had only one two-day tour

match against a rookie local XI to warm up, with cricket virtually halted in Australia after Hughes’ death.

Uncertainty pervades both sides in terms of their lineups, with fitness queries over captains Michael Clarke and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Clarke returned to training on Saturday as he races to recover from his third hamstring injury in three months. Dhoni was expected to train yesterday after being sidelined with a broken thumb.

Team mates have backed both to lead tomorrow, but vice-captain and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin will take over if Clarke fails to prove his fitness, with batsman Kohli standing in for Dhoni.

India, who were whitewashed 4-0 in their last tour Down Under in 2011-12, have won only once from 10 Test matches against Australia at Adelaide Oval, their sole victory coming in 2003.

They are likely to need to record their second win at the ground this week if they are to have any hope of a breakthrough Test series win Down Under.

Sri Lanka edge England to go 3-1 up in ODI series COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - Kumar Sangakkara laid the foundation before Angelo Mathews completed a nervy chase as Sri Lanka beat England by six wickets in the fourth one-day international to go 3-1 up in the seven-match series yesterday.

Sangakkara hit a sparkling 86 but it was Mathews’ fine, if not flawless, captain’s knock of 51 not out that helped the hosts overwhelm the 266-run victory target with two balls to spare at Colombo’s R Premadasa

Stadium.

James Taylor’s careerbest 90 and Eoin Morgan’s belligerent 62 had powered England to 265 all out in 50 overs, nine of the wickets claimed by spinners.

Sri Lanka looked in trouble at 69 for two but Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, who have played over 800 ODIs between them, added 96 runs for the third wicket to put the chase back on track.

Jayawardene dragged a Chris Jordan delivery onto his stumps to depart, while Sangakkara perished chasing a wide delivery from the same bowler.

England maintained the pressure and were nearly rewarded but Alex Hales spilled a Mathews catch in the 46th over from an exasperated Jordan.

Despite conceding 20 extra runs including 12 wide balls, the visiting bowlers showed enough fight to take the game to the last over but Mathews hit Steven Finn for a boundary to bring up his 50 and seal victory.

Pallekele hosts the fifth match on Wednesday.

Earlier, regular England captain Alastair Cook’s suspension, due to a slow overrate offence, handed Taylor an opportunity and the 24-yearold grabbed it.

Opting to bat first, England wobbled early as Hales fell for a golden duck and the inform Moeen Ali (19) was sent back by Tillakaratne Dilshan (3-64).

The 93-run partnership between Taylor and Joe Root (36) steadied the innings before left-arm spinner Rangana Herath (3-36) dismissed Root.

Taylor, who completed his maiden ODI fifty in 69 balls with the help of two fours and as many sixes, developed cramps and became one of the three victims of spinner Ajantha Mendis.

At 170 for three in the 35th over, England looked set for a huge total but the Sri Lankan spinners, who bowled the final 21 overs of the innings, showed considerable discipline to restrict the visitors.

T&T Red Force ...

From back page At lunch, Guyana Jaguars were 413 for 8 off 133 overs, scoring 113 runs from the 32 overs bowled by the Red Force in the session for the loss of Bishoo, caught at deep extra cover by Akeil Hosein off Jason Mohammed for 27, having added 62 for the sixth wicket with Singh who followed next.

Lapsing in concentration, the Guyanese skipper was brilliantly stumped

by Nicholas Pooran off Mohammed for 141 (312 mins, 227 balls, 17x4) at 360 for 7, while the third wicket was that of Anthony Bramble, who was caught by Daniel St Clair at deep midwicket off Mohammed for 13.

The 27-year-old Barnwell was on 33 and Permaul, who steered the final delivery from Hosein before the break to third man for four, on 15 and after the break, Barnwell steered a loose delivery from St Clair to third man for four and got his 1 000th first class run with his sixth four off Hosein.

Like Singh, Chandrika and Reifer before him, Barnwell posted the fourth half-century in the Jaguars’ innings and his fifth overall, from 62 balls faced while batting for 69 minutes, hitting six fours and clearing the ropes once, as his team progressed to 438, a lead of 240.

A six from Permaul over midwicket off Marlon Richards pushed the Jaguars to 488 while one run later, he posted a new ninth-wicket partnership with Barnwell, eclipsing the 108 between Bishoo and Narsingh Deonarine against the same team at the Guyana National Stadium, six years ago.

When the 25-year-old Permaul got his 50 off 72 balls with three fours and one six at 14:00hrs, Singh brought the proceedings to a close by making the declaration with Barnwell unbeaten on 65 (6x4, 1x6) off 108 balls - the duo

Scoreboard T&T RED FORCE 1st innings 198 GUYANA Jaguars 1st innings (o/n 300 for 5) T. Griffith c wkp.

Pooran b Emrit 8 R. Chandrika c Ottley b Hosein 60 S. Hetmyer b Khan 31 N. Deonarine c Ottley b Hosein 21 V. Singh stp. wkp.

Pooran b Mohammed 141 R. Reifer b St Clair 58 D. Bishoo c Hosein b Mohammed 27 C. Barnwell not out 65 A. Bramble c St Clair b Mohammed 13 V. Permaul not out 50 Extras: (b-7, lb-5, w-1, nb-5) 18 Total (for 8 wkts decl’d off 152.3 overs) 492 Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-84, 3-115, 4-146, 5-292, 6-354, 7-360, 8-380.

Bowling: Richards 22-6-600 (w-1) Emrit 17-9-28-1 St Clair 21-3-76-1 (nb-5) Khan 35-4-123-1 Hosein 27-5-1052 Mohammed 16-1-41-3 Ottley 4.3-0-5-0 Cariah 5-028-0 Simmons 5-1-14-0 T&T RED FORCE 2nd innings L. Simmons b Beaton 10 E. Lewis c & b Reifer 3 Y. Ottley c Reifer b Beaton 0 Y. Cariah not out 21 J. Mohammed c Singh b Permaul 16 D. St Clair not out 8 Total: (for 4 wkts, off 16 overs) 58 Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-12, 3-14, 4-50.

Bowling: Beaton 5-0-16-2, Reifer 4-1-12-1, Permaul 4-1-17-1 Barnwell 2-0-11-0 Deonarine 1-0-2-0. adding a record 112 for the ninth wicket.

Rain stopped play for 89 minutes after one ball was bowled in the home team’s second innings, but when the action continued, Ronsford Beaton produced a stunner to account for Lendl Simmons 10 (1x4) while Reifer held one from Yannick Ottley (0) that rebounded from Bramble’s gloves at second slip, leaving the home team on 12 for 2.

A beautiful catch on his follow-through by Reifer, accounted for Evin Lewis (3) two runs later at 14 for 3, but resistance from Yannich Cariah and Mohammed, which included a pulled four through mid-wicket off Barnwell, pushed the Red Force to 40 for 3, needing 254 more to avoid an innings defeat.

They got to 50 off 15 overs, with Cariah 21 and Mohammed 16, but lost Mohammed soon after, caught at extra cover

by Singh off Permaul, who was struck for two fours by St Clair, before bad light stopped play at 17:23hrs with Red Force 58 for 4, needing 236 more to avoid an innings defeat.

GUYANA CHRONICLE MONDAY December 8, 2014

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Guyana’s getting more offers of foreign aid - AAG president

By Leeron Brumell

ATHLETICS in Guyana and athletes are getting more help to compete at more meets outside these borders.

It’s the word from the president of the Athletics Association, Aubrey Hutson.

In an interview on Friday, a day after he returned from a Presidents Management Course in Colombia, Huston told Chronicle Sport the performances of this country’s athletes are being recognised.

He said it’s a spinoff partially from Jason Yaw’s record-breaking gold medal 400m run at the South American Youth Championships just over a week ago and Natricia Hooper’s silver in the Girls 400m.

“The offers just started to come in. Colombia offered two tickets to its Pan American Youth Games May 15-16, ahead of World Youth Championships; Chile offered one ticket for a race walker, Argentina and Brazil offered tickets to the Grand Prix,” said an elated Hutson.

“It all comes back to show that once we as administrators in the sport are prepared to invest we

Aubrey Hutson, president of the Athletics Association of Guyana will get results. To me, it’s not that athletes weren’t there before, it was that the sport was not managed properly from a macrostandpoint and hence we’re getting now the true results of what we’re looking for,’ said he from his office in Light Street, Alberttown.

“What I’ve been stressing to my executives is that we double whatever quota comes to us for games.”

“We need to realise with the IAAF is that your quota can only go up if you send more athletes and they make the finals, so if you

keep accepting what they send to you, you would never move.’

Hutson said it has been the policy of his executive to send as many athletes to meets.

‘All the championships that we got invited to, when they send one ticket or two tickets, we try to send four or at least three.’

“I was surprised one of the Council Members from the United Arab Emirates sent me a congratulatory message on the two bronze medals that we got in Squash at the CAC Games and now again they said “you guys are doing good, your times are getting better, continue to do the good work. How can we help?”

South Korea, Hutson said, has pledged to send four kits for Kids athletics with their number matched by world renowned and record holder in the Pole Vault, Sergey Bubka.

Bubka, who has served as a vice-president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) since 2007, was in Colombia for the Youth Games. He has signalled his intention to run for the presidency of the association.

That aside, Hutson said there was a ‘gentleman’s

agreement’ on raising the level of competition for the annual South American 10km races.

“I lobbied hard for Guyana so we said Guyana will host the first leg and if they (athletes) come, we will host them until the Tuesday or Wednesday.

They then go over to Suriname to run on the Saturday and they are going to host them and then they go the following week to Panama. So we all agreed to those dates that we’re going to have our 10km and make it easy so everybody can complete the whole circuit.”

That agreement is to be put in black and white when the member associations meet for their congress, next month in Manaus, Brazil.

Argentina and Paraguay have given verbal agreements to send athletes to the 10km road races.

At the Ordinary Congress, the presidents of the associations within South American also did a Swat analysis on issues in one’s country, the SA bloc and at the IAAF level.

The information from that session is to be discussed and concrete decisions taken at the Congress in January.

Mae’s Under-12 cop Best School at Inter-school Tennis 10s MAE’S Under-12 claimed the Best School Trophy when play in the Guyana Tennis Association’s 2014 Christmas Inter-school Tennis 10s competition was held at the New Guyana School on Saturday.

The title was won based on their participation and performance in the minitennis matches.

To add to their performance, Ashanti Persaud won the Girls title with Sunnah Sealy of Redeemer Primary as the runner-up.

Armani Wachira of Georgetown International Academy won the Boys title while Nathan Wills of Green Acres was the runner-up.

Adelicia Andries of West Ruimveldt won a new Wilson racquet donated

GPF’s Night of Fights

Devon Thomas promoted on conclusion of GPF’s `Boxing card

By Michael DaSilva PROFESSIONAL boxer Devon Thomas got an onthe-spot promotion from the rank of constable to that of full corporal when the Guyana Police Force’s `Night of Fights’ concluded at the Tactical Service Unit’s (TSU) tarmac on Saturday evening.

Thomas, who was a constable with the GPF until Saturday evening, fought an exhibition three-round contest with Constable Rawle Smith, but the bout ended in a draw.

Thereafter, acting Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud announced that because of Thomas’ achievements as a professional boxer over the years that he has been serving in the GPF, he is elevated to the rank of Corporal with immediate effect.

Saturday’s night card consisted of 11 bouts including the exhibition bout between Thomas and Smith.

The winners of each of the other 10 bouts received $10 000 each along with a trophy, while the loser of each fight was rewarded with $5 000 and a trophy, all compliments of the GPF. The GPF’s `Fight Night’ programme started a few years ago, but there were difficulties in staging it over the past two years.

However, a GPF source told Chronicle Sport that the activity will become an annual one.

Among the senior officers who witnessed Saturday night’s card were: Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations) David Ramnarine, Commander

`A’ Division Senior Superintendent Clifton Hicken, Commander `C’ Division; Assistant Commissioner of Police Christopher Griffith, Senior Superintendant of Police and Commander of `D’ Division Ian Amsterdam.

The GPF’s `Night of Fights’ programme was the brainchild of Acting Commissioner of Police Ramnarine and was supported by head of the GPF’s Tactical Service Unit’s head, Superintendant Errol Watts.

It was and has always been contested between ranks from the TSU and those from the Felix Austin Training School.

In results from Saturday Night’s card, Constable Bearam defeated Constable Wills in a 69kg contest, while Constable Rodrigues beat Constable Duke in a 68kg bout.

Constable Gaspar defeated Constable Warner in a 57kg bout while Constable Stephens made light work of Constable Halley in a catch-weight contest and in another catch-weight contest, Constable Evans beat Constable Harry.

Constable Marian overcame Constable Gibbons in a 67kg contest, Constable Charles destroyed Constable Moses in a 51kg contest and Constable Ridley overpowered Constable Newton in a catch-weight fight.

Meanwhile, the Best Boxer award went to Rigby who was awarded with $15 000 from the Acting Commissioner of Police, while Williams who lost his bout was adjudged the Most Exciting Fighter on the night’s card. He also received $15 000.

NOTABLE DATES

Tennis winners - L-R: Mae’s representative for Best School, Nathan Wills of Green Acres Primary, Ashanti Persaud from Mae’s Under-12, Armani Wachira of Georgetown International Academy and Sunnah Sealy of Redeemer Primary. by the Charlotte Street Wesleyan Church for Most Outstanding Player.

Seventy-eight matches were played on a roundrobin basis among 19 girls and 11 boys. Eleven schools participated.

T o u r n a m e n t coordinator and coach Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan noted the lower-than-usual overall turnout but was pleased with the number of girls who played.

The International

Tennis Federation (ITF) has declared the first half of 2015 as a special period for Girls Tennis and has encouraged its member organisations to ensure that more girls participate in the sport.

TWENTY-year-old welterweight Pascal David made his professional debut on December 8, 1989.

However, it was not on a successful note as David was defeated by compatriot Brian Koulen on points after six rounds. The fight was held in Koulen’s adopted country French Guiana.

David became the Guyana welterweight champion when he knocked out Michael Benjamin in October 1993.

Gangly junior lightweight Kenny Bristol kept his unbeaten record clean, when he pounded out a points-decision (eight rounds) over American Dick Fisher on December 8, 1979 at the Sportski Centar in Split, Croatia. Bristol, at that time the Commonwealth champion, improved his record to 13-0. The year was the busiest in the career of the Guyanese as he engaged in five fights.

The junior middleweight fight between Raul Frank and American Thomas Davis held on December 8, 2006 ended in a Technical Draw. Scheduled for eight rounds, the event was halted at the end of round two after an intentional head butt by Frank.

This forced referee Johnny Callas to deduct two points and the doctor to stop the fight.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE MONDAY December 8, 2014

Game on edge as spinners dominate

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) – Rookie left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican nabbed his second fivewicket haul in first class cricket to hand Barbados Pride a solid first-innings lead, but West Indies offspinner Shane Shillingford countered for Windward Islands Volcanoes to leave the fourth round contest on a knife’s edge here yesterday.

At the close of the penultimate day at Arnos Vale, Barbados had stumbled to 93 for five in their second innings, an overall lead of 171 runs.

They were undermined

by Shillingford who has taken three for 24 including the wicket of top-scorer Shai Hope who made 34.

Earlier, Warrican and offspinning counterpart Ashley Nurse combined for nine wickets as the Windwards crashed to 274 all out in their first innings to concede a 78run lead.

This was despite a maiden first-class hundred from West Indies limited overs batsman Johnson

Johnson Charles drives en route to his career-best 151.

(Photo courtesy WICB Media) Charles who carved out a superb 151.

Resuming the day on 151 for two with Charles on 79 and Andre Fletcher on 35, the Windwards coasted to 206 without further loss before losing their last eight wickets for 68 runs.

Warrican was the chief destroyer with five for 75 while Nurse picked up four

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for 56.

Charles defied them, however, crafting an innings from 298 balls in nearly 6-1/2 hours while hammering 12 fours and three sixes.

He put on 150 for the third wicket with Fletcher whose 61 came from 161 balls in 203 minutes and contained eight fours and three sixes.

However, once Fletcher

tapped a return catch back to Nurse and Sunil Ambris was taken at short leg in the bowler’s next over, without scoring, the innings went to ruins.

Charles was eventually ninth out, driving Warrican to Nurse at cover.

Barbados’ hopes of capitalising on their lead were dashed early when they slipped to 18 for two.

Kyle Corbin was bowled by left-arm seamer Kenroy Peters without scoring in the second over with just one on the board and lefthander Jonathan Carter followed soon afterward, lbw to seamer Mervin Mathew for four.

Opener Hope then struck five fours in 62 balls at the crease, adding 30 for the third wicket with first innings century-maker Roston Chase who got 11.

But Shillingford then went to work, prising out Chase, then Hope to a catch at cover before trapping wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich lbw for 20 late in the day.

Jamaica Franchise rebound to within sight of victory THE Jamaica Franchise team is closing in on victory against Leeward Islands Hurricanes in their fourthround fixture of the WICB Professional Cricket League Four-Day tournament at Sabina Park.

After a strong fight back from the Leewards’ lower order batsmen on yesterday’s third day, Jamaica Franchise clawed their way back and at stumps were 42 runs away from victory.

The hosts will enter the final day today on 160 for four, chasing 195 for victory.

John Campbell 63 and David Bernard Jr 33 are the batsmen at the crease.

Veteran seamer Gavin Tonge again led the Leewards’ bowling attack with two for 37, while Jeremiah Louis and medium pacer Orlando Peters secured the other two wickets.

Earlier, Rahkeem Cornwall hit his highest first class score to lead a fight back from the visitors.

Cornwall hammered 95 as the Leewards, resuming

Scoreboard BARBADOS PRIDE 1st innings 320 WINDWARDS 1st innings (o/n 151 for two) T. Theophile b Warrican 20 J. Charles c Nurse b Warrican 151 K. Lesporis c (sub.)

Williams b Warrican 8 A. Fletcher c & b Nurse 61 S. Ambris c Hope b Nurse 0 R. Currency lbw b Nurse 3 S. Shillingford c Hope b Nurse 5 L. Sebastian c Chase b Warrican 6 A. Bobb c Nurse b Chase 4 M. Matthew not out 0 K. Peters c wkp. Dowrich b Warrican 0 Extras: (b-8, lb-2, w-1, nb5) 16 Total: (all out, 99.5 overs) 274 Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-56, 3-206, 4-212, 5-228, 6-244, 7-265, 8-272, 9-274.

Bowling: Cummins 7-228-0, Smith 11-1-35-0, Brathwaite 11-2-42-0, Warrican 30.5-8-75-5, Nurse 20-4-56-4, Chase 13-3-21-1, Carter 2-0-7-0.

BARBADOS 2nd innings K. Cobin b Peters 0 S. Hope c Mathew b Shillingford 34 J. Carter lbw b Mathew 4 R. Chase c Fletcher b Shillingford 11 S. Dowrich lbw b Shillingford 20 C. Brathwaite not out 15 A. Nurse not out 5 Extras: (b-1, lb-2, nb-1) 4 Total: (5 wkts, 40 overs) 93 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-18, 3-48, 4-57, 5-81.

Bowling: Mathew 6-415-1, Peters 9-3-25-1, Shillingford 14-5-24-3, Bobb 10-3-25-0, Theophile 1-0-1-0.

Position: Barbados lead by 171 runs.

Mae’s humble GIA 8-3 in friendly clash MAE’S School produced magical work in the second half to trample Georgetown International Academy (GIA) 8-3 in a friendly football match played at the Police Ground, Eve Leary, last Friday.

Spearheaded by a dream run from dapper striker Darshan Persaud, Mae’s clawed their way back from being down 3-1 at halftime, to spring a surprise on their bewildered opponents in the second stanza.

Playing a more physical and aggressive game in the first half, GIA pounced on the seemingly relaxed Mae’s side and were up 3-0 with the game 25 minutes old.

Urged on my games master Ronald Austin, a sizeable group of supporters and several policemen from Traffic Headquarters, Mae’s found new life when the game resumed after the break as their opponents’ energy faded.

Persaud, evidently the star of the game, broke the back of GIA with sublime moves and teamed up with fellow striker Alec Hopkinson to create havoc in the defence.

With the precision of a marksman, Persaud fired in three goals.

Hopkinson was not to be left out as he netted thrice. Imanuel Trotman netted the other two goals for the boys from Subryanville.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER Rahkeem Cornwall hit his highest first class score of 95. their second innings on 155 for six, made 313 Captain Tamar Lambert denied Cornwall his century by having the batsman caught behind by wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jr. Lambert, Nikita Miller and Damion Jacob ended with three wickets each.

Montcin Hodge 58, Jahmar Hamilton 44, Lyndell Richardson 36 also made good contributions for the Leewards.

Scores in the match entering the final day are:Jamaica 222 and 160 for four; Leewards 103 and 313. (Sportsmax.com)

(Monday December 08, 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) 3 (2) 35.91 Today’s Quiz: (1) How many catches Phil Hughes took in Tests?

(2) Two hundred and five (205) players have represented Australia in ODIs to date. Where does Phil Hughes place?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

GUYANA CHRONICLE MONDAY December 8, 2014

31

Beavers and Wales advance in Banks Vita Malta/Aqua WDFA football

Wales FC hero Keton Boyce WALES FC send Bagotville packing, thanks to a classic 32nd minute header from Keton Boyce, while Beavers crushed Young Achievers 4-0 to advance in the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) Banks Vita Malta/ Aqua Mist Knockout tournament at the Den Amstel Community Centre.

Following the official opening ceremony and march past of participating teams, a lively crowd at Den Amstel was kept entertained

by Wales Football Club who are known as the underdogs on the ‘West Side’.

Bagotville were supposed to win; after all, Wales are the usual whipping boys of the WDFA, but, motivated by the $1M first place prize up for grabs, things changed yesterday.

Boyce, a defender, climbed high to clinically head home from a corner kick and that was more than enough to send his team (Wales FC) through to the next round.

Meanwhile, in the day’s second game of the planned double-header, Young Achievers only have themselves and probably the well-played game of football by Beavers to blame for their downfall.

Beaten! Young Achievers custodian is caught by Chronicle photographer Sonell Nelson, being beaten by Martin Babb’s penalty in the 53rd minute.

Gauche defending by the Young Achievers led to an own goal in the 39th minute and the mistake clearly placed a damper of their showing on the pitch.

The first half ended 1-0; and a questionable penalty which was given by the referee resulted in Martin Babb

converting from the charity spot in the 53rd minute.

Maxwell Trapp extended the lead in the 72nd minute while Andrew St Hill put the icing on the cake in the 86th minute to secure the win for Beavers FC.

UDFA launches second GT Beer KO tournament $1M up for grabs

Executives and affiliated clubs of the UDFA at the launching of the second Banks GT Beer Knockout tournament THE Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) last Saturday launched its second installation of the Banks GT Beer knockout football tournament.

Sixteen teams, (Winners

Connection, Milerock, NetRockers, Eagles United, Botofago, Peace Makers, Kwakwani Strikers, Vasco, Silver Shattas, Hi-Stars, Mahdia, Block 22, Goal Getters, Snatchers, Amelia’s Ward Panthers and Blue

Berry Hill) all from the mining town of Linden will do battle for the tournament’s $1M first place prize while second through fourth are set to pocket $600 000, $400 000 and $200 000.

The competition kicks

off on Sunday December 14, at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground with one game from 20:00hrs with debutants Mahdia FC squaring off against Block 22 FC after the scheduled gala opening ceremony.

The team finishing second will pocket $500 000, third-placers $300 000 and fourth-placers $100 000.

Incentives are up for grabs for the player adjudged the most Valuable (MVP), highest goals scorer and best goalkeeper.

Cricket Guy Inc. and GCB congratulate Singh on his maiden Regional century THE Cricket Guy Inc. (CGI) Jaguars and the GCB wish to extend their sincerest congratulations and felicitations towards captain Vishaul ‘Cheesy’ Singh for registering his maiden unbeaten century on Saturday against the T&T Red Force. `Cheesy’ finished the day not out on 115, which has been described by all as an excellently crafted and constructed innings This century was long anticipated and was a true captain’s innings which has surely placed his team in a commanding position to win his first match, also as captain. He

has now silenced all of his critics and detractors with an unblemished and match-winning performance. His team now lead by 102 with 2 days to go.

The CGI Guyana Jaguars continue to have a great season save and except for a disastrous session last Monday against Barbados with very disappointing batting that cost them some crucial points.

The CGI and the GCB wish the team well for the remainder of the match and the season and urge that they remain focused on the job at hand. Continue to roar on together as Team Jaguar!

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Beavers and Wales advance in Banks Vita Malta/Aqua WDFA football See story on page 39

T&T Red Force facing defeat on final day … Barnwell and Permaul cash in on Jaguars runs-fest

By Calvin Roberts In Trinidad in association with GT&T, Wartsila and Lifetime Real Estate TWO FORMER skippers in Christopher Barnwell and Veerasammy Permaul cashed in on the runs feast that was being served by Trinidad and Tobago Red Force yesterday, as Guyana Jaguars tightened their grip on their fourth round West Indies Cricket Board/Professional Cricket League four-day match at the Queen’s Park Oval yesterday.

Scores to date: T&T Red Force 198 & 58 for 4, Guyana Jaguars 492 for 8 decl.

The Jaguars resumed play yesterday with skipper Vishaul ‘Cheesy’ Singh on 115 and Devendra Bishoo yet to score, while their total read 300 for 5. They progressed to 492 for 8 and declared at 14:00hrs, with Barnwell unbeaten on 65 and Permaul 50, the duo adding 112 for the ninth wicket.

This was a new record by the Guyanese pair against the Twin Island Republic team, eclipsing the 108 for the same wicket made by Bishoo and Narsingh Deonarine at the Guyana National Stadium six years ago, leading their side to a 294-run lead.

Turn to page 28

Christopher Barnwell cuts during his unbeaten 65 on the third day of the fourth round match between Trinidad & Tobago Red Force and Guyana Jaguars in the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament at Queen’s Park Oval. (Photo

by WICB Media/Ashley Allen)

Dharry claims IBF Inter-Continental title

Elton Dharry

ELTON Dharry added new jewellery to his collection when he won the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) InterContinental bantamweight title Saturday night, Dharry, who turned 29 last week, won a lop-sided unanimous victory over Nicaraguan Jose Rios

at the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium in Philipsburg, St Maarten. Judges Ricky Gonzalez, Robin Taylor and Daniel Ottley all scored it 118-109 in favour of the Guyanese.

It was the first fight for the 24-yearold Nicaraguan bantamweight champion outside his homeland. The win improved Dharry’s record to 17

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victories against five losses and one drawn fight and puts him in line to pick up a world rating.

He has a 14-fight winning streak and has not lost in five years. His last defeat came in September 2009 when he was edged in a fourrounder by Isander Beauchamp.

Rios’ record dropped to 12-2-1.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2014