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ACDA on warpath against drug abuse

No. 104332

MONDAY OCTOBER 5, 2015 GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

INCLUDING VAT

…to target schools, communities in anti-drug campaign P.3

19-year-old Christopher Fernandes Murder suspect 25-year-old Dellon Henry

18-year-old John McRae

Suspect in East Ruimveldt 2 ‘hit’ nabbed in Agricola sting P.

The bullet proof vest and other items found in the house

Probe finds several shortcomings at CHEC worksite P 5 .

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 5, 2015

PPP bungled fibre-optic cable project …Granger says its dead, waste of money By Ariana Gordon “Dead; a waste of money,” is how President David Granger described the bungled fibre-optic cable project started under the People’s Progressive Party administration. “We would like to feel that the fibre optic cable we inherited is dead, there is no indication that it could be revived, it would have to be done all over again and we are tendering for that. It is not possible to rehabilitate what we have found on the ground. It is just a bad project; it is just a waste of money,” said Granger when asked to provide an update on the status and future plan for that project. The project referenced by Granger is the Brazil-Guyana Fibre-Optic cable that commenced in 2011. The aim being to, establish among

other things, a database hub for all government agencies. Improved internet access was expected to be part of the package. In June, Minister of State Joseph Harmon told the media that Guyana has accumulated US76, 000 debt for internet connectivity though the country has not yet benefitted from the project. He announced that government would be re-entering discussions with Brazil on the project to see if a better deal can be arrived at. Noting that the project absorbed millions of taxpayers’ dollars, it is expected that over the next few months discussions will be had on ‘value for money’ with respect to that project. The Fibre-Optic cable project falls under the former government’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) Initiative. The US$32M Govern-

ment’s E-Governance unit is focused on two aspects of ICT namely transmission network which speaks to the fibre-optic cable network that allows for high speed data, voice and video communication and data network where there would be a centralised system that will accommodate government ICT plans, provide internet service and the like. Early 2012, (former) Project head, Alexi Ramotar, who is also former President Donald Ramotar’s son, said that the laying of the 560 kilometers conduit was done and has been hooked up to ‘Oi’, the Brazilian telecommunications provider that was expected to provide Guyana access to the rest of the world. In November of the same year, it was reported to Cabinet that in addition to the fibre-optic cable, five repeater stations along the Lethem to

Georgetown route have been constructed but in September it was reported in the press that Government was experiencing difficulty with the fibre optic cable project. Since then questions have surfaced about the feasibility of the project and the benefits to be received by the Guyanese people. In April this year, the former government announced that the damaged fibre-optic cable was being rehabilitated by Dax Contracting Services managed by Faisal Mohamed and would be completed six months after. However following the change of government, it was discovered that Mohamed through his company was benefitting from a lucrative deal. Dax’s contract has since been terminated by the current administration. The US$32M three component project was aimed at connecting government units along the Linden-Lethem road and the coastland with good quality connectivity.

The other two components included a cable from Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, through Georgetown to Moleson Creek, East Berbice, and a data Centre with 54 towers that will create a wireless network. Meanwhile, President Granger said where other aspects of information technology are concerned, Government has examined the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) located in Turkeyen and is in the process of “creating a new regime, which would probably be merged with the National Data Management Authority” He noted that “it is too soon to tell but work is being done to improve our bandwidth, our interconnectivity, improve access to the internet countrywide, particularly for education also for business. In fact, there are no limits to information and communications technology.”

President Granger strongly believes that Guyanese need to “get out of this one laptop mentality”. “We must get out of the mentality of where we give these devices as toys or trinkets at Christmas time and give people wider access. Every single government building must have access, every school, university, hospital, every police station … we just have to catch up with the rest of the world and we are much too slow.” Notwithstanding the challenges faced, President Granger said a stronger department is being set up within the Ministry of the Presidency that will coordinate the NDMA which has been “reduced, underutilized for the last 20 years.” A “super structure” he said is being created to have a greater impact on business, education and e-governance.” The entire E-governance structure is currently being revamped.

Suspect in East Ruimveldt ‘hit’ nabbed in Agricola sting By Leroy Smith A MAN wanted by the police for questioning into the execution-style killing last week of East Ruimveldt resident, Dexter Griffith, was arrested yesterday in Agricola. The man, 25-year-old Dellon Henry, also known as “Nasty Man”, was arrested by ranks from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Brickdam Police

Station, following a tip-off that a certain house on Second Street, Agricola, which is usually unoccupied, is a meeting place for young men of questionable character. Nabbed also in the sting yesterday were 19-year-old Christopher Fernandes, who gave his address as Lot 25 Supply, East Bank Demerara; and 18-year-old John McRae, who said he lives at 25 N Supply, East Bank Demerara. Henry, who gave his address as Houston, East Bank Demerara, is suspected to be the trigger man in last Thursday’s shooting of Griffith a few corners from his East Ruimveldt home. Police sources have

19-year-old Christopher Fernandes

Murder suspect 25-year-old Dellon Henry

The bullet proof vest and other items found in the house

18-year-old John McRae

confirmed that during their search of the Agricola premises, they found in Henry’s possession an unlicensed .38 revolver with six matching rounds and two .32 live

rounds of ammunition. Also found in the house during the raid were a bullet-proof vest, a knife, a small quantity of marijuana, and a Turn to page 9 ►

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 5, 2015

ACDA on warpath against drug abuse …to target schools, communities in anti-drug campaign AMID strong calls for the legalisation of marijuana here, the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) last Friday launched a countrywide campaign dubbed- Research Evocations on Social Conduct Urgencies (RESCU) aimed at sensitising youths about the harmful effects of drugs. RESCU Coordinator Barrington Braithwaite said that misinformation has led many to participate in, and embrace, drug abuse without reservations. “You’re being told marijuana is great… cocaine is recreational,” he posited. His team will visit communities and schools countrywide and assist the media in disseminating information about the use of drugs, the effects of which are, in many cases, lethal. Braithwaite has said that drug abuse contributes to the

increase in crime, domestic violence and various societal problems, and people need to be informed. He cited an emergency need, but said Guyana has only two known drug rehabilitation centres, four psychologists, and “several hundred people who need rehabilitation”. Voicing concern that drug addicts are sent to psychiatric wards and few magistrates confine them to rehabilitation centres, Brathwaite called on the judicial system to give “formal recognition” to the drive to stamp out drug use in Guyana, and assist in pushing for legislation in this regard. He named acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, the programme’s chief supporter, and said he opted to come on board on first contact. “He was the first authority to respond to us and say ‘yes, this is necessary’,” Braithwaite disclosed.

Clementine Marshall has said her heart goes out to drug abusers, since they by themselves are powerless against the substances. “If drugs were not that powerful, [users] would have been able to say they’re not using it again tomorrow; [and since] addiction is a sign of weakness, they need the strength.” RESCU is that help they need, and since the project under the auspices of ACDA does not alone have the capacity to “turnaround a hardened drug user”, it will strive “to put separation” between the persons not using drugs and the social ill. Marshall added that RESCU is intended as an outreach social information entity, gathering information on topics that are “non-complicated” in nature but affect citizens, and are “receiving no proactive response from any source that can be considered

more than mere superficial”. The topics selected must first be considered as affecting the current and future livelihoods of our young people, and through the domino effect, their parents and guardians, thus their communities, it was stated. Meanwhile, also addressing the launch of the programme Coordinator of the Phoenix Recovery Project, Clarence Young, said: “I want to suggest that ‘yes’ we could probably legalise marijuana, [but] after reviewing the effects of alcohol and tobacco.” Young said the authorities should choose wisely. Recent press reports have hinted that marijuana may possibly be legalised in Guyana, since the authorities had suggested that legislation surrounding its use may be reviewed. Prior to the APNU+AFC coalition assuming the reins of government, media sources had, in

February, said the APNU had not “shut out the possibility of legalising marijuana”. Young referred to a situation in which a young man in Guyana had tried using synthetic marijuana, popularly called ‘spice’, with extremely detrimental results. “He tried it, and four days after, he was taken off the life support machine and died.” Young said that government instead needs to come up with an “effective and comprehensive plan to deal with the drug issue”. He said that many people are punishing because of drug abuse. “There is a popular saying that ‘junkies’ don’t die that easy, they punish… and we have enough people punishing in Guyana,” the man noted. Justice Singh has said that a partnership approach is needed to tackle the problem of substance abuse, which he opined has

Coordinator of RESCU, Barrington Braithwaite

reached “chronic proportions”. In an invited comment, Justice Singh said that, from looking around and from information received from the press, one can conclude that the magnitude of the problem and its effects on the population call for urgent attention.

Still no word on missing Soldier shot in supermarket invasion listed as ‘stable’ tugboat captain, crew THE authorities here are yet to make headway on the whereabouts of captain and crew of the US-registered vessel, “Gage Paul Thornton”, which was to arrive here in September but never did. The vessel, a single-screw tugboat captained by veteran Guyanese seaman, Godfrey Roberts Snr and manned by a four-member crew, reportedly left New York in late July for Guyana, but has not been seen or heard of since, except for a chance mention that she had had to seek shelter in St Kitts from Tropical Storm Erika. This has since been confirmed by a recent posting on vesseltracker.com, saying: “The ‘Gage Paul Thornton’ with four persons on board was reported missing, and the last known position was on September 25, 2015, off the SW coast of St. Kitts.” In light of this development, relatives of the missing captain, better known as

Missing: Godfrey Roberts Snr., also known as “Captain Smokey”

‘Captain Smokey’, living in the United States have now launched an investigation of their own into his disappearance, as well as that of his crewmen. According to his son, Godfrey Roberts Jnr., his father had bought the vessel in New York, and was in the

process of delivering it to someone here in Guyana. “A third-party was supposed to receive the tug, once he arrived in Guyana,” he said. Noting that it's the third vessel his father had bought for the person, young Roberts said he is yet to find out who he or she is. He also surmised that his father may be stuck somewhere in the Caribbean Sea, and said he is optimistic that he will be found. “My father has sailed the seas for over 40 years,” he told the Guyana Chronicle last week. Godfrey Jnr. said that anyone with information pertaining to the missing tug may contact him in the U.S. on telephone number: 305-5228248. Tropical Storm Erika of August 2015 was reportedly the deadliest natural disaster to have occurred in Dominica since Hurricane David in 1979.

FOUR men armed with handguns entered the Andrew’s Supermarket on Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt Saturday night and robbed the proprietor Saikque Andrews. During the course of the robbery, a member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was hit by a round when the bandits opened fire. During the robbery, the proprietor was held at gunpoint, as the men blocked the entrance and exit of the supermarket sometime around 21:00hrs. Police say that the men held up the proprietor, 39-year-old Saikque Andrews and took away his jewellery and cell phone. The GDF rank, identified as Fayne George, 28, of De Kinderen Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara was shot in his right leg. He was listed as being in a stable condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The owner and management team of the supermar-

The Andrew’s Supermarket at Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt

ket were unavailable for comment yesterday, while only relatives were allowed to visit the GDF rank in hospital. The supermarket has been in operation for several years, and in addition to providing groceries, the location also has a money transfer service. The Andrews Supermarket had been robbed several times before. Last January, three bandits terrorised customers and staff. The men escaped with an undisclosed sum of cash. On that occasion a grey Toyota 212s pulled up

in front of the establishment and three masked men armed with “big guns” rushed inside the entity. The men then emptied the cash registers and relieved customers of their cellular phones and other valuables before making good their escape.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday October 5, 2015

Greenidge confirms...

US$10M for Lethem-Linden Road still to be sourced By Svetlana Marshall

FUNDING to execute an estimated US$10M engineering design for the critical Linden to Lethem Road is yet to be sourced, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge said yesterday. Since March 2014, the Guyana and Brazil governments have been discussing the financial aspect of the project after a proposal was submitted by a Joint Working Group established under the Guyana-Brazil Cooperation Agreement. Even as the Guyanese and Brazilian governments continue to explore their options, the Region 10 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) is currently crafting a “Plan of Action” for the development of the district, which includes upgrades to

the Linden to Lethem Road and the stretch of road from Linden to Kwakwani, according to Regional Chairman, Renis Morian who spoke to the Guyana Chronicle yesterday. According to Morian, under the stewardship of Mortimer Mingo, a former Regional Chairman, a development strategy was established and submitted to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration, but that was “swept under the mat.” “The development of the road is vital to the development of Linden, Region 10 and all of the communities along that corridor,” Morian said. He recalled that in 2005, the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (SEBRAE) and

the Chamber of Commerce of Roraima had proposed the movement of containers from Manaus to Linden by road, and then to Georgetown via the Demerara River, due to the economic viability of water transportation. At the time, it was costing them US$1,800 to send a 40foot container down south for destinations in Europe or North America. “It would have been a big opportunity for the people of Linden, and by extension Region 10, when you consider the creation of jobs, the possibility of improved infrastructure and commercial activities,” Morian said.

A section of the Linden to Lethem Road million Container Transshipment Terminal Project in Linden was subsequently initiated by the Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC) and the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP) in 2009. But by February 2012, the construction of the container transshipment terminal was put on hold owing to the deplorable condition of the Linden-Lethem Road. But while the poor state of the road has played a key role in halting the multimillion dollar project, Morian is of the firm belief that that the former PPP/C administration is to be blamed. “The

TRANSSHIPMENT TERMINAL After a fact-finding mission in Boa Vista, Manaus and Belem in 2007, a US$4

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problem came when the PPP/C government got involved. They told Go-Invest that Linden should not be a transshipment point. They wanted a port in Georgetown to be used. You see the whole objective of the PPP/C government was to under-develop Linden, so they would have stymied all of the projects that were proposed for Linden,” the Region 10 Chairman said emphatically. Both Guyanese and Brazilian nationals have long bemoaned the state of the Linden to Lethem Road, despite constant repairs by the Guyana government. Earlier in the year, renowned businessman Stanley Ming had also said that the road from Lethem to Port Georgetown is necessary if the country is to become a transshipment port. He said this project is not only important to Guyana but Brazil, explaining that one of Brazil’s major cities, Manaus, is home to some of the world’s major manufac-

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turers, including Yamaha, Suzuki and Mercedes Benz, which is many miles away from the mouth of the Amazon River. MANAUS TO ATLANTIC OCEAN “They don’t make the goods; they manufacture purely for Brazil. A lot of it is exported to the rest of the world,” he said, pointing out that the challenge is to get the goods from Manaus to the Atlantic Ocean. With no direct road link, goods are transported through the Amazon River by barge in a journey that takes nine days, he disclosed. According to him, Brazil understandably has been behind Guyana for decades to build the roadway to an Atlantic Port in Guyana, be it Georgetown, Essequibo or Berbice, whichever is more suitable. This, he said, will enable Brazil’s products to reach the Atlantic Ocean from Manaus in 24 hours, as against nine days.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 5, 2015

Probe finds several shortcomings at CHEC worksite By Ariana Gordon

CHINA Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) has been given a menu of measures to implement in order to maintain proper occupational health and safety standards at its Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) worksite at Timehri. The recommendations come in the wake of an accident which claimed the life of one of the company’s workers at the site recently. According to a preliminary report issued by the Ministry of Social Protection, CHEC has been tasked with maintaining correct records of the wages of every employee; training workers at construction sites on a regular basis on the importance of Safety and Health when carrying out tasks; posting an occupational safety and health Act at the worksite; reporting accidents in a timely manner according to Law; registering its business with the ministry of Social Protection, Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Department; and compensating the injured employee, according to a preliminary report seen by this publication. The report by the Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Department follows the death last month of Chinese engineer Liu Li and injury of his colleague, Zhan Yixun at the CJIA expansion site at Timehri. Many were the shortcomings discovered by the Ministry, which may have resulted in the death and injury of the two Chinese engineers. For instance, it was discovered that the accident was not reported to the Ministry of Social Protection; that both the deceased and injured CHEC employees had only begun working here on September 6 this year; and that both had no prior work experience, and had only graduated from universities in China in July. TAMPERED ACCIDENT SITE It was also discovered that at the time of the accident, the deceased, the injured employee, and an excavator operator were in and around the sublot, and that said sub-lot was “submerged with underground water.” It was also found that despite the accident scene being cordoned off, it was tampered with. At the time of the accident, it was revealed, Li, the deceased, was in a bending

position while inserting the vane shear apparatus into the ground when he was covered by slush. It was also revealed that the injured man was covered up to his waist in soil at the same time as the deceased. “The soil texture at the sub-lot was loose, waterlogged, and it was the least unstable type of soil,” the preliminary report said. The team of investigators from the ministry was told by a Site Engineer that “the area was excavated in a slope. However, upon site visit, the team noticed no slope,” the report added. The Chinese Company has committed to compensating the family of the deceased; they’ve also said that they met with his family in China to discuss “burial arrangements”, but according to the report, “no proof of such financial assistance was seen.” The deceased was cremated in Guyana, and his ashes taken to China.

MEDICAL TREATMENT The Diamond Diagnostic Centre was unable to give medical treatment to the deceased, and as such he was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) by a CHEC vehicle as no ambulance was available. He was treated at the GPHC by Chinese doctors. The injured employee was, however, treated at the Diamond facility. LANGUAGE BARRIER There was also the problem of language barrier, which has been cited as a major factor hindering effective communication amongst all parties. According to the report, “It was also observed in Clause 1:4 that the official language which both parties signed in agreement of the contract to correspond in English. However, when the officers requested the relevant documents, they were not pro-

vided in English.” WORK AND OVERTIME CHEC breached Guyana’s labour laws with respect to the hours employees were expected to work. “It was also observed in the contract, Clause 6.5 that the workers are working ten hours per day, seven days per week... Wages records for the local workers revealed that no overtime is being paid to the workers,” the report said, adding: “In addition, workers designations are not stated on the pay sheet to identify the category of workers employed by CHEC” On the matter of the wages records provided for the Chinese employees, it was found that it did not reflect the name of the deceased, nor that of the injured man, and that this bit of information was not provided in English as stipulated in the contract. REQUEST FOR DOCUMENTS Following a visit to the worksite by Minister Broomes

and team, a number of recommendations were made and documents requested. Officers of the Occupational Safety and Health Department contacted a Senior officer of CHEC for the submission of passports, work permits, personal files, signed hard copies of the Chinese and English contract of employment between Liu Li and Zhang Yixun with CHEC, wages records for all CHEC employees on the CJIA Airport Expansion Project, an autopsy report, National Insurance Scheme Records, Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Records and Business Registration Certificate. Thus far, the Chinese company has not provided the work permits, signed hard copies of the Chinese and English contract of employment between Liu Li and Zhang Yixun with CHEC, wages records for all CHEC employees on the CJIA Airport Expansion Project, an autopsy report, National Insurance

Scheme Records, nor Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Records. POSSIBLE LEGAL ACTION Legal action can be taken against CHEC for failing to make an application to the Ministry for registration of an industrial establishment as outlined by Section 7 (1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Chapter 99:10; failing to report the accident in a stipulated time-frame as outlined in Section 69 (1) of the said Act; and failing to produce wages records in accordance with the Section 10 of the Labour Act Chapter 98:01. On September 29, Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Simona Broomes granted permission to CHEC to re-start work on the airport expansion project, but warned company representatives of the need to comply with Guyana’s laws. She said the death of Li and injury of Yixun was as a result of negligence.

Guyana

EDITORIAL

Political parties and our ethnic reality

THERE is the saying that the political parties in Guyana and the Caribbean work in mysterious ways: they make and break politicians. They outlive them. They refuse to die. They fall down, dust themselves off and rise again. They attract and detract. They give and take back. They are stubborn beings that look out only for themselves. “Is it good for the party?” they ask. Political parties have evolved as, perhaps, the major institutions in Guyana. This has consequences for the society that have not always been positive. From 1955 onwards, our two major parties have become inextricably linked to our two major ethnic groups. Other political parties were formed with the expressed intention of undermining and eventually getting rid of what they saw as a debilitating feature of our politics. The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) come to mind in this regard. Yet, six decades later, ethnicity and political party identity are a fact of life that refuses to go away. In fact, the very survival of the non-ethnic parties has been determined by ethnic identification of one kind or the other. Ultimately, the identity of a party is determined, less by what it calls itself and more by how it is perceived by the larger population. The WPA, after much success in multi-ethnic mobilisation, has been bereft of a mass-base largely because it is seen as neither African nor Indian. The AFC was initially embraced as African, on account of the ethnicity of its maximum leader, only to change identity when it switched to a leader of the other ethnicity. The PNC and PPP proclaim their multi-ethnic credentials, even as their praxis flows from an ethnic place. Ravi Dev’s ROAR was bold enough to declare itself an ethnic party. It suffered, not because of that declaration, but because it dared to challenge the big ethnic party. In fact, it would not be out of place to conclude that the PPP’s more open embrace of an Indian-Guyanese identity was, in part, due to ROAR’s challenge. ROAR brought the PPP’s ethnic identity into the open. When Bharrat Jagdeo referred to the PPP as an Indian party, he was saying what every Guyanese knows. And some observers think that that open acknowledgement was a big contributory factor to the party’s unexpectedly good showing at the subsequent election. The PPP continues to hold the solid support of Indian Guyanese, despite that community’s displeasure with individual party leaders. Many have pointed to the party’s deviation from the ‘Jaganite’ principles. But is that formulation really valid? What are the Jaganite principles we refer to? The PPP retains the Jaganite mass-base; that is a fact that

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday October 5, 2015

The tort of malfeasance WITH the accession to power of an administration demonstrably committed to governance based on the rule of law, loyal Guyanese are anticipating, with bated breath, a spate of tortuous actions against public officials by the honourable Attorney-General for malfeasance in public office. Depressingly, up to the time of writing, there have been no such proceedings, despite the removal of various public officials from office for abuse of their powers. On June 27, 2011, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), in an earth-rending decision, determined that the Attorney- General of

Belize, as official custodian of the national patrimony, was competent to bring an action for the tort of malfeasance in public office against delinquent officials. In so doing, the CCJ established an extremely daunting precedent in the Commonwealth, where CARICOM public officials were addicted to dissembling for the outside world their spurious commitment to good governance, while sanctimoniously engaging the services of regional banks in furtherance of their criminal transactions. The determination of the CCJ in Florencio Marin and Jose Coye v Attorney-General of Belize [2011] CCJ 9 (AJ) will hopefully bring to

an end this culture of ignominy. Prior to this, all torts of misfeasance determined in Commonwealth jurisdictions were initiated at the instance of individuals, and never on behalf of governments for the misfeasance of public officials. In effect, there was no case in any Commonwealth jurisdiction where states sought to utilise this tort against public officials abusing the powers of governance for their own personal gain. In the characterisation of Guyana Justice Madame Desiree Bernard, the instant appeal arose from a judgment of the Belize Court of Appeal and involved two ministers of a previous gov-

ernment who were sued by the Attorney General of the succeeding government for alleged misfeasance in relation to a sale of public lands at a price allegedly below market value, resulting in financial loss to the State of Belize and a corresponding benefit to the ministers concerned. In light of the foregoing, our learned Attorney-General is being put on notice that much is expected of him in terms of identifying and vigorously pursuing delinquent officials for the recovery of national assets and resources. JUSTICE DUKE POLLARD

Viable solutions consistent with youth enhancement programme MR. Carl Veecock, in a letter in the Sunday August 16, 2015 issue of the Kaieteur News, under the banner “Be pro-active Freddie”, posited that prison labour should be used to repair the dilapidated Alberttown Police Station. While I fully support the beneficial use of prison labour, I strongly feel that perhaps the brevity of Mr. Veecock’s letter did not allow him the opportunity to give clarity to his thoughts. Prisoners have always been employed in Georgetown to help maintain State property such as the Botanic Gardens, State House, and, at one time, the alleyways of Georgetown. It was my understanding at the time that regular manpower did not avail itself for the dirty and putrid nature of that work. The prisoners did receive a stipend for that work. Part was paid over to the parents and/or families of the prisoners; part was allocated for their comforts such as chocolates, toothpaste, etc, while the remainder was kept and made available to them on

their release. Safety and security must be the primary consideration for the employment of outdoor prison labour. There must be security for the prisoners, the community, the families of the prisoners and the supervising officers. This principle really does not need any elaboration. Prison labour should only be used on community projects where regular labour from the open labour market is unavailable or unwilling to accept the type of work within the market. Guyana has a youth unemployment rate of over 40% (Kaieteur News of May 24h, 2015, quoted from the CDB). It would be illogical to use prison labour to further displace that staggering body of unemployed youth. Mr. Veecock has challenged Mr. Kissoon to provide suggestions for possible solutions. I can hold no brief for Mr. Kissoon; he is quite capable of delivering his own responses. A VIABLE SOLUTION I wish to present what

was borne out by the results of the last election. Contrary to expectations in some quarters, the PPP has not been weakened by the party’s errors and political sins. The PNC has become part of something larger and more diverse than itself; but there is no doubt to which party the African-Guyanese sentiments are directed. For all the demonisation of the PNC by the PPP and other detractors, the PNC is alive and well. The PNC went the way of coalition politics, not because it is weakened, but because it finally acknowledged ethnic arithmetic. While the logic of coalition politics has compromised its one-dimensional identity, it has not been put out of political business. The party still works in mysterious ways.

may be considered a viable solution, consistent with the National Youth Enhancement Programme as announced by the present government. The proposal will be to provide the necessary opportunity for young people to acquire vocational skills, by working on government buildings such as the police stations, government administrative offices, schools and the housing accommodation of public servants. The approach could help the participants to be equipped to transition to the general workforce. The programme will require the entire educational system working in unison. The concept will be established on a voluntary basis, from the primary level to the tertiary level. Its design will encompass the co-ed approach. Students in the fourth and fifth forms of high schools who display aptitudes for a vocational stream could form the reservoir on which the Vocational Skills Training Programme will be developed. This group, together with youth who have exited the school system, must also be eligible to participate in the programme. This combined group could be designated the First Tier Trainees of the programme. I suggest the resuscitation of the National Cadet Corps, which would allow all young people to work on national projects during the vacation months. During the school year, they can have

minor school and community projects to nurture their skills. Students attending the Technical Institutes who are in their penultimate or in their final year with records of regular attendance and acceptable punctuality, with consistently high grades may opt for the Second Tier of the Vocational Skills Training Programme. They will form the Lead Hands to oversee the work of the First Tier Trainees. Final year students in the Faculty of Technology at The University of Guyana may be assigned to designated projects as part of their Work and Study Module, similar to a practicum in other fields. They will constitute The Third Tier of the programme, and may function as Project Managers, directing the Lead Hands. In their case, the Every Teacher a Lap Top Programme could apply to them, their Lap Tops being fully loaded with the appropriate CAD and other software. A programme of this nature will provide all the participants at their respective levels, the skills, knowledge and more importantly, the work attitudes and the propensity for adherence to authority so desperately needed in our society. FURTHER REFINEMENT All participants should qualify for a stipend: One-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 5, 2015

Too much politics at play in rice industry TOO much politics has been used lately to destroy the rice industry and betray the rice farmers when it comes to their livelihood. As far as I can remember, the industry has never been stable; it has always had its ups and downs when it comes to price and marketing since the colonial days. Those who claim to be friends of the farmers are their enemies; and some of them know nothing about how paddy is being grown in the fields, and how it is being processed into rice at the mills. As a little boy about 11 years old, I was taken into the backdam by my parents who taught me to plant paddy with my two hands, and reap it with a grass knife. During the land-preparation time, I would help my father plough the paddy field with a pair of oxen in the dry weather, then plough it in the wet, then harrowing and levelling it with a long piece of wood tied to the oxen until it became puddle. A square plot in the corner of the field will be ‘shied’ with germinated paddy, which was then called ‘beeya pen’. When the plant was about six weeks old, it would be pulled out and placed into small bundles, and thrown into the water-logged fields to be transplanted by hand. The variety used in those days was called ‘Ledger’ paddy, which was harvested around 130 days. In those days, we would live in the backdam during the reaping time in a thatched troolie hut in the day. At nights, my father would mash (trash) the paddy, which was cut by hand by hired labourers, and I would help to throw the trashed straws outside

the hut. When all the cut paddy straws were finished mashing with a pair of bulls owned by us, I would help my father fill up the paddy grains into 180-pound bags; the family would live in the backdam for about three months after reaping the harvest, then we would return to our home in the village. The price for a bag of paddy was not stable in those days as it is today. The only time I knew that the price for a bag of paddy increased tremendously from $300 to $ 1,000 was when President Desmond Hoyte divested the government rice mills to the St Vincent and the Grenadines Company Caricom Rice Mills Ltd. Before that, I can remember vividly that paddy was left in trailers for months to rot outside of the government mills compound. The price for paddy always fluctuated; one time the price is high, and another time it’s low. And rice farmers knew that this was not a strange occurrence. When the price was high, the farmers enjoy it, but never made provision for when it would fall. I have heard Dr Cheddi Jagan, as President of Guyana, advising rice farmers not to put their eggs into one basket; he told them to set up alligator farms as in Brazil, and to plant coconuts, as the price for paddy will fall one day and farmers would be left indebted. Some of those farmers had laughed at him as if he was mad; today, we are seeing his words are coming to pass. All those who are advising the farmers to protest and stop planting paddy are followers of him and his farmers organisation, the RPA. Lately, I have seen the same organisation which claims to be representing the rice farmers encouraging the farmers to picket the govern-

ment and the Guyana Rice Development Board branch office at Anna Regina and hanging a banner over the Anna Regina high bridge, giving the impression that it is this new coalition government which has caused the downfall of the rice industry, and the low prices being paid for paddy by rice millers. The whole idea is being used as a political tool and gimmickry to fool the rice farmers in the quest to bring the government down, or make it look as if they cannot govern the country or have no solution to the rice crisis and finding new markets. The majority of rice farmers displayed tremendous courage and did not join the small crowd of picketers, as they knew it was just a tactic of the PPP to make the government look bad. As a result of their own involvement, they now fully grasp the realities of politics, and the role of the RPA machine and the administrative bureaucracy at work. At the political level, the previous administration lacking popular support will rely increasingly on rice farmers to carry out their political agenda. The real truth is, that the rice industry started to downslide in the previous administration and everyone knows it, they were the real culprits who owed the farmers year after year and crop after crop and had them picketing for their own money on the road and as if that was not enough, they used the police to breakup their picketing exercises, tear gas and beat them naked. They were receiving payments from the PetroCaribe deal, for paddy and rice supplied to the Venezuelan market after the deductions were made for the oil supplied to Guyana. But they diverted or squandered the millers and farmers’rice

and paddy payments. The government has been doing everything in helping to subsidise the farmers and millers for money owed to them by the previous administration, but the debt crisis has been taking too much of our scarce resources. No one can doubt that the rice industry crisis has started under the past PPP government . I remember a certain miller at Vilvoorden on the Essequibo Coast, bought farmers paddy from Wakenaam and the Essequibo Coast, during Dr Cheddi Jagan’s presidency and owed these rice farmers for years without paying them. These farmers went to meet Dr Jagan, at Freedom House and complained bitterly that they had sold their paddy and were not getting their money for years. Dr Jagan then ordered the late Fazal Ali who was then the General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers Association ( RPA) to meet with the owner of the mill and see that these rice farmers were paid. I was part of the negotiation team with Mr Ali. Our first meeting with the owner of the mill wasn’t successful. One year after, meeting after meetings we were able to get the owner of the mill to pay those farmers who sold 200 bags of paddy their money in full, the other farmers who sold over 200 bags had

to wait until they sold their rice. The rice was sold and the big farmers never got their money, most of these farmers, belong to Wakenaam. Years after this mill was sold out to another com-

pany, some of the farmers were able to recover their payments, but others had died without receiving a cent of their money. MOHAMED KHAN

Viable solutions consistent with ...

From Page 6 third to purchase tools of their specific trade; one-third for travelling and meals; and the remainder for subscription to family needs. Obviously, these thoughts are subject to further refinement. A professional engineer or other such qualified person may be employed fulltime to manage a group of these projects, as they are located within the Administrative Regions. The Engineer will be responsible for the designs, bills of quantities, budget allocations, and work flow, among the general managerial functions. The Vocational Skills Training Programme, as a Module of the Youth Enhancement Programme, would not substitute nor displace the regular contractual building programmes as required under the Capital Works of the Annual Budget. The Vocational Skills

Training Programme of this type could be rolled out as a single prototype from which modifications could be made prior to national implementation. Such a programme is more than likely to play an invaluable role in both the social development and be of economic benefit to the country. The social benefit could be realised by redirecting the physical and mental energies of restive and adventurous youth into useful and law-abiding pursuits, beneficial to themselves and to the society. At the level of the national economy, it will hold the potential for building the stock of skilled craftsmen to satisfy the ever-present need for such personnel, and thus make direct contributions to the growth and development of the country. BYRON W. HENRY Former Director of Prisons

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 5, 2015

Remigrant takes fish processing to new heights – to launch new brand of local salted-fish GLOBAL Seafood Distributors in West Ruimveldt will, on Wednesday, commission its solar fish-dryer as part of its expansion drive, which is opening more employment opportunities for persons in the community. The dryer is all set to launch a brand of salted fish under the name, ‘Butters and Grant House of Salt Fish’. Remigrant Allison Butters-Grant, who has been operating a fish-processing plant in the West Ruimveldt Industrial Site for just over a year, had managed a similar business in New Jersey, USA. During an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Butters-Grant said that her company decided to invest close to G$1M in the solar fish-dryer to boost its capacity to meet customer demand, even during pro-

longed inclement weather. The company now does value-added processing of grey snapper, banga mary, trout and other wild-catch fish, producing such products as seasoned fish, fish fillet, nuggets, steak, headless and head-on fish. Butters-Grant, who is the Chief Executive Officer and president of the company, said she is no stranger to fish processing, as her parents were owners of shrimping trawlers. She was born into the fishing business right here in Guyana, before she migrated to the United States where she spent 29 years. Meanwhile, President David Granger is scheduled to commission the solar dryer at a simple ceremony at the company’s West Ruimveldt facility. Butters-Grant explained to this publication that the company currently employs

15 persons, and that based on its expansion projection, it expects to provide employment for as many as 200 persons. Already, when the workload gets beyond the norm, an additional 10 persons are added to the 15 staffers already on board. According to the CEO, the company ensures that it spends quality time cleaning its products so that customers would be spared that chore at home. ‘WE EAT WHAT WE SELL’ Global Seafood Distributors, according to Butters-Grant, pays keen attention to quality and standards that are equivalent to those offered in the United States, and the company can boast, “We eat what we sell.” The solar fish dryer, which is already in operation, received support from the National Agricultural

Butters-Grant explains to Chronicle’s Leroy Smith how the solar dryer works

Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and its Chief Executive Officer Dr. Oudho Homenauth. During consultations with NAREI, the company was allowed to take samples of the fish it processes to the East Coast location where NAREI has similar equipment that is used only to dry herbs. A variety of fish was placed into the dryer in a separate section and within three days they were ready for packaging and distribution. It was after that confirmation that the CEO of Global Seafood realised that she could invest in the

dryer. She was provided with a special type of plastic (Ultra Violet) that is used to regulate the amount of sunlight that enters the dryer. There was also the procurement of translucent sheets for the roofing of the dryer and another regulator to determine the amount of lighting that enters the dryer. According to Allison Butters-Grant, there can be no airborne agents to contaminate the products because the entire dryer is completely covered. Prior to being converted to the operational centre for Global Seafood Dis-

tributors, the location had a ketchup factor and then a fish-processing plant that was operated by another company. In its expansion drive, Global Seafood is pursuing water and waste management as well as development of byproducts. The CEO told the Guyana Chronicle that the company sees a lot of opportunities within the industry and is willing to take up the challenge posed by President Granger in advocating product diversification and value-added expansion. (Leroy Smith)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 5, 2015

President sees bright future in agriculture – plugs agri education, youth employment

President David Granger (fourth left) and Agriculture Minister Noel Holder (third right) with students of the Guyana School of Agriculture following an Inter-faith service to mark the launch of Agriculture Month 2015 (Photo by Samuel Maughn)

By Ariana Gordon AS Agriculture Month 2015 is being observed, focus is being placed on widespread training and diversification in this sector, and President David Granger yesterday told the Guyana Chronicle that agriculture has a bright future. “I see a bright future for agriculture; I see a bright future for agriculture education; I see a bright future for the employment of young people in agriculture,” the president said. AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE His vision for the sector is broad, noting that before he became president, he had promised to establish agricultural institutes. He hopes that at least one institute could be opened before the end of 2017. “This is because I believe when young people leave school, and particularly children in the hinterland, they must be given the type of training which is relevant to life in their regions, villages and communities,” President Granger said. “This would prevent them from having to drift across the border to Brazil or Venezuela or even in the gold field,” he added. He believes that there

must be more widespread and intense training of young school-leavers in agriculture. “I would like to see a lot more agro-processing; that is, people must produce commodities which could be processed,” the president said. “I see agro-processing as being a natural way of improving household income, for people of all ages.” ‘SIX SISTERS’ But above all, the president stressed the need to diversify the ‘six sisters’, namely, rice, sugar, gold, diamond, bauxite and timber. “We have great potential, and through CSME,” he said, stressing that Guyana could produce fruit needed by the hospitality industry in the Caribbean especially. He said islands such as Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Barbados, and the Windward and Leeward Islands could benefit significantly from Guyana as those countries have established hospitality industries. “We could produce every pineapple, avocado that they need in those hotels,” the president told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday. Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder has called for there to be a multi-faceted approach to addressing issues plaguing the sector. At an Inter-faith service

held at the ministry’s Regent Road Office yesterday, Holder said resolving the issues affecting the sector are critical to its success. He said technology is also of importance. “I also ask that we expose ourselves to the technological era by balancing our traditional organic values that characterise Guyanese agriculture,” the minister said. Additionally, the ministry is focusing on rural poverty, environmentally friendly production and farmers. The theme for Agriculture Month, “Exploiting our strengths, advancing agriculture and social protections”, Holder said, will highlight the many reforms in the sector aimed at establishing new frontiers. Holder believes that this year’s observance of Agriculture Month will see Guyana positioned to increase more environmentally friendly activities - one such activity is the National Tree Planting exercise which took place in Bartica on Saturday. “We are making good use of our durability to work out the challenges identified in social protection and agriculture,” he said, adding that over the same geographic space, there are opportunities, facilities and complementarities that will strengthen the livelihoods of poor rural households.

Suspect in East Ruimveldt... cigarette lighter among other items. Up to late last evening, the police were still gathering information on the activities of the men in custody. It was communicated to this publication that all three men would be dusted for traces of gun-powder residue. Thus far, the police have not be able to link the two teens to any crimes, but checks are still being done to

ascertain whether they were part of any illegal activities in the past. The police are also likely to place them, along with Henry, on several identification parades in relation to past high- profile murders and robberies which the police are still investigating. Following the killing of Dexter Griffith, the police received information that one of the two men who

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approached on the night he died, opened fire on him, causing him to fall into a drain from which he was later picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital. The man died on his way there, but not before whispering the name of the shooter to his mother in whose arms he died on that fatal night. The investigations into the matter are ongoing.

Additionally, the ministry’s agricultural policies focus on “improving productivity in crops, fisheries and livestock,” while providing access to markets near and far. “I also wish to reiterate our government’s commitment …one of our main

priorities is to ensure that we continue to extract food and nutrition security by ensuring that Guyana is on par with the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially goal two, zero hunger.” Holder encouraged all to “undertake actions

aimed at eating what we produce” so that citizens could lead active, healthy lifestyles. Agriculture, the minister stressed, is important to Guyana’s economy and farmers have made “sterling” contributions over the years to the sector and economy as a whole.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 5, 2015

Rosamund Benn re-elected WADN president ROSAMUND Benn of the Pomeroon Women’s Agro-processors Association was re-elected president of the Women Agro-processors Development Network (WADN) when the body held its fourth Annual General Meeting (AGM) last week. During the four-day meet, held at the Palace De Leon Hotel on Public Road, Kitty, the women also held discussions with local representative of the Inter- American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA), Wilmot Garnett, and Caribbean Representative of CUSO, Tara Persaud on the likelihood of further support to facilitate their continued development as individual businesses and as a network. Others elected during the AGM to serve until October 2016 are: Denise Thomas of the Kuru Kururu Farmers Crops and Livestock, Vice-President; Christina James of the Blue Flame Women’s Groups, Secretary; Gail Ann Goveia of the Waini Naturals,Treasurer; and Veronica Farrias, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer.

Meanwhile, delegates of the 11 groups which comprise the network reported that they had made significant progress in generating employment and income opportunities for members and farmers. They said also that they have made significant advances in enhancing the quality of, and the demand for, farm products in their geographic areas over the past year. The members expressed gratitude to IICA for its wonderful and continuous support over the years and the non-profit development organisation, CUSO International for its volunteer placements which helped to build their business capacity. WADN also thanked Sterling Products Limited (SPL) for advice, procurement and packaging and transport of their products to the recently-concluded Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Development Project (READ) and the Small Business Bureau for the opportunities provided. Representatives of the member groups have out-

Re-elected president of WADN, Rosamund Benn

lined plans for the coming year which include strategies for increasing membership; upgrading processing equipment; product certification and branding; and increasing sales through proactive marketing of their products in local, regional and international markets. Their aim, they said, is to maximise the impact of the agro-processing sector on the livelihoods of members and surrounding communities. A highlight of the programme at the AGM was a mini- exhibition on the sidewalk of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation’s Guyana Shop on Robb Street.

A powerful, professional public says PS service needs guidelines –Johnson By Shauna Jemmott

ANGELA Johnson, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Security, has agreed that guidelines should be put in place to establish principles that are desirable for instituting a powerful, professional public service. Johnson, during testimony at the ongoing Public Service Commission of Inquiry (CoI) last Friday, approved a number of suggestions for the improvement of the public sector services. These suggestions were posed by Chairman of the CoI, Professor Harold Lutchman. The PS agreed that no civil servant ought, as a result of political interference, to be menaced in the security of tenure of his post in the public service.

NEUTRAL BUT NOT NEUTERED She also posited that the political independence of the public service should be apparent as well as real, and no political or other influence ought to operate in ways that hamper the freedom of judgment and initiative of civil servants. According to Johnson, public servants should remain loyal to the government as a whole but political interference should not operate, weakening this impartial loyalty. In other words they should be neutral but not neutered. The PS, who has been employed on contract some years now, said Public Service reforms are the solution to many challenges and deficiencies, and political interference

ought not to militate against the exercise of objectivity on the part of the civil servant. With responsibility for the daily administration and management of financial resources, her performance is evaluated by the minister under whom she is employed and if he at all operates in a way unethical, she has the responsibility of correcting that minister. As a public servant, she is there to serve the people, and with a change of government, the laws of her office remain unchanged and the new government should follow those very laws. “We have to follow the rules and the regulations so that whichever government comes we have rules which that government follows,” she said of permanent secretaries.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 5, 2015

Surveys for new Demerara Harbour Bridge to begin soon

Justice Navindra Singh donates resource books to the GPF

The Demerara Harbour Bridge

THE Public Infrastructure Ministry will soon commission the requisite surveys, including soil composition, distance, cost and skill availability, on both banks of the Demerara River in order to determine the most feasible location for a new bridge. The Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), at its present location, crosses the Demerara River four miles (6.4 km) south of Georgetown from Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara to Schoonord, West Bank Demerara. The 6,074-foot (1,851 m) floating toll bridge was commissioned on 2nd July 1978 and was designed to last only 10 years. As it ages, the need for repairs to the flotation units, retractor spans, electrical systems and almost every component of the structure becomes more constant and costly. Its bitumen surface has also degraded significantly. According to the ministry, there is need for a new

structure since thousands of people utilise the existing bridge for their daily commute to work, to shop, to transport produce, to attend school, to access the two airports, the Essequibo Coast, Bartica and some hinterland regions. Meanwhile, as government continues to actively pursue the construction of another bridge across the Demerara River, authorities have given assurance that the current structure remains in “fairly good” shape. The DHB management is now moving to introduce night retractions to help reduce the daily congestion that occurs when it is closed to vehicular traffic. The final report of the prefeasibility study which was done for the construction of a new DHB was released in October 2013 by then Public Works and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn. According to the report, a new high-level, four-lane

fixed-bridge structure at Houston, Greater Georgetown, to Versailles on the West Bank of Demerara, is the only economically feasible alternative. The document estimates that the cost would be some US$264M. Over the past year, the DHB administration has had to spend in excess of $337 million replacing major components on the structure. Three pontoons were fabricated at a cost of $134 million, while another 18 were serviced utilising some $96.7 million. In one instance, the bridge had collapsed, leaving persons stranded in Georgetown while others were forced to travel in speedboats at night in an effort to reach their destinations. Talks about the possibility of a new bridge have been ongoing for more than a decade, after it was acknowledged that the lifespan of the existing floating bridge was coming to an end. (Rabindra Rooplall)

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud (second left) receives the books from Justice Navindra Singh in the presence of senior officers David Ramnarine (left) and Wendell Blanhum (second right)

JUSTICE Navindra Singh recently donated to the Guyana Police Force more than a dozen books focusing on crime scene investigations and the presentation of evidence in court. The donation included recently published books. On hand to receive the donation was Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud. The handing-over ceremony took place in the Commissioner’s Conference Room, Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, and was attended by senior officers of the Force’s Performance Group. In brief remarks, Justice Singh commended the work of the GPF, and said he was pleased to do his part in support of the Police Force to

Region 5 youths gearing up to break cycle of gender-based violence By Clifford Stanley

address issues related to gender discrimination, sexCHILDLINK Inc. with ual and reproductive health, support from the Brit- suicide, communication, ish High Commission is conflicts, anger management pressing ahead with a and male/female relationseven-month programme ships in schools. aimed at building the Project Officer Javed capacity of youths and Ishmael said that the prostudents in Region 5 (Ma- gramme has targeted 1,000 haica/Berbice) to prevent youths between the ages of and break the cycle of gen- 12 to 17 years and 50 careder-based violence against givers including teachers, girls. Parent Teacher Association The programme which (PTA) executives, schools will run until February welfare officers and parents. 2016 aims to achieve its The youthful participants objectives by having them are from three secondary

schools: Bush Lot Secondary, Fort Wellington Secondary and No.8 Secondary, all in Berbice. “We also have two counsellors on the project who are placed at the schools fulltime on different days,” he said. To date 30 students, selected from Forms 2 and 3, have been trained as Youth Advocates/Mentors (YAMs). Students from these forms were chosen since they are likely to remain in the schools for at least another two to three years and

thereby help to strengthen the sustainability of the initiative. Some teachers have been trained already and training with the PTA executives and out-of- school youths is slated to begin this month. Child Link Inc. is a local non-governmental organisation (NGO), established in 2009, and its mandate is to work with its partners towards a Guyanese society where every child has the right to grow up in a safe and secure family and community.

carry out its mandate. This, he said, was in recognition of the need for capacity building in the Force in relation to resources for the improvement of investigative skills and ability. Head of the Criminal Investigation Department Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum, expressed, on behalf of the Guyana Police Force, gratitude to

Justice Navindra Singh for his continuous assistance to the force, and indicated that the books will be used as reference literature. Justice Navindra Singh has been playing a significant role in support of the force, with the training of ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department and those prosecuting in the courts. (Michel Outridge)

Monday, October 5, 2015 - 11:30 hrs Tuesday, October 6, 2015 - 13:00 hrs Wednesday, October 7, 2015 - 14:00 hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday October 5, 2015

Berbicians thrilled at GDF paratrooping display

SCORES of onlookers decked in their finest attire last Saturday braved the afternoon sun to witness for the first time in Berbice, a paratrooping display by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at Skeldon Line Path ground, Corentyne. The three-phase event, which comprised a medical outreach, a band display and paratroop exercise formed part of the celebration of the GDF’s 50th anniversary this year.

The medical corps team, which was responsible for the first phase of the day’s activities, the medical outreach, left their Camp Ayanganna headquarters as early as 06:30hrs armed with their medical equipment and supplies. It was no easy task creating a conducive environment at the ground to facilitate the gathering, which was already waiting. However, their military training was indeed an asset to the officers. But despite a late start,

following minor setbacks, the medical corps, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, commenced operations just after 10:00am, and according to the Berbicians, it was a most welcome service. MEDICAL SERVICES The team was equipped with three doctors, who offered physical examinations and a dentist who provided dental services to the residents. Lab services in the form of cholesterol,

A family looks skyward for the GDF paratroopers

Several medical tents offered Skeldon residents free tests (Photos by Delano Williams)

One of the paratroopers poses with a family

blood group, blood count and blood sugar testing were also offered. These services were complemented by a pharmacy which served to provide medications, free of charge, following prescriptions by the doctors. Speaking with this publication at the event, Dr. Notoya Fraser deemed it a “tremendous success” as medical services are always on demand. Noting that arthritis,

hypertension and blood pressure were among the recurring cases among the people, Dr. Fraser added that people even came for simple coughs, colds and skin diseases which suggested that the outreach was a much welcomed one. “One of the things that saddened me is the need for health education, because you can have these diseases which is normal but the important thing is keeping them under control. And it is always a pleasure doing things like these because it is satisfying and rewarding knowing that you can help people live healthy lives,” she said. Medical services were rendered to approximately 120 persons, the doctor said. ENTERTAINMENT The second phase of the event was the entertainment aspect, where the military band provided melodious music to the growing numbers who were then eagerly awaiting the paratroop exercise. From traditional national songs to pulsating soca, persons in the crowd, including military personnel could not resist a modest gyration while they awaited the arrival of the paratroopers who would be landing from 6,000ft above. At 16:15hrs, a white

Islander aircraft, which had circled the area twice, dispatched the first set of paratroopers, who were hovering thousands of feet above. With the exception of one, who landed in a neighbouring graveyard, the other three paratroopers managed to successfully land within their perimeters, drawing rapturous applause from the crowd. Within a few minutes, the aircraft dispatched the second set of men, who also landed successfully within their given boundaries. Speaking with Major Souvenir, the Jump Master of the team, he detailed the rigorous training which this activity entails. He explained that even though paratrooping might seem simple to some, it is much more than just jumping from an aircraft and landing successfully. After witnessing this for the first time in Berbice, 46-year-old Suraj Deo told the media how pleased he was to see such an activity held in Corentyne. He revealed that in his 46 years, he could not recall paratrooping being held in Berbice, which attracted scores of people into the streets. Meanwhile, the health outreach will continue countrywide, with the final one slated for November this year.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 5, 2015

At CPCE Career Day…

Education Minister urges teachers to strive for universal secondary education --plugs technology-enhanced classroom teaching

GUYANA has been able to achieve universal primary education, and is now striving to attain the goal of universal secondary education. “One of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the achievement of 100 percent secondary education and that is a goal that is still ahead of us and I hope over the next few years, that will also be achieved,” said Education Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) second Career Day opening last Friday. TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT For this goal to be realised, Dr. Roopnaraine said that teachers have to lift their performance in classrooms and this begins at the level of training that is at the CPCE. He noted also that there is need for enhancing the capacity of teachers since they are behind with technology. Mere days ago, the United Nations launched

its 2030 Agenda of SDGs that build on the MDGs that were a part of the Millennium agenda that was decided and agreed by global leaders in the year 2000. Under the SDGs, 17 goals are stated which global leaders have committed to outline the global way forward to end all forms of poverty. Goal number four speaks of promoting lifelong learning by ensuring there is inclusive and quality education for all. It is in this context that Education Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine is anticipating the achievement of universal secondary education over the next few years since that goal is still ahead of Guyana. TABLETS AND LAPTOPS The Education Minister then touted government’s move to equip students and teachers with tablets and laptops. After much investigation on the state of the country’s education system, it has been revealed, according to Dr. Roopnaraine, that Guyana’s current

Education Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine with students of CPCE at its second Career Day last Friday to rely solely on textbooks. The rationale behind In today’s globalised this, he pointed out, is to technological position is a starting with making lapenvironment, technology “see throughout the syssetback. tops available to teachers, is moving at a rapid pace tems where PTAs are workAgainst this backdrop, beginning with those at in the areas of Science, ing and where they are not government has decided CPCE, so they can provide Technology, Engineering working to fix them.” to push for technological firsthand information to Universal secondary advancement in schools, students, rather than having and Mathematics (STEM). However, though steps education has been on the have already been taken to education system’s agenda expand on these subjects in for years and the new adsecondary schools, Guyana ministration is committed still has a far way to go, to achieve this goal over the said Dr. Roopnaraine, so next few years. that students are trained to Meanwhile, at CPCE’s be technical and creative Career Day, there was an problem-solvers. average of 30 participants from the main departROLE OF PARENTS ments of Mathematics, Moreover, to achieve Social Studies, Science, universal secondary educa- Information and Commution, Dr. Roopnaraine said nication Technology. Othall Parent-Teacher Asso- er booths were displayed ciations (PTAs) across the in areas of Agricultural country need to be activat- Science, Home Economed, since it is essential that ics, Industrial Technoloparents play pivotal roles in gy, Science Department, their children’s education. Student Development and Following a series of a special needs booth as large community meetings well as one for support where parents expressed staff. worry about their children’s The event was staged schooling, the minister saw under the theme, “Quality the need for an audit of Educational Leadership: PTAs in schools country- Improving Schools from wide. This commissioning within,” which also coinof the audits was sought in cides with the theme of early September. Education Month. CPCE students depict the ills of climate change through the use of games and models

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 5, 2015

Ireland progress, Pumas Maradona win, English mourn inspires By Nick Mulvenney LONDON, England (Reuters) - Ireland laboured to a 16-9 victory over Italy to reach the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals yesterday, taking France along with them and setting up a blockbuster Pool D decider in Cardiff next weekend. As the host nation started to come to terms with the fact that England will not be among the final eight after Saturday’s defeat by the Wallabies, the Irish and French joined New Zealand, Australia and Wales in the knockout stages. Argentina had Diego Maradona cheering them on as they all but assured their progression from Pool C with a 45-16 thumping of Tonga at the Leicester City Stadium. Ireland did not have anyone nearly as famous as the football great backing them at London’s Olympic Stadium but their green-clad legion of fans made up in quantity for what they lacked in star quality. The Six Nations champions were unable to match the passion of their support with their performance but one slick try from centre Keith Earls and 11 points from the boot of flyhalf Jonny Sexton got the job done. Italy, lifted by the return of the inspirational Sergio Parisse, stuck doggedly to their task and were denied a try and the lead early in the second half by a clutch tackle from Irish flanker Peter O’Mahony on lock Josh Furno. “We’re in the quarter-finals so that’s great for us,” Ireland captain Paul O’Con-

nell said. “Probably a disappointing performance, I think we just dropped too many balls and when we do that we can’t play our game. “France have played some good rugby and we’re going to have to improve massively

place in the knockout stages for the third successive World Cup. ENTERTAINING HALF The Tongans played a full part in an entertaining first half by matching Argentina’s tally of two tries but the Pu-

Italy’s Alessandro Zanni wins a lineout. (Reuters/ Eddie Keogh) on that performance.” Ireland and France both have 14 points from their first three matches and next Sunday’s clash in Cardiff is almost certain to send the losers into a quarter-final against reigning champions New Zealand. The winners will probably face an Argentina side who looked far from a soft option after another convincing Pool C performance. The Pumas ran in five tries to ensure that only an upset of the All Blacks by Tonga combined with an equally unthinkable slip-up against Namibia can prevent them from taking their

mas, inspired by flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez’s man-of-thematch performance, pulled clear after the break. Sanchez scored a try and kicked 20 points to the delight of his country’s most famous sporting number 10, Maradona, who joined the Pumas to celebrate in the dressing-room. “He told us that if we get to semi-finals he will come (to see us again), he put the bar high for us,” Argentina captain Agustin Creevy said with a grin. Argentina are second in the pool on 10 points, four behind the All Blacks with

Tonga third on six. Australia and Wales went through to the quarter-finals courtesy of the emphatic victory by the Wallabies over England on Saturday, which resulted in the first exit at the pool stage of a sole host nation in the history of the tournament. As social media went into overdrive with jokes making fun of England’s misery, the knives were out for coach Stuart Lancaster. Chief executive Ian Ritchie said the Rugby Football Union would not be making any knee-jerk decisions but former England forward Dean Ryan thought it naive to believe Lancaster could survive. “There will be blood. Of course there will,” he wrote on the Guardian website. “You don’t fumble your own World Cup without even getting to the end of the pool stage and then survive.” It remains to be seen what impact England’s absence from the latter stages will have on a tournament that was billed as the first billion-dollar rugby festival. “I know there are a lot of people that have come from all over the world to be at the World Cup,” All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu told reporters in Newcastle. “Hopefully, there is still a lot of interest here in England. It will be interesting to see how much of a difference it makes.” Today is a break day for the tournament before the action resumes tomorrow with Canada’s game against Romania in Leicester and Fiji’s clash with Uruguay in Milton Keynes.

Golden Horn denies Treve a Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hat-trick EPSOM Derby winner Golden Horn, ridden by Frankie Dettori, denied French mare Treve a historic third Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with victory at Longchamp. Dettori, winning the race for the fourth time, pulled Golden Horn wide early in the race before slotting in behind the leader. They were well positioned before moving clear of Flintshire and New Bay, who finished second and third respectively.

Treve finished fast but had to be content with fourth. “I really believed in the horse,” said Dettori. “I was going so fast in the last 300 metres I knew no other horse would pass me. “I had the best horse and I wanted to show how good he is. His record is unbelievable and he is probably the best horse I have ridden.” Golden Horn had already enjoyed a superb season with wins in the Derby, Dan-

te Stakes and Coral-Eclipse - and bounced back from a shock defeat in the Juddmonte International to claim the Irish Champion Stakes. The money earned for those victories meant the 120 000 euros (£88 600) owner Anthony Oppenheimer spent to add the John Gosden-trained horse to the field for the world’s richest turf race was a relatively small price to pay. The winning horse will head for stallion duties next

season but could have one more run at the Breeders’ Cup in Keeneland, Kentucky at the end of the month. “The owner is quite keen on the Breeders’ Cup. It gives us one day short of a month, he’s got a great constitution and he travels well,” said Gosden. “If he’s in good order next week, there’s no reason why he can’t go there. “I keep saying he’s a better horse coming from off the pace and he was today.”

Argentina

ARGENTINA stood firm against a powerful Tonga in Pool C to take a giant stride towards the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, yesterday Argentina captain Agustin Creevy said Diego Maradona’s dressing-room dance after the victory has inspired his team to push for World Cup glory. Maradona, who won the football World Cup with Argentina in 1986, said he would watch the team again should they reach the semi-finals. “He said the whole of Argentina was dreaming with us and everyone was behind us and supporting us. He was here because he wanted to be a part of this. We sang and danced and it was lots of fun,” said Creevy. “It was something different and I could never imagine he would have been there. It was a beautiful surprise for all of us. “He said if we reach the semi-final he will be there. He has set us a very high goal and we hope he will be there again.” (BBC Sport)

GCB mourns ... From back page

Indies Cricket administrator and selector. His approach to his job and the manner in which he carried himself exemplified class and success. For 18 years he served as the CEO of the West Indies Board of Control (WICBC) now known as the WICB.” Capping off on the former Test player, GCB disclosed, “We at the GCB acknowledge and celebrate the legacy this remarkable gentleman has left us. We are praying and grieving with his family at this time. And we wish to let them know that Stephen Camacho will always be remembered!”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 5, 2015

Derby draw does not save Rodgers but takes heat off van Gaal By Steve Tongue LONDON, England (Reuters) - Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was sacked yesterday despite preserving his unbeaten record in seven Mersey derbies against Everton with a 1-1 away draw in the Premier League. Within a couple of hours of the Northern Irishman claiming after the stalemate at Goodison Park that, “I hope to be here for a bit longer yet”, the club announced his dismissal. More presciently, he told Sky Sports, “When the time comes for me not to be here, I’ll accept that and move on because it’s an incredible club and a wonderful club to work for.” “It is a very good point,” Rodgers said after the draw. “It is a difficult place to come. We looked like we were getting better in our attack and defensively we were more cohesive.” Manchester United lost 3-0 at Arsenal, blitzed by three goals in the first 20 minutes that gave them no way back into a match in which the hosts played sublime football. Alexis Sanchez netted twice to give the Chilean six in the last three games and Arsenal’s Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil scored the other to leave the visitors trailing by three goals at the break in a league game for the first time in 10 years. United, who had been top before the weekend, dropped to third place, two points behind neighbours Manchester City. HONOURS EVEN After being held at home by Liverpool, Everton manager Roberto Martinez believed his team, unbeaten in seven league and cup games, deserved to win a typically tense derby. “Every time we had the ball in their half, we looked like creating something,” he said. “(Liverpool goalkeeper Simon) Mignolet made two outstanding saves. We are disappointed with the goal we conceded.” That goal was headed in by an unmarked Danny Ings in the 42nd minute but there was still time for Everton’s Romelu Lukaku to equalise before halftime. Martinez felt Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva should have been sent off for a trip when he had already collected one of the game’s six yellow cards. The result left Everton one point ahead of their neighbours, who are 10th, six points behind leaders Manchester City. City stayed top after thrashing Newcastle United 6-1 on Saturday because of the heavy defeat suffered by local

rivals United at effervescent Arsenal. UNITED BLITZED The London side moved above United into second place on goal difference with a performance that vindicated manager Arsene Wenger’s faith in his team after fierce criticism followed a midweek home Champions League defeat by Olympiakos Piraeous. “That was all for the manager,” Arsenal’s Theo Walcott

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told Sky Sports. “That first 25 minutes no-one could have dealt with us. It was some of the best football I’ve ever been involved with.” Wenger was keen to stress that, despite the disappointment of two Champions League losses, Arsenal are very much in contention for a first domestic league title since 2004. “We are on a good run in the Premier League, two points off the leaders,” he said. “We missed our (normal) game in midweek but we responded to that. We decided to start strong and press high and did that well. “After that we were disciplined and focused. You always need to win the big games.” The result left United manager Louis van Gaal stunned. “I didn’t expect that,” the Dutchman told MUTV. “No performing our game-plan, no will to win. When you give a team like Arsenal so much space to play football, you know you shall lose. It was amazing for me and very disappointing.” In yesterday’s other match, Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Eriksen scored with two stunning free-kicks to earn his side a 2-2 draw at Swansea City. Andre Ayew headed the Welsh side in front before Denmark playmaker Eriksen’s first equaliser. His second followed an unfortunate own goal by Spurs striker Harry Kane. Tottenham stayed eighth, level on 13 points with Everton and still three ahead of Swansea, who have not beaten them in the league since 1981.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 5, 2015

New BCCI boss Manohar vows to Bayern crush Dortmund 5-1 clean India’s image in second innings in top-of-the-table clash (REUTERS) - Newly-elected president Shashank Manohar vowed to clean the image of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after being chosen yesterday to head the world’s richest cricket board for a second time. A respected cricket administrator who does not carry a mobile phone or wear a watch, Manohar’s unopposed election fills the void left by former International Cricket Council chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, who died last month. Manohar headed BCCI from 2008-2011 and seemed to have no illusions about the job in hand as he took charge of a board perceived as an efficient but opaque body run by political bigwigs and industrialists with conflicting interests. “The first priority is to clean the image of the board and restore the faith of the cricket-loving fans,” said Manohar, whose appointment has been seen as a setback for ICC chairman and former BCCI president N. Srinivasan. Srinivasan’s India Cements company owned the Chennai franchise of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and many saw it as a case of conflict of interest on the part of the former board chief.

Chennai, along with Rajasthan, was slapped with a two-year suspension in July after Srinivasan’s son-in-law and team official Gurunath Meiyappan was

Newly- elected BCCI president Shashank Manohar found guilty of illegal betting. A vocal critic of Srinivasan’s style of functioning as BCCI president, Manohar promised more transparency in his second innings as the board chief.

“There is... grievance that the board is not transparent, everything is kept under the wraps,” Manohar said following his appointment. “Nothing wrong is being done by the board. It’s a perception which has been created in the mind of the people that because information does not come out, there is something wrong in this board.” The board would soon put its constitution, expenditure details and balance sheet on its website to “clear that myth and change the perception”, added the 58-year-old lawyer from Nagpur. The BCCI has been grappling with a fixing and betting scandal around the IPL and has spent significant time defending itself in the apex court. Manohar said the board would appoint an independent ethics officer who would look into cases of conflict of interests involving players and administrators. He also promised central contracts for women cricketers, revival of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, and financial accountability in the state units.

Taylor targets Test return in UAE

JAMES TAYLOR

ENGLAND batsman James Taylor says he is ready to return to Test cricket against Pakistan after a three-year absence. The 25-year-old, dropped after averaging 16 in his only two Tests in 2012, faces competition from Jonny Bairstow for the three-Test series, in the United Arab Emirates. “Three years of experience have helped. I know my game better,” Taylor said. England play Pakistan A today, the first of two two-day tour games before the first Test starts on October 13. Taylor’s highest score in two Tests against South Africa in 2012 was 34. However, he averaged 49.55 for Nottinghamshire in the County Cham-

pionship this summer, including a career-best 291 against Sussex. He hit his maiden international century and finished as the second highest run-scorer in England’s oneday series against Australia in September. “I’ve scored the volume of runs I was asked to, to get back in the side,” he said. “I also have the confidence of knowing I’ve scored runs against the best sides in the world.” “It has been a frustrating few years. Getting those knock-backs - when I thought I was going to get selected and wasn’t - kind of drive you forward and spur you on that bit more.” (BBC Sport).

MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski struck twice each to steer Bayern Munich to a 5-1 demolition of second-placed Borussia Dortmund yesterday, which allowed the champions to open a seven-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga. Rampant Bayern equalled their record of eight consecutive wins at the start of a season. Germany forward Mueller opened his account in the 26th minute, latching onto a 50-metre ball from defender Jerome Boateng and he doubled the hosts’ lead with a penalty nine minutes later for his eighth league goal. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang kept up his remarkable run of scoring in every one of Dortmund’s league matches this season, as he slotted in from close range a minute later but his team could not stop the charging Bavarians, who had 15 shots on goal in the game. Irrepressible Bayern forward Lewandowski killed off any hopes of a comeback with two goals early in the second half to take his tally to 12 goals in all competitions in the last 12 days alone and nine in the last three Bundesliga matches, a league record. Boateng floated over another cross from his own half and Poland captain Lewandowski shook off both Mats Hummels and Sven Bender to score a minute after the restart. He then slotted in 12 minutes later for his 12th league goal in the first eight match-days, equalling the Bundesliga record set by Christian Mueller in 1964/65 and Gerd Mueller in 1968/69. Former Dortmund team mate Mario Goetze added a fifth goal for dazzling Bayern in the 66th with the visitors having surrendered. “I want to congratulate my players,” said modest Bayern coach Pep Guardiola. “We had some problems in the opening 15 minutes and until the goal we did not have many chances.” Bayern, who are chasing a record fourth consecutive league crown, are on 24 points, seven clear of Dortmund. “We had a good start, defended well,” said Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel. “But we had imagined it differently. We must accept that we were not good enough on the day.” Schalke 04 missed the chance to move into second place following a 3-0 defeat by visitors Cologne, a result that ended their four-game winning streak in the Bundesliga and left them in third, a point behind Dortmund. Champions League club Bayer Leverkusen squandered a penalty through Hakan Calhanoglu to draw 1-1 against lowly Augsburg and drop to seventh place on 13.

Juventus return to winning ways, Milan trounced by Napoli ROME, Italy (Reuters) - Serie A champions Juventus picked up only their second win of the league season after coming from behind to beat Bologna 3-1 at home yesterday. Juve fell behind early but responded emphatically through Alvaro Morata and new signings Paulo Dybala and Sami Khedira to move up to 12th in the table. It was Germany midfielder Khedira’s first goal for the club. AC Milan slumped to their fourth loss of the campaign as they crashed to a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Napoli. Fiorentina remain at the top of the table after beating

Atalanta 3-0 at home, with the visitors barely in the contest after losing Gabriel Paletta to a fifth-minute red card in a possible case of mistaken identity. Second-placed Inter Milan, who were defeated by Fiorentina last weekend, lost further ground on the early leaders after a 1-1 draw at Sampdoria, while Lazio overcame Frosinone 2-0 thanks to late goals from Keita and Filip Djordjevic. AS Roma saw off a late rally from Palermo to win 4-2 away, Empoli beat Sassuolo 1-0 thanks to an 88th-minute goal from Massimo Maccarone and Udinese played out

a 1-1 draw with Genoa. Juve built on their midweek Champions League victory over Sevilla with a hardfought triumph over Bologna in Turin, despite falling behind to a fifth-minute volley from Anthony Mounier. Juve equalised on 33 minutes when Khedira set up Morata, who headed past Antonio Mirante. A Dybala penalty gave Juve the lead on 52 minutes, before Khedira, who was making his Serie A debut, continued his decent start to life with the Italian champions when he headed home a Morata cross on 63 minutes. The injury-prone Germany

international brought stability to the midfield against Sevilla and demonstrated his composure and class once again. “Sami’s an important figure for us. He gives us international experience and he hasn’t regressed in these past six months,” Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri told a news conference. “He’s a generous guy and a great pro.” Milan’s miserable start to the season continued as they were outclassed by Napoli in front of their own aghast fans, the first time they have lost by such a scoreline at the San Siro since 2009. Napoli opened the scoring on 13 minutes when Marek

Hamsik picked up Cristian Zapata’s wayward clearance and played in Lorenzo Insigne, who set up the advancing Allan to finish powerfully past Diego Lopez. Insigne doubled the lead on 48 minutes, playing a onetwo with Gonzalo Higuain before sending a curling right-footed effort past Lopez. The contest was settled on 67 minutes when Insigne scored his fifth goal of the campaign with a long-range free kick. There was still time for further humiliation for Milan when the hapless Rodrigo Ely, stretching to meet a Faouzi Ghoulam cross, diverted the

ball past Lopez. Fiorentina extended their lead at the top to two points as they dispatched Atalanta at the Artemio Franchi. Paulo Sousa’s side took control of the match in the sixth minute when Josip Ilicic converted a penalty after Jakub Blaszczykowski was brought down. While the referee sent off Paletta, replays showed that the foul had been committed by striker Alejandro Gomez. Fiorentina doubled their lead on 34 minutes when Borja Valera finished past Marco Sportiello, before substitute Joan Verdu added a third in the final minute.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 5, 2015

Chris Cairns staring at the toughest attack he has faced …former NZ cricketerr faces a perjury trial in London starting today

FORMER New Zealand cricketer Chris Cairns will face serious criminal charges delivered by the most powerful attack he has faced, the British legal system, when the perjury case against him opens in London today. Cairns, 45, is accused of lying under oath, in his successful 2012 libel action against Indian businessman Lalit Modi. Central to allegations he will face in Southwark Crown Court is his statement that he “never, ever cheated at cricket” and nor would he “contemplate doing such a thing”. Perjury is a rare charge in New Zealand. In Britain it carries a maximum sentence of seven years’ jail.

In 2001, millionaire British novelist Jeffrey Archer was jailed for four years in

Former New Zealand cricketer Chris Cairns 2001 after being found guilty of perjury and perverting the

course of justice in a 1987 libel case against the Daily Star newspaper. Where a defendant is found to have committed perjury for material gain that worsens the crime. Archer had won damages against the newspaper. Perjury is difficult to prove, with a jury having to be convinced beyond reasonable doubt the defendant deliberately made a “material” statement “knowing it was false, or not believing it to be true”. To prove that, there must be corroboration with more than one person telling the same story or documents which back witness statements. While Cairns triumphed over Modi the last time he

went to court in London, his opponent this time is tougher and carries more weapons. Modi didn’t have legal authority to get documentary evidence to support his case, as the Metropolitan Police does Police would have written evidence to back witness statements, such as money transactions and travel documents helping establish where those involved were at certain times and when key exchanges took place, legal sources said. Cairns took on Modi for accusing him in a tweet of corruption when playing for Chandigarh in the Indian Cricket League (ICL), set up as a rival to Modi’s Indian Premier League (IPL).

Hart aiming for fresh focus ahead of WC qualifiers PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago head coach Stephen Hart believes it is important for the Soca Warriors to re-focus ahead of their upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign. Speaking after a 20man squad was announced to face Panama in next Thursday’s international friendly, Hart said the national side could not afford to get carried away with the relative success of this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign. T&T were good enough to play unbeaten and top their group before finally bowing out in the quarter-finals.

“Tournament football is different from World Cup qualification,” Hart told a media conference here Friday. “When Canada won the 2000 Gold Cup they had a terrible 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign; and Holland, after doing so well in the 2014 World Cup now can’t win a game (in the current European Championship qualifiers). “The challenges of playing home and away in a short pace of time, travelling and the fluctuation of players’ form over a longer period are all different. So I’m not getting carried away with our form in the Gold Cup.”

Trinidad and Tobago will enter the CONCA-

Trinidad and Tobago head coach Stephen Hart CAF World Cup qualifying competition at the fourth

round where they will face United States, Guatemala and St Vincent and the Grenadines in home and away ties starting next month. The clash against Panama will form part of the preparation for that campaign, and will be followed five days later by another friendly against Nicaragua at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Winger Aikim Andrews has been called up to the national squad while captain Kenwyne Jones and Sheldon Bateau return after missing last month’s friendly against Mexico in Utah, United States. There is no place for striker Willis Plaza.

NOTABLE DATES GUYANESE-born middleweight Adrian Dodson (Carew) got his name entered into the Mike Tyson Hall of Fame when he lost by disqualification to Canadian Alain Bonnamie on October 5, 1999. In a bruising encounter which saw both boxers touching the canvas, Dodson was disqualified in the 12th and final round for biting his opponent. The fight was held at the Royal National Hotel in London, England and at stake was the vacant Commonwealth middleweight title. The southpaw Dodson floored the Canadian in the seventh round. However, Bonnamie returned the favour in the 12th round. This resulted in the Guyanese putting aside the gloves to employ the `teeth technique’.

Dodson was 29 years old at the time, five years Bonnamie’s junior. The defeat dropped his record to 23 victories and four defeats. He once trained at the West End Gym in Tiger Bay before taking up residence in England. The southpaw was undefeated in 18 fights when he met World Boxing Organisation super welterweight champion Ronald `Winky’ Wright. The bout was held in December 1997 and the Guyanese retired at the end of the fifth round. Dodson won the lowly regarded International Boxing Organisation (IBO) on March 3, 2001 following a third-round knockout of Paul Jones. He lost the title in his first defence.

Persaud prevails in tight three-setter T H I RT E E N - y e a r- o l d Keenan Persaud won a fierce challenge from 1 2 - y e a r- o l d J o s h u a Kalekyezi in the Boys Under-14 quarter finals to win a tight three-setter 2-4, 5-3, 3-10 and to book his place in the semis against 13-year-old Mark McDonald as the Bakewell junior tennis championships continued. In the first set, Joshua showed great composure and maturity in setting up his service gamepoints with winners. But in the second set, when the confident Kalekyezi quickly reached 3-1, Persaud drew on his experience and slowed down the pace of the game to break Kalekyezi and to turn things around and break and hold serve twice to cop the second set. In the super tie-break third set, both players were consistent in constructing great points on serve up to 3-3 until Persaud took his game up a notch and broke Kalekyezi to reach 4-3. It was then all over for Kalekyezi who seemed not to be able to bounce back to reclaim more points. In the Boys U-12s semi-final, Joshua Kalekyezi showed no mercy for his nine-year-old brother Jeremiah as he demonstrated his experience in a match that was not expected to be entertaining. Joshua kicked into gear unleashing serves that were very difficult to return by his little brother as he clinched the first set 4-0. In the second set Jeremiah held serve only once while going after his brother in long rallies but he eventually lost the set and match to his older brother at 4-1. In the other Boys U-14 quarter-final, Heimraj

Resaul easily defeated Ariel Khan 4-0, 4-0 to book his place in the Boys U-14 semis for veterans another thrilling encounter with Jordan Beaton. In the Boys U-18 quar-

JOSHUA KALEKYEZI terfinals, the Brazilian Alexander Almeida eventually overcame Keenan Persaud in a three-setter 1-6, 6-2, 3-10. Heimraj Resaul defeated Judah Stephney 6-1, 6-2. In the Girls U12 Semis, Sarah Klautky defeated Atouria Branche 4-0,4-0 and Nathalie Ramdyhan defeated Alana Chung 5-4(75), 5-4(11-9). In the Girls U-14 Semis Afruica Gentle whipped Kalyca Fraser 4-2, 4-1 and Shivani Persaud trounced Sarah Klautky 4-0,4-1. In the Girls U-18 Aretta Dey received a walkover from Nathalie Ramdyhan to book her place in the final against the talented 14-year-old Afruica Gentle who overwhelmed Shivani Persaud 7-5, 7-6(7-5). Matches were scheduled to continue yesterday at the President’s College tennis courts from 10:00hrs and should have concluded at 14:00hrs.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday October 05, 2015) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

Malcolm Nash (Nottinghamshire vs Glamorgan, Swansea, 1968) Viv Richards-119 & 5/41 (WI vs NZ, Dunedin, 1986-87)

Today’s Quiz:

Who is the first wicketkeeper to represent the WI in Tests? Who is the first wicketkeeper to represent the WI in an ODI game?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 5, 2015

DeGroot, Collins win Ansa Simmons asks McAl/Lucozade Handicap for more time to face WICB Squash tournament PETER Michael DeGroot and Maya Collins walked away as winners of the Open and Category` A’ Guyana Squash Association’s Ansa McAl/Lucozade Handicap Squash Tournament which

of the main draw, Peter Michael DeGroot handicap minus 8 (-8) beat Taylor Fernandes (7) 2-1 (15/13, 13/15, 15/12, while Maya Collins beat Demetrius DeAbreu 2-0 (15/8, 15/11). Taylor

Atherly (10) 2-1 (-9/15, 15/11, 16/14); Kamir Khan beat Mohryan Baksh 2-0 (15/5, 15/7); Michael Alphonso beat Dominic Collins 2-0 (15/13, 15/11);Nyron Joseph (-6) beat Regan

Kirsten Gomes and Kamir Khan placed second and third respectively to Collins in the Category `A’ draw. In the Category `A’ plate results, Ethan Jonas won ahead of Kirsten Gomes

Prize-winners of the GSA/Ansa McAl/Lucozade Open Handicap Squash tournament pose with a representative of Ansa McAl (extreme right). concluded yesterday at the Georgetown Club. The tournament was sponsored by Ansa McAl in collaboration with Digicel. In summarised results

Fernandes and Nyron Joseph placed second and third respectively, in the main draw. In the Open Main Draw, Ben Mekdeci (handicap of –13) beat Brigadier Michael

Pollard (0) 2-1 (4/15, 15/12, 15/6); Ethan Jonas beat Kirsten Gomes 2-0 (15/12, 15/10); and Ashley DeGroot beat Jonathan Fernandes 2-0 (15/10, 15/10)

and Kamir Khan respectively, while in the Pen Plate competition, Ben Mekdeci won from Brigadier Michael Atherly and Ashley DeGroot respectively.

St Lucia, French Guiana register teams for GOA/GABA International tourney FRENCH Guyana and St Lucia have supplied the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association with their team list for the upcoming International Goodwill competition in November. The two countries combined are sending a contingent of 26 boxers and officials, and according to GABA president Steve Ninvalle, they are way ahead of the October 25 deadline. St Lucia has registered six boxers and four officials while French Guiana is sending a team of 10 boxers and six officials. Both countries have included female boxers. The St Lucia delegation is being led by its president David `Shakes’ Christopher, a close friend

of Ninvalle. The Caribbean island team includes tough welterweight Lyndel `The

DAVID `SHAKES’ CHRISTOPHER

Russian’ Marcellin and middleweight Arthur Langelier. Guyanese-born Conrad Fredericks (Hunte) is the coach of the St Lucia team. So far, GABA has received commitment of participation from eight countries. Those countries are: Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, French Guiana, Jamaica, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. Last week St Vincent and St. Maarten signalled interest in participating. The tournament is the brainchild of president of the Guyana Olympic Association K. Juman Yassin and was first held last year when four countries, including the hosts, participated. This year’s

tournament would be held from November 26 to 29 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The GABA has budgeted $6.5M to host the event which has the GOA as its main sponsor. The National Sports Commission and Director of Sport Christopher Jones are already on board, Ninvalle disclosed. Meanwhile, GABA has secured the services of top AIBA referee/judge James Beckles of Trinidad and Tobago, to hold a five-day workshop with local officials leading up to the tournament. Beckles would arrive in Guyana on November 20 and will commence the workshop one day later.

WEST Indies coach Phil Simmons has asked that a meeting with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) be postponed. The embattled coach was expected to meet with the WICB Human Resources Committee today to answer questions regarding his recent outburst. According to the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, however, the meeting has been postponed for a few days after Simmons asked for a longer interval to prepare. Ahead of the team’s tour of Sri Lanka Simmons had alleged outside interference with regard to picking the team, after failing to get both Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo recalled to the One-Day International team. According to Simmons both himself and convener of selectors Clive Lloyd had attempted to get the players reinstated but were outvoted 3-2 by the sePHIL SIMMONS lection panel. The coach was suspended last Monday. Simmons has, however, since apologised for the outburst referring to it as a lapse in judgement caused by a “moment of madness”. At the meeting the coach is expected to be asked to justify his comments regarding the accusation of outside interference. Should he be unable to justify the statement he is expected to face the disciplinary committee. Simmons, who is currently in England, made the comments at the end of the West Indies cricket team camp in Barbados last week.

EBFA elections set for October 25 FOLLOWING the adoption of a new constitution on September 14, the Executive of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) has announced that elections will take place on Sunday, October 25, 2015. The venue is the Kuru Kururu Community Centre on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway from 11:00hrs. Affiliates of the association will elect a president, two vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, assistant secretary/treasurer and five committee members who will serve for the next two years. Based on the new constitution, no executive elected will be able to serve more than two consecutive terms in one particular position. Meanwhile, the EBFA will soon conclude its Under-13 tournament as one game remains; Agricola Red Triangle are poised to win the championship which is sponsored by Lens Craft Optical. This is the second tournament the association has organised for the year which started with a Pee Wee Under-11, which was won by Herstelling Raiders FC and was sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. It concluded in March. The association will shortly kick off an Under-15 league while a 7-a-side competition is set to commence in less than two weeks.

Sport CHRONICLE

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Chris Cairns faces perjury trial in London See story on page 22

GCC sink Malteenoes to set up Carib Beer T20 final with DCC GEORGETOWN Cricket Club (GCC) eased past Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) by six wickets, in the semi-final of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Carib Beer T20 Tournament, played yesterday at the MSC ground, Thomas Lands. GCC will now face Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in the final. DCC thrashed GNIC by 95 runs in the first semi-final showdown on Saturday. Over at Malteenoes, GCC won the toss and gave the home team first strike on a tricky pitch but their batting performance could only get them to 83 all out in 17 overs. Nikosie Barker and captain Steven Jacobs put up scores of 21 and 22 respectively while Lennox Cush (10) was the only other batsman to reach double figures. Dion Ferrier, Orin Forde and Veerasammy Permaul were all removed after each contributing a run while Kellon Carmichael (3), Steven Sankar (7), Cordel Mars (4) and Imran Hassan (0) did not offer much resistance. At one point, MSC were 45-2 but their other eight wickets fell for 38 runs. Ricardo Adams was tough to score off and eventually picked up three wickets. He was supported by Raj Nanan who snared two. In reply, GCC were content on going at a run-a-ball or just under once they had wickets in hand. However, even with the early departure of Robin Bacchus (2), Jeetendra Sookdeo (4) and Vishaul Singh (9), Leon Johnson stayed with Raymon Reifer and stabilised the innings. Johnson was dismissed for a sturdy 27 which made way for Reifer and Ronald Mohammed to bring the game home with unbeaten scores of 20 and eight respectively. Jacobs, Carmichael, and Permaul claimed a wicket each while Ferrier was instrumental in Singh’s run-out.

Raymon Reifer lunges to record a maximum against Malteenoes Sports Club. (Adrian Narine photo)

GCB mourns Maradona inspires passing Argentina of Stephen Camacho

See story on page 19

STEPHEN CAMACHO

THE Executives and staff of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) wish to express condolences to the family and friends of the late Stephen Camacho, who passed away on Saturday, at the age of 69. A release from the board stated, “It is always heart-wrenching to lose our loved ones. Camacho was loved dearly within the cricket fraternity. The right-handed Guyana and West Indies batsman played 11 Tests with his highest score being 87. For Guyana he was exceptional with seven centuries and 24 half-centuries.” It continued: “Off the field, Camacho earned immense respect and admiration as a West See page 19

Argentina footballing great Diego Maradona was cheering for the Pumas at Leicester City Stadium

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2015