GUYANA No. 104333
TUESDAY OCTOBER 6, 2015
The Chronicle is at http://www.guyanachronicle.com
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GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER
U.S. to ramp up drug fight in Guyana
INCLUDING VAT
… permanent staff for Georgetown DEA office Page
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Teachers celebrated - students show appreciation for ‘most selfless job’, noble profession
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Teachers being honoured at a special World Teachers Day event at the North Georgetown Secondary School (Samuel Maughn photo)
PPP vows ‘relentless’ Pastor beaten, struggle against robbed of 10 govt excesses 2 church money Page
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday October 6, 2015
Guyana/Venezuela border controversy
U.S. urges respect for 1899 Tribunal Award ... insists on peaceful, diplomatic solution By Ariana Gordon NEWLY accredited United States (US) Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, has called on both Guyana and Venezuela to respect the 1899 Tribunal Award which settled the decadesold controversy over the Essequibo. “The land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela was decided by an arbitral award in 1899. That’s a fact and duly implemented by both parties. It was only several decades later that
Venezuela decided its intention to challenge the validity of that award on the land boundary,” Holloway told a news conference at his Duke Street Kingston office on Monday. Speaking at his first press briefing since being accredited, Holloway said it is important that both countries respect the 1899 Award and settle all issues arises therefrom via diplomacy. “We call on all parties to continue to respect the 1899 arbitral award ruling and boundary unless or until a competent legal body decides otherwise, or both parties agree on something else”, The U.S. Ambassador told reporters. Ambassador Holloway added that the settled issue between the two South American countries is “a fact and was duly implemented by both parties.” He said the U.S. Government is pleased that Presidents David Granger and Nicolas Maduro met at the recently concluded United Nations General Assembly
under the stewardship of UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon. He noted that both countries should continue to address the border controversy on the diplomatic front “through peaceful means and consistent with International Law.” “It is important that all parties, both sides, avoid any actions that could complicate the ongoing efforts to reach a diplomatic solution,” said the U.S. Ambassador. Asked whether the US would intervene should elements of the border controversy become heated, Ambassador Holloway said the circumstances would dictate the action of the US. “What I would say is an accurate position for the US is firstly, we encourage both sides to do two things, try to address the boundary controversy through diplomatic means, and to not do anything that can sort
of raise the concerns of one side or the other. That is our position. As far as do we intervene …each situation is different and circumstances that may bring about a situation in that particular moment in time is different. So everything is evaluated on
US Ambassador Perry Holloway a case-by-case basis. Right now our focus is on peaceful
resolution, continued dialogue and respect for international law,” he added. Meanwhile, the U.S. Diplomat acknowledged that the resurfacing of the Venezuelan claim to the Essequibo came following US Oil Giant Exxon Mobile discovering significant amounts of oil offshore. He noted that the U.S. Government is concerned about the border controversy and the oil company that has found itself in the middle of the clash. He noted that border disputes that have existed for centuries are best resolved through “peaceful means, through diplomatic dialogue and respect for international law.” At the same time, Ambassador Holloway said, the U.S. has a policy of “ensuring that U.S. companies are protected under international law or under a law of a given country where they are operating in.” He added, “We do expect our US companies to comply
with international law and norms. I don’t think whether it was a U.S. company or a Chinese company it would dramatically change our view on the current dispute going on.” Holloway, who has been residing in Guyana for the past 10 days, presented his Letters of Credence to President Granger last week, and has since been working to schedule a meeting with the Guyanese leader, given that their discussions last week were “very brief”. Over the past few weeks, the Guyana Government has lobbied the International community for support on the border controversy. The call by the government has been favourable, as many heads of state have pledged their support to Guyana on the issue. Guyana has maintained that it is the legal and rightful owner of the Essequibo and that Venezuela’s claim to that Region is null and void.
PPP vows ‘relentless’ struggle against govt excesses ACKNOWLEDGING that it has returned to where it was prior to October 5 , 1 9 9 2 , t h e P e o p l e ’s
Progressive Party said it has resolved to wage a relentless and determined struggle against any
malpractice by the new APNU+AFC coalition administration in and out of Parliament. The statement was made at the party’s weekly news conference on Monday. October 5, 1992, which was the date when the PPP was swept into office after 28 years in the wilderness. The opposition party said the popular slogan should be “No more than five years for the APNU+AFC at Shiv Chanderpaul Drive”. T h e r e a f t e r, t h e P P P said “armed with a successful petition and with angry rice farmers, sugar workers and the many disaffected, disillusioned and disappointed Guyanese
working people behind and in front of us, and who would have already discarded the empty promise of a “Good Life,” the PPP will once again return to office, placing Guyana once again on its rightful path to economic and social development with a human face and a foreign policy characterised by good neighbourliness, peace and international cooperation with all countries of the world in pursuance of a New Global Human order.” According to the PPP, in observance and celebration of October 5, 1992, the PPP will be organising a number of events throughout the country. Among the activities will be three symposia in
Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo, the symposium in Demerara will be held at Red House, Kingston, on Wednesday October 7,
General Secretary of the PPP, Clement Rohee 2015, at 4:30 p.m. October 5th activities include; sports competition, panel discussions, family fun-days, cultural activities, lectures and outreaches in all the ten (10) Administrative Regions. Meanwhile, the PPP reflected that 23 years ago, on October 5, 1992, after 28 years in the political wilderness, it was elected to office with Cheddi Jagan as President Please turn to page 9
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday October 6, 2015
U.S. to ramp up drug fight in Guyana
…permanent staff for Georgetown office
DRUG traffickers will have their work cut out as the United States announced that it will be setting up a permanent base for its Drug Enforcement Unit here by January next year. The DEA already has a presence in Guyana, but the agents often work between Trinidad and Tobago and Puerto Rico. Speaking at a news conference on Monday, new U.S. Ambassador Perry Holloway said the DEA will be permanently staffed by January 15, 2016. “We hope to have the office what we call permanently staffed and staffed by someone who is going to be here for more than a few weeks or months, on or about January 15, 2016,” said the U.S. Ambassador. Ambassador Holloway announced too, that someone has been selected to head the local DEA office, but he could not divulge details. “I believe there has already been someone selected to be the head of the office, I can’t share that name right now but he has already been selected, and I hope to see him here by January 15,” said Holloway. He explained that there are a number of temporary personnel stationed in
Guyana over the past year, and they have been working round the clock to ensure that all is in place for the full complement of staff and activities. “We have had a number of DEA temporary duty personnel stationed here for weeks and months at a time,” he said, since the office was set up in 2014. Since the establishment of the DEA office here, the Ambassador said “We have started ramping up the office.” Officials from the DEA have been working along with local authorities to improve certain aspects of drug enforcement. “They have already been working very closely with the appropriate Guyanese authorities on
cases, training, technical assistance…,” said Holloway who added that a team from the U.S. is currently in Guyana carrying out assessments on a number of issues pertinent to the DEA. “As a matter of fact…I ran into a team of people from the US…who turned out to be one of the assessment teams that are here working out the final arrangement for the permanent staffing of the office,” he said. Last year, former U.S. Ambassador Brent Hardt said the DEA would be bringing equipment and personnel to Guyana to ensure the office is adequately furnished. The DEA’s office is being operated out of the U.S. Embassy
Guyana. PRIORITY AREAS Meanwhile, Ambassador Holloway also shared that areas of priority for him are: Local Government elections, human rights i s s u e s , t r a ff i c k i n g i n persons, anti-corruption and transparency. Holloway said those issues have been the U.S. Government’s focus over the last 20 years, and he believes they will continue to be on the radar in years to come. He noted, however, that those areas do not always attract funding, as “a lot of our focus in that area is what we do by engaging with the government and civil society, but I think that will continue to be our number one priority.” The Ambassador
added that other issues of importance for the US are security, environment and health issues, primarily HIV/AIDS. “Security is a very important issue to us, a safe and prosperous Guyana is good for the whole neighborhood and region and it is good for the U.S.,” he s a i d i n re f e re n c e t o the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. “We will continue to work on that, and as we get the DEA office cranked up and we get closer with the new government, maybe we will find new areas to cooperate. That remains to be seen.” On the environment, Ambassador Holloway noted that Guyana has a “tremendous national
treasure in the sense that almost 80 % of the country is pristine jungle.” The U.S. Envoy is hopeful that while Guyana’s forest is a wealth of resources “I hope that the citizens of Guyana and the rest of the world view it not as a resource to be exploited, but a resource to be studied and enjoyed for the rest of the region and the world. I hope we would be able to put a little more emphasis o n t h e e n v i ro n m e n t in the years to come.” He added that the U.S. Government has a wide focus. “Of course, the U.S. Government, we are a big government, we are interested in lots of different issues.”
US Ambassador Perry Holloway speaks to the media on Monday at his first media briefing held at the US Embassy Georgetown
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Hydromet Service working to rebuild public trust - Chief Hydromet Officer
REBUILDING the public’s trust in Guyana’s Hydrometeorological Service remains high on the agenda, Chief Hydrometeorological Officer (ag), Dr Garvin Cummings said as he delivered remarks at the National Weather Watch Centre Hyde Park, Timehri where an open day was held yesterday to commemorate the Hydrometeorological Service’s 50th Anniversary. Speaking in the presence of Agriculture Minister Noel Holder and Permanent Secretary George Jervis, Dr. Cummings said hydromet in Guyana has had many successes but an equal amount of challenges. “One of the greatest challenges that we are still faced with is the ability to convince those in the public domain that the information that we give is actually reliable.” He added that “it is a challenge that every met service, every hydrometeorological service globally faces. How do you change the public’s perception of our
hydrometeorology? How do you show the importance of hydrometeorology to a country’s national development?” Though hydrometeorology plays a significant role in the main sectors of any country’s economy, be it in the areas of agriculture, engineering or climate change, Dr. Cummings said persons do not understand or see the importance of the service. He subsequently told the Guyana Chronicle that due to the dynamic nature of the atmosphere, it is important to deliver the relevant information in a timely and effective manner but this again remains a problem for the Hydromet Office. “We do not control the atmosphere, we try to forecast what the atmosphere may become or may be that might change with time. That is why I think the ability to communicate in a timely manner is so important because today we can have a hurricane going to Barbados but tomorrow it is going to
St. Lucia,” he explained. INFORMING THE PUBLIC As such the Chief Hydrometeorological Officer (ag) said while the Doppler Weather Radar System is important, the inability to effectively disseminate the relevant information to the public can be a major stumbling block. “While we have these different observational tools, one of the most important aspects of forecasting is to be able to communicate that information to the public in a timely manner, in a way that they can understand. We are dealing with technicians and scientists who are not communication specialists.” TRAINED IN THE SCIENCES Additionally, he told this newspaper that while there is no deficiency within the system in terms of technology, there is certainly a hu-
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Permanent Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, George Jervis and the Chief Hydrometeorological Officer, Dr. Garvin Cummings assisting subject Minister, Noel Holder in raising the flag man resources deficit. “We have a need for persons who are trained in the sciences, mathematics, physics, chemistry; that is the nature of the work. So, if you don’t have a background in the sciences, it would be very difficult for you to come into the ‘hydromet’ service.” In recent years, the Hydromet Office has come in for major criticisms due to the apparent inability to provide accurate and timely weather forecast, to the public. Meanwhile, in delivering the feature address, the Agriculture Minister urged the Hydrometeorological Service to work assiduously to fulfil its mandate. this day,” Flooding“On in Carolina he said, “let us examine the successes of the past, while we work presently to fulfil our mission, and strive to meet the expectations of those who put their trust in what we can deliver.” In highlighting the work of the ‘hydromet’ office, Minister Holder pointed out that it provides the weather information through the operation of 14 automatic weather stations, seven meteorological observatories or synoptic stations, 60 water-level stations, and 148
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rainfall stations. He said: “It is important to understand the science of the atmosphere, dynamics of water – surface and groundwater - sea level, climate and its impacts on proposed development including road building, as hydrometeorological data is important in engineering designs when constructing sea defences, conservancies, bridges and roads.” The hydrometeorological service is also the focal point for climate and environmental protocols such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer. Its contribution to the aviation sector is also of great importance, the Agriculture Minister noted, adding that aircraft would not be able to enter and/or exit the country without meteorological information at international airports. “The field of hydrometeorology provides for safety, wellbeing, growth and prosperity in several areas, thus it offers opportunities to those who are inclined to work beyond the call of duty in some instances, as data collection in
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remote areas can be; there are data-collection stations in all regions.” In observance of the Hydrometeorological Service’s 50TH Anniversary, the Agriculture Minister participated in the inaugural hoisting of the service’s flag which was also launched yesterday. Additionally, the minister and his team and students from the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) were given an opportunity to tour the National Weather Watch Centre. This year’s anniversary is being observed under the theme “Committed to advancing Hydrometeorology for a sustainable future.” On October 5, 1965 the Central Hydrometeorological Service within the government structure of British Guiana was established within the Ministry of Works and Hydraulics. However by 1991, the hydromet service was transferred to the Agriculture Ministry. During the early years of the office it was made up of three sections: meteorology, aviation and hydrology. However, due to the growing demands of the agriculture sector, its services were expanded tremendously.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday October 6, 2015
Hand-in-Hand puts new postage stamps on market HAND-in-Hand Mutual Fire Insurance Company Limited, in celebration of their 150th anniversary, has unveiled four locallythemed postage stamps, now on sale as of yesterday at the 64 post offices countrywide. Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson was on hand to receive First Day Covers of the stamps yesterday during an unveiling ceremony held at the Hand-in-Hand Barr Street, Kitty office. Noting how pleased she was to be part of the celebration of such an important milestone, Minister Ferguson said the GPOC was equally pleased to be involved in the venture. Acting Post Master General, Abdul Hassan, who noted that the new stamps will be available in $80 and $150 denominations at selected post offices, said commemorative stamps are the perfect memorabilia with which to celebrate an anniversary or significant event, as they are highly sought after by a wide crosssection of people, both locally and internationally. They are also of interest to philatelists, he said, as they buy, sell and store them as valued collectables. On behalf of the GPOC, he congratulated Hand-inHand on the attainment of its 150th anniversary, having first thrown open its doors to the public back in 1865 right at the same spot its current head office now stands. Giving a background of the company was Director/ Fire Manager Howard Cox who said the opening of Hand-in-Hand here marked the very first time that houses belonging to ordinary folks and small businesses would ever enjoy insurance coverage. It also meant that millions of dollars which would have otherwise gone abroad stayed in Guyana. “It provided individual relief by the granting of mortgages, and invested in local bonds to raise money for social activities such as Village Loan Bonds and Water Works Loan Bonds,” he said. “It also, throughout the years, provided Guyanese with a source of investment which earned twice what they could earn from bank interests.” As he spoke of the
- to mark 150th anniversary
The unveiling of the stamps by Minister Annette Ferguson, Acting Post Master General Abdul Hassan and the management team of Hand-in-Hand (Photos by Adrian Narine) company’s establishment and years of growth, he related that in all those years, the company suffered three fires but was able to survive and grow from strength to strength. Cox said from 1879, when there were just four employees, the company now boasts a staff of over 150 staff, both indoors and outdoors, and 14 branches all over Guyana. Hand-in-Hand Manager, John Carpenter as he presented First Day Covers of the stamps to Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson yesterday
The four locally-themed stamps on display
Govt approves hike in electrical inspectorate fee from $200 to $9300
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-audits of existing building to be done shortly By Ravin Singh The traditional electrical inspectorate rate of $200 which was paid for inspection of a 2 or 3 bedroom house will now be pegged at $9300 after Cabinet gave its no objection for this move last week. Making this revelation yesterday was Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson at a press conference held at his Kingston office. According to the minister, these existing rates which were enforced through the electrical inspectorate department are over 25 years old. He explained that before a household can be awarded a place on a grid, it must first be awarded an electrical certificate. The electric grid is a network of synchronised power providers and consumers that are connected by transmission and distribution lines and operated by one or more control centers. In Guyana, he said, for lower bedroom houses which are approximately 750sq ft. to achieve that electrical certificate, they would have had to be inspected and granted the certificate at the cost of GYD$91. This GYD$91 would have included the inspection of 12 lights and about 22 points within the house. The electrical inspectorate department was the recipients of this money. However, he noted that with the “spurt” in building construction and the demand and tasking of the department, Cabinet thought it wise to approve an increase in fees. The increase for these starter homes will now be fixed at $3,900. But for the average size 2 or 3 bedroom houses the rates will now be $9,300 as compared to $200 that the Ministry currently receives, Patterson said. In addition, he noted that, “all other rates have been increased and there will be a month moratorium to allow us to advertise and tell persons about this, after which it will be officially gazetted.” Offering that, “anyone who would have built a house knows that the electricians who do the installation never charge you $91” and that there is a standard fee estimated at about GYD$10,000, Minister Patterson stated that no fraction of this money goes to the Government. As such, he reasoned that with the increase in this fee, the Government will now be embarking on audits of existing building since they have discovered massive timelap between when these inspector’s certificates would have been received and the change in usage overtime. This change, he revealed, has the potential to cost the country revenue when these monies can be channeled elsewhere. “So the whole idea is to boost the country’s electrical inspectorate department to ensure that the country receives its best value for money” Minister Patterson said.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Guyana
“We running things now!” Dear Editor,
EDITORIAL One People EDITORIAL
AT the start of the campaign leading up to the May 11 elections, there was much talk from people across the racial and political divides as to how close the results would have been. And yet there were those who were adamant that the party they supported would have won; but they too did not know how close it would have been. The real worry however, was what happens the day after? This question was asked of several of the politicians who were seeking office and even ordinary citizens mindful of pre and post-elections violence that has dogged this nation over the years. No big words, no empty name-dropping. Just clear talk, with the kind of simplicity that takes real work. When there was a change of government, the expectations were high indeed. We, the people, expected immediate change, immediate results. If we had scored 9.9 out of 10, it would seem as if we had failed. Disillusionment and cynicism are just a heartbeat away and the greater our hope, the deeper will be the resentment if that hope fails. In his first speech to the 11th Parliament, President David Granger spoke about the fact that his government recognises that our fore-parents came from four continents, that we, their heirs and successors must resolve to work together to pursue the ideal of making Guyana ‘One Nation.’ He emphasised that “we must, in so doing, combine our efforts, concentrate our energies and endeavours, to defeat the real enemies of our people – crime, disease, ignorance and poverty.” Above all he also spoke about the elimination of ethnic insecurity; the expansion of economic enterprise; the enrichment of cultural life and the deepening of national consciousness. It is clear from the President’s pronouncements that his intention is to forge a more cohesive society, but amid his aspiration there are those who use their influence in newspapers in columns and letters to incite division that only harm this nation. They write about “ethnic cleansing” and “racialist hegemony” and all manner of things that we ordinary folk will never understand. This endless bellow, this self-admiration, this foolish arrogance-all of this from so-called academics while the ordinary people try to survive from day to day, wondering from whence cometh the next meal for their children and for themselves. They turn us against each other, but they are quite comfortable. They complain about not being able to visit a friend, while other hearts break from hearing their children cry out from hunger. They write about “Indian” this and “African” that while our people reach across picket fences passing eggs and getting vegetables in return. Gifts give. Gifts received. We the people seldom look at skin colour or pigmentation. We, the people, know that we are one people under God. Our cohorts of politicians on both sides of the House
SINCE taking office, the Granger Administration has repeatedly been shooting itself in the foot. Despite public pronouncements by the Administration of their commitment to a ‘better life’ for all Guyanese, the APNU+AFC Government is severely handicapped by its inability to effectively govern. With the exception of Carl Greenidge and Moses Nagamootoo, no other minister has any previous experience in running a ministry, and only a few others have demonstrated the leadership skills to succeed. Mistakes and blunders have been the hallmark of the Granger Administration that for the most part, continues to rule by trial and error. As Local Government Election nears, I guarantee the APNU+AFC will pay a heavy price. Over two months ago, my brother requested my assistance in an effort to resolve a problem he had previously discussed with Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan. This request surprised me, for our views are often on the opposite side of the political spectrum, and the party he supports and campaigned for, is now in government. My brother Frank, had faithfully served the PNC way back in the days of Forbes Burnham, and continues to serve and make significant financial contributions to the APNU+AFC coalition, although David Granger once admitted to me that he has no idea who Frank Gill is. I bet he still don’t. But this had nothing to do with politics; Frank merely wanted to put an end to the lawlessness that seems to
have taken over since the APNU+AFC took office. His eldest son, my nephew, died suddenly four years ago, and the clothing stall he owned in the Stabroek Market for over 22 years called Future Gill (Stall number 31, Section 3) had been transferred to his two young daughters (ages now 20 and 13) to provide them with a means of livelihood. The cost to have this business transferred from my deceased nephew to his children, was $294,147.00. The children’s mother and the elder child are the ones managing the business. They pay a monthly rental of $29,000 to the market, and employ a staff of 5. A few years ago, a make-shift stall was placed directly in front of the Future Gill stall, but was later removed by instructions of the then Local Government Minister, Norman Whittaker, who declared this encroachment a violation. Then suddenly, about a week after the Granger Administration took office, a vendor with a much bigger glass case, took up permanent residence directly in front of the Future Gill stall, blocking more than half of the store front. The space between Future Gill store front and the new encroachment is a mere 30 inches, making it difficult for customers to view the items in the show case and access store without being verbally abused and threatened by the obstructing vendor. This was brought to my brother’s attention who upon seeking an explanation from the vendor, was arrogantly told, “We running things now!” This statement shook up my brother, for it brought home the grim reality and exposed the thinking of
comprise several well-intentioned people, but sound and well-worked-through ideas are hard to come by. Our well-intentioned politicians need to speak with our citizens, for polite talking and careful listening can yield dividends beyond the measure, benefiting all of us. Screaming and shouting yields nothing except noise. And noise hurts, but then evaporates into nothingness. It is important that we all understand that intensity or passionate feeling may be better conveyed with a whisper than with a loud bray. Shakespeare’s Othello said, in speaking to the senators of Venice: “Rude am I in my speech...”. But his language was poetic. And he was the most “lowly” of Shakespeare’s tragic heroes--a mere general.
some PNC/APNU supporters that someone like my brother, a life-long, die-hard member who has done much for the PNC and APNU, can be thought of and victimised as the opposition simply because he’s not Black. An irate Frank Gill went to see Minister Ronald Bulkan, who told my brother the encroachment was not right, and promised to look into the problem. The minister sent the same advisor who previously advised former Minister Whittaker to have the first encroachment removed. But this time, the vendor was allowed to remain there, throwing racial slurs at my nephew’s children. This is certainly not the “fresh approach” touted by the administration. I call on President Granger to denounce this bullyism by some of his supporters now, lest he condones it by his silence. The Future Gill market store is a long established, legitimate business that provides employment and pays $29,000 a month rent to the Stabroek Market for the right to sell clothing and other items. It is grossly unfair to allow a vendor to illegally put up a contraption selling the same merchandise, impeding access to Future Gill, so close that it appears to be an extension of the store front. In addition, the location is often used as a barber shop and the trading of (illegal) gold. But there is an additional reason why this vendor must be removed: The vendor’s stall also partly blocks one of the main entrances to the market, thus compromising an emergency exit in event of a fire or explosion emanating from within. So at my brother’s request, I again brought this to the attention of Minister Bulkan during the Budget Debate, and requested that he investigate the matter. I made it very clear to him that, as a Member of Parliament and uncle to my brother’s grandchildren who now own the Future Gill store, I was not asking any special favours but merely seeking justice to correct a wrong. He promised to send someone else to review the matter, he never did. One week later, I reminded him and he again promised to look
into the problem. Again, he failed to do so. I am aware that the minister was obviously stressed out and tired from the drilling he took from my colleagues in Parliament during the amendments to the Local Government Election Bills, but in the weeks that followed, several phone calls to his office and messages left with his secretary to return my call proved futile. He was always never in office, and never had the courtesy to return a call to a fellow Member of Parliament. I could not help but wonder just how difficult it must be for an ordinary citizen to gain access to the Minister of Communities. Unable to get through to Minister Bulkan, I then discussed my concerns with one of his advisors, Mark Da Costa who also promised to visit the market location as he was familiar with the area. Again, I stressed that I was merely seeking justice, not asking favours. To date, he too, has failed to visit the location he passes twice daily on his way to and from work, as he promised to do. However, he did advise that he had reviewed the report made earlier by Bulkan’s advisor and that the report was now with Mr. Royston King at City Hall, who will determine the course of action if any. Editor, I left several messages with Mr. King’s secretary over several days, and I’m still awaiting a return phone call from the Town Clerk. It wasn’t long ago that President Granger reminded public officials that they are the servants of the people. I guess neither Bulkan nor Royston King heard the President’s comment. How difficult it is to return a phone call? During the last Local Government Election, my brother, Frank Gill, won seven seats in the Best / Klien Pouderoyen NDC as an independent candidate. He is extremely popular and influential in Region 3, and has the ability to make life very difficult for Minister Bulkan and the APNU+AFC to gain traction there in the upcoming LGE. I intend to encourage him to do just that. HARRY GILL, MP
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 6, 2015
New ambassadors contacted …but Granger tight-lipped on nominees
GOVERNMENT is yet to announce to the nation its ambassadorial appointments, although President David Granger has confirmed that some of the nominees have been contacted and a decision is likely to be made before year end. “I cannot give you a deadline; it is a work that is in progress. We have nominations; the Minister of Foreign Affairs has already made some presentations to Cabinet… I reckon that in this last quarter of the year - October, November and December - we will have a full slate of representatives at all of our missions,” the President told the Guyana Chronicle. The President was scheduled to meet with Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge on Sunday to continue talks on the appointments. “I would
be meeting the Minister of Foreign Affairs later and this is a matter that we would be discussing.” Asked to provide names of some of the nominees, Granger said, “We have nominations…it is a work in progress…the foreign minister has also written to the incumbents and received responses so it is bound to happen this year because of the issues which confront us at present.” During his recent tour at the United Nations President Granger had told a Guyanese journalists that he would now be looking to new diplomats he will appoint over the coming weeks to solidify the gains made at the UN General Assembly. “The next breed of Guyanese diplomats must be able to propel our economic diplomacy much more quickly than it is being propelled
currently,” Mr Granger said. He said the economic viability of Guyana is paramount, but “this does not mean we will not pay attention to the specific strategic threats we face because that has an economic side,” he said, referring to the border controversy which has been “hindering development.” “So we’re looking for Ambassadors who can sell Guyana, not only rum and rice, but also bring foreign direct investment into our country,” the President stated. Over the past few months, Government has said, there must be the rotation of Heads of Missions. Just after the May 11 General Elections, government announced that the Heads of Missions should not be in-situ for more than four years. The procedure for diplo
39 years on...
PRESIDENT DAVID GRANGER mats, government said, is for them to be rotated between a two-to-four-year period. Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge said that it is government’s intention to have politicians who are not career diplomats resign from their posts, given that the former government is no longer in power.
Committee formed to tackle El Nino in Region 9
IN response to the impending El Nino drought, a group of concerned citizens in Lethem, Rupununi, has got together to form the “El Nino Committee”. Members of the Committee are: Bryan Allicock, Regional Chairman; Rene Edwards of Conservation International; Roger King of Rupununi Chamber of Commerce; and Clairmont Lye of Beacon Foundation, a release from Lye said. The committee aims to sensitise residents in the Rupununi to the adverse effects on their lives by the El Nino phenomenon. “Several indicators already point to an extreme situation in coming months. The level of the Rupununi River is over fifteen feet below its normal level for this time of the year, and sandbanks have already started to show in the Takutu River at Lethem at what is traditionally the end of the rainy season. Farmers have also reported that the unusual high temperature is adversely affecting their crops,” Lye said in a release. He said it is expected that pipe-borne water might reach critical levels in another two or three months. “If this happens, then Lethem will experience a severe water shortage from January to April next year. Through regular bulletins to each household in Lethem and St Ignatius Village, the Committee will advise residents on ways to conserve water. The Committee is also making efforts to source a short-term variety of cassava out of Brazil for farmers to plant without delay in low-lying areas. Relevant Government agencies are being alerted to the situation.”
Memory of Air Cubana disaster still fresh as ever
By Rabindra Rooplall
ALMOST two decades after a terrorist bomb exploded on Cubana Airline Flight 455, causing it to crash into the sea off the coast of St. James, Barbados killing eleven Guyanese amongst 73 passengers, the Guyana-Cuba Solidarity Movement (GCSM), along with other entities, will be observing the 39th anniversary today. On October 6, 1976, when the aircraft exploded just after take-off from Barbados, there were 57 Cubans,
Guyanese are Margaret Bradshaw, Sabrina Harripaul, Seshnarine Kumar, Ann Nelson, Harold Norton, Raymond Persaud, Gordon Sobha, Rawle Thomas, Rita Thomas, Violet Thomas and Jacqueline Williams.
TERRORIST ATTACK President of the GCSM, Haleem Khan, in an interview with this publication, said Guyanese should not look at the bombing as just a mere air disaster, but as a terrorist attack. He explained that the “War on Terror” of the U.S.
GCSM President, Haleem Khan 11 Guyanese and five North Koreans on board. Members of the Cuban national youth fencing team were among the dead, as were a number of young Guyanese academic scholarship winners who were travelling to Cuba to pursue studies in medicine. The names of the 11
and Canadian governments is so disingenuous that they shelter and reward the terrorists they prefer, while accusing others of the crimes they commit. Khan repeated his calls for the perpetrators to be brought to justice, while denouncing the actions of successive US Presidents in
allowing those responsible for the bombing to walk the streets of Miami freely. Investigations revealed that two types of bombs were used, variously described as dynamite or C-4. Evidence implicated several CIA-linked anti-Castro Cuban exiles and members of the Venezuelan secret police, DISIP. Political complications quickly arose when Cuba accused the US Government of being an accomplice in the attack. CIA documents released in 2005 indicate that the Agency “had concrete advance intelligence, as early as June 1976, on plans by Cuban exile terrorist groups to bomb a Cubana airliner.” Former CIA operative Posada Carriles denied involvement, but provides many details of the incident in his book “Caminos del Guerrero (Way of the Warrior)”. The bombing was considered then the deadliest terrorist airline attack in the Western Hemisphere. Four men were arrested in connection with the bombing, and a trial was held in Venezuela. Freddy Lugo and Hernán Ricardo Lozano were sentenced to 20-year prison terms; Orlando Bosch was acquitted because of technical defects in the prosecution’s evidence, and lived in Miami, Florida until he died on April 27, 2011; and Luis Posada Carriles was held for eight years while awaiting a final sentence, but eventually fled. He later entered the United States, where he was held on charges of entering the country illegally, but released on April 19, 2007.
‘CUBAN FIVE’ Khan explained that, at its simplest, the mastermind of the tragedy walks freely in Miami, while those who sought to expose the terrorist actions of groups that targeted Cuba from the safe haven of the United States were put behind bars. Those convicted are referred to as the Cuban Five. At the Tribunal, testimony was heard from legal counsel and expert witnesses on the historical and political context, the arrests, trials and convictions of the Cuban Five, and events since the trial in Florida that resulted in the convictions. According to Khan, on September 12, 1998, a heavily-armed FBI SWAT team arrested the members of the Cuban intelligence network in Miami. The five agents were tried, convicted and sentenced to long prison terms, including one double life sentence, plus 15 years. Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino, Fernando González, and René González were convicted in Miami of conspiracy to commit espionage, conspiracy to commit murder, acting as an agent of a foreign government, and other illegal activities in the United States. René González was released on October 7, 2011 following the completion of 13 years of his sentence, with a further three years of probation in the US. He was allowed to return to Cuba for his father’s funeral on 22 April 2013, and a federal judge allowed him to stay there provided that he renounced his United States citizenship. Fernando González was released from Safford Federal Prison on February 27, 2014, after serving his entire sentence. He was deported to Cuba. Over 350 committees have been established in the United States and around the world demanding immediate freedom of the Cuban Five.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday October 6, 2015
Miners pleased with tax waivers, other concessions - GGDMA executive
THE steps taken by the government to cushion the impact of falling gold prices ought to be applauded, former President of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Patrick Harding has said. He was at the time commenting on the recent concessions offered to small and medium-scale miners by the government. Based on an agreement signed by the administration, through the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and GGDMA, small and mediumscale miners will now benefit from duty-free concessions on imported equipment, and a 40% tax reduction on fuel from a high of 50%. Miners are now required to pay only 10%. Speaking with Guyana C h r o n i c l e o n S u n d a y, the former GGDMA President, who is now an executive member, said the association is pleased that the APNU+AFC Government has made good on its promise. It was during the lead-up to the May 11 elections that the APNU+AFC coalition had pledged to alleviate some of the challenges facing the mining industry; issues that were considered to be sidelined by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) despite the sterling contributions made by the industry to the country’s economy. The Coalition government had followed up on this promise by announcing in its 2015 Budget presentation tax exemptions for medium and small-scale miners as a budgetary measure. During the Budget presentation by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, it
was pointed out that eligible gold miners will be exempted from the payment of custom duties on fuel, matting, ATVs, jack-hammer drills, flex hoses, expanding metals, pumps, pump housing, impellers, shaft and engines. “Pursuant to the Customs
Former GGDMA President Patrick Harding Duties (Amendment) (No.1) Order 2004, the Government will enter into a new agreement with the
Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) to give effect to the grant of these tax exemptions,” the Finance Minister had stated. Since 2013, GGDMA, under the stewardship of Harding, had been lobbying for the excise tax on imported fuel from legitimate oil companies in the Caribbean Region to be reduced to 5%, but this proposal was overturned by the then government. It was explained that fuel accounts for 25-30% of the production cost to miners, at a time when gold prices continue to fluctuate, coupled with high prices of fuel, lubricants, spares and replacement parts. Harding said GGDMA is simply satisfied with the steps taken by the APNU+AFC administration to assist small and medium-scale miners. GGDMA President Te r r e n c e A d a m s , w h e n c o n t a c t e d o n S u n d a y, expressed similar sentiments. “We are pleased with the concessions offered,” Adams
Finance Minister, Winston Jordan and GGDMA President, Terrence Adams signing the concessionary agreement on Friday
October Criminal Session in Demerara opens today THE October Criminal session in Demerara opens today with the traditional ceremonial parade. Four judges of the High Court are assigned to preside over 216 cases, including 32 for murder, 24 for manslaughter and 114 for rape, plus others for
told the Guyana Chronicle. Asked about the need for foreign exchange, Adams said though it is not high on the agenda for the association, it may come up for discussion in the future. However, he made it clear that it was not a part of the proposal made to the new administration. In 2013, the association had lobbied the then government for miners to be given the opportunity to sell up to 50% of the gold sold to the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) in foreign exchange, but this was rejected. In November 2011, GGB had informed miners that foreign exchange was not available but prior to the notice, miners were allowed up to 100% in foreign exchange. Now, miners only have access to 10%. As of Sunday, the price for gold stood at US$1,138 per ounce after peaking at US$1,920 per ounce in September 2011. In 2014, gold production declined by 19.5% to 387,508 ounces from 458,105 ounces in 2013; the highest achieved since 2001.
causing death by dangerous driving, incest, narcotics, wounding, attempted murder and robbery, etc. The judges are Madam R o x a n e G e o r g e , M r. Navindra Singh, Madam Jo-Ann Barlow and Madam Priya SewnarineBeharry.
One of the four judges will inspect a Guard of Honour drawn from 60 ranks of the Tactical Services Unit and will subsequently take the salute during the march past of the parade. The parade of the Police Band and members of the Tactical Services Unit will
- 32 cases for murder, 24 for manslaughter and 114 for rape mark the opening of the session this morning. Following the parade, the judges, Registrar and other officials will meet in the Chief Justice’s Chamber for a short recess before taking up their places in their respective courts.
Foreign Service Institute to be restructured PLANS are in the pipeline to restructure the Foreign Service Institute, in order that it can develop the professional skills of the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Second Vice President Carl Greenidge told the Government Information Agency that, “The Foreign Service Institute which was initially established by Mr. Clement Rohee (Former Foreign Affairs Minister) has not been used for that purpose. We have looked at it with a view to making sure you bring into that agency key personnel with practical skills… we are not looking to teach a degree but to take the person who has a first or second degree and move them into a space where they can understand the practice of International Diplomacy.” Towards achieving this end, the Ministry plans to engage personnel from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) who have the expertise, as well as those who have served as ambassadors in major bilateral centres, including the UN system, to impart their experiences at the Foreign Service Institute. “This will help to take the professional staff into a space where they understand the practice of International Diplomacy, its requirements, the game of Diplomacy along with its strategy and tactics, and how it is manoeuvred,” Minister Greenidge said. The restructuring of the Foreign Service Institute is only one aspect through which the ministry will boost the operational capacity of its staff. Minister Greenidge Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge indicated that he is also looking to bring additional expertise into the ministry, to equip staff with a wider range of skills, such as languages, the new knowledge intensive areas like digitisation and the sciences. “As regards the mechanisms in place, on a continuing basis, we have been identifying and sending staff for training…recently we sent a staff to Japan to learn Japanese…Chile to undertake a course in Diplomacy… those sorts of arrangements continue,” Minister Greenidge explained. As the Administration continues to press Guyana’s Foreign Policy agenda, several countries have offered to assist in further training of local professional staff. Recently Mexico offered to tutor staff, both at the graduate and post-graduate levels.
CJ grants $1.0M in bail to five remand prisoners ACTING Chief Justice Mr. Ian Chang, S. C. last
Friday granted five remand prisoners bail totaling $1,020,000, pending the hearing of their cases. But there was the record of non-appearance in respect of 10 others who had applied for bail while 10 others had their matters adjourned. Unlawful wounding: Paramsook Outar - $400, 000; Possession of narcotics: Basil Khan - $200, 000; Damage to property: Rajpattie Seoduth - $20, 000; Robbery under arms: Totina Griffith - $200, 000; Jakle Lam - $200,000
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday October 6, 2015
Guyanese protest Suriname’s reported revival of New River Triangle claim - to escalate protest tomorrow
FOLLOWING Suriname’s reported revival of its claim to the New River Triangle in south-eastern Guyana, which is considered here as spurious, a few Guyanese patriots protested yesterday outside the Surinamese Embassy in Queenstown, Georgetown. One of the protestors, Dennis Atwell, in speaking to this publication, said, “We are sending a clear message to the Surinamese Government to say that we are not intended to give up not a blade of grass of our territory.”
He also declared that the New River Triangle belongs to Guyana and the matter was settled years ago, given that, “we now see Suriname as our friends and also partners, given that they are a member of CARICOM.” “Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham fought for Guyana’s sovereignty, but now, however, we are being tackled from all sides,” said Atwell. In that light, Atwell is calling on all Guyanese to come out and support their movement.
Meanwhile, he alluded to Venezuela’s claim to the western Essequibo and said its recent decree claiming sovereignty over Guyana’s territorial waters in the Atlantic Ocean off the Essequibo region could have sparked this, but he said, “we are resolute people and the 83,000 square miles will remain ours, as none of it is going anywhere.” Atwell said the group intends to move its protest to the CARICOM Secretariat, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara tomorrow.
The protestors enlightening some students on a bit of Guyana’s history during their protest yesterday outside the Suriname embassy
Atwell displaying his placard yesterday during a protest against Suriname’s reported revival of its spurious claim to the New River Triangle
PPP vows “relentless” struggle ...
OLPT project…
From page 2 of the Republic. The party was elected to office under the elections campaign slogan “Time for Change, Time to Rebuild.” “It was a momentous occasion that raised the hopes and expectations of the Guyanese workers, farmers, intellectuals, the business community; indeed, the Guyanese people as a whole. Those 23 years were the longest the PPP ever was in office; at every single election since 1992 up to May 11, 2015, when it was once again, as was the case in 1964, cheated out of office, the PPP continuously and convincingly won each election, the challenges it faced notwithstanding.” The party said it is to be recalled that in 1953, having won the election in that year, it was in office for a mere 133 days following the suspension of the Constitution by the British Government which led to the Party’s removal from office. “Later, in 1957, following the victory at the elections held in that year, the PPP remained in office up to 1964, when it was cheated out of office due to a combination of Anglo/American and local conspiracies and a change in the electoral system from first-past-the-post to proportional representation.” The PPP said that during these seven years, the PPP accomplished many of its progressive social and economic programmes, such as education reform; revamping the agricultural sector; industrialisation; an advanced health sector; establishment of the University of Guyana, the Bank of Guyana and the Guyana School of Agriculture to mention a few. The PPP has always held that, so long as free and fair elections are held in Guyana, the party will emerge victorious.” Additionally, the PPP boasted that for 23 years it laboured in the vineyards at the national and regional levels, implementing people-centred policies and programmes whose fulfilment resulted in raising the living standards of the Guyanese working people; opening up opportunities for the private sector; expanding and facilitating the growth and “development of the national economy; and constantly re-inventing, reshaping and refashioning governance structures in our country.” The PPP said the architecture of the security sector was also further bolstered with significant reforms at all government agencies and departments in the security sector, supported by the donor community and the national treasury; guaranteeing the independence of the Judiciary; promoting the robustness and vibrancy of parliamentary democracy; and pursuing a policy of peace, regional and international security and cooperation with Guyana’s immediate neighbours are also some of the accomplishments of the party, the PPP said.
GTU to probe claims by CPCE teachers about payment for laptops
THE Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) will soon probe allegations by several Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) teachers that they were required to pay for their laptops under the new One-Laptop-PerTeacher (OLPT) project. One section of the media reported recently that several teachers entering CPCE, as well as teachers from within the institution, are claiming that they have been asked to pay $40,000 for the laptops that government is expected to distribute to teachers countrywide. President of the GTU, Mark Lyte, said that the Union will soon investigate the matter, given that some teachers are uncertain about the specifics of the new OLPT programme. He said, too, that the union is unclear as to whether the project links with the G-Tech programme that was introduced by the previous administration in 2010.
Chief Education Officer Olato Sam is reported to have said that teachers have confused the G-Tech programme and the new OLPT programme, which must have led to the recent allegations. He however denied the allegations and pointed out that the education Ministry will deal with the uncertainty over the two programmes. “What we now need to do is to reconcile the arrangements that were made before with this new arrangement, so that all of our teachers have the resources necessary to assist in the teaching/learning process,” Sam said. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education is in the process of compiling data to submit to the Ministry of the Presidency so as to facilitate the laptop distribution process, which according to Technical Advisor to the Education Minister, Vincent Alexander, will commence
soon. Weeks ago, at a press briefing, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman said the rationale behind government’s move to channel these laptops to teachers was to properly equip them with the instruments to deliver the curriculum in a more “electronic” manner, given Guyana’s current underdeveloped technological position. The government has therefore taken this into consideration and decided to push for technological advancement in schools, starting with making laptops available to teachers so they can provide firsthand information to students, rather than relying solely on textbooks. The laptops will be distributed to teachers, beginning with those at the CPCE, as they are being trained to become p ro f e s s i o n a l t e a c h e r s . (Shivanie Sugrim)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday October 6, 2015
GWI Chairman of the Board, Nigel Hinds; CEO Dr Van-West Charles; and PS, Ministry of Communities, Emil McGarrell, pose with the Corporate Management Team
GWI appoints new board, CEO - to focus on accessibility, quality of water, GWI’s financial viability THE Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) yesterday announced the appointment of a new Chairman, Board of Directors, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The new GWI Board of Directors consists of the following appointees: Nigel Hinds - Chairperson Charles Ceres - Member Emil McGarrell - Member David Dewar - Member Christina Bissessar - Member Savitri Singh-Sharma - Member Ryan Belgrave - Member Patricia Chase-Green - Member Samantha Fedee - Member A GWI release has said that newly-appointed Chairman, Nigel Hinds, CPA, possesses vast experience in Guyana’s financial sector, being the founder and Chief Executive of Nigel Hinds Financial Services. Dr. Richard Van West-Charles, MD, MPH, former Minister within the Health, Housing, Water and Environment sectors, has been appointed chief executive officer from October 1, 2015.
The release says that Dr. Van West-Charles has wide ranging experience in the area of public health, including being responsible for research and bioethics. He is the former Academic Dean of St. Helen University Medical School and Health Sciences in St. Lucia; Special Advisor on partnerships with the international financial institutions at the World Health Organization (WHO); Area Manager for information and knowledge management at PAHO/ WHO; as well as PAHO/WHO Representative for Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Bermuda, among other distinguished appointments. Dr Van West-Charles is a Doctor of Medicine with a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan and a Certificate in Health Economics from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. He also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, and has other qualifications in Leadership and Social Development. Addressing the GWI Corporate Management Team on Friday, October 2, the chief executive said that access to safe, potable water is a priority on his list of areas for attention. “Without a healthy society, we cannot achieve the Guyana we are hoping to build,” he declared. “Paramount to maintaining good public health is access to safe water. Hence this area, along with water-quality and GWI’s financial viability, are key issues I will be addressing immediately,” he announced. The Corporate Management Team of GWI congratulated the newly-appointed chief executive and expressed their commitment to providing improved services through GWI.
Pastor beaten, robbed of church money
By Rajendra Prabhulall
A PA S T O R w h o h a s dedicated her life to the work of God was reportedly terrorised and robbed of an undisclosed sum of church funds last Friday night at Walton Hall on the Essequibo Coast. According to reports, Pastor Doreen Edwards who lives alone, was terrorised and brutally choked by a lone bandit who invaded her home at around 21:00 hrs on Friday night. Speaking to reporters, the Pastor of the El Shaddai Pentecostal Church said she was in bed but felt suddenly weak and lifeless at around 21:00 hrs and could not get off the bed. According to the Pastor, her lights in the house suddenly came off and she wanted to know if it was a
power failure but saw from her window that the lights on the road were still on. The Pastor recalled that, in the darkness, she felt a hand suddenly grabbing her neck and starting to choke her. The woman claimed that the person choking her also demanded “the church money”. The woman said with the hand choking her she soon became helpless and lost consciousness. According to the Pastor, after she regained consciousness the hand was at her throat again choking her. The Pastor said she was in and out of consciousness several times and was choked almost four times by the bandit who had a "fat" hand. She said when she finally was able to get off the bed she found her entire
house ransacked and a bag with church funds missing. - at Walton Hall According to the Pastor, the front door of her home was left wide opened. She said the bandit gained entry to her home by removing louver panes on her window. The Pastor, whose neck was badly swollen and bruised, said the bandit while terrorising her, emptied two bottles with cold water on her. She said the bandit also defecate on her bed before leaving. The Pastor who visited the Anna Regina Police Station to make a report was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where she was admitted for several hours. Police have so far visited the scene of the crime and are conducting investigation. No one has being arrested The Pastor's neck that is badly bruised after the bandit reportedly choked as yet. her
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday October 6, 2015
Stabroek vendor says robbed by gun-wielding men CITY vendor Selina James of 31 Da Silva Street, Newtown, Kitty was reportedly attacked by two gun-wielding men on Sunday last, while ranks at the nearby City Constabulary outpost allegedly failed to intervene during the incident. The woman told this newspaper that she had closed her mobile stand at about 01:30 hrs on Sunday, and was in the process of securing it in a storage area by the Stabroek Market Square when the incident occurred. She said she was in the company of two men who usually secure her stall, and they had just completed their duties when she was attacked. The distraught woman said she was in front of the City Constabulary Outpost at Stabroek when a man carrying what looked like a black handgun rushed up to her and shouted, “Gee me dat bag dat yuh gat deh!� The woman said she refused to hand over a small bag she had in her possession, and the gunman hit her on the temple with the gun, causing her to fall to the ground. He then grabbed the bag containing just over $37,000, and made good his escape on a CG motorcycle on which another man was waiting. As the men sped off, she said, she attempted to seek help from ranks at the City Constabulary, but they had locked their doors during the ordeal. Declining to have her photograph published for security reasons, the woman noted that this has been the fifth time she has been robbed in the past six years, and she noted that she has not received any help from the police, although all the incidents have been reported. She said that, in 2010, she was robbed by bandits just a few rods from the Kitty Police Station. The robbers made off with $1.5M, which represented her week’s sales, which she had been taking home to deposit in her bank account the following day. She allegedly reported this matter to the police at Kitty, but they had simply taken a statement from her, and had done nothing thereafter. The woman related that, in 2013, she was again robbed in Kitty, and the bandits made off with $1.8M in cash and phone cards she had in her person. In 2014, bandits again attacked her in Craig Street Campbellville, and she lost $1.1M which she was taking to the bank to deposit. She was reportedly robbed on two other occasions in the city, during which she had lost millions while transferring
cash from her stall to her home. Ms James owns one of the most popular mobile grocery stalls outside the Stabroek Market, and her stall is flocked by shoppers on a daily basis. She noted that her attackers seem to be getting inside information about her cash transfers, since she, in good faith, had employed some questionable characters to do odd jobs for her, just to ensure they earn an honest dollar. She is particularly aggrieved about not getting any justice from police at the Kitty Police Station, since she said she had given vivid descriptions of the men who had attacked her. The woman is contending that the action
of City Constabulary ranks during the recent incident is unprofessional and crude. Contacted at the Stabroek Constabulary Outpost yesterday, a female official indicated that she had heard about the incident, but she said she was not aware that ranks had closed the doors of the outpost during the incident. She promised to investigate the matter. In relation to the matters that Ms James had allegedly reported at the Kitty Police Station, an official said there had been no recent reports from the woman, but informed that reports made years ago were being dealt with by investigators there, but the rank informed that those investigators were unavailable to shed light on the matters. (Alex Wayne)
Tuessday October 6th, 2015 - 13:00 hrs Wednesday October 7th, 2015 - 14:00 hrs
- City Constabulary allegedly fails to intervene during incident
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday October 6, 2015
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday October 6, 2015
Chinese supermarket re-opens for business - after recent ordeal with bandits
THE ATTACK AT about 20:30 hrs on August 10, 2015, as Chinese businessman Hua Kang Huang Hua, 30, was closing the gate to the Wisdom Supermarket which he operates at Vryheid’s Lust Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara, a white Toyota 212 vehicle pulled up and two unmasked robbers exited. One held Hua at gunpoint, while his accomplice went into the supermarket. When employees saw the gunman approaching, they fled to the back of the supermarket, leaving Mrs Hua alone to face the gunman, who demanded money. THE HUMILIATION During this ordeal, the Huas had managed to maintain their composure and had allowed the bandits to do whatever they wanted, even after they had both been physically assaulted. After the robbers had threatened to assault Hua with a bottle, the Huas collectively handed over proceeds from the day’s sales, which amounted to approximately $100,000, and the robbers also helped themselves to two bottles
of Skyy vodka that were displayed for sale in the supermarket. Before they made good their escape, the bandits reportedly shot Hua in his leg, and discharged another round into the ceiling of the supermarket. THE FOOTAGE The entire ordeal had lasted for about one minute, but the police response was quick. Hua was hospitalised for his injuries, during all of which time the business had remained closed. The business was fortunately outfitted with security cameras, and the police were able to view footage of the ro b b e r y. H o w e v e r, t o d a t e , n o a r re s t s h a v e been made. THE RESOLVE Now recuperating from his injuries, Hua reopened his business less than a week ago, although he is still tramautised and “a bit edgy”by the incident. He told this newspaper yesterday that he did not want to speak to the media, because of fear of being victimised and because he wanted to prevent further attack on his business.
He now has a security guard posted at the entrance to the business, but he, his wife and two employees remain watchful and ever ready to avoid a replay of that robbery incident. Wisdom Supermarket had been in business for about three months prior to the armed robbery, and is housed on the bottom flat of a two-storey rented concrete building whose construction has not been completed. THE SCENARIO Several Chinese businesses, especially restaurants, have been targeted by bandits for some time now; and Chinese national Zhenjz Su, who had operated the Jade Stone Chinese Restaurant on Mandela Avenue in Georgetown, was brutally killed when gunmen invaded his home. Su’s wife was battered in that robbery, which lasted for more than half an hour in the early morning period of August 7, 2015. That business remains closed and although several persons of interest have been questioned, the police are yet to make an arrest in that regard. (Michel Outridge)
Wisdom Supermarket has re-opened for business
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Digicel Guyana distributes ‘goodies’ to Santa Mission schools AS the curtain came down on Indigenous Heritage Month celebrations, Digicel Guyana o n We d n e s d a y v i s i t e d the nursery and primary schools in Santa Mission to deliver some school packs and other goodies to students and teachers. The delighted students
and teachers made special arrangements by taking an early lunch and returning to school on time for the Digicel visit. The school has more than 60 students, including the nursery and primary levels. During the visit, Digicel representatives distributed school packs and special gifts to
the teachers. Apart from treating the young ones at Santa Mission, Digicel also paid a visit to the oldest resident of Santa Aratack, 87-yearold Joseph Barker, who is the founder and now a retired elder of the Brethren Assembly of God. Digicel surprised Mr. Vidya Sanichara and Jason Lampley of Digicel with the teachers and students of Santa Aratack Primary School
Joseph Barker as he accepts a basket of goodies from Digicel representatives Vidya Sanichara and Jason Lampley Barker and his wife, who were found relaxing in their hammock with a hamper and some Digicel gifts. The Barkers have seven sons and two daughters and have been married for over 60 years. Mr. Barker is very proud of his 20 grandchildren and 30 great-grands. Said he: “Thank you Digicel; I have a Digicel phone and I use it all the time to call my children, but I get a fancy one now. I don’t know how to use all them things on it, but I does make calls good with it.” Digicel has been gen-
erous in its support of indigenous communities across Guyana where they have coverage. Only recently, Digicel sponsored the Indigenous Day of Sports which was part of Indigenous Heritage Month activities that are traditionally observed in September. Santa Aratack was designated this year ’s Heritage Village for the month-long Indigenous Heritage celebrations. This village is 175 years old, and is known to be one of the oldest Amerindian settlements in Guyana.
Teachers celebrated
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 6, 2015
- Students show appreciation for ‘most selfless job’, noble profession
By Shivanie Sugrim TEACHING is rightly referred to as one of the world’s noble professions. Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine said he cannot think of any religion whose central prophet is not considered as “teacher”, either directly within the respective holy text or at the very least by implication. “It is certainly one of the most selfless jobs. A teacher is the one professional I can think of whose work involves routinely preparing other people for opportunities that they themselves very often never get to take advantage of,” Dr Roopnaraine said in a message yesterday on the occasion of World Teachers Day. He said the nursery school teacher who ignites the imagination in a young child is consciously investing in the development of a future great writer or artist or filmmaker. And the high school biology teacher who refuses to give up on a promising but distracted student is providing the learning experiences that will someday result in the country’s next neurosurgeon. The Education Minister said that the university lecturer who opens up a doorway into the intricacies and drama of Caribbean history in an eager young mind may be laying the groundwork for a future President of this country. “It is perhaps because the work of the teacher is so ubiquitous, so all pervading that we do not recognise how necessary it is and how devastating the consequences of its absence could be,” Dr Roopnaraine stated. “No one, after all, notices the lung unless it has suffered some grievous in-
jury - education, knowledge, is the oxygen upon which this society will depend for survival and the teaching service is the organ which processes it for our consumption,” he posited. It is fitting therefore that a day is reserved globally for the recognition of the invaluable contributions teachers make to development, he said. “That said, appreciation for teachers should go beyond a day of what would otherwise be platitudes, and extend to tangible benefits and systems that facilitate a good life for teachers in recognition of their invaluable work,” Dr Roopnaraine stated. As Minister of Education, Dr Roopnaraine said he recognises that no effort towards a better education system, and indeed a better society, can be effective without these measures. As a model for policy, he said we need look no further than the UN Global Thematic Consultation on Education in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, which outlines the following: (1) good conditions of employment; (2) good conditions in the work environment; (3) high-quality pre-and in-service training for teachers; (4) effective management These four simple areas of consideration are enough on which to build a solid blueprint and are entirely in keeping with what we aspire to as we seek a fundamental reform of education in Guyana, the Education Minister said. “I have committed to, and begun, consultation and cooperation with all relevant stakeholders in this regard, including the Guyana Teach-
ignorance, cooperation over confrontation and national integration over communal disintegration.”
Students displaying excitement during the concert yesterday in appreciation of their teachers at North Georgetown Secondary. ers Union, the Teaching Service Commission, my own staff at the ministry, individual teachers, and members of various Parent-Teachers Associations in their communities across the country. “This is just the beginning of what will be eventually a far more structured approach to feedback and requisite action on teachers’ concerns,” the minister stated. “Teachers are important. Teacher welfare is important. Every single international framework for development within which we operate underscores these fundamental facts as central to human and social development, whether it is CARICOM, UNASUR, CARIFORUM or UNESCO. The Ministry of Education in Guyana is ready to do its part,” he assured. “Today, we show our appreciation for teachers with ceremony and speeches - for the rest of the year, we must strive as a government to show our appreciation in less ostentatious but more tangible ways,” the minister said.
It was HG Wells who famously said: “Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe”. As teachers we are challenged to ensure that education wins the race. Dr Roopnaraine, in his message also recalled an address delivered by Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, to teachers at the CPCE Graduation Ceremony in 2012, in which the now President alluded to the opportunities ahead of us as a nation, stating that these opportunities “can be achieved only by people with a first-class education. They can only be achieved by the creation of an ‘education nation’ that brings all our people together in a knowledge society. They can be achieved only by combining our energies, integrating our communities and working together for the common good, rather than pulling apart. Dark forces – poverty, oppression and hatred – threaten to pull us apart. An education nation ought to be one in which intelligence prevails over
CELEBRATED: Meanwhile, teachers across all regions of Guyana were shown some form of appreciation by their students as World Teachers’ Day was celebrated worldwide yesterday under the theme, ‘Empowering teachers, building sustainable societies’. At the North Georgetown Secondary school, students provided their teachers with lunch and a concert to show their appreciation. There was much excitement on the part of teachers as they enjoyed a day of countless appreciation
from their students. “At heart we appreciate our teachers very well and this is a special time of the year that we should give back something to them because they sacrifice a lot for us so that we ace our exams and we are thankful for that,” said Tyron Rhamanohar, Head Prefect of North Georgetown Secondary. Similar sentiments were echoed by students of other schools in Georgetown. World Teachers’ Day is celebrated to honour all teachers, as they are regarded as the ‘backbone’ of an education system. The day marked the recognition of the hard work and sacrifices teachers have been executing over the years.
No casualties in two-car collision - at busy city intersection
NO one was injured yesterday when, shortly after 09:00hrs, two cars collided at the corner of North Road and New Garden Street here in the city, causing one to instantly burst into flames. The driver of the ill-fated Toyota Corolla, PJJ 7553, said he was proceeding at a normal rate of speed when the blue Toyota Spacio, PNN 2152, ran into his vehicle, causing it to first smoke then explode. He said he had the-right-of-way when he was hit. The tramautised man, who declined to give his name, said that thankfully, he was able to exit the vehicle before it exploded, and was very relieved that he was able to walk away unscathed. The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) quickly responded to the fire call and extinguished the fire which had already destroyed the interior of the motorcar. The driver of the Spacio, a well-dressed young man who refused to speak to the media, was asked to report to the police with his documents.
The burnt-out Corolla at the junction of North Road and New Garden Street following the accident (Photos by Michel Outridge)
Students posing with their teachers, yesterday at the North Georgetown Secondary School
The damaged Spacio parked on New Garden Street after the accident yesterday
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South Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:50 hrs Caymen Sunset 09:25 hrs Rake’s Chestnut 10:05 hrs Firstimesacharm 10:40 hrs Hawaiian Sun 11:15 hrs Reef Of Fortune English racing Tips Brighton 08:50 hrs Art Echo 09:20 hrs Beatbybeatbybeat 09:50 hrs Shadow Game 10:20 hrs Prince Of Aaran 10:50 hrs Hermosa Vaquera 11:20 hrs Flutterbee 11:50 hrs Pendo 12:20 hrs Tas Shoes Catterick 09:00 hrs Early Bird 09:30 hrs Fumata Bianca 10:00 hrs Spirit Of Zebedee 10:30 hrs Novinophobia 11:00 hrs The New Pharaoh 11:30 hrs Skywards Miles 12:00 hrs Rose Acclaim 12:30 hrs Sir Geoffrey Leicester 09:10 hrs Light Music 09:40 hrs Exist 10:10 hrs Zubaidah 10:40 hrs Melvin The Grate 11:10 hrs Malvia 11:40 hrs Black Night 12:10 hrs Hold Tight 12:40 hrs Khajaaly Irish Racing Tips Tipperary 09:25 hrs Conduct Yourself 09:55 hrs Timing’severything 10:25 hrs Our Sox 10:55 hrs Valentino’s Choice 11:25 hrs Marvellous Moment 11:55 hrs Old Castletown 12:25 hrs Lieutenant American Racing Tips Philadelphia Park Race 1 Punkin’s Pride Race 2 Queequeg Race 3 Loya Race 4 Carolina Gold Race 5 Sweetness ‘n Sugar Race 6 Sidisinforthree Race 7 Persuasive Paul Race 8 Flashy Nunzio
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Cairns perjury trial to feature a lineup of cricket internationals THE former Australia captain, Ricky Ponting, current New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum and the former New Zealand spinner and captain Daniel Vettori are among a cast of high-profile witnesses set to take the stand in the perjury trial involving former New Zealand all-rounder, Chris Cairns. Cairns has been accused by the Crown Prosecution Service of lying under oath during a 2012 libel case and could face a prison sentence of a maximum of seven years if found guilty. Also standing trial is Cairns' former legal counsel Andrew Fitch-Holland, who has been charged for perverting the course of justice in the 2012 case against former IPL chairman Lalit Modi, who had accused the one-time New Zealand captain of match-fixing. Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming and opener Mark Greatbatch
Chris Cairns arrives at Southwark Crown Court on the first morning of his perjury trial. (PA photos)
have been named as potential witnesses as the trial got under way at Southwark Crown Court in London yesterday morning. Also featuring on the 50-plus witnesses
list, named by the prosecution and defence teams, are Cairns' former New Zealand team-mates Shane Bond, Kyle Mills, Chris Harris and Andre Adams. There will also be some former and current ICC officials providing evidence: Ronnie Flanagan, the current head of the anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU) and Ravi Sawani, former ACSU general manager. Other witnesses are expected to include Cairns' wife, Mel, and Mal Loye, the former England one-day batsman. Although the court will reassemble tomorrow afternoon, when a 12-person jury would be sworn in, the trial proper is likely to begin from next Monday when the prosecution begins calling on the witnesses. The first witness is likely to be former New Zealand opener Lou Vincent, who was banned for life last July by the ECB and the ICC fol-
lowing his confession that he had accepted money to underperform. Yesterday the court was read the two charges against Cairns, the second of which is a joint action against Fitch-Holland, namely that the pair induced Vincent to provide a false witness statement during his successful libel action against Modi. Count one, which has been made against Cairns alone, was that in the course of the same trial Cairns "wilfully made a statement … which he knew to be false, namely that he had 'never, ever cheated at cricket and nor would he ever contemplate such a thing'." The trial is likely to stretch over a month with Justice Nigel Sweeney, the judge hearing the case, making it clear to the shortlisted jury that it was his "pessimistic view" that the trial would go until November 20. Cairns was first to arrive to the Court as early as 08:45hrs. In the morning session that lasted two hours, Cairns confirmed his identity to the court registrar, and exchanged a few words with Fitch-Holland, who sat next to him in the glass-panelled dock. The court shortlisted a jury of 16 members, out of which tomorrow 12 would be sworn in with two spare members, who would be present till the prosecution completes its arguments. The potential jury was also made aware of the fact that some of the witnesses would be facing the court through video-conferencing from overseas with the time difference being sometimes as long as 11 hours for witnesses from New Zealand. The prosecution team is led by Queen's Counsellor Sasha Wass along with her colleague Esther S c h w a t z e r- We i s m a n n . Cairns' defence team comprises Orlando Pownell and Simon Ray while Fitch-Holland is being represented by Jonathan Ladlow and Jonathan Polnay. (ESPN Cricinfo)
Lanferman’s double...
From back page
that the players knew how they felt when Lanferman scored a header from pointblank range after being left unmarked in the six-yard area when the ball was crossed. Alpha United ended the half with a 1-0 and both sides had some heated exchanges in their respective dressing rooms as tempers flared among the players. Upon the resumption of the match in the second half, again Alpha United had the upper hand, controlling the tempo of the game. It did not look like the same Fruta Conquerors team that had played to an exciting 2-2 draw against the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). While Fruta Conquerors struggled to put together a good ‘knock’ to really trouble Alpha United defenders, Lanferman was busy carving his way around his opposition’s defence but resolute goalkeeping kept the SM Jaleel-sponsored team from going down any further. Captain Trevon Lythcott was kept on his toes; literally, as he steered his fellow Fruta Conquerors defenders but Lanferman could not have been contained for 45 more minutes. The former Den Amstel United player scored a
beauty for his second goal of the night, when he intercepted a pass and manoeuvred smoothly between two defenders and then nicely tucked the ball around the advancing goalkeeper. The win puts Alpha United atop the eight-team table on superior goal difference (+4) despite being tied with Pele FC on eight points. Fruta Conquerors slipped to third in the standings with seven points but ahead of Slingerz FC (six points) to round off the top four teams after the completion of four rounds. Meanwhile, in the opening contest there was nothing to ‘wow’ about, since both teams (Buxton United and Monedderlust) failed to make any impression on the fans. However, Buxton United held the advantage over the Berbicians throughout the 90-minute contest. Coming up short in their three previous matches, Eson Hamer scored in the 82nd minute to secure a well deserved win for the East Coast Demerara club – their first in the STAG Elite League. The loss was Monedderlust’s third consecutive, following defeats to Slingerz FC (3-0) and Fruta Conquerors (2-1).
Under-fire Chelsea boss Mourinho... From page 26
backing Mourinho despite the team's torrid start to the season. "The club wants to make it clear that Jose continues to have our full support," the club said. "As Jose has said himself, results have not been good enough and the team's performances must improve. However, we believe that we have the right manager to turn this season
around and that he has the squad with which to do it." Mourinho has faced widespread criticism this season for his public spat with former club doctor Eva Carneiro and for Chelsea's poor displays. "I define this as the worst period in my career," he said on Friday. "It's a fantastic experience, even though I don't want to repeat it again."
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 6, 2015
IAAF will do
everything to protect clean athletes - Coe By Amlan Chakraborty
NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) - Athletics has been at the forefront in the fight against doping and its world governing body will do everything to protect the clean athletes, president Sebastian Coe said yesterday. The twice Olympic 1500 metres champion was elected in August to head the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) which has been accused of going soft on doping after thousands of blood test data were leaked to media. Coe said athletics has been "at the vanguard" in the fight against doping and promised to rid the sport of the menace. "It's not uniquely a track and field problem," Coe told reporters after meeting with the south Asian athletics officials in the Indian capital. "Every sport in the world has global issues. We have them but we also resolve them. "It is our responsibility to make sure that our systems are clear and concise and the protocols are uniform across the globe," he said. "We must encourage the clean athletes to believe that
IAAF president Sebastian Coe
we are always going to be in their corner. "The reason that you have testing systems is actually to protect the clean athletes. It's not just simply to remove those who cheat," he said. The Briton said IAAF tested 19 000 athletes since 2003-04, more than any other sport, and felt there was a perception issue. "(Sprinter) Usain Bolt is the most tested athlete, male or female, in any sport on the planet. Reality and perception often get badly tangled," he said.
"We take this very, very seriously and we need to make sure that the public believe what they watch in a stadium is legitimate." Coe hailed six-time Olympic champion Bolt but said athletics would not collapse when the charismatic Jamaican hangs up his spikes, most likely after the 2017 world championships. "Not since Muhammad Ali do I think any competitor in any sport has captured the imagination in the way Usain Bolt has. We've been very fortunate," said Coe. "(But) our sport will not come to an end when Usain Bolt retires. "I am a boxing fan and I remember the kind of conversation boxing was having in the 1960s and 70s -- what when Muhammad Ali retires. Well, Floyd Mayweather comes along, Marvin Hagler comes along, Tommy Hearns comes along, Sugar Ray Leonard comes along. "Every record that Usain Bolt set as a youngster in school has now been broken by Jamaican athletes which tells you there is in the pipeline a great deal of talent coming through the Jamaican track and field system."
Fast bowler Hossain sent to prison on charges of torturing maid
(REUTERS) - Bangladesh fast bowler Shahadat Hossain was sent to jail after surrendering yesterday on charges of torturing an 11-year-old housemaid, a day after his wife was arrested. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has suspended him from all forms of cricket until the charges are cleared. Hossain submitted a bail petition before the court after his surrender, his lawyer Kazi Mohammad Nazibullah Hiru said. The court sent him to jail after rejecting the bail plea, a court official said. The couple went into hiding after the allegations surfaced last month. The 29-year-old Hossain, who has played 38 Tests and 51 one-day internationals for Bangladesh, last played a Test against Pakistan this year but was then dropped because of injuries.
Shadat Hossain
Proteas bag T20 series after Cuttack crowd trouble
‌match held up as angry crowd hurl plastic bottles (REUTERS) - South Africa's fiery bowling and electric fielding restricted India to their second-lowest score in Twenty20 internationals as the visitors won the second match by six wickets amid crowd trouble to bag the series yesterday. All-rounder Albie Morkel marked his return to the South Africa team after 18 months with bowling figures of 3-12 as the hosts were skittled out for 92 in the 18th over, their lowest after being bundled out for 74 against Australia in Melbourne in 2008. The match suffered a delay of close to an hour after fans, angry about the performance of the home team, started hurling plastic bottles on to the ground. Supporters at the soldout Barabati Stadium threw
bottles during the change of innings and again when South Africa were batting, forcing the players off with the visitors 70 for three in 13.2 overs and closing in on victory. The match resumed after police cleared an upper stand of the stadium and South Africa returned to complete their win on the first delivery of the 18th over with the fall of another wicket. Earlier, South Africa won the toss and opted to field first and, although India got off to a decent start, the visitors reined them in with some hostile but accurate bowling. Rohit Sharma, the centurion from the last match at Dharamsala, and India's Test captain Virat Kohli were run-out to some brilliant ground fielding by
South Africa which compounded the hosts' batting woes. Morkel, added to the squad in place of paceman David Wiese who suffered a fractured hand, was the only change for South Africa for yesterday's match and the 34-year-old celebrated the occasion with his career-best bowling figures. He was ably supported by paceman Chris Morris and leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who took two wickets each for South Africa. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked up three wickets to give India hope of an unlikely victory but the target was too easy for South Africa to chase down despite the early hiccups. The third and final T20 match will be played in Kolkata's Eden Gardens on Thursday.
Asif's five-wicket haul helps Pakistan to crush Zimbabwe HARARE, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - Bilal Asif took five wickets and made a handy contribution with the bat as Pakistan cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe to complete a 2-1 series win yesterday. The 30-year-old off-spinner, in just his second ODI, captured five wickets for 25 runs to help skittle out Zimbabwe for 161 and then contributed 38 runs as an opener. The visitors passed the target for only the loss of three wickets with 96 balls to spare, with Asad Shafiq (38) and Shoaib Malik (34) unbeaten at the Harare Sports Club. After Zimbabwe's opening pair amassed 89 runs, the hosts lost 10 wickets for just 72 runs. Chamu Chibhabha and Richmond Mutumbami set a solid foundation before Chib-
Bilal Asif
habha spooned an easy catch back to the bowler. It sparked a quick slide, even though Asif took some time to get into his stride, taking his first wicket in his fifth over but then proceeding to send the home batsmen back to the pavilion at regular intervals.
Mutumbami was the seventh wicket to fall for a career-best 67 but by then Zimbabwe were already in dire straits as the spinners wreaked havoc. Left-armer Imad Wasim also grabbed three wickets. Pakistan completed their run chase in 34 overs.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Albion crush Head thumps one-day double-century Rose Hall Town with 150-run win POWERHOUSE Albion Community Centre embarrassed Rose Hall Town yet again, this time in their final preliminary round match of the 2015 Tenelec 50-overs first division cricket competition, by recording a massive 150run victory. Playing at the Port Mourant ground earlier yesterday, in blistering heat on a parched outfield, Rose Hall Town were shot out for a paltry 56 from 15.5 overs in pursuit of a challenging 207 for victory. Fiery 17-year-old pacer Josiah Dhanai destroyed the heart of the Rose Hall Town batting, claiming a hattrick as he ended with 4 for 35 while off-spinner Balchan Baldeo with whom he shared the new ball bagged 3 for 16 and Guyana Jaguars’ first class hopeful Gudakesh Motie 3 for 5 with the leftarm-spin. Out-of-favour Guyana one-day batsman Rajiv Ivan, who returned to Rose Hall Town, has sparked controversy at least from two cricket clubs in Berbice, one of those being Albion, who played yesterday’s match under a protest disputing the authenticity of Ivan’s release from Port Mourant back to Rose Hall Town. Ivan was the only batsman to reach
Josiah Dhanai
double figures with 14. It was a pathetic display of batting as none of the Rose Hall Town batsmen showed any inclination for batting on an excellent batting surface, paying the price for some thoughtless shot selection. Earlier in the day, Albion recovered from a precarious position of 44 for 3 in the 10 overs to post 206 all out off 49.1 of their allotted 50 overs after winning the toss and taking first strike. Talented 19-year-old right-hander David Latchaya, continuing his impressive form this season, was the architect of Albion’s recovery with a classy 63, a knock decorated with five
fours, having shared in two important partnerships along the way. He first shared in a fourth-wicket stand of 49 in 9 overs with Anthony Bramble before Bramble was run-our for 23, with the score on 93 in the 19 overs then added a crucial exact 50 for the seventh wicket with Motie, which carried the score to 163 in the 36th over. Motie contributed a wellcomposed 29 while Daniel Lewis with 16 and Ritesh Omroe (13) also batted well in the lower order to guide Albion to their eventual total. Pacemen Kellon Sinclair and leg-spinner Shawn Pereira picked up three wickets each for 41 and 42 respectively while offspinner Troy Matheson supported with 2 for 41. The win has ensured Albion topped the Corentyne Zone with Rose Hall Town having to settle for the runner-up slot. Albion will now meet the New Amsterdam/Canje Zone’s runner-up Bermine at home in the playoffs while Rose Hall Town will travel to meet Police, and Young Warriors will engage West Berbice in the other two playoffs. The playoffs are all set for this Saturday.
TRAVIS Head became the third Australian to score a List A double-century as he led South Australia to victory in an enormous chase against Western Australia at Sydney's Hurstville Oval. Head's 202 overshadowed an impressive 176 from Test squad member Cameron Bancroft earlier in the day, and the Redbacks overhauled the Warriors' 4 for 350 in the 47th over. Phillip Hughes and Ben Dunk were the only two Australian men to have scored one-day doublecenturies previously; Head registered his from 117 deliveries. He struck 20 fours and 12 sixes before he was caught off the bowling of Joel Paris, but by then he and Callum Ferguson had brought victory within sight for the Redbacks, despite Western Australia's big score. Ferguson, one of four batsmen to score centuries in the match, finished unbeaten on 112 when the winning runs arrived. But it was Head who dominated the innings. The young South Australia captain is highly rated by selectors despite being yet to post his maiden first-class century; this monumental innings is the perfect start for what he hopes will be a breakthrough summer.
European light heavyweight champion, the World Boxing Council light heavyweight champion and later the Commonwealth cruiserweight champion. Although born in Guyana, Andries never fought as a professional at home. `The Hackney Rock’ won the WBC title following a split-decision victory over J. B. Williamson on April 30, 1986 and made one successful defence before meeting the stone-fisted Hearns. Andries’ career spanned 18 years and he made the last trip to the ring in December 1996. He left with a record of 49 victories (30 KOs), 14 defeats and two draws. He will turn 62 next month.
Head, 21, was handed the South Australia captaincy earlier this year and this was certainly a captain's innings. He opened with Tim Ludeman in what was a hefty chase and when he fell South Australia needed only 49 more runs from 12 overs. Earlier in the day Head had sent Western Australia in to bat and a massive 216run opening stand between Bancroft and Shaun Marsh left him wondering if he had made the right call. Bancroft and Marsh were both part of the Test squad that was supposed to tour Bangladesh this month, but instead of batting against the
red ball in a warm-up match in Fatullah this week they were facing the white ball in suburban Sydney. Marsh managed 109 from 104 balls but Bancroft's 176 from 155 deliveries - his maiden one-day century - was the highlight of the first innings. Although he is viewed as a long-form specialist due to his remarkable patience, Bancroft showed at Hurstville Oval that he also boasts enough shots to make him a threat in the shorter formats. He struck 14 fours and eight sixes before he was dismissed in the 49th over. Cricket Australia)
Under-fire Chelsea boss Mourinho charged by FA
NOTABLE DATES
GUYANESE-born light heavyweight Dennis Andries registered his 29th professional victory after leading on points when a 10-round battle against American Robert Folley ended. The contest was held on October 6, 1987 in Folley’s home town of Phoenix, Arizona. Seven months earlier Andries, who fought out of England, lost his World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight title to Thomas `Hitman’ Hearns aka `The Motor City Cobra’. The fight was stopped at one minute and 26 seconds of the 10th round. Andries started professional boxing on May 16, 1978. In an eventful career he became the
Travis Head blasts 202 and Callum Ferguson managed an unbeaten 112 in South Australia's win.
Chelsea manager Joe Mourinho
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho's season went from bad to worse yesterday when the under-fire Chelsea man-
ager was charged by the FA for comments he made about match officials after the 3-1 home defeat by Southampton. "It is alleged his remarks constitute improper conduct in that they allege and/or imply bias on the part of a match official or match officials and/or bring the game into disrepute," the FA said in a statement. "He has until 18:00hrs on Thursday to respond to the charge." Mourinho told Sky Sports after Saturday's Premier League game that ref-
erees were afraid to give Chelsea penalties. "With the score at 1-1 (there was) a huge penalty and once more we don't get it," he said. "If the FA wants to punish me they can punish me, they do not punish other managers; they punish me. "My players deserve it, the Chelsea fans deserve it, I am a Chelsea fan too, I want to say it again, referees are afraid to give decisions for Chelsea." Earlier yesterday, the Premier League champions issued a brief statement Turn to page 24 ►
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Dabi dethroned as Drag king By Stephan Sookram
RONDEL Dabi was dethroned as the king of the quarter mile on Sunday, when the second edition of the Quick Shift Drag race event concluded. Dabi was the reigning champion from earlier in the year after having no one in his class but this time around, the Mitsubishi Evolution of Winston Wada built under the banner of Anand Ramchand’s team, shone on race day. Wada in his all-wheel drive car lost the first of the best-of-three final series by a slim margin to Dabi, in his burly beast of a Toyota Supra
Side by side: the Mitsubishi Evolution of Winston Wada (right) sits alongside the Drag king Rondel Dabi's Toyota Supra (left). (Guyana 360 photo)
but recovered in Race two, to level the stakes and bring the proceedings to the winner-
take-all third race. Dabi in his push to get the perfect launch breached
Joint Services Athletics Championships set to start on Sunday By Tamica Garnett OVER 250 athletes in the Joint Services are expected to participate in the InterServices Annual Athletics Championships (ISAAC), or Joint Services Championships, which is officially set to start off this Sunday, October 11. The four-day competition which will be held intermittently between October 11 and 16, will see athletes from the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Fire Service, Guyana Prison Service, and City Constabulary battle it out. With the competition normally seeing the athletes compete in the track and field events, this year there will be the introduction of a swimming segment, which will be held at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal on the opening day of competition. Things will start off on Sunday with the Road Relay beginning at 06:00hrs in front of the Police Officers Mess. After Sunday’s start, Monday will be a rest day with no competition scheduled, Competition continues on Tuesday and Wednesday, while Thursday will be another rest day, then everything climaxes on Friday. Expectations are running high with the two major players in the competition –
the GPF and the GDF – both gunning for the win. As the defending champions, the Guyana Defence Force are refusing to give up their title. GDF last year took a striking win of the championships, ahead of the GPF. With the competition held last year at the Guyana Defence Force ground, Camp Ayanganna, the GDF had home-turf advantage and, backed by a battalion of strong athletes, the soldiers took home the title, after not having had the pleasure since 2011. In previous years the competition was held at the Guyana Police Force ground, Eve Leary. This year neither side will be on home ground, as the competition moves to the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, for its inaugural hosting on a synthetic surface. This bodes well for competition which has struggled with weather interference over the years. Meanwhile, head coach for the GPF, Lyndon Wilson, believes the cookie could crumble either way this year, or perhaps even end in a tie as was the case back in 2012. “Both teams are evenly matched, I will not run away from that, so basically who slip up that’s the team that will lose. “The purpose for us is the same, to go there and per-
GPF head coach Lyndon Wilson
form at our best, and win the title.” Wilson told Chronicle Sport earlier this week. “It’s on a neutral ground. It will be the first time it will be on the synthetic track. We have a number of athletes who have experience on such a surface so we will see.” Wilson told Chronicle Sport earlier this week. Wilson says his team “went back to the drawing board”, following their last year’s loss, and has since been working on those weak areas that were highlighted by the loss. “We realise we fell down in some areas that we used to dominate in, so we went back to those areas and worked on them, it was more in the tactical area for us.” Wilson noted. “We have also worked on our strengths, so we have worked all around to strengthen our team.”
the starting lights before his time and was disqualified, leaving Wada with an easy
win and the 9-second class win, the trophy and the bragging rights. The 10-second class was another battle to the finish between Nazurdeen Mohammed and his BMW M5 and Shan Seejattan’s Toyota Levin Seejattan originally qualified in the 11-second class but bettered that time during the elimination stages, pushing him into the 10-second class and eventually into the 10-second category where he lost 2-1 in a close best-ofthree series. At the 11-second level, Anand Ramchand took top honours with his Toyota Verossa while at the 12-second
class, Romeo Singh carted off the top prize. Imran Khan made the best of the final of the 13-second class as did Fazal Bacchus (14 seconds), Clifford Lalbeharry (15 seconds) and Keron Williams (16-second class) In the two-wheel segment, Ricardo Fagundes took the top spot with his Yamaha R1-M. The day’s event was sponsored by GT&T, Valvoline, Fly Jamaica, South Land International Inc, Universal Communications Inc, Gran Sports, Rent-aTent, Ganesh Parts & General Store, Fanatix Designs, A&R Jiwanram Printery.
Crawford, Jeffrey impress in Tour of Tobago cycling classic GUYANA’S Romelo Crawford and Raynauth Jeffrey returned creditable performances in the just concluded United Cycling International (UCI) 1.2 Tour of Tobago cycling classic. According to information received, top junior cyclist Crawford won the Division two 20-lap Plymouth criterium race on Saturday in the Tobago Cycling Classic four-race series. The young Berbician won the race in an exciting sprint ahead of Junior Caribbean champion Tyler Cole and Nicholas Paul. There were 42 starters in the event. Crawford placed 3rd in the second race of the series and is positioned nicely to take the Division two Overall crown, when the series concluded on Sunday with a 25lap Market Square criteruim. Jeffrey, on the other hand, placed an impressive fourth in a gruelling event also in Tobago but was disqualified for not following an unmarked section of the course towards the finish of the race. According to reliable sources, the event which was won by Adderly Cruz Colon (Team Foundation) ahead of Darren Matthews (Team Coco’s) saw Jeffrey place an impressive fourth in the gruelling event after doing domestic duties for Team Coco’s during the entire race. However, race officials later disqualified Jeffrey for not following an unmarked section of the course towards the end of the race. Reports received by Guy-
Raynauth Jeffrey
ana Cycling News were that there were no officials on the course or any signs to direct the riders and this resulted in a number of riders being disqualified. However, as the saying goes, `Every cloud has a silver lining’ and for Jeffrey, his silver lining was that he garnered the attention of quite a few international teams, whose managers and top riders personally congratulated him on his outstanding per-
formance. He can now take consolation in the fact that he has returned to top form and has showcased his ability to match pedals internationally with the best at a UCI-rated event. He has a strong case for a spot on the Guyana National Team that is due to compete at the Caribbean Cycling Championship 2015 in Barbados later this month. Top Caribbean cyclist and Jeffrey’s teammate, Darren Matthews, has also personally endorsed Jeffrey’s campaign for a spot on the national team. A number of officials from other Caribbean nations were also enquiring about Jeffrey’s participation in the upcoming Caribbean Cycling Championship. Jeffrey, Matthews and Hamza Eastman are scheduled to represent Team Coco’s tomorrow in the Beacon Night race in Trinidad.
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055)
Answers to yesterday’s quiz:
(1) Karl Nunes (WI vs ENG, Lord’s, 1928) (2) Deryck Murray (WI vs ENG, Leeds, 1973)
Today’s Quiz:
(1) Who is the first WI wicketkeeper to hit a Test match hundred? (2) Who is the first WI wicketkeeper to crack an ODI ton? Answers in tomorrow’s issue
Sport CHRONICLE
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Joint Services Athletics Championships set to start on Sunday 27 P.
Lanferman’s double sinks Fruta Conquerors … Buxton United off the mark ALPHA ‘The Hammer’ United defeated Fruta Conquerors 2-0 while Buxton United handed Monedderlust their third consecutive loss in the STAG Elite League, when action continued last evening at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground. An enthused crowed at the famous football venue witnessed Delon Lanferman clinically finish two goals in both sides of the half (44th and 68th minutes) to sink Fruta Conquerors, in a display of complete superiority by Alpha
Buxton United’s goalscorer Eson Hamer (left) and Delon Lanferman of Alpha United
United. It was Fruta Conquerors’ first loss in the S TA G E l i t e League while Alpha United remained unbeaten of three clubs - Slingerz FC and Pele being the others - to hold such distinction so far in the competition. With Alpha United’s Kithson Bain and captain Daniel Wilson leading the attack in the first half, Fruta Conquerors on several occasions, found themselves playing deep to keep the hungry forwards at bay. Bain and Wilson’s combination at the top for head coach Wayne Dover proved to be a thorn in the feet of Fruta Conquerors defenders. Wilson had come close to giving Alpha United the early
Chronicle Sport’s Samuel Maughn was on hand at the GFC ground on Sunday, to capture part of the action between Buxton United and Monedderlust.
lead, but his flat and hard right-footed shot was nicely taken by the ‘Fruta’ custodian. Clearly, the support in the venue was for the Tucville Turn to page 24 ► team, and their fans ensured
Swiss court rejects FIFA executive Esquivel's bid to be freed ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - A Swiss court rejected an appeal from an executive of world football body FIFA held in prison as part of a corruption probe to be freed on grounds of ill health, fearing he might abscond. Lawyers for Venezuela's Rafael Esquivel, 69, had asked the Federal Court's appeals chamber to release him.
He has been in custody since a dawn raid in Zurich on May 27 nabbed him and six other football executives on U.S. arrest warrants, throwing the governing body of global football into turmoil. "The court held that there was a risk that the appellant would abscond if released. The arguments put forward in support of his release, such as his advanced age and
poor state of health, were not regarded as sufficient to counter the risk of absconding," the court said in a statement yesterday. The court did not identify him by name but said he had headed Venezuela's football association and was a member of the executive committee of the South American Football Confederation. A law enforcement source confirmed it was Esquivel.
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Esquivel, who the court said denies wrongdoing, is fighting efforts to extradite him to the United States. U.S. prosecutors accuse 14 football officials and sports marketing executives of bribery, money-laundering and wire fraud charges involving more than $150 million in payments. Esquivel has been in hospital since September 28 for unspecified tests, Switzerland's Federal Office of Justice said. The Swiss court ruled that Esquivel posed a danger of fleeing and had access to
nearly $1 million. It rejected his request to be placed under surveillance via electronic monitoring. Esquivel had argued that he had lost large amounts of weight and faced a psychological burden from incarceration. U.S. authorities had frozen around $3M (£2M) of his wealth, making it hard for the father of six to support his family. The Spanish-Venezuelan dual citizen had a diplomatic passport from Venezuela, where he lived with his wife and two children, the court said. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2015