2015 2 21

GUYANA

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

No. 104107 SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2015 GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

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President sets up National Economic Council – to propel Government’s modernisation agenda

Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

– Former President Jagdeo appointed Chair

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THE NATION MOURNS AS…

Teacher, 6 students perish in Burma accident

Centre

- died by apparent drowning

Education Minister Priya Manickchand comforts members of the Abel family last evening

Dead: Justin Abel

Dead: Ayesha Abel

Dead: Rayden Abel

Stop clutching at straws 2

By Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

CLEARLY, the highly negative response to the news that AFC has dissolved itself into APNU has sent the AFC and its accolades into a frenzy to look for something

to distract people and to find something it can view as positive. The efforts by some of their media sympathisers to misread and misinterpret my highly critical statement a few days ago is merely clutching at straws. I am willing

to accept that ‘News Source’ and others merely misinterpreted what I stated. If, indeed, this is the case then they will end this matter by accepting my quite clear reiteration of the facts.

The following are the facts: First, I intend to vote early on May 11th for the PPP/C and Donald Ramotar. Unless I die before this, nothing will change this reality. ONLY DEATH WILL STOP ME FROM DOING THIS AS MY DUTY FOR MY COUNTRY. This election is more than re-electing the PPP/C. It is about keeping Guyana on the trajectory of development and accelerating that development. Only the PPP/C can keep Guyana on this path, a pathway that we crafted. I have to ensure that I do everything for us to accomplish this because APNU and the AFC will take Guyana down a different road, a road travelled before that brought pain, shame and sufferings for our people.

Second, I intend to campaign as hard as is humanly possible to ensure another PPP/C resounding victory. Our goal as the PPP/C is to win the 2015 elections with a significantly clear majority. This majority is necessary to stop the AFC and APNU from blackmail politics

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 21, 2015

and from punishing ordinary citizens just to take vengeance on the PPP/C. We need to regain the majority so that we can stop power-hungry politicians like those in the AFC from sacrificing Guyana’s development for their own obsession with power.

The AFC has self-imploded.

The hunger for power has so blinded them that they walked into a cloud that has ingested them and end the AFC history. So Cummingsburg Accord is the AFC’s obituary.

Third, the AFC leadership deliberately lied to the people of Guyana and most specifically their supporters. They unambiguously made a commitment to their supporters that they will never join a coalition with APNU and if for some reason there is an alliance it will be under their leadership.

They were as clear as I am that the only possibility to form a coalition was if the AFC was in the leadership. They barefacedly lied to the people. They betrayed their supporters and then abandoned them. Ramjattan’s pitiful explanation that it was a negotiation ploy is every reason why their supporters should be even more upset. They were made pawns in a game of deception, a game that both APNU and the AFC are adept at. It demonstrated that all they were interested in is to grab as much as they could get. Their supporters were expendable.

Fourth, the truth, known by many of us for

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

a long time, is that APNU and AFC were engaged in a major game of deception for a very long time now. They deceived their supporters into believing that the coalition was born overnight; but this unholy alliance was a reality since before the 2011 elections.

In 2011, they worked as SEPARATE BUT ONE. Then the strategy was that AFC will focus their entire attention to PPP/C areas of strength. That strategy did not defeat the PPP/C. Now in 2015, they decided that the time to end the deception is now – from SEPARATE BUT ONE, they now will face the electorate with the veil lifted as ONE AND THE SAME. Finally they are all where they belong – under the camp of the PNC. Fifth, the AFC has self-imploded. The hunger for power has so blinded them that they walked into a cloud that has ingested

them and end the AFC history. So Cummingsburg Accord is the AFC’s obituary.

These were the sentiments that I previously expressed and these are still my sentiments. To those who chose to use the social media to promote lies that I think there is even a slight bit of positive news in the move by APNU and AFC, let me make it clear that I do not see even for a fraction of a second any such positive news about the alliance.

The truth is that APNU, AFC or the APNU/AFC coalition are equally bad news for Guyana and the people will reject them on May 11th.

Even if I were to accept that it was merely misunderstanding what I stated before, then hopefully now those who created an impression that I think anything good about this alliance would have no doubt about how I feel.

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President sets up National Economic Council GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 21, 2015

– to propel Government’s modernisation agenda

– Former President Jagdeo appointed Chair

President Donald Ramotar

PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar announced yesterday that Former President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo will be the Chairman of the newly-created National Economic Council (NEC).

The president explained that he decided to establish this council in order “to bring greater support to my government in enhancing and accelerating our transformational and modernisation agenda.”

He further stated that even though he is proud of the progress Guyana has made thus far, he believes that greater focus and attention can lead to enhanced performance in many crucial areas.

The president noted that the economic transformation and modernisation of Guyana are priorities that require the skills of every bright and experienced mind, as well as an enabling framework.

It is in this regard, he said that he has

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

asked Former President Bharrat Jagdeo to fill the role of heading the council, as he has the necessary criteria, seeing that “he served for a number of years as the pivot in the modernisation of our economy, and led in the crafting of many strategies, including the National Development Strategy, the Poverty Reduction Strategy and the Low Carbon Development Strategy…”

He added that as the previous leader of the country, Mr. Jagdeo served for over a decade and through a most crucial and rewarding period. This then means that he now has much to offer and “he has kindly agreed to assume this responsibility as

Chair of the National Economic Council.”

The president added that Mr. Jagdeo has an excellent and growing international profile and so his work will be most useful.

President Ramotar pointed out that this newly formed council will, among other things, “assist in conceptualising and crafting of economic strategies and initiatives, as well as support, in the oversight in the implementation of various projects and strategic interventions.”

“The Council, I anticipate can give impetus to the already successful efforts of ensuring that my government continues to be responsive

Former President Jagdeo will also be assisting in the crafting of the PPP/C Manifesto

to the socio-economic needs of our people,” he added.

President Ramotar removed possible controversy to his announcement by detailing that Mr. Jagdeo has made clear his non-interest in any constitutional post, “so his Chair of this Council (being a non-constitutional one) would ensure that we tap his vast experience and competence, in making our country more prosperous.”

It was pointed out too that the Former President will be offering his services on a pro-bono (free) basis.

It is expected that the work of the council will commence almost immediately, and that the composition and terms of reference of the council will be made public. The president highlighted too that the Former President would also be assisting in the crafting of the PPP/C Manifesto.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

Region Two to roll out fantastic programme for Mash 2015 - Children’s Road Show a prelude to the coming action Secondary students on fire at the children’s road show at Anna Regina on Friday

Nursery school students in action at the children’s road show on Friday at Anna Regina

These nursery students in full flow at the children’s road show at Anna Regina on Friday

These nursery children with their float at the children’s road show at Anna Regina on Friday

By Rajendra Prabhulall IN a dazzling and colourful road show competition yesterday, children of

schools in Region Two (Essequibo Coast) set the town of Anna Regina on fire with enthusiasm for Mash celebrations slated for Monday,

February 23.

The competition, reportedly organised by the Region Two Department of Education in collaboration with the Region Two Administration, had a large crowd of appreciative spectators transfixed on the public road as children dressed in brightly

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colored costume and clothing danced their way to the community centre ground.

Held under the theme ‘One people, One culture, One celebration’, the competition started off from the Lima junction to the south, and proceeded to Anna Regina in a slow procession along the public road.

Students representing their various schools danced energetically and proudly waved the country’s flag, the Golden Arrowhead, to mark Guyana’s 45th Republic anniversary.

As the road show hit

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the commercial centre of the town, hundreds of residents -- including workers from the Administrative office, shoppers and residents -flocked around the park and high bridge to watch the dazzling and energetic show, as students danced and celebrated their culture as one people with one love.

Reports are that the road show was led by students of nursery schools, followed by students of primary and secondary schools. The atmosphere was filled with loud music, laughter, joy, happiness and togetherness, firing up Anna Regina’s commercial centre with anticipation for the Mash celebrations set for Monday.

A release from the Region Two Administration has said all preparations

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are in place for a massive celebration on Monday.

According to the release, the Administration will hold its flag-raising ceremony at 7am on Monday on the Anna Regina Fire Station Tarmac to usher in the country’s 45th anniversary. The release said Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Alli Baksh, is scheduled to address Essequibians on the country’s historic occasion.

The Minister will also take the salute from the disciplined services.

According to the release, Mash Day celebrations are expected to begin from 10:00am with a float parade and revelling on the public road from Three

See Page 5

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

Pensioner, sons remanded for Construction worker jailed for attempted robbery, illegal gun and ammo unlawful possession of arms, ammo

By Geeta Rampersaud A PENSIONER and his two sons facing unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition charges were yesterday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Businessman Oswald Dass, 66, Mechanic Ivan Dass, 33, and farmer Oswald Dass, 21, all of Lot 51Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, denied the charges when they were read to them.

Particulars of the first charge said on Wednesday, February 18 at Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, they had in their possession one 9 mm pistol when they were not holders of firearm licences.

It is also alleged that on the same day at Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, they had in their possession one 12-gauge shotgun, when they were not holders of firearm licences.

In addition to that, on the same day at Kuru Kururu, they had in their possession, three rounds of 20-gauge cartridges.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru told the court that acting on information, ranks from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) set up a sting operation.

Ranks made contact with the number one defendant (Dass, Snr) and approached him with marked Guyana currency to purchase firearms and ammunitions.

The money was handed over to Oswald Dass and he returned with the number two defendant (Ivan Dass) with the alleged firearm and ammunition.

However, further information received led to the number three defendant (Oswald Dass, Jnr). A search was carried out on his person and $220,000 marked Guyana currency was found in his possession.

Prosecutor Mangru

Sleuths after several leads in tyre shop owner’s gunning down

NO one has yet been arrested in the execution-style killing of businessman Randolph Singh, called ‘Randy’, which occurred at his Airmax Vulcanizing and Tyre Shop at South Road, Bourda, between Light and Cummings Streets on Wednesday night, but sleuths are reportedly working on several leads.

Police yesterday deemed the gunning down a clear case of murder, since robbery was not the motive. At the time of the incident, Singh was wearing gold jewellery, but none was taken from him by the gunman, who, after discharging several rounds from a handgun, escaped on a motorcycle.

Police reported that, at about 22:00 hours on February 18, 2015, businessman Randolph Singh, 41, and two of his employees, one of whom is Dilbert Mohamed, 33, were seated opposite Singh’s business place at South Road, Bourda when a man armed with a firearm approached and discharged several rounds in their direction before escaping on a motorcycle.

Singh was hit about his body, while Dilbert Mohamed was struck to his right elbow. They were taken to the GPHC, where Singh was pronounced dead on arrival while Mohamed was treated and sent away.

Singh had recently returned from overseas, and his relatives say he did not have any problems with anyone, and they were not sure why he was killed on Wednesday night.

successfully opposed bail on the grounds of the seriousness, prevalence of the offence and the fact that in order for bail to be granted, special reasons must be advanced by the defence.

Representing the trio was attorney-at-law Mr. Asa Stuart Shepherd in association with Mr. Nigel Hughes. In a bail application, Staurt told the court that his clients denied having any knowledge or possession of firearm and ammunition.

He explained that the money was owned to the trio by the individual, which was handed over in a package. He added that they did not check the contents of the package which they received, since they are businessmen and had no reason to.

Defence counsel informed the court that Dass Snr had a possession of narcotics charged against him which was dismissed 15 years ago, while his other clients do not have any antecedents against them. He added that Dass Snr is married with 11 children.

Bail was refused for all three defendants and the matter was transferred to the Providence Court for February 24.

A 27-yr-old construction worker of Bent Street, Wortmanville, was yesterday sentenced to three years in prison by Magistrate Ann McLennan on attempted robbery, possession of a fireman and ammunition charges.

Calvin Dover was found guilty on three charges, one of which alleged that on Friday, September 26 at Stabroek

Market, Georgetown, being armed with a gun, he attempted to rob Dave Rodrigues.

The second charge said on the same day at Stabroek Market, Georgetown, he had in his possession 11 live rounds of ammunition, when he is not the holder of a firearm licence.

It is also alleged that on the same day at Stabroek Market, he had in his possession, a revolver when he is not

licensed to carry a weapon.

The convict was represented by Attorney-at-law, Adrian Thompson, who asked for leniency for his client, stating that it is the first time that Dover was found guilty.

Magistrate McLennan considered the time Dover spent in prison during his trial and also the seriousness and prevalence of the offence before handing down the sentence.

Region Two to roll out fan...

From Page 4

Friends village located south of the town, then into Anna Regina, and from thence into the community centre ground, where a grand celebration will take place.

Some of the floats that will be on the road show will include RDC Region 2,

Suddie and Charity public hospitals, Essequibo Technical Institute, Fashion & Beyond of Henrietta, International Link also of Henrietta, Ramlakhan Rice Mills, G & P Jaigobin Supermarket, Vish Turbo contractor, New Opportunity Corp, Cotton Field group and Puran Man Man business company of

Airy Hall.

The release said three masquerade bands (Tarus of Aurora, Village Ram of Suddie, and the Dartmouth Group) will provide live masquerade action on the public road.

Several thousand Essequibians are expected at Anna Regina for the grand celebrations.

Primary students at the children’s road show on Friday at Anna Regina

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

Guyana Editorial

Desperation, revenge root of dirty politics IF there is anything that drives greed, it is desperation, and desperation coupled with revenge and false hope are a certain recipe for failure.

No politician wants to get into a position like this, but pronouncements by Moses Nagamootoo and his AFC colleagues seem to confirm the belief that his small party is an entity reserved for small-minded persons.

Nagamootoo, in his infinite wisdom saw nothing wrong in boasting to a handful of scattered supporters at a public meeting, that his AFC is capable of delivering 11 per cent of Indian votes, so that the AFC combined with APNU will be able to win the May 11 elections.

Up until Nagamootoo’s dotish declaration, the party he represents had always projected itself as a multi-racial party, and a viable alternative to the established PPP/C and PNCR-APNU. If many do not know, just for the sake of repeating, the AFC won about 11 per cent of the total votes in the 2011 Regional and General Elections, and given their

actions in Parliament and the decision to formalise their alliance with APNU, shunning consultation with their supporter, their chances of regaining 11 per cent of the votes this time around appear very bleak.

If one goes with this analysis or this forecast materialises, it would mean that the AFC might get practically only Indian votes.

But what the pronouncement does, anyhow, is to indicate that Nagamotoo will be focusing on getting primarily enough Indian supporters to give APNU so that they can win the elections.

We all know that Guyanese vote primarily on race and less on policies, but no party, with the exception of ROAR had at any time indicated publicly as a policy that it will be targeting a particular ethnic group to get their votes to win an election.

The trust has always been a multi-racial approach with the intention of attracting broad support, but this is not the focus of the AFC as their goal is to get rid of the Government, even if it means campaigning only to get PPP/C supporters.

The snake in the grass THE present coalition between AFC and APNU did not materialise because of the no-confidence motion or the prorogation of Parliament but it was a well-orchestrated move by Raphael Trotman and his APNU acolytes to get APNU into power.

In this process, Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo became mere pawns in the power struggle, their lust for power and vengeance made them blind to the crafty manoeuvrings of Trotman. They were willing to go along once their petty desires can be fulfilled. They believed that they will all end up in a winwin situation.

Mr Trotman never officially left the membership of the PNC and is a member of APNU. He co-founded the AFC with Ramjattan as a front to split the PPP votes and to usher in the PNC but this failed because the PPP/C ended up with the majority in 2006. Trotman was the AFC’s Presidential candidate then.

However, after the 2011 Elections, with Ramjattan as the AFC’s Presidential candidate, the AFC managed to clinch the one extra seat needed to give the combined Opposition the majority they

needed to create havoc and mayhem in Parliament and to force the PPP/C to abort its term and call fresh elections.

APNU in 2011, had to seal this new dispensation in their favour so they refused to install Nagamootoo as the Speaker of the House. Granger made it clear that Nagamootoo ‘cannot be trusted’. This was no accidental emotional outburst, they wanted Raphael Trotman because he was one of them, he can be trusted to stay on course to depose of the PPP from government.

Mr Trotman, as the Speaker should have been impartial but every Monday night he would have clandestine meetings with APNU and AFC executives and instruct and advise them as to what they should be doing in Parliament the following day. They met at Cathy Hughes Office. This was the ritual week after week.

I have been reliably informed that the coalition was initiated by Trotman and he was the one who drafted the relevant documents relating to the coalition and at the moment he is the campaign coordinator for the AFC/APNU coalition. He is the chief architect of the coalition.

Trotman is to the PNC what Moses

Nagamootoo’s and the AFC’s goal is not without precedent. Not many might know that Ravi Dev, an Indian Supremacist tried very hard to turn Indians against the PPP after he was told to join the party as a member and work his way up the ranks.

This was an insult to Dev, who believe that given his “gifted intelligence”, he is only worthy of joining the PPP as an Executive, even though some of them are not of his “intellectual pedigree”.

And what he did? Knowing that the security forces are primarily made up of Africans, and there are some dissatisfied Indians, he conceived a drivel he called Ethnic Security Dilemma, and lashed together a thing he called ROAR. And the comedy began. He ran up and down West Demerara asking residents to vote him into the Presidency because the PPP was not doing enough for them and as a great US-trained Lawyer he will do better.

Isn’t the gallivanting by Dev similar to the poppy show now being put on by Nagamootoo?

is to the PPP. Trotman always wanted to be in the leadership. It must be recalled that Trotman fought Desmond Hoyte for the leadership of the PNC and in 2008, at the AFC conference held at Perry Hotel, he did not want to accede to the rotation principle with regard to the presidential candidate and leadership of the AFC. He became so annoyed afterwards that he said that he will resign from politics in order to pursue a spiritual quest. He had to be cajoled into accepting the Prime Ministerial candidacy. It was at this Conference that Ramjattan received the support of ex-executive members who have now resigned from the AFC and was instrumental in Ramjattan be given the Presidential candidacy. Yet these members have been side-lined thanks to the tenacity and hard-work of Raphael Trotman!

He did not forget that these people supported Ramjattan against him. What a schemer! The coalition now has two snakes, can you now guess their names?

Mr Sixtus Edwards, the former General Secretary of the AFC made mentioned of cronyism, and I will elaborate on a few examples. After the 2006 elections, Shantelle Smith, the female friend of Trotman was duly rewarded with the post of Member of Parliament and after this was revealed, Smith resigned and the vacancy was filled by Mrs Punalall.

He tried desperately to become President through the PPP but failed, then boldly declared that the party will fail without him. It was this same level of arrogance and narcissism that made Dev a heavy weight to his own party, which was doomed to fail before it started, and Nagamootoo and AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan seem headed for the same fate.

The ROAR failure is a living example that Indians do not support anyone who wants their votes for personal gain, in this case, Nagamootoo trying to get Indian votes to give APNU so as to vote out the PPP. This will enable him to become Prime Minister of the country.

The people know of the deliberate blocking of developmental projects by APNU during the 10th Parliament, and the AFC’s failure to bring about any sort of tangible change they have promised them.

In their desperation to gain power, they seem bent on doing strange things but, as the saying goes: ‘The Gods first make mad those whom they want to destroy.’

Also David Patterson became a Member of Parliament simply because he is a relative of Trotman. Hard-working members such as Gerhard Ramsaroop and others did not stand a chance. Later on, in 2012, David Patterson was rewarded with the GS position since Mr Edwards was too principled and preached accountability and was a stickler with regard to the Constitutional provisions enshrined in the AFC’s Constitution.

Edwards will not fit in the scheme of things which will be implemented in the near future. He was an impediment and had to be removed in order make the deviation from the AFC founding principles easier and the transition be made with little or no resistance.

No wonder Trotman was in Berbice on Thursday trying to sell the coalition to Berbicians. He lauded the PNC’s achievements under the Hoyte’s Administration and though he accepted that ‘some bad things happened’, the AFC now knows what went wrong and can correct them.

He gave the Berbicians a guarantee that the AFC will not be taken over by the PNC but he failed to make mention what happened to the UF after the 1964 coalition.

Peter D’Augiar had to resign and the remaining UF ministers were See page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

Over the years, I tried to right a wrong - and to recognise and support the PPP/C for good governance

I HAVE no clue of the identity of ‘Punti Peraud’, the author of a letter “Harry Gill now speaks from the other side of his mouth” (Kaieteur News, February 20).

I also have no clue of the gender of this person or whether anyone bearing the name ‘Punti Peraud’ really exists. But this letter caused me to take a break from my busy schedule to respond appropriately. I hope it is given the same prominence in the Kaieteur News as the one used to attack my character.

It is no secret that I had once foolishly and unjustifiably attacked the Jagdeo Administration while living in New York, believing then that I was an authority on the domestic policies of Guyana simply by reading the Kaieteur News online and listening to Mark Benschop “Hate” Radio on the internet.

I was wrong then, and I personally and publicly apologised to former President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo for my indiscretions.

Over the years since, I try to right a wrong and to recognise and support the PPP/C for good governance; for rescuing Guyana from economic disaster caused by the policies of the then Minister of Finance in the PNC Government, Carl Greenidge; and for improving the quality of life of every Guyanese, including those living in opposition strongholds like Linden and Buxton.

It is obvious that the letter writer ‘Punti Persad’ is as brain-washed and mis-guided as my brother whom I love, but no longer have a relationship with after issuing threats to my personal safety on behalf of the PNC party he foolishly continues to serve.

In an effort to silence me, I was told that Robert Corbin was really upset by my letters attacking the mismanagement of Guyana’s resources under past PNC Administrations that led to the nation’s bankruptcy, and was told “Harry, they’re some people in the PNC who could hurt you really bad...I cannot protect you if you don’t stop writing letters criticising

the PNC.” This is the same brother who called me in Bartica during the 2013 Regatta to say that he has no respect for David Granger because Granger failed to thank him and others in Region 3 who worked tirelessly for the APNU campaign during the 2011 general election.

He wanted me to relay this message to Granger as he knew Granger and I were both staying at the same hotel in Bartica.

Surprisingly, David Granger did not know who my brother was, a man who served the PNC with loyalty and passion since the days of Burnham. But I merely mentioned my brother in this letter to illustrate that nothing this PPP/C government does would ever change the hearts and minds of those who blindly disregard all the positive changes taking place here that have made life much easier for them and their families under the same government they so despise.

Anyone who knows my brother will agree that he has achieved more wealth conducting honest business under this PPP/C government than he ever did taking tremendous risks under the PNC, but for him to admit that, would be seen as blasphemous given his loyalty to the PNC-APNU. The writer ‘Punti Peraud’ asked that I itemize “the new projects which have come on stream” to justify development in Guyana.

This person must be either blind or lives on the summit of Mount Roraima, far away from civilization.

For everywhere one goes in every Region of this country, there are real signs of ongoing development and economic prosperity. New businesses and beautiful homes can be seen everywhere. More Guyanese own their own homes and house-lots; and more families now own a car, a necessity that was only a dream 20 years ago. And while the Opposition will argue that these are privately owned, the PPP/C government has made it possible through good governance and a growing,

stable economy, to allow commercial banks to give mortgages to new and existing homeowners and loans to buy vehicles.

If the economy of Guyana was bad or unstable like it was in the days of the PNC, banks would not have money to lend, and Courts would not risk giving credit to anyone to purchase furniture or appliances as they willingly do now.

New projects are so commonplace that most Guyanese now take them for granted: New schools; new roads and bridges; new hospitals and health centers with new ambulances and modern medical equipment; a new Police Training Center; new police vehicles and technology to fight crime; a new forensic lab; a brand new Marriott Hotel soon to be opened; incentives given to the Private Sector for job creation; and new sports facilities, just to name a few. And despite efforts by the Joint Opposition to derail progress under the PPP/C government, Guyana will soon have a Specialty Hospital; a new international airport; another bridge over the Demerara River, and the Amaila Falls Hydropower Plant... all because we now have a caring, responsible government that is committed to improving the lives of every Guyanese.

A student of economics, Davendra Kissoon, wrote the following in a recent letter: “Under the PPP, Guyana has seen tremendous growth in standard of living, land, life expectancy and economic stability. During the PPP/C reign, we have seen a dramatic increase in the per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). In the year 1992, the per capita GDP (PPP) was US$509.37 and was ranked 133 globally. By the year 2013, the CIA estimated Guyana’s per capita GDP (under the PPP) at US$8500 and was ranked 104. This represents a growth of $308 per year in per capita GDP or a 17 times growth.

There has also been an increase in overall standard of living as shown by the Human

Development Index. In the year 1990, the Human Development Index of Guyana was 0.509, by the year 2013 it has increased to 0.638. Guyana has moved 0.129 points up the index. This shows an overall increase in the living standards of the country.

Over the last 23 years, Guyanese have seen increases in life expectancy. In the year 1992, the average life expectancy was 62 years, by the year 2012, the life expectancy had risen to 66 years. This represents an increase in life expectancy by 4 years. This is due to tremendous improvements in the diagnostic capabilities and overall improvement in the health sector.

Under the PPP, the inflation rate has been stabilised. The total inflation of the Guyana dollar in relation to the US$ from the era before the PPP was a massive 3150% while in the era of the PPP was 66%. This represents a massive reduction in inflation or an average inflation of 2.9% in comparison to the US$.

Another triumph of the PPP was the overall reduction of debts and the reduction of the debt to GDP ratio. In the year 1992, the Debt to GDP ratio amounted to a massive 602%, in comparison, Guyana’s present public debt only amounts to 60%. This is a massive reduction and a very important one. Guyana now boasts the fastest growing economy in the Caribbean, better access to healthcare, better accessibility, better schools, press freedom and democratic elections. According to the GRA, there are approximately 36 new car owners per day and 8 persons who will own a home for the first time each day. Guyana has also experienced 8 successive years of economic growth.

The points presented are only a small part of the many improvements we have seen under the PPP. A lot of these improvements are now things we take for granted.”

I rest my case.

HARRY GILL

The snake in the ... For those who are From page 6

bought by Burnham and that was the end of the UF. He was so comical when he said that if the coalition does not go well Ramjattan will move a no-confidence vote against the PNC and APNU! I cannot imagine the length that these people will go to fool our people in Berbice. Then he assured the Berbicians that, ‘we are not going to cheat you’. This man is so shameless! Every single day the AFC has been cheating its members and supporters and yet this man is again chanting the same mantra. The AFC has not only cheated its supporters but it has deceived and sold them out to the PNC on a platter.

Then he stated that they will hold each

other accountable when they are given power and that Ramjattan is ‘a no-nonsense man’. This is so laughable! I have spoken and written exhaustively about the corrupt practices of ‘the AFC Gang’ and this has been confirmed and corroborated by both Mr Edwards and Mr Balwant Persaud.

Lastly, Trotman exhorted Berbicians ‘not to look into the rear view mirror’ in an effort to erase the past.

Mr Trotman should know that for his own safety, that of his passengers and the general public, a driver must consult his ‘rear view mirror’ at times!

Beware of the devious puppeteer!

AFC will be dissolved soon!

HASEEF YUSUF AFC Councillor, Region 6

too young to know

AS I continue going through history by reading articles dated in the 1980s, I stumbled upon a article stating the then co-leader of The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Mr. Eusi Kwayana went on a fast to protest against the then fuel crisis and blackout.

During the fast that took place in the month of November 1987, dozens of persons had begun to gather with Mr. Kwayana to protest. Many members of the crowds were asked to leave the scene but some refused and so arguments ensued between the protestors and the police officers. In articles/ letters, Eusi Kwayana stated that the then PNC Government was causing corruption.

Eusi fought for the unable, spoke for the unheard and best of all, fast for his starving country due to being unable to buy basic food necessities for the cost of living was

sky rocketing and when not high, items were simply unavailable.

It is alleged that the PNC Regime was involved in the murder of the late Walter Rodney of the WPA (Working People’s Alliance), along with Father Darke of the House of Israel, Ohene Koama, Edward Dublin, and the late Education Minister Vincent Teekah due to their opposition over the manner in which Forbes Burnham governed.

Many say they were killed basically for speaking out against Mr. Burnham and those who wanted to speak out didn’t for they had to fear for their lives.

I penned this piece so that the young ones would have a little insight into part of our history.

MARIA KARIM

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

Trotman admits AFC losing supporters - because of merger with APNU

By Ravin Singh

WHAT may have appeared to be the best option for the Alliance For Change (AFC) in the face of General and Regional Elections slated for May 11 of this year might just have backfired on the minor Opposition party which had once labelled itself an ‘independent force.’

According to AFC founding member, Raphael Trotman, at a joint AFC/APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) press conference held yesterday at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, the AFC is aware that there is “some measure of disaffection” among its supporters.

Trotman said the supporters who have turned their backs on the AFC could be classed as “marginal amounts”, but conceded that the AFC was “working assiduously” at “fanning out” the issue country-wide.

Nevertheless, there was inconsistency in his statement in that he said the issue

that was being “fanned out” countrywide had been done prior to the declaration of the formation of the coalition.

Trotman, however, defeated his rhetoric by admitting that the party was losing its support because its supporters did not understand the rationale behind the decision taken to form a coalition with the APNU. “What we are finding is that, as we go and explain, people understand,” he said. But as he continued, a different position was taken in his statement.

This time, Trotman was saying that prior to official announcement of the coalition between the AFC and APNU, the party’s executives had been in “constant discussions” with its members. “So, contrary to what some media houses have been saying, we did have a national consultation,” he tried to assure the media yesterday.

Since announcement of the party’s intention to form a coalition with the main Opposition, APNU, the AFC has come

AFC founding member, Mr. Raphael Trotman under heavy criticism not only from political pundits, but even from some of its members, who deem the AFC’s move as the hoax of political independence.

The party’s present Treasurer, Mr Dominic Gaskin, is even quoted in a

Chris Ram is a sad and lonely old man LALLBACHAN (Christopher) Ram seems to be prepared to do any and everything for public recognition. Some of his excursions include, writing columns in the newspapers, entering in the political arena on behalf of all three political parties, but unfortunately for him none of them took him seriously, joining lawyers appearing in any case that he thinks will give him publicity, writing regularly in the letter columns of the newspaper and now writing on a blog with the hope of getting his views carried in the newspapers.

Notwithstanding all the above efforts, he is still discontented as he obviously believes that Guyana is ignoring his overwhelming talent and potential. The result is a regular public outpouring of bitterness, venom and nasty personal attacks upon anyone who enjoys the public prominence which he so badly craves.

He is a sad and lonely old man.

I know that the Guyana Revenue Authority

boss has recently been on a campaign to investigate whether the relevant duties and taxes have been paid on vehicles. This gentleman drives a Mercedes Benz.

As a taxpayer, I hereby request the Commissioner General to investigate whether or not duties and taxes have been paid on this car. In so doing, they must examine the chassis number to ensure that the chassis is not from a different vehicle which may have simply been super-implanted onto this vehicle in order to be able to use the Certificate of Registration and registration number of that other vehicle. I am not saying here that this was done. So he cannot sue me for libel. I am simply asking for the investigation. The findings of such an investigation, I am sure, will give this individual the public prominence he is seeking.

RICHARD MENDONZA

2013 Demerara Waves online article as saying that the AFC will not be “swayed” into a coalition with the PPP/C nor the APNU ahead of the next elections, as it continues to lose members.

During ongoing discussions between the AFC and APNU on the idea of the coalition, former General Secretary of the AFC, Mr Sixtus Edwards, submitted his resignation from the party, later citing the coalition as one reason for his decision.

This was subsequently followed by the resignation of another AFC member, Attorney-at-law Balwant Persaud, on Thursday last. He informed media operatives that he had resigned, citing disappointment that the AFC had coalesced with APNU as his reason for leaving the party.

The former AFC member was also quoted as saying: “…the AFC has deceived the members of the party by aligning with the APNU…the AFC’s executives are just selfish…the leaders of the AFC are just concerned about getting into Parliament and holding positions.”

Intrigues and high-voltage drama THE Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry set up by His Excellency President Donald Ramotar continues to unearth new episodes in the circumstances that led to the assassination of Dr. Walter Rodney.

Many of these revelations would have been buried deep beneath the sands of time were it not for the Commission of Inquiry.

President Ramotar must be commended for his decision to have the Commission established despite criticisms from many in the political Opposition including those from the Working People’s Alliance, the Party founded by Walter Rodney.

The evidence given by Donald Rodney, the brother of Dr. Walter Rodney was particularly revealing and highlighted some aspects of situation that are highly upsetting.

The intrigues and high-voltage drama which took place on that fateful night as narrated by Donald Rodney during the Commission of Inquiry is stuff that makes for a high-voltage action-pack drama.

Yet these episodes actually transpired and we have to be grateful for all those who appeared before the Commission as we seek to understand and make some sense regarding a troubled past.

The best way in which we can honour the memory and sacrifices of Dr. Walter Rodney is by ensuring that we do not allow for a return to such a sordid past.

HYDAR ALLY

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 21, 2015

APNU and AFC always had a pact – Minister Edghill MINISTER within the Ministry of Finance Juan Edghill, on a recent ‘Meet the Minister’ programme, on the National Communications Network (NCN) in Linden commented on a number of pre-elections issues, one of which dealt profoundly with the new political alliance in the country.

The minister opined that in any democracy, the emergence of political forces and coming together of alliances and coalitions can be considered a very healthy development. However, as regards the coalescing of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), he thinks that it was the fruition of a most evident pact between the two parties.

The minister recalled that from the first day of the 10th Parliament, it was very clear that the AFC and APNU were in tandem. According to him, the evidence resides in numberless activities of collusion against the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C). Minister Edghill cited the many budget cuts, the blocking of Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Power Project, the move

against the Marriott Hotel, starving the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion Project of funds, and the blocking of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) bill as irrefutable evidence, which point to the pact between the two parties.

The minister deemed this as ‘living home’ if one were to invoke the Creolese vernacular. He stated that what the public is now seeing is simply what the PPP/C always knew, but only now they, the AFC and APNU, have come out openly. On Valentine’s Day, APNU and the AFC officially announced that they would contest the May 11 poll, under a single slate.

The two parties arrived at an agreement titled the ‘Cummingsburg Accord’ based on the location where the deal was made, that is, the Georgetown Club, Camp Street, Cummingsburg. The accord detailed that David Granger will be the Presidential candidate and Moses Nagamootoo, the Prime Ministerial one. Also, Granger‘s APNU will be allowed one Vice President and Nagamootoo’s AFC

Minister Juan Edghill

two. The Cummingsburg Accord will also cede 12 seats to the AFC. NO FEAR Minister Edghill further stated that the APNU/AFC conjoining does not bother the PPP/C because people have now become ‘tired and fed-up’ with them and their blocking of Guyana’s development.

He explained that the coalition has, instead, serious cause for worrying, as the AFC had seven seats, but was promised 12 (for the upcoming elections).

The mathematics of this is that five APNU Members of Parliament will have to be displaced, and this means that a lot of APNU sup-

porters would start asking questions.

Minister Edghill pointed to a second ‘fear factor ’ for the APNU/AFC combination, that of the public display of self-interest. He noted that “the alliance is not about an agreement that relates to a programme for Guyana’s development, it is not an agreement which seeks jobs for young people, a turnaround plan for Linden, or GuySuCo, or to expand rice markets.” These things, he added, are what the PPP/C is all about, and has been about for over two decades.

H o w e v e r, w h e r e t h e alliance is concerned, he highlighted that “it reflects a power hungry group, on

the sharing of the pie.” The minister said the elections have not been won as yet, and the members are already fighting over positions.

He thus criticised this kind of attitude from members of the alliance, and asked if they should not instead “come to the people with a programme, that would entice them and engage them to vote for them (APNU/AFC).” According to the minister, “if that is the thinking of the leaders of the APNU and the AFC, if it’s all about sharing positions, then the people would judge them harshly come the May 11, 2015 Elections.”

CONFIDENCE Minister Edghill also rode a confident PPP/C wave, as he described some of the problems regarding the integrity of the APNU/ AFC mix. He explained that AFC in particular, got some recent support based on a deception, as the AFC told Lindeners that the government was neglecting Linden and putting resources in Berbice; conversely, the party went to Berbice and said that the people there are being neglected, because the government is putting $2.9B in Linden. This kind of deception is now very

known and abhorred and will cost the ‘alliance’ a lot.

As for APNU, which for Minister Edghill is really the People’s National Congress (PNC), the deal was with the WPA, which did not have a big following.

However, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine became the Prime Ministerial candidate in exchange for his support. As this current formula stands, it means that ‘somebody’ has to be shifted to put in Nagamootoo. He further expounded that the matter is even more complicated, when the PNC portion is factored in, as its front runners are now concerned with the new arrangement, and many of them are not pro-Granger.

Even before the alliance, Mr. Edghill pointed out that there was a major falling out among Granger, Oscar Clarke and Vanessa Kissoon. The minister suggested that “maybe this is an opportunity that the new coalition could use to get rid of those persons who are not in agreement with Granger and the PNC.” Mr. Edghill recalled that Region 10 was hostile and maybe is still volatile, noting that David Granger was actually booed out of the region. (GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

Mash camps busy as ‘festive fever’ heats up

By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally AS Mashramani draws nearer, designers and their workers are busily putting together colourful and resplendent costumes in time for the costume and float parade on February 23, in keeping with this year’s theme ‘One People, One Culture, One Celebration.’

The Guyana Chronicle visited a few of the camps yesterday to have a firsthand view of how the prepara-

tions and final touches are coming along.

Digicel Communications Manager, Vidya Bijlall-Sanichara spoke with Chronicle’s reporter explaining that they have finished all costumes including their float, and male and female individual pieces. She related too that the “the distribution of the costumes are about 95% finished.” This year, Sanichara, emphasised the company has outdone itself with the largest contingent

they have ever brought forth. “We have 400-plus persons with some persons still coming along to register,” she said.

The Ministry of Agriculture will be entering the small band category with 50 revellers in full costumes. The ministry is placing emphasis on their ‘grow more locally’ campaign and as such their costumes will be depicting same. The Agriculture Ministry will be mashing under the theme “Cultivating our

Digicel helpers getting ready to ‘close up shop’ but just making sure all is in place (Adrian Narine photos)

Part for float that will be seen on Mash day from the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport

Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce and GTA main costume is almost completed as some of the staff can be seen assisting in the finishing touches

land” and their costumes are designed by Olympia Small-Sonoram.

“Celebrating in Harmony” is the theme that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has chosen to Mash down the streets of Georgetown to. A representative from the Borrows School of Art explained that the ministry has some 300 persons in their band this year and they have chosen the theme to coincide with this year’s Mashramani theme.

The revelers will be

A designer putting the finishing touches to the male individual costume for the Ministry of Housing and Water.

broken up into three groups and they will take the idea of unity, diversity and celebration to the streets. These colourful revellers will represent not only the six peoples of Guyana, but also the multi-ethnic society we live in.

The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the Guyana Tourism Authority

(GTA) with their 100strong band will be embracing the country’s diversity through their costumes and float. Under the theme ‘embracing our diversity as we celebrate one people, one culture, one celebration”, the ministry will be entering the Mashramani competition under the medium category.

Agriculture Ministry staff model the costume under the theme ‘Cultivating Our Land’

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

As spring tide arrives…

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Ruimveldt residents affected by overflowing sluice

By Navendra Seoraj

RESIDENTS of Ruimveldt were on Thursday and Friday affected by an overflowing sluice, which resulted from the current spring tide which is hitting the shores of Guyana.

The overflowing yesterday came as an inconvenience for the residents of the area, since the overflowing water entered the yards and to some extent the houses of the persons who live nearby.

The Guyana Chronicle managed to catch up with a resident from the area who requested anonymity. He disclosed that this isn’t the first time that there has been an overflow, in fact, he noted that “every time we got high tide the water does flow over and flood the neighbourhood.”

The resident added that this has been going on for years now because at the side of the sluice, one of its support mechanisms has been worn out, causing the water to seep through that area and further lead into the low-lying area.

Some residents exclaimed that the water not only floods their houses, but it also breeds insects which affect not only adults, but also the children who reside in the area.

Other residents expressed their feeling of disgust, as they pleaded with the Guyana Chronicle to relay their messages to the relevant authorities, so that they can be assisted in building the area where the water seeps through.

HIGH TIDE Meanwhile, according to an official from the national weather watch centre, the high tide continues, as the next one is expected today at 06:00 hrs at a level of 2.90M (9.15 feet).

Water breaching the sea defence at Kitty yesterday

The area the water breaches whenever there is a high tide.

Spring tide continues as water can be seen breaching the sea wall (Samuel Maughn photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

PYO hosts ‘Indian Night’ at Mash camp ...

‘May 11 will not be an ordinary election’ - President Donald Ramotar

By Shivanie Sugrim PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar disclosed that May 11 will not be an “ordinary election” but rather one that will determine if Guyana will continue on the growth path cultivated by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) over the years.

This statement was made at the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) Mash Camp “Indian Night” on Thursday evening in the presence of a cheerful turn out which saw splendid performances from youths residing in all regions of Guyana.

Upon his arrival, the President took the initiative to outline the misdeeds of the two recently coalesced

parties-A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC). He pointed out their (parties) lack of consideration for Guyanese youths by making reference to the opposition’s decision to cut from the budget, funds allocated for UG student loans.

“How can they speak seriously about education and developing our young people and tried to cut the budget where we were lending students who couldn’t afford money to attend the University of Guyana?”

Ramotar queried.

He then added that “when we put it back, that is when they went to a no-confidence motion to the National Assembly.

Clearly, we are dealing with

President Donald Ramotar addresses the audience at the PYO Mash camp “Indian Night” event on Thursday evening not only anti-developmental people but anti-young people, because we cannot explain that action by any other way.”

Moreover, Ramotar notably reflected on the PPP/C’s initial accession to office, when universal primary education had not been established but today, Guyana is on the verge of speaking about universal secondary education, whereby the minimum education standard in the country will be a second-

ary education.

Furthermore, he stated that this is an important time in Guyana since over the last three years it was not easy for the PPP/C, given that each of their developmental projects was faced with obstacles driven by the Opposition. Reference was then made to the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, since it had the potential of creating thousands of well-paying jobs for young people in Guyana.

The crowd went wild as this happy soul did his comedy-story piece (Photos by Delano Williams)

The Guyana Chronicle Raveena Mangal wonderfully hyped the crowd with her dance

PYO representatives from Region 3 lifted the audience off their seats as they modelled on stage

“Clearly, we have been dealing with some people who are totally and absolutely anti-developmental,” stated Ramotar.

He further elaborated on their (Opposition) failure to pass the Anti-money Laundering Bill that would have given the Government the power to not only jail drug lords when they are found guilty, but also to prevent them from sending their properties and money out of the country.

Therein, he noted despite the global economic

and financial crises over the last nine years, the economy was one of the few that kept growing consistently because of the country’s education standard which is however, aiding with overall production.

“We are preparing our country to become an oil and gas producing country,” said Ramotar.

He lastly stated that he is looking forward to individual and collective support so that Guyana can be a brighter, developed country after May 11.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 21, 2015

National Museum opens 7th Mashramani Exhibition A MASHRAMANI exhibition showcasing the historical perspective of the event was opened on Wednesday at the Guyana National Museum.

This exhibition is aimed at educating the public on the festival, and highlighting the celebration through photos, costumes, displays and videos.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds pointed out to the gathering that Mashramani is one of the main events in the country’s calendar of events, and it has the effect of uniting Guyanese, who celebrate together. “…since we became independent, and subse-

quently in 1970, as we adopted Republican status, our challenge is to come together as one people… but we have been persisting at it, and for that reason, our annual celebrations of Mashramani and Independence are important times of becoming one people.

So I call on all of us to celebrate together.”

The Prime Minister urged Guyanese to join in the celebrations so that the bond of togetherness at Mashramani time can be strengthened.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, encouraged all Guyanese to become part

of the exhibition. He said he feels it is very important to understand the history of the event.

He added that Mashramani celebrations are not only about song and dance, which can be enjoyed, but there is also a balance with the intellectual side, comprising distinguished lectures and exhibitions.

The Mashramani Exhibition at the National Museum will be opened to the public for the duration of one month.

Mashramani 2015 is being observed under the theme ‘One People, One Culture, One Celebration’. (GINA)

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony; Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, and members of the diplomatic corps viewing a piece at the exhibition

Saturday, February 21, 2015 - 05:30 hrs Sunday, February 22, 2015 - 05:30 hrs Monday, February 23, 2015 - 05:30 hrs

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, pose with a group of school children at the National Museum

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 21, 2015

Elderly live-alone woman brutally raped, murdered – at Richmond village, E/bo Coast

By Rajendra Prabhulall NEIGHBOURS of 73-yearold Suroojpattie Ramlakhan, known as ‘Auntie Carmen’, found her dead body lying naked on the bedroom floor of her Richmond village, Essequibo Coast home early yesterday morning, after they had

unsuccessfully tried several times to alert her that an anaconda (camoudie) was eating one of her chickens in a drain near the street.

The childless woman had reportedly lived alone.

Neighbours said they called several times for ‘Auntie Carmen’ but there was no answer. They said the front

door to her house was locked, so they ventured into the yard and went to the back of the house, where they discovered the door open. They called her name again but there was no answer; so, becoming suspicious that something was wrong, they peeped inside the house and, to their shock and horror, saw ‘Auntie Carmen’

lying naked on the floor, seemingly dead.

They then raised an alarm and informed the police.

Reports are that the woman, who had been a very friendly and jovial person in the community, had seemingly been brutally raped and murdered during Thursday night or early Friday morning.

Investigators discovered several condoms at the scene. The body of the dead woman was removed by police officers to the Suddie mortuary, but as news of the elderly woman’s gruesome fate spread throughout the community, a large crowd gathered at the scene, and several residents called on the police to have more patrols in the village during the night, and to remove gangs of young men from loitering on the streets during late hours in the night.

DEAD: Suroojpattie Ramlakhan, known as ‘Auntie Carmen’

The home where Suroojpattie Ramlakhan was allegedly raped and murdered at Richmond village, Essequibo Coast, between Thursday night and Friday morning

The window which had been used as entry into the woman’s Richmond village home

Blood on the bedroom floor indicates the spot where the 73-year-old had allegedly been raped and murdered

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 21, 2015

Current dry weather greatly impacting savannahs, rivers – in Region 1

By Rajendra Prabhulall THE current dry weather that Region 1, Barima-Waini, is experiencing has caused its vast savannah to dry up at an alarming rate.

The water level in the savannah’s main creek – upon which residents, farmers, gold miners and fishermen depend - has reportedly dropped to an alarmingly low level, and boats powered by large outboard engines have to travel very slowly along the creek, mostly in areas near Moruca, Dark Bush and 99 Turns, because of the low water level and exposed rotten wood. Boats navigating the Dark Bush and 99 Turns areas reportedly get stuck many times, because

A group of miners travelling to Barama via the Dark Bush and 99 Turns route were last Saturday stranded for several hours after their boat -- loaded with groceries, engines, pumps and other equipment -- ran aground in the shallow water. of the shallow water and exposed logs and tree branches.

A group of miners travelling to Barama via the Dark Bush and 99 Turns route were last Saturday stranded for several hours after their boat -- loaded with groceries, engines, pumps and other equipment -- ran aground

in the shallow water. The miners reportedly had no alternative but to go overboard and, with the help of their outboard engine, push the boat along the wood infested creek to deeper water in the Bara Bara River.

Miners said they are finding it very difficult to cross Dark Bush and 99 Turns during the dry weather, and are calling for the area to be dredged. They said it is very strenuous manual work to get their boats across when going into or coming out from the Barama mining district.

It is reportedly also difficult for residents to move their boats laden with groceries, gasoline and other necessities to the communities of Warapokia, Assakata,

Kwebanna and Santa Cruz.

The low water and dried savannah has caused a fishing craze in the villages of Waramuri, Manawarin, Kamwatta, Parakee, Mora, Seven Miles, Kumaka, Wallaba, Assakata, Haimaracaba, Haimaruni and Warapoka. Reports are that many residents, including children, are seen early in the morning and in the afternoon fishing with rods at the edge of the creek. The catch is quick because of the abundance of fish in the shallow water.

Low water level in the areas of Dark Bush and 99 Turns has caused miners serious problems. In picture, a group of miners struggle to get their boat across to deeper water

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 21, 2015

Bumper rice crop to be harvested in two weeks’ time – in Region Two

By Rajendra Prabhulall in Essequibo

RICE farmers of Region Two, Essequibo Coast, are getting ready to start harvesting their paddy fields within another two weeks.

The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) office at Anna Regina has reported that harvesting will shortly

commence at Hampton Court, Lima, Sparta, La Bella Alliance, Anna Regina, Golden Fleece, Perseverance, Johanna Cecelia and Hybonnia areas; the yield per acre looks very good, and production is expected to surpass the set target of one million bags.

Some 37,000 acres that are under cultivation will be harvested. The sunny weather

is reportedly ideal for harvesting, and farmers are taking advantage of this good weather to drain and dry their fields preparatory to harvesting the golden grains.

Region Two Vice Chairman Mr Vishnu Samaroo said the regional administration’s drainage and irrigation department has also started work to plough, grade and level access

An experimental plot of rice cultivated with the six-point practice system on the Essequibo Coast

dams in rice growing areas, so farmers can transport their paddy quickly to mills post harvesting.

He said the Water Users Associations (WUA) are also backfilling some dams with earth to help in the preparation process.

Mr Samaroo said some dams are still not properly dried, and he called on farmers to assist in digging outlets to drain off the water, so ploughing and levelling can be done quickly.

Some farmers have said they are anticipating favourable prices from millers for their paddy, and are calling in advance for prices to be displayed at rice factories that will be purchasing paddy before harvesting commences.

Every year, Government

spends large sums of money through the Regional Administration, the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to improve the drainage and irrigation facilities by constructing concrete reinforced culverts, revetments and bridges.

Drainage canals between Johanna Cecelia and Dartmouth were recently desilted to improve drainage for rice cultivation.

When the PPP/C took over the reins of government on 5th October 1992, after winning general and regional elections, the rice industry was reportedly in a mess.

Farmers had abandoned their fields because many of the drainage and irrigation canals had been blocked

with weeds and bushes. Rice production was down, and there was no market under the PNC government. The industry, however, was given a new lease of life under the PPP/C administration, and today production is at a record level. Rice farmers have benefited greatly from Government investments in the industry over the years through the GRDB and the RPA. Farmers have been trained in six-point farming practices to get better production and to manage their fields better under the field school training programme.

They have also benefited from participation in many other technical training programmes run under the auspices of the GRDB and the RPA.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 21, 2015

APNU, AFC holding tightly to name and symbol – Trotman says party’s identity important

The tentative symbol of the APNU-AFC alliance

By Tajeram Mohabir ONE week after the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) announced their coalition, definitive decisions on the new alliance’s symbol and name are yet to be announced.

For now, at least, the alliance seems comfortable with each party’s respective symbol: a human palm for APNU and a yellow, green

and white key for the AFC being placed together in one logo.

Until the alliance launches its media elections campaign on March 4, it will be referred to as the APNU-AFC alliance.

Speaking to reporters at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in Hadfield Street, Georgetown, one of AFC’s founding members, Mr Raphael Trotman, said the feedback thus far has been approving of the

symbols of the two parties being next to each other, even though voters will be required to put their X next to either the palm or the key on Elections Day. Trotman said suggestions are pouring in on the matter, but he contended that it is not a “big issue” as, at the appropriate time, that bridge will be crossed.

In the past five years, there have been two coalition Governments in the Turn to page 18 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 21, 2015

APNU, AFC holding...

From page 17

Caribbean -- the People’s Partnership of Trinidad and Tobago in 2010, and Team Unity in St Kitts and Nevis a few days ago. In both cases, the parties of the coalition chose a name for the grouping; but while the APNU-AFC alliance has not yet decided on a name, Trotman said the issue is under consideration.

“We are comfortable, based on the feedback we have (received) from particularly the young people, they are quite comfortable with what they have, (and) they know what it is they have to do (vote).

According to him, supporters do not want the two parties (APNU and AFC) to be apart, as they do not want to choose one over the other, since they want to see the back of the PPP/C. Accordingly, he is of the view that a name change would not make a difference, as “…we want them to vote and recognise who they are voting for”.

However, he said, all efforts will be made to protect the AFC’s identity.

NO PLAYING AROUND “Coalitions in all parts of the world have inherent difficulties, and the fight is to maintain their identity; and as I said before, we are not going to play around our identity. I can say that for the AFC.” APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon also expressed similar sentiments, pointing out that this has been provided for in the Cummingsburg Accord signed by APNU Chairman, retired Brigadier David Granger, and AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan on February 14.

“These are things we considered in the negotiations. People want to see the symbols of their party”, he said, pointing to the experience of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) in APNU. “But while they will be maintaining their individual identity, they will be going to the electorate with a single slate, a single list of

candidates,” he said.

Tr o t m a n m a i n t a i n e d that the AFC and APNU keeping their respective names in the coalition is not a contradiction to the common goal of the alliance, as the AFC will not compromise on its identity.

“It is an electoral alliance to win Government and start a process of change. We have been working together for the past three years in the National Assembly, and all we are doing is responding to the people of Guyana under one umbrella,” he said, while acknowledging that there are “small idiosyncratic differences”.

The two parties have also been making separate statements since announcement of the alliance, and according to Trotman, this will be addressed so as to ensure their February 14 ‘marriage’ works.

“After the wedding, families retreat. I have been to many weddings where there were fights between families over food, over decoration, and (over) comments said and not said.

That is the way it goes, that is the way we are going, but we are committed to getting these done on behalf of the people of Guyana, and we will get (them) done.

Statements are going to be made and we are dealing with them on both sides,” Trotman declared.

He also conceded that there has been some reservation on the AFC giving up its third party status, but the people are getting around to understanding the party’s position. He noted that failure will not be tolerated.

“I told a Berbice meeting yesterday (Thursday); I said to the people there that Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, the first liner, the warrior that he is, if the AFC members mess up in a coalition Government, we will be moving a no-confidence motion against him,” Trotman said. He noted that the party will not compromise its “high standards”.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 21, 2015

No expectation of measles outbreak in Guyana – 98% coverage for all childhood, vaccine- preventable diseases: Health Minister

THERE are no expectations of Guyana having a measles outbreak anytime soon; the alert issued to the public was just to notify them that there is an external threat, particularly in the United States of America (USA).

This is according to M i n i s t e r o f H e a l t h D r.

Bheri Ramsaran during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday last.

Minister Ramsaran disclosed that “messages were sent to Guyanese not because we have an alert in Guyana, but because there is an outbreak of this disease in the USA, to be more particular, Florida.”

He noted that the outbreak resurrected at Disney Land and spread across many states rapidly, mostly because the children there were unvaccinated, whereas in Guyana the epidemic is virtually impossible, because “we have an average of 98% coverage for all of the childhood vaccine- preventable diseases,” said the minister.

He emphasised that Guyana has been experiencing an increase in visits to and from North America, not only from the Native Americans but also from Guyanese in the diaspora.

“Guyanese need to know that there are still public health threats on our borders but up-to-date there are no serious public health threats on the horizon, so we can say that we’re sailing safely for now,” said Minister Ramsaran.

Currently, Guyana is on top of measles, however,

Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran

out of a public health concern and out of an abundance of caution, the Chief M e d i c a l O ff i c e r ( C M O ) used his authority to alert the Guyanese public that they need to be cautious.

Apart from being cautious, Dr. Ramsaran stated that parents need to see that their children, especially the young ones, are following their various vaccination schedules.

MALARIA REDUCTION The Minister of Health noted that we have been doing well in many areas pertaining to Guyana’s health sector, for instance just recently in the area of malaria, there has been a significant reduction in cases as was reported officially by the Vector Control Service.

Thanks to the Government of Guyana, Guyana now boasts of having an efficient health sector, which proves beneficial for the citizens of Guyana, and according to Minister Ramsaran, the sector is always developing day by day.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 21, 2015

More charged, fined as police intensify campaign against drunk driving 1. RABEERCHAND Mangroo of Lot 510 Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-02-07 while driving motor vehicle PLL 3383 on the Grove Public Road, EBD, and was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the Providence Magistrates Court on 2015-02-11, when he pleaded ‘guilty’ and was fined $7,500.00.

2. Richard Guyadeen of Section ‘A’ Grove, EBD, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-02-01 while driving motor vehicle PJJ 6155 on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, and was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates Court on 2015-02-03 when he pleaded ‘guilty’ and was fined $7,500.00.

3. Oswald Pearce of Lot 96 Sugar Cane Avenue, South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-02-01 while driving motor vehicle PPP 2019 in Alexander Village, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court on 2015-02-03, when he pleaded ‘guilty’ and was fined $7,500.00.

4. Garfield Myers of Lot 261, South Ruimveldt Gardens, Georgetown, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-02-01 while driving motor vehicle HC 2000 on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, and was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court on 2015-02-03, when he pleaded ‘guilty’ and was fined $7,500.00.

5. Premnauth Sugrim of Lot 35 Garden of Eden, EBD, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 201502-07 while driving motor vehicle BHH 8460 on the Grove Public Road, EBD,

and was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the Providence Magistrates' Court on 2015-02-11, when he pleaded ‘guilty’ and was fined $7,500.00.

1. Deonarine Panday of Lot 192 BB Eccles, EBD, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-01-31 while driving motor vehicle PRR 9516 on the Grove Public Road, and was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the Providence Magistrates' Court on 2015-02-03, when he pleaded ‘guilty’ and was fined $7,500.00.

2. Bramnarine Singh of Lot 75 La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara (WCD), was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-01-26 while driving motor vehicle GJJ 3850 on the Soesdyke Public Road, EBD, and was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the Providence Magistrates' Court on 2015-01-29, when he pleaded ‘guilty’ and was fined $7,500.00.

3. Naresh Persaud of Lot 271 Gale Street, Annandale, East Coast Demerara, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-01-26 while driving motor vehicle BNN 9667 on the Soesdyke Public Road, EBD, and was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the Providence Magistrates' Court on 2015-01-29, when he pleaded ‘guilty’ and was fined $7,500.00.

4. Kevin Ramsaroop of Lot 79 Block 12 Non Pareil, ECD, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-01-26 while driving motor vehicle PSS 8984 on the Soesdyke Public Road, EBD, and was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the Providence Magistrates' Court on 2015-01-29, when he pleaded ‘guilty’ and was fined $7,500.00.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 21, 2015

Dead constabulary rank blamed for missing – Persons could not provide receipts so bail money at City Hall money could not be refunded – Sooba F O R T Y- s i x - y e a r - o l d Compton Joseph, a former constabulary officer with the Mayor and City Council who allegedly committed suicide in June last year, has been blamed for missing bail monies at the City Constabulary.

Joseph allegedly committed suicide during investigations by the police into the missing monies.

According to a Kaieteur News article dated June 22, 2014, “The Lance Corporal who was attached to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) ended up in hot water last week when he could not account for money for which he was

Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba

responsible.”

The article continued that, “City Hall’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Royston King told the news-

paper that the Council is yet to receive a report on the alleged missing money, but it is understood that Joseph was responsible for bail money being kept in the City Constabulary’s Department.”

However, in a twist to the matter, a recently dated Kaieteur news article on February 17, 2015, reported that, “several vendors were making calls to the constabulary to return their bail money which was lodged last year.”

The article went on to say that several vendors have accused acting Town Clerk, Carol Sooba, as being responsible for the missing monies. “One vendor, Ru-

dolph Thorne, recounted: “The other day I go there and Sooba tell me if I want my money I must go in the office and tek it out,” the recently dated article read.

However, in an exclusive interview with this newspaper, Sooba sought to “clear the air” by reiterating that the monies which were now being requested, are the same monies which had gone missing from the constabulary’s office last year.

She further explained

that several persons who had returned for their bail monies were indeed refused and could not be refunded their monies because they did not have in their possession, their receipts.

“Reports are that these persons had lodged their receipts at the constabulary, and the constabulary officer who had committed suicide last year had these receipts in his possession,” Sooba related.

As such, the decision

was taken not to issue the monies at this time until those receipts have been retrieved, so as to reduce the likelihood of any fraud being perpetrated.

Furthermore, the town clerk (ag.) explained that the matter is currently being investigated by the Guyana Police Force and they (the police) have been written to several times by her, to ensure that the matter is one which is treated with high priority.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

The nation mourns as‌

Teacher, 6 students perish in Burma - died by apparent accident drowning

By Leroy Smith THE Guyanese nation is still reeling from news of the shocking accident on the Burma Branch Road in Mahaicony (Region 5) that has left a teacher and six of her students dead.

The teacher and six students of the Augsburg Primary School died by apparent drowning yesterday afternoon after the vehicle they were travelling in ended up in a canal along the Burma Road.

Those who perished yesterday are: Eight-year-old grade 3 student Justin Abel, seven-year-old grade 2 student Rayden Abel, 10-year-old grade 5 student Ayesha Abel -- all from the same family; together with six-year-old grade 1 student Azidia Fraser, 10-year-old grade 5 student Atesha Woolford, eight-year-old grade 2 student Martina Persaud, and their teacher, Senior Mistress Shondel Duke.

This newspaper has learnt that the children and their teacher had traversed the Burma Road from their school to attend a Mashramani activity that had taken place at the Novar Primary School yesterday morning, and were returning home when disaster struck.

The parents of one of the children who perished in the accident had reportedly loaned the teacher the vehicle to take the children to the Mash activity, since getting transportation from their point of origin is usually difficult.

It is surmised that the teacher lost control of the vehicle on the Burma Road because the road is presently under extensive rehabilitation and features loose pebbles and stones which make it hard for some motorists to control their vehicles.

One relative said they received word that the vehicle was involved in an accident, and when they arrived on the scene, they saw a lot of persons gathered and were greeted with the news that the six children and the teacher had all perished in the accident.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the Mahaicony Hospital late yesterday afternoon, hundreds of villagers and numerous regional officials had gathered at the facility to mourn the loss, while others sought to get a glimpse of the remains of the children and their teacher.

The children, lying in the Mahaicony Hospital mortuary, were still clad in the costumes in which they had performed before leaving the celebration to return to their school.

As news of the tragedy spread, Education Minister Priya Manickchand and Transport Minister Robeson Benn travelled to the community and met with residents and relatives of the deceased at the Mahaicony Hospital, where they were told the people’s concerns about the state of the road and were reminded that, only two weeks ago, residents had called for immediate repairs to be done to critical stretches of the Burma road.

Minister Benn reminded the residents that rehabilitation works were ongoing on the road, and told reporters that he

DEAD: RAYDEN ABEL

DEAD: AYESHA ABEL

DEAD: JUSTIN ABEL

The car in which the seven were travelling when they met their demise, even as their bodies can be seen lying on a dam nearby

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

Transport Minister Robeson Benn, observing the loading of bodies into the hearse, ensures they are properly covered

Education Minister Priya Manickchand comforts members of the Abel family last evening visits the road and supervises the works frequently. He even pointed out that at one point he was accompanied to visit the road by His Excellency President Donald Ramotar.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand was observed embracing and comforting relatives of those who had perished in the accident before she spoke with the media.

At one point she was moved to tears as she listened to a relative detail the ordeals leading up to them approving the children to travel out from their school to participate in the Mash events.

Minister Manickchand told reporters that the school from which the children came sports a population of fifteen children and three teachers. She said that one teacher supervising six children was not a breach of the standard operating procedures of the Ministry of Education which governs the teacher/child ratio.

The Minister explained that today, Saturday, Education officials will be visiting the

homes of all the persons who had perished in the accident, even as she made commitment to ensure that the school is visited by councillors on Tuesday, so that teachers and students can be guided and assisted in getting over the tragic loss of their colleagues and peers.

It was observed that the Mahaicony Hospital faced a challenge last evening to produce body bags in which to place the remains of the dead. At one point, the sight of the children lying dead in the mortuary became so overwhelming for those who had forced their way into the morgue that Transport Minister Robeson Benn had to order the undertakers and police to cease the activities until the hospital staff could secure sheets to cover the remains of the children before they were placed in a hearse, since there was only one body bag available, and that was used for wrapping the adult. The newspaper also understands that Prime Minister Samuel Hinds also visited the Mahaicony area last night.

A section of the crowd which gathered at the Hospital last evening

Relatives of the teacher comfort each other as they look at her body lying on a gurney in the morgue (photos by Adrian Narine and Leroy Smith)

Relatives of Martina Persaud are overcome with grief

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CUSO celebrates five years of volunteer programming in Guyana

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

A section of the gathering at CUSO’s cocktail reception Photos by Delano Williams

Daniel Joly, Head of Development Cooperation-Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago delivers his remarks at the ceremony IN light of their five consecutive volunteer programming years in Guyana, CUSO held a cocktail reception to commemorate this occasion at the Georgetown Club on Wednesday evening.

Volunteers and members of organisations for the physically challenged, along with non-profit organisations happily graced the event with their presence. Daniel Joly, Head of Development Cooperation - Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago spared no words in enlightening the audience of CUSO’s remarkable achievements in Guyana.

Joly engaged the audience by highlighting CUSO’s volunteers potential of incredibly unlocking local organisations and advancing their development agenda in order to reduce poverty and inequality in Guyana.

He further noted that volunteers were placed with local partners to share experiences, skills, expertise and perspectives. As such, this model of development cooperation he noted “has been tried and tested since 1962 when CUSO would have placed its first volunteer in Guyana.”

“CUSO has been placing volunteers in Guyana for fifty-three (53) years and I believe Guyana was among the very first coun-

tries to host Canadian CUSO volunteers,” added Joly. He then stated that this labels CUSO a real part of Guyana’s history and a “key player” in the strengthening of relations between Canada and Guyana.

ACHIEVEMENTS A few of the achievements are: CUSO support for the creation of the National Volunteerism Platform to encourage and help organise local volunteers in building their own communities and reducing poverty; increased awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by persons living with disabilities, enhanced the capacity of the National Commission on Disability to build a strong, rights-based, disability movement; advocated for improved services for disadvantaged rural women, men and youth farmers through improved market access and the diversification of income-generation opportunities; and, has helped to build awareness of violence against women, children and other vulnerable groups, including the LGBT community.

“While not exhaustive, this list demonstrates how CUSO’s work has provided a base for and complemented the CA$600M Caribbean Regional Development

See Page 26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

More MoHA staffers,GPF officers receive training overseas THE Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) said the following persons attended Meetings and Training Programmes for the month of January 2015, drawn from the MoHA and the Guyana Police Force (GPF): MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS Minister Clement J. Rohee attended the “Fifteenth Meeting of the Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE)” on January 28th, 2015 in Trinidad and Tobago.

The meeting discussed inter-alia, the Caricom Crime and Security Budget for 2015, Report from Commissioners of Police and Heads of Intelligence Units and a Proposal for a Sustainability Programme from the Regional Crime and Security Framework.

GUYANA POLICE FORCE Superintendent Robert Tyndall and Assistant Superintendent Trevor Reid of the Criminal Investigations Department attended a Training Programme in “Basic Investigative Techniques” in Barbados from January 12 – 21, 2015.

The Training Course focused on the investigative techniques necessary to conduct a money-laundering investigation.

Commissioner of Police (ag) Mr. Seelall Persaud, DSM and Assistant Commissioner Mr. Winston Cosbert and Head (ag) Special Branch, attended a “Meeting of Commissioners of Police and Heads of Intelligence” on January 27th, 2015 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Digicel launches ‘Flexible Data Plans’ DIGICEL Guyana yesterday announced that they are making it more convenient for prepaid customers to connect their phones to the internet with the launch of “Flexible Data Plans.”

The revised data plans are 1 Day (50 MB) for $280, 2 Days (100 MB) for $500, 1 Week (350 MB) for $1100, 1 Month (800 MB) for $2800 and 1 Month Plus(1 GB) for $3200. Digicel data plans will no longer have a daily cap.

The new flexible data plans will make it easier and more affordable for customers to enjoy more data on the go in our constantly changing technological world.

While the activation code *136# remains the same, there are changes to how the prepaid data plans work.

Customers will no longer have a daily cap on their usage.

The caps will now apply for the entire period customers have subscribed. There is also a new “Add-on” feature to the data plans for customers who reach the limit before the plan expires. The “Add-on” will cost $100 and will give customers an additional 15MB of data.

Customers can have “Add-ons” every hour as needed.

Commenting on the changes, Customer Care Manager, Sherwyn Osborne stated: “ The changes were made based on feedback from customers that 50MB daily cap was too limiting, since on some days they have the need to use more and also they wanted a mechanism to better manage their spend once they are over their cap.”

Digicel believes the new plans will give customers more choices while they enjoy the Same Great Value.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

CUSO celebrates five years of volunteer ...

From Page 24 Programme, announced by Prime Minister Harper in 2007,” stressed Joly.

Joly further stated that these achievements have paved the way for Canada’s current CA$20M Caribbean Education for Employment and has become a regional programme, whereby CUSO is helping Caribbean institutions to develop technical and vocational training programmes in the key economic sectors through partnerships between Canadian and Caribbean colleges and institutions.

WORKS AND IMPLEMENTATION Over the years however, CUSO has undertaken programmes in the education, health, agriculture, disability, gender, natural resource management, among other sectors in Guyana. These interventions have thus laid the foundation for, or, at times, complemented the Government of Canada’s own assistance programmes, first in Guyana, then in the Caribbean Region.

CUSO International has implemented a strategy to enhance the capacity of teachers to deliver relevant and inclusive education, and to strengthen the ability of technical education partners to move towards market-driven programmes.

With a focus on Special Education, Curriculum Development and Teacher Training, CUSO has partnered with the Ministries of Education and Culture, Youth and Sport; with the National

Centre for Educational Resource Development; The Cyril Potter College of Education; and the KuruKuru Training Centre to help enhance the basic quality of education in Guyana.

These interventions complemented the Government-of-Canada-funded Guyana Basic Education Teacher Training Programme (GBET).

This programme has supported the strengthening of basic education teacher training systems and has tremendously improved the quality of basic education in five interior regions of Guyana.

Through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, the Government of Canada has however, provided CA$67M for CUSO’s International Volunteer Cooperation Programme for the 2009-2015 period. The programme has supported the placement of some 1,500 volunteers in 26 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, to increase the impact of Canadian development assistance and strengthen the capacity of country partners to deliver and sustain development results.

Remarkable comments were made by Guyana Youth Challenge’s Executive Officer, Dimitri Nicholson, in relation to CUSO’s collaboration with the organization, since they (CUSO) would have impacted them positively throughout the past five years. Similar sentiments were expressed by other volunteer representatives that graced the function with their presence.

Members of Youth Challenge Guyana socialise with CUSO’s volunteers at CUSO’s cocktail reception at the Georgetown Club on Wednesday evening

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 21, 2015

Chinese national fined for illegally entering country A CHINESE national was on Thursday fined $30,000 after pleading guilty to the charge of illegally entering the country.

Haibang Zhou, 36,who resides in Suriname, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry

The charge read that on December 10, 2014 at Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice, he entered Guyana by sea and disembarked without presenting himself to an immigration officer.

Zhou is expected to pay a fine of $30,000 and a default on payment would result in his imprisonment for one month.

Young labourer gets five years for robbery under arms A TWENTY-two-year old labourer was yesterday sentenced to five years imprisonment by Magistrate Judy Latchman on a robbery- under- arms charge.

Rafeal Hiuntenzen of East La penitence, Georgetown, was found guilty as charged for the offence after a trial was conducted by city Magistrate Judy Latchman.

The charge said that on Wednesday, December 25 at Georgetown, being armed with a gun, he robbed Anaira Jones Sealey of one Blackberry torch cellular phone valued $95,000 and $800,000 in cash, together valued $895,000.

The facts stated that on the day in question around 03:00 hrs, Sealey and her fiancé Bacchus were in their bed, when two men entered her bedroom and robbed them of the articles men-

tioned in the charge. During the robbery, one of the men who was armed with a chopper, chopped Bacchus to his arm.

In his defence, Hiuntenzen elected to give an unsworn statement and refused to call any witness on his behalf.

However, Police Prosecutor Shellon Daniels noted that the defendant has a pending matter of similar nature before another court.

Magistrate Latchman considered all the mitigating factors before handing down the sentence, which include the fact that a gun was used to commit the offence and that someone was hurt during the robbery. Also considered was the need to deter others from contemplating or committing similar crimes.

Bus conductor jailed for unlawful, malicious wounding A TWENTY-four-year old bus conductor was on Thursday sentenced to four months imprisonment by city Magistrate Annette Singh for stabbing a man with a pair of scissors.

Oliver Burnijan of Lot 91 Atlantic Ville, East Coast Demerara, pleaded guilty to the charge that said on February 5 at Croal Street, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Quacy Sealey.

The prosecutor’s facts stated that on the day in question about 23:15hrs, Burnijan and another person had an argument when Sealey intervened. The two parties had an altercation which quickly escalated into a scuffle. Subsequently, Burnijan pulled out a pair of scissors and dealt Sealey several stabs . The injured man was taken to the Woodlands Hospital where his

wounds were treated and a report was subsequently made to the Brickdam Police Station,resulting in Burnijan being arrested and charged.

The unrepresented man told the court that Sealey had instigated the argument between him and the other man. He said “he give da man a Guinness bottle and tell he lash it or pore it on me”.

The man related that when the other man refused to take the bottle, Sealey himself took the bottle and chucked him. He received injuries to his mouth and “I left and came back but he was still acting out and when he reached for the bottle, “ I pulled out my scissors and jook him before he could knock me.”

The magistrate bonded both parties to keep the peace for one year after sentencing Burnijan.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

Racism and violence still stain the beautiful game

By Mitch Phillips LONDON, England (Reuters) - The veneer of respectability covering modern European football was rolled back to expose the rot that still festers below this week, with high-profile incidents of racism and violence bringing chill reminders of the bad old days of the 1980s.

That there was widespread shock and revulsion at the sight of Chelsea fans chanting, “We’re racist and that’s the way we like it”, while preventing a black Frenchman boarding a carriage in the Paris Metro, is something of a positive in that such incidents, once widely prevalent, are now uncommon.

The condemnation from all sides that followed, with the club issuing three immediate banning orders and manager Jose Mourinho saying yesterday he was ashamed, are also indicative of how times have changed.

However, this was no oneoff. Three years ago a group of Chelsea fans brought more shame on the club for making hissing noises during a match against Tottenham Hotspur, a repellent and once-common terrace gesture designed to replicate the Nazi gas chambers of the Holocaust and aimed at Spurs because of their traditionally strong Jewish following.

In 2013 Chelsea’s Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun said he suffered anti-Semitic abuse from the club’s own supporters.

While it is undoubtedly true that such incidents are no longer the norm and that stadiums are far safer, more pleasant environments these days, the idea that football has been cleansed of violence and racism and is the glossy family affair that the authorities and clubs love to promote is to wilfully ignore the evidence from countries all over the continent.

Also this week fans of visiting Dutch side Feyenoord fought with

Feyenoord fans clash with police at the Spanish Steps prior to the start of the Europa League soccer match between Roma and Feyenoord in Rome, February 19, 2015.

(Credit: REUTERS/Yara Nardi) Italian riot police ahead of their Europa League match against AS Roma, leading to dozens of arrests and leaving parts of the city centre looking like a bomb site.

It is almost ironic that Italian authorities, with even the country’s Prime Minister wading in, reacted with such shock given that their capital remains one of the most dangerous for foreign fans to visit, with attacks and stabbings in the surroundings of the Olympic Stadium almost commonplace.

Football violence has been high on the agenda in Spain too after the death of a Deportivo La Coruna fan before a game against Atletico Madrid in November and the stabbing of two Paris St Germain fans outside Barcelona’s Nou Camp stadium in December.

Spanish authorities have attempted to make the clubs more responsible, introducing stadium closures and potential point deductions as well as sanctions for

verbal abuse.

Swedish father of four, Stefan Isaksson, was another victim, kicked and beaten to death by rival fans as he made his way to a league match last year.

PRE-ARRANGED FIGHTS Dutch and Russian football has been plagued by domestic football violence for decades, but much of it now has been shifted to out-of-sight venues such as industrial estates and woodland, where fans meet for pre-arranged fights away from the gaze of the police, often filmed to become internet hits.

In Germany last week a group of Cologne “ultras” wearing white medical overalls lit flares and fireworks before storming the pitch after their game at regional rivals Borussia Moenchengladbach, prompting calls from the German football association (DFB) to consider the option of banning away fans.

France is currently having problems with Corsica-based club Bastia and in December visiting Nantes player Paul Georges Ntep refused to take a corner kick as he was being racially abused by fans.

The countries of what was once Yugoslavia also remain hotbeds for racism, with Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia plagued with abusive ethnic slurs and chants.

Last year Croatia’s Australia-born defender Josip Simunic was handed a 10-match ban that ruled him out of the World Cup after shouting a pro-Nazi chant to fans at an international match.

The latest incident in Paris moved the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner to issue a statement yesterday, clearly recognising that it was no one-off.

“The events in Paris show that much work remains to be done before racism is truly eradicated from sport, let alone from society at large,” the statement said.

‘Rugby’ takes ...

From back page The GRFU won five of the six awards contested since only captain Ryan Gonsalves came up short in the Sportsmanof-the-Year category which was won

by Guyana and West Indies spinner Veerasammy Permaul.

Permaul who was nominated by the Guyana Cricket Board edged out hotshot racer Kristian Jeffrey who was a favourite for the award.

Jeffrey was nominated by the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC), the Guyana Boxing Association and the Guyana Tennis Association and though becoming the first Guyanese to win the Caribbean Champion Driver title last year and owning the lap record at Bushy Park, the Stag Beer-sponsored driver had to settle for the runner-up position.

Lindener Cassie George won both the Junior and Senior Sportswoman-of-theYear awards, after a sensational season on the track last year.

Dominating the local scene in 2014, George defied the odds when she won the 1500 and 3000M at the CARIFTA Games to become the first Guyanese female to win both events at the games.

Jason Yaw, the new South American Youth Championship 400M record-holder, is the Junior Sportsman-of-the-Year and easily won ahead of his competitors Narayan Ramdhani (badminton), Shemron Hetmyer (cricket), Delroy Murphy (judo), Nyron Joseph (squash) and Alanzo Ambrose (cycling).

Yaw clocked 46.79 seconds to erase the old mark of 47.46s in the event He also ran under the old record in his heat when he posted 47.42s.

Stabroek News’ Orlando Charles won the Photographer-of-the-Year award while his colleague Emmerson Campbell was named the Print Sports Journalist-of-theYear.

Avenash Ramzan of the Guyana Times and Television Guyana (TVG) was Nonprint Sports Journalist-of-the-Year.

Director of Sport Neil Kumar extended congratulations to the respective winners and encouraged those who came up empty-handed to keep pushing for excellence in their respective disciplines.

Boycott rips into feeble England, again LONDON, England (Reuters) - England are not as good as they think they are and have a lot of hard work to do to even qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals, former opening batsman Geoffrey Boycott said yesterday.

E o i n M o rg a n ’s s i d e s u ff e r e d a h u m i l i a t i n g eight-wicket defeat by New Zealand after being bowled out for 123 in Wellington and allowing the hosts to reach

their target in 12.2 overs.

“Perhaps they are not as good as they think they are,” Boycott told the BBC. “I said that about the captain Morgan and everybody went mad, but maybe England aren’t either.”

England lost their last seven wickets for 19 runs and New Zealand seamer Tim Southee became only the fourth bowler to take seven wickets in a World Cup game.

“This was not an uncov-

Former England open Geoffrey Boycott

ered or grassy pitch seaming all over the place,” Boycott said. “This was a flat 270-pitch minimum and they made a right mess of it.”

The mauling by New Zealand followed a heavy defeat by Australia and England will need to win at least three of their four remaining Pool A games to have a chance of reaching the last eight.

“England are not out of the World Cup,” Boycott

said.

“They have to beat Scotland, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and then they’re through to quarter-finals. It’s a good job they’ve got minnows to play because they are not playing good enough to beat any decent team. I will be a bit nervous on Monday for the Scotland game.”

England’s preparations for the tournament were far from ideal with Alastair Cook axed as captain in December

but they beat India twice to reach the Tri-Series final in Australia.

“They have got a lot of hard work to do,” Boycott said.

“We’ve had an interminably eventful few months with things going on. What have New Zealand been doing? They’ve had a settled side, good leadership and winning Test and ODIs, while we don’t know our best batting line-up.”

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

Southee, McCullum destroyEngland in Wellington

By Greg Stutchbury (REUTERS) - Tim Southee produced a brilliant spell of swing bowling for career-best figures of 7-33 before Brendon McCullum plundered an 18-ball half-century as New Zealand destroyed England by eight wickets in their World Cup Pool A match yesterday.

Southee’s performance saw England dismissed for 123, with Joe Root top-scoring with 46, before New Zealand captain McCul-

(five) completed the win.

McCullum’s innings, the fastest half-century at a World Cup, threatened to overshadow the superb bowling effort

by Southee, who produced the best figures by a New Zealand bowler in one-day internationals.

Shane Bond’s 6-19 against India in 2005 was the previous best.

Southee did not get much movement in sunny conditions at the top of the innings after Eoin Morgan had won the toss and decided

Tim Southee removed both the England openers. lum’s 77 from 25 balls helped the co-hosts roar to victory in 12.2 overs at Wellington Regional Stadium.

New Zealand’s celebrations were delayed 40 minutes to allow for a scheduled innings break at 1730 (0430 GMT), though needing only 12 runs with nine wickets in hand.

McCullum took 18 runs off pace bowler Stuart Broad’s first over, the second of the innings, and then 20 off seamer Steven Finn, who had immediately replaced Broad.

He then belted four successive sixes off Finn’s next over, which went for 29 runs.

New Zealand were 96-0 after six overs with their captain seemingly intent on pushing an already dispirited England further into despair.

McCullum was bowled by Chris Woakes with a full toss after hitting eight fours and seven sixes.

Kane Williamson (nine) and Ross Taylor

to bat but still managed to bowl Moeen Ali (20) and Ian Bell (eight) with yorkers that did swing late.

Southee was ably supported by Trent Boult, who put pressure on the top order with an eight-over opening spell in which he took one wicket for 30 runs.

Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori then dried up the runs in the middle overs and captured the wicket of the out-of-form England captain.

Root and Morgan, who had scored a total of two runs in his previous five knocks, tried to consolidate England’s innings, though their run rate was pedestrian with the skipper struggling with his timing and confidence.

Vettori heaped more pressure on the beleaguered Morgan when he was brilliantly caught in the deep by Adam Milne for 17.

Southee then produced a spell of five for 10 in four overs to set up the platform for victory.

Scoreboard ENGLAND innings I. Bell b Southee 8 M. Ali b Southee 20 G. Ballance c Williamson b Boult 10 J. Root c Vettori b Milne 46 E.MorgancMilnebVettori 17 J. Taylor b Southee 0 J.ButtlercRonchibSouthee 3 C. Woakes b Southee 1 S. Broad c Vettori b Southee 4 S. Finn c Taylor b Southee 0 J. Anderson not out 1 Extras: (lb-6, w-7) 13 Total: (all out, 33.2 overs) 123 Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-36, 3-57, 4-104, 5-104, 6-108, 7-110, 8-116, 9-117.

Bowling: T. Southee 9-0-

33-7 (w-3), T. Boult 10-232-1 (w-1), A. Milne 5.2-125-1 (w-2), D. Vettori 7-019-1, C. Anderson 2-0-8-0 (w-1).

NEW ZEALAND innings M. Guptill b Woakes 22 B. McCullum b Woakes 77 K. Williamson not out 9 R. Taylor not out 5 Extras: (lb-4 w-8) 12 Total: (for 2 wickets, 12.2 overs) 125 Fall of wickets: 1-105, 2-112.

Bowling: J. Anderson 5-037-0 (w-3), S. Broad 2.20-27-0 (w-1), S. Finn 2-049–0, C. Woakes 3-1-8-2.

Baz(ooka): Brendon McCullum launches one on his way to the fastest World Cup fifty against England, in Wellington.

40

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

Mayweather, Pacquiao fight confirmed for May 2

FLOYD Mayweather will meet Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on May 2 for what promises to be the richest fight in history, it has finally been confirmed.

American Mayweather, 37, and Philippine Pacquiao, 36, are considered to be the best two fighters of their generation.

Mayweather’s WBC and WBA welterweight titles and Pacquiao’s WBO title will be on the line at the MGM Grand.

Mayweather is unbeaten in 47 professional fights; Pacquiao has 57 wins and five losses from 64 contests.

The fight is expected to generate as much as £162m ($250m). The most lucrative fight in history is thought to be Mayweather versus Saul Alvarez in 2013, which generated an estimated £97m.

Mayweather-Pacquiao is also expected to break the record for pay-per-view

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho

FLOYD Mayweather buys in the United States. The current record of 2.4m was set when Mayweather fought fellow American Oscar de la Hoya in 2007.

Mayweather wrote on his webpage: “What the world has been waiting for has arrived.

“Mayweather vs Pacquiao on May 2, 2015, is a done deal. I promised the fans we would get this done and we did.”

He added: “I am glad my decision to meet with Manny and discuss making this fight happen helped get the deal done.

BCB /Republic Bank-sponsored Under-17 final set for tomorrow at Albion THE long-awaited final of the 2014 Republic Bank (Guya n a ) L t d - s p o n s o re d i n t e r- z o n e U n d e r- 1 7 cricket competition in Berbice will be played tomorrow at the famous Albion Sports Complex.

After several postponements due to the unpredictable weather and other unforeseen reasons, the match will commence at 09.00hrs and will feature the best young cricketers in the county with Lower Corentyne set to clash with New Amsterdam/Canje.

Lower Corentyne will start as slight favourites but a stiff challenge is expected from the lads from the East Bank Berbice NA/Canje area.

L o w e r C o re n t y n e who defeated Upper Corentyne in the semi-fi-

Manny Pacquiao

nal have a strong batting lineup, led by National Under-17 player and captain Brandon Persaud.

He will receive support from Adrian Sukwah and Matthew Hardial. Pacer Sylus Tyndall will spearhead the bowling with support from all-rounder Joshua Harrichand and Suraj Dookhna. NA/Canje on the other hand will have in their lineup several all-rounders, the likes of in-form Kevon Sinclair, Steve Deonarine, Joel Seetaram, Junior Williams and Sasenarine Sukhu.

The BCB junior selection panel headed by Leslie Solomon will witness the game which will also be used to assist them in selecting the Berbice Under-17 team for the upcoming inter-county tournament.

“Giving the fans what they want to see is always my main focus. This will be the biggest event in the history of the sport. Boxing fans and sports fans around the world will witness greatness on May 2.

“I am the best ever and this fight will be another opportunity to showcase my skills and do what I do best, which is win. Manny is going to try to do what 47 before him failed to do, but he won’t be successful. He will be number 48.”

(BBC Sport)

GFSCA Mash Softball bowls off today at DCC ground THE Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) Mashramani one –day softball tournament will bowl off today.

The day/night tournament is set for the DCC ground, Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown.

Matches start at 14:00hrs and will conclude at 2330hrs.

Fourteen teams will be taking part. Eight teams will play in the Open category (male of any age) and six teams will play in the Masters category (40 years and over). The Male Open will be 5/5 overs while the Masters will be 10/10. Matches will be played on two pitches simultaneously. Time will be strictly implemented.

A five-over innings

will be 20 minutes, while a 10-over innings will be 40 minutes.

Changing between innings is 5 minutes.

Entrance fee for the Open category is $15 000 and the Masters is $20 000. Winners of each category will receive $50 000 and the runners-ups will receive $15 000 each. The yellow Floodlight ball will be used. Teams can purchase it at Mike’s Pharmacy on Sheriff Street.

Te a m s w a n t i n g to take part can call GFSCA organiser Wayne Jones at 6501790 or 685-6908 to book their spot. This one-day/night softball 14-team tournament will be held every last Saturday of every month at the DCC ground.

Chelsea apologise to man racially abused, Mourinho ashamed

By Sam Holden LONDON, England (Reuters) - Chelsea apologised yesterday to the man who was racially abused by their fans before a Champions League match and team manager Jose Mourinho spoke of his shame over the incident.

Supporters of the Premier League club were caught on camera preventing a black man, identified only as Souleymane, from boarding a metro train and chanting racist comments before the 1-1 draw at Paris St Germain on Tuesday.

“I would like to make clear on behalf of everyone at the club our disgust with regard to the incident that took place on the Paris subway on Tuesday evening,” Chelsea communications director Steve Atkins said in a statement.

“We were appalled by what we saw.

The club would also like to apologise unreservedly to Souleymane for the behaviour of a small number of individuals and their unforgivable actions towards him.” Chelsea have invited Souleymane and his family to watch the last-16 return leg against PSG at Stamford Bridge next month.

“I think he would watch not only the game, but he would feel what Chelsea is,” Mourinho told reporters.

“At this moment he will have the wrong idea of what Chelsea is. He would feel that the people who did this action with

him are not Chelsea,” the Portuguese added.

“We feel ashamed but maybe we shouldn’t because I refuse to be connected with these people.” Mourinho said his multi-cultural squad were affected by the incident.

“The dressing-room reacted the way I react, with disappointment ... but always with the feeling that we do not belong to these people and they do not belong to us,” Mourinho added.

Chelsea have been cooperating fully with the London and Paris police in their ongoing investigation and will continue to do so.

“We have also been conducting our own investigation and all information from that is being shared with the police,” Atkins added.

“We announced last night that we have suspended three individuals from Stamford Bridge pending the completion of the investigation.

“Should evidence show they are guilty the club will ban them for life.”

The United Nations (UN) said it had been working with world and European soccer governing bodies FIFA and UEFA to tackle racism in the sport.

“The events in the Richelieu-Drouot Metro station in Paris show that much work remains to be done before racism is truly eradicated from sport, let alone from society at large,” the UN said in a statement.

41

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

Way clear for National Royals edge Nets in thriller; Ravens through to quarter-finals Stadium to host WC qualifiers

DEFENDING champions Dynas Ravens began their title defence in impressive fashion after a 81-57 win over Smithfield Rockers and Victory Valley Royals edged Republic Banks Nets 73-61 when action in the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) National Club Championships continued at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Thursday night.

Playing in front of a small but appreciative crowd at Guyana’s premier indoor facility, the Linden team, known for their physical style of play had to literally work hard for their win against the Nets who seemed determined to impress their supporters.

Harold Adams led all scorers for the Royals with a game-high 24 points while Chris Williams had a quiet night, scoring eight points

Chris Williams (L) and Harold Adams of the Victory Valley Royals a n d f o r w a r d L a w r e n c e night but the duo could have ‘Bolo’ DeCosta chipped in only done so much since with seven points. collectively, the Nets failed Hodayah Stewart and to keep up with the Royals.

Michael Richards were Richards was the top the Nets’ marksmen on the scorer for the losers with

18 points and four assists while Pelham Doris had nine points, four rebounds, six steals and Stewart netted nine points.

Meanwhile, in the opening game, Marlon Rodrigues and Jermaine Slater both poured in 13 points and Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai had a rounded game with 11 points, grabbing nine rebounds and picking up four steals to lead the defending champs against their Berbician counterparts.

Jamal Felix had a good night on the floor but all in a losing effort. He dropped a game-high 21 points and was assisted by Michael Bowen who netted 10 points.

After a break for the Mashramani weekend, the ‘Road to Mecca’ National Club Championship will continue on Friday, February 27 with the Super-Eight playoff.

Another busy weekend in GCA competitions

… Banks Malta semi-finals set for tomorrow THE Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) is gearing up for another busy weekend once again, with play in both divisions one and two cricket competitions.

HADI’S World Incorporated 1st Division Cricket competition will be played today and tomorrow at the Eve Leary ground where the lawmen host GYO.

In the New Building Society 2nd Division 40-over tournament three matches will be played. At the GNIC ground, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will play the home side while Everest will attempt to defend their home turf against the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Saint Stanislaus College will face GYO at home. All matches are set to start at 11:00hrs.

Meanwhile the Banks Malta Supreme Under-13 competition has reached its semifinals stage and will be played tomorrow.

At Malteenoes Sports Complex, GYO play the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) from 09:30hrs and at the same venue, Everest come up against Transport at 13:30hrs.

Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club books six dates for 2015 local horse race season … Entries for Phagwah meet closes on March 1 THE Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club has booked six dates to stage horse race meets for the 2015 season and horse owners and trainers as well as turfites are asked to take note.

According to a release from the club, the annual Phagwah meet will be held on March 8 at the Club’s facility, Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice signalling the start of the club’s race season.

Races are also scheduled for May 17 to usher in Guyana’s Independence celebration; August 2 in observance of Emancipation Day, October 4 and the grand annual Boxing Day meet on December 26 and 27.

Six races are billed to take place on March 8 with the feature event being one over seven furlongs and is opened to horses classified `A 1 and Lower’.

The winner of the event will take home $700 000 while the second-tofourth-place finishers will receive $$350

000, $175 000 and $87 000 respectively.

Another seven-furlong race is also on the card and is open to horses classified `G 1 and Lower’ and the winner will cart off $300 000, while the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers will receive $150 000, $75 000 and $37 000 respectively.

The other four races are all over a distance of five furlongs.

In the opening event horses from around the country will battle for honours in a `K 1 and Lower event with the winner receiving $120 000, the second-place finisher will collect $60 000, while the third- and fourth-place finishers will receive $30 000 and $16 000 respectively.

The second event on the day’s card will involve horses classified `D 3 Maiden and E and F Open’. The winner will take home $400,000 while the other three performers will re-

ceive $200 000, $100 000 and $50 000 respectively.

There is another five-furlong race for horses classified `J 1 and Lower’ and the winner will receive $180 000 while the other top three performers will cart off $90 000, $45 000 and $22 000 respectively.

The final five-furlong race is open to horses classified `K and Lower’ and the winner will receive $120 000 while the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers will be rewarded with $50 000, $30 000 and $15 000 respectively.

Horse owners and trainers are asked to note that the closing date for entries for the Phagwah horse race meet is March 1 and horses can also be entered by calling Roopnarine Matadial on telephone number 3253192 or Ivan Diphnarine on 331-0316 or Justice Kennard on 623-7609, 2254818 or 226-1309.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – The National Stadium here has been given the green light to host next month’s 2018 World Cup qualifier after passing a CONCACAF inspection, the Barbados Today online newspaper has reported.

This follows upgrades to the government-owned facility which had not hosted an international since 2011, incidentally also a World Cup qualifier in the build-up to the 2014 Barbados FA president Randy World Cup. Harris Christopher Craig, work has not been in vain representing CONCACAF, carried out the in- and we have been given a spection last week, paving passing grade.”

Issues remain, however. the way for local fans to A power failure led to the witness Barbados’ opening postponement of matches game on the road to Russia in the Premier League com2018, when they take on the petition last Thursday and United States Virgin Islands also disrupted the Barbados on March 22.

“Obviously I am very Relay Fair last weekend.

Harris, though, remained proud because the Nationconfident these latest setal Stadium is the home of backs would be addressed football in Barbados and it’s by the time the World Cup good to see that we will be qualifiers rolled around. able to provide the local fans “While I am a bit conwith a taste of international cerned about the issue with football,” Barbados Today the lights I have been assured quoted Barbados FA presithat persons at the stadium dent Randy Harris as saying. are working to get it recti“The stadium has unfied,” he said dergone some upgrades, es“So I have no doubt pecially as it relates to the that by the time March 22 outfield and the lighting, comes around everything so we are very pleased that will be in order.”

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday February 21, 2015) 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) 1992 (9 teams) (2) 1987 Today’s Quiz: (1)Where was the tournament held?

‘Wills

World

Cup’

(2) In which World Cup tournament 50 overs per side games were played for the first time?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

42

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

Brathwaite hundred gives Pride day one honours GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) – Captain Kraigg Brathwaite stroked his 11th

first class century and fifth in regional cricket to give Barbados momentum but

WICB PCL scoreboard Barbados vs Guyana

Windwards 1st Innings

BARBADOS 1st Innings

T Theophile b O Peters

34

K Brathwaite c Beaton b Bishoo 102

D Smith c Saunders b S Peters

33

K Corbin b Permaul

J Charles b Cornwall

18

46

K Edwards c Johnsonb Bishoo 19

K Peters not out

3

S Hope c S Chanderpaul b Bishoo 69

C Emmanuel not out

1

Extras (lb2, nb1)

3

R Chase not out

8

TOTAL (3 wkts, 26 overs)

+S Dowrich c wkp Bramble b Bishoo m

7

J Warrican not out

0

Extras (w3, nb4)

7

92

Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-88, 3-88.

To bat: *L Sebastien, S Shillingford, A Bobb, +S Ambris, M Matthew, D Johnson.

Fall of wickets: 1-69, 2-100, 3-240, 4-243, 5-252.

Bowling: Louis 2-0-6-0, Tonge 5-0-30-0, O Peters 7-1-21-1, S Peters 5-2-14-1, Boatswain 4-011-0, Cornwall 3-1-8-1.

To bat: A Nurse, C Brathwaite, M Cummins, T Best.

Position: Windwards trail by 73 runs with seven wickets intact.

Bowling: Beaton 13-3-30-0, Reifer 11-2-48-0, Barnwell 6-0-29-0, Permaul 30-8-50-1, Deonarine 16-6-35-0, Bishoo 28-9-66-4.

T&T Red Force 1st Innings

GUYANA JAGUARS – Leon Johnson (captain), Rajindra Chandrika, Shiv Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Chris Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Ronsford Beaton, Vishaul Singh.

TOTAL (5 wkts, 104 overs) 258

Leewards vs Windwards

E Lewis c Bernard b Dawes

0

Imran Khan lbw b G Brown

13

K Ottley lbw b Jacobs

35

Y Cariah lbw b Bernard J Mohammed c King b Jacobs

62

Y Ottley lbw b O Brown

39

+S Katwaroo c King b Jacobs 27 A Hosein c Miller b Dawes

Leewards 1st Innings

39

*R Emrit c Blackwood

A Richards c Bobb b Johnson 4 L Richardson c and b Peters 22 S Peters c Ambris b Johnson 6 *+D Thomas c Matthew b Peters 38 O Peters c Charles b Peters

3

A Saunders lbw b Peters

0

R Cornwall c Charles b Shillingford

14

J Louis c and b Matthew

26

Y Leonard c sub (D Polius) b Peters G Tonge c Smith b Peters

9

5 37

Q Boatswain not out

1

Extras (b1, lb3, nb1)

5

TOTAL (all out, 60 overs) 161 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-28, 3-47, 4-65, 5-65, 6-91, 7-91, 8-97, 9-159, 10-161.

Bowling: Johnson 8-1-20-2, Matthew 12-0-46-1, Peters 154-24-6, Shillingford 15-4-39-1, Bobb 7-1-15-0, Sebastien 3-013-0.

b O Brown

5

D St Clair lbw b Jacobs

17

M Richards not out

17

Extras (b2, lb6, w3, nb3)

14

TOTAL (all out, 72 overs)

277

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-20, 3-65, 4-65, 5-149, 6-198, 7-203, 8-210, 9-235, 10-277.

Bowling: Dawes 16-7-46-2, G Brown 11-3-47-1, Bernard 112-37-1, Jacobs 24-3-70-4, O Brown 10-2-69-2.

Jamaica 1st Innings +H Miller lbw b Richards

4

J Campbell not out

5

J Blackwood not out

3

TOTAL (1 wkt, 8 overs)

12

Fall of wickets: 1-4.

To bat: B King, *T Lambert, D Bernard Jr, C Burton, J Dawes, D Jacobs, O Brown, G Brown.

Bowling: Richards 3-0-7-1, Emrit 2-1-2-0, St Clair 2-2-0-0, Imran Khan 1-0-3-0.

Position: Jamaica trail by 265 runs with nine wickets intact.

three wickets late in the final session, helped leaders Guyana Jaguars fight back on the opening day of their WICB PCL seventh round contest here yesterday.

The right-handed Brathwaite scored 102, an innings which helped his side up to 258 for five at the close at Kensington Oval, after the hosts were asked to bat first.

Overall, Brathwaite faced 241 balls, in five hours at the crease, and striking 12 fours.

Rookie Shai Hope extended his good form with 69 while opener Kyle Corbin struck 46 at the top of the order.

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo led the Jaguars attack with four for 66.

Brathwaite and Corbin gave Barbados a healthy start, by adding a positive 69

for the first wicket, in decent conditions at the historic venue.

The right-handed Corbin faced 75 balls in 81 minutes at the crease and struck eight fours before becoming the first wicket to fall, bowled by left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul after missing a low full toss.

At lunch, Barbados were 99 for one, with Brathwaite on 33 and Kirk Edwards on 19.

However, Guyana struck in the second over after resumption, with Edwards removed by a sharp catch at slip by captain Leon Johnson off Bishoo.

Barbados then consolidated through Brathwaite and Hope who put on 140 for the third wicket, as the hosts dominated the second session to be 183 for two at tea.

Kraigg Brathwaite strokes 102.

Brathwaite, unbeaten on within 11 deliveries of each 76, raised his hundred late in other, Brathwaite pulling the day while Hope, not out Bishoo to Ronsford Beaton at on 36 the break, marked his mid-wicket and Hope holing second successive half-cen- out to Shiv Chanderpaul at tury in the final session. long-off off Bishoo.

Overall, Hope faced 170 Guyana added another deliveries and counted seven wicket to their tally when fours, in three-and-a-quarter Bishoo had the in-form hours.

Shane Dowrich caught beHowever, they both fell hind for seven.

Peters rips apart Leewards with six-wicket haul GROS ISLET, St Lucia, Feb 20, CMC – West Indies Test seamer Kenroy Peters snatched a six-wicket haul to destroy the Leeward Islands Hurricanes on the opening day of their seventh round match here yesterday..

The left-armer, who made his Test debut in the recent South Africa series, ran through the visitors’ innings to claim six for 24 as WICB PCL bottom dwellers Leewards were dismissed for 161.

In reply, the Windwards lost two wickets for no runs in the space of seven balls late in the day to finish on 92 for three, to

Kenroy Peters

be 69 runs behind heading onto today’s second day at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.

Sent in, the Leewards got a top score of 38 from captain Devon Thomas, with Gavin Tonge getting 37 and Jeremiah Louis chipping in with 26.

Leewards lost Austin Richards off the day’s third delivery for four and leftarm pacer Delorn Johnson picked up his second wicket off the morning when he prised out Sherwin Peters for six, with the score on 28.

Peters then began his show, removing Lyndel Richardson (22), Orlan-

do Peters (3) and Akeem Saunders (0) in quick succession as the Leewards quickly declined to 65 for five.

Tottering on 97 for eight, the Leewards were bailed out by a 62-run stand between Tonge and Louis, who played bravely to hold off the Windwards bowlers.

The Windwards were then given a good start by the in-form pair of Tyrone Theophile (34) and Devon Smith (33) who added 59 for the first wicket.

They were cruising at 88 for one when Smith and Johnson Charles (0) fell in successive overs as the innings stuttered.

Mohammed half-century rescues Red Force KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – Jason Mohammed stroked his eighth first class half-century to lead a Trinidad and Tobago Red Force fightback against Jamaica Franchise, on the opening day of their WICB PCL seventh round encounter here yesterday.

Sent in at Sabina Park, Red Force were slumping at 65 for four when Mohammed arrived to turn around the innings with a knock of 62, and propel the visitors to 277 all out.

Yannick Ottley and Akeal Hosein supported him with 39 apiece while Kjorn Ottley got 35 and wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo chipped in with 27.

Leg-spinner Damion

Jacobs picked up four for 70 while fast bowler Jason Dawes (2-46) and leg-spinner Odean Brown (2-69) both finished with two wickets.

At the close, Jamaica lost Horace Miller for four to be 12 for one in reply, still 265 runs behind on first innings.

R e d F o rc e w e re i n trouble as early as the third over of the day with just two runs on the board when Evin Lewis fell without scoring off the third ball he faced.

Left-arm seamer Gavin Brown then knocked over Imran Khan, lbw for 13, to leave Red Force on 20 for two.

Ottley, who struck six fours and a six off 62 balls,

added 45 with Yannic Cari-

Jason Mohammed

ah, before both fell in success overs to leave T&T tottering on 83 for four at lunch.

Mohammed then anchored two partnerships to push T&T through the afternoon session, adding 84 with Ottley for the fifth wicket before putting on another 49 for the sixth with Katwaroo.

Mohammed struck seven fours and two sixes off 117 balls in 3-3/4 hours at the crease before being seventh out with the score on 203.

Four quick wickets tumbled for 37 runs to leave Red Force on 235 for nine but Hosein smashed four fours and two sixes in a breezy 54-ball knock to add 42 for the last wicket with Marlon Richards (17).

43

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 21, 2015

GBBC’s Caribbean Collision boxing card

Boxing pundits favour Atwell over Jamaica’s Mullings tonight LOCAL boxing pundits are all behind Guyana’s Clive `The Punisher’ Atwell when he faces Jamaica’s Sakima Mullings in a 12-round contest tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall for the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) CABOFE junior welterweight title.

Already, veteran boxing coaches Maurice `Busy’ Boyce and Lennox Daniels have expressed their confidence in Atwell to win.

However, Daniels said it would not be a walk-in-the-park for Atwell, as he will have to really out-box the hard-hitting Jamaican and not trade punches with him.

Daniels said the bout will be an interesting one and once Atwell stays clear of Mullings’ power punches and out-box him, there is no reason why he cannot win.

Former amateur boxer and coach Jeff Roberts also feels that Atwell is the better boxer of the two but warned that should Atwell try to `mix’ with Mullings, there is a possibility that he can be knocked out by the powerful Mullings who defeated former European welterweight champion Guyana’s Howard Eastman.

Guyana’s former WBA welterweight champion Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis is also of the view that Atwell can come out on top tonight but, like Roberts, warned against the Guyanese trading punches with the Jamaican.

“I think it will be a good fight and once Atwell stays out of range and box, there is no reason why he cannot win, so I’m behind

Clive `The Punisher’ Atwell Atwell,’ Lewis told Chronicle Sport.

The 12-round fight between Atwell and Mullings is the feature bout on the GBBC’s five-fight card. The other four fights will see Dexter Gonsalves face Mark Austin in an eight-round junior welterweight contest, while Edmond DeClou will tacvkle Derick Richmond in another eight-round bout, but in the middleweight category.

Keeve Allicock will make his professional debut against Quincy Gomes in a four-round

lightweight contest and Travis Fraser and Charwin Estwick will both make their debut in a four-round junior middleweight

Sakima Mullings bout.

Atwell took the fight on short notice after Lewis, the original contender for the title, was ruled unfit due to a shoulder injury sustained while preparing for the fight.

There are two grudge matches on the night’s card. One is between Austin and Gonsalves while the other is between DeClou and Richmond.

When DeClou and Richmond last met

(2013), DeClou, the reigning CABOFE middleweight champion, received a vicious left hook that broke his jaw and the fight was stopped by the referee, DeClou said he has fully recovered and is 100 percent fit. “I’m really anxious to get back into the ring and especially against Richmond, since I want to prove that it was a lucky shot that caught me the last time we met,” DeClou stated, adding “I will correct my mistake which was underestimating my opponent, so fighting Derick will not be a walk in the park, but it will definitely be a nightmare for him.”

Richmond, the national super middleweight champion however said he is very confident of defeating DeClou again. “It will be the same as before. I have been training very hard under the guidance of Howard Eastman.

In the other grudge match, Gonsalves said Austin’s victory over him was a fluke and he is confident of reversing that decision.

Gonsalves said he has been training daily with `Six Head’ Lewis and has learnt a lot from the former world champion.

Austin said he is fully fit and will do his best on fight night. “Dexter knows that I’m a very good fighter, I’m not a walkover and the difference is I’m in better shape now,” Austin declared.

Tourism Ministry supports Jamaica-bound Motor Racing team

MINISTER of Tourism Irfaan Ali yesterday handed over a cheque of an undisclosed sum to the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) yesterday to aid in their participating in this year’s Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC).

The first leg of the event is set for the JamWest Raceway in Kingston, Jamaica and given the fact that Guyana will be defending both their country and champion driver trophies this year, the GMR&SC selected some of the strongest drivers and riders to carry the Golden Arrowhead in the Land of Wood and Water.

The father-and-son duo of Kevin and Kristian Jeffrey will once again spearhead the Group 4 Category, along with Danny Persaud.

Afraz Allie and Rameez Mohammed are down to contest in the Group 3 class and Chet Singh is the lone Group 2 racer.

Stephen ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira, his cousin Elliot

Competitor and club captain Danny Persaud collects the cheque from Minister of Tourism Irfaan Ali yesterday, while other officials of the GMR&SC look on.

Vieira, Paul Yearwood and Kevin Persaud are the riders on the team which departs on Wednesday, February 25 with Fly Jamaica.

Adding Fly Jamaica Airlines as one of the sponsors Minister Ali said that motor racing has shown that it

can be heavily marketed around the Caribbean with the huge crowds at the venues in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica and here at the South Dakota Circuit being a testimony of racing being part a true Caribbean culture.

According to the Tourism Minister, the GMR&SC should work closely with his ministry to ensure that the final leg of the CMRC which will be held in Guyana is one which reflects a true Guyanese flavour.

“Motor Racing has the

potential to truly market Guyana,” Minister Ali explained to the gathering of racers and officials of the GMR&SC at Ministry of Housing boardroom.

Minister Ali was showered with praise by president of the GMR&SC,

J o h n C a r p e n t e r, w h o mentioned that a lot cannot be done without the involvement of the Government, this time which came through the Ministry of Tourism since motor racing is an expensive sport.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Boxing pundits favour Atwell over Jamaica’s Mullings tonight See story on page 43

‘Rugby’ takes the cake at 2014 National Sports Awards ... Permaul wins Male Sportsman-of-the-Year, Cassie George cops a double

THE year 2014 certainly belonged to the Guyana’s National 15s and 7s rugby team, with the ‘Green Machine’ becoming the first Caribbean country to hold both titles in a single calendar year and yesterday they were duly rewarded picking up the bulk of the Awards from the National Sports Commission.

An esteemed panel of judges converged on the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall to cast their votes with the aim of naming Guyana’s top teams, sportsmen and women along with personalities for 2014.

After defeating USA (South) to win their first ever NACRA 15s title, the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) assembled their best possible team for the game’s shortest format and went on to win their 7th NACRA 7s championship and also booked a place in the Olympic Qualifiers.

For years they have been calling to be recognised and their cries did not fall to deaf ears when the judges voted unanimously for the GRFU to win the Sports Association-of-the-Year award and the Most Improved Association accolade while Theodore Henry was named Coach-of-theYear and the president Peter Green clinched the Male Sports Personality-of-the-Year award.

Sports Team-of-the-Year – National 15s and 7s Rugby Team

Junior and Senior Sportswoman-of-the-Year Cassie George

Junior Sportsman-ofthe-Year Jason Yaw

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Sportsman-of-the-Year Veerasammy Permaul SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2015