2015 3 28

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RODNEY’S DEATH: AN ENIGMA BEING ANSWERED

Hanoman discredits Wagner’s testimony PPP/C transformed Guyana into a middle income developing country

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Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

…when before it was heavily indebted

Donald Trotman escapes unhurt as his car catches fire Page

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Ms Ann Wagner

‘APNU+AFC coalition is not going to be the perfect union’ – Trotman 9 Page

– says all not well with coalition

GuySuCo 11 continues to engage private cane farmers Page

DISMEMBERED BODY AT ANNANDALE/ BUXTON FORESHORE…

Former Judge Donald Trotman and his son AFC Executive Member, Raphael Trotman speaking with the firemen at the scene

Raphael Trotman comforts his father, Donald Trotman, still shaken after the ordeal

Investigators still cannot identify woman 11 Page

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

PPP/C transformed Guyana into a middle income developing country

…when before it was heavily indebted

By Rebecca Ganesh “THE PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party Civic) Government has transformed this country from a heavy indebted country to a middle income developing country; this is the change what we want for Guyana”, the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, stressed repeatedly last evening.

Speaking at a public meeting at Lusignan on the East Coast of Demerara, the Attorney General said the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has changed face so many times, and now they have roped in another party, the Alliance For Change (AFC), for this love affair they are trying to forge.

Residents gathered at the public meeting

He explained to the large gathering of supporters that “first the party changed from PNC to PNCR, but when that failed, it moved to PNCR-I Guyana, but that also flopped. But the PNC did

not stop; it changed to APNU and it is now APNU+AFC.” The constant change of name of the party has not changed its character of being violent and destructive, bent on achieving power at any cost.

The AFC telling its supporters that they will pass a no-confidence motion against APNU if they are short-changed by the coalition, Nandlall said, is ‘utter

nonsense’.

Nandlall urged residents to look around your own area and recognise the developments that have occurred over the years and “these are all because of the good governance under the PPP/C Government, this is the change I am speaking of and these are the changes that you want.”

“You are the persons who

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall addresses the meeting

will decide what you want on May 11; and if you want to continue with positive change, then you know what your choice should be”, he stressed Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) representative and teacher by profession, Ms Ramdular, told those gathered, “ Look at the developments right in front of your eyes, and this has been the hard work of the Government working for you.”

“Let us return the PPP/C to government, if we want to see positive progress in this community and in our country. The only choice we have for a strong and stable

Guyana is the PPP/C Government”, she emphasised.

Empowering women has always been a priority for this government, she stressed, and today many women across Guyana can boast an education because of the positive strides the PPP/C Government has made in the education system, were the words of Amiena Hinds during her remarks. She echoed her colleagues speaking on the achievements the Government has made in developing the country and urged all gathered that “we have to win, and win with the majority come May 11.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

RODNEY’S DEATH: AN ENIGMA BEING ANSWERED

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Special Report on the Rodney Commission of Inquiry by Shaun Michael Samaroo

Hanoman discredits Wagner’s testimony

By Shaun Michael Samaroo Mysterious former Police Commissioner Laurie Lewis surfaced again at the Rodney Commission, with evidence showing he personally issued new and renewed passports for main suspect in the assassination of Dr Walter Rodney, Gregory Smith, under the cover identity of Cyril Milton Johnson.

At the time, the top cop was also head of Immigration in Guyana, and he also headed up a nefarious, clandestine Joint Intelligence Command that carried out slavish secretive surveillance on Guyanese citizens for the dictatorship Government of the People’s National Congress (PNC), which was locked in a nasty storm for survival of its Government with the populist resistance of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).

Ann Wagner, co-author of the controversial book, ‘Assassination Cry of a Failed Revolution: the Truth about Dr Walter Rodney’s Death’, the only published book about the worst suspected political assassination in the Commonwealth Caribbean, this week turned evidence at the Commission of Inquiry on its head when she contradicted comprehensive assassination testimonies.

Despite several witnesses testifying over the past year before the Presidential Commission in Georgetown that Dr Rodney died on the spot because a bomb disguised as a communications device exploded in his lap, blowing a deadly hole in his lower body, Wagner wept openly in defending main suspect in the alleged assassination, Gregory Smith, claiming Smith told her he was innocent and was framed as a scapegoat. Wagner is Smith’s eldest sister, and claimed that he confided in her, especially expressing fear for his life.

Smith lived in exile in French Guiana until his death from lung cancer in 2007.

Wagner stunned the nation with her dramatic appearance at the High Court building on High Street, sitting for three days in the witness box to answer ques-

Ann Wagner, co-author of the controversial book ‘Assassination Cry of a Failed Revolution: the Truth about Dr Walter Rodney’s Death’, the only published book about the worst suspected political assassination in the Commonwealth Caribbean, this week turned evidence at the Commission of Inquiry on its head when she contradicted comprehensive assassination testimonies. tions from the battery of high-profile lawyers at the Commission.

Ta l l , e l e g a n t a n d well-spoken, Wagner travelled on a special trip from her home in New York, United States, to appear at the Commission. She parried hostile and, from a couple lawyers, sympathetic questioning.

Lawyers include Mr Christopher Ram, Counsel for the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), the political movement that Dr Rodney led; Glen Hanoman, Counsel for the Commission; Basil Williams, Counsel for the People’s National Congress (PNC), which expressed its severe chagrin when President Donald Ramotar convened the Inquiry last year; Selwyn Peters, appearing as special Counsel for the Guyana Trades Union Congress, travelling to Georgetown from Canada for the hearing; Andrew Pilgrim of Trinidad and Tobago and Keith Scotland of Trinidad and Tobago, both appearing for Donald Rodney, who is Dr Rodney’s brother and only eyewitness to the bomb blast that rocked Georgetown and shattered Dr Rodney’s body on the dark night of Friday, June 13, 1980.

Wagner told Pilgrim, under cross-examination, that she believes the WPA organised the flight that scuttled Smith in a secretive mission to Kwakwani from Timehri airport early on the morning of June 14, 1980, the day after Dr Rodney’s bomb blast death. Smith disappeared from Kwakwani and mysteriously showed up in French Guiana.

Pilgrim sought to elicit from the witness details about Smith’s work with the disguised communications device that exploded in the car the Rodneys were driving, but she said she only knew that Smith gave “three devices” to Rodney, “including the triggering device”.

Pilgrim wanted to know if Wagner could tell the

Commission “how far the triggering device had to be to remotely cause the bomb to explode”, but she fended off such questions.

She told Pilgrim that Smith gave the devices to Rodney with enough space for Rodney to add explosives into the body of the device.

Smith, she testified to the Commission, agreed to modify communications device for Dr Rodney and the WPA to use to blow up buildings and infrastructure to rid Guyana of the draconian dictatorship of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Government.

But when Donald Rodney showed up at Smith’s Russell Street, Georgetown house on the evening of June 13, 1980, to collect the modified devices, and proceeded to test it, it exploded in the car Dr Rodney was driving, killing him on the spot. “It was an accident”, Wagner told the Commission, and flatly denied wide-ranging testimony at the Commission over the past year that the PNC Government and State machinery had concocted a sinister, nefarious, dark plot to execute Dr Rodney because he was a serious political threat to the PNC Government.

Wagner instead said the WPA wanted to execute Smith, and they worked with “international allies” to make her brother the “scapegoat” for Dr Rodney’s death.

Wagner ’s spin on the tale of the death of Dr Rodney, a sinister mystery that has befuddled the world for three decades, unravelled in the last hour of yesterday’s

sitting, as the Commission wrapped up its latest sitting.

Counsel Hanoman established that Smith travelled in and out of Guyana in 1982, unknown to Wagner, although Wagner testified that she subsequently knew of the trip, and knew that Smith travelled to Guyana because he had to in order to secure his permanent residence in French Guiana, where he had fled after the deadly bomb blast.

In a brilliant display of the Commission’s investigative skills and dazzling prosecutorial expertise, Hanoman showed that Wagner’s testimony may lack credibility, as Counsel brought to the witness stand a senior Immigration officer to testify that Smith secured passport renewals directly from the then Commissioner of Police, Lewis.

Hanoman circulated several documents to support his premise that Wagner lacked full knowledge of Smith’s activities surrounding the bombing death of Dr Rodney, despite her self-confessed co-authorship of the book she titled “the truth” about that tragic night in Guyana’s socio-political history.

Hanoman focused a lot of attention and time on the passport issued to Smith in Guyana, and which was renewed twice. He showed that Lewis issued the passport to Smith, under his new identity of Cyril Milton Johnson, even though the passport application form had several irregularities. He also showed that Smith’s passport, in the name of Cyril Milton Johnson, may have got special

Ms Ann Wagner at yesterday’s sitting of the Commission

treatment from Commissioner of Police Lewis.

Despite strenuous objections and interjections from Counsel Peters during Hanoman’s questioning, Wagner saw her testimony unravel as the week’s sitting meandered to its end.

The Commission over the last year secured a vast volume of testimony implicating Lewis and

other PNC Government operators of an elaborate sinister political plot that caused the assassination of Dr Rodney, and despite Wagner’s testimony and the book she co-authored with Smith, Hanoman ended the latest sitting of the historic Presidential Commission unveiling emphatic evidence of suspicious PNC State irregularities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

Donald Trotman escapes unhurt as his car catches fire FORMER judge Donald Trotman escaped serious injury last evening when the vehicle he was driving burst into flames on the East Coast Demerara.

The Guyana Chronicle was at the scene and heard Mr Trotman, father of Speaker Raphael Trotman, relate to firemen who were summoned that the vehicle was over heating

as he drove. He stopped, added coolant to the radiator and continued on his way.

But in the vicinity of the Mon Repos Market, the vehicle caught fire and he swerved into the parking area. He explained that as he exited the vehicle, several citizens prised open the car’s bonnet and threw sand

from the parking area to douse the blaze. His son, who is also an executive member of the Alliance for Change (AFC), soon arrived on the scene and thanked the citizens who assisted his Dad. The retired judge was visibly shaken and thanked those who helped to put out the blaze for their quick thinking.

Firemen inspect the burnt-out engine

RICE CROP 18 PER CENT HARVESTED

--Guyana awaiting confirmation of rice market in Africa

By Vanessa Narine AGRICULTURE Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy has said that increased rice production is being matched by increased export opportunities, and that Guyana is awaiting confirmation of contracts from its newest market, Africa.

Guyana has targeted the export of 514,000 tonnes of rice in 2015.

“We met with them (representatives of the African market). We sent them draft contracts and those have been submitted to their banks. We are waiting on

confirmation of contracts for one country, which would see the export of 18,000 tonnes of rice every two months, a total of 108,000 tonnes annually,” Dr Ramsammy told the Guyana Chronicle in an interview yesterday.

He added that, besides this new market, Guyana has, via signed contracts, committed to exporting 168,000 tonnes to other markets, including its traditional markets.

Guyana currently has export agreements with several countries in the Caribbean. Given the continuous success of the rice industry,

efforts are being made to secure a greater foothold in the market in Nicaragua and other Central American countries, including Belize and Panama.

Guyana is presently concluding 2015 contracts with Panama. The two countries recently concluded arrangements to fast track payments.

The financial accountability process of Panama required that Guyana made changes in the way it invoiced sales.

This issue was reconciled after negotiations were concluded to facilitate faster payments. Dr Ramsammy assured that the Panamanians have committed to making purchases from Guyana, although contracts in this regard are still to be signed.

“The Venezuelan market is another avenue for Guyana’s rice,” he said.

Exports to this neighbour-

was 5.4 tonnes per hectare, one of the highest in our history. If our current yields are maintained, the yield in the first crop of 2015 will be significantly higher,” he said.

Altogether, some 238,698 acres are currently under cultivation across Guyana: 37,710 acres in Region Two; 22,047 acres in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara); 8,757 acres in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica); 107,224 acres in Region Five; some 62,159 acres in Region Six; and 800 acres in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).

“The acreage currently under cultivation represents the highest cultivation every year. This is an interesting point, because the political opposition is claiming that the industry is in crisis. We are yet to see the crisis, because our farmers are planting more and the results are good,” Dr Ramsammy said.

ing country would involve 120,000 tonnes of paddy and 74,000 tonnes of rice. Guyana has also agreed to procure 14,000 tons of fertilizer from Venezuela for 2015.

HARVEST PROGRESSING Agriculture Minister Dr Ramsammy also disclosed that harvesting is progressing well, and that some 18 per cent of the land under rice cultivation has been harvested.

“Essequibo, Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) is ahead of the rest of the country, with 40 per cent of acreage under cultivation harvested,” he said.

Dr Ramsammy also noted that the yield to date, standing at some 5.8 tonnes per hectare, is encouraging.

“The final yield last year

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has been issued by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), and the Agriculture Minister assured that this is a routine undertaking. He explained that the advisory issued is part of the MoA’s ongoing efforts to ensure that farmers are prepared in the event of an increase in the paddy bug population.

“I am confident we will have a good first crop,” Dr Ramsammy said. Rice production has been targeted at 618,000 tonnes.

Last year was another record-breaking year for the rice industry, with production recorded at 635,238 tonnes, of which 501,208 tonnes were exported.

Production in the final crop of 2014 surpassed that of the first crop, which recorded just over 300,000 tonnes.

The rice and sugar sectors remain important to Guyana’s economy, considering their contributions in relation to employment and to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

PPP/C to continue along development path, Labour Minister tells Essequibians MINISTER of Labour, Dr. Nanda Kishore Gopaul, has told residents of Queenstown on the Essequibo Coast at a public meeting that the mission of the PPP/C is to continue along the development path and ensure that there are no obstacles to progress.

The minister, who was the final speaker at the meeting, called on residents to vote for progress which is the PPP/C, so as to ensure development continues across the country for the next five years. He said the only alternative is the PPP/C Minister Gopaul in a blistering attack on the PNC, which is now posing as APNU, said the country which was under PNC rule by fraud-

ulent elections for 28 years was devastated, everything was down. He said sugar was at its lowest level, the bauxite industry had collapsed and the rice industry was on its knees. There were severe food shortages and blackouts were the order of the day.

According to the minister, when the PPP/C took the reins of power after winning the national and regional elections on 5th October, 1992, it started to rebuild the country under the leadership of the great Dr Cheddi Jagan.Minister Gopaul said the rice industry has rebounded because of the Government’s prudent management of the economy and massive investments in the rice industry to give

farmers efficient drainage and irrigation networks, concrete culverts, revetments, bridges, technical advice and training via the farmers’ field school. He said with regard to bauxite, the industry is making good progress and only recently a new mine was commissioned. According to the minister, there is great progress in every area across the country and development is evident.

Minister Gopaul said the PPP/C’s vision is to have all infrastructural work completed by the end of 2015, when lights would have been installed along the roadways from Georgetown to Crabwood Creek, Georgetown to Parika and Supenaam to Charity. He said the

plans were disrupted after the 2011 elections when the APNU and AFC combined their seats in Parliament and got a one-seat majority over the government.The minister said over the last three years not a single project proposed by the PPP/C had the support of the two opposition parties. He said the AFC went on a crusade to stagnate development of the country. According to the minister, despite the negative moves by the opposition, the country has still moved on.

BRIDGES AND HYDRO POWER He said the PPP/C government built the bridge across the Berbice river and will build another bridge

Rice harvesting in progress on Essequibo Coast - more than 15,000 acres already harvested, yield looks encouraging FARMERS on the Essequibo Coast are enjoying the very hot and sunny weather to harvest paddy from their fields. According to reports from the Guyana Rice Development Board [GRDB] at Anna Regina, more than 15,000 acres are already harvested and the yield per acre is average between 36 to 37 bags which is very encouraging.

Reports said some 37,000 acres cultivated are expected to be harvested and production is expected to be at some 1.5 million bags.

A report from GRDB said farmers are offered $3,200 a bag for Extra “A”, $3,000. for “A”, $2,900. for “B” and $2,800. for “C”. The report said only two mills on the coast are offering less prices.

Meanwhile, the Regional Administration Drainage and Irrigation department is busy ploughing and levelling dams so farmers can transport their paddy quickly to factories after harvesting by trailers, tractors and trucks. Reports said harvesting is in progress at D7, D8 in the Better Suc-

A field with ripe rice on the Essequibo Coast cess areas, Lima, Henrietta, Perth, Paradise, Walton Hall, Bounty Hall, Devonshire Castle, Somerset and Berks, Richmond and Better Hope.

Farmers in the Cozier area are also busy draining their fields in preparation for harvest. Region 2 Vice Chairman, Mr Vishnu Samaroo said work is in progress on all the access dams in the rice growing areas between Good Hope, Somerset, and Berks so paddy harvested from fields can be moved quickly to factories.

The rice industry on the Essequibo Coast has expanded over the years under the PPP/C Government and production has

surpassed the one million bags target per crop to some 1.5 million. Farmers in the industry said they are thankful to the Government for massive investments that has caused the industry to develop.

One farmer said he always has to be thankful to the late great leader Dr Cheddi Jagan for his vision to develop the industry so farmers can benefit. He said today not himself alone can purchase a tractor, trailer, ploughs and other equipment to enhance farming, but many other farmers have benefited immensely under Dr Jagan programme and the PPP/C

Government and today instead of being loyal to the PPP/C and Dr Jagan ideas, those same farmers that have benefited have turned their backs and cursed the bridge they crossed. The farmer said under the PNC regime the rice industry was down on its knees, fields were left abandoned; production was low that Guyana had to import rice.

The drainage network was blocked with weeds and bushes and farmers had to line up for twine and bags.

He said farmers suffered and could not have even thought of buying tractors or combines. But under the PPP/C Government, farmers are not buying tractors, combines, and row ploughs alone, they are purchasing the best cars, SUVs and other fancy vehicles and motorcycles. The farmer said life is totally different under the PPP/C Government. He called for all farmers to unite and put the PPP/C Government back in power so the rice industry can develop into a greater industry.

across the Corentyne river to link Guyana with Suriname.

According to the minister, the two opposition parties voted down Guyana’s flagship hydro power project in parliament, but the PPP/C will ensure that the project comes back on stream. He said the project will create direct employment for some 25,000 persons within two years and a smelter will be set up for the bauxite industry. He also said that major Guyanese projects will also come on stream.

Minister Gopaul said the

APNU and AFC have also blocked the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan Airport and the Specialty Hospital, but warned that Mr Ramjattan and company cannot stop the development of the country.

He asserted that Guyana has moved from a poor nation in October , 1992 to a prosperous and developing one 22 years later.

Other speakers at the public meeting included former MPs Mr Cornel Damon and Mr Farouk Khan. A large crowd attended the meeting.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

Simon of NADF and Region 9 Alastair Charlie slam Opposition LETHEM resident Alistair Charlie has debunked David Granger’s statements about lack of development in the region and has said that the Opposition leader’s denouncment of his community is blatant ‘eye pass’ to Region 9 residents. Charlie is adamant that he wants progress and development to continue under the PPP/C administration.

According to media reports, Charlie, who hails from Lethem in Region 9, has refuted the misleading statements made by Leader of the APNU/AFC alliance, Mr David Granger, that “it is a pity that Guyana’s largest region happens to be the poorest”. Charlie, in a statement to the Chronicle, said: “I, like other sober-minded Rupununians, humbly refute Mr. Granger’s statement which is a blatant eye pass to residents of Region 9.

“I have read with disgust of an article published online by the Kaieteur News on its webpage dated 201503-14 under the caption ‘APNU+AFC crafts plan to improve living conditions in Region 9’. The newspaper quoted: “The historian said, too, that it is a pity that Guyana’s largest region happens to be the poorest.”

Charlie contended that Region 9, being Guyana’s

largest geographical region, is absolutely on the rise and the people of the region have been enjoying a better standard of living today than they did under the PNC regime.

He went on to elucidate about the multiplicity of Government’s timely efforts, through the implementation of sound policies and prudential regional management, which have resulted in significant progress and development of Region 9 in the areas of Education, Health Care, Housing, Roads, Bridges, Communication, Potable Water Supply, Agricultural Development, Power Generation through the Hinterland Electrification Programme and upgrading of the transportation network through the Hinterland Road Programme under the Ministry of Public Works, thus allowing villages of Region 9 to be closely connected and integrated; and also included the construction of the Takutu Bridge, which is linking Guyana and Brazil. This, he iterated, is a sound driving force behind Lethem’s booming commercial sector.

Granger’s posturing and pretensions are not fooling the hinterland residents and one can recall, post the vindictive 2012 budget cuts by the joint opposition, Mr. Ashton Simon, MBA, had lashed out at the cruel and crazy budgetary

cuts by the joint Opposition and in a statement on behalf of the National Amerindian Development Forum (NADF) he posited that it was “… unbelievably stunning that in today’s politics the ‘cut down to get on top’ strategy still implies. The National Amerindian Development Foundation is of the view that such a strategy will send Guyana’s hard earned gains down the pipeline.”

The NADF representative posited that one must be honest to realise and acknowledge the sterling progress made since 1992.

He stated “NADF says that one does not have to count on fingers to outline these gains as they are very visible in all sectors of our environment and society.”

NADF noted “… with surprise and grief” the joint Opposition’s proposed budget cuts to most of the LCDS and GRIF-funded projects in the National Assembly. This, stressed the organisation, was a complete turnaround for Guyana’s development as it will impact on all sectors of our society. In a release signed by Simon, the organisation stated that “The Opposition must realise that such a proposal is high risk and will have negative consequences in the long term. ‘ It continued “Propos-

ing cuts to the LCDS and GRIF is sidelining Amerindians from development programmes. It means that funding for the Amerindian Development Fund will not materialise. It specifies that our homes will remain in darkness and our children will never be able to pursue academic and other programmes of their choice. It means that demarcation of our titled areas will cease or slow down. It also means that these proposed cuts will seriously affect the small Guyanese entrepreneurs who strive to better their lives through micro and small businesses. Our children will grow up ignorant of the digital world thus creating a gap between those who can afford and those who cannot. The APNU and the AFC falsely enticed the Amerindians and other Guyanese into voting for them under the pretext that life will be better under their watch. This indicator certainly is not pointing to a According to the release, “Our LCDS is recognised as a national initiative, and must be promoted as such.

Seeking to sow discord and creating divisions within our structured national effort will be pursuing goals of destruction. If the Opposi-

tion is aware that Guyana’s LCDS has been lauded by global leaders as a model for the world to follow, LCDS would not even come to their lips. But, they have and a strategy will have to be developed to answer such challenges; the partnership with the Kingdom of Norway is at high risk and Guyana must be on ‘RED ALERT’ as the benefits of accruing over US250 million in the next five years for our forest services in the fight against climate change is about to be compromised.

“The Chairman of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said Guyana’s LCDS is one of the most progressive strategies of its kind in the world. Global NGOs, Presidents and Prime Ministers have commended it, while some as far as from Africa, sought our input for helping them to develop their strategies. More importantly, the people of Guyana support the LCDS, especially the Amerindian sector.”

Simon was adamant that the proposal to cut the budget would damage our (Amerindians) Socio-economic thrust, and will “… negatively impact on our population and damage our efforts to make life better for all.” The release continued to berate the anti-developmental antics of the

joint Opposition: “NADF is urging the Opposition to be more responsible in their thoughts and concepts.

NADF is also seeking to inform them that sitting on the ‘Opposition benches’ does not mean saying ‘NO’ to every issue presented for their perusal, for saying so is being immature and only reflects the hungry politicians they are: hungry for power, which must be had at all cost, even at the cost of absolute destruction.”

At the conclusion of itemising a long list of the PPP/C Government’s achievements in its Hinterland developmental thrust, Charlie unequivocally related “I can go on and on to mention the numerous achievements, progress and developments that have taken place in Region 9 under the PPP/C administration, which is in stark contrast when compared to the PNC regime.

Let progress and development continue in Region 9. One day the blind shall see and be a witness.

The joint Opposition’s electioneering gimmickry is not getting traction in the Amerindian communities, because Guyana’s Indigenous communities have finally achieved equal status in the national social dynamics under a PPP/C Administration.

Guyana could become the Singapore of the Caribbean TO say that the economy of Guyana is doing well is an understatement.

The banking sector is expanding with new branches opening in all regions of the country. The same is true of the business sector which is also expanding.

The most recent addition to this expanding business sector is the opening of a world class Call Centre at

Providence, East Bank Demerara, which, according to media reports, when completed, will be the largest in the world. This investment, which is expected to create employment for some 6,000 Guyanese when completed, must be seen not only as a landmark investment project, but also as a demonstration of confidence in the Guyana economy.

This investment comes on the heels of another big investment project, Giftland Mall at Turkeyen, which is expected to open its doors in April, a mere days from now.

This project is yet another expression of investor confidence and when fully operational, would employ scores of Guyanese. Just recently, Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar commissioned an-

other project in Essequibo which will manufacture rice cereal.

These and the several other business enterprises that have recently come on board are at odds with a perception being created by the political Oopposition that the investment climate in Guyana is not conducive to the growth and expansion of the business sector.

On the contrary, the PPP/C Administration has always recognised the importance of an investor-friendly climate which is necessary to attract foreign direct investment as well as local investment.

In this regard, the statements made by Mr. Kirk Laughlin, Nearshore Americas Founder and Managing Director is most reassuring

when he identified Guyana as a special place for investors, especially those in the Business Outsourcing Industry.

A c c o r d i n g t o M r.

Laughlin, “There is something very special here and this is what is really powerful about the business outsourcing industry in

See page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

Ramnavmi message from Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha AS Hindus everywhere celebrate Ramnavmi or the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Ram today, we reflect on his life and the lessons to be learnt.

The concept of avtaar is well-known in Hinduism. It is our belief that whenever the earth is overburdened with evil, a saviour is born as a beacon in the darkness to point mankind to a definite path to an emancipated life.

Hinduism records in different ages divine personalities who were born in the world in dark periods of history and who offered to the world leadership of a distinct quality far and above what is expected of the average human being.

These renowned men have been personified in Hinduism as incarnations of God. The descent of Bhagwan Vishnu in human form is tied up with a boon received by the ruling monarch of Lanka.

Ravan, in his early life, performed vigorous penance to Bhagwan Shiva. Moved by his devotion, he was requested to ask for any boon. The Raakshas King begged that his death be placed only in the hands of man and vanaar and the boon was granted him.

This vardan or boon made

Ravan all-powerful. He was convinced that no man, much less a forest dweller or Vanar was any match for him.

Ravan grew into a despot overwhelmed with vanity.

He became ruthless and unleashed untold sufferings on his subjects. Every norm and principle of a just society disappeared. Autocracy became the order of the day. The subjects degenerated morally and there was open dishonesty, crime, wanton and reckless behaviour.

Ravan unleashed tyranny on the saints and sages. The earth was really over-burdened with evil and oppression. The situation was more than any could bear. It was under such conditions that the saints and sages retreated into deep meditation, petitioning for divine guidance to help find a solution and to have return to the earth stability and peace.

Their prayers filled the air.

The vibration of their entreaty was felt everywhere. People felt that something strange would happen. It was under such a charged atmosphere that a voice from the void was heard: FEAR NO MORE MEN OF VIRTUE – I promise that for your well – being;

and for the reprieving of the countless who now live in fear and depression, I will assume physical existence in human form with other aspects of my own divinity. I will be born as the son of King Dasrathof Ayodha and shall do so with my supreme energy and relieve the earth of all its burdens.

The promise of this Divine voice spread everywhere and became the most topical issue. New hope was born among all. There were clear signs of the disappearance of the gloom which for so long held so many under a turbulent spell.

Coincidentally, the aged sonless King Dasrath was reminiscing over the fact that he had no successor to his throne. As was customary, he then sought the counsel of his Guru or Preceptor, Vashistha Muni. Saint Vashistha who was already aware of the prophecy assured King Dasrath that he will soon be the proud father not only of a single son, but of four brave, courageous and heroic sons.

Sage Vashistha then ordered the performance of the “PUTRESHTHI” Yag, a ceremony which precedes the birth of a child.

It was under favourable

Guyana could become the...

From page 6

which people like me, outsiders like me, sometimes

observe the specialness, the unique features that even people in that coun-

Apologies to Ms Amin

I recently wrote an article captioned “Do we have to live in Logies” which was published in the Guyana Chronicle on March 24th. The same article was also published in The Guyana Times under caption “An opulent lifestyle is not an indication of corruption.”

In those two letters, I challenged the many statements, comments and opinions made in the press comparing the lifestyles of The Jagans to that of Dr Jagdeo. I was of the view that the comments lack relevance seeing the individuals concerned were from different time spans which makes it non sequitur.

I also remember associating the name Sadie Amin with the comment “Dr Jagan died rather than taking from the national treasury for his medical expenses.”

It has now been brought to my attention that the lady in question did not make such a comment; hence, my apology to her. I believe that in my analysis of the messages I might have inadvertently misquoted or misaligned the wrong message with the wrong messenger.

My apologies go to Ms Amin.

NEIL ADAMS

try don’t fully recognize.”

These are indeed words of encouragement which speak to the enormous potential we have to lift this country to higher levels of development and greatness.

Guyana has the potential to become the Singapore of the Caribbean, especially in the context of our vast natural and mineral resources and a growing cadre of skilled human capital. Regrettably, the modernization process envisaged by the current PPP/C administration suffered some significant setbacks by an unsupportive political Opposition during the last parliament.

I take this opportunity to salute that great visionary, Lee Kuan Yew, who passed on recently after successfully transforming his once backward country to one of the emerging economic giants in the world.

HYDAR ALLY

astronomical influence at mid-day hour on the ninth day of the Hindu month of Chait, when the atmosphere was just conducive, that Lord Vishnu made His appearance in King Dasrath’s Palace as the son of the loved Monarch and his devout wife, Kaushalya.

The descent of Shri Ram from a Vedantist point of view is seen as those moments when devotees evolve to that conscious state of realising the supreme presence within.

This concept doesn’t lull anyone into any false hope that Shri Ram will literally come and relieve mankind of their problems and miseries.

Ramnavmi comes to repeat the immortal message that the infinite Brahma exists in the core of our hearts, knowledge of this spiritual

truth invokes divine guidance for every individual to resist evil, assert themselves and strive for a better world in which every individual can enjoy abundance, happiness and bliss.

Shri Ram lived an active and dynamic life. His life was a model. Ramnavmi each year must rekindle faith, courage, steadfastness and dedication in all. Shri Ram acted decisively on all occasions and served the people of TretaYug selflessly and sincerely.Shri Ram was not only a respectful son, loving brother, dutiful husband, ideal citizen, but the greatest and model Ruler of all times.

At this time, while our minds are being moulded and while we are conditioning ourselves to observe

his birth, we must spare some time reading the Ramayan so that his physical life can influence and mould us. His life covered every conceivable field of human endeavour. A simple child can learn from his days of infancy, how he affectionately and lovingly embraced mother Kaushalya and brought immeasurable joy to her motherly heart; and even in his youth, his implicit respect, obedience and courage remain unparalleled until this day.

The Ramayan has been the greatest influence in the lives of our fore-parents and their devotion to truth and their profound sense of honesty were routed in the sublime teachings of Shri Ram in the Ramayan.

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

PPP/C determined sugar industry must survive – President Ramotar “WE do not say different things to different audiences, our position is very clear, the PPP/C Government is determined that the sugar industry must survive,” President Donald Ramotar assured residents of Rose Hall Wednesday last.

The President was at the time addressing attendees at the 102nd anniversary commemoration ceremony of the Rose Hall Martyrs, at the monument site in East Canje, Berbice.

The Head of State related that the sugar industry has now gone into a new stage a time when it could make a big contribution to nation-building and to the development of Guyana, because it has in the Government and the PPP/C a friend. “Someone who understands the nature of the struggle, many of whom come from the bowels of the working class,” he said it is that understanding that made us so strong in defending the interest of sugar and bauxite workers every-

President Donald Ramotar

where.

Sugar still has a very important contribution to make to the development of Guyana, the President said and it is his view that the best days of sugar are still to come. “It is also true that the industry is going through a very difficult period,” Ramotar related. The Head of State expounded on some of the reasons for the issues that are currently being experienced within the industry and he noted that one of the major hindrances to the

industry is the fact that the European Union (EU) which had an agreement with the ACP countries, that is, the African Caribbean and Pacific countries, to buy our sugar at preferential markets forever.

“The EU had reneged on that agreement in 2010 and the price of sugar was cut by 36%, he said and “if the industry was not strong it would have crumbled.”

The sugar prices further fluctuated, and saw a drastic drop from 2013 to 2014 by some 60%.

“The problems in the industry are very real and the industry has to go through a process of restructuring; it needs support and assistance to restructure and our Government has been going in that direction, but we did not have the cooperation from any other forces in our country,” President Ramotar stressed.

“Some of them in the 2011 elections came to you and offered you 20% increase in wages and salaries and in less than a year later,

the same people from the AFC joined with the APNU to say that the sugar industry must be closed and the fields must be used to harvest tilapia,” he elaborated.

“The industry needs to have a new strategy and some of the key elements are to increase the production and the productivity of this industry. We need to bring it back to producing some 400,000 tonnes of sugar per annum,” the President related. He noted also that it is time for us to diversify the sugar industry, and branch off to producing byproducts that will add value to sugar.

The Head of State said that India has promised assistance in producing specialty sugars and extensive discussions were had with Indian officials in this regard. In January, the president during a state visit to India toured the Valsad sugar factory in the State of Gujarat and was briefed on the plant’s operations.

“I will say now from this hallowed ground from where 15 persons gave their

lives to save this industry, that the PPP/C Government is going to support this industry and ensure that it survives and over the next few years I am willing to spend a minimum of $20B to ensure that this industry regains its prominence in Guyana, ”The Head of State emphasised.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony during his remarks explained the importance of the sugar industry to Guyana’s economy. He further explained that the industry has made positive strides towards their development but more could be done.

“There are some false prophets who are coming around,” the minister explained, to fool people. “We must not be fooled; they are telling us that we must forget our history; they want us to forget what they did to the sugar industry in this country.”

Dr Anthony stressed that since the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government took office in

1992, what we had inherited was a broken industry and “we fixed it and yes we still have challenges and we have worked to make it better.”

“President Ramotar has always said that sugar is so intricately linked to the PPP/C and to this Government. We would never allow sugar to fail and he has kept that promise, even though the Government has been blocked so many times by the Opposition,” the minister said.

The minister continued to stress: “We must remember who are the friends of the sugar industry and who are the friends of the sugar workers of this country, that is the president, his Government and the PPP/C. We would have a choice to make on May 11 and I am telling you [that you] will have a choice to make because if you want this country to grow and prosper, then you know the choice you have to make and that choice is to bring back Donald Ramotar and PPP/C into government.”

FOLLOWING MINISTRY’S DIRECTION…

GGMC’s Board commences review to improve systems AS a result of numerous reports against the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, coupled with the recommendations of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Board of Directors conducted a review of the Management Systems and practices for critical departments/divisions of the Commission.

The exercise commenced in December 2014 and was aimed at reviewing the operations of the Mines Division, Land Management and Geological Services Divisions of the Commission to determine the coherence of the structures and functions, the adequacy of its staffing, the

flow of its operations, and to identify systemic problems and other conflicts and deficiencies. The team of consultants was also required to investigate whether the activities of the specific departments/divisions were aligned to the overall strategic plan for the sector.

The Commission was and still is cognizant that any deficiencies within the management framework and current practices can contribute to non-fulfillment of the Commission’s objectives, and can possibly lead to the presence or possibility of undesirable acts of malfeasance.

In addition to identifying the potential gaps within the management system that

could lead to unwanted practices, the team of consultants were also required to provide recommendations aimed at bridging the identified gaps.

The Inception Report was submitted by the review team to the Chairman of the Board of Directors in February, 2015, and was forwarded to the Board for review. The report provided insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the various departments, along with areas of conflict that required specific interventions at the level of the policy makers.

On March 24, 2015, the consultants were invited to present the report officially to the Commission and stakeholders of the sector,

namely, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association and the Guyana Public Service Union.

At this presentation, the critical gaps and deficiencies that were identified by the review team were highlighted along with clarifications on specific matters contained in the report. There was general consensus that the presentation of the consultants Inception Report was of an excellent quality and the overall objective of the review was achieved, since areas of critical intervention were earmarked that would allow the evolution of the Commission to serve the needs of an evolving and growing mining sector.

Further, it was agreed that the consultants would engage the stakeholders (GGDMA & GPSU) over the next two weeks to address areas of concern and finalise the report which will provide critical input in the conclusion of GGMC’s Strategic Plan which is to be reviewed by the Board.

Some critical recommendations made by the consultants for the consideration of the Commission were: 1. Reformation of the Mining Laws and Regulations to address “landlordism” and “beneficial-occupancy”, as well as the allocation of expired/relinquished PLS and the upgrading of small scale properties to large

scale properties.

2. Restructuring of the Divisions of the Commission to ensure that similar functions are not done by various divisions – overlapping of functions such as mineral titling.

3. Ensure the adequacy of trained and professional staff for the Commission.

The work of the consultants are ongoing and will continue with the objective of streamlining the Commission into a more efficient organisation, better equipped and designed to serve the needs of the mining sector by creating the enabling environment to support its continued growth and development.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

‘APNU+AFC coalition is not going to be the perfect union’ – Trotman – says all not well with coalition DESPITE claims from Opposition Leader, David Granger, that the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) + Alliance For Change (AFC) coalition is “the best thing that ever happened to Guyana,” Co-campaign coordinator Raphael Trotman is of the opinion that the coalition “is not going to be the perfect union.”

This echoing declaration was made yesterday at a joint APNU+AFC press conference held at the coalition’s campaign Headquarters, Crown Street, Queenstown, where Trotman further added

that both parties were positive and comfortable heading to the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

According to the campaign coordinator who is also former speaker of the National Assembly, he has seen the “chemistry” between presidential candidate of the coalition, David Granger and prime ministerial candidate, Moses Nagamootoo as the political atmosphere intensifies.

“I have seen the chemistry between Mr. Nagamootoo and Mr. Granger; they are comfortable together,” Trotman told reporters yesterday,

adding that the two politicians were even schooled together which builds their compatibility as a working unit.

Acknowledging that “a lot has been said about Granger” over the last few weeks, as the political climate heats up, Trotman noted that in all his years and experience dealing with Granger and even other members of APNU, including Joseph Harmon, he [Trotman], “has no reason to doubt” that the formation of the coalition will be a success, in the face of elections.

He continued however,

that it is inevitable for the coalition to experience difficulties and challenging times.

“There will be challenging times, but we’re resolved to going past that,” Trotman said.

Adding to his self defeating rhetoric, he further disclosed that “It’s not going to be a perfect union and I don’t want to sell the idea that all is well.”

In their bid to oust the current People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration, the APNU and AFC signed the “Cummingsburg Accord” of February 14 of this year, a move former

A Navratri Synopsis E V E RY y e a r, H i n d u s celebrate the festival of “Navratri” meaning “nine nights” devoted to the Goddess Durga who symbolises purity and power.

Navratri will be celebrated two times this year by Hindus world-wide: March 21 to 28 and October 13 to 22.

This festival is renowned for its ritualistic puja (prayers) and fasting that is accompanied by dazzling celebrations for nine consecutive days and nights. People gather to perform puja to the Goddess Durga and her different manifestations as Goddess Laxmi (Goddess of wealth) and Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of education).

They would chant mantras and renditions of bhajans (religious songs) along with folk songs to accompany the rituals for these nine consecutive days of Navratri.

The fast also known as ‘Navratri Vrat,’ obligates every Hindu to abstain from consuming meat along with refraining from anything that is favourable to them.

The scriptures however, state that devotees are also to abstain from consuming alcohol, onions, garlic, dishes made with common salt or any kind of spice.

In addition, some people live only on milk, fruit and

fruit juices for the entire length of fasting. Apart from tea, coffee and milk, sago and potato cooked with rock salt are extremely popular dishes among devotees observing partial fasting; milk products and dry fruits can also be consumed. In a nutshell, it entails living to a strict vegetarian diet.

However, not all Hindus are devoted to this fast; the less devoted ones would observe partial fasting, whereby they may break their fast after the evening puja.

The fast commences on the first day and carries on through the eighth day and is broken on the ninth day of Navratri. Firstly, people take an early bath and dress in fresh clothes; thereafter, they proceed to perform puja at their altar in their homes or their temple/ mandir. The puja comprises mantra chanting, lighting of diya, recitation of verses from the scriptures and lastly the preparation and offering of “prasad” to the Goddesses. During the day, religious songs are sung followed by puja or “aarti” in the evenings. In India, large groups of devotees participate in all-night prayers as they would remain awake the entire night singing praises to the Goddess.

As a common practice, some devotees eat only one meal a day after the evening puja is performed. Additionally, apart from conforming to a vegetarian diet, devotees observe “niyamas” such as sleeping on the floor, not shaving or cutting nails and refraining from recreational activities. Most devotees however, perform charitable work which gives them more satisfaction.

Normally, some devotees follow the practice of breaking their Navratri fast on the eighth day (Ashtami) and some on the ninth day (Navami). The procedure is to carry out “Kanya” or “Kanchika Pujan,” whereby nine girls are worshipped and their feet washed. After this, they are treated to a spread of puri, halwa and channa (food offerings) and gifted handkerchief/clothes and money as tokens. The nine “kumarikanya,” then give blessings to the devotees observing Navratri vrat, after which they break their fast. On the ninth day, it is considered auspicious to offer “dakshina” (payment) to the Brahmin (priest/pandit).

The most popular food prepared during the festival in Guyana is “seven curry.” The curries are: pumpkin, dhal, aloo and

channa, calaloo, eddoe and Boulanger, katahar and lastly mango curry; all accompanied with rice served in a “puri” leaf. For dessert, sweet-rice also known as “kheer” is prepared with puri and occasionally along with other sweetmeats. In India during Navratri, markets are flooded with packaged snacks for those who are fasting.

Navratri celebrations include traditional music and dances in India as opposed to Guyana where the majority of persons would spend a few hours worshipping the Goddesses in temples and go home thereafter. In India on the other hand, Gujarat is the focus of Navratri celebrations with all –night- long dancing and festivities. “Garba” is a devotional dance form that derives from the folklore of Lord Krishna singing and dancing with the gopis using “dandiya” or slim wooden sticks. The Gujaratis are quite renowned for these dances.

As time advances, the festival has seen some major changes and there are now well-choreographed dance performances, highend acoustics and people dressed in ready-made costumes.

President Dr. Bharat Jagdeo has said will be to the greatest disadvantage of the AFC. “They [the AFC] are so naïve…. When the leader of the list decides who goes to Parliament, they are going to be getting a rude awakening. The United Force had it in the past and they [too] will have it, because they don’t have any leverage anymore, there is no more AFC after nomination. There is PNC, one ticket… Don’t worry about the name AFC-APNU; there is one name, one list of candidates and one head of [the] list,” Jagdeo related, continuing that if the party is thrown out of the coalition, “they can’t do anything about it because

Raphael Trotman

they have no leverage. It is naivety and ambition; blind ambition that caused them to even ignore sensibility,” the former President added.

More drunk drivers snared by police

Satrohan Dharamdeo

Lorrex Bristol

1. Etwaroo Ram of Lot 194 Barr Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-02-22 while driving motor vehicle PDD 9582 on the Madewini Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol, was charged and appeared at the Providence Magistrates’ Court on 2015-02-27 where he pleaded guilty and was fined $7,500.00.

2. Ameer Shah of Lot 5 Lamaha Street, Queenstown, Georgetown, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-02-22 while driving motor vehicle PPP 1787 on the Madewini Public Road, EBD. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol, was charged and appeared at the Providence Magistrates’ Court on 2015-02-27, where he pleaded guilty and was fined

$7,500.00.

3. Lorrex Bristol of Lot 11 David Street, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-02-27 while driving motor vehicle HC 1781 on Hinck Street, Georgetown. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol, was charged and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on 201503-03 when he pleaded guilty and was fined $7,500.00.

4. Satrohan Dharamdeo of Lot 8 Coverden, EBD, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on 2015-02-28 while driving motor vehicle HA 9303 on the Grove Public Road, EBD. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol, was charged and appeared at the Providence Magistrates’ Court on 2015-03-05 when he pleaded guilty and was fined $7,500.00.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

APNU+AFC Manifesto Investigators come to be launched within up blank, woman Nomination Week still unidentified BODY AT ANNANDALE/BUXTON FORESHORE...

– Three persons shortlisted for list representative post

Raphael Trotman

By Ravin Singh AS the highly anticipated General and Regional Elections slated for May 11 approaches, the newly formed coalition of A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) is moving “full steep ahead” with the drafting of its manifesto, scheduled to be launched within the week of Nomination Day, April 7.

Co-campaign coordinator of the APNU+AFC coalition, Mr Raphael Trotman, who was at the time commenting on the coalition’s launch of its manifesto -which many have expressed eagerness to examine – made this disclosure as he assured media operatives that while the coalition is preparing for Nomination Day on April 7, “plans are well on schedule”.

“On both fronts we are going full speed ahead; the process of collapsing the manifesto is well advanced, and we are also, at this point

in time, taking in new materials,” he said.

He added that, unavoidably, new considerations have arisen, which are being examined by the coalition.

This, he explained, will not hinder the process currently engaged in, and as such, the coalition “will be well in place to have the manifesto launched within a week of Nomination Day”.

Commenting on the coalition’s list, which must be submitted on Nomination Day, Trotman hinted that three names are actively being scrutinised to be representative of the list, but the APNU+AFC would have selected the person who heads that list in time for Nomination Day. Questioned on which spheres of society these three candidates were selected from, the campaign coordinator decisively responded “civil society; both business and legal”.

However, former Speaker of the National Assembly and former longstanding

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Stalwart Mr Ralph Ramkarran was ruled out as an option, as, Trotman disclosed, he was not one of the three persons being considered for the post of list representative.

“We’d love Mr. Ramkarran to join the unity train, and I think he would play a far greater role than just being a representative of a list.

Ralph is a friend of Guyana, and I think that at some stage he will say whether or not he is endorsing us.

“We are streamlining our operation, and there is no formal lobbying of him per se,” Trotman told reporters yesterday.

He also disclosed that while no formal request has been made for Ramkarran to “join the unity train”, he (Ramkarran) has been engaged in conversation for the last two years.

Contesting parties are permitted to submit three separate lists on Nomination Day. These Lists of Candidates are in respect of: Geographical Constituencies Lists; National Top-up Lists; and Regional Democratic Council Lists.

In accordance with the electoral system of Proportional Representation, in order to qualify for a seat in the National Assembly, contesting parties must contest a minimum of six (6) of the Geographical Constituencies -- totalling at least 13 seats -- for eligibility to contest and submit Geographical Constituencies lists and National Top-up Lists. This arrangement will provide for a qualified contesting party to submit on Nomination Day two separate Lists of Candidates.

Any contesting political party can contest the election of members of any of the 10 Regional Democratic Councils. For this purpose, a List of Candidates must be submitted on Nomination Day.

By Leroy Smith INVESTIGATORS working on the case of the dismembered body of a woman which was found at the Annandale/ Buxton foreshore have come up empty-handed in their search for clues.

Yesterday, Crime Chief Leslie James confirmed to this publication that no one has been held for questioning and no one has come forward to identify the woman’s remains.

While suspicion is rife that the woman’s killing might be drug-related or connected to some form of sacrifice, the police have no evidence to definitively pronounce on that, even though an object suspected to be used in religious rituals was found at the scene of the crime.

The police have searched their missing persons da-

tabase and still have been unable to come up with any clues as to who the woman might be; and despite the wide publicity that the discovery of the body has received, no one has come forward.

On Wednesday, the police were called to the scene at the seashore to investigate the presence of the torso of a female which was partly nude; that call was received by the police less than 24 hours after receiving a call to investigate the presence of yet another nude body of a female, this time on the lower East Coast Demerara and also along the same stretch of foreshore.

The discoveries have sent shockwaves throughout the country, with the remains of the two females-one a teenager-being found just hours apart.

Initially, the police were of the view that the torso

of the woman may have washed up at the location, but those suspicions were quickly discarded after the police were recalled to the scene of the crime when persons stumbled on the feet and head of the woman not too far from where the body was discovered.

The feet and head were found as the water receded and according to information received, the eyes were neatly carved out making it somewhat even more difficult for the remains of the woman to be positively identified.

Police sources on Thursday were also working with the theory that the woman’s body was dismembered on the platform of the seawalls and just thrown among the rocks. The body did not have any signs of advanced decay, which suggested that it had not been exposed to the elements for a lengthy period.

BODY AT TURKEYEN SEASHORE…

Post-mortem reveals strangulation among causes of death

By Leroy Smith

THE Guyana Police Force which had suicide as one of its apparent causes of death for 15-year-old Alicia Ali of Cummings Lodge, has now discarded that theory and are treating the death as a homicide.

A post-mortem which was performed on the body of the teenager who attended the Campbellville Secondary School, found that several factors contributed to the young lady’s death.

According to information which this publication received, Alicia Ali died as a result of drowning, manual strangulation and blunt trauma to the head.

The police who are still conducting investigations to ascertain if the girl was raped, have since taken samples and those are being tested to see if there are traces of sexual assault or rape.

Speaking with this publication, it was noted that while

the strangulation of the teen is very straightforward as found by the post-mortem, the blunt trauma and the drowning are what is being carefully looked at by investigators.

One of the theories put forward by one investigator is that the woman might have been strangled then “blacked out” before being left at the location where she was drowned by the rising tide from the Atlantic Ocean.

Additionally, the waves most likely had slammed her body against the boulders which form part of the sea defence.

The other is that the person or persons might have held the young lady’s head under the water until she was dead, before leaving her at the location where again, her body might have been slammed against the boulders.

Meanwhile, the police who found an apparent suicide note inside the girl’s room are now looking to question very close family members on any clues that

they might have in relation to the young lady’s death.

On Thursday, a teenaged family member told one media house that for some strange reason the details surrounding Alicia’s death do not add up and he stated that the mother of the child was saying one thing and other persons in the family were saying something else.

On Wednesday, the teenager’s body was found among the rocks at the Turkeyen seashore. The police have since questioned several persons who are closely related to the young woman.

The Guyana Chronicle yesterday reported that the ex-lover of the child’s mother had threatened her in the past and although those threats were never reported to the police, the teenager had confided in a close relative about the threats.

Alicia’s body was found on the death anniversary of her father, who died some five years ago.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

GuySuCo continues Investigators to engage private still cannot cane farmers

11

DISMEMBERED BODY AT ANNANDALE/BUXTON FORESHORE…

– 200 hectares at Blairmont to be outsourced

By Vanessa Narine THE Blairmont sugar factor is outsourcing to private cane farmers some 200 hectares of land in 2015, and Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy has noted that the intention is to continue increasing private cane farmers’ contribution to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

“Last year we did 1,000 acres at Uitvlugt. The idea is that, by 2020, some 30 per cent of the sugar cane supply to GuySuCo factories will be done by the private sector,” he said.

Dr Ramsammy says this undertaking is part of GuySuCo’s turnaround plan.

“All the estates are identifying land - some of which is being used now, some unused - to encourage private cane farmers. We expect that this (engagement of private cane farmers) will happen in all the estates,” he said.

In the case of the Blairmont Estate, the 200 hectares being outsourced have never previously been used for sugar cane cultivation.

The land is located in the Ellis Block, situated on the western side of the Blairmont cane cultivation plot.

GuySuCo’s eight operable sugar estates are located at: Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara; Wales, West Bank Demerara; Enmore and La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara; Rose Hall, Albion and Skeldon on the Corentyne Coast in East Berbice; and Blairmont, West Bank Berbice.

“All of the estates are supplied by private cane farmers to some extent.

Currently, overall, about eight to 10 per cent of the cane supply is done by private cane farmers,” Dr Ramsammy said.

The Agriculture Minister added that while progress in engaging private cane farmers has been encouraging, there is more work to be done. “While we have succeeded in getting private farmers involved, we are far from where we want to be. What we are trying to do is increase the acreage cultivated by private cane farmers,” he said.

MECHANIZED HARVESTING Dr Ramsammy explained that, as part of the partnership between the farmers and GuySuCo, the Corporation does the harvesting.

“We do harvesting, they pay for that because we use the machines from GuySuCo,” he said.

As a result, Minister Ramsammy noted, the lands that are being identified for private cane farmers are lands that are ready to be converted to allow mechanized harvesting.

“We have been converting around 2,500 hectares a year. This year we expect to convert another 2000. The goal is that, by 2020, a total of 60 per cent of the land cultivated for sugar will be ready for mechanized harvesting,” he said.

Dr Ramsammy acknowledged that “manageable” amounts of land are outsourced to private cane farmers to ensure that there are no unnecessary challenges. “We have to be careful not to given large amounts of land at one time. We have to give them what they can manage,” he said.

In the meantime, the deadline for submission of expressions of interest for access to the 200 hectares of land at Blairmont passed on April 6. There was also a site visit by interested persons on Thursday. The endeavour is being managed

by GuySuCo’s Agriculture Operations Department.

The cycle of the current sugar crop comes to an end in early May. FIRST CROP Harvesting of the first crop is ongoing at all eight estates, with a production of approximately 40,000 tonnes of sugar.

In 2014, GuySuCo recorded a production of 216,147 tonnes -– the first crop having surpassed the 75,000-tonne target, bringing in about 80,000 tonnes.

The calamitous drop in sugar prices on the global and preferred market scene, which challenges all sugar industries; coupled with the dramatic fall in earnings

identify woman

By Leroy Smith

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

and, by extension, cash flow; and the prevailing weather conditions were among several of the difficulties that affected the local sugar industry during 2014.

The industry has seen dismal sugar production levels in past years, but Guyana has since been taking steps to turn around its sugar industry, and hopes to soon meet a 300,000-tonne target.

There is also a projection that the sector would reach a 400,000-tonne goal by 2020.

GuySuCo is targeting a 2015 production of some 240,000 tonnes.

POLICE investigators working on the case of the dismembered female body found at the Annandale/ Buxton foreshore have come up empty handed in their search for clues.

Crime Chief Leslie James yesterday confirmed to this publication that no one has been held for questioning, and no one has come forward to identify the remains of the woman.

While suspicions are rife that the killing of the woman might have been drug-related or connected to some form of sacrifice, the police have no evidence on which to definitively pronounce, even though an object suspected to be used in religious rituals has been found at the crime scene.

The police have searched their missing persons’ database and still have not been able to come up with any clues regarding the

woman’s identity, and this is despite the wide publicity the gruesome discovery has received; no one has come forward with any information.

Police were, on Wednesday, called to the Annandale/Buxton seashore to investigate the presence of a partly nude torso of a female that was discovered there. The lawmen received that call less than 24 hours after receiving a call to investigate the presence of yet another nude body of a female, found this time on the lower East Coast Demerara, but also along Guyana’s Atlantic coastline.

These discoveries have sent shock waves throughout the country, especially considering that the remains of the two females, one a teenager, had been found just hours apart.

The police were initially of the view that the Buxton/ Annandale torso may have been washed up at the lo-

cation, but those suspicions were quickly discarded after the police had been recalled to the scene because persons had stumbled on the feet and head of the woman in close proximity to where the torso had been discovered.

The feet and head were found as the water receded, and according to information received, the eyes were neatly carved out of their sockets, making it relatively more difficult to positively identify the corpse.

Police sources were on Thursday also working with the theory that the woman’s body had been dismembered on the platform of the seawalls before being thrown among the rocks.

The body did not have any signs of advance decay, which suggested that it had not been exposed to the elements for a long period.

Investigations into these murders are being conducted by the police.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

BODY OF GIRL AT TURKEYEN SEASHORE...

Mother’s ex-lover had threatened teen – apparent suicide note found

By Leroy Smith POLICE officials investigating discovery of the nude body of 14-year-old Alicia Ali -- the Campbellville Secondary School student of Cummings Lodge, ECD -- on the Turkeyen foreshore

on Wednesday morning are likely to question her mother's ex-lover.

New information reaching this newspaper indicated that the man, with whom her mother had shared a relationship before separating from him, had begun threatening the teenager after his

relationship with her mother had gone on the rocks.

A relative in whom the late Alicia Ali confided told this publication that, during one of their many conversations, the teen had indicated that the man had threatened to harm her. The relative would, however, not say

what threats her cousin had received from her mother’s former reputed husband.

Police investigators who visited the home of the late Alicea Ali came across an apparent suicide note which was found in her bedroom.

In that note, the teen reportedly indicated, among other things, that by the time the note is found, she may already be dead.

Police investigators also spoke with the late Alicia’s teacher and classmates yesterday. The teen’s mother had reportedly not communicated to the police that her ex–lover had allegedly threatened the teen’s life; it is unclear whether this mother had been aware that her daughter had been so threatened.

Confirmed information suggests that the young lady and her mother had been experiencing misunderstandings in their relationship, and had not been on speaking terms at time of the teen’s death.

When reporters ap-

proached the mother for a comment on the passing of her daughter, she was very hesitant to entertain any questions or share any information about her daughter and/or the discovery of her dead body on the foreshore. It was, however, pointed out that the teenager -- youngest of her siblings – had been sent to purchase bread, but never returned home. Police sources have indicated that, Alicia’s absence notwithstanding, no report had been made to the police indicating that Alicia could not be found.

Up to the time of discovery of her body on Wednesday, neither her mother nor any other relative had reported her missing. It was not until Tuesday afternoon that family members had begun calling other persons in a bid to locate Alicia, and that was shortly before they received information of the body that had earlier been discovered at the foreshore.

Alicia Ali is survived by four sisters and one brother, all of whom are older than she had been. The family once lived on the West Coast of Demerara, but moved to the East Coast of Demerara just over a year ago. Alicia’s father passed away some five years ago.

Last Wednesday, police officials were called to investigate the presence of the nude body of a female which was lying among the rocks on the seashore at Turkeyen with suspected marks of violence.

Meanwhile, as the police continue their investigations into that matter, they were forced to reopen another investigation, this time further on the East Coast Demerara, where the nude torso of a woman was discovered. The remains appeared to be relatively fresh, and her limbs appeared to have been cleverly and neatly severed with what might have been a saw.

Brazilian remanded on cocaine charge

Defendant Leymar Leite De Lima

BRAZILIAN national, Leymar Leite De Lima, was Thursday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on a narcotics charge.

Through an interpreter, the defendant who resides at Lot 407 Tabitinga, Lethem, Rupununi, denied the allegation when it was read to him at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Particulars of the charge stated that on Wednesday, March 25, at Lethem Multi-Complex, he had in his possession two-and-ahalf grammes of cocaine.

The Brazilian was represented by Attorney-At-Law Mr. Jerome Khan. He told the court that his client works with his relatives in

Lethem as well as in Boa Vista, Brazil. Khan requested bail for De Lima on the grounds that he does not have any prior matters.

According to the defence counsel, his client was heading to Brazil when he was stopped and the illicit drug was found. He brought to the court’s attention that De Lima did not know what to say, since he cannot communicate freely.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru said that police ranks were on patrol when they stopped the defendant who was riding a motorcycle. Subsequently, a search was carried out and the prohibited substance was found in his right side back pocket. He was told of the offence and arrested and charged.

Mangru successfully opposed bail on the grounds that the court must have a special reason in relation to the matter for bail to be granted.

The Chief Magistrate questioned whether De Lima had a work permit or ties to Guyana and his attorney-at-law responded that he has ties to this country.

Nevertheless, the prosecution’s objection was upheld and the matter was transferred to Lethem Court for June 1.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

GECOM assures of merits of information clerks

– Rohee sees more benefits in vamped-up voter education

By Vanessa Narine AN aggressive voters’ education programme will not only improve knowledge of the electoral process among Guyanese voters, but will also negate the need for information clerks engaged by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

This is the contention of General Secretary of the incumbent People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee, who reiterated the Party’s sentiments on the use of information clerks at a press conference held on Monday at Freedom House.

“Should this (voter education) be done thoroughly then there will be no need for information clerks at polling places, reducing the confusion and frustration of the 2011 election,” he said.

Rohee explained that additional work, relative to GECOM’s education programme, is needed in rural, hinterland and riverain communities across the country.

“The PPP views this as yet another step to having free and fair elections come May 11, 2015. Voters’ knowledge of the electoral process will minimize spoilt and re-

and their use is seen as a best practice in electoral processes undertaken in several countries.

He stated that while there may have been challenges at the last General and Regional elections, the merits

“Those persons to be selected as information clerks will demonstrate their intrinsic value to the overall electoral management process, especially when they will be – in many instances – the first persons with whom electors

viduals are expected to be working on Elections Day specifically to give information to electors and to direct them to their appropriate polling station. The information clerks are also expected to maintain the orderly flow of registered electors within the central polling place to which he or

‘Those persons to be selected as Information Clerks will demonstrate their intrinsic value to the overall electoral management process, especially when they will be – in many instances – the first persons with whom electors will come into contact on Polling Day’ – GECOM

Clement Rohee

Dr Steve Surujbally

jected ballots and will reduce waiting time for all voters at the place of poll,” he said.

The PPP General Secretary lamented the “frustration” caused during the 2011 polls due to the use of information clerks.

concerned over the use of information clerks at polling places with more than one polling station. This is due to the bitter experiences of the 2011 elections and the confusion and frustration created by these information clerks, whether deliberate or not the Party is against the use of information clerks in the 2015 elections,” Rohee said.

MISDIRECTED VOTERS He pointed to the contention that information clerks had misdirected voters to polling stations that they were not slated to vote at, which in turn frustrated voters and caused them not to vote in 2011.

“The Party is seriously

IMPORTANT ROLE Meanwhile, the Chairman of GECOM, Dr Steve Surujbally told the Guyana Chronicle that information clerks play an important role

of having information clerks outweigh these.

GECOM’s public relations office has since made it clear that information clerks are among the most important of the polling staff employees.

The Commission assured that these individuals will be selected from among the “most competent” of the Commission’s permanent staff.

GECOM’s staffers, the Guyana Chronicle was informed, are continuously being trained in the essential electoral principles and processes for the efficient and transparent conduct of elections on May 11.

will come into contact on Polling Day,” GECOM said.

The Commission has also disclosed that the staffers who will be assigned to work at the various polling stations have been fully trained to ensure that the conduct of Election Day proceeds in free fair, transparent, effective and efficient manner.

“Electors can be assured that all the highly trained clerks will be performing their duties in accordance with the established criteria and tenets set out by GECOM so as to guarantee a successful Election Day,” GECOM assured.

As the title Information Clerks suggests, these indi-

she is attached.

Where there are two or more polling stations located in one compound, an information clerk will be stationed there to check for the elector’s name on the list; direct the elector to the polling station in the compound where he or she has to vote; and advise the elector to check with the hotline at the Guyana Elections Commission Secretariat/Returning Officer’s Office/Deputy Returning Officer’s office if his or her name is not found on any of the lists.

Information clerks are expected to be placed at polling places where there are several polling stations.

Foreign doctors donate toys, medical supplies to GPHC’s Paediatric Ward

By Navendra Seoraj

DR. Lorna Fitzpatrick and her team from Buffalo State University, USA, Wednesday donated toys and medical supplies to the Paediatric Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Dr. Fitzpatrick, who is currently heading the Paediatric Oncology Programme at the GPHC, has been instrumental in coordinating efforts to send bone marrow samples to Buffalo for further analysis.

Her team has formed a close relationship with the Paediatric Department at the hospital and over the years has impacted the lives of many children on the ward.

This donation is just another way in which they have chosen to contribute their

services to the hospital. The collaboration of Buffalo State University with the GPHC was promoted through Dr. Fitzpatrick’s direct contact with the Guyana Help the Kids Organisation - a registered charity in Toronto and Guyana that currently funds the paediatric and NICU training programme.

On behalf of Dr. Fitzpatrick and her team who are currently not in the country, Resident Paediatrician, Sherelyn Stanton handed over the items to the Sister-in-Charge of the Paediatric Department, Denise Marks in the presence of other nurses.

Sister Marks expressed her gratitude for the donation and said such offerings are always welcome since they bring joy to the children who are patients at the hospital.

Paediatric Resident, Sherelyn Stanton hands over items donated by Buffalo State University to the Sister-in-Charge of the Paediatric Department, Denise Marks in the presence of other nurses

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

Local degree programme proposed to tackle communication disorders – to serve people with disabilities

By Tajeram Mohabir THE Pan American Health Organisation/World Health O r g a n i s a t i o n ( PA H O / WHO) in collaboration with the American-Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) is working with the Ministry of Health to introduce a speech-language therapy and audiology degree programme.

The four-year programme, if approved by the University of Guyana (UG) Academic Board, is expected to be covered in eight semesters, 160 semester units of coursework and practical.

Upon graduation, students will be eligible to accept positions in hospitals, schools, and clinics to provide a full range of speech, language, and hearing services independently as members of educational, medical and rehabilitation teams.

Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences of San Jose State University, California, USA and Executive Member of ASHA, Gloria Weddington told the Guyana Chronicle that the programme will address a range of issues.

RANGE OF ISSUES These include autism, intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injury, cleft lip and palate, strokes, Down Syndrome and other forms of syndromes, birth defects and cancer of the head and neck.

Professor Weddington said a draft curriculum has already been prepared and has been submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, UG, for review and approval of the university’s Academic Board.

She said the proposed programme is a combination of courses from the original Medical Rehabilitation Assistant Programme, modified courses from the original curriculum, and additional

Executive Member of ASHA Gloria Waddington

courses in speech-language therapy and audiology.

This generic programme, Professor Waddington said, can be modified by faculty and staff at the University of Guyana to meet the needs of the people with disabilities in Guyana.

The programme, which will be supervised by ASHA, will be funded by the Government and will target an initial batch of 15 to 20 students.

According to the Ministry of Health 2014-2020 National Rehabilitation Services Strategy, the prevalence rate of persons with disabilities in Guyana is estimated to be 6.4 per cent of the population.

This translates to approximately 50,000 persons.

WOEFULLY DEFICIENT Since speech, language, and hearing disorders are the most common concomitant problems among persons with disabilities, the need for speech-language-hearing professionals is critical, but Guyana is woefully deficient.

The country currently has one speech therapist and audiologist, both attached to the Ministry of Health, providing services to thousands, far more than what they can

handle.

Experts from PAHO/ WHO say that the number of speech and hearing professionals needed to deliver a full range of services, including audiological services to 50,000 individuals, is approximately 1,000.

Professor Weddington said since it will take many years to recruit, educate, and graduate such a large number of professionals, there will continue to be a need for specialists and audiology technicians, to work under the supervision of speech-language therapists/audiologists.

She said there is a critical need for competent, well-educated speech-language therapists and audiologists in Guyana.

The needs of residents cannot be met sufficiently with one speech therapist and one audiologist, and according to reports, many of the 50,000 persons with disabilities receive insufficient services or no services at all.

Though there are creative programmes to train audiology technicians in the Ministry of Health and the Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Science (BRS) in occupational, physical and speech-language therapy at the University of Guyana, limited services have been provided to residents of the 10 regions of the country.

A local health professional says neither the technicians nor BRSs have the education or experience to provide services independently and therefore require supervision by the speech therapists and audiologist.

It was also noted that the level of necessary supervision and support is limited by the natural topography of the country.

SOLUTION Professor Waddington said that in order to solve the problem of providing

equal access to speech-language-hearing services in all 10 regions in Guyana, students must be recruited from each of the districts who plan to remain and work in their home districts after graduation.

ONLINE CURRICULUM With most of the curriculum to be offered online, students from diverse linguistic, cultural, and geographic backgrounds will have access to it without having to travel to the university.

However, they are likely to complete practica in Georgetown where supervision will be available, she said.

The ASHA Executive said the instructors and clinical supervisors for the proposed programme will be volunteers recruited by the ASHA Ad Hoc Committee from among the 170,000+ ASHA certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists.

Most of the classes will be offered using distance education techniques, including Internet, videoconference, and videotaped lectures. The programme would be administered by

UG and all decisions regarding it will be made by the university, the distinguished Professor said.

BUILDING CAPACITY The overall objective of the ASHA-PAHO/WHO driven project is to build capacity of professionals, institutions, and/or organisations that address communication disorders.

The project is creating joint activities and providing technical support by ASHA professionals to assist in training and supporting educational programmes in countries selected jointly by ASHA and PAHO/WHO. This collaboration (project) targets three of the five poorest countries in the region, namely Honduras, El Salvador and Guyana.

These countries have expressed interest in improving their capacity to provide speech-language pathology and audiology services.

In Guyana, ASHA is providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Health through the strengthening of its national strategic plan for early detection and intervention of communication disorders.

Concrete needs iden-

tified in Guyana include technical assistance to the Ministry of Health to include in the National Health Plan and the development of a National Rehabilitation Strategy (Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology); review and update the curriculum of the Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Rehabilitation (options in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or speech and language therapy); and technical assistance for the development of training programmes.

ASHA is a professional association for speech–language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists in the United States and further afield.

The programmes in Guyana, Honduras and El Salvador exemplify ASHA’s objective to strengthen relationships and expand the influence worldwide in support of persons with disabilities.

In concert with PAHO/ WHO, ASHA recognises the need to participate in global initiatives that focus on helping and addressing barriers of people who have communication disorders.

West Berbice man remanded over cocaine trafficking at Mahdia

By Geeta Rampersaud A West Berbice labourer who was allegedly busted with cocaine in Mahdia was Thursday refused bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Thirty-six-year-old Lloyd Monroe of Lot 3

Ross Village, West Coast Berbice, pleaded not guilty to the charge that said on Wednesday, March 26 at 111 Miles, Mahdia, he had in his possession 4 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

According to defence counsel Mr. Jerome Khan, his client went to the po-

lice station on March 25 to lodge a complaint about his missing cash. At the station an officer informed him that they would have to search his premises.

The police then went to his residential area, which is an open one without a fence. As a result of the search the cocaine was al-

legedly found but Monroe strongly denied any knowledge of the drug.

However, according to the prosecution on the day in question police went to the house where Monroe resides and carried out a search. The ranks took the substance from a small counter of the house where

he is the sole occupant.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru opposed bail on the grounds that no special reason was advanced by the defence.

The prosecution’s objection was upheld and the matter was transferred to Mahdia Magistrate’s Court for April 28.

Defendant Lloyd Monroe

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

UNDP endorses GECOM’s capability to deliver on upcoming polls

THE Guyana Elections Commission is capable of delivering the upcoming May 11 General and Regional elections, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The endorsement formed part of a report, seen exclusively by the Guyana Chronicle, following the end of the UNDP’s five-day needs assessment mission.

“GECOM is a well-respected institution, with few criticising its operational capacity of ability to deliver elections. Relatively recent initiatives to update the voter list and maintain a permanent biometric voter roll all seem to have had a positive impact on the credibility of GECOM,” the report said.

It added that the “peaceful and dispute free” conduct of the last two elections in Guyana, the 2011 and 2006 polls, point to a maturing democratic culture.

The UNDP report said, “The peaceful and dispute free conduct of the last two elections in Guyana has been characterised as a sign that Guyana’s democratic culture is maturing, following the troubled times of the 1990s.”

The needs assessment report concluded that UNDP assistance should be the principal vehicle for the provision of United Nations electoral assistance to Guyana.

“UNDP assistance is broadly seen in a positive light,” the report said.

The report’s completion comes after a small delegation of electoral experts from UNDP discussed a number of pertinent issues pertaining to the effective and efficient management of the May 11 elections in early February.

During the meeting, the team discussed the upcoming elections and the challenges the Commission may face in the successful delivery of the polls in May. Some of the

Guyana accredits new FAO rep

The FAO Country Representative, Reuben Hamilton Robertson, presents his Letters of Credence to Dr. Ramsammy

THE Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Country Representative to Guyana, Mr. Reuben Hamilton Robertson, Wednesday presented his letters of Credence to Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.

The newly appointed FAO representative during brief discussions with Dr. Ramsammy spoke of ways in which the FAO could work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture to further push agriculture in the Region.

Among the areas of interest discussed were agro-processing, value-added production and Disaster Risk Management(DRM).

“The success of any DRM programme depends

on coordination and continuous monitoring and this is one of the areas in which [the] FAO is excited to be working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture,” he said.

Enhanced focus was placed on the ministry’s 2013/2020 strategy which targeted the F5 approach in agriculture - Food, Fibre, Fuel, Fashion and Furniture.

According to Robertson, such efforts will see Guyana reducing its imports in a major way.

Robertson’s work as the new Country Representative will be to not only enhance relations, but to strengthen coordination to further push agriculture in the Region.

points discussed included: results management, electoral disputes, party financing, gender, voter information, and campaign access to media, as well as the role of international and national observer groups.

GECOM also reportedly took the opportunity to highlight the Commission’s cur-

‘GECOM is a well-respected institution, with few criticising its operational capacity of ability to deliver elections. Relatively recent initiatives to update the voter list and maintain a permanent biometric voter roll all seem to have had a positive impact on the credibility of GECOM’. – UNDP rent state of preparation for the conduct of elections, and further highlighted several areas, including the provision of consultancies, advisors,

and experts – particularly in the area of Civic and Voter Education – in which there can be greater collaboration between the Commission and

the UNDP. The UNDP was in Guyana from February 9th to 13th. (Vanessa Narine)

16

Procurement of vaccines among new green-lighted contracts

A contract for $16.1M to procured vaccines for the Ministry of Health’s Maternal Child Health programme was given Cabinet’s no-objection when it met on Tuesday.

The disclosure was made

by Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, at a news conference held yesterday at the Office of the President.

He added that two other contracts received Cabinet’s

For Saturday March 28, 2015: 11:30hrs For Sunday March 29, 2015: 13:00hrs For Monday March 30, 2015: 14:00hrs

attention at its weekly meeting.

These include a contract for $32.6M for the emergency docking of ‘Steven N’ – a local ferry. The undertaking falls within the remit of the Ministry of Public Work’s Maritime Department.

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Local Government, Cabinet gave the green light for a $19.5M contract, which will facilitate the procurement of dietary supplies for students at the Waramadong dormitory in Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni).

No contracts are awarded

by Cabinet; rather contracts above the $15M mark are taken to Cabinet for its no-objection.

The Dissolution Proclamation has activated the provisions of Article 219 (1) and combined with the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, it provides that in any financial year the Government is empowered to spend one-twelfth of the Budget of the preceding year in continuing to provide the normal services of the Government of Guyana, until an Appropriation Act is passed.

After Elections, Article 219, paragraph 3 of the Constitution, will be activated to regulate expenditure, until a first budget is passed for the 11th Parliament of Guyana.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

Aries Your mind is strong and focused today. As a result, you’re probably feeling especially physically robust. Sudden insights could earn you some satisfying acknowledgement, not to mention the respect of someone important to you.

Your intuition level is high and apt to serve you well now, particularly where work and health are concerned. Make the most of it!

Taurus Expect to spend much of your day alone. Information obtained from books or videos, perhaps involving history, philosophy, or religion, might inspire you to look deeper into a subject and turn it to your own advantage. You might decide to take a trip or return to college. There’s also the chance that you could be inspired to write or otherwise express your ideas and feelings. Go to it!

Gemini Some strange dreams could stimulate your imagination and start you on new avenues of exploration. You might at some point play detective. What you seek is likely to be within your psyche. Don’t be surprised if you learn new things about yourself that you hadn’t been aware of before. You could also find your psychic faculties increasing.

Cancer Reading could take up a lot of your time today. Books on psychology or the occult sciences might seem interesting, particularly as your intuition is operating on a higher level than usual. You might not want to talk about what’s coming up for you, but that’s OK. You will need to make sense of it first before you can share it with clarity.

Leo Your mind is likely to be on your finances today, and you may be searching for previously unknown ways to advance yourself. Colleagues or friends could help steer you in the right direction. When it comes to jotting down possibilities, trust your intuition, as it’s operating at a very high level. List your possibilities and then let it stew for a few days before going over them again.

Virgo Increased communication with a close friend or lover, more on a subtle than verbal level, could bring you closer and enrich your relationship. Quiet time spend together today could generate a new sense of closeness. Images and ideas that come from deep within you can contribute to your creative self-expression.

Write down any insights so you can refer to them later. Work from the heart.

Libra Today you might crave solitude, perhaps for meditation or to contemplate your current situation. You may feel you’re at a crossroads and need to decide which way to go. This could involve the next step in your material progress or self-expression, or it might involve your spiritual path. Emotions from the past could well up, but this is a positive development. Don’t fight it.

Scorpio You might spend a lot of time in conversation with friends who share your interests. Their insights could lead to new insights on your part, and vice versa.

This process could bring all of you closer together. Good news could come through the mail, email, or phone regarding goals you’ve been trying to reach.

You’re also likely to send out a lot of communications yourself.

Sagittarius Paperwork involving finances, perhaps personal, perhaps involving your employer’s funds, or both, is likely to need some intense attention during the day.

This doesn’t necessarily imply anything negative. In fact, just the opposite. It does mean that some careful planning or budgeting is going to be required in order to make the most of your current situation.

Capricorn Today you may want to spend your free time alone, contemplating various ideas. Spiritual or metaphysical philosophies from ancient cultures or foreign lands might be more appealing than usual. Reading about them at this time could approach obsession, but this is OK. Whatever you learn today is likely to contribute greatly to your personal growth and perhaps self-expression.

Aquarius Today, your mind may turn toward deep subjects. You could explore the sciences, psychology, the occult, or metaphysics. You will probably discover some new facts or ideas that could keep your mind occupied for hours. Needless to say, you will spend much of your time alone exploring these themes. You might also want to write down your insights and revelations to study later.

Pisces A sudden upsurge in your intuition could have you feeling more in tune to the thoughts, feelings, and desires of others. Your communication is going to be clear and open as a result. You’re likely to grow closer to everyone dear to you, especially your romantic partner. Don’t expect everything you pick up to be positive. Others have their issues. Let them know you understand.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

Police to hold massive youth expo tomorrow

By Leroy Smith TO mark its one- year anniversary with the renewed approach towards building public trust, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) through its ‘A’ Division commander and members of that division’s management, will this Sunday host a youth exposition which is expected to be attended by hundreds.

The main focus of the exposition will be the showcasing of the art and craft of young people the police have been working with over the past years in several communities within Georgetown and its outskirts. Those exhibits will also be up for sale in an effort to sustain the youth groups with funds generated, as the police will be looking to move on and start commissioning new groups in areas which they have not yet begun working with.

The event will be hosted at the Thirst Park Ground and is expected to be declared open by either Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud or ‘’A Division Commander Clifton Hicken. Courts Guyana and Banks DIH Limited are part sponsors of the event.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle earlier this week, ‘A’ Division Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken said that the police force has enjoyed working with the communities through the formation of youth groups over the last years, and noted that those efforts were largely successful since the police did not impose themselves on the communities, but rather adopted a collaborative approach whereby all programmes and initiatives implemented were those which the communities desired.

There will be 11 youth

groups brought together from 11 different communities with each of them showcasing different aspects of what they have been learning and engaged with over the past years since working along with the police.

The commander said that one of the main focuses behind the exposition is to have the children who are obviously from various backgrounds, communicate and interact with each other in an effort to learn new things and each other’s culture and their environment.

He said that while the Guyana Police Force is reforming itself, it is also working to ensure that it reforms the youth and that is largely one of the main reasons for Commissioner Seelall Persaud’s effective community- related policing and interaction.

Hicken also spoke of targeting High School children which he said the police will be working with to play lead roles in their communities in the form of organising projects and identifying areas of possible cooperation between the police and communities.

According to him, that approach would see the children at a very tender age being able to adopt leadership styles and qualities and developing the ability to make firm and informed decisions on behalf of their communities.

Hicken called on members of the public to come and support the exposition on Sunday and show their support for the work the police are doing in playing the second guardians of children, complementing the work of many parents especially those who have been manning single- parent homes.

Meanwhile, Division

Public Relations Officer ASP Scipio told the Chronicle that the event would

also be having music and among the displays which persons will be able to view

and purchase include craft, floral arrangements, tiedye, photo frames and will

also be putting on a cultural show for persons who will be present.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

At Rose Hall Martyrs commemoration…

‘Best days of sugar are still ahead,’ assures President Ramotar

By Rebecca Ganesh

PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar on Wednesday remembered the 15 Rose Hall Estate indentured sugar workers who were slain on March 13th 1913 and assured those gathered at the commemoration that “the PPP/C Government is determined that the sugar industry must survive.”

Addressing attendees at the 102nd anniversary commemoration ceremony of the Rose Hall Martyrs, at the monument site in East Canje, President Ramotar related that “today reminds us once again of our history and also brings out once again the tremendous role of sugar in nation-building in our country.”

He explained that all persons in today’s society would have had some direct or indirect contact with the sugar industry.

“All have been bred from the sugar industry.”

The Head of State remarked that sugar has had a very checkered history and the time when this incident occurred some 102 years ago and up to recently this industry’s existence was fundamentally to enrich people who were living abroad and to develop other people in the United Kingdom.

“Even after Independence

sugar industry to our country explained that the government has worked tirelessly to develop all the sectors and sugar workers have seen the quality of their lives improve.

He continued to highlight the achievements in the different sectors, noting that within the education sector their children are now able to received free text books, hot meals, snacks, uniforms and the $10,000 cash grant, as well as free health care.

President Ramotar pointed out the benefits of having a Specialty Hospital, the Amaila Falls Hydro Power project and the investments made in technical education in anticipation of developments to come. He notPresident Donald Ramotar chats with some of the residents of Rose Hall. ed that these projects have been stalled due to the opposition’s non-support and the President and the period of the dictator“Sugar still has a very vagaries of world prices. described them as wanting to ship the industry did not ful- important contribution to ‘lord ‘ it over citizens even as fill its promise to its people,” make to the development of SPECIALITY SUGARS he explained.

Guyana. In my view the best The Head of State said he pointed to the flip-flopping The sugar industry has days of sugar are still ahead that India has promised assis- attitude towards the hydropownow gone into a new stage, “a of it,” the President said. tance in producing specialty er project and the Anti-Money time when it can make a big President Ramotar also sugars and extensive discus- Laundering and Countering the contribution to nation-build- explained that it is the time sions were had with Indian Financing of Terrorism (AML/ ing and to the development for the sugar industry to di- officials in this regard. In CFT) Bill.

Previously they vehemently of Guyana because it has versify itself and alternative January, the President during in the Government and the sources of fuel such as etha- a state visit to India toured opposed the AML/CFT Bill.

PPP/C a friend, someone nol produced by the Albion the Valsad sugar factory in Guyana has until September to who understands the nature Estate in Region 6 will see the State of Gujarat and was pass this bill. Now with elecof the struggle many of whom new revenue streams for the briefed on the plant’s oper- tions around the corner, they have a change of heart saying come from the bowels of the industry, and electricity will ations. working class,” President be produced using bagasse to The President while reit- they will support hydropower Ramotar said. insulate the industry from the erating the importance of the and the AML Bill.

A section of the attendees at the ceremony

In closing the Head of State declared: “I say today that this government will work tirelessly to ensure that sugar not only survives but it continues to make great contributions in Guyana’s development.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony told those assembled: “You have heard a lot of speeches and you understand what took place at this community 102 years ago but I want you to know that in 2013 when we started this commemoration ceremony here at Rose Hall, a lot of people in this area did not know of this history. Today I am very proud that so many of you have come out and people are getting to learn this history of their community and by extension the history of our country.”

Dr Anthony enlightened the attendees by explaining that if we speak of the history of sugar “many of us would not have been here today if it wasn’t for sugar, if we go further back it is because of three things that our ancestors were uprooted from various continents and brought here to work on the cotton, coffee and more specifically sugar plantation.”

The monument is a rep-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

It is time for the sugar industry to diversify itself and alternative sources of fuel such as ethanol produced by the Albion estate in Region 6 will see new revenue streams for the industry, and electricity will be produced using bagasse to insulate the industry from the vagaries of world prices. - President Ramotar resentation of the 15 persons who would have lost their lives for the sake of all and we must remember what they stood for, the sacrifices that they made so that we can have a better life today, the Culture Minister related.

“We have a proud history and our ancestors have made us proud and we must honour that memory and one way of honouring that memory is that we must instill that history in our generation and in the next,” he said. The Minister noted too that because of what the workers stood for and what they did for us we are here today.

He explained that one prominent institution that did not turn their backs on the industry was “the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and when the party was formed it was formed because of the injustices that was happening in the country, it was formed because of workers’ rights and it was formed because we wanted to change that system and since its formation you would have seen the differences that made our country better.”

And Prime Minister Samuel Hinds also echoed the words of his cabinet colleagues and explained that because of these sugar workers, our history is

richer. He noted too that many of our ancestors would have been brought from various parts of the world to work on the different plantations and because of their struggles, today’s generation can enjoy their gains.

David Armogan, Region 6 Chairman, in his remarks explained that sugar plantations worldwide have struggled for betterment and today we honour our martyrs. He noted that this event that happened here at Rose Hall is a great part of our history and we must be aware of our history so that persons do not try to infiltrate our minds “with nonsense”.

“Our ancestors paid the price and paved the way for us today. Do not make the same mistake,” he urged.

RECOLLECTION During a recollection of activities that took place at the time of the rebellion, researchers confirmed that in an effort to secure a better life on the sugar plantation, labourers on the Rose Hall Estate protested the retraction of a fourday holiday awarded to them for a good grinding season.

The refusal of an order given

from the plantation manager, Mr Smith, to plant cane on those days by the labourers led to a formal complaint to the Immigration Officer.

In exchange for the charges levied against the labourers to be dropped, Mr. Smith demanded that they pay the legal cost. The labourers offered to pay in installments but management refused and the case went to the Magistrate’s Court on February 7, 1913.

Hundreds of immigrant labourers filled the Reliance Magistrate’s Court where the men were found guilty of instigating resistance to work. The workers protested the verdict and management threatened to transfer the protesting families to distant plantations. The threat caused the workers to raise the level of their protest.

Warrants were issued for the leaders and on March 13, 1913 the police attempted to execute the warrants. The workers resisted and the police opened fire injuring 56 persons, among whom 15 sugar workers died.

An elderly woman reciting a dramatic poem on stage, capturing the undivided attention of President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Sam Hinds, Region 6 Chairman David Armogan, Minister of Culture, Dr. Frank Anthony, BHRA Head Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo and Mr. Deobajan.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

ABC diplomats pleased with GECOM elections preparation

“WE are encouragingly satisfied with the preparations being made by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for the free, fair, efficient and transparent conduct of Elections on May 11, 2015,” was the collective sentiment expressed by the resident diplomats from

United States of America, Great Britain, and Canada, when they met with GECOM’s Chairman and Chief Election Officer (CEO) last Friday.

The meeting provided GECOM with the opportunity to thoroughly update the diplomats about the heightened

state of preparedness throughout the GECOM Secretariat, as the May 11 General and Regional Elections draw near.

GECOM clearly indicated that the preparatory electoral processes have met all statutory requirements and timelines, and in some instances have been ahead of schedule GECOM officials meet with members of the diplomatic corps

– as is the case with the early posting of the Revised List of Electors.

ELECTION DAY STAFF In response to queries regarding adequate numbers of trained Election Day staff to be utilised by GECOM, Mr. Keith Lowenfield GECOM’s CEO, emphasised that in an effort to avoid last- minute recruitment, training and selection of Election Day workers, GECOM had initiated a rigorous training, re-training, further training and refresher training exercises since September 2014 and now has a reserve pool of trained Election Day staff in excess of the required numbers, in every Electoral District. He also pointed out that polling day staff will be contracted from the beginning of April 2015, and will again undergo a number of refresher training courses, on a continuous basis (3 three days per week,three hours each day), in the runup to Election Day. During these refresher training exercises, there will be the inclusion of mock polls.

VETTING OF ELECTION DAY STAFF GECOM’s Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally mentioned that the selection of polling day staff including Returning Officers and Deputy Returning Officers was conducted in a fair and transparent manner, and following the criteria associated with due process and international best practices. The Secretariat, he said, submitted lists of potential Returning Officers and Deputy Returning Officers to the Commission for its consideration and comments. Senior appointments were subsequently made with agreement of the GECOM Commissioners.

Dr. Surujbally further indicated that the eventual contracting of polling day staff will be a merit-based exercise that will take into consideration the applicants’ profiles, maturity, experience, relevant skills and scores on evaluations conducted during their two-day training.

OTHER ISSUES DISCUSSED The ABC diplomats were also briefed on the new methodology to be adopted by GECOM as it relates to the investigation for applications for Proxy Voting. Previously, Returning Officers investigated the applications for proxy voting independently.

However, as an improved measure of transparency, political party agents will now be actively involved in the process, not lastly accompanying Returning Officers during their home visits, to investigate applications for Proxy Voting.

GECOM indicated to the diplomats that it is currently exploring the use of social media, as part of its integrated communication strategy to inform stakeholders about the location of polling stations and other pertinent issues.

The GECOM Chairman revealed that the Commission has enrolled the assistance of political parties in the distribution of National ID Cards.

He indicated that political parties were given a list of names of persons who are yet to uplift their National ID cards. He also indicated that political parties can encourage their supporters to collect their ID cards. The uncollected ID cards would be centralised at the GECOM Secretariat three days before the elections.

In response to a question about the timely release of election results, the GECOM Chairman categorically stated that the Commission would not compromise accuracy for expediency/speediness in delivery of election results, but would be aiming towards a timely and accurate announcement of the election results. GECOM further indicated that it will be divulging partial results as the tabulation process is under way.

The diplomats who met with GECOM were the Chargé d’Affaires of the American Embassy, Mr. Bryan Hunt; British High Commissioner, Mr. Greg Quinn; and the Canadian High Commissioner, Dr. Nicole Giles.

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Australia-New Zealand decider poised to break attendance record WORLD Cup chief executive John Harnden is cautiously optimistic the MCG will break cricket’s attendance record of 91 112 in tomorrow’s final between Australia and New Zealand.

Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive Stephen Gough is more bullish.

“I expect the interest in the tournament has been so good that we should break the record,” Gough said.

The record crowd for a one-day international match was set in 1992 at the World Cup final at the MCG when 87 182 attended.

The 91 112 record for a single-day attendance dates back to day one of the Boxing Day Ashes Test in 2013 at the MCG. “Tickets have all sold out,” Harnden said.

“The capacity of the

MCG is a bit over 90 000.

The reason for the reduction in capacity in cricket mode is around the seats that aren’t available for the sightscreens. There are a few sponsor activations and we also reduce the amount of standing room that you might see at a football game which is of a much shorter duration.

“Certainly the potential’s there (for a crowd of 92 000) and we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out.”

Harnden said tickets for the final went on sale in November 2013. He added he doesn’t expect India fans who have pre-purchased tickets for the final to attempt to sell them following their side’s loss to Australia in Thursday’s semi-final at the SCG. “There have literally been a few hundred tickets

being transacted over the re-sale site because the vast majority of people want to be there to see the World Cup final,” Harnden said.

“I’ve got no doubt it’s going to be a packed house and hopefully we’ll see a few records broken.”

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the 2015 event, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, had been 10 years in the making.

“We dared to dream or even contemplate the fact the two host countries might play in the World Cup final together,” Sutherland said.

“We know our players will be up for the occasion.”

Harnden urged fans to arrive early and to use public transport tomorrow.

The gates will open at 12.30hrs, two hours before play. (Herald Sun)

International ...

From Backpage & Nevis and the Dutch Island of St Eustatius.

Each team will play no less than four games, after which their points will be added to determine the top four to contest the semi-finals. Three points for each win, second-place two points and one point for a thirdplace finish.

The organisers said that the tournament will be divided into three zones.

Each team is required to pay an entrance fee of $44 000 (US$220).

Second-place team will pocket US$2500, third place US$1500 and fourth US$1000 along with a prize for the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Teams desirous of entering the tournament have until March 31 to register.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

ICC to consider new ODI rules to help bowlers

By Julian Linden

SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - The highlight reels at the World Cup have been running hot with batsman smashing balls all over cricket stadiums in Australia and New Zealand.

Teams and individuals have been racking up record totals and the crowd have loved it, whooping and cheering every time another ball is dispatched into the stands.

With the benefits of bigger bats and smaller boundaries, the world’s best batsmen have been piling on the runs, hitting more than 450 sixes.

In the previous 10 World Cups, no batsmen had ever made a double century and only once had a team cracked the magical 400-run barrier.

But in 2015, two batsmen, Chris Gayle (215) and Martin Guptill (237 not out) have made double hundreds. And the 400-run barrier has been broken three times.

But for the bowlers, the World Cup has been hard toil. Only one bowler, New Zealand paceman Trent Boult, has taken over 20 wickets in the tournament.

a chance.

He suggested that one possible rule change could be to allow teams to have five fielders in the outfield in the last 10 overs, when batsmen typically score faster.

Under the current rules, teams can only have a maximum of four fielders outside the circle.

“In the old days you had one area you couldn’t defend; now there are two and if a good batsmen is set as a bowler you’ve got very little prize (for the bowlers),” Richardson said.

“One of the things we

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson (L) reacts after bowling out India’s Rohit Sharma (R) during their Cricket World Cup semi-final match in Sydney, yesterday. (Credit: Reuters/David Gray) At the 2007 World Cup, by impact on other forms of peration, having to be more comparison, four bowlers the game. attacking to take wickets to “I think the change in try and keep the scoring in took over 20 wickets.

T h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l rules has helped, and the in- check.”

Cricket Council (ICC) fluence of T20 has impacted But Richardson also chief executive Dave Rich- both ODIs and the way they admitted that the balance ardson said the sudden play Test cricket, so the bats- between bat and ball was expansion of Twenty20, men are far more attacking,” shifting too much towards cricket’s shortest and fast- he said yesterday. batsmen and the rules “That’s led to the cap- might have to be changed est-moving format, was clearly having a positive tains, probably out of des- to give the bowlers more of

U.S. game will flourish after Serena - WTA leader time at the top of the world rankings.

With Serena still firmly established as the game’s leading player and Venus ranked 16th, the next best Americans in the global pecking order are Madison Keys (18th), Varvara Lepchenko (31st) and Coco Vandeweghe (33rd).

By Mark Lamport-Stokes (REUTERS) - Just as American writer Mark Twain described premature reports about his death as “greatly exaggerated”, doom and gloom about U.S. women’s tennis is way off the mark, according to WTA chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster.

While some pundits question the future of the American game after world number one Serena Williams’ stellar career ends, Allaster oozes optimism about the country’s emerging prospects on the WTA Tour.

“I’m not at all concerned about what might happen post-Serena,” Allaster, who took charge of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) in July 2009, told Reuters.

“American tennis has always been very, very strong on the global tour.

“The fact that there are 14 Americans ranked in the top 100 right now, more than any other nation in the world, that is a very strong foundation of talent. There will never be an-

Serena Williams’ other Serena, there will never be another Venus.

“I’ve often said they’ve been a gift to our sport and their legacy will continue for generations. Just look at the mosaic of players competing now at top level. They grew up watching Serena and Venus, so that will have a lasting impact for decades.”

Serena, now aged 33, and Venus, 34, have won 26 grand slam singles titles between them and have each spent

‘NATIONAL HEROES’ Allaster, who played an integral role in streamlining the WTA’s tournament calendar to offset player absences, firmly believes that “national heroes” will underpin the strength of the U.S. game.

“What we know, from our consumer research, is that the number one thing that fans want is to follow their national heroes,” said the 51-year-old Canadian, who has been named by Forbes magazine as one of the “Most Powerful Women in Sports”.

“As long as they are red, white and blue, whether it’s Taylor Townsend or CiCi Bellis, local and national stars

will be supported by local fans, without question and irrespective of their ranking.

“I think Americans are very patriotic that way. Irrespective of the ranking, they will support their own.

I feel incredibly excited and confident in U.S. tennis.”

Though much still needs to be done to lure the 18-35 age group to the sport, there is encouraging growth in the Under-10 range in the U.S., and Allaster feels the United States Tennis Association (USTA) is establishing solid foundations.

“They have recognised what they need to do on development and despite a lot of resistance to Under-10 tennis from the traditionalists, they (the USTA) have said this is what we have to do,” Allaster said.

“The entire tennis industry in the U.S. is doing all of the right things. The pipeline of talent is there across multiple ages and there is a whole pipeline of talent that we don’t even know yet.

I am super excited about what’s going on.”

might look at is allowing an extra fielder out of the ring in the last 10 overs. Remember we were worried about that middle period of the game that became boring where someone would score a runa-ball 50 but no one remembering one shot.

“We’ll try and keep that and make sure we don’t get back to that but maybe in the last 10 overs when people are not going to stop slogging or trying to hit boundaries just because one extra fielder is out.

That might be a sensible change.”

Pietersen return could ‘tear apart’ England - Buchanan

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Recalling sacked Kevin Pietersen could “tear apart the fabric” of the England team because the batsman is like a child who wants to get his own way, according to former Australia coach John Buchanan.

Pietersen, sacked in February 2014 following England’s 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia, joined Surrey on Wednesday in an attempt to earn an international recall after receiving encouragement from new English cricket chief Colin Graves.

But Buchanan, who won three Ashes and two World Cups as Australia coach from 1999 to 2007, believes the ECB must stick to their original decision.

“A decision was made for good reasons,” Buchanan told the BBC. “Leadership is about sticking by that decision.

“Various things have torn at the fabric of the England team and that has certainly been one of them.

“There has been a clear decision made by the ECB about where Pietersen fits in the English camp. Let them stick by the decision, draw that line in the sand and say this is what we really stand for.”

Pietersen, who scored 8 181 runs in 104 Tests, has spoken with incoming England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Graves about his return, but national selec-

Kevin Pietersen tor James Whitaker said last week the South African-born batsman was not in their plans.

“You will always have people like Pietersen that are game changers and they are usually difficult to handle because they are quite selfish,” Buchanan said.

“It’s like when you are a parent with a child. The child doesn’t get his way from mum so then he goes to dad and asks dad.

“And if he still doesn’t get the answer then he plays both of them off against each other. If he doesn’t get his own way he certainly causes a bit of mayhem in the meantime.”

Buchanan also said under-pressure England coach Peter Moores should remain in charge for this year’s Ashes series despite a dismal showing at the World Cup in which they were knocked out in the group stage.

“He needs to be judged not just on results because there will be a number of things he is doing behind the scenes that the public don’t see,” Buchanan said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

Form meets pedigree in Australasian World Cup final

By Nick Mulvenney (REUTERS) - There’s been no place like home for Australia and New Zealand on their respective paths to the World Cup final but just one of the co-hosts will enjoy that particular advantage when they meet in tomorrow’s title decider.

After 48 one-day internationals played out over six weeks between teams from five continents, the 11th version of cricket’s showpiece tournament comes down to a trans-Tasman tussle at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australia, playing in their seventh final, have all the cricketing pedigree and their four previous titles make them by far the most successful nation in World Cup history.

New Zealand have indisputably been the form team of the tournament, their eightmatch unbeaten romp to their first World Cup final including a victory over the Australians

in Auckland.

Now, though, they have left New Zealand for the first time in the tournament to play their first one-dayer at the MCG in six years in front of a hostile crowd of up to 100 000.

In their last 12 one-dayers at the MCG going back five years, Australia have won all but two and they are unbeaten at the ground in their last six encounters.

Crucial to New Zealand’s chances of lifting a first World Cup is, perhaps, how their potent new-ball attack of Trent Boult and Tim Southee handle the change of conditions on the drop-in wicket.

Consensus has it they will get less of the swing they have used to such devastating effect back home and will have to adjust the length of their deliveries.

“I think the fact that the conditions are different will certainly help us, and we’ve played a fair bit of cricket throughout the summer at the

MCG as well,” Clarke said after the semi-final win at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.

“Conditions are a lot different to what New Zealand have been playing in New Zealand. But in saying that, I think we’re going to have to play our best cricket, there’s no doubt about it.”

Southee, though, thinks New Zealand’s bowlers have shown they can prosper even when they do not get much movement.

“It hasn’t swung for us in every game but we’ve found ways to take wickets so I think that’s the beauty of our attack,” he told reporters in Melbourne yesterday.

“I think we’ve got variety to it and if it does swing, obviously we do become a bit more dangerous. But we have found ways to take wickets when it’s not swinging.”

Australia have a potent bowling attack of their own

in the rampant Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson, with the older Johnson looking close to his best with two key Indian wickets in the semi-final.

It has largely been a World Cup more notable for batting, though, and both sides have quality all their way through their line-ups.

The fearless aggression

shown by New Zealand openers Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill has been a sight to behold for cricket-lovers everywhere.

And if there was any doubt about New Zealand’s ability to deal with pressure, they can point to two tight victories won with sixes -- first Kane Williamson against Australia and then

Grant Elliott in the semi-final against South Africa.

For Australia, Steve Smith has been calmly racking up runs all season and in the likes of David Warner and Glenn Maxwell they also have the power hitters to inflate a batting total in a few short overs. (Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

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Barbados advance to second round with big win CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands, (CMC) – Barbados overcame a shock first-leg defeat to hammer the U.S. Virgin Islands 4-0 in the second leg on Thursday and storm into the second round of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Playing at the Addelita Cancryn Field, Barbados were propelled by first half goals from Raheim Sargeant and Jamal Chandler, to lead 2-0 at halftime.

In the second half, Mario Harte and Jabarry Chandler found the nets, as the visitors ran out comprehensive winners.

“We couldn’t handle the adversity. From the first second we were too nervous. We never found our game. We tried, they w e re n o t b e t t e r t h a n USVI,” said USVI head

Wigan defender Emmerson Boyce coach Ahmed Mohamed. based professional Em- bled under the pressure After going down 1-0 at merson Boyce who flew in exerted. home last Sunday, Barba- specifically for this game, Barbados were ahead dos made several changes after missing the first-leg after just five minutes and as a result, showed no encounter. when Sargeant beat outill-effects from the first-leg The tough-nosed Wigan standing goalkeeper Erik defeat. defender marshalled the Mozzo with a clinical headA key addition to the Barbados backline to per- er from a cross. squad was the England- fection and the USVI crumThe visitors then doubled the lead in the 25th minute when the USVI defence failed to clear a cross and Jamal Chandler slammed home a loose ball after Harte’s initial effort had struck the post.

Comfortably up 2-0 at halftime, Barbados cruised in the second half with Harte finding the target in the 76th minute and Jabarry Chandler getting on the score sheet in the final minute.

Barbados will now face Aruba in the second round which kicks off with the first leg on June 8 and the return leg eight days later.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

GCB/USAGCA youth tour bowls off today at Everest ground AS part of its cricket development initiative, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) collaborates with the USA Global Cricket Academy (USAGCA) for a youth-friendly competition which bowls off today at the Everest Cricket Club ground and concludes on April 6.

The USAGCA, which was the winner of the 2003 ICC Global Award for Best Junior Development Initiative, is resuming its international youth cricket tour programme following successful Under-17 and Under-19 Tours of India in 2014-15.

USAGCA’s Under-18, Under-15 and Under-13 teams will be engaging youth teams from various clubs, counties and area teams of the same age group.

The clubs providing teams are Demerara Cricket Club, Everest Cricket Club, Georgetown Cricket Club, and Gandhi Youth Organisation.

Berbice and Demerara, along with the Area Associations in Demerara (West Demerara, Georgetown, East Coast and East Bank) will provide teams for the Under-15 and Under-18 age categories.

Guyana Under-15 and Under-17 teams will com-

pete as well. RUBiS Gas Station in Bel Air will also provide an Under-13 team.

USAGCA’s aim is to provide its players with a great chance and the best opportunities to play on the best pitches, so as to get international cricket experience. The organisers believe the tour will help their elite players to gain more confidence and vital experience.

Many of their players have played National, ICC Americas and International cricket, and this tour will provide the right platform for all players to become professionals and to stay on top for all future cricket events in USA. By now it is widely known that the GCB has reaped enormous success in 2014 and the beginning of 2015. This achievement has a great lot to do with the Board’s thorough cricket development programmes.

GCB is always open to ventures that will expose our players to new skills and opportunities that will aid in their long-term growth. The GCB is also pleased to have the USA youths tour Guyana and hopes they have fun and learn something new that will be beneficial to their cricket.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

Australia’s renaissance leads to World Cup final under Lehmann’s calm direction and the renaissance of fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, turned the tables spectacularly in the return Ashes series on home soil.

Completing a 5-0 series whitewash of the tourists to kick off 2014, Australia’s success would filter down to the one-day team, who trounced England 4-1 in the subsequent series and would finish the year with a 13-5 winning record.

The year was not without its challenges, however, with a stunning one-day loss away to minnows Zimbabwe and Clarke’s leadership questioned amid a series of injuries.

Such concerns appeared trivial on November 25 when batsman Phillip

By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Australia’s trip to a seventh World Cup final tomorrow may seem standard fare for a nation that has already won cricket’s ultimate prize four times, but the achievement marks a stunning turnaround from the depths of two years ago.

Battling mediocrity in all formats, Michael Clarke’s side lurched from crisis to crisis in the annus horribilus of 2013, as reports of in-fighting, sackings and bar-room assaults dominated newspaper headlines.

Pundits debate the exact moment of Australia’s nadir, but few would have tipped the team’s spectacular implosion during a 4-0 Test series white-wash in India.

The second loss of that series made Australia the first team to lose a Test match after declaring their first innings closed and was to be the catalyst for the infamous “Homework-gate” scandal.

With the support of captain Clarke, four players were stood down for the next Test for failing to provide then-coach Mickey Arthur ideas on how the team could turn around their fortunes.

Shane Watson, vice-captain at the time and one of the four offenders, threatened to quit international cricket after returning home from tour to be with his pregnant wife.

Branded a much-needed “line in the sand” by South African Arthur, the

players and the way that they’ve responded and gotten on with their job, without in any way forgetting their grief.

“So we’re here and congratulations on the great effort they’ve put in -- all that hard work.”

Ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup final against fellow co-hosts New Zealand, captain Clarke’s team may reflect on the two roller-coaster years when they walk out onto the Melbourne Cricket Ground turf.

Recollections of the dark days and their ability to overcome them should stand the hosts in good stead during the crunch moments when the roar of nearly 100 000 fans rings out from the terraces.

Phillip Hughes death at the age of 25 cast a pall over the World Cup co-hosts.

punishment was intended to whip an ill-disciplined team into shape but two further Test defeats followed and Australia entered the defence of their Champions Trophy title in England with morale at rock-bottom.

Their batsmen were skittled for 65 in a 243-run warm-up loss to India in Cardiff and the one-day international tournament was a debacle, with hot-headed opening batsman David Warner stood down for punching England’s Joe Root at a Birmingham

night-spot.

News that Australian players were out drinking rather than stewing in their hotel rooms over a loss to England reinforced perceptions of a team in disarray, and management acted swiftly by sacking Arthur and replacing him with former Australia batsman Darren Lehmann less than three weeks before the Ashes.

Australia went on to lose the series 3-0 after squandering dominant positions in a number of matches but

NOTABLE DATES

JUNIOR welterweight Gustavas `Haversack’ Theobald secured his first professional victory on March 28, 1982. Theobald knocked out Terrence Clarke in the sixth round of a scheduled eight-rounder held at the National Sports Hall.

It was reported that the name `Haversack’ was given

Hughes collapsed at the Sydney Cricket Ground when struck by a short ball in a domestic match.

The youngest player to score two centuries in a Test, Hughes’ death in hospital at the age of 25 cast a pall over the World Cup cohosts less than three months before the tournament.

Their ability to put their grief aside and complete a 2-0 Test series defeat over India in the lead-up underlined Australia’s resolve in the face of adversity.

“We’ve come from the depths of depression, I suppose, from where we were in November,” Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland told the Australian Associated Press yesterday.

“It was a very difficult time and every credit to the

to Theobald because he was frequently seen around the ship docking areas with that sack on his back. In his first professional fight held on December 26, 1980, Theobald lost to Lennox Somerset in a six-round contest. That fight was also staged at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

In February 1984 Theo-

bald drew with a game Barrington Cambridge when the junior welterweight title of Guyana was at stake.

Cambridge was undefeated in six fights at the time. `Haversack’ dropped out of the sport ten months later, following a points loss to Dennis `Kid’ Dalrymple on Boxing Day.

Then coach to England Mickey Arthur was sacked three weeks before the Ashes series.

NOTABLE DATES ANTHONY `The Pearl’ Andrews was handed his fifth defeat in 15 fights when he lost by decision to American Ricky Stoner on March 28, 1987.

Stoner had won the USA Texas State welterweight title in his previous fight and against Andrews, was able to gain the nod of all three judges in the eight-rounder.

The loss to the undefeated Stoner represented the middle of a lean three-year period Andrews had in the USA during the 80s.

He won two of nine fights and upon his return home to Guyana in 1989, he was defeated by Barrington Cambridge while contesting for the national welterweight title.

In his early days Andrews was called `The Pearl’ for good reason. Many who witnessed his early exploits would agree that his name must be called when the ceremony to award the best fighters from Guyana is held since he was a `gem’ of a boxer.

He snatched the Guyana bantamweight title in February 1984 following an 11th round TKO of Michael Parris. In May 1995 Andrews challenged WBA middleweight champion Jorge Castro but was unsuccessful.

In his last fight (May 26, 2000) Andrews suffered a fifth round TKO at the hands of Thomas Tate. His record includes 27 victories (23 KOs), 13 defeats and two draws. `The Pearl’ now resides in the USA.

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

All roads lead to the MCG

By Andrew Ramsey in Melbourne IT’S consumed six weeks, 48 matches and 12 teams but the ICC 2015 World Cup has found its finalists – and they are the nations that many keen-eyed experts predicted would play off in the decider well before the first shiny new white ball was bowled.

There was a groundswell of those who predicted South Africa would make it through to tomorrow’s showdown at the MCG, but the curse of history, compounded by the absence of a quality bowling all-rounder, meant wiser heads saw trouble brewing for the Proteas.

And the frailties that defending champions India showed repeatedly through their four-month Test and ODI campaigns on Australian soil, which ended Thursday night without a solitary victory over their hosts, had all but their few hundred million staunchest supporters realising backto-back was beyond them.

So while Pakistan could lay claim to a similarly potent pace-bowling outfit, Sri Lanka might argue their batting line-up was the equal of any and South Africa’s fielding skills were largely flawless up until their semi-final loss, the nations that best combine all those facets will contest the trophy.

Which all but the most biased or habitually contrary would argue is how showpiece tournaments should play out.

But if both finalists boast bowlers who can swing the ball at considerable pace, explosive top-order batsmen as well as accomplished Test players who can shore up

“I think their new-ball bowling has been exceptional,” Clarke said Thursday night as the Australians plotted their post-match recovery programme, the next morning’s travel plans to Melbourne and their light training schedule today ahead of tomorrow’s day-night final.

“We experienced that in the game that we played against them and we’ve seen that throughout the tournament.

“They’ve been able to swing the ball in New Zealand and even if it hasn’t swung they’ve executed (their plans) so we’ll have to be sure that we bat well.”

Batting form would not appear to be a major concern for the Australians, except perhaps for Clarke who – having experienced a delayed start to the tournament be-

Michael Clarke has led Australia into a World Cup final. short of their target suggests they are travelling okay. early calamities before letting Throw in the additionloose an array of lower-order al detail that the win was hitters, and fielders as desperachieved at the Sydney ate as they are dynamic, then Cricket Ground on a dry who wins? pitch that was supposed to According to the captain favour spin above speed, who last lifted the World and against an opponent that Cup in front of a deliriously boasted two high-quality euphoric nation, it might just be the team with the specialist spinner, albeit one aged 36 with a crook back, a sore finger and who will be writing the last chapter of a long and lustrous career story.

“I think (New Zealand left-arm spinner Daniel) Vettori’s performance will be crucial,” said India captain M. S. Dhoni after the defending champions had their tournament terminated by Australia.

“He is somebody who, in the middle overs, can really get wickets and he’s MS Dhoni names one man Australia need not someone you can easily to be prepared for, and it’s not Brendon score off.

McCullum, but left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori.

“So he will be the key factor. tweakers and it would indicause of his recent hamstring The fact that Michael cate that the lack of a frontsurgery – is the only one of Clarke’s team posted the line slow bowling option his team’s top five not to highest total scored against won’t faze Australia one jot. have posted a century in the the Cup holders in this tourTheir bigger concern, tournament. nament, became the only as was exposed when New But as a collective, Austeam not to be bowled out by Zealand inflicted Australia’s tralia’s batters have been the Indian attack and knocked sole defeat of the campaign getting the job done. over the champions 95 runs in Auckland almost a month Four times in their sevago and was reaffirmed by en completed matches to Clarke in the wake of their date, Australia have scored semi-final win, will be the in excess of 300 from their Black Caps’ quicks.

50 overs (New Zealand have (Saturday March 28, 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)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Carl Hooper-2003; Brian Lara-2007 Clive Lloyd; RohanKanhai; Alvin Kallicharran; Roy Fredericks; Lance Gibbs Today’s Quiz: How many WC teams have played in every tournament? How many have not done so?

Who is the first man to score more than one century in a single WC tournament?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

achieved it twice) and only once in that time have they been bowled out.

The caveat there is that the occasion they surrendered all 10 wickets was to New Zealand in a frenetic match at Eden Park, with the 151 for which they were skittled being their lowest ODI score for more than two years.

It’s the reason why Clarke nominated the Black Caps’ pace bowling, among whom eight of those Australian wickets were shared, as their most potent strength even though he claims much has changed since that afternoon in Auckland.

“I think New Zealand will take confidence that they’ve beaten us in the tournament,” Clarke said after Thursday night’s win, Australia’s sixth from as many World Cup semi-final appearances, a record that has delivered them four World Cups with the opportunity for a fifth.

“But I believe that was the turning point for this Australian team.

“We got a bit of kick up the backside, we got a look at a very good team playing at the top of their game, certainly with the ball, and I think our attitude since that game has been exceptional. “ We ’ v e p r e p a r e d s o well for every game, we’ve grabbed momentum and we’ve tried to run with it and I think that will hold us in really good stead for tomorrow.

“We’ll talk about the New Zealand team, there’s no doubt we’ll study them and we’ve been watching just about every game as well, or certainly myself and Boof (coach Darren Lehmann) have.

“So we know who we’re up against, we know their strengths and we know their weaknesses.”

They can also be fairly certain of the team that the Black Caps will put on the park come tomorrow, with

the only change the co-hosts have made to their starting XI since the opening game being the replacement of injured fast bowler Adam Milne with fellow right-arm quick Matt Henry.

By contrast, the Australians have used all 15 members of their squad under a ‘horses for courses’ selection policy, though it’s fairly certain they won’t take the same posse into this weekend’s game at the MCG as they did for their first hit-out there against England on February 14.

A team that was captained

by George Bailey, who hasn’t played since Clarke recovered from injury to take his place in the next match, and included Mitchell Marsh as first-choice all-rounder (and who took five wickets) before the now incumbent James Faulkner also returned from the sidelines.

While at pains to stress he is not part of Australia’s selection panel, Clarke indicated it would be tough for that committee to mount a case to alter an XI that has performed so strongly and so cohesively in their knockout final wins over Pakistan and India.

“I think if everyone is fully fit it’s going to be extremely hard to change the eleven,” Clarke said, before being quizzed as to whether that meant there were members of the squad under injury clouds.

“I don’t think so. “(Josh) Hazlewood came off the field (last night) with a sore thumb but it sounds to me like he’s completely fine, he just wanted to rest up for the final so the youngster took a few overs off.

“I think at this stage everybody is pretty good. But I’m not a selector.”

At least that point, as a couple of days of relentless previewing, presumptions and prescience begin, has been made crystal clear.

3rd Rock ‘King of the Rim’ semi-finals on tonight

TONIGHT is semifinals night in the King of the Rim, 3rd Rock Entertainment Super Eight Knock-out basketball championship at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court.

In the first game Retrieve Raiders face Amelia’s Ward Jets at 19:30hrs and the second semi-final pits Kings against Half Mile Bulls.

To reach thus far Raiders ousted Bankers Trust Falcons, Jets gained a walkover from Wismar Pistons, Kings eliminated Block 22 Flames and Bulls knocked out Victory Valley Royals.

The clubs are battling for a first prize of $80 000. The second-placed team collect $45 000 and third receive $25 000. There will also be prizes for the Most Valuable Player, Best Defensive Player, Most Points and Disciplined Team.

Among the sponsors are Banks DIH through its Banks Beer brand, Sharma Solomon, Vanessa Kissoon, Powers Car Rental, Babaloo Car Rental, Amazon Security, Mark Shoe World and Majors Sports.

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday March 28, 2015

National Schools’ Basketball Festival officially launched ... 50 schools to participate YOUTH Basketball Guyana (YBG) yesterday launched its 10th National Schools’ Basketball Festival (NSBF) at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

“The Championship has grown from 18 teams participating in a single elimination tournament in 2006 to over 50 teams playing in four divisions (Under-14, U-16, U-19 and Girls) and six regional zone tournaments,” said YBG head Chris Bowman, while addressing the media and the event’s sponsors Digicel, Banks DIH and Beharry Group of Companies.

The regional tournament will bounce off on April 20 and run through June 28 and its regional finals on July 4, while the NSBF champions will play from July 3 to 13.

President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Feder-

ation (GABF) Nigel Hinds sees YBG’s involvement as one of importance and one with which he said his Federation will be willing to work along since it is nursery for the game they strive to bring to prominence in Guyana.

The GABF and the YBG over the last two years, had its share of ups and downs with the two parties falling out on several occasions, but, yesterday, Hinds said that sometimes disagreements are necessary to bring about the right balance, especially in basketball.

Meanwhile, the tournament’s sponsors all expressed their delight at once again being part of an event that gives the nation’s future players a platform to showcase their talents.

It is seven years since both Digicel and Banks have been partnering with YBG

The YBG’s National School Basketball Festival is officially launched yesterday.

to pull off the event; it is Beharry’s first.

Digicel’s Events and Sponsorship manager Gavin Hope, who himself is a sports aficionado, said that

it is the continued growth and development which emanates from the tournament that draws his company each year to the championship.

Hope noted that the

NSBF is the lone competition that allows players, as young as six years old, to have a place to be seen. He pledged continued support.

Troy Peters, Banks

DIH’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) echoed Hope’s comments and believes that with the help of other corporations, the tournament will be sustained.

Holyfield thinks Mayweather won’t beat Pacquiao

By Chris Williams FORMER heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield believes that Floyd Mayweather Jr won’t be allowed to beat Manny Pacquiao in their mega-fight on May 2, because boxing doesn’t want anyone to finish their careers with an unbeaten record.

Holyfield feels that Mayweather will lose the fight because boxing wants there to be a rematch due to the money involved. In other words, if Mayweather were to beat Pacquiao, the chances are that Mayweather would move on without facing Pacquiao a second time. But if he faces Pacquiao and loses on May 2 then it’ll increase the chances of a rematch taking place between them “Mayweather won’t win, because from what I’ve seen, boxing doesn’t want anybody to get out (of the sport) undefeated,” Holyfield said via sportsonearth.com.

“They want to keep the money in the sport by doing things to make it happen this way. (Boxing executives) set it up that way. It’s because they will not let you out of boxing undefeated.”

Well, if Mayweather loses a controversial decision to Pacquiao on 5/2, it’s going to hurt the sport in a major way, because of the huge amount

Mayweather isn’t going to let the shorter Pacquiao land his shots, and that’s going to make it impossi-

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will clash on May 2 in their mega-fight. of boxing fans that will be witnessing the event.

It’ll make the sport look shady if Mayweather loses a fight that he clearly won. Of course, if it’s a really close fight that can go either way, then it won’t be such a big deal.

But if you get scoring like the one judge who scored the Mayweather vs. Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez fight a draw, it’s going to look really, really bad for the sport.

“I don’t know that there’s any judge that would willingly open himself up for criticism by intentionally giving the fight to Pacquiao despite his getting dominated

by Mayweather.

“Pacquiao has been given controversial wins in the past against Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas, but I don’t think any of the judges would want to have the heat put on them by scoring

a fight for Pacquiao if he didn’t deserve the win.

“It would be a situation where the judge would be opening himself up for criticism for a long, long time if he scored a fight that was out of touch with the reality of what happened in the ring.

“If anything, I can see a judge scoring the fight for Pacquiao if he gets a lot of crowd applause on May 2. If the crowd is cheering each time Pacquiao throws a punch, then there’s a possibility that one or more of the judges will score rounds for him that he might not have actually won.

“I have faith that the judges will get the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight scored right. I believe Mayweather is going to make the fight so one-sided that even a blind judge will be able to score the fight correctly.

ble for any of the judges to score the fight for him.

Mayweather is going to be looking to score a shut-

out against Pacquiao and put the judges in a situation where it’ll be very easy for them to score the fight.

(Boxingnews.com).

Sport CHRONICLE

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

National Schools’ Basketball Festival officially launched See Story on Page 35

World Cup final

Australia-New Zealand decider poised to break attendance record Exhilarating and intimidating MCG

See Story on Page 29

The lights at the MCG gleam in the night sky, Australia v England, Group A, match in Melbourne, February 14, 2015. It’s size and history make the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) a house of sporting dreams

International dominoes tournament set for Easter weekend

... 13 countries to participate; US$5000 up for grabs

Executives of the GDA at yesterday’s Media Launch.

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

By Rawle Toney TWELVE countries will travel to Guyana to compete in the Georgetown Dominoes Association’s (GDA) International Dominoes tournament, set for the National Gymnasium over the Easter weekend (April 4-6).

With $1M (US$5000) up for grabs for the winners, Guyanese players will want to impress their overseas counterparts and keep the cash and beautiful silverware on local soil.

“I’m happy to run off this tournament that people in the sports community can see that it’s not only a grassroots game, but it’s a game that you can play and you can go a very far way,” said president

of the GDA, Faye Joseph, at yesterday’s Media Launch at her Gaulding Place, South Ruimveldt residence.

The GDA president said that she was brought into the sport by her late husband Orin Joseph who had challenged her to do something special for the sport he loved.

According to Joseph, the tournament is also a dedication to her husband and one which she hopes can be emulated by other associations.

Apart from the host country, the competition will feature teams from the USA, Canada, St Lucia, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Anguilla, Puerto Rico, St Kitts See Page 29 SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2015