2015 4 20

GUYANA

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

Albion rally attracts biggest PRICE: $80

No. 104164 MONDAY APRIL 20, 2015 GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

INCLUDING VAT

crowd of thousands …Berbicians give PPP/C thumbs up!

President Donald Ramotar addressing the rally

Photo by Adrian Narine

Berbice on the verge of bigger, better things – Ramotar …23-point plan outlined

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PPP/C LEADERSHIP GIVES STARK WARNING

Future of freedom is at stake on May 11

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…we have to resume the development process

Acid, missiles 3 reportedly thrown at PPP/C supporters Page

– President says party will not be intimidated

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

Berbice on the verge of bigger, …23-point plan better things – Ramotar outlined

By Vanessa Narine A KALEIDOSCOPIC montage of reds, black and yellows coloured what is the largest crowd that has gathered in support of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), which took its campaign to Albion, Region 6, yesterday.

And the tangible energy that sounded along the Albion Estate Road was bolstered when the party’s presidential candidate, Donald Ramotar, took to the platform.

His message, tailored for Region 6, was clear: Berbice is on the verge of bigger and better things, the deep water harbour at the mouth of the Berbice River being one of many initiatives envisioned for the region.

Last month, Guyana moved a step closer to the realisation of this vision, with the inking of an agreement for a preliminary study on the Berbice River estuary.

The study is a follow-up on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) entered between the Government of Guyana and the Chinese State Construction Engineering Company (Latin American and Caribbean).

The ruling party’s lead-

ership also detailed 23-point plan of other initiatives for Region 6, which form part of its five-year plan going forward.

According to Mr. Ramotar, while the political Opposition has been bent on its ‘politics of no’, the PPP/C vision is one that will advance a prosperous and progressive Guyana.

“They have deliberately set out to harm our country and this election will determine if we go forward or go backward…we want to build a modern, prosperous and progressive country to improve the lives of all our people,” he said.

The ruling party’s presidential candidate added that the progress to date is a record of struggle.

“We are on the eve of making history…on this election we want to record the biggest victory ever for the PPP/C. We have every reason to expect a massive victory, because we stand on a record of struggles for the people,” he said.

STRUGGLE FOR GUYANA Mr. Ramotar highlighted the fact that the PPP/C history and that of progress in

Guyana have always been intertwined.

“We led the struggle against the dictatorship of the PNC (People’s National Congress) and the people of this country have achieved the most under the PPP/C… Guyana was not always like this. It was described as an abyss…we have changed that. The PPP/C has changed that,” he said.

He noted too that the last three years have been an uphill battle to ensure that positive changes continue.

“The last three years were not easy years. They were difficult and frustrating years…the Opposition want to stop development from continuing. They want to destroy our nation…never one day did they use their oneseat majority to say we need to do more, no…they only sought to cut and destroy the foundation that we have laid over the years,” he said.

IMPORTANT INDUSTRIES The incumbent President also addressed an issue that is close to the heart of Berbicians – the future of the sugar industry.

“Sugar is important… it is not only an emotional subject…it has been responsible for all of us being in this country after our fore parents came to work in Guyana…. sugar is the grandfather of a lot of industries,” he said.

However, he acknowledged that sugar is faced with challenges, which were worsened by the European Union (EU) price cuts.

“Any other industry in this country would have closed down, but the resilience kept it alive and sugar today needs to be restructured to make it viable and for it to continue making a contribution to development,” Mr. Ramotar said.

The PPP/C presidential candidate touted the commitment of India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to offer his country’s support to the sugar industry, in technical and financial areas.

Earlier this year, the leaders of the two countries met in India, where President Ramotar held bilateral discussions with Indian Prime

President Donald Ramotar addresses the huge crowd at Albion

‘We are on the eve of making history…on this election we want to record the biggest victory ever for the PPP/C. We have every reason to expect a massive victory, because we stand on a record of struggles for the people.’

– President Donald Ramotar Minister, Narendra Modi, and sugar which serves as one of Guyana’s economic pillars, was on the agenda. He also visited Valsad (Gujarat) where there is a very active cooperative sector focused on sugar cane.

“The sugar industry was high on our agenda, because sugar has always been close to the heart of the PPP/C,” Mr. Ramotar assured Berbicians yesterday.

Moving forward, he noted that the industry will move to refined sugar, a refinery, ethanol production and cogeneration of electricity from bagasse, among other undertakings.

“The industry must be a complex…we want to make the industry more flexible… so when price is low we can do more,” the PPP/C presidential candidate said, adding that $20B will be invested in the industry over the next five years.

He said, “We want to ensure that the industry survives and thrives in the future…the best days of sugar are still ahead.”

MORE TO DO According to President Ramotar, there are many

more plans to ensure that Guyana advances.

Information Communication and Technology (ICT), the party’s flagship projects, including the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), more jobs, improvements in education and the other social sectors were all areas mentioned by Mr. Ramotar.

“These are the dreams and the plans we have…the Opposition, however, have shown their cloven hooves, they are anti-development,” he lamented.

The flip-flopping on major issues, such as the Anti-Money Laundering and the Countering of the Financing of Terrorism (AML/ CFT) Bill, was also cited as a negative on the part of the political Opposition.

“This is the nature of the people we are dealing with… it is the same old PNC…we have to look at character. We know Elisabeth has character, Nagamootoo does not…. they are trying to fool us, but you know what we have and what we have achieved,” Mr. Ramotar said.

Drawing a parallel with the ruling party, he added, “We have a proud record as

builders of our society…they coming with a three-card trick to us…Cathy Hughes says if they don’t deliver in five years we can throw them out, but we remember the past and rigged elections.”

On that note, the PPP/C presidential candidate recalled the coalition of 1964 and contended that the coalition between A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) is not that different.

“This is the character of the people who want Government. They don’t want Government to build…they want Government for power…we cannot trust them,” he stressed.

To this end, he underscored the fact that there is much at stake, come May 11.

“We have to protect this country from unscrupulous persons…the PPP/C has always stood with you through thick and thin and been close to you…on May 11, I ask you to stand with the PPP/C and stand with me,” Mr. Ramotar concluded, with what has become his swansong appeal to the Guyanese people.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

PPP/C LEADERSHIP GIVES STARK WARNING

Future of freedom is at stake on May 11 …we have to resume the development process – Jagdeo He said even if persons voted for the Alliance For Change (AFC) during the last elections, encourage them to vote on May 11, as he is confident that this time the ‘X’ will be placed next to the ‘CUP’ on the ballot paper.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

THE leadership of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), last evening converged on Albion, Berbice, where the party staged yet another massive rally and warned supporters that come May 11, “the future of freedom is at stake.”

Had there been any elections jitters in the camp of the incumbent, this was certainly allayed if not put to rest completely over the weekend, when the PPP/C staged two massive rallies: one at Essequibo on Saturday evening and the other in Albion, Berbice, last evening, flexing its proverbial political muscles and reminding all and sundry that it is still a political juggernaut to be reckoned with.

Party figures estimate the Essequibo gathering at Damon Square in Anna Regina to number in the vicinity 15,000 while the crowd last evening in the Ancient County, rivalled if not surpassed the earlier evening’s mammoth crowd.

Introduced as the Champion of the Earth, former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who was also conferred with a number of Honorary Doctorates, was clearly a crowd favourite at both rallies.

Welcomed to the stage on

both occasions to boisterous uproar—some chanting his name—the Former President sought to impress on the Berbice supporters, as he did their Essequibian counterparts, the importance of their vote for the PPP/C on May 11, not leaving anything to chance.

CRACK OF DAWN Jagdeo urged those at the rally in Berbice, come May 11, at the crack of dawn, to be vigilant in getting supporters out to the various polling stations to cast their ballots.

He urged his supporters to not let a single vote fall by the wayside or be spoiled.

He urged the young and able to assist those that may need assistance on Election Day, whether it is a vehicular ride to the polling station, a drop on a bicycle, or as the former President put it, “put people on your back and take them.”

He suggested too that in the case of the differently abled, persons should look to utilise the proxy voting facilities.

According to him, on elections morning, knock on every door in the village and get persons out of their house to go and vote.

OPPOSITION VIOLENCE Jagdeo cautioned too, as he did in Essequibo, that come May 11, the margin of victory for the incumbent must be such a decisive one that even the political Opposition will have to openly concede defeat before having to resort to any type of untoward action.

He suggested that a slim win will leave room for confusion and repeated that the coalesced A Partnership for National Unity and AFC (APNU+AFC) is currently gearing supporters to create mayhem.

According to Jagdeo, “You (Berbicians) must be more hyped than Freedom House…they (APNU+AFC) may want to create violence if they lose.”

He was adamant too that PPP/C supporters must not be fooled by the massive crowds that are now coming out to the PPP/C’s rallies to show their support and said things must not be left to chance.

“You have to go everywhere in the village,” said Jagdeo as he repeated his clarion call to Berbicians to ensure their neighbours, friends and families vote solidly behind the PPP/C next month at the polls.

ROBBED The nation, he said, has been robbed of three years of development as a result of the machinations of the po-

litical Opposition during the course of the life of the 10th Parliament and cautioned that the country could not afford a similar period.

Taking a swipe at the political Opposition, Jagdeo warned Berbice supporters to not be fooled by the dual campaigns being conducted by the political Opposition.

He warned that there is no longer an AFC, since on Nomination Day there was only one List of Candidates submitted to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

That list, he said, has as its Presidential Candidate, Opposition Leader Brigadier (rtd) David Granger.

He told the PPP/C Berbice supporters that despite the

promises and electioneering tactics of the AFC, a vote for that party is essentially a vote for Granger as President.

This was followed by the obvious rhetorical question to the PPP/C supporters, whether they trusted Granger to lead the nation as President which, was met with a resounding “no” from those in the crowd.

RESUME DEVELOPMENT According to Jagdeo, the PPP/C is a party with a clear perspective of where it wants to take the country in the future, while at the same time being cognizant of the various challenges.

Jagdeo told supporters that with the PPP/C at the

helm of power, it has been a long difficult road of change.

The former President called on supporters not to vote for the PPP/C simply because their parents or grandparents would have voted for the party.

According to Jagdeo, the PPP/C over the years has used political power to benefit the lives of ordinary Guyanese across the country, and he told supporters “we have to resume the development process.

Jagdeo was joined at the Albion Rally by key party leaders including Head of State, President D o n a l d R a m o t a r, a n d PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate, Elisabeth Harper.

Acid, missiles reportedly thrown at PPP/C supporters – President says party will not be intimidated AN UNPROVOKED attack on supporters of the ruling party last evening was vehemently condemned by President Donald Ramotar.

“This is terrible. It is horrible and probably intended to drive fear into our supporters, but I am sure it will work in the opposite manner and our supporters will support us even stronger,” he said in an invited comment, last night.

Reports are that sometime around 22:00 hrs supporters who attended the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Rally at Albion, Region 6, were attacked in the vicinity of Number 51 Village, on their way home.

Information reaching the Guyana Chronicle, late last night, indicated that acid and missiles were heaved at the supporters.

However, up to press time, the number of persons injured was not confirmed.

According to the PPP/C presidential candidate, elections ought to be free and fair, as well as free from intimidation.

Mr Ramotar called on the political Opposition to join in his call for all Guyanese to exercise respect for each other’s choice of leadership ahead of the May 11 General and Regional elections.

“We have to vehemently put an end to this,” he stressed.

Up to late last evening, Guyana Police Force officials indicated that no incident has yet been reported at Number 51 police station, which is the police station within the district of the incident.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

PPP/C won’t allow PM candidate to debate Nagamootoo

- says won’t allow him to disrespect her further

THE People’s Progressive Party/ Civic has said that its Prime Ministerial candidate Elisabeth Harper will not be debating the APNU+AFC coalition Prime Ministerial candidate Moses Nagamootoo since it will not allow him to disrespect her further.

The PPP/C has issued the following press release: The People’s Progressive Party/Civic has a proud and accomplished record in Government since it heralded the return of our beloved country to globally acceptable democratic norms in 1992.

In this regard we have graciously accepted the invitation for a public Presidential debate from the Private Sector Commission. Our Presidential Candidate, Donald Ramotar is ready and rearing to lay the progressive agenda bare before the Guyanese people and secure their confidence and mandate for yet another term of Governance under the PPP/C. We are however dismayed at the extant

development with regards to the impending debate.

The PPP/C rejects the ongoing vile attacks against women candidates of our party, especially our Prime Ministerial Candidate through the daily newspaper letters and articles campaign being managed by the Opposition. These articles are disrespectful to women in the public service and show disregard to mothers, wives, and daughters who want to give service to our country.

This campaign of disrespect commenced with the most repugnant utterances from Moses Nagamooto against our Prime Ministerial candidate Mrs. Elisabeth Harper during the Whim rally, held by the APMU/AFC Coalition, and has since been well orchestrated by the Opposition’ campaign machinery along the same vein.

The women of the PPP/C, while not intimidated, will not allow themselves to be disrespected by the Opposition and their surrogates.

It is for this reason that we view a public debate with Moses Nagamootoo as inappropriate, as he himself has been disrespectful and vile against Mrs. Harper and has shown no inclination to reverse or change this unacceptable course. The women of the PPP/C demand respect and equal treatment from those who present themselves as an alternative.

Under these circumstances, we wish to state emphatically that the APNU/AFC Coalition’s demands for us to open Mrs. Harper further to the bitter, rude and unbridled venom of disrespect from Moses Nagamooto in a Prime Ministerial debate is reprehensible.

We reject this demand and wish to state unambiguously, that our party will not attempt to dignify the callous contempt with which Moses Nagamootoo has sought to ridicule Mrs Harper and the personal hurtful and painful experiences of domestic violence she has exposed to the populace; with her participation in a debate with him.

We have also noted that the Coalition is attempting to include the proposed Prime Ministerial debate as conditionality for the execution of the hitherto agreed Presidential Debate.

Our Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar stands ready to our commitment for a Presidential debate without any new conditions.

HIGH MORAL AUTHORITY As we prepare to face the electorate for the sixth consecutive time, albeit this time not of our own making, we have approached our campaign with strength of experience and in all confidence that our party is the only one in the race holding the high moral authority to present a performance record for scrutiny, knowing well that we can defend this record in any place or forum and in the face of any credible and dignified challenge.

Miner drowns in Cuyuni trying to save gold detector

By Leroy Smith UP to late yesterday afternoon family members and other persons were searching for the body of miner Ivor Haynes who went down after a boat capsized in the Cuyuni River on Saturday afternoon at approximately 17.30hrs.

According to reports, the man who failed to save himself first was trying to hold on to a metal detector worth more than one million dollars which was being carried away by the current after the boat capsized.

A metal detector is used in prospecting for gold in min-

ing areas.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle at the Bartica Police Station yesterday morning, captain of the ill-fated boat, Peter Pollard, explained that he along with his 16-year-old nephew and the now missing man who was identified as a father of two were returning from the Arawak Creek when tragedy struck. He said that in addition to them, he was also carrying his father-in-law but took a decision to drop him off first since he had luggage with him.

According to Pollard, who this publication learnt was not licensed at the time to captain the boat, after he dropped off his father-in-law he returned to pick up his nephew and Haynes and while approaching the falls the lone engine on the boat failed and the vessel capsized in the rough waters.

As the boat capsized the 16-year-old nephew swam off to a rock where he sought refuge. After struggling for some time Pollard said that he too was able to hold on Dead: Ivor Haynes to one of the slippery rocks while Haynes chose to go after the metal detector despite their calls to leave it alone and save himself.

However, the metal detector that the man was attempting to save as well as another one being carried by the captain were recovered later on.

Pollard recalled that after struggling in vain to recover the metal detector, Haynes called out to him saying that he

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“cannot make it” and immediately went down.

After remaining on the rocks from late Saturday afternoon to about midnight, the 16-year-old and the captain decided to swim from island to island for about three hours as they sought to get help.

They finally reached a location where they were able to secure the help of a man and together with a paddle boat they returned to the area in search of the missing man but came up empty handed.

It was then that they recovered the two metal detectors one worth over one million dollars and the other just above a quarter million dollars.

The men then picked up the father-in-law who was earlier dropped off with his luggage and took him out of the area. The men again returned to the area to commence the massive search for the missing miner.

The man said that in his twenty–odd years of traversing the Cuyuni River this is the second time that he was involved in a mishap. He recalled that some four years ago he was transporting three Brazilian men when the boat he was piloting capsized but in that incident there were no fatalities.

Captain Peter Pollard Yesterday morning the man was kept in police custody as the investigation into the incident continued.

The police also took statements from the teenager who was in the boat at the time of the accident.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

Business slows since campaigning began

––Dookhoo appeals for elections to come and go without any uproar

By Tajeram Mohabir

PRIVATE Sector Commission (PSC) executive, Ramesh Dookhoo has reported a slowdown in business and expressed hope that the May 11 General and Regional Elections will come and go without any uproar.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Dookhoo said there has been some hold back in terms of restocking of commercial goods, but pointed out that this has been a normal practice during the election season.

Dookhoo had previously said that election periods have never been good for business.

“My hope is that we have elections, we go past elections, and whoever wins the election is accepted by the entire population,” he told this publication on Thursday.

The elections will be observed by former US President Jimmy Carter, who was here in 1992, when free and fair elections returned to Guyana.

At those elections, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) under Dr. Cheddi Jagan emerged victorious, and has been victorious at every General and Regional Elections since then.

The ruling party however suffered a setback in 2011, winning the presidency but losing the majority in Parliament.

Alliance, to challenge the PPP/C at the upcoming elections.

Both of them have registered their pleasure at the news that Carter will be coming to observe the elections, indicating in another section of the media that they will accept the results as declared by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Dookhoo told the Guyana Chronicle that the private sector is hoping that the two major political parties keep their word and that order and civility would prevail when the results are announced.

PSC executive Ramesh Dookhoo As a consequence, many of its key projects and developmental programmes were challenged and defeated by the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) using their one-seat majority in the House.

The two Opposition parties have since joined forces, forming the APNU+AFC

THE CONTESTANTS The APNU+AFC, the PPP/C; the Independent Party (IP) headed by Mark Benschop; the United Republican Party (URP) led by Vishnu Bandhu; the National Independence Party (NIP) under Attorney-at-Law Sapphier Hussain; and The United Force (TUF) spearheaded by Attorney-at-Law Marissa Nadir, have all been cleared to contest the May 11 polls.

The Organisation for the Victory of the People (OVP) and the Healing the Nation Theocracy Party (HNTP) will also be contesting, but only at the Regional Democratic Council level in Region 4 (Demerara-Mahaica).

Dookhoo said the Private Sector Commission is also hoping that whichever party

wins the elections, it will strive to have a good working relationship with the political Opposition, so that decisions are made in the best interest of the people.

This he said will help to create an environment that is more conducive for economic growth and for business to thrive, thereby addressing issues such as unemployment, poverty reduction and better standards of living for the citizenry.

With electoral campaigning in full swing, leaders of the business community across the country have reported that while there has been no decline in business, there has not been an increase in business activities either.

The mood now is more of one focused on seeing off the elections as the so-called “silly season” is not conducive to business, since business tends to slow down during this period.

Elections Day is some 22 days away, and leaders in the private sector are hoping that business continues as per normal, and politicians conduct themselves in a responsible manner.

They underscored the importance for broad acceptance of the results, which will be declared by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), pointing out that it is necessary for a peaceful post-election period, and for Guyana to move forward.

Elections flashback…

Fight for democracy GUYANA’S fight for independence was inextricably linked to its fight for democracy, in particular for free and fair elections, which was a process that was, unfortunately, not solidified until 1992.

The British Government hosted a conference in London regarding independence for British Guiana on November 2-7, 1965, and the British government agreed to grant independence to British Guiana in May 1966.

Guyana formally achieved its independence from Britain on May 26, 1966. However, more than 200 individuals were killed during the crisis, during the homestretch of that fight.

Pictured is part of a band at one of the carnival-style float parades held on May 29, 1966, when the hard fought battle was won.

Monday April 20, 2015 - 05:00 hrs Tuesday April 21, 2015 - 05:00 hrs Wednesday April 22, 2015 - 05:00 hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

Guyana Editorial

Violence and intimidation again unleashed against PPP supporters

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HE frightening implications of the destruction of PPP/C campaign material, the threats made against PPP/C supporters and leaders in certain communities that the Opposition considers their private property that forces the ruling party to call off public meetings, escalating adversarial encounters between PPP/C and APNU/AFC supporters, precipitated

by Opposition members, portend fearful things to come.

Young Charles Ramson reported a confrontation where Freddie Kissoon allegedly had to be restrained from physically attacking him, after abusing him.

The heightened crime wave targeting mainly members of one community is not a coincidence, because it provides an election platform for presidential candidates to promise reduced crime if elected. These persons have in the past proven that they are not averse to brutally taking innocent lives, without any compunction or mercy whatsoever, in their quest for power, a past they are vehemently denying and trying to suppress.

During an interview with the Guyana Chronicle immediately prior to elections of 2011, then PPP General-Secretary, Donald Ramotar spoke at length of the struggles of that party pre and post-independence to achieve freedom for Guyana and the Guyanese people, in which he played a pivotal part. However, he disclaimed any heroism on his part, because he said that every party member braved the violent Opposition of the day. He admitted to being afraid, but still helped to organise and attended political meetings, while knowing that the meetings would inevitably attract attacks by what he terms “PNC goons”, mainly operating through the House of Israel and US criminal Rabbi Washington.

He said that PPP meetings were almost always violently broken up. He recalled the 1973 period when he was in one really dangerous situation at Golden Grove on the East Coast, where the thugs badly beat some members and smashed members’ vehicles. He was not seriously injured enough to cause hospitalisation, but Harrinarine Nawbatt and some others were very

badly beaten up, and this was a normal occurrence at PPP meetings.

“Dr. Jagan himself was injured during an invasion by “PNC thugs” on a platform at the Parade Ground, where he had been invited to speak in protest of the expulsion from Jamaica of Clive Thomas and other academics from the West Indies”, Ramotar reminisced.

“We were afraid but we were engaged in a struggle that we realised could not have been abandoned. I was a boy when a bomb killed Michael Forde at Freedom House, but somehow Dr. Jagan had this ability to inspire the confidence of his supporters in his vision and persons to pursue the goals he aspired to for the country, and although we knew that the situations that existed at times were life-threatening, we had unswerving faith in him, because his message was a national one, and he always appealed for national unity.

Somehow I always was convinced that we would prevail in our struggles, despite many supporters eventually giving up and migrating. I had many such opportunities, but I could not abandon this dream of a better Guyana where all Guyanese could live in unity and achieve prosperity. I have never had any doubt that Dr. Jagan’s dream of peace and prosperity for this nation would one day prevail, or I would never have remained in Guyana, or in the PPP.” But that dream and the emerging peace and prosperity of this nation that has catapulted socio-economic growth in the face of a global financial meltdown could once more be derailed if the hate-mongers could once more have their way and successfully unleash their dogs of war in the nation.

PPP/C leaders are adamant that the PPP leadership will, as it has done in the past, reject any suggestion of retaliation against its attackers, opting instead to carry a constant message of unity in the nation as the only pathway to progress. Although the violence perpetrated against the PPP/C and that partnership’s members were sometimes overwhelming, party leaders stress that retaliation is never considered an option, because Dr. Jagan felt that would have defeated the purpose that he intended and the course pursued by the PPP in its unrelenting struggles for

justice, equality and unity in Guyana.

He is convinced that Dr. Jagan’s dream of uniting Guyana and achieving prosperity for the Guyanese people is well on the way to fructifying, despite the best efforts of the Opposition elements to cast doubts on the PPP/C Government’s commitment to this ideal, and its strategies and programmes planned and initiated to achieve this eventuality.

President Donald Ramotar and what he calls legions of others had absolute faith and were inspired by Dr. Jagan’s passion and conviction that they will be able to overcome the hatred and bring people together, because the party’s unwavering message was always a national one – an appeal for unity in the nation and a bridging of all the divides so that the country can achieve its optimum potential for growth and development. He stated “… and again I say that I am not against power-sharing if this will heal the nation, but I am convinced that the current protagonists have no good intentions because of their track record, of which I am fully knowledgeable; and trust is an essential prerequisite for such a partnership.

“We have shared power with political opponents who have formerly strongly opposed us and they became part of the original PPP/C, with more joining the Government as they begin to let go of their misconceptions and share the PPP visions for a peaceful and united Guyana.”

He stressed, “Being in Government is not merely about being in power, but it is primarily about taking the nation forward through development and growth that will benefit all the people of the country; and the PPP/C has been achieving much progress in incremental stages as money and resources become available. We had to rebuild this country practically from scratch. This young generation who walk the streets in freedom and could dress properly, buy anything they want from any store with freedom, and pursue tertiary education without the inconvenience and fear of breaking their studies midway to suffer in the Guyana National Service are mainly unconscious of the sacrifices some brave and committed people made to pave the way and enable them these

freedoms. We can only hope that they choose wisely in the next elections so as to continue this programme of progress that this Government is facilitating, propagating and implementing in every area, every sector, and every community of this country.

“Apart from the crime wave, and the constant attacks on innocent persons, we have had some degree of relative peace in the recent past, and this has allowed our growth indices to climb and the economic configurations to stabilise, and even grow. Unlike many first-world countries, Guyana’s macro-economic fundamentals are sound,” stressed Ramotar.

“They are promising improved security, and it is said that ‘he who owns the dog can call off the dog’, but the dogs may be bulldogs, and once trained to attack, can run amok and not even listen to its masters, which we have experienced a lot in this country.”

Decrying this strategy as being foolhardy, PPP/C leaders say that they cannot be threatened by those tactics, in the first instance; and in the second instance, they are convinced that there can be no successful power-sharing that arises from blackmail to destroy the country. “Our position is very clear,” Ramotar clarified, “and I reiterate, that power-sharing can only succeed if we break down suspicion and build trust in the society. That is the only basis for power-sharing. It cannot be otherwise, but unfortunately the PNC’s track-record leaves little room for the build-up of trust.”

Guyanese want peace, and only the foolhardy would support violent strategies to displace the PPP/C from the administrative corridors of the country, because the wise knows that bombs and bullets do not have names of victims, and that the bodies lying on the streets, if the violent elements have their way, could very well be their own, or that of their children; and the destroyed properties could just be their own homes; so it is incumbent upon the architects of the escalating adversarial encounters to desist from instigating their supporters into unlawful, even criminal actions so that peace could prevail and development could continue in the nation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

Why does the coalition want voters to put aside the past

IT is very difficult to take Mr Jerome Khan seriously, since he reads plain English like this and sees in it a tantrum, a fit, and a deepening vortex that swallows. I hope everyone is amused as I am by his rather wonderful purple prose. Humour at this time is most refreshing.

It really does not matter that he still fails to grasp the contents of my original letter, since the important issue is that our young voters, who are no doubt bright and capable, must be aware that no one can simply put aside the past as the coalition is asking them to do, and are also aware of the responsibility that the voting process requires of them.

Elections are a fundamental cornerstone

of democracy, and the process should not be subverted by anyone asking any voter to evade, forget, or put aside any issue, event, or parts of the past when making their choice.

Our political history did not start in 1992 with the PPP coming to office; and as much as the coalition is taking the PPP to task on its record of corruption and cronyism, the PNC, now APNU, must expect its own record to be similarly examined. It is a record that includes party paramountcy, institutionalised racism, organised thuggery, and electoral rigging.

While the PPP’s wrongdoings have been committed in the glare of a free press, the PNC’s past is murkier since the regime only allowed the operations of a state run media.

A few brave souls like those at the “Catholic Standard” stood up courageously for press freedom and for this Father Darke was mistakenly and brutally assassinated.

There is no comprehensive or objective account of our political history so young voters will have to make their way through a thicket of partisan accounts, edited memories and anecdotal reports to some semblance of the truth.

Perhaps, the exercise might be useful and get some sociologist or historian among them to take up the task of writing a full and proper account.

The intent of my original letter was to ask why the coalition wants voters to put aside the past. The request appeared ominous. Hopefully, the discussion that has followed might be

of use to some voters in helping them decide.

As to pickney being on the PPP list, our electoral process is different, but is every bit as democratic as the US’s; and since the PNC/ APNU participated in deciding the process and its rules, what then is their vexation?

They made the rules together with the PPP and agreed that buddy and pickney and granny and everybody can be on the list and gain political office.

The rising rant and clamour of the campaign are to be expected. Let us hope that sober heads will prevail and see the process peacefully concluded.

RYHAAN SHAH

How can Adam Harris rein in the ‘out-of-control’ Freddie Kissoon …

When he allows the same vile thoughts to be published as Dem Boys Seh? A satire is defined as sarcasm, witty language used to convey insults or scorn.

And the Kaieteur News daily feature Dem Boys Seh has been very successful at using caustic remarks to irritate its intended victims. However, when a cheap shot is taken to mitigate the significance of a nursery school and to lie about the amenities and size of classrooms to give the impression of corruption in the construction of the facility, I must question the motive to negatively influence the readers of Kaieteur News during a crucial election campaign.

I was at the opening of the Number 77 Nursery School, and the only person there from Kaieteur News was their Berbice reporter whose article was published about a week later. This was a fair and balanced report which should have stood on its own merit.

But apparently, someone felt that it made the Ministry of Education and the PPP/C Government look too good, and a deliberate, malicious attempt was made to distort the facts to give the Opposition another talking point on the campaign trail. But even if this was not intended, the Dem Boys Seh column of April 16: “Each child can build dem own nursery school in dem backyard” is a malicious distortion of facts, written by someone who has not seen this school. How else can one account for the ludicrous description of this facility given by Dem Boys Seh, “...dem open a li’l nursery school. De school got six classroom that look like six huts. Dem tell de

nation that it cost $82.3 million. Dem seh that dem build de school for 120 children but de villages only got 60 children. Each pickney coulda build he personal nursery school in he backyard wid that kind of money and coulda hire a private teacher till dem children tun adults ...De $82M school got sick bay (one li’l bed and a medicine cupboard); a kitchen wid a $6,000 sink and a pipe that run outside in de yard—(no stove or cooking gas); washroom facility – (three toilet wid couple plastic bucket nearby); and administrative department (that got seating capacity like a judge and jury courtroom but no air conditioning) and of course, landscaping—two cutlass, one axe and fork. That’s $82 M, Priya and Armogan.”

Editor, in a very sarcastic way, the author is suggesting that the building did not cost $82 million as reported by Education Minister, the Hon. Priya Manickchand, who described the building as a state of the art school, built to CARICOM standards. “It is elaborate and extravagant with a large play area. It is colourful, bright, and built to accommodate children with disability.” The classrooms are all fairly big and well-designed. The sanitary block has three toilets for the girls, three for the boys, and two much wider individual toilets with hand bars, specially designed for children with disability, a total of eight toilets, not the three stated in the Kaieteur News column. This beautifully designed school includes ramps for the handicapped,

and a water trough with three receptacles, not one. Although it is true that while the school is built to accommodate 120 children and enrollment stands at only 60, it is not a waste of money as the article suggests. In fact, the school is built to accommodate the children of a fast growing housing scheme at Number 77 Village, Corriverton, and Kaieteur News should have been the ones complimenting the Government on its vision and proper planning to facilitate those families with young children that will soon take up residence in that housing scheme. By any standard, this school is superbly built... the best in the Region 6, and is certainly more modern and spacious than most nursery schools in Guyana. Why then would anyone pick on this school to deliberately lie about the construction and amenities offered? One must therefore examine the motive behind such a malicious newspaper column, and expose the prejudice nature of its author.

The PPP/C is in a struggle to regain votes lost to the AFC in Regions 5 and 6 during the 2011 general election. The PNC-APNUAFC Prime Ministerial Candidate, Moses Nagamootoo, had promised to deliver 11% of the Indian-vote to the PNC-APNU as part of the AFC’s negotiation process leading up to his Party’s marriage of convenience with the PNC-APNU. Overwhelming numbers by PPP/C supporters attending public meetings and rallies in Regions 5 and 6, coupled with the failure of the PNC-APNU-AFC to bring out the residents

of Whim to their recently held “import a crowd” rally there, strongly suggest that Nagamootoo will find it almost impossible to deliver the 11% Indian-vote on May 11. Therefore, Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo need some help to sway support away from the PPP/C in those traditional PPP strongholds. And since this nursery school is located some distance away from the main public road all the way in Corriverton, it is unlikely that the undecided voter will go there to verify the authenticity of this Dem Boys Seh column. In fact, voters are more likely to believe this crap, chalking it up to yet another “corruption” allegation

by Kaieteur News. When one considers that there has never been an issue of the Dem Boys Seh column that criticises or makes fun of the PNC; the APNU; the AFC, or any member of the Opposition, one can safely deduct that this Kaieteur News column is designed only to ridicule and embarrass members of the ruling PPP/C, and to undermine progress by constantly insinuating corruption exists in everything the PPP/C Government does.

How can Adam Harris, editor of Kaieteur News, rein in the ‘out-of-control’ Freddie Kissoon that spews lies, anger and filth on a daily basis, tarnishing the reputation of decent people, when he allows the very same vile thoughts to be published as Dem Boys Seh in a newspaper that prides itself to be ‘independent’?

HARRY GILL

To Freddie Kissoon: Stop writing and save whatever dignity you have left WE are reminded so often of the inept and uncouth nature of some people that it no longer surprises you when they continue to spew filth. In a letter to a media house, Wesley Hicken launched a scathing attack on Kaieteur News columnist, Freddie Kissoon, highlighting the crass and insensitive manner in which the latter attacked Prime Ministerial candidate for the PPP/C, Mrs. Elisabeth Harper.

Hicken noted that Kissoon, has, “steadfastly devalued the political discourse in Guyana to the proverbial pit.” Hicken is not the first person to make this analysis of this scandalous writer. He ( Hicken) further notes,”If Elisabeth Harper is the stupidest person in the

world,( referring to Kissoon’s description of Ms.Harper) then so am I and Freddie Kissoon as well.” It is a known fact that Kissoon is not much of an intellectual; and as a result, he resorts to character assasination of people. He is not capable of analysing and discussing issues on an intellectual basis. His “cussing out” is his response to analytical discussion. Hicken testifies to this trait of Kissoon, “It would be so uplifting to read Kissoon’s articles if they were born out of deep analysis and critical examination of political and social issues in Guyana.” Mr.Hicken, you are not the only one disappointed with this great limitation of Kissoon. Hicken further notes that, “His (Kissoon) daily anti-PPP rantings mark his identity as an

malicious columinist rather than a bona-fide academic. A true academic is not so reckless in the delivery of opinions and criticisms. He or she would be cautious, highly respectful of the facts. Kissoon is none of these things.” Yes, Kissoon, has an agenda-destroy everyone and everything that represents the PPP! Kissoon does not know any other way of doing things.

In his column of April 17th, Kissoon was at it again. This man will never change or learn from intelligent people like Hicken. Kissoon’s column was entiled, Elisabeth Harper joins the Comics.” In this column Kissoon attacks Ms Harper because the latter rightly claims that Former President Dr.Bharrat Jadeo’s marriage was his private affair. My question to Kissoon

is this: What if all those people who employ you asked you whether the fact that you stole books will impact on your performance on the job, what would you say? If you told them that stealing books has nothing with how you will perform on your job, will you agree if they say that your answer is comical? Kissoon, you have nothing of substance to offer to the daily intellectual discourse in all the media.

The more you write, the more you are exposing yourself for what you are--a bitter, intellectually shallow, malicious and scandalous character! Stop writing and save whatever little dignity you have left!

RAKESH SINGH

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

President Ramotar’s defining difference

By Shaun Michael Samaroo

GUYANESE of good conscience, fair-mindedness and reasonable hearts reach out to President Donald Ramotar for two main reasons.

First, the Opposition’s cutting short of his fairly and freely elected Government to a mere three years of its five-year term smacks of a grotesque dictatorial tendency, and this stifling of our democracy we cannot condone. Second, President Ramotar succeeded in transforming our society’s way of being.

We want to see this man, who redefined the Presidency as an office of humble service rather than a throne of authority and power, able and empowered to serve a full five-year term, because he deserves it. When he became President, he was relatively unknown, and detractors questioned every decision he made, and knocked his leadership style. But he’s proven his mettle, and won the hearts of the Guyanese people.

Presidents come in different styles, their character and personality defining the society they lead. And we’ve got to raise the standard of our public discourse to where we discuss these things, where we analyse the humanity of the leaders we see rise to govern our society.

From this viewpoint, from the perspective of a high view, above the fray and the rabble and the noise, we could see a crucial difference President Ramotar made in his three years as President: he redefined our way of being, how we think and behave as a people.

Such things as re-defining our consciousness, of shaping the national mindset, of designing the social space of the land, we take for granted, because such intangibles lie below the surface, more a soulish way of being than a physical manifestation.

As we look at the two main Presidential candidates, what ought to define our vote come May 11 more than anything else is the leadership style and depth of character of these gentlemen.

In Brigadier David Granger, the

leader of the Opposition front, A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance For Change (APNU-AFC), we’ve got a history scholar, a decorated military officer, and a leader who had to battle serious challenges within the People’s National Congress (PNC) and APNU to rise to his position.

From all appearances, Brigadier Granger is a decent, respectable human being, quiet, not prone to rowdiness or quarrelsome irrationality.

But Brigadier Granger lapses in two crucial national necessities: he refuses to publicly apologise for the socio-economic devastation that the PNC caused the Guyanese nation over its 28 years of Government of this country. As leader of the PNC and APNU, this coalition of political fronts, he owes it to Guyanese to perform the PNC’s mea culpa, to confess to the national sins of the PNC, to pledge that never again would Guyana suffer such shame and disgrace and paranoid experimentation with the concepts of democracy and development.

Brigadier Granger also lapses in his approach to the Presidential Rodney Commission that President Ramotar initiated to probe the suspected political assassination of our foremost global historian and scholar, Dr Walter Rodney.

While President Ramotar displays the immense courage and steely character necessary to probe such a vital international cold case, this stain on the conscience of the Guyanese nation, while the President chose to face down the vociferous detractors and vocal enemies of national justice in this case, Brigadier Granger flatly refused to cooperate with the Commission, and even touts the termination of the Commission’s work as a main goal of his.

So while President Ramotar stands up for national social justice, Brigadier Granger refuses to display the good conscience and determination and courage necessary to bring the PNC out of the dark era of its rigid rigged-elections rule.

In other words, Brigadier Granger keeps the PNC in a dark age of con-

scientious leadership.

We want him, as leader of the PNC, to step up his courage, his good conscience, his sense of justice and fair play. We want him to acknowledge that it is under the PNC that a wide swath of this country, despite being loyal constituents of the PNC, suffered immense socio-economic damage, which Government is still working to repair and restore.

Linden, Albouystown, New Amsterdam, Tiger Bay, Dartmouth in Essequibo, these places today stand as stark symbols of the PNC’s impact on its own voting bloc. The PNC damaged the socio-economic development of Guyanese who continue to support it. The least Brigadier Granger could do is take to a national platform and perform a heartfelt mea culpa, apologising for the socio-economic devastation of our nation under PNC rule.

We’re now a fully developed democracy, and as we see with President Ramotar’s Government, we encourage freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom to deal with the past, to introspect deep into our soul and look into our national psyche to perform necessary psychotherapy on our body politic.

Brigadier Granger would know all this, would feel all this in his heart, would encompass a sense of what’s necessary. But does he possess the courage, will and determination to face the PNC’s past and deal with it?

We see leaders like Khemraj Ramjattan, Moses Nagamootoo, Christopher Ram, Dr Rupert Roopnarine, Joey Jagan, Nigel Hughes, James Bond, Basil Williams, partner with Granger in their quest to design the

future of the Guyanese nation. These leaders either, astonishingly, remain blissfully unaware of such national necessities as the PNC dealing with its past in a public mea culpa, or, in a demonstration of the poorest of leadership character, ignore such thoughts nagging their conscience.

Human society revolves around time: the past, the present, the future.

We look to write and design the future, to create the possibilities we envision, to construct and build our aspirations and potential into reality. To perform powerfully in this human endeavour, we’ve got to exercise wisdom, good conscience, authentic conversation and strength, courage and resolve, now, today, to face our past and deal with it.

One would think a military-minded historian of the admirable accomplishment of Brigadier Granger would know this, deep in his intuition, and as a military officer would exercise the courage and leadership strength to perform such a cleansing of our national soul, of the PNC’s past.

Until such time, we could rest assured that our nation found President Ramotar, and we’re seeing that his leadership style, his re-defining of our national way of being, works for us in this hour of our development as a people. In him, our nation sees a humble, serving President with deep belief in national social justice, working democracy, and citizen participation and engagement, and a deep desire to build the future while leading with humility today in exorcising the demons of the past, a leader who intuitively understands how to design our body politic.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

PPP/C members allegedly assaulted

by APNU+AFC Executives - while carrying out advertising exercise

By Navendra Seoraj LAST Friday evening a team from the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) headed by new comer Charles Ramson Jr., while conducting a “flagging and postering exercise” on Sheriff Street were approached by A Partnership For National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) members who verbally abused them. This was according to Ramson during a recent PPP/C press conference at Freedom House.

Ramson disclosed that “On Friday evening while I had a team doing some flagging and postering on Sheriff Street a group ‘roll up’ on us with vehicles bearing persons such as Khemraj Ramjattan and Freddie Kissoon along with about seven others wearing APNU + AFC T-shirts.”

It appeared as if the APNU+AFC members received a report that they (PPP/C members) were pulling down their flags, said the PPP/C new comer.

He state that upon hearing that he notified and showed the APNU+AFC members that their flags were well intact and no vandalism whatsoever was done to any of their campaign materials.

“Nevertheless in their effort to intimidate us, Freddie Kissoon stared cursing at

me very hostilely and one of the persons held him back and push him in the car as

Charles Ramson Jr. though he was trying to intimidate us,” said Ramson.

Apart from that, he highlighted that another incident which left him thinking was when one of the individuals in the

group said to a gentleman that was a part of the PPP/C’s team who is of mixed ethnicity, “I am very surprised at you, do not sell your birth right twice.”

According to Ramson, this was in the presence of APNU+AFC’s vice-presidential candidate, Ramjattan the APNU+AFC, Freddie Kissoon and the individuals who were apart of his team. Further noting that at no moment during that confrontation did that Vice Presidential candidate or Kissoon attempt to accost the individual who made that statement.

“Do not sell you birthright, what does that mean? You choose to support a political party that is other than yours and they’re selling their birthright, maybe because they are of a different race and if that is the case, then that is not only disturbing, distasteful, but is also diabolical for the kind of future we would like to see for the future of Guyana,” he said.

Apart from that he emphasised that “just because we were flagging an area, I found it to be extremely disturbing that this is the type of democratic political process that is going on by a party that is offering themselves to lead our country.”

RACE Meanwhile apart from that he alluded to the fact that all of the indi-

viduals who were with him are young people, who don’t care about race, as they believe in the PPP/C and their candidates, their visions and track record, and that is what the election is about, he noted. Therefore, “why is this conversation an elections gimmick and why does it have to go to race?” asked Ramson Jr. VANDALISM Forgetting the issue of race, he highlighted the destruction of PPP/C campaign material which was done by APNU+AFC supporters. Some of which included the destruction of PPP/C billboards in Linden and Mahaicony.

Ramson made it clear that the ones who are destroying it are not PPP/C supporters, therefore, why haven’t APNU+AFC issued any statements accosting individuals or disciplining individuals.

“We don’t roll up on APNU+AFC supporters, and that is not one the PPP/C’s campaign strategy...big APNU flags are flying across Guyana and that is not something that shouldn’t be fought against, it’s a freely competitive elections and APNU+AFC supporters should desist from destroying the PPP/C’s campaign materials and let there be a free and fair elections.”

Minister Whittaker hands over dumpsters, equipment for solid waste management A Number of ‘skip bins’(dumpsters) and equipment to assist in garbage collection were handed over by Local Government Minister, Norman Whittaker, to the Georgetown Municipality and representatives of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).

The initiative is part of the efforts to absorb the large volumes of waste being generated daily, especially around Georgetown, a press release stated.

The skip bins which usually hold up to 8000 kg will be placed at the following locations: Mandela Avenue (three bins at different locations along ‘the back road’); behind the zoo on Sherriff Street (two bins); Kitty Market, Shell Road, (one bin); Cowan Street between Parade and Camp streets (one bin); Cowan and Duke Streets (one bin); New Market and Cummings Streets (one bin); Hogg and Sussex Streets (one bin); and East La Penitence Market entrance (two bins).

According to the Minister, the initiative is another of Government of Guyana

commitment to the citizens of Guyana to assist in the collection of solid waste.

He also asked that all NDC’s and the local municipality utilise the bins to their maximum and encouraged citizens to use them.

The handing over was welcomed by the Solid Waste Management Department, which is responsible for moving the city’s waste to the designated landfill site at Haggs Bosch.

Head of the Department, Mr. Walter Narine, said, “This small but meaningful donation by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is timely, and will tremendously assist in the removal of manmade dumpsites in the city.”

He thanked the Minister for his unwavering support and leadership in assisting to return Georgetown to its pristine environment. Members of the public are encouraged to use the bins and avoid littering, the release concluded.

One of the several dumpsters/skids that Minister Whittaker handed over

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

Linking hinterland communities and connecting to the coastland

ROADS are essential to any country aspiring to become modernised. They are described as a pillar for economic development, since they provide the base for physical connection of centres of economic production. The absence of roads throughout the hinterland regions has been one of the major reasons for hinterland growth and development not progressing at the rate they should.

Establishment of the Hinterland Roads Programme by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has effected a greater level of interconnectivity throughout communities, some of which are no longer considered remote.

Gold Mines built the road itself.

To date, the road is almost completed towards the Monkey Mountain end; and although it is a fair weather road, it is a good one. Cars can access it from Meritzero to Karasabai, with the travel time drastically reduced. Prior to the construction, to get to Monkey Mountain it normally took about a day and a half, now people can traverse from Meriterizero to Monkey Mountain in approximately three hours, using a four - wheel vehicle. With the final inspection due with the contractors, that phase of the project is expected to be closed soon, Mohamed said.

DREAM TO REALITY Some said it was unattainable, others, it was an impossibility in this generation, but what was once a dream has become a reality today! Two of Guyana’s interior regions, where accessibility once was very challenging, have now been linked!

Considered an engineering feat, there

IMPACT In Regions 8 and 9, commuters are now positively impacted as the Linden/ Lethem Road which was once impassable now enables travellers to get to Lethem in about nine hours in good weather. Although the road is designed for 4x4 pickups and trucks, cars traverse it as well.

They would be able to market their art and craft and agricultural products.

With communication being one important aspect, the roads have allowed the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Company and Digicel to put up towers in some communities, thus allowing for quicker contact between them and the rest of the country.

REGION 1 Major projects in Region 1 include repairs to the road from Port Kaituma to Baramita under two contracts, both totalling approximately $70M. There is also the 28 - mile Santa Rosa/Kwebanna road which would cost approximately $60M. Repairs to Matthews Ridge/Baramita Road are almost completed. Critical areas were fixed to make the road traversable.

Works currently ongoing in Santa Rosa/Kwebanna are approximately 40 to 50% complete, while some additional works are being done to ensure that the

New road linking Regions 8 and 9

Road linking Matthews Ridge to Baramita, Region 1, after rehabilitation is now a road between Regions 8 and 9, stretching dozens of miles into difficult terrain, from Meritzero to Monkey Mountain.

Hinterland Roads Engineer of the Public Works Ministry, Naeem Mohamed, is very proud of this achievement, explaining that this fair weather road links to the Lethem road and leads to villages like Karasabai, Moraibaiko, Yurong Paru, Tiperu and Rukumoto. Not satisfied with this level of development, the Government plans to take the road up to Kato.

Lasting over four years, the 71-mile Karasabai/Monkey Mountain road project was built by several contractors working in phases. Vivekanand Dalip was contracted for the installation of culverts, Cyril King for the installation of bridges (in excess of 1,000 feet in running length), and Omai

A road in the Deep South Rupununi, Region 9 It has opened up opportunities for Region 8 residents to easily transport their produce to market in the busy hub of Lethem.

The road works under the current administration have impacted significantly on Amerindians. First, through accessibility with the price on the Linden/Lethem road being reduced. Guyanese use this road to conduct business in Lethem and Georgetown. The road link created also assists in promoting tourism.

With works being planned on a road from Bartica, this would see access to Mahdia and Monkey Mountain in Region 8. Work is also planned for the Kurupukari Bridge, so that it could create accessibility for Amerindians. When the gaps are closed and tourists visit villages, there would always be a spin-off for Amerindian communities, since they would benefit greatly.

road will remain in good condition over a long period of time. These additional works include stabilising the material that is currently available with cement so that the road would be stronger.

REGION 7 In Region 7, repairs were done to the One Mile to Four Mile Road in Bartica and the Bartica/Potaro road. Asphalt was used to repair the bad spots on the roads which normally deteriorate every year.

However, based on the last inspection made with the asphalt used, good results were seen.

It is expected that the Four Mile to Five Mile on the Bartica/Potaro road would be done since it is in the planning stage. This road is expected to be upgraded.

REGION 8 Apart from the road connecting this region to Region 9, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) did the section of road from the Brian Sucre Junction to Mahdia. While this was basically the same maintenance that the Public Works Ministry does every year, it made a final inspection to ensure that the road is traversable and safe for commuters.

Completed are the rehabilitation of the ‘Wrong Turn’ to the airstrip, rehabilitation of Road Cenotaph to the pavilion and Mahdia to Campbelltown. Other works were done on the Campbelltown roadway and roads in Mahdia, Princeville, and Chenapou were rehabilitated.

Works are ongoing on rehabilitation of the road linking Kato to Chiung Mouth, Mountain Foot to Taruka and Paramakatoi to Bamboo Creek .

REGION 9 In Region 9, numerous roads have been done. beginning with the Linden to Lethem road, which is approximately 276 miles long. The Ministry of Public Works annually expends in excess of $250 to $300M for maintenance of the roadways. Maintenance would include repairs and rehabilitation to 65 bridges, which are made of both log and timber.

With routine maintenance, works would entail grading and shaping, obtaining a saddle-back surface so that water would run off, and bush clearing.

When the road is in bad condition, the travel time basically varies from 18 to 20 hours, but currently the time is nine hours.

Phase Two is currently ongoing on the road, since it was noticed that some of the sections on the road regularly fail. What is being done is additional work on these sections to ensure that when the area experiences torrential rainfall of high intensity, they would stand up to a certain degree.

While the road is unsurfaced, Mohamed said they are doing their best to ensure that it would be rigid enough.

Some community roads were also done in Region 9, including the Sand Creek road which cost in excess of $80M; the Masara road which utilised approximately $45M; and the Parashara/Nappi/Haiawa road which took approximately $25M. The outlook now is to do some other village roads in Region 9.’

FUTURE PLANS Future plans for the hinterland regions would see the Ministry of Public Works ensuring that all the arterial roads are maintained. With most of the Amerindian people living along these areas, this is a first priority.

New roads are being looked at in Region 9, from Karaudaranau to Parabara, some arterial roads from Lethem into Aranaputa; and roads from Katoonarib that branch off in some small villages. Estimates are in hand to be finalised.

In Region 1, other arterial roads are being looked at, these coming from the Santa Rosa/Kwebanna roadway.(GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

Albion PPP/C Rally with a record crowd of thousands The mammoth gathering of thousands at the PPP/C Albion Rally

President Donald Ramotar with former president, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, sharing a light moment. At centre is first lady, DeolatchmeeRamotar

Former president Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo addressing what has been the largest gathering of PPP/C supporters. Behind him are party members

President Donald Ramotar greets enthused supporters

The PPP/C leadership team

President Donald Ramotar and Dr. Clive Jagan at PPP/C’s Albion Rally

PPP/C prime ministerial candidate, Elisabeth Harper, addressing thousands at yesterday’s rally

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

Police record 4% increase in serious crimes

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Thursday said that statistics have revealed a 4% increase in serious crimes for this year up to April 13, 2015, compared to the same period in 2014.

A press release added that among the serious crimes recorded by the force are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape and kidnapping.

The police also reported that 47 murders have been recorded for this year up to April 13, 2015, in comparison to 41 for the same period last year, an increase of 15%.

The force noted that up to April 13, 2015, robbery under arms overall has decreased by 19% in comparison to the same period in 2014. The statistics indicate a 27% decrease in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms, and a 3% decrease in armed

robberies, in which instruments other than firearms were used by perpetrators.

With regard to the offence of rape, there has been an increase of 62% up to April 13, 2015, in comparison to the same period in 2014.

The document added too that there has been no arrest so far for the murder of Quincy Bowman, 31, of Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, whose body was found with a gunshot wound to the head in the vicinity of Busta Bridge, Festival City, on April 6, 2015.

The police have questioned a number of persons from the community as the investigations continue.

Meanwhile, a probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of Devi Ramadhar, 17, of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, whose body was found on the seawall at La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara, on April 11, 2015 is continuing.

The cause of her death is so far

undetermined. However, two men were arrested and questioned by the police but were later released on bail.

In a separate incident, ballistics tests are being conducted on the spent shells and a warhead that were recovered as the investigation into the murder of businesswoman Shevon Gordon, 45, of Block 22, Wismar, continues.

Shevon Gordon was shot and killed during an armed robbery at her home on Saturday, April 4, 2015.

So far the two suspects in this robbery/murder have managed to evade capture by the police.

POLICE ADVISORY Members of the public are advised that should there be a break and enter/burglary committed on their homes, they should inform the police as quickly as possible and try, as far as practicable, not to disturb the scene as valuable evidence may be lost.

Young mason remanded for larceny from the person DOMINIC Morris, an 18-year-old mason of Lot 35 Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates Court on Friday charged with larceny from the person.

Dominic Morris pleaded not guilty to the charge, the particulars of which state that on Thursday, April 16, 2015; he stole one Samsung Galaxy cellular phone valued at $100,000, property of Melanie Deen.

According to the prosecution, on the day in question, Deen had exited a UG bus and was speaking on her

phone when Morris came up from behind and snatched the phone. He then attempted to make good his escape, with Deen in hot pursuit, whilst alerting others.

Morris was later caught by publicspirited citizens and received a sound beating, for committing the offence.

Bail was objected to by Police Prosecutor Seon Blackman on the grounds of the nature, prevalence and penalty attached to the offence.

The prosecution’s objection was upheld and Morris was remanded to prison, until May 6.

Labourer refused bail for robbery with violence DEANDRE Kirk of Lot 34 Owen Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was yesterday refused bail by Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry after pleading not guilty to two counts of robbery with personal violence.

The 23-year-old labourer is accused of robbing Sheeba Vishnu of a gold chain valued $55,000 and a gold ring $167000, while he was in the company of another on March 29 at Water Street, Georgetown. It is alleged that at the time of, before or immedi-

ately after he used personal violence against her.

It is also alleged that on the said day, March 29, at Water Street, he also robbed Bishoo of $53,000 in cash and also used personal violence against her.

The unrepresented man was denied pre-trial liberty on the grounds of the nature and penalty for the offences and the matter was transferred before Magistrate Fabayo Azore for May 6.

Cabinet ‘green-lights’ monies for GPHC medical supplies TWO contracts in the health sector were given the Cabinet’s nod at its meeting on Tuesday and will facilitate the procurement of medical supplies for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon on Wednesday disclosed that the first contract, in the sum of $219.8M, will see the procurement of medical supplies, while the second contract, for just over $1B is for the procurement of drugs for the hospital.

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.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

Hamilton wins again under Bahrain floodlights

By Alan Baldwin MANAMA, Bahrain (Reuters) - Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton won the Bahrain Grand Prix for the second year in a row yesterday with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen back on the podium to deny Mercedes another one-two finish under the floodlights.

The Briton's flying poleto-flag victory at the desert track was his third win in four races this season and 36th of his career.

He increased his lead over Rosberg in the standings to 27 points. The Briton now has 93 points to the German's 66.

Unlike last season, when he beat team mate Nico Rosberg from second place on the grid in a wheel-to-wheel battle, Hamilton was untroubled by the German who finished third after fighting the Ferraris.

Rosberg was holding second place until two laps from the end when he lost

Third-placed Mercedes Formula One driver Nico Rosberg of Germany sprays champagne to race winner and team mate Lewis Hamilton of Britain after Bahrain's F1 Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit, south of Manama, yesterday. (Reuters/Ahmed Jadallah)

his brakes, went wide and gave Raikkonen the chance to speed past on his fresher soft tyres and pull away to the chequered flag.

Rosberg had been passed

by Raikkonen at the start, regaining the place four laps later, in the first move of a prolonged struggle with the Ferraris.

The second place was the Finn's first appearance on the podium since 2013, when he was at Lotus; and first for Ferrari since 2009.

"I am gunning for it," Hamilton told triple world champion Jackie Stewart, doing the podium interviews, when reminded that he could also be a three-time champion by the end of the season.

"The Ferraris gave us a real good run for our money, and out there it was really difficult to look after the tyres in these conditions," he added.

"Fortunately I was able to keep the car together,

keep the tyres as healthy as possible and got it through ... I think we showed that Mercedes are still the best."

Finland's Valtteri Bottas finished fourth for Williams with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel fifth after starting on the front row but suffering front wing problems.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo was sixth for Red Bull, with the car's Renault engine expiring in a belch of smoke just before he crossed the line, and Frenchman Romain Grosjean was seventh for Lotus.

Mexican Sergio Perez finished eighth for Force India while Russian Daniil Kvyat was ninth in a Red Bull and Brazilian Felipe Massa took the final point for Williams after a problem on the grid left him starting from the pit lane.

Britain's Jenson Button did not start the race at all, due to electrical problems in the Honda power unit, but Spanish team mate Fernando Alonso finished 11th.

Man City close in On United after West Ham stroll

By Tom Hayward

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Manchester City ended a difficult week on a high and climbed to within one point of third-placed neighbours Manchester United thanks to a comfortable 2-0 Premier League victory over West Ham United yesterday.

After a testing week in which City's 4-2 defeat at rivals United prompted speculation about the future of manager Manuel Pellegrini and a number of leading players, victory against West Ham provided a welcome boost.

James Collins' freak own goal and Sergio Aguero's 20th league strike of the season secured a routine win and the only surprise was that City failed to add to their lead after the Argentine's 36th-minute effort.

Champions City have 64 points, one behind United who lost 1-0 at Chelsea on Saturday, and two adrift of secondplaced Arsenal who have a game in hand. West Ham remain 10th having won one of their last 11 league matches.

"When we lose we have a lot of criticism and that is part

of football," City midfielder Yaya Toure told Sky Sports.

"Today we showed great team spirit and it was very important to get the three points today. We will continue to fight until the end."

Newcastle United sank to a sixth straight league defeat and are not yet safe from relegation after losing 3-1 to Tottenham Hotspur at St James' Park with Harry Kane grabbing the third to reach 30 goals for the season in all competitions.

Sixth-placed Spurs are level on 57 points with fifthplaced Liverpool but have played a game more while struggling Newcastle remain 14th with 35 points from 33 matches.

CITY BREAKTHROUGH City's derby defeat at Old Trafford had prompted talk of the realignment of the balance of power in Manchester so the visit of a sliding West Ham side was timely.

The hosts fashioned a number of early chances with their slick passing but their breakthrough in the 18th minute came from an unlikely source.

The marauding Jesus Navas burst down the right flank

and his low cross careered off defender Collins before looping over goalkeeper Adrian and deflecting in off the crossbar.

The second goal, however, was more eye-catching.

After intercepting a stray Stewart Downing pass, the hosts broke with searing pace and Aguero, after exchanging passes with Navas, fired under Adrian.

City had cause for concern in the 67th minute, however, when playmaker David Silva was carried off on a stretcher after being hit in the head by Cheikhou Kouyate's elbow.

Spaniard Silva, who was treated for nearly 10 minutes on the pitch, was taken to hospital and City manager Manuel Pellegrini later said they were checking if he had broken a cheek bone.

NEWCASTLE DEMISE There were reports of Newcastle fans boycotting the game at St James' Park because of Mike Ashley's ownership of the club and most of the 47 427 inside the stadium were unhappy to see Nacer Chadli's precise strike put Spurs ahead after 30 minutes.

Jack Colback equalised

Sergio Agureo

for Newcastle 18 seconds into the second half but the home side failed to stay level for long as Christian Eriksen's floated free kick into the box, evaded everyone and bounced past goalkeeper Tim Krul into the net.

Harry Kane's close-range volley was then brilliantly saved by Krul but the England striker notched his 20th league goal of the season in all competitions late on when he applied a calm finish after Spurs caught Newcastle on the counterattack.

Kane, who leads the league scoring chart with Aguero, became the first Tottenham player to score 30 goals in all competitions since ex-England striker Gary Lineker in the 1991-92 season.

Central FC rock Alpha United 3-1 to advance...

From back page

Caribbean at the CONCACAF Champions League.

It was pretty much a one-sided contest with the visitors enjoying the bulk of the possession. Alpha United were never really in the game despite Konata Manning scoring a 43rdminute beauty from a free kick taken about 25 yards from goal.

Central made five changes to their 2-0 victorious side that played against Inter Moengotapoe, while Alpha United made one, bringing in Calvin Shepherd for defender Quincy Madramootoo - a move which turned around to haunt coach Wayne Dover in the contest with the ‘Trinis’.

Alpha Untied put together the game’s first real threat on goal when captain Gregory Richardson found Shepherd on the wing, but when the ball was sent to Kithson Bain, the Grenadian’s touch was not enough to get the ball past Jan-Michael Williams.

That was seven minutes into the contest and was all Alpha United could have put together since it was all about Central FC after that.

Eight minutes later, Guerra got his first of two goals on the night. The tall, well-built forward scored from a build-up between skipper Marvin Oliver and Dwight Quintero as the Trinidad and Tobago international hammered a left-footed rocket on goal which deceived Alpha’s Ronson Williams who thought the ball was going wide – a complete goalkeeping blunder to give Central the 1-0 lead.

A minute later De Silva, given a ‘through ball’ from Guerra, found himself oneon-one with Williams and Central goal-getter finished with a classic right-footed

shot past the sprawling Alpha United custodian.

Sitting comfortably with a 2-0 cushion, Central FC searched for their third goal but it was Alpha United who found their first from Manning.

Richardson was brought down on an attack and Manning and Manuel Vargas stood over the ball after it was placed on the spot by referee Bryan Willet. After the Antiguan sounded his whistle, it was the dreadlocked player who would hit it – not too soft, nor too hard – just perfect to beat a flying JanMichaels Williams to the top right corner of the goal.

Halftime and Alpha United trailed 2-1.

Tried they did, but Alpha United were not as fit as Central FC and it showed as oftentimes the players were seen walking on the pitch, Coach Dover could only bow his head in dismay.

On the opposite side of the bench, Central FC’s Terry Fenwick, the former England international implored his unit to press Alpha United, noticing the Guyanese club’s weakness – fitness!

Bringing on his hero from their previous game in the group, Fenwick pushed Willis Plaza forward and he played through to Darren Mitchell who was brought down in the penalty area by Wayne Ellis.

Guerra stepped up to the kick and the experienced forward made no mistake, hitting it hard to beat Ronson Williams who went the right side, but not high enough to get a glove on the ball.

It was the nail in the coffin, the last ‘hooray’ in the game and Central FC held on for a comfortable 3-1 win.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

Tamim ton helps Bangladesh secure first ODI series win over Pakistan DHAKA, Bangladesh (Reuters) - Bangladesh recorded their first series win against Pakistan after opener Tamim Iqbal's second successive century secured a seven-wicket victory in the second one-day international yesterday.

After restricting Pakistan to a modest 239 for six, the hosts returned with Tamim, who had scored 132 in his team's victory in Friday's series opener, leading their successful chase with nearly 12 overs to spare.

Chasing 240 to clinch the three-match series, Bangladesh lost opener Soumya Sarkar in the third over but Tamim dominated a 78-run stand with Mahmudullah (17) to keep the hosts firmly on track.

Saeed Ajmal removed Mahmudullah in the 15th over but that brought in Mushfiqur Rahim (65) and the stumper-batsman proved a perfect foil for the

Tamim Iqbal registered his sixth ODI century

left-handed Tamim as they added 118 runs to take Bangladesh close to their target.

Tamim glanced Junaid Khan for a boundary to bring up his sixth ODI century and remained unbeaten

after a run-a-ball 116 that included 17 boundaries and a six.

Pakistan fielded the same side who went down by 79 runs on Friday, their first ODI defeat by Bangla-

desh in 16 years, and once again they disappointed their fans.

New one-day captain Azhar Ali's decision to bat first at the Shere Bangla National Stadium backfired with the tourists losing the top half of their batting order by the 22nd over.

Ali notched 36 runs but Bangladesh made early inroads to reduce Pakistan to 77 for five before Harris Sohail (44) and Saad Nasim propped up the innings with a 77-run stand.

Nasim, who scored a duck in his ODI debut on Friday, remained not out on 77 and it took Wahab Riaz's late blitz to lift Pakistan to a decent 239 for six.

Riaz was unbeaten on 51 off 40 balls as he and Nasim scored 49 from the last five overs.

Both teams are set to return to the ground for the third and final match on Wednesday.

Simmons half-century helps Mumbai break losing streak

Lendl Simmons

BANGALORE, India ( C M C ) – We s t I n d i e s limited overs batsman Lendl Simmons struck a

half-century in only his second innings of the new Indian Premier League season to help Mumbai

Indians beat Chris Gayle’s Royal Challengers Bangalore by 18 runs, and end their losing streak here yesterday.

Without a win in five outings this season, Mumbai piled up 209 for seven from their 20 overs and then restricted RCB to 191 for seven at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Sent in, Mumbai were given a flying start by the right-handed Simmons who anchored two enterprising partnerships with a top score of 59.

He put on 47 for the first wicket with Parthiv Patel who scored 12 and a further 72 for the second wicket with Unmukt Chand who hit 58.

The 30-year-old Simmons stroked nine fours and two sixes off 44 deliveries while Chand faced 37 balls and counted eight

fours and two sixes.

Simmons was finally out in the 14th over, topedging a sweep at leg-spinner Yuzvendra Singh Chahal to fine leg where Varun Aaron took the catch.

Chand and Rohit Sharma, who made 43, added 42 for the third wicket but West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago big hitter Kieron Pollard failed, lasting only three balls for his five.

In reply, RCB were off to a troubled start, losing Gayle for ten off 24 balls as they slumped to 125 for six in the 15th over.

However, AB de Villiers hammered a shotf i l l e d 4 2 f ro m j u s t 11 deliveries with five fours and three sixes, in a 58run sixth-wicket stand with fellow South African David Wiese who was unbeaten on 47 at the end.

Bravo half-century not enough to stop unbeaten Royals

Shane Watson finished unbeaten n 73

AHMEDABAD, India (CMC) – Dwayne Bravo smashed an exhilarating unbeaten half-century but then leaked runs with his medium pace as the previously unbeaten Chennai Super Kings crashed to an eight-wicket defeat to highflying Rajasthan Royals here yesterday.

Opting to bat first at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Chennai collapsed to 65 for four in the 10th over before recovering to reach 156 without further loss from their 20 overs.

Bravo struck 62 off 36 deliveries with eight fours and a six to lead the revival, putting on 91 with captain MS Dhoni who chipped in with an unbeaten 31 from 37 deliveries.

Bravo’s West Indies team-

mate Dwayne Smith hammered 40 from 29 balls with three fours and two sixes at the top of the order.

In reply, Royals were propelled by a 144-run opening stand between Ajinkya Rahane who hammered 76 not out and Australian Shane Watson who finished with 73.

Rahane struck six fours and two sixes off 55 balls while Watson clobbered six fours and four sixes in a 47ball knock.

Bravo’s first two overs gushed 29 runs but he returned to bowl the penultimate over and pick up the wicket of Australia’s Steve Smith for six, with Royals on the brink of victory.

Royals are now unbeaten in five outings.

GCB/RAJ SINGH INTER-COUNTY-19

Limited-overs action bowls off today with two matches FOLLOWING the completion of the three-day tournament last Saturday, teams will switch their attention to the limited overs format in this year’s Guyana Cricket Board/ Raj Singh Insurance Inter-county Under-19 tournament, which commences today with two first-round matches.

Newly crowned three-day champions Berbice will be looking to continue their winning ways, when they face up against their nemesis Demerara at the Enterprise ground on the East Coast of Demerara, while at the Wales Community Centre ground, Essequibo will take on the National Under-17.

Nolan Hawk, Anwar Baksh and Deon Feassal are the men who will control the action at Wales, while at Enterprise on the East Coast of Demerara, Orwin Archer, Dawchan Nagasar and Chetnarine Persaud will be the officiating umpires.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

Villa beat Liverpool to end Gerrard's final dream

By Mike Collett

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Aston Villa will meet holders Arsenal in the FA Cup final next month after goals from Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph gave them a 2-1 win over Liverpool in a pulsating semi-final at Wembley yesterday.

Villa's unexpected but thoroughly deserved come-frombehind victory ended Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard's dream of bringing his 17-year career at Anfield to a close with a cup winner's medal on his 35th birthday in the final on May 30.

Tim Sherwood, who has revitalised Villa since replacing Paul Lambert as manager in February, told reporters: "We bamboozled them. They could not cope with our tactics and I think we were the better side."

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said: "We were nervous for some reason. Maybe when you want to win someLiverpool's Steven Gerrard looks dejected after his team’s defeat (Reuters) thing so much, perhaps it plays on your mind. We were second best today."

Gerrard back after a three-match susLiverpool made the breakthrough in pension. But the Liverpool skipper, the 30th minute when Philippe Coutin- who has strutted the Wembley pitch ho scored after sloppy Villa defending. so many times for England, made But Villa, who last won the cup in little impact even though his side 1957, were only behind for six minutes took the early lead. before they deservedly equalised when Villa, though, were far from deskipper Delph, guilty for his part in flated and levelled when Benteke the build-up to the Liverpool goal, did struck his ninth goal in his last seven everything right in the move that led matches. to Villa's.

Rodgers continually tinkered with He surged forward before playing a his formation and brought striker one-two with Jack Grealish and cross- Mario Balotelli on as a halftime reing for Benteke whose first time shot placement for Lazar Markovic but flew past goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. the Italian never seriously troubled Villa went ahead nine minutes into the Villa back line. the second half when Delph scored He fluffed one glancing header, after another superb move which in- although the linesman's flag was in cluded a Benteke backheel and a Gre- any case raised for offside, and then, alish through ball for his captain who with time running out, he did put cut in and gave Mignolet no chance the ball in the net only to be ruled from 12 metres. offside again, this time more controversially.

GERRARD BACK Gerrard's final act in the drama T h e o p e n i n g s p e l l w a s c a g e y saw his looping header cleared off but Villa more than held their own the line by Kieran Richardson as against a Liverpool side who had Villa held on for a famous win.

T&T junior cyclists finish with four Pan Am medals Trinidad and Tobago’s junior cyclists walked away with two gold and two bronze medals overall as the Junior Pan American Track Cycling Championships in Aguascalienties, Mexico came to a conclusion Friday evening.

The junior riders equalled T&T’s highest medal tally at the meet. Besides the four medals, two new Pan American records were set, as well as eight new national records and 14 personal-best performances.

And T&T’s overall quota could have been even higher. There was heartbreak on the final day for standout athletes Teniel Campbell and Keiana Lester. Campbell fell just short of bronze in the women’s omnium after she dropped to fourth place after having been as high as second after four events.

She clocked her personal best in the 500 metre time trial, finishing in

DOUBLE GOLD MEDALLIST: Kollyn St George during her record-breaking sprint in the flying 200m

36.722 seconds. She also had the second fastest time in the subsequent flying lap race after which she was only 12 points behind Antonieta Gaxiola of Mexico.

The endurance cyclist slipped to fourth overall after the sixth and final event,

the points race. Meanwhile, Lester was inches away from bronze in the women’s keirin, but was unable to overtake Colombia’s Lorena Espinal at the line.

Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation president, Robert Farrier was impressed with the overall performance of the team.

According to him, apart from equalling the medal tally, and the new championship records, the national team has a good base from which to work for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. He also told the Sunday Express that based on the number of debutants, it was clear that there were a lot of talented junior riders on the local circuit.

Eight members of the T&T team made their debuts at the Championships.

The cyclists were scheduled to return home Saturday night, however a complication with their luggage delayed their arrival until yesterday.(Trinidad Express)

Djokovic adds another Masters to his series in Monte Carlo MONTE CARLO, (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic continued his awe-inspiring run of form to claim the Monte Carlo Masters title yesterday with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 win over Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych.

The Serbian world number one became the first player to clinch the opening three Masters titles of the season after he triumphed in Indian Wells and Miami, notably seeing off nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal in Saturday's semi-final.

Berdych, however, was no pushover in the final of the first tournament of the European clay court season, which will culminate at Roland Garros from May 24-June 7.

“I thought I won this match with my heart and with battle,” said Djokovic.

“That’s how I feel like I won it. I don’t think I’ve played on the level that I wish to play and that I have played throughout the whole

week.

"But also credit to Tomas, because he has played very aggressively, staying close to the line, pushing me back. So I had to defend a lot of times."

Coming into the match with a 2-18 win-loss record against Djokovic, Berdych had little to lose and he started brightly, stealing the Serbian's serve in the first game with a nice backhand winner down the line, allowing his opponent only two points in the first two games.

But the Czech started to make unforced errors and in no time Djokovic had moved from 3-1 down to 5-3 up.

Berdych kept battling and levelled for 5-5 after reeling off six points in a row in a see-saw contest that left Djokovic's coach, Boris Becker, sliding back into his seat.

The Serbian's rhythm, however, was too much to handle for Berdych, who saved two set points before cracking on the third, send-

ing a backhand into the net after Djokovic had sent him chasing the ball in every corner of the court.

Berdych had his chance in the fifth game of the second set as he set up three break points but he wasted two of them with unforced errors and Djokovic saved the third with a service winner.

He won that game and the match was interrupted by rain for about 70 minutes.

Berdych broke for 4-3 on his third opportunity after putting Djokovic on the back foot and he took the set after winning 15 of 19 points on his first serve.

His form then nosedived as Djokovic raced to a 4-0 lead in the decider, but Berdych then clawed back one of breaks and even had another chance to break in the seventh game.

But once again, the Czech made unforced errors and was powerless to stop Djokovic from closing it out on his serve.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

Abrams, Cossou fire home hat-tricks in Busta soft shoe action … Bent Street, WFR set to advance

By Calvin Roberts HAT-TRICKS off the boots of Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams and prolific marksman Roy Cossou were the highlights on the third night of action in the inaugural Petra Organisation/Guyana Beverage Inc. Busta soft shoe football championships, played at the Georgetown Football Club ground last Saturday night.

On the same night, Bent Street who defeated Hope Street-Tiger Bay and West Front Road (WFR) Gold is Money’ are set to advance to the knockout round, following their individual wins over their respective opponents.

Abrams, who suited up for Bent Street, scored his goals in the 3rd, 6th and 14th minutes of play and should have scored at least six more during the encounter, while his teammates should have added eight more, but wasted the opportunities even though they defeated Hope Street-Tiger Bay 3-1, with Ron Adams scoring for the losers in the 22nd minute.

Cossou was the first to score his hattrick, doing so in the 11th, 18th and 24th minute along with an own goal which was scored in the 27th minute. Albouystown

rebounded from their 1-1 first round draw with Hope Street, to defeat North East La Penitence 4-1, with Calvin Moore scoring his side’s consolation goal in the 21st minute.

The night’s action got under way with Broad Street defeating D’Urban Street 2-0, with Jamal Cozier scoring both goals for the winners in the 11th and 24th minute and this was followed by Globe Yard inflicting a 4-1 defeat on Back Circle, who looked out-of-sorts for the encounter.

Ryan Morrison (9th and 29th), Leon Roberts (13th) and Kevin Lewis (22nd) were the players responsible for Globe Yard’s goals, with Dexter Griffith responding for the hapless Back Circle in the 27th minute.

After Festival City and Tucville played to a nil-ll draw, thanks to some exemplary custodial work from both sides, WFR ‘Gold is Money’ through double strikes from Michael Oie and Randolph Wagner, edged Cross Street Werk-en-Rust 4-3 in a humdinger.

Oie opened the scoring in the 5th minute, beating the opposition’s custodian from halfway inside his own half, but Sheldon Profitt responded for Cross Street, with his 10th minute strike. No more goals materialised in the half, and the Busta break was

First Test draw has strengthened Windies resolve, says Smith ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) – Opener Devon Smith says batting out the entire last day to save the first Test has further strengthened West Indies’ self-belief that they can compete against England in the on-going three Test series.

The Caribbean side were given little chance against an England unit ranked five places higher at number three, with incoming England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves even labelling them as “mediocre”.

Set 438 to win the first Test in Antigua last week, however, West Indies produced a sterling performance to pull off a draw, after starting the final day on 98 for two.

“The guys … are looking forward to the second Test.

To bat a whole day and save a Test match is amazing,” Smith told reporters here yesterday.

“A lot of fans expected us to lose but having said that, the guys went out there and believed in themselves and performed to the best of their ability and came up with a draw.

“Sometimes it’s good to be the underdogs because you have nothing to lose but something to prove. So we have no pressure on us, it’s England who have the pressure … they said in the press they would win the series 3-0.

“It motivates not just me but the whole team to go out there and prove them wrong in what they’ve said. You just have to go out there and perform to the best of our ability.”

Smith played a key role in the first Test result, scoring 65 in a critical 83-run second-wicket stand with Darren Bravo (32) late on the penultimate day.

The 33-year-old lefthander, whose 37-Test career has been a chequered one, said he was now coming into his own and was more sorted out mentally.

“I think sometimes before I used to put myself under unnecessary pressure wondering about getting dropped.

Now it’s different, I just go out there and express myself,” Smith noted.

Once he is selected for the second Test which bowls off here tomorrow, Smith will become the first Gre-

nadian to play a Test before his home crowd - an honour he is looking forward to.

“It will be a dream come through, because I know my whole family will be here to support me and I hope they will be here even before the first ball is bowled. At least that will motivate me to go forward and do great things,” he said.

With only two Tests ever played at the Grenada National Stadium, there is some apprehension over what the pitch will serve up but Smith said that he believed it would be one where both bowlers and batsmen could thrive.

“I think it’s a good wicket to bat on. On the fourth and fifth day the ball may turn a little bit but having said that I think it is a great wicket to bat on and as long as you apply yourself and concentrate on what you have to do, you’re going to get results,” he pointed out.

“You’ll have to work hard for your wickets … as long as you put something in you’re going to get some results. If you bowl well you will get wickets and if you bat good you will get runs.”

Angeline Dyer of Petra Organisation (left) proudly presents the shopping voucher to the coach of Bent Street, prior to his team’s victorious encounter against Hope Street-Tiger Bay. taken with the scorecard reading 1-1.

On the resumption of play, Oie completed his double in the 23rd minute, a goal that was complemented by Wagner’s brace which was scored in the 26th and 27th minutes of play, before Dellon David (27th) and Samuel Hunte (30th) tried to make a fight out of the contest for Cross Street, but time expired on them.

The action, which has at stake $600 000 to the winners, with the second- to fourthplaced finishers set to pocket $300 000, $200 000 and $100 000 while in the group

stage, the first- to fourth-placed finishers will respectively receive $30 000, $20 000, $15 000 and $10 000, continued at the same venue last night.

Meanwhile, the organisers are partnering with Nigel’s Supermarket who will be giving away to one lucky customer a $5 000 shopping voucher. The coach of Bent Street, who chooses to remain anonymous, won last Saturday night’s voucher which he will redeem at Nigel’s Supermarket on Robb Street.

Bolt wins 100m in Rio but unhappy with performance

By Andrew Downie

the starting line but was more serious in his post-race assessment.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) “Overall I didn’t feel myself, but I think - Usain Bolt cruised to victory in a it is just lack of races,” he said. “It will take sprint challenge yesterday but the Ja- time for me to get back to my best so I just maican world record holder declared need to run more and I’ll be OK.” himself unhappy with his performance “This is always my first race of the season in his first 100 metres of the season. so it is not going to be as fast as everyone Bolt pulled away from Ryan Bailey over wants it to be.” the last 30 metres to finish in 10.12 seconds, The race was his third ‘Mano a Mano’ 0.12 seconds clear of the American Olympian. challenge in Rio, the city that will host the Brazilian Jose Carlos Moreira was third 2016 Olympics. in 10.51 and Churandy Martina of the NethBolt, who won gold in the 100m, 200m erlands was fourth in 10.53. and 4x100m relay in both Beijing and London, hopes to complete another Olympic triple gold in Brazil and he has come to the city four times to acclimatise.

He is next scheduled to race in the World Relays in the Bahamas, May 2-3.

In the women’s challenge, Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown won her first 100m race of the season in 11.04.

The two-time Olympic sprint champion easily beat U.S. Olympian Carmelita Jeter (11.19), Jamaican Jamaican Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt (3) Kerron Stewart (11.30) runs against Jose Carlos Moreira of Brazil (1), Ryan and Brazil’s Antonia Rosa Bailey of the U.S. (2) and Churandy Martina (4) of (11.59). the Netherlands in the ‘Mano a Mano’ challenge, “I’m pleased,” Campa 100-metre race in Rio de Janeiro April 19, 2015. bell-Brown said. “Athletes always want to go faster but (Reuters/Ricardo Moraes) I understand that it is my first 100m race of the season and it “I think it was poor execution overall,” is not a bad way to start.”

Bolt said. “I am sure my coach isn’t going to Richard Browne won the paraolympic be too happy. The good thing is that I won.” challenge that was marred by the withdrawal The race, at Rio de Janeiro’s horse-racing of local hero Alan Fonteles. track in specially assembled lanes, was literalFonteles, who rose to fame by beating ly a walk in the park for the six-time Olympic Oscar Pistorius to the 200m gold in London, gold medal winner. pulled out because of problems with his With the iconic statute of Christ the Re- prosthetic leg. deemer behind him, Bolt clowned around on Browne won in 10.88.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 20, 2015

GFF moving apace with women’s football resuscitation

By Rawle Toney

OVER 50 women, drawn from across Guyana converged on the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Base Camp Ayanganna ground yesterday, as the Guyana Football

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) had recently announced that on Saturday May 23, the confederation will see the celebration of its first annual Women’s Football Day.

power the women’s game through initiatives such as this one.”

Several activities will be organised at CONCACAF’s Member Associations with support provided by the Confederation.

Women’s Football Day will strive to

senior National team went “M.I.A” (missing in action) but Bolton, yesterday said that the day’s event is all part of the plan to get Guyana back on the international circuit, starting with youth development. “... It will take care of the Women in

Technical Director Claude Bolton pays attention to the participants of yesterday’s event.

Federation (GFF), through sponsorship from FernLeaf Milk, hosted a day of interaction and awareness for Women’s football.

Under the guidance of Technical Director Claude Bolton, the day’s event saw several coaches, including National coach Jamaal Shabazz, help to guide the participants through several fun drills and engaging them in the fundamental side of the game.

“The people in the football fraternity have realised that the women want to play since it’s long overdue, going back to their 2010 run,” said Bolton, speaking with Chronicle Sport after the day’s activity.

This initiative, which was presented at the CONCACAF “Let’s Develop Women’s Football” seminar held in October 2014, in Philadelphia, will aim to unite all 41 member associations to celebrate women’s football throughout the region.

“This day is dedicated to recognising the passionate, fearless, and devoted members of CONCACAF’s elite women’s teams, and to inspire the younger generation to take the game to new heights,” said CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb. “As we embrace a new era in women’s football, we aim to further develop the talents of female players in our Confederation and will continue to em-

achieve the distinction of being the first occasion that all of CONCACAF’s members will simultaneously organise a women’s football activity.

“The next step is the CONCACAF Women’s Day of Football to remind people that the Women’s World Cup is coming soon and we’ll participate in that. That event will help us to kick off some symposiums and conferences, along with some women’s coaching licences and will allow us to run a women’s developmental league or a ‘D’ League in October,” Bolton noted.

Since featuring in the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup in Mexico, Guyana’s

the U-15 and above, but we’ll concentrate heavily on that U-12 to U-14 age group. That U-12 in three/four years will definitely be our U-15 National team and that’s the team we’re going to use as a benchmark of how we’re going to progress in the women’s game,” Bolton said.

Meanwhile, Bolton also highlighted that plans are in place to help resuscitate the ‘Lady Jags’, noting that he’s in talks with former Technical Director Mark Rodrigues, trying to find out the location of the historic women team’s players and how he (Bolton) can have their involvement in his developmental process going forward.

Four Knights initiative a ‘masterstroke’, says Muirhead ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – West Indies Cricket Board chief executive, Michael Muirhead has described the newly launched Four Knights Academy as a “masterstroke”, and says it has the potential to play a critical role in national development here.

The cricket academy, established in honour of Antigua and West Indies legends Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Curtly Ambrose, Sir Andy Roberts and Sir Richie Richardson, was formally unveiled on Wednesday at the Jumby Bay Resort.

“The Four Knights Academy is a masterstroke, which I am sure will score big among the aspiring boys and girls of Antigua and Barbuda and will open doors for the future of cricket in the Caribbean,” Muirhead told the black-tie affair attended

by Sir Viv, Sir Richie, Sir Curtly and Sir Andy, along with legendary former captain and current selection chief Clive Lloyd.

“The four knights have created a legacy for cricket in Antigua & Barbuda and the launch of this academy will ensure that the legacy lives on.

“Let it also be an institution of learning – not just about the yes, no, and wait, about the game of cricket; but also about the ins and outs and dos and don’ts about life as well. Let it help to rebuild national pride and produce

the heroes of the society.”

The venture is being funded by the Antigua Government, and will cater to young aspiring local cricketers wishing to develop their game further.

While the four knights will be involved in the academy, other national coaches are expected to be employed to oversee enrolled members.

Leeward Islands all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall will be one of the first participants in the academy.

Muirhead also urged support for the West Indies Retired Players Foundation, a joint initiative between the WICB and players union, WIPA, geared towards ensuring former players were not lost to the future development of the game in the region.

“The skills and services of our retired players have not been utilised in a manner befitting their stature and the situation needs to be improved,” he pointed out.

“Our former players have international reputations for success and achievement and we must now, in a formal and structured way, undertake the necessary work to utilise their expertise to help to improve and redevelop West Indies Cricket.

“Cricket is a game which can play an integral role in the social development of a

LEGENDARY CAPTAINS: Clive Lloyd (left) speaks with Sir Vivian Richards during the black-tie dinner. (Photo courtesy WICB Media) country. Cricket teaches us about life and about teamwork, about leadership and the fact that you win some and lose some.

“These are some of the virtues that would serve a young cricketer for the rest of his or her life.”

Sport CHRONICLE

GFF moving apace with women’s football resuscitation 23 Page

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

CFU CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

Central FC rock Alpha United 3-1 to advance to next stage

By Rawle Toney

A BRACE from forward Ataulla Guerra (15th and 85th) and one from Sean De Sliva saw Central FC, the Couva Sharks, defeat

Alpha United 3-1 at the Guyana National Stadium yesterday in the final Group One match in this year’s Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship.

The win means the debutant Trinidad and Tobago club will advance to the second stage, set for May 20-22, when they will play for a chance to represent the Turn to page 19 ►

Beaten! Central FC’s Ataulla Guerra (#45), scores from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute, sending Ronson Williams flying but not enough to get a glove on the ball

Central FC’s goalscorer Sean De Sliva is chased by Alpha United’s Wayne Ellis during the first half of their contest

The victorious Central FC team after winning 3-1 against Alpha United yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium (Samuel Maughn photos)

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MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015