2015 4 30

GUYANA

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

No. 104174 THURSDAY APRIL 30, 2015 GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

PRICE: $80

President relieves

Health Minister of his duties

INCLUDING VAT

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President Donald Ramotar

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Dr Bheri Ramsaran

PPP/C, APNU+AFC among

signatories to GECOM code of conduct – Surujbally dubs Code the ‘Holy Grail’ for campaigning Page

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Presidential candidates of the major political parties, incumbent Head of State, Donald Ramotar and APNU+AFC leader, Brigadier (ret'd) David Granger, after signing the Code of Conduct that will guide campaigning in the election 2015

Entrepreneurship, innovation key to successful economy 11 Page

Former Finance Minister Asgar Ally throws Page support 15 behind PPP/C

Labaria slithers from cobbler’s customer boot Page

Asgar Ally

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

PPP/C, APNU+AFC among

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signatories to GECOM code of conduct – Surujbally dubs Code the ‘Holy Grail’ for campaigning

By Vanessa Narine ALL EIGHT political parties contesting the 2015 General and Regional Elections were represented at the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) Kingston office yesterday for the signing of the long awaited Code of Conduct for political parties.

People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) presidential candidate and incumbent Head of State, Mr Donald Ramotar, was the first to ink the pact at the Office of the President in the presence of the GECOM Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally.

He contends that the signing re-affirms the PPP/ C’s commitment to ensuring that there is fair and good conduct during and after May 11 Regional and General Elections.

President Ramotar was

represented at yesterday’s ceremony by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Clement Rohee.

Meanwhile, presidential candidate of the other main political party, the Alliance of A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), David Granger, underscored his hope that the guidelines are adhered to with full compliance.

The other political parties represented were the United Republican Party (URP) and the Healing the Nation Theocracy Party (HTNT), The United Force (TUF), the National Independence Party (NIP), the Independent Party (IP) and the Organisation for the Victory of the People (OVP).

HOLY GRAIL GECOM Chairman, during remarks at yesterday’s

event, dubbed the Code of Conduct the “Holy Grail” for campaigning.

“This Code is more than a guideline. It must be seen as the Holy Grail for campaigning. It cannot be allowed to disappear into the fog of political nothingness…this Code must not be weakened by distrust or be thrown into the dustbin by this evening. It must not be discarded because of petulance, vexation, petty discontent, manufactured resentment and theatralic posturing,” Dr Surujbally stressed.

He added, “Statements made at news conferences and by road-side platforms should be to edify and inform, not to numb, mystify and create doubt and social unrest...I dare say that arrogance, aggression, slanderous and overly confrontational statements on

Members of the diplomatic corps at the signing of the 2015 Code of Conduct

the hustings or at news conferences might go a long way to ensure the discreditation of a politician.”

He highlighted that while the Code is not punitive, in being self-regulatory, it is not complex; rather it is straightforward and promotes peace, orders, compliance for electoral laws, respect for opponents and respect for the Guyanese people.

CHARGE TO PARTIES On that note, Dr Surujbally charged that once this conviction is shared by all signatories, behaviour on the campaign trail will be focused on healing, not on promoting, cultivating or exacerbating existing social fissures.

The GECOM Chairman made it clear that GECOM must not be placed in a position of trying to manage and produce credible elections in an environment of “hostility and turbulence, calculated coarseness and unnecessary vulgarity” and other attacks.

As such, he welcomed the move by the political parties to sign the Code of Conduct and made it clear that it is “here to stay” and does not have an expiry date. “(Today is) a day which reflects a reinforcement on the desire to exhibit political maturity – a coming of age, so to speak. This is the day on which political differences are consciously cast aside, so that noble, visionary patriots – by placing their signatures on a document – are in effect placing our nation first and are demonstrating their willingness, their preparedness, their commitment

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, addressing the gathering at yesterday’s event

to adhere to the rules of the Code of Conduct to which, essentially, they themselves have meaningfully contributed,” Dr Surujbally declared.

WELCOMED Meanwhile, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Persaud, who was the most recent to stress the need for political parties to sign the Code of Conduct, was among the first to welcome the move.

“The PSC is very pleased that the political parties’ Code of Conduct produced

by GECOM has been signed by the leading candidates of all the contesting parties.

The Code sets out some high standards to be followed by the contesting parties and we trust that there is full compliance to the principles.

Now that political parties have signed on to the Code of Conduct, it is expected that they would abide by the protocols documented in the Code, all in the interest of free and fair General and Regional Elections.

The advantage of having such an agreement in place, according to GECOM, relates to being able to guard against confrontational and vitriolic election campaign meetings/rallies and statements.

GECOM regards contesting parties signing the Code as demonstrating their willingness to craft their respective election campaign strategies in ways that contribute to the maintenance of peace and tranquility throughout and beyond the elections.

Representatives of the contesting political parties at yesterday’s event. Second from left is GECOM Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally and Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

President relieves Health Minister of his duties asked at his weekly news conference, which was held on Monday at Freedom House, Robb Street.

Asked to detail what the sanctions involved, he said, “He was spoken to very seriously.”

Recent comments made during and after a confrontation with local social activist, Sherlina Nageer, had landed Ramsaran in hot water.

The Health Minister last Monday reportedly talked about having Nageer “slapped” and “stripped” when approached by her on the issues of maternal and child deaths.

Subsequently, he apologised for his comments, attributing his outburst to the fact that he was provoked to anger. “It was unfortunate that I was provoked into anger and uttered harsh words at her for which I now regret,” the minister said in his apology.

DR BHERI Ramsaran has been relieved of his duties as Health Minister by His Excellency President Donald Ramotar, according to a statement issued yesterday morning from the Office of the President.

The decision was made after a meeting between the President and Dr Ramsaran, during which the Head of State reiterated his outrage at the verbal outbursts and insults uttered by the Health Minister recently.

President Ramotar has named Dr Jennifer Westford to act as Minister of Health.

The action follows a commitment from President Ramotar to address the widely criticised action of Ramsaran.

The ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), at its level, also sanctioned Ramsaran.

“We have sanctioned the comrade,” said General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C), Clement Rohee, when

Dr Bheri Ramsaran President Donald Ramotar

However, a recording of a meeting he held with Regional Health Officers (RHOs) the following Wednesday, was made public and Dr. Ramsaran was heard repeating some of what he said on Monday, as well as charging that Nageer is “rabid,” a “miscreant” and in need of “psychiatric help.”

PUBLIC CALLS The gravity of the debacle considered has fuelled mounting pressure on the Administration to have Ramsaran

Dr Jennifer Westford

dismissed.

At a news conference yesterday, Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon disclosed that the consequent implications of Ramsaran being relieved of his ministerial duties are expected to follow.

“The question that you have asked whether he is still a member of cabinet, well that is what I will have to find out, if he has been relieved of his ministerial post, I want to

believe that those subsequent developments have also taken place,” he said.

According to him, the President’s response is “indeed a response” that many have been waiting to hear.

Dr Luncheon said, “The pressures I am pretty certain you are aware that have been brought to bear on Minister Ramsaran about

his utterances, and I suppose as we would say that the pressures have prevailed, that is all I would be able to say now.”

Prior to action being taken, there have been calls from several sections of society for the Health Minister’s resignation, the most recent coming from the Private Sector Commission (PSC).

“We believe that his behaviour warrants the sanction of the President and we are looking for the President to take the right action necessary,” PSC Chairman Ramesh Persaud said when questioned about the incident on Friday, April 24.

In addition to President Ramotar and the leadership of the PPP/C, Ramsaran’s colleagues, as well as members of civil society and the diplomatic corps have condemned his behaviour.

(Vanessa Narine)

Four more int’l groups accept invitation to act as election observers

By Vanessa Narine IN addition to the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Carter Centre, four other international groups have confirmed that they will field election observer missions for the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr Roger Luncheon, yesterday, at a news conference at the Office of the President,

disclosed that the Commonwealth, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the United Nations and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) have accepted Central Government’s invitation to act as electoral observers.

The Governments of South Africa and India, which were also invited, unfortunately have not responded favourably to the invitation.

Dr Luncheon explained

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that while Central Government had indicated an interest in having the international observers in Guyana a few weeks ahead of the May 11 polls, as well as having them remain sometime after the elections, these objectives have not been met.

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr Steve Surujbally, in an invited comment yesterday, told the Guyana Chronicle that once the international observers

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are in, they will be accredited by the Commission.

Additionally, 10 local groups have indicated an interest in acting as election observers and they include representatives from the United States of America Embassy, the British and Canadian High Commissions, the European Union (EU) country office, the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Blue Caps, the Inter-

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national Republic Institute (IRI), the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and the Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB). The latter received the endorsement of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) on Wednesday, when it announced that it will be working with the EAB in the monitoring of the elections.

The GECOM Chairman maintained that all observers, local and foreign, will be required to sign on to certain protocols before they are accredited as observers.

The Guyana Chronicle was able to get an exclusive look at these protocols which outline the roles and functions of the observer groups.

Relative to foreign observers, the missions, according to the protocol, will be expected to adhere to more than 35 guidelines. In addition to the guidelines, the rights and privileges of accredited election observer groups were also outlined in

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the protocol.

Similar rights and guidelines apply to local observer groups, which were detailed in a separate document seen by this newspaper.

Under the Election Law (Amendment) Act No. 15 of 2000, Section 20 states that: “The Commission may approve of local organisations observing the democratic process involved in any election provided such organisations fulfill such conditions as may be stipulated by the Commission.”

Both protocols, for foreign and local observer groups, state clearly that if GECOM considers that an observer group “wilfully, without restraint, overtly and/or with malice aforethought breached the modus operandi and protocols” outlined by the Commission, GECOM has the authority to and may rescind its accreditation from the individual errant observer or even from the entire observer mission.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

Deadly landslide hits Salvador in north-east Brazil AT least 14 people were killed in landslides in the city of Salvador in northeast Brazil on Monday.

Heavy rains flooded streets and triggered two separate landslides, sweeping away hillside homes in poor neighbourhoods and injuring 10 people.

Residents and fire fighters are still searching for a

number of missing.

Meteorologists said the rain was the heaviest in two decades, with more than half of the monthly average falling in the space of only 10 hours.

Seven people died in the neighbourhood of Barro Branco and another seven in Marotinho.

Patients also had to be

evacuated from the Santo Antonio hospital in the city after it was flooded.

Barro Branco has been hit by landslides before. In 1996, 13 people died and 300 were left homeless.

Almost 1,000 people died in Rio de Janeiro state four years ago when whole hillsides collapsed after heavy rain.

Venezuela cuts working hours to tackle energy crisis (BBC News) VENEZUELA says it will cut the working day for public sector workers to five-and-a-half hours to conserve energy, down from eight to nine hours.

The initiative is part of a nationwide electricity rationing plan.

Vice-President Jorge Arreaza said there had been a surge in energy demand due to extremely hot weather. He said state employees would now work from 07:30-13:00 to save on air conditioning.

On Monday, local media reported blackouts across the country.

Mr Arreaza said private companies would be asked to use their own generators to reduce pressure on the national grid.

But he said it was private

Landslides are not unusual at this time of year, when heavy rains are frequent

The government said power demand had risen 1,500MW in a week due to hot weather homeowners who consumed the most energy, and he called for everyone to turn the dial down on their air conditioners.

“We are appealing to everyone’s conscience, to use energy efficiently.”

Last week the govern-

ment claimed that energy problems were due to maintenance issues, but the opposition criticised the government for not investing enough in the energy sector, BBC Venezuela correspondent Daniel Pardo reports.

Is T&T ready for the big one?

...ODPM says we are getting there (Trinidad Express) TRINIDAD and Tobago is 60 per cent ready for a major earthquake but the building of earthquake resistant structures is a problem, according to Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), Dr Stephen Ramroop.

Ramroop agreed with University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (SRC) seismologist Dr Joan Latchman that people need to construct their homes according to the building codes and to improve critical facilities such as hospitals, schools and communications facilities.

Speaking with the Express Tuesday, Ramroop said: “Earthquakes don’t kill people, (collapsing) build-

ings kill people. So we must build our homes according to the building codes, make sure and have proper plans approved.”

Collapsing buildings were responsible for the more than 4,000 fatalities in the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that shook Nepal last Saturday, triggered fears globally.

There has been a series of recent earthquakes in the Caribbean, the latest, a 3.9 magnitude earthquake, happening near Barbados.

Ramroop said Trinidad and Tobago is better prepared for an earthquake as compared to ten years ago.

“I would say we are about 60 per cent ready but that readiness will depend on our local response and a lot of the local response will depend on

the people inside their homes,” he added.

He said that the evacuation response of schools, fire services and other local authorities has been improved due to simulation exercise drills which occurs annually in March, involving a number of sectors both private and public.

He said many people have become involved in getting trained and are asking the right questions to become knowledgeable about disaster preparedness. He said there has been, “more disaster management capacity, faster responses, more unilateral and bi-lateral relationships”, and more international and regional agencies have been working with the ODPM to provide assistance in the event of a disaster.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

Is there Justice for the powerless and voiceless?

IN the developing world, violence is an everyday threat for the poor.

Millions of children and women are exploited in the commercial sex trade; statistics have established the stark reality that one of five women will be a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime, and in excess of 30 million people are held as modern-day slaves.

It is estimated that by 2020, an approximate 1.5 billion persons will live without secure rights to their homes and property.

Throughout the developing world, fear of violence is a part of everyday life for the poor. It is as much a part of poverty as hunger, disease or malnutrition.

The poorest are so vulnerable because their justice systems – police, courts and laws – don’t

protect them from violent people. According to the United Nations, justice systems in the developing world are so broken that the majority of poor people live life “far from the law’s protection.”

Solutions for these abominations in the family of mankind can only come with community-level involvement, with a holistic approach from all stakeholders.

Community and church leaders should partner with law enforcement officials to go into brothels, bars, slave facilities and other dark places to rescue victims; justice should be relentlessly pursued in the court to ensure all traffickers, slave owners, rapists and child molesters, and other criminals are brought to swift justice – with the accent on swift; survivors of violence should be helped to rebuild

their lives and restore them to their families, with the provision of trauma counseling, job skills training, education or other help to meet each survivor’s specific needs; human rights groups should lobby for functional justice systems and constitutional changes where necessary to strengthen the advocacy and justice systems so that victims do not fall through cracks left open either intentionally or unintentionally.

The International Justice Mission has a worldwide membership of volunteers who provide advocacy, organise fundraisers, and help in a multiplicity of ways to victims.

Village Service Trust is a progressive UK charity that works with Indian NGOs to support women, HIV+ people and Dalits confronting poverty and injustice. The organisation empowers marginalised people to build community

Let us all support Government’s plan to develop our country OVER the years, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) has invested heavily and extensively in Guyana’s infrastructure development.

Many roadways have been reconstructed and repaired, and in the manifesto, infrastructure is one of the immediate priorities to which the PPP/C will be committed.

For example, making the Linden to Lethem road a success, with the cooperation of Brazil’s Government. This highway will serve as an artery to the many hinterland communities.

Constructions of a new roadway between Mocha and Ogle which will result in connecting the East Bank of Demerara to the East Coast of Demerara, and the four-lane

expansion between Providence and Diamond are still under construction and will be completed in a few months.

There is also the continuation of the construction of a four-lane highway on a section of the East Coast of Demerara, commencing from Better Hope to Annandale. Steel Bridges will also be built along the Railway Embankment.

The construction of a new bridge across the Demerara River, for which a feasibility study is underway, is amongst Government’s many plans for the further development of the nation’s infrastructure network.

There will also be continuous work on the expansion of drainage and irrigation systems, by installing more pumps

for further assistance to farmers in their agriculture pursuits.

The improvement of the main waterways, drains and the linking of drainage systems around the country are also a main focus.

The PPP/C’s manifesto has highlighted the party’s priorities which will result in the enhancement of our country’s developments and it is time that we, the people, give support; for this is not about what our country can do for us, it is about what we can do for our country, because we are ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’.

I urge all to come forward and help Guyana go to greater heights.

TERI PHANG

organisations and pursue lives free from poverty, violence and discrimination.

Violence and abuse affect women from all kinds of backgrounds every day.

Sometimes, women are attacked by strangers, but most often they are hurt by people who are close to them. Violence and abuse can cause terrible physical and emotional pain. Victims need to be encouraged to think they are not alone, and that they can get help from the relevant bodies. Education and support are key factors to strengthen the resolve of victims to escape from their situations.

But what of the chance encounter? That moment in time where a victim falls prey to a predator on the prowl?

Like little Sade Stoby of Mocha?

The accused, Jevon Wharton, admitted to having sex with her, stating during his

trial: “Me and her walked until there was no shops…

We went in de bush and Sade tek off she clothes and we continue doing, what we bin doing…sex.”

Wharton and Charles Cush are accused of raping and murdering the nineyear-old resident of Barnwell North, Mocha sometime between November 2 and November 5, 2007.

It was revealed that the child had been brutally raped and drowned through a post mortem exercise conducted on her body by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh. The cause of her death was asphyxiation due to submersion, compounded by blunt trauma to head.

When the child’s body was recovered, she was bloated and she had haemorrhaged from her head and chest.

According to Singh’s report, “There was a thick black mud in her trachea , her stomach was filled with dark black mud, blood in

her vagina, her hymen was ruptured and her intestines were protruding through her anus; there was blunt trauma to head. There was bruising of the vagina which indicated sexual activity just before her death.”

How is it possible for a child to consent to sex?

How could any human being inflict such torture on an innocent child and leave those who loved her to suffer the enduring pain, not only of her death; but the agony she endured before she died: And what punishment could suffice to bring justice to victims of such horrendous acts?

Throughout history man’s inhumanity to man has superseded the dictates of civilised society and reached a level of surpassingly cruel bestiality that drives normal people almost to despair, and it is only the hope of resurrection, regeneration, and reincarnation of the soul that provides hope that enables endurance and fortitude.

Beware, the Brigadier!

WHEN the PPP, in 2011, first accused Brigadier (ret) David Granger of having blood on his hands, I assumed it was politics as usual. I thought the APNU Presidential Candidate had dealt adequately with the matter when he explained that he was a junior GDF officer at the time; he was in no way connected with the Corentyne incident; the Justice Dhan Jappan report exonerated Lieutenant Henry, the GDF officer who had command of the troops on the ground who opened fire on a hostile crowd.

I also did not pay much attention to the warning a few weeks ago by PPP leaders against the “militarised state”, pointing to the number of ex-senior military per-

sons who joined or endorsed APNU/AFC. I felt these persons, now civilians, were only exercising their democratic right to choose which political party to support.

I was very shocked to read the following in ‘Guyana Times’ on Sunday April 12th, 2015: “The justice’s report says nothing about political education, but Granger says that, the soldiers saved the day from the PPP and its supporters because of the political education they received, as early as 1971.”

What Granger referred to as political education was the politicisation of the army from 1971, by an Education Unit headed by no other person that Granger himself. Mouth open, story jump out. The period

of politicisation of the army marked one of the most sordid chapters in its history. Would it not have been enough for Granger to say the soldiers did their duty by acting within the scope of their orders?

Most Guyanese would prefer to have a professional rather than a politicised army.

Since Granger is now claiming that his political work with the GDF is responsible for the army action on the Corentyne which unfortunately resulted in the loss of life, one is left to wonder if the PPP is justified in placing the label on him. Did this political education prepare the army to be loyal to the PNC rather to the State and did it embolden the decision

See page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

‘Thugs’ and ‘assassins’ are not Where is the change? words associated with the PPP/C

I WAS in a heated discussion with a PNC Apologist Friend in the USA the other day and immediately the topic of the alleged assassination of Courtney Crum-Ewing came up. He started the conversation by saying: “Is PPP thugs kill de man.”

My response to him was, “Can you prove that?”

In my investigative style journalism I began with the word ‘thug’. I told him that the word ‘thug’ is not one that is associated with the PPP/C, ever. From way back when, I know that word to be part and parcel of the PNC. These are people that the Opposition put to “good use” to drive fear and instability in this country. This is tactic used by the Opposition to good advantage since “eons of time,” so, I vehemently refuted this allegation.

I did not go far back as the 1960’s because, in his words “dem youths don’t know about those times.”

But I reminded him of the criminals that used Buxton as their launch pad. I called his

attention to the Agricola scene among others. These are recent occurrences which the youths are knowledgeable of.

I scrolled back to the 1990’s and PPP/C Congress held on the Corentyne where members were attacked and violently gunned down. Certainly, the PPP/C did not kill their own people. I reminded him of the confession he made to me about the shooters’ skillful maneuvering of the landscape wherein they took to the sea before disembarking at the coastal village of Lichfield.

The shooters evaded the roadblocks as they made their way safely back to Buxton. These assassinations were not conducted by the PPP/C? Then there was “slo fiah mo fiah” when thugs heeding Hoyte’s call went on a violent rampage. This was a time when most of us feared for our lives, because once you were considered an associate of the PPP/C you and your business is in for a lot of violence.

Linden ‘Blackie’ London,

THE DRUMS OF FREEDOM In this fearful age of Kali Of quarrel and hypocrisy, Humanity losing its sanity Such violence and animosity, The way to freedom from anxiety Chanting the Lord’s name in ecstasy.

No need for severe penance Little time on the horizon, Forget empty rituals Take up drums and cymbals, Chanting the Lord’s name.

Great joy and bliss in this game With perfection to attain, Only the deluded will abstain With nothing to lose, but eternity to gain.

No need listening to sermons When mind is still full of turbulence, Forget vain recitations Lengthy invocations, If they lift not the heart to devotion Chanting the Lord’s name with joyful abandon.

Chant the names of Krishna, Allah, Jehovah, or Rama Know this to be the Yuga Dharma, The sankirtan mission of Shri Chaitanya Brought to West by Srila Prabhupada, Glorious Acharya in Vaishnava Sampradaya.

Take not lightly Power of the Holy Name, Shelter of Mirabai, of royal fame Life never to be the same, Taking refuge in God’s resplendent name.

Brought deliverance to Ajamila Uttered just once in heart-felt surrender, The only redeeming force in Kali Yuga Comfort and support of Tulsidasa.

CECIL RAMKIRATH Bayonne, NJ, USA

Fineman and others, these are “thugs” who created havoc in society and the response to such actions the PNC defended them to the very end. Fineman was hailed by PNC supporters as a “revolutionary” or another “cuffy” with his ruthless tactics of killing people and his open defiance of law enforcement.

The PNC and their supporters openly supported ‘Fineman’ even (allegedly) taunting the policemen saying “they can’t catch Fineman.” This is the horrible past that my friend and the PNC have to face up to.

‘Blackie’ was a criminal, internationally, having committed crimes in numerous Caribbean Countries. He was a fugitive from justice who hurriedly returned to Guyana and joined the PNC’s criminal network where he was welcomed with open arms. But far more important was the fact that at his death (after a shootout with the police) ‘Blackie’ was given a hero’s funeral, his coffin draped with the national flag befitting a national hero. These are glaring facts which show their outright support for thugs.

By this time my friend was totally cornered and out of excuses, his only response was “that is all in the past and we should forget the past.” Like he said I am prepared to forget the past but, when I look at the present composition of the PNC/APNU’s Team I shudder to think if these people are indeed remorseful of the past misdeeds?

APNU’s Team is inundated with retired military men all of whom carry a horrible history.

This tells me should they win the next elections it would be a remake of a police state and the rule of force; there is nothing stopping a keen observer from this fact.

I further enlightened him that if you want me to forget the past and begin on a fresh

Beware, ...

From Page 6 to transport ballot boxes to GDF Headquarters where they were staffed in 1973?

Is Granger a fit and proper person to be Commander-in-Chief of the Army after admitting that “political education” saved the day? This alarming claim by Granger should be pondered upon by every voter for the May 11th, 2015 election.

The nation has been warned. The power hungry AFC has been warned. Beware, the Brigadier!

FARUK MOHAMED

page then why criminals deliberately target businessmen that are mainly of a certain ethnicity? This is an almost daily occurrence, in a constituency that according to them “owned and controlled” by the Opposition. Some of the victims losing their lives as a result of the thieves brazen assault. Some are trailed from the commercial banks, at their homes, in the streets, these crooks are almost everywhere in the urban crime zone.

Once you are a business person you automatically become a target. I asked the question, do you expect those businessmen to forget these things?

Many had to go through the horrible experience of having their hard earned cash violently taken away from them and their business dream collapse in an instant, this is the daily precarious life of the present day businessman.

And to add insult to injury, the Opposition either remain silent or make the complicit excuse that “the boys can’t find jobs.”

Our conversation ended abruptly due to the fact that my friend was bereft of ideas and excuses. His repertoire was vapid.

NEIL ADAMS

BY asking whether PPP women are being trained in the art of public stripping, Dr David Hinds is engaging in some selective remembering of Guyana’s political history.

The public stripping of women has always been part of the racial violence that has marred Guyana’s political landscape. It did not only happen in the 1960s but in the post elections violence of January 1998, and onward through the terrorism that gripped the East Coast villages in particular and had its epicenter in Buxton.

The women selected for stripping in these attacks were perceived to be PPP supporters, i.e., Indian women. They were not only stripped and humiliated but the stripping was more often than not a precursor to rape.

Both GIFT and GIHA compiled reports on these violations and recorded accounts from the women. The hurt and humiliation that these Indian women experienced have never been validated or given legitimacy in our nation’s collective memory.

The perpetrators were not only men but included women and the atrocities were always accompanied by curses and racial pejoratives.

It is disappointing that Swami Aksharananda in his letter requesting Minister Bheri Ramsaran’s resignation failed to mention any of this, and to make the point that the public stripping and assault of women are nothing new to Guyana’s political culture. He was there in both GIFT and GIHA and heard many of the accounts of the atrocities first-hand.

The outpouring of anger that Dr Ramsaran’s threat of stripping has generated gives hope that any such act done by any person of any political persuasion in the future would result in as much rage and disgust, and would lead to criminal charges being laid against the perpetrators as should have been done in the past.

There is a distinct impression that because of the PPP Government’s arrogance and corruption, the coalition should be held sacrosanct and above all criticism and questioning. If this is a predictor of the coalition’s style of governance should they win, where is the change?

RYHAAN SHAH

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

Guyana Chronicle’s Calvin Roberts dies Guyana Chronicle Assistant Sports Editor Calvin Roberts, 44, died around 23:30 hrs on Tuesday at the Davis Memorial Hospital, after battling End Stage Renal Disease (kidney failure) just over the last three months.

News of his death sent shockwaves around the Guyana Chronicle and indeed the wider sporting arena. A seasoned and awardwinning cricketer, he has been enthusiastically involved in the sport ever since he was in his teens. At the time of his death, he was serving captain of the media cricket team. He also played cricket at second-division level for the Transport and Harbours Dept. and was the Chronicle’s champion table tennis player.

His mother, Mrs. Frances Patricia Roberts, early yesterday morning visited the GNNL and broke the devastating news to management and staff. It was a very emotional experience.

She recalled that about two days ago, he appeared very restless and said to her, “Mom, I don’t think I could make it.” She said she prayed with him and tried to encourage him with words of hope. But on Tuesday afternoon, things took a turn for the worse and she rushed him to the Davis Memorial Hospital. He was admitted and placed on treatment, but died around 11:30 p.m.

The grieving mother has demonstrated strength and courage, saying that he has finished his course, and has gone to the great beyond. Taking pride in the way he executed his work in professional life, she repeatedly asserted: “He’s gone, but there could never be another Calvin.”

Roberts, who was first diagnosed with renal failure around mid-January, was placed on dialysis within a few days of being diagnosed, continued the treatment, and was doing fairly well until a few days ago when his condition deteriorated.

Dead: Calvin Roberts

During his initial period of hospitalisation, he met and shared ward with Mr. Mohamed Khan, Managing Director of Khan’s Trophy Centre, Robb and Wellington Streets. They were being treated for the same ailment and for the remainder of their stay in hospital, shared “buddy pal” relations. Roberts, on that occasion, gratefully recalled that he had, years before, been sponsored by the same M. Khan to travel abroad on a cricket assignment.

Sadly, just about two weeks ago he broke the news to us in the editorial department that Mr. Khan was back in hospital and a few days later, passed away. But little did he, or any of us, know that his passing was also near.

Roberts is survived by his wife, Shondell; mother, Frances; two sons; two sisters and one brother.

The National AIDS Programme Secretariat yesterday said that it is deeply saddened at the passing of Mr. Calvin Roberts who usually participated in its annual ‘Ride for Life’ promotion.

THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE SENTIMENTS EXPRESSED ON THE LOSS OF A COLLEAGUE, FRIEND AND BROTHER: Calvin Marks: I think that

Calvin was a good fellow and he will be missed by the entire workforce at the Chronicle, and indeed the entire media fraternity. He was a very good sports journalist. He was so passionate about his work, that even when he was on vacation, he would come in from time to time and write stories. In terms of his working life, he loved what he was doing. It was more than just money for him. I think he was enjoying the job here as a Sports Journalist... and so the entire media fraternity would miss him.

Michel Outridge: It is never an easy task to bid farewell to a colleague, a friend, and a brother, but the unexpected finds us with so many unanswered questions... today is most difficult to accept that Calvin Roberts is no more.

He made his peace with God and he is in a better place...his suffering and pain are gone. It is not going to be the same without him around though... I will miss him calling me “Pudgy” and ordering me around, but knowing that he doesn’t have to hurt anymore is some consolation for me. RIP Calvin.

Leroy Smith: I just want to extend my sympathies to his mother, children, his brothers and sisters and the rest of the family and his working colleagues he’s left behind. I pray that they have health and strength to continue. I extend special thanks to the doctors and staff of the Georgetown Public Hospital, David Memorial Hospital and Doobay’s Renal Centre, on behalf of his family and the staff of the Guyana Chronicle.

George Barclay: I can say that Calvin’s death was a shock to me. I can attest to his good nature, and he was always helpful. I recall some time ago when I was in an accident, he turned up on the scene and was able to assist me by taking photographs. Through those photos the court was able to determine that the other driver was wrong, despite what the police were saying. He was one of the members of

the Chronicle that could be truly called a colleague.

John Ramsingh, Member of the Guyana Media team: The Media Centre and cricket matches wouldn’t be the same after Roberts has now gone to higher calling.

Notably, I personally worked with Roberts during my stint for GNNL and Guyana Times and thoroughly enjoyed his company as a colleague, particularly on overseas assignments.Roberts will definitely be missed for his enthusiasm in the field of Journalism and his avid passion for cricket. His dedication with the other facets of Sports will always be remembered as well.

Vanessa Narine: Calvin was passionate about his work, in particular cricket, as much as he was about his family and the friendships he nurtured. He was a jovial person (funny even when he was annoyed) and more than anything, that’s what I’ll remember about him. The laughs, the one standing joke we made at the end of most days, especially, I will remember.

Even in his most difficult days he was still able to make light of things. Calvin left us too soon and he will be missed.

Tajeram Mohabir: I have known Calvin a long time now and always known him as a very jovial person. Calvin would come into office and crack a joke and talk about cricket. In fact that’s how I developed a relationship with him when I first came to the GNNL. I was very happy when I came back and I saw him. In fact one of the first persons that greeted me was Calvin. When I heard of his sickness I had no idea it was so serious and thought it was something he would eventually get over.

Hence I was glad when I saw him come back and we were able to talk cricket once more. But then I heard this morning that he had passed away. As a cricketer I would say his innings on earth has finished and he is now called to bat in the great beyond.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

Military politics along Atlantic South America

By Shaun Michael Samaroo BORDERING us on the east and west, in Suriname and Venezuela, we see governments of former military strongmen causing unease and tension and geopolitical concerns in global foreign policy, making our region of the world a focal point of United States interest.

While Suriname under former military dictator, now elected President Desi Bouterse, performs well in its socio-economic development, we see the opposite in Venezuela, where the late Hugo Chavez installed a military regime that reduced the nation to gross poverty.

President Bouterse generates strong resentment and disdain in Europe, with the Netherlands particularly peeved at his rise to power, although, given his contemporary respect for democracy, he’s entitled to rule his sovereign nation.

Venezuela generates ire and frustration of the US in regional matters, and even provokes international concerns.

In this scenario, surely the US geopolitical ears must be piqued with Guyana’s political Opposition showing a decided tilt towards a military-minded hierarchy.

One wonders at the kickback from the USbacked national newspaper, Stabroek News, against words of concern from former President Bharrat Jagdeo, head of the Public Service, Dr Roger Luncheon and General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Clement Rohee, who all expressed alarm at the prevalence of military minds within the Opposition camp.

In fact, these leaders express concern that the political Opposition got “hijacked”, with military-trained leaders now

penetrating top positions within the Opposition political landscape.

The Alliance For Change (AFC), itself enjoying strong alignment with the western diplomatic community, with regular conversation among itself and the American, British, Canadian and European diplomatic circle, seems strangely silent about the Opposition’s increasing love for ex-military types.

It’s either the US has lost sight of its geopolitical mooring in this region, ignoring its chagrin over the Suriname-Venezuela corridor, and thus turning a blind eye to Guyana’s increasing militarised political landscape, or it’s playing possum, working quietly behind the scenes to minimise a wholesale democratically engineered militarised Atlantic region of South America.

When ex-head of the Guyana Defense Force (GDF), Brigadier David Granger, took command of the People’s National Congress (PNC), a Party with a nefarious history of military misuse and abuse, Guyanese saw him as a history scholar, rather than a military man.

Brigadier Granger led the PNC into the political coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), a grouping of hardcore political parties, the group lacking any relationship with civic society.

Now, APNU has become a hotbed of this forging of ex-military leaders into Guyana’s main Opposition political front, and suddenly Brigadier Granger seems to be losing his scholarly image, appearing instead to be a military-type leader.

Maybe the AFC tempers some of the concerns of such a political scenario, and the Stabroek News would rein in any indiscretion were this military-political unit to gain political power.

But one wonders at Guyana’s new political landscape. No wonder the PPP/C is so concerned. Not only would this provoke PPP/C’s memories of the GDF’s role in rigged elections and in the PNC’s paramountcy practice for decades, as we witness in testimonies at the Rodney Commission, but it would surely cause concerns within the western diplomatic community.

Would the ABCE powers want to be saddled with military-minded governments in Suriname, Venezuela and Guyana? That seems unlikely. For one, this situation never obtained in Guyana’s history, despite the PNC’s close alignment and abuse of the GDF during the dictatorship regime. And secondly, Guyana as a British Commonwealth member would want to maintain its strong civic-political nature, rather than a new military-political nature, and the western world would want to ensure this status quo obtains as our perpetual playing field, even if it’s only to preserve a predictable Guyana, rather than a potentially disruptive regional ally.

As we see with Suriname and Venezuela, military-political rulers are prone to disruptive relationships with western powers. Guyana cannot venture down that road.

Of course, we cannot overlook the fact that the Opposition and its constituents desperately want to gain political power, especially after losing free and fair elections since 1992, and would go to any means possible to govern.

Quite a few political discontents and disgruntled souls harbour deep resentment against the ruling party and Government, including the political leaders who shut their eyes to APNU’s new character of ex-military men, and aligned themselves to the singular cause of getting the PPP/C out of Government.

It’s anybody’s democratic right to form alliances and partnerships and to seek the electoral defeat of any government. We’re a fullblown democracy. Once we respect the democratic right of Guyanese to elect their own Government in free and fair elections, the political playing field is open and free.

But, democracy functions best within a framework of voter education and voter awareness. And it is imperative and a critical necessity for us to discuss these issues openly and without fear or intimidation.

When Jagdeo, Dr Luncheon and Rohee raised the issue of the changing face of the Opposition, noting the preponderance of ex-military types in leadership positions, we saw a vociferous outcry against their warnings.

It seems we harbour among us influential media types and Opposition-aligned malcontents who would not want such information in the public domain, that we should remain silent about these things, never bringing them to public light.

But open debate, public discussions and sensible airing of our concerns, form the very foundation of our democratic Guyanese society. Bringing out into the open such crucial information as the increasing nature of the Opposi-

tion towards a patriarchal, top-down, command-type, obey-without-question style of leadership, is of utmost importance, relevance and concern to our national wellbeing.

The western diplomatic core may harbour their own concerns and reservations, but they all too often turn a blind eye when progressive societies like Guyana head down the wrong road. Our nation is fast emerging as a regional socio-economic power, and as we saw happened in the 1960’s, we face the real scenario of falling into a political swamp where we sink again for another three decades.

We’re not saying the PPP/C has all the answers and knows best. Indeed the PPP/C needs Guyanese of all persuasion on board as we develop and grow and take our successes over the past two decades to greater heights. Plenty of people today stand peeved at the Party. Government faces a real challenge in securing the leadership skills and expertise to manage local communities and weed out inefficiency and poor people relations across villages and towns.

We recognise there’s discontent on the ground, and indeed Guyanese want to see a political landscape with options and choices.

The AFC once offered such a hope, but fell away, and now stands obsolete and

irrelevant.

The PNC morphed into APNU, and APNU now leans so far out towards making Guyana a worrying geopolitical case, as happened with our neighbours Suriname and Venezuela, that we’ve got to sit up, be sober-minded, and realise what’s possible.

In that one realisation, to see the possible writing on the wall, to act on the lessons we learn from history, to see what’s going on in the world around us, we would exercise wisdom and fortitude and good sense.

We want Brigadier Granger and our bright ex-military men to contribute to Guyana’s development and progress.

We want them to exercise their essential life skills and professional knowledge in playing civic roles, in mentoring our young, in teaching at our university, in training us to live with discipline and integrity.

But we must guard against our nation joining Suriname and Venezuela in an ominous military-political front along the Atlantic South American coast, for this would engineer a geopolitical backlash that would again cripple our socio-economic development.

10

Lists of electors available online, at polling stations

“ON Schedule,” is how Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield described the current state of operations at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), ahead of the May 11 General and Regional elections.

Also, the Official Lists of Electors (OLE) are currently available online, at h t t p : / / w w w. g e c o m . o rg . gy/OLE2015.html, and have been posted in all of G E C O M ’s R e g i s t r a t i o n Districts – the locations of which have been widely publicised by the Commission.

The OLE will facilitate voting on E-Day and GECOM staffers will also be guided by Folios con-

taining the photograph and other important bio data of all electors. These Folios are to be utilised in Polling stations by the Presiding Officers and political party agents present, as an additional means of voter verification.

The CEO noted that these moves follow the certification of the OLE and are in accordance with statutory obligations.

In addition to the voters’ list, a notice of poll has reportedly been posted in each of the 10 polling districts countrywide – another statutory obligation on the part of GECOM. The notice is expected to read: “Take notice that a poll will be held on the 11th day

of May 2011 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., to elect the 65 members of the National Assembly and members of the Regional Democratic Council of each region of Guyana. The situation of each polling place in the 1 to 10 polling districts and the names of the electors who are entitled to vote are attached.”

Additionally, Government earlier this month gave its no-objection for some $32.8 million for the retaining of service providers for the promotion of infomercials for the upcoming polls. As such, GECOM’s voter education campaign is ongoing with just over a week to go until E-Day. (Vanessa Narine)

Over 1,200 proxy applications filed to date

– verification process continues CHIEF Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield yesterday disclosed that over 1,200 applications for proxy voting have been filed with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), up from just over 865 applications.

“Our proxy applications received has exceeded 1,200 to date,” he said, in an invited comment.

According to him, the highest level of professionalism and compliance with legal provisions has been complied with during the verification process.

“Investigations are ongoing. We have not had any

problems and the agents from the respective political parties who are accompanying us, we have had no complaints,” Lowenfield said Lowenfield noted too that GECOM staffers have been briefed and there will be no “sample or survey” checks, rather complete verifications will be done.

“We have a procedure that sees our staff and party agents investigate all proxies,” he declared.

Meanwhile, legal provisions regarding the use of proxies will be followed, according to GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally.

“We will follow the law,”

he declared emphatically, in an earlier comment to the Guyana Chronicle, when asked to respond to concerns raised by the ruling party.

Proxy voting is guided by Section 30 of the Representation of the People’s Act. Applications for proxies have to be sent to GECOM’s Returning Officers no later than the 10th day before Elections Day, in this case by May 1st. According to the law, election agents on the fourth day before Election Day have the right to review and copy the list of persons who are slated to vote by proxy.

(Vanessa Narine)

CJ grants 11 petitioners $5.8M bail pending determination of their cases ACTING Chief Justice Mr. Ian Chang, SC, granted 11 petitioners bail last Friday in the sum of $5,845,000 pending determination of their cases.

Particulars follow: For the offence of trafficking in narcotics, Tamara Nicola Douglas and Benjamin Isaiah Carrington were each placed

on $1.5M bail; Donna Charles was placed on $325,000 bail; Rageneral Sammy, $400,000 bail; Keith Brazilio, $700,000 bail; Junior Melrose, $275,000 bail, and Marlon Joaquin, $325,000 bail.

For the offence of break & enter and larceny, Stephen Banwarie was placed on $200,000 bail.

For the offence of

threatening language, Michael Harold was placed on $20,000 bail.

For the offence of attempting to commit murder, Kevon Hayles was placed on $300,000 bail.

And for the offence of possession of firearm & ammunition, Doris Dorsingh was placed on $300,000 bail. (George Barclay)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

Kaieteur, Stabroek News slammed for peddling misinformation …Luncheon clears air on rehab of fibre-optic cable “RECKLESS abandon of truth” was the phrase used

by Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr Roger Luncheon, to describe reportage - “nonsense, crap and scandals,” – on the agreement for the rehabilitation of the state-owned fibre optic cable by two local dailies, Kaieteur News and Stabroek News.

And he contends that the reports, which contradict the dailies’ own prior reports, are intended to discredit the current People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration and its effort to advance its Information Communication and Technology (ICT) thrust.

At a news conference yesterday at the Office of the President, Dr Luncheon explained that contrary to the report that the cable cost some US$40M to lay, only some US$4.5M was expended to lay the cable from Lethem to Georgetown.

The need to have rehabilitative works done after the cable was damaged is where Dax Contracting Services became involved, he said.

The HPS added after the need for rehabilitative works was made public, via a news conference he hosted in the latter part of 2014, was Central Government approached

by Dax Contracting Services.

AGREEMENT REACHED After technical advice was sought, an agreement was inked. The signatories are Dr Luncheon, representing the Government of Guyana, and Mr Faisal Mohamed on behalf of Dax Contracting Services.

The HPS underscored that the agreement is still not fully executed owing to the fact that arrangements with Go-Invest, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Ministry of Finance are to be finalized. However, he pointed out that despite this, Dax Contracting Services still commenced work on rehabilitating the cable.

The document, to which the media was made privy states that Dax Contracting Services will rehabilitate the

Dr Roger Luncheon

state-owned cable and related structures from Lethem to Castellani House compound, Georgetown.

The company is also committed to routine maintenance of the cable, repeater stations and equipment for 25 years, with the option of renewal for an additional 15 years.

In exchange, Dax Contracting Service will be allowed to use two of the 12 pairs of cable-lines within the cable, as well as state-owned fibre-optic structure equipment, including access role, access to poles and access to repeater stations, etc.

The company will also be provided with necessary support, according to the law, in obtaining licences to transmit and receive data via the fibre-optic cable.

The agreement allows the company to enter into a joint venture agreement with any other company or entity so as to execute this agreement, which includes the use of cable to transmit and receive data and information from any part of the world, according to the laws of Guyana.

Tax exemptions were also part of the deal. The exemptions include, but are not limited to tax holidays, remissions, waivers, duty-free concessions on the importation of equipment, spares, tools and two SUVs and three four-door pickups.

NO PUBLIC EXPENDITURES Dr Luncheon highlighted that the undertaking did not go to public tendering,

since Government was not paying for a service; rather the agreement was to have the cable rehabilitated and maintained in exchange for partial use by and concessions to Dax Contracting Services.

“Do you need public tendering if you don’t have to pay?” he questioned.

According to him, this route was cost-effective when matched against the estimated cost of the works, which was US$30M at maximum.

Expenditures by the Government, according to the agreement, would only occur in the event of an emergency and even then would be restricted to an approved formula that takes into account the Government’s provision of duty free concessions for equipment, spares and tools.

Another clause in the agreement that raised a question was the one that states that: “Dax Contracting will fully and timely support the Government of Guyana in any response that the Government of Guyana has to legally undertake in the likelihood of intervention by GT&T/ ATN (Guyana Telephone and Telegraph and Atlantic Tele-Network) with regard to the use of the Operator licence.”

Dr Luncheon’s response to queries in this area, was, “I don’t believe that you are unaware that GT&T insists that it has a monopoly not only on voice but on data… (what) I am preserving is the Government’s freedom and saying to Dax ‘if I touch base with you in this area, you better line up behind me and prepare to support the administration in any possible engagement with GT&T or ATN’.”

He added that the clause was necessary.

All considered, the fibre-optic cable and the use of its bandwidth remains Government property.

“The cable is Government-owned. It was, is and forever will be Government- owned,” Dr Luncheon declared.

Entrepreneurship, innovation key to successful economy

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

--Georgetown Chamber President, Lance Hinds its potential contribution to the nation and an overview of the preparation and level of effort required to be successful.

By Tajeram Mohabir GEORGETOWN Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Lance Hinds has stressed that entrepreneurship and innovation must play a fundamental role in the transformation and ultimate success of the country’s economy.

Speaking at the Chamber?s 125th Annual General Meeting (AGM), Hinds said it is critical for all stakeholders to work on advancing entrepreneurial success and facilitating the growth and commercialisation of new products and ideas by local, budding entrepreneurs.

We believed that it was also critical that the culture of innovation be developed and nurtured: Getting high school and university graduates to tap into their creativity and to channel that into creating businesses. There are lots of young people with great ideas who are unable to convert those into sustainable income-generating operations, he told the gathering of private sector officials and members of the diplomatic corps at the AGM held recently at Duke Lodge, Kingston, Georgetown.

To this end, he said the Chamber has worked tirelessly

GCCI President, Lance Hinds to develop a series of initiatives to contribute to the development of an entrepreneurial-driven environment.

Working either on its own or with local and regional stakeholders, the chamber hosted seminars and workshops to promote entrepreneurship awareness and education. Partners included Caribbean Export, USAID/Skye, Scotiabank and CUSO International.

Reporting on the work of the chamber the previous year, Hinds said one of the highlights of the year was an Entrepreneurship Seminar conducted in partnership with Scotiabank.

The idea was to introduce the concept and benefits of entrepreneurship,

ONLINE EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE That aside, he said: “We expanded our partnership with the USAID Skye programme. Along with hosting the online employment exchange, we participated in the development of the training manual for the programmes Be Your Own Boss initiative. The next step is to help coordinate the mentoring sessions with the hope of encouraging students to create their own businesses and provide the guidance necessary for them to be successful. This was another example of how we expanded beyond our traditional this year,” the GCCI President told the gathering.

Its partnership with the Canadian volunteer organisation, CUSO International, was one that was quite new for the chamber.

It allowed the chamber to preach the gospel of entrepreneurship to sections of the society that under normal circumstances and with our

legacy disposition we would not normally reach. The Chamber of Commerce is generally conservative in nature and action. Our interactions with youth groups and gender-focused organisations

are extremely instructive and beneficial. It gave us a wider and clearer understanding of what it would take holistically to build the positive, inclusive business environment that we desire,?

Hinds said.

On that note, he said the chamber hosted its first youth development camp in collaboration with SASOD and the Guyana National Youth Council.

It is to the Chamber?s credit as well that this is the first time that CUSO International has partnered with a private sector organisation for this kind of effort.

CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP The Chamber also continued its partnership with the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) again during this year to encourage Guyanese businesses to participate even further in the Accelerated and Regular procedure grant programmes that CEDA offered to regional businesses under the 10thEuropean Development Fund.

We conducted awareness and training sessions with local grant awardees regarding the reporting and accounting functions that were necessary to ensure that all expenditure was refunded seamlessly and without unnecessary delay. In collaboration with CEDA, we also hosted a ProNet training programme which facilitated training for those companies which were desirous in increasing their knowledge and capacity to become export-led entities, Hinds said.

On the business support side, the Chamber continued to conduct seminars and training programmes to support the building advancement and capacity needs of its members. Through the Chamber,

members received training in labelslingand packaging, bank financing and loan applications, marketing and thought leadership.

It also hosted a number of lectures and workshops during the 2014-2015 period of reporting. These include a lecture on Anti-Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism, public discussion on the Local Government System, grant procurement training, and gender equity in business employment.

This aside, the Chamber collaborated with the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) on a trade mission to Guyana and coordinated the Business to Business sessions between Guyanese and Trinidadian business entities.

As part of its societal and community inputs, the Chamber donated $355,000 to the University of Guyana to assist them with their preparation for their 50th Anniversary celebrations.

In addition, it donated some $1.5 million worth of breathalyser equipment to the Guyana Police Force, to assist them in their fight to reduce the level of drunk driving on the roadways.

Missiles thrown, PPP/C flags burned by APNU+AFC supporters WARLOCK, East Ruimveldt, last night was transformed into a most unfortunate scene when a public meeting hosted by the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) was interrupted by a band of the political Opposition supporters.

PPP/C flags were burned, supporters of the A l l i a n c e o f A P a r t n e rship for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) involved children in the mayhem they incited, and missiles were hurled at speakers, including party stalwart, Dr Roger Luncheon. Up to press time, no one was report-

A PPP/C flag being burned

edly injured.

The move is being widely criticised, given that it occurred on the same day that political parties inked a Code of Conduct aimed at guiding the manner in which campaigning is conducted. The act, labelled as another move to intimidate PPP/C supporters, follows similar acts, including the destruction of PPP/C campaign paraphernalia and the stoning of the home of a PPP/C supporter in Linden, Region 10.

Prior to last evening’s chaos, the ruling party had registered its concerns with related authorities.

The street littered with smashed bottles and remnants of other missiles hurled at PPP/C supporters and members last night

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

PPP/C Manifesto ‘Guyana Version 2.0’ continues to transform Guyana’s national posture – Dr. Ramsaroop THE People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Manifesto, which was launched at the Marriott Hotel last Saturday, demonstrates a strong commitment by the PPP/C Government to use the foundation built to date to radically transform our National Posture into a Guyana that will see us move to modern society by 2020. Realising this vision in the last five years of this decade is real.

Dr. Ramsaroop said the plan, in his perspective, is geared specifically at the young generation as it gives them an opportunity in their phase of life where dreams are built, hope is kindled, and a bright future is foreseen. He said not only the next phase of education will be realised such as universal secondary education but the fact that new areas such as Maritime Management with the construction of the Deep Water Harbour, will open additional fields in Engineering and Logistics which are all higher paying

Dr Peter Ramsaroop

jobs for your young people. He expects the University of Guyana to gear future curriculum to these new industries.

He said the PPP/C 2020 Vision of moving to a Transport led

Labaria slithers from cobbler’s customer boot A TEENAGER from De Veldt, Berbice river travelled over 25 miles to have his shoes repaired by a cobbler, only to discover that he had transported a venomous labaria snake to New Amsterdam(NA).

The teen, referred to as Randy, had approached the shoemaker at the NA Town Hall to have a pair of football boots stitched.

But before handing over the shoe, he was ordered to “shake out” the footwear.

Seconds later a brown snake, also known as “lance head,” and measuring about three feet, with a series of rectangular and trapezoidal markings, slithered from the boot on to the parapet and attempted to escape.

“Lash it! Lash It!” shouted an onlooker.

“Kill it! Kill it!” remarked another “It ain’t dead yet!” screamed the cobbler.

“You got to cut off its head,” advised an elderly man, who was seated nearby.

I stood horrified, frozen at what was unfolding before my eyes. A snake, slithering from a boot. Unbelievable.

Initially, I thought my imagination was playing games with me.

But it was true. Seconds earlier, I was preparing to hand over a pair of my son’s basketball boots to be stitched when the drama unfolded.

I quickly emptied my bag with the shoes before handing it over to the cobbler. “Will pick it up later,” I shouted, before rejoining the waiting car, and relating the incident to the passengers.

and energy driven economy which includes the Hydro Plant and the paving of the road to Brazil will radically change our local economics.

Transportation Infrastructure means we will get goods to market faster and with the Brazil connection using our Deep Water Harbour will see increased income in many villages. The connection between a Village’s proximity to a new road is estimated to increase as high as 25% based on other samples done around the world.

There will be a positive impact to a villager’s agricultural activities and their ability to get to markets and increased income. It is just not about the trucks bringing goods to the port but them taking back our products such as our Cash Crops, coconuts and other products to Brazil as one example.

In addition, the bridging between Guyana and Suriname will rapidly increase trade. Dr. Ramsaroop said since the building of the Berbice Bridge, goods and

people movement between the counties has had a major economic return to both business and people. For example, a truck bringing goods from Region 6 to Georgetown Port used to take all day. A driver had to be paid a full day work even though the truck waited at the Stelling for over 3 hours to cross. Paying of the tolls across the Berbice Bridge is far less than what the opportunity cost loss to the business. That truck can now make two trips a day and still the return on investment is greater for any business in the region. Added value such as Tourism, travel to conduct business in the Capital are all a benefit.

The establishment of Export Free Zones in many areas proposed by the PPP/C and the reduce corporate taxes since 2011 will see new business migrating to those areas thus creating new jobs.

He said what he is more excited about is the move to grow more Sugar Cane and the expansion of ethanol blend. He estimate if we

can move to both local use and export capacity, it would save at least US$10 million per year in gasoline imports for our nation in addition to expanding the use of bagasse into electrically energy.

The goal of the PPP/C is to rapidly expand the use technology to serve the People better. The use of technology, as an enabler in all sectors, will be implemented in all sectors of the economy such as in the areas of Trade, Education, Agriculture, Health and the Environment. The expansion of the Technology Centres and Parks will see the creation of thousands of new jobs across Guyana.

Version 2.0 is exciting and every Guyanese must study and be part of the development.

The last 5 years of this decade outlines where each of us fit. As President Ramotar said, “our future is bright and with the achievements that have been accomplished across Guyana, now allows us to move to the next level of development”.

No applications made for certificates of employment – Lowenfield COMMISSIONERS of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), in the absence of a ruling from the Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang, decided that certificates of employment which would allow voting by its holders outside of where they are registered, will continue to be issued to the routine group of Election Day staffers as was done in past elections.

The issuance of Certificates of Employment, was

raised as a concern by the political Opposition, which contends that the certificates should be issued to a wider class.As such, an originating summons was filed by Senior Counsel Ashton Chase. However,Chang determined that the final decision should be made by GECOM. Meanwhile, Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that no one has applied for a certificate of employment to date.

“We have no application from any of the eligible Elec-

tion Day staff,” he said.

The Commission’s legal officer, Ms. Juanita Barker, in an earlier comment told the Guyana Chronicle that the court was approached for a definitive pronouncement, given the call for the certificates to be issued to a wide cross-section of E-Day staffers.

She said, “We are seeking an interpretation of article 162:1B of the Representation of the People’s Act. It would determine whether GECOM has authority to issue Certificates of Employment outside

of what is stated in the law.

Currently, the law states that Certificates of Employment can be issued to election officials only – meaning the Chief Elections Officer, the Deputy Chief Elections Officer, the Returning Officers, the Deputy Returning Officers, Election Clerks, Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers and poll clerks. Members of the disciplined services who are working on Election Day are also issued with Certificates of Employment.

(Vanessa Narine)

GTU threatens 'work to rule' over ‘debunching’ payments THE Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) has threatened to take industrial action through “work to rule” to protest the non-receipt of “debunching” payments which was agreed some time ago between the union and the Ministry of Education.

The “work to rule” exercise has been scheduled for May 4 and the GTU has called on all teachers to join the exercise, despite the impending Caribbean Secondary Examinations Council (CSEC) exams.

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, GTU President Mark Lyte disclosed that “debunching,” which involves placing teachers into different categories and paying them accordingly, was agreed by the Ministry of Education in the 2006-2011 agreement.

However, he stated that they have not received any money.

Lyte added that once again they included it in the 20112016 agreement and again after months of silence, they were told last Wednesday by Head of the Presidential Sec-

retariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon that the ministry will not be able to make the “debunching” payments to the teachers, as the money had never been budgeted for.

‘WORK TO RULE’ ACTION As a result of this he announced that he is calling on all teachers across Guyana to commence from May 4 the ‘work to rule’ industrial action, which entails the teachers doing nothing extra for students, just their required

day-to-day tasks.

That apart, he stated that the GTU is calling on teachers to go home if issues affecting them such as inadequate toilet facilities, improper working conditions, excessive number of students in a classroom and more are not addressed.

This industrial action, he said, will last until the Government adheres to their calls for the “debunching” payments. This action could even escalate to a full-scale strike if the need arises, he added.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

ASHNI SINGH TELLS GRADUANDS...

‘We will not offer you freeness, but an opportunity to equip yourselves to be independent’ ONE hundred and two youths were on Friday given a second chance to earn a certificate, thereby making themselves more marketable in the world of work.

Fifty four students secured distinctions, while 29 amassed passes with credit.

The opportunity was given through the collaborative effort between the Board of

Industrial Training, and the Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre(UCITC), located at Corriverton in Berbice, where those aged 16 years and over, inclusive of 35 females, sought after and acquired skills in nine disciplines.

The areas of study were Automotive Electrical, Heavy Duty Machinery operator, In-

formation Technology, Metal Work, Carpentry and Joinery, Motor Vehicle Mechanic, Welding and Fabrication, Supervisory Management, and Electrical Installation and Refrigeration .

In his report, UCITC Administrator Mr. Azad Sugrim observed that there had been a gradual decline of persons who attended evening classes

at the training centre, through the mainstream Ministry of Education programme. As a result of the administration’s concern, it was observed that while persons were willing to access the various programmes offered, some were denied time off from their respective jobs, while others found it difficult to access transportation “after hours.”

Consequently, the concerns were raised with the main stakeholders, and it was proposed that learning sessions be held on Saturdays.

This empowerment class commenced in October 2014 and concluded five months later after students had completed 144 hours of course work.

Meanwhile, in his feature address and charge, Hon. Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, urged the graduands not to allow their certificates to be the last they will achieve.

“One never stops learning.

One never stops acquiring new skills .You have your destiny, use the skills acquired to improve your life and do not let this certificate be the last you achieve.”

While giving an analogy of the success story of international sprinter Usain Bolt, the minister noted that success comes through effort, sacrifice and pain .

“Success don’t come by

Dr Ashni Singh addresses the graduands

that empowers people who have the skill and the wherewithal to be independent, so they can earn for themselves, their communities and their country.

“What we will do is not to offer you freeness, but an opportunity to equip yourself, so that you don’t have to depend on freeness,” he chided.

Other speakers included Mr Patrick Findlay ,Permanent Secretary ,Ministry of Labour , who brought greetings from the Hon Minister of Labour

Dr Ashni Singh issues a certificate to a graduand in furniture-making

way of a stroll in the park.

Behind stories of success are stories of perseverance , and you ought to learn from those stories, as success will not come automatically.”

Turning to the current election campaign, Singh said: “We are in a season that many will promise you everything under this sun. It is as if the world will take care of you.

You do not have to work, you will rake back in your hammocks and the world will pamper you. You will get free transportation, free food, free house lots.

“But the Government of Guyana does not want Guyanese to live in freeness, a free salary without work. The truth is, that is not the Guyana we want. The Guyana that we want to emerge is the Guyana

Mr Nandkishore Gopaul, and also took the opportunity of reminding the beneficiaries of government’s investment in youth empowerment.

The programme, which commenced 20 minutes after its 13:00 hrs scheduled start, was punctuated by poetic expressions and songs by various trainees.

The two-hour programme was consummately chaired

by Industrial Relations Officer / Community Development Officer, Mr. Linden Murray.

Among those in attendance Mr N Persaud, Vice Chairman of the Board of Industrial Training, and other staffers, Representatives of various training institutions and other special invitees.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

Former Finance Minister Asgar Ally throws support behind PPP/C – chastises Greenidge for being main cause behind pre-1992 economic downfall

By Navendra Seoraj FORMER Finance Minister, Asgar Ally has once again thrown his support behind the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) leading into the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

This announcement was made by Mr. Ally yesterday during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, where he noted: “I am endorsing the PPP/C just like I did at the last elections because I believe that they have the capability of managing this country.”

According to the former Finance Minister, due to his past international affiliations he was barred from supporting any political party, but now that his contract has ended with the international organisation, he is free to work for the Government of Guyana and also throw his

support behind any political party.

Mr. Ally, who apart from being the senior Minister of Finance in 1992 under the late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan, also held various portfolios such as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Jamaica, President of the International Investment Bank of Jamaica, senior advisor in the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and also a finance consultant in various organisations across the Caribbean and around the world.

Additionally he also stated that during his youthful days he was Chairman of the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) in West Demerara.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ally recapped on his tenure as Finance Minister, noting that when he became the Minister of Finance the Accountant General had revealed to him that the international reserves were very low.

“The treasury was bankrupt, the interest rate was high, and exchange rates were high, rice wasn’t doing well, sugar wasn’t doing well, and if the opposition come back into power and start spending that money the exchange rate is going to go up, people will take out their money because they cannot manage the country like the PPP/C, as we were able to bring down the deficit,” said the PPP/C supporter.

Due to this he underscored the fact that the economy won’t be able to grow because no one would want to invest, as the Government has to maintain the reserves, and it cannot spend it.

Mr. Asgar Ally

MIDDLE CLASS WIPEOUT Sticking to the issue of bankruptcy prior to 1992, the former Finance Minister disclosed that Carl Greenidge, who was the finance minister under the leadership of Burn-

ham, played an integral role in the mismanagement of the country which led to wiping out of the entire middle class.

“The economy became bankrupt in 1990 and they went to the IMF which later advised them to cut the budget, devalue the dollar but they didn’t manage the fiscal affairs, and the deficit widened making them unable to pay the debts,” said the former Minister of Finance.

Therefore, he noted, it didn’t have an alternative because the country was bankrupt and the IMF called the shots, and this led to the entire wipeout of the entire middle class, as people who were working for reasonable salaries were working for nothing because of the devaluation and inflation.

Mr. Ally announced that he will be joining the PPP/ C’s campaign trail leading up to the elections which is just a few days away.

APNU+AFC’s Granger takes ID Card Youth candidates admit buying claim to Bartica –claim is mere 'hearsay' WITHOUT evidence being presented to date, Presidential Candidate of the coalesced APNU+AFC party, Brigadier (retd) David Granger, sold to Barticians on Sunday evening a “hearsay” claim which accuses people of buying National Identification (ID) Cards in the lead-up to General and Regional Elections, slated for May 11.

This claim initially surfaced a few months ago, and was first raised by members of the APNU+AFC coalition who accused supporters of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) of buying ID Cards and, in some instances, have employers force employees to surrender same.

In similar fashion, the coalition’s Unity Rally, which was taken to the mining township of Bartica last Sunday, heard this claim being

peddled by Granger as he addressed a crowd of just over four thousand persons in registering his concerns about the issuing and selling of ID Cards in the region.

Granger said he had heard that ID Cards were being issued to “people of different nationalities in Region Seven”, and he accused those responsible for issuing ID Cards of selling them, stating that, “anybody want ID card can go and buy one.”

Granger also said, “I hear some business people are buying ID Cards and taking the ID Cards from their employees.”

Lacking the evidence to support these claims, however, Granger’s comment has been labelled as “hearsay” by youth candidates of the coalition, just Friday last at the APNU+AFC’s weekly press conference.

Preceding Granger’s ID

Card claim, other members of the coalition had registered their disgust at same, with some even taking their outcry to social media.

The most recent instance of this involved youth candidate of the coalition, James Bond, whose Facebook post read: “Just got word that a prominent businessman in the horse racing fraternity of Berbice is buying ID cards, and also threatening to fire any employee that votes, since he thinks they are voting for APNU+AFC. “My people of the Corentyne, go and put your X by the Palm with the Key; If they fire you, we will get jobs for you.”

Quizzed by the media last Friday at an APNU+AFC weekly press conference, youth candidate of the coalition, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, told reporters that the ID card claims by the coalition

were built entirely on “hearsay.”

Sarabo-Halley admitted there was not a single piece of evidence to support the claim that has long been peddled by elements within the coalition.

Additionally, fellow youth candidate of the coalition, Mark Ross, responded negatively to the question of supporting evidence. Ross explained to reporters that, “to date, all we’ve had are complaints that there have been attempts to do so.”

However, he noted that the coalition has advised that people explore the option of recording these conversations on their cellular phones, which would provide a basis for these allegations.

To date, they have come up empty handed in this regard.

But the APNU+AFC leader advised that people “be careful” on May 11, and

Presidential candidate of the APNU+AFC coalition, David Granger, delivering his speech at the coalition’s Unity Rally last Sunday evening at Bartica

make sure that while their families are registered to vote, they should go the extra mile and ensure that there are “no bogus votes” being cast on elections day.

“You have to be alert” Granger told the gathering.

“Every single polling station must have an opposition

presence.”

Delivering feature addresses to supporters at the rally were Prime Ministerial Candidate of the coalition, Moses Nagamootoo; Bartician businesswoman Kamla Persaud; and list candidates Raphael Trotman and Simona Broomes.

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Taxi driver killed in Montrose crash

A YOUNG taxi driver died Tuesday evening after the car he was driving careened off the road at Montrose, East Coast Demerara and toppled.

According to reports, 22-year-old Arif Williams of Dr. Miller Street, Triumph, East Coast Demerara, was driving at a very fast rate when he swerved to avoid hitting a pedestrian who was crossing the road in the vicinity of the Academy of Apex Education and slammed into a guard hut, injuring the security guard who was inside.

Ironically, the security guard who was identified as Mahendranauth Krishram once worked at the Academy of Apex Education as a security guard while Williams himself was a student of that school. Sources have also stated that a female might have also been injured in the

Dead Arif Williams

accident.

Speaking with the media yesterday afternoon at his Triumph home, the dead man’s father Andy Williams said that prior to the accident,

his son had earlier picked him up from Georgetown and dropped him home.

The man said that his son then left to pick up his girlfriend and was heading to Georgetown when tragedy struck. Asked about the possibility of alcohol consumption, the man told media operatives that his son was not drinking prior, during or after he picked him up and dropped him off.

He further stressed that he would never entertain his son drinking much less when he is slated to travel with the vehicle.

The Guyana Police Force in a press release yesterday stated that the accident occurred at approximately 22:30 hrs Tuesday night. The dead man leaves to mourn his parents, siblings, other relatives, and friends. (Leroy Smith)

Seven doctors registered for new career path in Family Medicine

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

Man fined $30,000 for damaging car windscreen …during rift with mother-in-law

By Geeta Rampersaud A MAN (no address stated) was yesterday fined $30,000 by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry for damaging a car windscreen while pelting bricks after his mother-inlaw had refused to let him into her house.

Eddy Grant, 21, accepted that on Sunday at Festival

City, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously damaged a motorcar windscreen valued $40,000, property of Cleveland Oddle.

Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves related that on the day in question around 12:00 hrs Grant went to his mother-in-law’s house and asked if he can enter. The court heard that Grant was denied entry, after which, he

went around to the backyard and picked up bricks and threw them at the house, one of which hit the windscreen.

The matter was subsequently reported to the police and Grant was arrested and charged. Grant was unrepresented by an attorney. Failure to pay the fine will result in two weeks’ imprisonment.

Barbados-bound woman remanded over cocaine at Ogle Airport A RESIDENT of Craig, East Bank Demerara, was yesterday remanded to prison on a cocaine trafficking charge following her appearance before Magistrate Zameena Ali. At Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, Lonette Robert, 24, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her.

Particulars of the charge stated that on Tuesday, April 28 at Ogle International Air-

port, East Coast Demerara, she had in her possession 1.286 kilogrammes of cocaine in her possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The facts surrounding Robert’s arrest stated that she was an outgoing passenger to Barbados when a search was carried out on her person.

Prior to the bust, ranks from the police narcotics branch observed Robert walking in a suspicious man-

ner. A subsequent search was carried out on her person and the prohibited substance was found strapped about her body and also inserted in her private parts. She was then taken to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters for further investigations and the substance was weighed before her.

Bail was denied for Robert and the matter was adjourned to May 29.

Essequibo Coast frequency conversion progressing, GPL says From left: Director of Health Science Education, Dr. Madan Rambaran along with CEO of GHPC Michael Khan, University of Ottawa representatives and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud and doctors at the launch of the Family Medicine Residency Training Programme at Herdmanston Lodge yesterday

By Shivanie Sugrim THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in collaboration with the University of Ottawa and the Ministry of Health yesterday launched a Family Medicine Residency Training Programme.

Seven doctors are currently registered and ready to pursue training for their new career path in Family Medicine.

Family Medicine is a specialty dedicated to provide healthcare for people of all ages. The doctors are therefore trained to become family doctors who specialise in various medical professions. Since Guyana is limited in this area, the GPHC has

embraced this programme in order to provide better care for all Guyanese.

The launching event took place at the Herdmanston Lodge amidst a small gathering of doctors and other stakeholders.

Brief remarks were made

by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud as well as Director of Health Science Education, Dr. Madan Rambaran.

This is the 8th programme launched by the GPHC, aside from surgical programmes. It accounts for three consecutive years of training which will be led by representatives from the University of Ottawa along with other collaborators.

Given that the majority of the programmes that are

launched by the GPHC are aided by Canadians, Dr Rambaran extended his appreciation for their continuing support. He observed that the resources to pursue this training programme were not sufficient locally and therefore GPHC partnered with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) as well as organisations in Canada to establish the programme.

In delivering his remarks, Dr Persaud expressed his excitement for this new programme since it will push the health care service to extreme levels with its goal of providing proper services for Guyanese. He then added that it is rather a “timely development” and one which was eagerly awaited.

THE Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) yesterday said that its initiatives to restore supply normalcy to consumers on the Essequibo Coast is progressing satisfactorily.

According to GPL, the No. 1 Wartsila generator at the Anna Regina Power Station was restored to full service on April 24th, allowing for adequate generating capacity to provide a continuous power to all consumers on the Essequibo Coast.

Two 1.6 MW Caterpillar power modules were installed on April 25th at Fairfield and connected to the network. Unfortunately, this exercise necessitated a power outage to consumers between Riverstown and Supenaam.

And during Sunday and Monday, new transformers were installed between Supenaam and Vilvoorden and the network was switched to 13,800V, 60 Hz operation with power being supplied by one of the two Caterpillar modules.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday new transformers were installed between Vilvoorden and Onderneeming and the supply was switched to 13,800V, 60 Hz. Currently, therefore, consumers between Supernaam and Onderneeming are receiving a 60 Hz supply from the temporary generating site at Fairfield.

GPL said that it expects by the end of this week to complete the installation of

new, dual frequency, dual voltage transformers between Onderneeming and La Union and to switch the supply to 60 Hz. “We would continue to provide support and advice to our valued customers who may be encountering problems with the 60 Hz power supply,” the power company said.

The conversion of part of the Essequibo Coast load to 60 Hz is intended to allow maintenance to be undertaken at the Anna Regina Power Station without recourse to power interruptions, GPL added.

GPL has expressed gratitude to its consumers on the Essequibo Coast for their patience during recent power outages.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

Major youth representation expected at AOG Youth Conference “RESTORING Countries

by My Spirit, sayeth the Lord of Hosts,” (Zachariah 4&6) will be the theme under which the Assemblies of God (AOG) National Youth Conference 2015 will be held tomorrow at the Enmore Community Centre Ground, East Coast Demerara.

The conference gets off to a 09:00 hrs start and a significant youth representation is expected from Assembly of God Churches throughout Guyana, as well as youths from other religious denominations, according to Mrs. Sandra Daniels-Harte, Member of the National Executive Body of the Assembly of God Youth Department.

The feature address will be delivered by AOG National Youth Director, Pastor Winston Assanah.

The evidently elated Pastor Assanah asserted, “We believe that we have a vision to empower young people to fulfil

their God-given mandate.”

He outlined that one of the ongoing works of the Assemblies of God in Guyana, is encouraging young people to spiritually ‘find themselves’.

He said that the Word of God, the Bible, has been proven to be the ideal tool to bring understanding to those who encounter it.

The AOG Youth Conference was organised by the combined Assemblies of God Churches in Guyana, as they seek for yet another year to bring thousands of young people in one place to worship and praise their God. This forum is an annual feature and its objectives include: ● To provide a platform or avenue for the Church to fulfil the critical mandate of assisting young people, not only to discover their God-given talents, but also to activate them. ● To develop young people

to the place where they can make themselves internationally ready for assignments that Christ is arranging for them.

Meanwhile, another method being used by the Church to address the issue of youth ‘finding themselves’ is the involvement of young people in activities that allow them to become positive role models, boosting their self-image.

Besides the role played in this process by living in tune with God’s Word, another approach to helping young people ‘find themselves’ is taking part in the performing arts, Rev. Assanah said.

To this end, one of the highlights of the programme will be competition in ten different areas, including: Song competition; Drama; Dance; Dramatic Poetry; Male and Female Quiz competition and Elocution. Trophies will be up for grabs.

GT&T donates $500,000 to Charles Rosa School of Nursing

Principal Tutor Hillary Christopher and Senior Tutor Sabina Gullin accept the cheque from GT&T Senior Marketing Officer, Anjanie Hackett

THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), in execution of their social responsibility, made a $500,000 donation to the Charles Roza School of Nursing in Linden.

The company noted that the donation will go towards providing desks and other furnishings for the institution which serves as a training centre for students of Linden and other regions. The nursing school was founded in 1959

by Dr. Charles Roza to train

healthcare providers in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) to meet the needs of the communities.

Principal Tutor at the Charles Roza School of Nursing, Hillary Christopher, said the school continues to pride itself in facilitating high quality healthcare training.

Christopher explained that the request for assistance came as a result of the institution’s determination to create a more conducive atmosphere for students and tutors in

order to have greater output.

He mentioned also that the contribution will make a great impact in the school, allowing it to meet its mandate of ensuring that students offer their best service upon completion of their training.

GT&T’s Senior Marketing Office Anjanie Hackett said: “GT&T as a good corporate citizen recognises the invaluable contribution of the institution and is therefore pleased to assist the school in its efforts.”

‘Baby Heart Foundation’ begins heart surgeries on young patients

By Navendra Seoraj THE International Children’s Heart Foundation (ICHF), commonly known as ‘Baby Heart Foundation’, on Tuesday commenced surgeries on young heart patients.

The surgeries which were scheduled to begin on Monday were pushed back due to a few minor setbacks.

This has since been ironed out and on Tuesday two surgeries were successfully completed along with two cardiac catheterizations (a procedure used to diagnose and treat cardiovascular con-

ditions). One cardiac catheterization was also done on that day.

Additionally, a threemonth-old baby girl whose mother took her to schedule an echo at the lab on Tuesday was seen by Director of the Echocardiography Education Programme at the GPHC, Dr. Debra Isaac who immediately did an echo on the child.

Dr. Isaac disclosed that the echo revealed the baby has a serious heart condition and would not survive if she was sent back home. Therefore, she was admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care

Unit and placed on the list of surgeries to be performed.

She said the team anticipates performing surgery on the baby in 48 hours.

“The time is so perfect because we are here…this child is way too sick to be sent anywhere…we had to give the parent on one hand the bad news that their child has a serious heart problem and the good news on the other hand that we can do something about it,” she said.

The ‘Baby Heart Foundation’ team is in Guyana for the next two weeks to perform free heart surgeries on young persons.

IAC’s Hamara Guyana Concerts absolutely free – top international acts tabled to perform WITH the intent of giving back to their supporters, The Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) has removed all admission charges for its three-staged shows “Hamara Guyana Concerts” slated for this weekend at the Guyana National Stadium, the Anna Regina (Essequibo) Community Centre Ground and the Albion Sports Complex, May 5.

Executive member of the IAC committee, Aditya Persaud, disclosed that the decision to waive the admission charges for the three events is based on the strong support it continues to receive from well-wishers and benefactors.

“The IAC takes this opportunity to express its gratitude to the individuals and organisations that have made the free admission possible,” said Persaud.

But patrons attending the events are even more lucky, taking into consideration that some of the hottest international acts are also slated to perform.

The artistes line-up includes spectacular guest performances from KI Persaud, Artie Butkoon, Marissa Deodat, SatnarineRagoo and Terry Gajraj.

The three concerts are activities to commemorate the 177th anniversary of Indians’ arrival in Guyana. The first Mela will be held on Friday, May 1, at the National Stadium, Providence. Trinidadians KI, Artie Butkoon and Satnarine Raghu, along with international Guyanese artiste Terry Gajraj and Marissa Deodat, will perform at the National Stadium and will be backed by KI’s band.

It will also include a Choka Fest where the persons will see a wide variety of delicious Chokas along with Seven Curry Food Booths, special delicacies out of India, and a wide range of sweetmeats and non-alcoholic beverages.

The second Mela will be held at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground in Essequibo, where Gajraj, Deodat, Butkoon and Raghu will perform and will be backed by the

Sangeet Rhythms Band.

The final will be held on Tuesday, May 5, at the Albion Sports Complex in Berbice, where Raghu will be replaced by Neval Chatelal for the Berbice concert with the artistes being backed by the Shakti Strings Orchestra.

Some three dozen local dancers will also be part of these events.

The events will also feature free mehendi and face painting from 5pm to 7pm, along with lots of games and fun activities for the children.

Mini exhibits showcasing the three major religions of Guyana as well as various aspects of the Indian culture, plus yoga demonstrations will be on display.

All events will commence at 5:00 pm and gates will be opened from 3pm. No alcohol will be allowed.

The IAC is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation established to deal with issues and concerns of persons of Indo-Guyanese origin, and to promote Indian culture in all its aspects throughout Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

DESPITE APPARENT LACK OF FEASIBILITY STUDY…

Granger makes big promises to Bartica ADDRESSING a crowd of just over 4000 persons last Sunday evening at the APNU+AFC Unity Rally held in Bartica, that party’s Presidential Candidate, David Granger, unleashed his political spirit and made several big promises to Barticians.

Among these were major development of the education sector; infrastructural development; and security enhancement, should his government be elected to govern following General and Regional Elections on May 11.

A historian as well, Granger said the 170-year-old settlement of Bartica would be “revived” come May 11, when the APNU+AFC coalition secures a victory at the elections. Should this become a reality, Granger noted, the day following Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary, May 27 2016, would be the day when the APNU+AFC government declares Bartica a town.

This promise was certainly well received by the crowd, which responded with thunderous applause.

Granger then related that his next plan is to ensure that Bartica becomes a more secure town, but he said that would require an overhauling of the security sector in the region. His plan, he stressed, is to first ensure that the Police Divisional Commander is stationed in the community, rather than working from Georgetown.

“The Commander of 'F' Division will live in Bartica, not at Eve Leary. He cannot run Bartica from Orange Walk,” a fired up Granger declared.

He also proposed that, under the APNU+AFC government, the police would be better paid and equipped, since that government would invest in resources which are deemed needed by the police.

Stepping it up a notch to an evidently hyped crowd, the APNU+AFC leader then made the biggest promise of the night, which was that Barticians could expect the Potaro Road to be transformed into a highway, should his government secure

a victory.

Infrastructural development, he noted, is key to development in any region; and for this reason, he explained, infrastructural development was needed in Region Seven.

A technical institute for the region and major developmental plans for the education sector were also announced as being on the agenda for the coalition.

“Bartica,” he said, “is the gateway to good jobs”, and if Barticians want to develop the region rapidly, investment in the education system should be placed on the front burner.

But despite these claims and promises of what would be done for the region, the leader failed to mention whether a feasibility study had been done by the coalition, given that it has signalled its intention to massively overhaul the tax regime while at the same time increasing social security’s Old Age pension and public servants’ salaries.

Prior to the rally on Sunday, the coalition had promised to increase Old Age pensions to G$15,000 initially, and give a 20 percent across-the-board salary increase to law enforcement personnel and a 10 percent salary hike to other government employees.

A coalition-led administration also plans to give a G$50,000 monthly allowance to each of 200 youths to help them pursue their goals in athletics, arts and music.

As it relates to the tax reform intention of the coalition, Granger had this to tell a sitting audience of a few hundred at a forum arranged by the Guyana Women’s Roundtable (GWR) and Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC): “This is something we have examined before…we have made proposals for the reduction of the VAT, which has not been approved…and proposals for raising the tax threshold.”

He had further explained that a Tax Reform Commission would be set up with the general intent of raising the tax threshold; reducing Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax;

and reducing Value Added Tax (VAT), which currently sits at 16%.

In a supposedly ‘leaked’ version of the coalition’s manifesto, it was revealed that the APNU+AFC had documented the personal income tax threshold to be raised to G$100,000.

A hopeful Granger had

also alluded to the coalition’s intention to reduce the customs duties that are being paid daily to import vehicles, and had pointed to the removal of any form of taxation on the basic necessities that a household would require for survival on a daily basis.

But despite these prom-

ises, the “glory story” of the APNU+AFC, as political pundits so described it, is still to be supported by a feasibility study, which

provides a basis to prove that these “promises” are practicable and the major reduction in taxes can sustain the economy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

Good Hope Nursery com

- shows Gov’t’s commitment towards betterment of education system - REO

By Rebecca Ganesh THE Ministry of Education in their drive to educate Guyana’s children, and just a year after its inception, commissioned the Good Hope Nursery School yesterday under their motto: ‘Working Together To Achieve The Best.’

Jennifer Bourne, Regional Educational Officer, noted at the commissioning of the Good Hope Nursery on the East Coast of Demerara that the community had been eagerly awaiting the opening of this nursery school and thanked the Government of Guyana and the Regional Democratic Council.

She said that Region 4 (Demerara-Mahaica) performance has improved and with the addition of this school the path to greatness can be achieved. “The Good Hope Nursery was founded in March 2014 since it was recognised that the community produce a large number of school-aged children and transportation cost was enormous and not affordable by most parents,” she said.

The school, she related, started with 49 boys, 32 girls and 4 teachers. “This commissioning shows the Government’s commitment towards the betterment of the education system,” Bourne said as she concluded her remarks.

Regional Executive Officer for Region 4, Deolall Rooplall, said that in 2012 the Regional Council met and discussed the possibility of the construction of a nursery school in the Good Hope area. “In 2013 the budget was presented for the need for a school in Good Hope, it was summited and project was placed as a priority,” he noted.

“The Government give their no-objection to the construction of the Good Hope Nursery and the council was allocated $20M but the project was completed at a cost of $15M.” The balance of $5M, he noted, was utilised to upgrade the tiling on four nursery school floors.

Rooplall lauded the Government of Guyana, the Housing Ministry and the Education Ministry for the

works they have been doing.

He noted that “this project would not have been here today if it wasn’t for the Housing Ministry as they decided to craft this new scheme and integrated and allocated space for the school and other recreational areas. There is also a new site adjoining the nursery school for a secondary school in this area.”

He complimented the administration on the works done for the new school. He alluded to the fact that Region 4 has the largest number of public schools with the commissioning of the Good Hope Nursery being the 57th nursery school in the region.

“The success of the children greatly depends on the work of the teachers. Early preparations for the students will also improve and the community will be the beneficiaries.”

Meanwhile, during his remarks Chief Education Officer Olato Sam declared that the commissioning of the Good Hope Nursery is a fulfillment of a promise by the Ministry of Education.

He noted that it is the min-

Students of the school during their istry’s mission to provide the such initiative is the edubest quality of education for cational programmes that the nation’s children and to are aired on the Learning find different ways to deliver Channel. quality education to all our He said that at present children. there is a programme that According to Sam, there is being rolled out “to start are many programmes that them (children) on the right the Education Ministry has foot, we need to start them embarked on to assist our at an early age,” adding that country’s children and one this will make the transition

performance from nursery to primary and then to secondary very smooth.

The Ministry of Education is extremely proud of the attainment of universal primary education in Guyana and the percentage of teachers who have attained recognisable standards. He

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

mmissioned Good Hope Nursery School

related that the ministry is currently working towards the attainment of universal secondary education “and shortly that too will be a reality.”

ministry will be commissioning in the near future four new secondary schools across the country and Region 4 will be the recipient of two.

FOUR NEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS Moreover, he said, the

ROLE OF PARENTS Parents, he emphasised, as well as the com-

munities need to recognise their role in their children’s education. “We need strong parents, we allow our parents to visit the schools every month,” he noted as he urged parents to get involved in their children’s school life.

First Lady, Guyana Chest Society observe Int’l Earth Day PLANTS are a critical component of the ecosystem and provide essential support for the survival of the human race. Plants are the lungs of planet Earth and depending on the species, are healthy food sources.

In observance of International Earth Day 2015, First Lady DeolatchmeeRamotar teamed up with the Cove and John Ashram and the Guyana Chest Society to plant sijan plants.Sijan can be used in a vegetarian diet and is a very good source of protein, vitamin A, iron and calcium.

At the Hugo Chavez Shelter, Dr. Jeetendra Mohanlall and team from the Guyana Chest Society, collaborated with Dr. Dwight Waldron and colleagues from the Ministry of Agriculture along with the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security to initiate the development of a protein bank with sijan and pigeon peas plants.

According to Dr. Mohanlall, sijan and pigeon peas plants were chosen because of their high nutritional value. Dr. Mohanlall empha-

Swami Shivshankar and Mrs. Ramotar plant a sijan tree at the Ashram in observance of International Earth Day as Dr Mohanlall looks on. sised that protein helps the nant women. body to repair worn cells and He encourages everymake new ones. This food one to plant a tree with nugroup is especially important tritional value to promote for growth and development healthy bodies in a healthy in children, teens, and preg- environment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

Secondary school students upgrade agriculture skills at OAS-funded workshop

By Clifford Stanley

STUDENTS from a number of secondary schools are currently the beneficiaries of a workshop/training program on organic, hydroponic and hybrid-system agriculture funded for Guyana by the Organisation of American States (OAS).

The program is titled: “The provisions: Organic, Hydroponic and Hybrid System growing for Caribbean Schools and model for local Caribbean Entrepreneurship,” and is being implemented by the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College of Education of St Kitts Nevis in collaboration with the Government

of Guyana (GOG) through the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) Guyana is one of five Caribbean countries participating in the project, others being St. Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago.

The visiting resource per-

Some of the youthful participants at the opening of the OAS funded workshop on organic, hydroponic and hybrid-system agriculture sons from St Kitts Nevis are Project Manager Dr. Leighton Narine, Expert Mr Stuart La Place and Project Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mr.

Andre Huie.

The venue is NAREI facilities at Mon Repos East Coast Demerara.

NAREI constructed the hydroponics and organoponics facilities being used by the resource persons and participants.

Officials disclosed that the workshop is part of an effort by the OAS to provide effective training, skills and tools to schools, farmers, extension officers and underprivileged groupings in these relatively new areas of agricultural production within the Caribbean Region.

The local students participating are drawn from schools on the lower East Coast Demerara and the West Coast of Demerara including President’s College, the Beterverwagting Secondary School, an educational institution from Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara and the Joshua House Institute, among others.

The five-day workshop was launched on Monday last in the Boardroom of the Guyana School of Agriculture .The opening ceremony was attended by and Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy, OAS Representative to Guyana, Mr Jean Ricot Dormeus, Chief Executive Officer of NAREI Dr. Oudho Homenauth,the visiting resource persons from St Kitts Nevis as well as the secondary school students, staff and students of the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), technicians from NAREI and several senior agricultural officers.

In a feature address, Minister Ramsammy traced the evolution of agriculture in Guyana from one of subsistence farming to one of a highly lucrative business bolstered

by ever growing science and technology.

He stressed that agriculture has the potential to move Guyana from a middle income country to a developed country.

He urged the participants to embrace the technological advances in agriculture and by this means transform the activity into a money making business while at the same time making a tangible contribution to food security in Guyana and the wider Caribbean community.

Dr Narine said that the project is also expected to produce educational resource material and curriculum for use in Caribbean schools, particularly those focused on technical and vocational training. It is designed to be easily replicated in any country context.

Mr Dormeus said that the concept of the workshop began as student-based research on sustainable agriculture within the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) program.

It grew into a project concept that was submitted to the Development Cooperation Fund of the OAS in November 2011.

It was tested through faculty and student-led community outreach in St. Kitts-Nevis and refined to a streamlined set of outputs and activities following peer review from OAS evaluators.

He pledged the continued commitment of the OAS to sustainable development and prosperity with equity assuring that the Special Multilateral Fund of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (FEMCIDI) will continue to support member states in this regard.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy addresses participants at the OAS funded workshop on organic, hydroponic and hybrid-system agriculture

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Guyana CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

Chronicle Senior Sports journalist Calvin Roberts passes on

By Michael DaSilva SENIOR Sports journalist Calvin Roberts passed away on Tuesday night at the Davis Memorial Hospital after a brief period of illness.

He was 44 years of age.

Roberts, an avid follower and reporter on cricket, especially, joined the Chronicle staff over five years ago after leaving a similar job at the Stabroek News where he worked for over 12 years.

Roberts served as a senior reporter at both Stabroek News and Guyana Chronicle and covered mainly cricket, horse racing, motor sports but other disciplines as well.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport yesterday, Guyana Cricket Board secretary Anand Sanasie expressed shock at hearing the news of Roberts’ death.

Sanasie said even though Roberts was ill for some time, the news of his death came as a shock.

The GCB secretary said Roberts was one of the persons he always could

have called on when the Board needed assistance with promoting their activities.

“He was a qualified scorer and anytime we needed his assistance, we could have called on him and he was there for us. He will be sadly missed in the cricketing circles,” Sanasie stated.

Sanasie expressed his sincere condolences and those of the GCB in general, to Roberts’ family, relatives and friends.

Long-serving Sports Editor of the GNNL, Leon Horatio, said he was deeply saddened to learn of Senior Sports reporter Calvin Roberts’ death. They spoke on the phone around 22:00hrs on Tuesday night and he sounded quite confident.

“It came as a massive shock yesterday morning to hear of his demise,” Horatio stated, adding, “For the past five years or so Mr Roberts was well-known for his hard work and commitment to the Sports Department of the Guyana Chronicle.

He was reliable and was always prepared to go the extra mile.” So much so he was named Sports journalist of the year in 2013.

According to Horatio, Roberts has left behind a solid foundation and a legacy of hard work. “We have always enjoyed a good working relationship and he will surely be missed. On behalf of the Sports Department, I extend sincerest condolences to his relatives, friends and other colleagues.

Sports Editor of the Stabroek News Donald Duff, in paying his tribute, said Roberts began his career as a journalist at the Stabroek News following a recommendation from another journalist Sean Devers.

From the inception he showed a good grasp of the basics of journalism and though he specialised in cricket at the outset, he was to prove competent in other sport disciplines.

He was a hard and tireless worker and one who dedicated himself to being the best sports journalist he could possibly be which resulted in his winning the Sports Journalist of the Year award. He will be missed for his contribution to the field of sports journalism in Guyana.Another person that Roberts shared a close relationship with was Ramesh Sunich of the

Bourda Market Trophy Stall and vice-president of the Guyana Floodlights Softball Association as well as an organiser of many softball cricket tournaments. On hearing of Roberts’ passing said, “I am really shocked at the news; he was a really good man and friendly person.

“To me, he was always very helpful and complementary for what I’m doing for the development of sports in Guyana.”

GTV’s Channel 28 Sports journalist Avenesh Ramzan had this to say: “I will always remember Calvin as this outspoken person, who, regardless of whether he is right or wrong, would find ways of defending his position.

Such persona obviously did not find favour with everyone, but I, like many of our colleagues in the sport media, had grown to understand him for the person he was and what he brought to the table.

Many a time Calvin’s discourse would lead us into heated, albeit healthy discussions. For us all, it was just another day in the job of a Sports Journalist.

I remember fondly how enthusiastic he was just at the start of 2014 when he single-handedly led the resuscitation of the Guyana Media XI cricket team.

He approached many friends of the media to support the team to have uniforms and gear, and was also very active in organising games. His crowning moment no doubt for the Guyana Media XI would have been at Enmore on June 1 last year when he dismissed three top order batsman, including former national player Sheik Mohamed, in a devastating and matchwinning spell against Enmore Over-40.

He was on top of the world. Less than a year later, it’s hard to believe that a man, who possessed so much enthusiasm, talent, sport foresight, and organisational capabilities, is no more.

But Calvin, like all those with an affiliation to sport, would know that the umpire’s decision is final. The greatest umpire of them all has made his call. He knows best.

Calvin would have to retreat into the comfort of his arms. Well played ‘Champo.’

May his soul rest in peace!

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Guyana CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

Hafeez hundred puts Pakistan in control of opening Test

(REUTERS) - Mohammad Hafeez led Pakistan’s strong reply with his third hundred in as many Tests after Bangladesh lost their last five wickets for 27 runs on the second day of the opening Test at Khulna yesterday.

Hafeez remained unbeaten on 137 with Pakistan reaching 227 for one in their first innings at stumps after Bangladesh were shot out for 332. Azhar Ali was also not out on 65.

Bangladesh resumed yesterday on 236 for four and went past 300 riding on a 62-run stand for the sixth wicket between captain Mushfiqur Rahim (32) and debutant Soumya Sarkar (33).

Sarkar and Rahim fell in consecutive overs as Bangladesh, who defeated Pakistan in all four limited overs matches preceding the two-Test series, collapsed from 305 for 5 to 332 all out.

Paceman Wahab Riaz and leg-spinner Yasir Shah finished with three wickets each for Pakistan.

Hafeez, who also picked up two wickets, added 50 for the opening wicket with debutant left-hander Sami Aslam (20), who was given out caught behind off Taijul Islam after Mushfiqur successfully reviewed the umpire’s notout verdict.

Mohammad Hafeez struck his third century in as many Tests to establish Pakistan’s dominance on the second day Mushfiqur, however, dropped Azhar on 11 and 28, the second one forcing him to leave the field with an injured finger.

Hafeez, who successfully overturned the umpire’s caughtbehind decision against him on

13, brought up his eighth Test century with two consecutive fours off paceman Rubel Hossain before taking off his helmet and kissing the turf to celebrate the mark.

The 34-year-old right-hander

SCOREBOARD BANGLADESH 1st innings (o/night 236-4) T. Iqbal c Az. Ali b Shah 25 I. Kayes c & b Hafeez 51 M. Haque lbw b Babar 80 Mahmudullah c S. Ahmed b Riaz 49 S. Al Hasan c Shafiq b Babar 25 M. Rahim c Misbah-ul-Haq b Shah 32 S. Sarkar c Shafiq b Hafeez 33 S. Hom not out 12 T. Islam b Shah 1 M. Shahid c Misbah-ul-Haq b Riaz 10 R. Hossain c S. Ahmed b Riaz 2 Extras: (lb-5, nb-7) 12 Total: (all out, 120 overs) 332 Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-92, 3-187, 4-236, 5-243, 6-305, 7-310, 8-312, 9-329.

Bowling: J. Khan 16-2-40-0 (nb-2), W. Riaz 26-7-55-3 (nb-1), M. Hafeez 18-5-47–2, Z. Babar 32-3-99-2, Y. Shah 28-4-86-3.

PAKISTAN 1st innings M. Hafeez not out 137 S. Aslam c Rahim b T. Islam 20 Az. Ali not out 65 Extras: (lb-2, nb-3) 5 Total: (for 1 wicket, 58 overs) 227 Fall of wickets: 1-50.

Bowling: R. Hossain 11-0-50-0 (nb-2), M. Shahid 7-029-0 (nb-1), T. Islam 16-2-43-1, S. Hom 8-0-34–0, S. Al Hasan 12-0-57-0, Mahmudullah 2-0-9-0, S. Sarkar 1-02-0, M. Haque 1-0-1-0.

had scored 96, 101 not out, 197 and 24 in his last four innings in Tests against New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates in November.

Hafeez hit 12 fours and two sixes in his 179-ball knock and

added 177 for the unbroken second-wicket with Pakistan’s ODI captain Azhar.

Bangladesh employed eight bowlers but could not find a second breakthrough and are now 105 runs ahead.

RHTYSC expresses profound sadness

THE Patron, President and members of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club would like to register its profound sadness on the sudden death of Guyana Chronicle Sports Reporter, Calvin Roberts.

Calvin was not only a honorary member of the RHTYSC but also played a major role in promoting the work of the club, firstly at Stabroek News and later at the Guyana Chronicle.

Everyone of our members especially the Secretary/ CEO Hilbert Foster, has been floored by the news of Calvin’s death as only last Saturday, he was with us during the final of the Busta Champion of Champions. We considered it a privilege to have known Calvin as a friend and on a professional basis and we would always remember him for his dedication to the development of cricket, his warm personality and his ability to get things done.

The RHTYSC had the pleasure on four occasions to honour our departed brother for his service to the RHTYSC and last Saturday we assisted him with a financial contribution towards his medical bills.

If only we had known that it would have been our final get-together, we would have taken the opportunity to thank him for being one of the finest human beings we had the privilege of meeting.

As humans, we would have had our share of disagreements but our friendship based on mutual respect saw us through those difficult moments.

The RHTYSC would like to appeal to all those involved in cricket administration in Guyana to use Calvin’s death as a period of healing. Too many persons are involved in the administration of cricket for the wrong reasons and our greatest tribute to this outstanding journalist who did so much for Guyana’s cricket would be unity and proper development of the game.

As administrators and true lovers of cricket, we must work for the betterment of cricket and to make sure that every young cricketer in Guyana fulfils his/her true potential.

The RHTYSC would honour Calvin Roberts, our friend and role model by naming our annual Most Committed Award in his memory and would also be assisting his son in his educational pursuits.

We would like to express our deepest sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues and wish to reassure them

that they are in our thoughts and prayers. May God bless and watch over them.

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Guyana CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

Chelsea on brink of title after win at Leicester

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Chelsea came from behind to beat Leicester City 3-1 yesterday and move to within one win of clinching the Premier League title for the first time in five years.

Chelsea were labelled as “boring” by Arsenal fans during the 0-0 London derby on Sunday and they were below par against a Leicester side chasing a fifth successive league win to boost their chances of survival in the top flight.

Marc Albrighton fired Leicester ahead in first-half stoppage time but Didier Drogba equalised soon after the restart before late goals from John Terry and Ramires ensured Chelsea will seal the title with victory against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Chelsea have 80 points from 34 games with last season’s champions Manchester City second on 67. Third-placed Arsenal also have 67 but they have played a game less.

Leicester remained 17th with 31 points from 34 games, one point ahead of 18th-placed Sunderland but Nigel Pearson’s side have played a game more.

“I think maybe we are scared to win the league,” Drogba told Sky Sports. “Two wins and then we get the trophy but this one was difficult. We have to give credit to

John Terry celebrates with team mates after scoring the second goal for Chelsea. (Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine) Leicester. league.

“In the second half we came back and “We don’t get enough credit. We are we wanted to make sure the game against top of the league, we have the most points Crystal Palace is the one that gives us the and people find us boring.”

NOTABLE DATES

DILLON Carew came from a boxing family. His elder brother Gordon represented Guyana at the 1984 Olympics.

Dillon followed in his brother’s footsteps and featured in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He turned pro soon after and two years later (1994) was crowned the lightweight champion of Guyana.

The southpaw Carew did not have an easy street during his 15-year career as he came up

against the best which included Diosbelys Hurtado, DeMarcus `Chop Chop’ Corley, Leonard Dorin, Carlos Quintana, Meldrick Taylor and Ricky Hatton, all of whom had been or became world champions.

On April 30, 1999 Carew tackled the Romanian-born Dorin for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental of Americas super lightweight title. The fight was staged at the Turning Stone Resort in New York

and undefeated Dorin won by unanimous decision.

Carew, who was 10-2-2 going into the bout against Dorin, added 25 more fights to his record before finally calling it quits in 2007.

He is now a respected trainer at the Gleason’s Gym in New York and last year assisted in the preparation of super heavyweight champion Quincy `Biggy’ Small for the National Open.

Leicester kept things tight in the early stages but they were forced to make two quick substitutions because of injury, Matty James replacing midfielder Andy King and Ritchie De Laet coming on for defender Robert Huth.

The home side’s rhythm was not disrupted, however, and left back Paul Konchesky forced Petr Cech into a smart save at his near post before Chelsea cleared their lines after a scramble in the box.

Leicester took the lead when Jamie Vardy crossed the ball into the box and Albrighton capitalised on Cesar Azpilicueta’s slip to sidefoot past Cech.

But just as Leicester fans chanted “We are staying up”, Chelsea equalised when Drogba swept home Branislav Ivanovic’s cross in the 48th minute to level the scores.

Chelsea were being well contained by Leicester but the visitors snatched the lead in the 79th minute when Gary Cahill headed Cesc Fabregas’s corner towards goal and Terry was lurking at the back post to flick the ball past Kasper Schmeichel.

If Chelsea’s second was a little fortunate, their third was anything but as Brazilian midfielder Ramires fired a leftfoot shot home from the edge of the box to take the London side closer to the title.

Lowden defeats Adams to win Assuria Men’s Over-35 tennis title

BERBICIAN Godfrey Lowden spared no time in entrapping the Assuria Men’s Over-35 singles tennis championship title from Carlos Adams in straight sets with a 6-3, 6-0 victory on Monday evening at the Le Resouvenir Tennis Club.

According to a release, the two players have a rivalry that goes back years and expectations were high since both men are very resilient in their attempt to be Guyana’s modern-day veteran tennis champion.

There were a flurry of shots between the two players as they both seemed energised enough to break each other’s serve until 3-3, when Adams seemed to slow down with a high level of unforced errors.

This is when Lowden started to deliver spectacular passing shots to easily go on to

take the first set at 6-3.

Lowden started the second set reenergised as he played a slower and more tactical game, immediately breaking Adams’ first service game.

This threw off Adams who seemed uncharacteristically low on energy and started to land more balls in mid-court.

Lowden, recognising this opportunity, moved into the net which proved very effective as he whitewashed Adams to take the set at 6-0.

The two were engaged in battle once again last evening at the Nash Tennis Court from 18:00hrs in the Men’s Over45 singles where spectators expected fierce action once again.

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10:10 hrs Maayaat

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English Racing Tips

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Punchestown 10:40 hrs Argentino 11:15 hrs Ned Buntline 11:50 hrs Quantitativeeasing 12:30 hrs Hurricane Fly

41

Guyana CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

A salute to Shivnarine Chanderpaul!

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Chanderpaul is taking his time to overtake Brian Lara as West Indies’ leading run-scorer in Tests – in keeping with his slow-burn approach to the game.

Twenty-one years now since Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s first Test. vs England, at the Bourda ground in Georgetown, March 17 1994: West Indies were then still the No.1 team in the world, and stayed so for another 12 months, until their watershed loss to Australia the following spring.

Opening the batting were Desmond Haynes, playing in his 113th Test and Richie Richardson, in his 74th.

Opening the bowling were Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh.

Alongside the young Chanderpaul in the middle order, Brian Lara – soon to break Garry Sobers’ record Test score – and Jimmy Adams, early in the purple patch of form that saw him average 70 in his first 20 Tests.

Another era altogether then, one when the West Indies, while waning, still played with some of the fire and brilliance that had made them one of the greatest teams in history.

Chanderpaul was 19, and so slim that both his shirt and pads seemed several sizes too big for him. He was called in as a replacement for Phil Simmons, now West Indies head coach. Some

said he was only there to please the Guyanese.

“A politically shrewd selection,” wrote Derek Pringle in The Independent.

Wisden, in one of those odd and endearing miscalculations it occasionally makes, reported that he was included “as much for his leg-breaks as his lefthanded batting”.

And he did bowl 16 overs, all wicketless, in the first innings. Things became clearer when, in at No.6, he hit his first four, a glorious cut behind point off Alan Igglesden. That afternoon Chanderpaul battered England’s attack, and scored the first of his 66 Test-50s. There was a pitch invasion when he got there, and Adams had to drag away a couple of fans who wanted to grab the boy’s bat.

After his last Test century – 101 against Bangladesh in St Lucia last September – Chanderpaul needed to score 228 runs to overtake Lara as the West Indies’ leading runscorer in Test cricket. Now, he still needs another 71 to do it.

His progress towards the record has been slow and faltering, 91 runs in six innings against South Africa, 67 in four so far against England. At his age, even a short run of low scores is enough to make people wonder whether his time is finally up. His next Test will be his 164th, and put him fifth on the all-time list alongside Rahul Dravid.

Sachin Tendulkar is the

only man who has made it beyond the 160s. For West Indies, Australia are next up.

It seems like these could be some the final few scenes of Chanderpaul’s career.

Chanderpaul is 40 now, and has spent the last two years playing alongside his own son, Tagenarine, for Guyana. At the end of 2012 they put on 256 runs together – 143 for the father, 112 for the son – in a club

village pitch so that he could practise without disturbing the senior players. Then, at night, he would bat against a ball tucked into a sock, hanging from a rope tied to the roof.

With Shiv, the story has always been that he was shaped by those early years in Unity - a small kid with scrappy kit, playing on rough wickets against tough men. He evolved that home-

Shiv, the last man standing match against the Transport Sports Club. Delightfully amateur, that!

Tagenarine is another left-hander and, like his old man, he often uses his bat to knock a bail into the ground to mark his guard. He too grew up playing on the hard earth of Unity Village, he too was coached by Khemraj Chanderpaul, Shiv’s father, Tagenarine’s grandfather.

He did have the advantage, however, of being able to play on a relaid pitch, by a rebuilt pavilion. His father paid for the upgrades, a gift to his village. When Shiv was a boy, he played on a strip on the side of the

spun style all of his own; the open, awkward stance, chest half-turned to the bowler, playing late often as not, looking to slide the ball behind square.

The first time he did it in a Test, to take a four off Angus Fraser, Geoff Boycott was commentating. “That’s exactly why England should be bowling as much as possible at the youngster, Chanderpaul … he never really got forward; he fell into the shot.”

Chanderpaul was shaped, too, by the circumstances of his career, which has exactly overlapped with the decline and fall of the team. Lara’s

did too, of course, but he was so richly blessed that he always seemed almost to rise above his team-mates, a man apart.

Whereas Shiv seems to have spent his talent propping them up. Lara went in 2006. Walsh in 2001, Ambrose in 2000, Richardson in 1995, Haynes in 1994.

Shiv has played with almost 100 others since he made his debut. And even the best of them – Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan – have now come and gone.

Others were hardly there at all. A full 42 of them played in only five Tests or fewer.

Back in 2003, in another home Test at Bourda, against Australia this time, Chanderpaul played one of the great counterattacking innings. West Indies had won the toss, and chosen to bat. An hour before lunch, they were 53 for five.

An hour after it, 184 for six. In-between, Chanderpaul cut, pulled, and drove a hundred off 69 balls, then third-fastest century Test ever scored. A little glimpse of his latent attacking talent, a hint of the batsman he might have been if he had been playing in a different era, or for another team. His last hundred, the one against Bangladesh at the Beausejour, took 138 balls, and was the fastest he has scored since.

In-between the two, he turned himself into one of the most cussed batsmen ever to play the game, a man who measured his innings

out in hours and days, rather than runs and balls.

Chanderpaul turned himself into the great rearguard batsman, a man who never quits and never surrenders. Unsurprisingly, he has been not-out more often than any other batsman in history. Some have said he is dull, others that he is selfish. But he has only been doing what he has to.

He has, for instance, been involved in more runouts than anyone in Test cricket, 25 altogether. And on 21 of those occasions, it’s been his partner who has had to walk off. No wonder! Chanderpaul has had to play that way, fuelled by the Boycott-like certainty that West Indies’ best chance is if he is at the wicket. He has scored more runs in lost matches than any other batsman.

The final years of Chanderpaul’s career have too often been characterised by what Wisden called the “yawning gap between his skill, commitment and experience” and that of his team-mates. After Lara quit, Chanderpaul took on the load. He’s been carrying it ever since, always unbowed, often undefeated.

If – or rather when – he gets those final few runs and overtakes his old team-mate, it will be odd to see him there, top of the record lists, above the likes of Lara, Viv Richards, and Garry Sobers. But after all he has done, no one would begrudge him his place.

(UK Guardian article.

BCCI bans Narine from bowling off-breaks SUNIL Narine has been banned from bowling his off-breaks in any match organised by the BCCI, including in the IPL. He may, however, continue to bowl his other deliveries - the knuckle ball and the quicker straight ball. If he uses the off-break again in the ongoing IPL, he will be suspended from bowling in BCCI-organised matches.

Narine had been reported again for a suspect action following Kolkata Knight Riders’ game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 22 in Visakhapatnam.

He then went to the ICC-accredited Sri Ramachandra Arthroscopy and Sports Sciences Centre in Chennai for a biomechanical analysis of his bowling action. The BCCI suspect bowling action committee‎ reviewed the evidence of the match footage and the analysis, and concluded that Narine’s action for his off-break was illegal.

Since being reported, Narine missed Knight Riders’ match against Chennai Super Kings

Sunil Narine

on Tuesday as the franchise had decided to not risk playing the off-spinner.

Narine had been reported twice during the Champions League T20 last year and was subsequently banned from bowling in the final of the tournament. He skipped West Indies’ tour of India and later withdrew from their World Cup squad, choosing to focus on remodelling his action.

He underwent testing at the University of Loughborough and was cleared but the BCCI asked him to undergo another round of tests at the Sri Ramachandra University. He was then cleared by the BCCI suspect action committee and played five games for Knight Riders this season before being reported again.

He will now have to undergo corrective work on his action again after which he can request for another assessment by the BCCI committee. (ESPN Cricinfo)

42

Guyana CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

Mayweather aims money taunt at Pacquiao ahead of Las Vegas bout

By Ben Dirs BBC Sport in Las Vegas

FLOYD Mayweather taunted Manny Pacquiao ahead of their eagerly-anticipated super-fight on Saturday, telling him he should be earning more money.

The fight is the richest in history, with the fighters sharing around £150M, although the exact figure is unknown.

However, the purse split is 60-40 in Mayweather’s favour and the American legend said his Filipino rival had not been looked after properly.

“If he’d have worked with us, he’d have made $100M (£65M),” said Mayweather.

Financially, he hasn’t been treated right for this fight.

And (this fight) is all about the money.

“Saturday is just work, I’ll just do what I do. But I’ll make upwards of $200M for this fight, which is $50M apiece for my kids. So it was a smart move.”

Five-weight world champion Mayweather, nicknamed ‘Money’, came face-to-face with six-weight world champion Pacquaio for the first time at a Miami Heat basketball game in January.

The 38-year-old American said he instigated the initial meeting in Pacquiao’s Miami hotel suite - which

Floyd Mayweather arrives at the MGM Grand with promoter Leonard Ellerbe.

Mayweather said was not up to his exacting standards.

Ex-Premier League player jailed at match-fixing trial

Delroy Facey played for clubs including Bolton Wanderers, Hull City and West Bromwich Albion LONDON, England (Reuters) - Former National Crime Agency lead officer Adrian English Premier League striker Delroy Hansford said in a statement yesterday Facey was jailed for two and a half years that the syndicate had deliberately yesterday after being found guilty at a targeted lower leagues “believing that match-fixing trial of conspiracy to commit because players earn less they could be bribery. more susceptible to taking a bribe.

Facey, who made 10 top flight appearances “The NCA is in no doubt that this was the for Bolton Wanderers in a journeyman career beginning of a concerted attempt to build a that included a stint at West Bromwich network of corrupt players in the UK,” he Albion and ended at Hereford in 2012, was said. convicted at Birmingham Crown Court after “That network included Facey, who acted a three-week hearing. as a conduit for potential targets, and Former non-league player Moses Swaibu Swaibu, who was recruited to expand the was also found guilty and handed a 16-month network further.” sentence.

The court heard that Facey had acted Facey, 35, had been arrested in November as middle-man for the syndicate led by 2013 and pleaded not guilty.

Sankaran and Ganeshan, although there was The charges were part of an investigation no evidence of any matches actually being that had already secured the convictions of fixed.

Singaporean Chann Sankaran, Sri Lanka- Facey had claimed he was “humouring” the born Briton Krishna Ganeshan and syndicate and did not take them seriously.

Michael Boateng for paying footballers to However, the jury was read transcripts of text influence the outcome of games. messages from Facey to a non-league Hyde Sankaran and Ganeshan were both jailed FC player, urging him to make some “easy for five years in June 2014, while Boateng money”. received a 16-month sentence for conspiracy “You guys can’t win for sh-t so you may to bribe. as well make some peas,” Facey had said.

Mayweather, who is unbeaten in 47 professional fights, explained: “I went

over to Manny and said: ‘I don’t know what (Pacquiao’s promoter) Bob Arum is saying to you, but it’s not true.

“When Manny Pacquiao said he had signed paperwork to fight me, he must have been signing half of his money away. He hadn’t signed to fight me.

“I told him that if we agree to drugs testing and we’re on a level playing field, we can make the fight happen. The fight came about because of me.

“But why did they have him staying in that type of hotel? It wasn’t right.”

Mayweather also

reiterated his intention to retire after one more fight in September, even though two more victories would leave him equal with heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano’s 49-fight unbeaten record.

“People ask me about Rocky Marciano’s record but it’s time for me to walk away. And I won’t miss boxing,” said Mayweather.

“The money is more important than any unbeaten record - my daughters can’t eat no ‘zero’.

“Getting to 50 fights unbeaten might be special for you, but for me it’s not.” (BBC Sport)

FIFA launches health programme in the Caribbean SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (CMC) - CONCACAF says a pilot project by FIFA to use football as a vehicle to promote a healthy lifestyle has been gaining momentum.

Officials from seven pilot countries attended a workshop in Puerto Rico which launched FIFA 11 for Health in the Caribbean over the weekend.

The FIFA 11 for Health messages vary based on region but those developed for the Caribbean range from HIV and STDs protection and drug avoidance to the importance of a balanced diet and weight control.

“The FIFA 11 for Health programme has gained significant momentum since its inception, encouraging participation and investment from various organisations and governments to shape future ambassadors of football and sports in general,” said CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb.

“CONCACAF welcomes this project to the Caribbean region, as it is designed to infiltrate society from a grassroots level, ensuring that our population remains fit and healthy through the power of football.”

Representatives of Member

Associations, Governments and National Project Leaders from the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Grenada, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico and St Lucia attended the launch.

CONCACAF says the next phase is for participating countries to implement FIFA 11 for Health into school curriculums.

“This project is designed to increase the level of physical activity and improve awareness of communicable and non-communicable diseases globally,” said Prof. Jiri Dvorak, FIFA’s

Jeffery Webb Chief Medical Officer.

“We are excited to launch FIFA 11 for Health in the Caribbean and involve another region to meet our objectives in this area, and we look forward to working with CONCACAF federations to implement the programme.”

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday April 30, 2015)

Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230)& AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)

Lawrence Rowe-302 92) Kolkata Knight Riders

Today’s Quiz: (1) Who captained the WI in the first ever Test match played at the Kensington Oval, Barbados?

(2) Which two teams were the first to contest an IPL final?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

43

Guyana CHRONICLE Thursday April 30, 2015

Golden Jaguars ready to roar against Suriname tonight Golden Jaguars ready to roar against Suriname tonight

By Rawle Toney GUYANA’S Senior National Men’s football team – the Golden Jaguars – will roar against arch rivals Suriname tonight from 19:00hrs at the Andre Kamperveen stadium in Paramaribo.

The countries are bitter rivals in sports and the discipline of football might be the richest of them all. Dating back to colonial times, Guyana and Suriname have battled each other and the team’s captain Dwain Jacobs said despite the match being used as a precursor to their World Cup Qualifying match in June against St Vincent and the Grenadines, losing is not an option.

Both teams will be using tonight’s game as a dress rehearsal for the 2018 qualifiers, searching for the right combination but Jamaal Shabazz, Guyana head coach had stated recently that this time around, there will be a major difference when compared to their last meeting in 2010 when the Jaguars walked away 2-0 winners.

Not since 2008 have Suriname defeated Guyana (2-1), but this time around, behind former Dutch International and Ajax star Dean Gorré, the Surinamese will have a team filled with the country’s top players.

More than 100 players with Surinamese roots play professionally in the Dutch leagues and some have historically helped the former colony claim major championships.

A legislation to change the law on nationality and citizenship, allowing players with non-Surinamese passports to represent the country, was passed in the country’s National Assembly, allowing several players who play for Dutch teams to represent Suriname in their World Cup Qualifier in June.

Unlike their three previous international friendlies played this year, Guyana will turn to their locally based players,

Dwayne Jacobs and Adrian Butters with Shabazz only opting to use Caledonia AIA forward Pernell Shultz, Canada-based Adrian Butters and USA’s Kevin Beaton.

Dwain Jacobs was named captain of the squad that features goalkeeper Derrick Carter (Western Tigers) and

Akel Clark (Central FC), defenders Jamaal Smith (Alpha United), Colin Nelson (Slingerz FC), King Solomon Austin (Slingerz FC), Joshua Brown (Slingerz FC), Adrian Butters (Canada) and Kris Camacho.

Vurlon Mills (Slingerz FC), Daniel Wilson (Alpha United), Konata Manning (Alpha United), Clive Nobrega (Slingerz FC), Eon Alleyne (Fruta Conquerors) and Amos Ramsey (GDF) are the midfield players, while Pernell Shultz (Caledonia AIA), Sheldon Holder (Alpha United) and Kevin Beaton (USA) are the forwards.

Jacobs told Chronicle Sport that the game is one which means a lot to the players since in recent times, Guyana have enjoyed great success against Suriname and would want to maintain the strong hold against their Dutch counterparts.

“As long as we execute the coach’s plan and strategies, we will come out on top. The most important thing about this game for us is getting everyone on one level as we head into June,” said Jacobs.

Meanwhile for Butters and Beaton, two players who spent a considerable amount of time in the youth systems of the National team it means that they have another chance of impressing the man whom they would’ve played under in years past.

“It feels great being back with the team with the guys that I’ve played with in U-17 and U-23 and I’m grateful for the coaching staff, those who I know very well, for welcoming me back into the team and it’s a pleasure being part of the programme,” said Beaton.

According to Butters, “It’s an honour to be back and representing Guyana. I’ve seen a lot of players that I played with in the past and the new ones coming into the setup. I’m just excited to work hard and do my best.”

Simmons pushing for mindset change after ‘reckless’ batting

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) - New head coach of the West Indies cricket team Phil Simmons says he was startled by his side’s batting display against England on the morning of the final day of the second Test match in Grenada.

Resuming the final day on 202 for two – a lead of 37 runs overall – West Indies lost their last eight wickets for 105 runs, to be all out for 307, 35 minutes after lunch.

West Indies surrendered a strong position which allowed England to win the Test by nine wickets and lead the series one-nil.

“You hear people talk about how bad this is, or how bad that is. But when you’re in the camp, it’s not all as bad as people say,”

Coach Phil Simmons advocating a change in mindset said Simmons.

“But there has been nothing as startling as the way we batted on the last morning in Grenada. There is learning to be done.”

The regional side lost six wickets for 84

runs in the first session on the final day as James Anderson tore through the middle order with the new ball.

Simmons, a former West Indies allrounder, described the batting as ‘reckless’,

and said the match was lost because of ‘negligence’.

“We had two hours of negligence on the last day in Grenada and we lost the game,” Simmons told ESPNcricinfo.

“It was a reckless period.

It just needed a couple of guys to bat for another halfhour or so and we would have saved the game”.

The new Windies head coach says he was encouraged by some aspects of his side during the first two Test matches but has appealed for more consistency.

He is advocating for a change in the mindset of the players which he said should be informed by the state of the game.

“I’d like to see us play two or three sessions

consistently. We’ve played well in one, been bad in the next, and then come back in the one after that.

But we’ve not played consistently well for three sessions,” Simmons explained.

“We just need our young players to understand that how they play must be determined by what the team needs and what the scoreboard reads.

So they have to learn here that, if the score is 40 for 4, you might have to bat for two sessions and come back the next day to get your big score. The mindset has to change”.

The third and final Test between West Indies and England starts tomorrow in Barbados.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Golden Jaguars ready to roar against Suriname tonight See story on page 43

Chronicle Senior Sports journalist Calvin Roberts passes on See story on page 38

‌ remembered for his commitment, dedication and hardwork

Chronicle Senior Sports journalist Calvin Roberts dead at 44.

RHTYSC expresses profound sadness See story on page 39

Assad Fudadin of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club presents the contribution to the late Calvin Roberts, Sports Reporter of the Guyana Chronicle last Saturday.

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

GPA saddened by passing of Calvin Roberts

THE Guyana Press Association is deeply saddened by the passing of Sports journalist Calvin Roberts.

Mr Roberts, 44, passed away Tuesday evening after a period of hospitalisation.

While reporting on sports, Mr Roberts shared a love of cricket and his colleagues knew him for fast bowling and decent left-handed ability while playing for Ace Warriors, a second-division team that featured regularly in the Georgetown Cricket Association limited-overs competition.

He was also a youth member of Malteenoes Sports Club, and served as the Public Relations Officer of the Rose Hall Sports and Youth Club.

In 2013, he was named Sports Journalistof-the-Year by the Guyana Cricket Board.

Mr Roberts exhibited a deep passion for his profession worthy of emulation by his peers.

The Guyana Press Association extends deepest sympathy to his family, other relatives, colleagues and friends of Mr Calvin Roberts.

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015