2015 5 16

GUYANA

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

Election results to be declared at noon No. 104191 SATURDAY MAY 16, 2015 GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

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Charles Ramson Jr produces the evidence of a polling day staff pictured with opposition leader Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger, days after the elections

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‘Publish data used to calculate results’ – says Dr Ramsammy

PRESIDENT URGES INT’L OBSERVERS…

Don’t give ‘clean bill of health’ to an election that is clearly rigged Page

– Questions raised about role, credibility of ‘ABC’ countries 2

‘I did not concede’ – President Ramotar Page 9

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

PRESIDENT URGES INT’L OBSERVERS…

Don’t give ‘clean bill of health’ to an election that is clearly rigged – Questions raised about role, credibility of ‘ABC’ countries

By Vanessa Narine GUYANA’s electoral process, like processes across the world, involves three stages – voting, counting and tabulation of results, and verification by Returning Officers (ROs) that leads to a final declaration.

And having observed voting on May 11, electoral observer missions in Guyana have publicly deemed the 2015 General and Regional Elections as free and fair – a declaration that has not gone down well with the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and other civil society factions.

PREMATURE The consensus from these major stakeholders in the electoral process was premature, given the number of documented irregularities brought to the fore by the PPP/C and admissions that Statements of Polls (SoPs) were falsified and managed to get pass security barriers of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

While GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, contends that no false SoPs were included in the tabulations done so far, the verification process done by the Commission’s Returning Officers (ROs), in the presence of party agents, do not reconcile. Instead, the findings indicate that votes for the political Opposition (APNU+AFC) were increased through machinations still to be investigated, while votes for the PPP/C were decreased.

As recent as yesterday, the representatives of the ABC countries – United States of America (USA), Britain and Canada – in a joint statement maintain their position that the elections were free and fair.

The U.S. Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, Bryan

‘If (the international Observers) give a clean bill of health to an election that is clearly rigged, I don’t know if anybody would want them in their country to observe any elections…this is in their interest too, for their integrity’ – President Donald Ramotar

President Donald Ramotar

Former president Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

‘Ultimately, they have to understand if they certify an election that is not free and fair and that the results were determined by fraud - because whether we get the remedy now or in the post-election period through a petition and we provide our case – the credibility of the international community is at risk here too’ – Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo Hunt; Canadian High Commissioner, Dr. Nicole Giles; and British High Commissioner, Gregory Quinn, said, “The Embassy of the United States of America and the High Commissions of the United Kingdom and Canada wish to reiterate our strong and considered opinion that the voting and tabulation processes in the Guyanese national and regional elections were free, fair, and credible.”

Notable, was the fact that the three members of the diplomatic corps (dubbed in some quarters as ‘the three musketeers’) acknowledged that there were irregularities.

However, they insist that this was not material enough to have an impact on the final results of the 2015 polls.

“Despite investigating, in collaboration with other observer missions, repeated allegations of irregularities, we have found nothing that would materially impact the integrity or credibility of the process,” the three high ranking envoys said.

QUESTION OF CREDIBILITY All considered, questions were posed to the leadership of the PPP/C and the general concurrence is that the issue at hand is a matter of credibility.

President Donald Ramotar, at a news conference held at Freedom House yesterday, insisted that the credibility of these missions are at stake and legitimate concerns that could materially impact the elections results must be addressed.

In that case, he insists that

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) must “go to the box” (ballot boxes) to ensure that the process is one that is free, fair and credible, as well as free from fear.

“This election here now, also goes to the integrity of the observers that are involved. If they gave a clean bill of health to an election that is clearly rigged, I don’t know if anybody would want them in their country to observe any election…this is in their interest too, for their integrity, so I hope that we get a recount of the ballots,” Mr. Ramotar said.

The Guyanese Head of State, on that note, also responded to the British High Commissioner who, yesterday, supported the GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer’s position that the ‘falsified’ SoPs were not included in

the count which produced the preliminary results released on Thursday night.

“The fact that the Guyana Elections Commission itself found the so-called fake statements of poll and did not include them in the count is encouraging and should be seen in a positive light.

This means that GECOM’s systems worked as they were designed to,” Quinn said.

The President’s rejoinder was an emphatic, “If he did say so he is dead wrong about this information.”

Additionally, former president Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, on Wednesday night, said: “Ultimately, they have to understand that if they certify an election that is not free and fair and that the results were determined by fraud - because whether we get the remedy now or in the post-election period through a petition and we provide our case – the credibility of the international community is at risk here too.”

PPP/C member, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, also addressed this matter, yesterday.

“The integrity of this whole process has been called into questions…they (international observers) are talking

about what happened on Elections Day. Elections are more than what happened on Election Day. It is also about what happens after the voting was done,” he stressed.

According to him, the irregularities reflect a pattern.

“Let’s check the boxes,” he declared.

GECOM’s numbers indicated that APNU+AFC secured some 206,817 votes in the General elections, while the PPP/C received the support of 201,457 voters in the May 11 national polls. At the regional elections, the PPP/C gained some 198,148 votes, while APNU+AFC leads with 201,324.

Notably, at both the General and Regional Elections, the PPP/C secured the greatest level of support in six electoral districts – Regions 1 (Barima/Waini), 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam), 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), 5 (Mahaica/Berbice), 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) and 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).

If the preliminary results are upheld, APNU+AFC is expected to secure 33 seats in the National Assembly, while the PPP/C takes away 32 seats.

Representatives of the ‘ABC’ countries to Guyana: From left are, Canadian High Commissioner, Nicole Giles; British High Commissioner James Quinn, and U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

Election results to be declared at noon today DECLARATIONS of the 2015 General and Regional elections were made yesterday by the Returning Officers of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the final results will be disclosed today at noon.

GECOM said, “Relative to the process of declaring the results, those results have now been declared by the respective Returning Officers for the ten Electoral Districts. However, parties may raise objections by midday of the day after the last

of the ten declarations.

“For that reason, since the last declaration was made this morning, Friday May 15, 2015, the Commission has to wait until noon on Saturday May 16, 2015 before it can pronounce on a final declaration. This is the law.”

Additionally, GECOM acknowledged the state of anxiety that pervades the atmosphere and called for patience.

“The Guyana Elections Commission is quite aware of the anxiety that prevails

at this time in relation to the final declaration of the 2015 elections results…. the Commission is therefore asking the public to bear with it until midday of Saturday May 16, 2015, before it advises on the next stage of the declaration of results,” the Commission said.

GECOM’s numbers indicated that APNU+AFC secured some 206, 817 votes in the General elections, while the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) received the support of 201,457 voters in the May 11 national polls.

Steve Surujbally

At the regional elections, the PPP/C gained some 198,148 votes, while APNU+AFC leads with 201,324.

Notably, at both the General and Regional Elections, the PPP/C secured the greatest level of support in six electoral districts – Regions 1 (Barima/ Waini), 2 (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), 3 (Essequibo/ Islands), 5 (Mahaica/ Berbice), 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne) and Nine (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo).

Out of a total of 570,787 registered voters, there was

an average 71 per cent voter turnout, with 410,391 valid votes cast at General elections and 402,145 valid votes cast at the regional elections.

Also, The United Force (TUF) is leading the five other political parties, contesting the General and Regional elections, with the largest support.

If the preliminary results are upheld, APNU+AFC is expected to secure 33 seats in the National Assembly, while the PPP/C takes away 32 seats.

PRESIDENT TO GECOM: RECOUNT 22 BALLOTS BOXES

By Vanessa Narine THE emergence of more and more information, backed up by documented evidence, has led President Donald Ramotar to again request that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) do a recount.

This time, however, he appealed for the Commission to look at 22 boxes in areas where irregularities were flagged, given that the first appeal for a total recount was denied.

According to legal provisions stated in the Representation of the People’s Act, recounts can be requested before GECOM’s Returning Officers (ROs) make their final declarations and another request for a recount can be made after the RO’s have declared the final results in their electoral districts.

The latter request has to be made via a letter that details the reasons why a request is being made, whereas the first recount request does not have to stipulate reasons for such.

“I submitted a document which details an examination of only 22 of our Statement of Polls randomly selected from Region 4 (Demerara/ Mahaica), which show a substantial difference between our Statement of Polls and the information in the possession of GECOM in relation to the same Ballot Boxes. I attached to that document

‘We believe that these elections were seriously flawed, enough to change the outcome of the results. We believe that the data used by GECOM when they announced the number in their possession were numbers that did not reflect the vote in the boxes.’ – President Donald Ramotar

President Donald Ramotar says ‘evidence is here’ to justify a recount

those Statement of Polls for GECOM’s examination,” Mr Ramotar said, at a news conference yesterday at Freedom House.

CALLS TO GECOM President Ramotar disclosed that he and a team met with the GECOM Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally, the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, and five of the six Commissioners.

He said, “At that meeting, I detailed to GECOM that our party has identified serious differences in numbers between our Statement of Polls and the data which GECOM is using in tabulating the result of the 2015 General and

Regional Elections.

“Significantly, these differences disclose a consistent pattern of a subtraction of votes from the PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party/ Civic) and additions of that very number to the APNU+AFC (A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change). Of even greater importance, this information was corroborated by a verification exercise conducted by the Returning Officer for Region 4 at which both Political Parties were present.”

As such, he requested not only a recount of the 22 ballot boxes, but also that the recount be done in the presence of all Political Parties

and the Observer Teams and that the process of tabulation and disclosure by the Chief Elections Officer of Elections Result be put on hold until the recount is completed.

“The Chairman of GECOM undertook to grant these requests. I am now aware that GECOM has met with a delegation from the APNU/AFC who disputed our contentions….if APNU is contesting this, then I believe that the only verification we can have is to go into the box…I believe that this now makes an even more compelling case for our requests mentioned above to be granted,” Mr Ramotar said.

The Head of State also

related the Dr Surujbally assured that the recount was possible – a possibility that could be undertaken in less than one day. “The Chairman said he can do all 22 that we presented to them.”

Mr Ramotar is urging supporters and the nation as a whole “to wait a bit longer to have democracy prevail.”

The Head of State stressed that the recount of 22 ballot boxes where irregularities in the electoral process were flagged will be “worth the wait.”

FLAWED ELECTIONS According to him, the electoral process was flawed – highlighting the fact that faked Statements of Polls (SoPs) made their way into GECOM as part of legitimate documents; and ballots cast at some locations were more than the number of persons listed to vote, locations where there was not mixing of the ballots from the Disciplined Services votes.

“We believe that these elections were seriously flawed, enough to change the outcome of the results.

We believe that the data used

by GECOM when they announced the number in their possession were numbers that did not reflect the vote in the boxes,” he said.

Mr Ramotar stressed that there is evidence enough to justify a recount.

He said, “I am talking about the integrity of our elections….we were asked about proof…they were saying that they did not have reasonably enough proof, but this cannot be regarded as unreasonable. Our view is that the evidence is enough to do a full recount, but if they don’t want to do that, let’s do Region 4.”

Initial concerns cited by the PPP/C, which were documented and forwarded to GECOM, include: misdirection by some GECOM staffers who advised voters, damaged stamps that saw some ballots not being properly stamped, the fact that persons without identification cards were allowed to vote even though their images did not match those in the files of GECOM staff, and the denial of proxy holders to use their proxies, among others.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

Islamic State crisis: Militants seize Ramadi stronghold ISLAMIC State militants have seized the main government building in Ramadi, the capital of Iraq’s largest province.

As many as six suicide car bombs and mortars were used in the assault on the compound that houses the main police HQ and governor’s office.

At least 50 police officers are reported to have been taken prisoner at the site.

IS and Iraqi troops have been battling for months to take control of the strategically important Anbar province.

This latest attack comes a day after Islamic State put out an audio message it claimed was from its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who

Iraq had said was seriously wounded in a coalition air strike in March.

Execution fears IS militants launched their raid on Ramadi overnight, driving suicide car bombs into the compound housing a number of government buildings.

At least 10 police officers were killed and dozens of others wounded in the attack, officials said.

Fighting continued into Friday and by 14:00 (11:00hr GMT) the black flag of IS was seen flying over the complex.

IS “now occupies the government centre in Ramadi and has also raised its flag over the police HQ for Anbar”, a police major told

Sunni fighters stand guard as Islamic State militants advance into Ramadi the AFP news agency.

The militant group itself issued a statement confirming it had taken control of the complex and said it had killed an unspecified number of pro-government fighters.

Fifty police officers are known to have been taken prisoner in the assault, but reports that they have been summarily executed are unconfirmed.

This latest assault is a

blow for the Iraqi government which has been trying for more than a year to prevent Anbar and its key towns and cities from falling into the hands of IS. The heavily-Sunni prov-

ince of Anbar covers a vast stretch of the country west from the capital Baghdad to the Syrian border, and contains key highways that link Iraq to both Syria and Jordan.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi pledged in April that his forces would “liberate” Anbar from IS after the success of re-taking Tikrit.

However, by Friday, the militant group had asserted its control over large areas of Ramadi and half of Anbar province, our correspondent reports.

Syrian government forces and warplanes are trying to halt the advance of IS fighters towards the World Heritage Site.

Cultural officials fear that if IS makes it to Palmyra, they will destroy the historic ruins like they have at several other ancient sites in Iraq.

Migrants land in Indonesia, but hundreds pushed back to sea ( R e u t e r s ) N E A R LY 800 “boat people” were brought ashore in Indonesia on Friday, but other vessels crammed with migrants were sent back to sea despite a U.N. call to rescue thousands adrift in Southeast Asian waters with dwindling supplies of food and water.

Underlining the hardening of Southeast Asia government’s stance on the boatloads of Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar, Thailand’s prime minister warned on Friday that if more migrants arrived they might steal jobs

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from Thais and Indonesia’s military chief warned they would cause “social issues”.

About 2,500 migrants have landed on Indonesia’s western tip and the northwest coast of Malaysia over the past week.

But two boats that crossed the Malacca Strait from the Thailand-Malaysia side have been turned away by the Indonesian navy, and on Friday another was towed out to sea by the Thai navy.

Malaysia, too, has said it would push migrant boats back to sea.

“They have no food,

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no water and are drinking their own urine,” said Joe Lowry, a spokesman for the International Organization for Migration in Bangkok.

This is a game of maritime ping-pong with human life. We expect governments in the region to find a solution rapidly ... or we will be finding boatloads of desiccated corpses floating around in the Andaman Sea in coming days.”

The crisis has arisen because smugglers have abandoned boats full of migrants, many of them hungry and sick, in the Andaman Sea following a

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Thai crackdown on human trafficking.

Thailand is the first stop on the most common trafficking route used by criminals preying on Rohingya as well as Bangladeshis seeking to escape poverty.

As some countries faced pressure for closing their doors to desperate “boat people”, the U.N. human rights chief said the deadly pattern of migration by sea across the Bay of Bengal would continue unless Myanmar itself ends discrimination.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

Rescue workers recover bodies of Colombian gold miners (BBC News) RESCUE workers have begun recovering the bodies of miners trapped in a flooded gold mine in Colombia.

So far six bodies have been recovered, and the authorities believe there may be nine more bodies inside the mine.

Officials said some of the miners were trapped at a

depth of about 17m (55 feet).

The mine collapsed because of flooding, apparently after a power cut shut off pumps to keep out water from a nearby river.

The accident happened in Caldas province in north-western Colombia.

Leonardo Mejia, the mine owner, told reporters that several miners had man-

aged to escape when they realised something was wrong.

The National Mining Agency (ANM) said local firefighters reported that gases in the deep, vertical tunnels had contributed to the cave-in.

Colombia is a major gold producer but more than half its mines are unregulated.

The mine collapsed as a result of flooding, apparently after a power shut off pumps used to keep out water

US and Cuba to hold talks on Brazil gun killings rise to opening embassies highest level in 35 years

(BBC News) A REPORT on violence in Brazil says around 42,000 people were shot dead in 2012 - the highest figures for gun crime in 35 years.

The study, by the UN and the government on the most recent available data, said almost all the deaths were murders.

More than half of those killed were young men under the age of 30 - two-thirds were described as black.

The Brazilian Congress

is debating a controversial bill that would limit access to firearms.

Gun crime murders have been dropping in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo but rising in the north and northeast of the country.

The northern state of Alagoas is the most violent, with fifty-five gun deaths per hundred thousand inhabitants.

The report says a slow justice system and flawed police investigations as well as the widespread availability of

firearms are to blame.

It says Brazil has become a society which tolerates guns to resolve “all sorts of disputes, in most cases for very banal and circumstantial reasons.”

A law to ban the carrying of guns in public and control illegal ownership came into effect in 2004.

It tightened rules on gun permits and create a national firearms register, with strict penalties for owning an unregistered gun.

Agriculture ministry to roll out drone programme (Jamaica Gleaner) JAMAICA has moved closer to monitoring its territorial waters and fishing jurisdiction with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, popularly called drones.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries says it is now working with the Ministry of National Security to identify and deploy drones with longer endurance in order to increase the reach of law enforcement agencies within the country’s maritime jurisdiction.

Agriculture Minister, Derrick Kellier, made the announcement yesterday during the closing ceremony for the drone pilot project.

Minister Kellier explained that with the completion of the last test flight at Pedro Cays

on April 23, the way is now clear for the deployment of the drones to better monitor Jamaica’s marine space and detect and deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the island’s fishing territory.

He says the drone project was launched in an effort to

cauterise the long-standing problem of poachers in Jamaican waters.

The agriculture minister also urged fisherfolk to be vigilant in protecting the country’s territorial waters and not to engage in any transactions with foreign poachers.

(BBC News) THE US State Department has said that US and Cuban negotiators will meet next Thursday to discuss re-establishing embassies in each other’s capitals.

The talks will focus on the practical measures needed to reopen embassies in Havana and Washington.

Although relations have improved in recent months

a US trade embargo remains in place.

Last month President Barack Obama said Cuba would be removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Havana had said it needed to be taken off the list before talks to reopen embassies could begin.

In a statement the State Department said it will host a

Cuban delegation on 21 May. “A US Embassy in Havana will allow the United States to more effectively promote our interests and values, and increase engagement with the Cuban people.”

In April, President Barack Obama met Cuban President Raul Castro, the first sit-down talks between the nations’ leaders since 1956.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

Guyana Editorial

Is it time to celebrate?

THERE is great elation on the part of supporters of the Opposition coalition (APNU+AFC), which is soon to form the next Government, but time will tell if this is cause for celebration or regrets.

The incumbent PPP/C is adamant that the 2015 General and Regional Elections have been ‘rigged’ and has since been clamouring for a recount of the ballots. President Donald Ramotar even produced evidence to GECOM yesterday, of actual cases of discrepancies in Statements of Poll.

Signs are also emerging of maybe a more sinister plot involving groups and key individuals from overseas to prevent the PPP/C’s call for a recount

of the ballots, even though there are glaring evidence of discrepancies and irregularities.

There is also much darkness in the hearts of PPP/C supporters, who are very fearful that Guyana will return to the dark days of the PNC rule, with all that this implies.

Then there are those who hope that this new dispensation will precipitate, or at the minimum, continue the development path that the former Government pursued by putting the nation first, instead of focusing on the negatives that have plagued this nation for decades.

There is a ‘wait and watch’ approach by most of the citizens, who are

battle weary of the Guyanese political dynamics and only want to be left to peacefully pursue their lives within the ambit of their constitutional rights.

Governmental changes do not really matter to them if they are facilitated the fundamental structures for their personal development.

The gateway to progress can only be opened with leadership focused on equitable development and growth, with all other considerations being moot to the general milieu.

One-upmanship has no place in a country committed to peace, progress and prosperity, and this can only be achieved by a holistic approach by all stakeholders, with the leadership dis-

playing great maturity and eschewing divisive and power-mongering politics because, ultimately, there is no real winner within a landscape of animosity and vengeance.

Guyana is entering into a new political era and arena. Is it time to celebrate? Should we allow inherent fears to prevail or should we step back apace and allow the new governmental dispensation space and time to prove that it would not replicate the atrocities of the PNC dictatorship?

The nation is holding its breath, and celebrations would only be appropriate if the new Government proves that it can be a catalyst for Guyana to finally exhale.

THE STEALING OF AN ELECTION – GECOM IS PART OF THE COLLUSION

MAKE no mistake about it – the will of the people was not reflected by the results of the 2015 Elections in Guyana.

No bones about it, APNU+AFC stole people’s votes, in the same tradition and maliciousness of the old PNC, and with the same kind of collusion with the Guyana Elections Commission that was typical of the elections in 1968, 1973, 1980, and 1985. But this time there was not the same crude methods of those past elections. This time rigging was done through a sophisticated plan.

Can you believe that they actually stole 10 PPP/C votes from every box and added these to APNU+AFC? Sometimes in tabulating results, mistakes can be made, but they will be random and the total will not match. But in these cases, the PPP/C votes were always short of 10 and APNU+AFC were always increased by 10. In checking just 7 boxes on the East Coast Demerara, the results that GECOM has for the PPP/C was short by 10 and APNU+AFC increased by 10 for each box. Amazing? But it is true. In checking

another 19 boxes in South Georgetown, the same pattern emerged. This cannot be a co-incidence; it is a deliberate pattern of stealing. In how many boxes this happened? Because if this happened in just 10 % of the boxes, it is enough to gain an advantage of 5,000 votes.

The International and local observers concluded that the elections were free and fair. But they only looked at Election Day activities. Voting is only part of the process. The counting was done properly for the most part. The Statements of Poll were accurately filled. But then the mischief took over after voting was completed. The rigging of the results had to be done by GECOM staff. What happened after these Statements of Poll were delivered by Presiding Officers to Deputy Regional Election Officers, Regional Election Officers and to GECOM? Somebody altered the results in a pattern that strongly indict people with a well-orchestrated plan to steal an Election. The pattern was seen for many Statements of Poll. We have evidence for the box numbers and the divisions where

this occurred. But GECOM itself, through the Chief Elections Officer and the Chairman of GECOM, confirmed that there were fraudulent Statements of Poll. Their Press Conference is evidence that they know of fraudulent Statements of Poll.

It is an indictment of these persons that knowing and admitting that they know, they refuse to test the overall integrity of the elections.

Why, for example, GECOM cannot publish the results they have used to calculate the overall votes, box by box, before declaring the results? Let us examine it and compare the box by box results with our SOPs. Give us just two hours to compare our SOPs with their tabulated results before they declare the final results.

Tell me what is wrong with this request?

GECOM and all stakeholders owe it to the people of Guyana to verify, with no room for uncertainty, that the Elections results reflect the will of the people. If we are all so certain that the elections results are accurate, why then are we afraid to do a complete recheck to ensure that the results that GECOM

tabulated represent a true reflection of how people voted?

What is it APNU+AFC, Mr. Lowenfield, Dr. Surujbally, the ABC countries, the international observers and the Private Sector of Guyana afraid of?

There was a sophisticated plan to steal the will of Guyanese people in the 2015 Elections and many persons are guilty of collusion. Criminal acts are evident and the question is how high up in GECOM is the collusion?

Another electoral heist has been committed in Guyana. This time the Government has been the victim. But the rigging could not have been done

by APNU+AFC alone. GECOM staff was intimately involved. Was there also collusion by international players?

Could it be that the Americans and the British who colluded with the then PNC to rig elections post-independence are also involved again in stealing people’s votes? Just asking!

DR. LESLIE RAMSAMMY May 15, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

PPP/C unearths massive fraud in counting of votes ––Peter Ramsaroop calls on supporters to take to the streets to demand recount

PEOPLE’S Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) List of Candidate member, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, has reported that the ruling party has unearthed massive fraud in the counting of votes.

Dr Ramsaroop, who had earlier congratulated the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) after preliminary results from GECOM showed them in the lead, has now recanted this position in light of this new development.

He has added his voice to the PPP/C’s call for a recount of votes cast in the 2015

General and Regional Elections.

APNU areas. Most of GECOM staff, ex“While GECOM has announced the cept for a few, were laughing at the fact that preliminary results indicating that APNU/ AFC is in the lead, I have been privy to the fake Statement of Polls (SOPs) and other irregularities that warrant a full recount.

Initially, before seeing the evidence, I too, like others, thought it was all over and was willing to offer my congratulations.

“While working Election Day, at over 20 polling stations, at no time did I see an overseas observer at the time of counting or even during the day. I worked at mostly

Bring in independent overseas personnel to oversee recount IN all civilised, rule by the law, countries of the world elections are held and the majority vote calls for a declaration of the winner. Guyana - at least up until recently - was considered a civilised country, but all of this changed after May 11th. The Guyana Elections Commission has declared a loser as the winner and would like us to accept that result. At the close of Monday’s poll all the parties contesting knew who had won the election, the Statement of Polls (SOP) clearly shows who won. And what is of greater significance, the winner has won by a wide margin that is by some 5 seats over the loser.

But in a strange but explainable twist, these figures were altered to show that the loser has won by a one seat majority. Hogwash!

How could a loser automatically become a winner? It defies intelligence.

Whenever an election is so close - let us use their math - it is imperative that you carry out a recount of the ballots. This is standard procedure as is done all over the world including the mighty USA. It is important to carry out a recount. The question is why isn’t there a recount of the ballots cast on May 11th?

What is there to hide? If Lowenfield is so sure that the coalition has won then prove to us

with a recount? It has happened before right here in Guyana and all discrepancies were cleared up and the legitimate government was given the go ahead to rule.

What is clear for all to see is an election commission who has parted the winners vote and shared it with the loser for them to come out of this as winners. They are also making it to appear that President Ramotar is a “bad loser.” What I must tell these folks at GECOM is that this is not a situation of Mr. Ramotar; it is a situation where the will of the people has been stifled by a shameless Elections Commission. We deserve a right to know what happened to our votes.

So, it is not a Ramotar or Jagdeo thing; it is the people’s right to know and that is why we want a recount. We would not allow our democracy to be derailed by a bunch of losers.

What I am advocating is that the Government call in independent personnel from overseas to oversee a recount of the ballots. It seems that the locals here are adamant that there should not be a recount, so bring in independent people to do so on behalf of the people of this country. We are not yet about to give over our rights to bullies.

NEIL ADAMS

How can Granger sleep at nights?

HOW would David Granger feel when sleeping at nights knowing that only 3 of the 10 Regions will see him as the legitimate President of Guyana?

Granger, why not call for a full recount?

If David Granger wants to go down in Guyana history book then all he has to do is to call on Ramotar and agree to a full recount as requested by PPP/C which will take less than 10 hours.

If David Granger would do that for all Guyanese then you will have put the issue of race aside for now and for all time in Guyana.

Like so many are saying that if David Granger knows he won the election free and

fair and square then 10 hours wait to be President won’t hurt him.

Like how some citizens who didn’t want Ramotar and PPP/C members in their villages, they didn’t want to hear from PPP/C and even stoned them and did vulgar things.

What if the citizens of 7 regions that did not vote for Granger does the same to him?

Granger must be asked how he could live with that.

Is this too much for you guys to ask of Granger?

TED KING

Dr Peter Ramsaroop Mr (Kwame) McCoy was beaten up showing the absolute support for APNU,” Dr Ramsaroop said in a statement to the media.

In addition, he said, during the counting, they were excited to see votes going in their favour demonstrating the most unprofessional approach to the elections.

“At one polling station I was responsible for, our agent was not allowed to put our seal on the ballot box. That was my sample; the party has numerous more evidence.

“The fact that fake SOPs (totalling in the hundreds, are public record) must support our call for a full recount. I am very disappointed, given the fact that the ABC countries (America, Britain and Canada) are involved and that they believe they can be the voice of ‘no’.

“Fair and free is more than crossing the‘t’s’ and dotting the ‘i’s’ that the process was smooth at voting areas. It is about ensuring that over 200,000 people now feel disfranchised from the system and the fact that their voices must be heard.

“I support the party’s call for a full recount and encourage other supporters of the PPP/C to come out in numbers and demand fairness. It is time we take to the streets. We should not be bullied by anyone,” Dr Ramsaroop said in his statement.

8

‘It is worth the wait’ – President Donald Ramotar PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar is urging supporters and the nation as a whole “to wait a bit longer to have democracy prevail.”

The Head of State during a press briefing yesterday at the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) office at Freedom House, stressed that the recount of 22 ballot boxes where irregularities in the electoral process were flagged, has been granted by the Guyana Elections Commission and will be “worth the wait.”

President Donald Ramotar told media operatives that the “de jure” government the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is poised to declare winners would not be legitimate.

He is asking his supporters

President Donald Ramotar addressing media operatives

and the nation “to wait a bit longer to have democracy prevail.”

Speaking to the nation, he informed the group of media operatives, “I will ask them [the nation] to wait a little bit more because what is at stake here is democracy in our coun-

try and we know, it’s not that we [do] not have any knowledge of what the lack of democracy calls for; it causes us to deteriorate, we are on the upward climb, it is worth the wait to have a recount it takes 24 hours or 48 hours to have a recount of these votes.”

before seeing the evidence, I too, like others thought it was all over and was willing to offer my congratulations.

“While working Election Day, at over 20 polling stations, at no time did I see an overseas observer at the time of counting or even during the day. I worked at mostly APNU areas. Most of GECOM staff except for a few, were laughing at the fact that Mr. (Kwame) McCoy was beaten up showing the absolute support for APNU,” People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) List of Candidate member, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop said.

He said fair and free is more than crossing the ‘T’ and dotting the ‘I’ that the process was smooth at voting areas.

“It is about ensuring that over 200,000 people now feel disenfranchised from

the system and the fact that their voices must be heard,” Ramsaroop said.

Meanwhile, the EU notes that the Guyanese May 11 General and Regional Elections were largely peaceful, transparent and inclusive with a high turnout and good performance of electoral authorities.

“The EU commends the GECOM for an efficient and well-organised e l e c t i o n p ro c e s s … T h e EU also looks forward to strengthening our bilateral and regional cooperation and continuing close collaboration with Guyana’s Pro Tempore Chairmanship of CARIFORUM, in particular in the run- up to the EU-CELAC Summit and the EU-CARIFORUM Top Level meeting of 11 of June 2015,” the EU statement concluded.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

Verification unearths 109 PPP votes

– GECOM will not declare results before today DURING the verification of Statement of Polls (SoPs) yesterday by the Returning Officers (ROs) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), it was discovered that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) were short-changed some 109 votes from Region 8, Potaro – Siparuni.

In the release of the General Preliminary results by GECOM on Thursday, May 14, it was revealed that the PPP had secured 1,727 votes in the Region 8 district. This result came after all the ballot boxes for that region had been counted.

However, prior to the announcement of the preliminary results on Thursday, GECOM had released information on Wednesday, May 13, which recorded a total

of 1,836 in the same district for the PPP. As was evident however, the votes for the PPP were reduced by 109 within 24 hours.

As of yesterday, following a recount call by the PPP, the new figure suggested that the party had indeed secured the 109 votes which had been absent the day before.

With this new development, GECOM’s SoPs will now have to be adjusted to reflect an accurate figure which corresponds with that of the PPP and the RO. Meanwhile, GECOM, in a statement yesterday, sought to inform the public that it shares the anxiety of the populace, but that the body is “constrained by the legal requirements,” which they are mandated to observe.

They further added that

relative to the process of declaring the results, those results have now been declared by the respective ROs for the 10 Electoral Districts. However, by law, the political parties may raise objections by midday of the day after the last of the 10 declarations.

For that reason, GECOM said, since the last declaration was made yesterday morning, the Commission has to wait until noon today before it can pronounce on a final declaration. “This is the law,” the electoral body advised.

“The Commission is therefore asking the public to bear with it until midday today, before it advises on the next stage of the declaration of results,” GECOM pleaded.

Double win for Digicel group at the Global Telecoms Business Address grievances Innovation Awards 2015 through legal channels – Winner of two awards in the “Best – EU urges T H E E u ro p e a n U n i o n (EU) has called on all actors in the 2015 Regional and General Elections to respect legal procedures and address any possible grievance through the channels established by law.

The pronouncement by the EU comes in wake of calls by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for a recount of votes cast, pointing out that it has unearthed massive fraud in the counting of the votes.

“While GECOM has announced the preliminary results indicating that APNU/ AFC is in the lead, I have been privy to the fake Statement of Polls (SOPs) and other irregularities that warrant a full recount. Initially,

Consumer Service Innovation” category (Kingston, Jamaica) DIGICEL Group took home two awards at the annual Global Telecoms Business Innovation Awards 2015 held at the Sheraton Park Hotel, Piccadilly, London.

The two awards – both in the Consumer Service Innovation category – were for Digicel’s Redknee-enabled utility payment service called Easypay that allows customers in Papua New Guinea to purchase electricity at any time directly from their mobile phone and the second for Digicel’s roaming service, “Roam Like You’re Home”, which sees customers paying local rates while travelling abroad and reducing roaming costs by more than 95%.

Working in partnership with the country’s incumbent electricity utility provider,

Digicel and Redknee provided an alternative solution to the existing prepaid electricity voucher top-up payment method, where rural customers had to travel long distances to vending sites that were only available during business hours – a process was time consuming, costly and inconvenient for the customer. The roaming service, “Roam Like You’re Home”, is the first of its kind in the region as it gives both prepaid and postpaid customers the freedom to use their phones to make calls, receive calls for free, send SMS and use data all at the same price as at home – crushing normal roaming rates.

Commenting on the awards, Digicel Group CEO Colm Delves, said; “Digicel is always looking for

innovative ways to make technology really work for the benefit of our customers.

As a total communications and solutions provider, we’re all about delivering the best content, services and value to customers on their mobile phone. I want to congratulate the teams who worked hard to deliver these innovative services – their awards are well deserved.”

Redknee’s CEO, Lucas Skoczkowski, commented; “I would like to congratulate Digicel on winning these awards. Digicel and Redknee have worked together to develop many innovative consumer services for their subscribers, and I am pleased that Global Telecoms Business has recognized Digicel’s achievements.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

9

‘Publish data used to calculate results’ – Dr Ramsammy

By Vanessa Narine

PRONOUNCEMENTS by the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Dr Steve Surujbally himself, belie contradictions that the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) wasted no time in exposing.

“We have been frustrated; more than 200,000 people voted for the PPP/C and they deserve to have their votes counted…the PPP/C has more than 200,000 people that we represent and we speak for them. We want their X’s counted, period!” said PPP/C member, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, at a news conference at Freedom House last night.

Dr Surujbally, in a comment to a local online news site said, “All of the 21 boxes taken into evidence that they said the numbers have changed, they in fact had not changed. The PPP SoPs (Statements of Polls) that they presented us with- when we checked the official SOPs- they were exactly the same, an exact replica. “…all of these 21 boxes, the PPP’s SoPs are identical with the GECOM SoPs and what they have there as purportedly GECOM SoPs with this great difference I cannot tell you where they

got them from.”

The named boxes are: 4216, 4223, 4237, 4266, 4267, 4279, 4287, 4292, 4323, 4352, 4358, 4359, 4385, 4392, 4643, 4644, 4656, 4701, 4703, 4707 and 4723.

“If now for those polling stations, Dr Surujbally is saying that at least for the 22 SoPs that we gave him that they are exactly the same with what they have at GECOM, we ask then how come your DROs have SoPs that are different. We are supposed to have the same SoPs for the all the polling stations,” Dr Ramsammy said.

T h e P P P / C c h a rg e d that PPP/C counting agents have evidence to show that, while the GECOM Chairman claims that the PPP/C and GECOM SoPs are the same, the Deputy Returning Officers (DROs) have different numbers.

On that basis, the PPP/C is now questioning what numbers were counted and used to produce preliminary results that put the political opposition in the lead with over 5,000 votes.

He said, “We requested that the spreadsheet of the 2,299 boxes that have been used to calculate the results of the 2015 elections be published so we can do a 100 per cent comparison

Charles Ramson Jr produces the evidence of a polling day staff pictured with opposition leader Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger, days after the elections.

He stated that if GECOM long. Tonight we can do it in of the numbers used to cal- DRO’s SoPs cannot be has nothing to hide and is a few hours.” culate the elections results different from the SoPs certain of the integrity of According to him, the with our SoPs...those are that Mr Lowenfield is the results announced, then PPP/C has lost enough votes SoPs that are signed by the using. It cannot be differit will have no problem in that would have changed the Presiding Office and the ent…since our counting granting the PPP/C request outcome of the election reagents sat with the DROs Polling Agents.” for a recount. sults. “You cannot insult the T h e P P P / C m e m b e r and confirmed that their Ramson Jr contends that Guyanese people like that,” questioned the purpose of numbers are different, the integrity of the process, Dr Ramsammy declared. using different numbers. we have now confirmed as well as the machinery of

“For what purpose? The from GECOM’s own preGECOM and its leadership, NOTHING TO LOSE sentation that GECOM is what is at stake. “We want Meanwhile, anothand their DROs have difthe real results,” he said. er party member, Charles ferent SoPs. How come?”

Also present at the Ramson Jr, charged colluHe stressed that the tabnews conference were sion and fault on the part ulations, box by box, must party members who actof GECOM, adding that be disclosed. “These are ed as counting agents for the party’s concern is that not unreasonable requests the party, including, Mr GECOM was infiltrated, and since it is about the will Dharamkumar Seeraj, Mr despite assurances that this of the people, what is the Neil Kumar and Mr Omar was not going to happen. haste? It would not take us Sharif.

NEWS Source Guyana’s reports that President Donald Ramotar has been on the phone with a number of the Heads of the Foreign Missions in Guyana and has indicated that he has made a decision to concede the elections are false.

The Head of State informed the Guyana Chronicle last night that he has not contacted any member of the diplomatic community today, nor has he made a decision to concede defeat at the 2015 General and Regional elections.

“I did not concede,” he said.

Additionally, a statement from the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) said, “The Party refutes reports in the media that Head of State, President Donald Ramotar is preparing to concede electoral defeat to Opposition Leader David Granger. Any such insinuation is grossly inaccurate and the agenda of such media houses further arouses suspicion.”

President Ramotar, according to his party, maintains his position that the 2015 General and Regional elections were fraudulent, evidence of which has been provided to the all CHAIRMAN of the Joint Services, Brigadier Mark Phillips, is urging all Guyanese stakeholders, including Heads of the Foreign Missions in Guyana. to remain calm and continue to exercise restraint and good judgement. “As we await Earlier in the day, he said, “We believe that these elections were seriously flawed, the final declaration from GECOM, let us avoid antagonistic behaviour and remain enough to change the outcome of the results. We believe that the data used by GECOM patient as due process and the rule of law takes it course. when they announced the number in their possession were numbers that did not reflect the “Continue therefore to temper any tendency to become riled or give in to frustration. vote in the boxes.”

For those who are celebrating, remember to do so in keeping with the ambits of the law.

The PPP/C continues to hold the position that a national recount of the votes cast is “Citizens, have patience with the process and let good sense prevail. Guyana is most important to ensure the genuine will of the electorate is respected and Guyana’s ours. Let us therefore conduct ourselves at all times for the development and good of democracy is preserved. our beloved nation”.

‘I did not concede’ – President Ramotar

CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT SERVICES URGES CITIZENS TO CONTINUE TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT AND GOOD JUDGEMENT

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

One dead, another A timely study of alternative medicine injured in Corentyne home invasion RAMESH PURAN succumbed to a gunshot injury during an armed robbery at his home on Thursday night, while a relative was injured.

Police reported that at about 21:00 hrs on May 14, 2015, four men armed with cutlasses and a handgun en-

tered a home at Belvedere, Corentyne, through an open door, and held up Ramesh Puran, 49, his wife and two other relatives, and demanded cash and jewellery.

The perpetrators took away a quantity of jewellery and Puran was shot to his body, while a cousin,

Devika Ramotar, chopped in her head. The bandits got away.

Puran was pronounced dead on arrival at the Port Mourant Hospital, while Devika Ramotar was treated and sent away.

Investigations are in progress.

Eight petitioners granted $2.5M bail ACTING Chief Justice Mr. Ian Chang, S. C., yesterday granted bail in the sum of $2,575,000 to eight petitioners pending the hearing of their cases.

Following is a list of the offences, the offenders and the amount of bail granted each offender.

Possession of narcotics for trafficking

Kenrick Edwards - $150,000, Harry Marline - $100,000; Lakeram Persaud - $75,000; Benjamin Isaiah Carrington $1,200,000; Roger Gill - $350,000; K. Edwards - $150,000; Noel Smith - $250, 000.

Possession of ammunition and firearm Richard Ashwell - $300,000.

The ripple effect of National Day of Caring

Gervase Warner addresses the launch of the 2015 National Day of Caring

“THERE is a movement afoot,” said Gervase Warner, chairman of the United Way National Day of caring Steering Committee. “There is a movement —some of us who dare to dream again. We dream of neighbourhoods that look out for one another, we dream of villagers who are there for one another.”

At the launch of the National Day of Caring hosted by the United Way of T&T which took place at the Marriott Courtyard, Port-of-Spain on April 30, Warner said the day was more than just corporations showing up at NGOs to paint or laying bricks for someone who needed a home, a release said.

“Company has its roots in words like companion

and community,” Warner said. “It’s about touching people’s lives. It's not about the big things, but the memory and they will remember a different T&T.” To support his rally call, Warner made the audience listen to Good Mornin’, a song made popular by the rapso group 3Canal. As the audience nodded their heads to the familiar song, the tag line “full respect in order” drove the message home that we need to look out for one another.

United Way T&T is a non-profit organisation which raises charitable donations from companies and individuals, and channels these funds to the NGOs which deliver critical social services to citizens in need.

The National Day of

Caring, which takes place this year on May 17, is an initiative of United Way worldwide, as the organisation does its part in making a better place for those in need. In T&T, corporate entities work under the United Way umbrella as they extend outreach to NGOs and organisations to ensure that many benefit socially.

Conrad Aleong, member of the volunteer board of directors, said United Way came to T&T in 1999.

UWTT’s first fundraising event was in 2003 and hosted its first disbursement of funds in 2004.

Since then, he said, the organisation has grown to 74 membership corporations and has disbursed $36 million to NGOs in need.

CONVENTIONAL medicine has been slow to wholly embrace an alternative protocol in the field of wellness. For good reason, some might argue.

Despite accusations over its ethical practices, the pharmaceutical industry rakes in billions of dollars annually and is a hawkishly protected enterprise.

Over many millennia, though, the medicinal properties of plants have been sought and ably used by shamans and healers. Interestingly, by the turn of the 20th century and more so today, the need to revisit indigenous cultures has taken root. The fight against cancer, in particular, has been catalytic in reframing the dietary and nutritional debate.

One can argue that Jethro Gross’ perennial work, Back to Eden, and the growing acceptance of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Western societies have legitimised the curative properties of plants the world over. The rapidly growing trend towards organic consumption and the significance of traditional and indigenous cultures have begun to challenge the magnetic hold of conventional medicine. That natural treatments to communicable and non-communicable diseases are becoming mainstream is hardly deniable.

Indeed, Back to Eden seems more than a title of a seminal undertaking. In fact, it may well describe a groundswell of consciousness towards natural living and healing, after a long period towards modernisation had eclipsed folk culture.

In light of this new reality, Damien H. Cohall’s Medicinal Plants of Barbados couldn’t be more timely and relevant.

Of marked interest are the social factors that influence the reliance on medicinal plants. Cohall cites the Christian identity of the island as a key contributory

factor. The biblical references to herbs as healing agents sanctioned by God are crucial in understanding the Barbadian optics on this matter.

BENEFITS OF HERBS And in identifying the plants’ phytochemical properties (antioxidant and antibacterial agents that are the chemical components used to establish drug compounds), Cohall’s work validates the long-standing folk beliefs on the efficacy of herbs. “Sixty-six per cent of the medicinal plant entries identified by Barbadians as being used medically contain pharmacological active phytochemicals,” and more important, 51 per cent contain the said ingredient consistent with their reported use.

Medicinal Plants of Barbados is replete with tables that identify the scientific and ‘common’ name of plants, their local preparation, and their drug compound and efficacy in the treatment of chronic ailments, such as hypertension, cancer, diabetes, bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. Colour photos make for easy identifica-

tion, especially for the untrained eye. Appendices, inclusive of a glossary and Study/Questionnaire serve to reinforce Cohall’s thesis.

The ability of the public-health sector to efficiently respond to challenges that include interfacing with natural medical therapies requires flexibility and vision. Unquestionably, Cohall’s undertaking promotes this endeavour. Yet, it scratches the surface of this complex study as Cohall himself concedes with the following: “The nature of the work emphasised the phytochemical analysis more than the holistic application of the whole extract and, hence, crude extract were not reported in the review.

Additional chemical and pharmacological investigations need to be done on these plants to identify the bioactive constituents that are related to the indications for the specific illnesses. As expected, some studies reported the chemical profile of the plants but did not associate any of the chemicals constituents with folklore use.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

Mon Repos residents in land grab

Residents in the backlands at ‘Grassfield,’ Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, as they seek to acquire plots of land yesterday.

SCORES of residents of Mon Repos and its environs yesterday began allocating houselots to themselves aback of the village, stating that they have waited for years although applying for houselots through the Ministry of Housing. With the announcement of the preliminary results of the 2015 regional and general elections, there is now hope for them to acquire their own homes, they said.

When the Guyana Chronicle arrived on the scene yesterday, residents were out in their numbers and talked openly as they busied themselves in trying to claim plots of land by clearing them and erecting signs with their names.

Seema Rambhrose told this publication she heard that people were gifting themselves land. She therefore went to an area of the backlands called “Grassfield” aback the village to get hers.

She explained that she is the mother of five and she had applied for a plot of land four years ago, but is still waiting and added that everytime she visited the subject ministry to enquire about her application, she is given the royal round around.

She is renting a house and said life is very difficult paying a rent and having five children while her spouse earns the minimum wage.

Another woman, who was very vocal yesterday afternoon said her name is Rose (only name given)

and she mobilised residents, especially the young people, to get pieces of land and start their lives, since most of them are either renting or residing by relatives.

She stated that almost all of those gathered at the location have families which include children and they all made applications to the Ministry of Housing,but did not get any response; they are still waiting to acquire a plot of land the legal way.

Rose added that some people have been waiting for five to 10 years and the process seems to be never-ending while they are suffering and with a new government, they are hoping that they will be able to own their own land to erect a house so their lives would be enhanced.

She explained that from experience, residing with relatives is probably one of the most difficult things, since their interference causes domestic problems with married couples, and often leads to suicide and murder among other things which are not very pleasant.

Rose said if people, especially middle-class people, have plots of land they could build houses, make their lives better and enjoy a longer productive life rather than living with stress and problems as people renting houses.

Residents were visibly upset yesterday with the outgoing PPP/C party and said that they are waiting and watching to see what the new government will do for them.

Similar sentiments were

expressed by several other residents, namely Feroze Mohamed, who is the father of three and is renting a house; Ameer Khan, who is staying at a relative’s house with two kids and wife; Reyaad Mohamed, who applied four years ago for a plot of land and was asked to check back whenever he enquired.

Nandanie Bissessar, Savitri Sukhan, Meleisa Mayers, Deonarine Surujpaul, Tarmattie Khelawan, Richard Seemangal and others all said they had applied for houselots years ago and are still waiting. Consequently, they are fed up and took it upon themselves to claim what is rightfully theirs as taxpayers.

Residents came from Martysville, Annandale, Mon Repos, Happy Acres,

Felicity, Success, Triumph and other neighbouring villages to claim their plots of land .

Many others villagers also spoke to this publica-

tion, but their names are too numerous to mention, all of whom said that it is time for their suffering to end, because they want a better life also.

Unconfirmed reports said yesterday that villagers in Success and other villages also initiated a similar exercise with the hope of owing their own land.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

Alicia Ali murder Alleged clothes probe still alive thief remanded INVESTIGATORS certainly have not forgotten the brutal homicide of 15-year-old schoolgirl, Alicia Ali, whose mutilated, nude body was found on the Kitty seawall foreshore on Wednesday, March 25 by passersby.

Following the murder of the Sixth Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara resident, crime sleuths have questioned several persons including the mother, step-father and two boyfriends.

As it is, the police in ‘C’ Division are looking for a male person of interest whom they would like to question, since they are of the opinion

that he may be able to shed some light on that case.

Lead Divisional Detective, Hugh Jessemy, told this publication that once they locate that person, they hope he would be able to provide information pertinent to the probe.

An autopsy revealed that Ali was strangled but died of asphyxia due to drowning compounded by a compression injury to the neck.

Speculation was rife following the discovery of the body, when a letter was found in the teen’s room indicating that the schoolgirl probably took her own life, but after the results of post-mortem

were released, the police deemed it a homicide.

Ali’s mother, Maylene Williams, told police that she had sent her daughter to a nearby shop to make a purchase on the evening of Tuesday, March 24, but she failed to return home and a search was launched for her.

The teen’s clothes she was wearing at the time of her murder and her cellphone are yet to be found.

It is believed that she was killed elsewhere and her body stripped and dumped at the seawall location during the wee hours of the morning of Wednesday, March 25.

T’dad double murder accused fined for illegally entering country THE Trinidadian double homicide murder accused who entered Guyana illegally appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates Court to answer the charge of illegal entry.

Ralph Ramdhan, known as Vernon Rampersaud, 50, who is wanted at home for a double homicide committed during 2014, on Friday appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and pled guilty to the charge.

It is alleged that Ramdhan between November 23, 2013 and May 13, 2015, at

Charity, Essequibo, entered Guyana by sea and disembarked without the consent of an Immigration officer.

The prosecutor explained that the accused is wanted in Trinidad and Tobago for two murders and was on Wednesday apprehended at a city hotel as result of cooperation with INTERPOL and through garnered crime intelligence.

The unrepresented man was fined $30,000 with an alternative of two months’ imprisonment if he failed to pay the fine.

The magistrate advised the prosecutor to file an

Wanted Murder Suspect Ralph Ramdhan

application for deportation.

However, advice was to be sought from the Ministry of Home Affairs for the defendant to be promptly deported back to his homeland, in lieu of the fine.

AN alleged 19-year-old c l o t h e s t h i e f y e s t e rday appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry charged with simple larceny.

Kevin Christopher of 39 Houston, East Bank Demerara, pled guilty to the charge that alleged on May 13 at Albouystown, Georgetown, he stole a quantity of clothing valued at $42,000, property of Andel Harris.

Prosecutor Shawn Gonzales explained that Harris and the defendant are not known to each other.

The prosecutor noted that on May 12, Harris had given his female friend a quantity of clothes to be

washed and hung in his yard. However on May 13, around 09:00 hrs when checks were made by him in the said yard, the clothes were discovered missing.

Harris carried out his own investigation then proceeded to walk west along James Street in Albouystown when he saw the same defendant wearing one of his missing jerseys. Christopher had a bag in his hand and when opened by the man, the stolen clothes were found.

The defendant however explained that he was walking in Albouystown when some boys approached him and enquired if he was new to the village. When he said yes, they started beating

him; and the defendant further stated that they went as far as to attempt slitting his throat with a razor blade.

He was however saved by an Indian man who begged them for his safety.

Christopher explained that he entered the yard after he was directed by a man whom he asked for the location of the boys and took the clothes from the line, since he had been thrown out of his house and was homeless and had no clothes to wear.

The magistrate, considering the young defendant’s age, asked for a probation report. The defendant was remanded to prison and will return to court on June 5.

Woman fined for publicly insulting APNU party agent A MOTHER of two yesterday appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates Court and was fined $20,000 by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry for publicly insulting an APNU party agent on Election Day. Alicia Wilson is accused of publicly insulting Eugenie Hercules on May 11 at Polly Nursery School, North Ruimveldt. The woman denied the allegation, stating that

she was not present at the school since she had cast her vote at another location.

Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonzales stated that on the day in question, around 10:15 hrs, the virtual complainant (VC) was at the school as a GECOM APNU polling agent, when the said defendant came up beside the VC and started to call her names which lasted until 18:00 hrs.

In a speedy trial, the de-

fendant called her sister as a witness to confirm her alibi.

However, the witness could have only given account of her leaving home as the prosecutor noted that there was a big time frame for the crime to be committed.

The mother of two was found guilty as charged for the offence and was given three weeks to pay the fine, failing which she will have to serve two weeks in prison.

Voir dire in Campbellville septic tank murder trial continues JUSTICE Roxanne George is presiding over the first of three voir dires in the William Street, Campbellville, septic tank murder trial at the Demerara Assizes.

Three young men are accused of killing a 56-yearold woman and dumping her body in a septic tank in 2007.

The judge is at present conducting the first of three voir dires to determine the admissibility of caution statements said to be made by the accused to the police.

The prosecution was about to tender the alleged statement of the No. 1 ac-

cused, when defence counsel Mr. Madan Kissoon objected on the ground that it was not obtained in accordance with the judges’ rules.

As a consequence, this sparked off the voir dire - a trial within a trial in the absence of the jury.

The prosecution led by Miss. Diana Kaulesar and including Miss. Stacy Goodings and Miss Shawnette Austin, closed her case yesterday with respect to the first voir dire .

The No. 1 accused Tyndal elected to begin his defence in the voir dire with an un-

sworn statement from the dock. He will be cross-examined on the resumption on Monday.

The accused Ralph Tyndal called “Nick”; Anthony de Paul Hope also called “Papa” and Kevin O’ Neil are charged with having between the 27th day of December 2007 and the 6th day of January 2008 in the county of Demerara, murdered Colleen Forrester.

Mr. George Thomas is appearing for the number 2 accused, Hope, while Mr. Mervyn Duke is representing O’Neil.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

PAHO/WHO urges more attention to blood pressure control IN Latin America and the Caribbean, only 1 in 5 people with hypertension manage to keep their blood pressure below 140/90 Washington, D.C., 14 May 2015 (PAHO/WHO) — On World Hypertension Day, May 17, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) is calling on governments, health professionals, and all of society to do more to control blood pressure levels and help prevent heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and other serious health problems.

“Hypertension, which is the leading risk factor for illness and premature death from cardiovascular disease, affects some 250 million people in the Americas, and in most countries, rates of blood pressure control are unacceptably low,” said PAHO/Director Carissa F. Etienne.

People with hypertension are considered to have their condition under control if their blood pressure readings are below 140/90 mm Hg all day, 365 days a year.

In Latin America and the Caribbe-

delayed or controlled. “On World Hypertension Day, we want to encourage all adults in particular to check their blood pressure regularly, to eat more fruits and vegetables and less salt, to be physically active, to avoid alcohol and tobacco use, and to take blood pressure medication every day, if it has been prescribed.”

PAHO/WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are collaborating on a project that could contribute significantly to the achievement of a global target of reducing hypertension by 25% by 2025, which would prevent millions of deaths due to cardiovascular disease.

Barbados was the first country in the Americas to implement the project, known as the Global Standardized Hypertension Treatment (GSHT) project, and other countries in the Region are planning to implement it in the near future.

New course on managing patients with hypertension The PAHO Virtual Campus for Public

an, an estimated 80% of people with hypertension do not have good control.

According to the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study, in Argentina, Brazil and Chile collectively, only 57% of people with hypertension are aware they have the condition, only 53% of those who are aware are under treatment, and only 30% of those under treatment have their hypertension controlled. Among all people with hypertension (including those who are unaware of their condition), the percent controlled is only 19%.

The countries of the Americas have collectively established the target of getting 35% of people with hypertension under control by 2019. To date, only three countries have reached that goal: Canada (68%), Cuba (36%) and the United States (52%). Other countries will have to make additional efforts to reach the target.

Pedro Orduñez, PAHO/WHO regional advisor on prevention and control of chronic diseases, noted that hypertension has no cure, but it can be prevented,

Health http://www.campusvirtualsp. org/?q=en has launched a new course on Managing Arterial Hypertension for Primary Healthcare Teams (currently in Spanish only), coordinated by the Argentine Society of Cardiology (SAC), with financial support from CDC and technical assistance from the Inter-American Society of Cardiology (SIAC) and the Latin American Society of Hypertension (LASH). Students who complete the course’s 12 modules and a final evaluation will receive a certificate from PAHO/WHO. Hypertension medication at affordable prices Since 2013, the PAHO Strategic Fund has allowed countries in the Americas to procure prequalified medicines for hypertension, diabetes, and many cancers at affordable prices, as part of PAHO/WHO’s support for universal health access and coverage and countries’ implementation of a 20122025 regional strategy to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases.

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Prime Minister Harris to champion ending AIDS in Caribbean by 2030

(CARICOM Secretariat) ––PRIME MINISTER of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, has assumed the role as Chair of the 14-yearold Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP). Prime Minister Harris is the Lead Head for Human Resources, Health and

HIV in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Quasi Cabinet.

The Prime Minister and his Minister of State for

Health and Gender Affairs, Senator Wendy Phipps, were fully briefed on May 7 by representatives of CARICOM and PANCAP, as well as by the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for HIV in the Caribbean, Dr. Edward Greene. The briefing occurred during the Future of the Caribbean Forum

in Trinidad and Tobago at which the Prime Minister participated in a leadership Panel ‘Thinking for New Times.’

Saturday, May 16, 2015 - 14:30hrs Sunday, May 17, 2015 - 14:30hrs Monday, May 18, 2015 - 05:00hrs

One of PANCAP’s main issues on which the Prime Minister will focus is supporting the resource mobilisation priorities of PANCAP as elaborated in its Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework 2014-2018. These include treatment, prevention and human rights, all of which complement the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) international targets for fast-tracking the response for ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. The Prime Minister has also agreed to advocate for sustainable financing based on development criteria rather than GDP which places countries like those in the Caribbean at a disadvantage in accessing multilateral support. This, he agreed, applied not only to HIV, but to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and other health and development issues.

At the end of the briefing session, Prime Minister Harris stated that he would lend his voice to the international lobby aimed at achieving access to affordable treatment as a human right. In this regard, he will monitor with interest the progress of the PANCAP network in implementing a revamped Justice For All programme that is structured around ‘what can stakeholders in the Region do to end the AIDS epidemic.’

“I am pleased to see the advances that are being made and urge that a concerted action of all partners to assure that the Caribbean becomes the first Region in the World to eliminate mother to child transmission of AIDS” he said.

The Prime Minister also visited the campus of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Federation Park, Port-of-Spain Trinidad and planted a tree of hope along with the CARICOM Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque. He referred to the necessity for fostering complementarity of policies between CARPHA and PANCAP if the Nassau Declaration, ‘the health of the Region is the wealth of the Region’ is to be meaningful.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

ARIES - You may be looking for some new values in your personal life. You’re no longer interested in superficial or frivolous relationships. You need to meet different kinds of people and select friends who are really worth keeping. Don’t worry if you feel like taking a step back to get some perspective, because this is the time to do it. Relationships are too important to neglect.

TAURUS - You may want to take a little trip into your past to visit some old friends. You could find yourself daydreaming through your good and bad memories. This is an excellent period to break with some of the more negative ties to your past. If your partner is a little worried about you going back in time at the moment, reassure him or her. .

GEMINI - If you’re concerned about the love that certain close people have for you, you shouldn’t try to compensate by being clingy or overly affectionate. This period is about keeping your distance and putting your relationships into perspective to see what they’re really worth to you. Someone may ask you for an even stronger commitment over the next few months.

CANCER-This isn’t the time to make any more of a commitment to your relationship. You aren’t satisfied with your attitude toward things lately. Don’t forget that your partner’s characteristics may have something to do with it! You have two months to take care of things. Take advantage of this re-evaluation period. It doesn’t happen that often.

LEO - Today you might want to think about getting things straight with the people close to you. It’s possible you haven’t dealt with any problems you had in your relationships last month. It’s time to look at things again. You may have hidden certain things from yourself. You need to be much more honest about what you want in your personal life.

VIRGO - You may be asking certain questions about your feelings. Do you know about the trap that many people get caught up in - feeling so close to their partners that they often forget themselves? Sometimes it’s easy to confuse your feelings with this kind of self-denial. Today you need to think about how this affects your life.

LIBRA -Nothing can hold back your flame for long. You have a hard time resting your body and recharging your batteries. At the moment, you’re probably still going through a deep transformation that won’t allow you to slow down. Take the time to meditate and get in touch with your feelings. What is it you really want out of life?

SCORPIO -You can be known for needing a lot of love, but you will never admit that to yourself, much less anyone else. Sometimes it seems as if you like feeling emotionally frustrated. Today is the perfect day to meditate about whether or not this is true of you. Do you talk to other people about your emotional needs?

SAGITTARIUS - You probably aren’t worried about being conventional in your relationships. In fact, conventionality is often what causes you problems. If you’re wondering what morality is and what it’s based on, this is a good day to think about these questions.

CAPRICORN -You may not be very precise. Your motto seems to be “everything is relative.” However, paying attention to details doesn’t necessarily mean that you lose sight of the fundamentals. Your friends could tell you that. If you’re an artist, you might make an effort today to be clearer in your expression and a little more down to Earth.

AQUARIUS - This isn’t a good time to make any big relationship decisions. If you’re thinking about starting a relationship, moving in together, or getting married, you may feel a bit troubled by your decision. Take advantage of the day to re-evaluate things objectively. There may be some issues to resolve before you go any further.

PISCES - Today you may feel like something is holding you back.

Everything was going just fine until now. If you believe the stream of chatter in your head today, you will be regressing in every area of your life! For example, you may be afraid to go any further in your relationship because of your past failures. Use this time to lay the past to rest.

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An eco-tourist’s paradise GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

WHILE politically and culturally Guyana is a veritable Caribbean nation, Guyana is nothing like the Caribbean you often imagine. Forget the idyllic image of relaxing on a palm tree-fringed, white-sand beach and sipping on piña coladas as you while the hours away on a deck chair. That is not why you come to Guyana.

Although the somewhat muddy shoreline on the north-east coast of South America has meant it has missed out on the heavy development of paradisiacal hotel resorts you associate with much of the Caribbean Region, Guyana has certain other trump cards to play.

And without almost anybody noticing outside of this little-known English-speaking nation, Guyana may just have one of the best hands of all.

Think untouched, unspoiled virgin Ama-

zonian forest that consumes 80 per cent of the country. Think unparalleled wildlife viewing opportunities. Think indomitable peaks and rushing river valleys.

Now you are in Guyana.

Today, the country is finally using its incredible natural assets – and the fact that is has previously avoided mass tourism development – to its advantage. Guyana’s “green” credentials (thanks to the Government’s efforts to protect its forests through the Low Carbon Development Strategy) and growing investment in tourism infrastructure means that it is quickly becoming a prime eco-tourism destination.

With so much of the country overtaken by untamed nature, navigating Guyana as an independent traveller can prove challenging. Most therefore opt for organised tours to

Guyana’s incredible natural beauty offers nature lovers a really wild adventure

witness the outstanding natural beauty and amazing biodiversity on offer.

While many also choose to spend their first day in Guyana exploring the fascinating colonial past of country that is evident in the capital city of Georgetown, first point of call for those wanting to get straight into the wild is Guyana’s most outstanding tourist attraction, the Kaieteur Falls.

Located deep in the jungle, the Kaieteur Falls is accessible only by plane. Just a onehour flight (on the small

10-seater jets that most operators offer), Kaieteur is the world’s longest, single-drop waterfall by volume. The journey will offer you the perfect photo opportunity – as it glides over the formidable canyon – before it drops you at the airstrip in the national park.

A 10-minute walk through the park – where you will no doubt get the chance to witness tropical birds and frogs – leads you to the edge of the falls. Here you can hike around the basin and take in the impressive thundering

water in all its glory and magnitude.

There are a host of other adventures you can embark on in Guyana. The Iwokrama Centre, for example, offers vertigo-inducing canopy walks that give a new perspective on the rainforest. A path of suspension bridges over 100 feet high take you through the forest’s mid- and upper-level canopy. If heights aren’t your thing, down in the wetlands of Guyana is one of best places to get up close to some of the country’s astonishing array of wildlife.

The area is home to jaguars, giant anteaters and the Arapaima – the world’s largest freshwater fish – to name just a few of the weird and wonderful species.

The area is also famous for some of the world’s best bird-watching.

Indeed, aside from the stunning scenery, wildlife is perhaps the biggest feature of Guy-

ana. From sea turtle nesting grounds along the country’s north coast to swimming with giant otters--Guyana is one of the last existing habitats for these endangered South American animals-- there is seemingly a new species around every corner.

With many more people becoming aware of Guyana as word spreads about its unblemished natural beauty, managing the conservation of the country’s incredible wildlife with increasing tourism development will be a challenge ahead for the Guyanese Government. However, as more and more tourists flock to Guyana, the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy will look to ensure the country can be enjoyed in all its glory for generations to come. (Worldfolio Limited)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

Pressure mounts on defi

…nothing to indicate results will change—Private Se

By Gary Eleazar

PRESSURE continues to mount on Head of State, Donald Ramotar, to concede an elections victory

by the coalesced A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), demit office, and work toward the transition to a new

government led by Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, the coalition’s leader and presidential candidate.

The International Community, namely the ABC

Countries (America, Britain (United Kingdom) and Canada) as well as the European Union (EU), local business representatives, and civil society were in unison yes-

terday in their confidence in the results as announced by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The consensus among those calling for Ramotar to concede is that discrepancies raised by the ruling party and detected through the various checks and balances, are not enough to alter the preliminary results.

MIDDAY OBJECTIONS They have since urged an acceptance of the preliminary results on the part of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

A defiant Head of State, Ramotar, along with several party comrades and candidates, including former President Bharrat Jagdeo, have since the GECOM announcement castigated the electoral commission, alleging wide-scale rigging.

The PPP/C has since demanded a recount of the entire country.

GECOM yesterday asserted that the final results have been declared by the Returning Officers for each of the 10 geographic regions and parties wishing to raise objections would have up to midday today to do so.

The Commission has since committed to making a timely update today.

CONSIDERED OPINION Meanwhile, a joint statement issued by the ABC countries yesterday sought to reiterate their positions.

According to the missive from the representatives of the three countries, it is their “strong and considered opinion that the voting and tabulation processes in the Guyanese national and regional elections were free, fair, and credible.”

They said “despite investigating, in collaboration with other observer missions, repeated allegations of

Parts of Geor

FOLLOWING torrential rainfall over the past few day town have been flooded. Fortunately, during an observation Chronicle, water was seen receding quickly through the ef pump stations According to a source from the Guyana Meteorologi is expected throughout the weekend; citizens are therefor necessary precautions.

A section of Main Street is flooded

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

iant Ramotar to concede

ector Commission

President Donald Ramotar irregularities, we have found nothing that would materially impact the integrity or credibility of the process.”

According to the ABC representatives, GECOM “has an effective verification and dispute-resolution process that is functioning well.”

The joint missive on the part of the ABC countries reiterated also that inter-

David Granger national experts continue to observe the process and “We encourage any political party with concerns about any preliminary results to use the established process with the Guyana Elections Commission to make those disputes known rather than resorting to the media.”

They said too that GECOM is working to complete final results as early as possible under Guyanese

law and as such, “we call on all Guyanese to be patient during that process and for all political leaders to respect the final results. We also call on all political parties to keep their promise to respect the Code of Conduct for Political Parties.”

NO INDICATION Meanwhile, the local Private Sector Commission (PSC) yesterday said in light of new allegations by the PPP/C, it reiterates its full confidence in GECOM and their adherence to the law and procedures.

“We have no material information to indicate that the results as released

by GECOM will change based on allegations by the PPP/C,” according to the PSC, headed by Chairman Ramesh Persaud.

In adding its voice to the fray, the PSC called on the PPP/C to “accept the results and commence with transitioning to the new government for the benefit of all Guyanese who are yearning for normalcy to resume.”

It reminded that the business community is at a stand-

still and that “this prolonged process is creating damage to the economy and the citizenry.”

LEGAL AVENUES Meanwhile, Head of the EU Delegation, Robert Kopecky, yesterday also joined in on calling for Ramotar to concede and move towards the formation of a new government, adding that there are legal avenues in place to address grievances.

According to Kopecky, “The European Union notes that the Guyanese General and Regional elections of May 11, 2015 were largely peaceful, transparent and inclusive with a high turnout and good performance of electoral authorities.The EU commends the Guyana Elections Commission for an efficient and well-organised election process.”

The European bloc of nations as such called on all stakeholders, “to respect the legal procedures and address any possible grievance through the channels established by the law.”

According to Kopecky, “The EU also looks forward

to strengthening our bilateral and regional cooperation and continuing close collaboration with Guyana’s Pro Tempore Chairmanship of CARIFORUM, in particular in the run-up to the EU-CELAC Summit and the EU-CARIFORUM Top Level meeting of 11th June 2015.”

RESPECT PEOPLE’S WILL The religious community has also begun adding its voice to the most recent electoral cycle from which Guyana is yet to emerge.

Roman Catholic Bishop Francis Alleyne, has called on the political parties to “respect the will of the people.”

On behalf of the local Catholic Christian denomination, Bishop Alleyne observed that GECOM’s preliminary results on the 2015 elections show a photo-finish, with APNU+AFC likely to be declared the winner.

He observed too that the exemplary conduct of the people in turning out, exercising their civil responsibility and waiting patiently as well as the various en-

dorsements on the electoral process “are a credit to us all and deserve the greatest respect.”

Bishop Alleyne called for an early declaration of the election results “so that the voice and good will of the people are not taken for granted.”

He posited, given the closeness of the results, as well as the divisiveness of the campaign, “it is clear that much work lies ahead to build lasting reconciliation and trust.”

Bishop Alleyne in his missive recalled the adage ““forgive and forget” and said while in reality we don’t forget, “we can remember without the bitterness and pain: we can be healed and reconciled and trust again and must claim this.”

To this end, Bishop Alleyne said “I call on all to exercise moderation, for the losing party to concede immediately upon the declaration and the winner to magnanimously accept, so that, as one people we can focus with resolve on the critical business of nation building.”

rgetown flooded after torrential rainfall

ys, parts of Georgen tour by the Guyana fficient operation of

ical Office, rainfall re urged to take the

Another area submerged The Liliendaal water pump at work

A street could be seen covered with water The pump at Kitty is seen in operation

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Zimbabwe tour of Pakistan still under discussion CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Reuters) - Zimbabwe’s planned tour of Pakistan remained up in the air yesterday as discussions continued over whether they would become the first Test-playing nation in six years to visit the south

east Asian country.

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) issued a statement saying its board was continuing with discussions regarding the tour. The team are scheduled to leave tomorrow.

“There are consultations going on

Gatlin equals sixth fastest ...

From back page the long jump - but equalled the British long jump record of 6.95m in the process.

Last year’s 200m Diamond Race winner, American Allyson Felix , made the perfect start to her title defence with a dominant showing, winning in a world leading and Diamond League record-equalling time of 21.98, beating, among others, Britain’s Bianca Williams, who was sixth.

Another American, Jasmin Stowers , set a new world lead and Diamond League record time of 12.35 to improve on her personal best for the third time in 2015 and dominate a strong women’s 100m hurdles race.

Britain’s Tiffany Porter took third, ahead of Australia’s reigning Olympic champion Sally Pearson (fourth) and 2014 Diamond Race winner Dawn Harper-Nelson (eighth).

Brit Jack Green’s time of 49.31 was enough to give him fourth in a men’s 400m hurdles race won by American Bershawn Jackson in 48.09. Ireland’s Thomas Barr was third.

In total, there were 10 world-leading performances yesterday, which also included American Tianna Bartoletta’s 6.99m to win the women’s long jump, Cuban Pedro Pablo Pichardo’s 18.06m in the men’s triple jump and a time of 1:43.78 by Djiboutian Ayanleh Souleiman to win a strongly-contested men’s 800m. (BBC Sport)

GCC ladies hockey team leaves ...

From back page two matches each day in order to manage costs by reducing the amount of flights to the host island.

Tomorrow, the local lasses will face Malvern for the first time in the competition at 11:00hrs and then return to the field at 17:00hrs to oppose Notre Dame.

Team coach and president of the Guyana Hockey Board, Philip Fernandes, had indicated that he is cau-

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Turffontein 08:50 hrs Flaming Ace 09:20 hrs Fire Wheel 09:55 hrs Soft Sand 10:30 hrs Shawl 11:00 hrs Stirling Leaves FRENCH RACING TIPS Auteuil 08:30 hrs Alary 09:08 hrs Gitane Du Berlais 09:40 hrs Turteene 10:10 hrs Prince Borsov 10:45 hrs Baxter 11:20 hrs Bel Canto Valtat 11:50 hrs Fafintadenitent ENGLISH RACING TIPS Newbury 08:25 hrs Harvard Man 09:00 hrs Telescope 09:35 hrs Salt Island

tiously optimistic of his team’s chances.

He cited that on the last visit the team showed that they had the quality to compete with all of the teams they faced, but, being the only team required to play twice in one day proved a challenge during the evening matches.

The team’s conditioning has not let them down, however, and he is hopeful that the few adjustments made over the past two weeks will make a positive difference in the final score line.

10:10 hrs Dissolution 10:45 hrs Night Of Thunder 11:20 hrs Cryatal Zvezda 11:55 hrs Spark Plug Newmarket 08:45 hrs Great Fun 09:15 hrs Aramist 09:50 hrs Latharnach 10:25 hrs Properus 11:00 hrs Amazing Speed 11:35 hrs Antiquarium 12:10 hrs It Must Be Faith BANGOR 08:50 hrs Mrs Jordan 09:20 hrs Long House Hall 09:55 hrs Monbeg Gold 10:30 hrs Mor Brook 11:05 hrs Court Dismissed 11:40 hrs It Is What It Is 12:15 hrs Carinena IRISH RACING TIPS

Punchestown 09:05 hrs Archive 09:40 hrs Davids Jewel 10:15 hrs Captains And Kings 10:50 hrs USA 11:25 HRS Macnicholson 12:00 hrs Le Grand Chene 12:35 hrs Potters Point AMERICAN RACING TIPS Pimlico Race 4 Force the Pass Race 5 Happy My Way Race 6 Hooligan Race 7 Donworth Race 8 Loves Last Chance Race 9 Hard Not to Like Race10 Gimme Da Lute Race11 Shrinking Violet Race12 War Correspondent Race13 American Pharoah

at the moment with relevant authorities. We do not have a final position as yet,” ZC CEO Wilfred Mukondiwa said.

It followed a bizarre episode on Thursday in which ZC released a statement saying the tour had been called off, but minutes later changed its position to say talks were ongoing.

A ZC delegation which visited Lahore, the venue for all matches on the tour, approved security measures put in place by local authorities last week.

But the terror attack on a bus in Karachi that killed at least 45 people this week led Zimbabwe’s supreme sports regula-

tory authority, the Sports and Recreation Commission, to advise that the tour be cancelled.

Zimbabwe were due to be the first Test-playing nation to tour Pakistan since a 2009 gun attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore left six Pakistani policemen and a van driver dead.

Some players and a local umpire were injured.

Pakistan have since been forced to play designated home matches primarily in the United Arab Emirates.

Zimbabwe were scheduled to play two Twenty20 internationals, starting on May 22 and a three-match one-day series.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

Blatter wants to keep 32-team World Cup

By Brian Homewood ZURICH, Germany (Reuters) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter is opposed to proposals to expand the number of teams at the World Cup and would like to keep the number of participants to 32 if he is re-elected, he said yesterday.

He also suggested playing more intercontinental playoffs to resolve the discussion about how many places should be awarded to each region, and that a continent which hosts the World Cup should wait at least 12 years before staging it again.

Blatter is standing for a fifth mandate as FIFA president on May 29 and two of his three challengers, former Portugal forward Luis Figo and Dutch FA president Michael van Praag, want to expand the World Cup to 48 and 40 teams respectively.

“I will tell you that we should remain with the system we have had, and the best system is the one with 32 teams,” Blatter told

reporters at FIFA headquarters.

“First of all, we have realised that 32 teams is the best mathematical system,

SEPP BLATTER

because you can play it 28 or 30 days,” added Blatter, who is runaway favourite to be re-elected.

“Secondly, the contracts we have for the next World Cups, they are all done with 32 teams.”

FIFA will hold an executive committee meeting on the day after the presidential election to decide how to distribute places at the World Cup. At the 2014 World Cup, Europe had 13 places, Africa 5, South America 4.5, CONCACAF 3.5, Asia 4.5, Oceania 0.5 and Brazil qualified as hosts.

“There shall not be a revolution, there shall just be a discussion on that and we are doing (this) on the next day (after) the election with the president who is elected,” said Blatter.

A “half place” means a slot in a two-leg playoff against a team from another continent.

There were two such ties last time, pit-

ting Uruguay against Jordan and Mexico against New Zealand, but Blatter implied that more “half places” could be used.

“That’s a good idea, and you are not so far away, this gives a little bit more incentive ... you are on a track which is very convenient for me,” he said.

Blatter said that he wanted to re-introduce a rotation system among the continents for the hosting of the World Cup. “This was agreed by the so-called rotation but it has immediately been broken later by UEFA, but it’s true that the two confederations must wait twice, it should be that way,” he said.

If put into practice, that would mean that Europe, which hosts the 2018 World Cup in Russia, would not be able to bid again until 2030. This would in turn give CONCACAF a better chance of staging the 2026 tournament.

“But I can only speak in the conditional, or in 15 days’ time,” Blatter added.

Rutherford hits form for Black Caps

H A M I S H R u t h e r f o r d ’s p a t i e n t half-century and Doug Bracewell’s lower-order resistance helped New Zealand to 261 for nine declared in their second and final tour match before next week’s first Investec Test.

After day one of four was washed out against Worcestershire at New Road, the Kiwis had to work hard for their runs in this non first-class fixture.

They lost Tom Latham early after winning the toss, caught behind, pushing forward at Charlie Morris, and Rutherford (75) and Martin Guptill then shared a second-wicket stand of 68.

Guptill was a star of New Zealand’s run to the World Cup final this year and has been in outstanding form too with Derbyshire at the start of this summer, but has not played Test cricket since his country’s last tour to England two years ago.

He played confidently until chipping a slower ball from left-arm seamer Jack Shantry for an easy catch to mid-on.

Ross Taylor’s attacking intent brought him two early boundaries but little more before he edged one behind off another of Worcestershire’s left-armers, the economical Ross Whiteley, for 12.

Rutherford had just three boundaries in his 82-ball 50, completed with the second and third of those fours in the same Morris over soon after lunch.

But stand-in captain BJ Watling went cheaply in Morris’ next over, another catch for Ben Cox behind the stumps - and after Luke Ronchi departed for a breezy 27, it was 145 for five.

Rutherford found another ally in Mark Craig. But both were to go to England all-rounder Moeen Ali, the number three mainstay another victim for Cox - stumped this time, after advancing to the off-spinner - while Craig fell to a fine catch by Whiteley at cover.

Even from 191 for eight, though, New Zealand had enough down the order to move past 250 as Bracewell tucked into Moeen before tea and went on to share a ninth-wicket stand of 70 with Neil

Hamish Rutherford top-scores for the New Zealanders with 75.

Wagner.

They were therefore able to declare when Cox made Bracewell his fifth victim of the innings, seven short of his 50, from an edge off Ed Barnard.

The hosts lost only Richard Oliver, well caught by Guptill at third slip to just the second delivery from second-change Wagner, in a reply worth 65 for one in 24 overs at stumps.

Kiwi all-rounder Corey Anderson has rejoined his team-mates as he continues his recovery after breaking his finger at the Indian Premier League.

The remainder of the tourists’ IPL contingent, including Test captain Brendon McCullum, is due to arrive in London over the weekend. (PA Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

Pietersen given ‘no guarantees’ - Graves

(REUTERS) - New English Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves did not give Kevin Pietersen any guarantees about being recalled by England this year, he said yesterday.

Pietersen, sacked by England in February 2014, was told by Graves in March that if he scored runs in county cricket he would be considered for selection again.

But, having made a career-best 355 not out for Surrey, the controversial batsman was told by newly-appointed England cricket director Andrew Strauss on Monday that he would not be recalled this summer.

“I didn’t make any promises,” Graves said in an England and Wales Cricket Board statement.

“There were no guarantees that if he (Pietersen) chose to exit his IPL (Indian Premier League) contract, play county

Colin Graves officially began his fiveyear tenure as ECB chairman yesterday. cricket and score runs he would be selected for England. And I said he should not make any decision on his future on that

Former Windies bowler Baptiste to lead Elite Programme ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Ex-West Indies seamer Eldine Baptiste has been appointed by the government here to lead the country’s Elite Cricket Programme.

Sports Minister EP ‘Chet’

ELDINE BAPTISTE Greene told the Antigua Observer newspaper that the former player was the best qualified individual to head the programme, which will serve as an academy for young national players.

“Eldine, with his vast experience and being a former Test player, having played extensively in English County cricket, having played extensively in the South African circuit, is the highest level coach in the country … he is extremely qualified,” Greene said.

“He was the coach of the Stanford national team

in the Twenty20 set-up and without fear of contradiction I can declare that Eldine is no stranger to cricket, to coaching, to Antigua & Barbuda.

“He shares the concerns, the aspirations of our people with respect to returning Antigua to being a major contributor to West Indies cricket and to West Indies returning to the pinnacle of the world game.”

The 55-year-old Baptiste played ten Tests and 43 One-Day Internationals between 1983 and 1990, and also went on to play first class cricket extensively in England and South Africa.

He also served as coach of Kenya for two years before quitting in 2011.

Greene backed Baptiste to successfully develop the local talent, which he pointed out was notably absent from the West Indies setup.

“This has to do with national concerns about the West Indies cricket brand being at its weakest and there being not a single Antiguan in the outfit,” he pointed out.

“It has to do with the preservation of our legacy as a main contributor to West Indies cricket excellence and so the appointment of Eldine Baptiste is intended to hone the talents in this area where our cricket is concerned and to provide an opportunity, an outlet, an avenue for training of our elite cricketers.”

basis.”

Pietersen, 34, reacted angrily to Strauss’s decision, describing the ECB’s behaviour as “deceitful” earlier this week.

“In the past few days my integrity has been called into question, something I can’t accept,” Graves said.

“Throughout my business career and my years at Yorkshire, integrity has been my watchword. It governs everything I do and is an important part of what I bring to the ECB. “So it saddens me that what was a private conversation with Kevin in March has been used to do just that.”

Graves said Pietersen had asked him whether he thought his England career, during which he made 8 181 runs, had ended in the right way following the 5-0 Ashes mauling in Australia.

“I agreed that nobody particularly emerged with much credit from the whole episode, particularly given his achievements for England,” Graves

said.

“Kevin felt he had a lot to offer and was interested in a dialogue with the ECB, sorting things out and working together.

“I can see something has been misunderstood around the conversation and in the following debate -- and perhaps how that happened.”

Graves fully backed Strauss’s action.

“Ahead of a big, busy summer of cricket, a clear decision needed to be taken,” he said.

“Kevin was told on Monday and I completely support the decision that was taken. He may not have liked what he heard but it allowed him to look at his opportunities.”

Graves said trust needed to be rebuilt.

“That takes time -- as Andrew Strauss made clear this week.

Despite everything, he (Pietersen) can work with us to re-build the relationship and make a further contribution to English cricket. It was important he knew where he stood.”

RCB surge after Gayle, Kohli ace six-over chase

RAIN has followed Royal Challengers Bangalore wherever they have gone this season. It denied them the opportunity to defend 200 against Rajasthan Royals.

It reduced two of their games to 10-over slugfests.

Against Sunrisers Hyderabad it showed up in spurts, first causing a curtailment to 11 overs a side, and resurfacing to reduce their task to scoring 81 in six overs.

It’s hard to tell if it’s easier to score 136 from 11 overs or 81 from six. In any event, Royal Challengers had Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Two of them fired.

Gayle gave them the explosive start they needed, and Kohli batted through the six overs to finish the job. It came down to 12 off 4 balls, and Kohli took his side over the line with a couple of stunning placements - opening his bat-face to steer two Bhuvneshwar Kumar yorkers through a tightly packed off-side ring - and a fortuitous winning six - David Warner caught the ball at longoff but stepped on the boundary cushions while doing so.

You could say the six-over chase almost reduced the game to pure probability. Gayle cleared his front leg and went hard at everything. This is what you do when the resource allocation - 10 wickets to play with in six overs - allows you to take a risk every ball and the required rate - 13.50 runs per over - demands that you do so Gayle, being Gayle, connected cleanly more often than not, and after two overs - delivered by Dale Steyn and Bhuvneshwar- he had moved to 35 off 9 balls and Royal Challengers were 41 for 0.

A risk is still a risk, though, and Gayle picked out deep midwicket off the third ball of the third over.

Next ball, AB de Villiers lifted one straight into long-on’s hands, and Moises Henriques - without doing anything more than simply run up and bowl - had dismissed Royal Challengers’ two most dangerous batsmen in two balls. Henriques had also smashed 57 off 22 - helped along by three lives - to power Sunrisers to 135 for 3 when they had batted.

It could have been a match-winning all-round performance, and the likelihood of that

VIRAT KOHLI increased when Dinesh Karthik ran himself out in comical fashion in the final over - he set off from the non-striker’s end after his bat deflected a straight drive from Kohli straight to the bowler - but Kohli ensured that wouldn’t be the case.

It isn’t often that David Warner makes a 30-ball half-century and the batsman at the other end overshadows him. It is even rarer that David Warner makes a 30-ball half-century, the batsman at the other end overshadows him, and he finds himself on the losing side.

Sunrisers might console themselves with the thought that they simply found themselves at the wrong end of the lottery that is a curtailed T20

game.

Sunrisers made an average start to their innings after choosing to bat, losing Shikhar Dhawan while moving to 27 in their first three overs. Warner picked up a couple of fours in that time, but the seamers were using the slower ball well and forcing a few plays-and-misses.

Henriques upped the tempo as soon as he arrived. He did so by keeping a still head and hitting down the ground. He showcased these virtues with two monster sixes off Yuzvendra Chahal’s leg-spin and a skimming hit over long-off when Ashok Dinda slightly misdirected an attempted yorker.

He also enjoyed massive slices of fortune. Mandeep Singh dropped a straightforward chance at longoff, Sarfraz Khan put down an even easier chance at point, and Harshal Patel, swooping in his follow-through to find Henriques turning back halfway down the pitch, under-armed hastily at the stumps and missed.

Henriques moved to his fifty in the next over and Warner, not at his most fluent in the beginning, joined in the fun, switching to a right-handed grip to muscle Chahal for a slog-swept six over point.

The rain was beginning to intensify by now, and Kohli and Karthik protested animatedly when the umpires kept the players on the field even when it became palpably heavy during the final over. Royal Challengers were clearly frazzled.

Their fielders were finding it difficult to run over the outfield, their bowlers were struggling to grip the ball, and Sunrisers were setting them an outlandish target.

But they always knew they had the batting to pull it off. (ESPN Cricinfo)

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

Warne, Tendulkar back new ‘greats’ T20 league - report

SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne are backing a new Twenty20 league for former cricketing greats that will be played in cities around the world from later this year, the Australian newspaper reported yesterday.

Indian batsman Tendulkar and Australian spin bowler Warne, now both retired, are widely regarded as two of the greatest cricketers in the history of the game.

The report said Australians Brett Lee, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath, Englishmen Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff as well as South African

Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne at Lord’s last year

Jacques Kallis had all been approached with offers of $25 000 a match.

Tendulkar and Warne planned to recruit 28 players to play 15 matches in the Cricket All Stars League over the next 3 1/2 years, starting with matches in three cities in the United States in September, the report added.

Several of the players targeted have, like Warne, extended their careers with lucrative stints in Twenty20 leagues after retiring from international cricket.

While senior tours in tennis and golf have proved successful in providing an income for older players and regular doses of nostalgia for fans, it has never before been attempted in cricket.

Middlesbrough swat away Bees to reach playoff final LONDON, England (Reuters) - Middlesbrough moved within one victory of securing a golden ticket to the Premier League by cruising past Brentford 3-0 to win their Championship semi-final promotion playoff 5-1 on aggregate yesterday.

Lee Tomlin opened the scoring midway the first half with a curling right-foot shot from 20 metres before Spaniard Kike and Albert Adomah killed the ‘Bees’ off in the second period.

Middlesbrough, coached

Middlesbrough’s Kike celebrates scoring their second goal. (Mandatory Credit: Action Images/Jason CairnduffLivepic)

by Spaniard Aitor Karanka, will meet Norwich City or Ipswich Town in the final at Wembley on May 25.

Norwich go into their home second leg against Ipswich today having drawn the first match 1-1 at Portman Road.

The winners of the final are set to earn an estimated £120 million ($188.72 million) by reaching the Premier League.

Bournemouth and Watford were automatically promoted to the top flight.

Local table tennis players fail to make impression at World event LOCAL table tennis players Kyle Edghill and Jeremey Singh failed to make an impression at the 2015 Canadian Open World Junior and Cadet Circuit event which ended on Thursday in Markham Ontario, Canada.

According to the International Table Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) website, both Edghill and Singh failed to get past their first-round matches in their respective groups.

Edghill and Singh contested the Junior Boys and the Cadet Boys categories respectively.

Playing in the 18 years-and-under category,

Edghill lost his first round match to Canada’s Jack Chand 11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 8-11 on Thursday and placed last in his group.

Singh, who also lost his first round match in his group, went on to secure a bye in the round-of-16 consolation playoff, but went down 1-3 to Canada’s Kevin Li, losing 3-11, 3-11, 11-6, 5-11.

The event in Markham, Ontario, is one of the prestigious world junior and cadet events organised by the ITTF. World elite players from around the world participated in this year’s event.

Inclement weather puts senior Inter-County competition on hold THE Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) senior four-day Inter-County competition which was scheduled to commence today, has been put on hold until further notice.

According to a release from the GCB, the move was forced upon them due to the recent inclement weather which has left venues throughout Guyana water-logged.

On Thursday the Board released the squads of the four teams participating in the competition and fixtures which had two matches set to commence today.

Those matches would have seen the Guyana U-19s take on Berbice at the Enmore Community Centre ground and Essequibo versus Demerara at the Wales Community Centre ground.

The second round was billed for May 21-24 with the Berbice and Demerara clash at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground and the Essequibo versus Guyana U-19s battle at Wales.

Round three had Berbice locked to face Essequibo at Wales and Demerara to oppose Essequibo at the Everest Cricket Club ground from May 26 to 29.

The teams read: Demerara: Leon Johnson (captain), Vishaul Singh (v-captain), Rajendra Chandrika, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Christopher Barnwell, Joseph Perry, Steven Jacobs, Raj Nannan, Steven Sankar, Paul Wintz, Gavin Moriah, Shemroy Barrington, and Trevon Griffith. The coach is Michael Franco and the assistant coach/manager is Clive Grimmond.

Berbice: Assad Fudadin (captain), Anthony Bramble (v-captain), Kevin Ramdeen, Jonathan Foo, Keron Fraser,

Rajiv Ivan, Clinton Pestano, Yodendra Harrinarine, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Gudakesh Motie, Keon Joseph, Raun Johnson, and Niall Smith.

The coach is Albert Smith and the manager is Winston Smith.

Essequibo: Ronsford Beaton (captain), Ricardo Adams (v-captain), Ray-

RAYMON REIFER mon Reifer, Ricardo Peters, Kevon Boodie, Royan Fredericks, Hemchand Persaud, Kesho Rooplall, Anthony Adams, Roopesh Motilall, Wayne Osborne, Mark Gonsalves, Kevin Gordon, Rovindra Parsram, and Kemol Savory. The coach is Vibert Johnson and the assistant coach/manager is Forbes Daniels.

Guyana U-19s: Shimron Hetmyer, Tevin Imlack, Parmesh Parsotam, Balchand Baldeo, Kemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Ronaldo Alimohamed, Parmanand Ramdhan, Kasim Khan, Nathan Persaud, Travis Persaud (captain), Looknauth Chinkoo, Akini Adams, Grisean Grant, Daniel Basdeo, Akshaya Persaud, Dexter Solomon, and Robin Bacchus. The manager is David Black while the coach is Adrian Amsterdam.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday May 16, 2015) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 2259230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: KKR & Kings XI Punjab

Today’s Quiz:

How many times Shiv Chanderpaul has captained the WI in Tests?

Who top-scored in the last IPL final?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday May 16, 2015

Windies Women crumble to spin as Sri Lanka level series COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CMC) - West Indies Women suffered a six-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka Women in the second One Day International (ODI) of a fourmatch series at the R Premadasa Stadium here yesterday.

The Windies women crumbled under spin attack to be all out for 124 in 42.3 overs leaving the Sri Lankans to recover from a poor start before cruising to victory in 39.2 overs.

Stafanie Taylor played a brilliant innings to resurrect her side but was unlucky while captain Merissa Aguilleira ran out of partners.

Shashikala Siriwardene with an outstanding all-round performance and spin partner Maduri Samuddika wrecked the Windies innings - both players taking six

Stafanie Taylor plays a brilliant innings to resurrect her side. wickets between them.

Gayle signs with Renegades for Big Bash MELBOURNE, Australia (CMC) Twenty20 superstar Chris Gayle has signed with the Melbourne Renegades for the 2015-16 Big Bash League in Australia.

The West Indies power-hitter has signed a deal with Renegades which will

T20 superstar Chris Gayle will turn out for Melbourne Renegades in the 2015-16 Big Bash League. make him available for the entire BBL season.

Gayle last played in the BBL during the 2012-13 season when he turned out for the Sydney Thunder, and he had previously been part of Western Australia’s side in the previous version of the tournament.

“It’s exciting to be coming to the Melbourne Renegades in the sporting capital of Australia,” Gayle said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the fans, getting to know the city a little more

and helping the team into the finals in BBL 5.”

Gayle will join his West Indian team mate Dwayne Bravo who is returning to Renegades after playing only four games last season before he was replaced by Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib-al-Hasan.

Gayle holds the record for the world’s highest T20 score – an astonishing 175 not out from just 66 deliveries made for RCB in April 2013.

Also, he is averaging 43 for RCB this season, with a strike rate of 155.42 Gayle will open the batting with Australia T20 captain Aaron Fincher as Renegades boast the world’s most destructive opening combination.

“It’s huge to sign Chris Gayle. He’s someone who has dominated this format over a long period of time. “Along with AB (de Villiers), there are not many of them in the same bracket. He’s the world’s best I think, “said Finch.

“He dominates a game; he can win a game by himself in very limited time. To have signed someone like him to open the batting with is going to be a huge bonus for the Renegades but also the fans who are going to get to see cricket’s biggest hitter at Etihad stadium.”

Last week Gayle demonstrated his hitting power when he blazed 12 sixes in an innings of 117 from 57 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.

“Chris’s abilities and experience goes without saying. He has tremendous skills both as an explosive T20 batsman but also as that genuine all-rounder you need,” said new Renegades coach David Saker.

“He’s someone who can inspire the squad, particularly among our batsmen, with his confidence and his ability to back himself and flick the switch when the time is right.”

Taylor fell seven runs shy of a half-century while leading efforts at rebuilding an innings which slipped to 75 for two after the visitors chose to bat first.

In fact West Indies slipped from 95 for 2 to 110 for 7 in five overs and were eventually bowled out for 124.

Taylor had smashed five fours and faced 70 balls when she was run-out on 43, after sharing an important 48-run partnership with Kycia Knight.

Knight hit two fours in her knock of 28 and featured in an opening stand of 27 with Hayley Matthews who chipped in with 11.

Taylor also received support from Shemaine Campbelle in a 20-run stand for the third wicket.

Captain Merissa Aguilleira tried to carry on from where Taylor left off scor-

ing a fighting 13 not out but was unable to build another meaningful partnership as the last four wickets fell for an additional fifteen runs.

Off break bowlers Siriwardene and Samuddika finished with 4-30 and 2-16 respectively.

Sri Lanka suffered an early setback after losing their openers by the 14th over and slumping to 46 for two.

Taylor took the catches to dismiss openers Lasanthi Madushani for 16 and Pradasani Weerakkody for 15 off deliveries from Afy Fletcher and Anisa Mohammed.

But victory was always in sight as Siriwardene backed up her 4 for 30 with an unbeaten 42 that steered Sri Lanka home with 64 balls to spare, helping them to level the series one-all.

Bangladesh plans to revive scandal-hit T20 league DHAKA, Bangladesh (Reuters)- The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is planning to revive a controversial Twenty20 league which was shut down two years ago following a match-fixing scandal.

Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful was slapped with an eight-year ban in the wake of the scandal that led to the postponement of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) after its second edition in early 2013.

The troubled tournament faced further scrutiny from the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) last year, the organisation advising players to avoid future editions over claims of unpaid salaries.

“We are looking at a window in December to hold the third edition of the BPL if everything goes to plan and the international schedule is sorted out,” Ismail Haider Mallick, the BPL’s governing council member-secretary, was quoted as saying by www.

espncricinfo.com.

Though modelled on the Indian Premier League, the new-look league would be a much more modest tournament, he said.

“The financial structure of the next tournament will have big

changes, so that we can hold the tournament every year. We are trying to keep it reasonable and realistic.”

Mallick added that 90 percent of player payments had been made and the BCB would welcome new franchises after all seven teams defaulted, leading to their termination.

NOTABLE DATES ON May 16, 1999, Guyanese Pascal David lost to undefeated American Eric Harding. The fight was held at the Eastwood Theater in Connecticut and David failed to come out at the start of the sixth round.

The bout was the fourth in a six-fight losing streak that ended in September 1999 when the Guyanese lost

by TKO in the fifth round to Rich LA Montagne.

David started his professional career in December of 1989 and lost to Brian Koulen on his debut.

He would have back-to-back victories over the late Andrew Murray, before being stopped in round nine

by Anthony `The Pearl’ Andrews.

The biggest win of his 10-year career occurred in October of 1993. David shocked Guyana by stopping the tenacious Michael Benjamin in the ninth round of a fight scheduled for 12. The win earned him the welterweight title of Guyana.

Three fights later he made an attempt at the national middleweight title but was again roughed up by Anthony `The Pearl’ Andrews and the contest ended in the eighth round.

David ended with a balanced record having won nine fights (five KOs ) and lost nine with five of the defeats being by KOs. The 46-year-old David currently resides in the USA.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Windies Women crumble to spin as Sri Lanka level series

see story on page 31

Gatlin equals sixth fastest 100m time at Diamond League

Allyson Felix of the U.S celebrates after winning the women’s 200m at the IAAF Diamond League in the Qatari capital Doha, yesterday.

AMERICAN Justin Gatlin ran the joint-sixth quickest 100m time in history to dominate the field in the Diamond League opener in Doha, Qatar.

The 33-year-old, who has served two doping bans, sprinted away to win his first race of 2015 in a time of 9.74 seconds - a world best for this year.

It was a bad night for Britain’s James Dasaolu , who finished last in the race in a time of 10.14.

And Britain’s Mo Farah could only finish second in the men’s 3 000m.

The 32-year-old was well-placed going into the final lap but conceded the lead with 300m to go and was unable to chase down eventual winner Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia down the final straight.

Gatlin’s was the standout display of the night as he picked up where he left off in 2014, during which he recorded six of the seven fastest 100m times of the year. His time was the fastest since Jamaica’s Yohan Blake ran 9.69 in August 2012.

His time of 9.74 has only been bettered by fellow American Tyson Gay, Jamaica’s Asafa Powell and his compatriots Blake and Usain Bolt - whose world record 9.58 came in Berlin in August 2009.

He was way too good for his rivals yesterday, with the American finishing well ahead of U.S. relay team-mate Mi-

chael Rodgers, who was second in 9.96, and third-placed Keston Bledman of Trinidad and Tobago Britain’s Shara Proctor only managed second place in See page 27 American Justin Gatlin celebrates his 100 metres triumph at the Diamond League in Doha.

GCC ladies hockey team leaves today for second stint in T&T

AFTER mixed results in their debut trip to compete in the Trinidad and Tobago women’s hockey outdoor season, the Georgetown Cricket Club ladies leave Guyana today for their second of three visits to the island.

On their first visit, the Guyanese ladies won two of their matches against Ventures 1-0 and Notre Dame 3-2.

They, however, squandered a 2-0 lead against Paragon to lose 5-2 and fell by one-goal margins to Magnolias 1-2 and Checkers by 0-1.

On this occasion, the team will face Paragon in their opening match this morning at 11:00hrs and return later in the evening to face Magnolias.

The GCC ladies have agreed to the rigorous schedule which includes See page 27

GCC ladies hockey team sport the club’s official colours for their Trinidad encounter.

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SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015