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SUNDAY No. 104297

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Lone body artist...

Guyana's 'trump card' at Carifesta XII Page

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Guyana’s Steve Douglas – the lone body artist at this year’s CARIFESTA - unleashed his creative skills through complex and detailed composition of the art form

- amazes thousands with depiction of local characters

The ‘Wata Mamma’ or as it is more popularly known, the Mermaid

Portrayal of Guyana’s national anim al the Jaguar, during CARIFESTA XII in Haiti

The El Dorad o depiction

UN Mission 400+ jobs arrives in to be created before Guyana 11 year-end 13 Page

– to discuss options in the Geneva Agreement regarding Venezuela’s claims

Page

Two Haitian models prou dly display the G uy which was pa ana flag inted on them

Tiger Bay The PPP’s resident brutally obsession stabbed 3 with to death 3 Page

– suspect in custody

Page

Nagamootoo

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

Lone body artist…

Guyana’s ‘trump card’ at

CARIFESTA XII

By Ravin Singh in Haiti

BODY art, which is a relatively new aspect of visual arts, made its debut appearance at the 12th edition of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) when Guyana’s Steve Douglas – the lone body artist at this year’s CARIFESTA - unleashed his creative skills through complex and detailed composition of the art form.

While the traditional features of body art includes tattoos and body piercing, the new developments to this art form focuses on temporary painting of the body, complemented by masks and other props to enhance the character’s appearance.

Douglas, who is self-taught, began experimenting with this aspect of art a few years ago, after which he established his body art company – Bravo Arts. The creative genius, who is no stranger to other forms of visual arts, has done major works for Guyanese who have represented the country on the international stage.

Securing his spot this year in the 82-member Guyanese delegation, Douglas’s primary motive has been to “promote cultural life in Guyana to the Caribbean through body art and theatrical make-up.”

Stamping his authority from the inception, the artist commenced working on the opening day of CARIFESTA, designing a piece titled “El Dorado.”

A female, painted in an abstract-like design of gold and silver, complemented by glitters, represented the “Golden City.” She wore a crown of almost transparent beads which highlighted the country’s mineral-rich characteristic.

A highly receptive audience forced Douglas to produce another of this masterpiece, but this time, at the Grand Market, which is housed in Haiti’s capital – Portau-Prince. This time, the piece was used not only for exhibition purposes, but for photoshoots.

The highlight of this form of art however, was presented to the Haitians on Thursday, when Douglas staged a grand body art show designing several pieces, depicting the flag, national animal, and folklore characters including Ole Higue, Baccoo and Wata Mamma.

The body artist, supported by local Singer Diana Chapman and Designer Keisha, began his work just after lunch on Thursday.

This tiring yet rewarding task, extracted the highest level of skill from the artist who recognised from the inception that this was his opportunity to present one aspect of Guyana’s art on not just the regional but international stage.

Douglas, who was the only body artist in the delegation and at CARIFESTA XII, explained that apart from the language barrier, another challenge was that he was the only artist who was capable of doing this kind of work which required him to work overtime.

At the Grand Market’s stage presentation, two muscular male models, standing shoulder to shoulder in the opposite direction, with the Guyana flag painted across their chest and back, were used as teasers to provide glimpses to the audience of what Guyana has brought to Haiti.

Highly anticipated, the exhibition which was being touted by the Master of Ceremonies (MC) attracted a few thousand in the

- amazes thousands with depiction of local characters

limited inverted T-shaped space.

Taking the stage first to display her colourful body art, was a Haitian model who represented the ‘Wata Mamma’ – a fictional character usually referred to in other parts of the world as a mermaid.

In shades of pink, purple and light blue, the Wata Mamma flaunted her design which was enhanced by a scale-like effect, skilfully created by Douglas through the use of an airbrush.

The second folklore character taking the stage was that of the Ole Higue. The scary looking character who is known locally for travelling in a ball of fire and sucking the blood of children while they’re asleep, was painted in crimson-red, and wore a red plastic-like material about her body. Her ruffled hair, and wrinkled face which was made from a plastic mask, complemented her terrifying look.

The final folklore character from the land of many waters which was depicted by the artist, was that of the Baccoo. A fictional Guyanese folklore The short, character who is described as a very big-headed short man, with a big head, red eyes Baccoo and thick eyebrows. proudly displays his The character was expertly debody art signed by the body artist who invested hours in the crafting of this design.

Not known to the Haitian culture, this piece received thunderous applause from the thousands who were evidently impressed.

The National animal of Guyana, the Jaguar, was also presented to the people of the Caribbean by Douglas. A fairskinned male model,was the perfect pick since his skin colour enhanced the bright orange and black prints of a Jaguar.

His muscular structure and ability to manoeuvre himself aggressively on stage enlivened an already hyped-up crowd.

A re-appearance of the mineral-rich El The El Dorad Dorado design also formed part of the body o depiction art display on Thursday.

According to the artist, the response received from the Haitians at the event was “overwhelming.” He explained that most of the Haitians had never seen body art like that and this was related to him after they had visited the body art booth and expressed same.

Given the challenges and time constraints which confronted his work, the local artist was proud to share that, “We had a great show, and the Haitians were entertained and impressed; which was our main aim.”

He continued that, “What was nice about it is that we were able to market our country and we had one of the two male models who had the Guyana flag painted on them, come out and hold this huge Guyana flag.

“It was one of those moments where you really felt proud to be Guyanese” the patriot said, adding that the Guyanese and Haitians supporters in the crowd fuelled a spirit of regional nationalism too.

“It was not just a proud moment for me, but for Guyana and the Caribbean, as we were able to show them what Guyana and the Region can produce,” Douglas concluded. (Sponsored by GT&T)

The ‘Wata Mamma’ or as it is more popularly known, the Mermaid

Guyana’s Steve Douglas – the lone body artist at this year’s CARIFESTA unleashed his creative skills through complex and detailed composition of the art form

lklore Guyanese fo le O r, characte Higue

Portrayal of Guyana’s national anim al the Jaguar, during CARIFESTA XII in Haiti

dly models prou Two Haitian g fla a an uy G display the inted on them which was pa

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

The PPP’s obsession with Nagamootoo

By Imran Khan

IN recent weeks we have seen an intensification of a phenomenon which we first witnessed in 2011.

This phenomenon has seen the newly minted Opposition PPP members, especially since having taken up their seats in Parliament, express a heightened level of obsession with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

They are led by their belligerent leader, Mr Bharrat Jagdeo.

This manic preoccupation with Nagamootoo may seem awkward, but there is a well-defined reason for this pattern of compulsive fixation.

The PPP’s obsession with Nagamootoo can be traced to a deep- seated hatred. It goes back some time.

Nagamootoo was a leading target for the PPP’s electoral campaigns in both 2011 and 2015. Political campaigns are exercises in rigid management of resources. Political parties are not known to waste time and energies targeting persons or issues that are inconsequential.

There was a well-re-

searched and credible reason for the PPP to have focused as much time and attention on Nagamootoo in those campaigns. The campaign attacks have now transferred to targeting Nagamootoo as the duly elected Prime Minister. But the issue extends to even before the 2011 campaign.

It was against Nagamootoo that there was internal PPP scheming and manipulation and allegations of much worse by the highest office holders of the party to sideline him (Nagamootoo) who was once heir apparent.

Following his spectacular departure from Freedom House and his embrace of the AFC in 2011, it was Nagamootoo who piloted the historic No Confidence Motion against the PPP, which triggered Donald Ramotar’s unceremonious and unprecedented prorogation of Parliament which ultimately resulted in defeat for the PPP at the May 11 polls.

It is Nagamootoo whom Freedom House sees as that tipping force which caused the PPP Government to fall and which has consigned the PPP to the Opposition benches.

The new Opposition Leader is former President and reluctant private citizen, Bharrat Jagdeo. Fate, and thinly veiled ambition to return to the halls of pow-

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo er, has dealt Mr Jagdeo a seemingly ignoble blow. He must now occupy the seat in Parliament, among the Opposition benches, located directly across from Prime Minister Nagamootoo on the Government side. Every time he raises his head it is

Nagamootoo whom he sees in his line of sight, sitting as the Leader of Government business in the House and as the Prime Minister and second in command of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Mr Jagdeo, once strangle-holder of the highest office in the land is now relegated to Leader of the Opposition and sitting outside the corridors of official governmental power.

It appears as though these facts are too much for the proud Mr Jagdeo to digest.

The wounds are fresh. There are five years for Mr Jagdeo to get accustomed to the contours of his new seat and field of view.

The signals of Nagamootoo’s presence in Government galling the PPP in general and Mr Jagdeo in particular are not few.

After Mr Jagdeo’s budget presentation, which sounded not unlike his campaign platform ‘performances,’ he stormed out of the National Assembly, his loyal troops filing out behind him. Having schemed and manoeuvred unsuccessfully for days to avoid speaking before Nagamootoo, Mr Jagdeo would have known that

Prime Minister Nagamootoo was slated to present after him and clearly could not bear to “man up” and face Nagamootoo.

Mr Jagdeo did what many have described as an act of irresponsible cowardice and let his people down by vacating the highest decision- making body in the land – an act for which he himself and numerous of his colleagues have previously viciously berated the previous Opposition. There is an issue of hypocritical behaviour which the PPP will find itself confronted with on this score.

But alas, it was not Nagamootoo’s departure from the PPP that has Freedom House as repulsed as they are. Had Nagamootoo left, but, like Ralph Ramkarran, opted to become politically non-committal, the PPP might very well have clung to power as they did in 2011. That critical mass to get the coalition Opposition over the line was provided by the AFC in support of APNU’s mass appeal as a united coalition front. At the helm of the AFC in the six- party coalition was the irrepressible Nagamootoo as the Prime Ministerial candi-

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date alongside Presidential Candidate Brigadier (rt’d) David Granger.

There would have been post-election analysis done at Freedom House, and perhaps at places within the vicinity of the Plaisance Community Centre Ground.

It appears as though the analysis has recommended that the response be to seek to diminish Nagamootoo’s Prime Ministership to the level of their own 23-year pliant Prime Minister, Mr Samuel Hinds. And hence the obsession, the heckling, the barrage of media comments and the revulsion towards Prime Minister Nagamootoo.

What appears certain is that this is the first phase of the PPP attack plan.

There is certain to be more to come. Prime Minister Nagamootoo will have to prepare to face more as long as he remains resolute in occupying his seat on the Government side of the house. There will be no relenting as long as his face is what comes into focus at the head of the table when those on the other side lift their heads from a downward gaze.

Tiger Bay resident brutally stabbed to death

- suspect in custody

By Shirley Thomas WHAT started yesterday as a weird demonic possession ended in death, with a 19-year-old gruesomely murdering a man at his home on Queen Street, Tiger Bay in Georgetown.

The teen allegedly inflicted some 22 stab wounds on the hapless ‘Rasta Man’, as he lay sleeping on the ground.

The gruesome act, neighbours say, was preceded with the killing of a cat which the teen stunted and trampled on a nearby roof, before coming down to senselessly take the life of the man who had been sharing the tiny hut with a friend for the last seven months or so.

A friend of the deceased points to the entrance to the house in which he was murdered

Linen and clothing on which the now dead man was lying were heavily soaked with blood, and elsewhere on the floor there were spatters of blood.

The incident happened sometime after 16:00 hrs, and neighbours recalled looking down from a higher building and seeing the lad kill the cat. On getting down, he walked around another building in the heavily clustered ‘shanty town’ abode, and it was then that the residents lost sight of him.

But little did they know that he had entered the house where ‘Rasta Man’ was sleeping. Another witness, whose name was

given as Wayne Rogers, recalled that after killing the cat, the lad was seen sharpening a knife and rubbing his fingers along the blade.

Meanwhile, another neighbour, Neil Seales, who made the gruesome discovery, recalled that he went to the house where ‘Rasta’ was sleeping and asked him where was their neighbour Nichola Clarke, who was always kind to him but he seemed tired and sleepy and quickly went back in a slumber. Seales said he left and went out to the front of the street, and came back See page 13

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

Ramjattan threatens to change bar curfew from 02:00hrs to midnight – tells whiners to ‘petition’

By Shivanie Sugrim PUBLIC Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan remains adamant that the curfew with regard to places selling alcohol opening until 2:00am stands.

He has said that this law will be upheld, and he has threatened to revoke or suspend the licences of those businesses which do not comply with the law.

It has been almost two months since the 02:00hrs bar curfew was implemented, and in all that time, it has faced an outcry from bar

owners.

Ramjattan has, however, made it pellucidly clear that if any changes are to be made to this law, it would be with regard to implementing the curfew time at midnight, instead of at 02:00hrs. This would essentially mean that the hours during which the curfew takes effect would be extended instead of reduced.

Addressing a post-Cabinet news briefing on Friday, the Public Security Minister challenged those who are not in favour of the law to “set up a petition.”

While acknowledging

that the law is an “unpopular” measure in combating crime, Minister Ramjattan explained that there is a correlation between heavy drinking at 02:00hrs and after and accidents and domestic violence, among other crimes, in Guyana.

He pointed out that the law at present states that the sale of alcohol MUST be stopped at midnight. He opined that because Guyanese have been breaching the law, the country is at its current state in relation to road accidents, violent crime, domestic violence, et al.

“We have to set standards here, and the law is that we [places selling alcohol] must close [at the stipulated time]; otherwise, we are going to

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have young people more out on the streets late at nights, drinking and misbehaving,” the minister was convinced, although unable to provide empirical data.

Whether the bar owners are dissatisfied or the crime rate has been profoundly increased, Minister Ramjattan disclosed that many wives and women have expressed their satisfaction at the law being implemented, since it has caused their husbands to return home earlier with “a little more money” in their pockets.

Aside from the entertainment industry, the tourism industry has expressed worry that the curfew will hamper its scope, but Ramjattan has clarified that the same law provides for high-ranking hotels such as the Pegasus to close at 02:00hrs.

Approximately two months ago, the minister

29/08/2015

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan

implemented this curfew, which seeks to close bars, nightclubs and restaurants across the country at 02:00hrs; and although the intention was to assist in the reduction of crime, the crime rate has evidently increased significantly, as reported by sections of the media.

The business community has reportedly remained

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steadfast in opposing the minister’s move since its inception; but Minister Ramjattan has committed himself to reducing the upsurge of crime in Guyana, if necessary by means of “unpopular” measures such as this one, although he has admitted that reducing crime is not like playing ‘T20 cricket.’

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

Bandits raid three schools in New Amsterdam – Region 6 Chairman clears air on Guyana Times’ assertion regarding teachers involvement in recent break-ins

By Jeune Bailey Vankeric REGION 6 Chairman Mr David Armogan has refuted an article that appeared in the Guyana Times detailing that “David Armogan is of the view that the recent break-ins at secondary schools in New Amsterdam were carefully planned and involved staff working at those schools.”

As a result of that article, the Region’s educators have expressed disappointment in their Chairman, who once served as a teacher in the Upper Corentyne district.

The article has seemingly painted a picture of Region 6 teachers as being thieves; and setting the record straight, following several break-ins at secondary schools in New Amsterdam, Armogan told this publication in his office on Friday: “I do not have anything against teachers…I don’t think teachers would get involved as thieves and vagabonds. There must be someone in the school system, maybe one person, who is giving out information, a liaison to others…I am not [going to make] a blanket statement to blame teachers. If that is the impression conveyed to teachers, I am sorry.

“Further, I don’t mean to be vicious where teachers are concerned. We ought to be thankful to teachers; they are very poorly paid people. The fact is that they are doing this great job [and] it is bad to accuse them….”

During the earlier weeks of the August vacation, three secondary schools in New Amsterdam were robbed of cash and other items, and female security guards were physically and even sexually assaulted.

Between the wee hours of 02:00 and 03:00 on July 30 last, six youthful, masked bandits successfully robbed the New Amsterdam Multilateral School of $1M along with two cheques valued at $400,000, before allegedly sexually assaulting a female guard on duty.

During that attack, Security Guard Conrad Cort, aged 72, was gagged and taped before being cuffed in his face, as the bandits told him to “cooperate, or I will shoot!”

This happened before the bandits broke into the administrative block and stole the money garnered from registration fees for the new academic year.

Head Master Narinedatt Dhanraj said the stolen cheques had been made out to former teacher Joanna Robertson, who was expected to visit the school shortly to uplift the outstanding sums.

Two days later several young, masked bandits went to the Berbice High School, where three guards were on duty.

Subrina Rajaram, a young mother of two, was physically assaulted after she resisted the “teen” as they attempted to take her purse containing $20,000.

She was subsequently overpowered, but after explaining to the perpetrators that the money was intended to assist in her toddler daughter’s upkeep, one of the bandits returned $3000 before leaving with her cellular phone. Thereafter, Rajaram went to the New Amsterdam Hospital

Tutorial Academy Secondary School

New Amsterdam Secondary (Multilateral) School

where she was examined by a doctor.

The next night, the thieves went to the Tutorial Academy Secondary School, where they beat and bound two guards before breaking into the headmaster’s office and removing $10,000.

And failed robbery attempts had been made at the Vryman’s Erven Secondary School and at the

Berbice Educational Institute, because the guards at those locations were alerted by their companion dogs. While some guards raised an alarm, others secluded themselves in nearby bushes and trenches.

The bandits had next turned their attention t o t h e N e w A m s t e rdam School of Nursing, a northern window of which they broke and

removed $9,000 belonging to the student society.

Several persons were detained, but no charges have been instituted.

Nevertheless, investigations are continuing.

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EDITORIAL

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

Guyana

OUR REGION’S HUMANITARIAN REACH NOT just small states with quite limited resources - like most of those within our Caribbean Community -- that must be overwhelmed by the challenges posed at the international level by the pathetic scenes of thousands of men and women, risking their lives as well as their children’s, to find refuge in Europe, or wherever, from the horrific tragedies in their own homelands.

We are persuaded that the Guyanese people too across ethnicities, politics and cultural norms -- are deeply disturbed over the recurring heart-wrenching televised scenes of the thousands being rescued at sea but with no place of certain refuge. Worse, the hundreds of bodies of men, women and little children, who did not survive the disasters being washed up at sea.

However, our Governments and institutions must not be overwhelmed by the scale of these recurring

horrific human tragedies.

We must take initiatives, preferably collectively under the umbrella of CARICOM, to respond to the varying pleas of United Nations agencies, consistent with the spirit of sharing the burden of fellow citizens of ‘one world’.

Currently, the awful destruction in loss of lives and “missing persons” as well as damages to crops and infrastructure, suffered by Dominica, a fellow CARICOM member state, this past week from ‘killer’ storm Erika, is understandably engaging practical responses from the Caribbean Community.

However, it seems incumbent upon CARICOM Governments, the Region’s private sector and leading regional institutions and organisations to reach out, in practical ways, to the spreading humanitarian challenges currently creating havoc, almost daily, with the

lives of thousands fleeing from the political barbarism being inflicted upon them in their own countries.

It may be useful to have an informed overview from CARICOM on the current wave of unfolding human disasters. This view could perhaps also inform the Region’s people of initiatives already taken, or currently being pursued, to demonstrate our Region’s concerns for the victims of political persecution and sheer terrorism, as well as resources, however limited, that are being made available.

HINDS’SIGHT

Bharrat Jagdeo: Testing the limits of our fragile politics

By David Hinds A LOT has been written and said about former President and now Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

Some of it has been extremely uncomplimentary. In this regard, he has been characterised as a dictator, a manipulator and a racist. These characterisations have come not just from his detractors in the opposite parties, but very importantly, from some of his former comrades.

I take the view that Mr Jagdeo represents a challenge for Guyanese politics that should not be easily dismissed.

After all, it is our very complex and sometimes complicated political practice that threw up Former President and Mr Jagdeo. In other words, he may be out of current Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo order for some, but he is Guyanese.

Many within the PPP and beyond wished he would cede centre-stage, but he stubbornly refused to go away.

He himself said that he was done with mainstream politics,

‘Bharrat Jagdeo tests the limits of our fragile political architecture…and while Jagdeo may be a pariah to most, he is clearly a hero to many…the latter cannot and should not be discounted’ but now in 2015 he is the de facto leader of the PPP and the country’s Opposition Leader. In fact, many had long contended that his promise to leave active party politics was part of a larger deception that is a staple of Jagdeoism; he was in fact the not-so-hidden hand behind the Ramotar presidency.

What is patently clear is that Mr Jagdeo is a force to be reckoned with. He seems to bother his detractors with his unapologetic and aggressive demeanour. In the face of attacks from the other side that he has been a most negative influence on Guyana’s political culture, he has presented a confident if not arrogant response. This has led his former comrade, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to describe him as “pompous,” while Joey Jagan has dubbed him an “ethnic bully.”

But these descriptions have not moved Mr Jagdeo. He seems to operate in a world that blocks out the reality and perception of his role in dragging Guyanese politics to a place of disrepute. Or maybe he simply assumes that his stewardship of the country is a new norm that the rest of us don’t quite understand. Whatever it is, the name and the person Bharrat Jagdeo further complicates an already complicated Guyanese political landscape.

It is now beside the point whether Jagdeo engineered his

Dr. David Hinds

way to the Maximum Leader’s seat within the PPP or PPP leaders genuinely feel that he deserves the office. He is the PPP leader and if the Chief Justice’s ruling on term limits is upheld, he could become President again. The ruling parties and Guyana as a whole have to get used to that reality. Of course, such a scenario could be torpedoed by a conviction in the case he has before the courts or any other charges and convictions in the future. But in our circumstances those would be a long shot.

If his shepherding of the PPP’s flock in Parliament this past week and his fighting address to the House signal anything, it is that a Jagdeo-led Opposition would not be a pushover. Ominously, his stewardship could well test the tolerance level of the Government for aggressive dissent.

That has been the test for all of our post-independence Caribbean leaderships - how to maintain a democratic process and culture in the face of dissent that is disruptive, sometimes disrespectful and that borders on destabilisation.

It is a test that most Caribbean leaders, including our own Burnham and Jagdeo, have not negotiated well.

Finally, while Jagdeo may be a pariah to most, he is clearly a hero to many. The latter cannot and should not be discounted. In our ethnic reality, we cannot choose leaders for ethnic groups. Therein lies Jagdeo’s legitimacy: Indian-Guyanese, or most of them, want him to be their leader.

They demonstrated it in their response to his electoral message, which the opposing parties and sections of the Indian-Guyanese community found to be most distasteful.

In the final analysis, Bharrat Jagdeo tests the limits of our fragile political architecture. How the country responds to it is a matter of speculation at this point.

But the signs are not promising.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

Reducing Dependency on Development Aid (Part One)

By Keith Burrowes THIS week, I would like to take a new look at developmental aid to Guyana; how we engage the tens of millions of US dollars we benefit from annually.

There is no under-estimating the enormity of developmental aid resources being channelled into this country, both in terms of the sheer scale of what amounts to investment in the economy, as well as what it means for our local development, particularly within the sectors in which the money is intended to support. A significant part of our infrastructural development, for example, has been facilitated and continues to be facilitated by the donor community.

Whenever the dust of the occasional controversial NGO accountability report is not there to obscure one’s vision, certain key facts remain. First, it is Guyana’s continued credit-worthiness which underwrites the donor community’s commitment to developmental aid, a credit-worthiness defined by parameters of accountability and transparency created by the donor agencies. Another is our capacity to manage the resources allocated to us – no matter the apparent greatness of the need - no donor will fund a project that that agency thinks has the potential to, or will, fail.

After roughly over a decade of working with donor-related projects, I’ve noticed that concurrent with the influx of donor funding over the past five years or thereabouts, there is a growing role for Guyana in creating and maintaining the parameters within which aid is disbursed. I remember years ago, when project proposals were either being undertaken completely by the donor agency staffers or by donor-appointed consultants without much input from key individuals working in the particular sectors.

However, what has been currently observed is an increased capacity of Guyana, as a country, to define exactly how aid is channelled into developmental projects,

via involvement in the conceptualisation of project proposals, for example. This, it must be stated, has been made possible through what has been, by and large, mechanisms established by the Government working in tandem with the donor community. Thus,

engagement with donor agencies, I would say a two (2) in a descending scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being the pinnacle.

I believe that there should be a formalised multi-sectoral mechanism for negotiation with the donor community, an established

today, more proposals are done by Guyana working in collaboration with the donor community.

I am of the view that any analysis done would reveal that the overwhelming majority of these projects are meeting the required deliverables; something I believe to be at least partially due to what has been the significant shift towards a greater local ownership of developmental aid projects. Today, not only do you have the involvement of the individual sector’s officials, you also have much more involvement (particularly in social programmes) of the direct beneficiaries.

That said, I still believe that there are some areas for improvement. Were I to grade Guyana’s capacity for defining our

process which allows greater involvement of related sectors, even though the proposals revolve around a specific sector. Such mechanisms do exist; what needs to be undertaken is an enhancement of them, to even more deliberate, focused operations. I doubt, for example, that as currently constituted those mechanisms allow for the adequate sharing of information among sectors, even though information is the key tool in any negotiation process.

An enhanced mechanism would include, as I have proposed in a previous column written almost a year ago, a structured database for the efficient storage and retrieval of information on donor-funded projects, accessible to those in charge of policy for-

ARE POLICE HANDS TIED? WHEN TO FIRE? The increasingly high incidence of ‘GUN’ CRIMES being committed in the country these days invites CRIMEWATCH to examine the position of the Police when it comes to responding to the forceful, aggressive actions of criminals.

In the commission of ROBBERY UNDER ARMS and related crimes, criminals have no scruples and no regulations to re-

strict them in their use of arms. BUT JUST CONSIDER the following instructions the police operate under: i. The use of firearms must be resorted to only when other means are found ineffective to deal with the situation ii. Whenever possible, warnings must be given before using a firearm. iii. When it has been decided to open fire, such fire will be directed at the target,

not over the target’s head, and care must be taken to ensure, as far as possible, that innocent persons are not hit. iv. OPEN FIRE when attacked and when you apprehend serious danger to your person and are unable to defend yourself by any other means. v. …when an attack is made to rescue persons in lawful custody. vi. …when property you are ordered to defend is attacked and you are unable to safeguard it by any other means.

THE ABOVE GUIDELINES represent the discipline and procedure(s) to be exercised when a policeman, or party of lawmen, decides it’s time to resort to the use of their weapons.

KEITH BURROWES

mulation.

Understandably, the enhancement of existing mechanisms to the sort of overarching mechanism I am proposing would inevitably take some time. Pending its development, there are other focused, as opposed to incidental, ways to simulate it both in the pre-development and implementation stages of projects. For example, in the recruitment of persons hired to directly support the implementation of projects, there is the reality of better qualified candidates being persons with expertise, obviously, in the sectors in which they are recruited. Development is, however, always contextual – inherent in the term sector is the presumption of a greater whole, and therefore some orientation mechanism could be put in place to provide persons recruited to individual sectors, with a picture of the greater development environment in which they are operating.

Another option is to tailor the implementation of projects to benefit sectors other than that for which the funding is granted, once whatever measures taken toward this end do not contravene the conditionalities under which the aid has been granted.

My point is that territoriality is counter-productive to the management of development aid – there can be much more value added with the involvement of various but related sectors. The very fact of Guyana’s smallness both creates the potential as well as the necessity for a more synergistic approach to managing aid. We have already proven that we have the capacity to manage donor contributions to our development in keeping with the main indicators of the specific project. However, we now have the opportunity to be creative in ensuring not only that we garner maximum value for money from aid, but also to find ways of ensuring sustainability in the event of the cessation or diminishing of that aid. To act otherwise is to do so on the presumption that the donor funding we are receiving comes from some infinite source, which is anything but the reality.

Understandably, there must be restraints to guide the few over-enthusiastic or scared type of police officers who may become trigger-happy. (Rumour has it that some policemen walk with old cutlasses, just to “explain” that some criminals “attacked” them with a cutlass – which caused them to open fire.) CRIMEWATCH, however, invites readers’ consideration and comments as regards the police constraints when faced with the SUPERIOR FIREPOWER of modern-day criminals.

What balance should there be? Especially when criminals know all the rules the armed policeman has to consider against those same criminals who have no rules?

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

CHANGE WE MUST - the people’s clamour for good governance must be heeded

By Lincoln Lewis POLITICS is about people and people’s development. However, they are scores of citizens, while they have participated in casting their ballots for the elections of representatives to Parliament and selecting a Government of their choice, can be heard saying that politics is a dirty game.

It is not that politics is bad but we live in an era where politics attract hypocrites who in the end are elected to perform duties on behalf of the people.

As one examines the recent debates in the National Assembly, some of which I attended, it is obvious that the experiences the society encountered over a considerable period were deliberately thought out and implemented to hurt the people.

The robust and strident approach-

that these members knew all along that they were engaged in violations and transgressions. Further, their actions in Government vis-à-vis now demonstrate they held a view that regardless of their intransigence they can successfully pursue their divide and rule programme and get away with perpetrating their dastardly acts on the citizens.

This nation is mindful that whenever one offers him/herself to serve the people and is elected to public office, s/he has a responsibility to the citizens to operate within the parameters of the laws, time-honoured principles, international conventions and charters.

While some politicians may think they are law unto themselves, the citizens know and desire different.

It is not politics that is bad; it is some of the people who are elected to political office. We live in a society where persons are elected to office and believe

It is not politics that is bad; it is some of the people who are elected to political office. We live in a society where persons are elected to office and believe that the citizens are their servants and they are the masters. es by the Opposition to hold the Government accountable cannot be overlooked. Thus the question needs to be asked and answered: “Isn’t it this Opposition, recently in Government, which had embraced wanton violations, such as State-sponsored execution of citizens, colluding with foreign employers to transgress workers’ rights, aiding and abetting the plundering of our natural resources?

Given the role the Opposition had played in the National Assembly during the Budget sittings, it is clear

that the citizens are their servants and they are the masters. Compounding this is that persons are not psychologically prepared to accept that ours is a country governed by the principle of representative democracy, which in itself requires a level of accountability. Ignoring this fundamental principle is to ignore that the citizens have evaluated and appraised the performance of the previous Government, found it wanting, and fired its members.

It ought to be said that evaluation and appraisal are a day-to-day process.

As such, all elected officials need to take note, since the people have chosen on 11th May, 2015 to put those who had represented the Government to sit in the Opposition benches where they rightly belong. For those who replaced them they ought to take note that the power to determine where you sit in the National Assembly is vested in the people.

750,000, that went out and cast their ballot indicates that the citizens have a strong desire to participate in the nation’s decision-making processes.

With the nation witnessing its largest turn-out to the polls, it follows that this simple, but vital act on the people’s part, speaks to a greater level of involvement which carries with it a greater level of vigilance.

Make no mistake, what this society is clamouring for is political leadership that is prepared to respect the people, respond to their needs and desires, and deliver within the Constitution and laws of this land, buttressed by civil conduct.

Make no mistake, what this society is clamouring for is political leadership that is prepared to respect the people, respond to their needs and desires, and deliver within the Constitution and laws of this land, buttressed by civil conduct. For instance, citizens ought not to have to wait for weeks and months before having the sought attention of their elected representatives, accorded basic courtesy of an acknowledgement to their correspondence. Such are fundamental civilities that ought to be secured and guaranteed from day one.

It is expected that based on the results of 11th May, many who entered the National Assembly will come to the realisation that the people have the power, and their duty is in service to the people. It will bode well for this nation’s development should the current Government take time out and reflect on what has influenced the heightened awareness in the society about governance.

Evidently, the 400,000 plus persons, in a nation of approximately

Both Government and Opposition will be called upon to justify their conduct on every statement, position and action taken. One cannot condemn something when in Opposition and when elected to Government engage in the same thing condemned. Neither will the Opposition be taken seriously when they condemn the Government for things they themselves perpetrated to the detriment of the people, when they were in office.

This society deserves a clean break from the past. Those who have committed acts injurious to the nation must be brought to justice and face the courts in like manner as the ordinary people. Those who are today placed in privileged positions if they engage in injurious acts they must also be brought to justice.

Politics is about people and people’s development. The laws apply to every citizen, regardless of station in life. Change we must. It is the will of the people and together we shall will the way.

9

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

Are we on the road to building a society that allows for inclusive prosperity for all?

By Sase Singh in Washington, DC SUCCESSFUL emerging economies have a thriving working class with clear ambitions to migrate to the middle class.

But this process becomes very challenging if a fair and caring Government is not in place.

Over the last decade the workers mainly saw 5 percent increases in their pay packets, although the reported economic growth rates were assigned a higher percentage.

What must we conclude from this situation? Was this an act on the part of the Jagdeo-led Economics Team to distort distribution of the patrimony of the State? Were the workers being deliberately starved to build the mansions?

2015 Budget - 17 % from 3% In an economy that is not expected to grow by more than 3 percent in 2015, the Granger/ Nagamootoo Administration saw it fit to offer a 17 percent wage increase for those at the bottom of the pay scales. No full-time worker in Guyana should be working for less than Gy$50,000 per month, thanks to this 2015 Budget. So, this wage-offering is a commendable output, although it is highly risky since it is using “stock funds” to finance a “flow expenditure.”

However, if there was ever a time that the workers needed a break and a historical injustice needed to be corrected, it was 2015. This wage- offering in the 2015 Budget was the right decision and a calculated risk worth taking. But now that this is done, we need to urgently put in place economic policies to prevent a further march to a “flat-line” in the economy.

The last time the workers at the bottom of the pay scale saw such a massive increase in their wages was in the year 2000. In that year, the Armstrong Tribunal awarded a wage increase of 26.7% and the Jagdeo Government honoured the decision.

However, since 2000 it appeared as if there was a season of “starvation wages for the workers,” although we can constantly hear

that there were nine years of robust economic growth. Economic growth for whom, one may ask? The benefits from all those years of economic growth have flowed disproportionately to the owners of high-end wealth, especially those with close alliance with the PPP rulers at that time.

The Granger/Nagamootoo Administration has made the first move in building this relationship with the workers. My only regret on these salary- offerings is that we did not deliver on our promise to the police - at minimum, a police constable deserves Gy$60,000 per month.

WHAT’S NEXT? It is time for all of us to en-

use the new energy that has been injected into the working class to strengthen their position in the ensuing debate on how to make the public service more productive, so that they can leverage better wages. With rights comes responsibility; with salary increases comes an expectation of greater efficiency in output from public servants.

It was no less a person than the Minister of State who announced that a “Commission of Enquiry has been appointed to examine wages and working conditions” and the Government shall be “honouring its commitment to collective bargaining” with the unions. The financial books shall be opened to the

In the old GINA, that message would have been on every dinner table across Guyana.

LEADERSHIP & TRAINING Now on to phase two – leadership from both sides (unions and Government) must be complemented by heavy dosages of learning conducted by the now revamped Public Service Staff College. Let us bring these trade union bodies (both FITUG and TUC) into the game as genuine developmental partners. They have a major role to play on packaging the message to the workers – “let us train more, let us work smarter, let us pay more, let us cooperate and let us deliver betterment for Guyana.”

The year 2015 has seen some critical developments towards protecting the gains of the working class. We saw the subvention being returned to the main trade union bodies (both FITUG and TUC); we saw the Critchlow Labour College also securing its subvention; and we saw the inclusion of the largest workers’ union (GAWU) on the Commission of Inquiry and Board at GuySuCo. If he were alive, former President Dr. Cheddi Jagan would have been very proud of this Granger/Nagamootoo Government for making these important, progressive steps for the working class. hance productivity in the public service. We have to train and re-train our public servants to work smarter. The productivity level in the public service does have a direct impact on economic growth and the ball is now in the court of the public servants to add their efforts to this national project.

So while the workers are reflecting on their productivity and doing something about it, the Government has a duty to roll out their public policies that are geared towards “cranking up” the economy to sustain this financial “pass through” to the workers. The onus is on both the Government and the workers to become more productive in an alliance with the business class (with their innovation) to drive this economy.

But the organisations that have the biggest responsibility going forward are the trade unions. They have dropped the ball in the past but they have been given a new lease of life in this 2015 Budget. They have to

workers’ representatives for interrogation and this is a good thing. The unions must use this opportunity to bring back fairness to the process in time for the 2016 Budget. It is time for them to start engaging experts like Yog Mahadeo (former advisor to GAWU) to help them better understand these numbers. This is a revolutionary development for the workers and this gain must never be lost again.

But the workers must be forewarned that we have a new normal in Guyana as a result of weaknesses in all of the traditional economic drivers, especially sugar and gold. Again I say, the Government Information Agency (GINA) continues to struggle at getting out the real message on the state of the productive sectors so that the nation can better understand what really is going on.

Simple messaging such as “in 2015, there was half-year growth of 0.9 percent, but yet the Government found 17 percent for the workers have not been communicated to the people of Guyana.”

The chips are now in the workers’ corner, they now have to enhance their productivity.

Further significant wage increases are not going to happen magically. It will be based on performance of the economy and workers have a major role to play in that performance. In an environment where the half-year growth rate for 2015 was 0.9 percent, 17 percent pay rises in 2016 will be a struggle.

PROTECTING THE GAINS The year 2015 has seen some critical developments towards protecting the gains of the working class. We saw the subvention being returned to the main trade union bodies (both FITUG and TUC); we saw the Critchlow Labour College also securing its subvention; and we saw the inclusion of the largest workers’ union (GAWU) on the Commission of Inquiry and Board at GuySuCo. If he were alive, former President Dr. Cheddi Jagan would have been very proud of this Granger/Nagamootoo

Sase Singh

Government for making these important, progressive steps for the working class.

These gains must be protected. That means there must be a clear path of social mobility for any young person who is successful at joining the public service. The composition of the public service is extremely important going forward; how we recruit, how we promote, how we train are extremely important for national unity in this country.

No more must people be seen as Burnham’s boy or Jagdeo’s boy, but they must be a routine strategy to help manage talent and ensure that there is equal opportunity for all. Our public service by and large must reflect the ethnic, demographic and gender make-up of our society.

CONCLUSION We all have a role to play in this evolution and it is important that politicians mean what they say. The top leadership of the Granger/Nagamootoo Administration made it absolutely clear that anyone who found their name on a party list shall not be eligible for a position as a Head of Department, be it a Permanent Secretary, a Regional Executive Officer, a Head of a State Agency or a Head of a Corporation. I am disappointed to note that there are several persons who were on the political platform and were either on the national and regional list and currently occupy top civil service jobs. This anomaly has to be addressed irrespective of which party we support. We must have the strength of conviction to do the right thing.

The next time I shall be continuing our conversation by sharing my views on the Need for Genuine Investments in 2015 and beyond. (Readers can contact this columnist via email at: sasesin1@yahoo.com)

10

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

CONSUMER CONCERNS… IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE – Guyana Restoration Project

By Pat Dial THE Guyana Consumers Association, like all consumer advocates world-wide, are deeply committed to improving the quality of life of all citizens. There is no disagreement in the Guyanese society that the quality of life has deteriorated and has been deteriorating over the last three or four decades.

In both the print and electronic media over the last several months there was very little, if anything, about addressing the issue of raising the quality of life in our society. The media was dominated by reporting on political matters and always with a quiet subterranean streak of pessimism.

It was therefore a real joy to read Major General (rt’d) Joseph Govinda Singh’s recent address given at the Indigenous People’s Rights and Resources Conference.

General Singh was speaking as Chairman of the Guyana Restoration Project and his address was one of constructive creativity exuding an infectious forward optimism.

It was the essence of Guyanese Nationalism and provided a platform on which all Guyanese, irrespective of their various divisive affiliations, could stand in spontaneous unity.

It will be an injustice to summarise General Singh’s address, so I will quote in extenso from it.

Guyana, as older folk nostalgically

recall, was known as “El Dorado,” “the Land of Hospitality,” and Georgetown, the Garden City.

“Guyanese life,” as General Singh remarked, “has suffered significant deterioration in many aspects including unplanned settlements, inadequate traffic control, garbage build-up and flooding in many areas.”

He then highlights the causes of this deterioration: “Because of the many failures of society, the failure to enforce the laws and standards, lack of physical planning for growth and renewal, lack of routine and necessary maintenance, and general neglect of the poor, homeless, aged, disabled and other unfortunate ones.”

General Singh then briefly adumbrated the goal of the Restoration and Rehabilitation Project: “The restoration of civic pride, making Guyana a hub for commerce, tourism and development and making Guyana into a land of great attractiveness and prosperity, and one which offers a good life for all citizens and visitors.”

He then focuses on the causes and solutions for two of the most depressing and demoralising of Guyana’s problems - the regular flooding and the build-ups of solid waste: “The City of Georgetown and all six towns drain into the Atlantic Ocean. The situation is worsened by alleyways, main and lateral drains and drainage canals often being blocked by vegetation and solid waste. The problem is then compounded by lack of maintenance of sluices and

Major General (rt’d) Joe Singh

outfalls. The Task Force plans to develop a drainage mechanism that effectively drains the country during periods of heavy rainfall; hence reducing the obstacles to economic activity as well as the health and livelihoods of citizens.”

In dealing with the problem of solid waste, General Singh pointed out that “solid waste was a by-product of modern living that can have a negative impact on the quality of life of communities and the

environment in particular. This problem is monumental in almost every Guyanese community and must come to an end.”

He then briefly touched on the ways of dealing with the solid waste problem: “The Task Force will use well-developed best practices which can be employed in all areas of Guyana including predictable garbage collection, recycling, conversion of organic waste into compost and removal of derelict vehicles.”

Finally, General Singh did mention other problems to be addressed by the Guyana Restoration Project including traffic management, sustainable urban, rural and hinterland physical renewal; and welfare management of the homeless, addicted, and mentally challenged.

The Guyana Restoration Project is at present going through its detailed planning and budgeting and this will be completed in October and implementation will begin in November, 2015.

All Guyanese should identify themselves with and give whole-hearted support to this Guyana Restoration Project, since every single citizen will gain by its success. Government should also provide all required and necessary funds in a timely manner. The Georgetown M&CC should also lend its support and co-operation to the Project. (GCA’s email: patdial26@mail.com)

PPP bloviates to mask Jagdeo’s culpability in murder

By Ifa Kamau Cush

TWO weeks ago I reported that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights [IACHR] named former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, as a culpable party in the disappearance

and presumed murder of Franz Britton, aka Collie Wills. Mr Jagdeo is now the Leader of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party [PPP].

Mr Britton was arrested in 1999 by the notorious ‘Black Clothes’ leader, Superintendent Leon Fraser of the Guyana Police Force. His body has never been found!

In 2006 the IACHR, after an exhaustive investigation, concluded that agents of Guyana’s ‘state security forces abducted and/or detained Franz Britton and that during the following six years his whereabouts have not been identified, and that, as a result, Guyana has violated the rights of Franz Britton to life, liberty, personal liberty, judicial protection, arbitrary arrest and due process of law, all recognised, respectively, in Articles I, XVIII,

XXV, XXV and XXVI of the American Declaration.’

A spokesperson for the IACHR, Maria Rivero, explained that the Commission’s Merit Report #1/06, Case #12.264, holds the Jagdeo regime both “intellectually and materially responsible” for the disappearance and presumed murder of Frantz Britton. According to Ms Rivero, the Commission’s report is still valid and will remain so in perpetuity until all complicit parties are held accountable.

Since my report two weeks ago, the PPP has, dissemblingly, diverted the Guyanese people’s attention from the serious allegations against Mr Jagdeo that have been ratified by the IACHR. Mr Jagdeo and other PPP mouthpieces have bloviated about the recently tabled budget and Jagdeo’s pension

and salary. PPP parliamentarians, led by Jagdeo, stormed out of Parliament recently to hold a ‘small meeting,’ according to press reports.

The PPP even accused the APNU-AFC Government of attempting to “muzzle” Jagdeo in Parliament.

These tactics are diversionary. They are designed

by Jagdeo and his cohorts to shift the Guyanese people’s attention from the fact that Mr Jagdeo stands accused of serious violations of international law that, if he is convicted, can land him in prison for a very long time.

Mr Jagdeo is in violation of Article 7[1] [i] of the Rome Statute which governs the International Criminal Court. Under Article 7[1] [i], state actors accused of enforced disappearance can be charged and prosecuted.

According to the Rome

Statute, “Enforced disappearance of persons” means the arrest, detention or abduction of persons by, or with the authorisation, support or acquiescence of, a State or a political organisation, followed by a refusal to acknowledge that deprivation of freedom or to give information on the fate or whereabouts of those persons, with the intention of removing them from the protection of the law for a prolonged period of time.’

If there is one case that screams for an arrest, this is it! The Jagdeo regime refused to cooperate with the IACHR leading the Commission to conclude that what happened to Mr Britton corresponded in all respects to the concept of ‘forced disappearance,’ and the fact that his whereabouts are still unknown ‘are reasonable

grounds for assuming that he was killed!’

Mr Britton’s body was never found. There is no closure for his mother, Irma Wills. She has been denied the common decency, the dignity, of burying her son.

Mr Jagdeo spare us your parliamentary dissimulations. You are no elder statesman. You stand accused of a crime against humanity.

The Guyanese people do not want to hear rants about your pension and salary. The people want to know where Mr Britton’s body is buried!

(Ifa Kamau Cush, BA, MA, is a media consultant and the international correspondent for New African magazine. He is affiliated with the United Nations Correspondents Association. He was a Ph.D. candidate at New York University)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

UN Mission arrives in Guyana

– to discuss options in the Geneva Agreement regarding Venezuela’s claims A United Nations’ (UN) Mission led by Chief of the Americas Division in the Department of Political Affairs, Martha Doggett, arrived in Guyana yesterday to discuss options under the Geneva Agreement for a resolution of Venezuela’s contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 was null and void.

The UN Mission has been dispatched by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss those options in the agreement, and the Government of Guyana is hosting the Mission. The Mission is scheduled to depart Guyana on Wednesday, September 2.

This mission is here in keeping with the Secretary General’s undertaking to conduct such an examination, after Guyana had formally indicated that after 25 years of the Good Offices Process, no solution to the controversy -- which arose as a result of Venezuela’s contention -- had been found,

Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge

and that it was time to invoke another means of settlement.

A release has said that it is in this context that Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, in his statement to the National Assembly on June 10, had declared: “…a juridical settlement in respect of Venezuela’s contention that this Award is null and void appears to be

The UN Mission to Guyana is led by Chief of the Americas Division in the Department of Political Affairs, Martha Doggett

the best, if not the only, way now open to us.”

While in Guyana, members of this UN Mission will meet with several current and former Government officials, including Minister Greenidge; former Guyana Facilitator in the Good Offices Process, Mr Ralph Ramkarran; former Foreign

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Ministers of Guyana, Sir Shridath Ramphal, Rashleigh Jackson and Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett; Ambassadors Rudolph Collins and Elisabeth Harper; and Major General (retired) Joseph Singh.

Recently, following ExxonMobil’s discovery of oil in the Liza-1 well in the Stabroek Block, approximately 120 miles offshore Guyana, Venezuela has expanded its

New Land Registrar, Deputy sworn-in

claim to include Guyana’s Atlantic front. This new area claimed by Venezuela includes Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and also intrudes on the EEZ of Suriname, French Guiana, Barbados and a chain of other Caribbean islands.

ExxonMobil is a USbased oil and gas company.

Venezuela’s latest claim came in the form of decrees by that country’s President, Nicolas Maduro. The first decree claims the waters that include the area where Exxon is drilling, in addition to the earlier claim of the Essequibo, which is two-thirds of Guyana’s land mass.

The second decree, which replaced the first, does not specify any coordinates in relation to boundaries, but makes clear that Venezuela is ready to use military force to defend its new maritime boundary.

At a Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) forum hosted at

the Pegasus Hotel in July, Foreign Affairs Minister Greenidge had told diplomats and members of the business community that the claim by Venezuela to this country’s EEZ has no basis in international law. He had also pointed out that the 1899 Tribunal Award had put to rest that country’s claim to the Essequibo.

T h e 1 8 9 9 Tr i b u n a l Award gave Venezuela some 5000 square miles of land and, Minister Greenidge pointed out, also the mouth of the Orinoco River.

Ve n e z u e l a , G re e n i d g e said, has for decades regarded the award by the tribunal as a “full, perfect and final settlement”, but as British Guiana was in its final stages of her Independence struggle, her western neighbour changed its position, claiming that it has evidence that the 1899 Tribunal Award was null and void.

Popular Guyanese cuisine wows CARIFESTA XII – cooking demonstrations attract hundreds

From left: Minister of State Joseph Harmon, Registrar of Lands Rosaline Robertson, Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General Basil Williams, Assistant Registrar of Lands Wendella Austin, Legal Adviser to the Ministry of the Presidency Geeta Chandan-Edmond and Chief Justice (acting) Ian Chang after the swearing-in ceremony at the High Court

GUYANA’S new Registrar of Lands Rosaline Robertson, was sworn in on Friday by Chief Justice (acting) Ian Chang, almost two months after her predecessor Juliet Sattaur was sent on leave to facilitate an investigation into the operations of the Registry.

Also taking the Oath of Office was the new Assistant Registrar of Land Wendella Austin.

Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General Basil Williams and Minister of State Joseph Harmon, attended the swearing-in ceremony at the Chambers of the CJ at the High Court.

Speaking later with the media, Minister Williams expressed optimism that the new appointments will help with the problem of backlogs and delays, as these have been plaguing the Registry.

For her part, Robertson pledged to treat the issue of the backlog as a priority. She also promised to deliver professional and good service.

The culinary arts team hard at work on Thursday last, during the cooking demonstration at the Grand Market in Haiti

By Ravin Singh in Haiti

The new Land Registrar Rosaline Robertson (right) and her Assistant Wendella Austin

TRADITIONAL aromatic cuisine coming out of the multi-ethnic land of Guyana is currently being featured at the 12th staging of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA), which ends today in Portau-Prince, Haiti.

Guyana’s leading culinary school - the Carnegie School of Home Economics -- was given the mandate to present Guyana’s offing in the culinary arts to the country’s regional counter-

parts. Supported by a team of about six, including two members of the Guyana Association of Home Economists, Head Mistress of Carnegie, Penelope Harris, told this publication that the primary focus of the culinary arts faction is to showcase Guyana’s national dishes at the regional forum.

The traditional pepperpot, the inimitable cook-up and the finger-licking roti and curry have been among the foods which the culinary arts faction has offered the Turn to page 13 ►

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

PRESS RELEASE

BBCI on Introduction of Government Subsidy on Tolls

T

he BBCI notes with regret the Government's press release of Friday 28 August 2015, in which it accused this corporation of "manoeuvres" to delay implementation of the reduction of tolls on the bridge for Sept 1, 2015.

This is not so. The BBCI is as anxious as all other Guyanese to provide the best service to the Berbice Bridge commuters at an affordable price.

However, just as the Government was forced to defer several of its campaign promises based on the need to comply with existing laws, so too are the Directors of the BCCI constrained by the Berbice Bridge Act and Regulations and in the legally binding agreement between GoG and BBCI called the "Concession Agreement".

As the minister noted in his most recent Press Release, at the initial Aug 12, 2015 meeting, the Government proposed a schedule of subsidies to commuters based on the existing toll structure.

But he also accepted that "the company would like further discussions to take place on the proposal and an extension in the concession period from 21 years to 40 years: or for the Government to give consideration to an application for an increase in toll made to the PPP/C Government on March 15, 2015.” The minister has accepted that no agreement was reached with BCCI. We cannot therefore understand why the minister would suggest that "delaying tactics" are being employed. Other discussions also took place concerning the timing of subsidy payments but the BBCI team made it clear that nothing could be agreed until the matter was brought before its full Board and stakeholders.

However, the Government in other fora proceeded as if its proposal was a fait accompli, simply to fulfil a campaign promise on the BBCI tolls, which was made without any consultations with the BBCI. The fait accompli was that its proposed commuter subsidy would be based on the existing toll structure, and that the revised toll structure as adumbrated in the Concession Agreement, and brought to the attention of the Government, would be ignored. The other win-win scenario of an extension of the concession period that would have allowed the present toll structure and the subsidy levels proposed by the Government would presumably also be placed in doubt.

Against this background, the Directors con-

vened an Emergency Meeting on Thursday Aug 27, 2015 to make a decision on going forward. It was reiterated that based on the figures that had been submitted to the Government, because tolls had not been increased based on the Toll Formula under the Concession Agreement, revenues of $1,228,523,720 had already been lost.

Another item discussed was that in June 2014, based on its Financial Model and debt commitments, BBCI began to repay the principal on its bonds. This increase in demand for cash was supposed to have been met by increases in tolls.

However, such an increase was deemed untenable, particularly after the then Opposition passed a motion in the National Assembly on May 15, 2014 to reduce tolls by more than half. This motion was first tabled in December 2013.

Directors of BBCI, have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the company. Any agreement to a subsidy without honouring the toll adjustment formula set out in the Concession Agreement will result in the BBCI defaulting on its obligation to repay debts in 2015 and possible insolvency. In 2015 over 500 M in debt repayments to investors is required. Directors cannot change the agreements reached with the investors in the bridge as represented by the Trustee for the debt and the Shareholders for the equity. Such decision must involve an agreement with the Trustee and the Shareholders.

As such, any change in the Concession Agreement and the Toll Order which is made by the Government (the last one was made in 2009 by the Minister of Public Works), requires the approval of the Trustee and the Shareholders. All investors relied on the toll making adjustment in the Financial Model that is referenced in Schedule 4 of the Concession Agreement and projected in the Financial Model referenced in the Concession Agreement.

The BBCI would expect that Government is fully committed to honouring the legislation, concession agreement, and the rights enshrined in the various agreements related to the Berbice Bridge.

A subsidy divorced from honouring the BBCI Concession agreement could very well result in bankruptcy for the BBCI. It is expected that once agreement is reached with the BBCI, the Government and the BBCI will

sign an amendment to the relevant agreements and the Government will gazette the change in tolls in a revised Toll Order.

The Directors therefore concluded on Thursday that the revised toll schedule per the Concession Agreement must form the baseline for computation of the Government subsidy for Berbice Bridge commuters. Any variance from this without the agreement of the shareholders, debt holders and trustees would have exposed the Directors to be sued in their personal and professional capacities for failing to perform their fiduciary responsibilities.

It is our hope and expectation that the Government of Guyana would not want the Directors of BBCI to act outside the ambit of their authority, and indeed the law in fulfilling their fiduciary responsibilities.

Investors are:

► Debt and Debt Instruments

► National Insurance Scheme (NIS) ► Demerara Bank Ltd ► New Building Society ► Bank of Nova Scotia ► Citizens Bank Ltd. ► Republic Bank (Guyana) Ltd.

► Guyana Power and Light Inc. – Pension ► Guyana Sugar and Trade Enterprise – Pension ► Hand-in-Hand Trust - Pension ► GAWU – Pension ► DDL – Pension ► NEW GPC INC.

► Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Ltd.

► T. Geddes Grant Guyana Ltd

► Hand in Hand Trust Corporation Inc.

► Neal and Massy – Pension Scheme

► Trust Co. (Guyana) Ltd.

Preferred Shares

► Hand in Hand Mutual Life Insurance Co. Ltd. ► North American Life Insurance Co. Ltd. ► North American Fire Insurance Co. Ltd. ► Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Pension

► NIS Ordinary Shareholders ► Secure International Limited ► NIS ► NEW GPC ► Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. ► Hand in Hand Mutual Fire ► Demerara Contractors Limited

13

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

400+ jobs to be created before year-end – and tens of millions to be released in affordable financing, says Minister Gaskin

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin

By Tajeram Mohabir THE Ministry of Business is reportedly set to create more than 400 new jobs, train hundreds of businesses, and release tens of millions of dollars in affordable financing before year-end.

The minister with the portfolio for business, Dominic Gaskin, has said that focus will be placed on development of a Small Business Development Centre, and there will be support for the development of small businesses in all regions next year.

Speaking during the re-

cent budget debates, Gaskin noted that efforts will also be made to ensure that small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have a fair chance of being awarded Government contracts by taking forward the 20 per cent procurement initiative.

He noted that the Industry Department of the Ministry of Business will implement new industrial development policies that are designed to stimulate investments in value-added industries and focus on expansion, diversification and development of a competitive productive sector.

“The Industry Depart-

ment will also seek to ensure that lands allocated to investors for the purpose of industrial development are utilised for this purpose.

The National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) will be encouraged to reinforce the terms of leases granted to investors at industrial estates, including those at Coldingen and Eccles.

“NICIL will also be encouraged to provide the services required for the proper functioning of businesses on the estates,” the minister revealed.

In addition, some $805 million has been budgeted this year for the development of roads and infrastructure at the industrial estate in Lethem.

The Commerce Department of the ministry has been responsible for processing and issuance of import and export licences for a number of commodities.

Currently, the entire process is done via paper applications, which need to first be completed in triplicate, before being endorsed by the relevant agencies then brought to the ministry for ultimate approval.

Gaskin said the Ministry of Business has committed to issuing these licences within 24 hours. “During

2015, the ministry will start the groundwork towards computerising the licensing process. On a national level, the ministry will be strongly involved in laying the foundation for a possible single-window system for trade transactions. With information communication technology (ICT), the sky is the limit,” the minister stressed.

PRIVATE SECTOR In recognition of the important role that the private sector needs to play in the achievement of sustained economic growth and poverty reduction in Guyana, the Ministry of Business is committed to engaging the private sector meaningfully and regularly.

Already, there have been engagements with the Private Sector Commission (PSC), representatives from the various chambers of commerce countrywide, and numerous members of the business and investment community, Gaskin revealed.

Gaskin said continued engagements will develop within the Ministry of Business a better understanding of the many concerns of businesses operating in Guyana or hoping to operate in Guyana.

“We are taking on board

evaluations of projects previously implemented by this ministry that private-public dialogue can benefit from having a formal and institutionalised structure,” he said.

In addition, the Ministry of Business will establish a Help Desk which would aim to provide tailored advice and support to traders and businesses. It is anticipated that, through this Help Desk, more entrepreneurs, businesses and investors would be assisted, thus providing an impetus for increased economic activities, Gaskin revealed.

“The ministry receives thousands of requests for information from businesses every year. This help is a new initiative starting in 2015, which will be linked into the ministry’s wider support to public-private dialogue and to the ministry’s strategic plan,” he said.

The Ministry of Business has a number of existing departments and agencies which will contribute to implementation of policy

initiatives. In addition to GO-Invest, the ministry also consists of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, the Small Business Bureau, the Industry Department, and the Commerce Department.

The ministry will soon release its strategic plan, which includes provisions to reconsider previous measures identified to enhance competitiveness of the economy.

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) also plays a key role in business development by securing confidence in the quality of goods produced locally.

For 2015, $16 million have been allocated to purchase a truck and weight cart, which will allow the GNBS to expand the quality of its service outside Georgetown.

“In the years ahead, the GNBS will expand its support and consultancy services to help businesses enhance their internal operations and value added,” Gaskin said.

St. Roses, St. Agnes to reopen Popular Guyanese cuisine... later in September THE Ministry of Education wishes to notify parents and guardians of the St. Roses High School and St. Agnes Primary that school will be reopened on September 14, 2015. The late opening of the two schools is to facilitate the completion of rehabilitation works currently ongoing.

Additionally, parents of the Roxanne Burnham Nursery School are also asked to note that this school will reopen on September 2, 2015.

The Ministry encourages all teachers of the aforementioned schools to report to their respective schools, on Monday, August 31, 2015.

Tiger Bay resident brutally... shortly after, and heard ‘Rasta Man’ shouting “No! No! No!”.

Frantically, he ran into the house, only to see the lad stabbing away at the dreadlocked man.

A young girl recounted that when she heard the news and rushed inside the house, all she saw was blood spilling. But by then, the aggressor had fled. Another man related that the killer had fired a chop on the back of his head before going in on ‘Rasta Man’.

Reports are that the deceased hails from Bartica, lived for some time in Leopold Street, before being brought to Queen Street by Nichola. Since moving to the neighbourhood, he has been accommodated at a

friend whose name is Iransy.

Iransy recalled that around 16:30 hrs, he was sitting at the corner of Holmes Street when he noticed residents of the neighborhood running in the direction of his home, but he hadn’t the slightest idea a murder had taken place. But on drawing closer, neighbours told him they thought it was he who had been killed.

“That is when I know that Rasta Man get kill in my house,” he said, breaking down in tears. He recalled that moments earlier he had brought in Ital fried rice and bread and insisted that Rasta man eat something. “The last thing de man eat was the bread, and the next thing I know is dat he dead.”

Meanwhile, neighbours

From page 3

recalled that on Friday, the accused had started behaving strangely – drinking water from the drain along the roadside and rubbing faeces on his body. These acts were followed up with the strange killing of the cat on the roof yesterday afternoon, and less than an hour later, a man was brutally murdered.

Meanwhile, residents were high in commendation for Rasta Man whom they described as an easy going and good natured man.

Ironically, he died the day after his birthday anniversary, having turned 49 on Friday.

Meanwhile, police have taken the suspect, whose name was given as Christopher, into custody.

people of the Caribbean at CARIFESTA XII. Those dishes aside, black cake, guava cheese, mittai, fudge, plantain chips, chicken foot and sorrel and lime drinks were featured in Guyana’s culinary arts.

Except for the chicken foot, all of the other items on offer were known in Haiti, Harris pointed out.

And despite the Haitian culture being almost completely different from that of the English-speaking Caribbean, Harris noted, success has enveloped the culinary team, which has been supportive and dedicated since its arrival in the French-speaking nation.

But this aspect of art has been challenged by the language barrier, and has encountered some minor difficulties. “Some of the nationals have difficulty understanding Guyanese…They understand some words, but most times not in the context in which they are used,” Ms Harris has said.

Harris disclosed that students from the culinary institute of Haiti have been lend-

ing much-needed support in this regard. She noted that it has been easier to communicate with those students, since most words used in the culinary arts were birthed out of French.

She said that the Grand Market, which currently houses the booths and culinary shops, has been relatively slow during the day.

This notwithstanding, those who have seen what the Carnegie School of Home Economics has to offer have expressed interest.

Apart from the general display and sale of food, a proud Harris disclosed that a cooking demonstration spearheaded by her team on Thursday was considered a “major success” when the weight of its impact was measured. That demonstration entailed the preparation of ‘parata’ roti and puri, which were then served to onlookers with mango sour and curry -- chicken and beef.

One of the funny moments after the cooking demonstration, she recalled, was the Haitians returning

From page 11

with puri and sour to say that they did not receive meat with it.

After it was discovered that the demonstration had recorded a high level of success, it was decided to hold another demonstration on Saturday. That demonstration yesterday featured preparation of conkie and of vermecelli.

Ms Harris has said it is difficult to assess Guyana’s performance in relation to the culinary arts against the performances of other countries. Haitians in particular, she said, have primarily been selling fast food at the Grand Market, which makes it difficult to network and share ideas.

Traditional Haitian foods were, however, being sold on the street, but those could not be accessible because of several constraints.

This Caribbean festival, where various Caribbean craft rubbed shoulders with fashion shows, gastronomy, music and other creative art forms, will conclude today. (Sponsored by GT&T)

TALES FROM WAY BACK WHEN 14

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

(A look at some of the stories that made the news ‘back-in-the-day’ with Clifford Stanley) NUDE MENTAL PATIENT RUNS WILD (Guiana Graphic - August 28th, 1964)

THE New Amsterdam Fire Brigade was yesterday summoned to help attendants at the Mental Hospital in Fort Canje, Berbice subdue a 37-year-old patient who escaped from the hospital compound in a nude condition.

The male patient was at the time armed with an iron bar and passersby had to run helter-skelter in fear.

It is understood that the patient who is an epileptic, is serving a five-year jail sentence, but had taken ill in prison and had to be referred to the hospital three months prior.

He is reported to have broken a window of the Annexe Block, through which he escaped.

‘OPERATION STRAY’ GOES INTO FULL SWING NEXT WEEK (Guiana Graphic - June 17, 1964)

THE Georgetown Municipal officers are to launch a massive campaign to round up and impound cattle found straying on the City streets especially at nights.

Town Clerk, E.A. Adams, announced yesterday that the municipal officers have now been geared to start the campaign within a week since the Governor had assented to an amendment to the Municipal By-laws to keep the new pound near the abattoir open 24 hours a day.

Prior to this, the Municipal Pound was open during the day only.

“The grazing of cattle on the city’s streets at night has been posing a serious road hazard to motorists and cyclists,” the Town Clerk said.

Starting sometime next week, the new Municipal pound will be kept open round the clock to enable stray catchers to round up and impound all cattle found straying on the city’s streets both day or night.

The Town Clerk said that additional men have been employed for the job.

HUSBAND DRESSES AS A WOMAN (Guiana Graphic - May 12, 1964)

A MAN, dressed up like a woman, caught his wife committing adultery, a Divorce Court

Judge was told yesterday.

Mr. Justice Victor Crane, after hearing the evidence presented by the husband Mr. Reginald Kirton dissolved his marriage to his wife, Martha Kirton.

The trial judge also granted a decree nisi against her husband on the ground of malicious desertion.

Mrs. Kirton told the Judge that her husband after their marriage in 1939, refused to find employment to maintain her.

Then he left the house one day and she never saw him back again.

But the husband, through his counsel Mr. Joseph Hope, said that he went to work in the interior and on information received, he returned to their Buxton residence one night.

Mr. Kirton said he disguised himself in a woman’s clothing and with two Constables he peeped through a window and saw his wife committing adultery.

The Judge granted him a dissolution of the marriage and ordered the co-respondent to pay $150 damages and the respondent’s cost.

JOHN ROTH: POLICE BELIEVE IT IS MURDER (Guiana Graphic - April 13, 1964)

GOVERNMENT Bacteriologist and Pathologist, Dr Balwant Singh and Detective Superintendent, Henry Fraser were air-dashed to the British Guiana-Brazilian border yesterday for the exhumation and post mortem examination on the body of John Roth, 46-year-old gold and diamond miner, who was shot to death in the presence of his wife and child on March 28 last.

Crime Chief Carl Austin said after the party had left for the interior: “This is to be the final phase of the investigation into what Police believe is murder.”

According to evidence collected, Mr. Roth, brother of ex-Legislator Vincent Roth and son of the famous anthrophologist Dr Walter Roth, and his wife and child were crossing a river which became dry as a result of the prolonged dry season when he was shot down.

The terrified wife tried to assist her husband but found that he had been shot in the face.

Since then Police Inspector Robinson and a party of Divisional policemen have found evidence that Mr. Roth had been shot at close

range and that his assailant was in ambush.

The shooting drama is reported to have occurred a few weeks after Mr. Roth and a Brazilian had a quarrel.

Up to late yesterday the Police were still hunting the alleged gunman.

PLANS AFOOT TO BUILD MAHAICONY HIGH SCHOOL

(Guiana Graphic - June 19, 1964) THE “green light” for building the Mahaicony Secondary School is still to be given but the pioneers of the project are nevertheless putting their plans into operation. A steering committee was set up a week ago and collected so far $2,100.

A house to house campaign, soliciting financial and other forms of assistance for the project has been launched. The school which will be erected on a self-help basis on a halfacre plot of land donated by A. Sankar of Water Street, Georgetown will on completion accommodate students who hail from districts between Abary and DeKinderen.

Government has already set aside $15,000 for the project and it is understood that the Ministry of Education is now reviewing the estimates for it.

At a recent meeting to elect members of the Steering Committee it was emphasised that residents from Abary to DeKinderen should act immediately in the interest of all and posterity.

Formerly students have had to travel to Cove and John or Georgetown for secondary education, but with the advent of the Ashram High, Mahaicony High and the Rural Academy in Mahaicony, the situation has changed considerably.

‘BARNEY’ DOES WELL AT KNELLER HALL

(Guiana Graphic - January 9, 1964) SERGEANT ‘Barney’ Small of the B.G. Po-

lice Force Band who is undergoing a student Bandmaster’s Course at the Royal Military School of Music Kneller Hall England, was recently awarded three prizes for outstanding performances.

Sergeant Small has qualified as an associate of the Royal College of Music. And at the Prize Day held recently, he was presented with the following awards: A Bronze medal and a cheque for $25.20 for obtaining second place in the Somerville Prize for Military Band Arranging.

A Silver Plaque and cheque for $24 for obtaining first place in the Fred Mortimer Memorial Competition for the best arrangement for Brass Band and a cheque for $28.20 for winning the Professor’s Prize award to the student gaining the most marks on secondary instruments.

Sergeant Small is expected back in Guiana sometime in April this year.

ALERT LOCO DRIVER SAVES WOMAN

(Guiana Graphic - March 19, 1964) THE alertness of a locomotive driver prevented a tragedy on the East Coast of Demerara railway track when a 30 –year old mother of three was alleged to have thrown herself on the track when the Mahaica-Georgetown trail was approaching Non Pariel.

Shortly after the train was brought to a standstill a few yards from the prostrate woman, the Police arrived and took her into custody.

The Police said that the woman gave her name as Isha Ishmael of Non Pariel.

(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or cell phone # 694 -0913)

Indigenous People’s Commission members meet with President Granger From left: Chief Executive Officer Neil Bacchus, David James, Doreen Jacobis, Patricia Singh, Minister Sydney Allicock, Father Malcolm Ferreira and Commissioner of the Guyana Forestry Commission, James Singh

MEMBERS of the Indigenous People’s Commission on Friday paid a courtesy call on President David Granger.

During the brief engagement, the Commission sought the President’s advice on the way forward, since the official life of the body came to an end in April of this year.

They have been advised to continue their work as efforts will be made to reconstitute the body.

Also present at the meeting was Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock.

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Berbice gets needed police boost – SWAT team, GDF, GPF to tackle crime on the Corentyne coast REGARDED as the area with the highest crime rate in the country, Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne) has been injected with a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and a Joint Special Operations Group that comprises GDF and GPF personnel.

Addressing media operatives at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Friday, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan revealed that the $21B allocated to that ministry to tackle crime has come in handy, as resources were now available for more patrols in the areas mapped as high-crime areas, particularly Region 6.

“We have managed to get the resources for more patrols in those areas that we have mapped as high-crime areas, like Berbice and the Corentyne; and we have sent down a unit from the Joint Special Operations Group that is made up of the army and police officials,” Ramjattan disclosed.

Thus far, an undisclosed number of members from the

SWAT team and the Special Crime Unit from ‘A’ Division were sent to tackle the crime situation in those areas in the county of Berbice.

“So we have three bodies of about 12 or 15 men -- that’s about 45 more men that have strengthened Berbice, and we’re also getting lots more senior detective work there, so it is not simply doing the patrols but doing the detective work; and quality detective [work is] apparently paying off,” the minister disclosed.

Following the outcome of the recent murder of 56-yearold cash-crop farmer Pamela Kendall in #45 Village, Corentyne, Ramjattan said the fruitful work of the teams deployed in those areas resulted in Kendall’s husband being arrested.

Ramjattan said attempts are being made to fix perceived defects in the GPF, as senior officers are currently training their juniors so as to make them “better detectives.”

“We are on our way, and I hope [that], given some time,

Guyana Fire Service, and the Customs Anti-Narcotics

Unit (CANU), while $9.1 billion has been budgeted

for the Guyana Defence Force. (Shivanie Sugrim)

National Tender Board holds first meeting – to address backlog

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan

we can see a reduction in crime. It is not a T/20 cricket when it comes to crime reduction, we have to better the institutions and do lots of work with the policemen,” the minister asserted.

Out of this $21B allocated in the 2015 budget for the security sector, a sum of $11.9 billion will support the operations of the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Prison Service,

Members of the newly appointed NPTAB at its inaugural meeting at the Ministry of Finance

THE newly appointed National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) held its first meeting on Friday last. The new members of the NPTAB, as published in the August 13, 2015 edition of the Official Gazette, are: Mr. Berkley Wickham – Chairman Mr. Lavern Lawrence – Vice chairman Mr. Trevor Baird – Member Mr. Bernard Lord – Member Mr. Ron Rahaman – Member Ms. Lauren Grant-Williams – Member The new Board is supported by an operational staff headed by Chief Executive Officer, Donald De Clou and nine officers.

During the inaugural meeting held in the

Boardroom of the Ministry of Finance, new Chairman Berkley Wickham said the Board recognises that there are challenges in dealing with the current workload but remains optimistic that it will be able deliver.

This inaugural meeting was held to address the backlog of matters awaiting NPTAB’s approval.

The Board intends to use the best practices methodology to achieve transparency and accountability by promoting competition, providing fair and equitable treatment, promoting integrity and improving public confidence in the public procurement process.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

Roshini Boodhoo

Meet

GUYANA’S dancing icon CARIFESTA XII

at

By Ravin Singh in Haiti

WHEN German Philosopher Friedrich Nietzche said, “For every day we have not danced at least once, we should consider it a lost one”, he certainly shared the sentiments of local iconic dance figure Roshini Boodhoo.

The 27-year-old former Miss Guyana-India is yet again representing Guyana in Haiti at the 12th staging of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA), which runs until August 30.

No stranger to the spotlight, the leading local dancer and choreographer has mastered the art form through her exposure to dancing at the tender age of five. She has won several local awards, including the award for the student who contributed most to cultural activities at the University of Guyana (UG).

This feat was accomplished in 2011.

Aiding in her artistic field is her energetic and bubbly personality, which is routinely manifested through her performances.

According to Boodhoo, CARIFESTA XII has been a highly anticipated event, given its impact within and beyond the regional space. And with Guyana excelling in all areas of art form, she believes that the performing arts are a critical component of Guyana’s culture, through which traditions can re-emerge.

As it relates to the contingent listed to participate in cultural dances during the 10 days of CARIFESTA, a keen Roshini said, “The contingent has worked tremendously [hard] to ensure that Guyana is well represented and that Haiti has the best CARIFESTA to date.”

A transparent process of auditioning the dancers at home caused the best of the lot to be selected. In fact, Roshini pointed out that each dancer currently serving Guyana as an ambassador in Haiti brought her own personality and dance style to each choreography, which fused distinct styles of dancing into a single routine. This, she noted, resulted in the

Roshini Boodhoo in the company of her dancers on Sunday last in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

representation of a multicultural and multi-ethnic unit representing the land of many waters.

“We have held heads together to depict dance through folklore: traditional, interpretive, masquerade, chutney, Indian, African and celebrative dance styles,” she said, adding that the level of performance by the Guyanese representatives has exceeded that of previous years.

“The energy has surpassed our usual. Every time I had to perform so far, I felt I’ve danced a level higher. We know that we are around the other Caribbean countries and we know that they’ve brought their A game,” Boodhoo said.

Refusing to discount the invaluable contribution of her team, Boodhoo seized the opportunity to express her recognition of the entire dance faction from Guyana, which she described as a supportive body.

According to her, during a day last week, she overheard a Guyanese official discussing how nicely the dance team has “gelled.”

The idea of group effort, she said, is to recognise differences, appreciate them, and

The talented Roshini Boodhoo

collectively pool efforts.

It is for this reason, she explained, that the team, since their arrival in Haiti almost two weeks ago, have been able to share moments together, in which they sometimes “assemble bare feet in the corridor or one of the dancer’s rooms, plait our feet and sit flat on the floor and share tennis rolls and cheese.”

But dedication and hard work remain the hallmarks of the dancers, Boodhoo said, adding that, “They are always willing and ready… the energy and spirit to perform, to dance, to represent, is incomparable.”

Noting that the delegation could not have had a better team of dancers, Boodhoo related that sentiments already expressed indicate that the team has already made exceedingly proud its other choreographers, including Teacher Viviane, Mr Clive Prowell and Teacher Linda, who is in Haiti.

Not limiting her sentiments to those individuals, the dancer also expressed sincere appreciation to Dr. Rose, Mr. Canterbury, Mrs. Ogle, Mrs. Lorraine, Mr. Creighton, Mrs. Margaret – all of whom she said have supported the entire Guyanese delegation and have made Guyana proud.

The dancers that have represented Guyana at CARIFESTA XII (which ends today) include Marissa Primo, Tonya Singh, Chevon Seaton, Padmattie Sikander, Raynicka Griffith, Adrian Ramlochan, Kijana Lewis, Jamal Stewart, Mikel Andrews, Dominic Alleyne, Jemal Ellis and Keon Warren.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

Sketch of President Granger

PRESIDENT David Granger, on Friday, received an artistic representation of his image sketched by a very talented young woman, Jesusa Lee. Lee, who is a student of Queen’s College at the upper sixth form level, was accompanied by her mother, Myrna Lee

Ministry of Public Health’s helpline saving lives THE Ministry of Public Health’s interagency suicide prevention helpline has been proving to be very helpful to many Guyanese since its establishment. The line, which functions as a “coping partner” for many, recently helped to save the life of a young man from Santa Mission.

During an interview with the Minister of Health and a team from the soon-to-be-established Mental Health Secretariat, the Government Information Agency (GINA) was informed that the 19 year old was suffering from depression, and he called the helpline.

This triggered a chain reaction, which saw the young man receiving

immediate counselling via the call, after which contact was made with the health care professionals in his area, who subsequently took over.

This helpline is designed to provide comfort, counselling and support to persons who are struggling, not only with suicidal, but other issues, which can affect their mental health and/or life, and possibly lead to suicide. This includes substance abuse, depression, anger management, abuse, and neglect, along with any other issue which can result in self-inflected pain or damage.

If you are in a situation where you are experiencing such thoughts and need advice or counselling, you can

contact the helpline, by any of the means mentioned below.

Telephone number – 592-223-0818 What App - 592-600-7896/ 592-623-4444 BBM - 2BE55649/2BE56020 Twitter - @guyanaagency Email - guyanaagency@yahoo.com Facebook - Guyana Interagency Suicide Prevention Help Line

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It happened in 1953… COURT CASE files

Appellate Court frees two convicted robbers – because of defective summing up by trial judge

By George Barclay THE Court of Criminal Appeal in 1953 freed convicted robbers Samaroo and Ezraz on the ground that the trial judge’s summing-up to the jury was defective.

Samaroo and Ezaz had faced jury trial for robbery with aggravation, and had led an alibi defence, but were convicted by the jury. They, however, appealed the convictions and sentences, and the Appellate Court quashed the convictions and sentences after concluding that the trial judge did not adequately put the case to the jury.

Chief Justice Bell, with Justices F.M. Boland and J.L. Wills, had concluded thus: “It is of paramount importance that the judge, in his summing-up, must fairly put an accused’s defence to the jury, and as that had not been done in an otherwise careful and meticulous summing-up, the convictions and sentences must be quashed.”

The appeals were allowed.

Senior Counsel, B.O. Adams, appeared for the appellants while Solicitor General, G.M. Farnum, represented the respondent.

At conclusion of the arguments, the judgment of the court was delivered by Chief Justice Bell of the Supreme Court of Criminal Appeal. According to the Chief Justice, “These appeals, which were heard together, are appeals against convictions and sentences. The appellants had appeared before the judge and a jury on charges of robbery with aggravation.

Learned counsel for the appellants argued a number of points.

He abandoned two of the points recorded on the grounds of application for leave to appeal.

“We are against him on two other points, namely: that there was no proof of what the grounds of appeal called ownership, and that the possession of the stolen goods, the money, was not fully established.

“We are against the (1909) 3 C.A.R., but while it is settled law that the summing-up must fairly put the case for the defence, there is no need for the judge to go into every detail of the case, nor is there any need for him to put the defence in technical language.

“For instance, if the defence is an alibi, there is no need for the judge to put the defence to the jury under that name, or to use any technical name for the defence offered. There is no need, as we understand the law, for the judge to put the defence at any particular stage of his summing-up. He can deal with it as he deals with the witnesses for the prosecution, but there are obvious advantages of emphasis and orderly arrangement that the judge should put the defence story to the jury after he has finished with the story for the prosecution, and that is the model that we would certainly recommend.

“It is also quite clear that it is sufficient if the defence is put substantially; that is to say, if it emerges from an examination of the summing up as a whole that the issues in the case were, in substance, put to the jury by the judge.

“Now, as regards this particular case, we have come to the conclusion that, in an otherwise meticulous and careful summing-up by the learned trial judge, who is careful and meticulous, it cannot fairly and reasonably be said that the defence of either of the appellants was put to the jury clearly, or in such a way that their attention was sufficiently and emphatically drawn to the nature of that defence.

“It cannot be enough, we feel, merely to assume that because the jury have heard both sides of the case, they are cognisant of the defence which is put forward. Something more

than that is necessary.

Something must be done to emphasise to the jury the defence which an accused person is offering.

“Now, unquestionably, throughout the learned trial judge’s summing-up, he did make reference to statements George Barclay which had been made by the two appellants; but we are of the opinion that he did so for purposes other than the purpose of putting the defence to the jury in the way we feel it ought to be put. It would not be enough, we feel, to say: ‘Well, when these statements were being dealt with by the learned trial judge, it must have been apparent to the jury that the statements raised the defence of an alibi in each case’.

“Something considerably more than that was required, in our view; so we are left in the result with the view that at no stage can it be said that the defence, as put forward by the appellants, was sufficiently, clearly and emphatically put to the jury, and we are forced to the conclusion that this very vital principle has been infringed.

“It must be, we feel, the duty of this court to ensure that judges trying cases with juries do not overlook that important principle. We would reiterate that it is the function of the court to make sure that a judge sitting with a jury never loses sight of the fact that, at some stage of his summing-up, and in some language and method, he must alert the jury to the defence which has been offered to them by the accused. That is a very fundamental duty which we, as a Court of Appeal, would fail in if we did not emphasise it,” Chief Justice Bell disclosed in the judgment of the court.

Other judges of the court -- F.M. Boland and J. L. Wills -- concurred with the judgment, allowing the appeals and quashing the convictions and sentences.

Sunday, August 30, 2015 - 05:00 hrs Monday, August 31, 2015 - 05:00 hrs

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Pujara holds firm for India Bolt secures third sprint sweep as with seventh Test ton (REUTERS) - Cheteshwar Pujara recorded his seventh hundred and held India’s innings together against an inspired spell of fast bowling by Dhammika Prasad on the second day of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka yesterday.

Pujara, playing his first Test since the Boxing Day match against Australia in December, remained unbeaten on 135 and guided India to 292 for eight wickets before rain brought an

early close to the day’s play.

Ishant Sharma (two) was not out at the other end.

Resuming on 50-2, the visitors lost captain Virat Kohli (18) early but Pujara and Rohit Sharma (26) added 55 for the fourth wicket to prop up the Indian innings in the deciding match of the series, tied at 1.

Rohit, who has recently been preferred to Pujara in the Test team, fell in the last over before the lunch break, edging Prasad to

troduced off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal into the attack.

The right-handed batsman hit Kaushal for three successive boundaries and the runs started flowing for him after that. The 27-yearold reached triple figures with a tight single off spinner Rangana Herath.

After finding Rohit’s edge with the last ball before lunch, Prasad picked up all-rounder Stuart Binny with the first delivery of the second session to be

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Cheteshwar Pujara acknowledges the applause after making his century against Sri Lanka in Colombo on the second day.

Upul Tharanga at first slip.

After a rain-hit opening day when just 15 overs of play was possible, Sri Lanka came back strongly in the morning session with Prasad troubling the batsmen on numerous occasions.

India’s scoring opportunities soon dried up and captain Angelo Mathews benefited from the buildup of pressure when Kohli edged behind to give debutant wicketkeeper Kusal Perera, who had dropped the batsman on Friday, his first Test catch.

Pujara and Kohli added 50 for their third-wicket stand.

Pujara, forced to bat at the top due to injuries to regular openers, looked solid in defence but failed to rotate the strike and only found his scoring touch when Mathews in-

on a hat-trick, which was staved off by Pujara.

Debutant wicketkeeper Naman Ojha (21) then added 54 with Pujara for the sixth wicket before playing a rash shot against Kaushal to hole out at long on.

Ravichandran Ashwin became Prasad’s fourth victim, reducing India to 180-7 but Pujara continued to thwart the hosts, adding 104 in an eighth-wicket stand with Amit Mishra (59).

Leg-spinner Mishra looked completely at ease against both the seamers and the spinners and notched up his third Test fifty to demoralise the Sri Lankan bowlers.

Mishra was finally out, stumped to Herath when he danced down the wicket but only managed an inside edge onto his pads with the ball trickling to the wicketkeeper.

SCOREBOARD INDIA 1st innings (o/n 50-2) L. Rahul b Prasad C. Pujara not out A. Rahane lbw b Pradeep V. Kohli c K. Perera b Mathews Ro. Sharma c Tharanga b Prasad S. Binny lbw b Prasad N. Ojha c Tharanga b Kaushal R. Ashwin c K. Perera b Prasad

2 135 8 18 26 0 21 5

A. Mishra stp. K. Perera b Herath 59 I. Sharma not out 2 Extras: (lb-2, nb-6, w-3, pen-5) 16 Total: (for 8 wickets, 95.3 overs) 292 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-14, 3-64, 4-119, 5-119, 6-173, 7-180, 8-284.

Bowling:- D. Prasad 23.34-83-4 (nb-3), N. Pradeep 22-6-52-1 (w-3), A. Mathews 13-6-24-1, R. Herath 25-381-1, T. Kaushal 12-2-45-1 (nb-3).

Jamaica win relay

By Nick Mulvenney BEIJING, China (Reuters) - Usain Bolt secured a sweep of the sprint gold medals at a world championships for the third time yesterday when, aided by a U.S. disqualification, he anchored Jamaica to the 4x100 metres relay title.

The 29-year-old, who had already won the 100 and 200 metres events at the Bird’s Nest Stadium, stormed across the line in 37.36 seconds to give his country a fourth straight world title in the event.

The United States team featuring Justin Gatlin, who won silver behind Bolt in both individual sprints, botched their final handover between Tyson Gay and Mike Rodgers and were disqualified after crossing the line second.

That elevated hosts China to a hugely popular silver medal in 38.01 with Canada taking the bronze in 38.13.

It was a record-extending 11th world gold for Bolt, who also won three sprint titles at the 2009 and 2013 world championships.

“I told you I was coming here and do my best as always. I was coming here to achieve gold medals and that’s what I did,” Bolt told reporters.

“It’s called pressure,” the Jamaican added of the American disqualification. “When there’s a lot of pressure to come out here and perform at your best.

And we saw what happened.”

Jamaica have now won the sprint relay at six straight major global championships, including the last two Olympics, but for the first 200m it did not look like they were going to extend their dominance.

While Nesta Carter and former world record holder Asafa Powell did not get Jamaica off to the best of starts, the Americans were flying with Trayvon Bromell and Gatlin tearing up the track.

Nickel Ashmeade, who won bronze behind Bolt and Gatlin in the 100 metres, gained ground on Gay coming round the final bend but the Americans were looking in good shape to repeat their victory over the Jamaicans at this year’s world relays.

EXCHANGE ZONE On the final handover, however, Gay was initially unable to get the baton to Rodgers and by the time he did, the anchorman was outside the exchange zone.

Bolt already had the Jamaican baton safely in his hand and sprinted to victory down a track on which he has now won six major global championship gold medals.

“It’s unfortunate,” Gay said. “We tried to do the best we could, but unfortunately we didn’t get the stick in the exchange zone and that’s what it was.”

Rodgers was unsure what had gone on.

“Did he feel something was wrong?” he said. “I didn’t have the stick, so I had to slow down to get it in the zone. I knew it was close.”

China’s silver - their first medal in the sprint relay - was a particularly timely gift for Su Bingtian, whose 26th birthday was celebrated in song by a delighted crowd.

“I was moved when everybody was singing happy birthday to me,” he said. “This is an historic medal for us. We have trained a lot and worked very hard. This progress is the result.”

Britain failed to finish after a calamitous final handover between James Ellington and Chijindu Ujah cost them a likely medal.

“We were easily in the running for a bronze medal.

I don’t know what went on on the last change,” said lead-off runner Richard Kilty.

“It’s probably the fastest team on paper we’ve ever had out. It’s just heartbreaking knowing that we set the race up so well and we messed up on the last change. Just absolutely gutted!”

28

SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

City keep up perfect start, Chelsea slump at home

By Tom Hayward LONDON, England (Reuters) - Manchester City maintained their perfect start to the season with a 2-0 victory over promoted Watford as champions Chelsea suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace yesterday.

Raheem Sterling scored his first goal for the club and Fernandinho netted a superb second to lift City to their fourth successive win and open an eight-point advantage over Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge side’s underwhelming start to the season continued despite Radamel Falcao’s first goal for the club, Joel Ward grabbing the Palace winner nine minutes from time to put his side second in the table.

“Raheem played very well, it was good for him to score,” City manager Manuel Pellegrini told the BBC. “He worked very hard and I’m sure he’ll score more goals.

“It was not frustrating in the first half. You can’t expect to win the game inside 45 minutes against a

team who defend well. We made some changes and we created more chances and won the game.”

SUBLIME CITY City had begun the season in ominous form with impressive wins over West Bromwich Albion, Chelsea and Everton, scoring eight goals and conceding none.

The hosts, however, struggled to break down a Watford side who had not tasted defeat in three matches following their promotion to the top flight.

After a frustrating first half against a spirited Watford, Sterling ghosted into the box and converted Bacary Sagna’s cross in the 47th minute to open his account in sky blue.

That lifted the tension which had been building and City played with added freedom, doubling the lead nine minutes later through Fernandinho following a sublime one-two with David Silva.

CHELSEA BLUES Chelsea have yet to get

going having cantered to the title last season and were frustrated by Alan Pardew’s well-marshalled Palace side.

Chelsea dictated possession and had 13 shots in the first hour but looked uncomfortable against Palace’s razor-sharp counter-attacks.

With Chelsea fans beginning to grow restless at their side’s lack of final product, Bakary Sako pounced to convert Yannick Bolasie’s dangerous cross -- his second goal in as many games since joining the south London club.

Falcao headed home his first Blues goal 14 minutes later to restore parity before Ward stabbed in a late winner as Jose Mourinho suffered only his second league defeat in 100 home games as Chelsea manager.

“Crystal Palace were always dangerous and in their counter-attacks they scored two goals,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.

“We had our goal that put the game completely open but immediately after they scored. It should be a draw

which is still a bad result.”

Liverpool, who had taken seven points from their opening three games, slumped to a surprise 3-0 home defeat by West Ham United and had midfielder Philippe Coutinho sent off.

Manuel Lanzini and Mark Noble, who was later sent off, gave West Ham a 2-0 halftime lead before Diafra Sakho sealed the visitors’ first win at Anfield since 1963 with a goal in stoppage time.

Newcastle United’s Fabricio Coloccini scored an own-goal as Arsenal laboured to their second win of the season with a highly-charged 1-0 victory over their 10man hosts at St James’ Park.

Aleksandar Mitrovic was dismissed early in the first half.

Tottenham Hotspurs’ winless start to the season continued when they were held to a goalless draw by fellow European hopefuls Everton at White Hart Lane.

Sunderland remained bottom after an eventful 2-2 draw at Aston Villa with goals from Yann M’Vila and Jeremain Lens cancelled out

by Scott Sinclair’s brace for the hosts.

Promoted Bournemouth drew 1-1 with Leicester City after Jamie Vardy cancelled out Callum Wilson’s fourth goal in two games.

Club-record signing Salomon Rondon scored to give West Bromwich Albion a 1-0 victory over Stoke City who had Ibrahim Afellay and Charlie Adam sent off.

Eudoxie scores big at NAFMA Championships TANG Soo Do International Guyana’s chief instructor Sensei Roland Eudoxie cashed in big with medal-winning performances at the North American Federation of Martial Arts (NAFMA) World’s Martial Arts Championship in Trinidad and Tobago recently.

The August 21 & 22 tournament which was held at the Hyatt Regency in Trinidad and Tobago saw Eudoxie compete in the 30-39 division for Black belts.

He picked up a gold medal in the Kata or form section of the competition and returned for gold in the self-defence aspect.

He carted off silver in stick fighting and point sparing and noted that he was happy with the overall performance overall.

He added, “Discipline and hard work were keys in my achievements. I know the competition would be stiff but I stuck to my guns and showed what I can do.”

Participating countries were USA, Trinidad and Tobago and Canada

Upper Corentyne 4R Bearings T20 on today

Ricky Deonarain, proprietor of 4R Bearings (left) seals the deal of the sponsorship with UCCA president Dennis De Anrade earlier this year. Also in photo are Romeo Deonarain, son of the sponsor, and other executives of the UCCA.

THE Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) T20 cricket competition bowls off today with 16 matches at eight venues in the Upper Corentyne district.

The twenty-team competition which was scheduled to start earlier this year was postponed due to the inclement weather during the May/June period.

The UCCA has now decided to start the competition this Sunday in which 20 teams will battle for the 4R trophy and a winning prize of $100 000.

The competition will be played in four zones with the preliminary rounds being played on round-robin and home-and-away bases, thus giving each team a fair chance

of making the quarter-finals stage of the competition.

This format is being used for the first time in Berbice cricket and credit should be given to the Executives of the UCCA for adopting formats like that of the IPL. The preliminary is expected to last for five weeks before the knock-out stages begin. The final will be played under lights at the Crabwood Creek Sports Complex and the list of events for the final is expected to be a grand one.

This competition is being sponsored by Ricky Deonarain, proprietor of 4R Bearings of Georgetown and is being organised by the UCCA.

Four CAREBACO semi-final spots for Guyana THE CAREBACO (Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation) Individual Championships continued Friday and yesterday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, at the Club Los Prados with Guyana taking five semi-final spots.

In the Boys Under-19 singles quarter-finals Guyana’s Narayan Ramdhani defeated Palmer Shaquille of Jamaica 21-14, 21-16, before he teamed up with Jonathan Mangra but lost the Under-19 doubles quarter-finals to Joel Angus & Shaquille of Jamaica 21-16, 21-19.

Girls Under-15 singles quarter-finals action saw Priyanna Ramdhani overcome Mileki Acosta of the Dominican Republic 21-18, 13-21, 16-21, before she teamed up with Erisa Bleau of Suriname to beat Chequeda De Boulet & Waynetta Thomas

of Trinidad 21-15, 21-13 in the Under-15 doubles quarter-finals.

In the Mixed doubles Under-15, Priyanna & Tyrese Jeffrey of Guyana defeated Jaison Marte & Kaina Lucero of Dominican Republic 21-13, 21-11.

At the Boys Under-15 singles quarter-finals Jeffrey lost to No. 2 seeded player Daniel Acosta of Dominican Republic 2112, 21-12.

Jeffrey & Samuel Rosado of Dominican Republic lost to Acosta & Edison Ramirez of Dominican Republic 21-6, 21-7 in the Boys Under-15 doubles quarter-finals The countries taking part in the championships are: Dominican Republic, Barbados, Panama, Trinidad, Jamaica, Puerto Rico & Guyana.

Some of the CAREBACO quarter-finalists

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

Over US$5000 up for grabs in OMSCC Toronto Cup

By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada – With just a mere five days to go before the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Club (OMSCC) stages its first-ever Toronto Cup softball tournament, excitement is at fever-pitch and the organisers are brimming with confidence that it will be a huge success.

Following a meeting of the organising committee on Friday night, it was disclosed that over five thousand dollars (US) will be up for grabs in the three-day extravaganza, set to be staged over the Labour Day weekend, with the winners in the Open category carting off US$3000 and the victors in the Masters division US$2500 in the 20-over affairs.

In addition, the victorious and runners-up in both categories, the most valuable players and the man-of-the-match in the final are assured of trophies, compliments of the Trophy Stall of Guyana.

Proprietor Ramesh Sunich, who is also expected to don

… Guyana charities to benefit from big food drive colours for the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association side, will present several of the trophies.

The organisers also took the opportunity to engage the umpires who will be officiating in the tournament. At a session, chaired by OMSCC umpires coordinator Suresh Bodhoo and including president Jai Singh and vice-president Azeem Khan, the umpires were reminded of what was expected of them to ensure a smooth and fair running off of the tournament.

The umpires were also urged to be consistent with their rulings on the contentious issue of pelting. According to the playing conditions and rules, no pelting is allowed.

The rule states that “after the second pelt, the umpire gives a warning to the bowler and brings it to his captain’s attention. If the same bowler is called for pelting a third time, he will not be allowed to play

for the rest of the game.

The bowler MUST bowl under-hand, the bowler

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Coteau MUST carry his bowling arm below the waist. At the point of release (ball), he must not bend his elbow or this would constitute a pelt/ no-ball.

As part of the three-day

event, the New York Enforcers Cricket Club, in its ongoing efforts to contribute to charitable organisations in Guyana, has planned a massive food drive in conjunction with the OMSCC. Spectators and players are therefore urged to donate generously in the form of canned foods and other items such as school supplies and toys. The donated items will be shipped to Guyana to help the less fortunate.

Among the eight set to vie for supremacy in the Masters division are two teams from the GFSCA, New York Softball C r i c k e t L e a g u e ( N YSCL). New York Muslim Softball Cricket Association, Our Own Sports Club, Caribbean Sensation and a team from the OMSCC. The latter three are based in Toronto.

The Open category comprises six – NYSCL, New York Enforcers, Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) X1, Caribbean

Sensation All Stars, Dant Sports Club and GM Sports, formerly Masters/ Cove Sports Club.

The welcoming ceremony will be held at the Tropical Nights Restaurant and Lounge, Morningside Avenue, (at Sheppard), Scarborough, starting at 19:00hrs on Thursday, September 3, setting the stage for the commencement of the tournament the following morning. The final will take place at the University of Toronto ground, Scarborough.

Among the other venues to be used in the white ball tournament are Ellesemere, Ashtonbee, Littles, Woburn Park and St Bedes with Dean Park being an alternative.

Meanwhile, the OMSCC has received greetings from Ontario’s Honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Coteau on the staging of the tournament. The text of his message reads: On behalf of the Govern-

ment of Ontario, I am delighted to welcome everyone attending the international softball cricket tournament in Toronto.

Events like this one bring out the best in our amateur athletes. They provide vitality and active living in our province’s communities and they provide opportunities for positive interaction and cultural diversity.

The Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs Organisation has been instrumental in promoting cricket in Ontario for 15 years. As the sports popularity in Ontario continues to grow, the club’s contributions continue to enable our cricketers to participate in the sport and enjoy great competition.

Thank you to the club for hosting this event, to all of the event’s organisers, volunteers and sponsors for your dedication and support and to all the families, friends and fans for your wonderful enthusiasm.

Best wishes for an exciting and memorable exhibition tournament.

Lancashire beat Northants to win their first T20 Blast final LANCASHIRE Lightning won their first T20 title with a 13-run win over Northants in the final at Edgbaston.

Chasing 167 to regain the trophy they won in 2013, the Steelbacks needed 21 to win off the final over.

It proved beyond them as the Red Rose County lifted the trophy in their third final appearance, having finished runners-up last year.

Alex Davies top-scored with 47 off 26 balls in Lancashire’s 166-7, with Northants mustering 153-6 in reply.

Scores: Lancashire 166-7 (20 ovs): Davies 47, Prince 43; Afridi 3-14,Willey 2-21.

Northants 153-6 (20 overs): Cobb 44 not out, Afridi 26; Faulkner 2-25) Not even a late display of power-hitting from Northants’ overseas player Shahid Afridi (26 off 18 balls), who dislocated the finger of James Faulkner with one shot drilled back at the Australian, could see the Steelbacks to their target.

Lancashire, led by former Warwickshire and England one-day coach Ashley Giles, had earlier conquered tricky batting conditions to add 31 runs from their final three overs and post an imposing total.

In reply, Josh Cobb finished unbeaten on 44 from 37 balls for Northants, but he was left stranded at the wrong end as they came up short.

A TRIAL BY SPIN It was an unusual Final Day at Edgbaston, where two low-scoring semi-finals had preceded the evening’s showpiece.

Lancashire found strength in their spin department as they coasted to a six-wicket win against Hampshire, with Stephen Parry and Ar-

ron Lilley producing combined figures of 5-32 and their value shone through again in the final.

Captain Steven Croft chipped in with his slow variations alongside Parry and Lilley and the trio contributed 2-67 from their 10 overs as Northants struggled to keep the required rate below 10-anover.

Pakistan all-rounder Afridi only arrived a few hours before the start of Final Day after his flight to the UK was delayed.

His spin bowling proved highly effective as he produced superb figures of 3-14 in the final.

But, just as he looked set to mount one of his trademark destructive T20 innings to pull off an unlikely victory, rookie Lancashire seam bowler Gareth Griffiths dismissed him for 26 with the help of a catch at deep point by Liam Livingstone.

It was 21-year-old’s second T20 appearance for Lancashire, having made his debut in the semi-final earlier in the day.

Once Afridi was back in the dugout at 133-5 in the 18th over, the task was beyond Northants.

(BBC Sport)

Steven Croft receives the NatWest T20 Blast trophy after Lancashire won it for the first time yesterday at Edgbaston.

WICB pledges support for Dominica KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said on Friday that it is “very saddened” to hear of the loss of life and damage to property that have taken place in Dominica during the passage of Tropical Storm Erika.

The weather system battered the island on Thursday with heavy rains causing streets to flood and rivers to overflow.

Reports say as many as 20 people may have been killed.

“It was with great distress and sadness that we received the news about Tropical Storm Erika which has caused loss of lives, injuries and damage in Dominica,” said WICB president Dave Cameron.

“On behalf of the directors, management and staff of the WICB, I would like to convey

our heartfelt solidarity with the people of Dominica who have suffered great loss from this natural disaster.”

Dominica is the home of WICB vice-president Emmanuel Nanthan and base for the newly-formed Windward Islands Volcanoes franchise which takes part in the WICB Professional Cricket League.

“Our prayers are with

vice-president Nanthan and all Dominicans,” said Cameron.

“While the country and people are undergoing this serious crisis, we want to assure them that the WICB fully understands the seriousness of their loss and is committed to contribute in any possible way to help them overcome the impact of this natural disaster and in alleviating the stress of the affected victims.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

Mo Farah wins historic World Championships 5 000m gold MO FARAH ran a blistering last lap of 52.6 seconds to sprint away to a brilliant 5 000m gold and become the first man in history to pull off a distance ‘triple-double’.

Farah made it three successive world 5 000m titles and has now won gold in both track distance events at the Olympics and two World Championships as he once again found both the perfect tactical response and the form to pull it off.

This time he would not be allowed to lead it out from 500 metres to go, as we have seen so often, with Kenya’s Commonwealth champion Caleb Ndiku going to the front before the bell and stretching away down the back straight.

But as the field splintered Farah first hung on and then, coming off the final bend, surged past Ndiku to go away to his seventh global track title in a row.

“It’s great to make history,” Farah told BBC Sport.

“I didn’t feel great, my hammy (hamstring) was playing up a bit, but the medical team helped me through it and to come out here and make a double

(R-L) Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku of Kenya (silver), Mo Farah of Britain (gold), and Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia (bronze) pose on the podium after the men’s 5 000-metre event during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing. (Reuters/Damir Sagolj) means so much to me.

“I was kind of getting nervous for the first time in a little while, but thanks to all the medical team. It was amazing to do it.”

Brendan Foster, Olympic medallist and BBC athletics commentator said: “I would say Mo is the greatest

sportsman Britain has ever had.

“Tonight has put him at the top table. When you talk about the greatest distance runners of the world, he has gone alongside them.

He is up there with the greats Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele, Emil Za-

topek and Lasse Viren.

“Nobody has worked out how to beat him and he’s got the Rio Olympics next year and then maybe the Worlds again in London in 2017.

“This guy is still adding to his record books. He is getting better as he gets older.”

Pakistan women to play series against Windies women LAHORE, Pakistan (CMC) - Pakistan women’s cricket team will tour the West Indies from the middle of October to play four one-day

internationals and three T20 internationals.

A 16–member squad along with four standbys have been selected to participate in a training camp

in preparation for the tour which runs from October 14 to November 2.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday August 30, 2015) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) &AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1)Clifford Roach-122 (WI vs ENG, Barbados, 1930) (2)Desmond Haynes-148 (WI vs AUST, ARG, 1978)

Today’s Quiz:

Who took the first five-wicket haul in a Test innings in the WI? Who captured the first five-wicket haul in an ODI in the West Indies?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Sana Mir will captain the Pakistan women’s team to the West Indies.

Three of the four ODIs in the rubber are a part of the ICC ODI Women’s Championship, which is also a qualification process for the Women’s

World Cup to be held in England in 2017.

Sana Mir will captain the side which includes Bismah Maroof V.Captain, Syeda Nain Fatima Abidi, Nida Rashid, Rabiya Shah, Asmavia Iqbal Kocher, Javeria Wadood, Sania Iqbal, Marina Iqbal, Sumaiya Siddique, Sidra Amin, Iram Javed, Diana Baig, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Zafar.

On their way back from the Caribbean, Pakistan Women’s team will visit the United States to play two friendly T20 matches between November 2 and 6, at Fort Lauderdale, Florida to promote women’s cricket in the USA.

Eaton overcomes fatigue to claim world record BEIJING, China (Reuters) - American Ashton Eaton retained the decathlon world title in the Bird’s Nest Stadium yesterday, breaking his own world record by scoring 9 045 points. After just five hours sleep, however, the 27-year-old admitted he had doubts over whether he could break the record.

In the 10th and last discipline, the 1500 metres, he needed the help of one of his rivals to drag him around the final lap in a fast enough time.

Competing in his first decathlon for two years, Eaton had to run four minutes 18.25 seconds to score the 824 points required to break the world record.

“I knew with 300 metres to go that I was behind, and I said, ‘Oh crap! I better go’,” Eaton told reporters.

“I could see the Algerian Larbi (Bouraada) in front of me and I used him. I could tell, he sped up. I caught up again and he sped up again. So I thank him for that.”

Eaton stopped Ashton Eaton of the U.S. t h e c l o c k a t gestures as he competes in 4:17.52 to score the javelin throw event of the 829 points and men’s decathlon during the b r e a k h i s o l d 15th IAAF World Championmark, set in 2012, ships at the National Stadium by six points. in Beijing, China, yesterday.

T h e s i l v e r (Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach) medal went to Canada’s Damian Warner with a national record 8 695 points and Rico Freimuth of Germany took bronze with 8 561.

There had been little doubt through the second day that Eaton would win gold and it was all about whether he could better the record.

The Olympic gold medallist had run 45.00 seconds in the 400 metres on Friday, the fastest ever by a decathlete during a multi-event.

Eaton finished the first day on 4 703 points, well ahead of medal challengers Warner Freimuth and the second German, Kai Kazmirek.

His procession towards the gold continued yesterday with a 13.69-second 110m hurdles, a 43.34-metre discus throw, 5.20 metres in the pole vault and a 63.63-metre javelin throw.

“In the hurdles, it was really hard to get over nine and 10. I thought, ‘Jeez, I’m getting old.’ It was just kind of difficult,” Eaton said.

“The world record thing? I knew I was on track, and I was just trying to have fun. But I got to the pole vault, and I was getting tired and I thought ‘I don’t know if this thing is possible’,” he added.

“Then in the javelin I got all fired-up. Where do you find that inner strength, I don’t know, but the important thing is to search for it, to dig, anyway.

“In the 1500, I was having doubts, I didn’t know if I could do it. It’s like two years since I did a decathlon like this, and it’s different from when I did the record in Eugene. This was 12-hour days.”

With one day of the meeting to go, Eaton’s is the only world record to be broken at the Beijing championships.

Eaton is married to Canadian heptathlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton, who won the world silver medal here earlier last week.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE August 30, 2015

Referees Assistance Programme wraps up on successful note

“RISE oh fallen fighters, rise and take your stance again; he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day” were the closing words of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Referee Instructor Peter Prendergast as he wrapped up the Referees Assistance Programme (RAP) yesterday in Georgetown.

He was addressing the 21 graduates of the RAP programme who were involved in five days of classroom sessions, simulations, a fitness test, a written test and evaluation, at the National Raquet Centre in Woolford Avenue, The session closed under the backdrop of a renewed call for personal development commitments in an attempt to return Caribbean referees to the echelons of officiating, after it was recognised that since 2006, the region has not had an official at the World Cup. Prendergast said, “The ball is in your court to do more and receive more. We are not only talking about finance here, we are talking about better facilities, better opportunities, professionalising the environment in which we operate. This is what we want to create, a better environment, a better atmosphere.”

He reminded them to stay clear of the politics of member associations and charged them to be the ‘judges’ in the sport.

Alan Brown, FIFA Referee Fitness Instructor, indicated that 80 percent of the participants passed the fitness test with all of the 21 persons completing the 12lap requirement, which represented an increase over the

Graduates of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Referees Assistance Programme (RAP) show off their certificates, while posing with instructors Peter Prendergast and Allan Brown, GRFU’s Alfred King and head of referees Stanley Lancaster. years from 70 percent.

President of the Guyana Football Referees Council, Alfred King, noted while the one-week sessions saw commendable and even exceptional performances in some cases, the referees must guard against complacency.

He continued, “I don’t know that sometimes you are that committed beyond this (programme), I’d imagine

that with this new vigour and energy and this experience that you would have gained over this last week, you’d now use this momentum to go on with our local trainers and instructors.”

Maurice Skeete who gave the vote of thanks indicated that the sessions were informative and she will put the knowledge gained into use. (Stephan Sookram)

NSC’s 39th Annual ‘Teach Them Young’ cycle programme

IT WAS a case of experience versus ambition yesterday when the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) 39th annual `Teach Them Young’ cycle programme culminated at the National Park inner circuit with an evaluation 11-race programme.

In the feature event over 35 laps, veteran rider Robin Persaud upstaged his much younger counterparts to win the event in one hour 16 minutes 32.56 seconds, but that time was not good enough to better the time of last year’s winner Hamza Eastman who had returned one hour 15 minutes 42.46 seconds.

Eastman was absent from yesterday’s event as he is currently in the United States training and competing with a number of other top local cyclists.

Another veteran, Junior Niles, held on for second place and also claimed two prime prizes. Jamal John, who had earlier in the day won the 10lap race for juveniles, placed third and won two prime prizes, while Paul DeNobrega, who won three prime prizes, was fourth, Raul Leal was fifth and another veteran Paul ChoWee-Nam placed sixth.

Raphael Leung placed second to John in the Juveniles’ 10-lap event with Kenwell Moses occupying the third spot.

John’s winning time for the event was 25 minutes 28.72 seconds which is slower than the time recorded by last year’s winner Stephano Husbands who had clocked 21minutes 47.95 seconds.

In the feature race, Persaud, Niles, John, DeNobrega,

Mark Harris and Jaleel Jackson and Moses broke from the pack as early as the first lap and established a lead that was never closed.

However, after staying a few laps with the leading bunch, Jackson and Moses were dropped from the pack which, after 25 laps managed to establish a sizeable lead over the chasing pack of Akeem Wilkinson, Cho-Wee-Nam,

ROBIN PERSAUD Harris, Alex Mendes, Leer Nunes, Christopher Griffith and Leal.

With five laps remaining, the chasing pack trailed the leaders by approximately 125 metres but they never managed to come closer.

At the bell lap, Niles led the leading pack, while ChoWee-Nam was heading the chasing pack some 120 metres behind.

Coming for the finish, Persaud jumped the other three at the 130-metre mark and cruised to a comfortable win.

In other results from the day’s programme which was

… Veteran Robin Persaud upstages younger rivals in feature event

organised by national cycle coach Hassan Mohamed, Alexander Leung was the winner of the BMX Boys 6-9 years old two-lap event. Second was Simon Chee and in third place was John Niles.

Zab Jones won the threelap race for BMX Boys 9-12 years old.

Adelin Hodge was the winner of the three-lap event for BMX Boys 12-14 years of age.

Second was Thamar Garbarran.

The presentation of prizes to the respective winners was done by NSC’s Administrative Officer Gervy Harry.

Prior to the presentation, Mohamed thanked all the par-

ticipants for their presence and noted that some of the students, who participated in the eightweek `Teach Them Young’ programme, were able to secure victories or be among the top three finishers in their events.

Hodge was rewarded with a BMX cycle, compliments of Ricks and Sari Agro Group

of Companies - not for winning the BMX Boys 12-14 race, but for being a part of the annual `Teach Them Young’ programme. According to Mohamed, Hodge braved the weather early in the programme and was also very attentive and disciplined throughout the programme.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

See Referees story on Assistance page 31 Programme wraps up on successful note

Bolt secures third sprint sweep as Jamaica win relay

Usain Bolt of Jamaica reacts after winning the men’s 4x100m relay during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China, yesterday.

(Reuters/Lucy Nicholson)

See story on page 27

Usain Bolt of Jamaica crosses the finish line to win the men’s 4 x 100 metres relay final during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China, (Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach)

Fraser-Pryce leads Jamaican women to relay gold

Elaine Thompson, Veronica Campbell-Brown, ShellyAnn Fraser Pryce and Natasha Morrison of Jamaica react after winning the women’s 4x100m relay during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China, yesterday. (Reuters/Lucy Nicholson)

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BEIJING, China (Reuters) - Jamaica, anchored by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, clocked the second fastest time in history to retain their 4x100 metres relay title at the world championships yesterday.

Veronica Campbell-Brown, Natasha Morrison and 200 metres silver medallist Elaine Thompson ensured Fraser-Pryce had a good lead when she took the baton and the 100 metres champion stormed across the line in 41.07 seconds.

The United States finished second in 41.68 with the early pace of the Jamaicans giving anchor Allyson Felix, the 400 metres champion in Beijing, no chance of catching Fraser-Pryce.

Trinidad and Tobago won bronze in a national record of 42.03 ahead of Britain, whose 42.10 was also the best time ever run by the nation’s top women sprinters.

Only the 40.82 recorded by the Americans to win gold at the 2012 London Olympics was faster than yesterday’s winning time.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2015