Chronicle 02 22 2016

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Elderly rescued No. 104470

MONDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2016

Price: $80

(Vat Inclusive)

– as Meten-Meer-Zorg house goes up in flames

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Linden gets first coffee house Page 3

AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes assists this young member of the Norvell Fredco family in cutting the ribbon to open the coffee house in the mining town (Venessa Braithwaite photo)

CONFRONTATION

––‘drunk’ Army ranks Page 3 assault Hosororo residents

Swine co-op beefing up 8 pork industry Page

Gold thief in custody

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-implicates others

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 22, 2016

Elderly rescued – as Meten-Meer-Zorg house goes up in flames

By Fareeza Haniff

IT was a chaotic scene in the community of Meten-Meer-Zorg (MMZ), West Coast Demerara on Sunday when a two–storey house went up in flames,

forcing families in nearby houses to flee for safety.

The fire, which relatives told the Guyana Chronicle was electrical in nature, started at approximately 14:00hrs in Second Street, MMZ and saw residents

Firefighters battling to put out the fire on the Meten-Meer-Zorg house on Sunday (Fareeza Haniff photos) forming a bucket brigade before the Guyana Fire Ser-

The firemen managed to save the bottom flat of the house from the raging flames

vice arrived.

This newspaper understands that at the time of the fire, the occupants of the house: Mohammed Baseer, 76; his wife Bibi, 72; and their 14-year-old grandson were on the lower flat of the building.

One of their sons, Salim Baseer, who assisted firefighters in putting out the blaze, told the Guyana Chronicle that his father was in the hammock while his mother was washing a bed net when residents alerted them of the fire.

Reports indicate that the fire started in upper flat of the building. According to Salim, his other brother, Ashim Baseer, rescued his mom, who was shocked on noticing the flames.

“Dah the only thing she get fuh come out with ah de netting,” Salim said. When asked what could have trig-

gered the fire, he said, “They had a lil shortage of power.”

Salim praised the quick response of the Fire Service, which managed to contain the fire from spreading to nearby buildings and another house in the same yard.

However, firefighters ran out of water while the building was still in flames, but later managed to secure more from a nearby outlet.

The upper flat of the house was completely destroyed, while the fire was

contained in the bottom half.

The elderly woman and her husband were taken to a neighbour’s house, where they wept uncontrollably as firefighters attempted to save the house.

Scores of residents who gathered at the scene expressed their dissatisfaction with the fact that the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) company failed to disconnect electricity from the area while the fire was raging.

12 win lotto

IT IS not one or two, but a record 12 persons have won Saturday’s lotto draw, and will be sharing in the win of $10M plus an additional $10M Republic Day booster for the winners!

The winning Lotto Supa 6 numbers are 22, 23, 26, 25, 24 and 27. The Bonus Ball is 19 and the Free Ticket letter is C. According to Guyana Lottery Company General Manager Tracey Lewis, the winning tickets were at the company’s agents in “Georgetown, Linden, Berbice, EBD [East Bank Demerara], WCD [West Coast Demerara].

“Players please check your tickets to see if you are one of the 12 persons who have won! It is wonderful that so many persons will share in the Jackpot at this special time!” Lewis said in a release.

CONFRONTATION

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 22, 2016

POLICE were called in at dawn on Sunday to quell a stand-off at Hosororo Hill in the Mabaruma Sub-region after six Guyana Defence Force

(GDF) soldiers reportedly assaulted several villagers following a fight at a football match.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the army

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––‘drunk’ Army ranks assault Hosororo residents

ranks were involved in a fight with a resident ear-

The Guyana Defence Force vehicle with army ranks as it was blocked from leaving the community on Sunday morning

lier on Saturday night at Kumaka, where football was being played under floodlights. Kumaka is the area’s business community.

According to reports, at about 04:00 hrs, one army rank and his colleagues, who were without uniform, left the area in the company of a Police Corporal for Hosororo Hill in search of the resident.

The young man’s relatives told this newspaper that the ranks visited a house in the area, and while armed, kicked down the door of the family while they were asleep.

After an unsuccessful search, the ranks visited the home of the young man with whom they were involved in the fight. The young man’s relatives said the ranks, who appeared intoxicated, stripped the man’s mother of her clothing while physically and verbally assaulting her, using expletives.

The GDF ranks then reportedly proceeded to the

home of a taxi driver further into the community, and allegedly physically assaulted the man’s grandfather. This newspaper understands that one of the ranks told the elderly man that he is an army rank, and as such, he was at liberty to act on his own behalf.

According to reports, the soldiers carried out their tirade at about 05:00 hrs on Sunday, forcing the residents to block the main roadway which links Hosororo Hill to Mabaruma.

This prevented the officers from returning to the army barracks near the Mabaruma airstrip.

By then Mabaruma police were informed, and a senior police officer, accompanied by other ranks, hurried to the area to prevent the situation from escalating. The officers told the men who were beaten to report the matter to the police station, but residents were worried about the actions of the

army ranks, all of whom are well known to residents in the area.

ALLEGED RAPE Meanwhile, two soldiers stationed at Lethem are being investigated on an allegation of rape committed on a 16-yearold at the army’s barracks in the Region Nine community.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the alleged rape occurred on the evening of Wednesday, February 17. Reports indicate that the teenager was tied-up by one of the ranks who raped her.

The teen’s parents reported the matter to visiting government officials, who were in Lethem on an outreach this weekend. Sources in Lethem reported that the matter has reached the higher offices of the army and the ranks in question may soon face discipline. Police in Lethem are investigating the incident.

Linden gets first coffee house

By Vanessa Braithwaite

LINDEN’S first coffee house, Freddy’s Café, had its grand launching on Saturday with Attorney-at-Law and Alliance For Change Chairman Nigel Hughes helping in cutting the ceremonial ribbon.

The café that is owned by popular businessman, AFC affiliate and community activist Norvell Fredco is said to be the first of its nature to grace the town of Linden and Region 10.

The café offers delicious pastries and beverages prepared to international standards. The foods offered include grilled cheese croissants, a variety of flavoured muffins, grilled cheese sandwiches, ice coffees, mocha latte, frappe, expresso, cappuccino, frozen yogurts, smoothies, exotic teas and iced teas.

This venture has received positive responses from the residents of Linden, who flock the café every day to experience the range of delicacies. Fredco told the audience

at the launch that he got the idea to open a café after having a taste of frozen yogurt in St Lucia, and he decided to bring the product to his home town.

He described the enterprise as a risk-taking one as he had to source the equipment from China and make an advance payment without guarantee that he would have been in receipt of them.

Fredco, who was prominent in the photography business, said he started to diversify his business three years ago with the establishment of Freddy’s Wings and Wedges.

“Photography was my childhood dream, but then what happened, everybody got a smartphone and then came the selfie stick, so I had to diversify,” he said.

He boasted that the café did not require any loan from the bank for investment, as he turned over his savings and would encourage others to do the same.

SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE Hughes described the venture as “the

AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes assists this young member of the Norvell Fredco family in cutting the ribbon to open the coffee house in the mining town spirit of enterprise and risk taking. He challenged Fredco to have a franchise throughout Guyana within the next three years.

“We should have Fredco’s Café not only in Linden, but in Georgetown and Lethem, and we must brand that name so that it should become like Starbucks Coffee.”

One young employee of Fredco’s Café thanked him for creating an avenue of employment for the youths in Linden, who are desperate to be employed.

Fredco is the deputy leader of the APNU-AFC group contesting the March 18 Local Government Elections, and he is also the founder of Linden Town Week.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 22, 2016

Several injured in ECD crash

FIVE persons narrowly escaped death after the car in which they were travelling was rammed by another which was travelling in the opposite direction.

The accident took place just before 17:00rs at Suc-

cess, East Coast Demerara.

According to information reaching the Guyana Chronicle, one motorcar was proceeding west along the East Coast carriageway when another vehicle careened into it.

Those injured have

been identified as Saleem Amin,18; Charmaine Ramjattan,25; Leen Ramjattan,20; and Kameatti Budhram,37, all from the West Coast Demerara, along with another person whom this publication was unable to identify.

The car involved in the accident at Success, East Coast Demerara It is not clear where the injured were heading or were returning from at the time of the accident.

Over at the Beterverwagting Police Station, East

Coast Demerara, the badly damaged Sprinter motorcar was parked in the police station compound with extensive damage to its right side, which seems to corroborate

the story of the occupants that another car careened into it.

At the Georgetown Public Hospital, three of the injured were seen in wheelchairs being attended to by a doctor.

The police are continuing their investigations into that accident.

Meanwhile, at Enmore Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, a female reportedly suffered minor injuries when the vehicle she was travelling in ended up in a trench there. Persons living close by rushed to the assistance of the woman and several others in the vehicle and pulled them to safety. It is unclear if that accident was reported to the police.

Man arrested in ganja, shotgun find ONE man is now in police custody as the lawmen seek answers regarding the discovery of a quantity of marijuana, one 12-gauge shotgun and two cartridges.

According to a police press release, the ranks who made the discovery were acting on information received.

The police had travelled to the backdam at Huis t’Dieren, Essequibo Coast, where they searched a camp and found the items. Police

sources said that no account was given at the camp or a licence produced for the weapon and cartridges.

A man found at the camp was told of the offence and placed under arrest before being escorted to the police station.

An amnesty programme geared at getting illegal guns off the street was unveiled on September 1 last year. Several weapons were handed in as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

Gold thief in custody -implicates others

A 30-year-old Lab Technician attached to the Guyana Gold Board’s Georgetown Office is expected to appear at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court today, charged with stealing gold.

The Guyana Chronicle has confirmed that Ronald Singh, who is originally from Essequibo but lives in Eccles, East Bank Demerara,

reportedly admitted to stealing the precious item while being questioned by ranks of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) last Friday.

According to reports reaching this newspaper, on Friday last officials at the Gold Board

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counted 11 grams of extra gold during the stock check.

However, upon re-checking the transaction, it was discovered that a piece of gold was missing but was replaced with four smaller pieces of tainted metal.

Suspicion fell on Singh, since he was the lone Lab Technician who dealt with the gold pieces. The police were informed and he was taken into custody, where he reportedly admitted to stealing the gold.

Ranks subsequently found the item stored away in his bag; however, this newspaper understands that Singh has since implicated other employees in the theft.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that Singh worked at the Gold Board’s Charity, Essequibo office before it closed down, and he was then transferred to the Georgetown office.

In 2014, police investigated a report from the Guyana Gold Board that several staffers were suspected to be involved in gold tampering, which resulted in a number of persons being questioned.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE

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monday February 22, 2016

‘Too much for me to handle’ ––desperate Essequibo mom appeals to Social Protection Ministry for help

By Shirley Thomas TROUBLE seems to be dogging the footsteps of the Essequibo family in the recent saga where a 31-year- old woman was found restrained under horrendous conditions at her mother’s home at Richmond Village, Essequibo Coast just over two weeks ago.

The dejected mother is appealing for public assistance urgently since she cannot provide a safe and decent accommodation for her daughter who has been discharged from hospital.

The mother claims that having to live under the same roof with her daughter again would be putting her own life at risk, and in every way, the problem is too big for her to handle.

Even though her daughter has been discharged, she was not immediately made to leave the hospital, but her name is on the discharge list. She is no longer being given medication, and was given up to today to leave the institution.

The young woman was discovered just over two weeks ago, bound and living under horrendous conditions in a small faeces-infested room and being fed through a small opening in the heavily bolted door for close to one year. But her brother, Andrew, puts the period at just over four months.

Having been whisked away to the Suddie Hospital for medical care immediately on being rescued, the victim was appropriately treated, and must now be removed from the hospital.

However, the mother, who is said to have restrained her and subjected her to such conditions, claims she was never given counselling in the scheme of things, and would not know how to deal with her child, whom she says had had mental problems for the last seven years.

She said nobody is there for her, or even gives her a listening ear, except her son and two neighbours.

PAINFUL MEMORIES The woman has painful memories of the aggression she claims she had to face at the hands of her daughter in the past, and cannot bear to hear that she would be return-

ing home.

Trying to make her concerns known, the tearful mother recalled that her daughter, who has had a mental condition over the last seven years, displayed violent behaviour towards her, and she is confident that

with both the mother and her son Andrew, who attested that his sister did mete out violence against their mother, and he feels strongly that this could happen again.

“This would be like playing the same old record: Starting All over Again,”

The 31-year-old woman being taken to the Suddie Public Hospital during a rescue mission earlier this month the beatings would continue.

“This is a terrible story meh tell you, moms,” the weeping mother told the Guyana Chronicle.

Meantime, the doctor in charge, though sympathetic to the cause, is not at liberty to keep the patient beyond her period of treatment.

This newspaper spoke

he said, adding: “The girl ravenous bad, she fat and strong, and with dat size she physically beat me mother.

She scramble she neck and choke she and pull she hair out. But still me mother love she and never give up pon she, no matter.”

Andrew said this strange development was

Monday February 22th, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Tuesday February 23th, 2016 - 05:30 hrs Wednesday February 24th, 2016 - 05:00 hrs

triggered about seven years ago, when his sister left the home to undergo training for nurses in Georgetown.

WAS A BRIGHT GIRL “She’s always a bright girl,” but sending her to Georgetown might have been the mistake that her parents made, he claimed.

She soon began following bad company “going to nightclubs and so on”.

In that light, her mother decided to bring her back home to Essequibo – a decision for which the mother is said to be paying dearly until now. “She was almost a wreck by the time we got her back home,” the mother said.

“She even light meh house afire one day. All dem things me put up wid,” the mother said, breaking down in tears. It was for this reason, the mother said, that she was forced to restrain her physically or they would be in big trouble.

She said she spent much

hard earned money taking her daughter to be treated by top psychiatrists and neurosurgeons, and one doctor said her brain was damaged, the distraught mother said painfully.

However, both mother and son related what a good and loving girl she was until things took a turn.

“Ow, ah really try wid she, but she father died about six years ago and everything lef pon me.

I got to work to bring in money and still look after she, but right now me strength failing. How could I be doing domestic work somewhere and only to hear that some-

thing do she, or that she burn the house down with she inside?”

Meanwhile, this mother is using this medium to appeal to the Ministry of Social Protection to empathise with her and her daughter and help to get her into a home for abused women. And employing the theory of ‘tough love’ she is prepared, if need be, to settle for her to be admitted to a psychiatric home, where she can be rehabilitated and one day be out to lead a normal life again.

“Ah praying, and is only God can change this situation,” the mother concluded.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

Editorial: 227-5216; 227-5204 guyanachronicle.com wnigel10@hotmail.com gnnleditorial@gmail.com

Editorial

Social contract

S

OCIAL contract theory is the view that persons’ moral and/or political obligations are dependent upon a contract or agreement among them to form the society in which they live (Internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy).

At the most basic of man’s civil existence, there exists a social contract between the Government/State and the people. The people vote for a government, relinquishing some of their individual liberties in return for the State’s protection. Consequently, there exist laws outlining how the State must be managed on behalf of the people, and agreement that the people shall obey the laws in return for their development and the nation’s sovereignty.

In Guyana, there exists a tripartite industrial relations system, which comprises of Government, Employers’ and Workers’ Representatives.

This is structured off of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) principles. Here a social contract is deemed necessary to ensure a stable industrial relations environment in furtherance of turning the wheels of production based on established principles safeguarding and protecting the workers’ and employers’ rights and wellbeing.

Outside of the government being an employer, as custodian of the nation’s sovereignty, it shoulders the responsibility of ensuring conformity to local laws and international conventions and charters which allow the creating of equal opportunity for all towards building the nation’s economy.

As President Granger continues to call for, and present the case for, the necessity of a social contract, it needs being remembered that a social contract currently exists between the citizens and the government, in accordance with its three branches vis. Executive, Judicature and Legislative. These branches are funded by the people, and are established to work in the interest of the people. As such, the people shoulder the responsibility to ensure that all the branches are working in their interest.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 22, 2016

Water main at Cumberland damaged Dear Editor, I WRITE with utter disgust and anger towards the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), whose irresponsible workers damaged a water main while erecting huge steel signs on Friday afternoon last. It was not until they left that I noticed water bubbling up on the roadside, then I concluded that the leakage was as a result of the uncaring act by the workers.

The staff of GECOM is on a drive

to erect dozens of large steel signs at various local government communities across Guyana, and I am fearful that they are damaging the GWI network, especially customers’ pipelines and water mains.

I am not receiving a supply of potable water as a result of what I would call a dastardly act by GECOM staffers committed on public property at Cumberland Public Road, East Canje Berbice. Before I even question the waste of our tax dollars in asking

whether such humongous elaborate steel signs are even necessary during this election season, I am demanding an explanation from the top echelons of this organization, and an apology both to me and the water utility company for the inconvenience, not to mention wastage of this most precious resource, especially during this prolonged dry spell.

LEON J. SUSERAN

Millions $$$ disappear from Burma Rice Station Dear Editor, PLEASE permit me to bring this important issue to attention of the Government and policy body of the rice board. It is alleged that the management of the Burma Rice Research Station is trying to ‘sweep under the carpet’ and ‘cover up’ the story in which in excess of 3.5 million dollars of items have gone missing from the Burma Rice Research Station.

I was told that several pieces of machinery were stripped of important components, with few yet to be repaired;

and many field and office equipment have disappeared, besides fuel, fertilizer, cash etc. These items were allegedly stolen from the Burma location, and nothing was done by the station head (Dr. Mahendra Persaud) to address this problem.

It is also alleged that the station management knows of several of the deficiencies on the ground leading up to this and has turned a blind eye to it.

In my view, it seems to be an inside job, of which some of the ‘fat cats’ appear to be part and parcel. The APNU +AFC

This foundational premise, when allowed to work in the interest of the people, creates opportunity to establish a social contract built among the stakeholders within the industrial relations system. Such a contract will commit stakeholders to production and economic realities. Workers and employers will be asked to give commitments in ensuring certain production levels and economic indicators are attained, from which workers will benefit through incentive schemes or increased wages and salaries.

These achievements are expected to be conducted within a framework that is free of discrimination and full of meeting the ILO Core Labour Standards and honouring Labour laws. In fact, the workplace must be free of hazards; and government, employers’ and workers’ representatives must respect the laws and collective labour agreement to the letter.

In all three applications (people and government; tripartite relations; and employers and workers) government carries the responsibility to lead the way.

As it relates specifically to the social partners in the industrial relations system, the ministry that has responsibility for labour is required to act, having been

Government, Chairman of the Board and General Manager, need to seriously investigate these allegations. This must not be condoned. Strong systems should be put in place to avoid such recurrence in future.

The board needs to take steps now to install a better competent management team to manage the affairs of the Burma Rice Research Station.

Yours truly, TERRY ROSS

given the green light from the president’s announcement.

There is also evidence in CARICOM of existing social contracts. In the instance of Barbados, it operates among the three social partners (government, employers and trade unions). In the instance of Jamaica, there has been a sectoral partnership agreement between the trade unions and employers. Jamaica’s contract attends to three primary areas, namely (i) stable industrial relations environment, (ii) production levels, and (iii) incentive scheme and increased wages and salaries.

Research by the newspapers revealed that the employers’ and workers’ organisations (i.e. trade unions) presented proposals to the Government of Guyana during the PPP administration as far back as 2000. In that President Granger has once again brought to the nation’s consciousness this issue, which he had also articulated as Leader of the Opposition; and given that work has already been done, there is no need to re-invent the wheel. Actions should now be taken to have the stakeholders collectively engaged in further activities to bring this policy to fruition.

GUYANA CHRONICLE

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monday February 22, 2016

Responsible City Hall registers its disgust reporting needed Dear Editor, THE Childcare and Protection agency (CPA) wishes to once again reaffirm its position regarding media reporting on matters involving children.

We acknowledge the role that the media play in notifying the public of a missing child, and therefore aiding in the recovery of the child. However, this must be executed in a professional manner that does not increase the child’s vulnerability. Information needed to notify the public of a missing child should be kept to a minimum, and should revolve around the child’s physical description, last seen attire and location.

Publishing of news stories that reveal the issues the child may be facing at home, or other salacious details, though sensational and satisfying for some curious readers, places the already vulnerable child at a disadvan-

tage and exposes that child to embarrassment and further harm.

Media operatives, along with the general public, all have a responsibility to the children in our society, and should always ensure that their actions are in the best interest of those children and are intended to protect, rather than harm.

Though there is no ill intention, journalists must be cognisant of the influence of the media, and therefore the colossal responsibility that comes with this position. The Childcare and Protection Agency alone cannot protect children, and we therefore rely on all society to play a part.

Regards, STACEY FRASER Deputy Director Children Services Childcare and Protection Agency

Dear Editor, THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has noted with disgust a despicable and malicious assault launched on the entity. It has been recognised that a consorted effort is being made to discredit and further taint the agency’s already fragile image, while baseless claims of corruption and other wrongdoings are unjustly being levied against the agency’s senior functionaries.

The Council is making it abundantly clear to these political actors, some of whom we regret to say lie within the employ of the M&CC, that we are aware of their unbecoming actions and what they seek to attain.

Verified information has shown that many spurious, unsupported claims against the Council are being made by this very group, particularly in the media.

It has been verified also that a disgruntled former employee, who was recently dismissed from City Hall, and a Councillor seeking his own political gain have teamed up with a political party

contending this Local Government Election in pursuing this divide-and-conquer campaign tactic at City Hall’s offices.

We are aware that the campaign rhetoric, regardless of its porosity, is the alleged corruption and wrongdoing taking place at the Council -- which unfortunately still carries an unfavourable past that is still very fresh in everyone’s mind.

The Council urges that citizens do not fall prey to such deceit, as a new dawn has come for our capital. We have commenced repair and revitalisation works across the city with the return of once unavailable but vital services to Georgetown residents. The Council remains committed to its obligations according to the Municipal and District Council’s Act Chapter 28:01.

We will not deter or relieve ourselves of our duties, regardless of the hurdles.

ROYSTON KING Town Clerk Mayor and City Council

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 22, 2016

Caledonia/Good Success group brimming with confidence

By Shauna Jemmott

THE Community for Change and Development (CCD), a group consisting of individuals within the Caledonia/ Good Success Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), has declared its intention to target societal ills and infrastructural mismanagement within the Caledonia/ Good Success District.

The group contesting the Local Government Elections (LGE) on March 18 is confident of victory over major political parties at the upcoming polls.

The CCD group was launched last Wednesday morning and is set to take control of the East Bank Demerara communities which fall under the Region Four Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

The coalition union has been formed to battle against the social and infrastructural downfall of the area, and is seeking the support of all citizens to vote them in as councillors for the NDC. Member of the group, Samuel Carter, told the Guyana Chronicle that the CCD is non-discriminatory and consists of persons who support various political parties who have come together in mutual understanding that previous NDC administrations have failed the commu-

––says will whip PPP, APNU+AFC at LGE polls

nities, which deserve better.

“Our goal is to improve our communities and environment by improving communications with the NDC in consultation with our communities; ensuring adequate security and street lighting; developing better educational and recreational facilities for our children and youths; providing better garbage collection and waste disposal services; cleaning waterways currently choked with garbage and overgrown with weeds; improving and maintaining our roads; and eliminating substandard work carried out by the NDC.” CCD MEMBERS The members of the CCD group who are contesting the various constituencies within the district are Samuel Marvin Carter for Land of Canaan; Leon Bowlin for Sarah Johanna-Caledonia; Ethel McCaskey for Relief-Brickery; Harbhajan Shivcharran for Garden of Eden; Doreen Scipio for Friendship South; Keavon Urbane Bess for New Hope; Collin Weeks for Good Success; and Wellesley Davis for Craig.

They are seeking the support of their community in order to become the council-

Members of the Community for Change and Development stand proudly beside their banner lors of the Caledonia/Good Success NDC, and pledged to serve with “zeal and honesty and to manage the affairs of the community without political consideration”.

SHIELD The sign of the CCD group is the shield, and they are contesting on the FirstPast-The-Post section of the ballot, for change and development, Carter said.

Carter told Chronicle that a cross-party approach had been considered in forming the group, drawing on supporters of both of the main parties in the National Assembly (APNU+AFC and PPP/Civic).

“It’s the best way that we can all work together… that’s

what community means, because in a community you have residents with varying ideas, varying points of view and various ethnicities.”

According to Carter, there was neglect of communities

by Government and the NDC for years, with the absence of the LGE. “In the past, especially in that area, you only have to travel up the East Bank and just look at the areas and how the side roads are looked after, you’d know which areas are PPP areas and which areas are not.”

He said that, together, the group members have identified issues affecting the neighbourhood district in which the past NDC was neglectful.

“We would have identified issues that the last NDC should have been dealing with but they haven’t been dealing with them. The residents in the nine constituencies, almost without exception, are fed up! They want a change.”

Their funds come from their own pockets and donations from local businesses and residents.

CAMPAIGN ISSUES He said they are campaigning for more street lights since the communities all have inadequate street lights, and as a result, crime is prevalent at nights.

He said the removal of the vehicles from the neighbourhood policing groups

has added to the problem, since the police on patrol are not regularly seen in the communities.

The area lacks adequate health facilities, and classrooms in schools are cramped and dowdy, making them not conducive for learning.

He also said that though rates and taxes are being paid, residents still have to pay for garbage collection and the drains are hardly cleared. Now that the LGE is approaching, the man said, the current NDC is trying to clean the trenches, which were last cleared through a Region 4 Regional Democratic Council contract around mid-2015.

There are nine constituencies in the area.

Swine co-op beefing up pork industry

By Ariana Gordon THE Guyana Swine Producers Co-operative Society on Wednesday received 20 out of 100 pigs purchased in Suriname for the purpose of improving the breeding stock here.

Chairman of the co-operative society, Eric Anderson, told Guyana Chronicle that the purchase of the pigs is in keeping with an arrangement between the Government of Guyana and the society.

He explained that the society submitted a pig rearing project proposal to the Ministry of Communities last October and was able to acquire $20M. “In this project we are acquiring quality breeding stock… we submitted in October 2015 our project and it was accepted. They gave us $20M towards the acquisition of new breeding animals,” Anderson

told Guyana Chronicle.

The pigs were imported from Suriname after a visit by a number of the society’s members to that country.

“We visited the pig farm there, that rears ‘TOPIGS 40’ and Tempo boar. We decided that given the climatic conditions, we would import pigs from Suriname.”

GENETICS The genetics of the pigs were developed in Holland and France, Anderson noted.

“The characteristics of the TOPIGS 40 is that they give you fairly large litter, excellent growth rate and conversion,” Anderson added.

As such, 90 sows and 10 boars have been purchased from Suriname. But even as the society has started to receive the pigs from Suriname, Anderson said it is important that cattle farmers are trained in animal rearing and hus-

bandry.

Some 32 members of the society are to benefit from the pigs purchased.

TRAINING “Ongoing at the moment is a training programme on pig management and husbandry. The training is taking place on a farm at the moment,” he said.

It is being done in collaboration with the Guyana Livestock Development Association (GLDA), the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The training started in Region 3 last Wednesday and will run for 18 months, the entire life of the project.

The training is open to all pig farmers, including the 32 beneficiaries of the project. Anderson noted that

15 additional persons will be assisted with the construction and repair of pens, along with the renovation of fences.

ACCESSING MARKETS Anderson told Guyana Chronicle that the pig farmers are challenged because they are not in a position to export fresh pork due to the lack of an abattoir that has ASDU standard. According to him, an abattoir that has ASDU standard is one that

has met the international requirement for storing safe, quality meat.

“To sell quality fresh pork out of Guyana, you have to ensure you have an abattoir of ASDU standard; at the moment we don’t have. But in the pipeline through the Ministry of Agriculture, some funding has been earmarked for the construction of an abattoir of ASDU standard, and that would immediately allow us to access markets in Suriname, in Jamaica and in Trinidad.”

He said there have been many inquiries from regional countries as the demand for fresh and good quality pork rises.

“They have been inquiring of us whether we can supply on a monthly basis pork to those countries,” he told the Guyana Chronicle, but noted that “we can’t export any meat because of the standard

of the abattoir here. Be it beef or pork or mutton, we can’t do that.”

He said a location for the new abattoir has been proposed, and once approved, it will be housed at Onverwagt, Region 5.

“The immediate effect of these 100 pigs (being imported from Suriname) is that you would see by mid-September we start to reproduce some quality pigs in the country.

By 2017, February, we will have quality fresh pork. It is important to understand that restaurants have been demanding quality pork, and in 2016, 64,000 tons of fresh pork were imported,” Anderson added.

The Chairman noted that if Guyana wants to be competitive regionally, production has to go up. He said, too, that Guyana has a small market for pork, and that market continues to be affected by limited supply.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 22, 2016

Regional authority springs into action ––after Lesbeholden farmers complain about inundation

By Nafeeza Yahya Sakur DAYS after rice and cash crop farmers of Lesbeholden Black Bush Polder (BBP) complained about their farm lands being inundated due to a blocked outfall channel at Adventure, Corentyne, regional authorities have sprung into action to fix the problem.

The problem was drawn to the attention of the authorities after the farmers voiced their concerns to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s Representative in Berbice, Gobin Harbajan.

The rice farmers had complained bitterly that their crops are about 70 per cent ripe and would be ready soon for harvesting, but they are fearful that unless something is done soon, they would suffer millions in losses due to the excess water in their fields.

They complained that the outfall at Adventure is blocked and needs to be de-silted and widened to allow water to flow out towards the sea when the sluice is

open.

“As it stands, the water in the canal is higher than that at the outfall; but when they open the koker door, the water barely running out, the

response.

According to Ramran Basdeo, “if they don’t receive any help soon,” several thousand acres of rice will be lost and the farmers are fearful

this crop lost, all we money gon go down the drain… that can’t happen, is plenty money we invest and we don’t know what will happen the next crop. If

Rice Producers Association (RPA). They claimed that the RPA has not come to their rescue.

Harbajan, in his meeting with the farmers, called on

Special Assistant to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Gobin Harbajan (right), meeting with some of the affected farmers at Lesbeholden Black Bush Polder whole thing block up,” one farmer said.

The farmers said they voiced complaints to the Lesbeholden Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) a few weeks ago, but got no

that they will be bankrupt and would not have any capital to restart the next crop or settle outstanding debts.

“If we lose this crop we gon lose plenty, we really need some assistance. If

this one gone we not gonna get to start the next one,” Basdeo cried.

DISAPPOINTMENT The farmers expressed disappointment with the

regional engineer Rupesh Persaud, who explained that they only learnt of the matter recently, but effort is being made to fix the problem.

Persaud had related that a contract to de-silt the canal

was awarded to a contractor recently, but works have not yet started.

He promised that he will make contact with the contractor and see how best they can expedite the process.

Days ago, work commenced to de-silt the canal, and the farmers are now beginning to breathe a sigh of relief.

Regional Chairman David Armogan had spoken with National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and also urged them to fix the problem urgently.

“Because of the El Nino weather conditions, we have been pumping water to irrigate the lands and ensure the irrigation canals are filled; however, with the recent heavy rainfall (over) the past week, the water on the lands has increased and since the canals are already filled, they don’t have anywhere to run off to. Also the recent high tides don’t allow us much room to open the sluice and drain the water as quickly as we would like,” Armogan had said.

Public Telecommunications Ministry gets $821M ––IT Centre of Excellence coming THE newly-introduced Ministry of Public Telecommunications, which is being headed by current Tourism Minister Catherine Hughes, has secured $821M for 2016 after the allocation was passed by the Committee of Supply in the House last Thursday.

President David Granger had announced at year-end that Minister Hughes will now be named Minister for Public Telecommunications, while maintaining ministerial responsibility for tourism.

President Granger had explained that “The reason is that after seven months, we detected a gap that there is no single spokesperson in the Na-

tional Assembly, a ministerial spokesperson dealing with the digital economy [and] dealing with information technology.

So we decided that it was necessary to have a minister responsible for information and communication technology.”

And last Thursday evening, as the estimates of the 2016 Budget were being discussed, the Ministry was allocated $821M after much scrutiny from the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), particularly Irfaan Ali, former Housing Minister with responsibility for tourism.

Given the fact that the Ministry is a relatively new one, current expenditure had

Communications Technology (ICT) sector in Guyana. Ac-

secured the bulk of a total of $785M while $36M will be directed towards capital expenditure. Of the $785M, $30M will be channelled towards Guyana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, which have already been awarded some $300M. IT CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE Meanwhile, under capital expenditure, it was revealed

by Minister Hughes that the Government plans to establish an Information Technology (IT) Centre of Excellence as one of several new projects that will be implemented to enhance the Information

Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes cording to Hughes, $10M will be spent on this new project.

She further explained that the centre will provide training for public sector ICT professionals to ensure the availability of an appropriate and highly skilled ICT workforce, equipped with healthy attitudes to meet the increasingly complex demands of the public and private sectors.

“We must, as a national imperative, utilise ICT to improve the delivery of Government services to all our citizens. We must be able to process our various applications online quickly and get immediate responses to our queries via electronic and live helpdesks. Visits to Government offices to collect a form and having to return to drop it off must become a thing of the past,” the Minister told the National Assembly.

She added that in an attempt to support widespread access to information and E-Governance services, Government will spend a further $100M to repair and upgrade the Georgetown–Linden Fibre Optic Cable.

In keeping with this thrust to expand broadband connectivity and the integration of ministries, Government will also invest $140M to consolidate, monitor, maintain and extend the existing E-Governance fibre optic and LTE (Long-Term Evolution) network around Georgetown and along the coast from Moleson Creek in Region Six, East Berbice, Corentyne to Charity in Region Two, Pomeroon/ Supenaam.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 22, 2016

Region 10 fraud probe still active

By Vanessa Braithwaite

THE investigation into the financial discrepancies found in the 2015 auditor’s report is still ongoing as officers of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) are trying to ascertain the facts regarding what was unearthed in the report.

This information was disclosed by Regional Chairman Renis Morian at the February statutory meeting. He told the members at the meeting that

the investigation by persons from the Office of the Auditor General, SARU and two police officers is still active and temporary staff have been employed in the interim while the investigation is being concluded.

Meanwhile, Deputy Regional Executive Officer Maylene Charter-Stephen told those at the meeting that the officers being investigated have not been dismissed, so staff have been employed on a temporary basis.

She was responding to a question raised by Councillor Charles Sampson, who asked whether Linden is not equipped with qualified persons to fill the position, rather than recruiting persons from Georgetown.

Upon completion of the investigation, the three employees who were placed on station bail could face serious legal consequences, depending on the findings.

Regional Executive Officer Gavin Clarke, at the pre-

- employees not yet relieved of duties vious statutory meeting, read in part correspondence sent to him by SARU, which outlined the legal penalties that will face those found guilty of fraud against the State.

“An official who falsifies any account, statement, receipt or records; or conspires or colludes with any person to defraud the State, is guilty of an indictable offence and

was brought to the attention of the requisite officials and even Cabinet ministers in the previous administration.

He said nothing came out of these reports, and the officers involved returned to work without closure in the matter.

Former Regional Chairman Mortimer Mingo, who served the RDC for two terms, told this publication that he, too, discov-

the work was not completed, not only in Linden but in the Berbice River,” she revealed.

Minister Patterson said that Mingo was a very proactive Regional Chairman who presented evidence to the relevant authorities on several occasions. She also revealed that the councillors were forced to move a no-confidence motion against the

Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian

Former Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon

Former Region 10 Chairman Mortimer Mingo

ered fraud on several occasions during his tenure and brought it to the attention of the Auditor General, Public Accounts Committee and even the then Minister of Local Government.

former Regional Executive Officer Henry Rodney.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, however, responded that he alone had the authority to remove the REO, since he appointed him, and the councillors were forced to work with the REO under such circumstances.

She said that no attention was paid to these acts of skullduggery, and the staff continued to get involved in fraud. “They continued to misappropriate the funds, continued to give incorrect reports even at the level at the REO,” she said.

In light of the present fraud investigation, Regional Executive Officer Gavin Clarke has pledged to expose any employee or contractor under his watch who is engaged in fraudulent activities against the State.

He said his job is to ensure proper management of the State’s assets and funds, and he will make it his mandate to ensure those assets are not abused or misused.

“I am not here on any hustle, and I will make it my duty to ensure that persons under my watch remain in full compliance with what should be done the right way,” he said.

The Regional Chairman, in agreement with the stance of the Regional Executive Officer to be free from corruption, will be proceeding with whatever action is recommended by the Assets Recovery Unit.

is liable to a fine of $2M and imprisonment of three years,” the correspondence is quoted as stating.

Morian has already revamped the Public Works Department in which the alleged skullduggery was most prevalent. One of the measures being enacted is that officers within the department should not hold blank contracts with the signatures of contractors penned on them.

It is reported that contractors are claiming that they had never placed their signatures on any contract.

In addition, he said that the Clerk of Works must perform regular site inspections so as to decrease the level of irregularities noticed during the REO’s final inspection.

NOTICEABLE OVERPAYMENTS According to the report, there have been noticeable overpayments for contracts that are non-existent or have not been completed. In addition, the quality of the work done does not reflect the payments made.

The Regional Chairman told the Guyana Chronicle that these malpractices are a cause for much worry, and it seems that it had been happening for some time under the tenure of the previous administration.

Echoing similar views is former Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon, who served in that capacity for three years. During his tenure, he said, the highest level of corruption was unearthed and

NOT SURPRISED He said that he is not surprised over this present fraud investigation as it is an old issue being brought to the fore.

“On numerous occasions there was overpayment for work that was not done, and this was brought to the fore by me and the Works Committee and no action was taken,” he said. Mingo said that concrete evidence of fraud was revealed by the audit report and nothing was done about it by the relevant authorities responsible for sanctioning the officers involved.

He recommends that genuine persons need to be employed to oversee the entire process and make sure that the officers comply with the rules and regulations of the RDC. Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valarie Patterson, who served as a Regional Councillor during the Chairmanship of Mingo from 2001-2011, said there were several irregularities identified by the Office of the Auditor General year after year.

“There have been fraudulent actions, misappropriations of monies, projects where contractors were fully paid off and 20 per cent of

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 22, 2016

Street vendors of pesticides will be prosecuted

By Navendra Seoraj

THE Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB) has announced that street vending of pesticides is illegal.

The Board, via a newspaper advertisement, announced that “street vending of pesticides is illegal, given that these poisons are very dangerous to the environment and human health, especially children and the elderly”.

Over the years, street vendors could be seen hawking packets of pesticides, making poisonous substances readily available to members of the public.

However, this practice has proven detrimental on many occasions, because persons were allowed to gain easy access to these substances.

In speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, some

street vendors said that this restriction will put a damper on their business, but they welcomed the initiative and indicated that they will comply with the laws.

The Board has sternly warned vendors to desist from selling these poisonous substances, noting that “vendors who are caught will be prosecuted”.

Late last year, according to reports, PTCCB Registrar Trecia David disclosed that the fight against illegal pesticides and chemicals was ever present, but in recognition of the fact that Guyana has porous borders, the decision was made to tackle the problem in additional ways.

David stated that the Board embarked on a campaign designed to notify the public of the pesticide products that are considered illegal.

According to her, the campaign targeted the mar-

Crum-Ewing hit

Kwame McCoy to appear in court today FORMER Press and Publicity Officer in the Office of the President under the PPP Government, Kwame McCoy, is expected to make a court appearance today at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to face charges pertaining to the murder of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing.

McCoy was arrested almost a week ago after he submitted himself to police at the Criminal Investigations Department, Eve Leary.

McCoy was detained days after his former personal aide and fellow PPP member, Jason Abdulla, was arrested by the police in connection with investigations into Crum-Ewing’s murder.

Also in police custody is self-confessed death squad member Sean Hinds, who Kwame McCoy was arrested last Tuesday.

Crum-Ewing was shot dead on the evening of March 10, 2015 at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, where he was urging residents to vote against the PPP/C at the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

He was shot five times, including three times to the head.

For weeks prior to his death, he had held a one-man protest outside the office of the then Attorney General Anil Nandlall, calling for his resignation over controversial statements he made during a telephone conversation with a Kaieteur News reporter that was made public.

Police have already charged Reagan Rodrigues, called ‘Grey Boy,’ for the murder. But investigators were always convinced that others were involved in the hit on Crum-Ewing.

ket environs and street vendors with a particular focus on vendors of rat bait, which does not generally have labels.

In some cases, these poisonous substances were placed close to fruits and other edible items which persons purchase on a daily basis.

While pesticides and toxic chemicals have to go through a registration process with the Pesticide Board, illegal pesticides do not go through this process, so the components and toxicity of the products are not known.

The PTCCB, created under the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Act 2000, Part III, Section 7, is responsible for managing the manufacture, importation, transport, storage, vending and usage of toxic chemicals.

The Board mandates that all toxic chemicals imported on or before December 31 of every year be registered in order to be approved for importation from January 1 next. The registered products are then documented on the official listing for registered toxic chemicals.

Among the items required for registration are original draft labels in English, a safety data sheet comprising the formula used in the product, a description of the tests done and the results. An application for registration of a pesticide or toxic chemical, addressed to the PTCCB Registrar, is also required.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 22, 2016

Patterson plugs holistic housing development

By Rabindra Rooplall

GOVERNMENT will take a holistic approach to housing development as opposed to random allocation of house lots, according to

Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Adams-Patterson This was disclosed at a consultative workshop on a National Housing Profile for

– as opposed to random allocations

Guyana at Cara Lodge last Thursday.

Present at the event were UNDP Representative Khad-

A section of the gathering at the consultative workshop on a National Housing Profile for Guyana at Cara Lodge

ija Musa; Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Adams-Patterson; CEO, Central Planning and Housing Authority (CHPA), Myrna Pitt; Chairman of CHPA, Hamilton Green; Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Dawn Hastings-Williams; UN housing consultant, Dr Graham Tipple; and stakeholders’ representatives.

“We have argued that housing development must be part of a planned development of settlements, and we have made a commitment to reduce and eventually eradicate unplanned housing development, particularly along the coastland,” the Housing Minister noted.

She said further that the right to adequate housing is a universal right, and whatever a person’s position in society, they need to live in peace, harmony and a healthy environment.

“As minister, I am particularly concerned of the opportunity housing affords. I want to improve the living standards of households of no or low affordability…. Adequate housing will help this category of persons to meaningfully commence the journey away from poverty,” Minister Adams-Patterson explained.

STRATEGIC HOUSING Underscoring that the Government is aiming for strategic housing planning, Minister Adams-Patterson said previously a house lot was issued to someone and in many cases they were unable to access the lot because of its location in an undeveloped community or scheme that has no proper infrastructure.

“We are not just going to give you a house lot, but we

Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Adams-Patterson will give you a plot of land with roads, drainage, electricity and water.”

There will also be plans for hinterland development, the Housing Minister said, and there will be no bias in Guyana’s developmental pattern, which requires a sound understanding of the sector.

Underscoring that the programme is timely and stakeholder participation is important, the minister noted that everyone attending the workshop should have a meaningful input.

“I do hope that this initiative sets the stage for many more such collaborations and collaborative efforts to improve conditions in Guyana’s settlement sector. I do appreciate that a study of this sector will take time and will be challenged by data availability issues…” she noted.

Meanwhile, Pitt said it is envisaged that the National Housing Profile will provide special Government financing scenarios aimed at providing adequate solutions for low, moderate income and vulnerable households, in addition to an analysis of the financial sector and options available for financing and assessment of ease of access loans linked to the ability to occupy house lots.

CITY PLANNING UNDP Representative Musa said there needs to be city planning to build a proper community to enhance the lives of the populace.

The UN envoy explained that Guyana’s housing structures are based on family-based homes, but with the new generation, “young people who cannot afford to buy a house, build a house, or rent a house-which will be a lot more expensive-require diversification in the types of housing. Young professionals who just started working, couples who do not have children, and the growing population need different types of housing.”

Musa further explained that many people continue to live at home with their parents because they cannot afford a house. The diversification in apartment buildings and condominiums give people a choice, depending on their needs.

He added that Guyana is a privileged country with vast land space and the need to formulate a plan on what cities will be built is absolutely crucial.

“The damage that was done before in city planning or the lack thereof will have to be dealt with…,”he said.

Massive clean-up for Region 6

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 22, 2016

THE spirit behind the cleaning and greening of Georgetown should become manifest in all communities in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) with urgency.

This call was made by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister in Region Six, Gobin Harbhajan, during a meeting with public health officials operating in the region earlier this week.

Harbhajan said that the people in Georgetown had done a remarkable job in ridding the city of its garbage heaps and unsightly drains.

He said he was confident that with the required involvement of everyone, the people in Region Six could do the same.

The meeting of public health officials was held at the office of the Port Mourant Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and those present were officers

from both the East Bank of Berbice and the Corentyne Coast.

Head of the Health Department in Region Six, Marvin Dindyal, disclosed that the department was currently involved, as a matter of priority, in an anti-mosquito drive, which includes fogging and lot inspections to detect breeding places for mosquitoes.

PROSECUTION He said that persons who keep their yards in an untidy condition or have stagnant drains or overhanging bushes on their houses are being issued with warning cards, giving them time to cleanup; but their failure to do so would lead to prosecution.

The department is also compiling a list of unoccupied lots which are overgrown with weeds and bushes, mainly because

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant, Gobin Harbhajan their owners reside overseas.

Those who are overseas and make no provision for cleaning of their

yards will have to clean these yards when they show up to pay their rates and taxes.

Harbhajan told the officials that sanitation in communities and such places as restaurants, bars, markets and culverts was a matter of ongoing concern among public-spirited citizens within the region.

He observed that yards overgrown with bushes in particular were being used by criminals, either as hiding places from which they would pounce on unsuspecting residents or as hiding places prior to escaping after committing crimes.

He said that the Office of the Prime Minister would strongly support initiatives to eliminate these problems.

He suggested also that given the wide geographic spread of the region, it would be useful for the Public Health De-

partment officers to receive training in information technology so that they can communicate more effectively in coordinating their work of ensuring compliance with

the Public Health Ordinance by citizens within the region.

He pledged that the Office of the Prime Minister would seek to assist them in this regard.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 22, 2016

Six more graduate from Sterling’s literacy programme

IN keeping with the need to aid in the creation of an educated and well-versed workforce, Sterling Products Limited (SPL) on Thursday last graduated a new batch of staffers as part of its literacy programme.

The simple graduation ceremony was held in the company’s board room and was attended by various company executives, officials from the Ministry of Education, and the Clerical and Commercial Workers’ Union

(CCWU).

Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Ramsay Ali, during his address, encouraged the graduates to pursue their studies.

“We have success stories in terms of how some employees would have moved from the basic training to university level, and that is something we are very proud of… you are finished now, so at least you will have a basic knowledge of Math, English, writing etc. I want to encour-

from left to right: The six graduates of the Sterling Products Limited Literary Programme; Assistant Chief Education Officer Leslyn Charles; and third from right in the last row, Sterling Product Limited CEO Ramsay Ali age you, don’t let’s stop here,” he said.

Ali explained that, over a number of years, the company noticed a gap between the qualifications of some employees and job requirements; hence, approximately seven years ago, the initiative was taken to start the programme.

The CEO assured the graduates that SPL will provide support to those desirous of studying further.

“We have one person who went through the system and went on to university… we supported him right through.

So much so, he has just applied for a job as a senior person in the company and we are considering him.”

Ali highlighted the courage it takes for some persons to accept the need to become literate, and congratulated the graduates for taking the first step toward becoming literate.

WORTHY INVESTMENT Ann Anderson of CCWU highlighted the importance of a company willingness to invest in education for its

employees. She pointed out the philanthropy behind Sterling’s initiative, stating that the company ensures that employees are paid their full salaries while being given time off to study.

Employees who are a part of the literacy programme are even provided with free text books by the company.

Assistant Chief Education Officer Leslyn Charles was pleased to see the graduates of the programme being men.

She congratulated them for taking a step toward learning. Charles then shared a brief lesson on literacy as she encouraged the graduates to further their studies.

Head of the Literacy Unit, Paul Williams, opined that literacy in a country is directly related to development, as he congratulated Sterling Products for taking the initiative to promote literacy in its work environment.

Mark Forde, one of the six graduates, expressed a great desire to continue his studies.

He said being a part of Sterling’s Literacy Programme has positively impacted his life.

“It has really motivated

me to become a better person in life, because I never got the opportunity to get an education,” he stated.

Colyn Sam posited that the literacy programme has given him what he was robbed of as a child growing up in a single parent home, and he is excited to continue learning.

Sterling’s Literacy Programme follows guidelines as per the ‘Grass-Track’ initiative by the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) and focuses on Reading and Math.

Upon entry into the company, employees’ levels of education are accessed based on information provided on their job applications. While SPL does not hire persons who have not completed primary education, recommendations are made for specific persons to undergo its literacy programme. After this initial stage, the recommended persons are screened, which helps the company to better determine a person’s education level and will ultimately allow company officials to make a final decision of referring persons to join its literacy class.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 22, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 22, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 22, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday February 22, 2016

Burns, Smith centuries put Australia in charge

By Greg Stutchbu

CHRISTCHURCH, (Reuters)-Joe Burns and Steve Smith capitalised on perfect batting conditions to score centuries as Australia reduced New Zealand’s lead to just seven runs at the end of day two of the second Test yesterday.

Neil Wagner dismissed both batsmen in identical fashion in the final half-hour to give his side some late reward for a day of toil under a cloudless Christchurch sky.

“Obviously the two wickets at the end helped us and were quite crucial,” Wagner told reporters. “A bit of luck for us that we’ve been trying to get all day and obviously got us back into a bit of a better position at the end of the day.

“Six wickets to get is still a long way, a lot of hard work to do and a bit of focus tomorrow on making that happen.”

Burns, who had been dismissed early in his innings only to have the decision overturned on review, was well caught low down by Martin Guptill at square leg for 170, his highest Test score and third century.

Smith also fell to a short ball in Wagner’s next over for 138, his 14th test century, caught by the same fielder.

Adam Voges was on two with nightwatchman Nathan Lyon on four as the visitors ended the day 363 for four, having all but mowed down New Zealand’s first innings 370.

Having won the opener in Wellington comprehensively, Australia need only

AB de Villiers plunders England bowlers to seal T20 series win J O H A N N E S B U R G , ( R e u t e r s ) - A B d e Vi l l i e r s plundered 71 runs off 29 balls to lead South Africa to a nine-wicket victory over England and wrap up a 2-0 series win in the second Twenty20 International at the Wanderers yesterday.

The tourists were bowled out for 171 in their last over and South Africa reached 172 with 32 balls to spare, wrapping up a comfortable win that stood in contrast to their narrow victory in Friday’s first encounter in Cape Town.

De Villiers broke his own record for the fastest half-century by a South African in a T20 international, trimming the mark from 23 to 21 balls.

Together with Hashim Amla, he enjoyed a first-wicket partnership of 125 to effectively seal victory before he was caught out on the boundary. Amla finished unbeaten on 69.

England were their own worst enemies when Eoin Morgan ran out in-form batsman Alex Hales with the score on 61, but a 96-run partnership between the England captain and Jos Buttler had guided the tourists to 157-3 in the 17th over.

They fell apart, however, when they then lost their last seven wickets for just 14 runs to leave South Africa with a modest target to chase at a ground where high scoring is the norm.

Yesterday’s match ended England’s 10-week tour where they won the four-match test series 2-1 but surrendered a 2-0 lead in the ODI series to lose 3-2, before being beaten in both T20 internationals.

AB de Villiers went off like a train in the the South Africa run chase.

partnership, a record for Australia against New Zealand.

Burns was given out caught behind on 35 but immediately asked for a review and television replays showed the Matt Henry delivery had brushed his forearm and not his gloves.

“I was confident I was not

out. I didn’t change anything the next ball I was facing ... it’s very satisfying,” Burns said of his century.

“I’ve done a lot of work with this tour coming up.

It’ll give me a lot of confidence going forward, you always want to be backing up individual performances.”

SCOREBOARD

Skipper Steven Smith celebrates his hundred with Joe Burns, who also scored a century in their 289-run third wicket partnership. draw in Christchurch to clinch the two-match series and take the number one ranking in Test cricket.

New Zealand’s only other success on a wicket offering

little for the bowlers was when Usman Khawaja fell in the first hour for 24 off paceman Trent Boult.

Burns and Smith then combined in a 289-run third wicket

GBL hosts successful ...

From backpage

on ability and affinity for particular skills, “I am constantly amazed by the talent on display, the players constantly deliver surprises and the competitive spirit is fierce” said Coach Mahipat.

At the end of the day GBL’s President Robin Singh declared it a success as all the participants showed a comprehensive understanding of the game, its rules and regulations.

The girls were urged to continue playing the sport and to put their best effort into making the Kanima’s 21U team.

Try-outs for the team are scheduled for the end of March following which a team of 15 will be chosen to represent Guyana at Baseball Canada’s 21U women’s Invitational in Halifax, Canada.

A try-out day for players in Demerara will be announced shortly.

Jaguars set 405 for victory after Hope, Carter hit centuries BRIDGETOWN – Guyana Jaguars, set 405 for victory, were 52 without loss against Barbados Pride at the close of play on the third day of their seventh round regional Professional Cricket League first-class match at Kensington Oval here Sunday.

Rajendra Chandrika was not out on 28 and Tagenarine Chanderpaul was on 23 as the visitors made an encouraging start to their second innings.

Earlier, Barbados declared their second innings at 320 for four with Shai Hope unbeaten on 114 and Jonathan Carter on exactly 100 not out. They shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 162 runs.

Hope batted for 338 minutes and faced 225 balls while hitting five fours. Carter’s century came off 104 balls in 141 minutes with eight fours and three sixes.

Fast bowler Keon Joseph and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul took two wickets each for 35 and 108 runs respectively.

Scores: Barbados Pride 274 (Kevin Stoute 56 not out, Shamarh Brooks 56, Kraigg Brathwaite 40; Keon Joseph 3-49) and 320-4 declared in 93.2 overs. Guyana Jaguars 190 in 61.5 overs (Leon Johnson 40; Roston Chase 5-27) and 52-0 in 20 overs In other close of play scores on the third day: Hurricanes 327, Volcanoes 323-6, Scorpions 225 and 155 vs Red Force 206 and 113-1.

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings 370 (B. McCullum 145, C. Anderson 72, B. Watling 58) Australia 1st innings (Overnight: 363-4) D. Warner c Guptill b Boult 12 J. Burns c Guptill b Wagner 170 U. Khawaja c B. McCullum b Boult 24 S. Smith c Guptill b Wagner 138 A. Vogesnot out 2 N. Lyon not out 4

Extras (b-4 lb-9) 13 Total (for 4 wickets, 110 overs) 363 Fall of wickets: 1-25 D. Warner,2-67 U. Khawaja,3-356 J. Burns,4-357 S. Smith To bat: M. Marsh, P. Nevill, J. Pattinson, J. Hazlewood, J. Bird Bowling: T. Southee 22 - 4 - 71 – 0, T. Boult 24 - 5 - 85 – 2, M. Henry 27 - 6 - 88 – 0, C. Anderson 12 - 1 - 32 – 0, N. Wagner 20 - 4 - 63 – 2, K. Williamson 5 - 0 - 11 – 0.

Stage set for Mohan Memorial Cup THE stage is set for tomorrow’s Mohan Memorial Cup four-team Under-19 cricket tournament, set for the C-3 Park, Cotton Tree, West Bank, Berbice.

The competition, which also features a fun-day, is being held as part of the efforts to resuscitate the club, which was formed in conjunction with the Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club (HACC), based in Toronto, Canada.

Long-standing president of HACC, Narchand “Archie” Mohan is also using the occasion to commemorate the fifth death anniversary of his mother Kuntie Mohan.

HACC) was formed more than 20 years ago in Canada while the youth club was also simultaneously established at the same time at Mohan’s birth place at Cotton Tree Village, but unlike the club in Canada, the latter never fully get off the ground.

Spurred by his team’s unprecedented feats in Canada, which saw them winning the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) Premiere League tournament for six consecutive years, Mohan decided to resuscitate the youth club here.

The teams to be in contention are HACC under-19, Blairmont Blazers, DeEdward and West Berbice Achievers. The action starts at 10.00 am.

Several trophies and cash incentives will be up for grabs, including man-of-the-match in the final and other outstanding players and among the sponsors on board are HACC, Mohan Contracting Inc, Trophy Stall, Iqbal Construction, R&R Auto, T&M Enterprise and Jusmat Inc. Among the players expected to be on show for the HACC under-19 team is Leonardo Seetayah who had the astonishing figures of five for four in a losing cause, playing for Cotton Tree Diehard against Blairmont Community Centre in the Elizabeth Style sponsored under-19 tournament.

On Saturday, proprietor of Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich handed over part of the sponsorship trophies to Mohan at his business place at South Road and Bourda Street, continuing his fine gesture of promoting sports in Guyana.

Meanwhile, the HACC team will come from: L. Seetayah, D. Samuels, A. Shewtahal, A. Khalid, Keran Arjune, Kishan Arjune, F. Gaffoor, H. Singh, A. Hemra, S. Ramah, A. Khan, R. Critchlow, M. Sibdhanny, D. Bishun, and C. Hamchandra. Manager is Nigel Seetayah, who is also the president of the club while the coach is Iqbal Alli.

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 22, 2016

Infantino, Sexwale to visit Robben Island today

By Simon Evans

LONDON, |(Reuters)-FIFA presidential candidate Gianni Infantino will round off his election campaign with a visit to Robben Island, the former apartheid-era prison in South Africa, a source close to the Swiss’s campaign told Reuters yesterday.

Infantino, general secretary of the European football federation UEFA, is seeking African support in his bid to replace Sepp Blatter at the helm of world football’s governing body.

Infantino and Asian

Tokyo Sexwale

Gianni Infantino Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh

Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain appear to be the frontrunners for Friday’s election, to be held in Zurich, Switzerland.

Salman has won the backing of the African Football Confederation’s (CAF)

Chelsea crush weakened City in FA Cup, Spurs knocked out | By Martyn Herman LONDON, (Reuters)-Chelsea exploited Manchester City’s decision to field a weakened team by romping to a 5-1 win in the FA Cup fifth round yesterday as they joined London rivals West Ham United and Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals.

Second-half goals by Willian, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and Bertrand Traore, after the teams went into the break level at 1-1, underlined Chelsea’s dominance over a side keeping their powder dry for Wednesday’s Champions League tie at Dinamo Kiev.

City, who play Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley next Sunday, have now lost three matches in a row.

Chelsea face a stiffer task in the next round away to Everton who they beat in the 2009 FA Cup final.

Crystal Palace’s reward for a 1-0 win at Premier League title-chasers Tottenham Hotspur was a plumb away tie with second-tier Reading who shocked top flight visitors West Bromwich Albion 3-1 on Saturday.

West Ham United will next visit Manchester United or third-tier Shrewsbury Town after crushing Championship side Blackburn Rovers 5-1 away -- Dimitri Payet and Emmanuel Emenike scoring two goals apiece as both teams finished with 10 men.

Modest Shrewsbury host Louis van Gaal’s United today.

If holders Arsenal beat

Hull City in a replay, after being held at home by the Championship leaders on Saturday, they will welcome fellow London side Watford.

MULTIPLE CHANGES Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini had threatened to sacrifice the FA Cup by making multiple changes, even saying in midweek he would not buy a ticket if he was City fan.

He was as good as his word with six teenagers starting against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Five players -- Manu Garcia, Aleix Garcia, Tosin Adarabiyo, Bersant Celina and David Faupala -- made debuts as the likes of Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Raheem Sterling were rested.

Faupala cancelled out Diego Costa’s headed opener before halftime but the visitors could not hold out after the break.

Pellegrini had criticised the Cup schedule, which gave City less recovery time for their last 16 first-leg clash in Kiev.

“We were forced to select that team,” he told the BBC. “We knew it was a difficult chance to carry on in the FA Cup. We cannot do anything more.”

Chelsea’s interim manager Guus Hiddink is eyeing a repeat of his feat in 2009 when they won the trophy by beating Everton in the Dutchman’s last game in charge in his first caretaker spell.

With the much-maligned Hazard returning to

form -- crossing for Costa’s opener, assisting in Willian’s effort and curling in a free kick -- Chelsea could even afford a missed Oscar penalty.

“Manchester City made changes but that doesn’t make it easy because the youngsters that came in were dangerous,” Hiddink told the BBC. HERO KELLY One week after Tottenham won at Manchester City to move up to second in the Premier League, they suffered their first defeat in nine matches to a goal by Palace defender Martin Kelly’s on the stroke of halftime at White Hart Lane.

Kelly beat Spurs keeper Michel Vorm with a powerful near-post shot to put Palace in the last eight for the first time since 1995.

West Ham are sniffing a first major trophy since winning the FA Cup in 1980 after recovering from an early jolt when Ben Marshall’s low shot put Rovers ahead.

Victor Moses equalised and Payet’s delightful free kick put the Hammers ahead at the interval before they raced away. Payet completed the rout with a fine solo goal after on-loan Nigerian Emenike grabbed a brace.

Blackburn’s Chris Taylor was sent off after 55 minutes for a second yellow card while West Ham’s Cheikhou Kouyate was red-carded for a trip late on.

executive committee, but his Swiss rival has been working hard to try to attract the votes of the continent’s national football associations.

Infantino will visit the prison today with South Africa’s Tokyo Sexwale, another election candidate and a former political prisoner on Robben Island alongside Nelson Mandela.

The two other candidates in the election are former

FIFA deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne of France and Jordanian Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein.

Infantino already appears to have widespread backing in Europe and has been promised support from South and Central American countries.

The FIFA vote takes place amid a corruption crisis that has seen 41 individuals and entities including top

FIFA officials indicted by U.S. prosecutors for offences including corruption, fraud and money laundering.

Swiss authorities are also investigating FIFA, while the organisation’s own Ethics Committee has banned a number of senior officials including Blatter, UEFA president Michel Platini and former FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke for ethics violations.

Parker fires Bucks past Hawks

The Sports Xchange) - Jabari Parker is starting to come into his own.Parker scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, lifting the Bucks past the inconsistent Atlanta Hawks 117-109 in double overtime on Saturday at Philips Arena.

Picked second overall by Milwaukee in the 2014 NBA Draft, Parker suffered a season-ending knee injury last December that curtailed his rookie year. Like the rest of the Bucks, he has been inconsistent for much of this season, but posted his second straight double-double on Saturday.

Point guard Michael Carter-Williams scored six straight points to open the second overtime, putting the Bucks up 111-105 with 3:21 to play. Atlanta didn’t score in the first four minutes of the second overtime, as the Milwaukee lead grew to 10.

Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo had a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter, and forward Greg Monroe was productive in his new reserve role with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Atlanta point guard Dennis Schroder had a big game

Atlanta Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha (25) loses the ball to the defence of Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) during the second half at Philips Arena.

The Bucks defeated the Hawks 117-109 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dale... with 25 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. He hit a high-arching floater over Parker with three seconds left to send the game into overtime, tied 94-94.

Forward Paul Millsap finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds for the Hawks (31-26), who lost at home for the second straight night.

Milwaukee (23-33) led

Notable Dates

ANDREW Murray, a southpaw welterweight was on an 11 fight winning streak when he met Puerto Rican Moises Rivera at the Cliff Anderson on February 22, 1994. Murray, managed by Odinga Lumumba picked up the World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedelatin title via a seventh round Technical Knock Out (TKO).

Murray became a professional in 1990 and would win the vacant Commonwealth title three years later. In August 1995 he challenged WBA champion Ike Quartey but lost by TKO in round four.

Moving up from welterweight to junior middleweight Murray shocked the boxing world when he crushed then world rated Michael Covington with a single blow in round three of a scheduled ten-rounder.

It took a single punch to lay Covington flat in the ring at the Foxwoods Resort, in Connecticut, USA on November 5, 1999.

So devastating was the 28-year-old Murray, that the internationally respected Ring Magazine rated his victory as one of the best knockouts of the year.

Murray would have four more fights before being involved in a fatal car accident on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway on January 26, 2002. He was 30 years old.

75-68 heading into the fourth q u a r t e r. A t l a n t a g u a r d Kyle Korver hit a pair of three-pointers to open the fourth, and Millsap hit an inside bucket that put the Hawks ahead 82-81 lead with seven minutes left in regulation.

Atlanta point guard Jeff Teague hurt his left shoulder midway through the third quarter. Teague tied up Antetokounmpo underneath the basket, but came out of the scrum in pain and went straight back to the locker room with his right arm hanging at his side.

Teague was forced to come back out of the locker room for the jump ball, but was immediately taken back out of the game. He remained on the bench and re-entered the game midway through the fourth quarter, but did not play in the overtimes.

One day after surrendering 115 points in a loss to the depleted Miami Heat, the Hawks’ defense had trouble slowing down a Milwaukee team ranked near the bottom in the NBA in points per game. The Bucks started hot, shredding the defence and jumping out to an 18-9 lead, while getting layups, dunks and uncontested jumpers during a 31-point first quarter.

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday February 22, 2016

Bakewell renews sponsorship of RHTYSC teams for 17th consecutive year

THE Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) has seen the renewal of its contract with Bakery giants, Bakewell for the seventeen consecutive year.

The Georgetown based business giant would be pumping $230,000.00 in the Club’s Under 17 and Second Division teams for 2016.

Bakewell will also during the year, co-sponsor the RHTYSC annual youth magazine, annual cricket academy, annual awards ceremony, charity outreach programmes, educational summer camp and sponsor the annual Naem Nasir 5 overs Memorial cricket

tournament.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster hailed Bakewell as one of RHTYSC main foundation of success and describe the Company as one the Club’s best friends.

Quoting former Patron of the Club, MS. Beverly Harper, the long standing Secretary/ CEO stated that the RHTYSC was a small Club from a small community doing great things and creating miracles.

Bakewell, Foster stated has been sponsoring the two teams since the year 2000 and over the years have won a combined eight Berbice Championships and numerous local tourna-

Bakewell Administrative Assistant Ms. Natasha Bhikhari hands over sponsorship to RHTYSC Club Captain Shawn Perriera

ments.

The Second Division team is currently waiting to play the semi-finals of the NBS 40 overs tournament while the Under 17 team is also waiting for the long delayed Under 17 Berbice wide quarter finals.

General Manager of Bakewell, Rajin Ganga stated that Bakewell has never regretted its sponsorship of the Club and has watched on in admiration as the RHTYSC has transformed itself as the leading youth and sports organisation in Guyana.

The Bakewell brand has received major promotion

via the cricket teams and he offered congratulations to the RHTYSC on being awarded a national award – The Medal of Service by the Government of Guyana for its outstanding contribution to the development of our beloved country.

The Bakewell under-17 team in 2016 will be led by national junior cricketer Kevlon Anderson with Keith Simpson as his deputy, while Major James Fraser leads the Second Division team with Anderson as his deputy.

Keith Hicks and Ravindranauth Kissoonlall will perform the duties of Manager.

Ronaldo misses penalty as Madrid teams falter

By Rex Gowar

(Reuters)-CRISTIANO Ronaldo missed a penalty as Real Madrid and neighbours Atletico were held to draws yesterday leaving Barcelona with an eight-point lead at the top of La Liga and 13 matches left.

Third-placed Real, who took the lead with a Ronaldo header, were pegged back in a 1-1 draw at Malaga and are nine points adrift in the race to try and halt Barca's progress towards a second successive title and sixth in eight seasons.

Atletico, one point closer to Barcelona in second spot, could only manage a dour 0-0 draw at home to Villarreal.

Barcelona, who won 2-1 at Las Palmas on Saturday, have 63 points to Atletico's 55 and 54 for Real before the Madrid derby at the Bernabeu next Saturday.

Spanish media headlines sounded the death knell for Real's title hopes, saying they

had kissed the La Liga crown goodbye.

Ronaldo put Real ahead when he rose unmarked but in an offside position to head a Toni Kroos free kick over Carlos Kameni in the 33rd minute for his 22nd league goal this season.

He was denied a second goal three minutes later as Kameni dived to his left to save Ronaldo's spot kick after the Portuguese forward was brought down by Weligton.

Malaga scored a deserved equaliser in the 66th minute when central defender Raul Albentosa, unmarked in the middle of the box, volleyed home a cross from the left.

GREAT TEAM "Malaga are a great team, they made it tactically difficult.

Today we failed but we won't surrender, we'll fight to the end," Real left back Marcelo said.

"The draw tastes like a defeat."

The home side would not have been flattered with a vic-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday February 22, 2016) 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) 233 (2) 0 Today’s Quiz: (1) Where and when did Jamaican Uton Dowe play his final Test?

(2) How many times the WI have played to ties in One Day Internationals?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Cristiano Ronaldo

tory as Real were indebted to goalkeeper Keylor Navas who twice denied Charles, Juanpi and Duje Cop. Kameni also made saves from Sergio Ramos and Jese but Malaga were the more cohesive team and Real missed the thrust of a centre forward with Karim Benzema absent through injury.

The only consolation for visiting coach Zinedine Zidane was that the draw at least extended his unbeaten run in his new job to eight matches in both La Liga and the Champions League.

"We did a good job, you can see teams find it hard to score against us," said Albentosa, who

is on loan at Malaga from English Championship (second-tier) side Derby County.

"Our objective is still survival (in the top flight), fight in all our matches and get all the points we can."

Malaga are 12th on 31 points, 10 above the relegation zone but have been caught by Valencia after Gary Neville's team won 2-1 at Granada for a second successive league win.

"We've had a fantastic week, three matches three wins," said Valencia midfielder Daniel Parejo, who opened the scoring, as he included Thursday's 6-0 Europa League rout of Rapid Vienna.

Barbados in support of Schoolboys tournament BARBADOS became the third CARICOM nation to signal their intention of participating at the first International Schoolboys and Juniors tournament set for the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in April.

Secretary of the Barbados Boxing Association Kathy Harper-Hall made the disclosure via email to Guyana Amateur Boxing Association president Steve Ninvalle late last week.

The size of the Bajan contingent would be known later. Barbados joins St Lucia and Jamaica as the other

Secretary of the Barbados Boxing Association Kathy Harper -Hall two countries confirmed to send teams to Guyana for the two-day event.

At present Trinidad and Tobago is the only invited country yet to respond.

The Schoolboys and Juniors tournament is planned for April 29 and 30. It was organised following a meeting of regional boxing administrators held here in November, where emphasis on boxing’s nursery was highlighted.

The regional administrators pointed out then that the region has no competition for schoolboys and juniors and a call was made for more focus on that department. Four years ago, the Demerara Distillers

Limited, through its Pepsi brand commenced sponsorship of the GABA Under-16 competition.

Since Guyana already had the Schoolboys’ structure in place hosting of the International competition was a natural progression Ninvalle said . GABA has named a team of 40 young fighters, including three females to train for the April. Most of the boxers are graduates of the DDL competition.

Local Three Start coach Sebert Blake has already been appointed Head Coach of the young squad.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday February 22, 2016

Mitchell says U-19s success a credit to the region

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell says the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has failed to properly address the development of players at youth level, and has dismissed the idea that the success of West Indies youth teams can be attributed to them alone.

Mitchell, the head of CARICOM’s prime ministerial subcommittee on cricket, said much of the youth development had taken place at the country level where various governments had “invested millions

of dollars” in order to channel the abilities of players.

West Indies captured the region’s first-ever global Under-19 title last Sunday when they beat India Under-19s by five wickets in the final of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh.

“It must be stated that the performance of the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 teams cannot be at the foot of the West Indies Cricket Board,” Mitchell told CMC Sports. his is the result and outcome of serious work being

done at the country level with the young players throughout the region, where the governments have invested millions of dollars in facilities all over the individual countries, in all parts of the countries, and these young people emerged, like Devon Smith and others.”

Previously, West Indies Under-19s’ best finish at a Youth World Cup was reaching the final of the 2004 event, also in Bangladesh, when the Denesh Ramdin-led side lost to eventual champions Pakistan.

They reached the quarter-finals two years later, and even though they failed to qualify for the knockout round in 2008, they rebounded to capture the Plate final with a side that included Darren Bravo.

West Indies Under-19s, with current Test and one day captain Jason Holder, reached the semi-finals in 2010, and quarter-finals berths followed in both 2012 and 2014.

West Indies were also good enough to win the Under-15 Cricket World Cup in 2000.

Under-15 Inter-county cricket

Bowlers set up easy win for Berbice, Demerara whip Essequibo by 109 runs

Aaron Beharry

The West Indies side is elated after getting their hands on the ICC Under-19 trophy.

Sir Viv hails Charles takes Bravo’s spot record-breaking McCullum in World Cup T20 squad

West Indies legend Viv Richards has extended congratulations to Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum for breaking the record for the fastest century in the history of Test cricket.

McCullum was sensational on day one of the second test against Australia, getting to 100 in just 54 deliveries West Indies batting legend Vivian before eventually being disRichards missed for 145 from only 79 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. whatever you would have The record prior to that achieved in life, certainly it was shared between Richards would be you.”

Richards’ 56-ball Test and Pakistan skipper Misbahcentury was in the second ul-Haq on 56 balls.

“Let me take this op- innings against England portunity to congratulate at the St John’s ground in Brendon,” he said. “I’ve Antigua in 1986.

The innings included been a great fan of you for many years. Well done on seven fours and seven sixes and propelled the West your achievement.

“If there was going to be Indies to a 240-run victoan individual who you would ry and 5-0 series sweep. have liked to have surpassed (Sportsmax.com)

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — Attacking batsman Johnson Charles will replace Darren Bravo in the 15-man West Indies squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in India next month, the West Indies Cricket Board confirmed yesterday.

The 27-year-old right-hander has already played 23 T20s for West Indies and was a member of the squad which drew 1-1 in Sri Lanka last November.

He was also a member of the side which won the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka four years ago.

Left-hander Bravo pulled out of the squad last week citing the need to focus on developing his game in the longer format.

He will play for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the regional four-day championship.

West Indies were expected to leave the Caribbean in two batches on Saturday and yesterdayfor a preparation camp in Dubai where they w ill also play two warm-up games against Zimbabwe. Following the camp, they will head to Kolkata on March 7 and clash with India and Australia in official warm-up matches ahead of the March 8 to April 3 tournament.

West Indies have been drawn in Group 1 of the Super 10 stage, where they will play alongside England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and a yet-to-be-determined qualifier.

Squad — Darren Sammy (captain), Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Jerome Taylor.

DEFENDING champions Berbice sent the GCB President’s X1 crashing to an eight-wicket defeat with 16 overs to spare in their round one game of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) sponsored Dave West Indian Exports Guy-NY Inter-county Under-15 tournament.

In the match played yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, off-spinner Aaron Beharry led the way with the ball, claiming 3-21. He was supported by Seon Glasgow (2-26) and Nigel Deodat (2-14). Their combined effort eventually saw the GCB President X1 bowled out for 124 in 45.1 overs.

Despite a friendly looking Bourda pitch, Daniel Dharamdat and Abdul Ramsammy were the only two batsmen to reach double figures with 27 and 20 respectively.

Set a revised target of 105 in 37 overs because of rain, Berbice romped to victory in 21 overs. Carl Gilgeous led the way with 31 while Fawaz Gafoor made 11, the two batsmen to be dismissed.

Jerron France and Man-of-the-Match Glasgow were left unbeaten on 22 and 18 respectively when the target was achieved.

Over at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Demerara whipped Essequibo by 109 runs. Scores; Demerara 256-6, Essequibo in reply reached 147-6. No further scores from the game were made available because the scorebooks were not available.

In tomorrow’s second round, Berbice will play Demerara at DCC and Essequibo clash with the GCB President X1 at Wales.

Seon Glasgow

Mitchell says U-19s success a credit to the region

See Story on Page 23

GBL hosts successful baseball clinic

BASEBALL is alive and thriving in the Ancient County with the Guyana Baseball League (GBL) hosting a successful one day clinic at the Berbice High School ground last Saturday.

The clinic featured 63 girls attending, ranging from ages 12 to 20 and according to Manager of the GBL Women’s baseball programme Onefa George, this exceeded the 55 that originally registered, “We had catered for 55 girls, but the girls kept registering and we could not turn anyone away. Baseball is all about opportunity and I am overjoyed by the turnout,” contended George.

The day began with a short welcome address

by President of the GBL

Part of the action at the GBL Female clinic in Berbice

Jaguars set 405 for victory after Hope, Carter hit centuries

Robin Singh, who thanked participants and parents for taking the important decision to play sport as part of a balanced lifestyle.

The participants were treated to a comprehensive introduction to the sport by a cadre of GBL coaches led by Marvin Mahipat, a one inning demonstration game was played between the Georgetown Bombers and the New Amsterdam Spartans.

This was followed by a series of practice drills of baseball skills, throwing, catching, fielding base running, pitching were done by all under keen direction and observation.

As the morning wore on players were selected for specialization based See Page 20

Stage set for Mohan Memorial Cup

See Story on Page 20

Barbados batsman Shai Hope celebrates his century on the third day of the seventh round match against Guyana Jaguars at Kensington Oval. (WICB photo).

HACC president Narchand “Archie” Mohan receives part of sponsosorship trophies from Trophy Stall proprietor Ramesh Sunich.

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2016