Chronicle 03 13 2016

QUICK FIX No. 104490

SUNDAY MARCH 13, 2016

Price: $140

…bus drivers urge swifter action to pave Linden-Lethem road P.3

Beautiful country life: The Charity Wharf on the Essequibo Coast is abuzz with activities on any given day, but traffic goes into high gear every Monday, which is the designated market day (Tajeram Mohabir photo)

Gov’t reportedly taps Riyad Insanally for U.S. mission

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“It hurts my heart to hear about suicide” ‒ President Granger tells Anna Regina rally P.2

CJIA seeks owner of abandoned jewellery P.9

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

‘It hurts my heart to hear about suicide’ ‒ President Granger tells Anna Regina rally PRESIDENT David Granger has tied the high incidence of suicide and other social ills in Region 2, Pomeroon-Supenaam, to a breakdown in local democracy over the past two decades.

Speaking to Anna Regina residents on Friday, the President said the situation is not limited to Region 2, but all communities across the country are affected.

He emphasised the importance of problem-solving at

President David Granger greeting a resident of Pomeroon-Supenaam during his visit to Anna Regina

During his address in Anna Regina last evening, President David Granger told residents of Pomeroon-Supenaam that they have the right to make decisions that would benefit their own communities

the community level, and called for the strengthening of community policing.

“It hurts my heart to hear about suicide. It pains me to hear about some old widow (being) raped and murdered…there must be better community policing.

The police must know what is going on in the communities…the community policing [groups] must know

what is going on, to protect that person’s life,” he said.

President Granger called on those who would be elected Council members after the much-anticipated Local Government Elections (LGEs) on March 18 to focus on job creation and education, in order to create an educated region and a generation of entrepreneurs who will use the region’s abundant resources to transform it into an economic powerhouse. He also said that education is the key to the reduction of social ills.

“It is your job as members of the Anna Region Town Council to reduce inequalities, so we don’t have extreme poverty…enable the poor to empower themselves, to enrich themselves, especially through education and employment. We want to have more equality. Once there is inequality, you are going to have social problems; you are going to have domination; you are going to have discrimination; you are

going to have exploitation,” he said.

Government, the President vowed, will work with local authorities to ensure that developmental goals are met. He stressed that returning power to the people -- to allow them to manage the affairs of their communities while advancing the development of their regions -- has been Government’s first priority.

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, said that Ministry will ensure that neighbourhood democratic councils (NDCs) and municipalities benefit from institutional strengthening and capacity building programmes. He said government will see to it that councils are not starved of resources, and noted that Central Government will never again usurp the role of local administrative bodies.

“This administration does not believe in dominating all of the power; but it believes in decentralization, and it believes in empowerment, and it believes in handing power to the people,” Bulkan said.

He added that this approach is enshrined in Guyana’s Constitution in order to ensure good governance; and although the holding of LGE comes at a significant cost, it is an important investment.

“The elections that will take place one week from today will represent a victory in the two decades’ struggle for the return to local democracy… It represents a huge investment, but it is

Minister of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan, during his address at Anna Regina

one that this administration is convinced of its necessity; and the price tag that it comes with -- of some $1.3B – represents, as far as this administration is concerned, an investment in deepening the democratic process and returning democracy and handing power to people in our communities, to enable them to manage their own affairs,” the Minister of Communities stated.

Adding to the discourse was Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, who said, “You deserve to be able to sit down around the table with your colleagues and comrades, with your neighbours, to decide how this beautiful town will be developed.”

The President was also accompanied by Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, and Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence. (Ministry of the Presidency)

QUICK FIX

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

…bus drivers urge swifter action to pave Linden-Lethem road

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson

By Ariana Gordon THE Government of Guyana (GoG) has committed to paving the Linden to Lethem road, but minibus drivers and one bus service operator are calling on the administration to move a bit swifter in bringing them relief.

Speaking with Guyana Chronicle on Saturday, minibus driver Garfield Parker said the situation has gotten from bad to worse.

Currently, the worst part of the Linden to Lethem road is between Linden and Mabura.

Parker, who works with Carly’s Bus Service and has been working the Linden to Lethem route since 2003, said the 15-seater buses used to transport passengers to and from Lethem are not made for off-road (duty). “They are made for good roads in those developed countries and so on; paved roads. We take them off-road to some real bad conditions, so automatically the cost of maintenance goes up”, he said.

Parker said bus drivers are doing the best they can, but, unfortunately, the cost of spare parts continues to rise. For every trip made to Lethem or Georgetown, bus drivers are forced to undertake maintenance works on the vehicles.

In February, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo announced government’s intention to pave the Linden to Lethem roadway at

A bus navigates slush on the Linden to Lethem trail

Staff of Carly’s Bus Service, Grace Veras

ed in the rainy season.

Contacted for a comment, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, assured that government is working to correct all of the deficiencies associated with the road. He could not state how much money will be spent on the project, although he noted that a new study is currently being done.

He said plans are in train to rehabilitate the Linden to Mabura road. “We are starting with the Wismar Bridge this year, and the Linden

One of the two big buses owned by Carly’s Bus Service on the Linden-Lethem Trail

the third ‘Public Day’, held at the Tabatinga Community Ground. He said that works on the Linden to Lethem Highway will begin soon, but plans to have the stretch of road paved have been discussed for a number of years. The Linden to Lethem road has, over the years, been undergoing maintenance works, but travel has been badly affect-

road works are going on now…we are importing Laterite and then stabilizing it with cement, so it will withstand the weather,” he explained.

Minister Patterson explained that there are some problem areas in the Linden to Mabura road, and Turn to page 16 ►

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

Disruption at Trump rally as crucial contests near SECRET Service agents rushed to protect U.S. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on stage during a disturbance at a rally on Saturday, a day after rowdy protests shut down his event in Chicago.

Trump briefly ducked at the podium and four Secret Service agents scrambled to surround him after a man apparently broke through a security perimeter near the stage at Dayton International Airport in Ohio. Agents then grabbed the man, dressed in a black tee shirt and jeans, and hauled him away.

His motivation was not immediately clear, and Trump went on to finish his speech, but the incident further increased tension after Trump’s Chicago rally was abandoned amid chaotic scenes on Friday.

Trump’s Republican rivals hurled scorn at the New York billionaire, saying he helped create the nervous atmosphere that is now sweeping the race for the White House with his fiery rhetoric.

Trump blamed supporters of Democratic candidate Ber-

nie Sanders for the incidents in Chicago where scuffles broke out between protesters and backers of the real estate magnate. He called the U.S. senator from Vermont “our communist friend.” The scenes in Chicago follow a series of recent incidents of violence at Trump rallies, in which protesters and journalists have been punched, tackled and hustled out of venues, raising concerns about degrading security leading into the Nov. 8 election.

“All of a sudden a planned attack just came out of nowhere,” Trump said in Dayton, describing the events in Chicago. He called the protest leaders there “professional people”.

Sanders, hit back, describing Trump as “a candidate that has promoted hatred and division.” “As is the case virtually every day, Donald Trump is showing the American people that he is a pathological liar. Obviously, while I appreciate that we had supporters at Trump’s rally in Chicago, our campaign did not organize the protests.”

Democratic front-runner

Hillary Clinton said the rhetoric at Trump’s rallies is of “grave concern” and President Barack Obama told a fundraising event in Dallas, Texas that political leaders “should be trying to bring us together and not turning us

for the nomination. Primaries in Florida and Ohio will be particularly important since they are winner-takeall states, where all Republican delegates are given to the winner of the popular vote instead of being awarded

a Saturday event in Pinellas County on Florida’s central Gulf Coast, saying it had “become reality television.” “Last night in Chicago, we saw images that make America look like a third-world county,” Rubio said, reminding supporters

Secret Service agents surround U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a disturbance as he speaks at Dayton International Airport in Dayton, Ohio, March 12, 2016. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

against one another.”

proportionally.

It will be a make or break day for Republican candidates John Kasich, the governor of Ohio, and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who both must win their home states to forge a credible path forward.

Rubio bemoaned the state of the presidential race during

CRUCIAL PRIMARIES The months-long Republican race may be coming to a head at nominating contests on Tuesday where Trump is seeking victories that might give him an almost insurmountable lead

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the stakes Tuesday are high.

“If Donald Trump is our nominee, it will fracture the Republican Party,” Rubio added. Kasich told journalists before a campaign event in Cincinnati, Ohio, that Trump has created a “toxic environment.”

“And that toxic environment has allowed his supporters,

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and those who seek confrontation, to come together in violence,” he said. “There is no place for a national leader to pray on the fears of the people who live in our great country.”

In a statement, Republican candidate U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas called the Chicago incidents “sad.” Trump has drawn fervent support as well as criticism for his calls to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and to impose a temporary ban on Muslims entering the country.

His rallies often attract small groups of protesters, but Friday’s was the first at which there may have been as many protesters as supporters. Vanderbilt University political scientist John Geer said that the tension on display at Trump’s events are a proxy for what is going on in the electorate writ large. “People have strong reactions to Donald Trump,” Geer said. “They are playing out in the voting booth and they are also playing out at these events.”

Geer said the cancellation would likely embolden Trump’s supporters - an idea floated by Trump in several television interviews. In minor nominating contests on Saturday, Clinton won the Northern Mariana Islands and Republican Cruz won Guam, according to television networks. (Reuters)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

First Caribbean revenue up US$8.3m FIRST Caribbean International Bank, a publicly held Caribbean financial services company based in Barbados, has had a significant improvement in performance for the three months ended January 31, 2016, with net income of US$38.7 million, up from US$26.6 million for the corresponding period last year.

The bank’s total revenue was US$138.2 million, up US$8.3 million or six per cent from the same period in 2015, which CEO Gary Brown said was

“primarily due to lower funding costs, higher loan earnings and higher operating income.”

Commenting on the results, which were posted on the T&T Stock Exchange yesterday, Brown said: “Productive loan growth has started to show some encouraging signs despite economies being slow to recover and sustained credit demand not yet returning to the region. Sustained, profitable growth remains a key priority for the bank.” FirstCaribbean’s operating expenses of US$90.4 million were up by

US$5.3 million from the corresponding period in 2015. Brown said this was “primarily as a result of higher business taxes and project related spend. We continue to benefit from discretionary expense control and ongoing savings from the restructuring program initiated in 2014.”

He added; “Loan loss impairment expense was significantly down by US$11.6 million or 74 per cent compared with the same period in the prior year due to an improving loss experience and loan recovery activ-

ity. “Additionally, non-productive loan balances continue to decline as significant focus is placed on further strengthening the quality of our loan portfolio. “After paying a regular dividend of 2.0 cents (US$0.020) per share along with a special dividend of 6.3 cents (US$0.063) per share in the first quarter, the Bank’s Tier 1 and Total Capital ratios still remain strong at 18.2% and 19.5%, well in excess of applicable regulatory requirements.”

(Trinidad Guardian)

Steel company fires about 700 in Trinidad THE Trinidad and Tobago government has described as a “real tragedy” the decision by ArcelorMittal Point Lisas, a subsidiary of the world’s leading steel and mining company to send home more than 600 employees.

“We want to know what’s the status of the workers’ separation benefits. My understanding is that other creditors may have priority over the payment of benefits to the workers,” Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus said.

The move by the steel and mining company came less than 24 hours after the Industrial Court had ruled against the company and fined it TT$24 000 (One TT dollar =US$0.16 cents) as well as criticising the procedures used in laying off over 500 of its employees last December. President General of the Steel Workers Union (SWUTT) Christopher Henry told reporters that at least 700 workers had been terminated by the company. Henry called for “an immediate intervention” by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, noting that the decision of the company places a “tremendous bur-

den” on the existing state of the local economy. ArcelorMittal in a statement said that it intends to comply with the ruling of the Industrial Court and promised to pay all monies owed to employees, “that they are legally entitled to receive, pursuant to the Judgement of the Court”.

Henry said the move by

try and leave”.

He said the company has offered a month’s salary for workers, “to survive on for the rest of the year”. Baptiste- Primus said she the company filed for insolvency and that she is “in the process of responding to the company to enquire what type of winding up process is this and

been under “severe financial distress” since mid-2015 and that a combination of local and international challenges have resulted in the decision to close.

The company said it has been recording losses since 2009 and that since November last year, the plant has been idle when 480 workers

ArcelorMittal workers on their way to the Industrial Court on Thursday in Port of Spain. (Picture courtesy Trinidad Express) the company is “the fallout of lack of preparation with having legislation in place to protect citizens… the working class, from the capitalist system that allows them (multi-nationals) to be able to come into your country, plunder and rape your coun-

who are its creditors”.

She said the government is developing a ten-point plan which includes liaising with the business community to try and match the skills of laid off workers with available jobs. In its statement, ArcelorMittal said it has

were temporarily laid off.

In addition, the company cited the proposed “major increases” in the price of gas and electricity at a time of falling commodity prices which have rendered production costs uncompetitive.

“Additionally, proposed in-

creases to port rental fees, announced property taxes and business levies have further contributed to the unsustainability of the business. As an export-led business, ArcelorMittal Point Lisas has also been severely impacted by the drop in international steel prices and global overcapacity in steel production,” the statement stated. The company said that it held discussions with the government and other stakeholders in an attempt to find another solution including a

potential sale, or a transfer to the government, but that the discussions have not had a successful outcome.

It said that a creditors’ voluntary wind-up be undertaken as soon as it is legally and operationally practical. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said that the government would seek to intervene on the issue of the recent increase in the rate of borrowing, by invoking statutory powers on the matter. (CMC)

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Sunday Editor

Neil Marks

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

Editorial

International Cooperation

G

UYANA is a member of the international community, and, as a young nation, has played a significant role in influencing principles and decisions at various fora; not forgetting that it has given leadership to the conceptualising and building of the regional integration process upon which CARICOM has been established.

Guyana’s role and influence in the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War need to be remembered.

The nation’s presence in that body assisted in shaping the diplomatic message on the world stage, and aided the protection of this country’s sovereignty, in that it was not wedded to the geopolitical dynamics between the East and West, but secured cooperation on issues and principles.

It was this relationship that enhanced the country’s image and brought with it solidarity on several issues that were in our national interest.

This positioning resulted in Guyana acquiring significant support in the defence of its borders against claims made by our neighbours, Suriname and Venezuela. The country also benefited from technical support, aid and trade from places like the ABC countries, Eastern Europe, Asia and Cuba.

Our participation in the liberation struggles of Southern Africa was clearly defined by us and effectively articulated at the international level, and this played a significant role in bringing an end to apartheid.

That was the period when Foreign Policy was defined and driven by a proficient group of Foreign Service cadres of the ilk of Rashleigh Jackson. Even though Guyana was a young nation, small in size, population and economy, our intellectual prowess was of such that the nation was able to hold its own among others in influencing and developing major strategies on the world stage. International cooperation is premised on universal principles and practices, and the practices will shift based on a nation’s developmental thrust, guided by the principles at the international level.

In recent years, reference has been made to the Green Economy, which has its genesis in a White Paper prepared by a group of British experts in the 1990s. This has since morphed into an international position which describes growth in an economy based on the Human Development Index (HDI). This new model of development has impacted on Guyana. The Green Economy is

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

Former diplomats in the running for top diplomatic posts

Dear Editor, I REFER to the Stabroek News’ March 8th, 2016 editorial titled ‘Diplomatic Appointments’, and wish to say that I am largely in agreement with both the grand observations and the specific concerns posed.

I would, however, like to add some points of clarification, if not correction: Two of the current ambassadors, Mr. George Talbot and Mr. Keith George, are career diplomats who have ‘worked their way up through the ranks’.

Mrs. Esther Griffith, former Chief of Protocol -- who is to be the Consul General in Nickerie, Suriname -- has been in the service for well over twelve

years without ever having previously been posted or heading a mission.

That more new ambassadors have not been chosen from serving officers is attributable to the points you have mentioned about career planning, training, posting abroad, as well as nil or inadequate exposure to the frontline of those at Headquarters.

It may, nonetheless, be helpful for you to note that a number of officers were recently posted abroad at levels just below Heads of Missions (HoM) in preparation for eventual HoM positions. They, like some of those recently recalled, are well on the way to being appointed HoM in the next round, within the next 2-3 years.

Additionally, I am happy to inform

you that Ambassadors-designates Mr. David Hales and Mr. Neville Totaram, the latter who is both a career diplomat and a very long serving Permanent Secretary, will be posted to the Guyana Mission in Brussels.

Finally, among Heads of Missions to be appointed, or for whom agréments have been requested, are a few former members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who returned to contribute to the national struggle after extensive service abroad, or in the region on the diplomatic circuit.

Yours faithfully, CARL B. GREENIDGE Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs

Employ builders from the community Dear Editor, THE construction of the new and bigger Aurora School Building is welcome news, for which the Education Ministry, and by extension the coalition Government, must be commended. It is by far the largest and most important investment made by the current Administration in the community so far.

But the residents of this community have a concern that they feel can and must be addressed urgently, and that concern is that employment opportunities do not exist for labourers, masons, carpenters, and other skilled workers on that construction site.

While residents are cognizant of the fact that the contractor may be the one who has the prerogative to hire and fire, they are also convinced that four, or even three, persons of the eighteen employed there should be from the community.

I was reliably informed that more than two dozen skilled and unskilled persons in the immediate vicinity dili-

gently asked for employment, and none was successful; and they have a right to be very, very concerned.

We will all remember that when the previous Government was using the Guyanese tax payers’ money to build the Marriott Hotel, the contractor, a Chinese company, was refusing to employ Guyanese workers; and this Government, then in Opposition, was very vocal in its criticism, and its members were right.

And while we, the people, have not seen the contract document or the bill of quantities, it is reasonable to expect that persons from the community would be employed.

There are times when we have to put ourselves in other people’s places to be better able to describe their feelings.

Our Government is spending close to one hundred and twenty million dollars on a project in those people’s village, and men with the required skills are asking to be employed and they are being rejected.

It is more that relevant for us to remember that when the previous school

shaped by three pillars, namely: (i) Environment, (ii) Labour policies consistent with the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Core Labour Standards, and (iii) Sustainable development.

Prior to the world embracing this new philosophy, Guyana had distinguished itself as a forerunner. Under the leadership of President H. Desmond Hoyte, Guyana sought to address environmental issues by making Iwokrama available as a model for addressing extraction of our forest and its impact on sustainable development. As the nation continued to play a role in leading the way in defining what the Green Economy ought to be, during the Bharrat Jagdeo presidency, the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) was introduced as another element.

The full implementation and sustainability of the Green Economy is dependent on all international institutions not only publicly recognising the elements of the Green Economy, but beginning the process of measuring growth and development based on HDI. The nation needs to advocate

building was taken down, several persons from the community requested to have materials given to them, that they could make or extend pens for the rearing of poultry, pigs and livestock in order to make a living. Promises were made, but were never fulfilled. It was subsequently unearthed that eighty percent of the materials are still to be accounted for.

There are conflicting or confusing reports pertaining to these materials, and while some may hope that this issue will fade away in time, others are of the view that the more confusing it gets, the more interesting it will be, until the truth is finally known.

Now, to deny experienced and capable people from that area employment is like rubbing salt in a wound. I only hope that good sense and judgement would prevail, for we have voted for a change and not an exchange.

Regards, ARCHIE CORDIS

and agitate that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should change its tools of measuring development. Whereas the growth in the Green Economy must be measured by HDI, and the international financial institutions continue the practice of measuring growth by a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Guyana is once again presented a scenario to influence and win cooperation to have the measurement changed.

Measuring growth in a Green Economy has to address issues such as education, health, jobs created, how many persons have been brought above the poverty line, respect for international labour policies and laws, management of the environment both in the extractive sector and solid and liquid waste, etc.

While international institutions and countries engage in cooperation with Guyana consistent with specific interests, this nation, too, shoulders a responsibility to make sure that our national interest is advanced and embraced in shaping international policies and laws.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

PM slams PPP The PPP misinformation masquerade over adjournment of Parliament Dear Editor, WHICHEVER party has won the last General Election -- in this case the APNU-AFC coalition -- must be allowed to govern. To be brief, let me say that in some small communities in the hinterland, certain PPP politicians still behave as if their party is still in power. What nonsense!

Imagine a situation in which the toshao has been taking instructions from a previous leader, and so on.

The only alternative was to ask the new Government to intervene; and thanks must go out to everyone who supported the move.

Thanks to the official who travelled all the way from Georgetown, who did a splendid job and put to rest the notion that the PPP is still in charge. He got the people to understand that we are in a new dispensation and we must not be fooled by a few who don’t seem to understand that their days are over.

Thanks again for the visit from a well trained and experienced official. We, the residents of the village, are now hopeful, yes thankful, that we can now breathe a sigh of relief.

Sincerely, JOSEPH ATKINSON (resident)

Awesome care at Mackenzie Hospital Dear Editor, ON MARCH 03, 2016, I went to the Mackenzie Hospital in Linden, after returning to Guyana, to have a surgery done here on the recommendation of my sister.

The treatment I received from the moment I stepped into the Mackenzie Hospital was excellent in every respect, and I have to give credit where it is due.

The entire staff at the Mackenzie Hospital was concerned about my wellbeing, and it showed not only during the check-in process, but while I was waiting in the emergency walk-in room.

Understanding my pain, the doctor who was on duty on the morning of Thursday, March 03, 2016 took the appropriate measures to ease my pain, and proceeded with the necessary test to determine my condition.

Two days later, my surgery was done. The doctors, nurses and staff were very professional, respectful, kind, caring, and appeared calm and efficient; and I am very impressed with the services and treatment rendered to me. They are a perfect example of excellent organisation and teamwork. I cannot applaud them highly enough.

I must say that the entire staff at the Mackenzie Hospital have set the bar very high in terms of dispensing medical care, and I would like to see this type of first class nursing care that was provided to me at the Mackenzie Hospital be done at every hospital throughout this country. In doing this, we can save lives.

In closing, I take this opportunity to say special thanks to the surgical team; the head of the male ward; Sister Cheryl Williams; and all the wonderful nurses, doctors, family and friends that treated me while I was in the Mackenzie Hospital.

Yours faithfully, RAYVONNE P. BOURNE

FIRST Vice President and Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, on Saturday said he was perturbed by the expression of “shock” being reportedly experienced by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party over the adjournment of the National Assembly to May 4th.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo, who is also the Leader of Government Business in the House, said the Opposition knows fully well that no sitting would be advised before Local Government Elections and during the Easter and Phagwah holidays. Additionally, there is an ongoing capacity-building programme among the parliamentarians of Guyana, Canada and the United Kingdom for which several seminars have been scheduled overseas during the month of April.

The Speaker of the National Assembly, the Clerk and Deputy Clerk, Clerks of Committees and other key parliamentary officers are due to travel to the United Kingdom for such events.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo

explained that the Assembly could have been convened in the absence of the Speaker had the Opposition named and nominated a person for the post of Deputy Speaker. “The PPP rejected convention and chose to frustrate the work of the National Assembly while feigning shock over the adjournment, which could have been avoided had the party felt compelled to occupy the seat of Deputy Speaker.”

According to the PM, the adjournment to May 4 is therefore not unreasonable in the prevailing circumstances. “It is most disingenuous therefore for the PPP Opposition to seek to lecture the government on lapse in sessions, especially when it is taken into consideration that it strangled Parliament for nine continuous months, between July 2014 and April 2015, by proroguing Parliament then dissolving the House when the PPP was faced with a no-confidence motion.”

The Prime Minister proffered that the PPP should be most concerned about its own cavalier attitude towards Parliament, for which

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo it has so far shown a significant amount of disrespect first by boycotting, then by refusing to nominate a Deputy Speaker, then by staging four walkouts within five months.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo said he has explained the sixweek adjournment to the Opposition Chief Whip Ms. Gail Teixeira after the March 10 sitting, as he felt that the Opposition would have had notice of the capacity-building events through the Parliamentary Management Committee and Guyana Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, of which it is an active member.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

The Grenada Revolution and those broadcasting licences I HAVE just returned from a conference on the Grenadian Revolution sponsored by the University of the West Indies Open Campus in Grenada. March 13 marks the 46th Anniversary of the Grenadian Revolution which resulted in the overthrow of the authoritarian regime headed by Eric Gairy. The revolution lasted until October 1983, when one faction of the People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) killed the leaders of another faction, including the Prime Minister, Maurice Bishop, over tactical and ideological differences. Six days later, the USA invaded Grenada and overthrew what remained of the PRG. The Revo, which had given hope to so many and had achieved so much in terms of fundamental change, died a shocking death, and our Caribbean has since not been the same.

As part of a small group of Caribbean scholars who have used scholarship to try to explain and understand that moment in our history, including trying to capture its heroism, we have had to come to grips with the trauma, the hurt, the disappointment, and ultimately the silence surrounding that period. That most Grenadian and Caribbean people do not know of the revolution is a continuing indictment of our ability to deal frontally with our recent history, especially when it involves our own excesses.

My presentation at the conference attempted to locate the Grenadian Revolution in its larger historical context. I argued that the revolution was part of the larger Caribbean quest for freedom and self-definition, and that its immediate roots lie in the clash of ideas over the content and direction of Anglophone Caribbean Independence that raged in the 1970s, beginning with the so-called Rodney Riots in Jamaica in October 1968.

The point is that the Grenadian Revolution occurred in an age of revolution around the world, including in our Caribbean.

From the February Revolution of 1970, which almost brought the Eric Williams government in Trinidad and Tobago to its knees, to the popular uprising in the streets of Dominica in July 1979, which ousted the Patrick John regime there; to the Electoral Revolt in

St Lucia that brought down the John Compton government in July 1979; to the Grenadian Revolution that overthrew the Gary regime in March 1979; to the Civil Rebellion in Guyana in July-December 1979, which shook the foundations of the Burnham regime; to Manley’s Democratic Socialist upsurge in Jamaica 1972-80 that assaulted the political status quo; to the Rastafarian-led rebellion in Union Island in St Vincent and the Grenadines in December 1979; to the Suriname Revolution in February 1980, the Caribbean masses had risen up against the authoritarian direction of Caribbean Independence.

History seldom lies, and I am merely stating that which is often not known by “talking heads”, or is conveniently forgotten by the partisan merchants. I also wish to remind, in passing, that our Guyana Government of 1979 supported, in very tangible terms, the revolutionary action against the State in Grenada, both before and after the March 1979 revolution. Bishop and his revolutionaries were supported, while Rodney and his revolutionaries were decimated.

Oh, the complexities of our politics and political history! Those who rant and rave should study our history before they open their babble.

Here, in Guyana, we still have not settled our two traumas. Unlike Grenada, the invaders came to Guyana before the leadership split. British troops landed in October 1953 to abort a fledgling social revolution after a mere 133 days, thus opening the door to the 1955 leadership split.

Unlike Grenada, the leaders didn’t slaughter one another in 1955; but from 1961 to 1964, their followers engaged in a bitter civil disturbance that spilled the blood of hundreds. In 1979, Rodney’s Civil Rebellion did not oust the regime of the day, and Rodney paid the ultimate price for daring to challenge the excesses of the authoritarian state. Those two moments in Guyana’s history still bring out the worst in some in Guyana whenever we try to grapple with them.

As in Grenada, some prefer a mixture of sanitization and silence.

In my paper in Grenada, I argued that we in the Caribbean are still to get rid of the “Plantation Jumbie” of Authoritarianism. Our Independence leadership, from Williams

and Burnham to Gairy and Bird, came to power as a result of the struggle against Colonial Authoritarianism, and ended up consolidating and mimicking the vey colonial authoritarian state and government they fought against. Manley and the Grenadian revolutionaries started social revolutions in their countries, but retained and used the very authoritarian state against their rivals.

Jagan and the PPP came to office in the wake of the demise of the Burnhamist regime, and quickly turned to the very authoritarian regime to lawlessly redistribute the common resources to their cronies and to downpress their opponents.

Professor Clive Thomas wrote a seminal book in 1984 — The Rise of the Authoritarian State in the Periphery. In that book, he traces the origin of the Authoritarian State in the Caribbean, and explains its behaviour. In the presence of the PPP’s onslaught three decades later, he wrote a series of articles on the Criminalised State. “The more we change/Rearrange/Everything stays the same” sings calypsonian-musical poet David Rudder.

THOSE BROADCAST LICENCES In my paper at the conference in Grenada, I opined that one of the positives of revolution is that they open spaces for fundamental changes of the status quo. I argued that the Caribbean has stood still in developmental terms partly because our governments have avoided revolutionary changes when the

opportunities presented themselves.

Our Independence leaders, once in office, became reformists at best, never going beyond the confines of political and economic correctness.

I opened Saturday’s papers and saw the Prime Minister commenting on the granting of radio licences.

The PM said his preference is not for rescinding the obnoxious and illegal PPP giveaway of broadcasting licences to their friends and cohorts, but to give more licences. I am not sure whether the PM is speaking for the government as a whole or for the AFC faction of the government, but I completely disagree with that approach.

No, Mr. Prime Minister, you just cannot do that to those who voted for you in May 2015. No, you cannot do that to the historical moment you represent. Your government was elected as an alternative to “government as usual.” Yes, I know parties fool people on the campaign trail: they promise things which they know they would not and cannot deliver; but your Coalition is not like that. Yes, I know that parties say things on the campaign trail, but when they get into government, the realities of government force a rethink. I cut you that slack. I am sympathetic to the feeling that the government cannot go full throttle on prosecuting all of the PPP’s excesses committed by that party when they held office. I am understanding of the view that in our ethnic environment the charge of witch-hunting has ethnic consequences, and as such the government has to be care-

ful about how it moves on the PPP boys and girls.

But, at least in the name of integrity, some of the most egregious offences have to be confronted.

And this matter of the broadcasting licences is one of them. Those licences should have been rescinded in the first days of the change of government. Some people got stinking rich as a result of the monopoly they enjoyed in the industry.

Those licences also represent a political advantage for one side of the political divide in the dissemination of propaganda. Others were denied equality before the law. And then there is the very obscenity that the act represented the open misuse of power.

No, Mr. PM, you are wrong.

What is the message you are sending to your supporters? Are you saying that the way to correct wrong in high places is to condone it in the name of political correctness?

I am not advocating that the government must prosecute people without evidence. I am not advocating seizing people’s property. All I am asking for is a little consideration for the ordinary masses. They voted you into government to clean up government, not to sanitize the filth of the previous government.

More of Dr. Hinds ‘writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics, and on his website www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

Guyanese among Caribbean nationals nabbed in U.S. immigration sweep THE United Sates Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has arrested a number of Caribbean immigrants among 25 convicted criminals in a major immigration sweep in Central Florida.

ICE said that the unidentified Caribbean nationals were from the Turks and Caicos Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana.

ICE said that the other migrants were from Ecuador, the

United Kingdom, Morocco, Mexico, El Salvador, and Canada and that the sweep targeted “criminal aliens who pose a threat to public safety.”

“All encountered had criminal records, some were felony convictions for serious or violent offences, such as manslaughter, child abuse, robbery, false imprisonment, felony DUI (driving under the influence), hit and run, armed burglary, racketeering, as well as weap-

ons and drug violations,” ICE said.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

Towards a Good Life in a Green Economy

‒ Democratic governance key to good life

By Hugh Todd THE Government of Guyana has gone on record as explicitly communicating to the citizenry its vision of a good life in a green economy. Our objective in this missive is to tease out our understanding of this vision through our lens, and provide an optimistic most-likely, or pessimistic, position of the incumbent’s master plan. Because we recognise the plurality of Guyana’s political economy, we believe that the equilibrium of a shared vision between the rulers and the ruled can best be achieved through the platform of democratic governance. We therefore propose to concentrate on the democratic governance, good life nexus, having already accepted the green economy as a relevant policy initiative.

The choice of democratic governance as the anchor in this piece provides measurable indicators that allow citizens to adequately and objectively assess the Government’s quality of rule on a trajectory – whether upwards (positive) or downwards (negative). Further, each citizen’s ability to effectively assess the quality of democratic rule should, on aggregate, amount

to a common position or understanding nationwide. Fundamentally, democratic governance should diminish or remove altogether any subjectivity in the interpretation of a good life. We further submit that democratic governance is the impetus for a good life, since the former is broad in scope and caters to the entire citizenry.

Political democracy can be traced back to ancient Greece, where the purest form (classical) of democracy began. Over the centuries, several forms of democratic rule were practised relative to a given political ideology, notably: protective democracy, developmental democracy, people’s democracy and liberal democracy.

The work of French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (171278) reflects a deep belief in the goodness of the ‘natural man’ and the corruption of the ‘social man’.

An advocate of a radical form of democracy, Rousseau’s political teaching was published in his book entitled: “The Social Contract” ([1762] 1913). Other important works in democratic governance include UK philosopher Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and his ‘greatest happiness’ principle and Robert Dhal’s (1914-2014) writings on the “Procedural Minimal.”

As citizens of Guyana, we have recognised the transition to democratic governance over the years through the adoption of the neoliberal construct, and have witnessed regular elections to date. The promise of a good life, as we recall, is not a new message. In Guyana’s electoral democratic history, the promise of a good life for all has been consistently communicated to the population, both implicitly and explicitly. We deduce, therefore, that the recent stance of a good life by the incumbent suggests that the electorate has not benefited in any meaningful or progressive manner from the good life as promised over the years. It is important that the citizens of Guyana understand that they have a vital role to play in the political process and that they share a citizens – servant relationship with their own elected representatives. But even more importantly, the electorate knows that it has the power to hire and fire those representatives whom it elects to serve. In this regard, the prevailing socio-economic conditions, established state structures as well as policy practices must be explained to all citizens. With this knowledge, the electorate can place confidence in the elected representatives to provide the

framework within which systems, procedures and rules must be institutionalised.

Guyanese latest pursuit of happiness was evident with the electorate’s approval of a strategic political alliance in the most recently contested general elections.

In the current dispensation, we begin by looking at the manner in which the ruling Cabinet is organised. Apart from the traditional ministerial responsibilities, we submit that ministerial oversight on governance, social cohesion, along with concentrated ministerial attention given to communities and indigenous peoples speak to some form of decentralisation. These structural forms of decentralisation augur well for enhanced citizen participation, social inclusion and national integration. Consequently, the Government’s targeted focus on culture and education, labour, public infrastructure, public security, business as well as the effective and efficient management of the natural resource sector should improve the socio-economic standing of the country. The forgoing is achievable through cooperation, citizen participation and effective representation. Additionally, the incumbent’s constitutional reform process, institutional reform initiatives and, more importantly, the upcoming Local Government Elections should improve the prevailing political system and policy

practices.

The movement of the Government along this trajectory has stimulated a positive growth in the country’s democratic culture. For these reasons, an objective assessment of the incumbent’s performance thus far can be regarded as very good. The evidence suggests that a good life, which is common to every citizen, is most likely to be realised. Continued interest of the people in holding the elected representatives accountable for their actions is necessary for good governance. We accept that the good life beckons – citizens must now remain vigilant, assertive, and continue to play an integral role in the political process.

The next article will examine some relationships between energy and a green economy.

SHORT BIO: Hugh Todd is a lecturer and Head of the Business and Management Studies Department at the University of Guyana. Hugh has published and presented at academic conferences in Guyana, within the Region and beyond. His strengths include new regionalism, small state issues, Latin American and Caribbean politics, strategic planning and policy formulation, international business and competitiveness, marketing strategy Comments can be sent to: towardsagoodlife@gmail.com

Australian Ambassador, Ramjattan discuss security ‒ of visiting cricket team in June Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, on Friday met with Australian High Commissioner to Guyana, John Pilbeam, to discuss security-related issues.

Pilbeam was named as Australian High Commissioner to Guyana in November, 2015, having formerly served with distinction in a number of other capacities for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), most recently as Director of DFAT’s Korean Peninsula and Mongolia Section.

According to a release, at the meeting with Minister Ramjattan, the discussions focused primarily on the issue of the security of the Australian Cricket Team

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan

during its impending visit to Guyana in June 2016, where its members are scheduled to play two one-day internationals.

Minister Ramjattan offered the Australian High

Commissioner the assurance that very high priority would be placed on the security of the team while in Guyana, and further guaranteed that the Ministry of Public Security was prepared to comply with any specific security request made.

Pilbeam acknowledged that the security services in Guyana were very efficient

by Caribbean standards, and Minister Ramjattan attributed this in part to the increase in the quantity and quality of training received by the country’s security forces.

Following up on an assurance given by the previous Australian High Commissioner to Guyana, Minister Ramjattan was presented with documents regarding the plans of the Australian Government to deal with issues related to border security.

These documents were: ‘A Summary of the Border Management Programme in Australia’, which dealt with border control issues such as terrorism, drugs, corruption in customs, illegal immigration, refugees, etc and a ‘Defence White Paper’,

which was a summary for public discussion on defence issues faced in Australia such as cyber and maritime security, etc.

The Ministry of Public Security will continue to work together with international partners to seek

areas of collaboration that will enhance the effectiveness of the security sector in Guyana and maintain the safety and security of the country’s citizenry and of those whom it welcomes as guests, the release concludes.

CJIA seeks owner of jewellery MANAGEMENT of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Inc (CJIA) is seeking the owner of a quantity of gold jewellery that was found at the airport on December 12, 2014.

A notice published in Saturday’s edition of the Kaieteur News stated that claimants have until April 30, 2016 to make a claim, and shall have to satisfy the officer as to their identity and ownership of the items.

The notice gave no further details as to how the

jewellery was found or how much it is, but claimants are being asked to contact the Airport Duty Officer on 2612281 or 600-7022 to make a claim.

As of recent, the authorities have clamped down on gold smuggling in Guyana, which has resulted in jewellery being seized at the CJIA. Earlier this year, a businessman filed a $10 million lawsuit against the State because agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) allegedly seized his jewellery

at the CJIA, causing him to miss a New York-bound flight.

Through his lawyers, Richard Ramjit of Bissoon Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara is contending that CANU agents attached to the Guyana Police Force falsely imprisoned him and confiscated his gold and silver neckwear and a gold and silver wristband as he was about to leave Guyana for New York on a Dynamic Airways flight.

‘Get out and vote’ 10

‒ President urges citizenry CITIZENS would have no one to blame but themselves if they fail to vote at this week’s Local Government Elections (LGE), said

President David Granger as he responded to questions posed by reporters on his weekly programme, ‘The Public Interest’,

which dealt with the issue in its Friday broadcast.

President Granger explained that while, traditionally, LGE has seen a lower turnout of the electorate, not only in Guyana but globally,

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

he believes that citizens need to understand the importance of the elections.

“It is natural; there is nothing I can do about that,” he said as he noted that general and national elections

President David Granger

command the attention of citizens more than LGE. “All politics is local,” the President added, while noting: “As soon as you step out of your door, whether it is flooding, drought, potholed roads, safety, solid waste management, Zika, Ebola… wherever you live in the country, you are into the realm of local governance.”

He said it is important that citizens understand what local governance brings to the table.

“If they don’t take control of their communities and villages, then they will suffer the consequences of poor management; and this is what happened to us for a very long time: Many NDCs were removed and IMCs were imposed.”

President Granger added: “In a way, you have yourself to blame if you don’t go out there and vote and elect representatives who can administer your communities, municipalities the way you want it to administered.”

The President said he would fulfill his promise of ensuring that LGE are held promptly every three years, in accordance with the Constitution.

“It would be worse than sitting on your hands not to vote,” he said.

He noted that his message is late for members of the Disciplined Forces, who voted on Tuesday. “But I urge all Guyanese to go forth on March 18; at least Guyanese within the municipalities, because many indigenous communities do not fall under the Local Government system, and (they did not get opportunity) to choose persons whom they trust to run these communities.”

The March 18 elections, he said, are perhaps more important than General Elections, because they affect the communities in which

Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy, Bryan Hunte

PSC member Gerry Gouveia

citizens live and work.

On March 4, members of the diplomatic community and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) called on citizens to vote in these elections, which were last held in 1994. They also called for the “beefing up” of campaigns to educate the masses.

PSC member Gerry Gouveia believes that while LGE the world over does not attract massive crowds, as is the case of General and National Elections, the fact that the elections are being held after a hiatus of two decades is very important.

“These elections are (so) very important for Guyana that we can’t overemphasise the fact that people need to be encouraged to vote, and then to insist that the candidates and political parties join GECOM in that whole effort in sensitizing and getting people out there, and educating the voters and so on,” he posited.

Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy here, Brian Hunte, said there needs to be a collective approach to educating the nation about the elections and Turn to page 17 ►

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

Laws cannot be violated and rights transgressed in pursuit of good intent SOCIAL cohesion and national unity in diverse societies such as ours are reliant on universal respect for and adherence to laws, time-honoured principles, international conventions and charters. An individual/group may have very good intent in effecting change and development, but this can only be ensured by acting in concert with the instrument(s) informing the particular issue at the given time.

This society continues to witness a dangerous practice that is cementing precedence to engage in further transgressing of rights.

Such conduct would impact negatively on the actors and embracers of the transgressions.

One does not have to like a person/worker, his/her politics or association in order to respect the laws and uphold the rights of that individual. There must be growth in the management of the affairs of State, and we owe it to ourselves to let it begin with us, here and now.

As a trade unionist, the growing disregard by the Government of Guyana for the Laws of Guyana, time-honoured principles, international conventions and charters is alarming. Unless these change or Guyana withdraws membership from international organisations, the government is duty-bound to comply with the tenets outlined in these instruments. While persons/organisations have publicly referenced respective instrument(s) that should guide conduct on given issues, the universal disregard and contempt for these, which started in the Bharrat Jagdeo government and which continued with Donald Ramotar government, must be stamped out in the David Granger/Moses Nagamootoo era in order to shed local and international concerns of Guyana being a lawless/corrupt country.

There are two incidents that made the news last week. The Chief Executive Officer of GuyOil, who was sent on vacation to facilitate an audit and dismissed when the vacation ended. The other is the Deputy Director of the Guyana Prisons, who has been sent on vacation to facilitate an inquiry into the upheaval at Camp Street last week, which resulted in injuries, loss of lives and destruction to properties. These incidents continue the pattern as happened with the heads of the Guyana Revenue Authority and NICIL. Any explanation for action, irrespective of support for a political party/government, once such is in contravention of time-honoured principles and practices, it is unacceptable and must not be condoned.

The Labour law is very clear on a worker’s right to vacation, which is earned. The principle and practice in organisations has been one where the worker exercises the choice of when to proceed on vacation, outside of blackout period(s). Where there exists exigency for the worker’s service, she/he can be asked to forego vacation at a given time in preference for another time.

Where it is felt that a worker may have engaged in practices inimical to the organisation and such need to addressed, that worker cannot be sent on vacation leave, but has to proceed on administrative leave. Administrative leave is an absence of the worker from the worksite, with the aim of ensuring unfettered access by the administration to investigate allegations or charges against the worker. These are labour practices that are considered time-honoured principles.

Our laws make a clear distinction between dismissal and termination. Dismissal is based on a cause which has to be stated and the worker enjoying the right to be heard.

With termination, no reason has to be given, but the worker has to be paid all earned benefits. What has been happening is that workers are being terminated, but the utterances from the respective management have all the hallmarks of dismissal. Decisions made without consideration and/or respect for established laws and principles have dire implications for this nation’s social and political stability.

Where the PPP/C now claims a sanctimonious position when successive administrations trampled rights and violated laws with impunity, probably never thinking it would be in the opposition again, the APNU+AFC must too take this as lesson of what its leaders ought not to do and be, and how they would like themselves and workers to be treated should the tables turn.

Outside of the souring industrial relations environment, another area of concern is corruption, which is hinged on the violation of laws. Where government may be well-intentioned in moving the country in a particular direction, it has to be equally mindful that such cannot deviate from the laws. Where nepotism, pay-to-play, and the use of political power or influence to solicit from others, given that such can lead to government patronage, such must be of concern. And where, too, the Private Sector Commission makes known that the government is not doing sufficient to curb corruption, yet at the same time questions the credibility of Transparency International Corruption Perceptions

Index that shows Guyana in poor light is not surprising.

What each and every one of us must demand to ensure the elevation of Guyana’s image is that the state’s business must see government officials engaging in conduct consistent with the rule of law.

More importantly, we must insist and ensure corrupt officials are placed before

the courts, bar none; and constitutional bodies such as the Public Procurement Commission, Public Service Appellate Tribunal and Integrity Commission are activated. We must retain a vested interest in the affairs of the state, and our votes must count outside of the elections by having our voices heard and oversight maintained.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

Canada Festival Committee plans spectacular Golden Jubilee celebrations

By Frederick Halley

GUYANA’S Consul-General in Toronto, Sattie Sawh, and the 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration Committee have announced elaborate plans to celebrate Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary in Canada, and are also endeavouring to have Guyana’s president, David Granger, and other top government officials attend.

The committee, which is being chaired by Sawh, held its official launching at the Guyana Consulate on February 27 last, and according to her, plans are well advanced for the staging of the huge and spectacular celebration in the diaspora, where over 150,000 Guyanese reside.

This diasporra is second

only to New York in terms of overseas-based residents.

Officers of the committee include Deputy Chair Edith Bynoe; Joe Jaglall, Flag-Raising Ceremony Coordinator; Byron Harding, Website designer; Robert Gibson, Assistant Treasurer; Victor Yacoob, Guyana Festival Coordinator; Byron Henry, Committee Member; Clyde Gulliver, Guyana Consulate; Quaison Parris, Awards and Gala Coordinator; Leyland Gudge, Communications; Sherifa Carmichael, Administrative Coordinator; Mishelle Butters, Guyana Consulate; Pam Joseph, Assistant Secretary; Valerie Dye, Committee Member; and Norma Baichu, Secretary.

The committee pointed out that the Golden Jubilee is a pivotal milestone “for

The 50th Independence Anniversary (Canada) Committee. Back Row from left: Joe Jaglall, Flag-Raising Ceremony Coordinator; Byron Harding, Website Designer; Robert Gibson, Assistant Treasurer; Victor Yacoob, Guyana Festival Coordinator; Byron Henry, Committee Member; Clyde Gulliver, Guyana Consulate; Quaison Parris, Awards and Gala Coordinator; Leyland Gudge, Communications; Sherifa Carmichael, Administrative Coordinator. Front Row: Mishelle Butters, Guyana Consulate; Pam Joseph, Assistant Secretary; Valerie Dye, Committee Member; Edith Bynoe, Deputy Chair, Norma Baichu, Secretary and Consul-General Sattie Sawh, Chair of the Committee

us to reflect on the past 50 years in the context of learning pertinent lessons to take forward into the future and celebrate the history, the heritage, the pioneers and the achievements of the past.

It called on Guyanese to “celebrate focusing on the unity of Guyanese people and culture, including the indigenous community, to rejoice in our shared experiences and values and to proclaim Guyana’s desire and commitment to move forward to a brighter future.

The committee also wants the youths of Guyana to have the confidence and to support the dream bigger and reach higher in the next 50 years. “Anchoring on these themes, 50GUY is an inclusive celebration culminating in a series of activities contributed by the people, private and public sectors of Guyana.”

According to the organisers, “We have scheduled a number of exciting events during the year to mark the occasion, and we look forward for the support of all Guyanese in Canada to join in celebrating this historic milestone.”

The celebration will feature a collection of commemorative events, coordinated by the committee and culminating with a grand jubilee awards and cultural show, scheduled for October/November at the St Lawrence Centre of Arts.

Sawh pointed out that several notable Guyanese, including some posthumously, will be honoured at the grand occasion.

Prior to the gala awards, simultaneous flag-raising ceremonies are also set to be held on May 26 in Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg and other cities in Canada. The one in Toronto will be preceded by a march to the City Hall, where the ceremony will take place at 11.30hrs.

The ever popular Guyana Festival, which has attracted thousands since it was initiated in Toronto in 1995, is set for the weekend of July 1-3, simultaneously with Canada Day celebrations here; and the committee is leaving no stone unturned to ensure its success.

The festival features the annual celebratory cricket matches and soccer tournament coordinated by the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) president Albert Ramcharran and Mark Fanfair respectively.

It will be staged on July 2 and 3 at Littles Park, while the festival will culminate at the Exhibition Place bandstand on Sunday, July 3.

The two-day festival also features a trade exposition and cultural show.

Essay and songwriting competitions also form part of the massive celebrations and are open to all youths of Guyanese heritage.

The committee plans to engage as many Guyanese as possible in the commemorative activities and events, and Sawh has given the assurance that members will continually reach out to every Guyanese organisation, religious congregation, society and every Guyanese community in Canada.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

Not 15,000 oz per week ...GGDMA disputes gold-smuggling figure

Members of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association during the meeting with Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

THE Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) is in disagreement with Government’s revelation that 15,000 ounces of gold are being smuggled out of the country on a weekly basis.

At a recent meeting with Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, the GGDMA noted that while it agrees that smuggling is taking place, “the figure being touted of 15,000 ounces per week is ridiculous, at least.”

According to a release from the GGDMA, “It is very difficult for us to fathom that 15,000 ounces are being smuggled out of the country on a weekly basis, as this amount equates to over 770,000 ounces per annum. This would be approximately double the average annual yearly declarations over the last few years.”

The association hopes that more details are made available about these numbers, so that clarity can be had regarding the origin of the numbers.

“Despite this discrepancy, the association remains steadfast, in that, not even one ounce should be smuggled.”

In January of this year, Minister Trotman was informed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department for Homeland Security that not only is gold being smuggled out of Guyana, but the precious metal is also being smuggled into this country.

Minister Trotman had revealed that between 50 and 60 per cent of the gold produced in Guyana is smuggled out of the country, and of the more than 15,000 ounces of gold exported from Guyana on a weekly basis, all of it did not originate in Guyana.

As such, the GGDMA acknowledged that gold-smuggling is unacceptable as “it robs the industry of its true revenue position and deprives Guyanese and [the] State of its resources.”

The association urged the Government to continue tightening all avenues,

Kumaka businessman accused of molesting schoolgirls A Kumaka businessman has been taken into custody at the Mabaruma Police Station on Thursday after he was accused of sexually molesting two school-age girls.

One of the girls reported to the authorities in the North West District that the man had interfered with

her continuously for years.

Reports of the man’s arrest sent shockwaves through the community, since he was said to be integrally involved in religious activities there.

The authorities acted on reports a few days ago, and the girls were brought to the capital city to undergo medical examinations.

The man is expected to be transferred to the city this week to face charges.

especially ports of exit and entry and other porous areas on the borders, to rid Guyana of this scourge and the negative publicity that it has brought the industry.

“The GGDMA does not in any way or fashion condone smuggling and has always been reminding miners to sell their gold only to licensed dealers. We applaud the works being done by the Government to stamp out smuggling.

Smuggling not only affects the revenue collected by the State, and as such, national development; it also has the damning effect of all miners who are often painted with the same bad brush. The majority of miners are not involved in

smuggling and are focused on self and national development.”

Meanwhile, at the meeting, the GGDMA

was advised that a committee has been convened and tasked with identifying lands for allocation exclusively to small-scale

miners in each mining district. It was noted that the committee is expected to conclude its work in a couple of months.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

Gov’t reportedly taps Riyad Insanally for U.S. mission GOVERNMENT has reportedly nominated Dr Riyad Insanally, current OAS Representative to Trinidad and Tobago, as its next ambassador to the United States.

Government is still awaiting agréments from Washington for Insanally’s appointment as well as for several other diplomatic postings. In a letter to the Editor of this newspaper, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, in referring to the appointment of new ambassadors, said that among Heads of Missions to be appointed, or for whom agréments have been requested, are a few former members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who returned to contribute to the national struggle after extensive service abroad, or in the Region on the diplomatic circuit.

Prior to his appointment as OAS Representative in T&T, Insanally was an adviser to the OAS Assistant Secretary-General. A national of Guyana, Insanally has also served as a Senior Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, as a political adviser to the first two Secretaries-General of the Association of Caribbean States, and as Guyana’s Sugar Representative in Europe. He studied Modern Languages and Latin American Studies and holds the MA and MPhil degrees from the University of Cambridge, and received his PhD from Harvard. He is married with two children.

Two weeks ago, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced six diplomatic appointments to the United Kingdom, Canada, China, Belgium, Cuba and Suriname. The announcement came 10 months after the APNU+AFC coalition government took office. In a

statement to the media, the ministry had said that David Hales will serve as Guyana’s Ambassador to Belgium.

Hales was a Director at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat.

Businessman and long-standing People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) member Frederick Hamley Case will serve as Guyana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, replacing Laleshwar Singh, who had served in that capacity for over 20 years under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP) administration.

Meanwhile, former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly under the People’s National Congress (PNC), Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister and Attorney Clarissa Riehl has been appointed Guyana’s High Commissioner to Canada. She replaces PPP/C member Harry Narine Nawbatt. Also appointed Ambassador is Bayney Karran, who will serve as Guyana’s Ambassador to China. Karran has a wealth of experience in foreign policy and diplomacy, and has served as Ambassador to the U.S., the Organisation of American States (OAS), Venezuela, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico.

Former Political Assistant to President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, Halim Majeed, has been appointed Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba. He replaces Attorney Mitra Devi Ali, while Esther Griffith will hold the post of Consul-General in Nickerie, Suriname. No appointments have been made to the United States and Brazil.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also announced that Ambassador Ivan Evelyn, former Ambassador of Guyana to Brazil, will replace Griffith as the Chief of Protocol. In January,

Riyad Insanally

Greenidge had told the Guyana Chronicle that the delay in the announcement of the diplomatic appointments was a result of the non-receipt of the host countries’ agreement to accept those persons identified by Guyana to serve as diplomats abroad.

He described the process as a “tricky one,” noting that it should be dealt with delicately. Last month, Guyana’s Ambassador to Venezuela, Cheryl Miles, was accredited by that government following a prolonged wait due to an age-old controversy with this country over ownership of two-thirds of Guyana.

Ambassador Miles presented her Letters of Credence to Venezuela’s Minister of People’s Power for External Relations, Delcy Rodriguez, on February 17. Meanwhile, President Granger had said that his government wants to ensure “that there is balance, that there is competence, and the interest of the country would be put first above party or other interests,” in selecting the local diplomats. “If we are to advance that thrust of economic diplomacy, we have to look for the best.

That’s why it is taking so long,” he told the Guyana Chronicle.

No more stop and search in Jamaica PASSENGERS travelling to the United States of America (USA) from Guyana are no longer required to depart the aircraft in Jamaica to be examined by the Jamaican Immigration and Customs, a statement from Fly Jamaica said on Saturday.

“Please be advised that the north-bound passengers from Guyana to JFK, NY, no longer have to deplane and go through Jamaica

Immigration and Customs.”

According to the airline, passengers can now remain on board “on the south-bound journey” following recent approvals from the USA’s Transportation Security Admission (TSA) and the Jamaican Civil Aviation Authority. Fly Jamaica is the only airline that transports passengers from Guyana to the USA with stops in Jamaica.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

BK accelerates Fourth Road Project

Workmen level asphalt placed on the road as part of the quality testing process

By Leroy Smith BK INTERNATIONAL is very confident that it would be able to meet the deadline and complete its leg of the Fourth Road Project within a three-year span, of which fourteen months

have already elapsed.

With its new asphalt plant which has the capability to produce 160 tons of asphalt per hour, and with its project partner, Surrey Paving and Aggregate out of Jamaica, already on the ground, works on the Fourth

Road Project have been accelerated.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle during its site visit on Tuesday, Lionel Kandasammy of BK International, the man overseeing the joint venture (JV), explained that 90% percent

of the machinery and equipment presently being used on the road works are owned by BK International.

Last year, when this publication did an update on the road project, we were told by persons close to the Jamaican company that its equipment would be in the country by the early part of February as, according to the agreement, both BK International and Surrey Paving and Aggregate Company would be taking on the project 50/50.

Based on the situation on the ground and the resources being used in the execution of the project, the Jamaican company has, to date, failed to honour that part of its agreement.

Prior to installation of the newly acquired asphalt plant last year, which came into operation earlier this year, there was a very low production level of asphalt to feed the road project; but, at the moment, the plant is producing approximately 100 tons of asphalt an hour for the works. That amount has seen the works accelerating tremendously, according to Kandasammy, and he is of the view that when Surrey Paving and Aggregate Company’s equipment arrives in Guyana, which also includes its own asphalt plant, the works would go forward even farther, and would see it being completed on time.

Cost overruns are also not

likely to occur, he said.

Kandasammy explained that once the paver plant owned by Surrey Paving and Aggregate Company arrives, the paving of the road would be done from the two extremes, making it easier for the engineers to manage traffic. And by that time, he said, the present asphalt plant would meet its full capacity of 160 tons per hour.

He stressed that there are enough materials to feed both pavers, and as such, once both pavers are in operation, a tremendous tonnage of asphalt would be produced as per plan; and this would increase the amount of paving that can be done in a day, Turn to page 20 â–ş

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QUICK... “that’s where we will be concentrating our efforts.”

More than $60M have been allocated for that section of the road, which leads to Lethem. The 250-mile Linden to Lethem road has, over the years, been known to

From page 3

become impassable during the rainy season WE WORK EVERYDAY Carly’s Bus Service has 26 small minibuses and two 30-seater buses traversing the route on a rotational sys-

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

tem. “We work every day,” the driver stated.

Passengers are currently charged $10,000 one way to Lethem, or to Georgetown from Lethem. If it is a return trip, passengers are charged $18,000. Over the years, the Bus Service has charged $8000, $12,000 and $10,000 to transport passengers.

“We started at $8000

Passengers wait at Robb and Oronoque Streets in Georgetown to board buses attached to Carly’s Bus Service

Driver Vivian Xavier

years ago…maybe in 2002; it went up to $12,000, now it has dropped to $10,000.

Even at $12,000, when the road gets real bad, it is hard to maintain your bus. Every trip you make you have to do something on the bus; something or the other goes wrong… You have to spend money; and there are some trips, when you come back, you have to take the money from your pockets to spend on the bus to make it road worthy,” Parker added.

While the owners of Carly’s Bus Service would like to increase the fares passengers pay, it is not feasible. “It makes no sense… we have a competitor who is charging $8000…he operates at a cheaper price, but is unrealistic,” the driver noted. Carly’s Bus Service, he added, takes the safety of all passengers seriously.

“We can’t afford to charge $8000 and then the buses break down in the middle of the trail,” Parker said.

At that price it is impossible to adequately maintain the buses. Parker noted that over the years there have been many promises by the administration to pave the Linden to Lethem road, but nothing has materialised. He said drivers are hopeful that with the change of administration, “dreams become a reality and promises are fulfilled.”

THE ROAD IS BAD

Driver Garfield Parker explains the challenges of driving on the Linden to Lethem road

Like Parker, another driver, Vivian Xavier, said: “All the drivers will tell you the same thing: The road is bad, particularly from Linden to Mabura…it gets worse when it rains.” He said. “We have been promised repeatedly, but what we need is the road to be fixed…it must be paved.”

Xavier, who resides in St. Ignatius, told Guyana Chronicle that government had fixed the access road that leads to the community of Rockstone. He said that stretch of road has not yet deteriorated, and whatever materials have been used to fix that road could be used for the Linden to Mabura road.

“If they had continued doing it with that kind of gravel…it won’t be as bad as it is now,” he said.

He noted that the use of loam does not help the situation, as, when it rains, “it becomes dangerous to use the road… If they can pave it, it would be better.”

Additionally, he noted that the road from Mabura to the Kurupukari Crossing needs to be expanded.

“There are parts there that are very narrow, and it is dangerous… The place is filled with thorns and there are big trucks and buses traversing the road.”

Other drivers, who reTurn to page 17 ►

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QUICK... quested anonymity, echoed the concerns of both Parker and Xavier. They said government’s promises are not enough. “We want action!” they said.

Grace Veras, speaking on behalf of Carly’s Bus Service, told Guyana Chronicle that the owners of the Service are often faced with several complaints from drivers.

“Drivers complain a lot about the road,” she said, noting that it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the vehicles, as the cost for spare parts increases.

“We would like to raise it [the fare] back up to $12,000, but we would be at a loss for passengers here, and it doesn’t make sense,” Veras added.

Fifty-nine-year-old Adam Nash, a retired teacher and former Deputy Regional Chairman of Region 9, has called on the APNU-AFC administration to fulfill its promise of paving the road. Nash, who travels at least once a month from Annai to Georgetown, bemoaned the situation. He said that, over the years, there have been efforts on the part of the then Ministry of Public Works, now Ministry of Public Infrastructure, to fix the road, but the materials used are of no use.

“I have been travelling and noticing the different parts of the road as they try to do something… The Mabura to Linden road, why is that part always this way? It was never paid the correct attention as it should.”

He said it is a possibility that the resources needed to rehabilitate that stretch of roadway were not readily available. “If anyone is sick…we transport people from the hospital by road only if their bodies can handle it…but it won’t be good for them, that rocking is terrible.”

Nash noted that the Linden to Soesdyke road is “fairly good”, and he questioned why the Linden to Mabura road has been neglected.

“I though the government should have done similar for Linden to Mabura…it would have eased some of the problems…The contract given to some of these people was not properly examined by engineers.”

He said that those contracted to repair the road are using the wrong materials, and the road is consequently not durable. “The road needs gravel,” he remarked, noting that government will continue to spend more money on the road if they fail to pay attention to what is really required.

‘Get out... encouraging persons to vote.

“GECOM does not bear the sole responsibility for educating voters; that is a shared responsibility between GECOM, local authorities, political parties; between candidates that are running, civil society and organisations and the media,” he said.

GECOM has been the subject of criticisms for what has been perceived to be the lack of interest of the populace in the elections, but Hunte said fingers should not be pointed at GECOM. “All of us have a responsibility to make sure voters are educated and know where they need to go to vote,” he declared.

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The President noted that strong communities and neighbourhoods are the pillars for the successful implantation of his Five ‘E’ economic plan, which speaks to promoting economic development through

From page 16

From page 10

Education, Employment, Empowerment, Enterprise and Equity in local communities. He believes that through good local governance, economic development will prosper.

President Granger noted that through strong community leadership and economic development, there can be opportunities for massive investments. He believes that there is too much reliance on central government; to wit, communities depending on subject ministers to carry out certain functions.

Central Government nevertheless has a role to play in developing investment and community enterprises, he said. Government, he said, would not be involved in the management of communities and their economic affairs, but would create a safe and enabling environment for investors.

Similar sentiments have been expressed by British High Commissioner Greg Quinn and Charge D’Affaires of the Canadian High Commission, Mr Daniel Joly.

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BK accelerates Fourth...

Another section of the road works being done at Leonora, West Coast Demerara

and by extension a week.

The senior BK employee stated that the quality of works being executed is in keeping with international standards and in accordance with the agreement signed between the Government of Guyana and the Caribbean

Development Bank.

The Fourth Road Project is being executed at an approximate cost of US$44.3 million. It entails the upgrading of 30.5 kilometres of road between Hydronie and Vreed-en-Hoop along the West Coast Demerara.

The project does not only cater for road expansion, but also for construction of footpaths and reconstruction of several bridges, culverts and cycle paths. The project is at the moment approximately 25 percent complete; and once all necessary systems

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

From page 15

The traffic was hardly able to flow effectively as a result of the works, something that should be fixed once the other asphalt plant comes on stream

are put in place by the end of this month or by early next month, Kandasammy is very confident that the works would be completed on time.

As of Tuesday, 4.5 kilometres of paving had already been completed up to the time of the site visit to the location. The paving is presently being done incrementally and at the moment there is an average of about 200 tons of paving per day, which would soon increase to 300. One crew would be doing 300, and when the other team installs its plant, that team is expected to add 300 tons of paving per day, which would see approximately 600 tons of paving per day being done, providing the weather

permits, Kandasammy explained.

On the question of environmentally friendly practices, Kandasammy explained that there is not an issue with dust pollution, since the company has been utilizing the water traps to keep the dust down, something that this publication was indeed able to witness.

He also spoke of the low noise coming from the asphalt plant, as well as very little emissions from its operations, as all safety and environmentally-friendly mechanisms have been put in place, something else which again this publication managed to witness.

The engineers on the

ground however did made reference to the bugbears they are faced with, and as expected, it had to do with utilities. This newspaper was told that some amount of utilities have been hampering the free flow of works, and the most constant utility affecting workmen has been the cables belonging to the telephone company GT&T. BK International has however indicated that the Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, has been looking into the matter personally, and has been engaging the telephone company to ensure that the issue is addressed properly, so that the works can progress.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

Huge effort to stimulate local film industry

GOVERNMENT is pumping funds into the local film industry to ensure its sustainability; and is contributing towards the public understanding, appreciation and significance of the industry.

Minister within the Ministry of Education, with responsibility for Sports and Culture, Nicolette Henry, made this disclosure while delivering an address at the launching of Cine Guyana Inc’s Golden Jubilee Short Film Festival at the National Resource Centre on Friday.

Henry said government would also ensure local movies were made more accessible to a wider audience, as the films launched will also be shown in St Ignatius in the Rupununi, Anna Regina

and Bartica in Essequibo, and New Amsterdam in Berbice.

The Film Festival forms part of a collaborative effort between government and Cine Guyana to make them part of the calendar of events to observe Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary. This effort builds on an existing bond between the two, which began in 2011 with government providing a grant to stimulate the film industry of Guyana.

“The future of Guyana’s film industry will be based on the work that you - or at least the many representatives of many parts of the film sector - have done. During 2011, the President’s film endowment project initiated and facilitated dialogue between many stakeholders, (and) we need

Minister within the Ministry of Education, with responsibility for Youth, Sport and Culture, Nicolette Henry, making a point while CeneGuyana President Phillip Williams looks on at the launch of the Golden Jubilee Film Festival on Friday (Photo compliments of the Ministry of Education) to leverage that and foster an open climate in which the diversity of stories and talents is the greatest asset of films of every type,” the minister told the gathering.

She posed questions crucial to the development of the industry, leaving stakeholders to ponder the way forward in accomplishing the goal of developing a topclass film industry.

“One of the questions that need to be asked is how can we get systems that identify all these different ‘best projects? How sure can we be about our assessments and predictions? How can we ensure that we have robust and well-established production companies that manage - in times of success and setbacks alike - to maintain continuity and quality while encouraging smaller and perhaps untested actors to participate in development and innovation?” the minister asked.

Minister Henry said the development of artistic abilities, as well as the development of business methods and models, is essential “for the long-term survival of the local film sector, and to ensure that film lovers can enjoy a broad and high-quality range of films.”

“We need to continue to work on more technology-neutral forms of support.

Media habits have changed dramatically in the past five years, and we know that streaming and home cinema systems are increasingly part of people’s everyday lives,” she revealed.

She added that during the festival, stakeholders will have a chance to “sink into our seats and experience these eight local films in the company of others; and all around, before and afterwards, the conversations and discussions will go on.”

Government’s vision is “for every Guyanese to be able to enjoy a ‘good life’” she said, and though the “good life” accomplishment is not just a dream, greater equality of opportunity is

needed in order to achieve economic growth, as a “good life” involves removing inequalities and providing opportunities to benefit ‘every citizen’ to be the best they can be.

“We live in a time of great need for something good to happen, for lots to happen that will ensure the next 50 years are much better than the last 50. It is time for a fresh start, a new beginning. It is time to redouble our efforts to eradicate poverty. Our government is committed to promoting sustained economic growth, reducing inequalities, and increasing opportunities,” Minister Henry said.

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES CeneGuyana President Phillip Williams said that while Guyana has a story, and Guyanese, drawing on their unique experiences, location and rich culture, have stories to tell, the films featured in the Independence Festival represent an interesting mix of themes and genres that reflect the rich culture of Guyana.

He said that supporting the films is “about us looking at and appreciating ourselves” in films which have been featured in festivals and at cultural and educational events in various parts of the world.

“It’s an amazing experience watching the reaction of Guyanese abroad when they look at these stories. When we learn to love ourselves, we are better able to celebrate and sell that image,” he posited.

He said CineGuyana intends to take to schools countrywide the skills and knowledge acquired, and has an ongoing membership recruitment programme to improve the film industry and open its doors to greater involvement.

“Our aim is to foster the development of Guyanese film-makers and the film/ creative industry in Guyana.

Our initial eight films were produced with hard work, skilful leadership and sacrifice” under the guidance of Burchmore Simon and Denis Ward of Cross Colour Studios, and with Dr. Paloma Mohamed as leader, he said.

He opined that, with more involvement, Guyana’s film industry would have greater accomplishments.

“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much. We are passionate about being Guyanese. We are excited to share our stories. We can’t do it alone,” he said, before expressing gratitude to the Department of Culture within the Ministry of Education, and the 50th Anniversary Planning Committee.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

Fredericks, the balata craftsman

By Ariana Gordon

HAND-CRAFTED balata products are a tradition that has been passed on from one generation to the next, says Guy Fredericks.

In a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle in Nappi, North Rupununi, Region Nine, Fredericks said he credits his knowledge to his father.

The 39-year-old man represents one of three families in the community that produce hand- crafted balata animals.

“When I was a little boy, I used to admire my grandfather’s craft …. He was the master artisan,” he said, noting that moulding balata animals is what his family does for a living.

Though he grew up in the Makushi Village of Nappi, Fredericks said he had been experiencing financial difficulties, so he travelled to neighbouring Brazil in search of greener pastures.

Unfortunately, things did not favour him there and he returned to his village where he had to find a means of providing for himself.

“When I came back there was no other way I could get money,” he said. The “Balata

man” told the Guyana Chronicle that he started his craft business in 1998, shortly after meeting his wife.

“My father is not a rich man… and all he gave me is a pot,” he said. “Son go make a living,” Fredericks recalled his father told him, pointing to the very pot he had sitting on a fireside outside of his home.

The former Nappi Toshao calls the pot the “Million dollar pot” and will stop using it only when it has a hole. The “Balata man” specialises in

making animals that are common to the hinterland.

“I use simple tools and I make many animals… the Red Bill Toucan, the Harpy Eagle, the Canje Pheasant, the Spider Monkey, jaguars… you name it.”

Though he loves crafting the animals, Fredericks said it is oftentimes challenging to source materials due to lack of financing.

BIGGEST ORDER But despite those challenges, he has been able

Fredericks and his family stand outside of his Nappi home with the “Blue Mountain” in the background

The pot given to Fredericks by his father to make the hand-crafted animals

Some of Guy Fredericks’s hand-crafted animals on display at the Business Expo

to secure a market for his craft. He disclosed that he is currently working on “the biggest order” he has ever received -- since he started the business -- from Sterling Products Limited.

He is required to produce 1200 pieces of animals as per specification by the client.

“I have sent the first batch, I am working on the second batch and then I have to do the third batch,” he noted.

Though slow, Fredericks said his business is growing and has a bright future.

“I got my first loan with GBTI which is the Green loan with low interest rates and that is how I purchase my materials.”

The Guyana Tourism Authority, the Rupununi Eco Hotel, Iwokrama and a craft shop at the Hibiscus Plaza are all clients of the “Balata man.”

He takes between one and two hours to complete a single animal and would complete 10 in any given day.

“It is very time-consuming, you get frustrated sitting at one spot all day…. I work into the night,” he said, but due to the lack of electricity, he is considering the purchase of a solar panel.

“Republic Bank approached me… so the next loan I am going for is to buy a solar panel… so I would work in the nights.”

After accomplishing

that, the determined Fredericks intends to “improve the working conditions here [at his home] and build a good workshop”.

He hopes to one day build a mansion from the revenue received from his business.

TEDIOUS Fredericks explained that while making hand-crafted balata animals is his passion, it is a tedious job. To get the required colour of the animals, he is required to dye the balata.

“If I have to do Spider Monkeys, I get my black colour… it is very difficult to do one piece with different colours,” he noted.

Given the fact that he is assisted only by his wife, Fredericks said it is a tiresome process.

“It is just me and my wife.

I was my dad’s apprentice and I came out on my own, then she was my apprentice and then she came out on her own,” he said jovially, noting that it is now a competition between him and his wife.

“She is better,” he said, giving his wife praise for all the assistance and support she has shown him.

“Not everybody is interested in doing craft, there are about three families that do the craft... and the little money filters down to the community.”

Meanwhile, Fredericks noted that his products are

affordable, as they are being sold at $1000 per animal on retail while the wholesale price is $800 per animal.

He creates the animals for clients on a first-come-firstserved basis, with consideration being given to those who require the products urgently.

“For Rodeo, we will be doing the Cow Boys and have them on display at the Eco Hotel,” said the “Balata man,” who uses social media to advertise his craft.

Asked whether he remembers the details of each of the animals he has created, Fredericks responded in the affirmative, noting that because of specialists reviewing his work, he has books he uses for reference.

“I have books that I check the details… what we found out is that specialists come, go and buy the pieces and would pick up the mistakes… the toes, stripes… but before I go to make a Spider Monkey, it is already fixed in my mind…”

He explained that the families that currently make hand-crafted balata animals are the best at the art. “We don’t use moulds, we hand and sculpt it,” he said.

Now that his business is receiving more attention, Fredericks travels to Georgetown from time to time to meet with clients and to attend exhibitions.

He has participated in both GuyExpo and the Business Expo.

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Free eye tests, distribution ––as World Glaucoma of spectacles Week concludes

By Shirley Thomas THE curtain on Friday came down on activities in observance of World Glaucoma Week (WGW) in Guyana, with a collaborative eye-care project between Optique Vision Care and the Rotary Club of Stabroek, which saw a number of students benefiting from free eye tests and the distribution of free spectacles.

The club teamed up with Optique Vision Care, owned by Mr Dhani Narine, and who is himself a member of the club, to provide comprehensive eye examinations for 32 children from two orphanages and four public schools.

Of the 32 students who were thoroughly examined by the company’s optometrists, spectacles were prescribed and made available, free of charge, to 17 of them.

The presentation of the spectacles to the students was done on Friday afternoon, during a simple handing-over ceremony held at Optique Vision Care, Giftland Mall, Liliendaal,Greater Georgetown.

Making the presentations were Managing Director, Dhani Narine and Optometrist, Claudia Suarez.

Others present at the ceremony included Dr Shailendra Sugrim, Consultant Ophthalmologist; Mrs Madonna Narine, Optometrist; Mr Marcel Gaskin, Assistant Governor, District 7030 (Antigua - French Guiana); Mr Coby Frimpong, President of Rotary Club of Stabroek ; and Luana Falcomer and Grace Mc Calman, both of the Stabroek Club.

Delivering brief remarks on behalf of the club was President Frimpong, who lauded the management of Optique Vision Care for supporting the initiative, testimony to their

commitment to good corporate and social responsibility.

The 17 recipients of spectacles whose ages range between 10 and 16 years had very high prescriptions and were experiencing difficulty reading in school, said Mrs Madonna Narine, wife of Dhani Narine. They will be given follow-up tests within the next six months.

Meanwhile, Optometrist Claudia Suarez said the conditions detected were largely astigmatism and myopia.

Astigmatism is an optical defect in which vision is blurred due to the inability of the optics of the eye to focus a point object into a sharp, focused image on the retina. This may be due to an irregular or toric curvature of the cornea or lens.

Myopia, also known as near-sightedness and short-sightedness, is a condition of the eye whereby the light that comes in does not directly focus on the retina but in front of it, causing the image that one sees when looking at a distant object to be out of focus.

It does not affect focus when looking at a close object.

World Glaucoma Week is observed from March 6-12 and this initiative of the Rotary Club of Stabroek and Optique Vision Care is a collaborative effort in the fight to eliminate global blindness and visual impairment, Mr Dhani Narine said.

Glaucoma is an eye condition that causes damage to the optic nerve which affects one’s vision. Symptoms are not usually active, so regular eye checks are the only means by which this disease can be detected in its early stages. Once detected, treatment can preserve sight, Narine said.

The representatives of the Rotary of

At the ceremony for the presentation of free spectacles to students: From left: Rotary President, Mr Coby Frimpong; Optique Managing Director, Dhani Narine and Assistant District Governor, 7030 Mr Marcel Gaskin Stabroek expressed gratitude to Mr and Mrs Dhani Narine and Optique Vision Care for their humanitarian partnership in the initiative, aimed at providing eye care for the students.

The Rotary Club of Stabroek is known for its significant contributions to the less fortunate through community-based projects

that are focused mainly on literacy and skills training.

Over the past 10 years, the Rotary Club of Stabroek has participated in several projects, both independently and jointly with other organisations, to achieve its objectives. This was the second eye-care project undertaken by the Rotary Club of Stabroek.

Optique Vision Care and Rotary Club of Stabroek stakeholders pose with the students tested and presented with spectacles. In back row (left) Optometrist, Ms Claudia Suarez and Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr Shailendra Sugrim. At extreme right (second row) are President Coby Frimpong and Mrs Madonna Narine

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Scenes from Shell Beach Photos by Alva Solomon

A privately-owned cargo vessel moored along a wharf at Kumaka in the North West District on Friday. Persons have been hiring such vessels to transport their goods to the area, since the ferry, MV Northcote journeys to the area monthly

Small boats moored along the Shell Beach near the Waini Point on Friday. The vessels in the distance include a Venezuela-registered fuel vessel, one of many whose owners play their trade in this busy area along the Atlantic Coast

A Guyanese fishing vessel (left) and a Venezuelan fuel boat anchored along the Shell Beach on the Waini Coast on Friday

Debris washed up along the Shell Breach near the Waini Point on Friday

The view outside Morawhanna ,Barima/Waini on Friday afternoon. At right are the police station and the customs offices

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Barca register six in Getafe stroll

By Richard Martin BARCELONA, (Reuters)-Barcelona equalled a club record of 12 consecutive league wins as Neymar and Lionel Messi were among the scorers in a 6-0 thrashing of struggling Getafe 6-0 at the Nou Camp yesterday The win takes Barca 11 points clear of nearest challengers Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga, although Diego Simeone’s side face

Deportivo La Coruna later on Saturday.

An own goal by Getafe defender Juan Rodriguez put Barca on their way to victory after eight minutes but then Messi missed a fourth penalty of the season, before lay`ing on passes for Munir El Haddadi and Neymar to stretch Barca’s lead.

The Argentine added a fourth before the break with a curlingstrike from the edge of the area.

Neymar then struck a 21st goal of the season in all competitions, again assisted

by Messi, while Arda Turan completed the thrashing with an overhead volley.

Luis Enrique’s side are in the midst of a record of 37 matches without defeat in all

competitions and the victory over Getafe matched the 12 straight league wins they achieved in 2012-13 under coach Tito Vilanova.

Before the match Barca enjoyed their first week without a match in 2016, and Luis Enrique made five changes from the team that won 4-0 at Eibar last Sunday, resting Luis Suarez, Dani Alves, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic before their Champions League round of 16 second leg match with PremierLeague side Arsenal on Wednesday.

Getafe sit one point above the relegation zone in 16th place and the trouncing they received at the Nou Camp was their eighth defeat in nine league matches.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Neymar celebrate a goal against Getafe’s Vicente Guaita. Reuters/ Albert Gea

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ICC world T20…

Afghanistan reach Super 10 stage

NEW DELHI,(Reuters)-Afghanistan roared into the main draw of the World Twenty20 with an emphatic 59-run victory over Zimbabwe in a first round Group B match yesterday.

Mohammad Shahzad (40) gave Afghanistan a flying start before Mohammad Nabi (52) and Samiullah Shenwari (43) added 98 runs off 64 balls to power them to 186-6, their highest total in this format.

The associate nation then returned to bowl out Zimbabwe for 127 to register a memorable victory over a full-member nation and join England, South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka in Group One of the Super 10 stage of the tournament.

“This was a very important match for us. People in Afghanistan are crazy about cricket. They love the game, so (winning it) was very important for us,” victorious captain Asghar Stanikzai said.

With a place in the main draw at stake, Stanikzai opted to bat and was vindicated as Shahzad set alight Nagpur’s VCA Stadium with his swashbuckling batting.

The portly 28-year-old hit Tendai Chatara for four successive boundaries after a quiet opening over, forcing the pacer off attack.

Donald Tiripano was pressed into service but there was no respite from Shahzad who hit him for three successive fours.

Shahzad greeted left-arm spinner Sean Williams by hitting his first delivery for a six but fell in the same over after a 23-ball blitz attempting a reverse sweep.

His dismissal triggered a mini-collapse as Afghanistan, cruising at 49 for no loss in the fifth over, slumped to 63-4 in the eighth.

Nabi then joined forces with Shenwari to first steady the innings before accelerating.

Beneficiary of a missed stumping opportunity, Nabi hit Wellington Masakadza for two sixes in the same over and brought up his maiden fifty in 30 balls before falling in the final over.

Zimbabwe’s erratic bowlers conceded 25 extras, including 17 wides, to make things difficult for themselves.

Chasing a daunting target, Zimbabwe lost their top half for 65 inside 12 overs. Tinashe Panyangara’s unbeaten 17 was the top score in the Zimbabwe innings which ended with two balls left.

Leg-spinner Rashid Khan was the pick of the Afghan bowlers, claiming three for 11 in his tidy four overs but Nabi, who also got a wicket with the ball, was adjudged man-of-the-match.

Tough day ...

From back page pugilists lost. Trinidadian heavyweight Nigel Paul was the lone winner for the region as he defeated Jean Carlos Mina of Ecuador.

Head of the St Lucian delegation in Argentina, David `Shakes’ Christopher, acknowledged that the going was tough for the Caribbean during the two days of the competition “The Caribbean won one fight on Friday and one today (yesterday). The going has been tough for us so far but we hope that it can change soon,” Christopher declared.

Guyana’s hope is now saddled on middleweight Dennis Thomas who comes up against Puerto Rican Jose Luis Rodriguez today. A victory would put Thomas into the quarter-final.

39

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

Yorke says changes needed at Manchester United SINGAPORE, (Reuters)-Manchester United should sack Louis Van Gaal and install his assistant Ryan Giggs as manager, according to former striker Dwight Yorke who wants to launch his own managerial career at struggling Aston Villa.

The former Trinidad and Tobago striker said changes were needed at United, with the 20-times English champions sixth in the Premier League, out of the Champions League and suffering a 2-0 loss

Dwight Yorke scored an impressive 48 goals in 96 games for Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Chelsea knocked out of FA Cup LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters)-Romelu Lukaku scored two goals, one demonstrating strength and rare skill, to knock his old side Chelsea out of the FA Cup 2-0 in a dramatic quarter-final featuring two sendings-off yesterday.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa was shown the red card, following Lukaku’s five-minute ROMELU LUKAKU

double, for a second booking as he retaliated with face-to-face aggression after being fouled

by Gareth Barry.

Barry was then given a second yellow card three minutes from time but Lukaku, sold by former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to Everton for 28 million pounds ($40.28 million) two

years ago, had already put victory beyond doubt.

With a replay looking likely, Lukaku conjured up a goal from nowhere, muscling past two defenders on the left flank, powering into the box and, after some nifty footwork, firing a left-foot shot into the corner.

It ended Premier League champions Chelsea’s chances of any silverware at the end of another wretched week that also saw them crash out of the Champions League against Paris St Germain.

And it meant caretaker manager Guus Hiddink, who won the FA Cup seven years ago in his previous stand-in spell at Stamford Bridge, had failed in his bid to repeat the achievement following the dismissal of Mourinho in December.

to arch-rivals Liverpool in the Europa League this week.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about results,” Yorke was quoted as saying by Singaporean daily The New Paper yesterday after a promotional event in the Southeast Asian citystate.

“In the two years that he’s (Van Gaal) been there, he’s spent tons of money, brought in tons of players, and simply hasn’t got the results that he and everyone else had hoped to. “ Yo u s e e a l o t o f young managers, Zinedine Zidane’s been given

the opportunity at Real Madrid, you got Luis Enrique at Barcelona, Pep Guardiola who’s coming to Manchester City, Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino, they’re all ex-players.

“And I feel that the game is going down that road, and maybe this is the right time to give Giggsy the job.”

Yorke won three Premier League titles and the 1999 Champions League with United under former manager Alex Ferguson after joining from Aston Villa.

The 44-year-old said

he was heartbroken to see Villa struggle at the foot of the table under manager Remi Garde and said he would love the chance to try and rectify the problems.

“I feel that I can turn it around for them, if they give me the opportunity to do that,” he said.

“They’re a club I know very well, the structure is very strong, and if they go into the Championship (second tier) next year...I have the experience and what it takes to win that Championship down there.”

40

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

Ramcharran retains OSCL presidency … players reject use of white balls

By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada --There has been an aboutturn in the use of white balls in tournaments organised by the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL).

Introduced for the first

time last year in the inaugural 10/10 tournament, the league was proposing to go one step further in the 2016 season by bringing the 15/15 competition on board. This would have meant only the 20-over tournament continuing with the traditional Supreme balls.

However, at last Sund a y ’s A n n u a l G e n e r a l Meeting (AGM) held at the Agincourt Community Centre, Scarborough here, the league’s plans were stalled when by a majority vote, the clubs flatly rejected use of the white balls, citing the

ensuing dangers posed.

While acknowledging that the white balls are widely used in Guyana, Florida and New York and that they (the players) will be at a disadvantage while competing at these overseas venues, the players were adamant that the grassy pitches here are not conducive to the bouncy white balls and can cause serious injuries.

The players also re-

organised by the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA), to be held in Guyana in early November. A special fund has been established to assist the selected players. The OSCL did not field at team at the last tournament.

The OSCL will also be playing a pivotal role in the annual Guyana Festival which coincides with the Golden

Ramcharran urged the players to be cognizant of the happenings as the Parks committee has increased its security of the facilities and if players do not adhere to the rules, more grounds could be lost.

Ramcharran also described the 2015 season as a good one for the league despite a few hiccups, citing among other things the type

The 2016 OSCL executives. Standing (from left) are Patrick Shivrattan, Ranjan Persaud, Kim Sue, Vish Jadunauth, Frederick Halley and Bobby Ramlagan. Seated (from left) are Vice-President Terry Mathura and president Albert Ramcharran. ferred to instances where some of their colleagues suffered injuries during the staging of the Toronto Cup 1 last October and were of the opinion that others, especially the senior ones, will be at risk evading the unusual bounce of the white balls.

Following the rejection, the league had no alternative but to revert to playing all three of its tournaments with the Supreme balls. Players chosen to represent the OSCL will however be involved in practice sessions with the white balls prior to going on tours or for competitions staged in Toronto.

Another major decision taken at the meeting was the assurance that the OSCL will be sending a team to participate in the annual Guyana Softball Cup,

Jubilee celebrations and this year’s activities are set to be staged at the Skydome, for the first time, on July 2 and 3.

Sponsorship for the 10/10 and 15/15 tournaments has already been secured for the next three years with the former, sponsored by Harri Suku, being branded the Caribbean Sensation 10/10 and the latter the Norman Sue Bakery 15/15.

Long-standing president Albert Ramcharran, who was returned unopposed, told those present that the league was facing a major problem this season in the acquisition of grounds, since one of the major venues, Ellesemere, is scheduled to undergo huge infrastructural works while another was lost due to the behaviour of players caused by excessive use of alcohol.

of sponsorship obtained from Home Trust, Harri Suku and Norman Sue Bakery among others.

The only newcomer on the executive was freelance journalist for the Guyana Chronicle, Frederick Halley, who was elected unopposed as the new secretary/public relations officer.

Terry Mathura remains the vice-president, Kim Sue treasurer, Bobby Ramlagan assistant secretary/treasurer, Vish Jadunauth East End coordinator, Patrick Shivrattan registrar/statistician and Ranjan Persaud, West End coordinator/assistant registrar/statistician.

The disciplinary committee comprises: Ian Baldeo, Naresh Bodo, Nazir Khan, Rudy Bhoopaul and Rajin Roopchand.

Notable Dates

HOWARD ‘The Battersea Bomber’ Eastman continued with his impressive form after stopping Englishman Steve Goodwin on March 13,1996 at the Brent Town Hall in London.

Goodwill suffered a TKO in round five of the bout that was scheduled for eight. Eastman remained unbeaten with 11 victories, 10 coming from the abbreviated form.

The lanky middleweight would continue his winning ways and was rewarded with several titles. However, it took American William Joppy to stop the winning spree.

Five years and 21 fights after he

stopped Goodwill, Eastman battled Joppy for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA )middleweight title.

He lost the close fight against Joppy via Majority Decision The Guyanese would have another shot at a world title in February 2005. This time he lost by a unanimous decision to undisputed world champion Bernard `The Executioner’ Hopkins. Eastman holds the distinction of being the last man to defeat Guyana’s first world champion Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis.

He will turn 46 in December and in a career that is 22 years old at present has secured 49 victories and 13 defeats.

41

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

Former GFF Technical Director Claude Bolton breaks silence LAST week, news broke that Claude Bolton has resigned from his position as Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).

The GFF’s Public Relations and Communications Officer Debra Francis, said that the rationale behind Bolton’s shocking exit was because “he’s unable to fulfil his mandatory residency.”

Francis said that the Technical Director’s job requires that the person be living in Guyana on a full-time basis and since Bolton has started a new family, he would be unable to carry out the position he had occupied since January 10, 2015.

However, in a lengthy letter dispatched to the media last evening, Bolton explained in detail the reason behind his unexpected departure from Guyana’s football arena, after implementing and overseeing several ‘game-changing’ programmes and initiatives.

BELOW IS BOLTON’S LETTER IN FULL: This will formally acknowledge my resignation as Technical Director for the Guyana Football Federation. Although it is not my ideal to step away now, a number of extenuating circumstances have lead me to this decision.

I am proud to know that I have been a part of a reformation of such an integral component of Guyana’s society.

I must opine that three major forces have collectively pulled Guyana’s Football from the doldrums of sport and disrespect – FIFA, the Normalisation Committee, and the Guyanese media.

The guidance and commitment of the world’s governing body to Guyana’s football demonstrate an understanding that we have always had great potential, but were in need of a recalibration. The support of the Howard

McIntosh-lead FIFA Technical Development Office for this Region should be praised. I wish to thank, personally, from that Office, Anton Corneal, Technical Development Officer, whose attention, expertise, and mentorship has always been accessible. His wisdom and stewardship truly helped to chart our course and successes of this past year.

I must say that the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee (NC), lead by Chairman Clinton Urling, was the most uplifting experience of sporting administration that I have ever experienced. Each and every member, each and every day, ardently approached football in Guyana as a tool of social development.

They are consummate professionals and asked question after question with an aim to reach decisions that could only benefit the game in the long term. The NC was meticulous and wise to chart out possible outcomes each and every time a decision was to be made.

There was always an understanding of the enormity of the task at hand, yet, a humility that kept them as servants to the game and its stakeholders.

I am blessed and grateful for the opportunity and responsibility they bestowed upon me with my appointment. To the members of the NC, my deepest gratitude and encouragement that they each consider continuing their contribution to the game and sport.

Allow me to also extend a debt of gratitude to the local media. Your continuous support of the technical programmes that I unveiled must be commended. You have been keen in relaying the value of the programmes that I was developing. Reporters were always available, which made our content relevant, regardless of opinions.

To me personally, each and everyone of you has been professional in your ap-

Regal Masters register two victories in Florida Cup ––mixed fortunes for other Guyanese teams

By John Ramsingh in Miami.

REGAL Masters had a flawless start to their Florida Cup campaign 2016 with convincing victories over Tri-State Masters and Better Hope Masters at the Brian Piccolo Park in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, USA. In their opening match, Regal Masters beat Tri-State Masters by seven wickets with 15 balls to spare.

Tri-State were asked to bat first and were bowled out for 105 from 17.2 overs.

Mahendra Hardyal was the star with the ball with 3-18; Raymond Harper (2-13), Faleem Mohamed (2-26) and Laurie Singh (1-18) were spot on as well.

Compton Warren topscored for TriState with 34 (3x6s, 2x4s). In reply, Mahesh Chunilall 54 not out (6x4s, 1x6) and Raymond Harper 16 (1x6, 1x4) knocked off the required total in 17.3 overs for an easy six points.

The second match was more competitive as it was against Florida Cup 2015 Champions, Better Hope Masters. Batting first the defending champions posted a challenging 168-8 from their 20 overs, with useful contributions from Sodesh Persaud 57 not out (4x6s & 6x4s), Desmond Chumney 28 (2x6s & 2x4s) and Ravi Sugrim 22 (2x6s & 2x4s).

Harper and Hardyal were once again among the wickets with 2-17 and 2-27 re-

spectively. When the Regal Masters set out on their mission to get 169, they were given a flying start from the in-form Chunilall with an unbeaten 69 (6x6s & 4x4s).

Eric Thomas contributed 46 not out (6x4s & 3x6s) and Raymond Harper 19, also played their part with the bat to give the Guyana Masters team victory by seven wickets with four overs and four balls to spare.

The Regal Masters will now play their final group match against Floodlights Masters of Guyana, who won both of their matches to also qualify for the semi-finals.

In that group, South Florida Softball Cricket League (SFSCL) Masters won both of their matches and have advanced to the semi-finals.

Orlando Softball Cricket League and Brooklyn Legends both have one win and six points from their two matches.

The All-Star (open) category is more complicated with four teams all on six points.

South Florida Softball Cricket League, Wolf Warriors, Mercenary and Orlando Softball Cricket League are all in with a chance to move forward.

The other group in the All-Star category is set with Tri-State Warriors and New York Enforcers winning both of their matches, while Untouchables and Expendables lost both and have been eliminated.

proach, respectful of all requests, and understanding of my tasks. For this I thank you and return the respect.

To the coaches that are pouring their hearts and souls into this game, I admire you. What you have accomplished in the Elite League, in the Coaching Courses, in the everyday sessions trying to ignite our youth before the darkness hits, is nothing less than

CLAUDE BOLTON remarkable. You have done so much with what little resources you have, or do not have.

You are a special group; no one knows how special. Embrace the Coaching Association; engage together. It is important. You can shape it together.

The only piece that I was not yet able to shape was the inclusion of the national team staff into the fabric of our Coaching Education and overall Player Development. Simply trying to inspire our game by words is far from enough. With the limited finances of Caribbean Federations, we need to make the best use of full-time personnel. They should

have much to offer by example, by being on the field, by guiding Coaches and Players regularly.

Most significantly, I wish all the best to the players of this great country for they have endured so much. From the national team players lead by Chris Nurse, the first Elite League standouts like Gregory Richardson and Vurlon Mills, local pioneering women like Ruth George, to the skilful eight-yearolds in the Rupununi, all have saved the game by simply just continuing to play. That deep love of this beautiful game is what resonates with anyone who truly has football at heart.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

It has been an impressive start to the new GFF Executive Committee’s term. I trust that those that have stepped forward with Mr. Forde have responsible governance at the forefront of their agenda.

The approach that I have witnessed in this short time has been nothing less than professional. Structure seems to be an essential component to the ExCo’s vision and that bodes very well for our game.

It is probably best that a group with a clear plan be given the opportunity to find the Technical Lead that will align exactly with the path they wish to chart. Such a synergy, if a completely open relationship, could have enormous benefits.

I am always to be a student of the game and a servant to Guyana’s football players.

Perhaps, in the right environment, I may be afforded an opportunity to coach and contribute to a Guyanese team striving for a goal.

Once again, thank you to all of you that embody the love of the game.

Yours in Sport, Claude Bolton Former Technical Director Guyana Football Federation

GDF make strong reply to GCC 246 GDF closed the opening day of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)-sponsored GISE/Star Rentals/Trophy Stall first division cricket tournament against hosts George-

RONALDO ALI MOHAMED

town Cricket Club (GCC) on 120-2, replying to GCC’s first innings total of 246.

Leon Andrews led their strong reply with 57. When bails were lifted Kevin Ramdeen and Damion Whitney were the unbeaten batsmen on 20 and 16 respectively.

Earlier a collective bowling effort from GDF helped restrict GCC to 246 in 68.2 overs after they were asked to bat first.

Ronaldo Ali Mohamed was again among the runs for GCC with a stylish 84 which included 11 fours and a six.

Mohamed received valuable support from Matin Pestano-Bell 45, Deonarine Seegobin 28, Anthony Adams 27 and Devon Lord 25. Damian Waldron (3-28) and Andre O’Neil (3-44) were the chief destroyers for GDF. Andre Foster (2-18), Jeremiah Harris (1-67) and Ramdeen (1-48) were the other successful bowlers.

42

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

MSC coaching programme starts tomorrow WITH the aim to produce rounded young cricketers, the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) will commence a cricket coaching programme tomorrow for aspiring cricketers at its Thomas Lands facility.

The programme targets players at the youth level, and will be supervised by former Guyana first-class batsman Mark Harper.

Harper in an invited comment said his main aim is to ensure that each youngster is well equipped with the basics of the game, adding that his objective is to develop capable youth teams at all levels.

The coaching stint, to be sponsored by Global Sea Food Distributors

CEO of Global Seafood Distributor Allison Butters-Grant (left) presents the cheque to MSC secretary Adrian Smith in the presence of young cricketers and officials of the club and sponsors

EBFA / Ralph Green U-11 League

Jones’ brace leads Grove Hi Tech past Diamond United GROVE Hi Tech opened their quest for top honours in the Ralph Green-sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-11 League on a positive note when they registered a 2-1 win over Diamond yesterday at the Grove Playfield.

Captain Tyrese Jones netted either side of the 30-minute contest to guide his side to full points in the Group A clash. Five minutes into the match, Jones worked his way from the defensive end into the Diamond United box before smartly lobbing the ball over the head of the Diamond goalkeeper, Kemary Gittens.

The first half ended with Grove in the lead by a single goal, even as Diamond enjoyed a few good moments. The trend of dominance continued for the home team in the second half with Jones doubling the

lead in the 18th minute from a free kick just outside the area on the left side.

Diamond never stopped trying even though they were trailing and were rewarded with a consolation goal in the 26th minute, Jael Ross’s shot beating goalkeeper Romesh Persaud to his left.

The goal sparked celebrations from the Diamond team with Ross somersaulting to celebrate. Soon after the final whistle sounded and Grove came away victors 2-1. Friendship took full points from Agricola Red Triangle which failed to show up for their match-up.

It was the second win for Friendship which had defeated defending champions Herstelling Raiders in the competition’s first match on March 5. Matches will continue this Saturday at the same venue.

Tyrese Jones (2nd left) watches as his lobbed ball over the goalkeeper’s head is destined for the back of the nets.

POINTS TABLE Teams Friendship Grove Diamond Herstelling Agricola Craig School

P 2 1 1 1 1 0

W 2 1 0 0 0 0

L 0 0 1 1 1 0

D 0 0 0 0 0 0

GF 4 2 1 0 0 0

GA 0 1 2 2 2 0

GD +4 +1 -1 -2 -2 0

Points 6 3 0 0 0 0

and co-sponsored by Noble House Sea Foods, was officially launched Friday afternoon.

MSC secretary Adrian Smith expressed gratitude to the sponsors, and said the programme is designed to produce rounded individuals.

Chief Executive Officer of Global Seafood Distributors Allison Butters-Grant encouraged the youths gathered to work assiduously towards their goals, and at all times must remain disciplined.

Piercy Corlette of Noble House Sea Foods said his company is always happy to be involved in the development of youths.

(Rajiv Bisnauth).

The Peru Under-19 Junior International World Ranking tournament ...

Guyana secures two bronze medals THE Guyanese double pair of Sunburst Champion Narayan Ramdhani and Jonathan Mangra secured two bronze medals in the Under-19 Boys’ Doubles at the 11th Peru Under-19 Junior International World Ranking tournament held in Lima, Peru.

Played at the Regatas Club Badminton Courts, the local boys performed extremely well at this high-level tournament.

In the semi-final, the pair lost in a three-setter to Peru’s Rodrigo Camogliano Telge and Nicolas Macias with Guyana winning the first game 21-18, and losing the next two games 9-21, 16-21.

The GBA is happy to have started out the year on a good note at the first international outing, and looks forward to continue along this path.

The juniors’ 10-member team will now be preparing for the Suriname Easter Junior Under-15 and 19 International Championships to be held in Paramaribo from March 25 to27.

Narayan Ramdhani and Jonathan Mangra

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday March 13, 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) 35 games (2) Bangladesh, Netherlands, Ireland & Oman

Today’s Quiz:

(1) In what year was the ICC T20 World Cup held in the Caribbean?

(2) How many matches are scheduled for the Super 10 round of the current ICC T20 World Cup?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

43

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 13, 2016

Slingerz FC keeps stranglehold on STAG Elite League Finale - Alpha, GDF play to 1 – 1 draw

FIVE games, five impressive wins. That’s the story of Slingerz Football Club.

The Javed Ali-owned club last Friday cruised to a 2 – 0 win over Fruta Conquerors to chalk up their fifth consecutive victory in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) STAG Elite League Finale.

Playing at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Ground, Slingerz FC’s rivals Alpha United played to a 1 – 1 draw against the army in the second game of the night’s double-header.

In the opening game, it was the battle between the League’s last two undefeated teams, Slingerz FC and Fruta Conquerors.

Vurlon Mills’s goal in the 36th minute, placed Coach Joseph “Bill” Wilson’s team in a 1 – 0 lead at the end of the first half.

Tried they did, but Fruta Conquerors could not equalise; then Trayon Bobb scored in the 65th minute to hand the Tucville-based club their first loss of the League (Finale).

Meanwhile, “The Hammer” had to dig deep to salvage a draw against the GDF, and doing so without the services of their leading goal-scorer Anthony “Awo” Abrams, along with Anthony Benfield, who are both serving a two-game suspension following the red cards they received in Alpha United’s 2 – 1 loss against Slingerz last Wednesday.

Delwyn Fraser scored 14 minutes into the contest, but it was last season’s leading goal-scorer Delon Lanferman, who was able to level the scores as the Wayne Dover-coached side managed to walk off the pitch with a point.

The League moved to Berbice for a double- header last evening at the #5 Ground.

In the opening game from 18:00hrs, a winless Georgetown Football Club (GFC) came up against Pele FC who played their second match without talisman Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson.

The home side, Monedderlust, who are presently at the bottom of the eight-team table will also be seeking their first win, having lost three of their last four outings, when they tackle Buxton United from 20:00hrs.

Guyana Jaguars close day 2 on 61-3 in reply to Leewards 430 GUYANA Jaguars reached 61-3 in reply to the Leeward Islands Hurricanes first innings total of 430 at the close of day two in their ninth round match of the WICB/ Professional Cricket League (PCL) four-day tournament at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, Antigua.

Vishual Singh and night watchman, Devendra Bishoo are the not out batsmen on 20 and two respectively.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul (13), Rajendra Chandrika (4) and Leon Johnson (12) are the batsmen dismissed.

Resuming on 237-3, Montcin Hodge carried his overnight, 74 to 149 not out, his maiden first-class ton.

For the Jaguars Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton and Devendra Bishoo, all claimed two wickets apiece.

Guyana Jaguars trail Leewrds by 369 runs.

In the other two matches: Trinidad and Tobago Red Force closed day two on 111-3, replying to Barbados Pride first innings total of 396 and in the other game between Windward Islands Volcanoes and Jamaica Scorpions at Arnos Vale Cricket Ground, Windward Islands Volcanoes 149-5, replying to Jamaica Scorpions 445.

GMR&SC Race of Champions …

Persaud striving for consistency

By Stephan Sookram

WITH exactly seven days remaining for the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) National Race of Champions, group three competitors Danny Persaud has underscored consistency as the main principle of his 2016 campaign.

Persaud, who missed out on the 2015 Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) group 3 Championship to Paul Vieira, says that his main focus is returning his Mazda Miata to its reliable stage.

“Last year we had major trouble with reliability issues and we were not able to be consistent. People may say that we were at every event, but we were not able to score much needed points at some,” contended the Group 3 driver.

He continued, “Nonetheless, I’ve got the team working on the car to ensure as much reliability as we can

I am confident that we can get it done.”

He noted that on the grid, there will be a lot of

Danny Persaud leads Paul Vieira during last November’s race meet (Rohindra Mahase Photography) come Sunday (March 20). It is going to take a lot of work to bring the car back to that stage where it once was, but

action as many of the circuit racers seek to brush the dust off their machines ahead of what is seen as a

long season.

“This meet, I want to see what happens when we try to be as reliable as possible. It may be that I am slower or it may be that I get faster; I will only know that on race weekend. As it is now, the car is not ready for that, but I can assure the competition that it will be on the line come Sunday (March 20),”said Persaud.

On the topic of the Caribbean Championships, Persaud said, “Again before we talk title hopes, we need to first assess how the car works. I can say that I will be in the championship this year but again consistency is where my focus is at.”

GTT and Fly Jamaica are the main sponsors of the championships to date and admission has been set at $500 per child and $1000 per adult Race time is 09:30hrs

E-Networks Fitness Challenge on today

By Stephan Sookram ATHLETES will put their bodies on the line today in a battle for the title of “most fit” male and female as well as team in the second instalment of the E-Networks Fitness Challenge, which gets under way at the National Park.

Preparation was into high gear yesterday when Chronicle Sport visited the venue with organisers laying out the obstacles that will mark tomorrow’s battlefield.

Organiser Jamie Mc Donald, told Chronicle Sport that a packed day of action is expected from the first workout with most of the preparation completed.

According to Mc Donald, “Everything is going according to plan. Most of the equipment is already set up and we are just making some finishing touches to some of the particulars for the workouts that are going to happen tomorrow.

“What people can expect are slightly heavier weights this year. Athletes are going to have to be a little bit stronger and the women are going to have to be able to do a little bit more in terms of their gymnastics movement,” contended the Fitness Express owner.

Meanwhile, the hype and mystery surrounding the final

Materials being laid as part of the workout session for today’s E-Networks Fitness Challenge (Ivan Bentham Photo) event will be on par with last year, according to MC Donald, who added, “The final event is going to be just as exciting as the wheelbarrow event last year. This year we have walls and sleds so people can come out to see what we do with those walls and sleds.”

The four-stage tournament which gets going from 11:00hrs will see 36 persons in nine teams striving to attain the title of fittest man, woman and team.

Last time around, it was Team USA who picked up

the group category title, Alisha Fortune the female division and Joe Rivera (of the winning team) the male champion.

Events today include Olympic snatches, a combination of running and deadlifts and a mixture of Cross-Fit movements such as jumping over walls and pushing sleds.

Sponsors include DeSinco Trading, Axe Apparel, Fitness Express, Healing Water, Windjammer International Chinese and Comfort inn , Wings Investment, The

Trophy Stall, Genesis Fitness Express, Wings Transportation Services and Baganara Island Resort, Courts and Banks DIH through its Aqua Mist, Vita Malt and Powerade brands.

Medals will be awarded to competing athletes, while podium finishers will benefit from additional prizes.

There are also special novelty games for fans, according to the organisers, as it was a big hit last year.

Admission to the event $1000 while children are free.

Persaud striving for consistency See story on page 43

Jaguars roam Georgetown!

A Scout’s Promise! Vurlon Mills hands over a Golden Jaguar tee shirt to a member of the Scouts Association. (Ivan Bentham Photo)

Olympic Qualifier

Tough day for Guyana and Caribbean IT was not a good day at the office for Guyana and the English-speaking Caribbean when the AMBC Olympic Boxing Qualifier continued in Buenos Aires, Argentina, yesterday.

Guyana’s light-heavyweight Desmond Amsterdam went into a slug-out with Colombian Juan Carlos Carrillo and was stopped in the first round.

Amsterdam is one of two Guyanese at the games, which is a prerequisite for

participating in the Olympics.

The Guyanese demise was followed by a loss for St Lucian Welterweight Lyndel `The Russian’ Mercellin, who dropped a points decision to Daniel Munoz of Chile.

CARICOM sister nations Jamaica and The Bahamas also suffered in yesterday’s morning session.

Both countries drew double blank as each of their two DENNIS THOMAS

See page 38

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9

A FEW members of Guyana’s national football team, the Golden Jaguars, took the day off Caribbean Football Union (CFU) training sessions yesterday to meet fans in Georgetown.

Daniel Wilson, Collin Nelson, Vurlon Mills, Eon Alleyne and Quincy Adams were the Jaguars who “roamed” Georgetown yetsterday during the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) meet and greet at the City Mall on Camp and Regent Streets.

They took the time to engage fans as well as host a few novelty games in which persons had the chance to win tee shirts, tickets to their upcoming Caribbean Football Union match at the National Stadium as well as other prizes.

The Jags have been placed in Group five (5) of seven (7) and will play their first match against Anguilla on March 23rd at the National Stadium, Providence, before they travel to Puerto Rico for their next match on March 29, 2016.

The competition will be played in two phases – the preliminary phase and the final phase.

Round one will be played from March 21-29; Round two May 15-21; Round three October 3-11; Fifth Place Playoff November 7-15; and the finals are scheduled for May 2017.

Among the other teams participating in the tournament are Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, St. Kitts & Nevis, Grenada, St. Maarten, United States Virgin Islands, Cuba, Bermuda, French Guiana, Barbados, Curacao, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, Suriname, Martinique, British Virgin Islands and Dominica. Games will be played in 21 countries. (Stephan Sookram)

ICC world T20…

Afghanistan reach Super 10 stage See story on page 38

Mohammad Shahzad and Samiullah Shenwari celebrate Afghanistan’s win over Zimbabwe in Nagpur yesterday.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016