Chronicle 03 20 2016

Don’t blame Surujbally No. 104497

SUNDAY MARCH 20, 2016

Price: $140

(VAT INCLUSIVE)

- LGE voter turnout below 40%

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Waiting to fill up at Koberimo Hill

Residents gathered around the only well in Koberima Hill, Region One. The prolonged dry season is proving to be a headache for many communities (Alva Solomon photo)

Journey to Shell Beach in a 33-foot 9 canoe Page

Bruce Lovell to lead CANU probe3 Page

Local Gov’t elections…

Alleged child molester elected 3 to G/town Council Page

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

LGE voter turnout below 40% - Surujbally says GECOM will not take blame

GECOM Commissioner Bibi Shadick engages Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield (right) and Dr Steve Surujbally before the start of Saturday’s press conference. At left is GECOM’s PRO, Tamara Rodney

By Ravin Singh THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) said on Saturday that voter turnout at Friday’s Local Government Elections (LGE) was below 40 percent, but it is not to be blamed for this low turnout.

“No! GECOM will not take any blame,” GECOM Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally declared at a press conference held at the Commission’s Waterloo Street, Georgetown office.

“We cannot take the blame. Many people did not know the candidates they were voting for. More work needed to be done by people who wanted to be in leadership,” he declared.

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield has said voter turnout was recorded at between 38 and 39 percent.

Most of the candidates in Friday’s Local Government Elections lamented the low voter turnout at the polls during the early part of the day, and their hopes for an improvement in the situation during the day were not realized.

The lack of voter education and lack of knowledge of the impact of these elections on the lives of citizens were among some of the reasons cited for the poor turnout.

And with GECOM having no mandate to push voters’ education, the elections regulatory body is refusing to take the blame for the low turnout.

Dr Surujbally said GECOM took upon itself to get the job done when contestants in the LGE should have taken the responsibility of voter education upon themselves. Noting that no one working at GECOM was participating in the elections, he said it was not GECOM’s job to educate voters, since this isn’t prescribed by law.

However, he said GECOM did help in this regard, with the Commission’s staff being out in the fields educating voters up to the day before the elections.

Dr. Surujbally said: “There is no blame” to cast, since GECOM had been prepared for the election since 2010. He noted that even up to last year, the voter education campaign had intensified, with call-in television programmes being hosted.

“This was not something that started a week ago,” he said, adding that where GECOM is failing, one can be assured that it will correct its faults.

NOT SHARED His view wasn’t shared by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) GECOM Commissioner Bibi Shaddick, who thinks that GECOM’s voter and civic education programme had started late, and that was a contributory factor to the low voter turnout.

“We wanted it to begin much earlier, and for a longer period…,” she declared. “Some ads were too

verbose,” she added.

Shaddick also shifted blame to the media for underreporting on LGE and for not aiding enough in the voters’ education.

DYNAMICS A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Commissioner Vincent Alexander examined the dynamics of these elections and posited that, universally, low voter turnout has been recorded during local government elections.

According to him, to establish the reason for the low voter turnout, an assessment would also need to be made in regard to the number of eligible voters who are not resident in Guyana.

With the elections being “successfully completed”, as was described by the CEO, the official results would be released after some statutory subsets have been satisfied by GECOM. This, Lowenfield said, will be done in “a matter of days”, as is prescribed by laws which guide the conduct of these elections.

Stalling the process to some extent, though, is recounting, which has been requested by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), particularly in Region Six. “That is the nature of elections, not only in Guyana. Contestants will raise issues that need to be addressed. We were able to address most, if not all, of the issues, and we will continue in the coming days to continue our statutory requirements to bring closure to the elections,” he said.

“Once the operation has been successfully executed, GECOM will then make recommendations for the improvement of the electoral system,” Lowenfield said.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Local Gov’t Elections…

Alleged child molester elected to G/town Council - GECOM says Harding, by law, cannot be recalled - President to seek explanation from Minister Lawrence

By Ariana Gordon NOTHING can now legally prevent alleged child molester Winston Harding from taking his seat among the councillors of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has said on Saturday.

GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander told reporters at a media briefing that the laws governing Local Government Elections (LGE) do not provide for the recall of an elected councillor.

Results from Constituency 13 show that alleged child molester Winston Harding, who campaigned on behalf of, and represented, the APNU-AFC in the Local Government Elections (LGE), emerged with the most votes.

And Alexander has explained that “there is no legal basis for (Harding’s) disqualification.”

“It is a moral question, political question, but it certainly is not a legal question,” Alexander said. The GECOM Commissioner noted that the Commission has to work with what is provided for in the law.

“First of all, there is no position, as far as I know, for an individual to be recalled. Secondly, this is not a GECOM question;

GECOM works with the laws provided… This is beyond GECOM,” Alexander explained.

GECOM has said that the only way Harding could be replaced would be by virtue of a by-election within his constituency. By-elections could occur only if Harding resigns from his elected

on Saturday whether APNU would look to have Harding removed from sitting on the City Council, President David Granger, who heads APNU, said “the matter would be discussed within the PNCR and our partners within the APNU before we proceed.”

The President noted that

Granger said. The President has committed to seeking an explanation from Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence on her utterances recently publicized in the media on the issue of Harding campaigning on behalf of, and representing, APNU. Lawrence, who had responsibility for the AP-

Vincent Alexander, GECOM Commissioner

Minister Volda Lawrence

Winston Harding

APNU’s decision to withdraw its support for Harding has not changed, but said he (President) was not in a position to give the party’s position on the issue of Harding being a representative of the Municipality of Georgetown.

“At this point in time, I cannot go beyond that announcement, until it has been discussed,” President

NU-AFC LGE campaign in the Georgetown area, was quoted in the Stabroek News in regard to the Harding issue as saying: “This is a family issue that has been going on and on and on and on for whatever reason.”

Harding has been repeatedly accused of child molestation, and was previously charged. The non-govern-

post on the Georgetown City Council, or dies while holding office.

APNU had withdrawn its endorsement of Harding following concerns raised over his representation of the coalition government; but Harding has won the East and West Ruimveldt Constituency by a landslide. Asked by the media

Bruce Lovell to lead CANU probe RETIRED Brigadier of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Bruce Lovell, will lead the investigations into allegations made against agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), President David Granger has announced.

Self-confessed Guyanese drug lord Barry Dataram, currently facing trial on charges of being in possession of narcotics, had made damning allegations against CANU agents, contending that they are involved in the

narco trade.

Dataram made the revelations during an interview on HGPTV Channel 67’s Nightly News. “CANU them is the most corrupted, rogue security force in this country,” he charged, also claiming: “They are the biggest drug dealer this country has. The same drug that they seize, half of it goes back on the street.”

Dataram reportedly said that he decided to go public with this information after CANU officers conducted a

Barry Dataram raid on his nephew’s house and removed $13 million, but could account for only $10 million.

CANU Head James Singh had rushed to deny the alle-

Bruce Lovell gations, saying Dataram was trying to distract attention from the proceedings of the court and bring the operations of the unit and its members

mental organisation (NGO) Red Thread has expressed its displeasure at the manner in which Minister Lawrence handled the issue, and has called on the President to, at the very least, discipline the minister.

The NGO said Lawrence was making “excuses” for Harding, while failing to address the situation at hand.

Red Thread has argued that Lawrence is not best suited for her portfolio as Social Protection Minister, and said she “has to be disciplined, and the Government needs to find someone who is qualified to head this Ministry.”

During a picketing exercise, the NGO’s co-founder, Karen De Souza, who is a women’s and children’s rights activist, charged the Government to state clearly if it is serious about the protection of children.

“You can’t, on one hand, make excuses for not addressing a situation…in a legal way, and on the other hand say that you take child care seriously; it is contradictory. And so the Government has to hold her responsible, as we are holding her responsible. The Government has to indicate to us very clearly that they are serious about child care and protection, because at the moment it looks like hypocrisy” De Souza has

stressed.

She insists that Government needs “to find someone who is qualified to head this Ministry, because we can also say that very little has happened in terms of policy movement on domestic violence, sexual offenses, and child care since she has been minister.”

Opposition Parliamentarian Dr Vindhya Persaud has used her Facebook page to express “disgust” at Minister Lawrence’s remarks. Dr Persaud is the Opposition PPP’s representative on social welfare issues.

“In a country where we are grappling with the issue of child abuse, and where children are our most vulnerable…how can she say the highlighted issue of child abuse is a ‘family matter’ and she must not be involved (?).

“Her Ministry deals directly with child abuse, and the Child Protection Agency falls (sic) within that purview…I think it is a crying shame, and the Minister must be called to task!!”

“I will seek an explanation from Ms Lawrence about the circumstances under which Mr Harding was selected,” the President told reporters.

Attempts to contact Minister Lawrence on Saturday proved futile.

into disrepute.

The head of CANU also contended that when persons make claims such as the one that Dataram has made, it means that they could have several objectives.

Dataram’s allegations against CANU were serious enough to persuade President David Granger to commit to establishing a body to investigate the allegations.

Staying true to his words, on Friday last, during his weekly television show, The Public Interest, the Head of State revealed that Brigadier Bruce Lovell has been identified to lead the investigation as a lone commissioner.

The President was keen to note that Lovell would not be investigating the whole of CANU, but only the allegations made by Dataram.

Terms of Reference for the Inquiry having already been approved, President Granger said the investigation is expected to begin by April 1st.

Dataram was recently charged in a 225-pound cocaine trafficking case, and is also wanted by authorities for drug trafficking in the US. Singh has called for Dataram to make the same confessions under oath during his trial. (Ravin Singh)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 5, 2016

Anti-Trump protesters shut down Arizona road, rally in Manhattan (REUTERS) DEMONSTRATORS shut down an Arizona highway leading to a campaign rally for Donald Trump on Saturday while protesters rallied outside of Trump Tower in Manhattan to voice their opposition to the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination.

Television news footage of the demonstration outside Phoenix showed dozens of

protesters blocking traffic while holding signs that read “Dump Trump” and “Shut Down Trump.”

The demonstrators eventually started marching down the highway, and later some were seen nearing the rally at Fountain Hills, Arizona, before Trump arrived.

Three people were arrested, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s office said.

Saturday’s protests reflect

New York City Police officers (NYPD) clash with demonstrators during a protest against U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in midtown Manhattan in New York March 19, 2016 (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid)

rising tensions around the polarizing candidate, who has come under fire from rivals for fueling unrest with his campaign rhetoric. He has denied responsibility, but this week warned of riots if he is denied the party presidential nomination.

In his home city of New York, about 1,000 demonstrators marched from Central Park to Trump Tower, the billionaire developer’s signature building on Manhattan’s tony Fifth Avenue.

The crowd of mostly young people chanted and carried placards denouncing the Republican presidential hopeful. Some of them said police used pepper spray on them as they left the park and started marching.

Police were seen taking at least one person into custody, but a spokesman for the New York Police Department could not immediately confirm whether any arrests were made or whether pepper spray was used.

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‘PEOPLE WHO LOVE HIM’ Arizona, where political

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Demonstrators protest against U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, outside the Trump Tower building in midtown Manhattan in New York March 19, 2016 (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid) parties will hold primary elections on Tuesday, is a flashpoint for the issue of illegal immigration into the United States, as it shares a long stretch of border with Mexico.

Trump, who has repeatedly accused Mexico of sending violent and unlawful migrants to flood the United States, has made illegal im-

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migration the signature issue of his campaign.

That has earned him the endorsement of Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona, an outspoken critic of U.S. immigration policies.

Fountain Hills, the site of the Trump rally, is in Maricopa County.

“We will do everything we can do to assure freedom of speech in this country,” Arpaio told CNN when asked how he planned to deal with the demonstrators.

“Donald Trump has the right to be heard by the thousands of people who love him, support him and want him to be president of the United States,” the sheriff said.

Arpaio, wearing civilian clothes, introduced Trump at the rally.

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Tr u m p r a l l i e s h a v e grown increasing unruly as the months-long campaign has progressed. An event in Chicago a week ago was canceled over security concerns after protesters, many of them university students, swarmed the venue. Clashes then broke out between protesters and supporters.

Last weekend, a man was arrested when he attempted to rush the stage where Trump was addressing the audience at a rally in Ohio.

In another incident, a man who was caught on video punching an anti-Trump protester in the face at a North Carolina rally was arrested and charged with assault.

Trump, the favorite to win his party’s nomination for the Nov. 8 presidential election, currently leads in opinion polls ahead of Arizona’s March 22 primary, according to a Real Clear Politics polling average, leading Senator Ted Cruz of Texas by 13 percentage points.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 5, 2016

Brazil’s Rousseff knew about bribery scheme, senator says: magazine (REUTERS) A senator accused of involvement in Brazil’s biggest corruption scandal said on Saturday President Dilma Rousseff and her predecessor Lula were aware of it and tried to block investigations, as a poll showed support for her impeachment rising.

In an interview with B r a z i l ’s b e s t - s e l l i n g weekly news magazine, Senator Delcidio do Amaral said Rousseff’s successful presidential campaigns in 2010 and 2014 were financed with money from the graft scheme.

Amaral was the leader of the ruling Workers’ Party (PT) in the Senate and a close Rousseff ally until he was arrested in November on charges of attempting to bribe a former executive of state-run oil company Petrobras in exchange for his silence in the investigation..

He left the party this week after agreeing a plea bargain, one of several deals prosecutors have used to advance their probe.

Amaral’s comments may increase the pressure on Rousseff, whose approval ratings have been hard hit by the worst recession in decades and who faces impeachment proceedings in Congress over separate allegations of manipulating budget accounts.

A survey published on Saturday by polling

firm Datafolha showed support for Rousseff ’s impeachment rising to 68 percent, close to the record levels reached in August. Some 65 percent of those polled said the president should resign.

In an e-mailed statement, the presidency denied Amaral’s allegations

senator, Lula negotiated the appointment of directors at Petrobras on behalf of political parties and was aware of how the parties used their influence over the company for campaign financing via kick-backs from contractors working for the state oil com-

everything.”

The scandal has plunged Brazil into a deep political crisis at a time when it is also grappling with economic recession and an epidemic of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, and preparing to host the Olympic Games in less than five months.

Rousseff named Lula her chief of staff on Wednesday, but a Supreme Court judge ruled on Friday that he should be suspended from the new ministerial role so he can be investigated for graft.

In his ruling, judge Gilmar Mendes said the appointment appeared designed to shelter Lula from prosecutors’ charges of money laundering and fraud in the Petrobras case.

His decision was made public shortly after Lula Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff shows a document rallied a crowd of nearly confirming former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Sil- 100,000 Workers’ Party va’s appointment as Chief of Staff, at Planalto Palace supporters in Sao Paulo, in Brasilia, Brazil, March 17, 2016 pledging the government would drag Brazil out of and said Rousseff would pany. its recession and survive “Lula negotiated di- the impeachment protake legal action against rectly with parties the ap- ceedings against Roushim.

A s p o k e s m a n f o r pointment of directors at seff.

Lula said Amaral was Petrobras and knew how Folha de S.Paulo a defendant trying to the parties used them, newspaper reported on get legal benefits and especially in campaign Saturday the governh a d n o e v i d e n c e o f financing,” Amaral told ment would announce what he told the maga- Veja, which is critical of a 15 billion reais ($4.14 zine. Rousseff and Lula Rousseff ’s left-leaning billion)package of stimhave repeatedly denied administration. ulus measures on Mon“ D i l m a i n h e r i t e d day. wrongdoing. and benefited from the scheme, which financed PETROBRAS “COLD WINDS her political campaigns.

SCANDAL FROM CURITIBA” A c c o r d i n g t o t h e Dilma also knew about In the interview with

Trinidad Opposition Leader accused of hiring relatives at Siparia constituency office (TRINIDAD EXPRESS) ALLEGATIONS of a breach of the Parliament rules against the hiring of relatives gathered momentum Friday with fresh claims that Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has broken the rules too.

Reports surfaced that Persad-Bissessar has employed two of her relatives at her Siparia constituency office for well over a decade.

With the recent dismissal of Marlene McDonald as housing minister,

Kamla Persad-Bissessar

which was triggered by the revelations that she had employed her romantic partner, Michael Carew, and his brother, Lennox, in her Port of Spain South constituency office, the issue of nepotism in the hiring in constituency offices has come under the spotlight.

On Facebook and WhatsApp, messages were being posted yesterday alleging that Usha Persad and Lisa Harry, employees at the Siparia constituency office, were related to Persad-Bissessar.

Veja, Amaral said government officials had tried to derail the corruption probe, led by a task force in the southern town of Curitiba, in which dozens of top businessmen and politicians have been arrested.

The senator said the former justice minister and current attorney general, Jose Eduardo Cardozo, warned the president in advance when major arrests were about to be made by police in the investigation, codenamed “Operation Car Wash”.

Amaral said he met with Rousseff and Cardozo every Monday to talk about the investigations and the minister used the codewords “cold winds from Curitiba” to refer to future actions within Car Wash.

In a statement, Cardozo also said the allegations and said they differed from what Amaral said in his plea deal.

The senator also said he spoke with Rousseff about trying to influence judges to release businessmen from prison and that she asked the head of the Supreme Court,

Ricardo Lewandowski, to water down Operation Car Wash to help the ruling coalition.

“Lula and President Dilma tried in a systematic way to obstruct justice,” Amaral told the magazine.

Rousseff has denounced leaks from the investigation, including of taped phone conversations between her and Lula, as politically motivated, saying opponents are seeking to bring down her government.

In an interview with Folha de S.Paulo, the new justice minister, Eugenio Aragao, said he would change federal police agents if he detected any leaks from the investigation.

“If there is a whiff of a leak, I will change the whole team”, he told the paper. He also compared the plea deals used by prosecutors to extortion. The president of the association of federal police agents, Carlos Sobral, told Folha de S. Paulo on Saturday that the minister showed willingness to end the Car Wash investigation.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Local Gov’t Elections

Editor-In-Chief

Results for city; towns

Nigel Williams Sunday Editor

Neil Marks

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

Editorial

Reviewing Local Government Elections

THE 2016 Local Government Elections (LGE) are behind us. In comparison to the 72 percent turnout for the 2015 General and Regional Elections (GRE), LGE participation was low. That having been said, in order for the society to persevere and ensure this vital aspect of our democracy, critical review becomes necessary insofar as such will create opportunities and correct shortcomings to safeguard the right to vote and participation in this aspect of government.

Having, for two decades, been denied voting for one’s representative(s) in the towns and neighbourhoods, 2016 marks a significant break from a disreputable past.

This was a past where obligatory revenues to councils were withheld; interim management committees (IMCs) imposed; ministerial order denying revenue-generation, as in the instance of Linden toll booth; and other forms of unsavoury conduct.

All Guyana has won with the return of LGE, and this must mark a new beginning; a beginning that must see determined efforts to avoid the ugliness of the past and proceed with actions where local development can only get stronger.

This grassroots democracy, additionally to nurturing local leaders to manage their communities and offer springboard for regional and national offices, equally keeps citizens involved in the political processes at all levels.

Where voters went to the polls under a new system (Proportional Representation and First-Past-the-Poll) which necessitate need for public education to bring about understanding and appreciation, though the elections are over, this should continue.

Constitutionally, LGE are due every three years, with the next being in 2019, and it helps the democratic process to have an informed citizenry.

The independent candidates and groups that contested augur well for democracy. Whether or not they have gained seat(s), they have played a part in strengthening and deepening the process, and should be commended and encouraged.

Where traditional political parties and candidates gained majorities in the towns and neighbourhoods, this highlights the influence of their campaign, base/stronghold.

Low voter turnout cannot escape attention, and while voter apathy or the notion of historical tendency at this level may be easily pointed to, it needs to be compared with what transpired in 2015; the importance of LGE, and

Local Gov’t Elections…

PPP claims massive victory THE Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is claiming massive victory following Local Government Elections held Friday.

“The latest numbers indicate a massive victory for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) at the Local Government Elections,” Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said in a press statement late Saturday night.

He added: “I would like to thank all of our supporters and the hundreds of volunteers and other persons who have helped us with the campaign.”

Once the final results are declared by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the Opposition Leader said, he will have a more comprehensive discussion on the historic elections. the long fight to return it to the people.

It is obvious that the political energy among the citizenry has waned within a year. As such, it requires a return to the drawing board with a view to doing objective analysis to arrive at the reasons.

Youth participation has been down, compared to 2015, when this demographic mobilised its peers and others under the slogan, “Vote like a boss.” Approximately three-quarters of the population is 40 years and under. It should therefore be asked, and answered, whether this demographic has lost confidence in the political system to deliver on their behalf, or has been made to feel that they are merely vote-getters in the process, and not valued participants in determining theirs and the country’s destiny.

There is a concern from communities that candidates were foisted on them, rather than they being given opportunity to identify their candidates. This would create a disincentive to participate, given that such undermines the spirit and intent of local democracy, which is the grassroots identifying and electing their leaders.

Another factor was the organising and mobilising strategy.

This tended towards public meetings (wholesale politics) as against retail politics (one-on-one), which requires knocking on doors, sharing plans with the residents, and asking for their support, which is proven to be more effective.

An overview of the LGE campaign messages lent itself to citizens believing it was a continuation of the 2015 GRE battle between the major political forces, as against com-

But he said: “What we have seen at the polls also vindicated the party’s position that we were never afraid of the Local Government Elections.”

Jagdeo said now that the Local Government Elections are over, the PPP/C will ensure that the communities where the party won a majority are served in a manner that is responsive to their concerns.

“Moving forward, we will resume the task of preparing for the national elections, whenever they are held, by strengthening the party, consolidating and broadening our support base, and continuing our work to include more young people and women in our efforts to move Guyana forward.” munity-based approaches that would ensure residents work together, irrespective of political support at the other levels, to develop the communities where they live day to day, interact with, and need each other.

Another hindrance to turnout was the absence of a national holiday. Within recent time, citizens have come to accept this, which allowed flexibility within the day’s schedule to vote.

There was also no general position that employers would grant time off to vote. Where workers had to travel distances away from home to go to work, voting during the 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. period, on a Friday when many do their weekly shopping, presents deterrence to voting.

In looking at the factors that influenced voter turnout, they are not insurmountable. Where obstacles present themselves in hindering the right to vote, these must be corrected. LGE law can be amended to stipulate a statutory day in the calendar. This will give GECOM, worker, employer and citizen enough time to plan their schedule and eliminate perception that the exercise of a right exists at the behest of a minister, political party or government.

The temptations to engage in triumphalism should be eschewed, given that such will undermine the camaraderie needed for community development and further alienate participation in the process. The success of local government relies on elected officials being given the scope under the laws and by-laws to execute their programmes, and citizens staying engaged to ensure leaders act in a manner that would bring development to their communities.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Kumaka eager for more business, investment opportunities

By Alva Solomon IN what he described as a long- overdue visit, Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, recently introduced his Ministry to the business community of Kumaka, in the Mabaruma Sub-Region.

The Business Minister made the trip overland through Charity in the Pomeroon, and arrived in the community on the afternoon of March 4, to an excited welcome party which included Regional Executive Officer Leslie Wilburg; former MP, businessman Ricky Khan; and other members of the business community.

Minister Gaskin told residents during a meeting at the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) that he had intended to visit the Region at the end of 2015, then he had to shift those plans to early 2016. “But one thing led to another, and most recent was the budget debates,” he explained.

“We are here today, and I would really like to introduce the Ministry of Business to you, to give you an understanding of why there is a ministry and what it means especially to business people”, he said.

Gaskin said the ministry is relatively new, having come into existence when the Government changed last year.

“It is more or less a new name”, he said, but he noted that its components are not.

“We are comprised of the Department of Commerce, a Department of Industry, and those were existing before,” he told the business community.

He informed that the Business Ministry is responsible for the management and maintenance of the National Exhibition Centre in Sophia, the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), and the Small Business Bureau (SBB).

His attentive audience was informed that those agencies were placed under a ministry because they are all set up and designed to achieve the same outcome.

He said they are dedicated to advance Guyana’s economy.

“We do that through investment promotion, export promotion, workforce enhancement,” he said.

Gaskin said he knows everybody is proud of the community in which they live, but he noted that neglect was the first thought that came to his mind when he arrived at

Kumaka.

“It seems to me that this community is neglected,” he opined. He said it could not be the first such community, since many communities outside of Region Four have not been revitalized with the necessary investments over the years.

Gaskin said that for Kumaka, like many other communities, a lot of work needs to be done. He noted that communities such as the area’s business hub cannot be neglected for as long as 50 years and be fixed within a day or a year.

He said there must be a developmental programme that is national in nature and that encompasses all of the country, “so that all of Guyana can benefit from the investment that Government makes in developing Guyana.”

He said President David Granger has made clear his focus on infrastructural development, and the Head of State believes it is necessary to invest heavily in a proper national transportation network, “so that our hinterland is connected to our coastland.”

He said this connection is the President’s vision for

know that agony they face in getting from the location; and we take it for granted because, for so long, nobody has thought to remedy it,” he told the gathering.

Gaskin noted that there should be a proper road network to connect persons.

He declared it a long-term developmental vision which the Government will pursue, and said the Government will have to borrow money to invest in this area.

“I want you to see our future from that perspective, and it is long-term,” he said.

He informed that the work of the Ministry of Business is done mainly through its agencies, and he said that what it expects to achieve through contributing towards Guyana’s development will be achieved mainly by the work of agencies such as GO-Invest, which he noted is responsible for developing investment and export promotion strategies so that the nation can harness the capacity it has in parts of the country, including at Kumaka.

“I know we have companies that are producing, maybe not at the highest possible level, but can be made export-ready within

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, addressing the gathering during the meeting

jobs.

“Somebody out there is buying all the raw materials that we export, and they are converting those raw materials to value-added products,” he explained as he noted that it is, in many cases, sold to Guyana in return.

He encouraged residents to invest in the manufacturing sector, and to place Guyana on the map as regards quality branded products.

The residents, mainly

Members of the business community at Kumaka listen attentively during the meeting development, and noted that it is more than “just building a road or building a bridge”.

The Minister noted that the right infrastructure will make Guyana a more attractive place in which to invest, and he said it will make life easier for persons as well as business investors.

“If you have a business outside of Georgetown, I’m sure (that) especially people in the mining business

the shortest period of time with the necessary support from Government,” he said.

He posited that Guyana has never been able to fully penetrate export markets with its primary products, including rice, gold, bauxite and timber, which have been exported for the last 50 years.

“We cannot sustain and grow our economy if we continue to just export raw materials,” Gaskin advised.

He said this will not create

persons engaged in small businesses, such as in the trading of dry goods, perishables and beverages, as well as fuel, were eager to listen to the work of the Small Business Bureau (SBB).

Gaskin said manufacturing is an equally important tool as regards small business development. He said a business can qualify to be considered small as long as its annual turnover is less than $60M, it employs less

than 25 persons, and its total assets is less than $20M. The Minister said the challenges that small businesses face in Guyana are not unique to Guyana, but are faced by small businesses around the world.

“There is always this problem of access to financing when it comes to small businesses. Many small businesses don’t have either the collateral or the capacity, sometimes, to go to a bank and negotiate a loan, even at a favourable interest rate”. He said the SBB was designed to address that issue.

He said the agency was designed to provide for 20% of all Government contracts awarded to be channelled to small businesses.

“It is a very important measure that can have a very positive outcome for small businesses”, he noted, adding that it has never been implemented although the provision is within the Small Business Act for the last 12 years.

He said he wished to implement that role, since it plays a major aspect in the development of the economy, to the benefit of small businesses.

He told the audience that, this year, Guyanese have opportunity “to start again,” beginning with a renewed local governance which he noted can work for the good of the country. He said the local government structure will work because of accountability, and he noted that those now made responsible must be held accountable.

Residents raised a number of issues during the interactive period of the meeting, including the need for marketing opportunities for the region to export its agricultural products.

Persons also informed the Minister of the sale of the National Edible Oil Company Limited at Wauna Hill, a community located several miles from Kumaka. The company has been sold to a businessman, resulting in the retrenchment of many workers who had been depending on the factory for an income.

Persons also raised the issue of the need for a commercial bank operating in the community, and Minister Gaskin both highlighted the need and promised he would discuss the issue with the banking sector.

Businessman Godfrey Chan-a-Sue was frank when he noted that the venture may not be a fruitful one for the banks, and he suggested measures be put in place at the administrative office at Mabaruma to assist persons with business transactions such as the changing of cheques.

Later, Minister Gaskin met individually with a few residents as the night stepped in. He said the discussions during the meeting were fruitful, and that he was happy to visit the area.

He said residents were very frank and candid in highlighting some of the problems facing the business community.

“The only way we learn and we know what are the issues is if we hear it from you. Sitting in Georgetown you only get hearsay,” he said. He said he knows the people of the area are familiar with the business opportunities of Region One, and that as a child he had eaten eggs and oranges produced in the North West District.

“I know the potential of this region to produce and to feed the nation,” he declared.

HINDS’SIGHT

8

Dr David Hinds

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

The Local Government Elections: A referendum on Guyana’s political condition

ANY observers, including the Government and the Opposition PPP, framed the recent Local Government Elections (LGE) as a referendum on the APNU+AFC Coalition’s performance in government. In many respects, it is a characterization that’s difficult to avoid. Coming mere months after a bitterly fought general election which resulted in a razor thin win for the Coalition, both the Government and the Opposition wanted that characterization for different reasons.

It was hoped that a good showing by the governing coalition would give it much needed confidence that its stewardship is on track, and that at least it enjoys the validation of its constituency. For the Opposition PPP, a good performance would satisfy the party that its loss at the general election represents a temporary setback, and that its constituency continues to reject the Coalition.

In the end, the LGE and the results which have so far been made available tell us very little, if anything, about the electorate’s feelings about the Coalition’s tenure in office. So, as it turned out, the elections were not a referendum on the Government. Rather, they tell us more about the general state of politics in the country, including the attitude of the general populace; it was a referendum on our general political condition.

LOW VOTER TURNOUT Perhaps the most revealing outcome of the election was the low voter turnout. From all accounts, it seems to have been below 50%; but, there is a constancy in those numbers. The turnout at the last LGE, which was held in 1994, was 47.91%; in Georgetown it was 33.37%. That LGE was held two years after the historic 1992 general election, when the voter turnout was 81%.

We therefore saw a 33% decline at the LGE. The turnout at the general election last year was 72.19%. It’s worth noting here that the turnouts in the two previous elections were also relatively low -- in 2011 it was 72.89%, and in 2006 it was 68.82%.

This represented a big decline from 91.73% in 2001.

So, if the final turnout in the just completed LGE is in the 40% to 50% range, it would represent as large a decline from the general elections numbers as 23 years ago.

What does this say about our politics? Many have blamed the low turnout on Friday on a lack of voter education and or voter disinterest. I think the latter is closer to the truth; but we have to explain why there is this steep decline in interest a mere 10 months after the general election. I think it has to do with the inability of political parties, in and out of office, to politically engage citizens beyond asking for votes or partisan political abuse.

Until political parties engage the people in mean-

ingful ways, and do so regularly, we will continue to see some energy at general elections and very little afterwards. Although the governing parties have more to lose, all political parties are guilty in this regard. The current Government, despite some efforts at community outreach, has not done itself enough justice. Why it does not go into the communities and talk to the people about sugar, wages, education, the budget, health etc. is beyond me. If you do that kind of public engagement often and systematically, there is no need for voter education when elections come around. People want to see, and touch, and feel, and hear their leaders beyond big rallies to get them to vote.

In the final analysis, low voter turnout is a severe rebuke of political parties and their leaderships.

LITTLE SPACE FOR INDEPENDENTS The second lesson of the recent LGE is that, despite voter disinterest, those who bother to vote are motivated by the parties. One cannot fault the independent groups and individuals for trying, but when it comes to elections, Guyana is simply not ready at this juncture for any challenge to the political parties. Independent thoughts and actions are appreciated once they are not tied to elections. Mark Benschop has learned that the hard way. There is simply not a large enough constituency for that kind of politics in the electoral arena.

This raises anew the question of whether the parties should be disallowed from contesting LGEs. My own view is that even if they are disallowed, they will still influence the process behind the scene. I therefore favour a mixed system, wherein the parties contest only the PR portion of the election and leave representation of the constituencies to the independents.

ETHNIC VOTING PATTERNS The third lesson is that the LGE showed no swing away from the traditional ethnic voting patterns. In that regard, these elections were a mere extension of the general elections. Mr. Jagdeo was brutally honest when he said that the PPP’s first line of action is to secure its East Indian base. While he did not say it, he must know that not very far behind that is the need to ensure that there is no challenge to the party in that ethnic constituency.

It is instructive that there were no independent challengers to the PPP there, a fact that was noted weeks ago by Indian Rights commentator Rayaan Shah.

That there were multiple challenges to the APNU in the African-Guyanese constituency is healthy. It is, however, not new. From the 1950s to the present, the dominant African-Guyanese party has always had to confront independent challenges, both electorally and

non-electorally. I have always felt that this has enriched the politics, even as it leads to bitterness and hatred of the independents by the hardliners of the dominant party.

The debate over the Walter Rodney CoI is a classic example of this duality: The richness and bitterness of independent challenges in the context of ethnic rivalry.

When all is said and done, Rodney, the scholar, is appreciated even by his political detractors; but Rodney, the Black Man who dared to challenge the Black Government and Leader, is summarily vilified. Benschop and others hopefully have learned this truism: they love Benschop’s bravery, philanthropy and charisma, but not when he challenges the party.

THE BROADCAST LICENCES DEBATE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS I cannot end this week’s article without noting the public division in the Government on the matter of revoking the broadcast licences. The AFC leader disagrees with his colleagues’ view. The WPA’s Roopnarine also disagrees with Mr. Nagamootoo. Mr. Nagamootoo eventually disagrees with himself. We haven’t heard from the PNC faction of the Government, so we don’t know where they stand.

Diversity of thought on these matters is healthy, but when you are the Government, it is imperative that you fashion a consistent approach out of that diversity.

One continues to get the feeling that the governing parties have not yet hammered out a cohesive vision.

There seems to be no clear sense of how to approach these big issues. If they are to govern effectively, they would have to do that sooner rather than later.

It appears as if the Cabinet is the only real functioning institution of the Coalition. But vision and general political strategy and tactics cannot be framed in Cabinet; they have to be worked out away from the day-to-day governance of the country. In fact, Cabinet deliberations should be informed by this larger vision.

The inability to arrive at this cohesive vision is one of the problematics of Partnership Government — consensus takes longer to be arrived at. But this should not be a deterrence; rather, it should be an incentive to try harder. I still believe that President Granger’s last address to the National Assembly is a good document to begin that conversation. A Government without a large vision could survive, but its survival would always be tenuous.

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

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Journey to Shell Beach in a 33-foot canoe

By Alva Solomon THE trip was unplanned and the boat owner did not provide much information on the type of boat he was using on the day before the trip. It was not until the time of boarding neared that this information was available.

The 15hp engine was cranked, its pistons resonating through the Aruka River, a tributary of the Barima River. It was a long trip to Shell Beach, a 90-mile stretch of sandy shoreline outside the Waini Coastline.

Mr Chacon’s 33-foot canoe was the feature presentation of all “speed boats” that morning.

Mr Chacon, a man known for his religious groundings, seemed very nonchalant about the trip, and initially the destination was discussed as Morawhanna, a riverside community near the Barima River and one of several ports of entry on this side of the map.

The journey began in a small man-made creek near the Aruka River and at the bottom of the community of Hosororo Hill, where the Roman Catholic Church in that community operates a boathouse. Mr Chacon is affiliated with the church, but since it was a private assignment, their high-powered 75hp engines were not an option that Friday morning.

Shortly after 9 am, Mr Chacon hauled the 15hp engine up, fixed a few parts, and soon the boat was headed for the Aruka River. The river was calm that morning, a light rain blessed the boat, and a few canoes passed us by. Fuel was important that day since, by calculation, the journey to Shell Beach, which usually lasts an hour with the larger engines, was a few hours ahead.

Less than 10 minutes into the journey, a dog, hunger evident in his eyes, was observed swimming across the Aruka River, and Mr Chacon carefully steered clear of his

path. Soon the boat was headed into a small creek near the business community of Kumaka, and Mr Chacon pulled out his 5-gallon gas container as he signalled the lady who stood on a step with her baby on her hips. Within minutes, she was out to meet the boat.

“Mixed gas!” shouted Mr Chacon, and the woman perused several bottles which lined the river banks in front her home. She pulled a bottle and suggested it was the correct bottle. Mr Chacon then poured a few drops onto his hands to verify whether the gasoline contained engine oil.

After transacting business with the gas vendor, he replaced the bottle he was using minus the cork, and corked our new bottle of mixed gas. We then headed for the beach.

But something was wrong. Less than 5 minutes into the ride from the gas stop, the gas vendor’s husband called: “The gas ain’t have oil!” After the call had ended, Mr Chacon employed

Waini fisherman “Uncle Mac” and his boat operator in their boat moored along Brother Chacon’s 33-foot canoe

Shell Beach and her wide expanse near the Atlantic Ocean

A lad sits near a variety of fish which were on sale during this publication’s visit to Shell Beach a greater degree of confidence, which suggested he wouldn’t cause the engine to incur damage.

The boat then crawled along the river. The nearest oil vendor was at least five miles ahead, past the mouth of the Aruka River.

As the canoe crawled, numerous boats zoomed by, travelling in the same and in opposite directions. “We have rules here, just like the road”, said Mr Chacon. He noted that the boats are “supposed” to be driven on the right side of the river.

As the journey continued, this supposition was tested, as some boats zoomed on either side of us.

The next stop was at the oil vendor’s home, a neat, well painted home located in a swamp on the bank of

Brother Chacon motors his canoe along the waters outside the Waini Point near Shell Beach the Barima River. One may wonder how or why a house was built here, since the swamp provided no hope of a foundation.

T h e v e n d o r ’s w i f e emerged with the bottle of oil, for she was already informed via Digicel that Mr Chacon needed oil. After mixing the oil and carrying out additional checks on the engine, the canoe was now fully-powered to roar towards the beach.

As the river current grew rough, the canoe’s engine revved along the river, past Morawhanna and into the Mora Passage, a connecting waterway called a “tidal creek” which connects the Barima River and the Waini River, where the latter meets the Atlantic. It is considered a shortcut that was dredged by the Dutch when they ruled this part of the world.

Soon enough, the vessel was rolling along the waterway, and the few turns ahead seemed characteristically different about this aspect of the journey. It

was now 11:30 am, and Mr Chacon’s estimate seemed correct. He pointed ahead to Dutchman’s Bay, which on the map says “Dutchman’s Point”. He said the bay consists of a tunnel-like river bed which may have been caused by the strong currents of the river. The tunnel‘s evidence, according to him, can be seen by a difference in the flow of the water. Whereas the water seemed rough on one side of the river, it appeared calm near the location of the “tunnel”, and mosquitoes are usually aplenty at that point, Mr Chacon informed.

The boat chugged along, and as the Atlantic Ocean drew closer, so did Shell Beach and the Waini Point, the latter being close to the mouth of the Waini River, which runs inland from the vicinity of the beach. A few Venezuelan registered vessels lay idle at the river corner at this point, and according to Please turn to page 22

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Local Gov’t Elections…

Bartica winners plan to fix water, electricity problems

By Svetlana Marshall

NOW that the proverbial dust has settled, the elected leaders of Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), who would soon be sworn into office at the level of the Bartica Mayor and City Council, say they are ready to serve.

The APNU+AFC candidate Pastor Lennox LyteRankin, who won Constituency Three in the FirstPast-The-Post Component of the just concluded Local Government Elections, said Bartica had been neglected for an extensive period, but the wrongs committed against the emerging town will be corrected.

Pastor Lyte-Rankin explained that a determined effort will be made to address key issues affecting Bartica, such as the lack of street lights, potable water, the unreliable supply of electricity, and the need to have an effective waste disposal system in place.

Though it would not be an easy task, the APNU+AFC candidate acknowledged, he is optimistic that Bartica will be transformed into a Green Town, and that pride of the people in their community will be restored.

“Bartica is free, and free at last. Local Government democracy has returned,” said Edward Persaud, who ran as a candidate for the coalition.

He told Guyana Chronicle that Bartica will be transformed into a Green Town, in keeping with President David Granger’s vision.

“The truth of the matter is (that) the work of the council will be a fulfillment of our President’s green plan that he has for Bartica,” Persaud posited.

Another APNU+AFC candidate, Kenneth Williams, said that, if granted the opportunity to serve the

people of Bartica at the level of the council, he would channel his energies towards the development of recreational facilities, thereby creating safe spaces for children, teenagers, and even adults.

Another of Williams’s areas of interest is education. He pointed to the need for more resource centres in Bartica.

The APNU+AFC won 14 of the 18 seats which were up for grabs in Bartica.

The coalition, also known as Team Integrity in Bartica, won all of the constituencies with the exception of Constituency Nine.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won 11 seats, while the Bartica Independence Green Alliance (BIGA) won a single seat. It was the PPP/C Sonia Simone who won the support of the people of Agatash, St. Mary’s and Dog Point in Constituency Nine. However, the party has not yet identified the two candidates who will occupy the

other seats at the level of the council, according to one of its representatives, Stephen Belle.

Like the PPP/C, BIGA

ment programme to be put in place, with significant emphasis on education, disposal techniques, and care for the environment.

APNU+AFC Rep. Lennox Lyte-Rankin, who emerged winner in Constituency 3

APNU+AFC PR candidate Kenneth Williams

has not identified its candidate who will serve on the Council. However, BIGA Chief Candidate Holbert Knights told Guyana Chronicle on Saturday that the alliance is big on waste management.

He said BIGA, through its elected councillor, would be advocating for a comprehensive waste manage-

Importantly, Knights said, the by-laws of the town must be enforced.

In addition to waste disposal management, focus should be placed on the rehabilitation of roads, clearing of parapets and drains, and the creation of safe spaces.

APNU+AFC Campaign Manager Fredrick Mc Wilfred told this newspaper that he was pleased that Bartica

delivered in the end. It was explained that the coalition campaigned in keeping with President David Granger’s vision.

“I think it is largely due to the fact that they have high regards and respect for President Granger and his message of social co-

BIGA Chief Candidate Holbert Knights “This team is about realizing President David Granger’s vision. We did not (have) a written manifesto, we said to the people we want to be the link between you, the President and his vision; and so this was the main message,” he explained.

Mc Wilfred said this is the first time in the history of Bartica that many religious leaders have come into public life.

hesion, peace, justice and transparency,” the Campaign Manager said, while pointing out that the coalition has five pastors who have been elected into council as constituency representatives.

He said this win is a gift to President Granger, who would have demonstrated a great love for the people of Bartica and has a vision to transform Bartica into the country’s first Green Town.

APNU+AFC candidates and supporters celebrating their big win in the Local Government Elections in Bartica at the coalition’s Seventh Avenue Office, upon hearing the preliminary results on Friday night

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Gov’t: LGE a victory for democracy, inclusionary governance

By Ariana Gordon THE holding of Local Government Elections (LGE) for the first time since 1994 represents a victory for the people of Guyana, and not a victory for any political party or group, President David Granger said on Saturday.

“The local government elections were…a victory for democracy and an opportunity for its inclusionary governance,” Granger said at a press conference at his Georgetown office.

The President maintained that he was not too bothered about the low turnout at Friday’s elections, indicating that the number of persons who voted in Local Government Elections could not be reasonably compared with the number of persons who voted in general elections almost a year ago.

As an example, he noted that many rural communities and even an entire region – Region Eight - did not vote in Local Government Elections because they did not belong to a constituency as far as the regulations go.

“So I think the claims of gloom and doom and flawed elections are completely misplaced.”

The Head of State said the elections were very important to the people of Guyana, and that while some people regarded the elections as an opportunity to “flaunt their personality,” Government viewed it as an exercise in democracy.

“The elections were a return to constitutionality after a lapse of nearly two decades under the previous administration.

“Citizens’ entitlement to participate in the decision-making in their municipal and neighbourhood councils has now been restored.”

While in Opposition, President Granger had protested the prolonged delay in the holding of LGEs, and with his government able to pull off the elections less than 10 months after it took up office, he said the coalition government was “happy to have achieved this democratic objective.”

The historic elections, Granger said, were a re-assurance of the coalition’s commitment to continue working to empower citizens, to establish new towns (Bartica, Mabaruma and Le-

them), and to enable the 10 regions of Guyana to embark on coherent economic development programmes.

Meanwhile, when asked by the media whether he believes that candidates that obtained the support of the major political parties, namely APNU+AFC and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), won because of the endorsements they received from the parties, the President replied in the affirmative.

“Those persons have a shared vision; those persons share our vision for clean, green communities. They share a vision for an integration of the work of central, regional and municipal councils in the achievement of a high quality of governance,” the President responded.

Notwithstanding the support given to candidates who are in support of the coalition government, the President said, the APNU+AFC coalition never prevented persons from contesting the elections as independent candidates.

The President thanked all stakeholders who participated to make the LGEs a success.

Meanwhile, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said Government has been able to ensure “democratic renewal.”

He noted that the administration was encouraged by the number of young persons who competed for a chance to represent their communities.

“We believe this is a very positive step and that, as an administration or government, we wish to embrace all of these persons irrespective of which political party… they came from.

“We wish to embrace all of them to ensure our communities are better managed and that they are part of that process where they contested,” said the Minister of State.

He noted that the organisation of the elections by GECOM was worth commending. “It was much better organized, even in the polling places. The organisation was a little different and in my view it was very efficient.”

Harmon said, too, that the administration of elections here is becoming as it should in any democratic society, while noting that there should be “no shockwaves every time an election comes around.” The Minister of State noted that, come the next LGEs in 2019, the

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan makes a point to President David Granger while Minister of State Joseph Harmon listens during Saturday’s press conference on Local Government Elections (Ministry of the Presidency photo) lessons learned this year will aid in the country moving forward.

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan in echoing the sentiments of both the President and Minister of State, said he is pleased with

the voter turnout on Friday, and dispelled statements on the issue.

“It is a bit premature to comment on voter turnout,” he said, noting that he spent most of Friday on the Essequibo Coast, and based on

his assessment, “close to 40 per cent” of the persons there voted.

“If indeed the overall turnout is around this figure…I would say that is good…it would be a vindication,” he said.

LGEs were last held in Guyana in 1994. Friday’s elections represented the third such elections being held here since Guyana gained independence in 1966. The first LGEs were held in 1970.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Abandoned Essequibo Market Centre to be transformed AS part of Guyana's 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations, Essequibo’s abandoned Good Hope Market Centre will be transformed into an all-purpose facility to be used by the community.

Community leader, retired headmistress Noreen Duncan, said the Good Hope Reformation Committee has been formed with an aim to revitalize the community.

“Whether it (is) a family event, a pageant, a dance -anything that brings together the community will be held there. We want the building to be a multipurpose structure,” she said.

She said the structure will be ready for the Independence celebrations in

May, and a week of activities will be celebrated in the new facility.

“The project will be undertaken from whatever help we can get, and we appreciate the assistance from the Ministry of Communities,” she said. She revealed that the building is slated to be commissioned on May, 22, 2016.

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, who was present at the site, said the multipurpose community centre will be used for cultural, sporting, and recreational activities.

“I am pleased to learn of the committee’s plans, and the Ministry intends to support their desire to rehabilitate and make functional the facility for the benefit of

Minister Ronald Bulkan, community leader Noreen Duncan, and Region Two REO Rupert Hopkinson in discussion after inspecting the old Good Hope Market Centre in Essequibo the community’s use.

“President Granger has said that voluntary civic and community groups have an important role to play in community revitalization and animating development within our communities,” Minister Bulkan explained.

He said the retired head

mistress has provided exemplary leadership in her community, and he congratulated the group even as he encouraged it to stimulate and revitalize the area.

He said the community would provide labour on a self-help basis, while the Ministry would provide ma-

terials to complete all construction requirements.

Region Two Regional Executive Officer, Rupert Hopkinson, said the transformation is one of many that will see a renewal in the way tourism and business is done within the region.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Deceit, double-standards and tit for tat stifling the nation’s political growth

THE society continues to be bombarded by slogans couched in the language of change. For instance, it is being told that we need to change the way things are being done, but what is absent is a concomitant change in the behaviour of those who call on the society to change. One gets the impression that these calls are basic convenience to hoodwink the people, with no intent to help the society to develop and grow.

Having just concluded our local government elections, the society has once again been bombarded by the call for change, inclusive of programmes that are not well-thought-out. The promises made by elected officials, when found not to be feasible, the excuse is that there were promises just for the sake of being elected.

Offering to serve and making promises by way of manifestoes, etc., once elected, these are considered a contract with the people.

For one to entertain the opinion that he/she can say anything to the people in order to be elected, and fail to honour commitments given or offer acceptable explanation for the inability to deliver, is an affront to the citizens. Such acts open the committers to be deemed unreliable, dishonest, and outright hustlers.

It tells the citizens there exists no regard or respect for them, and that they are mere pawns.

Elected officials must come to terms with the fact that the trust placed in them is based on their commitments to the people. They cannot continue to treat elected of-

fice with flippancy. It is this perception, real or perceived, that contributes to the view that politics is a dirty and self-serving game, and also played a factor in the low level of participation in the local government elections.

When the PPP/C was in the Executive, it resisted every effort to make the National Assembly work as an inclusive institution that took on board and arrived at consensus on issues emanating from the Government and Opposition sides. Instead, the nation witnessed the party using its majority to ram bills and motions through the Assembly. For the PPP/C, the only time engagement with the Opposition was considered worthwhile was when a decision required a two-thirds majority.

Gail Teixeira, the Opposition Chief Whip, brings to the nation’s attention her

interpretation of the National Assembly rules. While her arguments appear cogent, one needs to ask: why wasn’t similar interpretation applied when her party held the Executive? Clearly, honouring of the rules applies to the PPP/C only when it is in the Opposition. This behaviour exemplifies the double-standards that exist in political circles.

While Teixeira speaks to respecting the rules of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, Leader of the Government Business in the House, made public that the Assembly would not be sitting for the next two months, purporting reasons that have been rebutted by Teixeira. What is put before this society is that while the APNU+AFC are elected to do better than the PPP/C, they, too, are involved in stymieing the im-

portance of the Assembly.

Members of the APNU+AFC, when in Opposition, drew to the nation’s attention the need for the implementation of recommendations in the 2005 Sir Michael Davies' Parliamentary Report, among which was an increase in sitting to address issues emanating from the Opposition. It is instructive that the proponents for the implementation of Davies’ recommendations are today accused of non-compliance.

The talks about One Guyana and using social cohesion as a platform for national unity cannot be achieved if there continues to be acts of this nature.

Then there is Bharrat Jagdeo who, as Finance Minister and President, refused to have Government engage with the trade unions in collective bargaining, and imposed paltry wage and salary increases.

Now in Opposition, he is calling for Government to engage unions and pay workers 50 percent.

Citizens ought to be concerned with these disturbing practices, so entrenched in the society and steep in the political class. The change that we purport to have has to be guarded by the people; for while politicians seek to advise and exhort in regard to rules and laws, they are collectively involved in breaking them, based on the issues and

depending on which side of the political aisle they sit.

The future of this country is vested in the hands of the young people. As such, it requires the young sitting up; paying attention to what politicians on both sides of the aisle are saying and doing; and getting involved by joining and taking leadership of the political parties, to influence their direction and the views of those steeped in the culture of deceit, double-standards and tit for tat. No longer must the young stand on the sidelines and allow the continuation of practices that will divide them, their friends, families, and neighbours.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

New GPHC Board undertakes to computerise hospital records

By Shirley Thomas THERE are high expectations for the newly-appointed nine-member Board of Directors of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), as they go about the task of overseeing the administration of that institution for the year 2015/2016.

Heading the Board from Monday is Dr. Carl Max Hanoman, who was unanimously elected as Chairman of the ‘Level Five Referral’ or ‘University Hospital’, as it is known. Chief Executive Officer Mr. Allan Johnson, and Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr. Sheik Amir, are ex-officio members. The other members of the Board are: Colonel Patrick West (GDF), Mr. Kentom Alexander, Ms. Colette Adams, Ms. Sonia Roopnauth, Mrs. Cleopatra

Barkoye, and Ms. Mandy Sukhdeo.

The members shall hold office for a period of one year, but shall be eligible for re-appointment, according to Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, who presided over the election for the position of Chairman of the Board.

In her charge, Minister Cummings told the Board that much is expected of them, and the bar is very high when it comes to the delivery of services to the general public by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

RAISE STANDARDS The minister called on the Board not only to ensure that standards are raised, but that the quality of customer service offered at the institution is second to none.

“This Board, I inform

Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, sharing a moment with newly- installed members of the Board of Directors of the GPHC. In front row, Dr. Cummings is flanked by Chairman of the Board, Dr. Carl Hanoman (at left), and CEO Mr. Allan Johnson (at right). Board Members (standing from left) are Kempton Alexander, Sonya Roopnauth, Col. Patrick West, Collette Adams, Cleopatra Barkoye, Dr. Sheik Amir and Mandy Sukhdeo you, is a national priority of and members of the Board he later gave up. the Government to provide not to be intimidated by the Alluding to reports of the best healthcare services presence of the Chief Exec- problems existing at the at GPHC, and must operate utive Officer and Director GPHC, Dr. Hanoman said in line with that priority,” Dr. of Professional and Medical that, in like manner, the sucCummings declared.

Services on the Board. “If cess stories should be reThe minister charged that they are doing something that ported. However, he said the board must be open to is not right we have to tell that while there are so many being monitored, and seek them. A friend is not a friend positive things happening, continuous improvement in if you can’t tell them where the institution still has a far the quality of care offered at they are going wrong.” way to go. the GPHC. She accordingly chal“We do have problems.

“We must be able to lenged the Board to clarify its You hear people talk about provide comprehensive and performance expectations for overcrowding; you hear quality care at all times. We the CEO, in order to ensure about a shortage of drugs; must monitor the effective- measurable goals and to as- but you don’t hear people talk ness of significant organi- sess and evaluate guidelines about the many successful zational programmes. We and act in accordance with caesarean section surgermust take action, where standards. ies; the long hours doctors appropriate, to improve, to work…. Our job is to try modify, and even eliminate TOE THE LINE to elevate the standards at such programmes as necesChallenging that from the GPHC, and we will try sary in order to maintain ‘top down’, everybody must to do it systematically,” he organizational excellence,” be above board and conduct promised. the minister declared. themselves according to stanHe said he was looking Dr. Cummings said she dards, the minister affirmed: forward to the cooperation of expects -- and did express “We want everybody to toe the Board, so that the many confidence -- that the Board the line, and we want every- progressive ideas he has can will act with the highest body to be above board so come to fruition. integrity to promote hos- that everybody will be proud pital-based healthcare that to be a part of the GeorgeCOMPUTERIZATION meets the needs of the com- town Public Hospital CorpoStarting out on a positive munity. ration’s team, and be happy note, Dr. Hanoman’s first Noting that so much has to use the service here.” commitment to the minister been said about the GeorgeResponding to the sen- was the computerization of town Hospital from time to timents expressed, Dr. Ha- the hospital. time, she said that from the noman said he was elated at “I think the Honourable time one enters the Accident being elected Chairman of Minister could leave here and Emergency Unit, it be- the Board. He recalled having with the assurance that the comes apparent that there is a worked at the Georgetown first task the Board will disconnect between the nurs- Public Hospital for many undertake is the computering care and doctors’ care. years, and also being in- ization of the GPHC. This “So we hope that atten- volved with the Medical As- will effectively cut out the tion will be paid in those ar- sociation and the programme practice of writing things eas,” the minister pointed out. of the University of Guyana ‘here and there on paper,” She urged the Chairman School of Medicine, which the chairman explained.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

CARIFORUM, EU agree to strengthen partnership CARIFORUM and the European Union (EU) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen their long-standing partnership.

This commitment was made during a one-day political dialogue held in Georgetown recently. The meeting was co-chaired by Sparte Odera – Advisor to the National Authorizing Officer of Haiti on behalf of CARIFORUM, and Aldo Dell’Ariccia – Head of Division, Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Division of the European External Action Service (EEAS) on behalf of the EU. The meeting held last Tuesday was the first political dialogue since 2012 and one in which wide-ranging discussions were held on several aspects of the partnership.

According to a joint press communique, there was an in-depth exchange of views on the political and economic situation in both Regions, including issues related to migration.

Updates were also received on governance and human rights issues of mutual interest. The two sides also acknowledged their shared commitment to democratic principles, human rights, the rule of law, the protection of vulnerable groups, and the advancement of gender equality.

The subject of Dominican citizens of Haitian descent was also among issues discussed with The Dominican Republic providing information on action it continues to take.

Additionally, focus was placed on the implementation of the Joint Caribbean-EU Partnership Strategy, which has as its major themes: Regional Integration and Cooperation in the Wider Caribbean; the Reconstruction of Haiti; Climate Change and Natural Disasters; Crime and Security; and Joint Action in Bi-regional and Multi-lateral Fora and on Global Issues.

Both sides recognised the importance of consultation and cooperation within international fora, such as the United Nations. The two sides agreed to convene the Joint CARIFORUM-EU Working Group on the Joint Strategy, with a view to keeping the Strategy under continuous review.

The implementation and programming of the 10th and 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme (CRIP) also came up for discussion. It was acknowledged that there were certain challenges in programme implementation and as such, note was taken of the ongoing remedial action. With respect to the 11th EDF CRIP, the two sides recalled that it is based on the Joint Strategy.

They noted that the 11th EDF CRIP, valued at €346 million, was signed in June 2015 and that it makes provisions as follows: Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration, €102.0 million; Climate Change, Disaster Management, Environment and Sustainable Energy, €61.5 million; Crime and Security, €44.0 million; Caribbean Investment Facility, €135.0 million; Technical Cooperation Facility, €3.5 million. Note was taken that the 11th EDF Programming process is in its early stages.

Additionally, the importance of accelerating regional integration to support developmental goals in the Caribbean was highlighted and, in this regard, they called for the effective implementation of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agree-

ment (EPA).

Both sides underlined their determination to advance common interests in an array of areas germane to their partnership, including Citizen Security and future ACP-EU Relations in the post-Cotonou period. International issues of mutual interest also commanded attention with CARIFORUM and the EU reiterating their commitment to closer cooperation and joint action in the context of the implementation of the recently adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); addressing the vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS); Climate Change and the implementation of the conclusions of COP21; and Cooperation at the United Nations and World Trade Organization.

CARIFORUM expressed its deep concern that recent developments on taxation in the EU have the potential to negatively impact the economies of a number of CARIFORUM states. The EU provided an update on the European Commission’s recent Communication on an External Strategy for Effective Taxation as Part of its Anti-Tax Avoidance Pack-

age. There was agreement to discuss a range of issues affecting the financial services sector, including taxation and correspondent banking, within the Joint CARIFORUM-EU Working Group on the Joint Strategy, to provide an opportunity to exchange information and explore what actions can be carried out to avoid negative repercussions in CARIFORUM States.

Picture saved as CARI-

FORUM Caption: In photograph from left: Ambassador Mikael Barfod, Delegation of the EU to the Eastern Caribbean Countries, OECS and CARICOM/ CARIFORUM; Mr. Sparte Odera, Advisor to the National Authorizing Officer of Haiti and CARIFORUM Co-Chair of the political dialogue; Mr. Aldo Dell’Ariccia, Head of Di-

vision, Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Division of EEAS and EU Co-Chair of the political dialogue; Mr. Percival Marie, Director-General of the CARIFORUM Directorate, CARICOM Secretariat; Ambassador Jernej Videti?, Delegation of the EU to Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and for the Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Local Gov’t Elections…

Region Six recount stalling announcement of election results

By Ravin Singh THE official declaration of results for the 2016 Local Government Elections (LGE) will be forthcoming in a few days’ time; the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been requested to recount votes in several constituencies

in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

This announcement was made on Saturday by Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield during a post-elections press conference held at the GECOM office on Waterloo Street, Georgetown.

Lowenfield said the re-

quests were made by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), and specific areas in Region Six have been targeted.

In the municipality of Rose Hall, a request was made for recounts in constituencies five and seven.

On the Corentyne, there was a request in one particular

constituency, but the CEO could not recall which one exactly. In the Macedonia– Joppa area, he noted that a limited recount in one of the constituencies of that area was requested.

Most of these recounts, he noted, are “numbers games”, and some contestants may have gained the same amount of votes in some constituencies. Despite calls for the recount, the CEO was confident that the electoral process was a successful one.

“Local Government Elec-

tions 2016 was successfully completed [Friday]. There are still some statutory subsets for us to satisfy before the entire exercise will be brought to a closure. These will be done in a couple of days, as prescribed within the ambit of the laws that guide these elections,” he said.

Not perfect, though, he explained “there were a few glitches” which GECOM was able to correct during the day. This was unavoidable though, given the nature of elections.

“Contestants will raise issues that will need to be addressed. We were able to address most, if not all, of the issues. In the days to come, we will review the entire operation and make recommendations for the improvement of the system,”

Lowenfield added.

The CEO also revealed that the voter turnout at Friday’s LGEs was estimated to be between 38 percent and 39 percent, while the turnout for the disciplined services was calculated at 55.5 percent.

GECOM has, however, refused to accept blame for the lack of voter education, which rightfully is not a responsibility of the elections regulatory body.

GECOM Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally has opined that political parties and groups contesting the elections have evolved into a more mature group. He is of the view that groups have adopted the posture of accepting results, whether or not they are in their favour, and he called this a trend towards maturity.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Tullah has been grooming clients for the past 45 years

By Rabindra Rooplall THOSE of us who enjoy an old-fashioned scissors trim encounter great difficulty when searching for a reliable barber with this ability.

But there is one available: Fifty-nine-year-old Tullahram Dass, popularly called “Tullah,” who has been cutting hair since the age of 14.

Once you spot a classic Wolseley, PS 874, parked at Light Street, Alberttown, Tullah is most likely in the bar-

for this limitation is that most new barbers depend totally on appliances such as the electric trimmer.

“The older men who have grown accustomed to the scissors trim have fallen prey, or victim if you will, to the abundance of barbers who have abandoned the scissors-andcomb style.

“You need to have some flexibility or your work will be ordinary. You can’t restrict yourself to one thing,” Tullah confided.

Tullahram Dass, popularly called ‘Tullah’ ber’s shop, doing to a grateful client what he has been doing best for 45 years. No wonder he is considered one of the most senior barbers in the country, and one of the few who mostly use scissors.

“In order to become a barber, you have to have love for the profession; a dedication, a passion to please each customer that sits to have themselves groomed,” Tullah confided.

“You have to fully appreciate what a person’s appearance means to them. If you don’t, you’re in the wrong business,” he cautioned.

He defines what he does as tonsorial art, thus he and his ilk can be referred to as tonsorial artists. But we’ll leave that for a bit later.

Tullah says not all barbers can “properly cut or deal with” various types and textures of hair…or shapes of heads. He says the reason

He says many of the current crop of barbers have entered the profession not for the love of cutting hair, but for the monetary benefit.

Then he spoke of the respect: “In my time, and how I know it, barbers never wore anything else but a white gown…in any part of the world; but now, if you go around and check barber shops, there are all different colours that have no meaning.

“It may sound unbelievable, but in the olden days barbers performed some surgeries,” he said, perhaps referring to medieval Europe, when a barber’s trusty blade was depended on to not only cut the hair of soldiers, but to amputate limbs and much more during or after a battle.

“The barber and the doctor used to wear the same colour gown, and

this was because in ancient time barbers did a lot of the Please turn to page 21

Grooming one of his many clients

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Restored Versailles Mandir courts worshippers

By Navendra Seoraj

THE almost forgotten Versailles Mandir, with a unique century-old Shivalla has finally been restored and now dedicated members are seeking to win back old worshippers and attract new patrons.

The mandir’s history dates back to 1920, when a group of Hindus living in the Versailles community approached the sugar estate management for a plot of land

to build a temple.

A Phagwah Mela will be held today and will include dances from the Jewan Ka Nritya Dance Troupe and many other cultural items. Admission has been set at $300. The Mela is among initiatives being undertaken to upkeep the mandir.

The mandir is one of the oldest Hindu places of worship on the West Demerara and boasts many sacred Hindu artifacts, including the oldest and biggest Shivalla – a temple of the god Shiva - in the country.

The restored Shivalla

The repaired Versailles Mandir with the Shivalla in the background.

During an interview with this newspaper, President of the mandir, Brian Ramkarran, acknowledged that the poor state of the mandir had turned away many worshippers.

Due to its dilapidated state, persons refused to carry out their satsangs (religious services) or participate in the regular services at the mandir.

Discouraged by the state of affairs, dedicated members set about raising funds to restore the mandir to its former glory and now worshippers are being urged to return.

Ramkarran said the initiatives to grow attendance include dance classes and training in the use of the harmonium and dholak musical instruments. Regular satsangs are conducted by Pandit Yubraj Narine.

Lal Balkaran, a member of the mandir, said that when the estate management agreed to the setting up of the mandir in 1920, a wooden structure with mud floor was built on the abandoned Plantation Malgre Tout, while at the same time, a tall

conically shaped concrete structure called a Shivalla was built with bricks from the abandoned Malgre Tout Estate.

This temple was dedicated to the Lord Shiva and there was a “stone lingam” surrounded by a “jasmine hedge,” where devotees threw their “Dhar” early in the morning to Lord Shiva.

Though the physical features of the mandir were important, the first members also planted several sacred trees, some of which still exist to this day according to the current President of the mandir. These include the pipa tree, bael tree, neem tree, several types of mangoes, kowa, jack nut and breadfruit. The leaves of the trees are typically used in Hindu ceremonies.

In the 1920s, the mandir was maintained through a stipend from the Versailles Estate as well as through donations from members and private individuals.

As such, the mandir is encouraging persons to come forward and support the maintenance of the institution.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Local Gov’t Elections…

Determined not to be left out

By Shirley Thomas LOCAL Government Elections (LGE) were held on Friday in 71 consistencies across the country after more than 20 years, and observers have agreed that the process employed was free and fair.

Charge d’Affaires Bryan Hunt, in an invited comment, said that from what he has seen, the process went “very smoothly” at the locations he had visited.

“I have not observed anything that could be construed as significant violations of electoral law procedure. So I would say, thus far where I’ve been observing [It’s only a handful of stations], but our team hasn’t seen anything that would cause us to question the process.”

People from all walks of life turned out to vote, including the able-bodied, the infirm, geriatrics, and even the physically challenged.

77-year-old Maureen Rowe of Consistency 9, Lodge, hardly able to walk, climbed up and down some 27 treads of the concrete stairway just to be able to vote. She voted at the Lodge Community High School (LCHS).

When the Deputy Returning Officer suggested that some able-bodied persons should help lift her up the stairs, the septuagenarian

Septuagenarian Maureen Rowe making her way down the stairs (unassisted) after casting her vote at the Lodge Secondary School to the Town Hall, you must be represented.”

And proudly displaying her stained finger, she announced: “I am confident that I cast my

US Charge d’Affaires Mr. Bryan Hunte observed Local Government Elections in Lamaha Park on Friday confidently declared that she could do it on her own. In fact, she curtly replied: “No! No! The able-bodied might throw me down.”

After she had finished voting, she commented on what she expects of the person she voted for, saying: “I would like to see more of the clean-up, looking after us. When you go

Blind University of Guyana student Ceion Rollex walking home to ‘C’ Field Sophia in the heat of the sun, after voting at the “A” Field polling station

vote the right place.”

Persons at the polling station suggested that GECOM should put systems in place to make voting easy for geriatrics and the physically challenged.

Many persons shared Ms Rowe’s view on the importance of voting. The Guyana Chronicle spoke with Allison Langferman, who was very elated at being able to get to the station to vote. “I was happy to be able to vote for the person of my choice, who can help develop the community and make life a bit more comfortable for the citizens living there,” she said.

“It is not just getting the position and sitting in the seat; but it’s about doing the work, beautifying the community, and addressing and bringing a resolution to the numerous challenges. In my community, we have drainage problems, sewerage problems, sanitation problems, and water problem as well,” she expressed.

Young Ceion Rollex of “A” Field Sophia, blind in both eyes, said he hopes those elected would have a heart for the physically challenged. Blind for the last five years, Rollex is a first year Communications student at the University of Guyana, and wants to become a journalist.

Waveney Ames, who walks with a cane, was high in praise for the persons working at the polling station. She said they were very approachable, helpful, and accommodating. “Their attitude certainly made voting a lot easier for us,” Ames said.

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Food for the Poor built 46 houses last year

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

- Charity says thousands benefited from its projects THE charitable organisation Food For The Poor (FFTP) built 46 houses last year and carried out a number of other projects which benefited the less fortunate, the organisation has said.

Nine of the houses were constructed under the Akawini Community Development Project which was commissioned in July, 2015, while the the remaining 36 houses were done under the organisation’s general housing programme.

The Akawini village had also benefited from the donation of four cassava mills and the construction of two cargo/ passenger boats. An estimated 900 residents were the beneficiaries of the project, which commenced in 2014.

FFTP has, since 2004, built 3,205 housing units through its housing programme. These were constructed in areas such as Sophia, Greater Georgetown; Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast; White Water and Akawini, Region Two

(Pomeroon-Supenaam); and in areas on the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara.

Additionally, in 2015, FFTP repainted over 170 houses which were built at New Haven, Siriki and Little Red Village, and Onderneeming in Essequibo.

In July, 2015, a community centre for residents of Bara Cara Village in the Canje River in East Berbice was commissioned. The building is equipped with electricity using solar panels, and also consists of a computer room and a library, and is equipped with sewing machines. The building can also facilitate social events.

During 2015, a new nursery school was commissioned for the pupils of Kairuni Village on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

The school, funded by US donors and built by FFTP Guyana, was designed to accommodate 18 students, and comprises three washrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen. Also,

a wide variety of school furniture was distributed to schools across the country.

The newly-opened Kairuni Nursery School One of the houses FFTP constructed

The Bara Cara Village Community Centre

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Tullah has been grooming clients ... cutting a customer’s hair is 15 minutes.

“I have been standing on my feet for hours every day for decades, and I have no sickness. That (good health) is very important for a barber; trust me,” he declared.

Currently operating in Alberttown, Tullah noted that his cuts have been influenced

Tullah with his classic Wolseley automobile in front of his barbershop From page 17 cutting of patients, and not the doctor, as some doctors never used a blade.

“I was trimming a young man’s hair who worked in the medical profession one day, and he was wearing a green outfit. When I asked if he knew that green was supposed to be used only in a theatre to perform surgery, and the white gown was for the office, he said it didn’t matter.

“Then I told him that’s why things are how they are, because there are no standards.”

He continues: “Take, for instance, the use of a barber pole, which I once had in my shop. This was to let persons know where they could find a barber shop. No one needs to know the language of any country they are in to figure out that where the barber pole is, is where they can go and get a hair trim. You could go and check it,” he invited.

I did later learn from research on the Internet that the two spiralling red and white candy striped ribbons around the pole represent two long

bandages, one twisted around the arm before bleeding and the other used to bind it afterward.

Originally, when not in use, the pole, a bandage wound around it so that both might be together when needed, was hung at the door as a sign. But later, for convenience, instead of hanging out the original pole, another one was painted in imitation of the first and given a permanent place on the outside of the shop. This was the beginning of the modern barber’s pole.

It was clear that this ordinary man had not only spent over four decades of his life trimming the hair of thousands of clients who trusted and believed in his expertise, but, in many ways, he had made the profession a study.

“Let me tell you…I had a sign on my barbershop that said ‘Tonsorial art done here

by Tullah’ and the amount of questions I had to answer from clients about the meaning of tonsorial art and who is doing the art, and what is the art, I decided to take

down the sign!” he declared.

He explains that tonsorial art relates to the work of a barber, and specific hairstyles have meanings. Giving an example, Tullah says making parts in the hair has great significance.

“When a man got married, for instance, he carried a middle part in his hair.

When a man is a master, he has a left part in his head; and when you are a widower, there is a right part in your head. But now people put a part as a style. It is the same thing with people wearing rings on their fingers. Each finger has a meaning, but people just wear rings for style, without understanding the significance,” Tullah explained.

The maximum period he would spend on trimming or

by senior barbers who took pride in their talent.

“I learn from the old-timers, and I am very glad about that. I think they were the best. My styles have varied over the decades, yet they keep some resemblance over time.

“The thing is that the same styles would come back

every decade or so with a different name. The fade, as you know it now, was called the tapered cut, but it’s really the same thing,” Tullah explained.

Tullah has, for the past 38 years, been husband to Carmen Dass. Their union has produced two children, a boy and a girl.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Journey to Shell Beach ...

From page 9

locals, while they provide the appearance of being fishing vessels, they were in fact fuel boats awaiting sales from customers.

They lined the river corner at this point, and as Mr Chacon steered the canoe towards Shell Beach, larger vessels appeared. These also included Guyanese fishing trawlers. And as the canoe passed one, a man called out to Mr Chacon. It was his brother and nephews. The men had hit a snag, as their trawler was experiencing an alternator problem. At this point,

Fish farms outside the Waini Point near Shell Beach Mr Chacon explained his years of experience as a fisherman, having worked on the river and the high seas with his siblings and nephews.

The canoe was hauled up alongside the larger vessel, and the men offered us a snack as they had cooked lunch.

The snack was as expected: mildewed bread with coffee served in bowls, and in one case a bucket. A crew member was chopping pieces of fish for the pot, and the men were sitting around chatting on everyday life.

It was the opportune time to capture the beach which was within sight, at least a dog and a few children were clearly visible.

After a few minutes of chatting, the canoe was hauled down and Mr Chacon zoomed across to the beach.

It is referred to as the “first beach” or the “Waini Beach”.

There are two other popular sections of the beach which are referred to as the “Tiger Beach” and the “Kamwatta Beach”.

Something seemed peculiar about the environment. A number of high-profile crimes occurred here or in the vicinity in the past. The infamous Iron Punt, a haven for criminal

Approaching Shell Beach near the Waini Point. This section of the beach is sometimes referred to as the “Waini Beach” or the “First Beach” activity, could be seen in the distance. The environment was busy, boats moved to and fro, Guyanese passenger boats carrying passengers from the region to the capital city via the Pomeroon, as well as fishing boats and, of course, the Venezuelan fuel boats.

On the beach, life seemed normal for the fishermen, the shop owner and the little boys and girls who played along the seas shore.

In the distance was Punta Playa, a feature at the very tip of the map of Guyana, with heaps of precipitation, or rain, decoratively lining the atmosphere. The breeze seemed gentle, as two dogs ate pieces of fish served by their owners.

A man chopped fish as vendors stood around his fish stand. He had varieties on sale, including the expensive gilbakka ($400 per lb), trout, cat-fish and cuirass.

Mr Chacon mentioned a name for the last variety, but it seemed trivial to recall. A few sharks, which carried a heavy Please see page 23

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Journey to Shell Beach ...

From page 22

price, also lay next to the fishes.

As the clock ticked closer to 1 pm, Mr Chacon signalled to the boat, and soon the canoe was headed for the trawler, where the initial stop was made.

“Food should be ready”, he exclaimed as a fisherman who is his nephew hauled up the canoe. The fisherman pointed to the stern of the trawler where the kitchen smelled of curry; cat-fish curry. The kitch-

en was as expected: Used coffee bottles lined a small shelf, filled with seasonings, sugar, salt and even chopped onions. The rice pot was sitting on the floor to economize on space, and the curry was thrown into a bowl to also save pot space. Nearby were three bunk beds, and the fishermen’s belongings were hung around.

Soon lunch was the highlight of that moment: Cat-fish curry, with numer-

A woman and her dog travelling along the Aruka River recently

ous pieces of fish in the pot. The dish was eaten with much care, however, as Mr Chacon noted, it actually outdid a few city restaurants’ menu with its red peppers, tasty curry and well-cooked rice.

Minutes later, the canoe was hauled down and it was time to head inland to the point of departure. And like many occurrences, the return trip seemed too quick, blessed by continuous rain and silence. Two hours later, the canoe was headed to shore near Kumaka, the area’s business hub. And her 15 hp engine won the first prize that day -- for the most dependable outboard engine.

Small fishing boats moored along Shell Beach recently. In the distance is the mouth of the Waini River A dog swimming across the Aruka River

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

GFF president ...

From back page executive body’s continuous support of the team.

In response, Head Coach Jamal Shabazz expressed his gratitude for the visit of the team and the interaction between the executives and players.

He underscored the importance of a unified football fraternity which puts country first. “What we have seen so far from the new executive is that willingness to communicate, to interact and to reach out…we saw Mr. Lovell talk to us (last International Friendly)…and it was the last thing we discussed before we went on the pitch and that type of interaction is necessary.” He added that it’s the country which advances in football and not a national team and extended an invitation to the executive for continuous visits to the team.

The other executives at the dinner were First Vice-President, Mr. Bruce Lovell; Second Vice-President Mr. Rawlston Adams and Third Vice-President, Ms. Thandi Mc Allister.

Meanwhile, in an invited comment about the team’s preparations for the ScotiaBank 2016 Men’s Caribbean Cup Championship to be played at the Providence Stadium,l Coach Shabazz said de-

spite challenges to get a proper venue for training, he is a happy man. “I am pleased with the spirit and camaraderie within the team. Guys are helping each other and working hard for the team..

When you have everyone eagerly competing, but senior guys like Richardson, Nurse and Mills still helping teammates, it’s a good vibe.”

Noting the perennial problem of good training facilities, Shabazz stated, “Having a proper training pitch is the one thing I pray for Guyana to acquire. It’s a huge challenge but total credit to the players for still giving of their best under these challenging circumstances.”

Looking ahead to the next two training sessions, the veteran Trinidadian coach is looking forward to three more overseas-based players joining the team today .They are going to meet a very disciplined squad focused on achieving our objective.

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Scottsville 08:35 hrs Shoot The Bull 09:10 hrs Regardstobroa 09:45 hrs Missmasala 10:20 hrs Mambo Mime 10:55 hrs Brigtnumberfive ENGLISH RACING TIPS Carlisle 10:15 hrs Baraka De Thaix 10:45 hrs Katachenko 11:20 hrs Dakota Grey 11:55 hrs Anay Turge 12:30 hrs Danceintothelight 13:00 hrs Long Run FFOS LAS 10:00 hrs Hawkhurst 10:30 hrs Bonobo 11:05 hrs Magical Man 11:40 hrs Never Say Never 12”:15 hrs Calculated Risk 12:45 hrs Still Believing 13:15 hrs Savoy Court IRISH RACING TIPS Curragh 10:10 hrs Intensely Focussed 10:40 hrs Paddy Power 11:15 hrs Patrick 11:50 hrs Devonshire 12:25 hrs Awtaad 12:55 hrs Ashraf 13:25 hrs Embiran DOWNPATRICK 10:20 hrs Kashmiri Sunset 10:55 hrs Modem 11:30 hrs Black Ice 12:05 hrs Tuylsa Jack 12:35 hrs Suzy Music 13:05 hrs Quiet Account 13:35 hrs Moonman

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Kohli guides India to victory over arch-rivals Pakistan

KOLKATA, (Reuters)Virat Kohli shrugged off the pres- eter,” he said after entertaining a 61,000-plus crowd that sure that always surrounds an India-Pakistan match to turned up for the tournament’s most-anticipated contest. secure a campaign-reviving six-wicket victory for the host Pakistan, put into bat, found the going difficult, especially nation in the World Twenagainst the slow bowlers, and managed only 118 for five. ty20 yesterday.

Openers Sharjeel Khan The 27-year-old made bat(17) and Ahmed Shehzad (25) ting look ridiculously easy on were subdued by the Indian a difficult track and his scinbowlers and skipper Shahid tillating unbeaten 55 was the Afridi (eight) could not justify difference between the sides Virat Kohli celebrates after taking his promotion to number three. in a rain-hit game reduced to India home in Kolkata yesterday Shoaib Malik (26) and 18 overs per team.

Umar Akmal (22) added 41 India, chasing a target of runs in four overs to take 119 after losing their openPakistan past the 100-mark ing match to New Zealand, and ensure their pace-heavy slumped to 23 for three in the attack had something to fifth over before Kohli and defend.

Yuvraj Singh (24) shared a Pakistan’s decision to drop match-high 61-run partnerleft-arm spinner Imad Wasim ship to steady things at Eden to accommodate paceman Gardens.

Mohammad Sami on a turning Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed a six to level the scores and then took a single track also backfired.

“I was not expecting a pitch like this but no excuse, we to seal victory with 13 balls to spare as India maintained an were short by 30-35 runs,” Afridi said. unbeaten World Cup record against their arch-rivals.

“Their bowlers bowled really well, especially their Kohli, who embellished his 37-ball knock with seven spinners, and Virat Kohli played an awesome innings under fours and a six, said he enjoyed the challenge of batting pressure.” on a tricky wicket in a low-scoring contest.

The match between the winners of the first two editions “That’s what you need, a little testing wicket, a good bowling attack and you pulling the team out of trouble,” of the tournament was originally scheduled in the picturesque north Indian city of Dharamsala before Pakistan Kohli added.

“I think that’s what gives you great pleasure as a crick- security fears led to the fixture being moved to Kolkata.

Pakistan Women edge India in Delhi PAKISTAN Women surprised hosts India with a two-run win in a rain-affected match at the World Twenty20 in Delhi.

Pakistan restricted their fierce rivals to 7-2 from the six-over powerplay, before 24 from Veda Krishnamurthy helped India to 96-7.

Pakistan were in control of the

chase at 71-3, but lost three wickets for six runs, including two run-outs in as many balls at the end of the 16th over.

But then the rain came with Pakistan ahead on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

It is only Pakistan’s third win in 18 World T20 matches and their

second in seven games against India.

The result is a boost for England in Group B, with Charlotte Edwards’ side likely to have to compete with India and West Indies for a place in the semi-finals.

England, who won their opening game against Bangladesh, meet India in Dharamsala on Tuesday.

Djokovic to meet Raonic in Indian Wells final (REUTERS)-DEFENDING champion and top seed Novak Djokovic moved a step closer to a fifth title at Indian Wells with a 7-6(5) 6-2 victory over long-time rival Rafa Nadal in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open in California yesterday.

Djokovic and Nadal treated the fans to several compelling rallies at the sun-baked Indian Wells Tennis Garden but the Serb, for the most part, held the upper hand and broke his opponent twice in the second set to secure victory.

After a protracted encounter that lasted nearly two hours, Australian Open champion Djokovic booked his place in today’s final where he will meet Canadian Milos Raonic, a 6-3 3-6 6-3 winner against Belgian David Goffin.

“There were things that I could have done better but I finished off the match very well and I am very pleased to get through to the final,” Djokovic told ESPN in a courtside interview after improving his record against Nadal to 25-23.

“The first set was very close and decided by one or two points in a tiebreaker and I was just fortunate to get through that one.

“The second was back and forth and midway through I managed to make that crucial break that allowed me to start playing more aggressive. Overall, it was a tough match but that is what you expect when you play Rafa.”

Breaks of serve were traded in the second and third games of an eagerly awaited showdown, before Nadal later squandered a set point in the 10th game when he netted a forehand.

Though the Spaniard came from 2-5 down in the tie-breaker to level at 5-5, Djokovic edged ahead 6-5 after a strong first serve before clinching the set after a little more than an hour when his opponent netted a backhand.

Nadal came under increasing pressure to hold serve in the second set as Djokovic dominated their baseline exchanges and the Spanish left-hander finally cracked in the sixth game when he dumped another forehand into the net to trail 2-4.

Serving at 2-5, Nadal clawed his way back from 0-40 and saved five match points in all before another tired shot from the baseline sailed long to hand victory to Djokovic.

Earlier, big-serving Raonic overcame a second-set wobble against the 15th-seeded Goffin to reach his third ATP Masters 1000 final.

“I lost my way a little bit (in the second set), I got into his rhythm,” the towering Raonic said after sealing victory in two hours to improve his record for the year to 14-1.

“But I really went for it in the third set and it came together. The most important thing for me was to stick to my identity and it was great to play here in my second (successive) semi-final and make the most of it.”

Two Bangladesh bowlers suspended from World T20 for illegal actions Lights green for

By Amlan Chakraborty

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) Bangladesh’s World Twenty20 campaign suffered a body blow yesterday when paceman Taskin Ahmed and left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny were suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect because of illegal actions.

Both the bowlers were reported after their side’s opening match in the ongoing World Twenty20 against the Netherlands in Dharamsala on Wednesday.

“As a consequence of these suspensions, the Bangladesh cricket team is per-

TASKIN AHMED

mitted to apply ... for approval to replace the two bowlers in the squad for the remainder of the event,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement.

Both bowlers were assessed at the ICC-accredited testing centre in Chennai this week, the governing body said.

Arafat’s elbow extension for the majority of his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees limit and not all of Taskin’s deliveries were found to be legal.

Bangladesh qualified for the main draw in style but went down to Pakistan in their first Super 10 match and face Australia in their next match on Monday.

National Race ...

From back page its debut after.

The superbikes will then make their way onto the track before the group four two- wheel drive and fourwheel drive close off the first of the three pre-set sessions for racing.

Among the day’s sponsors are GTT, Fly Jamaica, Ansa McAl and Seaboard Marine, while others include Ganesh Parts, Parts Plus, S&L Electrical, Rohan Auto Sales, Beharry Automotive, Hand in Hand insurance, Secure Innovations and Concepts Inc., Ramchand Auto Spares, B.M. Soat Auto Sales, Palm Court, Beharry Automotive, Mohameds Enterprise, ReadyMix Concrete Ltd, United Commodities Inc. and Guyoil.

32

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

ROY FREDERICKS ... A MAN WITH A GIANT’S HEART

THE executives, members, sponsors and other stakeholders of the Blairmont Cricket Club should be commended in seeking to honour the late Guyana and West Indies opening batsman Roy Fredericks in whose memory the club’s T20 tournament is being played over this weekend.

In a country where we have been guilty of not properly and adequately honouring our heroes, this is a step in the right direction which will especially delight sporting fans who will now eagerly anticipate witnessing the accolades rolling out in the sporting arena.

Roy Clinton Fredericks saw the light of day at Ithaca Village neighbouring Blairmont on the West Coast of Berbice on November 11, 1942 and spent his formative years turning out and churning out runs for the club attached to the said sugar estate.

He was a diminutive, attacking, left-handed opening batsman who played 59 Test matches and 12 One Day Internationals for the West Indies between 1968 and 1977.

For most of his career, he was the Region’s premier opener, changing partners on no less than 15 occasions.

It was not until Gordon Greenidge partnered him towards the end of his international tenure that Fredericks found a reliable ally and the West Indies, a sound opening pair.

“Freddo” (as he was popularly called), made the Demerara Cricket Club his home early in his career and made his first-class debut for British Guiana in 1964 in the inter-colonial tournament even before he represented Berbice at the inter-county level.

He did not immediately set the world alight but in 1967, he punished a strong Barbados bowling line- up at Bourda to register twin hundreds -- 127 and 115.

His effort was good enough to earn a place in the squad to Australia and New Zealand in 1968-69 and he duly made his debut in the second Test of the series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where he compiled a top-score of 76 in the first innings and an accomplished 47 in the second.

He found the going tough in the final three Tests of the series and on the tour to New Zealan, but like a true warrior bounced back to crack three

half-centuries on the short visit to England in 1969, including two in the Lord’s Test.

The famous Indian spinners Srinivas Venkataraghavan, Bishen Singh Bedi and Erapalli Prasana made life extremely difficult for him in the Caribbean in 1971 and he suffered the indignity of being dismissed with the first ball of a Test match at the Queen’s Park Oval.

However, in the second innings of the same match he was run out for 80 -- his then highest Test score, albeit in

Inside

Edge

With Edwin Seeraj some who doubted his ability to conquer spin or to occupy the crease for long intervals; but it is interesting to note that four of his eight Test hundreds were scored in just those conditions.

In 1973 at Edgbaston he made 150 stretched over eight and a half hours to ensure a draw; in 1974-75 in India against Bhagwat Chandrashekar, Bedi and Prasana he made 100 at Kolkata and 104 in Mumbai; in 1977 at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, he carefully crafted 120 against Pakistan’s

Roy Fredericks made his cricket debut for Guyana in the Shell Shield in 1967, when he was asked to step in for the regular opener Romain Etwaroo.

a losing cause.

Fredericks used his international experience to score heavily in the regional Shell Shield tournament and in 1972 scored a solid and entertaining maiden Test hundred (163) at Sabina Park against New Zealand. His splendid knock was overshadowed only by the brilliance of the debutant Lawrence George Rowe, but it was a turning point in his career.

To further enhance his all-round play, he turned out for Glamorgan between 1971 and 1973 and was voted a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1974. Although he was growing in confidence and maturity, there were

Intikhab Alam, Mustaq Mohammed and Iqbal Qasim.

His most memorable Test innings was undoubtedly against Australia on a Perth flier in 1975-76 when he opened the batting with Bernard Julien and battered Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thompson, Max Walker and Gary Gilmour into submission.

Batting as a man possessed, he charged to his century off only 71 deliveries and when his innings ended at 169, he had struck 27 blistering fours and a six. His innings left the Aussies in a state of shock and was largely responsible for a comprehensive series–levelling innings and

87-run victory by the West Indies.

At this time of his career, bowlers around the world feared him and the top bowlers of the Region felt the full force of his flashing blade. In 1975, at the Kensington Oval against Barbados in a Shell Shield encounter, he eased his way to an imperious 250 against the Testites Vanburn Holder, Keith Boyce, Tony Howard and Albert Padmore and it stood as the highest individual score in the competition for 18 years.

He helped the West Indies to win the inaugural World Cup that was staged in England in 1975 with some scintillating batting, although in the final at Lord’s, he hooked Australia’s Lillee out of the ground only to tread on his wicket for a duck.

Yet the cut and hook were his trademark shots for which he won huge acclaim. Former England seamer and expert cricket writer Mike Selvey asserted: “ There has probably never been a better or more willing exponent of the hook.”

In Fredericks’s day, One Day International cricket was in its embryonic stage, but he scored his runs at a quick clip and has the distinction of registering the first ODI hundred by a West Indian player in only his second game. It stood for some time as the highest individual score by anyone, anywhere.

After a stint with Australian Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket, Fredericks retired rather prematurely and took up a position as Minister of Sport in the Forbes Burnham-led government.

He came out of retirement in 1983 and promptly chalked up 103 against Trinidad and Tobago at Albion and 217 against Jamaica at Bourda in the regional first-class competition to bring the curtains down on an illustrious career.

All told he was involved in 223 first-class games and aggregated 16,384 runs at 45.89 per innings and in the process garnered 40 centuries.

He also picked up 75 wickets with his left-arm wrist spin and secured 177 catches mainly at gully and forward short-leg.

Roy Fredericks died in New York on September 5, 2000.

33

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Crystal clear as leaders Leicester march on

By Martyn Herman

LONDON, (Reuters)-Indomitable Leicester City stayed bang on course for the Premier League title as Riyad Mahrez scored the only goal at Crystal Palace yesterday to open up an eight-point lead with seven games left.

Third-placed Arsenal, 11 points behind with a game in hand, made a timely return to form with a 2-0 win at Everton and Tottenham Hotspur can reduce the gap to five today.

But any hopes that the two London rivals and fourth-placed Manchester City harbour of Leicester

Notable Dates

TERRENCE Alli had his second fight in Canada on March 20, 1982. The Mahaicony-born Alli won the six-round lightweight contest against Canadian resident Rick PaPa via Unanimous Decision.

The 21 year old Alli, born Terrence Halley handed PaPa his first defeat in six fights. Alli secured several titles during a sterling career but was unlucky not to have won a world title after three attempts.

His first was against Harry Arroyo for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight title. The fight was held in January 1985 at the Bally’s Park Place Hotel and Casino in TERRENCE ALLI Atlantic City and the Guyanese lost by TKO in round 11.

Alli would then clash with Jose Luis Ramirez in July 1987 for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight title and lost by Unanimous Decision.

He won the NABF junior welterweight title on January 20, 1991 and then and collided with legendary Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez for the WBC title but was TKOed in round six.

Alli ended a stellar 18-year career in 1997. He had boxed 549 rounds, won 52 fights and lost 15. His two drawn fights came against Thomas Barker in October 1982 and Cornelius Boza Edwards in March 1986.

Annual Easter Table Tennis Development camp set to start tomorrow

THE Ministry of Education-Department of Sport/ National Sports Commission in collaboration with the Guyana Table Tennis Association’s Easter HGoliday Development Camp will commence tomorrow at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue and ends on April 1.

The camp, which will begin at 10:30hrs and last for two hours from Monday to Friday each week, will cater for person’s aged five years and over. Interested person (s) may contact Linden Johnson on telephone number 592-621-7630, or at the National Gymnasium between 16hrs to 19:00hrs to collect registration forms.

Objectives of the camp are: To develop and improve the level of table tennis; to help persons with the basic skills; to help persons to be better prepared for future tournaments; to increase the number of participants involved in table tennis by 25% and to identify players for future training.

imploding are fading fast.

Leicester’s 3,000 fans were chanting “We’re gonna win the league” long after their side’s 1-0 win at Selhurst Park and while manager Claudio Ranieri refuses stubbornly to acknowledge his side are favourites, few would bet against the Foxes completing the job now.

“I think now we are close to achieving the Champions League,” was as far as Ranieri was prepared to venture when addressing reporters afterwards.

“That is a great achievement, but it is step by step,” the Italian, whose side need 18 points to be guaranteed the most unlikely of titles, added.

“It sounds good, our fans are singing a very good song about that, but we need to stay calm.”

Leicester’s 13th league victory this season by a single-goal margin came courtesy of the outstanding Algerian Mahrez.

With 34 minutes on the clock, England call-up Danny Drinkwater fed Jamie Vardy and his precise cross was an open invitation for Mahrez which he accepted with glee.

Palace did hit the bar late on through Damien Delaney but Leicester hung

on for a fourth win in five league games.

“You can see they play with confidence, they have momentum, a great balance to the team. They will be difficult to catch,” Palace boss Alan Pardew said. “They would be worthy champi-

scored Chelsea’s first equaliser with a free kick, left them frustrated and angry after converting from the spot after Ruben Loftus-Cheek tumbled in the area despite being clipped outside it.

Riyad Mahrez scored the only goal for Leicester City at Crystal Palace yesterday. ons.”

West Ham United’s hope of barging into the top four suffered a late setback at Chelsea where they were denied victory

by Cesc Fabregas’s dubious late penalty.

Substitute Andy Carroll had put West Ham 2-1 ahead and had it stayed that way, they would have moved above Manchester City into a Champions League berth.

But Fabregas, who also

BILIC GUTTED “We should have two points more. We are gutted.

Proud, but gutted,” West Ham manager Slaven Bilic told reporters, describing referee Robert Madley’s decision to award the penalty “unacceptable”.

The Hammers stayed in fifth place with 50 points, one behind Manchester City who play sixth-placed Manchester United (47) in Sunday’s derby.

Chelsea remained unbeaten in the league under interim manager Guus Hiddink, but an 11th draw of the season for last season’s champions left them 10th.

Some Arsenal fans displayed banners at Goodison Park urging manager Arsene Wenger to step down, but his side produced a vibrant display to at least end a depressing week on a high.

First-half goals by Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi secured a first win in four league games and lifted some of the gloom after exits from the FA Cup and Champions League.

“Mathematically, we have a chance,” Wenger told a news conference. “We are not flavour of the week, but if we don’t believe, noone will do it for us.”

Norwich City’s survival hopes received a boost as they won 1-0 at West Bromwich Albion to move three points above the relegation zone while Swansea City also edged closer to safety with a 1-0 win over bottom club Aston Villa who are all but gone after a 21st league defeat.

Stoke City retained their hopes of European football as a 2-1 victory at Watford lifted them to seventh.

Mekdeci, Wiltshire, Melville and Harding record victories

BENJAMIN Mekdeci, Larissa Wiltshire, Alec Melville and Makeda Harding all won their respective matches when the Guyana Squash Assopciation organised Kraft/ Toucan/ Digicel- sponsored Junior Skills level Tournament continued yesterday at the Georgetown Club Courts The victories for the trio will see them contesting the finals in their respective categories today at the same venue.

According to reports, in category `A,’ Mekdeci dropped his first game of the tournament in his match against Taylor Fernandes when he lost the third game, but still won 11/6, 11/4, 9/11, 11/5. Larissa Wiltshire ensured that she would not be one of the victims of her younger brother Shomari, when she defeated him in four games 11/6, 11/5, 6/11, 11/8. Alec Melville bounced back from two successive defeats when he won a hardfought game against Alex Cheeks 11/8, 6/11, 11/8, 11/4.

In the lone match in Category `B’, Makeda Harding defeated Maya Collins 11/9, 11/1, 11/9.

Category ‘C’ produced

LARISSA WILTSHIRE another thrilling battle when Gianni Carpenter edged Ethan Jonas three games to two. Carpenter won the first game 11/6, but dropped the second game 9/11. He won the third game 11/7, but lost

the fourth 11/8. Howeve, he was a comfortable winner in the fifth game 11/3. Jonas bounced back from this loss to then defeat Dominic Collins 11/9, 5/11, 11/3, 11/7.

Samuel Ince-Carvahal had two victories in the morning session, firstly beating Demetrius De Abreu 11/1, 11/1, 11/2 and then disposing of Michael Alphonso 11/7, 11/4, 11/5.

In Category `D,’ Abosaide Cadogan recovered from her loss the previous evening to Madison Fernandes, to upset front -runner in the group Kirsten Gomes, who prior to this had not lost a match in the tournament.

Kirsten won the first game 11/3 and then the second game 12/10, but Abosaide took the third game 11/3, and then the fourth 11/5. Abosaide then comfortably won the fifth game 11/3. Madison Fernandes then defeated Aliyah Persaud 11/5, 11/7, 11/6.

Results from other morning matches are as follows: Samuel Ince-Carvahal beat Demetrius De Abreu 11/1,

11/1, 11/2 Samuel Ince-Carvahal beat Michael Alphonso 11/7, 11/4, 11/5; Gianni Carpenter beat Demetrius De Abreu 11/3, 11/0, 11/6 Category `D’ Abosaide Cadogan beat Kirsten Gomes 3/11, 10/12, 11/3, 11/5, 11/3; Madison Fernandes defeated Aliyah Persaud 11/5, 11/7, 11/6 Category ‘E’ Mohyryan Baksh beat Haley Carpenter 11/6, 11/8; Kamir Khan beat Nathan Rahaman 11/7, 11/7.

James Mekdeci beat Kamir Khan 11/6, 5/11, 11/8 Category ‘F’ Chad De Abreu beat Liam Carpenter 12/10, 11/8.

Category ‘G’ Teija Edwards beat Giovanna Dos Santos 11/7, 11/5; Jacinta Adams beat Beau Fernandes 11/8, 11/5.

Category ‘I’ Malia Maikoo beat Grant Fernandes 11/9, 11/9 and Noah Rahaman beat Malia Maikoo 11/6, 12/10 Matches continue today at the Georgetown Club courts starting at 10.00 hrs.

34

All systems in place for District 11

50 Independence Track Meet today th

ALL systems are a go for the North Georgetown (District 11) 50th Independence Track Meet which goes down today at the Police Sports Club Ground and will see seven teams going up against each other to be champions of the inaugural event.

“All systems in place for tomorrow [today], we had a little bit of shortcoming in terms of light, but we sorted that out and everything is okay,” organiser Mariska Williams told Chronicle Sport yesterday.

“We actually feel great, because we know that this will be a championship that they will talk about; we anticipate that it will be welcomed and look forward to hosting it in years to come, it’s just that we need more sponsors.”

The event gets under way this afternoon from 16:00hrs and will see athletes competing from the under 14 up to the under 20 age category in track events from the 100m to the 1500m.

Of the seven participating teams, five are already based in Georgetown, while the East Coast team will travel from that area and the Bartica district team is expected to arrive this morning at 08:00hrs The other participating teams are the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, Super Upcoming Runners, Mercury Fast Laners, and Ruralites. Just about 100 athletes are set to participate in the event.

Coaches from the club had favourable things to say about the meet, which they think is coming at a most opportune time for the athletes.

“The event is coming [at] the right time to give the athletes at the perfect time for them to showcase how good they are. And it is also showing the GTU [Guyana Teachers Union] that this is the right time to run the School Nationals [Championships]” coach for the GPF, Lyndon Wilson shared.

The GPF has approximately 22 athletes participating at today’s event, including 2016 CARIFTA Games athlete Jevina Sampson, who will be participating in the 200m, 400m and 800m of the girls’ under-20 category.

Other notable athletes for the team include Joanna Archer, Kezia Murray in the girls’ under-18 400m and 800m, and Deon Archer in the boys’ 100m and 200m.

For the GDF prominent athletes include Gavin Fraser in the boys’ open 200m and 400m; Akeem Stewart in the boys’ open 100m and Aniquah Powley in the 100m and 200m, while Rupert Perry will also be out in the 100m and 200m invitational.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday March 20, 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) West Indies, England, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Afghanistan (2) India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Name the teams that are in ‘Group A’ of the current ICC T20 Women’s World Cup? (2) Name the teams that are in ‘Group B’ of the current ICC T20 Women’s World Cup?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

EBFA / Ralph Green U-11 League

Defending champs Herstelling exit following loss to Agricola A NEW champion will be second place in the group comcrowned following the exit ing down to goal difference. of defending champions HerAgricola, after giving up stelling Raiders on account a walk over to Friendship of their 3-1 loss to Agricola in their first match came yesterday when the East with a mission to win and Bank Football Association despite falling behind by the / Ralph Green sponsored 6th minute, thanks to a Kai Under-11 League continued James strike for Hetstelling, at the Grove Playfield.

Agricola kept on pressing.

Yesterday’s opening match They would sink the equalsaw Craig and Diamond Unitiser three minutes later to ed battling to a 0-0 draw with ensure the first half ended 1-1.

Craig and Grove Hi Tech set The second half was all Floyd to face off in the final Group Boyce’ half as his two goals A match on Saturday. Grove ensured victory for Agricola is already assured of a place in and a place in the semifinals the semifinals; a win will see as the second team emerging them ending as the top team in from Group B behind Friendthe group. ship.

Diamond and Craig are Boyce scored in the 19th on a point each and a loss for Agricola’s Floyd Boyce (left) and Herstelling’s Kai and 21st minute of the 30th Craig will see the battle for the James battle it out at the Grive Playfield. minute match.

West Demerara hold off East Coast to retain title

THE final round of the DCB Under-19 Inter-Association 2016 saw West Demerara holding off East Coast by six runs to retain their title and Georgetown thrashing East Bank by 249 runs.

Playing East Coast at the Enterprise Busta Sports Club ground was a challenge for the boys from the West Demerara but they held their nerves to be victorious.

Batting first, West Demerara managed 183 all out from 47.5 overs. Their innings was built on the back of Ronaldo Renee who crafted 108. No other batsman got going as the East Coast bowlers bowled tightly. Pradesh Balkishun was the pick of the bowlers with 3/40.

East Coast reply came close to the targe as they kept the game open to the end and were eventually bowled out for 177 in the 49th over.

Vishwanauth Ramlakan and Bhaskar Yadram were the main scorers with 46 and 39 respectively.

Rishie Looknauth and Neal Mclean were the most successful bowers with three and two wickets respectively.

Over at the DCC ground , national player, Ronaldo Alimohamed, slammed 128

...Georgetown thrashes East Bank

West Demerara team celebrate with the winning trophy while Joshua Persaud and Raymond Perez made 98 and 57 respectively to pile up 399 for Georgetown against East Bank.

Christian Husband and Sagar Hatheramani reaped some success with three and

two wickets respectively.

Chasing such a mammoth total, East Bank who didn’t win a match in the first two rounds, did not pose any threat to the Georgetown bowlers.

They folded for 150

with Sagar Hatheramani being the only batsman to make a decent score (30).

Timothy McAlmont was the destroyer with the ball; he grabbed four wickets while Darshan Persaud captured three.

35

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 20, 2016

Jamaica Scorpions reach 170 for 5 in reply to Jaguars 420

By Rajiv Bisnauth THE Jamaica Scorpions were batting in a perilous position at the end of day two of the final round of the West Indies Cricket Board’s Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-Day

showed some gritty resistance with 62 and 32 to their names.

The early debacle was the result of some accurate bowling by the medium pacer Raymond Reifer, when he made the early breakthrough before left-arm spinner Guda-

overnight total of 297-4, Johnson was somewhat circumspect up front before dispatching Jacobs for consecutive boundaries. The first went past mid-off and the second straight down the ground to move in the 70s, and showed the kind of sublime touch he

day when he trapped Reifer plumb in front for 11, and after the lunch break Jacobs removed Veerasammy Permaul, caught at first slip for 21 before Dawes bowled last man Motie for four.

The visitors began their reply with Shacaya Thomas

kesh Motie made inroads into the visitors’ camp.

Motie finished the day with figures of 3-33, while Reifer ended with 2-43.

Earlier, the visitors had ridden on a superb bowling spell from leg-spinner Damion Jacobs to end the hosts’ first innings just after the lunch break.

Jacobs was the main threat once again on day two and finished with 5-131, his eighth first-class five-wicket haul in an inspired bowling performance.

The hosts lost night watchman Devendra Bishoo at the end of the fifth over in the day’s play when he offered a simple catch to short fine-leg off Jacobs for three.

Resuming at 58 in an

CHRIS GAYLE

was in.

Christopher Barnwell, who joined forces with Johnson began his innings with attacking intent, hitting the left-arm medium pace bowler Gavon Brown for a four and a six, but fell leg before wicket to Jacobs for 25.

Johnson in the process passed 800 runs this season in company with Reifer, but fell agonisingly short of his fifth first-class century when he was taken at the wicket off medium pacer Devon Thomas.

He was dismissed for 93 off 185 balls, 266 minutes, six fours and a six, an innings of perfect blend of defence and controlled aggression.

Jason Dawes (2-39) struck in his first over of the

right-handed Blackwood leg before wicket.

The pair of Devon Thomas and Aldaine Thomas batted to the close without further hiccups. Play continues today at 10:00hrs and admission to the venue is free.

Meanwhile, in the other two games, Leeward Islands Hurricanes closed day two on 18-1, trailing Barbados Pride first innings 436 by 300 runs; and Trinidad and Tobago batting a second time reached 33-1 against the Windward Islands Volcanoes. Scores: Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 211 and 33-1; Windward Islands Volcanoes 289.

SCOREBOARD

The Guyana Jaguars appeal successfully against Paul Palmer game against the Guyana Jaguars at the National Stadium, Providence yesterday.

The Guyana Jaguars tightened their grip on the game as the visitors reached 171-5, still 100 runs adrift of avoiding the follow-on, after the hosts piled up 420 in their first innings.

Devon Thomas and Aldaine Thomas were the unbeaten batsmen on 40 and 21 respectively, a sixthwicket partnership of 51 runs so far.

The Jamaica Scorpions top and middle order failed to take advantage of good batting conditions and have to blame themselves for the poor batting display they put in.

Jermaine Blackwood and Shacaya Thomas

at the wicket.

That dismissal saw the visitors falling back again as they were bogged down and in the process found run-making a hard task.

Motie then trapped Andre McCarthy (3) and Paul Palmer (6) leg before wicket to leave the Scorpions at 88-4, but unfortunately suffered a severe blow to his bowling fingers and had to leave the playing area for treatment.

Blackwood in company with Devon Thomas managed to reach his half ton which took him 106 balls, but Reifer returned for a second spell, and immediately trapped the

driving, cutting and pulling with erratic assurance, smacking a quartet of boundaries and a six; but his partner John Campbell never looked comfortable and eventually fell to Reifer for one when he mistimed a pull and was caught

by Permaul at mid-on.

Jermaine Blackwood joined Thomas and began a recovery act with the pair denying any further success for the home team as they used the width that was offered them and raced to 70-1 by the interval, with Thomas on 32 and Blackwood on 33.

After the interval, the Jaguars stuck well enough to their plan of an all-spin attack. Motie made the breakthrough immediately, removing Thomas, caught

Guyana Jaguars 1st innings R. Chandrika c&b Jacobs 76 T. Chanderpaul lbw b Jacobs 21 S. Hetmyer b Blackwood 107 L. Johnson* c wk A. Thomas b D. Thomas 93 V. Singh b Brown 22 D. Bishoo c Dawes b Jacobs 3 C. Barnwell lbw b Jacobs 25 R. Reifer lbw b Dawes 11 A. Bramble not out 16 V. Permaul c Blackwood b Jacobs 21 G. Motie b Dawes 4 Extras: (w1, nb 12, b5, lb 3) 21 Total: (all out; 127 overs) 420 Fall of wickets: 1-80, 2-157, 3-243, 4-286, 5-306, 6-354, 7-371, 8-384, 9-414, 10-420 Bowling: J. Dawes 15-3-39-2, G. Brown 20-3-73-1, D. Thomas 17-548-1, D. Bulli 10-1-52-0, A. McCarthy 3-0-11-0, J. Campbell 16-0-50-0, J. Blackwood 3-0-12-1

Jamaica 1st innings S. Thomas c wk Bramble b Motie 32 J. Campbell c Permaul b Reifer 1 J. Blackwood lbw b Reifer 62 A. McCarthy lbw b Motie 3 P. Palmer lbw b Motie 6 D. Thomas not out 40 A. Thomas not out 21 Extras: (nb 4, lb 2) 6 Total: (for five wickets; 57 overs) 171 Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-70, 3-74, 4-88, 5-120 Bowling: Reifer 10-3-43-2, Barnwell 4-2-21-0, Motie 15.3-4-33-3, Permaul 18-6-35-0, Bishoo 9.3-3-37-0

Sammy not seeking revenge against Sri Lanka

WEST Indies captain Darren Sammy maintains that revenge is not a motivating factor for his side as they prepare to meet Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 today.

At the tournament two years ago, West Indies lost out in the semi-finals to eventual champions Sri Lanka, who prevailed by 27 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method.

The sides come into this clash at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore having tasted victory in their respective Super 10 openers.

A Chris Gayle-inspired Windies overcame England by six wickets, while

Sri Lanka triumphed by the same margin against Group 1 outsiders Afghanistan.

Despite the disappointment of 2014, Sammy was quick to quell any talk of a revenge mission.

“I wouldn’t say it is revenge. If this match was the final then we could think on those lines but it is a group game,” he said.

“We respect them a lot and we have had great games between us. I hope it is a good game tomorrow. We want to keep winning. We want to execute our plans. You saw it against England.”

HOW WILL SRI LANKA WEATHER THE GAYLE STORM? The big Jamaican was at his brutal best against England, racing to a century from just 47 balls as West Indies made light work of chasing down 183 for victory. Gayle smashed five fours and an incredible 11 maximums during his blitz, but if Sri Lanka can remove him before he gets into his stride they will strike a huge blow.

Gayle will, however, enjoy the comfort of familiar surroundings as he arrives at the home of his IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore.

(Omnisport.com)

Jamaica Scorpions reach 170 for 5 in reply to Jaguars 420 See story on page 35

GFF president emphasises team work … as executive members interact with Golden Jaguars

FOUR members of the Executive Committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), including President Wayne Forde, met, interacted and had dinner with members of the Golden Jaguars on Friday at the commencement of the Golden Jaguars’ camp in preparation for the ScotiaBank 2016 Men’s Caribbean Cup Championship.

In a release last evening, the GFF said in giving brief remarks, the president emphasised the importance of team work. “You are your brother’s keeper. Each and every one of you should have the trust of the other guy that’s beside you and have the confidence that that guy has your interest.”

In so doing, he expressed the support of the GFF’s

executive committee and the Guyanese public to the team and called for their involvement. “You are the ultimate football ambassador. Every benchmark we’d like to reach over the next few years, you’ll be the pioneers of that. So it’s important [that] we forge a partnership.”

The president indicated that despite the challenges, the GFF will pursue the national football programme. He said with the steps made to date and an increase in the brand, he expects more sponsorship and funding of the national programmes. In closing, he thanked the players for their hard work and commitment and indicated the See page 30

GFF president Wayne Forde and Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz with members of the Golden Jaguars

Lights green for National Race of Champions

By Stephan Sookram ALL lights are green for today’s First National Race of Champions set to commence from 08:30hrs at the South Dakota Circuit.

Most of the “big guns” who signalled their intention to be present at the event are all ready for today’s action, though there was no qualifying session yesterday.

According to reports from the South Dakota Circuit, unavoidable hiccups resulted in the qualifying sessions not coming off yesterday and as such, competitors will go the route of pulling for their grid positions for the first race.

The day will open with the traditional Lap of Honour, while racing action will

get under way with Group one/ Street tuner which has been modified to encompass engine enhancements and minor changes.

The 125cc cycles will follow, while the new Sport Tuner class will make its debut on track.

The Sport Tuner class will feature some of the same rules as the Street Tuner/group one, but will see drivers using the same brand of pump gas, same model of tyres and cars with engine capacities limited to 1600cc.

The traditional groups three and two will follow, while another newbie on the block, the Beharry Toyota cup, which will feature strictly starlets, will make See page 31

-two new classes to be unveiled

Flashback! Kristian Jeffrey leads Mark Vieira at the Second Round of the National Race of Champions 2015 (Samuel Maughn Photo)

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SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2016