60 COSTLY LOSS No. 104504
MONDAY MARCH 28, 2016
Price: $80
(Vat Inclusive)
––LGE results indicate City business community, middle class continue to shun PPP
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Multimillion-dollar hotel opens in Bartica Page 8
The magnificent Palm Spring Hotel strategically located on Third Avenue, Bartica was opened on Saturday
James Layne is 100 not out
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Man of Guyanese background arrested in Canada ––was allegedly preparing to engage in terrorism Page 2
Mark Lyte 9 re-elected GTU president Page
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 28, 2016
Man of Guyanese background arrested in Canada ––was allegedly preparing to engage in terrorism
BRAMPTON --The day after he was arrested by RCMP anti-terrorism police, a 23-year-old appeared in court Saturday to face weapons charges and allegations he was preparing to leave Canada to engage in terrorism. Kevin Omar Mohamed was arrested by members of the Toronto-based Integrated National Security Enforcement Team as part of an ongoing counter-terrorism investigation called Project Swap, the RCMP said. “He was arrested in Waterloo,” said RCMP Superintendent Lise Crouch, the Assistant Criminal Operations Officer in Ontario. “It’s a file that we’ve been working on for some time.” Mohamed has been charged with possession of a dangerous weapon and carrying a concealed weapon — apparently a knife. Testifying in Brampton, Sergeant Adam MacIntosh told a provincial court judge the investigation was also probing five anti-terrorism offences. While the former University of Waterloo engineering student has not yet been
charged with terrorism, Sergeant MacIntosh said police have reasonable grounds to believe Mohamed would leave Canada to participate in terrorism, advocate or promote terrorism, and facilitate terrorist activity. The RCMP is seeking a peace bond that would impose conditions on Mohamed’s conduct. Under Canada’s anti-terrorism law, police can ask the courts for peace bonds against those they suspect may be about to commit terrorism offences. Conditions can include staying off the Internet and surrendering passports. Peace bond cases must be approved by the Attorney General, who provided signed consent in this case. Mohammed was scheduled to return to court on Tuesday. “This arrest speaks to our ability to tackle a threat that is multifaceted and constantly evolving,” Superintendent Crouch said in a statement issued by the RCMP on Saturday afternoon. “While there was no indication of any plans for a domestic attack, we must
Cops nab men with unlicensed gun RANKS of a police traffic patrol on Saturday stopped a group of five men who were on three CG motorcycles at Norton Street and Louisa Row, Georgetown. According to a police release, a search was carried out on the men and an unlicensed 9mm pistol with 15 rounds was found on one of them, who is a police constable stationed in ‘B’ Division (Berbice). He has been placed under close arrest, while the other four men have been arrested and are in custody assisting with the investigations. The motorcycles also have been seized by the police, the release concluded.
remain committed to preventing individuals from travelling abroad to gain training and expertise that could be used in the planning and implementation of future attacks on Canadian soil.” The RCMP statement said Durham Police Services and Ontario Provincial Police played “a significant role in this case,” which it said was “in no way linked to the terrorist attacks that occurred in Brussels”. Defence lawyer Anser Farooq questioned why Mohamed was arrested on
suspicion of terrorism, but charged only with relatively minor weapons offences. “He’s okay, a little confused,” he said of his client. Professor Amarnath Amarasingam, who has been studying Canadian foreign fighters, said Mohamed was “Guyanese by background” and that friends had described him as socially awkward. On social media, where he was known as Abu Jayyid, he wavered between supporting ISIL and opposing it, he said. The arrest came amid
heightened security concerns following last Tuesday’s terrorist attacks in Belgium, which killed 31 and highlighted the problem of Western foreign fighters returning from Syria to wage violence against their home countries. Responding to the Brussels bombings last week, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale called Canada “fundamentally a safe and peaceful nation,” adding that, “At this moment we have no reason to change Canada’s threat level.” But violent extremism
is a growing problem in Canada. About 180 people “with a nexus to Canada” are active in overseas terrorism — including 100 in Syria and Iraq alone, according to the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. Another 60 have returned to Canada after engaging in terrorist activity, while 90 to 100 have not left Canada but want to, Michel Coulombe testified during a March 7 appearance before the Senate Committee on National Security and Defence. (National Post)
Bees kill sugar worker, seriously injure another A CLOSE encounter with a swarm of angry Africanised bees aback Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice on Saturday has left one Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) employee dead and another hospitalised. D e a d i s 5 6 - y e a r- o l d Romesh Lalaram, called ‘Satesh’, of Church Street, Bath Settlement, who had been a GuySuCo employee for over two decades. According to GuySuCo officials, the incident occurred at about 12:45 hours
Dead: Romesh Lalaram, called ‘Satesh’
on Saturday in the vicinity of “the Old Bath Field, on the road to the estate cultivation.” They said that several employees who were present at the time of the incident were also stung by the bees. Prompt response by management saw all the affected workers being rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital in the Estate’s ambulance, but Mr. Lalaram unfortunately did not survive the attack. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. A total of six employees
were treated and sent home, while a seventh remains in hospital under observation. Those treated and sent away were Harripaul Jagdeo, R. Bissondyal, K. Lookraj, D. Persaud, Khemraj Latchman, and Ganesh Hemraj. A GuySuCo statement has said, “The Corporation is liaising closely with the family of the deceased to provide support at this very sad time. We will provide further details as more information becomes available.”
James Layne is 100 not out RELATIVES, friends and well-wishers of Litchfield resident James Barrington Layne made sure that he felt extra special on Sunday as he celebrated his 100th birthday. Talk about a milestone! During a programme chaired by his close relative, Trade Unionist Lincoln Lewis, relatives, friends and well-wishers turned out in their numbers at the Litchfield Primary School to shower Layne See page 3
Attorney General Basil Williams with Mr Layne on his 100th birth anniversary
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 28, 2016
––LGE results indicate business community, middle class, continue to shun PPP
THE loss of support from the business community, professionals and a faction of the middle class was one of the contributing factors which led to the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) suffering a defeat in the municipality of Georgetown at the recently held Local Government Elections (LGE). This is the contention of former longstanding member of the party and Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, who expressed these views on his weekly blog “The Conversation Tree”, which was published last weekend. Two weeks ago, the long overdue LGE were held, and the PPP claimed a “massive victory” despite losing five of the nine municipalities to the APNU+AFC coalition. Among these was Georgetown, which traditionally has invested more of its confidence in the People’s National Congress (PNC) -– a faction of the APNU –- to manage the municipal affairs.
And while the PPP, at the last LGE in 1994, manage to secure only eight of the 30 seats on the council, this year, with the emergence of new groups, the party suffered severe blows and was able to acquire only two seats. The coalition copped a whopping 25, while Team Legacy scored evenly with the PPP and Team Benschop claimed one. The opposition party was not daunted by this though, and boasted of the fact that it had managed to win 48 out of 71 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), which mirror the figures in 1994 when it secured 48 out of the then 65. This year too, the party claimed to have stamped it authority by registering 28,000 more votes than the APNU+AFC coalition. Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield had revealed that only 38-39 per cent of the electorate voted in the elections. But the results of these elections, Ramkarran contends, should give no political comfort to any political
party. Ramkarran opined that while voter turnout was lower than that of General Elec-
RALPH RAMKARRAN tions, as occurs almost everywhere in local government elections, it is unsafe to make any enduring political conclusions from these results. Nevertheless, he sought to examine the voting pattern in Guyana, reasoning that experiences have
James Layne is 100 ...
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with gifts and words of praise and respect. The large gathering included Attorney General Basil Williams, Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Minister of
Social Protection Volda Lawrence; and his niece, Member of Parliament for Region 5, Jennifer Wade. The celebration took place on the top floor of the Litchfield Primary School,
A section of those gathered at the Litchfield Primary School to celebrate Mr Layne’s 100th milestone
shown that the “rigid ethnic voting patterns” can be modified. CREDIBLE THIRD FORCE And this, according to him, can be fuelled when some disgruntled party supporters are swayed by what they see as a credible third force. Referring to history, he noted that in 1961 and 1964, a section of the Indian business and middle class abandoned the PPP and voted for the United Force; in 2006, a sizeable section of the African middle and working classes abandoned the PNCR and supported the then newly formed AFC; and in 2011 and 2015, sections of the PPP’s Indian support abandoned it, some for the AFC and some by not voting at all. And the view that Guyana seems to have been moving away from this “rigid ethnic voting pattern” was clearly evident in this year’s LGE, he suggested. “The PPP’s total collapse
in the City of Georgetown confirms what many have long suspected, namely, that the PPP has lost the support of the business, professional and some of the middle class. Located in significant numbers, though not exclusively in the city, these groups appear to have supported some other party or group, or as is more likely to have declined to vote,” Ramkarran stated in his blog. However, this would not be easily discerned in the rural areas, where the PPP is strong, he said, adding that the overall low turnout would not indicate if any pockets of business and other middle class supporters stayed at home. NO BREAKTHROUGH If his analysis is accurate though, Ramkarran suggested that this would be the third successive elections that this section of PPP supporters has abandoned the party. But the results, according to him, also reflect “no breakthrough”
and the guests were pleased to see the “birthday boy” climb the stairs unaided in a spritely no-nonsense manner. There were many prayers of gratitude, as he was able to observe his 100th birthday in a healthy and lucid manner. The speeches were many. Some of those, given by those who knew him in his younger days, provided glimpses of the past tinged with nostalgia. Although the celebrations were over three hours long, Layne stoically acknowledged every speech, and stood up
in PPP areas of support by the APNU+AFC. Identical to 1994 were the results for the NDC, which show no penetration by the coalition in PPP strongholds. Further, he highlighted that the results do not discourage the idea that the AFC has lost considerable ground; and if this is so, it would not be unusual for third parties in Guyana, he added. The former Speaker, at this point, reflected on the fact that the United Force “ceased to be an effective political force” at the end of the 1960s, while “the mighty Working Peoples Alliance (WPA), which never had the opportunity to prove its electoral strength because of electoral malpractice, has faded from view, leaving only the idealism of its founders. However, should the AFC fade and the Indian business, professional and other groups of the middle class go back to the PPP, that party (PPP) will retain the advantage at the next national elections, he opined.
on numerous occasions to be hugged by female well-wishers and respond to firm handshakes from the men. He credited his longevity to God’s grace, and added: “Honour your father and your mother and your days will be long on the face of this earth.” The Guyana Chronicle joins his relatives, friends and well-wishers in extending congratulations to James Barrington Layne on achieving this rare milestone, and wishing him the best of health in his continuing years.
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No place for child abusers ––Lawrence calls on hinterland educators to step up their game By Shauna Jemmott
NEWS travel fast, and she’s not at all happy with what she’s been hearing. As such, Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence is calling on educators within the hinterland areas to step up their game. “I am particularly distressed when I think and hear of the high incidence of violations that are meted to our young girls in the hinterland regions,” she told participants of the Fifth Biennial Conference of the Guyana Teachers Union Women’s Advisory Committee, held recently under the theme ‘Striving to develop an awareness to combat the social challenges in our society through leadership training’. Recent reports in the media indicate that there is a
high incidence of suicide, teenage pregnancy, trafficking in persons, rape, and drug use among a list of social pressures which young girls, even in their pre-teen stage of life, fall victim to, with little or no intervention from stakeholders. Just recently, the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) had occasion to express concern about the welfare of three young girls they had cause to rescue from the North-West District. One of the girls, a 13-year-old, was brought out of the area with her nineday-old baby, while the other, a year younger and five months pregnant, had to be flown out. Both of the children’s cases were taken up by the Child Care and Protection Agency, of which Ann
Greene is head. While the older of the two girls was a victim of statutory rape, the other had
groceries and a little money. GWMO President Urica Primus is deeply concerned about the welfare of
Minister Lawrence addressing teachers from across the country at the Guyana Teachers Union forum given a statement to the GWMO, disclosing that she and her 10-year-old sister had been trafficked by their own father, who had taken them to various mining camps and logging sites to trade sex for small bags of
the 10-year-old girl, who is still living with her father, possibly in circumstances unchanged. The man was also accused of sexually abusing his wife soon after she had gone through a Caesarian
Monday March 28th, 2016 - 05:30 hrs Tuesday March 29th, 2016 - 08:30 hrs Wednesday March 30th, 2016 - 09:00 hrs
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 28, 2016 delivery, dragging her into their yard and leaving her to bleed to death while the children watched. With all these horror stories uppermost on her mind, Minister Lawrence told teachers at the conference, “I know that your challenge is compounded by geographical factors and language barriers, but I will urge you to be relentless in your efforts to develop awareness of the social traps into which our youths can be enmeshed.” She further charged all teachers not to wait until something serious happens before taking action, but to develop strategies and involve youths at all levels in fighting those social giants before they take our society down. Minister Lawrence also urged teachers to use their classrooms as another forum through which to sensitise youths on major social challenges. “We cannot lose sight of our responsibility to prepare our students for the outer world, their immediate environs and the society at large,” she said, adding: “In this era of globalisation, we don’t want our youths to be ignorant of the viciousness of our society; of the dangers which are lurking around the corner. “We have to initiate the discussion, making them aware of the challenges they may encounter and ways of dealing with them. We would be defeating the purpose of moulding and nurturing the child if we sidestep the issues above and pretend they do not concern us.” With society having to grapple with innumerable and sensitive challenges and the high prevalence of dysfunctional families, Minister Lawrence said, it is lamentable that some of these issues go unnoticed by a large section of our nation; and teachers have a responsibility, as instruction providers, to create effective mediums of communication to develop awareness among
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young people. “We cannot leave the task to the family, for, in some instances, it is dysfunctional; the family atmosphere is wrought with crises of one kind or another, and offers no support,” Minister Lawrence said. “The onus is on us, as providers of instruction and resource personnel, to ensure -- through our classroom discussions, through debates, through peer-group interventions and dramatic interpretations -- that these issues are aired,” she added. Though responsibilities are already heavy on the educators, who are “tasked with the academic pursuits of your young charges, which through no fault of your own are time-consuming because of the extent of the curriculum,” it is crucial that they provide guidance and training for students. She said the days are gone when students could not have discussed certain issues in school, since with “the advent of television, the social media have changed the way we do things and the way we think. Our society is much bolder and vicious, and you and I who are on social media know that there is no restraint; we can share people’s entire life story on the social network, we can meet individuals from every echelon of society -- good, bad or indifferent.” With that in mind, Minister Lawrence told the forum that academic and social clubs in schools can be mediums for sensitising audiences on ways of dealing with challenges which confront youths. “We must provide them with the opportunity to brainstorm, to interact with others and commit themselves to spreading the message. We can encourage members of those clubs to include the social issues, and in this way we can begin to make inroads, to sensitise and to offer ways of dealing with issues as they arise.” Leadership training should also be extended to youth, church and community groups, which should be actively involved in stemming the tide of overwhelming issues, since government needs the “input and commitment of all.”
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 28, 2016
Camp St prisoner to receive counselling
By Shauna Jemmott AFTER a horrifying experience witnessing the burning of the Camp Street jail block, several men burnt beyond recognition, rescuing many and losing his best friend, Government has made counselling available to Camp Street prisoner Steve Bacchus, whose bravery has not gone unrecognised. Bacchus, a prisoner residing in the Old Capital Block, testified last week
It was under cross-examination by Pieters that the prisoner disclosed that he had received no counselling since the dreadful prison fire. POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS
He is having signs of post-traumatic stress after also seeing the skull of a beheaded prisoner burnt on a bed after the fire. The head was separated from the individual’s body, and speculations are that someone may have been beheaded in the jail dormitory before it was burnt. Bacchus said he would often have flashbacks of what he experienced and cry in his bed, but he had not experienced nightmares, sleeplessness or eating disruptions. Justice Patterson informed the prisoner that counselling services have B a r r i s t e r - a t - l a w been made available by Selwyn Pieters (Adrian the Commission, which Narine Photo) was established by Government to inquire into before the Commission the deadly riots and conof Inquiry (CoI) into the ditions at the jail; and he Georgetown prison riot, and was advised that since his accepted an offer for psy- experience would have chotherapy after Chairman long-term psychological of the Commission, retired effects, he should be one to Justice James Patterson, and benefit from such service. Barrister-at-Law Selwyn The CoI Chairman asPieters, who is representing sured Bacchus that any inthe Joint Services in the formation he relays to the CoI, enlightened him on the counsellors would be volimportance of such therapy. untary, since he would not He is currently serving be forced to say anything he a two-year sentence for es- does not want to say. caping from lawful custody, While the entire CoI and had also been remanded panel and lawyers seemed to prison facing multiple supportive of the gesture, charges, including murder. Pieters also assured BacWhile he was a remand- chus that he needed “some ed prisoner facing multiple form of intense counselcharges, he, along with Ran- ling”. dolph Marks and another “It’s trauma, sir, and prisoner, escaped from law- we would need that if we ful custody at the George- went through the trauma town Magistrates’ Court on that you went through,” the May 19, 2014. While the lawyer told the prisoner, as other prisoner was shot dead, he agreed to undergo counhe and Randolph Marks were selling. caught, and sentenced by Bacchus did not parthen Chief Magistrate Priya ticipate in lighting fires in Beharry. the riotous eruptions at the Bacchus was also ac- Camp Street penitentiary cused of the January 24, during March 2 to 4, but 2014 murder of police con- broke out of his own prison stable Quincy Wright of dormitory, along with othMahaicony, at the home of ers, in a successful attempt his girlfriend Alicia Adams to rescue those who had at Guyhoc Park. He was cried for help. also charged with the attempted murder of security TOO LATE guard Mortimer Maynard, and the theft of a firearm He said that although it along with live rounds of was too late to save his best ammunition from another friend Jermain Otto, whom security guard on January he fondly called “Fungus”, 23. he was instrumental in so-
liciting the help of prison officers to open the door after running to the back door and recognising that men were still alive in the blazing building. After a prison officer turned the lock open with a key, he said, he and others kicked in the bottom of the door, thereby gaining entry into the room which was still in heat. He rescued injured pris-
Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into the Georgetown prison riots, retired Justice James Patterson (Photo by Adrian Narine) oner Owen Belfield, who was at the time kneeling helplessly, and Marcellus Verbeke, who, propped up by Bacchus, limped out of the building. He also helped in leading Michael Lewis and all of the other survivors out of the fire; and along with another prisoner, fetched Rayon Paddy to an ambulance. Paddy, who died on his way to the hospital, was breathing slowly at the time, but suffered burns that made it impossible for him to survive, Bacchus said. Bacchus then returned alone inside Capital ‘A’, searching for his friend Otto. He said he cried bitterly as he searched through the bodies and was unable to pinpoint which of the ‘more than 11’ he noticed burnt beyond recognition was that of Otto. It was then he noticed the bodies of Rudolph Marques (who was in the bathroom) and Ashraf Ali in a toilet dead. He also noticed Shaka McKenzie face down on Primo’s leg just in front the door, and about 11 piled in one corner. “I see a skull on a bed frame,” was his revelation before the Commission while under cross-examination by Pieters. He said
the head was severed from the body and burnt out, but he does not believe the prisoner was beheaded before the fire, but assumed that that his head was burnt off.
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Photo taken from Bacchus’s Facebook page, which he admitted updating March 18 last using another prisoner’s phone
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Editor-In-Chief
Nigel Williams Editor
Godfrey Wray
Editorial: 227-5216; 227-5204 guyanachronicle.com wnigel10@hotmail.com gnnleditorial@gmail.com
Editorial
The Easter message TODAY we celebrate Easter, although Christians believe that Jesus rose from the grave on the first day of the week – Sunday; which means that the real celebration of this occasion should have been yesterday. We in Guyana have come to accept that public holidays falling on Sunday are automatically celebrated on Monday. Easter, like so many other religious holidays, has become more of a Guyanese festival; and while those who are steeped in religion would embrace this occasion of Easter to remember the death, burial and Resurrection of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, many others who are not like-minded would just use the holiday to renew family and friendship bonds and to socialise. It is here that we get a glimpse of how cohesive our society is, as the Easter festivity provides the unique opportunity for all citizens -- regardless of religious persuasion -- to meet on the sea walls, in the fun parks, and in other open spaces to fly their kites and mix and mingle with the crowd. We should not lose sight of this cohesiveness, as we have seen in the just-concluded Phagwah celebrations that Guyanese are not afraid to embrace their culture and celebrate with their brothers and sisters of different faiths. At a time when the seeds of racism and division are being subtly planted in our society, the message of Easter becomes even more relevant to us. It was in a similar context that Jesus entered the scene at Jerusalem -- his final visit there before he was crucified. Never before had the world seen such a triumphal procession as that which accompanied Him into Jerusalem. “Amid the crowd”, one writer puts it, “were the captives whom He had rescued from Satan’s power, praising God for their deliverance. The blind whom He had restored to sight were leading the way. The dumb whose tongues He had loosed shouted the loudest hosannas. The crippled whom He had healed bounded with joy, and were the most active in breaking the palm branches and waving them before their Saviour. Widows and orphans were exalting the name of Jesus for His works of mercy to them. The lepers whom He had cleansed spread their untainted garments in His path, and hailed Him as the King of Glory. Those whom His voice had awakened from the sleep of death were
GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 28, 2016
Jonestown Massacre revisited Dear Editor, ON November 18, 1978, more than 900 members of the Peoples Temple, located not far from the Port Kaituma airstrip, died after drinking cyanide-laced Flavor-Aid. Their suicidal act was attributed to a directive from Reverend Jim Jones, the religious leader of the commune. Jones himself died from gunshot wounds. Despite the publications of seven books by Jonestown survivors about the incident, many questions remain, including the role of the Guyana Government. This tragedy has long been dismissed as an American tragedy. Prime Minister Burnham declared the Jonestown Massacre “an American problem”. A recent publication, A New Look at Jonestown, by elder statesman Eusi Kwayana, offers a fresh look at the mass suicide. Not surprisingly, Kwayana, a political activist, offers a Guyanese perspective on the tragedy. Interest is generated from reading the first chapter of the 258-page book, as Kwayana interviews three survivors of the Jones Temple, one of whom wrote the foreword to the book, Laura Johnston Kohn. The rest of the book incorporates excerpts from the writings of several Guyanese, including George Danns, Walter Rodney and Jan Carew, culminating in an analysis of the massacre by Kwayana. What makes Kwayana’s narrative worth reading is his deliberate examination of a “tragedy in Guyana” as a “Guyanese tragedy”, while still reminding us that the tragedy involved primarily victims from the US.
One scholarly excerpt comes from the work Guyanese sociologists George Danns and Lear Matthews, who consider Jones’s commune a “community-inspired self-reliance” effort coinciding with Burnham’s cooperative socialism. Jonestown could be considered part and parcel of Burnham’s development plans, made possible by an offer of “resources and encouragement for hinterland development”, and his policy of encouraging “foreigners to settle in the interior”. Kwayana dug deep to identify the role played by Guyanese in this tragedy. A defining theme of the book is that the tragedy had strong resemblance to other international and national events in world history. While Danns and Matthews identify the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project as an outgrowth of Burnhamism, readers are left to wonder if Jones’s commune was simply a cult or an experiment that offered broader historical lessons. The book makes the point that the commune was a reflection of a master/slave plantation society reflective of the type found in the American South. It considers the role of religion as central to indoctrination and social control of the labour population. Kwayana made reference to a speech by Walter Rodney, who reminded us that the Jim Jones affair remained a secretive one, with no official inquiry into the mass suicide by the Burnham regime. It was yet another dark stain on the image on the nation. In a reproduced 1978 Dayclean article, Kwayana forcefully argues that the Peoples Temple
in that throng.” And while all of this was going on, there were still many -- the Bible referred to them as Pharisees -- who witnessed the scene, and, burning with envy and malice, sought to disrupt the joyous feeling of the people. With all their authority, they tried to silence the people; but their appeals and threats only increased the enthusiasm. In our society today, they are many modern-day Pharisees whose only aim is to disrupt every attempt at social cohesion and unity; and, just like the crowd that followed Jesus, we must resist them. The Easter message, much like many others is the triumph of good over evil, portrays a Christ, though reviled and hated by mankind, who went to the cross to lay down His life for them. His body was entombed for three days, so has our
was actually a “state within a state” (a term that may have been used by top ranks in the Burnham regime), given the extent to which the Burnham regime was involved, and the level of secrecy associated with its creation. Kwayana reminded us of some simple facts that we may have taken for granted: Jim Jones “was in full control of truth and “he embodied the media…”. This was eerily the simplicity with which the Burnham regime governed Guyana, particularly during the late 1970s, ironically, a time when Kwayana’s opposition to Burnham was strongest. He reminds us of the contempt Burnham had for the Guyanese people - at the time when Guyanese faced import bans on many essential items, the settlers at Jonestown were exempted from the country’s customs and immigration regulations. Now domiciled in California, the area from which most of Jones’s innocent victims migrated, Kwayana found time to meet with survivors of the People’s Temple. His book offers some new insights into a national tragedy that claimed Guyana as an international pariah state. Not embedded in pretensions or utopian theoretical approach, ‘A New Look at Jonestown’ is well worth reading, not because it was written by a politically/socially conscious Guyanese activist, but because of what it has to offer in our greater understanding of what essentially was a Guyanese national tragedy. Sincerely, BAYTORAM RAMHARACK
society been weighed down for years by the scourge of division. Like Jesus rising from the grave on the third day, declaring: “I am the resurrection and the life”, Easter presents us with another opportunity as a country to soar above our differences. Spiritually also, the application here is that despite our shortcomings, Christ was ready to die for the sins of the world. We must, in our own way, make sacrifices for our fellow men. At a societal level, the Resurrection of Christ also offers us the hope that there is opportunity for freedom, improvement, and second chances. Easter will be of no value to us if we do not embrace the principles of Christ’s teachings to condemn the bad practices of earthly governments and man and work towards eliminating poverty, intolerance, inequity and injustice.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 28, 2016
Noise nuisance at Sparta Dear Editor, THE residents of Sparta want the public to know of an intolerable issue that has been plaguing them for a number of years, and which the authorities seem not to care about. A certain mother (named) and her son (also named) of Middle Dam, Sparta have (allegedly) been a constant source of noise nuisance to the entire community for over (15) fifteen years. First, they play their music extremely loud at any time of the day or night. Anytime really means ANY TIME. For example 9:15 hrs, 13:00hrs, 18:05 hrs, 21:00hrs, 23:10 hrs, 1:30 hrs, 2:45 hrs, 4:25hrs. It begins very loud and sudden, plays for fifteen minutes to half an hour, stops suddenly for a while, then resumes in the same manner. The music is played solely for disturbance of residents. It ranges from Hindu bhajans to other kinds of Indian music, and even includes vulgar and derogatory music. The sudden noise can be heard in the entire village, even in the neighbouring villages of Windsor Castle and Danielstown. Some people would get a difficult time obtaining a permit to play music for specific functions, but it seems as if this mother and son have obtained a permanent permit for 24 hrs a day for seven days a week for the rest of their lives. The sudden loud music would disturb residents from their sleep and give severe headaches to some. The perpetrators seem not to care for the lives of anyone. They do not care if their villagers are sick, have to get to work early the next day, have newborn babies, have to study for Grade 6 or CXC assessments, have lessons being conducted after school or on weekends, have a religious function or even a funeral. Can you imagine a FUNERAL being
conducted not far away and Soca music being played in its fullest capacity? That is completely preposterous. Also, if there is a wedding in the area, they would compete with the music played by those who have obtained a permit. Furthermore, when public announcements are being made or religious groups are visiting residents, the music is always playing until the announcements and visitors have gone. For instance, a Hindu family had chowtal at their residence a few nights ago. The people could not hear their own voices because of the loud music emanating from these two persons. They seem not to have lives of their own. They have made peep holes on both sides of their house to look at their neighbours, so when a mother is putting her baby to sleep, that is when they play loud music. They peep to see who visits, then torment the neighbours. If it’s a male, then it’s another man for the female neighbours. If they think it’s someone important, they would not have any disturbance until the person leaves. Sometimes they would also leave their premises with the music playing loud, and return hours later. Why do infants and innocent people have to punish at their pleasure while the law does absolutely nothing? For the above reasons, there are numerous complaints at the Anna Regina Police Station dating back to many years. Statements were given by many different residents. For the last reports and statements given, residents were promised by the police that the perpetrators would be arrested and the residents would be called to court the following Tuesday. That was since October of last year. Can you imagine a police officer taking two hours to write a statement? We guess they want us to give up the case. The other
thing they would do is ask you first: “Would you want to go to court?” as if to scare the residents off. When the music is being played, we have called the police but they have never reached to hear. The officers of the law have asked us to call when the perpetrators leave their homes, which we did on many occasions, but yet they were not apprehended. We know that noise nuisance is a serious crime, so we cannot understand why the police are not doing anything about the issue. We believe that the constant loud music has caused this woman’s husband to drive her out of his home in West Bank Demerara, where she disturbed the residents as well. So he visits once or twice a month. If the Regional Democratic Council is giving this family financial assistance in any way, it should investigate further, since the husband provides, and they are not disabled in any way. The perpetrators were spoken to by many residents in a peaceful manner to desist, but they still continue, saying the residents would provoke them first. It is important to note that when there is ‘blackout’ in the area or when they are not playing the loud music, they would find other amazing ways of creating noise. The residents closest to them would be the victims of loud ‘busing’ and ‘cursing’. Of course, indecent language to the extreme is always used. They call everyone passing ‘antiman’. On the contrary, this woman would sing bhajans karaoke-style through the loud speakers. In addition, they would call their dog through their house to the top of a shed (at the back of the house) and prompt it to bark all the time. Furthermore, they would slam their door three to five times in succession. Moreover,
they would hit zinc for about 15 minutes; but the classic ones would be when they would bang metal basins together within the hours of 2 to 4 in the morning, or pelt stones on the neighbours’ roofs. This mother seems to be very talented with the use of a ‘sling shot’. We hope you can just imagine the disturbance we have to endure every day and night, especially when we are startled out of our sleep. An amazing fact that you should know is that the mother and son would lock themselves in their yard. Their gate is always padlocked, and when the police went some years ago, they did not come out of their house. On three occasions, this mother went out and pretended to be mentally unstable, acting insane and talking gibberish. However, when the police left, they laughed heartily. If they prove to be insane, they should not be living in a normal society, moreso disturbing the lives of the entire village. Does Guyana not have a special place for the mentally unstable? We want you to know that the noise nuisance created by this mother and her son has really become intolerable and frustrating. The surprising thing is that they seem to find pleasure when they disturb others. Besides, for their irrational behaviours, no one, not even their relatives, communicate with them anymore, since they have created such animosity. This situation has truly reached its climax, and residents are beyond frustrated. Maybe it’s a joke for the police at the Anna Regina police station and the councillors at the Anna Regina Town Council, but innocent people are suffering. Regards, CONCERNED CITIZEN
Criticisms and City Hall Dear Editor, WITHIN recent times, we at City Hall have noticed letters appearing in certain sections of the media criticizing different aspects of our operation. Some are even downright condemnatory, and others attempt to present a very negative narrative of the council. We welcome them all, although we are very aware that many of these individual letter writers have their personal and other hidden agendas. We see it as part of the democratic process which we embrace as a city and nation, and even those negatives could not prevent such individuals from using media or any other communication infrastructure to achieve their objectives. Citizens would recall that, about eight months ago, the city was in filth, disorganized, and very ugly. Yet, some of our detractors, who are now writing letters daily in certain sections of the press, did not pen one line against that state of affairs. Now that the council is making an effort to reshape the city in a way that is considerably different from what it was
in the recent past, council’s every action is seen negatively by some of those very individuals who remained silent when the city was characterized by piles of rotten garbage, clogged alleyways, and canals in unsafe and unhealthy circumstances. We are not particularly worried by this strange action of new letter writers and naysayers, but only wish to make this point because it is an important one as we go forward to make Georgetown a better place. The history of the City Council demonstrates that it has never been afraid of criticism. In fact, we would be the first to admit to our administrative frailties and imperfections, which are not unique to the council; such weaknesses are within the curtilage of all commercial and public organizations, at different levels in many different ways. Nevertheless, we are taking careful note of all criticisms, and are using them to enhance our strengths and detect and improve on our administrative and other weaknesses.
We thank all those who have been writing, and encourage them to continue to have a keen interest in the affairs of the city. Moreover, we are committed to democratic values, including the accommodation of different points of view on the way we manage the city. I wish to say to all of our officers and workers, particularly those who are at our riverfronts, managing our sluices, kokers, pumps and allied drainage equipment; solid waste workers; our public health, food and hygiene and environmental inspectorates; our nurses and caregivers and our security officers and ranks: you are doing a great job. Obviously, there is room for improvement, but I am happy that you are making the effort. Let us remember that our ultimate responsibility is to deliver high-quality service to all citizens. We know that it is a choice to work at City Hall, but it is also an honour to serve our citizens in their local communities.
All employees of the municipality know that we are working on a new attitude towards our work. Consciousness, critical awareness and purpose each have a vital role to play in this new attitude. The duty of all of Council’s workers is to faithfully do their official assignments and remain firmly committed to the vision and mission of the Georgetown Municipality. Let us also remember that we are a team, partnering with all stakeholders and citizens to promote the sustainable development of this great city of ours. Finally, we wish to express thanks to all of our citizens for their support and cooperation with our effort to restore Georgetown to its glorious state, to make it compatible with other cities in the Caribbean and the rest of the world, and to allow Georgetown to shine as the glorious sun. Yours faithfully, ROYSTON KING Town Clerk, City of Georgetown
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 28, 2016
Multimillion-dollar hotel opens in Bartica By Svetlana Marshall
THE hotel industry in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), reached new heights over the weekend when 57-yearold Ramcharan Boodhoo returned home to open the multi-million-dollar Palm Spring Hotel on Third Avenue, rating it the best in the business. This spanking new 22-room hotel boasts a presidential suite, single and double-rooms, a pool, a fast food restaurant, a soundproof
club, and a bar and grille in addition to a kiddie’s corner. “It is a classic hotel, one of international standards,” Boodhoo told the Guyana Chronicle. A native Bartician, he has been living in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, for the past 15 years while managing a grocery store in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni). In June 2013, Boodhoo, with the support of his reputed wife Rehana Rahim, returned to Bartica to make his contribution to the development of his hometown.
“Back then we laid the foundation, and ever since it has been a work in progress,” he said. Now that the more than two-year project has materialised into a beautiful work of art, the businessman said, he is ready to meet the demands not only of Barticians, but Guyanese from all walks of life, and tourists who are in search of a luxury hotel that is “beyond their dreams but within their reach”. His reputed wife has said that though the investment is one of great significance, they did it for their country. “This is a really big investment for us; it is a long-term investment, but we did it for our country,” Rahim declared. She noted that the hotel will be a great boost to the local tourism sector. Rahim, who has been Boodhoo’s reputed wife for 21 years, played a critical role from conceptualisation to materialization of the hotel. “Every step of the way I was right next to him. We did the design ourselves, we bought the materials together, and now we will manage it together,” she declared. FULLY BOOKED Even before its grand opening on Sat-
urday, Palm Spring was fully booked for the Easter weekend. “It is just day two and we don’t have enough rooms to accommodate all of the persons that have been calling,” Kamal Persaud told this newspaper. Persaud, who is the elected Deputy Mayor in waiting, is a close relative of Boodhoo and Rahim. “I guess they would have heard about the high standards we have at Palm Spring, so it is just their way of trying to cash in on an unforgettable experience,” Persaud said, as she alluded to the growing customer base. “Palm Spring is a hotel of international standards. Everything in the hotel was imported from North America,” she said proudly. Currently, 20 persons are employed at the hotel, but eight more persons are likely to be employed soon. Amidst scores of people, and in the presence of Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, Region Seven Chairman Gordon Bradford and Mayor-elect Gifford Marshall, Palm Spring officially opened its doors to the public, in keeping with the catchline: “Beyond your dream, within your reach.”
Ramcharan Boodhoo and his reputed wife, Rehana Rahim, assisting a girl in the symbolic ribbon-cutting exercise at the Palm Spring Hotel last Saturday in the presence of Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman
Club Elite, overlooking the pool at Palm Spring Hotel on Third Avenue, Bartica
Ready to serve! Three of the 20 Palm Spring employees
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Guyana CHRONICLE monday March 28, 2016
‘Walkabout’ to tackle suicide THE Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), in its response to the recent upsurge in suicide, plans another ‘walkabout’ on April 1, this time in Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara. Residents of surrounding villages are also welcome to participate in the initiative, and the GRPA said it is looking forward to having more men support the event. It has been observed that most of the persons supporting these initiatives are women and children. GRPA Executive Director, Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, feels that more needs to be done for youths struggling
with suicidal feelings than the usual workshops and street walks. Those efforts do not actually translate into helping troubled youths, she observed, and so concrete measures ought to be put in place to deal with the upsurge in suicide that the country has been experiencing recently. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, she said a house-to-house approach is planned for April 1, so that the GRPA can have ‘bottom house’ conversations with those who may be affected by the social issue. A similar initiative has already been conducted in Georgetown, and the GRPA plans to host several oth-
–goes to Meten-Meer-Zorg
GRPA Executive Director, Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth
ers throughout the country, Sheerattan-Bisnauth revealed. GRPA is currently streamlining several initiatives to do its part in fighting suicide. It also plans to conduct sessions with parents, setting up a hotline number, and partnering with the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) to put up more billboards on the issue. In a previous interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Sheerattan-Bisnauth said that certain cultural issues have been playing a major role in the suicide epidemic. There-
fore, the GRPA plans to give priority to certain specific communities in the country. She said that although numerous cases have been reported in the press, there are still many more suicide cases that she is personally aware of that did not make the news. “Everyone is going on a walk; no sense in (holding) the seminars. Sometimes we have to go to these people. They won’t come out or tell us their problems on the phone.” President David Granger had convened an emergency meeting with several govern-
ment ministers on the issue of suicide, and from that initiative emerged a plan of action that will see non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious organisations, and other civil society bodies working in collaboration with Government on a centralised approach to suicide prevention. President Granger has indicated that he intends to employ a proactive approach in addressing this issue, and will be looking to implement a national programme that has measurable outcomes.
Region 3 rice farmers need help ––says regional chairman
RICE farmers in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara), especially those on the islands of Leguan and Wakenaam, are in a dilemma to repay bank loans following extensive losses. The El Nino phenomenon has, for months now, taken a toll on the farmers, most of whom depend solely on rice for their livelihood. “We are only hoping that the Ministry of Agriculture, ultimately the Government, would assist farmers so they can get back on their feet for the next crop,” Regional Chairman Julius Faerber told the Chronicle on Sunday. “There has been extensive
Region Three Chairman, Julius Faerber
loss in the region, particularly in Leguan and Wakenaam. It is very disheartening to know of the situation in those two islands. This situation has been ongoing for a couple of months now,” Faerber said. The Chairman also said that Government has since been written to on the situation, and a request has been made for a high-level team to visit the affected areas. “The Government can assist the farmers with soft loans and other financial compensation. In excess of 300 acres of rice were planted in Wakenaam, while about 150 acres were planted in Leguan. Almost all of that has been damaged,” Faerber disclosed. President David Granger had earlier this month met with
key ministers and stakeholders to facilitate increased ministerial collaboration for the scaling-up of plans to prepare for future cycles of dry weather. At that meeting, President Granger had instructed that a ministerial task force be set up, under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture, to be responsible for the creation of an action plan that focuses on immediate relief for affected communities. The task force will also focus on medium and long-term plans, including the drilling of additional wells and increased water harvesting when the rainy season returns. Within the ministries, all of the key agencies with responsibility for various aspects of tackling the El Niño impact will participate in the work of
the task force. This includes the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), and the Regional Democratic Councils (RDC). The Ministry of Public Health would provide a representative on the task force to focus on potential risks of the outbreak of water-borne illnesses and monitor other health-related issues. During the meeting, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock; Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman; Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder; Minister of
Communities, Ronald Bulkan; and the Director of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Colonel (retd) Chabilall Ramsarup, provided the President with updates on the situation and the work that their respective ministries and agency has been doing to tackle the now 10-month-old dry spell. It was noted that Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) is the worst affected area. However, Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), Region Three (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara), Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice), and Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) are also affected in varying degrees, particularly in rice farming and agricultural areas.
Mark Lyte re-elected GTU President By Ravin Singh MARK Lyte was on Sunday re-elected to serve as President of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), having beaten his opponent Milne Seymour by a landslide. Lyte, who replaced former President Colin Bynoe as the head of the union in 2014, secured 2418 votes at this year’s election, while Seymour gained 728. A total of 3174 votes were cast. Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle last evening, the returning President said he was pleased with the electoral process, which he believes was “free and fair”. “The electoral process
was free and fair and above board…. Everything was clear, and to my knowledge people did not have difficulty in understanding the ballot,” he said. Lyte also explained that the ballots were distributed in a timely manner, and this is the kind of culture the union intends to preserve in its electoral process. Commenting on the voter turnout, which was estimated at 49 per cent, the GTU President said that although this figure is below half the total amount, it represents an increase of more than 600 votes compared to the last elections. Seven of the other eight persons who were elected to
serve as executive members had been re-elected. Among these are Sumantha Alleyne (Treasurer); Jacquelyn Douglas (Deputy General Secretary); Coretta McDonald (General Secretary); Julian Cambridge (Second Vice President); Lesmeine Collins (First Vice President); Mark Lyte (President); Desiree Vanlewin, Regional Vice President, Essequibo; and Donnette D’Andrade, Regional Vice President, Berbice. Newcomer Collis Nicholson was elected as Regional Vice President for Demerara. According to Lyte, the re-election of most of these persons shows the confidence the membership has
Re-elected GTU President Mark Lyte in them. “This election shows that
members of the union have reinvested their confidence in us, and we will take this as a message to continue to fight for the rights of teachers across Guyana. We want everyone to know that we are not here to represent those who voted for us alone. We are here to serve all teachers, and we will continue to fight long and hard for all forms of benefits for them,” the president said. Lyte, a well-known Berbician, began his teaching career in 1990, but migrated to St Vincent and the Grenadines to study Theology in 1991. Having graduated, he returned to Guyana in 1993 and started to work part-time at the Winifred Gaskin Memorial Secondary School for
three years. He became a full-time teacher at the Corentyne Comprehensive High School in 1995, where he taught for 11 years; after which he was promoted to Head of Department at the JC Chandisingh Secondary in Berbice. He is also holder of a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Education. The father of two was promoted to the post of Deputy Head Teacher of Tutorial Secondary in 2012, and worked at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC) as a lecturer. Notably, he has also been the pastor of the Rose Hall Christian Church since 1993.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 28, 2016
Alesie Group strikes deal
––Region 10 farmers to supply company with cassava By Vanessa Braithwaite AFTER expressing interest in having Region 10 cassava farmers supply the giant rice company exclusively with their produce, executives of Alesie Group Inc concretised the deal last Thursday at a consultation meeting. The meeting was held after samples of the cassava produced in the region were sent to the company to determine its suitability for the export market. Alesie Group Executive Turhane Doerga revealed that the cassava will be used to manufacture cassava flour, which is widely used in foreign countries in packaged meals. Persaud said that the view of cassava as a ‘poor man thing’ has changed drastically, as the product is in high demand internationally. He said countries are using the ground provision as a specialty product which has boosted their economy. Considering these facts, Doerga said, the company decided to act decisively, given the level of competition on the international market. “We’re now in an era where we are doing things, we are not waiting. The exercises have been done. We’ve done a lot of Alesie Group Executive, research…. So what Turhane Doerga we have to do now, we know. The thing is now to get it done,” he affirmed. The Alesie executive also made it clear that the venture would allow the local farmers to have a steady market for their produce, providing them with a reliable income. NETWORK The company will be collaborating with the Office of the Regional Chairman and the Regional Agricultural Committee to have a network among the local farmers so that they can maximise the benefits from this initiative. Doerga encouraged the farmers to set up a stabilisation or intervention fund, as the production is expected to be done in phases; firstly, to meet the supply level, then the accelerated phase to produce in surplus quantities. He explained that the goal is not to compete with wheaten flour, which is most widely used, but to supply the markets that utilise cassava flour. “We’re focused on cassava flour, but cassava flour has to compete with wheat flour; so, in the business community, we would not even touch that, because we’d say ‘why would we go and develop flour when it’s already there?’…. What we’re doing is looking for markets first, and then you want to see where you can produce it,” he said. NAREI SUPPORT Regional Chairman Renis Morian has collaborated with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), which will be supplying the farmers with cassava sticks to commence large-scale production, since most of the farmers are producing at the subsistence level. Morian said that farmers need to see a guaranteed, written agreement on the way forward, as many of them have expressed interest in being part of the project. Alesie’s Doerga said the consultation meeting was held to ascertain where the farmers are now, and where their production level will be in the next six months. Present at the meeting was cassava expert Theodore Henry and Regional Agriculture Committee Chairman Douglas Gittens.
Guyana CHRONICLE monday March 28, 2016
9th edition of Guyana Where and What available
THE ninth edition of Guyana Where and What, the pocket-sized guidebook on Guyana, is now available for visitors as well as Guyanese here. Like previous editions, Guyana Where and What, published by Gem Madhoo-Nascimento of GEMS Inc, contains comprehensive information on birding, fishing, historic Dutch sites, places of interest, sightseeing spots and eco-wonders. It contains special features on historical buildings, monuments and structures in New Amsterdam, Linden and the Essequibo Coast and carries a personal experience of a visit to Orealla by one of its contributing writers. In its 140 pages, readers can locate hotels, restaurants, tour operators, tourist resorts, banks, hospitals, opticians, jewellery stores, boutiques, computer and electrical stores. In celebration of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee, the cover features the Independence Arch and the logo is specially designed for the event. The early pages contain a special feature on the history of Guyana’s Independence. The information section of this edition has been
translated into Portuguese for the benefit of the growing population of Brazilians in
Gem Madhoo-Nascimento Guyana and to support Brazilian tourists, businessmen and traders. The guidebook also has a pullout map of Guyana, 10ins x 12ins, and an extended map of Georgetown, showing up to Cummings Lodge to the east and Industrial Estate, South Ruimveldt Park and South Ruimveldt Gardens to the south. The design and layout were done by Grafix House. Nascimento said last
GWI engineer on upgrading course in India THE GUYANA Water Incorporated (GWI) will be strengthening its capabilities in regard to flow measurement and control techniques by sending to India an engineer for training in the relevant sector. GWI Process Control and Instrumentation Engineer Duane Tobin departed Guyana for India last Tuesday. He will be attending a training programme on ‘Flow Measurement and Control Techniques/Software in Industrial Process and Water Distribution System’, being sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India, under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC)/ Special Commonwealth Africa Assistance Plan (SCAAP) and TCS of Colombo Plan. This course costs in excess of US$4,000 and will be held at the Fluid Control Research Institute in India from March 25 to May 25, 2016. Tobin is quoted as saying: “The objective of the training programme is to equip technical personnel in mechanical, instrumentation, civil and hydraulic sectors with knowledge of industrial instrumentation and control of fluid flow. This would assist GWI in managing bulk meters and domestic meters.” Bulk meters record the flow of water from GWI water production facilities, including well stations and water treatment plants. This aids the company in measuring the amount of non-revenue water; that is, water which cannot be accounted for. The training programme will also build the company’s capacity for leak detection through the use of flow meter devices. A GWI release added that the programme will also introduce the GWI engineer to new technology and software that can be used to improve processes involved in flow measurement and control techniques. “New technology is pivotal to reducing leaks and controlling non-revenue water,” Tobin said, and “armed with this knowledge, GWI can significantly improve techniques used for leak detection and measuring non-revenue water”
week that since the guidebook has been supported mainly through advertising revenue from businesses, it is free of cost. She said that 20,000 copies are in circulation at hotels, restaurants, airports, tour operators, resorts, travel agencies and embassies. Copies can be obtained also from the Tourism and
Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) in Waterloo Street and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) at the Sophia Complex. The first edition of Guyana Where and What was published in 2007 by GEMS Inc for World Cup Cricket and has been published annually and has been in popular demand since then.
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Cover of the ninth edition of Guyana Where and What
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The businessmen pose with Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, and former City Mayor Hamilton Green (second and third right respectively) as they share a moment with children who were feted
SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 28, 2016
Mayor Green receiving from one of the donors the plaque he was awarded (Photos by Delano Williams)
City businessmen fete children for Easter
--also honour former mayor THE joy was evident in their young faces as city businessmen came together on Sunday to treat a number of children to a day of fun for the Easter holidays. The outing, held at The Garage on Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was made courtesy of the owners of The Garage, Cevon’s Waste Management, and the Dynasty Sports Bar. This is the third year running that children have been treated to a day of fun at the eatery. The event saw approximately 1500 children receiving kites, shoes and a meal while being entertained with music. The Garage’s owner, Mr Estwick Northe, told the Guyana Chronicle, “As a businessman, once you’re making money, you have to give back to society in some way. And I believe by doing this we can share happiness to the youths of today.” Since establishment of The Garage, Northe said, he’s always, about this time of year, feted over 500 children. That number, he said, has since grown over the years, and he now anticipates having to cater for more than 2000 children come next year. Joining in the spreading of joy was Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, who lauded the businessmen for what they’re doing, and called on the rest of society to join in the spreading of joy, not only at this time of the year, but also whenever the need arises. He said the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) has already done its bit for the Easter holidays -- distributing kites to children all across the country. The group of businessmen also used the occasion to honour former City Mayor Hamilton Green for his long and dedicated service to the municipality of Georgetown.
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Guyana CHRONICLE monday March 28, 2016
Heritage preservation key focus By Alva Solomon
AS the community of St Cuthbert’s Mission on the Mahaica River celebrates its 127th year of existence this month, the village’s leader is banking on accountability and cultural advancement for its continued development. St Cuthbert’s Mission is located east of the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, a onehour drive along a relatively straight sandy trail. Toshao Lennox Shuman, a descendant of Arawak leaders, has been at the helm of the Village Council since July last year. An airline pilot, Shuman told this newspaper during a visit this past weekend that the community has been deemed the “Heritage Village” for this year’s indigenous celebrations in September.
proaches, there is significant interest in participation from residents. “I think part of it is because we have the vision, the drive and we know how to motivate the people,” Shuman said. ARAWAK LANGUAGE The community is one of a few where the Arawak language is taught and villager Leyland Clenkian is one of residents responsible for maintaining this aspect of community life. Shuman said the plan is to have the language taught from the nursery level up to the secondary level of school in St Cuthbert’s. Clenkian teaches the language at his home each Saturday morning and Shuman noted that interest in the lan-
–– as St Cuthbert’s Mission celebrates 127th anniversary essary for us to hold onto our culture because of the people who we are,” Shuman said. The toshao lives at the edge of the community in his own “indigenous home” made of thatched roof, the bark of trees for walls and rough lumber in some aspects. He said returning to the community where he spent the first 16 years of his life is centred on changing the accountability aspect of community life.
is welcome to examine them. “You had a run around before you can look at anything,” he said. Now the books are open, and even the village councillors are abreast with what’s happening on the council, even though communications is almost absent since no mobile services are available in some parts of the village. AMERINDIAN ACT
Shuman also sits on the National Toshao’s Council as the second-in-charge and one of the areas he wishes to see examined is the amendment of the Amerindian Act. He said that the United Nation’s Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which was implemented after the Amerindian Act “needs to find its way in the Act”. He said the Act does not
meet the minimum requirement of the UN’s declaration, noting that since Guyana is a signatory to the UN, this should be corrected. “I think once we start moving in that direction then you will see that the governance structure will start to take a better course and the preservation of indigenous people will start to take a better course,” he explained.
LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY “The inspiration behind coming back is because I didn’t like the governance structure that exist in in-
The dry weather has left many waterways in a state of dryness, including a small creek which once passed across the road to St Cuthbert’s Mission St Cuthbert’s Mission residents play a game of cricket on Saturday afternoon The village is working to develop its cultural heritage and Shuman noted that interest is growing from villagers as September beckons. He said that last year on the last Saturday of September when the village hosted its annual heritage activities, the Village Council faced difficulties in finding persons to participate in the cultural aspect of the activities such as dances. That number was a paltry 10 persons but he noted that last weekend, when the village held its celebration to mark 127 years of official recognition, some 38 persons came to the fore. He said this number is pleasing and he noted that as September ap-
guage is significant. “That’s a marked change from when we were growing up -- you know our parents would get a spanking just for speaking the language,” he said. As he spoke of the cultural aspect of village life, he referred to the Amerindian dances as being in the “performing arts”, noting that the term applies to the youth of today. He said finding persons to partake in such activities as in the years gone by can be a difficult task. “Somethings we cannot revive but that does not mean we cannot work with what we have and bring it to life,” he noted. “I would say that it is nec-
digenous communities,” he said, noting that there is a lack in accountability. “You find community treasuries empty,” he said, and this area of governance contributes to the under-development of indigenous communities. “I came here to hopefully change the system, so that people who come after me will sit in a better position,” he said. He said that having that as a model is important since having a system of accountability starts with leadership. “If you don’t have objective leadership you can never have accountability,” he posited. He added that if anyone asks for the records, he/she
The Mahaica River aback St Cuthbert’s Mission
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 28, 2016
Phagwah parade dazzles Richmond Hill
One of the several floats on the parade
Persons on the streets leading a float parade By Tangerine Clarke A Richmond Hill resident named Layla said she has been coming out to enjoy the Annual Phagwah Parade for the last 10 years because of what it symbolizes: love, peace and happiness. Layla was among hundreds of Caribbean nationals who lined Liberty Avenue last Saturday, March 26, to witness the colourful spectacle, wherein nationals doused each other with abeer in vivid colours of red, green, blue and yellow dye to celebrate the festival’s 25th annual float parade and cultural presentation. Despite being cancelled last year due to disagreement among organisers, the Annual Phagwah Parade returned in its colourful splendour, and lit up the streets with decorated floats, tassa drumming, live music, and revellers who danced and sang on the more that 25 floats decorated with colourful images of spring. Holi, or Phagwah festival, organised by the greater New York-based Guyanese Hindus, marked the beginning of spring, and signifies good over evil.
A section of the gathering that came out to witness the procession
GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 28, 2016
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 28, 2016
GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 28, 2016
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday March 28, 2016
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 28, 2016
Jamaicans break CARIFTA records in 400 hurdles
JAMAICA’S girls set new records yesterday in the 400m hurdles at the 2016 Carifta Championships in Grenada. Jamaica won three of the four hurdles events with the other going to Barbados. Shian Salmon clocked 59.50s to break the record of 59.55 set last year by Jamaica’s Junelle Bromfield. It was her second win at these championships, having won the high jump on opening day in a new personal best of 1.82m. It was another Jamaican 1-2 as Sanique Walker trotted across the line just behind Salmon in 59.60s.
Gabrielle Gibson of the Bahamas was a distant third in 61.16s. The record in the Under-20 Girls equivalent went to Jamaica’s Shannon Kalawan, who established an early lead before running away from the four-girl field to win in 52.22, erasing the 13-yearold record previously held by Camille Robinson. Lakeisha Warner of the British Virgin Islands was second in 58.14 seconds with Kalawan’s teammate Nicole Foster third in 58.34s. Barbados’s boys went 1-2 in the Boys Under 18 400m hurdles when Rasheeme Griffiths ran away from the field to
win in 52.22s, ahead of teammate Nathan Fergusson, 53.56. Jamaica’s Dashinelle Dyer was third in 54.05s. In the Under 20 Boys event Jamaica finished 1-3 when Timor Barrett took gold in 51. 77 in a race to the line with Rivaldo Leacock of Barbados, who was unable to stay with the Jamaican at the death. Jamaica’s Jevaughny James who seemed to stumble over the final hurdle, after being in contention down the stretch, faded over the final 20 metres to finish third.(Spotsmax. com)
GCA, Health stakeholders ... From backpage di Youth Organisation (GYO) will travel to Everest for their game. After three rounds of action, the top team from Zone ‘A’ will play the second best team from the ‘B’ zone and vice versa, before the finalists are decided. Bonus
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points will be awarded for batting and bowling marks as set out by the GCA with the tournament under the normal T20 rules. D u r i n g y e s t e r d a y ’s launch, Chief Medical officer (CMO) Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, speaking in place of the Minister of Public Health
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Dr. George Norton, said that the players must become active and healthy, adding that in the tournament, “We want you to get to those boundaries and meet to those [personal] goals.” Meanwhile, PAHO/ WHO representative Dr. William Adu-Krow said: “It provides an opportunity to focus attention on the prevention and control of diabetes as a means of reducing the number of persons affected by non-communicable diseases.” GCA President Roger Harper wished all the participating teams well in the tournament and urged them to remember the essentials of the sport, including discipline, fairplay and teamwork. President of the Guyana Diabetic Association (GDA), Glynis Beaton-Alonzo, reminded that just like cricket, awareness and treatment of diabetes remain a team effort, as just as players depend on coaches, patients depend on doctors. Brand representative for Smalta Angelica Rodney expressed her company’s excitement with the venture, which is aimed at raising awareness of the disease. Wo r l d H e a l t h D a y will take place on April 7 th and will be celebrated under the theme: “ Step up, beat diabetes.” Uniforms for the various teams were also handed out at the conclusion of the Launch.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 28, 2016
England Women beat Pakistan to reach semi-finals ENGLAND moved into the Women’s World Twenty20 semi-finals with an easy 68-run victory over Pakistan in Chennai. After an opening stand of 68 with Tammy Beaumont (37), captain Charlotte Edwards batted through the innings for 77 from 61 balls in England’s 148-5. West Indies’ earlier win over India had meant group leaders England would have risked elimination on net run-rate had Pakistan won in 18.1 overs or less. But Pakistan were bowled out for just 80, with 13 balls to spare. Nida Dar resisted for 16 from 22 balls in mid-innings but an upset never looked likely. Skipper Sana Mir revealed afterwards she was stepping down as T20 captain. England will face Group A runners-up Australia in Wednesday’s first semi-final in Delhi, while West Indies take on unbeaten New Zealand in Mumbai the following day. England’s bowling heroine was off-spinner Laura Marsh, who had only arrived in India on Wednesday as an injury replacement for Danielle Hazell, and was preferred to slow left-armer Rebecca Grundy as one of two team changes. After Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole struck with the new ball, Marsh put the brakes on and collected T20 career-best figures of 3-12 from four overs on her first full international appearance since August. The other change was enforced as illness ruled out vice-captain Heather Knight, handing an opportunity to all-rounder Georgia Elwiss, who also picked up two wickets. (BBC Sport)
Ghana held to a draw, Kenya fans riot after home defeat
Off-spinner Laura Marsh (far right) had not appeared for England since the Women’s Ashes
Rooney faces battle to regain England place
By Mark Gleeson
By Steve Tongu
JOHANNESBURG,(Reuters)- Ghana lost their 100 percent record in African Nations Cup qualifying with a goalless draw in Mozambique yesterday while fans rioted in Kenya during a shock loss to lowly-ranked Guinea Bissau. Ghana’s match in Maputo at the start of the fourth round of preliminaries kept them on course for the 2017 finals in Gabon but proved a tepid affair in comparison to other qualifiers. Guinea Bissau, 147th in the world rankings, took a first competitive away international win as they stunned Kenya 1-0 in Nairobi to emerge surprise leaders in Group Cicero E. Portuguese-born striker Cicero scored the winner nine minutes from time, prompting rioting from the home fans with the match stopped for more than 30 minutes. The assistant referee flagged for a goal, adjudging that Cicero’s header from a corner had crossed the line despite Kenya goalkeeper Arnold Origi apparently saving the effort. The awarding of the goal prompted a furious reaction from the Kenyan players and the crowd who threw objects, forcing police to fire teargas to quell the rioting. Guinea Bissau are now on seven points in their group, one ahead of Congo and 2012 champions Zambia in Group E. Congo and Zambia drew 1-1 in Brazzaville. Jordan Massengo, who plays in the lower leagues in France, opened the score after 48 minutes but Zambia’s Winston Kalengo equalised 20 minutes before the end. Captain Stephane Sessegnon scored twice for Benin as they beat South Sudan 4-1 to keep up an unbeaten run and take top place in Group C. Joel Mogorosi scored the winner in Francistown as Botswana beat the Comoros Islands 2-1 to join the leaders in Group D. Chad announced their withdrawal from the qualifiers, pulling out of a scheduled match in Tanzania today because of a cash shortage. They had lost all three of their qualifiers before yesterday’s decision.
LONDON, (Reuters)-Outstanding performances by
three attacking players in England’s 3-2 comeback win over Germany on Saturday has sparked renewed debate about where injured captain Wayne Rooney fits in for the Euro 2016 finals. After Roy Hodgson’s team fell 2-0 behind to the world champions in Berlin, the Premier League’s two leading scorers this season, Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane and Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy, brought England level with superb goals. Many observers, including Germany’s former World Cup-winning captain Lothar Matthaeus, made teenager Dele Alli the man of the match in what Hodgson called his best night as England manager. Alli, 19, played in the ‘No.10’ role just behind the main striker, which is arguably Rooney’s most effective position. When playing as a lone striker, the Manchester United captain has often looked isolated and become frustrated by a lack of involvement, tending to drop too deep to seek the ball. Before injuring a knee against Sunderland on Feb. 13 Rooney was on a good run, but still has only seven league goals this season -- like Alli -- compared to Kane’s 21 and Vardy’s 19. “I am a big fan of Wayne Rooney, but today we didn’t miss him in the game,” Matthaeus said during live television coverage. SURPRISE PACKAGE Geoff Hurst, whose hat-trick won England the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany, believes Vardy could be a surprise package in the European Championship finals in France. “He’s come from nowhere, a very good level-headed guy who’s very sensible, very intelligent,” Hurst told the BBC on Sunday. “Either Harry Kane or Vardy definitely deserve their place with the season they’ve had. “And Alli has made an impact not just at club level but in internationals.” Under-achievers at recent international tournaments, England have often been criticised for taking players who were not 100 per cent fit -- including Rooney at the 2006 World Cup. Trevor Brooking, the FA’s director of football development from 2004-14, told the BBC the most important thing
for Rooney was to be fully fit this time. “The starting point is get himself fit because he’s not an automatic choice to come back Wayne Rooney in, with the side as they have done without him,” he said. “He’s not quite cracked tournaments for England. WARM-UP GAMES “You’ve got three warm-up games in May and June and Wayne’s got to prove he’s worth his place,” added Brooking. “It’s very tempting to have Kane and Alli as automatic choices if they stay fit and continue playing like they are. Then you’ve got the option to bring Jamie Vardy on.” With 51 international goals, Rooney is England’s record scorer and his 109 appearances make him the country’s fourth most capped player. Solutions to the selection dilemma could include playing him on the left of the midfield three, where he has sometimes operated for United, or dropping Alli deeper, which might limit the Tottenham man’s effectiveness. Suddenly, however, the prospect of Rooney catching Steven Gerrard (114 caps) and David Beckham (115), let alone goalkeeper Peter Shilton (125) looks less than a formality.
Cameroon and Morocco closer to Nations Cup qualification By Mark Gleeson JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters)-Cameroon twice came from behind on Saturday to take a giant step towards African Nations Cup qualification and Morocco are also on course for the finals after making a winning start under new coach Herve Renard. Youssef El Arabi converted a 26th-minute penalty as Morocco won 1-0 at Cape Verde Islands, the leading African team in the world rankings, to go three points clear in Group F as they kept up a 100 percent record. Renard, who has won two of the last three Nations Cup titles, was appointed Badou Ezaki’s successor last month. Leaders Cameroon maintained a five-point advantage over third-placed South Africa in Group M after the two former champions slugged it out for a 2-2 draw in Limbe.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 28, 2016
GTTA gearing for nationwide schools coaching programme PRESIDENT of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Godfrey Munroe is looking forward to the implementation of a nationwide schools coaching programme to be staged in the new school term. Speaking to Chronicle Sport, Munroe said: “In terms of time frame, we might start the training in the new term and some kind of implementation with the coaches working the second month in the new term and going full blown after September.” According to the GTTA President, the areas chosen for the pilot programme are Regions 10 (Linden), 4 (Georgetown) 5 & 6 (New Amsterdam and Corentyne) and Region 7 (Bartica). The top GTTA official said: “We feel this is a transformational project that will truly transform the game, because it has to be developed along the lines of a mass participation, ” noting well that “the examination period for the Caribbean Secondary Schools Examinations (CSCE) period will inhibit us.” However, Munroe says the body has worked out its kinks and feels that the approach is positive adding that the programme, “Basically seeks to pilot table tennis in about 90 schools with hired coaches visiting schools, interacting with the students in the curriculum basis.” The programme is being sponsored by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), Ministry of Education (MOE) and the GTTA. According to Munroe, “The central theme is orienting the students to the game of table tennis, teaching them the fundamental aspects, with the aim of creating school teams and leagues, culminating into the National Championships.” The table tennis boss feels that move would allow the GTTA to have athletes at an age group and skill level that
would be more competitive internationally, noting that the target group would be between ages 6 to 15 years with a team of at least four players at the under-11, under-15 and under-18 levels. “Already the tables have been procured coming from India, racquets, balls, physical preparation equipment which will reside with the coaches, robots, ladders, cones, parachuting and aerobic balls things of that nature,” informed the GTTA president. He continued by summarising the plans, saying Godfrey Munroe ultimately, the GTTA will basically have coaches who live in and around these schools running the programmes so as to make it easier. This, he admitted, may not be the ideal in all situations, but proposed a cluster-based approach with a central venue as a way to combat the issue of non-resident coaches. He also observed that “if you can’t get a coach to work within the school because he might be gainfully employed we might got to use the afterschool and weekend,’ adding “Once the hours are supplemented in terms of teaching them, we are happy with that and the stipend could be extended to them.” But he added: “We don’t want to make the imposition; we will just monitor and give advice. You’ve got to use what is particular to you.
Cricketers urged to show Nanan’s spirit
THE pastoral quote, “Death ends a life, not a relationship,” by Mitch Albom encapsulated the atmosphere at Inshan Ali Park, Preysal, Saturday, as local cricket and community icon Rangy Nanan was laid to rest at the village cemetery. The former Trinidad and Tobago off-spinner passed away at age 62 at the Couva Medical Centre on Wednesday morning after ailing for almost two years. Nanan, who played 94 First Class matches for TT and one Test Match against Pakistan (1980-1), was paid tribute to by numerous speakers who shared fond memories of him. Remembering Nanan’s lifelong legacy were Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) chief executive officer Suruj Ragoonath; TTCB president Azim Bassarath; ex-national cricketer Zaheer Ali; senior police officer Christopher Lewis; Justice Prakash Moosai; Nanan’s primary school principal Zahir Baksh; childhood friend Theo Cuffie; and Nanan’s son, Kevin, who delivered the eulogy. In Baksh’s opening address, he urged the current TT Red Force team to mirror the dedication and commitment that Nanan showed throughout his lengthy career as a cricketer and administrator. “They have to kill me to out (dismiss) me,” said a tearyeyed Baksh. “This is what Rangy lived by as a player and I believe that the national team has lost this style of competitive spirit.” Rangy developed his passion for the sport very early and has earned the respect of cricket fraternity throughout this country and the wider region.” Nanan’s close friend Cuffie, who has been residing in the Cayman Islands for the past two decades, broke down in tears while reminiscing on their brotherly relationship which began while growing up in the Preysal community. He recalled his final words with Nanan the very night before he passed on.
“We talked all the time and Rangy always used to call to update me on who died and who got married in the community,” Cuffie joked. “I spoke to him on Tuesday night and promised to call him on Wednesday but it was not to be, he had already passed away. This village of Preysal grew me as a child, just as they did with Rangy.” In Bassarath’s address, he extended condolences from the West Indies Cricket Board, and hailed the many works of Nanan both on and off Rangy Nanan the field. He also reminded the gathering present of Nanan’s 2015 induction into the TTCB Cricket Hall of Fame - a move which was well deserving of the ex-national player. Ali also lauded Narine who was a Preysal Cricket Club lifetime member. As part of a personal tribute to Nanan, he intends to approach the TTCB to host a special spin-bowling camp in memory of the deceased. Additionally, chairman of the Preysal Club for the past 17 years Tony Harford, expressed his heartfelt thanks to Nanan for his undying commitment to the Central-based team. With the start of the NGC Twenty20 Festival scheduled to get underway this week, all Preysal players will be fitted with black arm-bands in a move of respect and mourning of the ex-cricketer. Meanwhile, Kevin honoured his father by revealing to all the strength and loyalty he showed to his life partner and wife, Martha. She was paid a special tribute to as well, having been the backbone and lifetime supporter of Nanan (T&T Newsday article).
NBS second-division cricket….
Hicks, Mahadeo put Rose Hall Town Bakewell into semi-finals Tucber Park also through
ROSE Hall Town Bakewell held their nerves in a high-scoring quarter-final encounter to squeeze out Young Warriors by nine runs, and in the process advanced to the semi-finals of the New Building Society second-division 40-over cricket competition in BerDelbert Hicks bice. Played at the Area ‘H’ Ground, Rose Hall Town Bakewell batting first and were given a perfect start with openers Michael Hicks and Michael Felix adding 63 in 9.3 overs before Hicks fell for 44. Felix was joined by Delbert Hicks and the duo added 85 for the second wicket, before Felix was bowled for 45 at 148 for 2. Hicks continued in his hard-hitting style and together with Khemraj Mahadeo (30), put on 80 for the third wicket. Hicks eventually reached his century, but when the overs ended, Rose Khemraj Mahadeo Hall Town Bakewell had amassed 294-8, with Hicks contributing 120, including 11 fours and seven sixes. Bowling for Young Warriors, Zaheer Moakan took 4-40 and off-spinner Aaron Beharry had 2-38. When Young Warriors began their run chase they lost Mortimer Fraser without scoring. However, the other opener Waheid Edwards and Kassim Khan proceeded to put on 84 in just 12 overs, before Khan was removed by off-spinner Khemraj Mahadeo for 37. Edwards was then joined by Moakan and they continued to attack, putting on 36 in five overs, after which Moakan went for 27. Rudolph Baker and Edwards kept Warriors on track. The pair added 84 for the fourth wicket before Baker fell to Mahadeo for 44. Edwards continued to battle with some support from Amir Khan (23), but with 23 runs needed in the final over, Edwards eventually fell for 103 as Warriors ended on 285- 9. Khemraj Mahadeo ended with 5-25. Also through to the semi-finals is Tucber Park.
Surrey signs Rampaul in two-year deal
Surrey have further bolstered their bowling attack ahead of the new county season with the signing of former West Indies international Ravi Rampaul on a two-year deal. The 31-year-old, who played 18 Tests, 92 one-day internationals and 23 Twenty20s for the Windies, follows young South African pacemen Conor McKerr and Mathew Pillans through the door at the Oval in recent weeks. Director of cricket Alec Stewart told Surrey’s official website: ‘Ravi will add experience to our seam bowling attack and we look forward to him joining the squad.’ Surrey also confirmed that former England paceman Jade Dernbach is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a back problem. A statement on the club’s website read: ‘Following a scan on his injured back earlier this week, Jade Dernbach is due to have more diagnostic testing in six weeks time. ‘It is then hoped that he will return to cricket specific rehabilitation.’
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 28, 2016
Masterful Kohli carries India to World T20 semis
MOHALI, India - (Reuters)-Virat Kohli reduced of the world’s best batsmen currently. Australia’s bowlers to mere bystanders yesterday with a masterful 82 that led hosts India to a six-wicket win and a World Twenty20 semi-final against West Indies in Mumbai. The 27-year-old right-handed batsman resurrected India with his unbeaten 51-ball knock from a seemingly tricky position as the hosts sprinted home in their chase of 161 with five balls to spare. Steve Smith and his men, who had hoped to end Australia’s ignominy of never winning the T20 World Cup, could only stand and admire as boundaries flowed from Kohli’s bat in front of a packed stadium in Mohali. “That performance certainly has to be in my top three but probably it is top right now because I’m a bit emotional,” Kohli said after being adjudged player of the match. “A lot was riding on us playing at home and with the crowd you want to give them as much entertainment as possible.” The Group Two game was a knockout match for both sides and Australia looked well and truly in the driving seat until the end of the 17th over of India’s chase. Shane Watson did his part with the ball, picking up 2-23 in his four overs, and also taking a superb catch while running back to dismiss Yuvraj Singh. Sunday was the last international match for the retiring Australia all-rounder. In Kohli, who now boasts an average of almost 123 in successful run chases in T20 internationals, and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India had their two most potent weapons in chasing down any target. FINAL THREE OVERS India, the inaugural World T20 champions in 2007, needed 39 from the last three overs when Kohli decided to show his class which has earned him accolades as one
He smashed James Faulkner, who took Australia’s best T20 figures during a five-wicket haul in the last match, for two fours and a six as the left-arm paceman leaked 19 runs. Kohli then hit Nathan Coulter-Nile for four boundaries in the next over to bring down India’s target to just four runs off the final six balls with Dhoni finishing it off with another four off Faulkner. Undeterred by a struggling Yuvraj Singh, who limped through a knock of 21 after hurting his ankle, Kohli seemed to know exactly when to take the attack to the opposition. He made it look easy through his unbroken 67-run stand with Dhoni in just over five overs. As the ball crossed the ropes after leaving Dhoni’s bat, an emotional Kohli sat down on his knees with a bowed head as if to soak in the adulation of his team mates, the opposition, the crowd and the millions watching on television. “That was a pretty serious innings there, under pressure. He hit it right out of the middle and he’s done it for a long time,” Smith said after the match. “It took a pretty incredible innings for India to get home.” BLISTERING START Earlier, Australia’s Aaron Finch (43) and Usman Khawaja (26) smashed the bowlers to all corners of the ground after Smith decided to bat on a pitch that was used for the women’s game between India and West Indies earlier on Sunday. Left-handed Khawaja’s first six scoring shots were all boundaries, four of them coming against paceman Jasprit Bumrah in one over, with Australia racing past 50 before the completion of the fourth over. Finch, Australia’s captain in the format before he was replaced by Smith shortly before the tournament, then launched into India’s bowling mainstay Ravichandran Ashwin, hitting the off-spinner for two consecutive sixes over long-on.
Golden Jaguars arrive in Puerto Rico
THE Golden Jaguars arrived in Puerto Rico on Saturday in the continuation of their quest to lift the Caribbean Football Union Scotiabank 2016 Men’s Caribbean Cup scheduled for tomorrow. They departed Guyana on Friday in high anticipation of the match-up with Puerto Rico after defeating Anguilla 7 – nil last Tuesday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. With the team’s arrival, Assistant Coach, Wayne “Wiggy” Dover said the team began training immediately, adding: “The team had their first session this morning [Saturday] at the Bayamon Training facility. Our session lasted 90 minutes.” “After the warm-up, which was 20 minutes, we did 20 minutes possession work then the main part – defensive organisation – which lasted for 50 minutes then we con-
– Immediately begin training
cluded on ‘finishing’ for 20 minutes,” continued Dover. However, while the training session was scheduled for two hours, it was cut short as the heat was too much for some of the overseas-based players. The squad includes seven overseas-based players in Neil Danns (England); Samuel Cox (England); Walter Moore (Finland); Brandon Beresford (U.S.A); Christopher Nurse (Puerto Rico); Marcel Barrington (England); and Anthony Whyte (Canada). (See below a complete breakdown of the squad) Training recommenced yesterday focused on the technical aspects of the game including attack, transition and team organisation. Round one of the CFU 2016 Scotiabank Men’s Caribbean
Virat Kohli is floored with emotion after sealing a famous win for India in their Group 2 match in Mohali. But some smart bowling from left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and part-timers Yuvraj Singh and Hardik Pandya, who picked up two wickets, in the middle overs halted Australia’s progress as they struggled to hit the boundaries. Glenn Maxwell (31) took his time at the crease but got out just as he started opening his arms. Wicketkeeper Peter Nevill then smashed Pandya for a four and a six off the last two balls as Australia took 15 runs in their final over to reach 160-6. Cup will conclude on March 29 with Round two set for June 1 – 7, while Round three will take place from October 3 – 9. The Fifth Place Playoff will be held from November 7 – 15 before the finals in May 2017. Among the other teams participating in the tournament are Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, St. Kitts & Nevis, Grenada, St. Maarten, United States Virgin Islands, Cuba, Bermuda, French Guiana, Barbados, Curacao, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, Suriname, Martinique, British Virgin Islands and Dominica. Games will be played in 21 countries.
Golden Jaguars assistant coach Wayne “Wiggy” Dover
Pele FC 45th anniversary football festival
Pele Masters, Santos and GFC record victories in Frank Watson memorial tournament
By Michael DaSilva PELE Masters, Santos and the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) registered victories when the Pele Football Club’s 45th anniversary celebrations continued on Saturday at the GFC ground. Pele Masters, led by a double off the boot of OmallI Nassy and one goal from Alexander Bess, defeated their overseas counterparts by a 3-0 margin, while in the finals of the Frank Watson Memorial under-15 and under-17 competitions, Santos recorded a 1-0 win against Alpha United and GFC beat
Santos 2-0, respectively. Randy Roberts scored Santos’s lone goal from the penalty spot against Alpha United in the 17th minute, while Tyrese Rowley netted GFC’s two goals in the 65th and 36th minutes. On Wednesday last, Alpha defeated Camptown 2-0 in a semi-final encounter to book a place in the final of the under-15 competition. Braton Cyariana scored both goals. In the other semi-final, Santos defeated Eastville 1-0 to secure their spot in the final. Roberts was adjudged the Most Valuable Player
in the under-15 segment, while Calvin Peters was the highest goal-scorer with five goals to his name. In the Under-17 category, Stephen King was named Most Valuable Player, while Kelsey Benjamin won the Highest Goal-Scorer award. The Under-15 competition saw 24 matches being played and 46 goals being scored, with three players scoring hat-tricks. They were Camptown’s Mark Joseph and Andy Parks and Eastville’s Calvin Peters. On Wednesday last also, GFC made light work of Alpha United, winning by a 5-0 margin to book their
place in Saturday’s final, while Santos registered a 2-0 win against Black Pearl to reach the final. Kelsey Benjamin, Matthew Harrison, Matthew Little, Rowley and Wayne Baker all scored one goal each for GFC, while Santos’s two goals came off the boots of Ryan Dowding and Teon Forde. The finalists in both the under-15 and under-17 competitions received trophies, medals and uniforms for their outstanding performances. Eleven teams contested the under-15 segment and 13 competed in the under-17 category.
The football festival is being sponsored by the Pele FC Alumni based in the United States in collaboration with the Georgetown Football Association. According to chairman of the Pele Alumni, Dennis Carrington, the Alumni’s vision is to empower children in Guyana through sports to help them overcome their abject poverty by building their confidence , self esteem and ambition through the power of sports. The one week of activities planned by the Alumni will culminate on April 1 with an Education Awards Dinner at the Georgetown
Club, Camp Street, where winners of the School Essay Competition, facilitated by the Ministry of Education will be presented with Laptop Computers and School Assistance Grants. Meanwhile, tomorrow, school, bags with school supplies will be distributed to youths that are in need of additional support. Yesterday, the Pele Alumni staged a day of sports including novelty events and provided meals for all in attendance. Kites were also distributed to the first 20 youths to arrive at the venue.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 28, 2016
Afghanistan stun Group 1 winners West Indies (REUTERS)-West Indies will face India in the World Twenty20 last four after losing to Afghanistan by six runs in their final Super 10 stage match yesterday, while England will play New Zealand in the other semi-final. Afghanistan, who lost the toss and were sent in to bat, rode an unbeaten 48 off 40 balls by Najibullah Zadran to post 123-7 in Nagpur and held their nerve to register their first win in Group One and ruin their opponents’ 100 percent record. West Indies had already qualified for the semi-finals before the game and still finished top of the group ahead of England with a superior net run rate despite the defeat. “Obviously we are disappointed, but there’s no doubt we are not going to let this dampen our spirits,” Windies’ Darren Sammy told reporters. Leg-spinner Samuel Badree decimated Afghanistan’s top order, taking three wickets for 14 runs to leave them struggling on 52 for four in the 10th over, but man-of-the-match Zadran got four fours and a six at No. 6 to guide them to a competitive total. Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan were the pick of Afghanistan’s bowlers, taking two wickets apiece after left-arm spinner Amir Hamza got the early breakthrough. Leg-spinner Khan caught Evin Lewis -- in for the rested Chris Gayle -- off a Hamza delivery for a duck in the third over to leave the Windies at 17-1, while off-spinner Nabi got top-scorer Dwayne Bravo lbw on 28. Andre Fletcher retired hurt with a hamstring problem, but was forced to return at the death as Afghanistan’s spinners kept picking off the Windies’ batsmen. Khan bowled Marlon Samuels on five and got Denesh Ramdin stumped on 18 to keep the pressure on and combined with wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad to run-out Andre Russell at the non-striker’s end on seven after a mix-up with Sammy. Nabi then struck again to see off the big-hitting Carlos Brathwaite, who smashed two sixes in the penultimate over to leave his team needing 10 runs off the last six balls. Zadran played a major part in Brathwaite’s demise, taking a brilliant running catch to send the danger man back to the pavilion for 13 as the Windies ran out of steam.
Chris Gayle poses with the Afghanistan players after the match in Nagpur yesterday
Kings Night rules at Rising Sun Turf Club
IT was a flawless ride from Randolph Richmond, as he piloted Kings Night across the finish line to win yesterday’s Guyana Cup Fever feature event for horses classified C2 and Lower at the Rising Sun Turf Club. It was definitely not all plain sailing for the animal out of the Jumbo Jet Racing Stables, but the animal kicked on in the closing furlongs to storm past a star-studded field in dominant fashion by a two lengths. On a breezy Easter Sunday afternoon at the packed Turf Club, Kings Night galloped across the finish line ahead of Just Call me Boss, CP Got Even and Plum Plum in the 1400 metres event. In the feature event, the nine animals left the gate at an even break and as they approached the first turn, the lead interchanged in rapid succession. However, it was Kings Night that had the final say as it pulled away from the pack as they approached the final turn. Coming into the homestretch, Richmond decided to let Kings Night take control by giving it full rein and the champion race horse crossed the finish line comfortably. Results from the other six races are as follows: Race 1 - G2 and Lower Big man Boss Settling Star Mid Night Blues It’s my Choice Race 2 – J 1 and Lower Liquid Lion
Notable dates ELTON `Coolie Bully’ Dharry was coming off a wretched three-year period when he met Wilmut Hutson on March 28, 2010 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in Guyana. Dharry, who resides in the USA, lost five of six fights dating back to August 2007. He managed to defeat Hutson by Technical Knock Out in the third round of a fight scheduled for four. The victory signalled a turn- around in the career of the Guyanese bantamweight as he has never lost a fight since. Dharry registered 16 more victories to date. He had
Director of Sport Christopher Jones presents connections of the Jumbo Jet Racing Stable with the winning trophy for Kings Night win in the feature C2 and Lower race. Party Time Massaquada Dr. Little Race 3 – H3 and Lower Sweet Return Cat Messiah She is so Special Mary Ann Race 4 – Three-Year-Old West Indies Bred Red Rocket Fire in Line Isn’t She Charming Race 5 – F1 and Lower Release the Beast Right to Rule Keep on Swing Precise Gold
Race 6 - Three-Year-Old Guyana Bred Maiden Caricom Dancer She’s in Control Golden Kiss Richmond was named champion jockey, while Jumbo Connections from the CP Racing Stable collect the winning trophy for Sweet Return Jet Racing Stable won the best stable award win in the H3 and Lower race.
the second of three fights with Orland `Pocket Rocket’ Rogers on June 5, 2010. The fight was held at the Princess Hotel and Casino and the USA-based Dharry the six-round event by Unanimous Decision. Dharry and Rogers first met on October 25, 2008. The diminutive Rogers lost that match by unanimous Decision. The third and final contest was staged on February 24, 2013 and Dharry also won that even, this time by a TKO in round three. While Rogers’ career went on a full scale decline, Dharry went on to bigger things. He won the World Boxing Council (WBC) Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) bantamweight title after stopping Dexter Marques in round seven. In December 2014 he added the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) Inter-Continental title to his collection following a Unanimous Decision victory over Nicaraguan Jose Rios. He has fought twice in 2015 and once this year and has a record of 20 victories, five defeats and one draw.
Windies Women claim semi-final spot after knocking out India MOHALI, India, (CMC)-West Indies Women claimed a semi-final spot after knocking out host India in their Group B game of the Twenty20 World Cup at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here yesterday. England will face Group A runners-up Australia in Wednesday’s first semi-final in Delhi, while West Indies take on unbeaten New Zealand in Mumbai the following day. Brilliant death bowling by Deandra Dottin in a nail-biting final over spurred West Indies to a three run win over India as they now await the result of the England-Pakistan clash in Chennai. Dottin picked up three wickets and got support from Afy Fletcher who grabbed two as West Indies choked the Indian chase and prevented them from surpassing their 114 for eight. Earlier, Dottin combined forces with her captain Stafanie Taylor in a 77 run fourth wicket stand after Indian spinners reduced West Indies to 26 for three. Taylor top scored with 57 from 45 balls including five fours while Dottin hit 45 off 40 balls while scoring the same number of boundaries. The two players, known for their aggression, changed styles to accumulate runs from the Indian spinners including as many as 38 singles to help setup the win.
But they were the only two batters who stood out since no other West Indian player scored more than six runs. Four wickets fell for eleven runs when the partnership between Taylor and Dottin expired. Harmanpreet Kaur (4-23) and Anuja Patil (3-16), stifled the Windies top order and stunned the lower order. Shamilia Connell gave West Indies the ideal start when she bowled opener Mithali Raj with the first ball of the innings. Dottin, who picked up three for 16 and Fletcher with two for 15, curbed India’s chase despite a rally in the middle overs. Anuja Patel led with 26 and Jhulan Goswami was run out for 25 after keeping India in the game with an innings that brought them within sight of victory with 20 needed off the last two overs. Still, West Indies piled on the pressure with impressive fielding that helped them save at least 10 runs. Inspired by a festive crowd, India looked on course again as the third ball of the penultimate over went for a six to bring the target down to 12 off nine balls. With India needing ten runs from the final over, Dottin resurrected immaculate death bowling skills to leave them
Shamilia Connell of the West Indies celebrate the win during the Women’s ICC World Twenty20 India 2016 match between West Indies and India at IS Bindra Stadium yesterday. (Photo by Jan Kruger-IDI/IDI via Getty Images) short. She removed Ekta Bisht with a Yorker, forced the run out of Shikha Pandey and with the penultimate ball of the final over tricked Sushma Verma into lobbing a catch to Taylor.
GCA, Health stakeholders partner for World Health Day -U17 T20 tournament launched
By Stephan Sookram THE foundation of every state is the education of its youth. This is the belief of Greek Philosopher Diogenes and one that is being embraced by the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) and Health Stakeholders as they embark on a partnership for diabetes awareness. The group, which includes the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH); the Pan American Health Organi-
sation (PAHO); the World Health Organisation (WHO); the Guyana Diabetic Association and Ansa McAl through its Smalta Brand, launched an U-17 T20 competition set to begin on Tuesday. Eight teams will take part in the tournament which features two zones: the ‘A’ zone matches commencing on Tuesday, will see the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) hosting the GNIC side while the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) side will travel to the
Representatives from the PAHO/WHO, GDA, MoPH and GCA pose with the team representatives and their gear (Photo By Stephan Sookram) Georgetown Cricket Club’s famous Bourda ground. Zone ‘B’ will feature Transport Sports Club (TSC) hosting St Stanislaus College, while GanSee page 19
Jamaicans break CARIFTA records in 400 hurdles
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MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2016