Chronicle 04 16 2016

BANDITS NABBED No. 104523

SATURDAY APRIL 16, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

‒ after robbery, shootout with police

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The Rotary Club of Georgetown on Friday opened a Toy Library at the National Library, Church and Main Streets, Georgetown. The library seeks to develop early literacy and other developmental skills in children (Adrian Narine photo)

Not us

‒ AFC denies knowledge of Tiwarie’s appointment 3 P.

Bloody Better days brawl before ahead -- some issues at UG the blaze expected to be addressed ‒ informed fireman told 2

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Camp St CoI

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before next academic year

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 16, 2016

Better days ahead ‒ some issues at UG expected to be addressed before next academic year

PRESIDENT David Granger has dealt with some matters raised by the executive members of the University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS), and has pledged to continue to ad-

dress students’ ongoing concerns.

The President met with the student body at the Ministry of the Presidency on Thursday.

“By the time the next

President David Granger and the executive members of the University of Guyana Students’ Society, during the meeting at the Ministry of the Presidency

President David Granger is flanked by, from left: Tricia Williams, Secretary of the UGSS; incoming President Ron Glasgow; outgoing President Joshua Griffith; outgoing Vice-President Xiomara Griffith; and Roxanne Gomes from the Tain, Berbice Campus

academic year starts, most of these problems will be dealt with; of course not completely, but we would like to have some of these problems rectified. So we will try to rectify these before next semester, and when the Minister of Finance is back in the country, I would like to engage him, and it will be in the presence of the Vice- Chancellor, and the Chancellor if he is still here, and the Minister of Education. This is a grave situation, and I would never try to sweep this under the carpet,” President Granger said.

During the almost twohour-long meeting, the President allowed the students, who were led by outgoing President of the UGSS, Joshua Griffith, and incoming President Ron Glasgow, to share their concerns and make their presentations.

Among the issues raised was the lack of lecturers, lack of furniture in the classrooms, the presence of animals on campus, lack of recreational facilities, absence of practical assessments, lack of functioning and equipped laboratories for first- and second-year students, what are considered unhelpful policies of the university, and the perception of lack of respect and regard for the welfare of students by the university’s administration.

President Granger, who has always been a firm advocate for education, said the meeting was “sobering,” adding that while he was aware and had been disturbed about the diminishing conditions at the university for several years, he had never expected

that it would reach to such low levels.

“What you have described here, which I do not doubt…is very grim. The standards of sanitation, and even the infrastructure, are unacceptably low,” he told the students.

The President noted that he envisions graduates from the University of Guyana participating in every sphere of the country’s development, and as such, the challenges there must be remedied, as current described state of the university is hardly conducive to a tertiary learning institution.

INSEPARABLE “I have emphasised the importance of science, and I would certainly like to see more scientists coming out of the university: more engineers to build our highways and bridges and roads in the hinterland, more biologists, more chemists and more botanists. This country cannot develop without an efficient University of Guyana, so that is my vision. My vision for the university is inseparable from my vision of the country…I will certainly work on this. I have already engaged the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor. I will work with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education to bring relief,” he said.

With regard to reports of challenges in the relationship between the university’s administration and the students, the Head of State opined that the Chancellor

and Vice-Chancellor of the university should address those issues.

“As far as the number one problem is concerned, that is for the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, and they must at least listen to you and, maybe in so doing, be better prepared to address your needs,” he told the students.

Griffith, in an invited comment, said the discussion was frank and open and focused mainly on the issues that have been affecting students on the campus. He noted that the commitment given by the President was heartening.

“We got the general sense that the President was surprised at the realities on the ground, and he did commit to ensure resolutions in the near future for almost everything we brought to the fore.

So there is some sense that things will be different very soon,” Griffith said.

He noted that the UGSS was appreciative of the engagement with the President, even while he acknowledged that there is work to be done by the students themselves.

“The President was very much accommodating, him being alumni of the University of Guyana; and we did share wholeheartedly. He outlined the plan going forward with regard to engaging ministers and engaging the administration. We did set some timelines, and so what we have to do now…we also have some homework.

So we need to get the work done on our end, so that we can work together to develop our University of Guyana [to] best serve the interests of the Guyanese, the students and all other stakeholders, and that is what we intend to do,” he said. (Ministry of the Presidency)

BANDITS NABBED

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 16, 2016

‒ after robbery, shootout with police

By Navendra Seoraj THREE gunmen who invaded the Shell Gas Station at Mc Doom, East Bank Demerara at about 03:00hrs on Friday engaged the police in a gunfight, as the lawmen responded promptly to reports of a robbery in progress.

When the police arrived on the scene, there was an exchange of gunfire with the bandits, and one bandit who was shot is still at large.

Owner of the gas station, Joel Edmond, said two others were subsequently caught and are in police custody.

Edmond told the Guyana Chronicle he was at home at about 03:15hrs when he received a call informing him that bandits had broken into the facility.

According to him, video footage shows three bandits coming through the nearby street and walking into the gas station. One of the bandits stood guard outside while two others broke into the outlet and held the three employees at gunpoint.

“After harassing my staff, they robbed them of what they had, which included around $5,000, and then they got

into the cash register and took about $10,000. They then attempted to break our major safe, to no avail,” said Edmond.

The three employees were taken to the police station to assist with the investigation.

This is not the first time the gas station has been robbed.

According to Edmond, there have been several other robberies, but this has been the most daring of them all.

“I will try to boost my security measures so as to ensure the safety of my employees and my outlet,” he said.

A police release disclosed that at about 02:30hrs on Friday, April 15, three men, all armed with firearms, entered the Shell Fuel Station, held up the security guard and three female employees, and took away a total of $51,000 and a cell phone.

While the robbery was in progress, the police were informed and responded promptly. On arrival at the scene, the ranks came under fire from the perpetrators, and they returned fire.

Police ranks conducted searches in the area, during which, acting on informa-

The unlicensed 9mm Glock pistol with 35 matching rounds and twenty-six .32 rounds, which police recovered from a house in the village

tion received, they carried out a search on a house at Mc Doom and found an unlicensed 9mm Glock

pistol with 35 matching rounds and twenty-six .32 rounds. Investigations into the matter are continuing.

A view of the shattered glass at the Shell Gas Station at McDoom, in the section where the bandits entered

The Shell Gas Station at Mc Doom Public Road, East Bank Demerara

Not us

‒ AFC denies knowledge of Tiwarie’s appointment

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

Businessman Brian Tiwarie

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

THE Alliance For Change (AFC) has denied it was ever consulted on the appointment of businessman Brian Tiwarie as an honorary ministerial advisor.

In a brief statement, the coalition member said that at no time was any of its leaders

aware of the appointment of Mr Tiwarie as ministerial advisor prior to the public revelation.

The AFC contends that, following the public revelation of same, party Leader Khemraj Ramjattan raised the issue with President Da-

vid Granger and the party supported the President’s decision to rescind the appointment.

“The party was only aware of the appointments of the following persons as Diaspora advisors: Dr Rohan Turn to page 8 ►

The area where the bandits entered the gas station

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday April 16, 2016

Taliban cozies up to al-Qaeda in Afghanistan

Japan city struck by new earthquake A powerful earthquake has struck near the southern Japanese city of Kumamoto, a day after a tremor there killed at least nine people.

The magnitude-7.1 quake at a depth of 10km (6 miles) hit at 01:25 on Saturday (15:25 GMT on Friday). A number of smaller quakes followed.

A tsunami warning was issued, but has now been lifted.

Japan is regularly hit by earthquakes but stringent building codes mean that they rarely cause significant damage.

Thursday’s magnitude-6.2 quake caused shaking at some places as intense as the huge earthquake that hit the country in 2011, Japan’s seismology office said.

That quake sparked a huge tsunami and nuclear meltdown at a power plant in Fukushima.

Most of those who died in Thursday’s quake were in the town of Mashiki in the

These hotel guests gathered in the lobby after the earthquake struck Kyushu region in south-western Japan where an apartment building collapsed and many houses were damaged.

More than 1,000 people were injured.

Some 40,000 people had initially fled their homes, with many of those closest to the epicentre spending the night outside, as more than 130 aftershocks had hit the area home to Japan’s only online nuclear reactor.

Nuclear power stations

in Kyushu were apparently unaffected.

The two nuclear reactors in Sendai, in the south of the island, were operating as normal, while the three normally operational reactors at the island’s Genkai plant were already closed for routine inspections.

Japan is one of the most seismically active areas on Earth, accounting for about 20 per cent of global quakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater.

Seismometers are recording some kind of event every five minutes, on average.

It is through bitter experience that Japan has learnt the strategies to mitigate damage, injury and death. Not only

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does it implement some the best building construction practices, but it has also established an early warning network.

This system relies on the lightning analysis of the developing quake, establishing its location and strength. Alerts are then broadcast that can give people more distant from the epicentre vital seconds’ notice.

Just 10 seconds is more than sufficient to drop and get under a sturdy table, or open the doors of a fire station.

The prospect of buildings already damaged in Thursday’s quake toppling over in this latest tremor will be a concern. (BBC)

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LEADERSHIP turmoil within the Taliban since the death of the militant group’s founder has fueled closer links with foreign groups like al Qaeda, the new commander of international forces in Afghanistan said, complicating counter-terrorism efforts.

In an interview with Reuters, General John Nicholson pointed to what US officials saw as a shift in the Taliban’s relationship with groups that Washington considers terrorist organisations.

That could influence his assessment of plans to cut US troop numbers next year, because if al Qaeda, which carried out the Sept 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, can operate in Afghanistan with increasing freedom, it may pose a greater security threat inside the country and beyond.

That was the very reason NATO forces went into Afghanistan in the first place: to prevent al Qaeda functioning freely while the Taliban, which ruled the country until its ouster at the end of 2001, looked on.

“You see a more overt cooperation between the Taliban and these designated terrorist organisations,” Nicholson said.

“Our concern is that if the

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Taliban were to return, that because of their close relationships with these groups, that they would offer sanctuary to these groups.”

Nicholson is about half way through a review of plans that would see US troop numbers nearly halved to 5,500 by 2017 and an end to much of the training and advice the NATO-led coalition currently provides Afghan forces fighting the Taliban.

Some US politicians and Afghan commanders are urging Washington to reconsider its drawdown plans, worried that the Islamist Taliban movement poses a growing threat to security.

Public appetite for an even more prolonged deployment of US forces in Afghanistan is low, partly because the conflict is seen as limited to the country itself with little risk of international spillover.

Nicholson declined to comment on the review, which will be presented in Washington by June.

But he highlighted a “greater linkage” between the Taliban and US-designated terrorist group al Qaeda since the death of Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar and his replacement by current leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday April 16, 2016

Impeachment debate begins in Brazil BRAZIL’S lower house of parliament has begun a debate ahead of a vote on Sunday on the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff.

Opposition MPs chanted “Dilma Out” as the session got under way.

Brazil’s Supreme Court rejected a Government injunction against the vote.

Ms Rousseff is accused of manipulating Government accounts ahead of her re-election in 2014.

She denies the charges and accuses opponents of plotting a “coup”.

Her supporters say the issue is not valid grounds for impeachment.

Ms Rousseff has vowed to fight to “the last minute” despite the desertion of three allied parties ahead of Sunday’s vote, which begins at about 14:00 (17:00 GMT).

Brazilian media predict a close vote, with two polls putting the number of those in favour of impeachment at 342 - the crucial two-thirds needed to send the motion to the upper house, the Senate.

If the Senate endorses the move, Ms Rousseff will be suspended for up to 180 days whilst an impeachment trial is held.

Brazilian Attorney-General Jose Eduardo Cardozo took the floor to warn against voting to

POLICE in St Lucia are investigating reports that an 11-year-old grade six student is five months pregnant.

The director of the Human Services Department, Elizabeth Lewis, has confirmed that the matter involving the child from the south east coast of the island is being handled by her unit.

“At this point I prefer not to say much, just to say that we are aware of the case and we are dealing with it. We don’t want to say too much at this time,” she said.

The child had been complaining of feeling unwell and tests done at the hospital confirmed her pregnancy.

Those supporting the impeachment blame President Rousseff for Brazil’s ills impeach the President, calling the process a “violent act with no parallel against democracy”.

“History will never forgive those who broke with democracy,” Mr Cardozo said.

But one of the MPs spearheading the petition to dismiss the President, Miguel Reale Junior, said Ms Rousseff deserved to go because “she was extremely irresponsible and knocked out the country”.

He said the President’s ac-

tions had led to Brazil’s difficult economic situation.

“Are you going to tell me that isn’t a crime?” he added.

The Supreme Court made its decision in an extraordinary session, with seven of 10 justices voting to reject the motion even before the Supreme Court session had finished.

On Tuesday, Ms Rousseff seemed to suggest that her Vice-President, Michel Temer, was one of the ringleaders of a

PAHO launches Zika research database THE Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) has launched a new Zika Research Projects List, a database that lists and categorises all scientific studies on Zika virus worldwide.

PAHO has systematically identified and collected basic information on all investigations related to Zika, both those already published and those on track to be published.

The database includes the title, authors, and a direct link to the article.

Each study has been categorised in the areas of virus, vectors and reservoirs; epidemiology; disease pathogenesis and consequences of Zika infection; clinical management; public health interventions; health systems and services response; research and product

St Lucian police probing pregnancy of girl, 11

development; and causality.

You can also search by publication type: published articles, protocol and publication of preliminary results.

The search mechanism was created after a group of experts from around the world met in March to discuss a regional agenda to prioritise and coordinate research on Zika.

At that meeting, researchers concluded that efforts must be increased to explore unknown factors about microcephaly and other congenital malformations that may be linked to infection by the Zika virus. Experts analysed and mapped the gaps in scientific knowledge about the virus, how it affects people, its implications for public health in the Americas, and the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the vector that transmits the disease.

To date, Zika virus is cir-

culating in 34 countries and territories in the Americas. It is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito, and now has been found to be sexually transmitted. Zika has been associated with congenital malformations such as microcephaly, and neurological complications such as Guillain Barré syndrome.

The research projects list is an additional tool to coordinate and keep adding knowledge about Zika virus as it appears.

The global prevention and control strategy on Zika virus incorporates surveillance, response activities and research. There is an urgent need for developing relevant research to better characterise to the Zika virus outbreak and respond to the public health emergency. (Caribbean360)

“coup” attempt against her.

She said a widely distributed audio message of Mr Temer appearing to accept replacing her as President was evidence of the conspiracy. However, she did not identify him by name.

Brazil is “living in strange times”, she said, “times of a coup, of farce and betrayal”.

While President Rousseff’s opponents say the impeachment is supported by most Brazilians, the President’s supporters have labelled it a flagrant power grab by her political enemies.

If the President and Mr Temer were both suspended from office, the next in line to assume the presidency would be lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha.

However, he is facing money-laundering and other charges. (BBC)

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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

Making GuySuCo viable SUGAR is once again occupying the headlines.

Just as things appeared to be settling down after the announcement of the planned merger of the Wales and Uitvlugt factories on the West Demerara, there appears to be a flare-up of anxieties on the East Demerara.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), along with the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), issued a statement this week indicating unease with an announcement that the La Bonne Intention Factory operations will be merged with the Enmore Factory. This move, according to GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer, is being made in an effort to reduce the cost of production and develop the East Demerara estate. It must be recalled that the LBI estate closure is not new, having been announced since 2011 under the previous Government. One media house had reported at the time that sugar workers were protesting, having been “informed that the estate was on the verge of closing, and as a result they would all be sent to Enmore.”

GuySuCo CEO, Mr Errol Hanoman, recently explained that the planned 2011 closure of the LBI Factory and the integration process into Enmore was “stymied for a number of reasons over the years.”

This, Hanoman said, led to two operational departments at the estates, which included Field Workshop, Mill Dock, Field Lab, Stores, and Administrative Office.

In effect, what is taking place now is the conclusion of a process which commenced in 2011 in order that GuySuCo can operate at its most optimal under the circumstances. This is being significantly augmented by Government injecting a nine-billion-dollar subsidy into GuySuCo to keep the corporation going, mainly owing to the fact that it employs a large number of Guyanese. A total of $23 billion has thus far been allocated to GuySuCo under the current Government. This is in addition to billions more having been allocated under the PPP administration over its 23-year lifespan.

In spite of the fact that sugar is being produced by GuySuCo at a cost which is above the world market price, such had been the gains made by GuySuCo under the new management that, for the first time in several years, the Annual Production Incentive (API) was paid, as promised, on April 1st. Sugar production targets are being met, also for the first time in years. Reports from GuySuCo are that workers’ attendance is at its highest -- in the vicinity of 65% -- in recent memory. Further, issues of scheduled weekly worker payments are also no longer a bugbear.

There can be no question that advances are being made to bring GuySuCo to a position of break-even

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday April 16, 2016

Stop playing games with this issue Dear Editor

EACH day that public officials, elected and appointed, continue their rambling whenever they are brought to account confirms public opinion that within this group are the ill-informed, arrogant, and those lacking understanding of their roles, functions and responsibilities.

Leonard Craig, Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), in his response to my statement that it was not within his remit to advise the Linden Television Trust how it should be composed, confirms my conviction.

This is his admission: “…it is true that the GNBA cannot dictate the size and the structure of the directorate

of the Linden TV outfit…”

Yet, the composition of the Trust is being used as the reason to delay the issuance of the licence, which would enable the station to be up and running.

In Craig’s letter (13th April, 2016), what has been outlined is his interest in using political manoeuvres to determine whether or not to issue the licence. While he correctly acknowledges that the GNBA can mediate conflicts among licencees, the Trust does not have a licence. Thus, as Chairman, he cannot get involved in any conflict, perceived or real, regarding who sits on the Trust. His is the responsibility, at this stage, to ensure the Trust confirms to the law in its establishment, in order to

be granted the licence.

The Trust, in its present composition, is considered a legally constituted body, and has therefore met that requirement aspect for a licence.

Given Craig’s utterance in the media -- wherein he has ascribed to himself the authority to withhold a licence from the Trust unless it goes by his advice in its composition of the board -his conduct is misplaced and misguided.

The other elements of his letter have no bearing on the extant issue, and shall not be addressed. What they reinforce, however, is that several members of state boards lack the knowledge of their respective roles and responsibilities. Many are labouring

under the misguided belief that they have the authority to flex muscles and subject persons to conditions that are in conflict with the law.

The time has come for the Prime Minister, who has responsibility for broadcasting, to ensure the law is followed to the letter, and the Linden Television Trust receives its licence, consistent with the 21st August 2012 Agreement between Central Government and Region 10 Regional Democratic Council.

Persons have to stop playing games with a matter that resulted in the loss of lives, injuries suffered, and dislocation.

Regards, LINCOLN LEWIS

The GuySuCo decision on LBI Dear Editor,

IT WAS saddening to hear of GuySuCo’s decision to end the operation of LBI Estate. From what I understand, a number of departments, including the Field Workshop, would be closed, and their tasks discharged from Enmore

Estate.

I do not think this is a wise move by GuySuCo. Given the distance between Enmore and LBI, it would be both time-consuming and costly for mechanics to travel to repair machines and other equipment in the LBI cultivation. Time is important, especially when

tillage operations are being carried out.

I recall that when the Diamond cultivation was in existence, GuySuCo had maintained a workshop at that location for this purpose. I also understand that the Enmore workshop is too small, and cannot accommodate the total fleet

of machines from both LBI and Enmore. This will undoubtedly cause major problems.

What is the real reason for GuySuCo’s hasty decision to close the LBI operations?

comparable to any of our latest architecture.

The said area has enough room for parking, police barracks, drive-through for guests, a small flower garden, and so many other facilities.

The remaining projected developmental works for our 50th anniversary, which have not yet begun, can be transferred to the Botanical

Gardens.

For the Mash Parade, I wish to suggest that both pavilions, Durban Park and the National Park, be used. The parade can begin on Camp Road, go through the National Park, move along Vlissengen Road, and finish at Durban Park. The reverse route is also a possibility.

With two large viewing

galleries, our many visitors will be more than comfortably accommodated.

Yours sincerely, FREDRICK YUVRAJ

Relocate Office of the President Dear Editor,

IN AN effort to promote Guyana as a modern state, I think the Office of the President should be removed from New Garden Street to the eastern end of Durban Park. The new edifice should be a modern f o u r- s t o re y b u i l d i n g

by 2018, as is outlined in the Commission of Inquiry report. GuySuCo, the Government and the Minister of Agriculture have taken flak for issues relating to sugar since the Government has come to office. Some of the flak has been deserving: the manner in which the Wales Factory merger with Uitvlugt was announced was unquestionably less than desirable; and could, and should, have been handled better.

That being acknowledged, sugar is performing better than it has done in years. This improvement has been as a result of the reorganisation of operations; and for progress to continue, further measures to enhance operational

PS: The Prime Minister’s Office can then be removed to New Garden Street.

Sincerely, L. MARKS

efficiency will be required. These may not always be popular decisions, but if the industry is to remain viable -- to benefit the majority of the workers now engaged and also whose relatives are indirectly dependent on it -- then it will require that the big picture of sugar in Guyana be considered. The health and wellbeing of the industry for the purposes of benefiting as many workers as possible -- within a framework of an operation which can break even within a few years -- ought not to be compromised by what some view as considerations of political turf.

GuySuCo and the workers, as a collective, must come first and foremost.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday April 16, 2016

Bloody brawl before the blaze

By Shauna Jemmott

GUYANA Fire Service Station Officer Andrew Holder has disclosed that during his investigations at the Georgetown Prison on March 3, a surviving Capital A inmate informed him that a “juk up” likely occurred in the prison before the fire started.

Holder made this startling revelation on Friday during his testimony before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Camp Street, Georgetown Prison riots earlier this year.

He was at the time being cross-examined by Attorney-at-law Eusi Anderson, who is representing the Joint Services at the CoI. Holder related that he interviewed six inmates, whom he listed in alphabetical letters, instead of their real names (for security reasons) and the one who disclosed the information said though he had overheard the talk, he

-- informed fireman tells Camp St CoI

Guyana Fire Service Station Officer Andrew Holder did not see exactly what had transpired.

“Inmate B said he knew of no pugilistic activity nor any grievances among inmates. Inmate B said to me that one inmate was heard telling other inmates that he and his cousin “juk up”

somebody,” the Fire officer told the Commission. He said he was told that the incident happened in Capital A. According to the officer, the prisoner and others recounted that the fire started in the vicinity of a hole in

the wall separating Capitals A and B, and named a single prisoner who was responsible for lighting the fire.

He said another inmate who was trapped in the fire, while confirming Inmate B’s story, said he had wet a cloth and put it around his face while the fire burned.

“Between me and you, is we own people inside the cell lit the fire,” the Officer said other prisoner told him, and even told him the name of the inmate who started the blaze.

Yet another inmate told him matches or lighters were used to light the fires, and although those were prohibited items, they formed prisoners’ “personal effects.”

CONSTANT CONFLICTS Holder said when he asked that prisoner why inmates did not use the hole

KN regurgitating lies

Dear Editor,

IT IS with sheer repugnance that I read once again -- in the Wednesday, April 13, 2016 edition of Kaieteur News -- regurgitated lies and half-truths in a manufactured article captioned “GFC officials are as guilty as their former political bosses for corruption — WPA Executive Member”.

I am also of the belief that Dr. David Hinds, Executive Member of the WPA, was duped by the Kaieteur News into believing the fallacy they have been publishing over and over. He needs to get the facts of the forensic audit and the response from Mr. Anand Goolsarran.

It is evident now more than ever that the Kaieteur News is hell bent on attacking the GFC on the management of the forestry sector for perceived malpractices committed, even after a forensic audit was conducted by the former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran clearing

the GFC of any malpractice.

Mr Goolsarran was quoted in the article as saying that he could not find a “single piece of concrete evidence” which actually implicated a specific individual at GFC in the irregularities.

Mr. Goolsarran was further quoted as saying: “I am aware Government replaced the Board for the Forestry Commission. But I have to say that there was no concrete evidence to show that James Singh, for example, took decisions by himself.

They were made by the former Board. I did not have hard or concrete evidence that there were irregularities carried out single-handedly by the Board.”

Despite the above, Kaieteur News still included in its article the following statement: “With all the instances of corruption he uncovered at the Guyana Forestry Commission, (GFC) Goolsarran made no recommendation for the Board or the GFC head, James Singh, to face any

sanction”.

We have all been awaiting the outcome and completion of the various forensic audits, and now that some are completed, like the GFC’s, why can’t we accept the findings?

Over the past few months, Kaieteur News have been quoting Mr. Anand Goolsarran as credible and professional, with his expertise being in forensic audits, so why can’t they accept his findings that there is no level of malpractice or corruption at the GFC, as is constantly being portrayed by Kaieteur News?

The reading public is very well aware of the personal grievances the owner of that newspaper has with the forestry sector, more specifically Bai Shan Lin; but these attacks should not be stretched and extended to include working professionals, as in this case the Commissioner of Forests and his staff. It would be useful for those interested in the facts

to read the Forensic Audit Report and the GFC Management response by visiting: http://www.forestry.gov.gy/ wp-content/uploads/2016/04/ GFC_Forensic_Audit_2015. pdf and http://www.forestry.gov.gy/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/GFC_Management_Response_to_Forensic_Audit_2016_1_14.pdf respectively.

Meanwhile, I strongly believe that the management personnel of Kaieteur News need to learn acceptance, rather than continue to fail as the prophets exposing corruption, and refusing to accept the facts even when provided by the competent authorities. For us all to progress as a nation, we need to take the punches as they come -- good or bad -- and keep moving on, rather than be stuck in a rut.

Sincerely, SALEEM HAMID Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara

in the wall to exit the fiery Capital A into Capital B, the prisoner “reported a story to me of constant conflicts between the residents of Capital A and the residents of Capital B.” He told the commission that the prisoner explained that the conflicts previously led to Capital B being evacuated at one time and prison officers saying that if they (Capital A inmates) venture across to Capital B block “they would be shot.”

The fire officer also related that the prisoner further stated that before the fire escalated, information circulated in Capital A that prison officers were in Capital B brandishing their weapons, which drove fear among the trapped prisoners.

He said that after careful examination, interviewing and corroborating witness statements with the data acquired, he concluded that “This fire occurred as a result of a prisoner or more than one prisoners setting fire to a mattress or mattresses”.

He also noted that while he and his ranks entered the building immediately after the fire was extinguished, they “personally did not experience those sensations” of

the presence of tear gas.

Under cross-examination

by Attorney-at-law Glenn Hanoman of the Guyana Bar Association, Holder said he did not collect any physical items as he would in normal fire investigations, because other evidence suggested that the circumstances surrounding the fire were not questionable.

The fire officer said that after taking the prisoners’ accounts, he and officers returned with shovels and upturned the debris searching for metal canisters, but found none.

He said though he could not say the prisoners were lying about tear gas canisters being thrown into the dormitory, he personally did not experience a burning sensation.

He explained, however, that mattresses have a chemical called polyurethane, which gives off very toxic fumes and odours which, when exposed to fire, have varying effects on the human body.

He said while an inmate he dubbed ‘Inmate C’ gave him the name of the inmate who lit the fire, he would not rule out that those two inmates may have had a “beef” with each other.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 16, 2016

Prisoners used plyboard as shield during blaze ‒ CoI into prison deaths hears

By Shauna Jemmott

ANDREW Holder, the Guyana Fire Service Station Officer who testified before the prison riot Commission of Inquiry on Friday, said that in conducting investigations, a prisoner related how he used a plyboard to shield himself and others trapped in the fire, saving them from being burnt.

According to Holder, the inmate recounted the ordeal shortly after the fire on March 3 at the Camp Street penitentiary and related that while being entrapped in the heat with their lives at risk, he spotted the plyboard under a bed and used it to block the fire which had blazed through the front of the dormitory and was drawing close to the other part of the room.

He made the revelation under sworn testimony before the three-man Com-

mission, headed by retired Justice James Patterson, and including Human Rights activist Merle Mendonca and former Director of Prisons Dale Erskine.

According to Holder, the prisoner told him just before the fire blazed out of control, he saw tear gas canisters being thrown into the jail and his eyes and skin began burning. He heard an instruction from another inmate to “lie low, get water and wet ya’ll face… is just tear gas”, before he saw thick smoke and ran to a side door for air.

BEDS ON FIRE Holder said the prisoner told him that about 10 others joined him in “lying low” by the northern door to the burning dormitory and some 25 minutes after, he noticed all the beds were on fire.

It was then that another inmate shouted, “look the fire coming to we” and another advised that they “push

the beds away.”

According to the fireman, the prisoner said that while pushing the beds he found a piece of plywood under a bed and used it to shield himself and others from the fire consuming them.

It was then that he heard a prisoner on the catwalk calling their names and a Prison Officer attempted to open the door twice – once with keys and another with a sledge hammer.

Earlier in his evidence, Holder told the Commission that when he arrived at the Camp Street prison on March 3 around 11:30 to 12:00hrs, his role was first “to assist my fellow firefighters in whatever way possible.”

While he observed that firefighters within a short time had the situation under control, he waited until the fire in the Capital A block was fully extinguished before commencing his investigations.

WAR ZONE He said on arrival in the jail yard, he observed the climate was “very chaotic… likened to a war zone”, and “based on the explicit anger vented by prisoners as “we entered the prison yard,” the firefighters’ work was affected.

“It would have had a mental toll on firefighters’ response,” he said, as many of the firefighters were never trained for, nor experienced such a situation.

During firefighting operations, “I did not see prisoner or prisoners becoming violent with firefighters… most of them were secured within their various cells or blocks…”

Holder said the only prisoners in contact with firefighters were those who broke out of Capital A, “helping to drag prisoners to the catwalk or helping to move some equipment.”

In his investigation which commenced around 12:31hrs, he entered the building and observed the fire pattern, level of destruction and the level of exposure to varying degrees of heat.

“I am trained to enter the

building and use my knowledge to observe fire patterns and the level of destruction within that structure, level of exposure to varying degrees of heat and to make mental analysis to what transpired.”

He explained that when hot air rises in an enclosed building, smoke and flames go straight up to the ceiling and after a while begin to circle the entire area. He said the smoke and heat in the ceiling eventually depletes the oxygen from the room, especially in an enclosed environment such as the Capital A block, which was the centre of the fire, which claimed the lives of 17 prisoners.

FLASHOVER “As heat begins to grow in intensity, it gives rise to a phenomena called “flashover” which automatically takes the fire into the stage or the realm of a fully developed fire. When the room reaches a temperature of 500 to 600 degrees Celsius, flashover occurs and automatically takes it into a fully developed fire.”

The officer explained that this is a stage in which items even 20 to 25 feet away from the point of the fire automat-

Not us Somar, Ron Alert, Ewart Marshall and Tameshwar Lilmohan. These appointments were widely reported in the media. The AFC had also recommended Mr Floyd Haynes for similar Diaspora advisor appointment, but is to date unaware if this was done. The party reiterates that it was not consulted or informed of any advisor appointments other than those listed above,” the statement concluded.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, in a statement on Thursday, said he did not make the decision to appoint businessman Brian Tiwarie as a ministerial advisor all by himself, but through consultation with the AFC and the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).

According to Mr Harmon, after the General and Regional Elections of 2015, many persons who had indicated their deep interest in assisting the Government and fulfilling its campaign promises were appointed to various positions. He noted that some of those persons were not interested in formal employment or receiving remuneration, but were willing to contribute.

“After some consultation, during which the Minister of Public Security (Khemraj

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Ramjattan) and the Minister of Natural Resources (Raphael Trotman) gave advice, it was agreed that such persons should be appointed as Honorary Ministerial Advisors, and that a certificate entitled ‘Instrument of Appointment… Ministerial Adviser’ would be issued,” Harmon said.

Both Ramjattan and Trotman are founding members of the AFC. Harmon added: “Over the period October 6, 2015 to February 8, 2016, 34 persons were identified on the recommendation of the Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), the General-Secretary of the Peoples National Congress (PNC), and the General-Secretary of A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the instruments were accordingly issued. Some of these appointments, particularly in the diaspora, received wide publicity. Mr Brian Tiwarie, upon the recommendation of the General-Secretary of the APNU, was one such person identified and issued with an instrument.”

Subsequent to the appointment of Mr Tiwarie, the Minister of State was advised

by President Granger, who was not aware of all the appointees, that he (Granger)

ically catches afire.

“Everything in that room would automatically ignite – bed, clothing, timber, even human beings,” but at different auto-ignition temperatures, and while mattress and clothing ignite almost immediately, timber may take a little longer.

“After flashover, the fire continues to burn violently or rapidly until all fuel is consumed,” and when there is nothing left to burn, the fire automatically goes out, unless it would have been put out manually,” he explained.

He called the stage of a ‘flashover’ an “unusual” situation, one which two in every 100 firefighters around the world have ever witnessed in their entire firefighting careers, as they either arrive on the scene before or after this stage.

Flashovers are very technical and the factors contributing include dimension of the room, materials in the room, flammability range or ratio and the restriction or availability of oxygen.

Holder said he was not sure how long the prison dormitory fire took before it was developed into a flashover.

In Capital A, “it would obviously accelerate a flashover,” mainly because of the material present within the facility at the time of the fire.

was not in agreement with the appointment.

APNU+AFC coalition supporters, on learning of the appointment, criticised the administration, with many contending that the decision was a poor one. Mr Tiwarie was criticised by the APNU, when it was in opposition, for work it deemed not up to standard.

On his part, Mr Tiwarie, in a statement, has accused Glenn Lall, publisher of Kaieteur News, of having a personal vendetta against him.

Kaieteur News had broken the story about Tiwarie’s appointment.

“The fact of the matter is that Minister Harmon ‘appointed' Mr Tiwarie as his personal advisor on business.

This he is entitled to do, and by virtue of Mr Tiwarie’s business acumen, such an ‘appointment’ can be seen as nothing else but legitimate decision. Needless to say, Mr Tiwarie’s efforts in this capacity are pro bono,” the statement from Tiwarie has said.

President Granger, in noting his disagreement with the appointment of the businessman, ordered that his appointment be rescinded, and this was done on March 24.

“I agreed with the decision of His Excellency and his rationale for rescinding the appointment,” Harmon concluded in his statement.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 16, 2016

US to aid in Lighthouse, Stabroek Clock restoration

By Navendra Seoraj

UNITED States Ambassador Perry Holloway has signalled an interest in assisting in the restoration of the Lighthouse and the Stabroek Wharf, among other places, to complement the efforts of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to restore Georgetown to its former glory.

During a courtesy call on Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan, the ambassador disclosed that the embassy is in process of securing funds which are intended for the development of Guyana’s capital city.

Among the embassy’s

Rodney CoI report WHILE refraining from commenting on the findings of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) says the public should be wary of political opportunism that will flow unrestricted in the reaction to the report and the agenda of spin doctors.

According to a press statement from the WPA, the inquiry could not gather all the facts, and could not include all the first-hand experiences of those persons who had lived through the period under review. It said the inquiry was also impaired by the long delay between the period of events under review and the first day of hearing, thereby making recollection of important events dim.

Moreover, for any number of reasons, many witnesses could not have been available for the hearings.

“We will have to consider, too, that the Commission barely survived a persistent effort to abort the hearings, and in the end, important witnesses were not heard or did not complete their evidence”, the party noted.

The party said the CoI Commissioners bear no responsibility for the latter.

According to the party, the only victory it believes the country may have gained at the moment is that the determined struggle yielded

Georgetown Mayor and Deputy Mayor (right) along with US Ambassador Perry Holloway and his associate, met on Friday

plans is the restoration of the Lighthouse and the Stabroek Market Clock, both having become eyesores for some time.

The funds which would be acquired, the ambassador said, would also be used to procure bins which would be set up along the seawall, since there is a visible deficiency of such receptacles in that area.

Ambassador Holloway lauded the M&CC for its good works performed over the past couple of months, especially its intensified efforts to keep Georgetown clean and its intent on regaining Georgetown’s former status as the ‘Garden City’. Once funds are raised, the ambassador said, the embassy would make the

necessary contributions and fulfill its promise to get those projects underway.

Restoring Georgetown is one thing, but there is also need for stringent maintenance of what has been done, he noted. Therefore, funds would also go towards training of the City Constabulary.

Both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor welcomed the US Ambassador’s ideas, and expressed willingness to work along with the embassy to execute the plans.

They also outlined to Ambassador Holloway some of their ongoing projects, and indicated other plans in the pipeline for the development of Georgetown.

WPA warns against spin doctors on findings

Late historian Dr. Walter Rodney

the setting up of an inquiry into the circumstances of the death of Walter Rodney, the completion and tendering of the report to President David Granger, and the report’s imminent official release to the public.

The WPA stated that President Granger, who had the benefit of possession of the report, has registered the presidential disaffirmation of the report apparently without prior consultation with his coalition partners. “It remains to be seen whether, on further consideration, he will modify his severely critical position; or even if it remains immutable, he may help to create an environment accommodating differences so that we can rescue something positive out of it”, the party said.

The party said the citizens will understand several issues

which were raised during the inquiry, including fairness, bias, the ill-disguised intent to make the Commission an instrument of political manipulation and deterrent to incipient efforts to forge an opposition alliance for national unity, and the criteria applied by the Commissioners in admitting evidence.

It said that during the inquiry the Commissioners made clear that hearsay evidence is admissible, circumstantial evidence can be relied on, and the standard of proof is on the basis of “balance of probabilities.”

Since it was an inquiry, the WPA said, the commissioners were justifiably tolerant and flexible. The party noted that the commissioners were “dealing with momentous social and political events spanning a period of great upheaval, instability, conflict and tension, and the role of citizens, civil organisations, the media, political parties, the government, security forces and the judiciary.”

“When we read the report and see the evidence, we, too, can try to arrive at our own commonsense conclusion,” the party noted.

It stated that since the government is new and has no responsibility for the period which was the subject of the inquiry, it fortifies the moral base for intensified

investigations and/or another inquiry.

“Apart from the intrin-

sic merit of the process, the Commission would have accomplished something

valuable for us as a nation if that is where the report leads us,” the party said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 16, 2016

Code of Conduct to have wide inputs THE Integrity Commission has been asked to assist in the process of acquiring further comments and recommendations to the Code of Conduct for senior Government officials.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office noted that this is being done to ensure that the code benefits from the widest possible inputs, while feedback has been received from the Guy-

ana Bar Association and the Guyana Human Rights Association, among others.

“We have received some recommendations from two bodies so far, but we have asked the Integrity Commission to help us in the process of getting more submissions, more criticisms, more observations or more additions, so that we can make the Integrity Code of Conduct -- if I may call it that -- perhaps

one of the best in the world.

We want to learn from best practices from other countries,” said Prime Minister Nagamootoo.

According to the statement, the Prime Minister is encouraging citizen and stakeholder participation in the process leading up to the final version of the code, which is intended to promote professional, exemplary and responsible conduct by senior

Government officials.

The Prime Minister explained that the code is meant to engender and reinforce public confidence in the manner in which senior Government officials perform their duties in service to the people.

Mr Nagamootoo noted that he had recently commissioned a sub-committee comprising the Governance Department, together with

representatives from the Guyana Legal Aid Committee, the body dealing with professional conduct and discipline of practitioners in the legal profession, and some representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources.

“The Code of Conduct emanated from the time when Minister Trotman was Minister of Governance. He is chairing the sub-committee to receive and review all recommendations, and when that process is through, the code will then be given to us for us to decide whether it should be merged with the integrity legislation visions, or it should be taken to Parliament as legislation by itself.”

Prime Minister Nagamootoo restated that “whatever the best practice would be around the Caribbean and the rest of the Commonwealth in particular, we

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

would want to follow those practices.”

The Code of Conduct is based on 10 principles – accountability, dignity, diligence, duty, honour, integrity, loyalty, objectivity, responsibility and transparency – and is a coalition Government manifesto promise.

Lennox Cornette is new NCN CEO THE National Communications Network (NCN) has officially announced Lennox Cornette as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

A statement from Chairman of the NCN Board of Directors, Bishwa Panday, revealed that Cornette will take up his post from May 1, 2016 and will succeed Molly Hassan, who resigned a few months ago.

According to the statement, Cornette emerged the best candidate for the CEO’s position based on his diverse communication, financial and executive management background.

It was further noted that Cornette, who is a Communications Consultant, holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Australian Institute of Business, a Bachelor in Social Sciences, (majoring in Mass Communications), a Diploma in Public Communication, and certificates in planning promotion from Bailbrook College,

New NCN CEO, Lennox Cornette

England.

“His work experience includes engagements with local and international private sectors in the fields of communication and management. His last position was Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Jailing Forest Industries Inc., where he was in charge of administration and operations. He is the author of the book, The Development of Telecommunications in Guyana (1884-1994),” the statement noted.

A boost to literacy 11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 16, 2016

‒ Parfaite Primary gets library

Students engaged in a word game in the newly opened library at La Parfaite Harmonie Primary School Pupils use the computers in the library

By Michel Outridge MEMBERS of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Thursday afternoon cut the ribbon to declare open a library at La Parfaite Harmonie Primary School, West Bank Demerara.

In the absence of Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, Divisional Commander Stephen Mansell cut the ribbon and declared the library open, following a ceremony punctuated by prayers, cultural items, and brief remarks.

The library is equipped with books, furniture and desktop computers, and these have been made possible with assistance from the GPF and other stakeholders, including the Region Three Administration, several businessmen, parents and teachers.

The project was undertaken by the Top Cop after a request was made by the teachers of the school, and Senior Superintendent Mansell was mandated to tile, paint and construct the library.

Giving an overview of the project, Head Teacher Shaundell Chichester told the large gathering that the school was re-graded from C to B and it was thought necessary to have a library to promote literacy.

The school was commissioned on September 6, 2010, and its population has grown. Presently, 616 pupils and 24 teachers occupy the

school, she said.

Chichester said it was thought that a library was paramount, after a fire had destroyed a section of the school which housed the reading room, and the school’s reading capability went below grade; thus something had to be done.

The library started as a teachers’ project, but assistance was needed, thus the school reached out to the GPF and other stakeholders to support the cause; and as such, the project became a reality with the opening after weeks of hard work.

The ‘D’ Division police took the project in hand, and a team of ranks began construction of the library.

Region Three Executive Officer Dennis Jaikaran pitched in with manpower to tile the floor and paint the walls, and several businessmen assisted by grilling the library and donating furniture. Food for the Poor also helped by giving seven desktop computers; Courts gave a television, a furniture store donated a DVD player, and teachers and students from Forms One to Six did drawings to beautify the walls.

The Region Three REO, as well as parents and the police, also donated a quantity of books. Although not yet fully equipped, the library has been opened.

In brief remarks, REO Dennis Jaikaran lauded the ‘D’ Division police for their effort, and said he was pleased to learn that the

school was re-graded in such a short time. He expressed hoped that it would soon be an A grade school.

He was also happy with the teachers’ inputs, since reading is a most important element in the life of any person, and libraries should not only be filled with books, but can also be termed a resource centre for research.

Jaikaran told the gathering that he would ensure that the police in that corridor be allocated a plot of land for their activities, since he wants to bring about development. As such, he has pledged his continued support for such projects.

District Education Officer Davindra Persaud, who spoke on behalf of Regional Education Officer Penelope Mc Intosh, said he was very pleased with the opening of the library, and that libraries should be established at all schools, to promote reading and literacy.

He is of the view that all school libraries should be outfitted with auto-catalogue, so that books can be easily traced and borrowed; and he said that computers with high Internet speed should be a part of all school libraries to foster higher learning.

Commander Stephen Mansell said he was mandated by the TOP Cop to undertake the project three months ago, and he commended his team for their work.

He said it was challeng-

ing, but in the end the library was constructed and outfitted with the basic things for its opening, with assistance

from several stakeholders.

Mansell spoke of the many projects that were being undertaken by the

police in ‘D’ Division to equip youths with life skills, so they can be gainfully employed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 16, 2016

GWMO wants alleged ‘Lil Man’ denies child rapist investigated killing niece

By Shauna Jemmott IN light of the arrest and charging of a farmer for killing a policeman, the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) is appealing for Trafficking in Persons (TIPS) and rape allegations against him to be investigated.

The man in question was arrested and charged for stabbing to death a policeman and wounding two others during a police operation. He was remanded to prison last week.

GWMO President Urica Primus told the Guyana Chronicle that investigations into the TIPS allegations and rape against the same man continue to be delayed.

The organisation is calling it “slackness” that the department within the Ministry of Social Protection with responsibility for TIPS continues to ignore a plea for action.

The GWMO has been calling since January for the farmer to be investigated after it had rescued two young girls in a TIPS operation.

The pregnant girl who made the allegations was rescued, along with a 13-yearold and her nine-day-old baby on January 12 and on March 10.

The GWMO wrote Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan after the man was captured, informing the minister that the same man was wanted in connection with

the death of his wife in 2015.

The woman, who had delivered a baby by Caesarean section, was allegedly raped by her husband and dragged in the yard and left to die, while the children watched.

Public-spirited citizens attempted to take her to the Port Kaituma Hospital, but she died on the way.

The man also reportedly raped a teenager.

“These critical details were provided to the Child Protection Agency, the Counter Trafficking Unit, the Guyana Police Force and the Minister of Public Security, since it was not included in the girl’s statement. In every communication, we requested that a further statement be taken from the victim in the presence of one member of the GWMO’s Trafficking in Persons Unit,” the GWMO had said in a statement.

DENIED “Three times this request was denied by the Counter Trafficking Unit, and to date, the organisation is unaware of any additional statement being taken,” Primus said.

Primus had also complained several times to the Guyana Chronicle that the organisation had requested formally and informally that the Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) within the Ministry of Social Protection take a statement from a child.

According to the GWMO, the 12-year-old had given a

statement to the organisation that the man had raped her on several occasions, and had also taken her, along with her 10-year-old sister, to various mining areas and logging sites as sex workers for small amounts of cash and groceries.

The young girl had complained that the illegality happened several times.

CONCERN The organisation had also expressed concern about the girl’s younger sister. The Guyana Chronicle understands that the child is in the care of an aunt who resides in Wauna Backdam.

When asked if the GWMO will rescue the 10-year-old, Primus said though it is in their best interest, “we do not have the resources.”

She added, though, that the organisation was made aware that the Child Care and Protection Agency within the Ministry of Social Protection has a representative within the district, and hopes that the agency will investigate the matter.

The GWMO expressed distress over the matter, but expressed gratitude to Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan for taking steps in prosecuting the same man for allegedly stabbing to death a policeman who was executing his duties, more than a month ago.

The man in question is

also alleged to have wounded two other policemen, and reportedly sustained gunshot wounds to his leg while resisting arrest.

While the police were responding at the time to a cry of rape levelled against the man, the 12-year-old alleged victim had indicated her willingness to give a statement to the police and the CTU in the presence of GWMO representatives.

“Three times this request was denied by the Counter Trafficking Unit; to date, we are unaware of any additional statement being taken. She was brought out since January! This is April!” Primus stated, as she bemoaned the time taken by police and the CTU to take a statement from the complainant.

When asked if the 10-year-old girl had given a statement to the Port Kaituma Police, Primus responded: “To our best knowledge, she was never even brought out for questioning… not even [by] the police at Port Kaituma.”

Meanwhile, another representative of the organisation told the Guyana Chronicle that there are concerns about the presence of other criminals in the area.

Those concerns were highlighted to the relevant authorities.

“We have to get the [Police] Force in there… they have some wanted people in there,” the woman stated.

THE MURDER trial of Kevin Rankin, called ‘Lil Man’, ongoing before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and a 12-member jury, is nearing its end.

On Friday, the accused elected to give an unsworn statement from the prisoner’s box when asked to lead his defence. Rankin told the court that on the morning of October 21, 2013, his niece Kimani Phillips was playing in the front house of the same yard at 46 Haslington South, East Coast Demerara after his mother had left home.

Later that morning, he related, his cousin Kiana Primo called him to collect the child because she was crying.

Rankin said that when he collected the two-year-old, she told him that her belly was hurting, and he called Primo after the child appeared to be in distress.

The accused, neatly dressed, stood before the Judge and jury and said that Primo began rubbing the child, after which she began breathing into the toddler’s mouth.

Rankin stated that Primo was also pressing down on the child with her hands while she breathed into her mouth.

The accused said he gave the police a statement and he hasn’t changed his story.

Rankin said, “I did not trouble Kimani, and I am innocent of this charge.”

The matter will continue on Monday at 9am, when

Murder accused Kevin Rankin

both the defence and prosecution are expected to deliver their closing submissions.

Three months after the incident, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommended that Rankin be charged for murder, and he was re-arrested and arraigned in the Magistrate’s Court.

It was reported that Kimani Phillips was the victim of a brutal sexual assault (sodomy) after it was observed that her anus was enlarged and she had an old bite mark on her neck.

However, a post mortem revealed that the infant died from haemorrhage and shock due to multiple abdominal injuries.

Rankin is on trial for the October 21, 2013 murder of his two-year-old niece Kimani Phillips.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 16, 2016

Lloyd Production to present cultural extravaganza tion, Department of Culture, Youth and Sports Ground (the former GNS Ground).

Under the theme, ‘The true meaning of a cultured Guyanese woman’, the group aim to bring ethnic unity through educating women on the existing cultures in Guyana.

Members of the Lloyd N De Arts Production are, from left: Lloyd Thomas, Faye Caleb, Lisa Adams and Sylvester Mc Rae

By Navendra Seoraj BEFORE the celebration of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee in May, another exciting event would be held by Lloyd N De Arts Production in the form of a ‘Miss Cultured’ presentation and massive cultural ex-

travaganza.

The production group promises the Guyanese public a unique experience with its pageant and cultural extravaganza, which the group says will be presented with flair and exuberance. This is touted as a celebration for all Guyanese to experience as

the group showcases youths from across the nation with extraordinary talents in sport, education and fashion.

An official of Lloyd N De Arts Production disclosed that the pageant and cultural extravaganza is billed for June 11 to July 02 at the Ministry of Educa-

CONFIDENT AND COMFORTABLE The platform of the pageant is based on Guyana’s culture, and women who are confident and comfortable in their own skin and all shapes and sizes are qualified to participate.

Delegates will bring to the fore a new form of pageantry, as they race for the crown using platforms on Guyanese culture, with options such as speaking Creolese.

“Other segments include creative creek wear; cultural Turn to page 14 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 16, 2016

Highlighting the few ICT women THE National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) will be joining countries the world over in celebrating Girls in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Day 2016, which will be held on April 28.

NFMU Managing Director Valmikki Singh told reporters at his Charlotte Street, Georgetown head office that because not too many females are in the sector, the NFMU wants to highlight the few girls and women in ICT as role models.

He said it is not a traditional job; women have gone into regular fields of work, and the NFMU wants to change that with a new perspective and have a series of activities to empower women and girls.

Singh added that the NFMU had created a Facebook advertisement in an

NFMU Managing Director Valmikki Singh addressing stakeholders at a press briefing to plan Girls in ICT 2016 celebrations

effort to promote its page, which is targeting females between the age of 16 and 30, to encourage them to select careers in the ICT sector.

He explained that Girls in ICT was first observed in Guyana in 2012, and its promotion and participation have grown over the years.

Melissa Layne said that a series of activities was held in observance of Girls in ICT 2016, with television, radio and newspaper features about Guyana.

She added that an Open Day is planned to be held at Starr Computers on April 21, a networking luncheon

is planned for April 25, and a symposium involving 300 girls will be held at Bygeval Secondary School.

Layne said that from June to November, Tech Day camps will be held so that girls can get a hands-on feel of some of the technology, so as to take on careers in the ICT field.

For the very first time, the differently-able will be included in the celebrations, and the Guyana Society for the Blind will participate for self-development.

The Bygeval Secondary School was chosen for the symposium because the school has won the Science and Tech Fair this year.

Global Technology is on board, and will embark on ICT training in foundation in computer usage for girls drawn from all the regions across Guyana.

This year, third and fourth formers are being targeted for the networking luncheon and Tech Day camps, and the NFMU will distribute 500 flash drivers with information.

The activity was also geared at empowering the students to consider careers in the field of ICT. Given that the ICT sector worldwide is dominated by males, the NFMU has been planning and executing a number of activities in an ef-

fort to ensure that Guyanese women are knowledgeable in the field.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a global effort being spearheaded by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to raise awareness of the need for more women to become involved in the ICT sector worldwide.

Girls in ICT Day will be observed on April 24th, 2016 under the theme “Expanding horizons, changing minds”, and it presents opportunity for girls and young women to get inspired about the ICT sector by listening to women role models in ICT.

Lloyd Production to present...

From page 13

evening wear; creative cultural costume display; talent -- which can be their own piece or from a local artist -- in song, dance, poetry or music,” the official said.

Interested persons can download and printout the application form on the company’s Facebook page to apply for participation.

Application forms will be accepted up to the closing date of April 23, 2016.

A six-week training stint will commence on Labour Day, May 1, from 2pm to 5pm, when contestants will be trained by qualified cultural enthusiasts in their platform, question-and-answer segment, and a special appearance by Alecia Bess for the catwalk training, among many others.

Guyanese are urged to be ready for the enriching event, which will showcase the nation’s rich ethnic diversity with its unique cultural traits, which the entire family can enjoy.

The cultural extravaganza will kick off with a 90-minute showcase of folk expressions such as masquerade, drumming, dances, etc.

Children will be entertained with fun-filled activities like face painting, bouncy castles, trampolines, and merry go-round in the downstairs area.

In keeping with the cultural theme, persons can adorn themselves in elegant ethnic wear to witness the pageant in the upper flat of the building.

Other activities include the football competition, obstacle course, quiz corner, and other games for the entire family. Five persons on a team can qualify to play at the event if they apply on the company’s Facebook page.

PRIZES Prizes will be awarded, and applicants can apply now.

Meanwhile, the organisation is extending an invitation for persons who would like to rent space for a merry-go-round for kids, one bouncy castle, two trampolines and three food stalls for local foods and one fish and chip stall to contact the accountant, Faye Caleb, at 615-3873 or 680-4727.

Local foods and barbeque and fish fry are expected to be on sale.

Admission is $500 for adults and $300 for children, while children under five years would be admitted without charge. Pageant tickets will be sold separately at $1,500.

Lloyd N De Arts Production was established in January 2016 under the stewardship of Lloyd Thomas. Its aim is to foster an awareness of culture and the performing arts within society, while giving exposure to youths with extraordinary talent in the performing arts.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 16, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 16, 2016

West Berbicians push MMA/ADA on land reforms MEMBERS of the Co-operative Society at Number 5 Village, West Coast Ber-

bice are calling on the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development

Authority (MMA/ADA) to change the direction of their agricultural lands, which run from north to south. They want these lands to run from east to west, so that these lands can benefit from drainage and irrigation services.

Earl Morris, Chairman of the Co-op, explained that the historical alignment of agricultural lands in Number 5 and the neighbouring villages of numbers Three and Four has stifled agricultural production and deprived residents of the means of improving the quality of their lives.

He gave this explanation to this publication: “Historically, the lands in these villages were surveyed and laid out to run in a north-to-south direction.

The problem here is that, as

a result of this alignment, the plots run parallel to the drainage and irrigation system; so the owner of a plot of land in the middle of the village cannot access either the drainage or the irrigation channels, which are essential for agricultural production.”

Morris said the solution to the problem is that the current north-to-south alignment of these lands must be changed to an east-to-west alignment.

The MMA/ADA, he said, had for years promised to measure the acreages of these lands in their northto-south orientation and apportion similar acreages of the same lands to members of the co-op, but this time oriented in an east-to-west direction. In this way, the plots would be situated at

right angles to the drainage and irrigation system, so that owners can access irrigation at one end of the plot and drainage at the other end.

This realignment of agricultural lands, he said, would be a highly welcome development for the people in the villages of numbers Three, Four and Five, who have not been able to productively utilize their long ribbon-like strips of land.

He said a ray of hope had appeared for the villages of numbers Three, Four and Five in the early 1990s, when the MMA/ADA had actually started surveying the lands with a view to realignment.

But within a few months, and for reasons not known, the MMA/ADA effort fizzed out, and this most important and highly welcome exercise was abandoned.

“The MMA/ADA needs to apply itself to this task, which is basically a land reform activity which has

been long outstanding,” Morris declared.

He also disclosed that due to the intended realignment of the lands in Numbers 3, 4 and 5 in the 1990s, transports and other forms of titling had been withheld.

The realignment of the lands would make it possible for residents to get titles, and to use these titles as collateral for other economic activities, which would lead to poverty reduction and generation of wealth.

“This matter affects the welfare, wellbeing and development of a large group of rural people, and we are hoping that this will be recognised and attempts made to revive the process of land realignment in these villages,” he said.

Morris said the newly resuscitated Number 5 Village Co-operative will continue to press for a realignment of the agricultural lands of the three villages, so as to make these lands economically viable.

Saturday, April 16, 2016 - 13:30 hrs Sunday, April 17, 2016 - 14:30 hrs Monday, April 18, 2016 - 14:30 hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 16, 2016

Jordan calls for stricter monitoring, evaluation in public sector FINANCE Minister Winston Jordan on Wednesday implored a group of approximately 90 public servants to ensure that monitoring and evaluation are implemented in their duties.

The Minister was at the time addressing the participants of a mini-International Programme for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET) workshop at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal, ECD. The Finance Minister said the APNU+AFC administration is committed to strengthening accountability and transparency. He said it was a promise made to the people of Guyana, and one that will be fulfilled. According to Minister Jordan, each public servant must understand the importance of monitoring and evaluation in relation to accountability and transparency to taxpayers.

“Changing what is known as the public service culture will take some time.

Therefore, I’d expect in the pilot agencies, health and education as well as all other agencies…that sector-wide adaptation of the tools you’ve acquired and learned here,” he said.

He said he would be stressing the importance of monitoring and evaluation with his cabinet colleagues, while stressing that “people must enjoy well delivered services for the taxes that they pay.”

“It is up to you, the public servants, to ensure that we serve them creditably and effectively. Of course there will be missteps along the way, but it should never be in doubt that we, as a government, intend to uphold the highest tenets of good governance and open governance,” the Finance Minister noted.

Government, from the time it has taken office in May 2015, has said that much emphasis will be placed on building a robust public service that places a premium on transparency and reporting that will ensure greater accountability and ultimately

will guide the outputs and outcomes of budget agencies.

Meanwhile, Ray Rist, facilitator of the workshop, noted that the workshop is geared to help public servants understand how to do good monitoring and good evaluation. “We have been talking

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan

good governance.

“While M&E is a relatively new management tool to Guyana, it has been recognised across the globe in both developed and developing countries as one of the most essential elements in ensuring public service and public financial management,” said Jordan.

Though (we are) a country with limited financial resources, the Finance Minister said, it is imperative that value for money is realised.

This, he said, can only be ascertained through targeted and effective programming.

“Even if we had all of the money in the world, still, value for money should not be a concept that should be lost.

It is not so much how much we spend, but how much we get out of what we spend,” he explained.

He added that his administration would ensure that monitoring and evaluation are institutionalised across central government.

Thus far, some 900 public servants have been trained in monitoring and evaluation, and the Finance Minister believes that a “special session” should be arranged and dedicated to showcasing the changes that are being made in the institutions that they represent.

Jordan believes that monitoring and evaluation need to be viewed within the wider context of results-based management, and noted that M&E

about how to build a good monitoring system, how to start designing the evaluation system,” he said.

Additionally, Dr Rist said the workshop is aimed at obtaining good measurements, good data, and being able to produce a good analysis.

“We are now working on how to build the theory of change…so any programme we start, we know of the potentiality,” the facilitator added.

He was joined by Dr Linda Mora Imas.

The workshop, which

is being held in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), began on April 11 and will conclude on Friday. It represents the 18th one-week workshop hosted by the Ministry of Finance.

Drugs and a Gentle suspicious metal pipe earn him three years F

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday April 16, 2016

…Fire Chief urges deeper probe into death of two Camp St inmates

By Ariana Gordon

AN ALBOUYSTOWN resident took full responsibility for having in his possession narcotics and utensils for use in the smoking of the drug.

Twenty-eight-year-old Shawn Peters of Callender Street, Albouystown, admitted to the charge which stated that on April 12, 2016, he had in his possession one gram of cannabis (marijuana) and one gram of cocaine. Peters also admitted to the charge of possession of utensils for use in the smoking of the narcotics, that is to say one improvised metal pipe.

Police prosecutor Michael Grant stated that on the day in question, police officers saw the defendant, who is known to them, when they were on patrol in the Albouystown area.

He was stopped and they told him that they suspected that he had drugs and defendant granted the officers permission to conduct a search of his person.

The officers found the articles mentioned in a piece of greaseproof paper, which contained leaves, seed and stems and a whitish powdery substance. They also found an improvised metal pipe, which is used for the smoking of narcotics.

The contents of the parcel were weighed and tested positive for the said drugs.

Magistrate Annette Singh fined him $3,000 for the possession of cannabis, $10,000 and three years imprisonment for the possession of cocaine and $6,000 and one year for the improvised pipe. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Remanded on drugs charge

THIRTY-EIGHT-year-old sub- contractor Denzel Braithwaite was yesterday remanded to prison by Magistrate Fabayo Azore after he was charged with possession of narcotics.

The East Ruimveldt resident denied the charge, which stated that on April 13, 2016, he had in his possession 112 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The facts presented to the court by the police prosecutor stated that on the day in question, the police carried out an exercise in East Ruimveldt and the drugs were found. The defendant was told of the allegation and he admitted that the drugs were his.

The prosecutor told the court that other persons were in the house at the time of the search and they were also arrested. When the accused admitted that the drugs belonged to him, the others were released.

Braithwaite returns to court on April, 29, 2016.

Labourer on $200,000 bail

A LABOURER was yesterday placed on $200,000 bail after appearing before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, accused of assault causing actual bodily harm to two persons in the Rupununi district.

Twenty–three-year-old Chris Baird of Parika, East Bank Essequibo, denied the allegation which stated that on April 10, 2016, in Central Rupununi, he unlawfully and maliciously inflicted grievous bodily harm to one Linden West.

Baird was also charged with unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm to Amanda Campbell.

This incident also took place on April 10, 2016 at Central Rupununi.

The prosecution did not object to bail and the matter was adjourned to May 3, 2016.

IRE Chief Marlon Gentle is urging a deeper investigation into the deaths of two of the 17 inmates who were killed in the recent Camp Street Prison riot.

He made the call during the second day of his testimony before the three-man Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Georgetown Prison riot. Gentle suggested that there be deeper investigation into the deaths of two of the 17 inmates who died during the riot on March 3. He said he did not visit the fire scene, but noted that from reports he received from his subordinates, an investigation should be conducted into the deaths of two prisoners, whose bodies were severely dismembered.

Describing the scene at the Capital ‘A’ Division as horrible, the Fire Chief said that one body was found headless, while another was found with its intestines protruding. This is not the first time that testimony was given before the Commission regarding the headless body.

“One body with the head removed from the torso at variant or good distance away…One body hunched

on a toilet set with the insides out…the last two I alluded to need some more investigation,” said the Fire Chief.

Gentle, who worked for 15 years as a fire investigator, told the Commission that there is no way that the fire could have caused the head to come off of the torso, or intestines to protrude from the body.

Asked by Attorney for the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Police Force, Eusi Anderson, to explain why he sees the need for additional investigation, Gentle replied, “I am a trained fire investigator. I was trained at the Ontario Fire College…15 years (were) spent in investigation.

The degree of destruction of the bodies and level of injuries…a head detached from body…the degree of damage from what I suspect it to be… even the violence of the mini explosion, the body is not supposed to lose internals.”

The Fire Chief provided his “honest opinion” on the situation. He said, “I believe, in my own honest opinion, that both of the bodies would have suffered other types of trauma than the fire; they were subjected to some level of force due to striking or stabbing or something.”

He said he found the scent

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle takes the oath on Thursday before giving his testimony before the CoI

‘ Mutts’ shot and buried in shallow grave THE mixed jury in the Linden murder trial heard from a caution statement that the accused Lakeraj Fredericks had said that following a row over marijuana, Clifton Bonus, called ‘Mutts,’ 21, was shot to death and later buried in a shallow grave.

A voir dire held by the judge to determine admissibility disclosed that the accused in a caution statement admitted shooting ‘Mutts’ in the head, but declared , “he din dead.”

Lakeraj in his statement added, “I gave back the gun to Ronaldo and Ronaldo shot him dead.

The caution statement by the accused went on to say how he pleaded with others for help to bury

‘Mutts.’

The jury heard that in the caution statement to Policeman Yorrick the accused had said: “Me and Blamie fetch ‘Mutts’ body and Boy fetch the shovel and we dig a hole and bury ‘Mutts’ by a hill foot behind the same old airstrip at Linden. “ On the same day me and Blamie went to Blamie’s family house at Garden of Eden. “ I want to say that I cut and gave ‘Mutts’ a farm to plant marijuana, because he is my brother-in-law and he had his own seed.

I never trouble his seed.

He took my seed and my weed and when I told him about it he stopped talking to me.”

When the hearing con-

tinued at the Demerara Assizes yesterday before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and a mixed jury, retired Detective Sgt.Trotman, who had witnessed the statement, testified.

Trotman supported the story as told by Yorrick.

State counsel Miss Shonette Austin and Siand Dhurjon are prosecuting.

Attorneys-at-law Lawrence Harris and Hewley Griffith are defending.

The Prosecution is hoping to close its case early next week.

The accused is facing trial for the murder of ‘Mutts,’ whose partly decomposed body was found with gunshot injuries to the head in June, 2011 Fredericks, 36, has

pleaded not guilty The defence lawyers challenged the caution statement which resulted in the judge holding a voir dire ( a trial within a trial ) to determine whether the statement was admissible.

The matter, which was determined by the judge in the absence of the jury, concluded at the smaller trial where the judge announced her findings, which disclosed that the caution statement given to two police officers was admissible in evidence.

The statement was read to the jury by former Police Officer Troy Yorrick, who was attached to the Mackenzie Police Station in 2011.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday April 16, 2016 to be “out of the ordinary,” since the bodies were not only burnt.

Gentle told the Commission that the Capital ‘A’ Division was primarily a concrete structure with galvanised roofing, metal bars, and stairs that were made primarily out of concrete.

Asked whether the building could be described as “combustible,” the Fire Chief said, “No sir, those are low combustibles. “…I have seen a lot of things. The degree of destruction and the level of injuries the bodies would have suffered…the degree of damage that body would have sustained…even with the violence of that explosion, the body is not supposed to…” he added.

Asked to state what would have been responsible for such a highly combustible situation, Gentle said that based on his assessment, “combustible materials such as mattresses, bedding, clothing and the like, that are easily ignitable” were responsible for the fire spiralling out of control.

Additionally, he explained that the fact that there was “limited access” to the interior of the building, it was difficult for the fire to be contained easily. “As the materials ignite and the heat generates, they liberate vapours which are known as fire gases…the flash raises the temperature in that room to over a 1000 degrees in seconds, and that, in my own experience, is what happened,” the Fire Chief stated.

When burned, the com-

bustible materials release a flammable vapour that caused a “flash” that instantaneously spiked the room’s temperature.

The fire of March 3 that resulted in the deaths of 17 inmates was the first experience of its kind for the firefighters; and according to the Fire Chief, not one of his officers could walk away from the incident forgetting what transpired.

Gentle recommended that the Prison Authorities look towards having automated fire suppression systems in the prisons.

Meanwhile, ‘A’ Division Police Commander Clifton Hicken, in his testimony before the Commission, said he believes that the Police Force was too restrained on March 3.

He said that despite complying with the Standard Operating Procedures that govern such operations, “say I think we exercised too much restraint before going into action. I say this because the extent of which the prisoners destroyed the prison and how far they would have gotten, there was likelihood that because we allowed this to develop we could have had an imminent outbreak.”

He said that based on procedure, the Guyana Police Force cannot take control of the Georgetown Prison without the direction of the Director of Prisons. He said, too, that there is a need for a review of the SOPs for the joint services.

“My experience would have taught me that if three

or four was difficult to handle, 100 would make it a more erroneous [sic] task.

There is a reason for the restraint too: we cannot go in unless the Director of Prison decides so…it is his prison, (and) until he asks us to give (his officers) that type of support…”

Asked by Commissioner Dale Erskine whether Director of Prisons Carl Graham had requested assistance from the Police Force, Commander Hicken replied, “We were deliberating all the time, and then it reached to the boiling point; then he said ‘permission granted’.”

Additionally, Commissioner Merle Mendonca, based on Hicken’s statement, asked whether he would act differently if the situation recurs. The ‘A’ Division Commander said, “If I had to do this over, we’d gone in to action before. We are speaking to two things here…they were armed, so we could have had casualties in relation to the joint service….

If this had happened in any other part of the hemisphere, there would have been tragedies.”

Hicken, under examination by Attorney Dexter Todd, said that prisoners had broken out from their cells. “I know that they broke out…I saw that… don’t know where they broke from…we took six prisoners to the hospital… after which I had an update from Deputy Commander…and was told that the barrier was breached and prisoners armed them-

selves and were in the yard.”

He said the prisoners were armed with metal and

other tools, and when the Police arrived, rocks were hurled at them.

The CoI continues to-

day with testimonies from officers of both the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Police Force.

Commander ‘A’ Division Police, Clifton Hicken, makes a point before the CoI into the Georgetown Prison riot of March 3, 2016

Latin America faces policy dilemmas post boom

AS Latin America and the Caribbean enters its fifth year of economic slowdown and its second year of contraction due to an external environment that is particularly adverse to commodity exporters in South America, countries are struggling to find a balance between reducing spending and minimizing its effects on economic activity and hard-won social gains.

As detailed in “The Commodity Cycle in Latin America: Mirages and Dilemmas”, the latest semiannual report by the World Bank’s Chief Economist Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, the region’s economy is expected to contract by 0.9 percent in 2016. The economy of South America, which has borne the brunt of the fall in commodity prices and in Chinese growth, is expected to contract by more than 2 percent this year, on the back of sharp recessions in Brazil and Venezuela. However, in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean — which depend less on commodity exports and are more closely tied to the economic recovery in the United States — growth is expected to remain positive in 2016, coming in at 2.5 percent.

“Manoeuvring space has narrowed sharply for policy

makers –- particularly in South America -– as they find themselves caught up in a dilemma between what they would like to do (stimulate the economy) and what they are compelled to do (reduce spending),” said Augusto de la Torre, World Bank Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean. “In contrast to the global financial crisis of 2008-09, when commodity prices recovered quickly, the region now faces the end of the commodity boom, (which) has caused income and purchasing power to fall in a rather durable way.”

The report recognizes that, while transitory, the commodity boom had a real and positive impact on the lives of poor consumers, ushering in an unprecedented social transformation that cut poverty in half and swelled the ranks of the middle class. At the same time, the windfall from the boom produced a “mirage effect”, one that led many in Latin America to spend beyond their means and save at insufficient levels.

A major lesson of the report is the role a country’s saving rate can play in helping to mitigate the economic impact of a decline in commodity prices. Today, countries that saved less during the boom tend to have higher sov-

ereign risk, which makes it more costly to access external finance. Countries that saved at a higher rate, by contrast, tend to have easier access to external finance, and can more gradually transition to the new fiscal reality created by lower export revenues.

Looking forward, the report points out that commodity exporting countries would benefit from reforms that increase savings, boost productivity, and strengthen longterm growth.

Additional emphasis should be placed on building skills, and reducing obstacles to economic activity, such as poor infrastructure and inflexible labour or financial regulations. But considering that benefits from such reforms will take time, the report also advocates a policy agenda that balances the need to stimulate economic activity in the short-term with the imperative of preserving macroeconomic stability.

In pursing this agenda, policymakers should strive to gradually implement fiscal adjustments over time, and to protect the poor by fairly distributing the pain of necessary spending cuts among all segments of society.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 16, 2016

PPP criticises merger of LBI, Enmore estates ‒ even though it had approved the merger when in power

THE opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has criticised the move by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to go ahead with the merger of the LBI and Enmore estates.

On Thursday, GuySuCo took a decision to merge the operations at the LBI estate with those at Enmore, in an attempt to cut production costs and develop the East Demerara estate.

The decision was confirmed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the corporation, Errol Hanoman, who explained that in 2011, when the LBI factory was closed, the operations there were to be integrated with those at Enmore.

However, he noted that the integration process had been stymied for a number of reasons over the years, and this led to there being two operational departments at the estates.

These included the field workshop, mill dock, field lab, stores, and administra-

tive office.

“In 2011, the estates should have been properly integrated… so therefore, our move to close one of each of those listed things is just a continuation to the integration process which started in 2011,” Hanoman said.

He further revealed that over the years, compared to Albion which produces at least 60,000 tonnes of sugar annually, the East Demerara Estate has been able to produce only 29,000, despite having two of each department.

And this, the CEO related, led to the cost of production “blowing through the roof.”

As such, he noted that the integration process can now aid in improving the production of the East Demerara Estate (merger of LBI and Enmore) and cut production costs, while also saving some estates.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) has called

the merger of the two estates as a “closure” which is bound to adversely affect workers, some of which the union currently represents.

Hanoman explained though, that with regard to the workforce, it must be acknowledged that there is only one estate, and the personnel from LBI, if they become a surplus relative to requirements at the East Demerara Estate, then GuySuCo will have to pay them severance and declare them redundant.

“However, if there are vacancies at the East Demerara estate, they will have first preference to fill them,” he said.

Nevertheless, the opposition party which has over the years held a strong support base among sugar workers, stated that GuySuCo’s attempt at cloaking the move to close another sugar estate as plans at “consolidating,” “integrating” and “merging” the East Demerara estates is “unacceptable.”

Earlier in the year, GuySuCo announced its intention

The PPP has criticised the move by GuySuCo to go ahead with the merger of the LBI and Enmore estates

to close down the Wales estate at the end of this year, given the fact that the estate has served as more of a liability than an asset.

Under the PPP administration, a decision was made to merge the two estates, and GuySuCo is going ahead with the decision.

But the opposition party will have none of it.

“The PPP is of the view

that collateral damage will result unquestionably; with sugar workers in particular and workers in general from other related industrial activities and service providers being seriously affected in the same way as the workers at Wales Estate,” the PPP said in a statement.

However, the party noted that it will continue to lend “firm and unshakeable sup-

port” and solidarity to sugar workers and their trade unions in their struggle to save the sugar industry.

The LBI factory was closed under the PPP administration in 2011 and the merging of these operations were expected to commence immediately, but Hanoman said it had been delayed for some reason or the other.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday April 16, 2016

Berbice suffer embarrassing innings defeat to Essequibo

By Rajiv Bisnauth

DEFENDING champions Berbice crumbled to a pathetic innings-and-60run defeat to Essequibo in their opening round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)-sponsored Hand-inHand Insurance Company Under-19 three-day cricket tournament yesterday, at the Enterprise Busta Sports Club.

Made to follow-on, their second innings unfolded as a horror show for the Berbicians. They fared even worse and were wiped out for 93 in 40 overs with off-spinner Looknauth Chinkoo being the chief destroyer bagging 5-35, to finish with a match-haul of 8-74.

However, it was Keemo Paul who was awarded Man-of-the-Match for his all-round effort.

Joel Seetram 18 and Ritesh Omroa 11 were the only Berbice batsmen into double figures in their second innings.

Resuming on 71-5, 79

runs to avoid the follow-on, Berbice had the worst of starts.

Overnight batsman Joshua Harrichand was removed by Chinkoo for 33 inside the third over of the day.

Fast-rising medium pacer, Paul, who resumed the day with two wickets, went on not only to make the second breakthrough of the day, when he bowled Sasenarine Sookhoo (1), but also to finish the innings with figures of 4-13 in 11.3 overs.

Chinkoo further dented Berbice with the wickets of Omroa (4) and Nicholas Seenarine (6), to end with figures of 3-39.

Paul then bowled Sylus Tyndall for two to close the innings, 46 minutes into the day’s play, with Berbice managing to add only 22 runs in 13 overs.

Left-arm spinner Akenie Adams, who was the architect in Berbice’s batting meltdown late on day two finished with 3-14.

Faced with a deficit of 153, Berbice displayed little character after they were asked to follow-on.

Their chronically weak batting imploded again, and by the lunch interval they had lost five wickets for just 47.

The 17-year-old Chinkoo sliced through the top order, claiming the wickets of Harrichand (3), Matthew Hardial (5) and Brandon Prashad (0).

However, it was pacer Reaz Khan, who started the misery for Berbice when he had Adrian Sukwah (6) caught

by Keemo Paul in the slips after the ball rebounded from wicketkeeper Nathan Persaud.

Fellow opener Omroa was among the five wickets to fall during that period.

After the interval, Berbice lost their last five wickets in another disastrous period, with Chinkoo, Adams and Paul sharing the final five wickets.

Adams ended with figures of 2-12, while Paul and Khan were the other successful second-innings bowlers.

Meanwhile, in the other first-round game; Demerara whipped the Select Under-17 team by seven wickets.

(Scores in the match: Select Under-17 90 and 160; Demerara 190 and 62-3).

The second round is scheduled to commence tomorrow with Demerara playing Berbice at Everest and Essequibo opposing the Select Under-17 at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday April 16, 2016

NBA playoffs open today ...

Warriors look to cap magical season with title run

By Jahmal Corner

(REUTERS) - WHEN the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls set the former record of 72 wins in one season they coined an accompanying phrase: “72-10 don’t mean a thing without the ring.”

The Golden State Warriors are inclined to agree, and as the NBA playoffs open today they know their historic 73-win regular season will lose its lustre unless they end the campaign with championship jewellery.

Golden State have been compared to those Michael Jordan-led Bulls all season long, with many former greats proclaiming the Warriors could not have stood the test of past eras.

Hall-of-Famer Scottie Pippen, for one, stated that his former Chicago team would sweep the current Warriors team in a mythical series matchup.

Shrugging off such a hypothetical, Golden State, whose coach Steve Kerr played on the 72-win Bulls team, have a chance to put their stamp on the current generation and will begin their title defence against the Houston Rockets today.

“With Pippen coming out and saying what he said, that’s cool. We respect those guys (on that team),” Golden State forward Draymond Green told reporters. “We’ve got one of them in our locker room.”

The Eastern Conference’s

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry celebrates against the Washington Wizards, March 29, 2016. (Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports) Cleveland Cavaliers would love a return trip to the NBA Finals and a rematch with the Warriors but must first steady their bumpy ride.

Cleveland’s LeBron James has been at the centre of the team’s drama beginning when they fired coach David Blatt midway the season despite leading the Eastern Conference.

The standout trio of James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love have yet to reach the potential imagined when they teamed up last season and James has romanticised about joining forces with opposing All-Stars, bringing into question the Cavs’ chemistry.

Despite that, Cleveland are the heavy favourite to win the East and James, looking

to reach a sixth straight NBA Final, insists he is intently focused on leading these Cavs.

“It’s a mind switch. I’m going to the gym even more,” James said. “Dialling in even more to focusing on what I need to do for us to be better.”

The Toronto Raptors, powered by an All-Star backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, are the main threat to Cleveland while the third-seeded Miami Heat are an intriguing bunch who were bolstered by the acquisition of sharpshooter Joe Johnson in February.

The health of Miami AllStar Chris Bosh remains a critical mystery, however. He has been sidelined since February due to a recurring blood clot issue and his return remains in question.

Atlanta will attempt to build on last season’s run to the conference final, while the scrappy Boston Celtics will not be a pushover opponent.

In the West, the San Antonio Spurs remain the experienced model of consistency and are ready to chase a sixth championship banner with a reloaded roster.

Veterans LaMarcus Aldridge, David West and Kevin Martin will attempt to mesh their talents with coach Gregg Popovich’s proven game plan.

Oklahoma City are facing their first postseason with new coach Billy Donovan along with the pressures of prevailing in the final year before star Kevin Durant becomes a free agent.

Durant and triple-double machine Russell Westbrook are a battle-tested duo but the clock is ticking on a partnership that has not reached the Finals since 2012.

The Los Angeles Clippers are hoping the return of forward Blake Griffin can ignite their championship hopes.

Griffin missed 45 straight games due to injury and suspension and his return makes the Clippers a dangerous foe.

But the spotlight will be on the Warriors as they look to again walk in the footsteps of those old Bulls who inevitably closed the season with ‘the ring.’

England captain spoken to by ECB over helmet design

ENGLAND captain Alastair Cook has been spoken to by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) following his decision to defy new helmet rules.

The model worn by Essex’s Cook in the Division Two win over Gloucestershire has an adjustable grille and a large gap between peak and grille.

This contravenes new regulations brought in following facial injuries to Stuart Broad and Craig Kieswetter.

Cook could face censure if he continues to wear the old helmet.

Umpires have been told not to allow players on to

Alastair Cook’s current helmet has too large a gap between the peak and grille. the field with non-compliant helmets, and they can also refer the case to the cricket discipline commission.

Cook has been made

available for Essex’s first four County Championship matches before he is due to captain England in the first Test of the summer, against

Sri Lanka at Headingley on May 19.

Cook’s Essex team-mate Ravi Bopara told Sky Sports News the new design was hard for batsmen to get used to.

“It is tough to start using those helmets - you do lose the ball for that less than a split-second, and that makes a whole load of difference to a lot of players,” he said.

“I understand where Cookie’s coming from. But when it comes to the guidelines and safety, we all have to be aware of that.” (BBC Sport)

Guyana, Canada international football friendly launched

By Michael DaSilva THE Golden Jaguars versus Canada international friendly football match was launched yesterday in the boardroom of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Dadanawa Street, Campbellville.

The event, which will be played on May 15 at the Guyana National Stadium, is being staged to commemorate Guyana’s 50th year of independence as well as to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations between Guyana and Canada.

Present at yesterday’s launch were Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana Pierre Giroux, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) president Wayne Forde, Guyana Jaguars head coach and Technical Director Jamal Shabazz and Golden Jaguars midfielder Eon Alleyne.

In very brief remarks, the Canadian High Commissioner said he and his country welcome the initiative, since, as Guyana celebrates its 50th anniversary as an independent nation, it is also the 50th year that Guyana and Canada have been sharing diplomatic relations.

The High Commissioner revealed that there are about 200 000 Guyanese living in Canada and added that the game between Canada’s Olympic Qualifying Under-23 team and the Golden Jaguars will be a long-term relationship and he is keenly looking forward to it, as he knows it will be very exciting.

GFF president Forde, on the other hand, said it was a pleasant feeling when the Government of Guyana contacted the GFF and requested that

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the Federation should organise an international friendly to mark Guyana’s 50th Independence celebration.

Forde said he immediately made contact with GFF’s Football Ambassador and Canada’s Football Hall-of-Famer Alex Bunbury, who, according to Forde immediately made contact with the Canadian Ambassador, who readily agreed to the proposal of having the Canadian Under-23 Olympic team visit Guyana for the event. “And here we are today”, Forde stated.

Asked who will be funding the event, Forde informed that the event is a collaborative one between the GFF and the Canadian Embassy and the Guyana Government will not be burdened with any expense.

Forde called on all Guyanese to rally around the Jaguars, come May 15.

The Golden Jaguars Technical Director, Trinidadian Shabazz said it is a great feeling to have a game lined up against Canada’s national Under-23 team since it will give the Jaguars an opportunity to test themselves. It will also prepare the locals for their Scotiabank Caribbean Football Union’s Cup. Shabaaz thanked the Guyana Government for including football as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Alleyne, in very brief remarks, said at the moment he was very excited to be a part of the team that will oppose the Canadians. It was always his dream to represent Guyana at such a level.

“I never thought I would have achieved this. It’s a dream come true,” Alleyne, the Fruta Conquerors player stated.

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33

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday April 16, 2016

Mishra, de Kock deliver first Daredevils victory

A FINE cocktail of experience and youth delivered to Delhi Daredevils their first victory of the IPL season.

The old boys – leg-spinner Amit Mishra, featuring in his 100th IPL match, and captain Zaheer Khan led the way with the ball, smothering Kings XI Punjab to 111 for 9.

The bowlers then ceded the stage to opener Quinton de Kock and Sanju Samson who added 91 together in 64 balls to put Daredevils on course.

Scores: Delhi Daredevils 113 for 2 (de Kock 59*, Samson 33) beat Kings XI Punjab 111 for 9 (Vohra 32, Mishra 4-11) by eight wickets.

When Pawan Negi slugged Paredeep Sahu over the midwicket boundary for a six, halfway into the 14th over, Daredevils had won by

eight wickets.

While Zaheer gave his team the early spark after choosing to bowl on what he called a “slow surface”, Mishra pierced through Kings XI’s middle order with dip, turn, and sometimes, even lack of turn.

Mishra had Shaun Marsh stumped off his first ball, then he dismissed David Miller and Glenn Maxwell in the same over and broke the opposition’s spine.

His bowling was envenomed by Daredevils captain Zaheer Khan, placing a slip and at times a short let to capitalise on the nervous batsmen. Daredevils built on the double-strike and sent in six boundary-less overs between the ninth and 14th. It was during this phase that Mishra rattled Manan Vohra’s leg stump with a

Player-of-the-match Amit Mishra is pumped up after claiming another wicket. Mishra’s final figures read 3-0-11-4 in his 100th IPL match. wrong’ un to claim his fourth Kings XI’s struggles wicket in three overs. Zaheer were not restricted to spin did not call on Mishra to bowling though. Zaheer, who bowl any further. had conceded he had “tried

too much” in the first match against Kolkata Knight Riders, found swing right away yesterday. His first ball moved back in and had the extra bounce to rap M. Vijay high on the pad.

That meant the balls that went on with the angle across the right-hander became all the more effective. Zaheer teased the outside edge regularly in his first spell before coming back to have his reward when Mohit Sharma skied one to Chris Morris at mid-off.

Morris did his part as well with the ball, hustling the opposition with his pace.

Off-spinner Jayant Yadav also benefited from the cushion and strung together four quiet overs.

Mohit and Mitchell Johnson, though, swung their bats at the back end to push Kings

XI past 100.

Kings XI made life easier for Daredevils in the chase. de Kock was reprieved twice.

M. Vijay dropped him at deep square leg on 7, before Wriddhiman Saha botched a stumping chase on 23 in the eighth over de Kock, who was becalmed in the Powerplay, hit rhythm in the following over, cracking three fours off Axar Patel.

Sanju Samson, who was hiked to No.3, came in at the early fall of Shreyas Iyer - given out caught-behind despite the Snicko picking up nothing - took nine balls to get off the mark.

He manufactured the release when he galloped down the track and put leg-spinner Pardeep Sahu over long-on..(ESPN Cricinfo).

Griffith, Hick named as All-Madrid Champions League final still possible Australia coaches for ODI series (REUTERS) - A repeat of the 2014 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid is still possible after yesterday’s semi-final draw.

Real, who won that game 4-1 after extra-time, will play first-time semi-finalists Manchester City, with the first leg in north-west England.

Atletico, who beat holders Barcelona in the last eight, host Bayern Munich in their first leg.

Bayern manager Pep Guardiola misses what would have been a difficult semi-final for him personally against City, the Premier League side he will take charge of next season.

“It’s a great tie against the team that have won the competition the most times,” Txiki Begiristain, Manchester City’s sporting director, told reporters.

“But we have got this far and we want to keep dreaming.

“I think that Madrid are the favourites. They have been in the semi-finals 27 times, six in a row. But Paris (St Germain) were also a great team and we were able to knock them out.”

Real, record 10-time champions, are unbeaten in their last eight games against English clubs. Their only previous tie against City

came in 2012 when the Spanish side won 3-2 at home before drawing 1-1 in Manchester.

For Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a hat-trick to win the quarter-final against Vfl Wolfsburg, it will be another return to Manchester, where he spent six years with United before moving to Spain in 2009.

The Madrid manager at that time was Manuel Pellegrini, now in charge at City until Guardiola replaces him.

The Chilean was sacked

by Real after only one season but denied that would be any extra motivation.

“More motivation is to be playing in the semi-final of the Champions League, the most important competition in the world for clubs,” he said, adding that City would have preferred to be at home in the second leg.

GAME WINNERS Emilio Butragueno,” Real’s head of public relations, said that in Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne, City had players to win a game on their own.

“It’s their first semi-final and they are anxious to do something big in Europe,” he added.

“We’ll have to be at our best in the two games. Last year also people said we were lucky when we got Ju-

ventus and we were knocked out. The two games are going to be very tight.”

Head coach Zinedine Zidane also dismissed talk of a lucky draw.

“I don’t agree that Madrid always get easy draws,” he said. “Roma, City and Wolfsburg are very good teams. It’s a semi-final, it’s going to be a very very difficult game.

“The only thing that’s positive is that we are playing the second leg at home.

But it’s going to be a very difficult tie, a brutal tie.”

The only time Atletico have met Bayern was in the 1974 final, when the German side won 4-0 in a replay after a 1-1 draw.

“A team that eliminates the title-holders has to be taken very, very seriously,” said Bayern board member Andreas Jung.

“We face a tough rival,” said the German club’s midfielder Javi Martinez.

Jose Luis Caminero, Atletico’s sporting director and former player, described the tie as “complicated” but promised the Spanish side would “compete to our maximum as we always do”.

City will host Real on April 26 and Atletico face Bayern the following evening.

The final is in Milan on May 28.

(REUTERS) - Western Australia bowling coach Adam Griffith and former England batsman Graham Hick will join the Australian side temporarily for their one-day triangular series in the West Indies in June, Cricket Australia said yesterday.

Justin Langer will take the side to the Caribbean to give regular head coach Darren Lehmann a break, before their tour of Sri Lanka in July and August.

“We are excited to have Adam join the team for the tour of the West Indies,” Lehmann said of Griffith’s appointment for the June 3-26 tournament, which also includes South Africa.

“West Australia has some talented young fast-bowlers who have developed under Adam’s watch and it’s great to be able

Thirty-eight year-old Andy Griffith played 50 first-class matches for Tasmania.

to offer him the chance to work with the Australian side under Justin Langer.”

Australia are looking for a full-time bowling coach after former international quick Craig

McDermott stepped down following the World Twenty20 tournament in India earlier this month.

The 38-year-old Griffith played 50 first-class matches for Tasmania as a right-arm fast-medium bowler but his career was curtailed with serious injuries before he retired in 2010 and took up a coaching role at Western Australia in 2011.

“The opportunity to work with Australia’s premium bowlers is incredibly exciting,” Griffith said.

“The West Indies and South Africa have some of the most destructive white ball batters in the world and preparing to play them in Caribbean conditions will be a great challenge.”

Buxton Stars, Paradise clash in EDFA Jubilee U-17 final today THE final of the East Coast Demerara Association (EDFA) Jubilee U-17 Tournament will be played today between Buxton Stars Football Club and Paradise Football Club at the Golden Grove ground beginning at 15:30hrs.

Buxton will rely heavily on the skilful Shemar Scott who will be supported by Rashleigh Quintyn, Glenford Osborne and Isaiah Lewis among others.

Paradise’s challenge will centre on Teshawn Stewart, Dion Austin, Charles Ingram,

Colin Hendricks and Shamar James. Before the final kicks off the third place clash will pit arch rivals Golden Stars of Golden Grove and the mighty Victoria Kings. This game will commence at 13:30h.

The winning team will receive a trophy donated by Trophy Stall of Bourda Market while the teams placing second and third will receive trophies donated by the Ministry of Education Department of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Medals donated by the GFF will be presented to the

teams finishing first to third.

The MVP, highest goalscorer and best goalkeeper will all be receiving prizes.

The competition got underway on March 26 and saw some nine teams participate, The others are Plaisance Panthers, BV/Triumph United, Buxton Youth Developers, Ann’s Grove and Mahaica Determinators.

Teams were placed into three groups with the winners and best second-place finishers making it to the semi-finals.

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday April 16, 2016

Berbice League approves rule to put ads on jerseys starting in 2017 Football League continues this weekend with two matches

Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20), forward Josh McRoberts (4) and guard Josh Richardson (0) walk off the court during the first half of a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. (Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports)

Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club to stage Gymkhana on May 8

THE Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club will stage a Gymkhana on May 8 at the Club’s facility, Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice beginning at 12:30hrs.

According to a release, the events listed to be contested include horse, donkey and flat races as well as bicycle and motor cycle races (under 100cc).

There will also be climbing the greasy pole, dancing, bun-eating race and tug-o-war among other activities.

Music will be supplied by Diplomatic Links Sound System and admission to the venue is $500 for adults and $200 for children.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday April 16, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) David Warner-562 runs (Sunrisers Hyderabad) (2) Dwayne Bravo-26 wickets (CSK) Today’s Quiz: (1) Which wicketkeeper effected most dismissals in last season’s IPL? How many?

(2) What was the highest individual score recorded in last season’s IPL? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

(REUTERS) - NATIONAL Basketball Association teams will be able to sell advertising space on their jerseys starting from the 2017-18 season, the league said yesterday.

The NBA, which is the first major North American sports league to announce plans to put ads on jerseys, said a small patch will appear on the front left of the game jerseys as part of a three-year pilot programme.

The NBA’s 30 teams will be responsible for selling their own jersey sponsorships and the patches will measure approximately 2.5 inches by 2.5 inches, the league said in a statement.

“Jersey sponsorships provide deeper engagement with partners looking to build a unique association with our teams and the additional investment will help grow the game in exciting new ways,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said.

THE 2016 Berbice Football League will continue over the weekend with two matches at different venues, beginning at 16:00hrs each day.

According to the fixtures, Mahaicony FC will host Hopetown United at the Mahaicony Sports Club ground today and tomorrow, Rosignol United face Paradise Invaders at the Rosignol ground.

According to a Berbice Foot6ball Association (BFA) release, the association, in an effort to keep senior football alive in Berbice, and with no sponsors on board, the BFA with its members agreed to organise a league in a self-funding manner, where the team covers the cost.

It stated that in order to reduce costs, there will be three leagues; the West Berbice League, the New Amsterdam League and the Corentyne League. The winners of each league will meet in a round-robin play-off to determine the overall Berbice champions.

Meanwhile, action in the West Berbice League started last Saturday with Mahaicony FC, newcomers to the BFA, taking on the newly-reformed Paradise Invaders FC at the Mahaicony Sports Ground.

Paradise Invaders won the game 2-0 with goals from Vaughn Williams (41st minute) and Javell Fraser (64th).

The following day (Sunday), the action continued at the Rosignol ground where home-team Rosignol United took on the other newcomers to the BFA, Hopetown United Rangers, but the spirited newcomers were no real match for the once-champions of Berbice Rosignol United who won the game 6-1 with goals from Shane Gangoo (8th & 17th), Marlon Nicholson (25th & 38th), Cornell Taylor (48th) and Gladston Green from the penalty spot in the 70th min.

NOTABLE DATES

VIVIAN Harris remained unbeaten when Puerto Rican Hector Arroyo retired at the end of round two on April 16, 1999. The fight was held at the Grand Casino in Mississippi and was the second that year for Harris.

The result provided the 12th stoppage in 13 fights for the 20-year-old Harris who was handed the appropriate pseudonym `Vicious’. Born in Guyana on June 17, 1978 Ivan Vivian Harris was a tough amateur whose career brought him 45 victories and five defeats.

He turned pro in 1997 and was undefeated in 16 fights when he met Ray Oliveira on February 25, 2000 in Rhode Island. The more experienced Oliveira was adjudged the winner by a unanimous decision.

Undaunted, the orthodox Harris had six more fights before securing his first world

Vivian Harris

title contest.

The hard-hitting Guyanese was crowned World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Association (IBA) junior welterweight champion on October 19th 2002 after a second-round technical knockout of champion Diosbelys Hurtado in Huston, Texas.

Harris was 24 years old then and the victory paved the way for him to be labelled the youngest Guyanese to win a world title.

Harris had three successful defences but was then dethroned by little-known Colombian Carlos Maussa via seventh round knockout in June 2005.

The talented Guyanese secured three victories, before unsuccessfully challenging Junior Witter of England for the WBC junior welterweight title in September 2007.

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday April 16, 2016

Golden Jubilee Relay Fair kicks off THE Ministry of Education’s inaugural Relay Fair kicked off yesterday at the Leonora National Track on the West Coast of Demerara.

The festival was well attended by schools from the athletic districts in Guyana. The March Past of Athletes was the first item on the programme featuring all schools present. It was then followed by the National Pledge after which Ms Desiree Wyles-Ogles, Ministry of Education Administrator,

CEO Olato Sam takes the salute at the march past of athletes.(Adrian Narine photo)

made opening remarks.

She stated that the festival is a great initiative and was happy to be a part of it.

The West Demerara school band entertained the crowd.

Chief Education Officer Olato Sam declared the festival officially open by stating: “We are proud of our students and our athletes taking part and hopefully this initiative can spark many more of its kind.

“To all the athletes and teams, good luck.”

Cameron, Pybus relationship soured after suspension - Simmons WEST Indies coach Phil Simmons has hinted that the fallout of his suspension and subsequent re-instatement last year had led to a frosty relation-

ship with WICB president Dave Cameron and director of cricket Richard Pybus.

Simmons was suspended indefinitely in September of

NAFWF `Revival of Women’s Football Tournament starts today THE National Association for Women’s Football (NAFWF) will commence its `Revival of Women’s Football Tournament’ today at the Tucville Community Centre ground from 10:00hrs.

The NAFWF, an affiliated member of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), with the primary purpose to aid in the development of women in football across Guyana, has organised the two-day tournament with the support of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples and the GFF. This event will see the participation of women’s teams from across Guyana including Essequibo, Berbice, Bartica, Linden and Lethem in a two-day sevena-side event which is geared at regenerating media and stakeholder interest in supporting the development of young girls and women through football.

The participating teams are: Fruta Conqueror FC ‘A’, `B’ and `C’ (G/town), Foxy Ladies FC (West Dem), New Amsterdam Warriors FC (East Berbice), West Side Conquerors FC (West Berbice), Demerara Queens (Linden), Piaomak Warriors (Lethem), Essequibo Warriors (Essequibo) and Striking Dolls (Bartica).

Each team will be placed in two groups of five for a round-robin stage with the top two teams in each group going on to the knockout stage.

Group one comprises Eagles `1’, Foxy Ladies, NA United, Bartica and Essequibo, while Group two will see Eagles `2’ and `3’ as well as West Side, Demerara Queens and Lethem.

last year after making allegations that the regional team’s selection process was subject to outside interference.

According to reports the coach when called upon to justify his claims then provided detailed accounts of what he believed to be interference in the selection process on the path of both Pybus and Cameron.

Simmons, who also apologised for his actions, was subsequently reinstated in November of last year, but claims things were never the same.

“It’s sad because this

Dave Cameron

is not about him or me; this is about West Indies cricket. There has not even been any personal or team congratulatory message on the World Cup win,” Simmons said in reference to Pybus. The coach outlined it was a similarly icy relationship with Cameron.

“It is the same thing.

It was good when I first came in. I would get the occasional text message and I earned a big hug when we won the Test match in Barbados against England,” Simmons said.

“But since my suspension there has been no communication, not verbal nor written, and again no congratulatory message,” he added.

“West Indies cricket means more to me than anything else. Especially working with the younger players, getting them to understand what they have to do at the international level keeps my head up all the time.”

“My professionalism also helps me to continually put in my best in my job.” (Sportsmax.com)

reprimand from the association following the incident and is currently the subject of an ongoing investigation.

The Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) president, who has denied wrongdoing in the incident, has also questioned the timing of the suspension.

“Mr Domenico Scala cited a November 17, 2011 reprimand following the bin Hammam matter, for which I was fined CHF 300, and an ongoing investigation that began over a year ago, on March 6, 2015. I find it curious that the reprimand of 2011 was too minute to warrant an appeal and further that

the principal person in the matter was vindicated upon his appeal; yet this was deemed significant enough to derail my candidacy,” Derrick said in a statement.

“It is equally interesting that the investigation opened against me by the FIFA Ethics Committee has been prolonged for over a year and was used as the second plank upon which I was disqualified.

Given the series of events leading up to this announcement, I am not surprised, but I am nonetheless disappointed and concerned,” Derrick added. (Sportsmax.com)

CFU boss mulls taking FIFA ban to CAS

CARIBBEAN Football United (CFU) president Gordon Derrick will consider taking an appeal of FIFA’s ruling, declaring his ineligibility to contest the CONCACAF presidential elections to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Derrick was barred from the possibility of becoming a vice-president by FIFA ethics committee, a position automatically accorded to the CONCACAF president.

The ban, in effect, would make it pointless for Derrick to contest the election.

The reason for preventing the Caribbean official from taking up the post

CFU president Gordon Derrick stems back to the 2011 cashfor-votes scandal.

Derrick was one of several officials to receive a

Golden Jubilee Relay Fair kicks off See Story on page 35

Guyana, Canada international football friendly launched

(See Story on page 32) Sitting at the head table at yesterday’s launch of the Golden Jaguars versus Canada National Under-23 football team are, from left, Golden Jaguars midfielder Eon Alleyne GFF Technical Director Jamal Shabazz, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Pierre Giroux and GFF president Wayne Forde. (Delano Williams photo)

Berbice suffer embarrassing innings defeat to Essequibo

… Demerara beat Select U-17 by seven wickets

Edghill, Johnson strike gold in the Dominican Republic

GUYANA’S 18 years and under Junior Boys doubles pair of Kyle Edghill and Elishaba Johnson secured gold for Guyana in the Boys 18 years doubles event at the 21st 2016 Caribbean Junior & Cadet Table Tennis Championships being held in the Dominican Republic.

The pair stormed to the title when they overcame the pair of Aaron Wilson and Joshua Maxwell of Trinidad

and Tobago in the final by a 3-1 margin.

The duo, after losing the first game in the semi-final round, defeated the number 1 pair from the Dominican Republic by a 3-0 margin in a thrilling high intensity encounter.

The newly formed pair of Shemar Britton and Miguel Wong lost in the second round to finalists Arron Wilson and Joshua Maxwell (T&T) by a close 3-1 scoreline.

The team have now added gold to their earlier silver medal, secured in the team events which concluded yesterday.

This now guarantees Guyana’s team qualification into the first Pan American Junior and Cadet Championships scheduled for June 25-30 in Vancouver, Canada The team now hunt g o l d i n t h e i n d i v i d ual events starting today.

(Stephan Sookram)

Kyle Edghill

(See Story on page 31)

Off-spinner Looknauth Chinkoo finishes with a match-haul of 8-74.

Keemo Paul collects his Man-of-the-Match trophy from Chandranie Karran, Marketing Representative of Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company.

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216.

Elishaba Johnson SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2016