Chronicle 04 23 2016

Unions in solidarity No. 104530

SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

‒ call for VAT reduction, job creation, fixing sugar industry

Serve the people faithfully ‒ PM urges public servants during outreach P.4

Minister of State Joseph Harmon greets a resident during the Government’s outreach to Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) on Friday (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

Education is Political more than interference passing exams unacceptable ‒ Dr Roopnaraine says system 3

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must produce rounded students

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‒ National Toshaos Council

Body found in Zeelugt trench 9

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 23, 2016

Guyana signs on to ambitious Paris Agreement GUYANA on Friday signed on to the Paris Agreement, with President David Granger saying that Guyana will spare no effort to contribute to both a sustainable future and to an effective global response to climate change.

The Paris Agreement, reached on December 12, 2015, is the most ambitious international environmental agreement in modern history.

It presents a historic opportunity for the global community to respond to the challenge of climate change in an appropriate manner.

Guyana has signed the ‘agreement’ on account of its recognition of the need for resolute action to combat this challenge.

“We will ensure the deposit of the instruments of ratification this year,” the President said, pointing out that Guyana is a net carbon sink and “Our forests sequester more carbon than the country’s human activities generate.”

Guyana, with the world’s second highest percentage of rainforest cover (85 per cent), commands important carbon stocks.

Guyana, nevertheless, is fully committed to contributing to limiting the rise in global temperature to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“Guyana intends to implement initiatives in the forest and renewable energy sectors, including through the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) Plus programme.

“We will move closer towards a 100 per cent renewable power supply by

President David Granger signs the ambitious Paris Agreement at the UN, New York, on Friday (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

2025, conditional on appropriate support and adequate resources.

“Our proposed commitments through avoided emissions can contribute the equivalent of up to 48.7 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide to the global mitigation effort.

“Guyana is prepared to sustainably manage, conserve and protect our national patrimony, and place our ecological resources at the service of humanity,” President Granger said.

Guyana, in the short-term, up to 2020, will improve timber monitoring and maintain a high level of timber legality; increase value-added activities in the forestry sector so as to augment carbon storage in long-use wood products; intensify the sustainable management of indigenous communities which own and manage 14 per cent of national territory; introduce a national Emissions Reduction Programme (ERP) to add two

million hectares under conservation; encourage more efficient mining and logging activities and implement Reduced Impact Logging(RIL); and invest in solar power, wind power and hydropower to transition more rapidly to renewable sources of energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

“The Cooperative Republic of Guyana, by signing the Paris Agreement today [Friday], demonstrates its total commitment to advancing solutions to this most pressing global challenge.

“I assure you of Guyana’s continued commitment to implement this historic ‘Agree-

ment’ to make the world a better place for us and for future generations,” President David Granger concluded.

RECORD NUMBER According to the BBC, some 171 countries inked the deal on Friday, a record number for a new international treaty.

About 15 nations, mainly small island states, had already ratified the agreement, but dozens of other countries were required to take this second step before the pact came into force.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: "Paris will shape the lives of all fu-

ture generations in a profound way; it is their future that is at stake."

Speaking at the opening ceremony, he said the planet was experiencing record temperatures: "We are in a race against time; I urge all countries to join the agreement at the national level.

"Today we are signing a new covenant for the future."

As the world marked the 46th Earth Day, UN climate chief Christiana Figueres explained what now needed to happen: "Most countries, though not all, need to take the signed document and go back

home and go to ratification procedures. That, in most countries, requires parliamentary discussion and decision," the BBC quoted her as saying.

US President Barrack Obama is also keen to see the new agreement take effect before he leaves office next January.

A little known clause in the treaty means it would take four years if a new leader, less committed to climate action, wanted to take the US out of the agreement.

"We don't know who the next President will be and what stand the new administration will take," India's environment minister Prakash Javadekar told BBC News.

"What happens in the US will have a definite bearing on how the world takes all these ideas and commitments and pledges in effect. So people are eagerly awaiting what happens in the US." The BBC reported that China said it would "finalise domestic procedures" to ratify the Paris Agreement before the G20 Summit in China in September.

There is obvious delight here in New York at the record turnout of countries and leaders to sign the agreement.

But some attendees are cautioning that this is merely the first rung on a very difficult ladder.

Guyana to receive £53.2 million from UK

Finance Minister Winston Jordan, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, British High Commissioner Greg Quinn and others during the discussion

GUYANA is set to benefit from £53.2 million in grant resources from the United Kingdom under its newly established United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UKCIF).

Finance Minister Winston Jordan, along with Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson and Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan,

last week met with British High Commissioner Greg Quinn and representatives of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Department For International Development (DFID) to discuss Guyana’s proposed infrastructural projects that are to be funded by UKCIF. UKCIF is an ambitious investment undertaken by the

United Kingdom. It will provide grant-funding to improve or create new infrastructure such as roads, bridges and ports to help drive economic growth and development in nine countries across the Caribbean region.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron announced the launch of the £300 million fund during his trip to Jamaica in 2015.

As a result, the Government of Guyana has identified and submitted project proposals for six major infrastructural development programmes.

The identified interventions will see improved road

networks, bridges, stellings and waterfronts, rehabilitation of airstrips, reliable access to potable water and reduced energy costs, as well as tackle the environmental and health risks associated with the improper disposal of waste.

The CDB has been designated by the UK Government to design, develop and implement the programme in collaboration with the Government of Guyana.

A team from the CDB is expected to visit Guyana shortly to discuss the start of project-preparation activities with the relevant sectoral agencies.

Unions in solidarity

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 23, 2016

‒ call for VAT reduction, job creation, fixing sugar industry

By Ravin Singh THE Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) are calling for a return to collective bargaining, and for the Government to reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) as was promised prior to its assumption to executive office.

GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis expressed these sentiments on behalf of the combined unions on Friday at the Critchlow Labour College.

He said the labour movement is aware of calls being made for unity, as defined by all being affiliated to one federation, but he noted that in pursuing unity, the unions must hold one head and demand better for the entire labour force of

Guyana.

Prior to its assumption to office, the APNU+AFC coalition had committed to reducing VAT incrementally during the elections campaign. The promised was even listed as one of the plans to be completed within the coalition’s first 100 days in office. This promise is, however, yet to be fulfilled.

During this year’s budget presentation, the Government did not announce any salary increases for public servants, but subsequently stated that this would succeed a process of collective bargaining which would be reintroduced. That announcement was at that time lauded by Lewis, since it has been one of the calls the unions had been making over the years. However, to date, no attempts have been made to reintroduce

Trade Unionist Lincoln Lewis

it. And given this situation, the General Secretary noted, collective bargaining is one of the top priorities in the unions’ proposal to the Government.

Lewis has also rejected a justification by the Government that it was awaiting the findings of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into

the public service to determine the way forward on wages for workers. He reasoned that salary increases for workers should not be stalled pending the findings of the state of the public service – which is what the CoI is mandated to investigate.

Rather, he suggested, the Government should meet with the unions at the soonest possible time and discuss the way forward for salary increases for workers.

Not limited to just VAT reduction and collective bargaining, Lewis outlined several other issues in his presentation, which he said the combined unions have all agreed need attention from the Government. These are: honouring the 2012 High

Court decision on re-issuing letters for arbitration, to bring resolution to outstanding issues existing between the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) and the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI); development of a national programme for the creation of jobs; establishment of a Labour and Economic Council to advise Government on issues impacting the nation’s performance and workers’ welfare; a mechanism established and honoured to address the sugar industry. This must, according to the unions, involve constant engagement among Government, cane farmers, GuySuCo,

trade unions in the sugar industry, and other stakeholders; establishment of a Foreign Investment Commission to address the telecommunication and natural resources sectors; review of tax concessions granted to companies; National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and state pension addressed and protected; respect for the Rule of Law, universal declarations, conventions, charters and time-honoured principles; establishment of the Public Service Appellate Tribunal; speedy resolution to all outstanding issues in the Teaching and Public Services; and an end to all contract workers being employed in fixed establishments.

‘Reparation Baton’ Political interference passed to Guyana unacceptable THE National Toshaos Council (NTC) in a statement issued on Friday sought to warn against “creeping manipulation” of the body by officials of the Government.

Following its executive conference last month, the NTC said under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration, it was noticeable that the body’s political capital was a coveted asset which contributed to the then government wanting to control the body.

Despite raising these concerns however, the NTC sought to indicate that this might be a recurring feature, even with the change in Government.

“Under the current administration, there are political forces from within this administration that think it and see it fit to interfere with the workings of the NTC,” the statement said.

However, the body did not discredit the fact that there is a progressive and forward-looking Vice-President and Minister of In-

‒ National Toshaos Council

digenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, who is willing to see the NTC as a more autonomous entity.

But with regard to the issue at hand, which the body feels strongly about, it expressed that it was most notable recently when a Government official called “the core of the NTC executive” to a meeting, attempting to manipulate its work and dictate what the body should and should not do. “… during a recent meeting, the said official declared that, “ ‘I do not respect the decision of 20 people in a room making decisions for all indigenous peoples in [over] 200 communities,’” the NTC said.

This, the body noted, is a very troubling development, as it is coming in the early stages in the political life of the new administration.

“Should this continue, it will leave the NTC, once again, as the grandchild who was left with a huge political inheritance and never allowed to leave

home,” the body said.

Efforts to contact both the Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs and his advisor, Mervyn Williams, on Thursday proved futile.

The NTC was established under the Amerindian Act of 2006. It consists of all toshaos of Guyana and represents more than 200 indigenous communities, which together have a population of more than 75,000.

The NTC is a body corporate with an elected executive core. All members of the executive are elected in sub-regional elections held at the general assembly every three years.

All members of the core executive, chairman, secretary, treasurer, vice chair, assistant secretary, and assistant treasurer are elected by the 20-member executive.

The chair, secretary, and treasurer are elected at the General Assembly by the executive, while the other office bearers are elected at the Executive Conference by same.

THE initiative by the Regional Caricom Reparation Commission to actively send the reparation message around the region has moved to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, with the passing of the “Reparation Baton” from Barbados.

The “Baton” was presented to the Deputy Consul-General of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in Barbados, Monique Jackman, by Chairman of the Barbados Task Force on Reparation, Professor Pedro Welch.

The handing over was done at the start of the island’s 50th Anniversary of Independence at the historic Golden Grove Plantation, St Phillip.

The “Baton” is now in Guyana in the possession of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and it is expected to be passed on to the local Commission on Reparation.

Commenting on the passing of the Baton Saturday, Barbados’s Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, who is the Chairman of the CARICOM Sub-Committee on Reparation, said “For Barbados the

Deputy Consul-General of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in Barbados, Monique Jackman, is presented the baton by Chairman of the Barbados Task Force on Reparation, Professor Pedro Welch

1916 Bussa Rebellion was a prominent uprising whose bicentenary helps us to recognise its effects in shaping the future of this sham island developing state.

“Barbados has recommitted itself to the call for reparation on the occasion as a mark of respect for our ancestors who struggled for reparation justice. To mark this event, Barbados has the distinct honour of leading off

the symbolic passing of the reparation Baton to Guyana, a show of Caricom solidarity for the cause of reparation.”

The Caribbean Reparation Commission was formed

by Caricom Heads of Government in 2013.

The Commission is headed by Chairman, Sir Hilary Beckles, and there are several national reparation committees throughout the region.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 23, 2016

Serve the people faithfully --PM urges public servants during outreach

By Alva Solomon

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo, acting as President in the absence of President Granger, has urged public servants to serve the public faithfully.

He is contending that inefficiency must be a thing of the past.

The acting President issued this charge to a sizable gathering of persons at the New Amsterdam Town Hall on Friday during the Administration’s two-day outreach to the Ancient County.

Also on the outreach are Minister of State Joseph Har-

mon, Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix, and representatives of several public sector agencies.

The Prime Minister said that after assuming office last year, the Government made its duty known -- that it will go out and meet the citizenry and identify with them.

“Let them bring the problem to us,” he said.

He noted that in the world today, there are bureaucrats who “dodge the people”, and he added that it’s a “disease that affects people all over the world”.

“Here, in Guyana, we want to reinvent the role of

our public servants…that they are the servants of the public, of the people; their first duty is to the people, who pay for them to be in the position they hold,” he said.

PARTNERSHIP The acting President highlighted the presence of the region’s leaders, noting that partnership is important for good governance.

Mr Nagamootoo said he was pleased that Region Six Chairman David Armogan, Regional Executive Officer Dr Veersammy Ramayyah, and the municipal leaders of New Amsterdam, including Mayor Kirt Wynter, were in attendance at Friday’s forum.

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A section of the gathering at the outreach He noted that decentralisation of governance will bode well for the country’s development. “It is that way of sharing responsibilities that we can solve more problems,” he said, and described Minister Harmon as a “trailblazer” on the outreaches of the Government to several regions across the country.

Harmon told the audience that, prior to the visit, the Prime Minister had highlighted the importance of the team’s trip to the Ancient County.

He highlighted the importance of the exercise, noting that “what we recognise is that so many people wanted to see us, but we didn’t have much time to see them”.

The Minister of State said some persons who attend the outreaches usually air their concerns and give recommendations and solutions.

“We have decided to bring the office to you,” he said, noting that the Government wants to listen to the complaints and concerns of the populace and address them.

Regional Chairman David Armogan told the gathering he was happy that a number of Government officials and public agency representatives were in the region to assist in solving the problems affecting the people of the area.

He said that many persons would, from time to time, make complaints about

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This couple attended the outreach to air their discontent with the “run around” they have encountered in their attempts to receive their pensions from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS)

Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, listens keenly as a citizen airs her complaints at the outreach at New Amsterdam problems affecting them, including those they encounter at the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), among others.

The Regional Chairman

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said the day’s activities presented opportunity for the residents to raise their concerns and have their problems solved on the spot; and if not immediately, at some point in the future.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 23, 2016

GTT+ contributes $2M to GuyExpo

GTT+ has again made its contribution to the GuyExpo committee in an effort to ensure the successful completion of one of Guyana’s biggest commercial exhibitions.

As preparatory works for GuyExpo 2016 continue, an additional $2 million has been invested into the operations by the telecommunication giant.

Speaking to members of the media on Friday during the presentation ceremony at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, GTT+ Marketing Director, Daniel Jilesen, disclosed that “our sponsorship towards GuyExpo is nothing new, given that we have been supporting the initiative for years.”

Considering that it is one of the biggest commercial exhibitions, the event gives current and potential investors, entrepreneurs,[and]

companies a chance to showcase their produce and allows the consumer base to look at what is offered locally, regionally and internationally.

In that light, Jilesen said that its success is inevitable and therefore a contribution towards its development is the least the company could do.

COMING WITH A ‘BANG’ Jilesen was asked if the company is ready for GuyExpo 2016 and he said the intent is to come out with a “bang.”

“You can expect to see what you have seen in the past, with added feature phones, special offers and especially new gimmicks.

However, I want to keep a few elements as a surprise, so you have to come out and see what is the latest

GTT+ Marketing Director Daniel Jilesen presents the cheque of $2M to one of the GuyExpo officials in the presence of other representatives of the company ent. Thus, we are ensuring “They have always been you of the successful comand newest in telecoms,” lauded and welcomed the he said. support of GTT+, noting a supporter of any event, we pletion of Guy Expo 2016, Meanwhile, Coordinator that the funds will be utilised at the Ministry of Business which will be run off from have and this is no differ- May 12-15,”Singh said. of GuyExpo, Tameca Singh, properly and efficiently.

Belize-Guatemala border tensions rise tory.”

Belize said its patrol came under fire and was forced to shoot back in self-defence.

It added that the body of the teenager was found just inside Belizean territory.

The territorial dispute between the two Central American nations dates back more than 150 years.

Belize became Independent

Guatemala has deployed 3,000 troops on its border with Belize, reports say TENSIONS between Guatemala and Belize over a border dispute have risen sharply after a shooting incident in which a Guatemalan teenager died.

Guatemala says the 13-year-old boy was attacked

by Belizean soldiers. Belize says its troops shot in self-defence after coming under fire.

Belize also accuses Guatemala of “amassing” troops along the border.

Guatemala’s claim to parts of territory governed by its neighbour dates back to when Belize was a British colony.

The Guatemalan teenager was shot dead on Wednesday

near the Sarstoon River that forms Belize’s southern border with its larger neighbour.

Guatemalan President Jimmy Moralles later described the incident as a “cowardly and excessive attack” and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.

Defence Minister William Mansilla said Guatemala had deployed 3,000 troops on the border, according to the AFP news agency.

“It is a preventive measure, it is not a declaration of war,” he was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Belize’s Government said Mr Moralles’ comments were “inflamma-

in 1981; however, Guatemala did not recognise it for another decade because of the land dispute.

Earlier this week, Luis

Almagro, the head of the Organisation of American States, visited both countries in an effort to resolve the situation. (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

Dr. David Hinds’ complaints

DR. DAVID HINDS, a contributor and columnist in the Guyana Chronicle, is aggrieved with the paper.

In his column, ‘Hinds Sight with Dr. Hinds’, on 9th April, in commentary entitled “Many peoples, one nation, one destiny: Identity, the state media and our cricket identity”, he identified what is seen as four areas of contention. These are: (i) “state-owned media is not a party plantation, and for 50 years, that section of the media was turned against the people, the real owners, in vicious ways; (ii) Chronicle has a duty to uphold the principles of fairness and inclusion.

Its pages must not be turned into manifestations of cheer-leading; (iii) critique of the Government must be an integral part of the coverage; and (iv) Chronicle has historically been an instrument of dictatorship, and we cannot continue like this. This present Government came to power as a change agent, and the state-owned media must reflect that promise. Censorship must be eradicated.”

Our editorial of 20th April, entitled ‘The State newspapers’, addressed the stated areas through the following facts: (i) the Chronicle is evolving, having being established as a state newspaper in the 1970s in a closed (socialist) society to pursue the philosophy of the government of the day, (ii) it later functioned in an open (free market) society and was used by successive governments to pursue their respective philosophy; and (iii) it was rebranded in December 2015.

Attention was drawn to the paper’s rebranding principle: that as an arm of the State, primacy will be given to the Government’s agenda, inclusive of the views of members of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches.

Fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, such as the right to be heard, including dissent and response, will be held in high esteem.

Out of recognition that a contributor sees the paper differently, readers who have become part of the discussions were urged to verify the claim through comparative content analyses of governments, which is easily accessible in the Information Age. It is unfortunate that Dr Hinds’s letter to the media of 22nd April interpreted such encouragement to mean that it is said that he “was guilty of sowing racial discord.”

This paper reiterates that the right to freedom of expression does not operate in media in abstention of editorial judgment based on the paper’s policies; propriety; and decorum the society is known for, may have lost, and is striving to regain. In effect, non-censorship is not unbridled, it carries with it responsibility on all sides.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 23, 2016

I consider this corruption

Dear Editor,

CORRUPTION at the Housing Department at Anna Regina in Region Two was, in my humble opinion, the reason for an application made by me for a house lot at Onderneeming Sand Pit to be handed back to me at the office recently when I visited there to ascertain the position with it at the moment.

For why the officer did so is beyond my understanding, considering there will be no record now to show that this was done; and it was totally improper to do so, with an affront to me that was most

unacceptable.

Such a move also caused me to feel that there was a well-orchestrated plan wickedly designed for a complete refusal to the processing of my application which, from usual procedure, had to be kept for future reference on the decision made to be documented; but in this case there was none, only to become questionable.

What must be clearly understood -– and for which correspondence was made with the department – is that when the area was being regularized, I did not have an ID card, which was compulsory to make the application; and

as such, this could not have been done then.

As soon as one was made available, there was no hesitation to submit the application, on which reference was made that I have been in occupation of the same plot with a residential building thereon for some 31 years now.

Much to my surprise, and with great shock, the officer made me to understand that the plot I was in occupation of for all those years was given to my neighbor, who is a school teacher; and that I must not fight down the woman for the land.

The teacher is married

and lives with her husband outside of the Sand Pit area, where several vacant plots are available for her to get one, but it was very much unreasonable and unfair to me for her to be given mine.

It is well known that money can do wonders, but I have since written the Minister of Housing for the decision made in favour of the teacher to be rescinded; and unless this is done, a legal court battle will inevitably ensue when it could well have been avoided.

Respectfully, MINDRAPAUL MOONIEDAI

Exporters not in support of Jamaican rice deal Dear Editor,

THE members of the Board of Directors of the Guyana Rice Exporters and Millers Association (GREMA) would like to inform all rice millers, rice farmers and the general public that they are not in support of the agreement recently signed between Mussons/ Jamaica Rice Milling Company Limited (JRMCL) and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), which would effectively limit importations of rice into Jamaica to these two Jamaican companies.

While, on the surface, this agreement appears as though it is intended to increase the price and quantity of rice that millers can export to the Jamaican Market, the

reverse, in reality, is likely to take place.

The reasons why the board does not support this agreement are: firstly, GREMA was never consulted on this agreement, and was made aware of it only after it was signed by the parties concerned. While we have voiced our concerns about this, the GRDB, to date, continues to negotiate with these two Jamaican companies without our involvement, although in the end it is not the GRDB that produces and sells the rice, but local rice millers and farmers.

Secondly, since this agreement artificially fixes our export price to Jamaica above the existing free market price, then there is a real fear that we can lose our share of the Jamaican Market

And whereas Dr Hinds mentioned separately, though not unrelatedly, that the Prime Minister’s Office should have sought to do an “investigation” before responding to his public statement, corresponding responsibility allows for him to make his views known through the normal internal channels, which could have attracted explanation and/or investigation.

It is hard to fathom this contributor’s claim in respect to censorship, given his prominent role in the paper. He has editorialized on Dr. Walter Rodney; the WPA, its leaders and philosophy; offered critical review of government’s actions; direction on issues; and nudged the administration in particular directions. The Hinds’ column shows a similar pattern.

Given this background position: “[his] personal view is that there is need for a major intervention at the Chronicle by the leaders of the government”, it must be recalled that

to Suriname, who can continue to offer rice to Jamaica at the existing free market price.

Thirdly, this agreement between the GRDB and Mussons/JRMCL can be considered an anti-competitive business agreement, which is prohibited by Article 177 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (Caricom).

Fourthly, since this agreement can result in higher prices for the Jamaican consumers, there is the possibility that Jamaica could consider removing the CET on rice to allow cheaper extra-regional imports of rice into Jamaica.

The GREMA Board of Directors is of the opinion that, when the above factors are taken into consideration, this agreement in its present form and the contracts that

millers are being required to sign with these two Jamaican companies would result in our rice industry being in a worse financial position than it had been under the old free market system. This will not only negatively affect millers, but also impact negatively on the livelihoods of our local rice farmers.

GREMA is of the opinion that this agreement should be cancelled for the good of the industry, and GREMA hereby seeks Government’s intervention in helping to resolve this situation as soon as possible.

Regards, GUYANA RICE EXPORTERS AND MILLERS ASSOCIATION

when governments intervened in the past, it was called dictatorship and censorship.

The policy under which the present management covers news, opinions, events, time and places allows for expression of various individuals and groups, irrespective of their political interest; and this was made known in editorial ‘Role of the State media: a new era’ (7th December 2015).

Such did not find disfavour with our Board.

Dr. Hinds is assured that his rights and freedoms will be respected in this paper equally as the paper’s policy.

It has been acknowledged that in our evolving role mistakes will or can be made, but our commitment is to address same as the people’s paper, and our desire to be their preferred choice of reading. If it is believed that a mistake was made, Dr Hinds is invited to meet with the editorial team and have his concern(s) addressed. After now, the paper will not be dealing with this matter publicly.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 23, 2016

The hydra of the prison break Dear Editor,

I WRITE this letter in the capacity of a coordinator of ACDA-RESCU -- a group whose funds come from itself and from its friends. This group has carried out an information interaction on substance abuse, and wishes to target young non-smokers and drinkers.

This letter is, however, not about RESCU, but rather reflects on substances on its outreach agenda.

The hydra that was callously allowed to grow -- which inevitably exploded in the recent prison break that cost 17 lives and has affected so many others, with damage of mind and spirit that cannot be ascertained at this point -- must be explored in the interest of clinically apportioning blame and not confining examination to the prison break exclusively.

In the first instance, this country (seems to have) endured its Dark Age under the PPP, when any immorality was (supposedly) officially possible. Nothing was (apparently) forbidden, every form of corruption was (apparently) pervasive; and ‘the dog’ in the parable: drunk with greed, grasping at the reflective possession in its jaws and being foolishly willing to surrender the volume of this nation to wily wolves from abroad, is a relevant metaphor.

This (I believe) sums up the corrupted fraternity that so damaged the management of the people, including the prisons; and this management

was (apparently) met by the then state with even greater indifference. No law, legal or moral, was (apparently) seen fit to be upheld at any level, as long as loyalty to the cult of the cup was affirmed.

It cannot be disputed that the captured audience of the prisons was seen by some prison officials as a cash crop to supplement their meagre salaries through the sale of drugs, both marijuana and cocaine, to prisoners. Prisoners were caught with drugs, so were prison warders. It’s not recent that the Prison Service has been seen by decision makers as not a serious profession, whose officers must be trained as correctional officers instead of been perceived as low grade guards; so what does and did the self-esteem of the average prison warder consist of?

I had an uncle who worked on the accounts of the Prisons under a one-time Prison Director. On a visit to his office in the Brickdam station compound, he was grumbling about how much the expenditure to feed the volume of prisoners was; he said that it must have included the prison staff and their families. Against my warnings, he submitted his findings; started drinking heavily, was dismissed, and deteriorated towards his death.

A retired prison warder friend of mine explained to me that during his service at Mazaruni, when prisoners could not get marijuana to smoke, they reacted terribly and had to be placed in cells.

The prison in Georgetown

is a facility of mainly addicts.

Everyone who has paid attention to marijuana and cocaine is aware of its dangers; and when coupled with the added tensions of: (i) Overcrowding, (ii) Filthy conditions, (iii) Impossible lengthy periods before trial [and the usual food problems], what can be expected from this mind crushing demolition cocktail?

The PPP apparently did not think it wise -– after the Baby Arthur incident in Buxton in 1994 -- to follow the immediate advice of citizens to address the rising drug problem in Guyana. A drug education policy was (apparently) never enacted, because the PPP had mistakenly seen the problem as an Afro-Guyanese problem.

The fantasy follies mystique for substance usage was allowed to grow unchecked, and today, our population of young alcoholics is embarrassing.

To date, small official groups and private ones like RESCU are struggling to grasp our children away from the marijuana and pill sellers especially. They are the new targets –- school children and young sportsmen and women.

Recently, an official from a juvenile cricket team at Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara complained to me that a colleague of mine was, through the arts, trying to sell his young cricketers ganja.

This area of education has to be intensified; it’s gotten out of control with the locally grown Frankenstein of marijuana -- grown in weeks rather than months, on fertilisers

GuySuCo engaging in acrobatics on Wales Estate Dear Editor, REFERENCE is made to the news story on page seven (7) of the Guyana Chronicle edition of April 19, 2016, entitled “105 workers opted for severance, not fired – GuySuCo raps GAWU”.

The article went on to say: “GAWU has alleged…105 workers were fired”. Premised on an allegation, the article then quoted GuySuCo, which said in a statement: “this release by GAWU is the epitome of GAWU mischievousness, and can be construed as being provocative…”

The truth is that GAWU has not ever said or written that 105 workers have been fired from Wales Estate.

GAWU and NAACIE, through their press statement of April 14, 2016, referred to: “105 workers are to be made redun-

dant”, which is identical to what GuySuCo wrote to the Union on March 22, 2016, in which it said: “105 workers would be made redundant”.

With someone from either GuySuCo or the Chronicle substituting “fired” for “redundant” (GuySuCo), in turn, has taken objection and, true to form, pointed an accusing finger at GAWU. The Union considers this as mischievous and deceptive.

With the clarity offered, the Union is expecting a public correction by GuySuCo. Also, the GAWU is calling on the Board or the proper body in GuySuCo to assess those who make media releases, which are unfounded and which embarrass the leadership at the helm of the Corporation, which is beset by persistent troubles.

The Chronicle, in the story, also stated that: “The Wales

Estate will not be closed, GuySuCo said in its attempt to set the record straight”. Aren’t the non-operation of the Wales Sugar Factory and a cessation of cane cultivation a closure of the Estate? GuySuCo is seemingly embarking on some type of acrobatics regarding the positions -– the closure of Wales Estate and “the Wales Estate will not be closed”.

It is worthy to note that the Corporation failed to inform the public why it keeps violating the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, which requires that it interacts directly with officials of the Union about the workers who are identified for redundancy, etc.

Yours faithfully, SEEPAUL NARINE General Secretary: GAWU

and pesticides to meet quick market demand -- reaching our young population. The police should be allowed the means and funds to document the amount of violent crimes committed by persons affected by mind-altering substances, and have it published.

The impact of drug abuse on children whose mothers and fathers are addicts should also be documented and published.

That should be an assignment for the Ministry of Social Protection.

This is the social background against which the growing prison population stands. If this prison upheaval is to be the last incident of its kind, the social collapse (allegedly) engineered by the PPP has to be addressed at all levels. And those engaged with the official responsibility to counter this scourge must have their social needs facilitated; do not take them for granted.

The current inquiry into the prison disturbances needs to be extended to every conceivable area to complete a worthwhile historical document that justifies the money expended on its undertaking, so that the public can forever reflect upon it without prejudice.

In closing, it would be more productive to avoid the committee socialites and usual orthodox formulas in the selection of persons to constructively interact and affect the prison agenda in its present abnormal state.

BARRINGTON BRAITHWAITE ACDA-RESCU

Not all items donated by FFTP are appropriate Dear Editor,

I AM one to give people and organisations chances, but there comes a time when you have to say enough is enough. Food for the Poor has been known to have issues in regard to items they give out to the public. What is the sense in giving persons items which cannot be used?

Time and time again, persons have been complaining about the items given to them by Food for the Poor; and yes, poor people do refuse stuff now, I presume.

In a tropical country like Guyana, why would you be giving out winter garments to groups so they can share to their members and the community? If it were a case that persons in Food for the Poor were not (presumably) biased, I won’t be writing to you at this time.

Staff members there (allegedly) take most of the best items for their own personal stuff. I can understand if you take out one or two items, but do not take out

all the best and give persons things that they cannot use to wrap up a dog.

Calls to make complaints to the manager of Food for the Poor have gone unanswered. Seems as if some particular person is controlling things at the office, since every time a call is made to speak to the manager, the manager is always busy; he is either not in office, or he cannot come to the phone.

It appears as though his assistant is always the one to say, “I will see what I can do”. How is the assistant the one to decide what to put together for small organisations? Is this not what these directors are there for?

I am just one of the persons who approached this organization, and frankly, I am tired of the treatment they give persons. I close by saying that they are not showing the vision of the founder of that organisation. It is not Food for the Rich or Food for the Staff.

Regards, LIZANNA GOBIN

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 23, 2016

Commissioners slam Toshaos urge speedy of land disputes Ram’s ‘disrespectful’ resolution …seek funding to push developmental agenda behaviour – say reflects the lowest point of the legal profession

COMMISSIONERS of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the catastrophic Georgetown Prison riots on March 2 and 3 said the conduct of Guyana Bar Association President Christopher Ram reflects the lowest point of the legal profession, and practitioners now display “gutter” mannerisms in the Courts of law and Courts of Inquiry.

According to a press statement signed by Chairman of the CoI, Justice James Patterson (retd), “Mr Christopher Ram’s conduct, widely reported in the press, reflects the very nadir of ethical display in the practise of what has always been known as ‘the noble profession’.”

The statement said the commissioners have been caught in the crossfire of attorneys’ regular fierce contentions before the Commission, and have, “on a regular basis, incurred the wrath of both counsel, that is to say, Christopher Ram and Selwyn Pieters, as each pressed their clients’ case with understandable vigour.”

Attorney Christopher Ram

However, the statement said, “Liberties were taken.

Mr Selwyn Pieters, Counsel for the Joint Services and Fire Service, was ferried away by his enthusiasm, and made statements which, by any objective view, constitute a breach in civility and an affront to the Commission.”

The commissioners also noted that Pieters was profuse in his apologies, which were unconditional and well received by the commission.

However, the statement said, “Mr Christopher Ram, on the other hand, who appeared for the Bar Association as an interested party,

Georgetown Prison riots CoI Chairman, Justice James Patterson (Photo

by Cullen Bess Nelson)

obtained ‘good standing’ from the Commission to conduct his brief. Mr Christopher Ram was equally fierce on behalf of his clients, an amorphous lot though they be. The commission has been unusually charitable to Mr Christopher Ram….

His appearance has been pro bono for the public good, and such appearances are clearly to be commended….

Mr Christopher Ram, however, routinely displayed a degree of petulance when his extravagant demands were disallowed.”

The Commission said Ram’s unwillingness to abide by the rulings of the Chairman has become routine and is outrageous, with Ram automatically reflecting his displeasure “by displaying the tantrums of a five-yearold who cannot get his own way on the ball field. This he did on the 20th (April), 2016 ultima by throwing tantrums and slamming the door to the CoI Hearings Room, and made off with his bat and ball because he was not allowed to bat first.

“That degree of petulance and disrespect I have not seen in nearly 50 years of practice since called to the English Bar,” Justice Patterson stated.

Other commissioners on the panel are former Director of Prisons Dale Erskine and Human Rights activist Merle Mendonca.

(Shauna Jemmott)

THE National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) is urging Government to speedily resolve the many land disputes in Amerindian communities. The body has expressed concerns about the permits being granted to non-indigenous peoples to mine on their traditional lands.

In a statement issued after their March 31, 2016 executive conference, the toshaos said that while many pressing issues were discussed, the points of greatest urgency to be addressed remain the continuous land disputes, disputes between indigenous communities and miners, and the issuing of permits by GGMC and GFC to non-indigenous peoples for traditional indigenous lands.

“This in itself puts the revisions of the Amerindian Act of 2006, the Mines Act, and the Forest Act all as top priority for the NTC to lobby the Government of Guyana to move on,” the NTC said in its statement.

According to the body, the resolution coming out of the NTC Conference in August of 2015 was for the NTC to develop a constitution and other governance structure through its regional and sub-regional bodies, to put the NTC on a better footing; to have a timeframe

for the current Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) programme extended; to support the Government in the development of an Indigenous Lands Commission; to work towards advancing the rights of women and gender balance, and to see the revision of the Amerindian Act of 2006; and to have it included in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as integral parts of the new Act, to name a few.

According to the NTC, these resolutions, to date, have been impeded by lack of finances to have movement in any direction, thus hampering the NTC’s ability to meet its mandate under the Amerindian Act, or even to grow.

According to the body, a budget was submitted to the current administration for $38M, of which the NTC was granted just over $12M. “This puts the organisation at a severe disadvantage to do any effective work.

While the NTC is aware that monies are available through other financing agencies, including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), to execute projects, it is important to understand that the NTC does not have the necessary financial infrastructure to apply, thus the NTC is put at

the footstool of many other organisations that may want to take advantage of the NTC to push their agenda.”

On the issue of lands, the NTC said it sees “that land to our indigenous sisters and brothers are of utmost importance, as we have traditionally cared for and taken care of these jungles and lands for millennials.”

The body has said that, under that light, it supports the ALT programme. “However, we do have some reservations about the exclusion of traditional lands under the programme. We are also calling on the Government to seek an extension from the Government of Norway to the funding and timeframe for this programme.”

The NTC said it looks forward to working with the Government on key initiatives to help protect indigenous people's ways of life, culture, traditions, and to securing their lands. “In that light, to name one initiative, we are working in consultation with indigenous communities and with the Government and Conservation International on a key initiative to see communities plan better for their future in the form of a Community Development Plan.”

Mahaicony man arrested over mom’s murder A 53-year-old man, who is reportedly a drug addict, is in police custody pending an investigation into the murder of his elderly mother at their Good Faith, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara home Thursday night.

The woman has been identified as Cecilia Madray, 75, who was the victim of constant domestic and sexual abuse meted out to her, allegedly by her addict son.

She was found in a pool of blood on the floor of her home around 22:00 hrs by

members of the Community Policing Group (CPG), after neighbours heard loud noises coming from the house.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the bloodied body was covered with a mosquito net and there was a gaping wound to the head.

Villagers said that the drug addict would often beat his mother for money to buy drugs and to satisfy his craving for alcohol. Reports also indicate that he would sell valuables from the house and use the money to purchase illicit drugs.

This newspaper under-

stands that the man told police that his mother was the victim of an accident when she fell down, but the police did not believe him.

According to residents, after Madray’s husband died, she relocated to a foreign country to live with her daughter, who also passed away subsequently. Madray then returned to Guyana and lived with her son, whom villagers described as a habitual user of cocaine.

Police are awaiting a post-mortem before charging the suspect.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 23, 2016

Life is not the same anymore ‒ Prison Officer … says ‘My best was not good enough to save 17 lives’

By Shauna Jemmott AS PRISON officers continue to testify before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Georgetown Prison riots that occurred between March 2 and 4, testimony continues to tell that life isn’t the same anymore for any of the officers who worked within the walls of the Georgetown Prison on that fateful day.

Still traumatised from the events of March 3, when 17 prisoners died in a fire at the Capital A block of the Georgetown Prison, Cadet Officer Udistair Holligan said on Friday that the events had taken a psychological toll on him, and he is left asking himself many questions for which he cannot find answers.

Holligan, a Task Force Commander within the Prison Service, said that he and other officers had tried desperately to open the door for the screaming, trapped prisoners to get out, even though the men had minutes before thrown faeces, urine and a peppery substance on them, yet prisoners are showing ingratitude and are threatening to take him and his family out.

Holligan said though he tries his best, he is constantly confronted with the haunting thought that his best was not good enough to save 17 lives. Coupled with that, his life and the lives of his nuclear family, even his mother, are being threatened, with prisoners shouting to him that they know where he lives; one even shouting aloud his correct address in the midst of death threats.

The officer told the CoI that he is commander of the Task Force at the Timehri Prison, and on the morning of March 3, he was called by the officer in charge at Timehri and given an order to muster his ranks and report to the Georgetown Prison.

Upon reaching George-

town Prison, he met with Director of Prisons Carl Graham and Officer-in-Charge at Georgetown Prison, Kevin Pilgrim, who briefed him that a search would be conducted for contraband items in the new capital block.

The ‘Task Force’ is set aside to assist in the search for contraband, among other responsibilities within the local prison; and on March 3, he and Hutson were commanders of the task force of between 25 and 30 persons at the Georgetown Prison.

He said that sometime after 09:45 hrs, they instructed prisoners to get their belongings and vacate the dormitories in the new Capital block in groups of five.

He said a group was set aside to extract alleged ringleaders, who were responsible for influencing the riot on the previous night (March 2), and his team visited Capital A. Inmates were asked to gather their belongings and approach the western door in orderly manner, exiting the building in groups of five.

BLOCKED DOOR He said he and Hutson attempted to open the door, but found it difficult when they tried using the keys, “as if the door was joined inside.”

He said the door could have possibly been blocked with a piece of wood or a cork, so Cozier, another Georgetown Prison staff, was sent by the Deputy Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, to open the door with a “cutter.”

While Cozier made his way, a prisoner, Randolph (Randy) Marques (who perished in the fire), said: “Mr Holligan, ya’ll could open the door”, and the officers opened the door with the keys. He assumed that the door was opened after the prisoners had removed whatever element they used to block the door.

As the prisoners exited as ordered, officers directed them to the search area. Hol-

ligan said “at first it was going smooth” and the officers were able to identify the ring leaders for the unexpected takedown. They first extracted prisoner Steve Allicock and everything went well.

After Collison was extracted, prisoner Shaka McKenzie (who also perished in the fire) started behaving disorderly and was quite confrontational, even rushing into Holligan’s face.

The officer said McKenzie even pushed him and “I then pushed him back into the dormitory and secured the door.” At that time, other inmates were approaching the door to exit the division as ordered, but McKenzie “started going on, and he started arming himself with improvised weapons, and I heard Mr. Hutson say “weapons.”

He said that at this time McKenzie was pushing the door and officer Hutson shouted an order to “lock the door!”

THROWING OF URINE Another officer, whose name was given as Lyken, locked the door after the prisoner was armed with improvised weapons (bed posts) and was pushing them through the door. The prisoner was joined by other prisoners, who also verbally abused the prison officers and threw on them urine and faeces mixed with pepper.

“I was hit with urine… some got on the side of my face and my uniform,” Holligan told the commission.

He said he proceeded to another area and changed his uniform, putting on a green jersey instead, before returning to the new Capital block.

“At Capital B, they met us with the same aggression, cursing; and they even throw stones at us,” said Holligan.

The officer related that Deputy Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, and Officer-in-Charge of The Georgetown Prison, Kevin Pilgrim, approached after the

Body found in Zeelugt trench

THE body of a Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo man was found submerged in a trench at Public Road, Zeelugt, early Friday morning by passersby.

The man has been identified as Naresh Persaud. He was unemployed and was last seen alive on Wednesday last.

Sleuths said the body did not bear any visible marks of violence, but they have not ruled out foul play and have launched an investigation to determine what may have caused the man’s death.

situation got out of control, and Samuels tried to talk to the prisoners to have them evacuate the Capital B division. After a while, the Capital B prisoners complied, and Holligan assisted in directing them down the stairs.

That was when they observed smoke saturating the Capital B dormitory and realised a fire had been lit through a hole created in the wall separating the two dormitories. The fire was put out with the use of extinguishers. Shortly after, he saw smoke arising out of Capital A, and shortly after he and other officers tried to open the Capital A door for the prisoners to exit to safety.

The prisoners were crying for help.

Holligan said.

“It went from a controlled environment to an uncontrolled environment,” he related.

Commander of Task Force Prison Cadet Officer Udistair Holligan

He said the Fire Service later arrived on the scene and tried using a hose to extinguish the blaze. The Capital B door was opened already, he said, and “I heard officers and inmates shouting to them: ‘Ya’ll could come through the hole! Come through the hole!’

“It was confusing. The place was filled with smoke, the fire was blazing out of

control…everything just went haywire from then,” Holligan pointed out.

“It kinda left me traumatised,” the officer said, and added that in his attempts to save the prisoners, he failed, and found himself in a situation where he witnessed their burning to death instead.

“I heard inmates screaming…even though I tried to assist in trying to get the door open…. You [I] did your [my] job to the best, but you [I] didn’t do it good enough to assist on that day.

It’s kinda hard,” the officer confessed.

He said he wonders from time to time, “If this thing goes to that level again, how can you [I] assist somebody?

How could you preserve a life that is already lost?”

The officer said that although he experiences what appears to be severe psychological trauma, he has not received counselling, and no one has made those services available to him.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 23, 2016

Education is more than passing exams ‒ Dr Roopnaraine says system must produce rounded students

By Ariana Gordon EDUCATION Minister Dr Rupert Roopnarine has called on the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the education system to produce strong recommendations to close gaps and to produce more rounded students.

Dr Roopnaraine was at the time addressing the opening of the CoI on Friday at the Saint Stanislaus College, Brickdam, Geogetown.

“Education is the heart of everything… education has to be much more than passing exams,” the education minister told a handful of stakeholders who were present at the event.

He mandated the commission to have extensive consultations across the country, while stressing the importance of persons feeling free to speak to the commission without fear. Dr Roopnarine said too that the CoI must be evidence-based, so that structural changes can be effected.

“Much needs to be fixed in the education system… the point of the CoI is to gather evidence and provide recommendations for reforms to be sensible… but there must be evidence… actual, hard evidence,” he said.

The minister said his ministry will extract the

Anthony Willis of Innovation Consultancy makes a point to the commission at Friday’s hearing

best of what has happened in the sector in the past, but will not hesitate to put to an end those aspects of the sector that are not deemed beneficial.

“There is nothing more important than getting the education system right; if we don’t get it right, then we won’t get anything right,” the Education Minister emphasised.

Dr Roopnaraine also stressed the need for children to be involved in extra-curricula activities, so that they can be rounded.

He said looking at a child who has been successful at 21 subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) he often wonders, “What kind of childhood this child has?”

“Education has to be much more than passing exams… I want music back in schools etc. We need to produce very rounded students,” the minister added.

Emphasising that the work of the commission is critical to the restructuring of the education sector, the minister said the commissioners who are all educators have wide experience in the field and are capable of looking at the entire education system and making recommendations.

“I have asked NCERD [National Centre for Educational Resource Development] to look at curriculum reform… go boldly, examine it and bring it into the 21st century,” he urged, noting that there must also be a review of the curriculum at the Teachers’ Training College as the curriculum in schools and the college must be synchronised.

TRUTH-SEEKING Describing the commission as a “genuinely truth-seeking” commission, Dr Roopnaraine noted that it can only be of use to the Ministry of Education if “it is entirely free.”

As such, he urged all those who may be part of the system, but afraid to speak publicly, to speak with Chairman of the Commission Ed Caesar.

“We have much to do

and there are enough people in Guyana with goodwill…I don’t want to spend my time at the Ministry of Education reading reports… I want us to be innovative,” the minister said, noting that during the process “feathers will be ruffled.”

“We can’t do anything without ruffling feathers,” he stated, urging all stakeholders to view the CoI as a great challenge and opportunity.

He said he longs to see “patriotic education” in the schools’ curricula. He believes that “patriotic education” is being neglected to the detriment of the nation’s children.

Additionally, Dr Roopnaraine made note of the need for the issue of skilled persons migrating. He said ways must be found to keep those who graduate from the University of Guyana from leaving.

“Obviously, remuneration is part, but there has to be something more,” the education minister stated, while noting that he is interested in finding out what are the dis-incentives for remaining to serve Guyana.

Meanwhile, stakeholders present were given five minutes each to outline their concerns within the sector and make suggestions for changes.

INTEGRITY An educator who has served Guyana for approximately 46 years, said he believes integrity and economics are important in the discourse on how to change the education system.

“We cannot teach inspiration, it has to be handed down,” he stressed, while noting that more emphasis needs to be placed on making tools available for learning and teaching.

Meanwhile, another stakeholder said emphasis should be placed on schools infrastructure.

He said for as long as he has been in the education system as a science and technology teacher, the same text books are being recycled year in, year out.

He explained that there is need to become abreast with the 21st century so that students can appreciate the advancements in the respective subject areas.

Anthony Willis of Innovation Consultancy told the gathering that he has been working to develop digital content to showcase to the Ministry of Education for some time. According to Willis, there is a great need for there to be the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education.

Literacy and numeracy should be taught digitally, he said.

“I have spent the last eight years doing research and working on software… and have analysed the education sector plan,” he said, noting that nowhere in the plan did he observe the recommendations made

by CSEC. He submitted some of his work to the Minister of Education and a meeting has been scheduled for early next week with education officials.

Bonnai Adonis, a teacher of a senior secondary school in the city, outlined some of the problems he faces as a teacher of Agricultural Science. He spoke to the implementation of a “Back to Basic” document into the education system some two years ago.

According to him, it is difficult to work with the requirements therein because the document has

reduced Agricultural Science to two periods per week, one term per year in the lower school. The document has also reduced Home Economics to the same periods as Agricultural Science.

“Further, this document completely removed information technology from the first and second forms… so the first and second form students at the senior secondary schools are not exposed to information technology,” Adonis told the commission.

He called on the Ministry of Education to “look into the situation.” The teacher said too that in order to satisfy a 32-period per week, the minimum requirement by the Ministry of Education, there needs to be some form of standardisation.

“If I am reduced to two periods per week, it simply means I have to carry 16 classes to meet my minimum requirement; it is impossible for that to happen.

So I believe that the requirement- 32 period has to be standardised because one teacher has eight periods per week, the other teacher two periods per week, then it means that you are carrying two and three times the load as the other teacher and have the same deadline,” Adonis added.

Consultations are also scheduled for Friday, April 29, 2016 at 16:30hrs at the auditorium, National Centre for Educational Resource Development, Kingston and May 4, the same time at St Stanislaus College.

The Commission chaired by Ed Caesar also includes Ramesh Persaud, Ronald Austin Jnr, Marcelle Hutson, Ingrid Trotman, Leslyn Edwards Charles, Kellyann Hercules (secretary), Vincent Alexander and Cheryl Sampson.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 23, 2016

PSC seeks ‘DDL-style’ tax settlement for other companies

THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) is urging the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to engage other aggrieved companies and settle their cases using the same method applied in the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) matter.

In a statement, the PSC said it views with interest the settlement and compromise that the GRA has arrived at with DDL over the long outstanding consumption and excise tax issues.

“We wish to congratulate the company on the amicable resolution of this issue, which has been ongoing since 2002 – that is an achievement which took 14 years and is also a credit to all concerned.”

The statement added that from the point of the view of the PSC, “we wish to urge that the Guyana Revenue Authority now engage other aggrieved companies to apply similar (formula) to correct the distortions in the market place resulting from

this action.”

The GRA has been criticised for the manner and method of the settlement by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who described it as scandalous.

In a statement last Saturday, Jagdeo had said that the settlement has sent the wrong message to the business community -- that a company can unilaterally decide to stop paying taxes while other companies comply with the law, take the matter to court, and drag it out until a sympathetic Government comes to power and settles its debts to the State.

Earlier in last week, DDL had announced that it had reached an amicable settlement to resolve a long-standing dispute over Consumption Tax that began in 2002.

The company said the settlement follows an extended legal battle between DDL and the GRA, arising out of the Consumption Tax assessment levied against DDL by then Commissioner-General

GRA Chairman Rawle Lucas

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Khurshid Sattaur in January 2009, in the sum of $5.3 billion. However, Jagdeo said that since the settlement was arrived at only on March 9, 2016, it means DDL had use of the money for 15 years.

“If one were to calculate interest on this sum at a rate of 10 per cent per annum, using only the past 10 years, the liability would amount to $10.6 billion. The GRA assessment of $5.392 bil-

lion was based on a formula handed down by the court, but yet DDL refused to pay,” Jagdeo stated.

BIG WRITE OFFS According to Jagdeo, the settlement also writes off all possible liabilities in respect of Excise Tax up to March 9, 2016.

“So if the same situation obtains with regard to the Excise tax between 2006

and 2016, then the liabilities would run into tens of billions more,” he contended.

The Opposition Leader said the settlement has opened the door for other companies to seek refunds on taxes paid, claiming that there have already been reports in the private sector of other major companies consulting lawyers about this possibility.

“Management officials from a major local alcohol and beverage-producing company have made it clear, in the past when I was President, that the company would be seeking a refund, depending on the outcome of the DDL matter."

Meanwhile, the GRA had responded, criticising the former President for labelling the tax settlement as "scandalous." The GRA said that it does not encourage discussions about taxpayers’ issues or information in the public domain, and notes its disappointment with Jagdeo, “who ought to have

known better (than to) seek to expose the business of a taxpayer as well as attempt to have information on other taxpayers disclosed, even though he knows that these are violations of the oath of secrecy that the GRA is mandated to protect.”

According to the GRA it finds it astonishing that, given the history of violations of taxpayers’ privacy that occurred under Jagdeo’s Government’s stewardship, which Guyanese found repugnant, he would want to encourage the GRA to continue to operate along those unacceptable lines.

GREAT COST The GRA stated that the matter had engaged the attention of the Courts since 2002 at great cost to the national coffers and to taxpayers.

The agency accused Jagdeo of attempting to reconstruct the 14 years of failure by his Government to bring this matter to an end.

Turn to page 12 ►

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 23, 2016

McGarrell: Gov’t acted in good faith ‒ responds to PPP court challenge on appointment of mayor, chairpersons THE Government has responded to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) High Court challenge relating to the appointment of Mabaruma’s Mayor and chairs of five Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).

The PPP had challenged the decision by Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, to appoint the Mayor and the NDC chairs on the grounds that it was illegal for him to do so.

As such, Justice Diana In-

sanally granted an interim order quashing the controversial appointments, which included chairpersons of Woodlands/ Farm, Woodlands/Bel Air, Malgre Tout/ Meer-Zorgen, Gibraltar-Fyrish and Industry-Plaisance.

In response, Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Communities, Emil McGarrell, noted that Minister Bulkan acted in good faith and within his statutory authority by selecting Rupert Henry Smith as Mayor of Mabaruma.

In court documents seen by this newspaper, the Government contends that the High Court has no jurisdiction to hear this matter, which was filed by the PPP as a ‘Notice of Motion’ and not by the prescribed form of Election Petition.

The Government contends

that even if the court were to find that Minister Bulkan acted illegally in appointing Smith as Mayor, which resulted in the election of Astrile Gammell as Deputy Mayor, such a finding does not prevent them from performing the functions of their respective offices de facto.

As it relates to the appointment of the five NDC chairs, the Government contends that it is a mere misinterpretation of the law, pointing out that Chapter 28:03 of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act is inapplicable to the election of

a Chairman and Vice Chairman.

“They do not contemplate the direct election of a Chairman or Vice Chairman, only councillor,” the PS stated in his response.

McGarrell is of the view that Chapter 28:01 of the Municipal and District Councils Act explicitly states that the minister has the right to appoint the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and NDC Chairpersons for Local Authority Areas if the councillors cannot arrive at a consensus.

Accused of stealing $2.8M in plywood THREE persons accused of stealing over $2.8M worth in plywood from Toolsie Persaud Ltd were on Thursday released on bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Jacqueline Mangru,46; Junior Joseph,32 of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara; and Oliver Coates, 66, of 108 Lamaha Springs were indicted jointly on the

charge.

The particulars of the offence stated that the trio between June 5 and November 7, 2012, stole 12 crates of plywood valued $2.8M, property of Toolsie Persaud Ltd. The defendants were not required to plead to the charge, since the prosecutor Deniro Jones objected to the Administration of Justice Act

(AJA) being applied.

According to Jones, a fourth suspect,whose name was given as ‘Lakeram,’ was also implicated in the theft, but he has not yet been charged. However, no objection to the defendants being granted bail was made by the prosecutor.

The trio was granted $75,000 bail each and had their matter adjourned until May 3, when it would be heard before City Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Broke minibus window, on $25,000 bail A 22-YEAR-OLD West Ruimveldt resident was on Thursday released on $25,000 bail by city Magistrate Faith McGusty after being charged for damage to property.

It is alleged that Paul Smith of 505 West Ruim-

veldt Housing Scheme, on April 20 at North Road, Georgetown, damaged the left window of minibus BRR 8408, valued $40,000, property of Clark Murray.

Smith denied the charge.

Prosecutor Seon Blackman opposed Smith being

granted bail, since he had no fixed place of abode and had given the court conflicting addresses.

However, the 22-yearold was quick to respond and said that he resides with his aunt in West Ruimveldt.

The magistrate granted the accused bail and adjourned the matter until May 13.

PSC seeks ‘DDL-style’ tax settlement for...

From page 11

“After almost 14 years with no satisfactory outcome in sight, the GRA exercised its right to settlement in order to avoid more years of litigation and the consequent loss to the national coffers, as DDL was likely to take the matter to the CCJ; that settlement was calculated based on what the law permits,” the GRA said.

The GRA said it is important to note that Jagdeo’s formula upon which he based his speculations about the consequences of the negotiated outcome shows that the Government actually gained

a profit of G$231 million under the scenario he proffered.

“Mr Jagdeo is fully aware that once a debt owed exceeds one year, its value must be discounted for every year it remains uncollected.

During that 15-year period of litigation, and based on the interest rate of 10 per cent that he chose, his G$5.3 billion would have been worth G$1.3 billion to the Government after 15 years.”

The GRA said it found troubling Jagdeo’s objection to its efforts to have an amicable relationship with taxpayers, including those in the

business community. It noted that the tone of his views, as reported in the newspapers, present taxpayers as if they are to be enemies of the State.

“It is therefore important for the GRA to reiterate that it views taxpayers as partners in the development of Guyana, and therefore explores all avenues available to have taxpayers honour their tax obligations without prejudice, and at the same [time] create an enabling environment for legitimate businesses.”

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Ally ramps up promotion of social cohesion ‒ Social Cohesion Day billed for May 11

A section of the gathering of head-teachers, managers and education officials from East Berbice-Corentyne schools, including Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary School, Number 48 Village Primary School, Manchester Secondary, Hibiscus Nursery and others in the auditorium of the St. Aloysius Primary School, New Amsterdam

MINISTER of Social Cohesion Amna Ally has upped her interaction with communities and other groups as she pushes ahead with the administration’s promotion of social cohesion.

For this week the minister and her technical staff met with members of the entertainment industry as well as educators and students in the Berbice region.

During her interactions with members of the entertainment fraternity, Ally urged them to “big up social cohesion”, declaring that she was eager to see the benefits that would accrue from partnering with them as they are able to reach the public in their comfort zones.

Participants included Linden ‘Jumbie’ Jones, Gavin Mendonca, Andrea Joseph of the National Communications Network (NCN), Amar Ramessar of Radio Guyana, Mark Pierre of 89.1 FM, Jaidev Doodnauth of NCN Radio, Surida Nagreadi of 98.5 FM, WR Reaz of Team MMR, DJ Mo Money, DJ Killer Feelings, Lexxus Blingers, Soyini Fraser, Public Relations Officer of Hits and Jams Entertainment, Troy Peters, Public Relations Officer of Banks DIH Limited, Lorry Wills, Brand Manager, Demerara Distillers Limited and others, who met with the minister in the auditorium of the National Sports Resource Centre on Woolford Avenue.

Although the ministry plans to engage with other media representatives, Minister Ally said this meeting was convened with those from the entertainment sector first “because we believe that you have a very important role to play in nation-building… You all are very influential to varying degrees. You command a certain amount of attention; you have your own fan clubs and captive audiences and in many ways you are listened to. You are popular and you are frequently heard in and out of Guyana; that is why you are important in this process.”

The meeting was the third

in a series of consultations the ministry has planned to engage all of the religious groups, communities and organisations in Guyana to help devise new strategies on social cohesion.

“Under my stewardship we want to undertake those initiatives that would allow Guyanese, irrespective of our diversities…to partner in an atmosphere of trust… We want to promote nation-building,” Minister Ally said, adding that “we want small groups and communities to contribute in strategic ways to Guyana’s social, economic and political landscape.”

SOCIAL COHESION DAY The minister then invited the group to participate in a roster of national programmes aimed at promoting social cohesion, principally in schools, and in the observances of Social Cohesion Day on May 11.

Participants Jones, Reaz, Mendonca, Pierre, Fraser, Nagreadi, Ramessar, Doodnauth, DJ Mo Money, DJ Killer Feelings and Lexxus Blingers agreed to form a Working Group to collaborate with the ministry for this event.

The group met with Sharon Patterson, Programme Coordinator at the ministry, immediately following the meeting. Representatives of sponsors Banks DIH, Demerara Distillers Limited and Hits and Jams Entertainment also agreed that a team from the ministry could meet with their staff members to educate them about social cohesion.

Meanwhile, in Berbice, Ally told education officials and head-teachers that they have an important role to play in creating an enabling environment in schools that can foster social cohesion. The minister made these remarks in her opening address at the meeting, which was held in the auditorium of the St. Aloysius Primary School in New Amsterdam. She said the objective of the meeting is to highlight the importance of social cohesion to nation-building and

to share new ideas and techniques about how it can be promoted in schools.

Education officers Claude Johnson, Selestine La Rose, Basmatie Etwaroo-Baboolal, Bhagmattie La Cruz, Regional Education Officer Volika Jaikishun, Education Officer (Nursery) Hazel MathewsGeorge, Head Teacher at the St. Aloysius Primary School, Hollis Schweirs, Head Teacher at the Canje Secondary School, Vanessa Jacobs, other head teachers and managers and representatives from the Guyana Teachers Union turned out in their numbers for the meeting.

Minister Ally said schools have long been recognised as strategic institutions that can have a significant impact on social cohesion in Guyana; therefore it is imperative that Guyana’s education system be efficiently structured to promote national unity.

“Education can play a vital

Representatives from the entertainment fraternity, who formed a Working Group to collaborate with the ministry at their first working session with Sharon Patterson, Programme Coordinator at the Ministry of Social Cohesion after the meeting

part in building social cohesion among diverse groups in any society,” she said. “If used positively it can forge a national identity which unites communities [as] schools prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary for the future to participate effectively in a democratic society such as ours. It is a critical mechanism in the promotion of social cohesion through the transmission of knowledge and the shaping of attitudes of individuals towards diversity and change.”

She also debunked the widely-held belief that social cohesion was only about race and ethnicity, pointing out that it aims to bring people together, regardless of their differences, whether those differences were based on culture, economic or social background, age, geography, race, political persuasion or otherwise.

“Social cohesion is the

willingness of members of a society to cooperate with each other in order to survive and prosper. I want you to understand that this willingness to cooperate means people freely choose to form partnerships.

We don’t want segregation.

We’ve got to meet, come together and form partnerships,” Minister Ally said.

The minister told the gathering that when people choose to form partnerships it is because they have a reasonable expectation of achieving their goals. This can only happen “because they are willing to cooperate and share the fruits of their endeavours equitably… this is what social cohesion is all about,” she said.

She said her ministry and the Education Ministry are also collaborating in this endeavour and she charged teachers to take up their roles to promote national unity. She suggested that this can be done by incorporating brief mes-

sages about the importance of social cohesion in ‘moral talks’ with students and by encouraging their participation in extra-curricular activities such as cultural programmes to learn with, from and about other groups; through field visits to other diverse communities and by promoting shared values.

Meanwhile, Education Officer Johnson thanked Minister Ally for her presentation, noting that it had become “more of a staff development session as she has expertly and aptly explained the concept of social cohesion. We are all more enlightened by her presentation.”

Mathews-George, another education officer, shared those views and thanked Minister Ally for sharing her knowledge and experience with the group and likened her presentation “to a full day’s meal, not a snack.”

(Ministry of the Presidency)

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Over $100M to repair turnkey houses

By Ariana Gordon

OVER $100 million will be spent by the Board of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to correct defective work done by contractors on turnkey houses in the Providence and Perseverance areas, East Bank Demerara.

Board Chairman Hamilton Green told reporters at a media briefing on Thursday that works are likely to begin within two weeks and noted that many of the recipients of those houses have been forced to live elsewhere.

According to Green, members of the CH&PA Board visited the two communities and were taken aback by the magnitude of defective houses handed over to persons.

“Two Saturdays ago we met allottees of Perseverance here, and there was a series of tears and stories of trials and tribulations: Bad roofs, leaking roofs, doors that don’t function as doors, paint peeling, sanitary facilities which don’t provide the basics, septic tanks which were porous and ineffective, floors that were doing a special dance. We met a lady at Providence who lifted her linoleum and told us how much she spent hoping to live in some kind of decent environment but that did not happen,” recounted Green.

Green, a former Mayor, said the housing pro-

CH&PA Chairman Hamilton Green

gramme initiated under the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration was not properly planned.

“Members of staff who we questioned about this unhappy situation said to us openly and privately that they were instructed by the previous administration to build houses. The impression I get is that there was no planning, no technical input and a lack of professionalism which resulted in the horror stories.”

He said the housing programme the APNU+AFC administration has inherited was “ill-conceived” and could not deliver to the beneficiaries that which was touted and expected.

“That inheritance has left us with a number of horror stories. We met persons at Perseverance and Providence who had moved into their homes, but because of unsatisfactory conditions had moved out,” Green said.

He noted that the CH&-

Turnkey houses at Providence, East Bank Demerara

PA has noted the complaints of all turnkey home-owners and will be addressing the situation, noting that thus far some areas have benefited from corrective work by the agency, but there is a plethora of problems.

“It is our view and we will be proposing to the minister and Government that it is not sane or sensible for us to continue using the same methodology which has provided these horrible experiences for people who want to settle down…”

Currently, the CH&PA is receiving technical assistance from Bert Carter, an engineer with 50 years’ experience but it was discovered during investigation that the members of staff said they were instructed by the previous administration

to build the houses despite the issues.

CANNOT BE PENALISED “We have decided to take affective corrective measures, even though it will cost the authority many millions of dollars,” said Green, who noted that the Board was informed that contractors cannot be penalised for the faulty work as that period has passed.

“This Board and Government are committed no matter what the past errors may be to not allow those residents to suffer. We will pursue measures with the cooperation of the minister (of Communities with responsibility for Housing).”

Green said the Board will not be accepting that which existed in the past

and will be looking at shortterm measures to correct the situation.

“The majority of homes or houses we found that the steps have started to take a journey away from the house and that the roof in some cases has taken a holiday away from the rest of the structure.”

Meanwhile, Carter told reporters that housing development in Guyana has reached a stage where communities are being built on land that was used for plantation purposes.

As such, the soil should have been tested and measures taken to ensure that they are not constructing the properties in swamps.

“Every square mile of cane field had 45miles of drainage… if you want to develop a housing scheme

in those areas… it behooves you to determine if you in a swamp…” said Carter, who noted that after a soil test is completed, then a determination can be made on the best way forward.

He said he cannot fault the young engineers after he examined their designs relative to the two communities, but noted he was able to improve their designs.

“Their designs didn’t have any fault… it was in the construction. All these houses exhibit one feature… cracks of the wall…”

He believes that all contractors should be operating with the same code of practice and going forward, codes of practice will be drafted for all contractors and plumbers. “Everybody should have the same standard,” he added.

GREMA unhappy about deal with Jamaican companies

THE Guyana Rice Exporters and Millers Association (GREMA) has expressed displeasure at the recently signed agreement between Mussons/Jamaica Rice Milling Company Limited (JRMCL) and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).

The GREMA in a release said the deal will effectively limit importation of rice into Jamaica to these two Jamaican companies.

“While on the surface this agreement appears as though it is intended to increase the price and quantity of rice that millers can export to the Jamaican market, that in reality, the reverse is likely to take place,” the exporter and millers’ body said.

It said firstly that the GREMA was never consulted on this agreement and was made aware of it only after it was signed by the parties concerned.

“While we have voiced

our concerns about this, to date, the GRDB continues to negotiate with these two Jamaican companies without our involvement, although in the end it is not the GRDB that produces and sells the rice, but local rice-millers and farmers.”

Second, the GREMA said, since the agreement artificially fixes local export prices to Jamaica above the existing free- market price, there is a real fear that it can lose its share of the

Jamaican market to Suriname, which can continue to offer rice to Jamaica at the existing free-market price.

“Third, this agreement between the GRDB and Mussons/JRMCL can be considered an Anti-Competitive Business Agreement, which is prohibited

by Article 177 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (Caricom).

“Fourth, since this agreement can result in higher prices for the Jamaican consumers, there is

the possibility that Jamaica could consider removing the CET on rice to allow cheaper extra-regional imports of rice into Jamaica.”

The GREMA is of the opinion that when the above factors are taken into consideration, the GRDB-JRMCL agreement in its present form and the contracts that millers are being required to sign with these two Jamaican companies would result in the local rice industry being in a

worst financial position than it was under the old free-market system.

“This will not only negatively affect millers, but also impact negatively on the livelihoods of our local rice farmers. GREMA is of the opinion that this agreement should be cancelled for the good of the industry and seeks Government’s intervention in helping to resolve this situation as soon as possible,” the GREMA said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 23, 2016

Sonia Noel reaching out to society -- in six different ways

By Navendra Seoraj ASIDE from the partying and frollicking for Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary, the Sonia Noel Foundation for Creative Arts (SNFCA) in collaboration with the Women’s Association of Suitable Development (WASD), has taken up the mantle to give back to society during this time.

Through a “super six initiative”, WASD’s President, Sonia Noel and team intend to reach out to society with the hope of giving back in six different ways to six different sections of the public.

Noel said with the support they have amassed from the diaspora over the years, their association had been doing charitable work and reaching new heights when it comes to giving back to not just Guyanese but, also people around the Caribbean.

Speaking to members of the media during a press conference at the Pegasus Hotel on Thursday, Noel outlined that for the upcoming month of May, they

intended to intensify their efforts and give back to mothers, children, the needy and even the elderly.

“Every year, SNFCA has been involved in philanthropic work. And riding on this wave of love and affection we are going to incorporate this into our plans for Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary festivities and Mothers day,” said Noel.

Being a strong advocate for charitable work, she said that during May they intend giving back to firstly single mothers.

In keeping with the Golden Jubilee, they intend on making everything they give and do equivalent to 50, therefore 50 randomly selected single mothers will receive 50 hampers. “Knowing the struggles of being a single mother from firsthand experience, I could relate to what some of them go through on a day-to-day basis,” said WASD’s President.

As such, the hampers will range from groceries to cosmetics, and there is also a special prize from Fly Jamaica, where two lucky

mothers will be selected to spend a little vacation in Jamaica.

Apart from that, seniors from different communities are also set to receive a monetary bursary from the association, since their inputs over the past 50 years had been vital to development of the country.

Fifty senior citizens will receive US$50 from the group, while 50 under-privileged children will receive the same amount of money, which will go towards purchasing of educational materials.

The distribution of joy does not stop there, as the group intends to partner 50 mentors with 50 mentees, on the topic of entrepreneurial development and innovative ways to be financially stable from a young age.

For this, they intend to strike a balance by having 25 boys and an equal amount of girls assigned to one mentor each; mentors will guide them and work with them as they move to instill entrepreneurial knowledge in the youths.

With this, WASD and

Sonia Noel speaking to members of the media on Thursday

SNFCA intend to educate the youths so that they could better themselves and look at life from a new and positive perspective.

Noel added that given that youths were benefiting from their projects, they intend to give children with special needs a chance to showcase their talent and also develop themselves.

The children from the David Rose School for Special Needs will design 50 pieces of fabrics, which will be sold and the returns will go towards the development of the school.

The colours and scintillating designs will also continue to be showcased, this time, by designer Clinton Duncan who intends to bring 50 different fashion illustrations to the floor, come May. All these projects, she said, were just a piece of what the groups had to offer, noting that their work will continue throughout the year and in years to come. Her ideas and projects were welcome by other members of the organisations, who also supported her ideals and echoed the promise to continue their good work.

President visits centenarian

P

resident David Granger on Thursday visited the home of Olive Blackmore, who will reach the mile stone of 105 years old next month, in Cummings Street, Georgetown.

She was born on May 23, 1911 in Charlestown and is the mother of 10 children, eight of whom are alive.

Since the Head of State has a packed schedule for May, the month of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, and may not be able visit her on her birthday, he visited the centenarian on Thursday even as he prepares to travel to New York to participate in the Paris Climate Agreement Signing Ceremony.

“It’s good to be here on behalf of the Government of Guyana to honour a citizen who was born when people didn’t even have watches or radios or cell phones… there are so many similarities between her and my own mother, who also lived in Charlestown. Had my mother been alive today she would have been 111 [years old]. I hope that Mrs Blackmore can live comfortably for the rest of her days and that her health would hold up,” the President said.

Meanwhile, her son Mervin Blackmore, who works at the Ministry of the Presidency, said that like the President, his mother too is a strong advocate for national unity. She is also a devout Catholic, who still recites the holy rosary every morning and reads the daily newspapers. (Ministry of the Presidency)

President David Granger with Olive Blackmore as her relatives and members of her church say a prayer

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Alleged stabber wanted by police A 23-YEAR-OLD mechanic is on the run after allegedly stabbing the mother of his 11-month-old son on Wednesday evening.

The 25-year-old waitress Michelle Drennon, of Lot 1607 Cadet Lane, South Ruimveldt, was stabbed about her body, reportedly by her common-law husband Keon All. She is in a stable condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to relatives, Drennon has made numerous reports at the West Ruim-

veldt Police Station about the abuse she suffered at the hands of All. “Last October she moved in with her mother because of the violence and the fights they have. Imagine when he attacked her at her home he walked with poison in a container and was slamming her head with the stuff,” one relative said.

The mother of the injured young lady, Adunni Drennon, told this publication that they will not be staying at the house until the perpe-

trator is caught, since they are fearful of attacks on the family.

“He brags about having police friends, we need proper security for my daughter at the hospital because he had wanted to kill her,” the mother noted.

She explained that after the stabbing incident, he has been calling the phone and pretending to be his mother, asking how Michelle is doing, "but we know his voice.

He is molesting us, and the police need to arrest him."

Keon All and Michelle Drennon with their son in happier times

Her sister, Tandicka Drennon, said she was relaxing on Wednesday evening, watching television while her sister was resting in bed.

She said the perpetrator visited the home and requested to speak to her sister.

“I told him she was sleeping and he went around to the window at her room and said something.”

She explained that the man then rushed his way into the home and started beating her sister, who had walked into the living room. The fight moved into the kitchen, where the perpetrator armed himself with a knife

and stabbed the mother of his child several times about the body.

Tandicka said she tried to part the fight but was unsuccessful, so she ran over to neighbours for help. “Then he ran behind us. He was on the patio pushing the door, and the only reason he didn’t get in was because is four of us holding back the door… If he was given a proper chance he would have killed her.”

She said her sister and the suspect even had a matter before the court because he had destroyed her personal property, among other things.

Drainage maintenance continues in several city wards

THE Georgetown City Council has commenced a cycle of drainage maintenance in the city to sustain the works done in several wards.

According to Public Relations Officer (ag) Debra Lewis, drainage works were done in several wards, including Kitty, Campbellville, North Ruimveldt, South Ruimveldt, Agricola, Mc Doom, Wortmanville, Atlantic Ville, Cummings Lodge, Bourda and Lacytown.

She explained that the cycle of maintenance commenced in La Penitence, Charlestown, Lacytown and Bourda, and would continue in Alberttown, Queenstown, West Ruimveldt and Wortmanville, and the other wards where works were completed over the past six months.

SQUATTING However, she said the City Council still has some challenges relating to desilting of some of the main canals, such as the Laing Avenue canal and the North Ruimveldt sideline canal, and this is because of squatting along these reserves, which restricts egress and ingress of the excavator.

The Council is also urging residents to desist from depositing refuse in the canals and waterways, since this hinders the free flow of water. Moreover, plastic bottles damage the pumps and put a strain on the Council’s financial resources, since money has to be expended to repair damaged pumps.

Deputy City Engineer Ron Eastman said that currently, nine sluices are working and the main pumps located at Liliendaal and Kitty are functioning at their optimum.

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Inquest: Police still to locate missing statement AFTER almost a year since informant Lennox “Two Colours” Wayne gave his statement to the police in relation to the fatal shootings of Paul

Bascom and Alberto Grant by police at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, on December 7, 2013, efforts are still being made to locate the documents for court.

Wayne’s statement which was missing from the case file was supposed to have been brought before City Magistrate Alex Moore, who is currently conducting an inquest into the death of the two men.

At Thursday’s court proceedings, attorney Nigel Hughes, representing the families of the deceased, stressed the numerous times the court had been given to locate the missing statement.

Hughes also pointed out that Wayne, who is currently on remand at the Camp Street Prison for the murder of a Lusignan cosmetolo-

gist, has expressed his willingness to provide a new statement to the court to corroborate his testimony.

Wayne is testifying as an eyewitness to the shooting and another police shootout which occurred on October 12, 2013 near the K&VC Hotel on South Road, Georgetown. That shooting claimed the lives of three Albouystown residents.

Lennox Wayne, a self-confessed hit-man, has refuted the police versions of what had transpired on the night of the Diamond shooting.

The police had reported that their ranks had staked out the home of a trucking service operator that the men were reportedly planning to rob at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

According to the police, they challenged two men who were approaching on foot, and one of them pulled out a handgun and opened fire on the ranks. The police returned fire and fatally wounded both men.

The police said that they recovered a .38 snubnosed revolver with two live rounds and two spent shells, along with one 9mm. round

and two 7.62 x 39 rounds.

Testifying in court on Thursday was another police officer, and the matter was forced into another adjournment until April 29 for reports. So far, 12 witnesses have testified.

The Director of Public Prosecutions had ordered that an inquest be held into the deaths of Bascom, a resident of Diamond Housing Scheme; and Grant, or Alberto Mustapha, 28, called ‘Mukie’, of Lot 299 Meadow Brook Gardens. They were shot dead during an alleged 20-minute shootout with police.

Venezuelans remanded for having gun, ammo TWO Venezuelan nationals were on Thursday refused bail when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, charged with unlawful pos-

session of firearm and ammunition.

It is alleged that on April 20 at Eteringbang Landing, Cuyuni River, Emmis Sevilla and Manuel Martinez had a 12-guage shotgun and 15 live

rounds of matching ammunition in their possession without being licensed firearm holders.

Sevilla, 33, of Bolivar, Venezuela; and Martinez, 27 of San Felipe, Venezuela, with the help of an interpreter, pleaded not guilty to the joint charge.

The two were unrepresented, but explained that they were intercepted while crossing over from Venezuela into Guyana.

However, according to

the prosecutor, on the day in question at the Eteringbang Landing, the police saw them in a speed boat acting in a suspicious manner.

The police intercepted the boat, conducted a search and unearthed the gun with ammunition.

The prosecutor strongly opposed bail being granted, since neither defendant has ties to Guyana, either would be a flight risk.

The Chief Magistrate ruled in the prosecution’s favour, and remanded the duo until June 20 while transferring the matter to the Kamarang Magistrate’s Court.

Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 05:30 hrs Sunday, April 24, 2016 - 05:30 hrs Monday, April 25, 2016 - 05:00 hrs

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South Africa Racing Tips Turffontein 08:15 hrs Dahlia’s Arrow 08:50 hrs Gain Ground 09:25 hrs Detonation 10:00 hrs Hermoso Mundo 10:35 hrs Fareeq 11:10 hrs Musical Romance English Racing Tips Haydock 08:40 hrs Gunnery 09:10 hrs Lord Of The Land 09:45 hrs Fadillah 10:20 hrs Express Himself 10:35 hrs vIzmir 11:30 hrs American Hustle 12:05 hrs Farham 12:40 hrs Queen’s Novel Ripon 09:05 hrs Bonnie Arlene 09:40 hrs Gavlar 10:15 hrs Imshivalla 10:50 hrs Tatlisu 11:25 hrs Noble Gift 11:55 hrs Victory Bond 12:30 hrs Flowing Clarets Sandown 09:20 hrs Voix Du Reve 09:55 hrs Valseur Lodo 10:35 hrs Sprinter Sacre 11:10 hrs Measureofmydreams 11:45 hrs Vroum Vroum Mag 12:20 hrs Calipto 12:55 Mckinley Irish Racing Tips Limerick 08:35 hrs Monarch 09:30 hrs Crème De La 10:05 hrs Shinghari 10:40 hrs Orangey Red 11:15 hrs Bondi Beach 11:50 hrs Silvercups 12:25 hrs Never Again American Racing Tips Aqueduct Race 1 Fleeting Gold Race 2 Longfor the City Race 3 Liam’s Prince Race 4 Literata Race 5 Startup Nation Race 6 Ideal Quality Race 7 Unbridled Daddy Race 8 Behrnik’s Bank Race 9 Humboldt N Frost

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Calm Harden fires Rockets past Warriors in Game Three

(THE Sports Xchange) THE frantic, final moments nearly undermined all the Houston Rockets built in scratching out a double-digit lead, but James Harden took advantage of the disarray by doing what he does best.

Harden nailed a step-back jumper with 2.7 seconds left, and the Houston Rockets claimed a 97-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game Three of a Western Conference first-round playoff series at Toyota Centre on Thursday.

The defending champion Warriors, playing a second consecutive game without All-Star guard Stephen Curry (right ankle sprain), still lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 with Game Four set for Sunday at Toyota Center.

The Rockets blew a 17-point lead and trailed with 10.6 seconds left after Trevor Ariza threw away an inbounds pass that facilitated a fastbreak layup by Warriors reserve guard Ian Clark.

With Houston out of timeouts, Harden followed with a quick dribble, darted into the lane and spun free before nailing a 10-foot jumper.

Warriors forward Draymond Green dribbled the ensuing inbounds pass off his foot and out of bounds for a turnover with one second left.

“A lot of people just get

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. The Rockets won 97-96. (Mandatory Credit: nervous and don’t want to be and Shaun Livingston, who in that situation,” said Harden, again filled in for Curry, addwho scored a game-high 35 ed 16 points. points.

“For me, I strive in moKERR UNHAPPY ments like that, so you just What Speights started in have to have confidence.” the second quarter and carried Harden added eight re- through the third, Livingston bounds and nine assists. Do- picked up in the fourth. natas Motiejunas produced Following a pair of Har14 points and 13 rebounds, rison Barnes free throws that while Dwight Howard also sliced the Warriors’ deficit to recorded a double-double (13 six points, Livingston added points and 13 rebounds) plus three jumpers, the last with two blocks.

8:59 left to cut it to 81-80.

Reserve forward Marreese Despite following that Speights led Golden State spurt with a three-minute with 22 points in 18 minutes. drought, the Warriors hung Klay Thompson contributed tough. Trailing 88-80, they 17 points and eight rebounds, rallied with seven consecutive

Kenyan president signs anti-doping bill into law

(REUTERS) - Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta signed into law yesterday an anti-doping bill required to avoid a ban from the Rio Olympics for a nation famed for its runners but tainted by a spate of doping cases in recent years.

The athletics world has been in turmoil since the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) issued a report in November citing widespread use of doping in the sport.

Kenya had been given a one-month extension on April 7 to comply with WADA regulations or face sanctions that could include a ban from this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Flanked by senior government officials and sportsmen and

women, Kenyatta was shown signing the bill into law in a video released by the president’s office.

“Kenya is 100 percent committed to ensuring total compliance with international regulations on sports and athletics,” he said at the signing ceremony.

“This law is the continuation, not the end, of our efforts to stand against cheating and corruption in the sporting and athletics arena,” he said.

The law, demanded by WADA, will criminalise doping in a country with a history of middle and long-distance running excellence, but tainted by recent doping cases.

Kenya had also missed a February deadline to establish a legal framework for its An-

ti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).

In response to yesterday’s developments, WADA issued a statement saying its independent Compliance Review Committee will meet early next month to review the decision.

“We understand from media reports that there has been some progress with Kenya’s anti-doping bill,” WADA said in a statement, “Unless (the Compliance Review Committee) deem that the bill, policy and ADAK rules are formally adopted by that date then they will recommend to the WADA Foundation Board that the Kenyan NADO (national anti-doping organisation) should be declared non-compliant.”

points and later took their first lead since 2-0 when Clark nailed a floater with 1:25 left.

“Well, I’m not really encouraged. This is how we were supposed to play,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

“We should have actually played better. We made too many mistakes.”

Golden State surrendered 20 points off 14 turnovers and missed 19-of-25 three-point attempts.

The Rockets sought early energy, and already leading 21-15, closed the first period with a 10-3 run.

Harden was the linchpin, tallying seven consecutive points before Ariza turned a turnover into a transition dunk.

Harden closed the quarter with a free throw, a pull-up jumper plus a basket following his offensive rebound for a 13-point advantage entering the second.

Houston extended to a 5336 lead when Jason Terry and Harden sank three-pointers, but that was when Speights went on his scorching streak.

The Warriors closed the half with a 9-0 run following a technical foul on Howard.

Speights drilled his third trey of the half with 2.4 seconds left to cap his 14-point period and cut the deficit to 55-48 at the break.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)

Rugby America North (RAN) 15s tournament …

Green Machine ‘taking no prisoners’ against Barbados

By Stephan Sookram GUYANA’S rugby team will be going all out today in search of victory when they host the Barbados National team in the first round of the Rugby America’s North (RAN) 15s campaign.

The 16:00hrs match at the National Park will bring the win-hungry Jags against their Barbadian counterparts and will test the quality of the squad who have been in training for the last three weeks.

Chronicle Sport sought a comment from the skipper of the ‘Green Machine’, Richard Staglon, late last evening who contended that his charges are raring to set the National Park afire, come today.

“We are looking forward to using our usual aggressive style of play and a bit of tweaking from Larry (coach Adonis) has got things a bit more interesting, a bit more exciting style of play,” contended an upbeat Staglon.

With the full backing of his side, Staglon threw out a strong message to the foreigners ahead of today’s game, reminding them that Guyana are calm and ready for a fight.

Meanwhile, coach Adonis contended that, “Right now I think we’re really ready and I think that the players are peaking right now. We are ready to go. We had to hold these guys

back and don’t let them on the field this afternoon (Friday) because they are so prepared to go.”

Their opponents, the Bajans, who have already claimed the underdog tag, arrived yesterday afternoon and immediately went for a training session at the National Park, already showing their readiness for a battle to the death against the indomitable Green Machine side.

Coach of the Barbados side, Romeo Mayers says that the task of upsetting a side like Guyana on home soil is one that is tough but not undesirable, considering his unit.

“I believe anything is possible but I will leave everything on the pitch. I don’t know how the day will turn out but we don’t come to play not to win, we play to expect a positive result,” said Mayers.

The last time the teams met here, Guyana took no prisoners in brushing the visitors aside 48-22.

Following this encounter, the local ruggers will return to training for a match against Jamaica on May 21 and Trinidad on June 19.

Their successes will determine if they move on to play the winner of the Northern Zone for the overall RAN title, following which they move onto other Qualifiers for a chance at the Rugby World Cup.

GABF ready for replay of ‘Road To Mecca 3’ Final tonight

By Daniel Haynes

THE replay of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Association’s (GABF) ‘Road to Mecca 3’ final is scheduled to tip off today at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

Linden Retrieve Raiders will face off against the Georgetown Bounty Colts.

The game will be officiated by the trio of two FIBA-certified Barbadian referees, Rene Batson and Ms Jennifer Joseph-Hackett, and Guyanese FIBA-certified referee Sherwin Joseph.

Ahead of the encounter, GABF president stated, “The presence of international referees was a condition for

Colts’ participation … the international referees will certainly be a boost to the officiating team.” He went on to say that the GABF believes that the game will be a competitive one and that fans will finally be able to get a conclusion to the long overdue final.

“We did not see an abortion in the interest of Guyana’s basketball and we reprimanded the clubs and players who contributed to the uproar on the advice of FIBA referees,” Hinds also stated.

Colts manager Michael Singh told the Chronicle Sport in an exclusive comment “We are ready for this game and we will continue to

play in the disciplined manner that we always play.” He continued by adding that the introduction of new referees will not change the game plan of the Georgetown side.

The game in question finished prematurely on March 19, due to a series of controversial calls by the referees..

At the time of the stoppage, nine minutes remained in the fourth quarter and the score stood at 54-51 in favour of Colts.

Opening tip tonight will be at 19:00hrs with Plaisance Guardians taking on Pepsi Sonics in a supporting game with the heavily anticipated rematch scheduled thereafter.

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 23, 2016

Rio Games countdown starts with Olympia torch lighting

By Karolos Grohmann and Karolina Tagaris ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece- (Reuters)-The official countdown to this year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics began with the lighting of the torch at the site of the ancient Games on Thursday and organisers hoping to shift attention away from Brazil’s politi-

cal and financial turmoil.

On a glorious spring day with the sun burning hot above the ancient stadium in Olympia, an actress playing a high priestess lit the torch from the rays of the sun at the temple of Hera, using a parabolic mirror.

Greek gymnastics world champion Lefteris Petrounias started the domestic relay after receiving the flame, hand-

ing the torch over to Brazilian double Olympic volleyball champion Giovane Gavio.

A refugee will also carry the torch during the Greek leg of the relay in a symbolic move to highlight the plight of refugees before Brazilian organizers receive it in a handover at the Panathenian stadium on April 27 in Athens, site of the first modern Olympics in 1896.

Brazil will start its relay on May 3 in the capital Brasilia with the first of 12,000 runners, carrying it through 300 cities and towns in the 26 Brazilian states and ending in Rio on the day of the opening ceremony on Aug. 5.

Preparations, however, for the first Games in South America, have been plagued by problems and a shortage of cash for organizers as the country is experiencing its worst recession in decades. “(The torch lighting) brings a message that can and will unite our dear Brazil,” Rio Games chief Carlos Nuzman said in his speech.

Brazil President Dilma Rousseff, who canceled her trip to ancient Olympia, is facing impeachment and federal prosecutors are investigating Olympic projects for corruption.

Asked if organizers were concerned about a possible

change of government, Nuzman told Reuters: I’m not a politician and I don’t know. We know what we need to do, and we’ll do (it).”

CORRUPTION SCANDAL The crisis has paralyzed the country’s ability to revive its economy from recession in the midst of a huge corruption scandal involving state-run oil firm Petrobras.

“Despite the difficulties that Brazil is facing today, the flame is a timeless reminder that we are all part of the same humanity,” International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said in his speech.

“We are now in the operation phase and we see the great progress the organizing committee has made in the last year. 98 percent of all infrastructure is ready,” Bach told reporters later.

“You see us very confident

in general and on a day like this you see us more confident and more emotional about these Games for Brazil.”

Brazil’s interim sports minister, Ricardo Goncalves, echoed Bach’s confidence, telling Reuters authorities were very happy because Brazil is ready.

“The Olympic Park, the venues are ready. Everything was done, so no impact,” he said.

Thursday’s ceremony marked the 80-year anniversary since the relay, which did not exist in the ancient Greek Olympics, was introduced by the Nazi organizers of the 1936 Berlin Games.

“Brazil will start telling the world a different story from the one we usually see in the news lately,” 2016 Olympics Ceremonies producer Marco Balich told Reuters.

Olympic flame second torch bearer, former volleyball player Giovane Gavio from Brazil (L), passes the torch to third bearer Dimitrios Mougios as they attend the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on the site of ancient Olympia, Greece....Reuters/Yannis Behrakis

Taylor leaves hospital after ‘procedure’ on heart condition FORMER England batsman James Taylor has left hospital after a “preliminary procedure” on the heart condition which prompted his retirement.

Taylor, 26, tweeted a picture of himself outside Nottingham City Hospital on Thursday.

“Well that has been one hell of an experience,” he said of his fortnight undergoing tests on the condition - arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC).

James Taylor “What a beautiful day!” he added.

Taylor’s county, Nottinghamshire, said he would continue his recovery at home

and “be tested and monitored to determine future treatment”.

Taylor, who began his career at Leicestershire, played seven Tests and 27 ODIs for England.

He fell ill during the first day of Notts’ match against Cambridge University this month and was diagnosed with ARVC, a similar condition that afflicted Bolton Wanderers footballer Fabrice Muamba.

On medical advice, Taylor retired with immediate effect. (BBC Sport)

33

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 23, 2016

Refugee amputee swimmer a torch-bearer for Rio Games (REUTERS) - A Syrian amputee swimmer, granted asylum in Greece, will be a torch-bearer for the 2016 Rio Games and is to run with the Olympic flame through a refugee camp in Athens on Tuesday.

Ibrahim al-Hussein crossed the Aegean from Turkey to Greece on a rubber boat in 2014 after having lost part of his leg in a bombing in Syria, the Hellenic Olympic Committee and the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said.

He has since been given asylum in Greece, the main route into Europe from 2015 for more than a million people from conflict-wracked or poor countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Holding the Olympic flame will be “an honour”, the 27-year-old al-Hussein was quoted as saying by the

Ibrahim al-Hussein, a 27-year-old refugee from Syria, during a basketball training session in this handout photo provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in Athens, April 13, 2016. (Achilleas Zavallis/UNHCR/Handout via Reuters) UNHCR website Tracks.

“I am carrying the flame for myself but also for Syri-

ans, for refugees everywhere, for Greece, for sport, for my swimming and basketball

teams,” said al-Hussein who works in an Athens café and trains several times a week.

Metro Office Supplies renews sponsorship of RHTYSC female GUYANA’S only female cricket team last Sunday received a major boost when the official sponsor renewed its cricket sponsorship for another year.

Metro Office and Computer Supplies since 2009 has been the official sponsor of the Rose Hall Town Metro Female Team and the company, during the RHTYSC 26th annual awards ceremony, handed over a cheque for $200 000.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that since the formation of the team in 2008, the players have done remarkably well on and off the cricket field.

The Metro Female Team over the years produced three West Indies players: Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, and Tremayne Smartt.

Players like Melanie Henry, Plaffina Millington, Nikita Henry, Shenneta Grimmond, S. Gajnabi, Shanna Vanderstoop and Triesha Cort have all represented Guyana at different levels while numerous others have represented Berbice.

Foster explained that due to non-existence of

Metro representative Avie Lindee hands over the sponsorship cheque to RHTYSC Patron President David Granger. other female cricket teams in Guyana, the Metro Female team play against males at the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 levels.

He extended profound gratitude to the management and staff of the company for its continued confidence in the Club and its female cricket team.

Captain of the team, Shemaine Campbelle recommit-

ted her team to upholding the high tradition it has set itself in terms of discipline, commitment and performance on the field.

The team in 2016 would undertake 15 major personal developmental programmes under the name of the sponsorship.

Metro Chief Executive Officer Avie Lindee expressed delight at the

renewal of the sponsorship, adding that the office supplies giant was pleased to be associated with the RHTYSC and its female cricket team.

The Metro brand, Lindee noted, has been well represented by the team and congratulated Shemaine Campbelle on her World Cup Championship with the West Indies

Up to 10 refugees are to compete in Rio in August under the Team of Refugee Olympics Athletes (ROA), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said.

They will be chosen from a pool of 43 prospective Olympians identified by the IOC and supported with funds to train.

The son of a swimming coach, al-Hussein and many of his 13 siblings swam competitively from the age of five. He used a 36-metre high suspension bridge in the city of Deir ez-Zor as a diving board until it was destroyed in 2013 during the war.

His right leg was amputated from the middle of the calf and he walks with a prosthetic leg that a private doctor arranged for him to receive for free.

Al-Hussein trains at a

2004 Athens Olympics complex and also plays for a wheelchair basketball team that travels across Greece for games.

“My goal is to never give up but to go on, to always go forward, and that I can achieve through sport,” he said.

The Olympic torch was lit in Ancient Olympia in southern Greece on Thursday, starting a six-day relay across the country.

It will pass through the town of Marathon, which gave its name to the endurance race, as well as the ancient Acropolis.

The torch arrives in Brazil on May 3 for a 100day relay across that country, featuring around 12 000 torch-bearers, ahead of the August 5 Opening Ceremony for the first Olympics to be held in South America

Preparation in advance stage for May 1 horse-race meet

WITH entries topping the 50-horse mark, the principals of the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing stables have already put most systems in place for the grand one-day horse-race meet, scheduled for May 1 at the Bush Lot United Turf Club’s (BLUTC) Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice venue.

The organisers have put together an impressive sixrace programme with over $4M in cash, trophies and other incentives up for grabs.

The feature race is classified for horses in the D1 and Lower Class over one mile, with the winner set to race away with $800 000 and a trophy.

Other events on the day’s card are the race for threeyear-olds for West Indies-bred horses and Open Guyana-bred horses for a winning purse of $350 000 and trophy over 1400 metres.

Then there is an event for animals classified G1 and Lower over for a top purse of also $350 000 and trophy over 1200 metres.

The H3 and Lower race will be a 1400-metre affair with the animals running for a winner’s purse of $250 000 and trophy.

The organisers have added the event for horses classified K and J and Lower over 1200 metres for a winning take of $200 000 and trophy and the final event will be for animals classified L and Lower over 1000 metres for a pole position’s taking of $150,000 and trophy.

The events will be held under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority.

Interested persons can contact Chandu Ramkissoon (624-9063 or 232-0633), Irshad Mohammed on 6641650, Chattergoon Ramnauth on 337- 5311/697-1979, Campton Sancho on 690-0569 and Lakeram ‘Buddy’ Sukhdeo on 672-0810 for any detail on the event.

Race-time is 12:30 hrs.

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 23, 2016

Gayle unlikely to AB de Villiers, Kohli take RCB to big win be banned from future Big Bash editions - CA boss

Chris Gayle CRICKET Australia (CA) boss James Sutherland has insisted that it is unlikely that West Indies batting star Chris Gayle will be banned from future editions of the Big Bash League.

Gayle set off a firestorm earlier this year after asking television reporter Mel McLaughlin out on a date during a live television interview.

The cricketer, who had claimed the incident had been misunderstood as a failed attempt at humour, was later fined US$10,000 and with sentiments strong against the West Indian at the time reports seemed to suggest that Cricket Australia would discourage teams from signing him for future editions.

Sutherland in an apparent change of attitude has insisted such a move would be against the board’s policy.

“No matter what anyone at Cricket Australia thought (of the incident) at management level, board level, I think you’re on a slippery slope if you start making judgements on players who could or shouldn’t be playing in the Big Bash League or in our domestic competitions,” Sutherland told Australian publication News Corp.

“Because, when does that ever end? My view is unless there’s a very, very strong reason along the lines of anti-corruption, then it’s difficult for us to be making those judgements.

“I’m not saying that it wouldn’t happen but my judgement is that it’s not appropriate, it’s about the teams themselves to make the calls.”(Sportsmax.com)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday April 23, 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) Suresh Raina (2) Robin Uthappa (KKR) Today’s Quiz: (1) Which franchise WI Carlos Braithwaite is representing in this year’s IPL? (2) Which franchise India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni is leading in this season’s IPL??

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

PRIOR to this match, 14 of 15 games in IPL 2016 had been won by the team chasing. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) bucked the trend again by defending 185 against Rising Pune Supergiants and securing a 13-run victory.

They had earlier defended 227 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 185 for 3 (AB de Villiers 83, Virat Kohli 80; Perera 3-34) beat Rising Pune Supergiants 172 for 8 (Rahane 60, MS Dhoni 41, Richardson 3-13, Watson 2-31) by 13 runs.

Virat Kohli played an un-Virat Kohli innings and struggled for timing, particularly in the middle overs. AB de Villiers, though, was his usual self, swatting and even reverse-swatting his way to 83 off 46. The pair produced their third 100-plus stand in four matches, which laid the foundation for the win.

Thisara Perera blitzed 34 off 13 to give Royal Challengers a late scare, after claiming three wickets with the ball, but Shane Watson dismissed the Sri Lanka all-rounder and R Ashwin in the space of three balls to snuff out the chase.

Supergiants lost Faf du Plessis in the second over when he stepped out and chipped a catch to mid-off. A

Player-of-the-match AB de Villiers extended his sizzling IPL form, hitting 83 off 46 balls in RCB’s win. mowed South African chiball later, Supergiants received a bigger jolt. Kevin Pietersen set off for a quick single and seemed to have hurt his calf while turning back.

Moments later, he limped off the field. Soon after, Steven Smith slipped near the middle of the pitch and was run-out for 4. Ajinkya Rahane went on to make 60 off 46 balls, but his knock was offset by MS Dhoni’s 41 off 38 balls. This meant that Supergiants limped through their innings before Thisara gave it a leg-up.

When Thisara came out to bat at 109 for 3, the asking rate had shot close to 15 an over. He survived a tight lbw shout off his first ball and then

NOTABLE DATES

LIGHTWEIGHT boxer Lennox Blackmoore collected the most impressive scalp at that point in his professional career when he knocked out Jamaican Percy Hayles on April 23, 1976 in Guyana.

The Jamaican had vast experience and had defended the Commonwealth lightweight title several times before meeting the Guyanese.

The contest was the feature event on a card that saw Patrick Ford debut against Roy Smith. Blackmoore (25) stopped his 35-year-old opponent in round five of the fight that was scheduled for ten rounds, to collect his 10th victory in 11 bouts.

Hayles on the other hand slumped to his 29th defeat in 69 fights.

The Jamaican had one more fight (a loss to Jonathan Dele in July 1976) and died in July 1978. Blackmoore improved and defeated Dele in October 1977 to win Guyana’s first Commonwealth title.

The Guyanese legend moved up one division and challenged WBA super lightweight champion Aaron `The Hawk’ Pryor in June 1981. During that time the `Cincinnati Cyclone’ ruled the division with a stern hand having knocked out both opponents in the two defences he made.

Once considered one of the best counter-punchers in the business, Blackmoore was in early trouble against `The Hawk’. Pryor swarmed from the opening bell and knocked down his taller opponent several times in the brief encounter to win by a TKO in round two.

Blackmoore lost his next two fights and hung up his gloves after defeating Wayne Harris in June 1986. He is now a sought-after trainer in New York and in 2002 piloted `Vicious’ Vivian Harris to victory in the battle for the WBA super lightweight title.

naman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi over midwicket for a six. He hit full tilt when he bashed four successive boundaries off Harshal Patel in the thirdlast over.

Thisara’s blows reduced the equation to 25 off 12, but Watson and Kane Richardson combined to seal the deal for their side.

Thisara’s blows reduced the equation to 25 off 12, but Watson and Kane Richardson combined to seal the deal for their side.

Royal Challengers’ batting was once again led by Kohli and de Villiers, after KL Rahul skied a catch to third man in the fourth over. de Vil-

liers marked his arrival with a crunching cut that pierced the gap between cover and cover point.

Kohli too began positively, thanks to a steady supply of leg-stump balls from Ishant Sharma. Rajat Bhatia’s assortment of cutters and Ankit Sharma’s darters, however, squeezed Royal Challengers, as did R Ashwin, though he did not complete his quota again. He could have had Kohli on 50 had Ankit Sharma hung on to a catch at mid-off.

AB de Villiers tucked into the other Ashwin, hitting the rookie leg-spinner for two sixes in his first over. He followed it with a swept and reverse-swept four in M Ashwin’s second over. de Villiers continued to showcase his gallery of shots even as Kohli was tied down.

Kohli smashed his bat into his pad when he mistimed a Bhatia slower ball to deep midwicket. Kohli then jammed his helmet onto his head when he holed out in the last over of the innings.

A ball later, AB de Villiers was undone by Thisara’s leg-cutter. Kohli had played out 17 of Royal Challengers’ 28 dots, which incidentally was the jointthird least in an IPL innings.

Eventually they cobbled together 185, which Dhoni described a “par-plus score”.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

Hampshire’s Edwards fractures ankle playing football in warm-up (REUTERS) - Hampshire fast bowler Fidel Edwards fractured his ankle playing football in a warm-up session this week before an English county championship match against Yorkshire, his club said.

The 34-year-old, who has played 55 Tests for the West Indies, got his foot caught in the turf on Wednesday and fell to the ground with no other player near him.

“Hampshire Cricket can confirm that fast bowler Fidel Edwards has suffered a fractured right ankle which was sustained during the warmup on day four of the match against Yorkshire at Headingley,” Hampshire said on their website.

Fidel was due to see a specialist on Thursday to help determine the predicted length of time that he will be out of action for.

Fidel Edwards

Edwards posted photographs of himself on Instagram lying in a Leeds hospital bed.

“Today the process of healing starts both mentally and physically,” he said.

South Africa fast bowler Vernon Philander was ruled out of the recent Test series against England after sustaining an ankle injury playing football before a match in India in November.

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, April 23, 2016

GCB/Hand-in-Hand U-19 cricket …

Chinkoo, Fernandes rescue Essequibo

By Rajiv Bisnauth

LOOKNAUTH Chinkoo and Jonathan Fernandes rebuilt Essequibo’s first innings with a gutsy sixth-wicket partnership that eventually guided their team to 197 all out against Demerara in the third round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)-sponsored Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company Under-19 threeday cricket tournament, yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground.

When play ended on the second day, Demerara openers Ronaldo Renee and Raymond

Jonathan Fernandes smashes a six off Sherfane Rutherford (not in picture).

Perez survived six testing overs, with the score on 16 without loss.

Top Caribbean Basketball Federation officials to visit Guyana

By Peter Haynes

TOP officials of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Glyne Clarke – president, Patrick Haynes – vice-president, Marketing and Finance, will pay an official five-day visit to Guyana from April 27 to May 1 next.

The CBC officials will be in Guyana to ascertain whether the requirements stipulated by FIBA for member federations to host international tournaments are available.

The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has secured the bid to host the CBC. Under-16 Youth – Boys and Girls – championships this year.

The tournaments are scheduled to be held from July 3 to 17.

Clarke, in an interview, stated that his team will be looking at the tournament venue, Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, and practice venues; the separate hotel accommodations for the teams (players and team officials), the referees and tournament commissioners, and the FIBA officials including vice-president Patrick Haynes, Secretary-Gen-

Sabrina Mitchell

Renee and Perez are set to resume today on seven each, with Demerara 182 runs away from first-innings points.

Earlier, Chinkoo and Fernandes had manufactured a salvage operation after they had been thrust together with Essequibo struggling at 101-5.

Demerara dominated the first 45 overs, piling the pressure on the Essequibo top order, who squandered ideal batting conditions.

Fernandes and Chinko, however, steadied the Essequibo ship and frustrated Demerara bowlers with dogged resistance as the pair put on 80, with Chinkoo hitting a top score of 52, inclusive of

nine fours, while Fernandes made 37. Opener Mark Williams also contributed 46 to the total.

Keemo Paul’s decision to bat after winning the toss seemed logical as blazing sunshine greeted the players, but his top order batsmen including himself failed to cash in.

New-ball bowler Sherfane Rutherford was the chief destroyer, with figures of 4-27. He received support from left-arm spinner Keshram Seyhodan (3-37), while fellow new-ball bowler Ronaldo Alimohamed and spinners Travis and Darshan Persaud, all chipped in with a wicket apiece.

When play began at 11:40hrs, Essequibo openers Williams and Nathan Persaud were rather circumspect, resulting in the dismissal of Persaud, caught at gully off Rutherford for four.

After the early loss of Persaud, Williams and Siddiq Mohamed looked in fine nick as they ushered the visitors to lunch at 30-1, with Williams on 17 and Mohamed on seven.

However, the pair’s hard work was undone straight after the break by Seyhodan when he trapped Mohamed leg-before-wicket for 11.

The Essequibo skipper, who joined Williams, got off the mark with a straight six off Seyhodan, but four balls

Looknauth Chinkoo later Essequibo’s hopes for a strong third-wicket partnership took a dent. Paul, the 18-year-old was brilliantly bowled by Darshan Persaud for seven.

Williams then survived two dropped chances to Seyhodan when he was on 32, but together with Akinie Adams carved out a 30-run partnership for the fourth wicket that offered Essequibo some promise.

However, both batsmen were separated in the space of 23 runs, as Williams went leg-before to Seyhodan, and Adams was bowled by off-spinner Travis Persaud for 13, at 101-5.

Fernandes joined forc-

es with Chinkoo, who survived a stumping chance. The left-hander made full use of the opportunity offered and smashed consecutive fours and a six off off-spinner Malcolm Hubbard.

He then hit Persaud for his second six and by the interval, Essequibo were 155-5.

The pair had continued to build on the promising stand before rain intervened at 16:00hrs, with Chinkoo unbeaten on 49 and Fernandes on 36 not out.

Soon after resumption the right-hander Chinkoo brought up his half-century, but the pair were removed by Seyhodan and Rutherford in quick succession.

Rutherford then bowled Lesley Allen (0) as Essequibo slipped to 183-9.

Alimohamed was reintroduced into the attack and immediately bowled Miguel Jones for two. Demerara openers then batted to the close without much discomfort.

Meanwhile, in the other third and final round game, the Select Under-17 replying to Berbice’s first-innings total of 73, were 21-0.

Play resumes at both venues from 09:30hrs.

EBFA/EDFA U-17 Goodwill Series kicks off today Glyne Clarke eral Sabina Mitchell, the Divisional Director and himself, to determine their suitability, in accordance with FIBA regulations.

The last occasion the Guyana Federation hosted a CBC championships was 1999 - the Under-19 Boys and Girls categories. These tournaments were both won by the Bahamas, while the last Under-16 championships held by the Caribbean Basketball Confederation were in 2008 in Antigua.

There are twelve (12) countries who have indicated their interest in participating this year in the BOYS – Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and host Guyana.

Eight (8) in the GIRLS – Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and host Guyana.

WORKING towards strengthening the partnership for the development of the game, especially at the junior level, the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) and East Demerara Football Associations (EDFA) have agreed to collaborate by exposing their players at various levels through a number of goodwill matches.

The respective presidents of the two associations, Franklin Wilson and Alfred King, with the blessings of the

Guyana Football Federation (GFF), have agreed that this initiative would commence with the top two Under-17 teams meeting over two weekends to give the players more exposure while testing their levels against another association.

Today at the Golden Grove ground, East Coast Demerara, the collaboration would begin when EDFA champions of the Golden Jubilee tournament, Bachelor’s Adventure/Paradise Sports

EDFA Golden Jubilee U-17 winners

Club, lock horns with EBFA second-placed team Soesdyke Falcons in the feature match at 15:30hrs.

In the opening match at 13:30hrs, EBFA’s reigning SUNBURST champs Grove Hi Tech will take on EDFA’s second-placed side Buxton Stars.

These matches will also be used as preparation for the competing teams, ahead of the inaugural GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power Under-17 Intra Asso-

ciation Tournament, which will kick off next month. A gala launch will be held on Friday.

Each of the teams will be presented with a participatory trophy while some other prizes would be handed out.

The two associations have been competing against each other at the senior level for the past two years in the STAG Beer-sponsored Super XV1 KO competition which was won by Grove Hi Tech on both occasions.

Top Caribbean Basketball Federation officials to visit Guyana See story on page 35

Green Machine ‘taking no prisoners’ against Barbados

See story on page 31

Captain Richard Staglon (Third from right) stands with some of the members of the upbeat Green machine and National Coach Lawrence Adonis (extreme right) prior to checking in at the tropical view hotel last evening (Ivan Bentham photo)

The Barbados National 15s rugby outfit pose before checking into the Sleepin Hotel yesterday afternoon.

GABF ready for replay of ‘Road To Mecca 3’ Final tonight

Bolt is one of Time Magazine’s ‘most influential’

WORLD fastest man Usain Bolt has received a spot on Time Magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.

The list separates individuals into five categories - Pioneers, Titans, Artist, Leaders and Icons.

Bolt, the multi-Olympic and World Champion has been track and field’s most recognisable athlete for close to a decade and was placed in the Icons category.

Also placed in the Icons category were Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, American golfer Jordan Spieth, Indian tennis player Sania Mirza, UFC star Ronda Rousey, rapper Nicki Minaj and actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry is among other sport stars to make the list, which also includes actor and former WWE star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Caitlyn Jenner, who changed her name from Bruce following a gender change last year. (Sportsmax.com)

Usain Bolt

Scene from first game

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SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016