Chronicle 05 21 2016

Flyover road for EBD No. 104558

SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2016

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

...Patterson promises pedestrians overpasses, more street lights

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Eastern Air Lines touches down 3

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Returning Guyanese show their love for the country as they proudly display the Golden Arrowhead shortly after disembarking Eastern Air Lines' innaugural flight to Guyana on Friday (Alva Solomon photo)

‒ as visitors pour in for Jubilee celebrations

Jubilee Arch Vendors Welder gets unveiled at call Jagdeo 4 years, Agricola Pharoah fined $16M Cocaine in milk

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 21, 2016

Jubilee Arch unveiled at Agricola

President David Granger (right) shakes the hand of Banks DIH Chairman Clifford Reis (left) in the presence of First Lady Sandra Granger (beside President Granger) on Friday after the unveiling of the 50th Independence Anniversary Arch funded by Banks DIH Limited

THE newly constructed and erected $20M 50th Independence Anniversary Arch located at Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was unveiled on Friday morning by the Government of Guyana and Banks DIH Limited.

The simple but significant unveiling ceremony saw President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger, Ministers of Government, the Diplomatic Corps, the business community and scores of school- children attending.

President Granger, while delivering the keynote address, said the arch is of great significance to Guyana, its people and its history. He said while the arch serves as a landmark for the entrance to the city’s southern-most boundary, it will not only separate the city from the

outskirts but “separate the past from the future.”

“It defies the disappointment and setbacks of our history, it defines our identity, it denotes our victory of independence after 350 years of colonialism.

“Passing under this arch today and in the future must mean more to us than passing into a different jurisdiction. This arch is a gateway to a movement of urban renewal and to the development to our capital town,” the President said.

The arch he said defines identity, denotes victory and is a beacon of prosperity for rural citizens. The President outlined the history of Guyana with specific reference to the city of Georgetown and said “Georgetown is set to become a safe city once again,” where citizens can

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 21, 2016

Eastern Air Lines touches down ‒ as visitors pour in for Jubilee celebrations

Water being sprayed over Eastern Air Line’s Boeing 737 shortly after the airline made its inaugural flight into Guyana via the CJIA (Delano Williams photo)

By Alva Solomon MINISTER of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has assured visitors and returning Guyanese of a “safe and stable” Golden Jubilee celebration as passengers arrived here on Friday on board several flights, including Eastern Airlines.

It was the airline’s inaugural flight here.

Speaking at the arrival of the airline’s Boeing 737 aircraft at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Ramjattan told media operatives that the security sector is performing well.

He noted that plans and operations are being executed

to ensure a stable and secure atmosphere this month and onward.

And there are other initiatives the authorities would wish to implement but those require additional resources.

“Only recently, the Canadians [and] the British have indicated that they are going to come to our assistance in

relation to those matters, and of course, the Americans have always been close to us,” he said.

Minister Ramjattan added that the Police Force is currently undergoing a transition process to become professionalised. To this end, he said the Force is receiving the requisite assets. Recently, the

Miners want concessions DESPITE record gold production, members of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) are clamouring for more concessions from government and have demanded that the administration unveil a clear policy for the sector.

The miners are also seeking an audience with President David Granger for him to shed greater light on his green-economy strategy. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, on Thursday said that as of May 2016, gold production increased by 92,000 ounces compared to the same period last year despite gold prices being a bit sluggish, and this could be credited to the hard work of small and medium-scale miners But, at a GGDMA members meeting on Friday afternoon, members raised several concerns that they said should be addressed with alacrity by the APNU+AFC administration. Among those concerns are what they described as the lack of a clear policy for the mining sector and increased production costs.

GGDMA President, Terrence Adams, stated that it

is imperative that the administration state exactly what its policy is with regard to the sector. To this end, the miners’ association is hoping to soon engage President Granger.

“You go to a meeting with one person and they tell you this is what they are going to do…you go to another meeting and they tell you something else. It is very confusing,” declared Adams amid loud rumbles of agreement.

The stakeholders in the billion-dollar industry are asking what exactly the President means when he speaks of the much promulgated green economy and where exactly does the mining sector sits in such a plan. They believe that the inaction on the part of the government is a deliberate attempt to sideline them in preparation for Guyana’s launch into the oil and gas sector in the coming years.

“As far as I am concerned…they only get time now for the two big companies…buying time for the oil and then they done with you,” said GGDMA executive member Edward Shields, later adding: “If we don’t

Force received 20 vehicles.

Those are intended to enhance patrols around the capital city, he said. “I am positive that we are going to get it right,” he added.

Meanwhile, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eastern Airlines Edward Wegel told reporters that the airline plans to invest in the local air transport sector.

In October this year, he said, a brand new aircraft will be added to its fleet to service the Guyana-North America routes.

The company, which is based at the Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida, has entered into an arrangement with Travelspan and One Guyana Air. Currently, Eastern Airlines owns and operates five aircraft, and these will be increased by another soon.

In addition, the company has ordered 30 more planes as it foresees expansion plans.

“We expect that we will be here for many, many years to come,” Wegel told report-

ers.

He said given the partnership with Travelspan and One Guyana Air, the airline will give Guyanese more opportunities to travel to New York and Miami and plans are in train to ply other destinations in North America, including Toronto, Canada.

“We want to bring reliability as well as very affordable fares for the Guyana community in the diaspora to come back and forth to Guyana several times yearly,” Wegel said.

The company expressed appreciation to the authorities as regards certification arrangements, which were put in place over the past several months in order to operate here.

Hundreds of Guyanese overseas are expected to travel to these shores for the grand jubilee celebrations Thursday coming.

On Friday, in addition to Eastern Airlines, several plane loads of passengers arrived at the CJIA.

…seeking clear policy for sector, green economy

From L – R: Executive Members Edward Shields, Adron Alphonso, President Terrence Adams, and GGDMA member Patrick Harding

wake up we will be thrown under the green bus.”

Speaking directly to the mining population, Shields stated: “The most I could tell all yuh is to get ya laundry bill, clean up your entrance because eventually…we will have to go.”

The GGDMA executive member emphasised the need for a comprehensive, legally binding document from the government.

“They are making policies not laws and this industry right now is governed by don’t do this…if somebody does something wrong they are not going after that person…they are going for the broad brush,” he stated,

explaining the plight of the mining community. It was noted that for the past few years the mining community has been scaling back on production “little by little,” and as it stands right now, the industry is in a crisis.

Another executive member, Andron Alphonso, noted that at present the mining community feels unappreciated, with whatever concessions available being given to the larger companies, while the small and medium-scale miners are getting the short end of the stick.

“We need to know from the boss himself…what is the way forward for mining?

And what is the government’s

policy for mining? We love foreign investment, we want more Auroras, we want more Troys and these things; that’s not the problem…you can’t forget the contribution of the local miner,” he stated emphatically.

Concessions were promised to the small miners since under the Donald Ramotar presidency, however, they claim that none have been forthcoming and whenever they do apply, those applications get tied up in bureaucratic red tape.

“For anyone in government to not be able to see that enforcing certain regulations and pushing this sector off the brink would be deteriorating

and further destructive to the country,” Alphonso added.

Miners are urging that the government do a comprehensive assessment of the industry in order to plan the way forward in the industry. As of Thursday last, gold declarations for 2016 were 243,000 ounces.

For the same period last year, 151,000 ounces of gold were recorded to have been produced.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday May 21, 2016

Multiple murder accused nabbed after a year on the run AFTER almost more than a year on the run, Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander was recaptured and appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Friday charged with several counts of murder and also with escaping from police custody.

Alexander, 33, of Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, told the court that he sells marijuana for a living and was not required to plead to any of the charges.

The first charge alleged that on April 4, 2015, at One Mile Block 22, Wismar, Linden, he murdered Shevon Gordon

during the course of a robbery.

The second charge alleged that on December 9, 2015 at West Watooka, Wismar, Linden, he murdered Robin Maxwell Thomas. The final murder charge alleged that between February 9 and February 12, 2015, at Cholmondeley Hill, Wismar, he murdered Richard Remington, 43, of Christianburg, Wismar, Linden.

He was also charged with escaping from the McKenzie Police Station between December 7-8, 2015 at Linden, while being in lawful custody for murder and several counts

of robbery. Alexander and Thomas were charged jointly for Gordon’s murder. But in December, 2015, Hopkinson and Thomas escaped from the Mackenzie Police Station.

They were to have attended court the following day.

Thomas’s decomposing body was found in the Demerara River, in the vicinity of West Watooka, some weeks later. Thomas is believed to have provided investigators with information about the murder.

In April 2015, Gordon, was shot by two bandits who

had accosted her after she stepped out of her truck. She was also relieved of a bag containing money and her son was also wounded.

The murdered Remington is also alleged to have been the victim of Alexander’s murderous rampage in Linden during 2015. Remington’s decomposed body was found in a clump of bushes along a track in the vicinity of Matthews Lane in the Christianburg/Cholmondeley Hill area. He had been shot three times, including once to the head.

Gold miner remanded on murder charge

A TWENTY-NINE-yearold gold miner on Friday appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan charged with the murder of his campmate.

Andrew Griffith, of Blueberry Hill, Linden, was not required to plead to the charge which alleged that between August 3 and 4, 2014, at Barakat Backdam, he mur-

dered Kester Anderson. Griffith was unrepresented and told the court that he is “living a poor life” and was tricked by the police while in custody to admit to the murder.

The accused explained that he was on his way home from work when a police officer approached him and asked for Andrew Forde, to which he replied he does not know

the person. However, Griffith claimed that he was arrested and accused of murder.

The miner was remanded to prison and the matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for June 1. According to reports, Anderson was involved in an argument with Griffith at a mining camp during which the suspect doused him with gas-

Teen dies after giving birth to premature baby

A 17-YEAR-OLD who was confirmed brain dead days after she had given birth to a 28-week-old (premature) baby was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) on Friday.

A hospital source said the teen, who had been brain dead for about three days, succumbed despite the efforts of doctors to save her.

The source indicated that from the onset the chances of the teen surviv-

ing were very slim, mainly because she was born with an illness known as Brain Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), which is a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins in the brain.

It was reported that the pregnant teen would constantly vomit. She experienced a stroke on the right side of her body 28 weeks into the pregnancy, and a decision was made to do an emergency Cesarean Section (C-Section) with the intention of saving the unborn child. The Guyana Chronicle understands that the baby also died at the GPHC, on Wednesday, May 18.

oline before setting him afire.

The man was airlifted to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he succumbed.

The incident reportedly occurred around 01:00hr at a camp in Barakat Backdam, Cuyuni River. The camp is said to be owned by the Vulture Mining Establishment located at Bartica, Region Seven.

Houston man charged with murder MARK Anthony Barclay has been remanded to prison for the alleged murder of Gordon Ross, who was fatally stabbed outside the White Castle Fish Shop on Hadfield Street, Georgetown on April 30.

The 37-year-old Barclay, a construction worker of Houston Backstreet, East Bank Demerara, was not required to plead to the murder charge when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, and Police Prosecutor Inspector Neville Jeffers did not disclose the facts in court, since the file is incomplete.

Barclay’s matter has been adjourned to June 13.

According to reports, at about 1:40hrs on the day in question, there was a brawl between the two men outside the White Castle Fish Shop, and Ross was subsequently found with multiple stab wounds

Murder accused, Mark Anthony Barclay to his body and several of his teeth missing. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital by public-spirited persons, but succumbed while receiving medical treatment.

Cocaine in milk…

Welder gets 4 years jail, $16M fine

THIRTY-YEAR-OLD SAFRAZ Jallalodeen of Lot 14 Riverview, Ruimveldt, Georgetown was on Friday sentenced to four years in prison and fined more than $16M for the offence of trafficking in narcotics.

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan imposed the sentence on the 30-yearold welder after he pleaded guilty to a charge detailing that on Thursday, May 19, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, he was found in possession of 6.048 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford-Thompson said that on the day in question, the defendant was an outgoing passenger on a Caribbean Airlines’ flight

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destined for the John F. Kennedy International Airport in the USA when CANU ranks, acting on information received, searched his two suitcases and found the cocaine concealed in several Kerrygold milk packets.

Told of the offence and arrested, the defendant, under caution, reportedly admitted ownership of the drug and told investigators he was offered US$7,000 to transport the narcotics to the United States, to which he would have been a first-time traveller.

Thompson also informed the court that the accused has been cooperating with CANU in their investigations.

After reviewing the charge, the magistrate sentenced Jallalodeen to four years’ imprisonment and imposed on him a fine of $16,329,600.

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City Hall says unaware of ‘Dread Shop’ injunction

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 21, 2016

By Ariana Gordon

CITY Mayor Patricia Chase-Green says City Hall is within its right to demolish illegal structures set up around the city and defended the bulldozing of the popular “Dread shop,” which had allegedly become a haven for a range of unsavoury acts over the years.

She told the media just after the unveiling of the 50th Independence Anniversary Arch on Friday morning at Agricola, that the demolition of the “Dread Shop” located at the Stabroek Market area was a lawful act.

The Mayor of Georgetown said she is unaware of any injunction or ongoing court matter that would prevent City Hall from demolishing the “Dread Shop.”

On Thursday, Attorney Nigel Hughes called a press briefing at the dismantled location at Stabroek Market and lashed out at City Hall for breaching an injunction of the Court of Appeal, the highest court within the jurisdiction.

Hughes, who represents the owner of the “Dread Shop,” told reporters that the move by City Hall demonstrates that the Council has no respect for the rule of law.

“This has got to be the most outrageous act I have

Patricia Chase- Green seen in a very long time,” remarked Hughes, who explained that a demolition crew from City Hall broke down the shop near the Route 42 minibus park in the wee hours of Thursday morning.

“The behaviour represented by the act of destruction here, is very similar to the same conduct that was complained about when Ms Sooba was the Town Clerk.

But the issue is this: how can you breach an order of the Court of Appeal which says that this matter must go to mediation and come and destroy a building in total and complete disrespect and disregard for the Court of Appeal?” the attorney said.

However, Chase-Green denied any knowledge of an injunction or order to commence mediation with the

owner of the “Dread Shop.”

“I am not aware of any injunction being issued against City Hall and its management, or the Town Clerk and owners of the ‘Dread Shop’,” said ChaseGreen, who has been a member of the previous City Council.

The Mayor argued that City Hall has its work to do and will carry out its functions to the best of its ability.

She noted too that all illegal structures have to be removed and the Town Council has given notice to all those who occupy such illegal structures.

Additionally, ChaseGreen defended the action of Town Clerk Royston King under whose permission the property was dismantled. She explained that City Council is not required by law to give permission to the Town Clerk to act in such circumstances.

“The Town Clerk has that right,” said Mayor Green. Asked by reporters whether she felt King was a rogue, the Mayor said “no.”

She argued in her Council’s defence that City Hall is not taking a big stick method towards the dismantling of the illegal structures and gave the assurance that notices were provided to all persons identified.

HAD TO STOP IT According to ChaseGreen, the location of the “Dread Shop” facilitated many illegal activities, including what is perceived to be the selling of narcotics.

“All types of lawlessness was going on there and at some time we need to put a stop to it… this city has to be restored and in the process, while some people will be offended, we still have to move forward and advance the city of Georgetown.”

Meanwhile, in a statement to the media, the Mayor and City Council maintained that at no time it was privy to any existing court action regarding the “Dread Shop,” nor was the “Council restrained by any order of court from interfering with the illegally erected struc-

ture in the Stabroek Market area.”

Also, the City Council noted that the area in which the “Dread Shop” was located fell within that which is described under the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01 as council area.

City Hall in its statement to the media said the proprietors of the demolished shop “had been informed by the Council that they were required to vacate the said area and had been given reasonable and sufficient notice to so do,” It was argued that the proprietors failed to bring to Council’s attention that their removal was before the courts in a matter to which the Council was not a party and of which Council was not privy.

“Had the Council been made aware of the existence of any court order or extant proceedings regarding the status of the “Dread-Shop,” the Council would have taken the fact into consideration in determining whether to remove the otherwise illegal

structure.”

The City Council has committed to investigating the issues “thoroughly and will issue a subsequent statement” on the matter.

Owner of the property Anthony Forde told reporters on Thursday that he had not received any notice from City Hall, but noted that over the years, attempts have been made to break the structure he once owned.

“I don’t really know what happened , I ain’t get no notice, nothing at all; is this morning at 09:30 hrs somebody told me what happened,” he related.

The distraught man said former President, the late Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, gave him permission to remain at the site when the former leader held the portfolio of Prime Minister.

Forde is currently assessing all damage and his losses upon the instruction of Hughes, after which efforts will be made to have him be fully compensated for his losses.

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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

No place for brute force THERE comes a time when it has to be said that “enough is enough”. The beautification of Georgetown by the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown (M&CC) is highly commendable and is a step in the right direction in the areas of environmental health and aesthetics, which are elements of development.

Because cleanliness and development of the city had been caught up in a vicious vice of partisan politics and the obsession for control by the past central government, the citizens and town -- and by extension the nation – had suffered.

Caught up in the past dysfunction were the vendors, who at given times were used as pawns by both the council and central government in furtherance of making a point to the other. There is no denying this fact. At the same time, the council was collecting fees from the vendors. This act in itself gives legitimacy to the presence of the vendors and the goods and services they supply, unless it is to be believed that the council was engaging in an act of lawlessness -- collecting fees from the vendors, knowing full well that their presence was in violation of the city’s by-laws. And if this has been the case, then there exists a matter for litigation and recompense.

It is hard to believe that any right-thinking citizen would want the city to be untidy; or, as one minister under a previous administration said, let it become a health crisis. At the same time, while citizens desire to dwell in pleasant and healthy spaces, at the level of the council, it becomes incumbent on the city’s fathers and mothers to find a space where the vendors and the environment can co-exist.

Shortly after the May 2015 General and Regional Elections, when the City Council, sections of the business community, citizens, and the newly-elected Government collaborated in a project to restore Georgetown to its Garden City image and former glory, vendors were noticeably part of that clean-up exercise. Persons were seen on the streets cleaning up with apparently no regard for the necessity to wear protective gear or consideration of the implication of contracting certain diseases that such exposure could cause.

So it is not a case where citizens, including vendors, have not bought into and supported the project to restore Georgetown and Guyana. But something has since gone wrong -- really wrong - at City Council, and it has to be fixed, lest this nation erupts in upheaval. Understandably, the city’s fathers and mothers, like others, recognise the need to spruce up the environment for the 50th anniversary of Guyana’s Independence, which is in keeping with our culture to get all nice and dandy for events. But beautification has to be done in a structured manner, having respect for national laws, the city’s by-laws, and consideration for those who will be affected; which requires putting in place a contingency plan to attend to their welfare, one that will ensure as little as possible disruption to lives and economic opportunities.

These human and legal elements continue to elude the city’s fathers and mothers and the Town Clerk, whose ‘don’t care a damn’ or ‘our way or no way’ attitude is not only

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday May 21, 2016

Refuting a falsehood regarding OIA Dear Editor,

I REFER to a letter published in the Stabroek News of Wednesday, May 18, 2016 headed, “Correia’s Companies, not Air Services and Roraima Airways, invested the money required under the lease agreement with the Government”.

This letter was signed by Anthony Mekdeci, CEO of Ogle Airport Inc. I will not answer for Roraima Airways, as they are quite capable of answering for themselves; but on behalf of Air Services Limited, I wish to briefly clarify the situation and to correct Mr. Mekdeci.

I will ignore, for the time being, the nonsense stated by Mekdeci that Ogle Airport is 100% built, owned and operated by Ogle Airport Inc. (OAI).

That is a falsehood. Our company was present at Ogle from the

beginning, and then invested in OAI. We knew then, and we know now, that Ogle Airport is a state-owned airport, where OAI holds a lease to operate the facility. Minister Patterson has already explained all of this, so there is no need to repeat it here.

ASL wishes to correct the statement that it failed to invest in the airport when called upon.

The records would show that the board controlled by Michael Correia deliberately refused to accept the funds offered by the ASL Group, but instead accepted funds from Correia’s related companies. This had the effect of not only diluting the shareholdings of the existing shareholders, but, as planned by the Correias, gave them a dominant position as equity shareholders.

This enabled the Correia Group to own over 60% of the shares, and OAI became a member of the Correia Family

Group, in total contradiction to what the original five shareholders and the Government of Guyana had in mind.

Since OAI became part of the Correia Family Group of Companies, it made little sense to make significant investments.

Under the “Leadership” of Correia and Mekdeci, the company lost over $140 million to end of 2014, according to the audited financial statements, and it never declared dividends.

Which businessman in a state of sanity could or would invest more money in a company run like that?

Additionally, the company’s auditors, PKF Barcellos, qualified the audit report and stated clearly that the company was in clear violation of the lease agreement. The only shareholders making money from investment in OAI are

the Correias, not through dividend payment and profitability, but through other means. The Board is completely dominated

by Correia and his associates, having five out of the seven directors, and the company is basically operated as if owned by the Correia Family.

Air Services Limited is always prepared to invest in OAI, even after its investment funds were refused, but cannot see how it can do so now in the present environment. OAI needs to be dramatically restructured and be returned to the original ideas of the founders for it to be attractive to any businessman with an ounce of common sense.

Respectfully, CAPT. AHAMAD MAZAHAR ALLY, Managing Director, Air Services Limited

See changes in GuySuCo as an opportunity to build resilience Dear Editor, THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) wishes to respond to a letter by Mr. Donald Ramotar, which was published in the Stabroek News on Saturday 14 May, 2016 under the caption ‘The Government is Discriminating Against Africans who support the PPP/C’.

In the letter, Mr. Ramotar stated thus: “also, there are reports of the many highly trained technical people/Indo-Guyanese who are being fired at GuySuCo without reason”.

The Corporation finds this statement by Mr. Ramotar to be bordering on recklessness, since it is baseless and basically an untruth. In addition, based on the nature of the statement, we are taken aback that a person of Mr. Ramotar’s caliber, whose duty is above

that of the ordinary person, would write so loosely and carelessly and have these expressions published.

Mr. Ramotar further stated: “at the same time, old retirees, some almost in their nineties, are being employed with super salaries. It is reported that these persons are guaranteed a take-home pay of $1.2 million per month! There are two consultants in factory operations, one in Agriculture and one in Human Resources Department.

The gross pay for these consultants plus vacation allowance and gratuity will cost the corporation $140 million per year.

This does not include expenses for vehicle, fuel, security and domestic staff. This is a clear case of jobs for the boys”.

Once again, the Corporation is surprised that Mr. Ramotar would make the above statement. One would have thought that Mr. Ramotar,

crude, but unbecoming in fostering positive human relations between revenue providers (citizens and businesses) and revenue collectors (City Hall).

The incident of Thursday at 3:00 a.m., which according to city workers who bulldozed the concrete structure of the Dread Shop was done on a directive issued by the Town Clerk, is not only another botch in a series of similar exercises, but is a continued display of arrogance that has no place in governance.

Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes has presented to the media evidence that his firm is representing Anthony Forde, owner of the Dread Shop, in a matter before the Appeal Court regarding the presence of the structure at the location, and the relationship between City Council and the owner.

Without getting into the details of this matter, suffice it to say that the Town Clerk has now apparently assumed that he is above the law, and this needs to be checked. Where the nation’s highest court is litigating a matter between the Council and Forde, if the Council thinks it will pay no heed to this branch of Government and its voice at the highest level, something is really amiss in the Council’s thinking.

because of his special experiences in national development, strategic business planning, and the requirements for re-engineering an industry such as the sugar industry, would have a greater appreciation for the critical need to engage the appropriate expertise and the best available resources if one is serious about reorganizing and developing a resilient business or industry.

We hereby take this opportunity to provide Mr. Ramotar with some useful insights on the vision and direction for the GuySuCo we are re-creating.

The reality is that GuySuCo is currently challenged by both external and internal forces.

This challenge, nevertheless, has presented a rare opportunity for the Corporation to be re-birthed, re-configured, and re-engineered so that it can become a resilient business.

New skills and expertise are

being recruited and developed from within. The organizational psychology and sociology would have to change.

Basically, we would have to change the way we think and do business. The management of the Corporation is in the process of reviewing and revising the psychology, behaviour and strategic focus of the Corporation, since we recognize that we cannot continue to do the same things and expect different results.

In some cases, we have recognized that mere change will not be sufficient; we would need to have profound change.

Yours faithfully, AUDREYANNA THOMAS Senior Communications Officer, Guyana Sugar Corporation

The perception is also seen in the treatment of other vendors, who have been denied the right to consultation, which was followed through with blunders of not having new location prepared for days. It seems not to matter to a cash-strapped council that the denial of income to vendors also means a loss of revenue for the city, and this will negatively impact the quality of service it is expected to provide.

In colloquial language, brute force and ignorance will not bring about positive results. Such approach will inflame delicate situations, exacerbate unnecessary conflicts, and create fodder for the political self-serving and divisive in the society.

While it carries a price, development does not come at the price of disregarding the human factor and showing disrespect for the laws. Where there was doubt as to the lack of empathy, shrewd planning and regard for laws, the Dread Shop incident is proof positive that City Council is hell bent on doing what it pleases, without regard for established institutions, including the court.

It is time the Council be reined in, and its actions going forward be directed through appropriate approaches.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 21, 2016

Remove Broomes – TIGI

TRANSPARENCY Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI) is saying that Junior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes should be shuffled again, but President David Granger has affirmed that he sees no need for the minister to be removed from her portfolio.

On a recent edition of The Public Interest, President Granger revealed he is prepared to remove Minister Broomes if a conflict of interest situation arises; but, he said, until such time, she will remain the Junior Natural Resources Minister.

“The functions she per-

formed at the Ministry do not

Junior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes

necessarily come into conflict with the fact that her children own that property. Minister of Natural Resources [Raphael Trotman] is an experienced attorney, and I’ve asked him for his views, and I will be guided by his advice; but at present I do not see any need to remove her,” the President declared.

Minister Broomes came in for heavy criticism after she transferred a dredge she had owned into the ownership of her children. She has continued to maintain that she did nothing wrong, and that no conflict of interest has arisen from her action.

In a Friday evening

statement, TIGI President Troy Peters said that any individual who is in a conflict of interest position should not be judged by an evaluation of that individual’s character nor by an assertion of any intent to engage in wrongdoing on his/her part. He said it is more a concern about whether it is possible for Broomes to use her position to extend special privileges to individuals or entities with whom she is related, or for personal benefit.

“It is about whether impartiality is guaranteed for all by the system or structure or set of arrangements in place.

“Furthermore, it is a concern that the very conditions prescribed for an absence of a conflict of interest should be applicable to all individuals who have held, and who will hold, such an office in the future.

“Essentially, the same conditions must be consistently applied, and should not depend on the individual under consideration,” Peters said.

He said that in spite of recent actions, a clear conflict of “related party” interest would exist whenever matters affecting the mining operations of the children of Minister Broomes are either handled or contributed to by Minister Broomes.

“One should also be wary that junior officers might feel

Jubilee Arch unveiled at ... feel free to take a stroll with their families.

“Safety and security are essential,” said the President, who noted that never again must Georgetown be referred to as the “garbage city.”

The President said the city is undergoing changes, noting that the “garden city will never be known as the garbage city again.” Georgetown, he said, will regain its image as the Caribbean’s most picturesque and pleasant place for residents and an attractive destination for visitors.

“Georgetown has reclaimed its capital on the 18th March 2016, they were empowered for the first time in two decades…things are different now and our city must never suffer such neglect again, no matter which party is in government.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, said the unveiling of the arch is significant as not every nation is fortunate

to celebrate such a milestone.

He said the aim was to re-install the original independence arch, but unfortunately the remains of that arch have disappeared.

He said despite the fact that it is not the original site for the arch, it represents the values, perseverance, hard work and a bright future for Guyanese.

Minister Patterson disclosed that a second arch is being proposed for the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), which will represent the northern boundary. The Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce have been approached for financing, he said.

Chairman of Banks DIH Limited, Clifford Reis, said the unveiling represents another noteworthy event, since Guyana attained its independence in 1966. He said symbols of nationhood are important and since the erection of the first arch at La

Penitence, “Banks DIH took a big-brother approach to this national symbol, as it was located in the backyard and often pondered the disappearance from the public view, which should not be the fate of historic and national symbols,” the chairman noted.

“Even though the location has been shifted south of Banks DIH, we still consider it to be within our backyard… this relocated national symbol will serve several purposes,” said Reis, who dubbed the 50th Independence Anniversary as a “new beginning; a new horizon” and he hopes that the symbol will serve as a beacon of hope and renewal to the citizens of Agricola and the East Bank corridor.

“To the young citizens, may this arch represent to you that the doorway to opportunity is always open, provided full advantage is taken of those opportunities.” The Banks DIH

The newly constructed and erected $20M 50th Independence Anniversary Arch located at Agricola, East Bank Demerara.

Chairman thanked all those who assisted the beverage company in making the 50th Independence Anniversary Arch a reality.

Minister within the Ministry of Education with responsibility for culture, Nicolette Henry, lauded the assistance provided by Banks DIH and noted that the country will continue to grow from strength to strength.

Describing the event as a historic one, Minister Henry said every Guyanese near

obliged to act in a manner that gives favourable treatment to people associated with, or related to, the minister, even (or especially!) in matters for which the minister would have declared conflict of interest,” he cautioned.

In this regard, he noted, the popular recommendation at present is that Minister Broomes be moved to another ministry.

“This recommendation is rooted in the experience of the recent past, combined with (the) current low level of accountability to the people,” he said.

The alternative to her being moved include Minister Broomes declaring conflict of interest and recusing herself from all relevant matters.

From page 2

and far ought to be proud of the country’s achievements.

She recognised and lauded the partnership her government has with corporate Guyana and charged Guyanese to focus on the next 50 years.

She said there is a great need for strategic planning , so that the future would be taken care of. The legacy of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary, the minister said, is one of growth and capacity.

Banks DIH Limited received assistance from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, who contacted VSH United to assist with the engineering and fabrication of the new arch. The arch was designed by Vaniar Gutierrez of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

Errol Cush Contracting Services was responsible for the laying of the foundation and the erection of the structure.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday May 21, 2016

Government to restore the city of Georgetown

AS OUR 50th Independence anniversary draws nearer, the capital city of Georgetown is geared for a fresh start, with infrastructural and other improvements that both Guyanese and visitors will be proud of.

Additionally, there has been a clear shift in attitudes over the past year, as Guyanese seem to be developing an increased sense of national pride. This change in attitude has led to the increase, to some extent, in their sense of personal responsibility for the cleanliness of their surroundings.

This is in keeping with President David Granger’s vision for a cleaner Georgetown. Just after being swornin as the Eighth Executive President of Guyana, last year, the Head of State, with the Georgetown City Council and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, launched a clean-up and rehabilitation drive in preparation for the rainy season.

This exercise was further propelled by private citizens and business owners across Georgetown, who participated in and funded several community-level clean-up exercises.

The President’s hope is that Georgetown will reach to such a standard that it will be considered the cleanest city in the Caribbean. At the unveiling ceremony of the Agricola Arch on May 20, 2016, President Granger urged all citizens to value the benefits of keeping their surroundings clean.

“Georgetown today is becoming a clean city, a serene and safe city once again. Sanitation and drainage to avert the danger of vector-borne diseases… are top priorities. Business places, public premises and municipal properties must all go green… every citizen must share the responsibility of keeping this city clean and sanitary,” President Granger said.

Today, following massive reconstruction works, even with heavy rainfall, reduced instances of flooding have been observed in areas which, one year ago, would have been quickly inundated with water. This welcome change comes in addition to a list of streets that have been recapped and other infrastructural developments.

Much of the kudos in this regard belongs to the Honourable Minister of Public

Mr. Lawrence Mentis, Head of the Special Projects Unit within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Infrastructure, David Patterson, whose professional qualifications are deeply rooted in the field of engineering. His background has undoubtedly contributed to the efficient assessment of infrastructural priorities in and out of Georgetown, and the strategic execution of these projects.

The minister stated that there had been a disjointed approach to drainage and

irrigation initiatives in the country, which prompted him to come up with a holistic plan to streamline various projects around the country.

The Public Infrastructure Ministry’s list of immediate projects include works outside of Georgetown, such as road rehabilitation and the instalment of lights in areas such as Mocha and Diamond, and works on the roads and bridges along the East Coast

and East Bank of Demerara.

Despite some improvements, Minister Patterson attests that his greatest achievement thus far lies in the Human Resources aspect of his Ministry. He admitted that by giving his staff their due respect, entrusting them with responsibilities, and creating an environment where they could make meaningful contributions to the work, the result has been an improved

Clean-up initiatives ongoing on the drains along Church Street

work process, and the ability for projects to run smoothly and effectively has been created.

“The second that the staff realised that not every decision has to be a political decision and they are free to make certain decisions… and they are held responsible but are given the free rein to continue, it has allowed them to be more productive,” he said. The minister also stat-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 21, 2016 ed that another key feature of his Ministry’s success is the recently renamed ‘Force Account Unit’, a specialised group of engineers equipped with the skill set for the execution of emergency projects in the place of tendering external contracts. After renaming the group the ‘Special Project Unit’, a request made by the engineers themselves, the minister met with the group to assess its needs.

“We realised that this was a team of very good young men and women and they can do a lot…so we asked them what they needed (for them) to be more efficient (and) gave them a list of equipment that could aid their productivity,” he said.

Head of this Special Project Unit, Mr. Lawrence Mentis, stated that the Unit holds much pride in its work, and has proudly undertaken the immediate tasks set out on the Ministry’s agenda.

“The minister normally gives his vision, and we make that vision a reality…

My excitement comes when the people are pleased…. It gives you energy to continue working,” Mr. Mentis said.

Priority areas of rehabilitation have included high-traffic areas, as well as

those affecting youth and the elderly. Work was completed on areas such as Woolford Avenue, Brickdam, Thomas Lands, and the Seawall Road.

Following the Independence celebrations, the Unit will move quickly towards a very busy agenda which will be rolled out in all ten regions.

DURBAN PARK One of the notable projects which have been undertaken by the Special Projects Unit is the Durban Park. Responsibility for construction of the venue has only a short while ago been transferred to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, but the progress has been significantly accelerated. Even with the Durban Park moments away from completion, the venue has fallen subject to critique regarding its funding, and its necessity in addition to the already established National Stadium.

Minister Patterson said, however, that the construction of the Park will provide not only an improvement to the surroundings, but a means of recreation for citizens, among other benefits.

“What you are seeing there is just phase one. When

it is finally completed, it will be an open space; open to the public. There will be several recreational facilities, an area to do exercising, and so on,” he said.

Regarding the criticisms raised about the venue, the minister stated that it is important to remember that the Golden Jubilee celebration is not just for the Government; it is also for the people.

Moreover, utilising the space in such a manner also aids in beautifying the surroundings.

“You have to ask how do you value your environment, because it was a jungle and the jungle had to be cleared, and then it is a matter of what are you going to do with it,” he said.

After Independence, some of the stands will be moved to make room for those recreational facilities.

The stands -- which have been specially constructed -- will further be transported to selected community centre grounds as a means of improving the facilities there as well.

STABROEK MARKET As part of the move to make the city cleaner and safer for all Guyanese, several areas are being targeted for

infrastructural and remedial works. One such area, which has been widely reported on recently, is the Stabroek Market Square. The Mayor and City Council’s move to relocate the vendors who ply their trade at that Square has also attracted criticisms, but authorities have endorsed the move as part of creating a cleaner, safer, more aesthetically pleasing Stabroek Market.

The vendors have been relocated to a temporary location opposite the Linden Bus Park, and have since been registered and provided with stall numbers. The Mayor and City Council announced, in April, its intention to temporarily relocate the vendors from in front of the Market as part of its move to clean up all public squares in the city.

The Stabroek area was given its name by the Dutch, and served as a marketplace even before the then Georgetown Town Council designated it an official Market in 1842. Construction of the iron-and-steel structure we see today was completed in 1881. The market area has, over the years, become crowded with the placement of stalls that overflow into

streets, which contribute to traffic congestion.

Mayor of Georgetown, Mrs. Patricia Chase-Green, explained that the move was a necessary one so as to reclaim the historic significance of the area.

“I think they (vendors) have become accustomed to where they were for so long.

Vending is not illegal, but what we are trying to do is remove the obstruction from the city… We have to have pride, dignity and respect for ourselves in some of the things we do,” she said.

The mayor noted that she is aware the transition may be difficult for the vendors, but while some are still disappointed, many of the vendors are happy with the move. “I don’t think we will be able to satisfy everyone, but as long as majority is willing to work with us, we will succeed,” she said.

She explained that the Mayor and City Council is currently scoping out a permanent location for the vendors, which will allow them to be stationed comfortably.

Visitors to the market will notice that, similar to the Bank of Guyana, the historic Stabroek Market building

has now been illuminated in honour of the Golden Jubilee, lighting the recently cleared market square.

Apart from the Stabroek Market, Mayor Chase-Green said, there are many more plans in store to clean up Georgetown, and those include restoring historical sites such as the Kitty Market, City Hall and other projects.

“We want to bring Georgetown to its former glory and beyond. We’re talking about a modern city,” she said.

Mayor Chase-Green is aware that there is much work to be done, but is optimistic that, coupled with the Council’s hard work and a change in attitude towards keeping the environment clean, this will bode well for the city of Georgetown.

Minister Patterson has also pledged the support of his Ministry to assist the Council with rehabilitative works. “We recognise that the City Council (is) now getting its sea legs up, so we have continued to assist them… It’s a lot of work, but until the City Council gets up to full speed, we have to continue assisting them,” the minister said.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr. David Patterson, and Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Ms. Annette Ferguson, taking the media on a tour of the Durban Park Development Project in April

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday May 21, 2016

NFMU Director paid $9.6M for accumulated leave

-- audit report questions accuracy of number of accumulated days leave THE Audit Report into the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) has found that, in late April 2015, Managing Director Valmikki Singh was paid a total of $9,660,169 for 326 days accumulated leave, due for the period 2004 to 2014.

But while the request for payment in lieu of leave was approved by the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, the unavailability of documented application and approval of the leave carryover prevented any effort to verify the accuracy of the number of accumulated days’ leave.

“It is widely considered bad practice for persons not to take their annual vacation, and this particular instance is,

in our opinion, an egregious misuse of the exception,” the report by Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram of accounting firm Ram and McRae said.

The auditor also contended that, had the leave been taken at the time it was due, the NFMU would have saved approximately $3,367,206, since the leave pay was made at the current level of earnings (US$4,500 per month) while some of the leave was in respect of years in which the earnings were US$1,500.

The auditor also noted that an examination of what are called “closed accounts” revealed instances where several years had elapsed before the unit took any action to follow up a number of operators.

“In one case, no action appears to have been taken for six years and five months, before a letter following up on spectrum pay-

ments owed by a licensee was sent. The current value of the accounts examined amounted to $3,340,290 and (the accounts) are still kept on the books. Failure to pursue accounts promptly can lead to loss of substantial revenue”, the report chided.

According to the audit, the internal controls governing the invoicing system were found to be poor.

“Indeed, in its response to our draft, the NFMU refers to a company which is a client of Ram & McRae, but which is not in the receivables listing provided to us, and from which our sample was taken.

The receivables ledger as at May, 2015 showed a total of 264 credit balances with a value of $66.5 million, which

reflects invoices that were never created, or were omitted from the accounting system even though monies were received.”

The excuse by the management that these represent prepayments is in violation of the Standard Operating Procedures of the Accounts Department of the NFMU, which require that users should be billed six weeks before the anniversary date, the report disclosed.

Even if they were prepayments, the accounting treatment and the explanation by the NFMU demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of accounting for prepayments, according to the report.

“The law provides a statutory basis for the collection

of fees from telephone companies. However, instead of using the statutory fees, the Government and the NFMU have been applying a negotiated fee, referred to by Dr Roger Luncheon as ‘the Hinds (PM) Formula’, which could vary by tens of millions from the statutory fees.

“Not only did the NFMU not calculate the fees based on the statutory rate, but it also failed to resolve the matter in a timely manner, and to ensure that the rates charged were gazetted”, the report disclosed.

The audit report noted that while the NFMU now seeks to justify the charge based on the level of technology, it did not provide any evidence justifying a variation from the statutory rate.

THE Ministry of Social Protection’s Counter Trafficking In Persons (C-TIP) unit has received 13 reports of human trafficking to date, all of which are currently under investigation.

Two of the cases were reported in January, allegedly involving two victims; five in February involving eight alleged victims; two in March involving seven alleged victims; three in April involving 10 alleged victims, and one in May involving one alleged victim.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Tanisha Williams- Corbin, TIP Coordinator (Ag), explained that in 2015, the TIP unit sought to expand its operations to

its effects, Williams-Corbin said that since the restructuring, two experienced probation officers have been recruited for the unit, and a police rank is now attached to it. The ministry also envisions having its own legal officer shortly.

A release from GINA noted that Mohan RamTanisha Williams- rattan, Deputy Permanent Corbin, Trafficking in Secretary (DPS) has warned Persons (TIP) all perpetrators who are Coordinator (Ag) involved in the act of human-trafficking that the better serve the needs of ministry will do all it can to those vulnerable persons prevent it. identified as alleged TIP He said that the ministry victims and to better execute intends to address the root its mandate. causes of human-trafficking, At the launch of the especially that of poverty.

C-TIP unit’s Jubilee edition This will be done through of educational materials Frithe provision of counselling day, to heighten awareness services, public assistance on human-trafficking and

and necessary psycho-social support in keeping with the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act of 2005, and provision of technical training and grants and loans to at-risk families.

Ramrattan noted that the ministry will also support the work of the TIP Ministerial Task Force in stamping out this scourge. The intention is to ensure that victims of human-trafficking are not re-victimised by the country’s laws.

Ramrattan said the rights of Guyanese will be upheld by the ministry and will continue to be on the front burner of its 2016 development programme.

In moving forward, specific emphasis will be placed on several aspects including

the current and emerging trends of TIP in Guyana; identifying TIP victims and perpetrators; ensuring there is adequate law-enforcement responses; supporting all TIP victims regardless of their immigration status and supporting special target groups.

When the Government took office in 2015, it reconvened meetings of the TIP Ministerial Task Force which is chaired by Vice-President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. It includes the Ministers of Social Protection, Legal Affairs, Indigenous People’s Affairs and Foreign Affairs.

One major priority of the task force will be the formulation of an Action

Plan for the period 20162017 to tackle human-trafficking.

For three consecutive years (2013/2014/2015), Guyana was placed on the Tier Two Watch List of TIP. Since the TIP Act was enacted in 2005, very little was done to make the legislation useful and effective.

Tier 1 comprises countries whose governments fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards. Tier 2 includes countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.

woman, whose husband turned up home earlier than usual, causing her to yell “Rape,” in an effort to save her character.

The accused repeated his claim that on the day in question he was having sex with the woman with her consent.

Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos did not call any witnesses, but elected to address the jury, urging them to find that the alleged victim was a liar and that his client who was found in a consensual affair, should be found not guilty.

Prosecutrix Shonnete Austin, delivering her final

address to the jury, urged them to find that the accused did in fact rape the victim at her home.

As such, she called on the jury to find that the prosecution had established the burden of proof placed upon it to provide a prima facie case against the accused for rape, in keeping with the evidence and the oath they had taken.

The further hearing will continue on Monday when Justice Jo-Ann Barlow will sum up the evidence to the jury and later hand over the case to them for their consideration and verdict.

NFMU Managing Director, Valmikki Singh

13 TIP cases reported for this year

West Bank rape accused to know fate Monday

By George Barclay

THE jury will Monday retire to make a decision in the rape case against Intocan Santool.

The victim said that her husband was at work and she was alone at home washing dishes on November 25, 2009, when Intcocan Santool raped her.

The victim said that she tried to fight off the man, who was attired in a vest, but he was able to overpower her.

According to the woman, Santool succeeded in penetrating her vagina before her husband, whom she had

called when she saw the man riding in the area on a motor bike, turned up in time to see the intruder in the house.

The victim said that the accused attacked her partner with a hatchet, but her husband was not hurt. Santool was able to escape.

When apprehended by the police, Santool gave the impression that he and the woman were friendly and had sex about seven times in the past.

Detective Corporal Noris Harry told Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and the jury that in 2009 he was attached to the La Grange Police Station on

the West Bank of Demerara.

He contacted the accused, who was in custody at the La Grange Police Station, cautioned him and told him of his rights.

The witness said that immediately after, the accused said to him: “Me and she had an affair. About six to seven times we had sex.

That day the husband came and catch she - I did not rape she.”

The victim said that she was alone at home on the day in question when she rang her husband, who was working as a carpenter, and told him about the man who was mov-

ing in the area near the house on a motor bike.

The victim said that she heard the footsteps of her husband entering the house.

She said the accused collected a hatchet and went towards her husband, but according to her the husband was not hurt.

When the hearing continued yesterday, the prosecution closed its case.

Called upon for a defence, the accused in answer to the judge, elected to begin his defence with an unsworn statement from the dock in which he highlighted having a secret love affair with a

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 21, 2016

Venezuela crisis:

No need for alarm, Guyana to take action as need arises – Greenidge THE Government of Guyana is closely monitoring the situation in neighbouring Venezuela following reports of a possible refugee crisis.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge told the Ministry of the Presidency that there is no reason for undue alarm, noting that while authorities do not foresee any massive cross-border movements in the immediate future, Guyana will, on the basis of an assessment of the way things are, take appropriate action if the need arises.

“The Cabinet and Government have been alerted to these events that are unfolding, but we are not of the view that you are going to get a massive flood of people... However, as a responsible Government, we are getting an assessment

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge from our own authorities and from those in a position to advise,” the minister was quoted as saying in a release from the Ministry of the Presidency.

The government has already noted that Guyana is obligated to accept Guyanese who wish to return home.

The minister explained that there is always movement across all of Guyana’s borders, which would dip and

NFMU funded OLPF, E-Governance projects

-- to tune of $1.6B on instructions of former Gov’t

AN audit report into the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) has revealed that on the direction of the Cabinet, the unit was instructed to meet expenditures for the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) and the E-Government Project.

Revenues collected by the agency are properly public moneys payable into the Consolidated Fund.

“For the period 2010 to May, 2015, over $1.6 billion was paid for administrative expenses of the two projects, representing 84 per cent of the unit’s revenue. Applying section 33 of the Public Corporations Act, the NFMU does not have the authority to meet those expenditures, since they were not incurred by the unit.

Apparently, failing to appreciate the precedence of statute over “Government policy,” the management of the NFMU misguidedly continues to justify the statutory violation,” the report said.

The report also disclosed that E-Networks Inc and Quark Inc, companies controlled by persons with strong political connections to the former Government, were not invoiced on a timely basis.

And aside from this, they ignored the NFMU’s invoices for long periods of time without any follow-up action by the NFMU. According to the audit report, the previous administration did not adjust the current fees structure to include a method to calculate spectrum fees for cable TV providers and the NFMU did not invoice or request payments on account for frequency spectrums used by both entities to broadcast cable TV. “Following our requests, the NFMU has estimated that fees owed by E-Networks Inc and Quark Inc at December 31, 2014, amounted to $31 million and $29 million respectively. We emphasise that these are estimates and a thorough examination of these and other unresolved accounts ought to be undertaken and the users billed,” the report said.

It is not clear if these two companies have since settled their accounts.

The report said the position regarding the payment for spectrum usage is not satisfactory and there is no evidence that all taxi services are billed and pay for spectrum usage.

It noted that part of the problem dates back to 2009, when former President Bharrat Jagdeo ordered taxi owners to spray their cars in yellow and granted them two years free spectrum.

peak at varying periods but noted that, “from what [we] know of Venezuela’s capabilities we believe that movement of people across the border are not likely to be of any magnitude that Venezuela’s authorities cannot handle, at least in relation to Guyana’s borders.”

When asked about any regional mechanisms that are in place to address this issue should it escalate, the minister said that the Region has taken note of what is going on, but the wider Region captured by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Organisation of American States (OAS), have not examined the situation with a view to intervene in the sense of putting in place any sort of arrangements, because such actions do not seem necessary at this point.

Over the last three years, the Venezuelan economy has been on a downturn, which the political opposition contends is the result of the poor policies implemented by the Nicolas Maduro-led Administration.

Earlier this month, over a million citizens signed a petition demanding a referendum to remove the President, who last Friday declared a 60-day state of emergency in the Bolivarian Republic.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday May 21, 2016

City Hall proposes new rates for garbage collection

THE Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) plans to implement commercial rates and taxes for the collection of garbage in the city. The M&CC reportedly dished out some of its plans to rake in more revenue at a recent meeting it had with the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), at which various store-owners spoke of issues affecting them.

The M&CC is not inclined to raise the current amounts for rates and taxes as it has for years now, been encountering difficulty in having citizens come forward to pay. As such, the municipality is trying to find other means to bring in revenue.

Another means of increasing revenue that the city council is looking at is implementing a parking-meter system, which is expected to deter motorists, especially taxi drivers, from parking in spaces that store-owners reserve for customers.

At the meeting, the issue of parking was the number one issue which was raised. Representatives of Durga Business Enterprise, Scotia Bank, Global Seafood Distribution, Eureka Laboratory, and Silvie’s Variety Store were present at the City Hall meeting. The meeting heard how customers have to park corners away from business establishments in order to do business.

Meanwhile, newly elected mayor Patricia Chase-Green had told this newspaper that atop on her agenda is expanding the revenue base of the Georgetown municipality.

She had said in the past that an estimate would have to be conducted in certain areas to determine who are paying their rates and taxes and who are not. For instance, in the areas of Sophia and Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, the Mayor said only a few persons engaged in squatting, but whose areas have become regularised, are paying their taxes.

Further, many buildings which operate on a commercial basis are still paying the residential rates. These two rates are different, Chase-Green pointed out.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 21, 2016

CEO ‘shocked’ company bypassed ‒ had contract with for city parking system M&CC since 2007

Saratu Phillips

By Telesha Ramnarine SARATU Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Astrolobe Technology Incorporated, says he has had a valid contract since 2007 with the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to set up a structured parking system in Georgetown, but he is “shocked” to learn that it is now being given to someone else.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle at Bel-Air Park, Phillips said he learned that the M&CC is entering into a contract with a company called National Parking Systems.

“The issue that first jumped out at me is that I have an exclusive contract already to do parking with the M&CC and they are dealing with a new company as if I no longer exist.”

Phillips came to Guyana in 2006 and had put together a team of information technology professionals who were looking at transferring other technologies from the United States to Guyana.

“We initiated a few projects that didn’t work out. The last project we jumped on is how we could set up a structured parking system.”

From December 2006, Phillips said his team worked with the City Council until October 2007, when he obtained an exclusive contract, valid for 25 years, from the

municipality to design the parking system.

“It was going to run the City Council close to US$2M to implement a simple parking system and they didn’t have the funds at the time, so the idea was for me to bring the investors, bring the technology. We had a core team working and we were going to put everything together.”

However, Phillips decided that he would not start works until the City Council amended some of its by-laws. “Back and forth we were debating the by-laws and I eventually decided that I would pay to get them done in 2008. After I submitted the by-laws, the issue arose that the government was not giving them the go-ahead to raise funds on their own. We were then stuck at this point.”

However, the understanding between the parties was that Phillips’s contract remained valid and would continue as soon as permission was granted. “Everybody in the City Council knows I have this contract. We did a lot of work on it. There is no violation on my part of the contract nor was there any on their part. The simple thing was for us to meet, get the by-laws passed, and get the government to give them the go-ahead.”

After the general elections in 2015, Phillips began engaging Town Clerk Royston King, who said that as soon as he got into office they would start working on the project.

In fact, Phillips said King wrote to him affirming his knowledge that he (Phillips) had the contract.

POLITICAL CONNECTIONS “In November 2015, someone from the media called me and told me that the contract was being handed to someone else who has political connections. I am shocked. The name of the person they are giving the contract to is Kamau Cush. I told Cush I have this contract and that we would have years

of litigation and that nothing is going to happen. Why go after something that I already have? He bluntly told me I am a small fish and that he has lots of political and judicial connections in this country and that he is going to get this. His business partner or his consultant here is Bobby Vieira. I emailed Bobby

Vieira every piece of paper work that I have on parking and I told him that I have this contract.”

CORRUPTION AND NEPOTISM Phillips is hoping that good sense will prevail and that the M&CC will acknowl-

edge that what they are doing is wrong. “I have invested a lot of time and money in relation to parking. I have some lawyers and whatever they advise, I will do. But this borderlines corruption and nepotism.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan, in

an invited comment, told this newspaper that he is unaware of the contract between Phillips and the Council. He said this may be because it is an old issue that was brought forward to the new council. Other officers of the council could not be reached for comment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 21, 2016

Suspected bird smugglers nabbed

MINISTER of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman said several persons believed to be smuggling birds from the North-West District (NWD) have been intercepted and apprehended by enforcement officers.

The minister made this disclosure during a press conference held at his Brickdam office on Thursday.

He told reporters that the enforcement officers discovered the illegal movement of seven orange-winged parrots, 17 red-shouldered macaws, two dusky parrots, and five painted parakeets, a total of 31 birds. The birds were being transported during the closed season, which is currently ongoing.

It was confirmed by the minister that persons were arrested and once the ministry can ascertain that the trapping was illegal, charges will be filed against the perpetrators Noting that the alleged smugglers were coming

from the North-West District, Minister Trotman opined that they were possibly heading to Georgetown, after which the birds would have likely been shipped out of the country. “With the heavy influx of foreigners coming home, perhaps they thought they could bring a shipment down illegally, but the vigilance of our officers should be commended. So the Wildlife Division is busy and we have been able to halt the illegal transit of those birds, given that we are in the closed season when there should be no trapping of birds,� the minister said.

The minister added that although this is the first case of an apprehension that has been recorded for the year, the ministry has been monitoring strange activities elsewhere in the country.

In April, two persons were charged with attempting to smuggle protected birds out of Guyana.

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Allicock discusses indigenous people’s rights with UN Special Rapporteur MINISTER of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, on Thursday last met with United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, and outlined the policies of the Government of Guyana on indigenous issues and elaborated on its plan of action.

The minister’s meeting with the UN’s Rapporteur succeeded the delivery of Guyana’s third official statement to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) that same day.

According to the ministry, the minister spoke of the strides made by government in hinterland development and pointed to the plans for infrastructural expansion, improvement in the delivery of education, healthcare services and Information and

Communications Technology (ICT) connectivity, among other areas.

VISION OF ‘ONE NATION’ Linking these current and future interventions to the eventual decentralisation of government services, Allicock stated that in keeping with President David Granger’s vision, there will no longer be a distinction between rural and coastal Guyana, since the vision of ‘One Nation’ will be attained.

Madam Tauli-Corpuz responded positively to this expressed vision, noting that she was happy to hear of the new approach to indigenous people’s issues in Guyana.

She posited that, taken as a whole, these initiatives, including the independence of the National Toshao’s Council (NTC) and the capacity enhancement of indigenous

(L-R) Mervyn Williams, Ministerial Adviser; Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs Sydney Allicock; UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz; Jude Da Silva, Project Coordinator; and Toshao Joel Fredericks, Chairman of the NTC

youth and women present exciting possibilities.

She also enquired about the adequacy of the Amerindian Act and whether government was contemplating modification of this piece of legislation. The rapporteur also sought to question the

balancing of investments with indigenous people’s rights.

In response, it was highlighted that the government, through the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, has invited the NTC to submit its views on possible

strengthening of the Amerindian Act. BALANCING OF RIGHTS Assurance was also given of the balancing of rights of investors and indigenous rights by way of the example

of the presence of an indigenous person on the government’s negotiating team currently engaged in discussions with Barama Company Limited for renewal of their investment agreement.

Madam Tauli-Corpuz also expressed her interest in visiting Guyana soon and her eagerness to meet with other government officials, indigenous leaders and to visit indigenous villages and communities.

Minister Allicock, who also serves as one of Guyana’s Vice-Presidents, was accompanied by George Talbot, Guyana’s Ambassador to the UN; Shiraz Arif-Mohamed, First Secretary of Guyana’s Permanent Mission to the UN; Mervyn Williams, Ministerial Adviser; Toshao Joel Fredericks, Chairman of the National Toshaos’ Council; and Jude Da Silva, Project Coordinator.

Over 1000 new HIV cases in six years ‒ 85% of infected persons on gov’t-run treatment programme

By Navendra Seoraj JUST over one thousand new HIV cases have been recorded in Guyana during the past six years; and an average of 85% of all infected persons are on the government-run treatment programme, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has reported.

A reflection on the fight against HIV and AIDS would show that Guyana has progressed a long way in trying to eradicate the scourge.

After peaking in 2006, HIV/ AIDS cases stabilised to approximately 1,035 in the last six years (2010-2015).

The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/ WHO) Health @ 50 Report disclosed that, in the initial stages of the epidemic, AIDS was a reportable condition. Guyana recorded its first case of AIDS in 1987, and AIDS cases have since progressively increased, reaching a peak of 435 in 2001. Thereafter, there was a decrease in the trend until 2015, when WHO made HIV infection a reportable condition and Guyana concurred with the need to report HIV infection.

Looking back on the fight against the virus as Guyana progressed, the country reported on AIDS cases diagnosed mainly in the public health sector.

From the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Guyana until 2008, when CD4 testing became routinely available, the National AIDS Programme (NAP) used the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) clinical criteria to diagnose AIDS cases.

These criteria included the identification of any AIDS indicator disease (all of which required laboratory testing that were not available in Guyana) or the presence of two clinical AIDS defining conditions, such as unexplained weight loss of more than 10 percent of body weight and diarrhoea for more than a month, plus a positive HIV test.

When CD4 testing became routinely available, a CD4 count equal to or less than 200 cells per mm3 was used to diagnose AIDS. “This changed to a count equal to, or less than, 350 cells per mm3, in 2010.

Since CD4 testing was not consistently available initially, there may have been underreporting of AIDS cas-

es in some years,” PAHO highlighted PREDOMINANCE RATIO In the early stage of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Guyana, males were predominantly more affected than females, with ratios as high as 4:1. From the late 1990s, females started to be infected at a higher rate than their male counterparts; and by 2004, HIV and AIDS cases were equally distributed in both sexes.

From 1999 to 2006, the majority of persons with HIV/AIDS fell within the 25-to-49-years age range, with most cases within a single age group occurring in persons between 35 and 39 years of age.

At the time that the first case of AIDS was reported in Guyana, the country was classified as a Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) by the World Bank, and there were little resources to combat the epidemic. However, through the support of the Global Programme on AIDS (GPA) and financial and technical assistance from the CAREC, the country established the National AIDS Programme Secretariat in 1989, and subsequently the

Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinic for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), the National Laboratory for Infectious Diseases (NLID), and the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS).

In 1992, the National AIDS Committee (NAC) was established to provide policy guidance and advocacy, and the Regional AIDS Committees (RAC) in the 10 regions of the country were established.

The NAC was also responsible for advising the minister and promoting networking with non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Also, in 2005, through the advocacy of the United Nations (UN) Theme Group on HIV/AIDS, and in order to fulfill a requirement of the World Bank grant, the country established the Presidential Commission on HIV/AIDS (PCHA), the role of which was to coordinate the multi-sectoral response.

PMTCT PROGRAMME The report underscored that the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme, started as a pilot at seven health facilities in Regions 4 (De-

merara/Mahaica) and 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) in 2001, provides HIV counselling and testing of pregnant women in the antenatal period, during labour and delivery at public and private health care facilities in all 10 regions of the country.

Counselling and testing are also offered to male partners of the women. Women who are infected with HIV are treated with antiretrovirals (ARVs) during labour and delivery.

“ARVs are also given to their newborn as early as possible after birth, preferably within 48 hours. Babies born to HIV-infected women in the PMTCT programme are also tested for HIV through DNA PCR techniques within the first 6 months, and by ELISA at 18 months.”

By the end of 2014, there were 188 points of care (ANC, labour and delivery) providing this service to pregnant women, indicating that the PMTCT programme is one of the health programmes in which there is widespread access to all segments of the population, including persons in the hinterland communities.

From 2002, PMTCT programmatic data on the prevalence of HIV among

pregnant women revealed that the prevalence was 3.5 percent. There followed a consistent reduction up to 2009, after which there was an increase to 1.9 percent in 2013 and 2014. Related to the reduction in HIV prevalence among antenatal women in the PMTCT programme was a reduction in the proportion of babies born to HIV-infected mothers who also tested positive for HIV. Treatment is one of the areas that the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPs) has had good success.

“Of persons who have enrolled into the care and treatment programme, the proportion that had actually commenced treatment with anti-retroviral medications had increased from around 70 percent in 2009 to 85 percent in 2014,” the PAHO reported noted.

The estimated number of persons living with HIV, who require treatment and are actually receiving it, is unknown. It is believed that treatment with ARVs would have increased survival of persons with AIDS/ Advanced HIV infection, and contributed to the reduction in mortality due to AIDS and advanced HIV infection.

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Age of retirement should be increased – Public Service CoI recommends

By Ariana Gordon THE age of retirement in the Public Service should be increased from 55 to between 60 and 65 years of age, the report into the state of the Public Service recommends.

Most public servants retire at age 55, with the exception of workers of the Bank of Guyana (BoG), the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Audit Office of Guyana.

Those workers retire at age 60.

Over the years, it has been argued that the current age of retirement for

Public Servants is too early and testimonies received by the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) revealed that there is need for a higher retirement age for Public Service staff.

“The contention is that at age 55, public servants would have acquired deep knowledge and wide experience in public management and in their professional and specialist fields,” the report stated.

As such, it is felt that there would be a “great loss of skills and expertise” to the Public Service given the current age of retirement; an argument used to justify the re-employment of retired public servants on contract

immediately on retirement.

“A survey of Human Resource Practitioners in the private sector recommends a retirement age of between 60 and 65 years. This is also in line with testimony to the commission by public servants and private individuals. The advocacy is for a retirement age of 65, with an option of retirement at 60 in the Public Service to provide for the retention of valuable, experienced and skilled professionals.”

According to the report, the higher retirement age of 65 would provide for higher pensions under the Pension Act, as public servants would continue to contribute

to the NIS until age 60 when the NIS pensions are paid.

The NIS financial scheme would be increased due to extended contributions from the employer and the employees for an additional period of five years.

“We are convinced that a higher retirement age for public servants would be mutually beneficial to the state, the public employees and the NIS,” the report added.

Based on the aforementioned, it was recommended that the retirement age for new entrants into the public service and those currently in the public service who are below 50 years of age, be retired on attaining 65 years of age, with the option of retiring on attaining 60 years.

It was also recommended that pension entitlements be calculated at a maximum of 43 and one third service years; that public servants who are currently below 55 years of age, be allowed the option to retire on attaining 60 years or anytime before 65, or on attaining 65 years of age; that no person retiring from the private sector before attaining the age of 65 years should be employed on contract in an established private sector position.

Additionally, it was also recommended that the Pension Act Chapter 27:02 be amended to provide for higher pensions as a result of the higher age of retirement. Currently, there are 2554 pensioners receiving

the minimum pension out of 8,580 pensions.

As such, the Commission believes that consideration ought to be given to increasing the monthly pensions of retired public officers who are in receipt of the minimum pension level to a level that is equal to, or closer to the Public Service minimum wage or salary.

The CoI report, which was handed over to President David Granger one week ago and presented to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland, and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, was put together by Professor Lutchman, and Commissioners Sandra Jones and Samuel Goolsarran.

Natural Resources Ministry commits to preservation of environment ‒ Trotman ‒ plugs ‘clean environment project’

By Ravin Singh AT the height of transformation activities to restore the Garden City, the Ministry of Natural Resources has recommitted itself to ensuring that preservation of the environment remains a top national priority.

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman gave this commitment while speaking at a press conference at his Brickdam office Thursday last.

He explained that preservation remains high on the list of priorities of the ministry and efforts have been made to not only talk about environmental preservation, but also to support action that will have an impact on the environment.

The minister disclosed that these efforts are being implemented under the ministry’s ‘A clean environment project’, which seeks to provide tangible support to communities and citizens who have initiated efforts to enhance their environment.

“BEST KEPT SCHOOL” In April this year, the “Best Kept School” competition was launched in Region Five and early in May, the project provided support to Bartica to assist with the cleaning up of its beachfront areas before the mining township was officially declared a town.

Against this backdrop, the minister noted that ef-

associations throughout the country,” the minister added.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

forts in this regard are still ongoing, and all the major districts including Lethem, Kwakwani and Mabaruma are expected to benefit from support.

Additionally, he explained that during this weekend a team from the Natural Resources Ministry will be heading to Kwakwani to support that community and assist in efforts to enhance its environment.

“While in Kwakwani, we will be formalising an agreement between several Region 10 small loggers’ associations and the GFC (Guyana Forestry Commission), whereby a fee-payment restructuring was arrived at to allow their operations to remain viable. The same will be applied to other logging

ENGAGING GGDMA Meanwhile, Trotman sought to comment on engagements between the ministry and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) since the new government’s assumption of office last year.

He explained that since taking office, the ministry has been engaging GGDMA via bi-monthly meetings, with the most recent being held on Tuesday, May 10.

Minister Trotman revealed that at this meeting, candid discussions were had about a number of issues of concern to the association.

Among the issues discussed were duty-free concessions for fuel and spare parts, and the decision of the government to halt all mining of river banks.

Trotman was keen to note that, “it was reiterated that this practice will not be allowed, since it is in the first case illegal and secondly, negatively affects the environment.”

It was also noted that the GGDMA apprised the minister of a special project for small miners and reiterated its request for blocks to be given to it for the project.

To this end, the minister revealed that he extended acknowledgement for the support of the association.

“The ministry and the GGDMA executive recom-

mitted to strengthening the relationship to address issues of immediate concern.

We wish to thank the executive for the positive and responsible way in which it

has been addressing its concerns with the ministry,” Minister Trotman said.

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Ramotar, Nandlall had struck private ‒ for Nandlall to use law books purchased arrangement by State for private purposes

By Ariana Gordon

APPROXIMATELY six months after Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Indira Anandjit, was sent on 52 days leave following the disappearance of approximately $2.5 million worth of law books and computer parts, the matter is still being investigated.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams said Auditor General Deodat Sharma has informed him of a secret arrangement between former President Donald Ramotar and former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, pertaining to the missing law books.

According to a document written by Ramotar and addressed to the Auditor General, the former President admitted to having a private arrangement with Nandlall to spend money voted for under the Ministry of Legal Affairs

Former President Donald Ramotar

Attorney General Basil Williams

Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall

to acquire the law books for his (Nandlall’s) private use.

“These books would have been voted for in the budget of the ministry, but they would not have been within the curtilage of the ministry… not in the library and could not be found anywhere,” said Minister Williams.

He noted that two days after the PS was sent on leave, vouchers were found

showing the disappearance of the law books, despite the fact that they were authorised by her for payment.

“We have a copy of the letter that he (Auditor General) said Ramotar sent to him… to save the PS as I understand it by saying she is not culpable or blameworthy because he had an agreement with Nandlall who was AG that Nandlall could use the ministry’s money and buy

these books and keep them.”

The Attorney General said he finds it strange to say the least that Mr Ramotar would admit to such an act.

“But I don’t know why a former President would write admitting that he was involved in avoiding financial regulations etc.”

Williams said he is unsure of whether the former President believes he is immune from suit for actions taken while he was President.

“It is one of the strangest things you’d find in any part of the world, that an arrangement could be made between two government officials to

spend taxpayers’ money for private purposes.”

Asked whether Anandjit’s leave has ended, Williams said the matter is still being investigated as the explanation provided by Ramotar to the Auditor General is not acceptable.

“We are looking at the issue, but what I am saying to you is we don’t accept the excuse given by the Auditor General that the former President Ramotar could have a private agreement with the former Attorney General to spend the State’s money for their own personal benefit.”

The private arrangement between Ramotar and Nandlall was only brought to light when the Attorney General followed up on the issue.

Anandjit was sent on leave to facilitate an ongoing audit into the disappearance of the books which occurred between 2013 and 2015.

Among the materials missing are 17 Commonwealth law books valued in excess of $2.5 million and computer parts costing almost that same amount.

NANDLALL CONFIRMS ARRANGEMENT Meanwhile, Nandlall in

a detailed response, admitted that he did enter into such an arrangement with the former PPP government.

He explained that he commenced subscribing to Lexis Nexis, (UK), publishers of The Commonwealth Law Reports, approximately twelve (12) years ago.

The initial arrangement is that individual Law Reports be shipped in his name at his law office along with an invoice which is paid him upon receipt; however, this arrangement changed when he came a government minister.

“In discussions which I had with His Excellency, President Donald Ramotar, immediately prior to my appointment as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, I specifically requested, as a condition of my service, that the Government of Guyana take over payment arrangements for these books during my tenure as a minister. This was agreed upon as a condition of my service as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs,” Nandlall admitted.

He said that for decades prior, the government Continued on page 19 ►

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12% of Guyanese girls having sex before 15 – new survey A NEW study on sexual reproductive health here has found that 12% of Guyanese girls are having sex before the age of 15 and another 15% are beginning childbearing during their adolescent years.

These findings are contained in a soon to be launched report by the Guyana Bureau of Statistics and United Nations Children’s Education Fund. (UNICEF) Deputy Representative Paolo Marchi has concluded that Guyana needs to address issues associated with sexual reproductive health rights.

The report, a UNICEF methodology applied worldwide and under the leadership of the Bureau of Statistics here, has data from 2014 and was done using a survey system. Providing a sneak peek into its findings, Marchi said 15 percent of adolescent girls in Guyana begin childbearing; 12 percent had sex before they were 15-years-old; and 62 percent had unmet contraceptive needs.

Marchi was speaking at the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association’s (GRPA) launch of the local leg of the “Know It, Own It!” Campaign at Cara Lodge, in Georgetown.

SEXUALITY EDUCATION TOOLKIT The UN official lauded the fact that the GRPA took the opportunity to also launch a comprehensive sexuality education toolkit that seeks to shift from Guyana’s official “Abstinence Only” approach to sex education.

Marchi observed that the toolkit is essential because adolescents need access to such information in order to

make informed decisions.

The toolkit is designed for use by peer educators, teachers, facilitators, parents, social workers and anyone working with youths.

GRPA feels that Guyana’s “Abstinence Only” approach to sex education has not been working and that a deeper approach to fit today’s society is needed. As such, it decided to develop the comprehensive sexuality education toolkit.

Programme Director Renuka Anandjit told this newspaper that the thrust of the campaign is to ensure that the rights of youths are upheld and to motivate government and stakeholders to design programmes to meet their needs. GRPA is hoping that that the toolkit will be a resource to the Ministries of Education and Public Health, partners and other stakeholders.

Executive Director Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth gave credit to Red Thread for helping the organization to develop the toolkit, and noted how the GRPA is joining with the global campaign to reach as many persons and communities as possible with educational and empowering messages on why their sexual rights and health matter.

She offered that the toolkit is user-friendly and that although many hard copies are not available, the report can be reached on GRPA’s website.

Meanwhile, GRPA said recently that in recent years the organization has been calling for a shift from the abstinence only approach to a comprehensive approach to sex education, taking into consideration the urgency of the current situation

Ramotar, Nandlall had struck... through its various agencies, pay for professional and technical publications, journals, periodicals, magazines, etc. for ministers and professional and technical personnel, as a standard operational expenditure.

Nandlall claims that Minister Williams was fully briefed on this arrangement on or about May 20, 2015.

“I do not recall him raising any objections whatsoever. A few months

From page 18

later, when I read in the press that an investigation is being launched into, inter alia, these very books, I enquired of the Attorney General the reason for this investigation. I reminded him that I had earlier fully briefed him on this matter. His response was that I should stay out of this matter and that this is a matter between him and the Permanent Secretary,” Nandlall said.

where young people are becoming sexually active at a very tender age, both forced and voluntarily, and where teenage pregnancy, sexual violence and irresponsible sexual behaviour, are prevalent. GRPA observed how in 2014, the Guyana Government endorsed the CARICOM Integrated Strategic Framework for the

Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy in the Caribbean but the implementation mechanisms are still to be established.

“We would be happy to support initiatives of the Guyana Government, partners and other stakeholders, with the hope that Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) will be widely intro-

duced in schools,” GRPA said.

“The Association will seek to further engage the government, civil society and faith-based organisations to propel the Comprehensive Sexuality Agenda for the benefit of in-and-out-of school youth.

“It is our hope that under the ‘Know It, Own It Cam-

paign’, GRPA and partners will be able to meaningfully engage stakeholders and also provide access to CSE for young people in and out of school in an age appropriate and culturally relevant manner and that this effort will result in a healthier youth population and a healthier nation,” GRPA said.

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Flyover, overpasses for EBD road AS part of its programme to improve road transportation here, government has announced that it will be building three pedestrian overpasses and a flyover at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Independence Arch at Agricola on Friday, Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson said that in addition to the overpasses and flyover, road safety will

be improved along the East Bank due to the installation of traffic lights, streetlights, and road markings and signs.

He said each month, the Guyana Police Force through its traffic statistics, indicates that pedestrians are the most affected by fatal accidents on our roadways.

“Saving even a single life is important. The pedestrian overhead crossings will be located at the Harbour

Bridge intersection at Peter’s Hall; Eccles; and Houston. These sites were chosen following studies which showed that these three areas have the most pedestrian movement,” Patterson said.

As it relates to the vehicular overhead crossing at Diamond, this will be located at the intersection of the East Bank Road and Diamond.

“Diamond is the biggest housing scheme in our country and it is only expected

Government will soon build a flyover and three pedestrian overpasses on the East Bank highway

to grow. The community is also one that suffers from serious traffic congestion, so the overhead crossing will be a relief. We expect that the overhead crossing will significantly reduce accidents; save on travel time for those from Diamond; and also precipitate a free flow of traffic at the proposed site,” the minister said.

Additionally, the minister said currently, MPI is in its final stages of the East Bank Demerara Four-Lane Expansion Project. He noted that two contractors are working on the section of road between Providence and Herstelling and these two kilometres of road work is expected to be completed by the end of August 2016.

“Overall, the project covers six kilometres of road from Providence to Diamond and the benefits cannot be understated. Not only will the road expansion reduce vehicular operating costs, significantly cut down on travel time and allow for a smoother flow of traffic, but it is also expected to reduce accidents seen along the East Bank.”

Another MPI initiative, known as the Sustainable Urban Transportation study, is also expected to improve mobility in and around Georgetown. This study will focus on conducting a comprehensive analysis to improve mobility and will cover the entire city of Georgetown, which consists of areas that contain a complex interaction of land use and activities. “The study

will also provide specific recommendations and policy options to allocate road space more efficiently among users and will increase the use of cleaner and more sustainable transportation, such as public transportation and non-motorised modes.”

Patterson said it is important that the country look at ways to diagnose the urban transport situation. “We all are aware of the problems and trends and the Government of Guyana believes that it is high time that we deal with matters of public transport infrastructure, operations, financing, and institutional organisation. The Sustainable Urban Transportation Study will support the design of a public transport system to provide users with a safe, efficient, clean, and affordable service,” he said.

This study is expected to start in June 2016, following the no-objection from The Inter-American Development Bank.

Meanwhile, on the East Coast of Demerara, a second arch, similar to the one at Agricola is proposed to commemorate the country’s independence. Patterson said this second arch will mark the northern boundary of Georgetown and both the Private Sector Commission and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce have been contacted for assistance in financing this arch. He said progress has been made but we are awaiting finalisation as we continue to seek a willing partner.

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Vendors call Jagdeo Pharaoh

OPPOSITION Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday received a hostile reception during a walkabout in the Stabroek Market area, with vendors referring to him as Pharaoh as they blamed the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) for their present plight.

Jagdeo had promised to meet with the vendors when some of them had picketed outside of the Parliament Buildings last week. However, when he showed up on Friday, they seemed unprepared to engage him. Jagdeo was accompanied by Bishop Juan Edghill and other members of the PPP. The former President, amid the ruckus, told the vendors at their relocated Hadfield Street square that all those who have encountered difficulties, the taxi drivers, the vendors, people who are

plying their trade there, “we have heard your cry.”

He said some of the vendors could not raise their issues with him in an open fashion because they were intimidated.

“We have heard them,” Jagdeo said.

Video footage shows a few of the vendors verbally abusing the former president, declaring that they will endure the tough times they have been through in recent weeks.

City Hall has been on a campaign to regulate street vending in Georgetown and relocated vendors in the process. In some instances, the council clashed with the vendors. Only on Thursday City Hall bulldozed the popular “Dread Shop.” The council also said that as its sanitation and management programmes continue, a 24hour ultimatum has been given to another group of persons breaching city rules and

regulations.

This group illegally occupying public spaces on the western side of Mandela Avenue with makeshift structures and East Ruimveldt market vendors, who have also constructed illegal structures, taking up extra space in the process, have been asked to desist from their various activities.

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) announced Thursday, that they have noticed extensions of vendors operating

spaces. Town Clerk, Royston King said that, “The Council is concerned about vendors illegally increasing selling points, virtually repeating what is being restricted in the city centre.”

King said that several notices have been served on the vendors, but they continue to illegally expand. Notice has also been given to persons squatting along Mandela Avenue. These persons have constructed shacks and stored items on these properties.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 21, 2016

No licence for delinquent millers –– rice farmers being paid gradually, says GRDB head

By Navendra Seoraj MILLERS who owe huge sums of money to rice farmers in 2016 will not be grant ed operating licences.

The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) had, sometime ago, initiated this measure against millers in order to get millers to pay rice farmers what they owed them.

A miller who has not been granted an operating licence is legally debarred from exporting produce until outstanding sums due farmers have been paid. The Rice Factories (Amendment) Act 2007 states: “The licensee’s total debt owed to producers shall not, at any given time, exceed five per cent of the licensee’s gross turnover for

the preceding calendar year, ending on 31 December (inclusive of that date), unless the licensee notifies the Board in writing as soon as the total debt owed by the licensee to producers exceeds the level specified above, and gives the Board the reasons for this.”

It added: “Upon being notified, the Board gives the licensee written approval (subject to any conditions that the Board thinks fit) for that total debt to exceed that level for a specified pe riod, not exceeding three months from the date of the approval; and at the end of the specified period, the total debt owed by the licensee to producers (should) no longer exceed that level.”

In a telephone interview with the Chronicle, GRDB General Manager Nizam Hassan disclosed that some of the millers

have already started making payments, but are yet to meet the criterion in order to get their licence.

“Millers who owe above five per cent are banned from exporting their produce,” he explained.

Last year, 58 rice millers received their operating licence; and, so far, only 29 of them have been licensed in 2016. Hassan said this initiative has been very effective, because pri or to this, rice millers were blatantly refusing to pay rice farmers for their paddy, and now there has been an influx of payments, though no miller has as yet met the criterion for be ing issued an exporter’s licence.

Farmers have, in the past, resorted to many measures, including protesting, in order to receive their money.

Farmers even explained that they had to employ other methods in order to gain a passive income. Some have even expressed anguish at having to lose their belongings because of failure to repay loans owed to banks. This, they said, was because mill ers owed them, in some cases, millions of dollars for paddy they had provided the millers.

Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj said he welcomes any action taken by the GRDB to assist farmers in getting paid.

Seeraj also said that farmers have been owed since early last year, hence it is time they receive payments owed to them.

Saturday May 21th, 2015 - 14:30 hrs Sunday May 22th, 2015 - 05:30 hrs Monday May 23th, 2015 - 05:00 hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 21, 2016

Team Jaguars roar to victory in Wadadli Team Cup … WIFB Short Range championship to be contested today

CONSISTENT shooting by the Guyana Jaguars 4-member team saw them canter to victory in the Wadadli Team Cup when the penultimate day of shooting was contested at the Crabbs Fullbore Range here in Antigua, yesterday.

Already giving up the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFBSC) Individual X-Class title to Jamaica after defending champion Lennox

Braithwaite lost out, as well as fellow Guyanese Mahendra Persaud, but won the O-Class category through Sherwin Felicien, the Guyanese shooters are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to taking back the Short Range championship to the Land of Many Waters, That match - the West Indies Fullbore Championship formerly known as the Anchor Cup will be contested today.

Yesterday’s Wadadli Cup saw the 11 competing teams (4 members each, shoot 2 sighting shots and 7 to count at the 300, 500 and 600 yards ranges.

Guyana Jaguars, who led from the first range throughout the shoot and only dropped 2 points at the first two ranges and 14 at the last, ended with a total of 402 points and 21Vs. Barbados A came second with 391.20 while Jamaica Gold was third one point back with 390.17. The second Guyana team, Team Pirai, ended 9th.

Lennox Braithwaite led with two possibles for the Guyana Jaguars at the 300 and 500 ranges while Fullbore captain Mahendra Persaud also shot one at 300; vice-captain Dylan Fields achieved his at the 500 yards.

Braithwaite dropped only 2 points for the entire three ranges while Persaud and Fields dropped 5 each and the other member of the team Ransford Goodluck 6, to cap a fine day at the range, exhibiting good form ahead of today’s big match.

Barbados A owe their good showing to the excellent form of the top female shooter in the Caribbean, Shelly-Ann Hinds, who missed possibles at both the 300 and 500 yards ranges whilst dropping just 5 points for the day. Hinds’ teammate Louis King also dropped 5 points while the only possible for them was achieved

by Marlon King at 500 yards.

Other shooters return-

ing possibles on the day were David Rickman of the Jamaica Gold at 300, dropping 3 shots for the entire day; Anderson Perry (300 yards) of Antigua Black who dropped just 2 points overall; Paul Archer (Guyanese) and Tom Maynard of Canada at 300 yards and Ryan Sampson of Guyana Pirai at 500 yards.

Commenting on the performance of Guyana Jaguars, head wind coach ACP Paul Slowe stated that he was very pleased with the performances of the quartet given the challenging conditions that all the shooters had to face.

He noted that while the Jaguars dropped only 2 points each at the first two ranges they battled well to drop only 14 at the final range, the same as Barbados A, Jamaica Gold dropped one less.

Commenting on today’s 8-Member Team Match, captain Mahendra Persaud said that barring any major challenges, Guyana should retain the Short Range Championship, symbol of supremacy in the Caribbean. Guyana are also the Long Range Champions.

“We have some experienced shooters who have represented us with flying colours over the years and we are quite confident that once we get down and hit tight shots we will retain the trophy. The younger shooters on the team need to step up and we have been working with them and are backing them to do their part for the nation.”

Te a m G u y a n a w i l l come from Mahendra Persaud, Lennox Braithwaite, Dylan Fields, Ransford Goodluck, Ryan Sampson, Leo Romalho, Sherwin Felicien and Peter Persaud. The shoot will be 10 rounds at each range with 2 sighters.

Persaud, Braithwaite, Goodluck and Fields are also assistant wind coaches.

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 21, 2016

James triple-double powers Cavs to rout Raptors

(THE Sports Xchange) - LeBron James recorded his 15th post-season triple-double as he moved past Shaquille O’Neal into fourth place on the all-time post-season scoring list in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 108-89 victory over the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday.

James had 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Kyrie Irving scored 26 points and Kevin Love had 19 points for the Cavs.

DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points to top Toronto, and James Johnson, Terrence Ross and Cory Joseph scored 11 apiece.

Kyle Lowry scored 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting for the Raptors, who go home in a 0-2 deficit for the first time this post-season. Game 3 is on today in Toronto.

The Cavs scored 16 of the final 18 points in the first half after the game was tied at 46 with 4:05 left in the second quarter.

The Raptors missed their last nine shots of the half while each member of the Cavs’ Big Three took

turns extending the lead.

Lowry again struggled through a miserable shooting night, missing seven of his first eight shots before finally making a three-pointer with 8:31 left in the third quarter.

He was 5-for-20 shooting in this series prior to that basket, including missing his first 11 3-point attempts.

He did not attempt his first three throws in the series until the fourth quarter on Thursday.

The Cavs continue to storm through the East with little resistance. While the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder continue to fight in the West, the Cavs are winning playoff games by an average of more than 12 points.

Tristan Thompson had nine points and 12 rebounds for the Cavs, and Channing Frye scored 10 points off the bench.

Cleveland reserve guard Matthew Dellavedova limped out of the game after turning his ankle in the second half and did not return.

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Kenilworth 08:45 hrs Carrie Bow Cay 09:20 hrs Dixie Express 09:55 hrs Captain’s Flame 10:30 hrs Marinaresco 11:05 hrs Respectable Rebel TURFFONTEIN 08:30 hrs Captain Aldo 09:10 hrs Kalanchoe 09:45 hrs Persian Rug 10:20 hrs Master Sabina 10:55 hrs Dukes Dime ENGLISH RACING TIPS Newmarket 08:50 hrs Deningy 09;20 hrs War Story 09:55 hrs Sir Robert Cheval 10:30 hrs Linguistic 11:05 hrs Antiquarium 11:40 hrs Clear water 12:15 hrs Murgan

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball during the second half against the Toronto Raptors in game two of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavaliers won 108-89.

HAYDOCK 08:55 hrs Red Verdon 09:30 hrs Moscato 10:05 hrs Garcia 10:40 hrs Thetis 11:10 hrs Muthmir 11:45 hrs Flowers On Venus 12:20 hrs Rosenborg Rider YORK 09:05 hrs Salateen 09:40 hrs Moonrise Landing

10:15 hrs Appeared 10:50 hrs Shore Step 11:20 hrs Masham Star 11:55 hrs Sagely 12:25 hrs Dutch Artist GOODWOOD 09:15 hrs Master Carpenter 09:50 hrs Bateel 10:25 hrs Turbine 11:00 hrs Romantic View 11:35 hrs Scrutinise 12:10 hrs Pettochside 12:45 hrs Sweet Dragon Fly Irish Racing Tips CURRAGH 10:20 hrs Magical Fire 10:55 hrs In Salutem 11:30 hrs Caravaggio 12:40 hrs Galileo Gold 13:15 hrs Irish Rookie 13:45 hrs Alveena AMERICAN RACING TIPS Pimlico Race 4 Evidently Race 5 Salutos Amigos Race 6 Ousby Race 7 Chief Istan Race 8 Lady Shipman Race 9 Justin Squared Race10 Tiger Ride Race11 American Freedom Race12 Grand Arch Race13 Nyquist

Sevilla, Liverpool charged after crowd trouble at final (REUTERS)-Liverpool and Sevilla are facing disciplinary action due to the behaviour of their fans during this week’s Europa League at the St Jakob-Park stadium in Basel, UEFA said yesterday.

Both clubs have been charged by European football’s governing body following crowd disturbances at the match on Wednesday.

Liverpool have also been charged due to their fans setting off fireworks.

Sevilla’s supporters have been accused

of throwing objects.

There were skirmishes between supporters of both teams prior to Sevilla’s 3-1 victory in Switzerland.

Liverpool and Sevilla fans were sharing one end of the stadium and when scuffles broke out there was initially only a small stewarding presence in position to prevent fighting.

Police entered the terrace minutes later and stood between the two sets of fans.

Fans clash before the gameReuters / Marcelo del Pozo

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 21, 2016

Djokovic, Nadal on semi-final collision course in French Open (REUTERS) - World number one Novak Djokovic is on a French Open semi-final collision course with nine-time champion Rafael Nadal after the draw was made yesterday.

The Serb, who holds 11 grand slam titles but is still chasing his first win at Roland Garros, will start his campaign against Taiwan’s Lu Yen-hsun. Nadal has been paired with big-serving Australian Sam Groth.

The Spaniard, promoted to fourth seed a f t er R o g e r Fed erer pulled out citing fitness concerns, could meet France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals.

In the other half of the draw, second-seeded Briton Andy Murray is on

course to meet Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori in the last eight and defending champion and third

seed Stan Wawrinka in the semi-finals.

French hopes of lifting the trophy for the first

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

time since Yannick Noah won in 1983 took a hit when former semi-finalist Gael Monfils - a perennial crowd favourite in Paris - pulled out because of a virus.

In the women’s draw, top seed, defending champion and strong favourite Serena Williams takes on Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova in the first round.

She faces a potential quarter-final against former world number one Victoria Azarenka and last-four clash with German third seed Angelique Kerber, who beat her in this year’s Australian Open final.

The French Open starts tomorrow and ends on June 5 with the men’s final.

Nair’s heroics help Daredevils keep playoff hopes alive NAIPUR, India - Delhi Daredevils (DD) kept alive their slender hopes of qualifying for the playoffs after Karun Nair guided them to a six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with a 59-ball unbeaten 83 in a do-or-die Indian Premier League (IPL) match that went down to the wire in Raipur yesterday.

Chasing 159, Daredevils rode on Nair’s knock to secure a last-ball win against the butter-fingered Sunrisers Hyderabad, who dropped two easy chances, though Barinder Sran pulled off one of the best catches of the tournament After Mustafizur Rahman conceded just five runs in the penultimate over, Daredevils needed 11 off the final six deliveries bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

The seamer had a good start, but a composed Nair managed to hit boundaries off the final two deliveries to help Delhi cross the line.

Nair hit eight boundaries and three sixes.

Daredevils remained in sixth position with seven wins from 13 games, while Sunrisers stayed at the top despite the reverse.

Daredevils were off to a bad start as they lost Quinton de Kock (2) cheaply in the second over.

The young duo of Karun Nair and Rishabh

Pant (32) then shared a 73-run partnership for the second wicket to keep Daredevils in the hunt. Nair and Pant managed to hit the occasional boundaries.

While Sran gave Sunris-

al Stadium.

Two overs went without a boundary after that six by Nair till Pant dispatched a short ball from leg-spinner Karn Sharma through the midwicket region. That was

Player-of-the-match Karun Nair drives through the off-side in his unbeaten 83. ers the opening breakthrough, the bowler was hit for two boundaries by Nair in the following over to keep the pressure on him. Nair then clobbered Moises Henriques’ short delivery for a big six over square leg.

At the end of the 10th over, Daredevils were 68 for two, needing 91 runs from 60 balls at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Internation-

the last time Pant found the fence as he was run-out due to a good piece of fielding by Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Pant struck three boundaries in his 26-ball knock.

Nair tried to wrest the momentum back by hitting Deepak Hooda’s full toss through midwicket for a four.

JP Duminy swept Karn Sharma, and the ball raced to the

boundary despite David Warner’s full-length dive.

Nair reached his half-century with a single. Luck was on Nair’s side as Warner dropped an easy catch just after the batsman reached his fifty.

Looking for a breakthrough, Mustafizur was brought into the attack

by Warner, but Nair sent him through fine leg for a boundary. The Bangladeshi seamer, though, picked up the wicket of Carlos Brathwaite in the penultimate over owing to a brilliant catch by Sran.

Meanwhile, luck smiled on Daredevils one more time as Sunrisers Hyderabad dropped another sitter, this time by Bhuvneshwar.

Duminy tried to loft one over mid-off, but did not time it, and Bhuvneshwar got under the ball which then bounced out of his palm.

While Duminy got out soon, after Nair ’s drop proved costly as he helped DD inch closer to victory by hitting a couple of sixes.

Earlier, Warner struck yet another half-century to guide Sunrisers Hyderabad to 158 for seven. Sent in to bat, skipper Warner led from the front and struck eight boundaries and a six in his 56-ball knock. This was Warner’s eighth fifty in the ongoing ninth season of the cash-rich T20 league.

SERENA WILLIAMS

FIFA ethics body wants two-year ban for ex-German soccer chief (REUTERS) - Former German football association (DFB) chief Wolfgang Niersbach faces a possible two-year ban from soccer following an investigation

by FIFA into alleged irregularities over the awarding of the 2006 World Cup. Niersbach, who still sits on the world football body’s Council, resigned from the DFB presidency in November after he was unable to explain a 6.7 million euro (£5.16 million) payment from the German World Cup organisers to FIFA. Yesterday a report from the investigatory chamber of FIFA’s ethics committee - an independent body - found Niersbach had violated one of its ethics code and recommended he be banned for two years from all football-related activity and fined 30 000 Swiss francs (£20 802).

Niersbach has denied all wrongdoing.

The committee’s adjudicatory chamber said it had opened formal proceedings against Niersbach who was a vice-president of the 2006 organising committee - following the investigatory chamber’s recommendation.

Niersbach is also under investigation by the Frankfurt prosecutor for suspected tax UEFA executive commitevasion over the paytee member Wolfgang ment to FIFA. He will be invited Niersbach arrives for the to submit his posi- UEFA meeting in Basel, tion including any ev- Switzerland. (Reuters/ idence with regard to Ruben Sprich) the final report of the investigatory chamber and may request a hearing, it said.

A DFB-commissioned report revealed in March that while there was no evidence of Germany paying FIFA members in return for their votes, payments were made to at least one former FIFA official through a web of accounts involving several other firms or individuals, including Franz Beckenbauer.

Beckenbauer, a World Cup-winning player and coach who headed the 2006 World Cup bid, admitted to making mistakes but denied any wrongdoing over the tournament in Germany. He is not suspected of tax evasion.

The World Cup affair, which has shocked soccer-mad Germany, was triggered by the payment from the DFB to FIFA which the DFB said last year was the return of a loan via the ruling body from former Adidas chief Robert Louis-Dreyfus.

36

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 21, 2016

Sri Lanka ripped apart for 91 all out after Bairstow century (REUTERS) - THE England pace attack ripped out Sri Lanka for 91 after Jonny Bairstow made an excellent century to put the hosts in complete control of the first Test on the second day in Leeds yesterday.

Bairstow’s superb knock of 140 lifted England to 298 in their first innings, before James Anderson and Stuart Broad took nine wickets between them in favourable conditions for seam-bowling at Headingley.

England captain Alastair Cook enforced the follow-on and the touring side negotiated two deliveries to reach one

ground.

Bairstow found a solid partner in Steven Finn, the pair adding 56 for the ninth wicket before the former skied a catch to mid-on off Chameera.

Sri Lanka made a dreadful start to their reply as experienced fast bowlers Anderson and Broad exploited the conditions superbly.

Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva and Kusal Mendis all edged catches to wicketkeeper Bairstow, leaving the tourists in deep trouble at 12 for three.

Dinesh Chandimal, on 15, was well held by James Vince at third slip off Ben Stokes before Anderson trapped captain Angelo Mathews lbw for 34 and then dismissed Dasun Shanaka first ball, with a peach of a delivery that the batsman nicked to Bairstow.

The dismissal of Mathews was Anderson’s 435th in Tests, taking him past India’s Kapil Dev into sixth place

Jonny Bairstow progressed to his second Test hundred, and first on home soil. for no wicket before bad light ended play. Sri Lanka trail by 206 runs in the opening match of the three-Test series.

England had resumed in the morning on 171 for five and Bairstow and Alex Hales extended their sixth-wicket partnership to 141. Hales, on 86, was in sight of his maiden Test century when he skied spinner Rangana Herath to deep extra cover.

Moeen Ali (nought) and Broad (two) were dismissed

by Dushmantha Chameera in the same over but Bairstow, dropped on 70, completed his second Test hundred and celebrated the achievement enthusiastically on his home

Jimmy Anderson finishes with his first five-wicket haul at Headingley and Alastair Cook enforces the follow-on on the all-time list.

Herath was smartly caught by Stokes in the slips off Anderson for one, Chameera (2) drove Broad to Finn at mid-off and Lahiru Thirimanne, on 22, was caught by Finn at mid-on off Broad.

Anderson completed his 19th five-wicket haul in Tests and outstanding figures of five for 16 when he had Shaminda Eranga caught by Bairstow down the leg-side.

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1st innings (Overnight 171-5) A. Cook c Chandimal b Shanaka 16 A. Hales c Chameera b Herath 86 N. Compton c Thirimanne b Shanaka 0 J. Root c K. Mendis b Shanaka 0 J. Vince c K. Mendis b Eranga 9 B. Stokes c Mathews b Pradeep 12 J. Bairstow c Pradeep b Chameera 140 M. Ali c K. Mendis b Chameera 0 S. Broad b Chameera 2 S. Finn stp. Chandimal b Herath 17 J. Anderson not out 1 Extras: (lb-8, nb-3, w-4) 15 Total: (all out, 90.3 overs) 298 Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-49, 3-51, 4-70, 5-83, 6-224, 7-231, 8-233, 9-289.

Bowling: S. Eranga 19-4-68-1 (nb-2, w-1), N. Pradeep 19-7-561 (w-1), A. Mathews 11-2-31-0 (nb-1), D. Chameera 17-0-64-3 (w-1), D. Shanaka 13-3-46-3 (w-1) R. Herath 11.3-1-25-2.

SRI LANKA 1st innings D. Karunaratne c Bairstow b Broad 0 K. Silva c Bairstow b Anderson 11 K. Mendis c Bairstow b Broad 0 D. Chandimal c Vince b Stokes 15 A. Mathews lbw b Anderson 34 L. Thirimanne c Finn b Broad 22 D. Shanaka c Bairstow b Anderson 0 R. Herath c Stokes b Anderson 1 D. Chameera c Finn b Broad 2 S. Eranga c Bairstow b Anderson 1 N. Pradeep not out 0 Extras: (nb-5) 5 Total: (all out, 36.4 overs) 91 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-12, 3-12, 4-43, 5-77, 6-81, 7-83, 8-90, 9-91.

Bowling: J. Anderson 11.4-6-16-5, S. Broad 10-1-21-4 (nb-2), B. Stokes 7-2-25-1 (nb-1), J. Vince 1-0-10-0, S. Finn 7-0-19-0 (nb-2).

Century goal-mark awaits Real Madrid attacking trio (REUTERS) - REAL Madrid’s attacking trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema need to score twice in the Champions League final on May 28 against Atletico Madrid to hit the century mark for goals this season for the first time.

The previous combined best for the trio, who are known as the BBC (Bale, Benzema and Cristiano) was 97 in the 2014-15 campaign.

For a sixth consecutive year, Ronaldo found the back of the net more than 50 times in all competitions with his two goals against Deportivo La Coruna last weekend increasing his season tally to 51.

Frenchman Benzema finished second to Ronaldo scoring 28-24 in La Liga and 4 of them

From left: `Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema will be hoping to fire Real Madrid to victory.

Champions League strikes - while Bale scored 19, all of them in La Liga. These were personal bests for both players at Real.

In La Liga alone, the three stars scored a combined 78 goals, two more than in 2014-15, to establish their best mark in the three seasons they have played together.

Ronaldo struck 35 of those, 13 fewer than last season when he earned the Pichichi award as the top scorer in Spain’s top division.

Real manager Zinedine Zidane has said since taking over at the club that he will have all three players on the pitch as much as possible. “I will always play with the three of them, that’s definitely the plan,” he said last January.

37

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 21, 2016

NSC donates to Youth and Gayle, Bravo and Special Needs organisations Sammy question

THE National Sports Commission (NSC) yesterday handed over a collection of sporting equipment, trophies and medals to four youth organisations in support of upcoming 50th anniversary

groups to continue in their pursuits, and noted that the work of the organisations goes towards keeping young people meaningfully occupied, and as such the Ministry of Sport and NSC

for the Young Achievers will go towards the hosting of their annual awards ceremony, while the Buxton Arts Theatre and the Differently-Able Athletics Club will be hosting events this coming

Director of Sport Christopher Jones (left) hands over a trophy to one of the organisations events that the organisations will be hosting.

At a simple handing-over ceremony held at the NSC headquarters on Homestretch Avenue the equipment was handed over by the Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, to representatives from the four organisations, namely, the Aaron Blackman Athletics Club out of Bartica, Young Achievers Sports Club from Region 5 and the Buxton Arts Theatre, and William France’s Differently Abled Athletics Club from Region 4.

Jones encouraged the

are always willing to help towards such projects.

“In keeping with support for clubs, they would have written to us requesting trophies and medals and this is part of their 50th anniversary celebrations.

“So we would have made those available to them today.

They are keeping the young people meaningfully occupied and as such the Ministry of Education through the Department of Sport will continue to lend support to them.” Jones remarked.

The trophies and medals

Sunday.

The Buxton Arts Theatre will be hosting a Fun Day and Cultural Extravaganza at the Buxton Playfield. The Fun Day will include activities such as cricket, football, basketball, dominoes, volleyball, a health booth and book drive.

The cultural extravaganza will be in the evening.

A representative for the Buxton Arts Theatre noted that support is always a challenge for the organisation, so they are very grateful to the Director of Sport for the donations provided.

Meanwhile the Differently-Able Athletics Club, headed by amputee William France, will be hosting a 26mile walk from Mahaica to the Independence Arch in Brickdam Georgetown starting at midnight.

Jones took the opportunity to note that it was no coincidence that one of the receiving clubs was a Special Needs organisation. Jones said, upon assuming office, he has always emphasised the need for support in sports for the differently able, as well as for women.

“Last year when I got into office I stressed the need for more funding and more support for female participation and that of the differently-able.

Those funds were approved in this 2016 budget and so we’re continuing to fulfil support to those areas. However, not a lot of responses are coming in for those categories as yet,” Jones noted. He himself is expected to be present for the 26-mile walk tomorrow.

Additionally, Jones indicated that these four organisations have received assistance from the NSC to host events. A few weeks ago the Commission made donations to organisations in Region one, while plans are afoot to also make donations to organisations in Region 6 and Region 10 in the coming weeks.

Maximum participation expected at Jubilee Road Race, Track and Field event OVER 150 athletes are set to take part in tomorrow’s 10k and 5k road races, while maximum participation is expected in the track and field segment of the Jubilee Road Race and Track and Field event which will begin at 06:00hrs.

The road races will start off from the GNS Sports Complex on Carifesta Avenue, while the track and field segment of the event, which was originally scheduled to be held at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground, has been moved to the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora, beginning at 11.00hrs.

The organisers, Guyana Ex-Athletes Association from New York, in collaboration with the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), yesterday at a press conference held at the GNS Complex, promised that the event will be an exciting one.

Organisers said that reg-

istration for the road races will remain open until the day of the event, from 05:00hrs, while registration has already closed for the track and field segment. All of the major clubs are set to participate.

The 5k consists of two categories, the 16-20 age group and the Under-16 category. The 10k will feature a Senior and a Masters category. For the senior category cash prizes will be up for grabs from the first to fifth positions, with $40 000 for first place, $30 000 for second, $20 000 for third, $15 000 for fourth and $10 000 for fifth.

Cash prizes will also be there for the Masters category where the top male and female will each receive $20 000, while second-placers and third-placers will receive $15 000 and $10 000 respectively.

Two members from the Guyana Ex-Athletes Association, Burgette Williams-Ford

and David Thomas, who were at the head table of the conference, disclosed that this event had been a long time coming and they are happy that they are finally able to execute it.

Thomas also emphasised that this is by no means the only way that the organisation will be looking to lend support to athletics in Guyana. Much more can be expected in the future.

“We have tried in the past to do an event as ex-athletes to promote sports, and athletics to help the youths in Guyana and with the new government we have been successful in being able to do that, so this is our first event.” Thomas said “We have some longterm goals and it would include helping to get the schools involved more, the Ministry of Education involved. We are working on making it happen so that we can expose more Guyanese athletes overseas.

When I turn my television on and look at track events there is not a Guyana flag there and we are hoping we can change that.”

Williams-Ford also remarked, contrary to the usual tune of lack of financial support, that garnering sponsorship for these future events will not be the problem; the issue will be in the money being accounted for.

“There are a lot of people willing to give money to help the athletes or help any organisation here, but the problem is credibility: where the money went? It’s not that people don’t want to give.

Charity is a big business, and people forget where they start once money comes into hand.

So getting sponsors is not a problem, but people want to know where the money goes. Once you can prove (to persons) here is where your dollar went, it will not be a problem.”

Williams-Ford explained.

ODI selection

CHRIS Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy have questioned the selection of the West Indies ODI squad for the tri-series involving Australia and South Africa in June.

They expressed surprise at Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine being in the squad, despite not meeting what they considered to be one of the WICB’s criteria for selection playing West Indies’ domestic 50-over competition.

Gayle, Bravo and Sammy did not play the NAGICO Super50 in January because they were playing the Big Bash League in Australia at the time. Pollard and Narine also did not participate in the NAGICO Super50, though.

Pollard was injured during the Ram Slam T20 in South Africa in November last year and only regained fitness in time for the 2016 IPL, and Narine was not allowed to play because

CHRIS GAYLE his bowling action had been declared illegal. He was cleared to bowl by the ICC only in April.

In a series of tweets and retweets, the players who had been left out of the squad expressed their incredulity at the selection. “@KieronPollard55 & #SunilNarine selected for WI Tri-Series. How is that possible @westindies?” asked Gayle on Twitter.

“WICB stopped Sunil from playing Super50 and now they pick him. If @KieronPollard55 was fit he would’ve played the B Bash just like the rest of us!!”

Bravo called the development “magic” on Twitter.

“Joke of the day: WI selectors. One minute Pollard & Narine were not good enough & now are perfect for Tri Nation series? It’s like magic! One minute we have to be available for domestic Super50 to be selected and the next minute, it seems we don’t. Magic! Get serious people!”

Sammy, while congratulating Pollard, asked him how he had managed a comeback: “@KieronPollard55 great to see u back in ODI team but tell me how did u qualify for selection having not played the Super50 or ODI since 2014.”

In response to Sammy and the others, Pollard seemed to say he did not know why he had not played an ODI since October 2014: “Bingo, or I should say Pingo.

Numbers shuffled and up popped P55!! Or should I (say) lucky days!! Think the truth, or real reasons of expulsion will finally come out??? Have been baffled for 15 months. Then Pingo.”

Andre Russell was the other high-profile omission from the West Indies ODI squad. He too did not play the NAGICO Super50 and played the Big Bash League instead.

It is not known, however, whether the injury he sustained during the IPL played a part in his non-selection.

None of these players - Gayle, Bravo, Sammy and Russell - was contracted by the WICB earlier this year, but all four were part of West Indies’ title-winning squad at the World T20 in India. (ESPN Cricinfo)

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 21, 2016

DC Jammers ready for tonight’s clash with Dynas Raven ... We will put on a show for fans, says coach

By Daniel Haynes BASKETBALL has returned to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) and this time it is the Washington DC Jammers who take on Guyana’s top four clubs in a goodwill tour.

The first game of the tour is tonight against the Dynas Ravens where top

players like Akeem Kanhai, Dominic Vincente, Ryan Gullen and Ryan Stephney are expected to present stiff opposition.

The DC Jammers team have been visiting Guyana to play against local teams for the last 18 years. Having arrived on Thursday night, the team held their first practice run at CASH yesterday morning and appeared to

be in high spirits, joking around with each other in a spirit of camaraderie.

The coach of the DC Jammers, Michael Creppy, had a lot to say. “We hope to see a spirited competition, since basketball in Guyana has clearly developed.”

Creppy also stated that the players felt they had

The 6’5 guard stated that with this tour he hoped that some light would shine on the local basketball scene.

The team also attended a press conference held by the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) at Cara Lodge in the afternoon.

Present at the press conference were GABF vice-president Kenrick Thomas, Guy-

Also speaking was assistant coach Clarence Wallerson. The Guyanese-born Wallerson spoke about coming back home to Guyana in an effort to promote basketball and give Guyanese an opportunity to see basketball being played at an international level.

GABF president Nigel Hinds alluded to the fact that Guyana have not finished well in Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships in their previous appearances.

“Guyana placed poorly in our last appearances and it is hoped that the international play of the Jammers

shows our local basketball players the gap in skill level.” Hinds also expressed sentiments of hoping that adding eligible overseas players to the Guyana team benefits the team.

Finally Bounty Colts manager Michael Singh said his players were ready to face the DC Jammers and with the home court advantage take the competition to the foreigners.

The games start at 19:00hrs today and continue tomorrow, Tuesday and Friday of next week.

Admission is $1 000 with children Under-12 free at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

L-R (standing) DC Jammers players, (sitting) Kenrick Thomas, Kenrick Hercules, Kirk ‘Chow Pow’ Jardine, Michael Singh, Nigel Hinds, Clarence Wallerson, Glen Stokes, Semaj Inge, Michael Creppy

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday May 21, 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) Murali Vijay-95 (CSK) (2) Ravi Ashwin-3/16 (CSK)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) How many games were scheduled to be played in IPL 2011?

(2) Which two teams contested the first game of IPL 2011?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

to contribute to the development of basketball in Guyana and that they were honoured to be in the country. On his team strategy, he simply said, “It doesn’t matter who we play, we’re just going to adjust to the competition and do what we know to do.”

A familiar face to the Guyanese public is that of Keron McKenzie who also spoke in an exclusive interview. “This is my fourth time in Guyana and second time with the DC Jammers, having played with some of the local guys. I know that they play hard and with a lot of energy.”

ana Amateur Basketball Association president Junior Hercules and GABF president Nigel Hinds.

Coach Creppy spoke again, this time boasting about Guyanese-born Winston Robinson who has played overseas for several clubs. “Winston is an outstanding player; this kid is amazing with an attitude to win and he would be a great addition to Guyana’s CBC team.”

Captain of the Jammers, Glen Stokes, shared his excitement about being in Guyana while teammate Semaj Inge echoed his sentiments wholly.

6’6 Winston Robinson gets up on the dunk. (Adrian Narine photos)

Feuding Antigua athletics officials slapped with gag order NEVILLE Fenton and Everton Cornelius, Treasurer of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and President of the Antigua & Barbuda Athletics Association (ABAA) respectively have been slapped with gag orders.

The NOC decision was reportedly made during a meeting of the organisation’s executive on Tuesday.

Only NOC President Chet Greene will be allowed to speak publicly on the ongoing rift between the two men.

The issue began earlier this year when Fenton accused Cornelius of submitting questionable invoices re-

lating to expenditure for preparation for track events in 2015, including the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada.

One particularly irksome issue is that Fenton has admitted to secretly recording Cornelius during their discussions over the disputed invoices. The recordings were reportedly leaked to the public.

Cornelius has since announced his candidacy for the president of the NOC. Elections are constitutionally due in August. They will be held following the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.

(Sportsmax.com)

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, May 21, 2016

GFF boss calls on fans to exercise some patience

“WE have lost a lot of time over the past couple of years because of unwarranted political turmoil within the football fraternity, and we simply cannot sit by and only expose ourselves to opponents that we can outdo on the field of play.

“So you (the fans) have to exercise some patience, you have to understand the bigger picture, and you have to understand what we’re trying to do. But we do understand and appreciate the fact that on the auspicious occasion of your 50th Anniversary you would like to see a much more competitive game, and for that I take full responsibility.”

Those were the words of president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) president, Wayne Forde, as he addressed media operatives yesterday morning, speaking specifically on the Golden Jaguars’ 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Canada’s Under-23 team last Sunday at the Guyana National Stadium.

Despite the heavy defeat, Forde is adamant that playing higher-ranked nations is the way to go if Guyana’s foot-

ball is to take off. He spoke of plans that are in train to have future engagements with two football powerhouses.

“It was important for Guyana to play Canada.

As a matter of fact, I’m actively in conversation with the United Kingdom team that we want to bring down here in July for a series of games. I’m actively pursuing the U.S. Olympic team. We have to put ourselves against these opponents,” Forde urged.

He continued, “For Guyana to really register in a very emphatic way to the rest of the Caribbean, who are our domestic opponents, that we are serious about our football, that we want to be competitive, we have to put ourselves against top-notch competition.

“It would have been an easier thing for Guyana to invite one of our opponents from the CFU family to play on May 15 and beat them 3-0, 7-0 or whatever, but we used the opportunity, first of all, to give some of our young players an opportunity to play and get some time on the pitch; but also we wanted

to put ourselves up against a formidable opponent. That we did.”

Reflecting on the loss to Canada, the GFF head was quick to congratulate the players and the man-

use this opportunity to also encourage the fans and all of the supporters to be very measured in their criticism, because ultimately this is a rebuilding process for the Guyana Football Federation,

Guyana Football Federation president Wayne Forde (left) addresses media operatives at yesterday’s press conference. At right is Golden Jaguars head coach Jamaal Shabazz. agement staff for stitching together their best effort.

“The guys clearly went out there and gave their best - they poured their heart into the game - and I want to

and our objectives are very, very clear,” Forde declared.

He added, “It’s natural to appreciate that people are hurt, and clearly people were, based on the feedback

that we’ve received, and we were hurt ourselves. Nevertheless, we have to recognise the players that we are nurturing for the future will likely encounter these experiences as they come up against opponents that are a few notches above where we are as a nation at this point in time.”

Forde urged the critics to have some consideration for the players, as they are faced with a situation that is deeper than what transpires on the field.

“They come into the situation that we have created for them. The football development environment that existed in Guyana is one that is the collective, deliberate action of the football fraternity. Every club, every association and the Guyana Football Federation have a very specific role to play in the development of the players. So what we see manifested on the field a lot of time is the culmination of these deliberate actions that we have taken over a sustained period of time.”

Like Forde, head coach Jamaal Shabazz also took responsibility for the loss,

but noted that the game was intended to give crucial exposure to the country’s fringe players.

“As a staff, we chose to the give the opportunity to the players in the national pool who have not been starting in recent times to gain valuable experience and to widen the pool.

Of course, we don’t go give up soft goal and make a disappointment for the loyal fans, for the public, for the politicians or for corporate Guyana, but this is sport,” Shabazz outlined.

He added, “And you see that feeling of disappointment that the whole nation felt, must make us realise the ability of sport to touch the heart of the nation. But how can we plant bitter cassava and expect to reap sweet potatoes. I take responsibility for the performance and the selection of giving this opportunity to the players.”

The Golden Jaguars will be in action again next week in the Scotiabank CFU Caribbean Cup in Curacao.

The squad for that round is expected to be made public

by Monday.

CMRC 2016 Round 1

Guyanese set for CMRC qualification today (By Stephan Sookram in Negril Jamaica, Compliments of Rent-a-Tent, B.M. Soat Auto Sales, Buy Me Auto Sales and Fly Jamaica) LATE afternoon rains, coupled with the lapse in the delivery of fuel, hindered the

testing hopes of Guyanese at the Jamwest Raceway yesterday where the first race of the 2016 Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) will be held this weekend.

Due to a shortage of fuel in Guyana, competitors had

Guyana observes

CONCACAF Women’s Day THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will participate in the second annual CONCACAF Women’s Football Day to be observed today at the Wisburg Secondary School ground, Linden.

The one-day event, which is scheduled to begin at 10:30hrs, will feature a brief opening ceremony, 5-a-side football from 11 all-female teams from Regions 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10 and a post-match presentation ceremony. Official kick-off is scheduled for 11:00hrs.

The opening ceremony will feature remarks from Ms Diedre Davis, General Secretary (GFF); Ms Charmine Wade, president of the National Women’s Football Association (NWFA); Mr Sharma Solomon, president of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) and Ms Waneka Arrindell (Deputy Mayor, Linden Municipality).

Opening ceremony will be chaired by Ms Vanessa Kissoon, former Member of Parliament.

to order their fuel in Jamaica, but up to late afternoon, the said orders had not arrived at the track.

That, coupled with a swift and heavy downpour, soaked the Jamwest raceway yesterday, following which those Guyanese competitors with limited fuel opted out of practice.

However, during the morning, several competitors managed to get in a few laps, including Group 3 and 4 competitor Danny Persaud, who was satisfied with his car and the team overall.

“All in all, I’m satisfied, only did a few laps but the car felt okay. This weekend is going to be great at Jamwest, the surface is looking great and we expect great competition from the Jamaicans, as well as the Trinis’,” he added.

He continued, “All in all, I think we have a strong squad that will do Guyanese racing justice. Kristian and Kevin (Jeffrey) will definitely be forces to be reckoned with out here; Myself, Gafoor and Rangsammy are no pushovers either and of course there is Rameez in Group 2.”

... Fuel problems, rain impede practice

Some of the Guyanese competitors tuning ahead of today’s qualification.

(Stephan Sookram photo) “We have the Vieira family, Elliot the defending champion; Stephen the veteran and Matthew who has been dominant in Guyana. Also there are Paul Yearwood and Leroy Cort.

I think that those guys are more than capable of invading Jamaica.”

A spokesman for team Top Power racing, under whose banner two-time defending champion Kristian Jeffrey and his father Kevin drive, confirmed that they are both ready for action this weekend.

Meanwhile both Mohan Rangasammy and Nazim Gafoor took the opportunity to assess the layout of the track while Rameez Mohammed had some amount of mechanical troubles but confirmed that he too will be ready for qualifying.

At the two-wheel end of things, Stephen Vieira was the only competitor to get a fair amount of testing in but confirmed that things are going to be competitive come today and tomorrow.

Elliot Vieira, the defend-

ing champion arrived late yesterday, having completed his exams early Thursday afternoon while Matthew Vieira is awaiting his bike from Customs.

Matthew had his bike flown in compliments of Fly Jamaica.

Paul Yearwood and Leroy Cort were making fine-tuning changes at the end of yesterday.

Today’s qualification begins at 12:00hrs with the morning session being allowed for free practice.

GFF boss calls on fans to exercise some patience See story on page 39

Team Jaguars roar to victory in Wadadli Team Cup … WIFB Short Range championship to be contested today See story on page 33

Wadadli Cup winners, Guyana Jaguars from left: Mahendra Persaud, Lennox Braithwaite, Dylan Fields and Ransford Goodluck

Bolt glides to easy victory in 100m in Ostrava

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt reacts after the men’s 100m race. (Reuters/David W Cerny) (REUTERS) - Sprint king Usain Bolt ramped up his preparations for the Rio Olympics by pulling away to post a time below 10 seconds in the 100 metres at the Ostrava Golden Spike meeting.

The Jamaican, making his second start this season, faced little competition in his

annual trip to the Czech event as he ran 9.98 to finish 0.23 ahead of Ramon Gittens of Barbados.

American Olympic decathlon champion Ashton Eaton pulled out of what would have been their first head-to-head meeting after feeling tightness in his leg during the

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

long jump.

Coming out of lane four, Bolt began slowly but took control midway the race, showing little sign of the discomfort he showed in winning the 100m in 10.05 seconds in the Cayman Invitational this month in his first event of the season.

He had received treatment in Germany on his hamstring before travelling to the Czech Republic.

“I am happy I got under 10 seconds,” he told Czech TV after achieving the target he had set himself before the race.

“I had no problems. I didn’t feel my hamstrings today. That means the doctor did a great job as always. I am always happy when I come out of a race injury-free.”

Bolt, the 100 and 200 world record holder, is preparing for Jamaica’s Olympic trials from June 30 to July 3 in Kingston.

As he approaches the end of his Olympic career, Bolt is aiming for an unprecedented three-peat at the Rio Games in August where he will defend his 100, 200 and 4x100 relay titles.

Eaton, a decathlon world record holder who is also set to defend his title in Rio, was due to take on Bolt for he first time but decided against running after the long jump.

Czech Radek Juska won the event with a distance of 7.92 metres. Eaton finished third, having recorded 7.55 after completing only two jumps.

Paralympic champion Markus Rehm, nicknamed ‘Blade Jumper’, reached 8.13.

The 2012 Paralympics gold medallist and 2014 German long jump champion hopes to become the second athlete with a carbon fibre running blade to compete in the Olympics after South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius in 2012.

In the men’s pole vault, France’s world record holder and Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie won with his season’s best of 5.83m.

On Thursday, Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk won the women’s hammer throw, smashing the meeting record by almost half a metre with a throw of 78.54.

SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2016