Chronicle 06 18 2016

ON HOLD No. 104586

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2016

Price: $80

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…Fedders Lloyd barred from Specialty Hospital project

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Triumph 8 man killed in accident P.

Forensic audits…

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Police, SOCU open probes Three guilty of robbing, beating judge and husband

Farewell Bryan!

US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, on Friday evening hosted a farewell reception in honour of the outgoing Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy, Bryan Hunt. Hunt spent the last three years serving the US through the Georgetown Embassy, where he was based. In Photo, Hunt is being greeted by Mrs Williams, wife of Attorney General Basil Williams while Williams exchanges pleasantries with wife of the US Ambassador Rosaura Hollaway. The reception was held at the US Ambassador’s residence at Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (Adrian Narine photo)

‒ two freed

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CAL blames TSA for 3 duty-free restriction P.

‒ says assisting customers challenging

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

Fedders Lloyd barred from Specialty Hospital project

By Derwayne Wills CONSTRUCTION of the controversial Specialty Hospital at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown has again been put on pause, as the Guyana Government’s contractor, Fedders Lloyd, has been barred by the World Bank from entering such contractual arrangements until 2020.

The World Bank’s decision was further endorsed by the Indian Government, which withdrew support from the New Dehli-based Fedders Lloyd since the company was placed on a list of ineligible firms and individuals who were found to be in violation of the procedures set out by the World Bank Group.

Fedders Lloyd has been accused by the World Bank

of engaging in “fraudulent practice”. Such practices, according to the World Bank’s procurement guidelines, “mean a misrepresentation or omission of facts in order to influence a procurement process or the executive of a contract.”

According to the web. wordbank.org website, Fedders Lloyd cannot receive World Bank-financed contracts between April 6, 2016 and April 5, 2020. In order for the company to be taken off the list, it must cooperate with the corporate compliance conditions set out by the Bank.

Cabinet Secretary Joseph Harmon told reporters yesterday that while the David Granger Administration would proceed with the contract for construction of the controversial hospital,

Government does not have the option to award that contract to companies outside of India.

“The contract which is there for the Specialty Hospital requires an Indian company to build that Specialty Hospital. And therefore the bidding and everything has to be done by a certain standard established by the Indians,” Harmon said yesterday at Cabinet’s first media briefing in eight weeks.

Harmon, the State Minister in the Ministry of the Presidency and Head of the Presidential Secretariat, confirmed that the Government of India had opted out of the engagement with Fedders Lloyd because of the World Bank ‘fraud and corruption’ sanction against the company.

Fedders Lloyd had been

awarded the contract for construction of the hospital by the David Granger Administration after the previous Donald Ramotar Administration had parted ways with Surrendra Engineering Company, the first Indian firm to be awarded the contract for building the hospital.

A lawsuit by the Donald Ramotar Administration had been won in 2015, but there was an outstanding sum of money to be collected when that administration was ousted from office in May, 2015. Figures floating in media reports suggest some $900M were still to be collected by the Guyana Government.

Asked about the money awarded in the lawsuit, Harmon said Cabinet has asked Attorney General

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Basil Williams to “proceed with the legal process to

ensure that those sums of money are retrieved.”

Over $130M to rehabilitate streets in Region Six SEVERAL communities in Region Six (East Berbice /Corentyne) are to benefit from rehabilitated streets. This was announced

by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, during his post-cabinet media briefing on Friday.

The Minister indicat-

ed that Cabinet granted its “no-objection” to the award of contracts for rehabilitation works on Arjune Street, Hampshire Village; First

Street, North Field, Joanna Village; High Dam, Caracas, West Canje; Second Cross Street #65 Village, Corentyne; Koker Dam, Fyrish

Village; Middle Walk Dam, Liverpool Village; and Middle Walk Dam, Lancaster Village, Corentyne.

These works, Minister Harmon said, “are part of an ongoing programme to rehabilitate secondary

and inter-community roads across Region Six, especially within communities that were neglected by the previous administration.”

The combined works will cost a total of $130,931,830 dollars.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

CAL blames TSA for duty-free restriction ‒ says assisting customers has proved “challenging” CARIBBEAN Airlines Limited (CAL) has defended its position in relation to the duty-free row with the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), explaining that a restriction on the entry of transit duty-free items has been imposed.

Management of the CJIA on Thursday issued CAL with a 21-day ultimatum to honour a contractual agreement between the two parties, or have its operations at the Timehri-based airport terminated.

It was recognised that persons travelling from Guyana to North America through connecting flights in Trinidad were not allowed to take with them duty-free items bought in Guyana.

Having received numer-

ous complaints from overseas-based Guyanese, and having warned CAL to no avail, the CJIA was forced to issue the 21-day ultimatum.

The airline, which has served Guyana for over 50 years, has sought to defend its position on this issue by stating that restrictions have been imposed through security processes.

In a statement issued to the press on Friday, the management of CAL said the airline must comply with all regulatory directives of the sovereign states into which it operates, as do all other airlines.

CAL noted that one such regulatory body is the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which governs

the security processes and conducts audits for all carriers flying into the United States of America.

“In light of screening rules, which are in accordance with TSA measures being applied at any Last Point of Departure (LPD) to the United States, and a recent TSA audit, a restriction on the entry of transit duty-free into the sterile holding areas of all transit airports has been imposed,” the statement said.

As such, CAL’s management has explained, customers departing Guyana or any other Caribbean destination with duty-free items, who are connecting on flights to the United States on any airline, cannot enter the sterile holding area of any airport

through which they transit en route to the United States.

Apart from this mechanism, which has limitations due to obligations, CJIA had also recommended the introduction of an arrangement which would see passengers receiving their duty-free items, which would have been placed in their checked luggage under the CAL/CJIA security supervision.

Caribbean Airlines has reasoned that it has sought to balance its regulatory obligations with its customers’ desire to make duty-free purchases, but this has proved to be a challenge.

“Unfortunately, this proved to be challenging, as it resulted in damage to fragile items as well as items

remaining unclaimed at the final destination,” CAL said in the statement.

The airline’s management also sought to recommit to working in collaboration with stakeholders, including the Civil Aviation and Airport authorities, to achieve a workable solution which ensures that the airline remains compliant with the TSA regulations and provides quality service to its customers.

“Guyana is an important destination for Caribbean Airlines, and we remain committed to our loyal Guyanese customers, whom we have consistently served with reliable service since our start in 2007.

Caribbean Airlines has the distinct privilege of being the designated carrier for Guyana for the Toronto and New York destinations,” the statement added.

UG to introduce graduation fee ‒ no decision made on tuition fees

By Ravin Singh HAVING struggled over the last decade to acquire finances to support its developmental agenda, the University of Guyana (UG) would be moving to introduce a graduation fee for students leaving the institution after successfully completing their studies.

This was revealed by newly-appointed Vice Chancellor (VC) Professor Ivelaw Griffith, who underscored the need for UG to capitalize on missed opportunities related to revenue creation.

Speaking at his maiden press conference on Friday, the VC, who officially assumed office on June 14, explained that change has to be brought to UG, and this requires conversations which would sketch out a developmental plan for the learning institution.

He explained that one of the important things about any moment of change is that there is opportunity to update things which were not previously included in the landscape.

“I intend to use that opportunity to look at many

UG Vice Chancellor (VC), Professor Ivelaw Griffith

things, including fees that were not on the landscape before,” Professor Griffith said.

The VC, who has focused much of his attention on finances during previous engagements with the media, said UG has been practising the science of “muddling through on finances”, and not using opportunities to introduce fees which are standard in every university in the Caribbean and around the world.

The Professor, the first student at UG to have graduated with a distinction in

Political Science, disclosed that no person who has ever graduated from UG has ever paid a graduation fee.

“That is a standard fee at every university. When you ‘walk’ at the graduation ceremony, it takes thousands of dollars to put that ceremony on. Every university that I know in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, there is a contribution by the students graduating, to that ceremony,” the VC said.

Though he did not say when, Professor Griffith confirmed that this fee

would be introduced.

“We would have to have a conversation about how much this fee will be, but we have to have a graduation fee,” he declared.

Further, he noted that the institution’s administration would have to examine opportunities which extend beyond Guyana, and even the introduction of fees that do not affect Guyanese students, but would be important contributions by foreign students.

“We will have to examine whether there were

missed opportunities with fees,” the VC said.

Commenting on whether he believes the current tuition is adequate to finance operations at the publicly-funded institution, Profession Griffith explained that he has not had the opportunity to examine the fees to determine whether he is comfortable with them. However, he committed to examining same in the near future.

The VC has also weighed in on Government subvention for the

university, noting that the administration is in the process of compiling its budget request, which will be allied with independently acquired revenue.

“I know (that) what we will ask the Government for, we will not be able to get all, and so we have to look at ways to generate revenue. And this involves looking at opportunities that we may have missed: whether fees need to be upped, or a fee that needs to be introduced,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

Police probe rightwing links to UK MP’s killing

[BBC] - Police investigating the killing of MP Jo Cox have said they are prioritising inquiries into the suspect’s possible links to rightwing extremism.

Mrs Cox, 41, was shot and stabbed outside her constituency surgery in West Yorkshire on Thursday. A 52-year-old man has been arrested.

The BBC understands Nazi regalia was recovered at suspect Tommy Mair’s home.

David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn have described the killing as an “attack on democracy”.West Yorkshire Police’s temporary Chief Constable Dee Collins said the force was also pursuing the suspect’s link to mental health services.

She said the man arrested, named locally as Mr Mair, had been examined by two specialist medical practitioners and deemed fit for detention and interview and said detectives were continuing to question him.

In a statement released by the force, it emerged a 77-yearold man who was injured during the attack, had “bravely intervened” to assist Mrs Cox. He suffered a serious injury

Flowers and candles have been laid in Parliament Square to his abdomen and remains in hospital in a stable condition.

The visit by the prime minister and Labour leader came as the Conservatives, Lib Dems and UKIP all announced they would not contest the by-election resulting from her death.

Joined by Commons Chaplain Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Leeds Central MP Hilary Benn and Commons Speaker John

Bercow, the prime minister and the Labour leader bowed their heads as they laid bouquets in Birstall. Mr Corbyn said he had asked for Parliament to be recalled to enable politicians to pay tribute to the Labour MP “on behalf of everybody in this country who values democracy... free from the kind of brutality that Jo suffered”.

He added: “Jo was an ex-

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ceptional, wonderful, very talented woman, taken from us in her early 40s when she had so much to give and so much of her life ahead of her.

“It’s a tragedy beyond tragedy what happened yesterday.

“In her memory, we will not allow those people that spread hatred and poison to divide our society, we will strengthen our democracy,

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strengthen our free speech.”

Vote Leave and Remain have both suspended campaigning in the EU referendum in light of the attack. Mr Cameron said: “Where we see hatred, where we find division, where we see intolerance we must drive it out of our politics and out of our public life and out of our communities.

“If we truly want to honour Jo, then what we should do is recognise that her values service, community, tolerance - the values she lived by and worked by, those are the values that we need to redouble in our national life in the months and years to come.”

Commons Speaker Mr Bercow described Mrs Cox as an “outstanding” MP. “I think everybody is united in grief, in horror and in an overpowering respect for somebody who we came to know, whose talents we admired, whose passion we observed on a daily basis,” he said.

The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron, said she was “inspiring to listen to”, adding: “A young family has lost a mum and a wife, a community has lost a great MP and Parliament has lost an authentic and passionate voice.” The Batley and Spen constituency Labour Party said Mrs Cox had “meant the world” to them.

The party added: “She was a lovely woman who cared

deeply about her family, her community and everyone around her.

“Above all, she was an amazing wife to Brendan and mum to her two children. It is a tragedy that they will have to grow up without their lovely mum.”

Witness Ben Abdullah, who was working at a café next to the scene of the attack, said he saw “a river of people” coming down the street “screaming and shouting”.

Mr Abdullah said he heard several shots and saw Mrs Cox on the floor “in a very bad state”.Politicians have been warned to review their security in the wake of the attack.

On Friday, hundreds of people, including Conservative peer Baroness Sayeeda Warsi and Bradford West Labour MP Naz Shah, attended a vigil at the Indian Muslim Welfare Society’s Al-Hikmah Centre in Batley.

Ms Shah said he was still struggling to come to terms with her friend’s death.

“You can’t get you head around this,” she said.

“How does anybody make sense of anything that is absolutely so senseless.”

Mrs Cox is the first sitting MP to be killed since 1990, when Ian Gow was the last in a string of politicians to die at the hands of Northern Irish terror groups.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

Rio state declares financial emergency

(BBC) - The Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro has declared a financial emergency less than 50 days before the Olympics.

Interim Governor Francisco Dornelles says the “serious economic crisis” threatens to stop the state from honouring commitments for the games. Most public funding for the Olympics has come from Rio’s city government, but the state is responsible for areas such as transport and policing.

Interim President Michel Temer has promised significant financial help. The governor has blamed the crisis on a tax shortfall, especially from the oil industry, while Brazil overall has faced a deep recession.

The measure could accelerate the release of federal emergency funds. Rio state employees and pensioners are owed wages in arrears.

Hospitals and police stations

The Olympics in Rio are due to start on August 5.

have been severely affected.

In a decree, Mr Dornelles said the state faced “public calamity” that could lead to a “total collapse” in public services, such as security, health and education.

He authorised “exceptional measures” to be taken ahead of the Games that could impact “all essential public services”, but no details were given.

The state has projected a budget deficit of $5.5bn (£3.9bn) for this year. Rio’s mayor Eduardo Paes said on Twitter the state’s decision “in no way delays the delivery of Olympic projects and the promises assumed by the city of Rio”.

There are also concerns over an outbreak of the Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects, and the impact it could have on the city’s tourism. Rio expects about 500,000 foreign visitors during the Olympics.

Rowley says removing Maduro from office is not a matter for T&T PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley Friday said he had never discussed the ongoing political situation in Venezuela with President Nicolas Maduro when the head of the government in South America paid an official visit to the oil-rich twin-island Republic last month.

Speaking in Parliament, Rowley also made it clear that Port of Spain would not participate in any event aimed at removing the Maduro government from office, telling legislators “any change of government (there) is for the people of Venezuela”.

Opposition legislators had called on Prime Minister Rowley to indicate his administration’s position at the Organization of American States (OAS) plenary session due to take place on June 23 called to discuss the threat to democracy in Venezuela.

Rowley acknowledged that a Permanent Council meeting will be held on that date where it will receive a report from OAS Secretary General on the situation in Venezuela.

“The meeting is being convened at the request of the OAS Secretary General,” he said, noting that the Council will be called upon to make its decision by the majority of the 18 votes as to whether “an un-constitutional alternation of the constitutional regime that seriously impairs the democratic order” exists in Venezuela.

He said the Permanent

Council will have three options in dealing with the situation and that “Trinidad and Tobago has supported the re-opening of an effective dialogue between the opposition and the government in order to find ways to encourage political stability, social development and economic recovery”.

He said this was done most recently by the special Committee on Venezuela adopted by the Association of Caribbean states (ACS) summit in Cuba and an OAS Declaration earlier this month.

“Given that the Charter has been invoked by the Secretary General as opposed to an OAS member state, particularly one not linked to imperialism, the credibility of the entire process could be called into question.

“The ability of the Per-

manent Council to determine whether there has been an unconstitutional alternation of the constitutional regime that’ seriously impair the democratic order is constrained by the fact that it will be making an assessment on the basis of a report to be tabled by a secretary general who in his previous intemperate and unsanctioned remarks can no longer serve as a force for peaceful dispute resolution in the Venezuelan context”.

Rowley said that Trinidad and Tobago’s position at the OAS meeting “is to stick and

sail very close to the wind with respect to the founding principles of the OAS”.

“So at this stage we have no other position but to recognise the duly elected government of Venezuela whether it be the President of the Congress and to not interfere in the business of Venezuela in a way

that is inimical to the interest or runs counter to our principles in the OAS. “Trinidad and Tobago as Venezuela’s closest neigh-

bour in the Caribbean, we acknowledge that the choice of the government of Venezuela is for the people of Venezuela,” Rowley said.

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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

Proposed draft strategic plan for ministries THE news coming out of the Ministry of the Presidency on Thursday 16th June that it would shortly provide a Draft Strategic Plan for ministries is welcome. It is important that the business of government be managed in a manner reflective of its policies and programmes within the confines of and conformity to laws, conventions and time-honoured principles.

President David Granger has repeatedly informed the nation that his administration will be pursuing development within the confines of a Green Economy. This is expected to mean that every programme and plan will be developed and executed, respecting the principles upon which such an economy is built. And these principles are sustainable development, protection of the environment, and respecting labour policies.

The meeting held on Thursday with the President, Minister of State and Permanent Secretaries (PS), during which the role of the PS has been enunciated is interpreted to mean as commitment by the administration to delineate and respect respective roles and functions. As chief executive officer of the ministry, which is different from a political head, the PS’s task is to develop and implement programmes from the government policies consistent with the laws and Public Service rules.

And where the administration’s intent is to develop a strategic plan, it requires the involvement of staff in the departments and the public that receives the service. This is so given the utility derived from workers who are supposed to implement programmes, ensuring that they are aware of the government’s policies in order that they can meet expectations. In the absence of this consciousness of responsibilities and how these ought to be discharged, it denies the involvement of all the skillsets in the ministry the opportunity to deliver at their optimum.

It is noted that the President spoke of the need for the PS “being educated in order to discharge his/her functions in an efficient manner.” It is assumed what the President is alluding to is the shifting of the Public Service away from the politicisation over a number of years, which has undermined professionalism and compromised the discharge of duties.

Agreeably, achieving what the President sets out to do requires education. Education can be buttressed by in-depth understanding of roles and functions in pursuit of achieving the objectives in the Strategic Plan.

An area that would aid in ensuring these is realisation of the Public Service Staff College. A college of such nature is expected to conduct training and education consistent with requirements of a modern Public Service and managed by professionally competent officers who in the first instance understand their roles and functions and the mission of the Public Service.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

Stop playing political games with the public Dear Editor,

I WRITE to offer a brief response to Mr. Freddie Kissoon’s column in Kaieteur News of Wednesday, June 15th, 2016, captioned “The new PNC is sending confusing signals.” Objectively, Mr. Kissoon raised many important issues relative to the APNU+AFC coalition attitude to governance at both the central and local government levels, and the responsibility of political parties in the coalition. It is my opinion that this column stands out as one of the better political columns written by Kissoon in recent times.

However, my primary reason for penning this letter is to correct Kissoon’s misrepresentation of information on three matters he raised in relation to the WPA. I also want to take this opportunity to ask him a

question on the Region Two REO matter.

My first concern is rooted in Kissoon’s statement, “But for all intents and purposes, the WPA seems to be one man only - Dr. David Hinds. It is only Hinds from the WPA that has pronounced on the mistreatment of vendors.” Contrary to Kissoon’s utterance, the public record will show that the WPA’s position on City Hall’s handling of the vendors issue was enunciated long before Dr. Hinds spoke on the matter.

The treatment of the vendors was condemned on the Walter Rodney Groundings programme

by Deon Abrams, Desmond Trot man and I when we spoke extensively on this issue.

(2) in his column, Kissoon went on to state that “Hinds is the only one from the WPA that thinks prosecution needs to be pursued out of the findings of the forensic audit.” As in the

case of the vendors’ matter, the three persons referred to above, again on Groundings on several occasions, dealt with the need for the government to prosecute offenders against whom compelling evidence of wrongdoing exists.

(3) My third concern is when Kissooon said: “Hinds is the only one from the WPA that is talking about the Walter Rodney Commission report.”

The record will show that the WPA had put out a comprehensive statement on its attitude to the Rodney CoI report. I believe Mr. Editor, that columnist Freddie Kissoon is well aware of what the WPA has done on the three issues referred to, but for reasons best known to himself chooses to deliberately disregard our efforts. What game is he playing?

The final issue I wish to address is Kissoon’s attiude towards the Region Two REO

matter. He appears to be very comfortable in joining with the PPP/C and AFC councillors in their accusations against Mr. Hopkinson, without first seeking his side of the story. If he did, he would discover as I have, that there is tremendous evidence of serious wrongdoing on the part of a number of highly placed officials in the Region Two administration.

To all appearances, Hopkinson seems to have aroused the wrath of councillors on both sides of the divide who have an interest in the status quo remaining unchanged. My humble advice to my friend and comrade, Freddie Kissoon, is that he should be careful in his quest to play political games with the public, lest he undermines his own integrity.

Regards TACUMA OGUNSEYE

Don’t forget Sam Hinds

Dear Editor,

AS Guyana continues in celebration of its Jubilee year, one particular tribute to the nation has revealed a significant anomaly in the interpretation and reference of a particular set of historical records -- the past Presidents of Guyana.

Early in the celebrations as schools began mounting creative exhibits and decorations of patriotism, I noticed at one particular school in Campbellville, a photographic exhibition on the exterior wall of the school, depicting the past Presidents of the Republic, supposedly in chronological order. However, one was distinctively missing.

I passed there again today, and more than a month after the exhibit was mounted

for public consumption, it remains the same. Shockingly, my son who was in the taxi with me, indicated that the particular past President that I identified, was also missing in his school’s exhibition. The taxi driver exclaimed in disbelief that the man was indeed President of the Cooperative Republic.

Samuel Archibald Anthony Hinds, Honorary Doctor and Order of Excellence Awardee, was legally and constitutionally sworn in as Guyana’s fourth Executive President on March 6th 1997, upon the sudden death of President Cheddi Jagan. He served as President and Commander in Chief of the armed forces until December of that year, when he resigned to allow the ascension of Janet Jagan who had won the general elections.

To establish a plan to execute the programme for each ministry allows for a level of accountability in the system.

Accountability measures how much work has been done, the manpower involved and cost (dollars and cents) for the execution of each activity. It further helps in identifying best performers and rewards them through performance appraisal, which serves as incentives and motivation to perform at the optimum.

Another factor is that the intent of putting in place a strategic plan will require the creation and evaluatiom of new jobs, given that new grounds are being established wherein the Public Service will be expected to be assessed on a system of results orientation. Pursuing this path allows for workers at the beginning of the fiscal year to be acquainted with the programmes in their departments and the expectations held

His tenure as President was a short period (9 months), but even if it were for just one day, the records would still reflect that he was President. I do not understand therefore how teachers at that school and supposedly at other schools, can miss the omission of such an important fact in their students’ work, for public display at that.

The Ministry of Education ought to have this anomaly in the curriculum, or at the least the inadvertent promulgation of this falsehood of our country’s history corrected across the system. It is indeed an indictment on the nation for one who has given so selflessly to public service of the highest calibre, for so many years, to be treated so nonchalantly, worst yet in our year of Golden Jubilee.

I would also like to have

the incomparable Vic Persaud or any other competent authority shed some light on the correct protocol in referring to Sam Hinds, in retirement.

I often see reference to him as Former Prime Minister.

Should the reference title used be the last one held, or the highest constitutional office held during tenure? Whichever one holds, this stalwart political national servant, whatever your thoughts on the quality of his service, ought to be given his due regard, owed to him by this nation.

He passed by my house last week and offered a wave and the only thought that went through my mind was, “what an underappreciated Elder Statesman.” We need to at least display his picture.

Sincerely, DARIO MCKLMON

of them in executing same. The consequence is that several jobs will have to be re-defined and evaluated. Appropriate remuneration will have to be addressed based on the real wage that is expected to be paid to individuals for performing duties on behalf of the State.

Finally, the act of professionalising the Public Service comes with a cost, intrinsic and extrinsic. The society must be prepared to shoulder this cost, given that proficiency is also important to development and minimising corruption. It should be said too that the pursuit of proficiency requires a satisfied workforce. Satisfied workers are valued workers and translate into better performance and the upholding of integrity. Here is where recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service could assist in guiding the architects of the Strategic Plan.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

Good character key to good leadership Dear Editor,

GOOD character is the leadership quality that distinguishes great leadership.

It is the quality that most people admire.

Leaders of good character have integrity, courage and compassion. They are careful and prudent. Humble in their awareness of their own limitations, they seek out the knowledge and counsel of others. They constantly learn and others want to learn from them. Their decisions and actions inspire employees to think and act in a way that not only improves the bottom line, but that contributes to the well-being of the organisation and society.

INTEGRITY What exactly is integrity?

According to the dictionary, integrity is “the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards, and the state of being complete, undivided, sound or undamaged.” Integrity, then, is having high principles and keeping those standards consistent throughout all the different parts of

the self.

One of the first places integrity issues show up is in our language patterns.

When we are “in integrity,” we speak from a place of wholeness. Our words match our actions. “We say what we mean and we mean what we say.” When we break from this pattern and say things we don’t really mean, we move “out of integrity.”

A lot of people today in our society have no integrity; they are all basically the same?

People make promises they cannot keep or they can never keep their time and word. I have observed most people go late to work or they just lie to make excuses about being late, they are never on time wherever they go. They are never honest with finances of their own and when given finances for someone else to manage they have some real issues.

Integrity has been a problem in Guyana and globally because people have inculcated some real, deceptive habits from their homes. When a person who is highly educated lacks integrity on a job, he/she did not develop those vile traits on their jobs, they learnt them from home. Character-building

is something we are parented into, whether good or bad. It’s also something we inherit by keeping bad company. Have you ever wondered why some very rich, educated people can cuss and behave very disorderly? They may have money and education, but lack morality and character. I read in the papers and saw on the news about a great number of University of Guyana students who took loans from the university but never re-payed them. What bothers me most is that many of these hard-to-pay students have prominent jobs and positions in politics, yet they were not honest enough to pay back the government the current loans they took to study. I have also read what the Mayor of Georgetown mentioned of many prominent business people who owe the City Council millions of dollars but never paid.

Where is our Integrity?

“Those who conduct themselves with morality, integrity and consistency need Not fear the forces of inhumanity and cruelty. The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling but in rising every time you fall,’’said Nelson Mandela. The wise

Greek Philosopher Socrates made this profound, prophetic statement: “Those who provide much wealth for their children, but neglect to improve them in virtue and character, do like those who feed their horses high, but never train them to be useful.”

If we are very keen and observant in our society we will soon discover that the family structure is dissolving gradually from our communities and nation. We hardly see faithful and responsible fathers and mothers. Many of our children grow up without fathers who are the foundation of the family.

Some with a grand ma, uncle or aunt or with complete strangers and many on the streets; it’s very sad, because we have a real moral breakdown in our homes. It’s no wonder crimes have escalated. The crime is not a political or social issue, it’s more of a moral phenomenon; it’s an issue where morals and character-building was never given or inculcated to those who commit crimes in our society. A keen evaluation of prisoners’ backgrounds will give us our answers. Bring

back the family structure, get back families into their churches in their respective religions and we will have a clean and free society devoid of crime.

Our words contain our life that’s our character and attitude. Life is sowing and reaping. We sow bad seeds by our words; most marriages ended up in divorce because of one person destroying the other with deplorable words.

We must think before we speak, because we speak our thoughts; I see a society of very angry and badly cultured people from all walks of life. Our ethics, morality and conduct with each other are extremely poor. Very few people can say: ‘Good morning, thank you very much, excuse me sir or madam’ These terms of mannerisms have become obsolete or archaic and are now being replaced with terms such as:‘Lol, dawg, or a cuss word most people use as greetings these days.

Why is that so? It’s because of a lack of character and attitude. Our conduct and attributes are the key pillars of our lives. It’s not people we hate, it’s their attitudes.

It’s not too late for us to develop our characters into a life of integrity, morality, fortitude and spirituality.

“Such as thy words are, such will thy affections be esteemed; and such will thy deeds be as thy affections and such thy life as thy deeds.”

(Socrates) Character is the sum total of all the good qualities in a man. It consists of honesty, truthful speech and dealings, dutifulness, diligence, and obedience to parents, teachers and elders. Sincerity, love of mankind, inner goodness and desire to do well to others and to be free from hatred, jealousy and malice are also part of character. To live in harmony with the people of all religions, races, castes and nations may be added to the characteristics of high character. Not to cast an evil eye on a member of the opposite sex is the essence of high moral character. Character is a principle given by God to man from His Holy Books.

Yours Faithfully, Rev. GIDEON CECIL

Fiasco at Canje Secondary School

Dear Editor,

PLEASE allow me space in your newspaper to highlight some of my concerns relating to an incident at the Canje secondary School.

The incident involves the alleged pushing over of a student on the stairway of the school. The name of the student is Joshua Lionel.

The student was hospitalised and now suffers from a broken femur, shoulder and injuries to the hip. Some details of the incident were related in The Guyana Times newspapers and also made the local news on the Berbice television stations.

My first concern over the incident is the manner in which the entire matter was dealt with. The parents in no uncertain terms said that the student was pushed over the rails by another student. This information was given to the parents only after the doctors had questioned the child .The

parents claimed that they were lied to by the teachers.

To my amazement, no press release was given to the public by the head-teacher of the said school or by any official of the Ministry of Education in Region Six. My second concern is the attitude of the head-teacher towards the parents of this child. I don’t know if the head-teacher has any children, but on face value it looks as though she doesn’t.

Her behaviour is despicable and really uncalled for. This is a very tender situation and she only made it worse by shouting and paying little attention to the matter. She really doesn’t know what the poor parents are going through and if she had kids then she would have behaved differently.

I was very unlucky and unfortunate to encounter her on two occasions. The first was in relation to a school tour that my child was on .

I of course had a little thing to say to her. The next was when I visited the school during a lunch period to seek some important information.

I had to wait nearly an hour.

Her office was closed and there was a loud commotion.

Perhaps they were praying, because I heard mention of the good saviour’s name Jesus Christ. The bell was rung to end the break and they prolonged the prayer service for a while. The door suddenly burst open and out poured the congregation and then I heard the familiar barking language of the head-teacher again. She was shouting and accusing a number of people. This happened after a prayer meeting. Of course, she didn’t notice me as yet. I calmly refrained from asking for the information. I pray that I don’t see her again.

My third concern is the attitude of the teachers. They are not hesitant in defending the head-teacher, although

several male and a couple of senior female teachers were very straightforward and in my view gave a sound view on the errant ways of the head-teacher and the ministry officials .On the other hand, there is a very prominent religious leader who is a member of staff at the school. When I sought to have clarity on the alleged pushing incident, he quickly tried to defend the school.

I told him he should fear the God he is serving and be fair. He mentioned that he personally solicited help from members of the community towards aiding the injured child. I have had the opportunity to encounter this teacher on numerous occasions. He is normally cool and kind and is a likeable character who would always offer an encouraging word of advice.

His position on this incident though, has left me somewhat baffled. Some of the teachers seem to be hesitant in giving

information My fourth concern is the claim made by the mother that no one from the school or the ministry had visited her or the child. This is totally embarrassing. I understand that a sum of thirty two thousand ($32,000) dollars was given to the parents as an initial help. I have personally donated money to the school and many others in the community have done likewise. I can’t understand why the head-teacher can’t see it fit to get the remaining funds to the parent. Probably she wants the parents to go to the school and collect it.

Come on head-teacher, you have embarrassed the parents enough. Are you calling them to the school so that you and your cronies can eat them alive? Swallow your pride and go and give them the money that the members of the society have donated. It’s not yours and you should not keep it.

My final concern dear editor, comes in the form of some questions. These questions I hope can be answered by the relevant authorities whoever they are. Has anybody tried counselling the injured student and the other student who allegedly did the pushing?

What can the ministry do to assist the child, since the incident happened on the school premises?

Do the regional engineers regularly check the school for health and safety issues?

Why hasn’t any official from the ministry or any teacher from the school visited the child?

What will happen to the student that allegedly pushed Joshua Lionel over the rails?

Will the head-teacher behave in such a way if something like this happens again?

Regards Concerned parent and member of the community

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

Councillors stand shoulder to shoulder with Duncan --in fight to ensure transparency at City Hall

By Telesha Ramnarine

COUNCILLORS Alfred Mentore and Lionel Hanoman Jaikaran have voiced their intention to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Deputy Mayor Sherod Avery Duncan to bring about a change in the way business is conducted by the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown (M&CC).

The councillors were responding to a statement that acting Mayor Duncan posted on his Facebook page on Thursday, rejecting a statement that Town Clerk Royston King penned from Mexico on the controversial parking meters’ issue.

“To question the status quo and business as usual is gutsy! I stand by you, as

Town Clerk Royston King councillor, to bring about the necessary changes in the way business is done at City Hall. Transparency, accountability, good governance and a fresh approach are the pillars the coalition Government stands on, and are our guiding principles. Nothing else is acceptable and will be tolerated!” Councillor

Georgetown Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan Mentore stated.

On his part, Councillor Jaikaran said: “I stand shoulder to shoulder with you, my friend, in voicing my dissatisfaction with the way in which the parking meter issue was forced upon the present Council -- without discussion and consultation with

other relevant stakeholders, who deserved to have had an input in the decision making process.”

The Deputy Mayor had said he was stumped by the recent letter from King on the parking meter contract with National Parking System/ Smart City Solutions.

“Georgetown is not just the Capital City of Region Four; it is the Capital of Guyana. It is a City, like a light set on a hill, it cannot be hidden. It is the oldest and largest municipality in our country, and the seat of the Government.

“Our work, our processes, our systems are held up as an example to other municipalities, and thus it behooves us to be cognisant of the great responsibility we have, and

of the high standard to which we must hold ourselves.

“It would require a willful suspension of belief, in light of the incontrovertible facts that not only my research has produced, but which every major newspaper in our country has corroborated and expanded on, that this contract can move Georgetown forward,” Duncan said.

Duncan said King’s statement goes against the sentiments of every “reasonable, right thinking” Guyanese and the mood of the majority of City Councillors.

“It is the collective Council which sets policy for the municipality; legislates through the provision of bylaws, and provides oversight to projects. The majority of our municipality sent us to

the august house of City Hall, not to continue on the old tenor of business as usual. It is the people’s business that we transact, and not what is in our own personal interest.

This is why I stand against this arrangement, because all the processes leading to and emanating from this contentious contract have been weighed and found wanting”, Duncan has said.

Duncan said no Guyanese with the courage of their conviction would think this “murky” and shrouded contract is good business.

“I am guided by the law; by the regime of legislation which governs the Local Government, Chapter 28:01-28:09; and I am guided by the entire Constitution,” Duncan said.

Triumph man killed in accident SEENAUTH Persaud, 53, of Suraj Drive, Triumph, East Coast Demerara on Thursday perished in an accident while walking along the Triumph Railway Embankment.

The police in a statement said an investigation into the accident has revealed that

the driver of motor car PKK 2320 was proceeding west along the southern side of the road, when the pedestrian allegedly crossed the road from south to north into the path of the vehicle.

He was picked up in an unconscious condition and taken to the Georgetown

Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he died while receiving medical attention.

The body is at the GPHC Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

The driver is in police custody assisting with the investigation.

Bandits beat, rob gas station employees FIVE unidentified males, one of whom was armed with a handgun, beat and robbed a pump attendant and security guard of cash and other items at the RP Service Station, Triumph Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara on Thursday.

The men robbed were pump attendant Dhareswar Budhai, 59, and security

guard Sheik Hassan, 55, the police said in a statement.

The incident reportedly occurred around 23:30 hrs.

The robbers reportedly went to the service station in a white motor car and ordered the pump attendant to fill the tank, but during the process, they exited the vehicle and pounced on the men.

The pump attendant and security guard were relieved

of a total of $14,200 in cash, two cellular phones and 12 gas cylinders filled with cooking gas.

The victims were also dealt several lashes about their bodies by the bandits and locked inside a washroom at the back of the service station.

No arrests have yet been made.

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has deepened its investigation into the death of Tedd De Young, who succumbed to injuries following an altercation with a juvenile Sunday last.

A press release said De Young was involved in an altercation with a male juvenile at Lake Capoey Mission, Essequibo Coast and he was stabbed several times.

He was admitted to the

Suddie Hospital but died on Friday while a patient.

The suspect has been charged with attempted murder and was remanded to the Juvenile Holding Centre at Sophia.

Probe deepens into De Young’s murder

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

Blood bank honours donors

By Sherah Alleyne

THE National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) of the Ministry of Public Health on Friday honoured top voluntary donors for their valuable contributions over the years.

They were celebrated at an appreciation ceremony

held at the NBTS office, East and Lamaha Streets , Georgetown.

Individual donors and organisations that made frequent contribution to the blood bank were presented with awards and certificates for their generous contributions to saving lives.

Acting NBTS Director,

Dr Pedro Lewis, thanked all the donors, saying that in many countries there is not an adequate supply of safe blood, but Guyana is better off.

“It is a special day as we collectively recognise and celebrate those people who have voluntarily donated blood over the years,” he

said.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings, commended the donors and encouraged them to continue their good deed.

The donation of one pint of blood can save three lives.

This exercise was held to raise awareness of the

need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.

Every year on June 14, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day. The NBTS is encouraging people whose lives

have been saved through blood donations to make themselves known, as a way of motivating regular blood donors to continue giving blood.

People in good health who have never given blood, particularly young people, are also being urged to become donors.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings, (centre) acting NBTS Director, Dr Pedro Lewis and PAHO representative, Dr Paul Edwards were among the individual donors and representatives of organisations who were honoured

Three guilty of robbing, beating judge and husband - Two freed

By Clestine Juan TWO of the five accused in the robbery of Land Court Judge Nicola Pierre and husband Mohammed Chan were found not guilty

by Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul, while three others were found guilty and will be sentenced on June 23.

Premnauth Samaroo and Anthony David were freed, while their former co-accused Dameion Millington, Nicholas Narine and Warren McKenzie were found guilty. The five men were jointly charged with robbing the duo as well as shooting at a security guard on July 9, 2015.

The men are accused of robbing Pierre’s husband at gunpoint of five wrist watches, a Samsung Galaxy S5 phone, US$8,000, a wedding ring, four Oakley sunglasses and one brown leather wallet

Convicted: Nicholas Narine on July 9, 2015 at Montrose, East Coast Demerara.

The second charge alleged that,while brandishing a gun, they robbed Judge Pierre of a quantity of gold rings, diamond jewellery, a clump of gold and a quantity of gem stones among other items, all totalling $1M. They were also accused of feloniously wounding Pierre and her husband and discharging a loaded firearm

Convicted: Dameion Millington at Roy Peters, with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or cause him grievous bodily harm.

The men have been on remand for the past 11 months awaiting completion of the trial, which began on January 11 at the Sparendaam Magistrates Court.

The matter was prosecuted

by Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes.

Attorney Adrian Thomp-

Convicted: Warren McKenzie son defended Samaroo, Narine and David and Hughes had called several police and civilian witnesses to testify in court. The magistrate dismissed the charges against the two accused on the ground that there was not enough evidence to convict them.

According to reports, heavily armed bandits inflicted a brutal beating on the Land Court Judge and

her husband after overpowering an on-duty special constable and storming the couple’s home located in a gated community at Felicity, East Coast Demerara. The couple were attacked while they were asleep. They were gun-butted into unconsciousness after the men had gained entry to their home via a window.

The robbers carted off a small safe containing

Freed: Premnauth Samaroo

US$7,000, jewellery, and a suitcase containing other valuables. But they were forced to drop their loot when they came under gunfire from a security guard who was stationed at a businessman’s home nearby. Pierre sustained a broken jaw and other injuries, while her husband received severe injuries to an eye. He has since lost the eye.

Freed: Anthony David

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

Can’t fight hate with hate ‒ Simpson calls on Guyanese to reject Islamophobia

By Derwayne Wills

preferences.

Scheherazade Khan was “Violence in all forms co-hosted by the Society THE killing of 50 peois intolerable, and mea- Against Sexual Orientation ple in a lesbian, gay, bisures must be put in place Discrimination (SASOD), sexual and transgender to eliminate all aspects an LGBT advocacy group in (LGBT) nightclub in of radical and extreme Guyana. The organisation’s Orlando, Florida by an behavior,” she declared. director, Joel Simpson, American citizen conThe Social Protection who spoke at Wednessidered an ‘Islam exMinister, who is charged day’s iftar, said the tremist’ has left shockwith safeguarding the massacre was not only waves in its wake. well-being of the nation, an act of terror, but a And here in Guyana, including its LGBT citi- hate-crime against the members of the Guyana zens, said the outpouring LGBT community.

LGBT community have of love in the aftermath “For LGBT espejoined the Khan family of the Orlando massacre cially, night clubs are of Georgetown’s upscale shows that “very soon we a very important safe Bel Air Park in an iftar will all be in a different space in our societies.

SASOD Director, Joel Simpson (ending the day’s fast) place, and that is accept- It is one of the very had been killed. She said all on Wednesday in solidaring everyone for who they few spaces we can go ity not only against violence persons must be allowed to are”. and be ourselves, as we from homophobia, but also live in safety and harmony, The event at the Bel Air face ridicule and stigagainst the growing senti- regardless of their beliefs or Park home of Kashir and ma in our daily lives, ment of Islamophobia that is inextricably linked to violent extremism.

“It is difficult to imagine that, in this era of freedom of expression and tolerance for sexual preferences, such biases continue to exist to the extent where a lone wolf, and with military firepower, can snuff out the lives of so many in the twinkling of an eye,” Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence said in her remarks at the event on Wednesday evening.

Lawrence said the tragedy robbed the world of experSocial Protection Minister Volda Lawrence tise possessed by those who

and it’s (a night club) very much a sanctuary,” Simpson said.

Simpson called for solidarity, not only against homophobia, but against the rising sentiments of discrimination against the Islamic community, since the Or-

of extremism and hatred and violence. While we can’t tolerate homophobia and violent homophobia in any of our countries, we must not make scapegoats and targets of any other group, including Muslims,” he appealed.

US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, echoed the sentiments of Minister Lawrence -- that no one should be targeted for being themselves or for what they believe.

The US diplomat reiterated the words of his country’s President, Barack Obama, who expressed solidarity with the LGBT community in wake of the Orlando massacre. This, he did even as his country is in the grip of a heated debate on controlling US Ambassador, Perry Holloway citizens’ access to weapons, particularly lando attack adds to an al- high-powered assault rifles ready broiling conversation like the one used in the Orlanon violent extremism and the do massacre. religion of Islam in the United Holloway called for lookStates. ing past superficial traits “We can’t fight hate with which divide, and instead fohate. We can’t fight bigot- cusing on qualities that unite. ry and prejudice with equal “Together we can overmeasure of bigotry and prej- come ignorance and prejuudice,” Simpson said, as he dice. Together we can overcalled for Guyanese to “reject come conflict and injustice; Islamophobia in equal mea- not just with words, but sure as we reject all forms with deeds,” he appealed.

Food supplies for flood-affected Money row lands businessman Moraikobai residents RESIDENTS of Moraikobai affected by recent flooding, will receive aid in the form of food hampers through the Ministry of the Presidency from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

Food hampers will be delivered to 160 flood-affected families between Saturday

in court

and Sunday. Administrative Manager of the CDC, Major Marvin Chichester, will be leading the relief mission to the Region Five Amerindian community, the Government Information Agency (GINA) revealed.

It was noted that recent heavy rains over the past week raised water levels in

CDC officials preparing hampers for distribution in Moraikobai over the weekend

Supplies for Moraikobai residents affected by flooding

the Mahaicony River, resulting in severe flooding in parts of the village, affecting farmlands and crops. Additionally, Deputy Director-General of the CDC, Major Kester Craig, explained that the CDC will use the mission to locate housing for the installation of radios. The village council will be responsible for managing the communication sets.

Establishing radio communication in the village is part of the CDC’s efforts to establish early-warning systems in the community.

The radios will be used for warnings and forecasting as part of future monitoring of flood conditions..

CDC has been establishing similar warning systems in communities vulnerable to flooding.

A FIFTY-TWO-year-old businessman was released on $500,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a charge of unlawful and malicious wounding.

Ralston Boodhoo, of 14 Miles, Issano Backdam, is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Jai Gopaul Singh on June 14. Boodhoo was unrepresented and denied the allegation.

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones, told the court that both men are known to each other and on the day in question, Boodhoo confronted Singh over money owed him which resulted in a heated argument.

It is alleged that the defendant pulled out a sharp object and stabbed Singh twice in his abdomen. Prosecutor Jones strongly opposed

Ralston Boodhoo

bail, pointing out that the accused has given the police several conflicting addresses.

However, bail was granted in the sum $500,000 and the magistrate ordered him to remain 50feet away from Singh. The matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrates Court for June 29.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

Spotlight to be placed on biodiversity management ‒ when experts come here for Guiana Shield Conference in August policy-makers and students in a variety of fields will be among the participants, which include Biomimicry expert, Dr. Dayna Baumeister and Forest Policy Professor, Dr. Robert J. Lilieholm, and world-renowned Primatologist and Conservation expert Dr. Russell A. Mittermeier.

Members of the Guyana Society for Biodiversity and Ecosystems (from left) are Dr. Patrick Williams, Chairman of GSBE; Vanessa Benn, Vice-Chairperson; Curtis Bernard, committee member and Dr. Raquel Thomas-Caesar, committee member (Adrian Narine photo)

By Shauna Jemmott WITH a common passion for the protection and sustainable development of the Guiana Shield, several countries are breaking linguistic barriers this year to host the fourth International Congress on Biodiversity of the Guiana Shield in August at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

The conference will see the largest gathering of biodiversity experts of the Guiana Shield. Under the theme: ‘Leveraging our high endemicity, cultural diversity, and intact ecosystems for inclusive growth and secure futures’, the conference will be hosted from August 8 to 12.

Communications Director of the Guyana Society for Biodiversity and Ecosystems (GSBE), Dr Raquel Thomas-Caesar, said the congress is intended to share information among researchers within the region regarding achievements, limitations and cross-border experiences and other critical aspects with respect to fostering a holistic approach to the management of biodiversity in the Guiana Shield.

USE OF TECHNOLOGY It is also envisaged that discussions will further en-

hance the use of technology and data-sharing among the participating countries with respect to issues such as status and threats to the region’s biodiversity, the conservation challenges participating countries encounter and possible plans of action to address these concerns.

Presentations and discussions will focus on the following: State and conservation of biodiversity and ecological functions of the Guiana Shield, eco-system-dependent and indigenous peoples and conservation in the Guiana Shield, the Guiana Shield and global climate, mainstreaming biodiversity in sustainable development, and biodiversity governance and vulnerable groups.

The conference which will be opened by President David Granger, will also “engage governments, investors and development partners in promoting and strengthening a coordinated approach to planning and development actions, enhancing knowledge and sharing of data with all stakeholders.”

Dr. Thomas-Caesar also pointed out that the congress will foster greater integration among countries in the Guiana Shield to achieve significant balance in the wise management of its resources, while en-

hancing the socio-economic well-being of its population, and it also has the potential to be one of the largest academic gatherings in the region.

STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS “The success of the IBG (International Biodiversity Society of the Guiana Shield) Congress would forge and strengthen partnerships to promote awareness and research for the benefit of policy-makers and the local and international communities for the conservation and protection of natural, rural and urban ecosystems of the Guiana Shield,” she stated during a press conference at the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) in Georgetown yesterday.

Committee member Curtis Bernard said individuals, organisations and institutions interested in participating can visit the conference’s website at www.biodiversityguyana. org/ibg2016congress or email ibg2016guyana@ gmail.com for more information.

The GSBE said over 100 papers will be presented along with poster displays, discussion and capacity-building sessions. Leading scientists, practitioners,

THE GUIANA SHIELD The Guiana Shield is one of earth’s oldest geological formations, and is the single largest block of tropical forest remaining on the planet. The region is one of the most biologically rich and diverse in the world with its pristine forests, largely uncontaminated aquatic ecosystems and other intact ecosystems. It

is also home for many rare and unique species.

A variety of indigenous and other human communities depend, some almost exclusively, on its environment for their livelihoods.

Over the past two decades, however, countries of the Shield have sought to intensify exploitation of their natural resources as a means of alleviating poverty and promoting socio-economic development. This has resulted in the emergence of a multiplicity of challenges, including land-use conflicts and biodiversity loss.

The International Congress on Biodiversity of the Guiana Shield was last held in Paramaribo, Suriname in August 2013.

It was in 2010 held in Macapa, capital city in the state of Amapa, Brazil and in 2006 in Venezuela.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

100+ recruits added to GDF ONE hundred and eighty-nine recruits of the Guyana Defence Force on Thursday completed the mandatory ten weeks of rigorous training at the Colonel John Clarke Military School at Tacama, Berbice River.

This regimen is part of the Basic Recruitment Course of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). Their course commenced with 202 recruits drawn from the various regions in Guyana.

The course sought to introduce them to army life, and they were also educated about being obedient, loyal and

GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, and Pte Calvin Doris, who was adjudged the Best Student and Best Shot of the course

GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, taking the salute during the March Past exercise at the Colonel John Clarke Military School, Tacama, at the conclusion of the course

disciplined.

GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, told the new soldiers that they are the present and future leaders of the GDF, and they each should go forth and be the best solider they can be.

The Chief of Staff reminded that they should readily conform to the values and standards of the GDF. He said this is in order for them to earn the respect of the Guyanese society.

Additionally, Brigadier Phillips challenged the soldiers to commit

themselves to serving the people of Guyana during their deployment, and to support the police in maintenance of public security throughout the country.

He also encouraged the soldiers to make use of the opportunities offered at GDF for their personal and professional development. “Be it academic education programmes (or) the technical vocational training opportunities that will become available as you continue to serve in the Guyana Defence Force,

GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, inspecting the soldiers

make the best of it,� Brigadier Phillips admonished.

Soldiers awarded for their performance during the course were as follows: Best Student and Best Shot was awarded to Pte Calvin Doris, with runner-up being Pte Isaiah Rawlins. Best Drill went to Pte Don St Hill; Best Fitness went to Pte Shaquille Smartt, and Best Military Knowledge went to Pte Kemoe Marques.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

Ex-Marine of Guyanese origin saved lives in Orlando massacre

[NDTV.com] - IMRAN Yousuf, a former US Marine sergeant of Indian origin, has been hailed as a hero for saving scores of lives at a Florida night club when a terrorist went on a rampage, killing 49 people.

When Yousuf, who was working as a bouncer at the Pulse night club catering to the gay community in Orlando, Florida, heard the first gunshots, his military experience fighting in Afghanistan kicked in, according to media reports. As everyone in the packed night club froze in fear, he jumped up and, at personal risk, opened a back door, allowing many people to escape.

He told CBS News television that as panicked people streamed to the back of the hall, “I’m screaming ‘Open the door! Open the door!’ and no one is moving because they are scared.

There was only one choice,” he added in the interview.

“Either we all stay there and we all die, or I could take the chance; and I jumped over to open that latch, and we got everyone that we can out of there.”

Yousuf - whose mother and grandmother are Hindus - risked his life because he

Imran Yousuf

could have drawn the attention of Omar Mateen, who had sworn loyalty to the Islamic State and was carrying out the attack, considered the worst mass shooting in US history.

Yousuf said his quick action saved 60 to 70 lives.

The network reported that he cried as he said, “I wish I could have saved more, to be honest. There are a lot of people that are dead.”

And Yousuf has been modest, brushing off the praises as a hero. Marine Corps Times newspaper reported on its Web site that Yousuf posted on his Facebook page, “There are a lot of people naming me a hero, and as a former Marine and Afghan veteran, I honestly believe I reacted by instinct…. While it might seem that my actions are

heroic, I decided that the others around me needed to be saved as well, and so I just reacted.”

The newspaper said he had left the Marine Corps just last month. CBS News identified Yousuf as a Hindu, and his name caused some confusion. California-based newspaper India West, which interviewed his uncle, clarified that his mother and paternal grandmother are Hindus, and he identifies with their religion.

His family emigrated from Guyana, where his ancestors had gone from India.

The Daily Gazette of Schenectady, New York, reported that he grew up in the nearby town of Niskayuna, and joined the Marine Corps soon after he finished high school at the age of 17, and served in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

His brother, Ameer Yousuf, told the newspaper, “This was so unexpected, but because of my brother’s training in the Marine Corps, he was prepared and used strategies from that to do everything he did.”

Marine Corps Times said he had been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal during his service.

Forensic audits…

Police, SOCU investigations begin ‒ Harmon

By Derwayne Wills

CABINET Secretary Joseph Harmon is calling on the nation to be patient as both the Police Force and the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) begin investigating procedural breakdowns which forensic audits unveiled have occurred under the Donald Ramotar administration.

During a time-constrained post-cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency on Friday, Harmon was made to respond specifically to the findings made at the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), which falls under the Agriculture Ministry. The NDIA forensic audit, which began sometime after this new administration took office, has, among other things, revealed that a considerable number of contracts were sole-sourced, thus ignoring procurement procedures for awarding multi-million-dollar contracts.

Harmon, Head of the Presidential Secretariat and State Minister of the Ministry of the Presidency, said there were cases in which auditors were denied access to information. He said the State must nonetheless take the findings “and determine whether some would have to go to the police or some will have to be dealt with administratively.”

Harmon said that while

some cases have been sent to the police for further investigation, efforts are being made to deal with findings that could be remedied through administrative adjustments.

In this regard, he said, President David Granger met on Thursday with Permanent Secretaries of the various Government ministries and “made it very clear to them what their responsibilities are in relation to these audits.”

“You will see some action being taken with respect to administrative recommendations, and some actions will be taken with respect to police work, which has to be done,” Harmon explained.

He drew a comparison between investigations done by the police and those done by auditors. For auditors, he said, the standard is not as stringent as is expected of a police investigation, which must be able to withstand scrutiny in a court of law.

The Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has repeatedly challenged the David Granger administration to prove the substance of the Government-sponsored forensic audits; and Harmon has said that since the forensic audits are in the open, “it is then up to us now to take it to the next level; and that’s what we are doing.”

He said, however, that none of this can be done unless “we have enough information -- and solid information -- that when we act we

act wisely and we act justly.”

Harmon’s comment comes at a time when Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has been quoted, at a press conference some time ago, as insisting that Government should “put up or shut up” on the allegations made from forensic audits. Jagdeo’s position was that the administration was not affording persons named within forensic audits an opportunity to respond to those allegations.

Former Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon, who sat on the Board of Directors of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), has also written in the media that many of the members who sat on the board with him have not been given an opportunity to respond to allegations levelled against them.

In similar vein, former NDIA top official Lionel Wordsworth also complained, by way of letter to the press, of not being allowed to respond to allegations made against the NDIA while he served as Chief Executive Officer.

Wordsworth was sent on ten months’ administrative leave while the NDIA was being investigated. An announcement was made just last month that the Board of Directors has opted not to renew his contract, which would have ended by August month-end of this year.

Wordsworth has been compensated for the remainder of his contract.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

Internal roads not within mandate of Public Infrastructure Ministry, Patterson explains ‒ as Non Pareil residents bemoan state of streets

By Michel Outridge FOR many years the internal streets and even the main access road in the village of Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara, about 13 miles from Georgetown, have been in a state of disrepair while they continue to deteriorate.

It is fair to say that this village has been neglected over the years, but earlier this year only Fifth Street (a cross street) was re-paved

and when asked which agency did the road works, residents could not say.

The main access road was ruggedly patched some time ago, but the internal streets have not seen any maintenance and are in very bad condition.

Sixth Street is the shortest and whenever it rains, sections are impassable as the huge potholes fill with water, causing residents to use the muddy parapet to traverse. And almost all the internal streets in this so-called

residential area have potholes, which have resulted in significant damage to vehicles.

However, when contacted on Friday, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson said he would return a call to this newspaper since he was otherwise engaged.

Meanwhile, on his Facebook page, it was observed that the minister posted a comment after he was tagged in numerous postings about potholed roads across the country.

In his comment, he stated that the ministry is not responsible for all the roads in the country - only the major roads and main access roads.

OUTSIDE MINISTRY’S MANDATE Patterson’s Facebook comment said, “Internal roads are the responsibility of either your regional council, municipality or NDC, thus posting photos of your street, tagging me and then proceeding on a rant about its state of disrepair, seeking to give the impression that the ministry is neglecting its responsibility is unfair. I just wanted to highlight this small matter since of recent I have been tagged with photos of every single pothole in our fair land, while this is useful information, persons have now graduated to claiming that the reason their streets have not been repaired [by me], is

Sixth Street, Non Pareil, whenever it rains

because of some nefarious reasons other than the simple truth - that these works are outside my mandate.”

RDC Regional Executive Officer, Pauline Lucas, when contacted on Friday said that maintenance of internal streets/roads falls under the ambit of the RDC and Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC), but with limited resources and funds they have been unable to perform at full capacity.

She promised to visit the area and make an assessment as to what can be done to have the streets/roads fixed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

Pregnant woman, security Deportee fined for procuring fake passport guard charged with marijuana possession

SECURITY guard Nigel Duke, 43, of Lot 1985 Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and pregnant mother of eight, Sharda Mohammed, 47, of ‘B’ Field, Sophia, Georgetown, appeared yesterday before City Magistrate Judy Latchman, charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

It is alleged that on June 15, at Nutmeg Street North Ruimveldt, they had in their possession 2.738 kilograms (more than six pounds) of compressed cannabis (marijuana) for the purpose of trafficking.

Represented by Attorney-at-law Melville Duke, the duo pleaded not guilty to the offence, and the attorney pleaded for reasonable bail to be granted them. He noted

that the pregnant Mohammed had visited the location to take lunch for Duke, a security officer at the location which houses a car rental, Internet café and apartments.

Police Prosecutor Kerry Boswick, however, strongly opposed bail on ground that no special reasons had been advanced by the defence.

According to the prosecutor, ranks, acting on information, visited location and requested to conduct a search of the premises. During the search, the compressed cannabis was found in the kitchen of the Nutmeg Street residence, and Duke reportedly admitted to knowledge and ownership of the drug, while Mohammed told ranks that she “just came to drop off lil food.”

Magistrate Latchman

Sharda Mohammed

nevertheless granted Mohammed $250,000 bail and remanded Duke to July 13, when the matter will be called again.

A TWENTY-YEAR-old man of Clay Brick Road, Canal #1 was fined $70,000

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for making a false declaration for the purpose of procuring a new passport.

Appearing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, Glenn Lall accepted the charge which stated that on December 11, 2013, at the Central Immigration and Passport Office, Georgetown, for the purpose of procuring a new passport, he made a false statement, that is to say he signed a written declaration that he was Seeram Ramlall, despite knowing same to be false.

Prosecutor Inspector Neville Jeffers said the defendant is the holder of a

Guyana passport in the name of Bharrat Dindyal, which he used to travel to Trinidad where he stayed for a while.

He was later deported back to Guyana.

However on December 11, 2013 Lall went to the passport office in Guyana to apply for another document in the name of Seeram Ramlall, which he used to travel back to Trinidad. The man reportedly was deported again after he overstayed his time.

Police in Guyana arrested the accused after it was revealed that Bharrat and Ramlall were fake names being used by the defendant to obtain passports. When Lall was asked

by Magistrate McLennan whether he had anything

Glenn Lall

to say to the court, he explained that his wife is in Trinidad and had recently given birth to their son, thus he wanted to spend time with them. The man begged the court for forgiveness and apologised for his actions. He was fined with an alternative of four months imprisonment.

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Rubis observes fifth anniversary GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

FIVE years ago the Rubis retail brand did not exist anywhere in the world, but today it has emerged as the preferred brand for 14 countries

BBL tank.

“We also doubled our LPG storage capacity and modernised our fuel-loading bay for trucks and installed equipment to load

Rubis Caribbean Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mauricio Nicholls speaks at the anniversary celebration at the Pegasus Hotel on Thursday within the Caribbean.

This sentiment was shared by Rubis Caribbean Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mauricio Nicholls at the company’s fifth anniversary celebration at the Aura Bar and Lounge, Pegasus, Thursday night.

The occasion was graced by the presence of Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin and Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson.

Nicholls said the speed with which the company has rebranded was impressive as the image was clean, modern and appealing.

“Almost overnight we created the best looking fuel-retail network in our countries. Consumers who saw their previous product brand disappear overnight immediately embraced our Rubis brand, an accomplishment that is extremely hard to achieve.”

In Guyana, the company has doubled it diesel-storage capacity with the addition of a 30,000

barges with fuel oil… we also improved the traffic flow at our Ramsburg terminal for easier egress for fuel trucks and added a brand new fuel truck to ensure safe and reliable fuel deliveries to customers,” the CEO emphasised.

Adding that in 2011 the investment in Guyana had exceeded US$8M, he said growth and investment here have resulted in an additional 71 employees in the region, excluding indirect employment.

Underscoring that the fuel company is on board with President David Granger’s five ‘Bs’ programme, Nicholls said in April this year, Rubis donated a 25-seater boat (David G 6) to the village of Baracara for the transportation of schoolchildren in the rural area.

In 2015, he said the fuel company partnered with the Guyana Technical Institute to support their mechanical department by refurbishing two workshops, donating advanced

tool sets, while offering technical training on the use of lubricants.

In addition, the Deaf Association of Guyana was furnished with table tennis equipment and football uniforms in support of their sports programme.

“Our company culture values strong performance and embraces those who have a passion for winning, take initiatives and have a humble attitude.

Above all, Team Rubis enjoys having fun in all we do. The strong rela-

tionships and the company culture we have built are very solid foundations for our future success,” Nicholls said.

Minister Gaskin encouraged the company to expand its investments in Guyana.

Rubis is a Frenchbased international private limited company founded in 1990. It is the leading supplier of aviation fuel in the Caribbean, supplying high-quality jet fuel at 17 regional airports.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

Self-reliance and success in business : a worthy goal for Guyanese women

THROUGH the Self Reliance and Success in Business workshops, which are being hosted around the country, women are accessing the opportunity to be equipped with the necessary business skills that can help them to make worthwhile contributions to society as small-business owners.

These workshops are being hosted by the Office of the First Lady and are funded by the Ministries of Social Protection and Indigenous People’s Affairs. These workshops materialised from the vision of First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, whose work has, over the past year, centred on various initiatives aimed at women’s empowerment as part of her approach to reach vulnerable populations with a range of services. Many of these initiatives have been supported by private initiatives and the Government

First Lady Mrs Sandra Granger delivers remarks during a presentation at Rosignol

of Guyana and the Self Reliance and Success in Business workshops are no exception.

The premise for the workshops was developed following a presentation made to the First Lady by Interweave Solutions - a non-governmental organisation that helps local entities in developing countries to expand their business sectors through training. Over the last few months, Self-Reliance and Success in Business workshops were held in Lusignan in the Demerara-Mahaica region, Linden in the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice region, and the Upper Takutu – Upper Essequibo, Mahaica - Berbice and Barima-Waini regions.

The idea of diversifying the economy and empowering citizens to be entrepreneurs and drivers of the economy is part of President David Granger’s push to create an environment for economic growth through enterprise. President Granger, in his address to the National Assembly on June 10, 2015, said, “We should propose policies that provide opportunities for local entrepreneurs and investors and our huge diaspora to develop our abundant natural resources. We shall introduce other job- creation measures that will include promoting small and medium-sized enterprises. We will also work towards ensuring greater access to finance and capital to start new businesses.”

The President has taken this message across Guyana in a personal crusade aimed at ensuring every Guyanese see themselves as potential businessmen or women, fashioning the country’s abundant resources into value-added products that can enrich communities.

During his visit to Baracara, Canje River, East Berbice-Corentyne last April, the Head of State said, “I want you to be businessmen and women.

I want you to be able to enter into the market by producing the commodities that people need, but as a private enterprise.

If you come together it is up to you. If you want to form a cooperative it is up to you, but I want to see entrepreneurship, I want to see business… I want you to become entrepreneurs so people will want to come into Baracara to buy the best guava

jam, guava jelly [and] guava cheese. So you must become a market place.”

The First Lady has seized this message and zeroed in on mainly women, since women and their familes can certainly benefit from this type of economic empowerment. At the most recent workshop hosted in the town of Bartica in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region, the First Lady said that it is important for women to be able to enhance their business skills, adding that women have lots of skills that they may not recognise could be marketable. “[This workshop] will show you how to be good business women… It will show you how to plan, keep records, look at the market, look at the competition and see how you can get beyond that and create your own niche for yourself- not only how to establish a business, but how to grow and expand it,” she said.

The First Lady said that since the beginning of the programme last year, men have approached her to be part of it. And while some men have benefited in certain areas, the programme remains focused on women, due to the benefits she believes it can have on the family and community.

The main facilitator of the programme is Mr. Wayne Barrow of Interweave Solutions.

Mr. Barrow explained that the organisation is committed to ensuring that the key business skills are taught the participants, so as to ensure that their management skills and other entrepreneurial talents are honed.

Moreover, the purpose of the workshops is also two-fold, in that it encourages women to develop community plans which focus on the creation of groups that would discuss and resolve issues within their communities. We ask ourselves why if this is a course on self-employment, why should we be concerned about the community… But it’s interwoven that show we got the name ‘Interweave.’ The community, the business and the home there is a dependency and this is what we taught within the workshops,” he said.

Mr. Sanjay Pooran, representative of Interweave Solu-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger with participants of the workshop in Rosignol (Mahaica-Berbice) tions, while hosting the Bartica session, said that the workshops explore issues regarding finance, resource management, packaging, the fundamentals of marketing and why poor attitudes cannot contribute to successful businesses. He also highlighted some of the concerns that are usually raised by small- business owners and aspiring business women during these programmes.

“Many of these women are ambitious and hardworking, but the problem is they don’t have the basic skills to manage, so most of the concerns that come out are related to their abilities to manage and grow their skill sets. There are some concerns about regulatory structures, but those are usually solved as we go through the programme,” he said.

At the Opening Session of the workshop hosted in Bartica, Deputy Mayor Ms. Kamal Persaud was grateful that the women of Bartica and other parts of the region were given the chance to attend these workshops so as to hone their skills.

A businesswoman herself, Ms.

Persaud said that she was proud to see the enthusiasm of the attendees as well as the diversity of skills that they possessed.

“I’m very happy to have it here in Bartica and to see so many women with so many diverse backgrounds take part and I hope we make the best use of this opportunity. When we can have rounded women that can mold our younger folk … in all we have a more successful community,” she said.

Among the participants, several of the women shared their sentiments about their attendance at the workshop. Each woman had the hope of not only learning from the workshop, but taking the information back to their communities to instill the knowledge in others.

Ms. Cindy Meusa is a Grass Cutter/Landscaper, and is the only woman in what is considered a non-traditional sector for women. “When I first started, it was in my own yard and a lot of people would comment that they never saw a woman doing that, then a lot of people started hiring me and I began to like it, because it helped me to

make my own money,” she said.

Ms. Meusa hopes to be able to inspire her daughters to join her so as to make the venture into an official business, and was eager to learn as much from the workshop so that she could acquire the knowledge on how to expand.

Ms. Debra Brown, a Constituency Representative, was initially intended to be present just for the opening ceremony, but asked the facilitators to stay on for the duration of the fiveday course after hearing about what it entails. As the owner of a small bus service in Bartica and an aspiring cake decorator, Ms. Brown said that she felt that the workshop could benefit her, especially in the areas of book-keeping and management skills.

During past workshops, the First Lady had referred to the initiative as a dream, stating that her vision for the workshops is to ensure that all the women of Guyana are empowered and become independent. “I have this vision of all the women throughout the regions of Guyana being able

to provide for themselves and the first thing you have to do is to be able to get the money in your hands and that way nobody can disrespect you. When they know that you are empowered, you know how to live your life and manage your budget. She stated that due to the budget, the workshops are kept small, but it is hoped that the women share the information that is given to them when they go back to their communities,” she said.

The past workshops have each augured well for the communities in which they were kept. At the end of the five-day programme, after undertaking several projects, the women graduate and are presented with certificates for their endeavours.

At a joint graduation ceremony held in December for the first two groups from Lusignan and Linden, Mr. Barrow said that the workshops also work well for persons looking to access loans and grants - as it assists them in bringing their business up to a standard that allows them to do so.

Participants of those two workshops were given the

First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger with participants of the workshop in Bartica

Mr. Wayne Barrow, Facilitator of Interweave Solutions, makes a presentation during one of the workshops chance to reflect on what they learned and all alluded to the benefits of learning the Six ‘Ps’ of business: Plan, Product, Paperwork, Promotion, Price and Process. Among the group from Linden, which included men who also wished to benefit from the training and advice provided within the workshop, Mr. Jazree Osbourne spoke at the graduation about his experience. He said that he was grateful to be included among the women, adding that he learnt how to diversify his poultry business and to penetrate other markets.

Minister of Business, Mr. Dominic Gaskin, in his feature address at the event, said that such programmes make a valuable contribution towards the national effort to fight against poverty and the inequality of opportunity. “Our government inherited an economy that simply couldn’t provide enough jobs for all those willing and

able to work. A reputable international organisation has reported unemployment levels of 40% for Guyana’s youth.

We have a nation to rebuild, and everyone must be able to contribute and those who can’t find jobs must not be afraid to learn new skills and venture into businesses of their own,” the minister said.

The First Lady has also received accolades from officials within the various regions for her work and the interest she has paid in women’s affairs through this and other ventures over the past year. The First Lady intends to take the Self Reliance and Success in Business workshops to all the regions in the country, with the hope that, as the title suggests, women can be independent business owners who are able to contribute significantly to the economy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

New Consul General to Nickerie ‘I voluntarily resigned’ … Myrna Pitt says she was gets brief from President not forced out of CH&PA

PRESIDENT David Granger on Thursday met with the new Consul General to Nickerie, Suriname, Ms. Esther Griffith, at the Ministry of the Presidency, where he outlined his ex-

pectations as she takes up her new role.

Ms. Griffith, who has served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Chief of Protocol, will depart Guyana today for Nickerie. She will

immediately assume duties.

During the meeting, the President extended felicitations to Ms. Griffith on her appointment and delved into a brief history of the

President David Granger makes a point to Ms. Esther Griffith during their meeting yesterday. Ms. Griffith, who will depart Guyana today, will now serve as Guyana’s Consul General in Nickerie, Suriname.

relationship between the two countries, before explicitly outlining his vision of what must be achieved by the Consulate General’s Office.

Guyana and Suriname have shared diplomatic ties since 1975.

In an invited comment, Ms. Griffith, who pledged to give her best, said that she is appreciative and honoured by the confidence that the President has reposed in her. She also promised to ensure that Guyana is placed on the map in a positive light. “His Excellency was very clear and concise in his expectations. My job will be to seek to enhance relations between Guyana and Suriname [and] work on the image of Guyanese in Nickerie.

I will also be looking at tourism, bringing tourists to Guyana and His Excellency wants to ensure that we speak to investments as well,” Ms. Griffith said.

(Ministry of the Presidency)

Education Ministry gets spanking new Prado

By Vishani Ragobeer THE Ministry of Education (MoE) has received a spanking new Toyota Land Cruiser (Prado) as a gift from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

UNFPA Resident Representative Patrice La Fleur at a handing-over ceremony witnessed by Alfred King, Permanent Secretary in the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport of the Ministry of Education.

The UNFPA and the

endeavour to see greater strides in youth development, especially in the areas of family life and sexual education.

La Fleur echoed similar sentiments, and noted that “Youth Friendly Spaces” which allow youths to learn

UNFPA Resident Representative Patrice La Fleur (left) handing over the keys to the Prado to Minister within the Education Ministry, Nicolette Henry, in the presence of Alfred King, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, and Trevor Williams, also from the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport (Delano Williams photo) Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry, on Friday received the keys to the vehicle from

MoE have, for more than a decade, been collaborating on various projects; and King said both agencies

about themselves, including their sexuality and responsibilities in society, have been established in Guyana since

in 2007, and have been having an impact.

These spaces, established to aid in the reduction of teenage pregnancy and other youth challenges, are endorsed by the Caricom Secretariat and the United Nations.

The donated vehicle will aid the MoE in its outreach programmes geared at promoting access to the youth-friendly spaces, where adolescents have the opportunity to discover themselves and be educated.

Deeming the donation timely, Minister Henry said the Department of Youth is focused on ensuring young people have a safe space where they can meet and exchange views.

The UNFPA tackles sexual and reproductive health, population and development, and gender issues in Guyana. It also works with a number of governmental agencies and non-governmental organisations, such as the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), in executing its programmes.

OUTGOING Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority, Myrna Pitt, said she voluntarily resigned from the entity and was not forced out.

Pitt was reacting to an article in this newspaper earlier this week, which said that she resigned after calls for her to do so. “I refer to your article headlined “Insider says CEO’s tenure raised many questions”, in your publication of Thursday, June 16, 2016 and wish to correct the notion that I resigned “in the wake of calls for her resignation.”

“I voluntarily resigned in accordance with the appropriate clause of my existing contract with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA),” Pitt, the long- standing CEO said. Chairman of the land-allocation committee, Mark Jacobs, had confirmed that Pitt’s resignation will be effective July 13 and that the CH&PA Board was not at all happy with her performance.

For starters, he said, members of the Board, ever since its installation in October 2015, had raised concerns over the Remigrant Scheme, the 1000 Homes project at Providence, and the management of the houselot-distribution programme. In terms of the Remigrant Scheme, he said several questions have been raised over the conditions under which persons benefited from lands at Providence.

Concerns were also raised over the recent announcement of an ambitious 50th Anniversary housing programme to have persons pay only half down on a houselot, and have the rest written off.

Board executives, Jacobs said, have been complaining that they have met stumbling blocks in receiving information requested from CH&PA

staffers. Those requests, he said, had to do with several transactions to the tune of billions of dollars that the entity had embarked on. The contracts also included large plots of land along the East Bank of

Outgoing CEO of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Myrna Pitt Demerara that were sold under questionable arrangements to 20-odd private developers.

Some of the plots were flipped for tens of millions of dollars more, without any work being done, in breach of CH&PA agreements. Many of the developers were close friends of the previous administration.

The ministry had been in receipt of complaints from some owners about the poor quality and shape of buildings because of sloppy construction; however, the Ministry of Communities, which is charged with housing, has announced plans to spend monies to fix those defects. Another concern of the board’s, was the questionable disposal of hundreds of acres of land on the East Bank of Demerara, with little monitoring to ensure that there is compliance by developers to meet deadlines.

No charge for PPP Parliamentarian ––case settled privately

THE office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended that no charges be instituted against People’s Progressive Party (PPP) parliamentarian, Nigel Dharamlall, who is accused of issuing threats to an official of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Communications Officer at the DPP’s office, Liz Rahaman, in a statement noted that the matter was settled privately between the two parties. It was further noted that the two complainants in the matter made separate statements dated May 21, 2016 to the police requesting that no further police action be taken.

Dharamlall, a former Permanent Secretary of the then Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, allegedly threatened the IDB official at Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, while the official was speaking to his ex-wife.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

‘Jagdeo Initiative’ up for review –not on agenda for CARICOM HoG meeting

THE Government will be making moves to diversify in the area of agriculture as it gears up to review the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), more commonly known as the “Jagdeo Initiative.”

This was revealed by President David Granger during his weekly broadcast of ‘The Public Interest,’ which was aired on Friday on the state-owned National Communications Network.

According to the President, the Common Agricultural Policy is currently under review. He noted that the government is looking to make greater use of Guyana’s land space of 83,000 square miles.

“I call Guyana the hinterland of the Caribbean, because no other CARICOM country has the land space we have and at present a Barbadian company has invested heavily in the Rupununi and we’re looking at Chinese investments in agriculture,” President Granger said.

As the spokesperson on agriculture, the President explained that the Government wants to make greater use of the savannahs in particular, while simultaneously increasing efforts in the productive sector.

“As you know, there are some serious problems facing sugar as presently constituted. We’re not coming out of sugar or rice, but at the same time we must diversify,” he added.

Given these intentions by the Government, he noted that the agricultural landscape will be transformed in the coming years, and that the important thing about this is that Guyana will be able to produce more food which can be processed and marketed in the Eastern Caribbean.

The Head of State also referenced a recent trip to Washington DC, where sustainable energy and renewable energy sources were discussed. And with regional counterparts already pushing a sustainable/renewable energy agenda, President Granger noted that Guyana must not fall behind.

He revealed though that the Common Agricultural Policy will not be featured on the agenda of the upcoming Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government meeting which is slated for July 4-6 in Guyana.

“Yes, there will be a review [of the policy] but not at this CARICOM Heads of Government meeting.

There are other concerns,

Saturday June 18th, 2016 - 14:30 hrs Sunday June 19th, 2016 - 14:30 hrs Monday June 20th, 2016 - 05:00 hrs

particularly [the] Single Market and Economy and Security. As you know, we’ve had some threats and the fact that Trinidad and Guyana might face some threats of terrorism, so these are likely to feature on the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting agenda,” the President said.

In 2002, then President Bharrat Jagdeo had said to CARICOM leaders that agriculture had been buckling under pressures from trade reform, natural disasters and policy deficiencies; that the region had a poor implementation track record, with the result that agriculture was

President David Granger not providing the region with food security nor [was it] covering the growing food import bill.

He told them that “… at this stage, we need a policy and strategy which will allow us to decide on

what sort of institutions and mechanisms are needed to reposition agriculture.”

Subsequently, Jagdeo was able to call on the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) to assist in developing a framework towards a common regional agricultural repositioning strategy.

Under the Jagdeo Initiative, by 2015, agriculture in the region was expected to have “made substantial progress in its contribution to sustainable growth, within a framework of transparent institutions and good governance that enables

the transformation of its products and processes, encourages investment, drives entrepreneurship and assures an acceptable and consistent level of food security.”

The scope of the initiative was to define and implement interventions to address Key Binding Constraints within the context of the Community Agricultural Policy; existing and planned complementary initiatives undertaken by national, regional and international organ isations; emphasis on non-traditional products, value-added and intensification of diversification and practical programmes with achievable targets.

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Aliann Pompey Invitational today promises to be action-packed

By Tamica Garnett PACKED with a number of overseas-based athletes, including some who have never before performed in Guyana, today’s Aliann Pompey (AP) Invitational promises to be an action-packed event when it is held this afternoon at the National Track and Field Centre, at Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara.

Several of the overseas athletes shared how excited they are to be part of the meet. The much publicised event, which starts at 15;00hrs, will see a number of our local athletes finally

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Kenilworth 08:45 hrs Flying Monarch 09:20 hrs Tropical Heat 09:55 hrs Prince Of Wales 10:30 hrs Milton 11:10 hrs Elusive Wave TURFFONTEIN 09:05 hrs Nitrogen 09:45 hrs Rake’s Chestnut

getting a chance to match their mettle with their overseas counterparts, also marking the first time that many overseas Guyanese athletes will be performing on home soil.

Speaking with the media at a press conference yesterday at the Ramada Princess Hotel, a number of the overseas athletes noted they are thrilled to be a part of the event, and can’t wait for the showdown to get underway.

Overseas-based Guyanese athletes, Adam Harris and Jeremy Bascom, said they are overjoyed to finally have the opportunity to par-

10:20 hrs Bajan Fantasy 10:55 hrs Charanga IRISH RACING TIPS Gowan Park 08:30 hrs Macbride 09:00 hrs Hanover Street 09:35 hrs Liclash 10:10 hrs Danali 10:45 hrs Robin De Roost 11:15 hrs Alzammaar 11:45 hrs Bakougan ENGLISH RACING TIPS Newmarket 08:40 hrs Hyde Park 09:10 hrs Always Resolute 09:45 hrs Golden Stunner 10:20 hrs Trenches 11:00 hrs Great Order 11:40 hrs Lady Macapa 12:20 hrs Jordan Sport 12:55 hrs Gunmetal AYR 08:50 hrs Rebel De Lope 09:20 hrs Billy Roberts 09:55 hrs Get Knotted 10:30 hrs Central Square 11:10 hrs Marsha 11:50 hrs Fredricka 12:25 hrs Vallarta ASCOT 09:30 hrs Cunco 10:05 hrs Pacify 10:40 hrs Highland Reel 11:20 hrs Magical Memory 12:00 hrs Brando 12:35 hrs Clondaw Warrior AMERICAN RACING TIPS Belmont Race 1 Outlash Race 2 Made You Look Race 3 Rapid Rouge Race 4 Obviously Race 5 Cheering For Al Race 6 Empress Jingu Race 7 Tiz Twice Race 8 Araqeel Race 9 U S Citizen

ticipate on home soil after having represented Guyana so many times in the past.

“I’ve run in many countries, but this is the first time I’m running on Guyana soil and I’m so very happy to be able to run in front of my home crowd and family and friends before I retire.” Bascom told the media.

Harris, who was in Guyana some years back on vacation, is glad that this time around he is here for something much more serious - to participate.

“This is my first time running on Guyana soil, which is awesome. I’m very excited to

be coming back to Guyana.

It has been 5 years since I have been there and what better way to come back than competing in front of family and friends I haven’t seen in a while. It is also going to be awesome to compete against more of the Guyanese athletes that we don’t get to see often as we are based overseas.”

Both Olympians, Bascom and Harris, have represented Guyana on the international scene for a number of years now and are even hopeful that they may be able to make Olympic qualifying times today.

Bascom and Harris are both set to be in the men’s

100m, while Harris will also be in the 200m Also present at the press conference were Guyana 2016 Olympic qualifiers Brenessa Thompson and Winston George. Guyana’s other Olympic qualifier Aaliyah Abrams, who was not present at yesterday’s conference, is also set to participate today.

With athletes from 15 different countries participating, including Jamaica, USA, Trinidad and Canada, the meet is set to be Guyana’s first meet of such great proportions.

Patrons willing to witness the action can do so for an entrance fee of $1 000.

Russia cries foul, rest of world welcomes ...

From back page

speaking hours before the ban was extended, said: “Everything possible needed to defend the rights of our athletes and the Olympic team is being done and will be done at a legal level.”

The IOC merely “took note” of the decision but said it would discuss the situation in a telephone conference today.

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) described it as a step in the right direction.

“It gives a measure of hope to clean athletes that there are consequences not only for athletes who dope, but for countries which do not engage seriously in the fight against doping,” it said.

Stephanie Hightower, president of US Track and Field and an IAAF Council member, said it was “the only proper course of action given the compelling and powerful evidence presented to Council.

“We do not believe that every Russian athlete cheated, and it is unfortunate and regrettable that some may pay a penalty for the serious transgressions of their federation.”

There was some sympathy elsewhere too for innocent Russian athletes, with American Olympic decathlon silver medallist Trey Hardee saying: “Sad day for Russian athletes. The people in charge should be punished, they created the culture of dope”.

A statement from Eu-

ropean Athletics president Svein Arne Hansen said it would be “unfair to allow the impression that doping is a problem confined to Russia or to athletics.

“I must emphasise that this is a challenge to all sports in every country,” he said.

Individual athletes, however, were quick to take to social media to give their support for the ban.

“I am sick of Russians whining about shattered dreams, opportunities lost etc. Russians have been stealing clean athletes’ dreams for years,” said British marathon runner Mara Yamauchi.

British middle-distance runner Lynsey Sharp, who has been previously cheated out of medals by subsequently banned dopers, agreed, saying in reply to the statement from the Russian athletics federation: “And your country has destroyed ‘clean athletes’ dreams’ for decades.

Not a nice feeling is it?”

Others took the opportunity to press the IOC to support the decision and not find a way to invite Russian athletes to Rio. “We applaud the IAAF actions today. We implore the IOC to do their part and protect clean sport,” said Athletics Canada.

Former British heptathlete Kelly Sotherton said: “The IOC must be as strong in the clean sport stance as IAAF. They should back clean athletes not a doping culture with an easy let-in

clause.”

There was some confusion about exactly what was involved in the IAAF’s announcement that Russian athletes who trained and were tested outside their own country might be able to be allowed to compete, especially since only a tiny handful would qualify under that criterion.

“The IAAF must ensure the conditions for them to qualify are stringent enough so that absolutely no cheats slip through the net,” said UK Athletics.

“We would wish to know much more about these conditions before being able to welcome individual athlete invitations.”

WADA issued a statement welcoming the ban and also revealed that “preliminary findings” of an ongoing probe into Russian doping, which were shared with the IAAF Task Force, showed that there is: “Sufficient corroborated evidence to confirm ... a mandatory state-directed manipulation of laboratory analytical results operating within the Moscow-accredited laboratory from at least 2011 forward including the period of the IAAF World Championships in 2013.”

WADA also “wholeheartedly supported” the IAAF’s recommendation to allow Russian whistle-blower Yuliya Stepanova to potentially compete in the Olympics as an independent athlete.

33

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

U.S. beat Ecuador to reach Curry ejected as Cavaliers Copa Centenario semis beat Warriors to force decider STEPH Curry was ejected for throwing his mouthguard into the crowd as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat his Golden State Warriors side 115-101 to force a decisive game seven in the NBA finals.

After fouling out late in the fourth quarter, a frustrated Curry threw his mouthguard, which hit a supporter.

The 28-year-old apologised to the fan before leaving

LeBron James scored 18 consecutive Cavaliers points at the end of the third quarter and into the fourth. the court in Cleveland.

Victory in Oakland on Monday would make the Cavaliers the first team to win the finals having trailed 3-1.

It would also be their first NBA title.

“I had some stuff I wanted to get off my chest,” said Curry, who top-scored for his side with 30 points. “It was just frustration and I thought it was kind of hilarious how the last two fouls kind of unfolded.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr added: “He gets six fouls called on him, three of them were absolutely ridiculous.

I’m happy he threw his mouthpiece.”

LeBron James scored 41 points for the Cavaliers and Kyrie Irving added 23 in front of a home crowd at the Q Arena.

Golden State set an NBA record of 73 wins in the regular season. (BBC Sport)

Big Father’s Day Tapeball cricket competition THE National Cultural Centre Tarmac will be the place to be tomorrow as it is the venue for the James ‘Uprising’ Lewis Workplace Tapeball knockout cricket competition. The matches bowl off at 09:30hrs.

Teams already in the competition include the Ministry of Education, Environmental Protection Agency, Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Guyana Education Agency, Civil Aviation Authority, Princess Hotel, Police Training College, Guyoil.

Demerara Bank, Hand-in-Hand, IPED, Demerara Harbour Bridge, Guyana School of Agriculture and Parliament Office are the others.

At stake is the Minister of State Trophy as well as medals donated by theJunior Minister of Finance. The games promise clean, competitive fun and families and friends of the teams are encouraged to come out and support.

More teams are encouraged to register by calling James ‘Uprising’ Lewis on 628-1656 or 672-6179.

CLINT Dempsey struck again as the United States powered through to the semi-finals of the Copa America Centenario on Thursday in a stormy 2-0 win over Ecuador that saw both sides finish with 10 men.

Dempsey scored his third goal in as many games for Jurgen Klinsmann’s side at CenturyLink Field, pouncing on 22 minutes before setting up a second for Los Angeles Galaxy forward Gyasi Zardes in the 65th minute.

Michael Arroyo pulled a goal back for Ecuador in the 74th minute to set up a frantic finale, but the U.S. held on and will now face either Argentina or Venezuela in the semi-finals in Houston next week.

But the victory came at a cost for Klinsmann’s side who saw key midfielder Jermaine Jones sent off early in the second half to earn a suspension which will see him miss the semi-final.

France-based midfielder Alejandro Bedoya and Hamburg striker Bobby Wood also earned yellow cards that will see them suspended for the last four.

For Ecuador, Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia was dismissed after picking up two yellow cards before triggering the melee which led to Jones’ dismissal.

Earlier, a cagey start had

seen both sides begin tentatively before Jones and Michael Bradley steadily imposed themselves in midfield as the U.S. started to gain the upper hand.

Wood’s speed troubled the Ecuador defence on 17

gathered in midfield and released Wood, who fed Jones near the edge of the area.

The midfielder picked out Dempsey with a superb cross and the former Tottenham and Fulham stalwart duly headed home.

Gyasi Zardes #9 of the United States gestures as he walks off the pitch after defeating Ecuador 2-1 in the 2016 Quarterfinal - Copa America Centenario match at CenturyLink Field on Thursday in Seattle, Washington. (Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images/AFP) minutes, when he darted onto a low pass only to prod his finish well wide of the advancing Alexander Dominguez.

DEMPSEY STRIKES Yet five minutes later the U.S.took the lead with a beautifully worked goal that began when Dempsey

Five minutes later Dempsey was threatening again, this time his shot wellsaved by Dominguez.

Bedoya almost doubled the U.S. lead three minutes before the break when played through Dempsey, yet Dominguez saved smartly down to his left.

The South Americans had

a strong shout for a penalty when Enner Valencia was bundled over by Stoke City’s Geoff Cameron and the West Ham striker also went close with a glancing header in the 48th minute.

Three minutes later the simmering nature of the contest boiled over, when Antonio Valencia, booked for a sly kick on John Brooks in the first half, picked up a second yellow for clattering into Bedoya.

In the skirmish that followed Jermaine Jones appeared to flick Valencia in the face with a hand and earned a straight red from Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan.

With both sides down to 10 the game opened up dramatically but it was to be the U.S. who struck first.

Dempsey latched onto a long ball forward and showed great determination to cut back for Zardes who had the easiest of tap-ins at the far post for 2-0.

Ecuador responded furiously, pulling a goal back through Michael Arroyo’s thunderous low strike in the 74th minute.

Enner Valencia had hearts in American mouths two minutes later when he headed wide from close range.

Ecuador laid siege to the U.S. goal and in a frantic finish saw manager Gustavo Quinteros given a red card from the touchline. (AFP)

Late Eder goal sends Italy through to last-16

By Ed Dove TOULOUSE, France (Reuters) - Italy moved into the knockout stages of Euro 2016 and continued to defy their doubters as Eder scored two minutes from fulltime to secure a 1-0 win over a shot-shy and unadventurous Sweden yesterday.

Eder ended a great run by firing home to move Italy clear at the top of Group E on six points after two matches following their 2-0 victory over Belgium in their opening encounter.

The result left Sweden in an uncomfortable position with one point after two games ahead of their final group clash against Belgium next week.

Sweden were well organised at the back but toothless in attack, with their danger man Zlatan Ibrahimovic looking a shadow of his brilliant

best and hardly creating a chance.

Italy, who came into the tournament with questions surrounding the strength of their squad, but surprised many with their superb performance against a highly-fancied Belgium side, relied on their trademark, tight defence against the Swedes.

They rarely threatened up front, however, until Marco Parolo hit the crossbar with a header shortly before Eder netted the winner.

“It was a difficult game,” Italy coach Antonio Conte told Rai Sport. “We struggled in the first half.

“The boys did well to ride the storm and hurt Sweden when we needed to.”

Italy had been praised for their unity and work rate in their opening win over Belgium, but appeared to have no answer to Sweden’s organised rearguard until Eder’s late intervention.

Sweden coach Erik Hamren had criticised their lack of attacking vitality following their opening 1-1 draw with Ireland, and while there was an improvement in their overall performance, Ibrahimovic once again failed to provide a cutting edge and live up to his billing.

“We were much better than the Italians for periods, but we didn’t create really dangerous chances,” Sweden midfielder Albin Ekdal told Swedish broadcaster SVT. Sweden are still without a shot on target at the tournament, although Martin Olsson proved a menacing threat down the left, sending an effort just over the bar on 18 minutes having set the tone with an early cross that prompted a nervous clearance from Giorgio Chiellini.

Olsson’s frequent forays left space for Antonio Candreva, but Andreas Isaksson and Erik Johansson combined

to clear his testing deliveries, while Ibrahimovic flashed a close-range header wide towards the end of the first half.

Having masterminded victory over the Belgians, Conte’s tactics were completely neutralised during the opening 45 minutes in Toulouse and his side appeared unsettled as a result.

“At halftime Conte told us we were too slow and he was right,” Parolo told Rai Sport.

“We changed the tempo after the break and we deserved our victory.”

Conte introduced Simone Zaza in the 60th minute and he had a decisive role in the winner, heading a Chiellini throw in into the path of Eder.

The forward then cut in from the left -- evading Andreas Granqvist’s attempted tackle -- and sent a curling right-footed shot round Isaksson to take Italy through.

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

GCUSA classes underway WITH the aim of improving the standard of umpiring locally, the Georgetown Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (GCUSA) last Tuesday last commenced training classes at the Demerara Cricket Club.

Sessions will be held on every Tuesday and Thursday of every week at the same venue for the next seven weeks.

In an invited comment vice-president of

NIGEL DUGUID

the GCUSA, Nigel Duguid, indicated that the sessions are open to the public, adding that it is not compulsory for those, who aspire to become umpires, but they can gain knowledge of the laws of the game.

Duguid urged ladies to attend since there is a demand for this gender of umpires in the Caribbean, adding that interested females can take approximately two years

Inaugural Igloo Hockey Festival to be staged this weekend THE Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) in its effort to promote youth development in the field of hockey will be hosting the inaugural ‘Igloo Hockey Festival’ beginning today and ending tomorrow.

According to a press release, the tournament will be staged at the GCC ground, Bourda and will include competition for all ages including players under the age of eight

years.

There will also be competition for players under 10 years old (Mixed Categories), Under-14, Under-17 and Under-21 (Boys and Girls) and Open men and women categories.

The tournament will be the first of its kind to be played on an artificial hockey surface. Since there is no full-scale artificial hockey pitch in Guyana, the tour-

nament features the exciting five-a-side format being played on the miniature-sized field.

This tournament is the club’s first for the year and provides one of the few opportunities for all ages to play the sport competitively.

The GCC hockey team hopes to make this an annual event with participation from both school and club teams in

to qualify.

Sessions continue as follows; July 21, law 7 (pitch), law 8 (wicket), law 9 (crease); July 23, law 18 (runs), law 19 (boundary), June 28, law 10 (play area), law 11 (cover pitch), law 12 (innings); June 30, law 13 (follow on), law 14 (declaration), law 15 (intervals); July 5, law 16 (start of play), law 17 (practice), law 21 (result); July 7, law 22 (over), law 27 (appeal), the future.

Several clubs have submitted teams from their development programmes right through to the senior sides.

The release went on to state that apart from the senior competition with teams from hosts GCC, Hikers, Old Fort and Saints, the Under-14 division, featuring teams from five clubs in both the Boys and Girls divisions, promises to be one of great interest.

The Under-21 Boys competition will feature most of the players who recently participated in the Junior Pan American cup in Toronto and who should be in top form.

Matches begin at 10:00hrs both days and run until 20:00hrs in the evening.

GVF team will not attend Colombia tournament THE Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) has announced that the national team will not attend the Confederación Sudamericana de Voleibol (CSV) Tournament in Cartagena, Colombia.

The Federation cited the prohibitive cost of the airfare to Colombia and insufficient funds as the reasons for the non-attendance.

The Federation announced that though this would disappoint the team, they have confirmed participation in a tournament set for Roraima, Brazil which is of lower cost with just as much competition.

The team is currently preparing for the Brazil tournament scheduled for August 5-8 of this year.

law 28 (W.I.D); July 12, law 20 (lost ball), law 23 (dead ball), law 29 (out of ground); July 14, law 24 (no ball), law 25 (wide ball), law 26 (bye, leg bye); July 19 law 30 (bowled), law 31 (timed out), law 32 (caught); July 21 law 33 (handled the ball), law 34 (hit the ball twice); July 26 law 35

(hit wicket), law 42 (fair and unfair play); July 28 law 36 (lbw), law 37 (obstructing the field); August 2 law 38 (run-out) law 29 (stumped); August 4 revision.

Candidates desirous of writing the preliminary exam must attend at least 80% of the lecturers.

Guinness ‘Greatest in the Streets’ East Coast leg

Melanie, BV among winners on opening night FOOTBALL action in the Guinness Greatest in the Streets East Coast leg got off to a flying start last evening with games at the Haslington tarmac.

In the first game, a Quincy Adams double (6th and 11th) led the Paradise side to a 2-0 win over Little Mafia while in game two, Plaisance ‘A’ were able to rout Portmore United 2-1 thanks to a double from Kester Greene (18th and 20th). Seon Singh’s 5th minute strike was Portmore’s only goal.

In the third game Nabaclis beat off Young Jiggers 2-0 with Royan Morrison (13th) and Kevin Glasgow (20th) on the scoresheets while Melanie B brushed aside Annandale Warriors 3-0 with Odel Gulliver, Ryan Seales and Rashawn Charles scoring in the 6th, 13th and 20th respectively.

Company All-Star got the better of Bare Root 2-1 in game five, thanks to Quason McLean (12th) and Lancelot Griffith (20th) while Bare Root’s Christopher Adams struck in the 6th minute.

Game six featured a blowout by BV-B as they thrashed Non Pareil Warriors 4-0 thanks to double from Erin Fraser (14th and 16th) as well as single strikes from Edun Fraser (12th and Kemo Thim (20th).

Game seven saw Plaisance-B needle Golden Grove South 1-0 with Denzil King scoring the decider while Game eight saw the utter destruction of home side Haslington Hypers who lost to Melanie-A 4-0 Dexroy Sullivan’s double in the (11th and 16th) led the scoring while William Europe (5th) Rondel Bowman (14th) stroked one each.

Meanwhile in the ninth game, Golden Grove North were needled by Team Diamond off the efforts of Orin Fraser’s 4th minute strike while the tenth game between Victoria Church Yard and North Haslington saw the former win on penalties after a 1-1 game.

Victoria scorer was Akeem Holder (8th) while North Haslington saw Randy Waldron (2nd) lead their charge.

Matches continued last evening

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday June 18, 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) AUST vs SA (Sunday, June 19) (2) 36 players

Today’s Quiz:

(1) How many ducks were recorded at Providence? How many were ‘first ball’ ducks?

(2) How many South Africans have now played ODI cricket?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 18, 2016

Shiv Chanderpaul among Guyana Jaguars contracted players for new PCL season VETERAN West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul headed the list of the Guyana Jaguars contracted players when the Player Draft of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League for the 2016-2017 season took place yesterday at the Coppin/Cozier/Short Media Centre at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados Chanderpaul, the region’s most capped Test player (164 Tests), is expected to play a mentor role, since Chairman of Selectors, former national fast bowler, Rayon Griffith opted for a number of young players.

The Player Draft has been organised with the goal of achieving an equitable distribution of the available player talent in the Regional fourday and NAGICO Super50 tournaments.

Each franchise contracted a minimum of 15 players, with ten players pre-selected from the home territory while five players drafted from the Player Pool.

Of the 15 players contracted to the franchise, a minimum of two must be from outside the home territory, and each franchise can have one international player

(i.e. non-eligible West Indian player) at its own cost.

However, the Guyana Jaguars opted for its local players, with only 21-yearold Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder Vikash Mohan, the only new imported draft choice.

Barbadian left-handed all-rounder Raymon Reifer

Further, it must be noted that batsmen Leon Johnson and Rajendra Chandrika, along with leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, were not considered for contracts since they all have WICB retainer contracts.

Meanwhile, Narsingh Deonarine, the Guyanese left-handed batsman, who

Shivnarine Chanderpaul is the other foreign player, but he was one of ten players retained by the Guyana Jaguars.

The other contracted players for the new season are: Shimron Hetmyer, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Vishaul Singh, Assad Fudadin, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Keon Joseph, Anthony Bramble, Steven Jacobs, Paul Wintz and Romario Shephard.

also bowls useful off-spin, was the eye-catching pick for the Windward Islands Volcanoes.

Deonarine, who played for the Leeward Islands Hurricanes last season is expected to be a big boost for the Volcanoes.

The other Guyanese successful at the Player Draft was opener Trevon Griffith, who was retained by the Jamaica Scorpions.

List of players for the

other five franchises are as follow: Barbados Pride: Suliemen Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Kemar Roach, Ashley Nurse, Kevin Stoute, Jomel Warrican, Kissoondath Magram, Kyle Corbin, Omar Phillips, Preston McSween, Justin Greaves.

Jamaica Scorpions: Nikita Miller, Damion Jacobs, Devon Thomas, Chadwick Walton, Andre McCarthy, John Campbell, Rovman Powell, Paul Palmer Jr, Brandon King, Marquino Mindley, Trevon Griffith, Derval Green, Dave Bernard Jr, Jason Dawes, Nicholson Gordon.

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force: Kyle Hope, Evin Lewis, Marlon Richards, Imran Khan, Jon Russ Jagessar, Stephen Katwaroo, Jason Mohammed, Yannic Cariah, Yannick Ottley, Jeremy Solozano, Sheldon Cottrell, Rayad Emrit, Roshon Primus, Kharry Pierre, Bryan Charles.

Windward Islands Volcanoes: Devon Smith, Tyron Theophile, Liam Sebastien, Andre Fletcher, Johnson Charles, Sunil Ambris, Shane Shillingford, Kenroy Peters, Mervin Mathew, Kyle

Digicel School Football Championships

Tutorial Academy ‘stick up’ Port Mourant at Skeldon

By Stephan Sookram PORT Mourant Training School were the victims of a 2-0 ‘stick up’ compliments of rivals Tutorial Academy Secondary School when action in the Digicel Schools Football Championships’ Region 6 leg continued yesterday.

Playing at the Skeldon ground, the game was one with many chances, most of which came the way of the Training School boys but inevitably belonged to the Tutorial side, who exacted revenge for their loss two years ago at the same venue.

The first half ended scoreless with both sides opting to utilise the aerial route in an attempt to

Goalscorer Lamar Reid break the deadlock but to no avail.

The Skeldon ground that

produced a goal fest over the past two days seemed to dry up, in spite of early morning rains drenching the ground.

Returning from the half, the Tutorial side seemed to be the ones on the hunt, going after more chances than their opponents and eventually in the 81st minute they were rewarded.

A blistering shot on goal from Lamar Reid sent the Training Centre goalkeeper to his left and in spite of getting a hand to it, could not keep the shot out of the net.

This sent Tutorial into wild jubilation and the small but vocal crowd finally had a goal to celebrate.

But they weren’t finished yet.

The side returned on the stroke of the 90th minute to score again from Reid as it was now all over for the Port Mourant side, who were visibly crestfallen, but had no one but themselves to blame based on the many chances created but which were not converted.

Meanwhile, over at Leonora, Soesdyke Secondary lambasted Diamond Secondary 7-1 thanks to Tyrone Khan who scored in the eighth, 13th, 35th, 51st and 75th minutes as well as Tyrell Khan (40th) and Shannon Samnaught (80th) who accounted for the other goals.

On target in the loss was Raphael Niles in the 11th minute.

Mayers, Narsingh Deonarine, Delorn Johnson, Jerlani Robinson, Tarryck Gabriel, Sherman Lewis.

Leeward Islands Hurricanes: Nkrumah Bonner, Keacy Carty, Rahkeem Cornwall, Jahmar Hamil-

ton, Montcin Hodge, Alzarri Joseph, Jeremiah Louis, Kieran Powell, Quinton Boatswain, Hayden Walsh Jr., Nicholas Pooran, Jermaine Otto, Elwin Berridge, Jacques Taylor, Gavin Tonge.

NAMILCO U-17 football continues this weekend

By Ras Wadada THE inaugural NAMILCO-sponsored Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) nationwide U-17 football tournament will continue this weekend with matches in the various zones across the country.

While several member associations of the GFF are yet to kick off their respective leg of the tournament others are in full swing.

According to reliable sources, the Bartica, Rupununi, Essequibo and Upper-Demerara Associations are yet to get started. In the case of the UDFA, that organisation just completed its U-17 League and plans to start the NAMILCO tournament soon.

In the Ancient County, the Berbice FA zone will continue today and tomorrow with all ten registered teams down to play. In an invited comment secretary of the BFA, Joseph Simon, stated the persistent rains are of concern to the BFA, hence there are some minor changes to the schedule for tomorrow (Sunday).

The game between Monedderlust FC and Corriverton Links will now be played at the Esplanade Ground or Burnham Park, depending on the weather, beginning at 14:00hrs and will be followed by NA United against Lichfield Nuggets. The other game set for tomorrow will feature Rosignol United as they host Hopetown United at 14:00hrs.

Today’s match-ups will be played at the Canje ground where Cougars FC confront the home side Canefield Diamond Strikers at 16:00hrs and at Mahaicony, the Thunder Hawks will host Paradise Invaders at 14:00hrs.

Last week’s winners in the opening games were Corriverton Links, NA United and Paradise Invaders who won over Mahaicony 2-0, Lichfield Nuggets 8-0 and Canefield Diamond Strikers 4-1 respectively.

In the City, matches will continue at the Tucville ground where all 8 contesting teams will be in action again on match day two. In the opening game set for 09:30hrs Eastville FC will be looking to go 2-0 when they meet Pele FC who lost their opener 0-2 against Alpha United. The Alpha boys will also fancy their chances of going 2-0 when they meet Discipline and Order, who went under 0-2 to Eastville, at 11:00hrs.

The much-anticipated clash set for 12:30hrs will bring together the other two big winners on the opening day. The Lloyd Smith-coached Santos unit will engage the home team Conquerors, who disposed of GFC 3-1, while Santos breezed past Camptown 5-0.

The day’s final encounter will be Camptown versus GFC at 14:00hrs.

Across the Demerara River in the West Demerara FA’s leg, two games are carded for the weekend at the Den Amstel ground. Today at noon, Eagles FC tackle Wales FC and tomorrow at the same time, Beavers FC take on the home side Den Amstel FC. In the East Demerara FA’s zone,two double headers are slated for the Beterverwagting ground. Today’s games will feature, Paradise FC against Golden Stars at 13:00 hrs and at 15:00 hrs, Plaisance FC do battle with Mahaica FC. Tomorrow Buxton Stars take on Victoria Kings in the first match at 13:00 hours, followed by home team BV United versus Anns Grove

Shiv Chanderpaul among Guyana Jaguars contracted players storySee on for new PCL season page 35

Aliann Pompey Invitational today promises to be action-packed See story on page 32

The international athletes ahead of their performance at the AP Invitational today

Green Machine ‘charged Russia cries foul, rest of up’ for T&T battle today world welcomes IAAF’s ban ... Coach Adonis warns against complacency GUYANA seek control over their game today against Trinidad and Tobago when the South Zone of the Rugby America’s North (RAN) series climaxes at the Hasely Crawford Stadium Trinidad.

This is according to coach Lawrence Adonis who said, “The style of play that we are using now is slightly different and much more successful for us because we’ve been able to control the games a lot better.”

Speaking prior to team departure on Thursday, the coach said the squad retains its core players but has opted to bring in some newer attackers.

“Mostly it’s some of the same guys that we’ve been using against Barbados and Jamaica but we have some inclusions like Kevin; we’ve changed up some of the forwards but mostly it’s some of the same,” said Adonis.

Meanwhile, much of the talk has been around the

returning Kevin McKenzie who was drafted back into the squad with open arms, something coach Adonis hopes will prove crucial.

“He (Kevin) brings a lot

RICHARD STAGLON of experience and he was one of the persons that we relied on in the past; he brings a lot of experience and a lot of the intangibles that we really need in the team because we’ve been blessed with

some young players that we’re working along with some of the senior guys.”

H e , h o w e v e r, u rg e d against complacency adding , “I just don’t want people to get overconfident and think they have won. This game is always played on the park and you have to finish it on the park and I don’t want people to get overconfident.”

Today’s game begins at 16:00hrs and the winners will progress to face the North Zone Finalists.

The full squad reads: Kevin McKenzie, Richard Staglon, Ronald Mayers, Claudius Butts and Peabo Hamilton, Jason Tyrell McArthur, Rickford Cummings, Kevon, Jose Felicien, Dwayne Schroeder, Jamal Angus, Delroy Gordon, Ryan Gonsalves, Avery Corbin, Lancelot Adonis, Patrick King, Godfrey Broomes, Osie McKenzie, Cyon Kitt, Triton Brathwaite, Grantley Williams and Toby David.

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

By Mitch Phillips (REUTERS) - Russia claimed the IAAF’s decision to continue its ban of Russian athletics yesterday was unfair and threatened legal action, while the rest of the world welcomed the move and urged the IOC not to go against it.

“We are extremely disappointed by the IAAF’s decision, creating the unprecedented situation of a whole nation’s track and field athletes being banned from the Olympics,” said the Russian ministry of sport.

“Clean athletes’ dreams are being destroyed because of the reprehensible behaviour of other athletes and officials.

“We now appeal to the members of the International Olympic Committee(IOC) to not only consider the impact that our athletes’ exclusion will have on their dreams and the people of Russia, but also that the Olympics themselves will be diminished by their absence.”

The IAAF voted unani-

President Sebastian Coe (L) and Rune Andersen, head of the IAAF taskforce on Russia, attend a news conference after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) council meeting in Vienna, Austria, yesterday. (Reuters/Leonhard Foeger) mously to uphold its ban on Russia for systematic doping, saying the country had not made enough progress on reforms to dispel concerns of state-sponsored drug abuse.

The Russian athletics federation blamed the media, saying: “The pressure which we experienced in the last few days ahead of the council meeting, when every day we had some kind of interview or publications, which as a rule had negative connotations, doubtlessly influenced the decision.”

Yelena Isinbayeva, who had hoped to seek a third Olympic pole vault gold in Rio and who is one of Russia’s most prominent athletes, described it as a violation of human rights.

“I will not be quiet, I will take steps. I will go to the human rights court. I will prove to the IAAF and WADA that they made the wrong decision,” she said, referring to the World Anti-Doping Agency.

A Kremlin spokesman, Turn to page 32 SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2016