Chronicle 07 10 2016

No. 104608

SUNDAY JULY 10, 2016

Price: $140

(VAT INCLUSIVE)

Who killed Monica Reece?

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- Police reopening sensational case 23 years after her body was dumped on Main Street - Sheema Mangar, Trevor Rose cases also being reopened

Gowcoomaree Persaud and her daughter look at photos of Harris Persaud at their Granny Field, Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara home on Saturday. They are surrounded by neighbours. (Ivan Bentham photo)

Monica Reece

New appeal for foster care after Drop-in Centre fire

- More than 350 reports of child abuse, neglect or maltreatment recorded Page 13

Lucas admits gov’t documents stored 3 outside GRA Page

‘I can’t find another like him’

Guyana ‘very far’ from stopping 12 trafficking in persons Page

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–mother of drowned UG student

Dead: Harris Persaud

- TIP hero Simona Broomes says fight requires widespread support

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

‘I can’t find another like him’ – mother of drowned UG student

By Ravin Singh “HE was always in his 90s,” Gowcoomaree Persaud says of her son’s exam results.

“He topped the school when he wrote the National Grade Six Assessment and I think he is the only person to ever get Queen’s College from that school.”

But now, her only son, Harris Anthony Persaud is dead, swept away by the tides of the waters off Kingston, Georgetown.

Sitting on a plastic chair downstairs in her Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara home, with tears flowing intermittently, she shared some experiences of the 19 years she shared with him.

Persaud was reading for his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Guyana. It was nothing strange for him to go hang out with his friends, but Wednesday, an outing at the sea took a tragic turn when he plunged to his death. A post-mortem confirmed that he died of drowning, but his friends, who reportedly panicked and fled the scene when he did not emerge from the waters, are still being held for questioning.

The family does not believe his friends had anything to do with Persaud’s death; there were no marks of violence on his body, which was pulled from the waters on Friday.

Persaud’s life, his mother said, was one of sacrifice, but a rewarding one. A teacher for close to 30 years, Gowcoomaree, who is more popularly known as Ms. Sunita, taught her beloved “Antho” at Virginia Nursery School and later Virginia Primary School and he was always seen as a “top student.”

He moved on to the country’s most prestigious school, Queen’s College, and then moved on to university. Despite gruelling studies, he worked part time at construction company H. Nauth and Sons.

Every day he travelled almost 40 miles to and from UG. His mother says that he would drive sometimes, but the day he

“He was so helpful, I never did anything. His duty was to clean, wash, pack and cook. I am not too well, so he didn’t want me to do anything and he did not allow his sister to do work, he did everything. When all of his work was finished, then he’d ttend classes.” died, she did not allow him to use the car.

She says that after classes, he would report to work where he would spend the rest of his evening, returning home almost midnight most nights.

But Mrs Persaud revealed that his professional life and academic life were not the only areas he excelled in. In fact, he was a dedicated Christian who was the lead drummer at the local church the family attends – Kingdom Assemblies of God. His mother explained how he was always willing to help out at church and would often sweep and pack up after church services.

And as if this was not enough, she revealed that he was exceptionally helpful at home and would not allow other family members to do work once he was around.

“He was so helpful, I never did anything. His duty was to clean, wash, pack and cook. I am not too well, so he didn’t want me to do anything and he did not allow his sister to do work, he did everything. When all of his work was finished, then he’d attend classes,” she stated.

He would even assist his 15-year-old sister with her studies.

She is a student of St. Stanislaus College, preparing for the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC).

Persaud’s domestic life was built on love for his family as he would often say to her “Mommy, family is everything” and she recalled one instance where she took ill and had to be hospitalised. He was at the hospital before she got there, since he was in the city at the time.

She wept bitterly as she reflected on how he fed her after she was discharged from the hospital.

“When I came out [from the hospital], he [Anthony] fed and

Harris Persaud with his mother and sister took care of me; he would always tell me not to do any work.

“After I came out from the hospital he called me and told me to put my head on his lap and I said, ‘I’m not a baby’ and he said, ‘Mommy, you’re my baby.’ Then I told him I wanted to go to the washroom, and he said, ‘Come Mommy, I’ll take you.’”

She stopped speaking briefly, as she wiped the tears flowing from her eyes. Then she continued, “If I take the broom to go and sweep, he’d take it away and say, ‘Mommy, I don’t want you [to] do it.’”

Mrs Persaud boasted of the fact that her son lived a humble but dedicated life. She noted that he never consumed alcohol, nor smoked. His only form of recreation, she said, was staying at home and listening to music with her.

Aside from that, she revealed that he was a fashionista and had more than 50 ties.

“He was a very tidy person and he loved to dress. He has over 50 different ties, so people at work started calling him “Tie Boy” because of his love for it.”

Still sobbing, softly, she smiled and said, “I am trying to take comfort in knowing that his time on earth is completed.”

Anthony was never described as an aggressive person, according to his mother. She explained that he never appreciated people “speaking rough” to him and would never encourage people to talk ill about others.

“He had a very unique personality,” she said.

And his fame in the village had not only derived from the fact that he excelled academically. Persaud was also described as being very helpful to those in the community and would go as far as helping those he didn’t know.

“He was very recognised in the area because he was always willing to help everybody. If he sees someone passing on the street with a heavy bag, he would go and assist them, even if he has to walk a few villages,” his mother disclosed.

Despite accepting the fact that her son is no more, Anthony’s mother still finds it strange that her son did not call to inform her of his whereabouts on the day he died, as he would always let her know of his whereabouts.

Please turn to page 4

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

Lucas admits gov’t documents stored outside GRA - Cites security, confidentiality concerns at GRA - Says work outweighs stipends, other benefits

RAWLE Lucas, the chairman of the board of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has admitted that highly sensitive government documents are stored at his office at the Critchlow Labour College because of his concerns about security and confidentiality.

In a letter to the newspaper, Mr Lucas said the GRA headquarters was cramped for work and storage space and it would have been imprudent and inconsiderate of him to take up office there.

Mr Lucas claimed that neither does he work at the college nor is his office there paid for by the government. He said he has filing cabinets in the office where he stores government documents.

“Taxpayers ought to know that the office of the Board Secretary was broken into in an attempt to access sensitive and confidential taxpayer information which comes before the Board.

“GRA had to take extra measures to protect the office of the Board Secretary and its information from its own staff since the act was considered an inside job.

“I therefore do not have anything further to say about trust and confidentiality at GRA and the extent to which staff members are harassed to violate taxpayers’ privacy,” Lucas stated.

Mr Lucas was responding to an anonymous letter which suggested that he was abusing his authority and awarding benefits to himself at the expense of the authority. He said he felt the need for the public to understand the context in which he delivers service to the GRA. Regarding the refrigerator in his office, Mr Lucas said it is stocked with his own money, and as for the sofa in his office, that too had not been bought by the GRA. He said he receives a stipend of G$10, 500 a month, after taxes are deducted, and uses it to buy gas and pay for maintenance of the car he drives.

Mr Lucas did not respond to the writer’s suggestions that he was making unilateral decisions and that his actions have resulted in low staff morale.

He said that though the stipend is not even close to the minimum wage, he accepted it because of the confidence that was placed in him to help make GRA a better place for staff and taxpayers.

“GRA does not buy gas for me. It offered to do so and I

Rawle Lucas refused the offer. I turn in the vehicle to GRA whenever I am not using it,” he stated.

Mr Lucas said that at the beginning of his term, GRA had offered him benefits far greater than the stipend he receives and he refused.

He said that while the board meets once per month, he gets “substantial amounts of work” sent to him by the GRA on a daily basis and at times management requests his presence at its headquarters for meetings as often as three times per week.

“I comply because of what I see as the genuine efforts of elements of the organisation’s management to bring positive changes to the entity,” Lucas stated.

Consequently, he said the issues of convenience and cost come into play.

“Not only will I have to give up my personal time waiting for transportation to visit GRA headquarters, but under those circumstances, I will end up spending more money than the monthly stipend.

“While I am prepared to serve the administration and to go the extra mile as necessary, I do not think that I should be expected to subsidise the government.

“It is in that context that the convenience of the car which I drive and the facilities provided become very important,” he stated.

“I requested support from GRA to have its work done and I was given the support.

He said it would have been difficult for him to understand and address much of the challenges of the organisation at GRA board meetings and to meet the many demands made of me by its management and others in the government without the valuable input of his assistant.

He indicated that the issues are plentiful and, while he may not be compensated adequately for his efforts, he remains motivated by the commitment of the dedicated staff members and dutiful taxpayers.

With regard to his work at the University of Guyana, Mr Lucas said he has had discussions with the university on “the way forward.” Mr Lucas serves as a finance lecturer at the University. The anonymous letter writer pointed out that one of Mr Lucas’ students serves as his assistant.

The assistant, one Ms Alfred, was defended by Mr Lucas.

“The issues are plentiful and thorny and her effort at analysing and summarizing documents, at researching issues and at developing briefs is of invaluable help to me.”

Mr Lucas said many of his students work at GRA but that he “never” marked the exam papers for any of the classes that he taught.

“In all instances, the papers were marked by a third party,” Mr Lucas stated. He said that he has been in discussion with the University regarding his employment there since March, 2016.

Further, he said the concerns that he has about revenues have nothing to do with the economy, and that “the condition of our revenues will be addressed in the future.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

‘I can’t find another ...

From page 2 On Wednesday evening, when the young man was reported to have gone missing, his mother said she was at her aunt’s place and called home for him to pick her up at about 9:00 p.m.

However, she was informed by her daughter that he hadn’t returned home.

She explained that when she returned home around 9:30 p.m., the family made attempts to call his cellphone, but there was no response.

Having assumed his battery had died, the parents then made attempts to contact his place of employment, but were told that he didn’t report for work that day. He reportedly called his workplace and told his supervisors that he would not be able to work since he had evening classes that day.

Having heard this, the

mother and father then went out to look for him, but this proved futile as he was nowhere to be found.

“He [Anthony’s father] went as far as Victoria and said he didn’t find him. So when he returned, he woke up our neighbour and they went to Mahaica Police Station then Cane Grover Police Station and made reports.”

And just before her husband returned home after searching for Persaud, the mother said that she called one of the young man’s friends, “Sarwan,” to enquire if he knew where her son was. However, her son’s colleague told her that after they had finished classes around 12:00 p.m on Wednesday, Persaud took a bus and left UG. She said that later that morning, several other attempts were made to contact him, but there continued to be no answer from the cell-

phone.

Shortly after, her husband went a second time to search for Persaud. The worried father, at this point, decided to pick up both of his son’s friends, Sarwan and Dave, and the trio went in search of him.

Not having found him at UG, for the second time, the team went to National Television Network (NTN) where they made efforts to air a missing person’s broadcast.

They also printed some flyers and distributed those at the bus park.

In a twist of events, the mother revealed that her husband decided to visit the landlord of Dave – who resides in Cummings Lodge – where he learnt from the landlord that the three friends left the premises together on Wednesday in a vehicle. The landlord revealed though, that only Dave and “Sarwan”returned later that day.

Mrs Persaud said that her husband, skeptical of this, left the landlord’s place with the two boys. While they were making their way in search of Persaud once more, she said that “Sarwan” started screaming in the vehicle.

At this point, her husband stopped the car to calm him down, and enquire what was wrong. It was then that her son’s friend revealed that the three of them went to swim behind the Marriott Hotel on Wednesday and a wave swept Persaud away.

“But my son can’t swim, and he was left there,” the crying mother said.

The teen’s haversack was later found at Enmore, his cellphone at Buxton and his clothes at Cummings Lodge, all East Coast Demerara villages.

The boys reportedly told the police that they were terrified after Persaud did not emerge, and so collected his belongings.

She said that the two friends were subsequently apprehended by the police and she is thankful that her son’s body was found so that he could have a decent funeral.

A young Harris Persaud and his father

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE JulY 10, 2016

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Sunday Editor

Neil Marks

Editorial: 227-5216; 227-5204 guyanachronicle.com wnigel10@hotmail.com gnnleditorial@gmail.com

Editorial U.S. financial restrictions will impact entire CARICOM BEFORE leaving Guyana after the just-concluded CARICOM Annual Conference of Heads of Government, Jamaica Prime Minister (PM) Andrew Holness shared with the press corps his concern regarding the potential implications for the Region of United States (U.S) banks cutting ties with regional financial institutions.

Understandably, this is an area of major concern for Caribbean governments, the business community, and the peoples -- be they resident in the region or abroad.

The PM sounded the warning that “the matter is one that could lock out the Caribbean from the financial system if it is not addressed”, even as he opined that compliant countries should be “rewarded” rather than face the risk of US-based banks pulling out from those countries.

The issue of U.S-based financial institutions clamping down on, and withdrawing business from, the Caribbean has its genesis in efforts to achieve international compliance in fighting money laundering and the financing of terrorism, from which the U.S understandably would want to protect the integrity of its banking system equally as it seeks to insulate its institutions from illegal and terroristic activities.

This issue has been on the front burner for years, and keeps intensifying with each passing day, as is evident in the proliferation of illegal and terroristic activities and the threat they present to lives, businesses and the sovereignty of states.

These matters are frequently in the news, and it should come as no surprise that it was only a matter of time before drastic measures are taken by countries to insulate themselves from unsavoury practices.

Equally, the inevitable did not happen overnight, and Caribbean countries have been forewarned and offered technical support to bring themselves into compliance with measures against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

Guyana has not been spared, and the back and forth between the Executive and the Opposition reaching feverish pitch in 2013 and 2014 can be recalled. The problem of 2013 and 2014 has its genesis in the Bharrat Jagdeo Administration making less than compliant efforts to bring Guyana in line with international standards through laws, institutions and implementations that would have demonstrated this country’s commitment and seriousness in insulating itself from unsavoury practices and holding violators accountable.

Even though Guyana, according to the interna-

tional Financial Action Task Force, is lumped with nations deemed “High-risk and non-cooperative jurisdictions”, with our status being among the “other monitored jurisdictions,” it apparently was not considered serious enough by past Governments to warrant corrective and remedial action.

When, in 2011, the combined Opposition controlled the Parliament and made known that its support for the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill was contingent on an Executive addressing and incorporating some of its views into the national policies and programme, this was ignored.

Instead of engaging in real politics, which has honed the art of deal-making, The Executive opted to refuse to entertain any thought in what it felt would have meant ceding ground and looking weak.

In the 21st century, when diversity is being encouraged to be representative and inclusionary, and moreso where the Guyana Constitution requires celebration of same and an inclusionary democracy, it is not unfair to say that refusing to accept and work within these frameworks is backward politics that will do more harm than good to the country and its citizens.

And whereas the incumbent Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and his predecessor are presently trading views on the status of Guyana, the U.S is moving ahead with severing ties with non-complaint countries.

Some days ago, the Bank of America withdrew the facility of doing business with Guyana. Guyana’s financial deficiencies have been engaging attention since 2009; and in 2013, the country was placed on the Caribbean Watch list.

Since November of last year, the present Government and National Assembly have been moving to put systems in place to bring the country in compliance with anti-money laundering laws. It should be reminded that the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force’s (CFATF) Financial

Advisor, in his 2013 visit here, had advised that it requires a minimum of two years for Guyana to be removed from its status, and such is contingent on adherence.

In a global economy, though sovereignty is regarded, when countries are members of associations, regional or international, they are bound to comply with the rules, not only to achieve membership or association, but also the rules that govern the day-to-day conduct of the organisation.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, in his opening address at the Conference, reminded the people of the Region that CARICOM has within its charter the principle of member-states coordinating on foreign policy.

International trade cuts across foreign policy. Consequently, should member states stand together in petitioning their case as a single bloc, the region stands to gain more. This gain would not only be to the benefit of individual countries, but also for trade within and out of the region, and the remittances that trade hands among the peoples through spending power.

Reuters (19th May, 2016) said “cutting off personal remittances could have severe consequences in a country like Jamaica, where (remittances) made up 16.3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014.” According to World Bank Data for the period 2011-2015, personal remittances contributed 10.6 percent to Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Jamaica is presently experiencing serious financial problems and has entered the International Monetary Fund Structural Adjustment Programme. The economies of other Caribbean countries, including Guyana, while not necessarily in the same doldrums, are far from performing at their optimum.

We, the people of CARICOM, are in this together, and we have to work it out as one. Not being directly affected based on compliance to CFATF does not insulate from direct impact on the economy, the premium of the U.S currency on trade, and remittances and in alleviating dire economic conditions and boosting respective regional economies.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

GRA Chairman details stipend, other benefits Dear Editor, I am responding to a letter published in your newspaper, Kaieteur News on July 9, 2016, entitled “Mr. Lucas has abused his authority at GRA”.

I will not address insinuations that come from an anonymous person. However, I feel that there is a need for the public to understand the context in which I deliver service to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) as its Board Chairman. Before detailing my response, I must say that I am aware that the Editor checked out these allegations, but still went ahead and published these falsities.

I will start by pointing out that I am paid a monthly stipend of G$10,500 which is equivalent to US$51.00 by GRA after taxes are deducted. Please note that I pay taxes on the stipend. That amount is not even close to the minimum wage, but I accepted it because of the confidence that was placed in me to help make GRA a better place for staff and taxpayers.

I use the stipend that I get to buy gas and pay for basic maintenance of the car that I drive. GRA does not buy gas for me.

It offered to do so and I refused the offer.

I turn in the vehicle to GRA whenever I am not using it. I also wish to state that, at the beginning of my term, GRA offered me benefits far greater than the stipend I receive and I refused them too. The Editor checked it out but went ahead and published the letter with these false claims.

Further, while the Board meets once per month, GRA sends substantial amounts of work to me on a daily basis which requires my attention and preparation for Board meetings and other engagements.

On occasions, the management of GRA requests my presence at its headquarters for meetings as often as three times per week. I comply because of what I see as the genuine efforts of elements of the organization’s management to bring positive changes to the entity. Consequently, the issues of convenience and cost come into play. Not only will I have to give up my personal time waiting for transportation to visit GRA headquarters, but under those circumstances, I will end up spending more money than the monthly stipend. While I am prepared to serve the administration and to go the extra mile as necessary, I do not think that I should be expected to subsidize the government. It is in that context that

the convenience of the car which I drive and the facilities provided become very important. The Editor you knew that but preferred to ignore it in acquiescing to publish this letter.

The staff at the GRA headquarters is already cramped for work and storage space and it would have been imprudent and inconsiderate of me to inconvenience the staff further by occupying space there. What the letter fails to tell the public is that the space that I occupy at Critchlow Labour College is free of cost to the government. Judging from the allegations in the letter, it is obvious too that the writer has scant regard for taxpayers’ privacy and confidentiality by questioning the presence of filing cabinets in my office which are used to protect government documents and communications.

Taxpayers ought to know that the office of the Board Secretary was broken into in an attempt to access sensitive and confidential taxpayer information which comes before the Board. GRA had to take extra measures to protect the office of the Board Secretary and its information from its own staff since the act was considered an inside job.

I therefore do not have anything further to say about trust and confidentiality at GRA and the extent to which staff members are harassed to violate taxpayers’ privacy.

I hardly believe that taxpayers would quarrel with the government giving me a stipend of G$10,500 and cold water to drink. Taxpayers ought to know also that every item that is put in the refrigerator is purchased by me. And just to put the record straight, I do not have a sofa in my office and the GRA never gave me a sofa. I do not have a TV in my office, much less a 50” TV. GRA never gave me a TV. Visitors to my office must be confused now as to whom the Chairman of the GRA is for they would have never seen or experienced the convenience of those supposed facilities.

In the instances where I was given property, they remain the property of the Government of Guyana and will be returned to it once I am finished using them.

I requested support from GRA to have GRA’s work done and I was given the support. My assistant and I spend an inordinate amount of time dealing with GRA matters. It would have been difficult for me to understand and address much of the challenges of the organization at GRA

National drama festivals were held before Independence (An Open Letter) Dear Al Creighton,University of Guyana THE attached photograph is of a clipping from the now defunct Sunday Graphic of November 14, 1965. It reports on the British Guiana National Drama Festival of 1965, and the writer’s joy at the choice of Derek Walcott as the Adjudicator.

The item commences: “The first thing I found notably satisfying about this year’s National Drama Festival was the choice of Ajudicator.” Since “this year’s” was mentioned, then it implies that there were previous Drama Festivals in British Guiana before 1965; well over FIFTY YEARS ago.

So I am sure that you are pleased to see this evidence, in black-and-white, verifying

that national drama festivals in Guyana did not commence in 2014, as some individuals are stating, but way back in Colonial British Guiana, well over FIFTY years ago.

The photo also shows the Buxton Group which won the “Best Play Award” with the play “The Promised Land” by Sidney King, now Eusi Kwayana. You would also be pleased to know that I won the BEST ACTOR AWARD at that 1965 National Drama Festival. I will later send you evidence of that, in another e-mail.

Cheers, FRANCIS QUAMINA FARRIER Best Actor 1965

Board meetings and to meet the many demands made of me by its management and others in the government without the valuable input of my assistant. The issues are plentiful and thorny and her effort at analysing and summarizing documents, at researching issues and at developing briefs is of invaluable help to me. While I might not be compensated adequately for my efforts, I remain motivated by the commitment of the dedicated staff members and dutiful taxpayers and, Ms. Alfred’s work, in this regard, should be commended not ridiculed.

(Kaieteur News) alluded in a rather disparaging way to the relationship between my personal assistant and I. The attempt at demeaning the staff member should be an affront to every Guyanese, especially women, who apparently remain, in the eyes of (Kaieteur News), nothing more than sex objects. The progress that women have made in their education seems to be irrelevant to their selection for a job where this newspaper is concerned. The Editor knew that but went ahead and cast aspersions about Ms. Alfred. (The newspaper) would rather sink to such depths about the conduct of the women of this country rather than see their true value to this nation.

For the record, I have many students who work at GRA in my classes. I never marked the exam papers for any of the classes that I taught. In all instances, the papers were marked by a third party. The Editor knew that but went ahead and pub-

lished this letter anyway.

Despite being a private matter, I ought to make it known that I am not an employee of Critchlow Labour College. Suffice to note too that, since March 2016, the University and I discussed my status and the way forward. Additionally, the concerns that I have about revenues have nothing to do with the economy. However, please note that the condition of our revenues will be addressed in the future.

Tt troubles me that (the Editor of Kaieteur News) checked out all these issues and discovered what I just disclosed, but still went ahead and published the falsities in a supposedly anonymous letter. I do not understand how an attempt to assess my performance at GRA continues to degenerate into such a sleazy personal attack on me. (Kaieteur News) is no longer attempting to give people news. It is now attempting to slander me and assassinate my character. It troubles me, as it should every reader of (Kaieteur News) that you would willingly sink to the depths of deceit to get their money and achieve your own ends. I will admit though that I am trying my best not to lose confidence in the integrity of the newspapers.

However, my confidence in the credibility of (Kaieteur News) is sinking fast.

Sincerely, RAWLE F. LUCAS Chairman, Governing Board Guyana Revenue Authority

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

CONNECTING DIGITALLY FOR THE GOOD LIFE

Cyber Hygiene - Part 1

By Muriana McPherson WE HAVE all, at some point in our lives, heard that maintaining good personal hygiene -- such as washing our hands before eating, brushing our teeth after every meal, and taking daily baths -- prevents illness and makes us socially acceptable. One can therefore conclude that practising good personal hygiene contributes to us all enjoying a good, healthy life.

In recent years, the word “hygiene” has come to be associated with another facet of our lives -– what we now call “our online lives”. We are often cautioned about practising good “cyber hygiene.” One may ask what exactly is cyber hygiene; how does cyber hygiene relate to our online lives; and why is it important to practise good cyber hygiene? In this regard, cyber hygiene has been described as the steps we can take to improve our cyber security and better protect ourselves online.

Many of us use computers, tablets and smartphones for a variety of activities, such as browsing the Internet; sending and reading emails; shopping and making payments; accessing our bank accounts, and transferring funds; socialising, chatting with associates, friends and families on Skype and Facebook; posting pictures and videos on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook; playing games; downloading apps, and so on.

All of the activities mentioned above involve going “online.”

This is obviously a big part of the lives of some of us. While these activities can contribute to us enjoying a ‘good life’, with modern conveniences from the comfort of our homes, offices or while on the go, they still pose varying levels of risks to us all. It is like using a vehicle: it has the benefit of allowing us to conveniently travel to various places via road networks; however, using the vehicle carelessly could be fatal.

In a previous article from “Connecting Digitally for the Good Life” series, the writer posited that an important part of being a digitally responsible citizen is to be safe online.

So how can we protect ourselves while enjoying our online activities? A key part of protecting ourselves online is paying close attention to our usernames and passwords. A password is one of the most sensitive pieces of information we hold since, without our permission, it can be used to access our online life: email, Facebook, online bank account, and so on.

One way to stay safe is to protect your password. Given certain situations, you might ask what is all this fuss about sharing passwords anyway. The answers received may be that: ‘I trust the person; she is my confidential secretary, or my spouse, or a very close friend.’

Some people are very casual about sharing passwords. In most cases, they don’t see any risk or harm associated with their actions. These very persons would, no doubt, be furious if someone were to access their online bank account and withdraw savings without their permission; or if someone were to access their email account and send rude or incriminating messages to their contacts. When a relationship ends bitterly, there is always the potential that one angry ex could lock the other person out of their own account by changing the password. All of these create opportunities for identity theft or impersonation.

According to one survey, 64% of young adults share their

passwords, whereas 70% of middle-aged adults share theirs; and, on average, 67% of Towards a Good Life seniors share their passwords.

Keep in mind that many in a Green Economy of us would not consider sharing out toothbrushes with others! In fact, we are often reminded that our toothbrush should be changed regularly and should not be shared. Our passwords are like our toothbrushes. Change them regularly and do not share them with others.

Passwords are meant to keep others out. Also, like locks on our doors, the stronger passwords are, the harder they are to break. Strong passwords are usually eight or more characters long, and include combinations of symbols, numbers, and capital and common letters. A good strategy for setting strong passwords that are easy to remember and difficult for others to guess is to base your password on a simple phrase that is easy to remember. For example, consider the sentence: “Smith walked 3 times faster than Brown and won the prize”.

A strong password based on this sentence is the mnemonic Sw3xftB&wtp derived by taking the initial letter of each word and substituting the word “and” with the ampersand.

It is recommended that we change our passwords at least every three months. This reduces the risk of someone eventually discovering our passwords.

In addition to not sharing passwords, it is important to have different passwords for each online account. If one password is compromised, the malicious user should not be able to access your other online accounts.

Protecting our passwords is not the only way to stay safe online. In future articles, we will discuss additional ways of practising good cyber hygiene. This increases our chances of enjoying the ‘good life’ that comes from connecting digitally.

(Comments can be sent to towardsagoodlife@gmail.com) Muriana McPherson is the holder

of a MSc. in Computer Science, and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). She is on secondment to the eGovernment Agency, and has cybersecurity responsibilities for the public sector. For additional information or assistance on practising proper cyber hygiene, please send questions, comments or suggestions to info@egovguyana.net

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

The 2012 Linden/Region 10 struggle must not be in vain THE people of Linden/ Region 10 took to the streets in 2102 to protest for their right to be treated as equals and have a say in decision-making that would impact their lives. Their action was consistent with what is assured to every Guyanese in the Guyana Constitution. It would be recalled that the Donald Ramotar Administration had moved to impose on the people of Linden increases in electricity charges which, for Linden, an already depressed community, was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.

For Linden residents, this imposition would have markedly hastened their financial dislocation. Consequently, they believed the time had arrived for them to stand up and fight against the PPP/C government’s continuous impositions, which were geared to pauperise the community.

For weeks on end, night and day, rain or sun, the people -including children and women -- staged a struggle the likes of which were never before seen in independent Guyana.

This struggle started at the announcement of the increase in March, and intensified with each passing day until an agreement was signed, on August 21st 2012, between the Region 10 Regional Democratic Council and Central Government.

In the process, the people’s blood, sweat and tears soaked the streets; injuries were sustained; and three persons were murdered by the hands of the police.

It was a struggle that even the Opposition in Georgetown felt compelled to sup-

port, given that it could not have escaped being on the side of the rule of law and respect for protected fundamental rights and freedoms.

Some may not like this, but when it comes to the truth, however uncomfortable it is, it must be told: That struggle of 2012 was given political leadership by the then Region 10 geographic Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon and Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon.

These two young people not only steered the struggle in a progressive direction, but kept the people motivated, energized, and committed to the end. Not since the youthful Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham -- men in their 30s -- had mobilised the society in making a difference in their political circumstance (i.e. the fight for independence) has this nation seen leadership of this nature.

As a trade unionist, I recall that the youthful Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow was 21 years old when he started mobilising dock workers in 1905 to stand up and demand from their employer and the colonial government improvement in working and living conditions, which later led to the formation of the trade union movement here and in the British Commonwealth.

The stated three instances stand out in Guyana’s evolution, and have a major impact in influencing the trajectory of the society and people’s quest for self-determination, respect and equality.

The 2012 Agreement was taken to the National Assembly, the nation’s highest decision-making forum, via motion brought by Kissoon;

and was deliberated on and passed without any opposition. This is another crowning moment for the quality of leadership that emerged from the youth of this country, and it is now ensconced in the nation’s Hansards for posterity.

It was the first time in this country that a region had challenged the decision of Central Government and brought Central Government to the table to negotiate and sign an agreement.

The Opposition of 2012 is today handling the reins of Central Government, and is duty bound to honour this agreement; even moreso that it supported same and voted unanimously in the National Assembly for its recognition and implementation.

On Friday last, I spent the day in Linden walking the streets, interacting with leaders and the rank and file. All the cries I have heard can be summed up like this: “We have been made beggars, and this continues under the Government we voted for overwhelmingly”.

The perception is also held that Kissoon and Solomon were booted out of Government by the operatives in Georgetown because they are uncomfortable with progressive leadership and with facing the truth.

These people are speaking to their realities, which this Government either does not care about, or is unwilling to listen to.

Region 10 is the only region where, in 2015, the PPP/C lost votes and votes increased significantly for the APNU+AFC, making this region pivotal to the alliance’s

victory. It is the 2012 mobilisation of the region’s citizens against the atrocities of the PPP/C government that created the environment for 2015 -- which the APNU+AFC cannot take credit for, since the Region was self-mobilised against the PPP/C. More than a year into this administration, it is yet to ensure that the 2012 Agreement is implemented. Outside of political machinations and pussy-footing by those in Georgetown on the return of the television station, important committees are not put in place to get to work. For instance, the Economic Committee, whose task it is to develop an Economic Plan, has not been appointed; neither is any discussion taking place in relation to its appointment.

In fairness to the PPP/C, at least some discussions were taking place, even though they, too, were pussyfooting.

If, for any reason, the APNU+AFC coalition is

removed from the Executive and the 2012 agreement ensuring efforts at progress is not implemented, both this society and “the struggle of 2012” will be done a grave disservice. The foundation laid by our forebears -- which brought about independence -- will be further cracked, and equality, dignity and self-determination would be mocked.

The hearts of the people of Region 10 yearn to be respected as equals, which independence in 1966 and the Guyana Constitution grant and assure them of. The people have clearly signalled that they do not want handouts, nor do they want leaders who impose decisions on them.

Having heard their cries and dissatisfaction, it is obviously only a matter of time before natural leaders emerge to realise what the people have struggled for in 2012, and voted to achieve in 2015.

The squandering of the

people’s goodwill always realises grave consequences for every ruling administration.

What is obvious is that while a few would use the privilege of public office to achieve their dream of becoming rich, the masses remain poor, deprived, and disunited.

The people of Linden/ Region 10 and Guyana must use 2012 as the barometer to take charge of their destiny: not only to vote then become disengaged in the political process, but to stay engaged and change the course of this society for their collective benefit.

Speaking directly to the youth of today, who did not experience Critchlow, Jagan or Burnham mobilising and redirecting the course of this society as my generation and those older and a little younger did, I have to tell them that Kissoon and Solomon presented a spark in their time, and this spark must now become a flame.

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HINDS’SIGHT

Dr David Hinds

SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

POWER SHARING AND NATIONAL COHESION

Challenges, failures and the governing Coalition THERE has been a lot of talk recently about constitutional reform, but there has hardly been any mention of the most important obstacle to national cohesion in Guyana — the inability of our major political parties to arrive at a consensus on the way forward.

I mention constitutional reform and national cohesion together because, in one sense, they are related; but, in another sense, the latter is a constant challenge that does not have to wait on the former. In fact, if there is some progress on national cohesion, it could propel constitutional reform, largely because such reform would invariably require consensus on the part of the two political factions.

It should, by now, be clear to us that while multiple factors can explain Guyana’s socio-economic and political difficulties over the last five decades of independence, the one that is most overpowering is the seemingly chronic ethno-political divide. Our political leaderships from the 1950s to the present have been incapable of mustering the courage and the will to do what their counterparts in similar situations managed to do. In recent times, leaders in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya, when faced with difficult situations, were able to rise above their narrow politics and reach for a political solution in the form of political power-sharing, if only temporarily. At some point, we in Guyana would have to face the fact that the greatness we confer on our two major political founder-leaders is severely diminished by the inability to find a workable solution to the most pressing challenge of their time.

I still believe that one of the most compelling factors that influenced the rise to office of the present Government was the very fact of its being constituted as a partnership. Despite the mass instinct for tribal politics among Guyanese, there resides a simultaneous instinct for political joint-ness. The dialectics of unity and disunity are a fact of seriously fractured societ-

ies, I make bold to argue. It is whether the leaderships they throw up are enlightened enough to seize moments of hope and turn them into possibilities for reconciliation, consensus and national cohesion.

The Coalition gave hope to half of the population that the long night of ethno-political despair and disrepair could turn into a bright morning in which all Guyanese could be secure.

From the APNU to the APNU+AFC coalition, the leaders showed that compromise and courage could lead to adequate, though not perfect, outcomes. Yet, one year after the electoral victory, we have not been able to move to the next step.

The breakthrough of the partnership has been quickly followed by the hardening of ethnocentric instincts, as shown by the results of the Local Government elections. It is the continuing paradox that our leaderships, activists and scholars seem so incapable of working through. Many of us take the easiest way out by denying that a problem exists, and by sheltering under the customary empty rhetoric of one-ness.

No wonder our Jubilee observances were more about fun and partying and less about reflections.

The President has laudably held out the olive branch to the PPP about becoming part of a broader partnership in Government, but the PPP promptly declined. Therein lies part of the challenge. History repeats itself. In 1961, the PPP rejected calls for joint premiership, only to call for it when it saw power slipping away in 1963-64. It would renew the call in 1977 when the doors to power were being undemocratically shut. By then the holders of power were thoroughly drunk.

Similarly, the PNC would move to power-sharing in 1985 when its undemocratic hold on power became unsustainable.

Again, it would wait until the PPP had entrenched the most obscene Government in our history before it came out for power sharing in 2002. By then it was too late; the other side

had become politically mad.

If that history tells us anything, the PPP would have to lose another two elections before it reaches for power-sharing again. It is not that our political leaders are philosophically in love with majoritarianism, it is the unchecked power that flows from it to which they are wedded. So, it seems that perhaps the road to power-sharing lies in checking official power; but it is the very politicians who would have to consent to checked power. So we are back to square one.

What do we do? It seems to me that while we wait on the PPP to consent to a broadening of the current partnership, the APNU+AFC should work on deepening the one it has forged.

I am arguing that if we do not deepen the partnership as represented by the APNU+AFC Coalition, and give it broader meaning, it will quickly deteriorate into a one-party outfit; many parties but one-party behaviour.

One of the worrying weaknesses of the Coalition is that it functions almost solely as Government. For all intents and purposes, there is no coalition outside of Government -- the Cabinet is the only working institution. This is worrying for two reasons: First, the Government does not sufficiently benefit from the input of ideas from the partners outside of officialdom. Second, the parties, which are the links to the people, are not adequately empowered to take the Government’s message and agenda to the people. If the Coalition is not effective as a partnership, then it would find it difficult to sustain a wider power-sharing government.

More of Dr. Hinds’ writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics, and on his website www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

Partially submerged ‘dragga’ worries Region Seven residents - say could block river traffic when water level drops

REGION Seven residents have expressed concern over a partially sunken water dredge which lays lopsided along the Mazaruni River near Issano for almost a month now.

The dredge, which is also commonly known as a “dragga,” has been stuck along the river in the vicinity of Piereemap Falls. The area is known to persons in the area as “the Rail” and it is located between the mining town of Bartica and Issano in the Lower Mazaruni.

Reports are that a month ago, the vessel, which is owned by a mining company on North Road in the capital city, was proceeding along the river when its base was struck by the rapids of the falls. The vessel was left hanging on its side and despite concerns expressed by passing passenger boats, such concerns fell on deaf ears.

According to a resident, the route is utilised almost daily

by jet-boats which ferry passengers from the coastland to the Mazaruni communities via Bartica. Fuel boats operate along the route mainly to the mining operations in the Mazaruni. At the moment, boat operators are forced to operate with extra caution when approaching the area.

“Soon the jet-boats and fuel boat will cease operations to the Mazaruni communities if this ‘dragga’ is not removed”, Dwight, a resident of Isseneru, an Amerindian community in the Middle Mazaruni said on Saturday.

He said that based on the position the vessel is in it may be difficult to move it to a stable position. “The water is rough, but more effort needs to be made by the owner because this is a tragedy waiting to happen and which puts people’s lives at risk,” the man added. In addition, it was noted that the water level in the area is high at the moment and when the

wet weather conditions change in the weeks ahead, a drop in the water level could result in the vessel eventually blocking the busy route.

It was noted too that there are several river dredges which are operating in the area and the companies have left several sandbanks along the route.

Late last year the government had ordered a river dredge to cease operations in Region Seven, amidst concerns from the Amerindian village of Isseneru.

According to the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, the action was taken after concerns and complaints from the Toshao and representatives of the village. The village had made complaints via the media that its water and food supplies, from the nearby river, were under threat. (Alva Solomon)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

Multi-sectoral approach needed for teen problems - First Lady on World Population Day 2016

A MULTI-SECTORAL approach to the myriad problems facing teenagers in Guyana, according to First Lady Mrs Sandra Granger, is what is needed to ensure that they are properly equipped to assume leadership of our country in the future.

The First Lady made these comments during a Stakeholders’ Symposium held in observance of World Population Day (officially observed on July 11) at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown,on Friday.

The United Nations observance was held under the theme: “Investing in teenage girls,” but the First Lady said that given the challenges faced by Guyanese youth, the theme has been expanded locally to include both teenage girls and boys.

“The Caribbean Development Bank reported last year that Guyana has a consistently high rate of youth unemployment of 40 percent since the year 2000. It is important that a defined strategy be implemented to ensure that teenage girls and boys have the opportunity to become viable citizens, who will both contribute to and benefit from the country’s wealth and resources,” she said.

The First Lady added that many young people are alienated, uneducated and under-educated and “adrift of cultural and spiritual moorings and values.” As a result, she noted that careful examination should be made into how teenagers are socialised so that holistic solutions can be developed to target the issues affecting them. “We must consider the social and economic environments in

which they grow; the influences they are exposed to and the hardships and challenges they face,” she said.

Investments must therefore begin in these through support for their families and the communities in which they live, the First Lady continued, stating that the municipalities and Regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils can become key partners in this process. Moreover, she said that Non-Governmental and faith-based organisations can partner with those bodies so as to provide guidance and support and become positive influences in the lives of young people.

In the area of education, a sector which has long been recognised as a key to success and which President Granger’s administration has been pushing so as to advance the development of young people, the First Lady said that the education system must cater to the needs of each child and help to nurture them into their desired career paths. As such, schools must be equipped with facilities and be adequately staffed so as to guide and help them.

“Novel ways must be found to engage them and to light in them a fire for learning through access to information and community technologies, skills in sciences and arts, access to technical and vocational education- knowing that they will be able to lift themselves out of poverty and share in the good things life has to offer,” she said.

Touching on the health sector, the First Lady stated that health and family life education must play a role within the school system,

First Lady Sandra Granger addresses the stakeholders’ symposium for World Population Day communities and social or- in rural and hinterland areas. ganisations. “We as a na“Systems must be put in tion would fail if investment place to prosecute offenders isn’t made in the health and to the fullest extent of the law well-being of our young peo- and to provide counsel and ple, who are at a difficult support to victims’ families,” period of their development,” she said, adding that commushe said. She then urged nity members also need to be that adults, educators and aware of and become more health sector professionals proactive in dealing with sexset aside personal views and ual violence against children. provide information teens The First Lady then need about sexual and re- touched on crime, stating productive health and teach that a lack of education and them to protect themselves unemployment in addition from Sexually Transmitted to the lure of quick and easy Diseases (STDs). money lead some young

people to crime. She acSEXUAL VIOLENCE knowledged that there are This brought the First myriad factors leading teenLady to the issue of sexual vi- agers into criminal activity, olence against children,which including the desire to have she said remains under-re- money, survival, popularity, ported and under-prosecuted. peer pressure and many other She stated that in Guyana, issues. The First Lady noted, the reported cases of sexual however, that it is admirable violence against children that the GPF has been encommitted during 2011 to gaging more and more with March 2015 amounted to young people in the commu1,145, with the ‘A’, ‘C’ and nities in which they serve by ‘F’ Divisions of the Guyana encouraging participation in Police Force (GPF) hosting sport and other activities. the highest number of cases.

“When teen girls are emShe stated that there are also powered and are given the reports of the high incidence tools to succeed, they become of rape, incest and trafficking tools for positive change and the same go for teenage boys,” she said.

The event, which was hosted by the Ministries of Social Protection and Social Cohesion in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), also featured remarks from other Government Ministers, who echoed the First Lady’s sentiments in encouraging a multi-sectoral approach to tackling the issues affecting young people in the country.

Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, during his remarks said that considering health-related issues such as the lack of legislation for the provision of reproductive health services to teens, the lack of a comprehensive sexual and reproductive health Murder accused curriculum in schools, added Eustace Griffith

Vagrant charged with murder

TWENTY-SIX-year-old Eustace Griffith, a vagrant who is usually found around the Stabroek Market environs, appeared on Thursday before City Magistrate Judy Latchman, charged with murdering Stabroek Market handyman Steven Dexter Arthur of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, on July 4 at Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

He was not required to plead to the charge, and was remanded to prison until July 15, while the matter was transferred before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Reports are that on the day in question, at about 07:00hrs, both men were engaged, at the Stabroek Market Square, in a heated argument which soon turned into a fight, during which Griffith pulled out a knife and stabbed Arthur to his chest, causing him to die on the spot. The altercation reportedly started after Arthur had allegedly thrown a plantain skin on Griffith.

After committing the act, Griffith allegedly attempted to escape, but was pursued by eyewitnesses and led straight to the Brickdam Police Station, where he was turned over to the police.

to issues such as poverty and early sexual activity, strong leadership across the board is needed so that the country can champion the challenges faced by teenagers from a social, religious, legislative and cultural perspectives.

Minister of Social Protection, Ms Volda Lawrence, during her remarks stated that teens are in urgent need of help and that efforts should be made so as to provide them with the help they need. She stated that her ministry has made several investments to help tackle the issues affecting youth.

“The Ministry of Social Protection bears the responsibility of providing the socio-financial network to cushion vulnerable families and by extension, teenagers, who are part of them,” she said. One such investment is the establishment of the Gender Unit within the ministry, which conducts public sensitisation on gender issues as well as provides counselling for young people. She also alluded to initiatives such as social assistance, vouchers

and power loan agreements and grants that help single parents get into business.

Minister Lawrence also reported that a number of non-violent, non-cocaine criminals in their late teens and early 20s, who had been pardoned by President David Granger last year are now involved in a rehabilitation programme, run by the Probation Department within the ministry. Later, these young people will be assisted with skills through the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency after being taught skills through the rehabilitation programme.

The symposium also featured poignant presentations from teenage mothers who are supported by Women Across Differences (WAD) and who shared, in addition to their struggles, sentiments of gratitude to the First Lady and President Granger for providing sponsorship for these girls to complete examinations to obtain their Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC).

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

Guyana ‘very far’ from stopping trafficking in persons - TIP hero Simona Broomes says fight requires widespread support

By Shauna Jemmott GUYANA was recently taken off the U.S. government’s Tier 2 Watch list for Trafficking in Persons (TIP), but while TIP hero Simona Broomes is overjoyed, she believes all sectors of society need to band together to wipe out the problem.

“As a country and a government and from my personal standpoint, I don’t think there is a second person who feels the way I do about this.

“It’s a journey of pain of happiness, of sadness, of tears, sorrow, loneliness… a very, very, very lonely journey,” she told the Guyana Chronicle in an exclusive interview.

Speaking of her own crusade to recuse girls from interior logging and mining camps and shops, Broomes said it was difficult to “advocate and to lay your life down on the line for people.”

In June 2013, Broomes who was then president and founder of the Guyana Woman Miners Organisation (GWMO), was honoured by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as one of the 2013 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report heroes at a ceremony at the U.S. Department of State.

The U.S. government two Thursdays ago released its 2016 TIP Report, with Guyana removed from the Watch list.

“I don’t have words that I could put together to describe the journey, but what I would always say is that I thank God, because He was always there with me and He kept me and He brought me this far and so I say to God be the glory, great things He has done.

“When I received the award in 2013, I said I will come back to Guyana

and commit myself in[sic] working towards removing Guyana as a nation and as a people from that Watchlist.

“I am alive and I am here…and seeing it unfolding before me is a dream come through,” she said in an interview.

But Broomes recognises that the road ahead is yet still tough.

“I am not saying that we are there, we are very far from there,” Broomes said, adding that the U.S. TIP makes recommendations.

In its latest report, the U.S. Government called on local authorities to vigorously investigate and prosecute sex and labour-trafficking cases here and hold convicted traffickers accountable - including complicit officials - by imposing sentences that are commensurate with the gravity of the crime.

“Human Trafficking is national, it’s a global situation also, and so all Guyanese should be involved [in the fight]. It is a perfect time that everybody could get on board and really work together and take Guyana to the next level where we should be,” Broomes told the Guyana Chronicle. “… while the report pointed out what was done that caused us to move down to that tier, it also gives us the opportunity to continue to build on the requirement, and what is needed and what should happen.”

She said she had incorporated several Non-Governmental organisations, including Red Thread and the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL), and religious groups in the fight.

She said fighting TIP does not stop at identifying and rescuing victims, since the healing process of each

victim is a tremendous challenge in itself.

Recently at a training seminar involving officers within the mining and forestry industries, Broomes spoke passionately against TIP, explaining in detail to the officers a victim’s experience and why she risked it all to save girls and women who fell prey to sexual predators within the extractive and logging

survivor telling her, “Never stop, because what will happen to them that are out there?” That is just a single motivating factor pushing government to fight harder to save and offer justice to every case, every victim, Broomes, now Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, said.

“Even if it’s one, even if it’s a suspected case, it is too many, that’s one too

cued university students who went to the interior for jobs, giving up an office work in Georgetown for a higher-paying job at an internet café in the interior for a salary of $250,000 a month, just to fund their education. Those girls found themselves in the calamity of being trafficked.

“It is not only that this woman wants to go out there and she doesn’t have

FLASHBACK: Simona Broomes with her TIP Award in 2013 industries.

She detailed the abuse suffered by a young teenager at the hands of a mature man and was moved to tears as she related that story of the only girl she never was able to rescue. Had she been able to garner the support of the past government, she could have saved the young girl. She returned searching for the child, but found no trace of her.

She said she keeps thinking about the TIP victims out there and what it really means to them, as she particularly remembers a

many,” the minister pointed out.

She said while many may join in supporting the fight against TIP in terms of sexual exploitation, Guyanese are still to understand what is “Labour-trafficking.”

She said while many believe girls and women are involved in prostitution for social gains, there are unwilling participants and many too weak an army against the predators, the enemies they stand against.

She has met and res-

no[sic] dignity or that she wants to go and prostitute to make money. That is not the story.”

She said Guyana’s latest accomplishment is the beginning of a new journey and paves the way for a higher level of combat.

“My experience in trafficking is not a nice one either, so I think that it is the beginning and a step in the right direction and it will open up the conversations, the policy persons with the political will [be] kicking up also,” Minister Broomes said.

She told the Guyana Chronicle that while TIP does not fall directly under her ministry, she would “never stop contributing my bits and pieces or sharing my experiences in fighting against modern day slavery.

Be it I’m a minister or not I will never stop.”

The Ministry of Natural Resources has already started awareness campaigns and training sessions and has partnered with other ministries to prevent TIP. Government is working on designing policies dealing with the rights, protection and respect of women in the extractive industry, so that women are “able to work equally alongside men in the extractive industry and not fall prey to Trafficking in Persons in the interior.”

She commended the efforts of the Guyana Police Force, as they were responsible for the identification of the crime and administering charges in a case in which one perpetrator was handed three years jail. She also recognised the efforts of the Ministry of Social Protection for providing social support, the victim, other stakeholders, and the Guyana Women Miners Organisation, which was actively involved in the case.

Minister Broomes also recognised the passion President David Granger, First Lady Sandra Granger and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan have also developed to fight TIP. “I think it’s a nasty crime and it’s one of the worst experiences that I have ever had [fighting it].

Guyana will very soon be in a place where persons will understand Trafficking in Persons is a crime.

This Government is going to put trafficking where it is supposed to be.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

Who killed Monica Reece?

- Police reopening sensational case 23 years after her body was dumped on Main Street - Sheema Mangar, Trevor Rose cases also being reopened

THE Major Crimes Unit of the Guyana Police Force has decided to re-open investigations into five murder cases, including that of Monica Reece, Trevor Rose and Sheema Mangar.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed on Saturday that detectives will analyse the evidence in these cases and determine the way forward based on the advice of the force’s legal adviser.

The Reece case is perhaps the most sensational of the cold cases, following reports that there were aspects of the crime which were not properly probed by investigators back in April 1993, when she was killed and her body dumped on Main Street, Georgetown.

“We know for sure that the public has been advocating that we re-open the Monica Reece case, but I won’t be too ambitious and tell you that we will solve the case; we have to look at the evidence, we have to review those statements and we will be engaging the police legal adviser as to the way forward,” Blanhum said.

According to the crime chief, the decision was made to re-open the cold cases, following numerous requests from relatives who have lost loved ones.

“They have been coming

to CID Headquarters indicating their interest in having these cases re-opened. We’ve assured them that we are in the process of re-opening some of the cases, which we know for sure we’ll be able to make some headway[with],” Blanhum said.

MONICA REECE On April 9, 1993, the body of 19-year-old Reece, who was a security guard, was discovered on Main Street. The autopsy report by forensic pathologist Dr Leslie Mootoo had established that Reece suffered a savage beating, which left her with a broken jaw and other injuries, before she was unceremoniously dumped in Main Street.

The autopsy also showed that she had had sexual intercourse some hours before she was slain. Dr. Mootoo had also collected pubic and other hair samples from Reece’s remains. These, and samples from the pick-ups police had impounded, were reportedly sent overseas.

Several weeks after she was killed, Reece’s body was exhumed and more samples taken. These, too, were reportedly sent overseas. The results, according to police, were all “inconclusive,” leaving detectives no closer to catching the killer.

Trevor Rose

Monica Reece

Sheema Mangar

TREVOR ROSE Rose was a popular designer, who was fatally shot on the morning of January 26, 2014, after a lone gunman, in a heavily tinted vehicle, opened fire on the car in which he was travelling at Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

Also injured in the shooting was the driver of the car, Troy Nieuenkirk, and Rose’s companion Latoya Towler, who is the mother of one of Rose’s children. The police had said that Nieuenkirk was driving his car when another vehicle drove up alongside and the driver accosted him about how he was driving.

“An argument ensued, during which the driver of the other vehicle came out with a fire-

arm and discharged a number of rounds at Nieuenkirk and the other persons in his vehicle, after which the perpetrator escaped,” the police had added.

A post-mortem examination later revealed that Rose was shot five times. Two persons were subsequently

held for questioning but were later released. A 9mm pistol and 19 matching rounds were recovered at the scene. His family remains convinced that he was killed because of a woman.

New appeal for foster care after Drop-in Centre fire - More than 350 reports of child abuse, neglect or maltreatment recorded

By Shirley Thomas THE tragic story of two male infants being burnt to death in a fire that razed the Drop-in Centre in Georgetown on Thursday has evoked renewed calls for family-based care for less fortunate children.

Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA), Ms. Anne Greene, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, said there are many children who would be better off in foster care.

Government, through its home-based or Foster Care Programme, has been able to place 179 children in foster care with 111 parents of recent. But against a backdrop of more than 350 reports of child abuse, neglect or mal-

treatment, there is an ever increasing need for more foster care parents.

And such would have been the ideal setting for the five siblings, two of whom perished in that blaze on Thursday. Six-year-old Joshua George and two-year-old Antonio George had been admitted to the Drop-in Centre only the day before the fire. Greene said that while the ideal setting for the five children (including one girl) would have been home-based care, the decision to place them at the Hadfield Street Drop-in Centre was the best at the time.

She recalled that from the moment they visited the home the children were living in and saw the conditions there, they immediately decided that the

children could not be allowed to go on living there. She said that, in the circumstances, the CCPA Office did its level best to bring relief to the suffering children. The case had been reported to them on four occasions, Greene disclosed, and opined that the five siblings had been rescued from almost inhumane conditions on Wednesday.

“It is unfortunate that this happened. We were called to protect them, and responded professionally and compassionately; but then something happens and we are made to look bad.

We are professional people with a love for the job, and who have the interest

Please turn to page 20

SHEEMA MANGAR Twenty-one-year-old

Mangar, who was an employee of Demerara Bank, was killed on September 11, 2010, when she was run over by a car in which a man who had snatched her cellular phone was escaping. The incident occurred on North Road, close to Camp Street, Georgetown.

The police processed two cars that were suspected to have been involved in the matter and items found on the vehicles were submitted to the Forensic Laboratory for analysis by Crime Scene Investigators. The samples were subsequently sent to Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Brazil; however, it is not known whether detectives had received the results.

The Police Force has come in for frequent criticisms by Mangar’s family and others over the sloth in the probe and the failure to produce DNA results from what was thought to be critical evidence.

14

SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

COPA Airlines celebrates two years of service to Guyana

COPA Airlines will on Monday mark two years since it began serving the Guyana market with direct flights to Panama.

In a press statement, the airline noted that increased demand for its service saw the addition of two more flights per week last October, bringing the total number of

flights per week to four.

“This move was also in keeping with COPA’s commitment to increase its services to the Guyanese people,” the airline stated.

In the past two years, the airline said it has been able to expand its service and strengthen its partnership

with a number of individuals and groups in the country.

“The journey has been an exciting one over the last two years. We have been able to successfully expand our service to reach a wide cross-section of persons travelling to the beautiful country of Guyana and other 73 destinations in

31 countries,” said Diego Bermudez Parra, Regional Sales Director.

Copa stated that it has been working to strengthen social partnerships in Guyana over the past two years. This has seen the airline providing support to a number of persons and groups ranging

from sports personalities to those involved in culture and the arts.

“We have made it possible for Guyanese sportsmen and women to travel to a number of countries to represent Guyana while facilitating air travel for others to come to the country for

musical and cultural performances.

Just recently, the airline facilitated air travel to Guyana for a Mexican Mariachi Band that staged a performance for the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary,” said Guyana Sales Manager Nadine Oudkerk.

Passengers disembark a COPA Airlines flight at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport

SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

Development plan for Port Kaituma THE Ministry of Communities is preparing to dispatch a team to the Port Kaituma, Region One district to meet and discuss with residents a detailed community development plan following protests over bad roads in the area.

The team will include Ministerial Liaison, Mark Crawford; Principal Regional Development Officer, Surendra Khayyam; Project Manager, Naeem Khan; Member of Parliament, (MP) Richard Allen and officials from the region.

The visit is a follow-up on a previous trip taken by officials to the area last week to meet with residents and gather their inputs on a Local Area Economic Plan (LAEP).

However, officials reported that the turnout at the

meeting was dismal and far from encouraging. Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan said the ministry is aware of the considerable challenges facing several regions, particularly the hinterland.

However, he noted that central government is committed within the parameters of its financial resources to address these challenges.

“We are prioritising the most critical areas. In my estimation, this road falls within that priority range and so within our budgetary allocation we are prepared to make an emergency intervention,” Minister Bulkan said.

He added that the ministry, through collaboration and the necessary inputs of the regional and local authorities, will continue to engage

residents.

Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley met with residents of Citrus Grove, Port Kaituma, on June 30 and after listening to their concerns highlighted the region’s plan for the community.

He explained that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) remains committed to a collaborative approach with all stakeholders and is hopeful that the road can be rehabilitated as early as possible.

“I told the residents that while the NDC might be responsible for getting it fixed, there must be a collaborative approach between government, the RDC and residents.

I also asked them to consider their options and examine what can be accomplished

A recent accident along with a deplorable road at Port Kaituma

through self-help,” Ashley stated.

Regional Executive Officer Leslie Wilburg echoed similar sentiments that the region is committed to having issues affecting residents resolved and that regional authorities are supportive of any developmental effort that will be of benefit to residents and the region at large.

Only last week, contracts were awarded by Cabinet for rehabilitation of two sections of roads in Port Kaituma. Government has already awarded contracts to begin work on the stretch of road from Port Kaituma to Matthew’s Ridge and to Baramita.

Under the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) initiative, a technical team from the ministry is working to develop a Local Area Economic Profile (LAEP) for Port Kaituma, Arakaka and Matthew’s Ridge. (Ministry of Communities)

15

- following protest by residents

16

SUNDAY CHRONICLE JulY 10, 2016

Top-performance East Berbice NGSA students rewarded

TOP-performance students at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) from East Berbice were Friday presented with bicycles and backpacks through President David Granger’s 5Bs (Buses, Boats, Bicycles, Breakfast and Books) initiative through the Ministry of Social Cohesion .

The presentation was made by Minster of Social Cohesion Amna Ally to the top 52 performers in the region. It represented the single largest recognition across the country for top achievers at the recently concluded NGSA. The bicycles were donated by Fazil Yunas of Yunas Civil & Building Construction Services, while the backpacks were donated by Starr Computers.

Minister Ally reminded everyone that previously there was no such recognition, but through President Granger’s initiative and support from corporate Guyana, students are getting the recognition they deserve.

“I am very proud of Region Six, you will note that we have been moving across the other administrative regions of Guyana and are honouring the top 10 to 20

students for their performance at the NGSA, but in Region Six we decided to honour 50 students.

“You are one of the regions that stand out and the reason you are standing out is because of Mr Yunas’s contribution.

“This is the largest recognition of its kind across Guyana; thanks to Mr. Yunas and through the President’s dream and his government’s vision for an educated nation, we were able to make this presentation here today.”

Minister Ally said through her ministry, which is the driving force of the 5Bs initiative, they recognised the need for students to be rewarded at the end of the NGSA and at the same time motivate others to excel, so that they too can strive to be rewarded.

“As you are aware, the President is very passionate about education and would do everything in his power to ensure we have an educated nation, which is why he started with the 3Bs project that has now grown to 5Bs; and with the support of people like Mr. Yunas and corporate Guyana, the people are finding it easy get their children to school and staying

in school.”

So far, the under the 5Bs project, 10 busses, nine boats and several hundreds of bicycles have been distributed and another 300350 bicycles are expected to be distributed to NGSA students.

The Minister of Social Cohesion also encouraged the students to be respectful of their guardians as they move away from their parents and homes to their new schools in Region Four.

“I want to encourage you to be all-rounders.

“We want you to study hard but participate in sports/ extra-curricular activities and I want to assure you, you will have the facilities to become all-rounders.”

Businessman Fazil Yunas, in an invited comment, said he was very happy to be part of the President’s programme and is optimistic that this donation will help to motivate other students to excel at their examinations, so that they too can be rewarded.

“Since the (5Bs) started, I wanted to make a contribution as I recognised that the programme is helping the average citizen get their children in school to become educated and help break the

Top NGSA Students of St. Therese’s Primary make their way home with their bicycles cycle of poverty.

“So I met with the minister and she told me about this idea to honour the students and I immediately committed to it as I know it will encourage more students in Region Six to do better.

“I also promised the minister that once I have the

means I will continue to contribute towards the programme, because we have a responsibility to give back to the community and I am very pleased to see how happy and excited the students were to receive their gifts and hope others strive for better next year.”

Regional Education Officer, Volika Jaikishun, in her brief address commended the students for a job well done.

She said she was proud that the top 50 awardees for Region Six all came from the public schools unlike other regions where the private schools dominated.

Haitian gospel singer finds peace in Guyana

By Shauna Jemmott UPON a friendly invitation, Haitian gospel star Sonday Ceran left a nation which has become prominent internationally for its high level of poverty and devastating natural and manmade disturbances, and has found peace in Guyana.

Sondy is a temporary visitor, but has secured employment as a teacher in both French and Music, and longs to stay on.

As he spreads the gospel through music, a single guitar is his constant friend.

Sondy now calls Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara, his home and many days he is spotted with his guitar singing at a village shop; in fact, you can hear him singing as he passes along the road in the village when he is heading out or headed home.

“My Father is always on my case trying for me to be a pastor because he is a pastor.

“He [doesn’t] have a problem that I’m a singer, but

he doesn’t really like that.”

Born into what he called a strong Christian home, Sondy performed in Haiti and recently completed gigs in Curacao, Brazil, Suriname and here in Guyana.

I first met up with Sondy as he was travelling to Georgetown. His voice was distinct among the others that accompanied the gospel music in the bus. He had this Donnie McClurkin sound to be just a regular guy chanting along!

We both recognised a common interest and communication began.

He spoke graciously of his love for music and the gospel, and how his talent was developed.

He was born to a voice trainer and as he grew and was able to sing, she began training the voice of her eldest child.

The two sang together day after day, and at events in their local church, until the child grew and began singing in national fellowships before

thousands of people.

A member of the ‘Body of Christ’ church in Haiti, he was a big hit every December in every national Christian fellowship as the leader of an

singer said.

He played the guitar among other musical instruments and featured in gospel fiestas with the greats in the likes of McClurkin while

Gospel Singer Sondy Ceran accomplished, highly respected choir.

“It’s in that place people started seeing me and they saw I could be a star,” the

travelling from congregation to congregation passing on the skill of music to thousands in Haiti.

His work through the

gospel involved preaching and teaching, worshipping in choirs and playing of musical instruments among other ministries, but the love he has for music has surpassed all.

“I used to preach many times. I used to do many things, but what I feel like when I’m singing, I love that.

I dream to be famous [by] preaching the gospel through my songs. [I want to] do my music and recording my music and all over the world [so] people can listen to the word of God through my songs.”

With French being his first language, he is currently recording his first album as a solo artiste in English, but which he recorded live before with the choir which he led.

Haiti alone compared to the gospel universe is a small town, and while Sondy has launched out into South America and the Caribbean, his eyes are also set on the bigger markets, North America, Europe, Africa and Asia, so that the message of the gospel can reach all the

world. He has a passion not just for a daily closer walk with God, but for helping the world draw near.

“In all of my songs I ask God to make me stronger… in my songs I ask God to help me go up, help me go higher.

The new English album “Take my hand” is expected to be highly inspirational with the title song being a source for strength.

“Whenever you’re doing something, whatever you’re going through, no matter how ugly the situation might look like, if God is with you, [nothing] is impossible,” he said.

Sondy’s first song, ‘The Lord is the King’ which he recorded since he was 15, lives on as a favourite in Haiti, giving him a little more motivation that his dream of rising high in the universal gospel arena can become real.

Some years ago, he played double roles in a movie “Love exists still,” for which he also produced the theme song.

17

SUNDAY CHRONICLE JulY 10, 2016

East Berbice NGSA performers fulfil ‘Queen’s’ dream

THE top performers at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) from Region Six(East Berbice/ Corentyne), assigned placed at Queen’s College and other top-performing secondary schools, are eager to move to their new schools as they gear up for the challenges of moving away from home.

At the Port Mourant Primary School, we met the ecstatic 11-yearold Omesh Dyal, who is the region’s top student with 555 marks.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Dyal, an aspiring medical doctor, said he was not surprised at the results since put in a lot of work and has always been a high achiever throughout his school life.

“I was in class when the teachers came and told me I topped the school and the region; I was excited and happy to hear that! I sacrificed all my games and television for my books, so I’m happy the hard work paid off.”

Dyal will be attending Queen’s College come September.

The second of three siblings, Dyal said he has always received the support of his family and they have been very instrumental in his academic achievements. He also attributed his

me - to make my parents proud.

“They always encourage me to put my best foot forward and even stayed up with me at nights.

“I had some challenges with math, but my dad was very patient in explaining in detail to me so I could have overcome that hurdle.

“I wish to thank God, my teachers and parents for helping me to achieve

ANGELINA TAHAL

BEYONCE FRANCE

success to his teachers.

His advice to others who will be sitting the exams in 2017 is to “pay attention in class, listen to your teachers and sacrifice the games.”

Sharing the same Grade 6 A classroom with Dyal was Rachel Williams, who lives in the neighbouring village of Tain. The outspoken young woman, who is also an aspiring medical doctor, said she was excited to be among the region’s top performers.

“This is a dream come through for

this and I will try my best to achieve even higher goals.”

Williams and Dyal have been classmates since Grade 1 and have always enjoyed a friendly competition.

They were both happy for each other and their school. Their teacher, Anita, was moved to tears to see two of her students making it amongst the country’s best and is motivated to have a repeat come next year.

Over at Rose Hall Town, the beaming Faria Hafiz of Rose Hall Primary School secured the second highest

NATALIE SHULTZ

marks in Region Six with 550 marks, missing out on the top spot by five marks. Hafiz, who wants to become a teacher, said she was very happy with her success. “ I am very happy and want to thank God, my teachers and parents for helping me achieve this goal.

“I am a bit disappointed though, as I had some challenges with Science

OMESH DYAL

JONATHAN RAGOBAR and felt I could have done better.

Nevertheless, I will continue to push forward and do the best I can.” Hafiz said she will be opting to go to a school in Region Six, even though she has earned a place at Queen’s College.

Angelina Tahal, of All Saints Primary, gained 541, which also earned her a place at Queen’s College. She told this publication she was extremely pleased with the results. She said preparation for the examinations was hard work, but she still managed to

balance work and leisure, since she believed they go hand in hand.

Farad Alibaksh, 11, of Skeldon Primary, earned 541 marks and was offered a place at Queen’s College.

Jonathan Raghobar, of Corriverton Primary, gained 546 marks, earning him a spot at Queen’s College.

He was elated to top his school and expressed gratitude to his parents and

FARIA HAFIZ

RACHEL WILLIAMS teachers for their dedication and support. He said he will continue to work hard to fulfil his dream of becoming a doctor.

Other top performers were assigned Bishops High School. They are Nathalie Schultz of St Therese’s Primary, who gained 540 marks; Vettorie Lathman of Massiah Primary, who gained 537 marks; Beyonce France of All Saints Primary, who gained 534 marks; and Sadiyya Chinnapen, who gained 531 marks.

18

SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

Key suspect in Kaieteur News grenade attack skips country SHEMAR Wilson, one of the key suspects accused of throwing a live grenade outside the office of

Kaieteur News on Saffon Street, Georgetown, has fled the jurisdiction, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed.

While not disclosing which country the suspect is in, Blanhum told reporters on Saturday that investigators are in contact with officials in that country and he is optimistic that Wilson will be apprehended soon.

In June, police had issued a wanted bulletin for 20-year-old Wilson, called “Abdue.” His addresses were given as Lot 43 North Sophia, Georgetown, and Lot 51 West La Penitence.

On June 15, three men were remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in connection with the incident. It is alleged that on June 4, at Saffon Street, Georgetown, they unlawfully and maliciously conspired together with persons to cause a grenade to explode, which could have endangered lives or cause damage to property.

According to reports, three persons, including the driver, were in a silver-grey Toyota Spacio from which the grenade was thrown. Prior to the attack, the occupants were seen parked in James Street, Albouystown.

WANTED: Shemar Wilson, called ‘Abdue’ When the device was tossed at the publisher’s vehicle, a security staffer had heard an unusual sound near the Lexus SUV which was parked on the western side of Saffon Street. Upon checking, the staffer spotted the grenade lying near the right front wheel.

Staffers were, at the time, participating in a wake for Assistant Editor Dale Andrews, who had passed away earlier the same day.

Video footage from a Kaieteur News CCTV camera showed the grey Spacio heading north, but slowing as it approached Lall’s vehicle. The vehicle then accelerated after the device was thrown, but later crashed in the vicinity of Norton Street and Mandela Avenue.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

19

20

New appeal for foster care after ...

From page 13

of the children foremost at heart and work 24/7,” she explained.

Greene expressed disappointment and disgust at the coverage of the incident by a certain section of the media.

She said the coverage sought to lay blame on her and the CCPA, and make them look culpable when in fact they were not, she said. She expressed the view that people who are talking do not understand child protection and its implications.

Moreover, Green said that as public servants, they (at the CCPA) have to work with the government of the day, and deliver faithfully and professionally. She said her hard working staffers are disheartened at the negative comments being made by some people on the basis of misinformation or because they have an agenda.

“We [at the CPA] do not have an agenda. Any agenda we have is to protect the chil-

dren,” she declared.

Greene said that following the fire, the three other George siblings, along with the other displaced children, totalling 29, were taken to the Sophia Centre and Half Way Home, where they are currently being accommodated until a better arrangement can be worked out for them.

“We have the other three (siblings); they are still in care, but, so far, no family member has come forward. We want somebody (a relative) to come forward,” she said.

Commenting on what the director describes as some unfortunate comments made on social media and elsewhere, calling for the children to be returned to the home from which they were rescued, Ms. Green said that is unthinkable.

“They cannot stay in that horrible house with that horrible man,” she declared as she lamented what the children were forced to endure.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

Firefighters inside the gutted Drop-in Centre Meanwhile, in keeping with Government’s thrust to promote family-based care and use institutional care only as a last resort, the decision to admit the children to the Hadfield Street Drop-in Centre was but a transitional arrangement, valid only until a long-term arrangement could have been worked out for them, Greene said; but sadly, she expressed, the two boys perished before that could have been done.

Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence, had, during Foster Care Month, reminded that the Ministry of Social Protection is moving to attract more foster families. In her message to mark the start of Child Protection Week, Minister Lawrence had noted that there are presently 179 children in foster care with 111 parents.

She said the ministry is working to increase those numbers, so that every child in Guyana who cannot be reunited with his/her biological family would still have a chance to experience a safe and comfortable home with either a foster or adoptive family.

“The Ministry of Social Protection, through the Child Care and Protection Agency, seeks to place on the front burner the urgent need for reuniting children across the

country -- especially those in orphanages and state institutions -- with their families, or providing alternative families for them.

“To meet this need, the Ministry of Social Protection and its partners are committed to strengthening and supporting families. This thrust is in keeping with this year’s (2015) theme, ‘Strengthening Families to Protect Children’, she said.

And noting that the family has the primary responsibility for the nurturing and protection of the child as well as ensuring permanency, safety and well-being, the Minister said it is most unfortunate that the Child Care and Protection Agency has received more than 350 reports of child abuse, neglect or maltreatment through its hotline, and that more than 128 children were placed in care outside of their home.

Of the 800-plus children in institutional care, only 17 have been reunited with their biological families for the year 2015. Statistics show that persons raised in dysfunctional families frequently report difficulties in their adult life. The Minister added that, with specialized support, families are capable of providing the necessary care, resulting in those very children leading healthy, productive lives in society.

Sunday July 10th, 2016 - 08:30 hrs Monday July 11th, 2016 - 09:30 hrs Tuesday July 12th, 2016 - 10:30 hrs

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SUNDAY 10, 2016 GUYANACHRONICLE CHRONICLE,July SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2016

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HEALTH/FITNESS ARE you stressed? Have you lost all hope that there is a solution to a continuous pain or illness that you are experiencing?

Well come down to "Cure for all Herbal Centre" at Lot 40 Duncan Street, Campbellville.

We specialise in finding remedies for the pains and illnesses that are preventing you from progressing. Call to make appointments on 601-2428, 619584 6.

FOR RENTAL rental

CANTER truck for purposes of transporting goods and materials. Contact 619-9022, 6418645.

VACANCY

VACANCY

EVENING shift security guards. Call 225-1659 to apply.

LORRY Driver (Canter), Porter and factory fillers. Tel: 2265473.

TELLES steel and hardware driver/porter Tel: 226-6771, 2313265.

GUARD to work in Bel Air Springs, 45 to 58. 18:00 to 06:00hrs. Tel: 662-1124.

1 LIVE IN maid must know to cook Indian dishes and from the country Tel: 662-1124.

ONE Receptionist at Sunset View Hotel, Lot 1 David Street, Kitty Tel: 223-6416.

GENERAL Managers to work in the interior on land dredges with popular mining firm. Tel: 226-9768.

MALE to work in Computer store, 18-23 years old. Send application: Manager, 105 Regent Road, Bourda.

ONE Live-in home assistant preferably from Berbice/Essequibo area.

Tel:667-6644,216-3120.

PORTERS, cashiers, packers.

Apply in person, 173 Sheriff Street on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

BARTENDERS to work at 704. Contact the Manager on telephone number 642 1441 DAY and night cleaners at Sunset View Hotel. Tel: 223-6416.

EXPEREINCED bar/worker/ shop for Ekereku bottom (interior) age 18 - 30 years. Call 231-0363.

PRIMARY & Secondary teachers at I.P.E Mon Repos ECD and Grove EBD. Call: 220-0538, 265-3996, 629-5300.

COOK to cook roti in bulk $18 000 weekly, age 35 to 45. Kitchen assistant $12 000 weekly, age 35 to 45. Call 227-2973.

FEMALE Accounts Clerk, passes with English & Maths. Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek.

WAITER, waitress all-rounders and kitchen attendant. Apply with written application to New Thriving Restaurant, 32 Main and Hope Streets, Georgetown.

SECURITY Guards, Visiting Inspector, Drivers, Security Manager.

Apply in person to Personnel Manager Brans Security Services, 168 Duncan Street, Newtown - Contact: 592-227-5020.

CONTROL room assistants and visiting officers. Sound secondary education, must be computer-literate, Massy Security (Guyana) Inc., Tel: 225-5573/6.

WELL-bodied male security guards to work night for a reputable organisation. Interested persons can apply to: The Personnel Manager, P. Ramroop & Sons, Lot 5R 2 Kersaint Park, LBI., ECD. JANITORIAL staff, experience not needed but will be an asset. Must have secondary education. Be able to work flexible hours, age between 18-45, excellent remuneration package. Applications must be sent to P.O Box 12329.

FOR Secretaries, Clerks & Salespersons, contact Ferguson's B u s i ness & Consultancy, 154 Charlotte & King Streets, Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana (Sharon's Building) or call 680-2198, 625-4282, 08:00hrs 16:00hrs, Monday to /Friday.

BOOKKEEPER/ Accounts Clerk must be 20-40 years old, 3 CXC subjects. Knowledge of Microsoft Office including Excel, familiar with NIS, PAY E , GRA an asset but not necessary.

Send application to German's Restaurant at 8 New Market Street, Georgetown.

RONG-AN INC. CONTACT # 592-665-3950. 2. Legal Adviser A. Bachelor's Degree, B. Major in Law, C. Fluent in Chinese and English & D. At least on year experience. 2. Mechanic. A. able to fix heavy duty machines, B. Related working experience & C. Experience with trucks of Chinese brand preferred. 1. Timber Sales Manager. A. At least one year experience in sales, B. Good communicating skills, C. Able to speak and understand basic Chinese and English.

ONE female Assistant Manager: Requirements - at least five (5) subjects CSEC Level, good written and verbal communication with ability to prepare and analyse financial statement. Knowledge of QuickBooks will be an asset. Also at least two (2) years' experience in similar field. Send application and CV to sharonsbuilding@aol.com Tel: 225-4413, 225-0283 or visit us on 2nd floor. At Sharon's building Charlotte & King Streets, Georgetown.

A LARGE mining company advertises for persons to fill the following positions for work at a mining concession in the interior - mining engineers, geologists, technicians, heavy equipment operators, drillers, surveyors. Application must include qualification and previous work experiences. a valid Police Clearance and recommendation from previous employers. Please send written applications to New East International Inc., Lot 100 Fourth Avenue, Subryanville, Georgetown, by latest July 29, 2016.

Land For SaleSALE LAND FOR BEL AIR GARDENS. Call 611-3513.

HOUSE LOT. COVENT GARDEN. 610-9113

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MINING land in Mazaruni mining district. Contact 6725285.

WE have affordable house lots. Please call 604-4945, 6398474.

LAND at Mocha EBD, size 80x40. Price $3M Contact 6211565 Richard.

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30 ACRES transported land, ideal for resort, cattle, cash crop or rice Tel: 676-6630.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE JulY 10, 2016

Warriors make light work of Patriots to go 4-0

By Rajiv Bisnauth

ON a two-paced pitch at the National Stadium, Providence, the Guyana Amazon Warriors further displayed their HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) dominance, trouncing St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by four wickets in game ten yesterday and stretched their unbeaten tournament run to four wins with no defeat.

Close to 8000 spectators watched the visitors found themselves at the wrong end of what was a disconcerting performance from their batsmen, who could only muster 108-8.

The pitch,which is coming under heavy criticism, saw the Patriots failed to find their groove,as they struggled to gain batting momentum, after Captain

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Faf Du Plessis won the toss and opted to don the pads.

Lendl Simmons was the only Patriots batsman to demonstrate relative comfort, hitting 50 off 60 balls.

However, the loss of three quick wickets in the first half of the innings resulted in the visitors failing to recover from the damage and kept losing wickets at regular intervals, as the ball bobbed up off the sluggish clay. They only managed to score seven boundaries, with Simmons accounting for three of them.

The move to play three spinners again, as the Warriors did in the victory over the Jamaica Tallawahs last Thursday evening,was predictable.

The spinners exploited the favourable conditions superbly to claim five wickets between them for just 60 runs in fourteen overs.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa was the pick of the spinners, claiming 3-18, but off-spinner Steven Jacobs was the most economical, with his four overs costing seven runs while left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul conceded only 25 runs from his four overs.

The other bowlers did their bit,with left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir and medium pacer Rayad Emrit being the other successful bowlers.

Jacobs started the visitors slide when he trapped Evin Lewis leg before wicket in the fourth over, before Rayad Emrit removed Thisara Perera, putting the visitors’ formidable batting on the back foot.

With the first six overs yielding just 24 runs, the Patriots began to feel the pressure once Zampa accounted for dangerman Du Plessis for one to leave the visitors struggling at 29-3.

Jonathan Carter and Simmons then provided the Patriots with a much-needed impetus, added 23 for the fourth wicket, before Permaul removed Carter (15).

Zampa then claimed the wickets of Devon Thomas and Jon Jon Smuts in the 17th over.

Simmons led the fight almost till the end, but failed to get enough on the board with which to cause the Warriors any headache. He and Shamarh Brooks were the final two wickets to be dismissed.

However, their below par total was always gettable

even with the early dismissal of Dwayne Smith, caught and bowled by Smuts in the second over, and a middle order collapse.

Martin Guptill, who took the Man-of-theMatch honours,and Chris Lynn added 60 runs for the second wicket in six overs,which eventually set up the successful runchase.

Guptill took the attack to the opposition, smashing a 22-ball 43, with three fours and four sixes. The Warriors then suffered a mini collapse, losing Guptill, Jason Mohammed (4), Christopher Barnwell (0), Anthony Bramble (1) and Lynn, who made

a 37-ball 34 in the process.

Tanvir and Jacobs calmly knocked off the final six runs for victory with 3.4 overs to spare. On the bowling front, there was nothing to shout about, despite Smuts, Samuel Badree and Tabraiz Shamsi claiming two wickets apiece in the tournament.It will be a hard struggle for The Patriots,who need a major change in strategy,to advance to the knockout stage.

On the other hand, the Warriors who are undefeated thus far, will play the Trinbago Knight Riders tonight from 19:00hrs, the penultimate game of their home leg fixtures.

Serena beats Kerber to equal ...

From back page emotional American rose to her feet -- saying later she had been beaten by a “great champion and a great person.

“Serena was serving unbelievable today. She really played an unbelievable match,” Kerber who will rise to second in the WTA rankings on Monday, said.

“I think I didn’t lose the match, I think she won it.”

Williams won 38 of 43 points on her first serve and faced only one break point, at 3-3 in the second set, which she saved with one of the 13 aces she delivered.

“It’s the single greatest weapon in the history of the women’s game, followed closely by her will to win,” was three-times men’s champion John McEnroe’s succinct summing up of what puts world number one Williams in a league of her own.

INTENSE SCRAP Kerber reached the final without conceding a set and scuppered hopes of a first all-Williams grand slam final since 2009 when beating Venus in the semis.

With a stunning win against Serena in Melbourne, the German walked on court full of belief -- winning the opening point with a cleanly struck forehand.

Williams, patrolling her baseline with menace, bit into the Kerber serve in the second game but failed to convert any of the three break points she had.

An intense scrap developed from then on as Williams attacked incessantly and Kerber bravely traded blows.

Williams bent double and pumped both fists when winning a long rally on serve at 3-3 as Kerber briefly threatened.

She was also taken to deuce on serve at 4-4 and 30-30 at 5-5, yelling “C’mon!!” as she kept her nose in front.

Having coped with the heavy artillery heading her way, Kerber’s downfall was self-inflicted as two poor errors opened the door for Williams to take the opener.

Kerber then screamed her delight at one searing winner early in the second set and finally earned a break point at 3-3 -- Williams responding with consecutive aces.

Williams ended up in a heap on the floor in the next game after a close-quarters exchange, but got up to break for a 5-3 lead as Kerber finally crumbled.

She joyfully returned to the turf shortly afterwards as her trusty serve powered her home.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE JulY 10, 2016

France and Portugal clash In European final today AN expectant host nation France begin as favourites to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy against largely unfancied opponents Portugal , who have doggedly fought their way to the final despite little attacking fluency.

But European Championship finals do not always follow the script - as the Portugal players involved in their shock defeat by Greece in 2004 can testify.

Twelve years on and it is the Portuguese cast in the role of unfashionable underdogs and their opponents France who must withstand the pressure and capitalise on home advantage.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos freely concedes his side are the tournament’s “ugly duckling”, but he promised during the group stage that they would reach the final - and so it has proved.

France, however, have been far more ruthless, with 13 of those efforts finding the net. One more would see them equal the record for the most goals at a single European Championship (set by the French in 1984).

Crucial to their success has been the clinical form of Antoine Griezmann, now heavily odds-on to win the Golden Boot after taking his tournament tally to six with two goals against Germany. The 25-yearold - whose maternal grandfather was Portuguese - is already among esteemed company at the tournament.

Griezmann’s exploits are all the more remarkable given he was dropped from the starting XI following France’s opening game.

That is just one of several difficult decisions made by coach Didier Deschamps which have paid handsome dividends - whether they are changes in formation, personnel or even the non-selection of Karim Benzema before the tournament.

Deschamps has said that France reaching the final of their home Euro 2016 is helping to bring back a feelgood factor in the country, where 130 people were killed in November

in attacks across Paris.

“We don’t have the power to solve the French people’s problems but we can ease their worries,” Deschamps said.

“The players are well aware of that power, and what they can give to the French people by wearing these colours. When you see the passion, inside and outside the stadium,

with eight of their nine wins by single-goal margins.

Cristiano Ronaldo has also failed to score with any of his 43 direct free-kicks at major international tournaments.

All nine of his goals at the European Championship have been scored from inside the penalty area. Five of those have been headers.

FRANCE France have won three of their previous four finals at World Cups or Euros .

They only time they ended as runners-up was at the 2006 World Cup - they drew 1-1 with Italy before losing on penalties.

They are unbeaten in their last 18 games at World Cups or Euros on home soil, winning 16 and drawing two. Their last defeat came at the inaugural European Championship in 1960 (they lost both their games - a semi-final against Yugoslavia and third-place play-off against Czechoslovakia).

Victory would see France join Germany and Spain as three-time European champions.

Of France’s 13 goals at Euro 2016, 11 Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and France’s Antoine Griezmann who has scored have been scored from the 42nd minute six goals at Euro 2016 - twice as many as any other player. onwards.

The record for most goals by a team at the this team has everything it takes to be loved, do Quaresma replied with a penalty), while Euros is held by France (14 in five matches the players are performing well on the pitch Mathieu Valbuena’s free-kick gave France a in 1984). and I’m very proud.”

1-0 victory in Lisbon last September.

France are the last side to win the EuroMATCH FACTS PORTUGAL pean Championship final after conceding the HEAD-TO-HEAD Portugal have played the most games in opening goal (they hit back from 1-0 down France have won their last 10 games the history of the European Championship to beat Italy 2-1 in 2000). against Portugal. Their overall record is without ever winning the tournament (34, Antoine Griezmann can become the third W18, D1, L5. before this final). Should they beat France, Frenchman to finish as the sole top scorer at Portugal last avoided defeat against the that unwanted record will pass to England major tournament, following Just Fontaine French in 1975, when they won a friendly (31 matches).

(1958 World Cup) and Michel Platini (Euro 2-0 in Paris.

They are the first team to reach the final 84).

France’s 10-game winning streak includes of the European Championship after ending Didier Deschamps could become the the three previous meetings at major tourna- third in the group stage. It has happened twice second man to win the European Chamments, all of which came at the semi-final before at World Cups but Argentina (in 1990) pionship as a player and coach, after Gerstage. Michel Platini hit a late winner as and Italy (in 1994) both ended as runners-up. many’s Berti Vogts - who was an unused France won 3-2 in extra time at Euro 84, Portugal are unbeaten in their 13 com- substitute in 1972 and coach in 1996). (bbc while Zinedine Zidane scored a golden goal petitive fixtures under Fernando Santos Sport)

Inventive Froome takes charge after stunning attack

By Julien Pretot BAGNERES DE LUCHON, France (Reuters)-Briton Chris Froome stunned his passive rivals to snatch the overall leader’s yellow jersey in the Tour de France when he won the eighth stage with a lightning attack on the final descent yesterday.

The Team Sky rider sped away from a group of overall favorites at the top of the last of four grueling climbs in the Pyrenees and never looked back as he raced down at breakneck speed towards the line.

The defending champion, who is chasing a third Tour title, finished 13 seconds ahead of Ireland’s Dan Martin (Etixx-Quick Step) and Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha).

Last year’s runner-up Nairo Quintana (Movistar), who failed to attack on a searing hot day, was in the group featuring Martin and Rodriguez.

Double champion Al-

berto Contador lost further ground after being dropped near the top of the Col de Peyresourde, the last ascent of the 184-km stage.

Overall, Froome leads fellow Briton Adam Yates

Team Sky rider Chris Froome, new yellow jersey leader, reacts on the podium after winning the stage. (Reuters/Juan Medina) (Orica-Bike Exchange) and Rodriguez, who are second and third respectively, by 16

seconds.

“It was a bit of fun. I thought I would give it (attacking downhill) a try. That was real old-school bike racing,” said Froome.

Expected to attack on the climbs, the Briton took his opponents by surprise.

A f t e r re a c h i n g t h e top of Peyresourde first, Froome pedaled away as Quintana and others failed to react promptly, taking risks on the descent as he put his whole weight onto the front of his bike in a position reminiscent of Graeme Obree in the 1990s.

Quintana, Froome’s main rival, looked comfortable on the climbs but never attacked and his passivity at the top of Peyresourde cost him dearly.

The Colombian is sixth overall 23 seconds off the pace before Sunday’s biggest Pyrenean stage up to Andorra Arcalis, where Froome is widely expected to try and hammer the opposition with one of his trademark accelerations.

(via a penalty) as the French won 2-1 at Euro 2000. And another Zidane spot-kick put France in the 2006 World Cup final with a 1-0 win.

The sides have met twice in friendlies in the last two years. Les Bleus won 2-1 at the Stade de France in October 2014 with goals from Karim Benzema and Paul Pogba (Ricar-

Sussex openers give Pakistan bowlers a testing day IF it was not already clear, the second day at Hove reinforced how crucial Mohammad Amir and Yasir Shah are to Pakistan’s hopes in the Test series against England.

Sussex’s openers, Luke Wells and Harry Finch, added 212 for the first wicket before they declared 72 runs behind, offering Pakistanis the chance to see how keen they are for a proper game on the final day.

(Scores at the end of day 2: Pakistanis 363 for 5 dec and 71 for 1 (Masood 38*) lead Sussex 291 for 5 dec (Finch 103, Wells 93) by 143 runs Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s head coach, had billed this match a “bowloff” to support Amir and Yasir with two places “up for grabs”.

The ball did not swing conventionally before lunch and the lines were not con-

sistent which enabled Finch and Wells to make a flyer: the fifty up in the eighth over, 120 in 27 by lunch.

In the first session it was a case of who bowled least worse but in the hour before tea Wahab Riaz - probably playing-off against Rahat Ali for a spot unless Pakistan decide on three left-armers - provided a reminder of the danger that can be posed almost out of nowhere when the older ball starts to move.

Wells was the first to fall when Wahab, who overstepped 10 times striving for pace, returned for his second spell of the day, his first from the Cromwell Road End, and started to find reverse swing with impressive pace: he will never be a bowler picked for economy, but he has the ability to rattle the batsmen.

Wells drove flat-footed at a full delivery, edging behind seven short of a

century, then Matt Machan was almost yorked first ball before being beaten by his second delivery.

Finch, opening the batting for the first time in firstclass cricket, reached his century in Wahab’s next over, when he square-drove his 16th boundary, but two balls later was tempted into driving a full delivery and edged to slip.

At the Sea End, Imran Khan - a name that adorned this ground in the late 1970s and 1980s - picked up a brace himself, although they owed a little more to the batsmen’s errors. Machan was lbw after a horrid swipe across the line then Ben Brown drove loosely at his first ball: 212 without loss had become 233 for 4 in the blink of an eye.

Imran had earlier struggled for rhythm as he ran up the hill, at one point delivering three consecutive no-balls. (ESPN Cricinfo)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE JulY 10, 2016

Williams sisters win sixth Wimbledon doubles title SERENA Williams put the icing on the cake of another magnificent Wimbledon campaign by teaming up with sister Venus for a sixth doubles crown at the All England Club yesterday.

The reigning Olympic champions beat Timea Babos of Hungary and Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova

6-3 6-4 on Centre Court -hours after Serena claimed a record-equalling 22nd grand slam singles title by defeating Germany’s Angelique Kerber 7-5 6-3.

Serena has now won both the Wimbledon singles and doubles (with Venus) in the same year on four occasions. Together, the

List of Serena Williams 22 grand slam singles titles (REUTERS)-Following is a list of American Serena Williams’ 22 grand slam singles titles as she equalled Steffi Graf’s professional era record with victory at Wimbledon yesterday 1999 U.S. Open - beat Martina Hingis (Switzerland) 6-3 7-6 2002 French Open - beat Venus Williams (U.S.) 7-5 6-3 Wimbeldon - beat Venus Williams 7-6 6-3 U.S. Open - beat Venus Williams 6-4 6-3 2003 Australian Open - beat Venus Williams 7-6 3-6 6-4 Wimbledon - beat Venus Williams 4-6 6-4 6-2 2005 Australian Open - beat Lindsay Davenport (U.S.) 2-6 6-3 6-0 2007 Australian Open - beat Maria Sharapova (Russia) 6-1 6-2 2008 U.S. Open - beat Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 6-4 7-5 2009 Australian Open - beat Dinara Safina (Russia) 6-0 6-3 Wimbledon - beat Venus Williams 7-6 6-2

American duo have a perfect 14-0 record in grand slam doubles finals.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Serena. “It’s a feat even I couldn’t have thought would have happened. It’s amazing.”

For Venus it was a consolation after she lost to Kerber in Thursday’s singles semi-finals -- denying haer a first grand slam singles final since losing to Serena at Wimbledon in 2009.

“It’s a privilege, it’s an honour,” said Venus. “When you enter the doubles draw, you dream of winning. Then we enter the singles, we dream of winning.

“To have Williams on both of those, somehow in 2016, it’s another dream come true.”

The sisters, who paired up again this year after a two-year absence, have won 14 grand slam doubles titles together -- moving them level with American Gigi Fernandez and Belarussian Natasha

Serena and Venus Williams with their trophies after victory in the women’s doubles. Photograph: Steve Paston/PA Zvereva in second place on the all-time list.

They still have some way to go, however, to match the 20 of Martina Navratilova and fellow American Pam Shriver.

“I didn’t know about that stat until yesterday, that we

FORMER Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has revealed that Ravi Shastri was offered the post to be part of Anil Kumble’s coaching staff. Ganguly, who is also a member of

former all-rounder by CAC and this decision miffed Shastri, who accused Ganguly of being disrespectful to his job by not even being present during the interview

2012 Wimbledon - beat Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) 6-1 5-7 6-2 U.S. Open - beat Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) 6-2 2-6 7-5

2016 Wimbledon - beat Angelique Kerber (Germany) 7-5 6-3

though did reveal that the CAC had offered Shastri the post of India’s batting coach.

“Yes, we offered Ravi the Indian team’s batting coach post,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Ganguly also admitted that the CAC members including Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman will have no role in appointing assistant coaches of the team and that would be left to the current coach.

“It is Anil’s prerogative.

Since he is a bowler, maybe, he did not appoint a bowling coach. I also have read in the newspapers that he may rope in a pace bowling coach later. Let me stress that Sachin and Laxman have no role in appointing Anil’s assistant coaches”, he added.

India are currently on tour to the West Indies where they will play a four-Test series with the first Test scheduled to start on 21 July at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday July 10, 2016)

2013 French Open - beat Maria Sharapova (Russia) 6-4 6-4 U.S. Open - beat Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) 7-5 6-7 6-1

2015 Australian Open - beat Maria Sharapova (Russia) 6-3 7-6 French Open - beat Lucie Safarova (Czech Rep) 6-3 6-7 6-2 Wimbledon - beat Garbine Muguruza (Spain) 6-4 6-4

go to a third (set).

“When you’re out there, you probably realise you have a chance to go for it again.”

The Williams sisters are now 22-1 in all doubles finals they have played together. (Eurosport)

Ganguly reveals CAC offered Shastri role of India’s batting coach

2010 Australian Open - beat Justine Henin (Belgium) 6-4 3-6 6-2 Wimbledon - beat Vera Zvonareva (Russia) 6-3 6-2

2014 U.S. Open - beat Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) 6-3 6-3

were 13-0,” said Venus. “It’s not something you really think about. You just get to the final and try to win.

“I don’t think it made us nervous. You got time. If you get down a break, you always have time to get the break back. You can always

RAVI SHASTRI the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), appointed Kumble as the new coach of Team India in June.

Shastri was the former director of Team India and was considered to be the favourite for the post, until Kumble entered the race.

The spin legend was appointed ahead of the

process.

Ganguly hit back at Shastri saying that he should not be holidaying in Bangkok and giving an interview over Skype for such an important position; that even a legend of Indian cricket Anil Kumble had presented his stance for over three hours.

The former batsman,

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) Warner Park, St. Kitts (2) Tridents lost by 11 runs

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who has delivered the most expensive over in Hero CPL to date?

(2) Who is the head coach of the Jamaica Tallawahs?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

29

SUNDAY CHRONICLE JulY 10, 2016

CARICOM resolute in endeavour to dissolve WICB CARICOM has reaffirmed its resolve to dissolve the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and said it would soon create another prime ministerial sub-committee that would have wider say on cricket in the Caribbean.

A CARICOM cricket review panel had made the recommendation to dissolve the WICB in November 2015, in a report that termed the board’s governance structure as “antiquated”, “obsolete” and “anachronistic”.

“We will do everything possible to effect the decision,” Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell told the Jamaica Gleaner at the end of the CARICOM Heads of Government conference, which concluded on July 6 in Guyana.

“We’re looking at legal options on the basis that cricket is a public good run by a private institution.”

The regional body also discounted the remarks of Gaston Browne, the Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, who had categorically rejected the idea of dissolving the WICB.

Mitchell, who is the outgoing head of the CARICOM sub-committee on cricket that had backed the panel’s findings last

opposition did not carry much weight. “(It is a) common position of the Heads, not individual positions, and we

“When I expressed my sentiments on cricket, it was about what the Heads said - the committee that we established jointly with the

CARICOM to appoint an additional sub-committee with wider scope soon. year, said the opposition to WICB’s current governance structure was not his alone, but a collective one and, hence, Browne’s

cannot operate on the basis of individual positions, it’s about the Heads,” Mitchell was quoted as having said,

by CMC.

West Indies Cricket Board - and we agreed between the subcommittee and the West Indies Cricket Board to implement the recom-

‘Fishy’ Williams cops P&P Insurance Brokers feature cycle race TEAM Evolution’s Marlon `Fishy’ Williams yesterday won the feature 35-lap race of the P&P Insurance brokers and Consultancy Limited sponsored 11-race cycle programme at the National Park.

The event which was organized by Hassan Mohamed of the Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club in collaboration with the P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultancy Limited saw the overall second place finisher Orville Hinds along with Williams breaking from the pack after four laps were completed and the duo dominated the remainder of the 31 laps.

However, one lap later Raphael Leung caught up with the leading pair, but soon after he dropped out due to the intense pace that was set by Williams and Hinds, who both went on to lap the field, minus Leung,during the next lap.

Williams and Hinds stayed together and joined the chasing pack,which they had already lapped, with five laps remaining. It was during this period that Leung was lapped and with four laps remaining, Williams and

Hinds was a mere 100 metres in sight of Leung and the chasing bunch.

T h e y ( Wi l l i a m s a n d Hinds) overtook the chasing bunch with two laps remaining and set up the sprint to the finish which Williams easily won without a challenge from Hinds.

In the sprint for third, Team Evolution’s Raul Leal outsprinted eight others to finish third, while Akeem Wilkinson, Paul DeNobrega and Christopher Griffith occupied the other three top positions respectively.

Williams’ winning time for the event was one hour 17 minutes 54 seconds. Hinds, while settling for second, won all eight prime prizes that were up for grabs.

The co-feature event which was the 10-lap race for juveniles, was won by Nigel Dugid in a time of 26 minutes and 27 seconds. Second was Raphael Leung and third was Christopher Cornelius.

In other results, Nicholas Alphonso won the five-lap race for mountain bikers ahead of Seon Budhan and Jason Herbert respectively, while Andrew Spencer won the five-lap race for veterans

Team Evolution’s Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams over 50 years of age. Kennard Lovell placed second and Linden Blackman third.

Jaikarran Sukhai won the five-lap race for veterans under 50 years of age ahead of Ian `Dumb Boy’ Jackson and Bochel Samaroo respectively.

Adalie Hodge was the winner of the BMX boys 12-14 three-lap race in which Turan Garbarran placed second.

Hodge also won the threelap race for boys and girls 12-

14 years ahead of Mario Ellis.

The BMX boys 9-12 years old three-lap race was won by Zab James. Second was Adjauni Cutting.

John Niles was the winner of the BMX boys 6-9 years old two-lap race. Second was Alexander Leung and third was Jesicka Mohabir.

The presentation of prizes to the respective winners was done by Jaya Panday, daughter of the sponsor Bish Panday, who has been supporting the development of sports locally for more than two decades.

During her address to the recipients of prizes, Ms. Panday congratulated the participants and organizer of the event,and said her father and his company is happy to be associated with Mohamed’s programme.

“P&P started this sponsorship since in the mid 1990’s and we have been a consistent supporter. P&P recognises its corporate and social responsibility with sponsorship such as these.

We wish to congratulate all those who won today, and we encourage them to continue to excel.”Stated Ms Pandey.

mendations.

“So it was not a Keith Mitchell decision, it was not a Keith Mitchell activity, it was a committee set up by the West Indies Cricket Board and the Heads of Government.”

The CARICOM cricket review panel was appointed by the Prime Ministerial Committee on the Governance of West Indies Cricket in the wake of the crisis that engulfed the board after the BCCI suspended bilateral ties and slapped $41.97 million as damages following West Indies’ decision to pull out midway their India tour in 2014. Set up to review the governance and administrative structure of the WICB, the five-member panel, comprising V. Eudine Barriteau, Sir Dennis Byron, Dwain Gill, Deryck Murray and Warren Smith submitted a damning report.

Apart from its comments on the current set-up, the panel strongly recommended the establishment of an interim board in place of the WICB. However, Dave Cameron, the WICB president, rejected the

panel’s findings, saying they were not supported by facts.

The WICB received further support from Browne, who broke ranks with CARICOM. Browne continued to remain defiant even this week. “That (recommendation to dissolve) is a recipe for chaos and confusion and we are totally opposed to any forced dissolution of the West Indies Cricket Board,” Browne told the Gleaner.

Regardless, the CARICOM heads have refused to give up their stance on WICB. According to Roosevelt Skerrit, the Dominica Prime Minister and Chairman of CARICOM, an additional sub-committee on cricket with a much wider scope will be appointed soon.

“There were two before; one on governance issues and one of the larger issues confronting cricket … this is a new committee on cricket mandated to examine all matters relating to the development of cricket, which is a very wide area of concentration.” (ESPN Cricinfo)

Bolt ready to run, invites fans to London for 200m SIX-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt has declared himself fit and ready to run, confirming Friday that he will be competing at the London Anniversary Games in two weeks.

The 29-year-old world record holder withdrew from the Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships in Kingston with a hamstring injury on Friday, July 1, causing concern for fans and officials alike, about whether he would be able to defend his Olympic 100m and 200 titles at the Olympic Games in Rio this summer.

H o w e v e r, having travelled to Europe to receive treatment from Dr Hans Muller-Wolfhart, Bolt is now ready to justify the medUSAIN BOLT ical exemption he was granted by the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA).

“This is Usain Bolt. Just want to tell everybody to come out and watch me at the London Anniversary Games on Friday, July 22. I’ll be there. I am excited to come back to London and I know it’s gonna be great, so fans come out and support,” Bolt said in a video posted on social media.

Bolt has been provisionally listed in Jamaica’s team to the Olympic Games and will have to prove his fitness if he is to make the cut and maintain his place on the team to Brazil.(Sportsmax.com)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

GOA hosts Women & Sport Seminar FROM helping them stay in school and assiting their academic capabilities, to helping them find themselves and facilitating the opportunity for them to be healthy, sports in Guyana has helped, and continues to help, women all across the region in a vast array of ways.

This was one of the reports at the basis of one of the presentations made at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Women and Sport Seminar, which began yesterday at the National Resource Centre on Woolford Avenue.

“What sport means for me was a means to discover myself.I was a quiet person never wanting to be in the spotlight, couldn’t even speak to anyone, but through doing sports and getting involved in different activities,I’m becoming more bold.” said one athlete during a report on “What I Get Out of Sport?”

by Guyana’s Commonwealth Games silver medalist Aliann Pompey.

Beginning at 9.00hrs yesterday morning, the event started off with remarks from GOA President, K. A. Juman-Yassin, and Minister responsible

for sport, Nicollette Henry, before it was officially declared open by Guyana’s First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger.

in sport throughout the country and your database will provide the empirical data you need to assess your status and assist you in

“We think it’s important in order to empower women in sports.” Yassin commented.

Additionally, Yassin not-

of sports, what could be done, what they should do and to be able, hopefully, to introduce some level of sports in the interior which

A section of the audience at yesterday’s GOA Women and Sport Seminar In her opening remarks, the First Lady said she is pleased to note that the forum aims to create a network of women in sport in Guyana with the view of establishing a database of Women in Sport. “[This is] extremely important since your network will hopefully create a supporting mechanism for women, who participate

planning for your development and expansion,” Mrs. Granger said.

Seen as pivotal in bringing attention to women in sports and the challenges they face, GOA VP, Karen Pilgrim, said that hosting the seminar was in the works since last year December, when the GOA began putting together the proposal for the funding to host the event.

ed,the seminar is also geared at targeting women officials in the interior as the GOA sets about planting the seeds of making sport more accessible in the interior districts.

Participants included sporting stakeholders from nine of Guyana’s 10 administrative region. “[We want] to be able to give to those women in the hinterland a knowledge

could be done right there.

I’m certain that this could be the catalyst for things to come in the interior.”

Yassin explained.

A total of 55 stakeholders attended the first day of the two day session. The audience was largely made up of physical education teachers, while it also included coaches, athletes and other officials from various sports

federations in Guyana.

Patrons heard of the “Benefits of Physical Exercise for Girls and Women” from Seon Erskine, and an informative session on “Re-positioning Sport to Women” by Tricia Fiedtkou.

During Inga Henry’s presentation on ‘Factors Contributing to Girls’ Physical Inactivity within the School System in Guyana’ the audience heard how myths such as ‘sports makes women infertile’, ‘all girls and women in sports are lesbians’ and ‘women should only play certain types of sports’ are wrongfully dissuading women from participating in sport.

The seminar also touched on “Disability and Sport” through touching presentations by deaf Peace Corps volunteer Lori Karker and swimming coach Jaime Skeete.

A very interactive session

by Lavern Fraser showed participants all about “How to Balance Family Life, Career and Sport”, while Abigail Caleb touched on “Nutrition and Women in Sport”.

The event continues today at the same venue.

Rohit, Dhawan and Rahul score fifties on day one Ramdin vows to be back

IT was a good workout for the Indian batsmen as Shikhar Dhawan (51), KL Rahul (50) and Rohit Sharma (54 not out) registered half-centuries, while Cheteshwar Pujara came up with solid knock on day one of their first practice match against West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts yesterday.

After both the openers retired following their respective fifties, skipper Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane didn’t have productive outings. But Pujara’s 34 and Rohit’s fifty helped India end the opening day’s play at 258 for 3.

With 12 players allowed to play and eleven to take the field, Murali Vijay, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Stuart Binny and Shardul Thakur were the ones to be rested while Mohammad Shami was part of the 12, after Kohli won the toss and decided to bat first.

Dhawan and Rahul, who came out to open, weren’t in any hurry, in their bid to get adjusted to the Caribbean conditions. Although their scoring rate wasn’t all that brisk, the openers batted with application and were largely untroubled on a pitch that appeared to be easy on the batsmen, not offering much for the

pacers despite the presence of a cloud cover.

Even the spinners hardly got any assistance as Rahul and Dhawan built a steady partnership. The opening pair upped the scoring rate after bringing up the half-century stand, as

Rahul continued piling on the runs at a good rate as he took India past the 100-run mark and retired soon after registering a 99-ball fifty, bringing the Indian Test captain to the crease.

Like the openers, Pujara and Kohli too took their time to

Rohit Sharma played a few attractive shots during his knock of 54 © AFP they made sure to put away any loose delivery that was on offer.

Dhawan, who brought up a 88-ball fifty in the 26th over with his seventh four, remained unbeaten on 51 while Rahul was not out on 37 when the lunch break was taken, with India seven short of the 100-run mark.

The Indian team-management decided that Dhawan had sufficient time in the middle as Pujara accompanied Rahul to the crease after the lunch break.

settle down as they knocked the ball around for singles and twos, with the occasional boundaries.

The partnership, however, came to an end in the 48th over when Kohli was out caught-behind off left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican. The skipper’s dismissal did not have any effect on Pujara, who continued untroubled and, in the company of Rahane, took India past 150. However, Rahane departed soon after, bowled

by Warrican for a 25-ball 5.

Rohit, who got off the mark with

a square-cut for a four, remained unbeaten with Pujara at Tea. The final session began with Wriddhiman Saha joining Rohit, with Pujara retiring on 34 off 102 deliveries.

Another handy partnership blossomed as Rohit and Saha helped India past the 200-run mark in the 72nd over.

However, Saha’s outing came to an end when he hit a delivery from legspinner Damion Jacobs to Rajendra Chandrika at forward short-leg to depart for 22.

Rohit was assisted by Amit Mishra as they added on to the total with a good stand. Having completed 90 overs with more than 10 minutes left for the end of the day’s play, there was enough time for the Board President’s XI to bowl a few more overs at the Indian batsmen.

The extra overs allowed Rohit to register a 102-ball fifty and in the process take India past 250. Rohit and Mishra (18*) took their partnership to 45 before stumps were called.

Brief scores: India 258/3 in 93 overs (Rohit Sharma 54*, Shikhar Dhawan 51, KL Rahul 37, Cheteshwar Pujara 34; Jomel Warrican 2-61, Damion Jacobs 1-80) vs West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI.(Cricbuzz)

with the West Indies

WHILE expressing disappointment at being left out of the West Indies Test team to face India, wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin, says he will be back.

According to Ramdin, he was surprised by the decision taken by chief selector Courtney Browne, who he said told him his average over the last five or six years had not been good enough.

His surprise comes from the fact that in his last two Test innings, he scored 59 and 62, and assumed that selection to the Test side would be based on your current form.

“It seems like I’m not a senior player who has DENESH RAMDIN done well over the years.

But I’ve been down that road before and come back and done very well,” said Ramdin.

Ramdin’s ommission from the Test side, according to the player, is only temporary, the wicketkeeper, certain he can prove he deserves a spot.

“I felt a bit surprised, but I have no choice but to live by the decision of the higher authority. I don’t own cricket, and, well, I have to go back to my game in the regional four-day set up and come again,” the Trinidad and Tobago cricketer said. (Sportsmax.com)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 10, 2016

Warriors spread cheer to Ptolemy Reid students CHILDREN at the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation centre were treated to hero’s day when they had the chance to meet the members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team on Friday.

The Carmichael Street location saw the Guyana Amazon Warriors skipper Martin Guptill teaming up with all-rounders Dwayne Smith and Christopher Barnwell, batsman Assad Fudadin, leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo,and wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo, for an interactive session.

The event, through

Digicel, proud sponsors of the current Caribbean Premier League (CPL), saw the players engaging in a game of cricket as well as autograph signing.

The company was represented by Head of Marketing,Jacqueline James and Communications Manager Vidya Bijlall-Sanichara.

In a brief exchange with the media, Bijlall-Sanichara disclosed that the event has been an annual one by the company ever since the Hero Caribbean Premier

Devindra Bishoo bowls to a student of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation centre during Friday’s visit (Adrian Narine photos.)

League (CPL) started in 2013, saying, “This is something we always try to do whenever we have the players in Guyana, especially our Brand Ambassadors Christopher Barnwell and Devendra Bishoo.”

“Special needs are something that is very close to our hearts at Digicel; it’s also close to the Warriors hearts as well, and we like to use the phrase ‘Warriors care.’ So this is one way of showing and exemplifying how the Warriors care,” she explained.

During the session, the players’ engaged in deep conversation with the students, signed branded Digicel caps, and also shared knowledge on batting and bowling as well as wicketkeeping and fielding with the students.

Warriors Captain Martin Guptill dances with one of the students of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation centre

Warriors spread cheer to Ptolemy Reid students See story on page 31

Warriors make light work of Patriots to go 4-0 See story on page 26

Martin Guptill on the go during his knock.

Rayad Emrit celebrating with teammate, Chris Lynn after the dismissal of Thisara Perera.

Serena beats Kerber to equal Steffi Graf’s 22 grand slam tiles

By Martyn Herman

LONDON, (Reuters)-It was third time lucky for American Serena Williams as she finally matched Steffi Graf’s professional era record of 22 grand slam singles titles by beating Angelique Kerber to claim a seventh Wimbledon crown yesterday.

Top seed Williams was forced to play some of her best tennis by resolute Kerber in an engrossing Centre Court duel in which her formidable firepower proved decisive in a 7-5 6-3 over her German opponent.

Kerber had stopped Williams in the Australian Open final to win her first grand slam title and last month Spain’s Garbine Muguruza also kept the 34-year-old waiting to equal Graf’s mark when she beat her in the French Open final.

Williams, who racked

up grand slam number 21 against Muguruza at last year ’s Wimbledon, also stumbled at the 2015 U.S. Open, losing to Roberta Vinci in the semi-finals when a calendar year Grand Slam and Graf’s record loomed.

But this time Williams would not be denied.

To her great credit fourth seed Kerber used her skilful shot placement and scrambling ability to stay in contention throughout a fascinating match of contrasting styles.

But with the Williams serve at its destructive best there was only so much punishment the 28-year-old Kerber could absorb on a breezy Centre Court.

The end came quickly when the German was broken for the second time in the match in the seventh game of the second set and Williams roared to the title with a love game, sealing victory with a simple volley

before collapsing to the turf.

USA’s Serena Williams celebrates winning her women’s singles final match against Germany’s Angelique Kerber with the trophy (Reuters/Toby Melville)

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

SWEET VICTORY “It’s been incredibly difficult not to think about it (Graf’s record),” a smiling Williams, cheered on by celebrity couple Beyonce and Jay Z as well as sister Venus in her support box, said on court as she clutched the Venus Rosewater Dish.

“I had a couple of tries this year but lost to two great opponents, one of them being Angelique. But it makes the victory even sweeter to know how hard I worked for it.

“Thanks you guys for being out here to see number 22, this is awesome,” she said to an appreciative crowd who were treated to a one hour 21 minute final full of absorbing rallies.

Kerber warmly embraced Williams once the See page 26 SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2016