Chronicle 07 24 2016

No. 104622

SUNDAY JULY 24, 2016

Price: $140

(VAT INCLUSIVE)

Triple murder….

Black Bush residents want swift justice

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- Three in custody

Tejwattie Rooplall, five months pregnant, with her 11-month-old daughter, at Mibicuri Saturday.

Rooplall’s husband, along with Pawan Chandradeo and his teen son Jaikarran, was found dead on a dam at Black Bush Polder Friday

Residents, families and friends gathered at the home of the Chandradeos on Saturday

Sooba is back!

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- Former Town Clerk to enjoy more powers on Local Gov’t Commission

We shouldn’t have to climb trees to get phone signal: Granger 8 Page

Suspect confesses to strangling Gafsons 14 manager- Police Page

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

Triple murder….

Black Bush residents want swift justice - Three in custody

By Nafeeza Yahya THE Berbice police are now questioning three persons as they probe the gruesome murders of three men along a dam at Black Bush Polder.

The bodies of Pawan Chandradeo, 37, called “Suresh” and “Jug Up”; his son Jaikarran Chandradeo, 16, called “Kevin”, and his brother-in-law Naresh Rooplall, 35, called “Teeka Bai” and “Mice” were discovered in the Cokrite Creek Savannah on Friday morning by farmers heading to their farms.

The police had detained a popular rice farmer who has properties close to where the men were found dead, but he was subsequently released. However, one of his workmen is still being held for questioning.

According to police sources, the man was seen with the victims earlier in the day while in the backlands.

The source also confirmed that two security guards who were stationed at the sluice where Alvin Pawan’s 13-year-old son was told to wait are in custody. They were reportedly overheard saying “like them boys shoot them man at the back” when what appeared to be gunshots were heard.

The father and son had a single gunshot wound to their heads, while Rooplall had a gunshot wound to his neck.

As word spread of the triple homicide, persons have been flocking to the Chandradeo’s home to express sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased.

When this newspaper visited the home Saturday, highranking members of the opposition were present to offer their condolences and support to the surviving wife and children of the victims.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo expressed sympathy via telephone to Pam, the wife of Pawan Chandradeo.

AT the home, parliamentarian Zulfikar Mustapha condemned the act and urged the residents to be supportive of the police as they continue their investigations to bring those responsible to justice.

Chandradeo and his family were well respected in the community for their stance against violence.

Several persons described him as being a very reliable, hardworking family man, who was well-mannered and is usually the one to prevent fights whenever he is around.

As such, the nature of his death has shocked many, as questions surround the motive for the murders.

Fazal, who lives a few houses away from the Chandradeos, wants the police to be vigilant in their approach and put those responsible behind bars so that the community can feel safer again.

“Them [Chandradeo and his son] never troubled anyone. He was always with his family or at work. I don’t know why someone would want to kill him. Let the police find those responsible quick, lock them up, so the people can feel safe again. ” Another man, Vicky Singh, 32, said he had known Pawan Chandradeo all his life and would work with him from time to time in the rice fields. He said he never knew him to be someone to have trouble with anyone.

“I know him since I was a boy. I have never seen him in

a fight. Whenever people got involved in fights or argued, he always tried to make peace.”

The three men, along with Pawan’s 13-year-old son Alvin Chandradeo had left their home at approximately 15:00 hrs. on Wednesday afternoon to go on a fishing trip in the backlands.

The young Alvin — Chandradeo’s second child — said they had left for the creek to catch Hassar, and when they reached the irrigation sluice, his father asked him to wait, since they had a bit more distance to go.

The sluice has a security post, and it was thought that Alvin would be safe there, perhaps for just a few hours, until they returned.

Charandeo was a rice farmer and a father of four. His teenage son who was gunned down alongside him worked in the rice fields with him.

Only a month ago, Chandradeo renewed his vows with Pam, his wife of 16 years, following a brief separation.

Apart from Alvin, he leaves to mourn another son, aged 11, and a nine-year-old daughter.

His parting words to his daughter Rea were: “Me guh come back and we gon cook hassar and eat.”

A pregnant Tejwattie Rooplall, the wife of Naresh Rooplall, said they had been married for only a year and a half. Rooplall is five months pregnant. The couple’s first child, a daughter, is 11months old.

She is at a loss as to what will become of her and her family, since he was the only breadwinner for the family.

The Rooplall and Chandradeo families have both lost their breadwinners and are left with many unanswered questions.

Pam Chandradeo said the incident has left her family devastated and at a loss.

“They killed my husband, son and brother worse than criminals. They didn’t deserve this; they never troubled anyone, they never hurt anyone.”

Parliamentarian Zulfikar Mustapha listens to Pam Chandradeo, who lost her husband and son. Seated next to Mrs Chandradeo is acting Region Six Chairman Denis DeRoop, who engages NDC chairman Thakoor Singh (seated) and Mrs Chandradeo’s father

Sooba is back!

SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

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- Former Town Clerk to enjoy more powers on Local Gov’t Commission

By Derwayne Wills CONTROVERSIAL former Town Clerk Carol Sooba will make her re-appearance in the local government system, but this time, her powers will extend to every local government body in the country.

Sooba was recently named one of the nominees of the opposition People’s Progressive Party to the Local Government Commission.

Clement Rohee, the party’s General-Secretary, confirmed this with the Guyana Chronicle on Friday.

Sooba, appointed on December 2, 2013 after acing in the position for 16 months, emerged as a cantankerous figure owing to her brazen challenge of the entire Georgetown Mayor and City Council; she enjoyed the clout owing to the backing she received from the then PPP government.She was fired shortly after the new government took power in May, 2015.

Rohee said that former Local Government Ministers Norman Whittaker and Clinton Collymore were also named by the PPP. The commission is provided for in the constitution, which dictates that it hold power to deal with all matters relating to regulation and staffing of local government organs in Guyana’s 10 administration regions.

Additionally, the Constitution says the commission can deal with conflicts within those local government organs, as well as conflicts between one local government body and the next.

“People see me as a person from this city, but I’m a person who widely knows this country,” former Town Clerk Sooba said in an invited comment to this newspaper on Saturday.

Sooba said she is confident that her 18 years of experience in the local government system will be an asset to the commission.

Of course, the former town clerk could not resist taking a few jabs at the current city administration, under her most vocal critic, Royston King, now Town Clerk.

“People are now realizing why I was treated the way I was treated,” Sooba said. “Compare me to what

Town Clerk Carol Sooba leaves City Hall on May 25, 2015 after she was ordered out by then Mayor Hamilton Green they are doing now with the parking meters. Examine my work, and see if I have [done] anything without the legal processes.”

Sooba said she is viewed as negative,only because of what happened with the City Council. “The PNC [People’s National Congress] know me well and don’t want to acknowledge who I am. People are now realizing why I was treated the way I was treated.”

“All that money they spent on those foolish things around the Merriman Mall, they should have spent on City Hall,” Sooba said, bemoaning the condition of the main building in the City Hall compound.

“Check to see how much hundreds of millions I left in the coffers. I had a zero tolerance that they couldn’t get their hands on the coffers,” Sooba added.

The former town clerk was the subject of many court proceedings as the City Council, preceding the 2016 local government election, had opted for her removal.

The Council, under the mayorship of Hamilton

Green, felt that Sooba was a political appointee installed at the Council to deter its business, by former local government minister under the PPP administration, Norman Whittaker.

Sooba had been reduced by a court order to an Acting Town Clerk, since her appointment was made without the support of the Council.

Then Chief Justice Ian Chang, who issued the ruling, made clear that Whittaker had no power to appoint Sooba in the absence of the Local Government Commission.

The Commission provides for seven commissioners.

That body strips the minister’s responsibility to appoint and remove local government officers whose positions are not made by election.

Three commissioners are nominated by the Leader of the Opposition; three by the President; and one by the minister responsible for local government.

Now that the PPP’s nominees are in the open, it is now for the David Granger administration to name its four nominees, but this could be realized soon.

“The government has its nominees, and they would be dealt with by Cabinet soon,” Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman told the press corps Thursday at a post-cabinet press briefing.

Trotman was filling in for Cabinet Secretary Joseph Hamilton, whom he said was unavailable.

President David Granger said recently on his weekly Public Interest programme that he expects the Local Government Commission to be set up at the end of the year.

The President hopes that the Commission could be included in the estimates for the annual budget expected to be presented in December, 2016.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

Turkey’s Erdogan shuts schools, charities in first state of emergency decree (Reuters) President Tayyip Erdogan tightened his grip on Turkey on Saturday, ordering the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and other institutions in his first decree since imposing a state of emergency after the failed military coup.

Turkish authorities also detained a nephew of Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based Muslim cleric accused by Ankara of orchestrating the July 15 coup attempt, the Anadolu state news agency reported.

A restructuring of Turkey's once untouchable military also drew closer, with a planned meeting between Erdogan and the already purged top brass brought forward by several days.

The schools and other institutions are suspected by Turkish authorities of having links to Gulen, who has many followers in Turkey. Gulen denies any involvement in the coup attempt in which at least 246 people were killed.

His nephew, Muhammed Sait Gulen, was detained in the northeastern city of Erzurum and will be brought to the capital Ankara for questioning, Anadolu reported. Among possible charges that could be brought against him is membership of a terrorist organization, the agency said.

It is the first time a relative of Gulen has been reported detained since the failed coup.

Turkey has also captured a key aide to Gulen, a presidency official said. Halis Hanci, described as the cleric's right-hand man, apparently entered Turkey two days before the abortive coup, the official told reporters.

Hasan Karakus, the pilot who bombed the special forces command in Ankara and killed 42 police officers, was also caught in Turkey, said the official.

Critics of Erdogan fear he is using the abortive coup to wage an indiscriminate crackdown on dissent. The foundations targeted include, for example, the Association of Judges and Prosecutors (YARSAV), a secular group that criticized a recent judicial law drafted by Erdogan's Islamist-rooted AK Party.

Banners were hung on road bridges, subways and advertising boards around Istanbul with the words "Hakimiyet Milletindir" (The People Rule). Public buses and some private cars were adorned with red Turkish flags.

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Public transport in Istanbul has been free since Erdogan called people to the streets and will continue to be so until Sunday, when the main opposition CHP is staging a "democracy rally" in Istanbul's central Taksim square, to which it has also invited supporters of the ruling AK Party, to condemn the coup attempt.

Turkey does not plan to extend emergency rule beyond a period of three months following the failed coup, but will do so if necessary, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said.

"Our goal is that it shouldn't be extended, but if the need

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan reviews a guard of honour as he arrives at the Turkish Parliament in Ankara, Turkey, July 22, 2016. (REUTERS/Umit Bektas) arises it may of course be extended," he said in an interview with the ATV television station.

Yildirim said only a few people who took part in the coup attempt remain at large -- a group of around 15 who attacked a hotel Erdogan was staying at in the resort of Marmaris and some who went to Greece.

Turkey plans to dismantle the special presidential guard, he added.

In his decree, published by the Anadolu state news agency, Erdogan also extended to a maximum of 30 days from four days the period in which some suspects can be detained. It said this would facilitate a full investigation into the coup attempt.

Erdogan, who narrowly escaped capture and possible death during the coup attempt, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that he would restructure the armed forces and bring in "fresh blood".

Turkey's Supreme Military Council (YAS) will meet under Erdogan's supervision on July 28, a few days earlier than originally planned, private broadcaster NTV reported, a sign that the president wants to act fast to ensure the armed forces are fully under the government's control.

Reinforcing that message, the YAS meeting - which usually takes place every August - will be held this time in the presidential palace, not as is customary at the headquarters of the military General Staff.

Erdogan, a popular but polarizing figure who has dominated Turkish politics since 2003, declared the state of emergency late on Wednesday, saying it would enable authorities to swiftly and effectively root out supporters of the coup.

The emergency allows Erdogan and the AK Party govern-

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ment, who are mildly Islamist, to pass laws without first having to win parliamentary support and also to curb or suspend rights and freedoms as they deem necessary.

PURGES Turkish authorities have already launched a series of mass purges of the armed forces, police, judiciary and education system, targeting followers of Gulen, who operates an extensive network of schools and charitable foundations.

The first decree signed by Erdogan authorizes the closure of 1,043 private schools, 1,229 charities and foundations, 19 trade unions, 15 universities and 35 medical institutions over suspected links to the Gulen movement, the Anadolu agency said.

Parliament must still approve the decree but requires only a simply majority, which the government has.

In an address to parliament late on Friday, Erdogan vowed to bring to justice supporters of the Gulenist "terrorist" movement and he urged Turks to continue attending rallies in major cities in support of democracy and against the coup plotters.

More rallies were planned over the weekend in many towns and cities. In Istanbul, Turkey's commercial capital, authorities have allowed people to travel for free on the metro system so they can more easily attend the rallies. Video screens on trains show pictures of citizens, or "martyrs", killed in the violence.

Cars and mini-buses honking their horns drive around the streets until late in the night carrying flag-waving supporters of Erdogan shouting patriotic or religious slogans.

On Friday evening Erdogan held his first meeting since the coup with the head of the national intelligence agency, Hakan Fidan, after complaining of significant intelligence shortcomings ahead of the coup attempt. Despite media speculation, however, he did not sack Fidan.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told private broadcaster NTV that Turkey expected to complete within 10 days a dossier requesting Gulen's extradition from the United States.

Cavusoglu said the link between soldiers involved in the failed coup and Gulen's extensive network of followers was "very clear", adding that Turkey would do all it could "politically and legally" to secure his extradition.

The United States has said Ankara needs to provide clear evidence of Gulen's involvement before it can agree to extradite him. Lawyers say that process could take many years.

After the coup, Western countries pledged support for democracy in Turkey, a NATO ally and an important partner in the fight against Islamic State, but have also expressed concern over the scale of the subsequent purges of state institutions.

Turkish authorities have suspended, detained or placed under investigation more than 60,000 soldiers, police, judges, teachers, civil servants and others in the past week.

In Ankara, the minister for European Union affairs chided Western countries for not sending any representatives to demonstrate their solidarity with Turks since the coup attempt.

"We are very surprised that our allies have not come to Turkey to visit even after one week has passed," Omer Celik told reporters.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

Change in law to start avalanche of investment in Brazil land The imminent lifting of Brazil's limits on foreign land ownership is expected to unleash investments, principally by large funds in search of long-term returns, and reignite a slice of the stagnant real estate market.

The government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva shocked investors in 2010 when he put the breaks on foreigners' purchase of large pieces of agricultural land. It cited concerns over plans by Chinese investors to buy state-sized tracts of land the government said would threaten national sovereignty.

With the impeachment of Lula's hand-picked successor, suspended President Dilma Rousseff, Brazil is under interim President Michel Temer, who hopes that new foreign investment into farm land will breathe life into a moribund economy.

"We know, there have been consultations with our company, that many investors are waiting with their fingers on the trigger," said Jose Vicente Ferraz, director of analysts Informa Economics FNP. "A few months after the rules change, these investments should start to gel."

A high-level source in the government said on

A farmer works with tractor in a rice field in Taubate, Brazil, Thursday it plans to ease farm land ownership restrictions in a package of measures in the coming months. Some criteria will be included in the measures to mitigate undue speculation in farm land, the source said.

Since 2010, foreign investors have had to form partnerships with Brazilian companies and accept minority stakes if they wanted to invest in land.

"Some funds, investors and families don't want to be tied up in partnership with a

Brazilian firm. So, they are waiting for a loosening of legislation," Ferraz said.

He said new investors from all over the world want to buy undeveloped acreage and turn it into productive farm land to sell, which promises superior gains compared with simple appreciation in the value of a piece of land.

Brazil leads the world in sugar, coffee, orange juice, beef and poultry exports.

It is also a major player in soybeans and corn. It will need to expand planted area if it wants to keep up with demand for food from the world's growing population.

Facing the uncertainties that come with negative inter-

est rates in important economies trapped in slow growth, asset and wealth management funds are eager to find safer bets, Chief Executive of land management firm BrasilAgro (AGRO3.SA) Julio Piza said.

"You have pension funds for example that are worried about guaranteeing future value and are seeking longterm investments like land," he said.

Segments that will benefit from the re-opening of foreign investment into land are timber and pulp and paper. They require large volumes of capital for long-term investments, which dried up here after 2010.

"It's an industry of great scale. You need a free and open market. We have multinational firms with repressed demand and national companies with distorted market valuations," said Elizabeth Carvalhaes, executive president of the Brazilian Timber

Industry Association.

The depreciation of Brazil's real against the dollar over the past year and the tight credit environment will also grease the wheels of land sales for foreign investors, analysts said.

The region most likely to be the focus of investment in the future is the so-called Matopiba, which stands for the fast growing grain belt in the northeastern states of Maranhao, Tocantins, Piaui and Bahia.

Fabio Silveira, associate director at MacroSector consultants, said new railroad projects such as the Norte-Sul extension and the new grains terminal Sao Luis, Maranhao would help foment investment in the region.

"This region is the most important for investment in Brazil today and a good part of this investment could be from abroad," he said.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Sunday Editor

Neil Marks

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

Editorial

The migration of tertiary-educated Guyanese

THE news that 93% of persons migrating from Guyana have a tertiary education cannot be comforting. As Education Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine opined, it is a national tragedy. This matter represents more than a brain drain; it is a serious drain on the very lifeblood of the country.

It is instructive that Guyana is followed by Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago in this regard. The problem seems to be both local and regional; it brings into focus some of the very structural problems which Guyana and the rest of our Caribbean family inherited at the time of independence.

Any country that cannot keep its most skilled workers at home would have great difficulty overcoming structural underdevelopment. That country runs the risk of reproducing mediocrity, while its young people would have very few role models to emulate in the professions. Guyana would not be able to adequately compete regionally and globally.

Where would our scientists, engineers, economists, geologists, teachers and broadcasters with the requisite skills come from?

It is clear that the Caribbean has invested in education as a means to the desired end of lifting its countries out of ‘plantationhood’; but if the rate of migration of Caribbean graduates is as high as Guyana’s, then it is equally clear that the Caribbean has not created an enabling environment for making maximum use of the products of that education policy.

Our narrow economic base, inability to pay adequate wages and salaries, substandard working conditions and inadequate health care system have all been cited as factors that influence this high migration rate.

Minister Roopnaraine is on target when he suggests that the government needs to do something to arrest this outflow of skills. He calls for improvements not only of financial remuneration, but of what he refers to as “non-financial” incentives for workers. This has to be an urgent undertaking by the government, as the effects of the situation have consequences for multiple areas of national life. When we bemoan standards in the public service, for example, or the very quality of education delivered by our institutions, one can trace the source right back to this problem.

We feel there are, within the control of the government, areas which, if improved, can put a break on this migration of our tertiary-educated citizens.

Clearly, the government can do something to improve

SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

The PPP’s lies and deception continue in Berbice

Dear Editor, IT is with great concern that I am penning this letter to your news paper. This is because of what has been happening here in Berbice, both Regions 5 and 6 by the opposition party the PPP. On Monday we heard as usual lies coming from the vice chairman of region 6 once more telling the people of Berbice that Dr. Ramayya walk off the job and left the region in turmoil. He said that the REO was not granted leave and therefore he left the work. He further said that the region or those in authority did not received any letter from the Ministry of Communities that the REO was granted leave.

The PPP must stop lie to the people of Berbice just to keep their support that is falling apart. We all know that Dr. Ramayya is a threat to the PPP because over the years he have made tremendous inroads into their support base. So they will lie like hell to make their supporters believe that the man walk out of the region.

I know Dr. Ramayya and can assure all especially my brothers and sisters in region 6 that Dr. Ramayya will never let you down. He

will stand up for the true and correct thing and because of that he is being made a target.

Some feel that the man was a walk over but maybe the VC does not know that he is dealing with a stone wall and it’s not wise to pelt a rubber ball towards the wall and expects for it to pass through.

So the lies will not stop the good REO from doing his work and the VC and PPP should publicly apologize to the man for lying on him publicly. If the VC is a man of truth and his word let him do the right thing which PPP mostly fail to do.

This now bring me to Region 5 and the nasty work of the PPP and its Regional Chairman.

As a APNU+AFC Regional Councilor I am ashamed of the tricks, lies and deception now being played by the chairman and his so-called advisers at Bath freedom House.

In June 2015 when the RDC held its first meeting to elect Chairman and Vice Chair, it was decided by the council that the RDC Statutory Meeting will be held every third Thursday of the month.

However, the chairman now wants to change the council decision and set the meeting when he wants.

I have received a letter of invitation from the Clerk of

the council Mr. Ovid Morrison dated July 14th, 2017 inviting me to attend the RDC Statutory Meeting on Thursday 21st, July 2017 at the RDC boardroom from 10am.

The minutes of the last RDC Statutory meeting that was held on the 16th June, 2017 was also attached to the letter of invitation. However, on the 19th of July, 2017 I have received yet another letter. The letter bears the letterhead of the Regional Chairman and it states that he will like to inform me that at the last RDC Statutory Meeting which was held on June 23rd, 2017 the council has decided to change the date of the Statutory Meeting from the third Thursday to the fourth Thursday of the month.

I will like to inform the PPP Regional Chairman that according to the last minutes the date of the RDC Statutory meeting was 16th June, 2017 and not 23rd June, 2017 as he has mention. According to the minutes of the legal Statutory meeting the council made no should decision to change the date of the RDC Statutory Meeting and therefore I, Abel Seetaram will not adhere to his nasty request for his party personal gains.

How can a leader such as the Regional Chairman deceived his own people and more over lie to the people of the region. He is also now putting the council to sanction him once again for lies and deception and more over for Changing Statutory Meetings without the council Knowledge.

The PPP must advice the chairman better he cannot do things without the council approval and he must adhere to council decisions at all times. What he had on the 23rd June, 2017 was a PPP meeting.

I called on all the councillors to denounce this type of dictatorship coming from PPP and its leadership. We must stand against such narrow minded person that wants to act without councils approval and we must stand up to dictators. I don’t believe that the chairman has any authority to call two statutory meeting in one month. He need better advice. The PPP must stop the lies and deception that it is continuing in Berbice.

ABEL SEETARAM APNU+AFC Councilor Region 5.

‘Dark forces’ at work at City Hall Dear Editor, THE bizarre, brutish and daft action by the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown (M&CC) against two Water Street shipping companies last Tuesday -- which saw them blocking the movement of container-laden trucks from the companies’ city wharves over a $25,000 shipping container tax -- shows the greed, disrespect for legal decisions, and barbaric nature of the Town Clerk and the dark forces at City Hall.

This latest move by City Hall is clearly a vulgar reaction to what happened less than two weeks ago, after the proposed $25,000 “Container parking” fee was thrown out of court.

Royston King’s account that this move is merely aimed at commencing repair

works to the roads is sheer poppycock.

Evidently, this Council is anti-business. Why else would it send City Constables to place barricades outside the entrances of Muneshwer’s and John Fernandes Limited on Water Street, rather than inviting officials of those companies for discussions, the same way the Town Clerk invites John Fernandes Limited to sponsor Environmental Community Health Organization (ECHO) initiatives, or Muneshwer’s to sponsor other projects?

King, who is not a lawyer, is clearly misunderstanding and misquoting Sections 274/76 of the city’s by-laws to suggest that the Council is entitled to fees from those persons who use roadways, street parapets, and spaces owned by all citizens of the city. It

the wages paid to workers. There has to be a commitment to investing in our people beyond the bare minimum. We are aware that fiscal challenges in countries such as ours mean that we cannot afford extravagant wage bills; but if we were to prioritize and plan strategically, we may be able to do better than we are doing at the moment.

We also have to begin to think of the “non-financial” incentives thrown out by Minister Roopnaraine. How about low-cost housing, or providing free house lots for

was the same twisted logic he used when he tried, and failed, to extract $25,000 and $6,000 from business owners in downtown Georgetown for each additional day they parked containers in front of their premises for the purpose of offloading goods they shipped in.

King’s assertion that City officials are not getting back at the companies at reference really, but are rather trying to do maintenance and other critical works to the roadways in the city is laughable.

Why then does he not charge the ‘bush trucks’ and the sand trucks traversing the city?

Why does he not block ‘King Fish’ from parking 24/7 and selling at the corner of King and Regent Streets?

The problem is that every time legal action has to be taken against the Council, it

costs the person who has to take Council to court, and it costs the citizens of Georgetown for mounting a defence; but members of the Council could not care less, because the money is not coming out of their pockets, but rather those of the citizens. But most of all, it is a waste of the court’s time.

This man was the Council’s PRO for several years, but did nothing to protect the image of City Hall. As a matter of fact, he was at odds with all the previous town clerks, and even the former mayor, all because he wanted so badly to get into that seat. The man is thought to be the laziest and most arrogant officer at City Hall.

DEODARIE PUTULALL

qualified workers? These would go a long way towards increasing the value of their paychecks.

How about investing in a modern health care system, so that our workers would not be forced to go abroad for care?

If we were to make these changes, not only would our skilled workers not be so pressed to leave, but we would also be able to entice those who have left to return.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

The ‘unexplained authority’ in quoting the Bible Dear Editor, THERE seems to be an increase in inspirational and motivational quotes taken from the sacred pages of the Holy Bible by very prominent and renowned men across the globe.

One such quote was uttered by President Barack Obama of the U.S.A while sending condolences to the relatives and friends of the five fallen policemen who died in the line of duty at the hands of Dallas sniper Micah X. Johnson.

Quite ironically, this sniper, named after a prophet in the Old Testament, was very angry

with his countrymen who were unjust to the poor, weak, and downtrodden in society. This kind of anger led him to deliver a strong message of rebuke and judgment to the princes of the land.

The prophet of old had turned his verbal rebukes upon anyone who was willing to use their power, political or else, against the lower class of society.

Finally, he regained his composure and declared in Chapter 6:8, “He has shewed thee, O man of God, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and

to walk humbly with thy God?” It would appear that because of the anger that resided in Micah of Dallas, U.S.A, he used the wrong method to correct the seeming wrongdoing of police officers who were caught on cell-phone cameras killing blacks in the most reprehensible of ways, especially the black motorist that was pulled over for a faulty tail light on his car, considering that there was a female and a four-year-old child in the back seat of the said vehicle.

Seeing such a scene brought back memories of a missionary journey in the

Bronx, New York in October 2014, when my minister [pastoral] friend who was driving a 4x4 vehicle was pulled over for a faulty tail light. I was in the passenger seat when the car was pulled over to the side of the roadway. I knew nothing, nor was I aware that my friend was in trouble over this faulty tail light, until a flashlight was in my face and fear was on the other side.

I reacted by quoting from the Scriptures, which somehow caused the white officers [there were two of them] to flee from us in a flash.

Thereafter, my beloved friend, being scared of the

police, thanked me, as he knew beforehand what could have resulted in his arrest, being black.

I now come back to the topic at hand: the quoting of the Bible. There seems to be a remarkable and unexplained authority residing in biblical expressions.

From my personal experience over the years, quotes from the Holy Bible have proven to be strong defence against any form of assault or attack.

Quotes from the Holy Bible may be used at a marriage ceremony, engagement, funeral service, anniversary, inauguration, birth of a child, going on

a journey, church service, starting the day, ending the day, at work, at home, at play, at school, in Parliament, in the court-room, in hospitals, on the windscreen or bumper of cars, vans and trucks, at the front of a house, on the walls of a home, in a song, in a poem, on a tee-shirt, in a post card, and almost in every sphere of life imaginable.

President David Granger also used a quote from the Bible at his inauguration as President.

APOSTLE VANRICK BERESFORD Author/Senior Pastor

The work of the Region 5 RDC is being hindered over a non-issue Dear Editor, LAST Thursday, 21st July, the Region Five Regional Democratic Council (RDC) was once again prevented from conducting its statutory meeting. This is as a result of a misconception between the APNU+AFC councillors and the PPP Regional Chairman on a matter that has no place in the formal business of the Council.

Councillors are elected to develop and manage programmes on behalf of the citizens of the region, and this they must do, and be allowed to do. The issue that led to the present impasse has no place on the RDC’s formal agenda. To be demanding an

apology for not attending a function that is not on the official business agenda and programme of the region is ludicrous.

If the chairman did not attend statutory meeting(s) of the council, he is duty bound by the rules to make an excuse, or if possible, be censored for not doing so.

The unrelenting demand for an apology on a matter that is not guided by any rule, and the protracted disruption of the region’s business are matters of concern.

On Thursday last, the protesting councillors chose to dress in African outfits at a period leading up to the emancipation of African slaves. By their manner of

dress, they are now communicating that this matter has moved beyond that of a nonsensical apology to that of race. The new posture is communicating that Africans will not allow the Indian chairman to work unless he apologises to an African president.

This is an act of pitting race against race, and cannot be allowed to continue at a time when officials of the government are talking about inclusivity and social cohesion.

The intellectual authors -- who are stoking and condoning this type of conduct while walking around and talking about social cohesion -- are failing to put in place

systems to ensure the races co-exist in peace and harmony, and treat each other with dignity and respect.

This opportunity is taken to make a few historical facts known: Africans, having fought for hundreds of years for their freedom, when this was finally achieved on the 1st August 1838, pooled their pennies, which their carried in wheelbarrows and in every available container, to buy up plantations and convert them to villages, thus setting in place a system of self-government.

This, the first system of local government, though initially not recognised in the formal system, later came to lay the groundwork for the

establishment of local government authorities.

From local government, Guyanese fought for, and achieved, national government in 1966; and regional government was made possible in 1980. This is the legacy of this nation’s development, and Africans have played significant roles in its formation.

This legacy should not today be treated with contempt at the behest of those whose interests are guided by the acquisition and abuse of power.

The regional chairman, by his non-attendance at the handing over event of buses to the region, has committed no infraction in the discharge of his official duty. The RDC should there-

fore not be hindered from executing its constitutional duty based on a non-issue.

Good sense must prevail on the part of all.

Taxpayers, citizens, workers, those who do business with this region, and all Guyana should be concerned about this ugly turn of events. What is happening at the Region Five RDC has no bearing on governance to deserve disrupting the function of regional government. If the PPP/C councillors or government had done this, they would have equally heard from me. Right is right and wrong is wrong.

LINCOLN LEWIS

The Lady Mayor’s habitual faux pas Dear Editor, EACH time the Mayor of Georgetown opens her mouth, she ends up putting her foot inside of it.

Her most recent gaffé before winging out to Chile was her announcement that the Deputy Mayor is, by law, not entitled to transportation and other benefits. That may be so, but there are a lot of persons at City Hall who are enjoying a lot of benefits to which they are not entitled by law; but that does not

prevent them from enjoying those benefits, including her good self.

If we look at the Town Clerk, we always see him being accompanied by a retinue of bodyguards, to which he is not entitled by law. He may wish to point to his predecessor’s having a bodyguard, but that bodyguard was not paid for by the Council, as in his case.

By convention, town clerks enjoy a static security at their residences, which he

also enjoys. He is, by law, not entitled to several cars being provided for his convenience, including one that is being rented for an astronomical sum per month, and several drivers. Neither is he entitled by law to dine at fancy restaurants with friends and bill the Council. Instead, he should be using the entertainment allowance to which he is entitled each month.

The City Engineer has, for his exclusive use, been provided with a large four-

wheel-drive vehicle manufactured by Nissan, to which he is not entitled by law. The Town Clerk and senior officers are, by law, not entitled to be provided with state-ofthe-art cellphones with voice and data services being paid for by the Council, including roaming charges and overseas calls.

The Mayor, Town Clerk and City Engineer are, by law, not entitled to use the vehicles that are assigned to them to transport them all

over Guyana; rather, they should just be using them to carry out their duties in and around Georgetown.

In fact, it was most unfortunate and improper that one of Council’s drivers died recently on the West Coast of Demerara whilst taking home the children of a senior officer way outside of the confines of Georgetown.

But, surely, City Hall could make a vehicle available to the Deputy Mayor, just as one has been made

available to the Town Clerk.

Or is it that the Deputy Mayor wants to be the only City official pursuing the dream of making Georgetown a ‘green’ city, whilst the others are chugging around town in their gas-guzzling SUVs and luxury cars that are helping to pollute the environment?

Laws and entitlements should apply to ALL, not only to SOME!

Sincerely, SHANTA SINGH

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

We shouldn’t have to climb trees to get phone signal: Granger - President envisages completely free telecommunication

By Ravin Singh THE days of standing on rooftops and climbing coconut trees for telecommunication signals will be no more as Government aims to provide countrywide interconnectivity.

This was according to President David Granger, whose announcement comes just a few days after the historic Telecommunications Bill was passed in the National Assembly, paving way for a liberalized sector.

The President on T h u r s d a y, d u r i n g t h e weekly broadcast of his television show “The Public Interest” underscored the need for Guyana to “catch up with the rest of the world” in relation to telecommunications.

He said that if Guyana is to move forward and catch up with the rest of the world, including the Caribbean, then the country needs to have a more liberal landscape for communications.

“We need to ensure that all parts of the country can communicate easily.”

Guyana was able to introduce 4G services only a few months ago, while other countries have been providing that service a few years now. And despite its implementation, customers continue to bemoan the quality of the 4G service.

In light of Guyana’s inability to compete with other developing countries in the telecommunications sector, the President said that there is a need to en-

sure that interconnectivity is provided throughout the country.

He referenced Guyana’s limitation by pointing to the fact that residents of Karawab usually have to climb a coconut tree to get communication.

“It’s a serious issue,” the President stated.

Assuming that there are more than half of a million cellphones currently being used in Guyana, he said that the Government cannot afford to deprive a huge part of the population of the ability to communicate freely.

“I’ve said time and time again, telecommunication is a right, it is an entitlement. People are entitled to go on the information super highway. People are entitled t o c o m m u n i c a t e . I t ’s guaranteed in our laws, and it took too long to arrive at this stage,” the President said.

However, interconnectivity which provides access to internet and mobile services countrywide is not his only vision for the rapidly advancing sector.

In fact, President Granger said that he envisions a free information highway, which includes free Wifi at every public institution across the country.

“I would like to see that every single public building - hospitals, schools, universities and defence force have Wifi.

My vision is that the information superhighway should be free. And sooner rather than later, every Guyanese should be able to communicate without

impediment, without restraints, without delay.

So my vision goes way beyond the (Telecommunications) Bill. It goes into the next generation.

We must have completely free telecommunication,” he said.

Having assumed executive office last year, the President almost immediately created a Public Telecommunication Ministry, and according to him, this sector is critical to national development. As such, on January 1 of this year, he introduced the new ministry, which is now headed

by Minister Cathy Hughes. “[It was created] because public information, public telecommunication, [and] Information Technology are all central to national development.”

Regarding the Telecoms Bill, which will be sent to his office for assent, President Granger said that the only thing he can say about the Bill is that it took too long to come.

“It ought to have come much earlier, but if Guyana is to move forward and catch up with the rest of the world including the Caribbean, we need to have a more liberal landscape for communication” he stated.

Since the passage of the Bill, which will lead to the collapse of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph’s (GT&T’s) control of the sector, that company has said that it is in support of liberalization. The company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd has

also called for negotiations with the Government to discuss the way forward for the company, which will soon be existing in a much more competitive environment.

And according to the President, the Government is prepared to sit and listen

to that company.

“We have been waiting a long time to bring the Bill to its present state. There is little that we haven’t heard since all of the parties were part of the Special Select Committee which consulted with all stakehold-

ers. But we are prepared to sit and listen to them; that’s not a problem. We want to make sure that they all realize that liberalization is the direction in which the country is travelling and we don’t want any impediments,” he added.

A resident of Baracara, Region Six, climbs a jamoon tree to access a mobile phone network

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

Region 5 in ‘slumber’ over stalemate at RDC - Chamber of Commerce writes President Granger

THE Region Five Chamber of Commerce, expressing concern that the stalemate between APNU+AFC councillors and Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal is putting the region into ‘a slumber’, says its members are greatly disappointed that the Region 5 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has had no statutory meeting in seven months.

The Chamber’s members are concerned about the state of projects in the region, because of the stalemate in which councillors of the governing coalition are demanding an apology from the Regional Chairman for not attending an event at which President David Granger was handing over school buses in the region.

Just last week, APNU+AFC councillors chanted, with one even dancing to national songs, as the chairman attempted to preside over a statutory meeting. These councillors are demanding a public apology from the chairman, who has insisted that he had not been invited to the buses’ handing over event.

The Chamber says it has written President Granger to determine if he was demanding an apology from the Regional Chairman.

Trade unionist Lincoln Lewis has said that by his non-attendance at the President’s event of handing over buses to the Region, the Regional Chairman has committed no infraction in the discharge of his official duties.

“The RDC should therefore not be hindered from executing its constitutional duty based on a non-issue. Good sense must prevail on the part of all,” Lewis has stated in a letter to the press, published on Page 6 of this newspaper.

“To be demanding an apology for not attending a function that is not on the official business agenda and programme of the region is ludicrous,” Lewis contends.

Imran Sacoor was last Sunday returned as president of the West Berbice Chamber of Commerce when the Chamber held its Annual General Meeting and Election. Others elected

Small contractors will have piece of the pie in Region 5 - New REO

SMALL contractors can rest assured that they will get employment when work is to be done in Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice), despite their not having big machines or expensive equipment.

“You may not be able to properly fill up a tender document, or you may not have heavy-duty tools, but we will not leave you out. We in Region 5 will make sure that we give you employment in keeping with your capabilities,” pledged Region Five’s newly appointed Regional Executive Officer, Ovid Morrison, when he met last Friday with most of the contractors who work within the Region.

The meeting, held in the boardroom of the Region Five Democratic Council (RDC) at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice, has been described as a “getting to know you” gathering, in which the contractors not only listened to the expectations of Morrison and his team from the Administration, but also raised their concerns.

Some participants at the meeting disclosed that they were newcomers at such a forum.

They said they had the skills but no previous experience as contractors, but were interested in acquiring employment through this means. Morrison and his team assured that they can visit the Regional Head Office at any time to be briefed on how they can go about getting contracts for works being awarded by the RDC. He said he and his team would work to provide a level playing field for all who wish to provide services to the regional administration, even as he urged the contractors to ensure they provide quality service in the communities in which they would work.

He stressed that his secretariat would take a no-nonsense attitude to proven allegations of bribes being offered or taken for the awarding of contracts within Region Five.

“We find anyone being involved in corrupt behaviour and we will blacklist them from working within the Region, and if possible further afield,” he said.

Morrison has recently replaced the former REO of Region 5, Roderick Edinboro, who has been transferred to Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) in a similar capacity.

to serve the body are: Shabeer Baksh, Vice President; Krishna Seelall, Secretary; Anrit Beijnandan, Treasurer; Eworth Sangster, Secretary/Treasurer; and Pradeep Bachan, who has been re-elected Public Relations Officer.

Saccoor highlighted a number of successful events held in the past year, including the launch of the Paradise Beach, between Belladrum and Paradise, as a new tourist destination; and the first Region 5 Expo and Trade Fair.

In addition, the Chamber has supported the work of youths promoting sports.

The Chamber is currently amending its constitution to have its name changed to Region 5 Chamber of Industry and Commerce, in order to include Mahaica and Mahaicony businesses.

In the month of October 2016, the Region 5 Chamber will be launching its Business Magazine, promoting a range of businesses, manufacturing, services and farming.

The new executive of the West Berbice Chamber of Commerce. From left to right: Pradeep Bachan, Krishna Seelall, Imran Saccoor, Shabeer Baksh, Anrit Beijnandan, and Eworth Sangster

$8M in flood relief hampers for Region 5 residents

THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC), in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council of Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice), last week wrapped up the distribution of $8M in hampers for those who had suffered inconvenience and loss due to recent flooding in some areas of the region.

Region 5 Information Officer Sandie Samantha-Ross, disclosed that the final batch of beneficiaries comprised residents of the West Coast Berbice villages of Armadale, Bush Lot, Golden Grove, Lovely Lass, Union, Trafalgar and Tempie Villages (GLUTT Villages) and Onverwagt.

Seventy-five persons received hampers consisting of rice, flour, sugar, salt, milk powder, cooking oil, margarine, black-eyed peas, red beans, and other foodstuff; and washing supplies, including soap powder, laundry soap, Jeyes Fluid and bleach which had been bought and packaged by the CDC. The distribution centres were the Union/Naarstigheid Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Office in Bush Lot, the Union Community Development Council (CDC) at Union Village, the Wash Clothes Stelling and Biaboo in the Mahaica Creek.

Samantha-Ross said last week’s distribution of hampers to flood-affected persons brought to 851 the final tally of persons granted flood relief within the region. All the beneficiaries, she said, were persons whose names had been submitted as eligible recipients by the NDCs responsible for the areas in which they live.

HINDS’SIGHT

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Dr David Hinds ONE fact of political life is that when a new government replaces one which has been in power for a long time, it invariably c o n f ro n t s t h re e i n t e rrelated factors. First, it comes into office with lots of goodwill, particularly from its supporters. Second, after the so-called honeymoon and its novelty wanes, it inherits the woes of the previous government. Third, there are extremely high expectations of both instant success and failure from its supporters and detractors respectively.

Most new governments, in the early period of their tenure, tend to factor into their calculations an over-

SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

The Coalition Government: Navigating challenges and expectations emphasis on the first factor -— the goodwill from their supporters —- and place less emphasis on the other factors. This is understandable, given the fact that, in their quest for legitimacy, they usually focus in the direction from which they perceive it emanates. In those circumstances when the initial excitement wanes and the other factors kickin, these governments are often caught by surprise.

Here, in Guyana, we elected a new government a mere fourteen months ago, after the previous one had been in office for almost 23 years. Some political analysts have observed that the excitement and emotions that accompanied that

change of government was unprecedented. There was, among the government’s supporters, a burst of civic outpouring that signalled a renewed confidence in the political process. Huge crowds poured into the public space for the prolonged inaugural events. An air of rebirth and mass commitment to nationhood permeated the political landscape as the new government -itself a new phenomenon, given its multi-party nature -- got down to the business of governing.

It seems as if the promise of change by the rulers found common ground with the expectations of transformation by masses on the ground. There

were some initial signals from the government that it was intent on governing differently from its predecessors. It weathered a gathering storm in the form of a challenge to the country’s sovereignty from neighbouring Venezuela, and responded with dignity to the expected taunts and tantrums from the former rulers. While the latter did not offer a magnanimous hand to their successors, resistance from their supports was somewhat muted. This allowed space for the new government to enjoy a degree of legitimacy, despite lacking the confidence of half of the electorate — an accomplishment of sorts in our ethnically fractured country.

Now, fourteen months l a t e r, t h e s i t u a t i o n h a s changed drastically. The honeymoon has long subsided; the cheering crowds in front of parliament and elsewhere are gone; and the expectations of real change seem to be everywhere on the faces and in the voices of government supporters.

Whether it is action on the forensic audits, increased wages for workers, or the matter of the vendors, there is pressure on the government to deliver on its promises — at least to its supporters.

There is a sense of impatience with the cautious approach being taken by the government on some very sensitive matters. The rulers appear to have learned that lofty campaign promises, even if grounded in justice, do not necessarily translate into concrete policy once the party or parties get into office. Factors such as the global and regional environments, coupled with structural weaknesses of local institutions and the

very nature of the country’s political economy, conspire to make governing much more complex than was communicated on the campaign trail. Governments simply cannot do as they like, particularly in a democratic environment.

Yet, the expectations of government’s supporters cannot be wished away; they are grounded in a perception and reality of two decades of exclusion from power. This is itself a structural challenge inherent in our winner-takes-all system.

Thus the new government is expected to cure this ailment by opening up avenues for a fairer distribution of resources in the core areas of the political economy.

Therein lies the challenge for the government: how does it balance objective governance with correcting the social inequities it inherited, while ensuring that its supporters are afforded a sense of social and economic security? Put another way, the government has to figure out how to satisfy the expectations of its core constituency, without discriminating against other sections of our plural society.

After fourteen months, the government can no longer run away from ownership of some of the woes it inherited. Even though it did not initiate the rotten and undemocratic procurement system, it has to fix it. The public challenge by one company to government’s award of a major contract to a favoured company during the PPP era brings into the open a huge area of contention.

The government cannot just cite legalities, it has to face up to other factors, such as equality of opportunity and the unevenness constructed by the past

regime.

That the economy is ailing has little to do with the policies of this government, but it has to own it and fix it. It has to decide whether it is going to continue lock, stock and barrel with the PPP’s economic policies, or whether it is going to lead the way in charting an alternative course. Economic statistics do not always tell the story of the poor and powerless in the society; in fact, those statistics often mask that story. For me, the ultimate measure of the health of an economy such as ours is the extent to which people are working and making a living wage, and whether small- and medium-sized businesses are generating a living income for their owners.

Finally, the government has to contend with an opposition party that has little regard for political morality. It has attacked the government on policies and measures which it institutionalized while in office.

Make no mistake: the PPP is unmatched in its capacity for erasing from its consciousness any wrongdoing under its watch. This puts tremendous pressure on the government, as it has to spend a lot of time explaining that it is not the architect of many things it is being accused of. The next year would be a defining one for the Coalition.

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

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

APNU+AFC should never have had Jagdeo lecture them on Rule of Law

BY HIS record, Bharrat Jagdeo -- as Guyana’s President and a Head of Government within CARICOM -- presided over the most brutal and corrupt regime the region has seen in the 21st century. His was a record that saw 400-plus persons murdered, many of whose bodies are still to be found; and the Coroner Act is yet to be activated, consistent with the principle that where death occurs under unnatural circumstance, an inquest would be held.

In examining the state of the economy during his stewardship, the narco-militarised economy was allowed to run wild, and drug lords had unfettered access to those in the corridors of government, including association with the president.

The country’s business was mismanaged; our natural resources were plundered; race relations turned for the worse; fundamental rights and freedoms were trampled on; the rule of law was treated with contempt, and Transparency International ranked Guyana the most corrupt English-speaking Caribbean country.

The unbelievable task of being responsible for security, fighting crime and protecting the nation, which was a claim made by notorious former fugitive drug lord and present guest of the USA’s penitentiary, Roger Khan, was never challenged or debunked by the Jagdeo government. And his efforts to sanitise a dastardly record by having persons going around the world soliciting honorary doctorates for him have not fooled the public, nor can these ‘doctorates’ erase what he did.

With such a record -- that riled the nation up against him -- he not only serves as the beacon of what government and elected officials should not do; but, more importantly, this administration

should never conduct itself in a manner that he could have dare to think, much less be given the opportunity, to address them and citizens on the Rule of Law. While in opposition, the parties in government today brought to light and prosecuted several of the transgressions committed by the Jagdeo regime. Today, they should have never placed themselves in a position to be lectured by Jagdeo, especially recognising that they came to office condemning and rejecting the permeated lawlessness of the PPP/C government.

This government needs not forget that condemnation and rejection of the lawlessness -- which saw them elected to office -- was not merely the work of its leadership, but, more importantly, that of the people who put them there.

Let me seek to make a point very clear: Jagdeo lacking the moral authority to talk about rights, rule of law and good governance, given his stewardship of this country, presents no moral authority by the government to ignore him when it comes to respecting these universally acceptable principles. Having said that, the instances where he referred to SARU and SOCU not operating consistent with the rule of law ought not to be ignored, lest this nation lurches from one lawless regime to the next.

Jagdeo's 360 degree conversations on the Rule of Law, as Leader of the Opposition, indicates that he is aware of the difference between right and wrong, not by his standard, but by what is accepted internationally. This demonstrates that his party has earned its time-out from government and deserves to be sitting in the opposition. What should be instructive about his behaviour is that the lesson being learnt from it seems to

be eluding the Granger/Nagamootoo government.

That this government is allowing a man with such a dastardly record to lecture them about issues and principles that form the bedrock of modern and civilised society is indicative that they are managing in a manner that communicates contentment to be deemed less destructive and anti-people. In fact, what this indicates is that the APNU+AFC administration is content to accept a label that its management of the nation’s affairs is inconsistent with good governance.

This brings me to the issue of the hundreds executed during the Jagdeo regime.

A dossier on the majority of these persons was prepared by then Leader of the Opposition and PNCR Leader, Robert Corbin. I recall attending the CARICOM Heads of Government Conference in Antigua when the Opposition delegation sought to meet with the Heads to hand over that dossier and make a presentation. The opportunity was denied.

Let me divert to say that one of the major problems Caribbean people have with CARICOM is the predisposition of the Heads of Government to disregard the views of the political opposition and interest groups who represent a segment of the society, inasmuch as their countries subscribe to international conventions and charters. This lends to the perception that CARICOM in the 21st century, where good governance is premised on rights and the rule of law, is content to operate as a club where sitting governments protect each other.

With Corbin and team having laid the groundwork, it was expected that, since his party forms the bedrock of this administration, the opportunity would have been taken to build on the work embarked on. To do nothing is to give the impression that

these lives do not matter, and the work that went into and accompanied the dossier was merely that of political grandstanding.

Finally, it is not lost on me that continued agitation to bring about good governance has brought me new

adversaries. I say to those who once sought me out, considered me comrade and ally, and encouraged me to keep fighting: in that your views of me have today changed, or some cross the streets when you see me coming, such acts are

infinitesimal to the price of good governance, which this society deserves. Let me put you on notice that good governance is not about persons, but principles; and I shall continue to agitate, even if it makes you uncomfortable.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

THE DEVELOPMENT DILEMMA

Balancing economic growth and environmental protection

By Clement Henry SUSTAINABLE development has been central to political rhetoric on the environment.

Its professed goal is to improve living standards and people’s quality of life, both now and for future generations.

Sustainable development is formally defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (The Brundtland Commission Report: Our Common Future, 1987).

Sustainable development is a noble goal that is particularly relevant to achieving the good life in a green economy. The challenge with sustainable development is that few individuals and countries are able to walk the talk. That is why Brundtland’s admonition in the opening quote is an important one.

Not all are in favour of sustainable development and greening the economy. Some vituperatively charge developed countries with hypocrisy for advancing the green agenda after they would have amassed wealth from destroying the environment. Others claim that the green agenda is aimed at inhibiting the development thrust of developing countries.

Therefore, developing countries like Guyana should wait until they are fully developed before embracing the green agenda.

I

f we do not succeed in putting our message of urgency through to today's parents and decision makers, we risk undermining our children's fundamental right to a healthy, life-enhancing environment. Unless we are able to translate our words into a language that can reach the minds and hearts of people young and old, we shall not be able to undertake the extensive social changes needed to correct the course of development.

Even in Guyana, the economic-growth-versus-environment conflict is played. In a 2013 survey of residents on the Lower East Coast Demerara, we sought information on their perception of religion, science, and the environment.

In one of the queries, respondents were asked to share their views on whether (1): Protecting the environment should be given priority, even if it causes slower economic growth and some loss of jobs. (2): Economic growth and creating jobs should be the top priority, even if the environment suffers to some extent.

Towards a Good Life in a Green Economy

A total of 191 persons responded to the query. The analysis indicated that 53.9 per cent were in favour of sacrificing the environment on the altar of economic growth and job creation (see chart below).

- Gro Harlem Brundtland

In many settings around the world, there is clearly a trade-off between current economic growth and growth in the future. However, scientific evidence points to the inescapable nexus between sustainable economic growth and a healthy environment, and has stressed the importance of balancing our economic and environmental objectives in the short term, in order to sustain our development in the long term. In a nutshell, long-term economic growth depends on the sustainable use of renewable resources. Overuse of these resources for short-term gain can erode prospects for individual, community, and the nation’s long-term economic future.

It means therefore that all levels of society must see themselves responsible for balancing economic activities with sustainable environmental practices.

Guyana is well endowed with natural resources: fertile agricultural lands; bauxite, gold and extensive tropical forests. Guyana generates a large share of its economic activity from the natural resources sectors. Because of this, local policy makers will constantly be confronted with the challenge of balancing growth with environmental preservation. This decision must be ‘evidence-based’ and the evidence must be available to citizens to inform their action.

While information on the economy is available, the same cannot be said about data on environmental indicators. Moreover, when data on environmental indictors are available, they should be matched with economic data, so that we can comprehend the full impact of our economic decisions and practice on the quality of life.

Finally, to sustain economic growth, we need to develop and implement environmentally friendly policies and strategies continually. The challenge for governments is to create development strategies that incorporate values of environmental sustainability while increasing economic growth.

Comments can be sent to: towardsagoodlife@gmail.com CLEMENT HENRY is a Research and Development Specialist. Mr. Henry graduated from Andrews University with a Bachelors of Arts Degree (cum laude) in Theology, emphasis in Public Health; University of Guyana with both a Post Graduate Diploma and Masters Degree in Development Studies. Mr Henry is a Ph.D. Candidate at the Institute of International Relations, University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus.

His doctoral dissertation (already submitted) is entitled ‘A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis of the Dimensions of Human Security: the Case of Guyana’. He is currently the Project Manager of the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme. His publications include: “An Analysis of the Effectiveness of Foreign Aid Flows to Guyana’ in Selected Essay in Contemporary Caribbean Issues.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

Linden councillors want gold board branch in region

LINDEN councillors would like to see the decentralisation of government institutions which they say will stimulate the Region 10 community’s economy.

At a meeting with the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources on Thursday, municipal councillor Lennox Gasper suggested the opening of a gold board office in the bauxite community.

“What will eventually happen is that the miners will stop right here once they know that they can get their gold sold, and they can be able to buy their goods and take it back in. They will ease the extra mileage on their vehicles,” Gasper said.

Gasper reasoned that this will spark expansion within the business community. “Everything will change. I’m asking and petitioning if they can do that,” Gasper told the members of the committee.

The councillor also suggested that other government agencies such as the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) be decentralised as well.

Another resident present suggested a toll system to charge heavy-duty mining and logging trucks for using the roads and

Linden Municipal Councillor Lennox Gasper use the money for road repairs. “If we have our own income… they have to pay a tariff because we can repair our own roads,” this would reduce the need to depend on the Ministry of Infrastructure to repair the roads.

Chairman of the Committee, PPP/C Member of Parliament, Odinga Lumumba told Gasper his suggestion was a “brilliant idea” and he would raise it with the Minister of Natural Resources.

Other Committee members present at the outreach meeting were APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Audwin Rutherford and PPP/C Member of Parliament Pauline Sukhai.

Gasper further suggested using the non-operational alumina plant as a processing facility for either lumber or agricultural produce. However, another Councillor, Charles Sampson, said, “There is still the possibility of the re-establishment of an industrial zone in that area.” The area he referenced was a plot of land outside the boundary of the alumina plant.

Meanwhile, President of the Linden Chamber of Com-

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merce, Kevin DeJonge, asked for representation to be made to have the road to Lethem fixed. He said the condition of the road is hindering the effective functioning of the container trans-shipment terminal.

“That container wharf, based on our understanding, was short-changed because of the deplorable state of the road,” DeJonge said. It was explained by Lumumba that the road to Lethem cannot be repaired to accommodate containers and needed to be paved. Lumumba also highlighted the high cost attached to have this done.

The APNU+AFC administration last year received recommitment from the Brazilian government to pave the Linden to Lethem road. (Government Information Agency)

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Importers, local manufacturers must be registered before selling certain commodities – GNBS

THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) wants importers and local manufacturers to conform to its registration requirements for the selling of commodity items monitored by the agency.

Importers and local manufacturers are required to register with the GNBS on a yearly basis in order to be in complete compliance with the agency’s standards.

The commodities monitored by GNBS are domestic electric appliances, weighing and measuring devices, textiles, garments, footwear, safety matches, tyres, gas stoves, fertilisers, cigarettes, PVC pipes, furniture, toys, soap powder, Christmas trees and decorative lighting outfits, safety helmets, cellular phones, water and electricity meters, and seat belts.

Registration of both imported and locally-manufactured products would facilitate inspection of the products’ labels in order to verify that the product is in conformity with national standards.

Head of the Conformity Department and Officer in Charge of the GNBS, Candelle Walcott-Bostwick, said: “For the categories of products monitored by the GNBS for the importers, once they’re going to bring in any of those items that are on

our list of products, they are expected to register with the bureau annually. For the locally-manufactured products, they also have to register with the bureau.”

If an importer brings in any of these items without being registered by the agency, the items are placed on a ‘hold’ system, which allows the importer or the dealer to be registered.

Application forms for registration are available on the bureau’s website, and can be submitted to the office, located at the National Exhibition Centre at Sophia.

“They would complete the form, and after that is completed, they are normally issued a certificate (which) should be displayed at the location (stating) that they are a registered importer of a particular product,” Walcott-Bostwick explained.

The fee for registration for the importation of these items is generally $30,000, but the dealer (importers of cellular phones, tyres etc.) is required to pay a registration fee of $15,000.

The bureau intends to create public awareness to familiarise the business community with the necessary information, for easier flow of conducting business and to encourage compliance with the agency’s standards.

(Government Information Agency)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

Suspect confesses to strangling Gafsons manager - Police A SUSPECT has been arrested and has since confessed to the murder of Herstelling ,East Bank Demerara resident , Terry Lackhan , whose lifeless body was found at his home on Thursday night,the police have said.

According to a police release, the 55-year- old manager of Gafsons Industries Limited was strangled.

Reports are that several items which were missing from the man’s home on the night of the incident, have since been recovered.

Around 23:00hrs on Thursday evening, the man was found motionless next to a wardrobe with a rope tied around his neck, with several bottles of tablets and photographs of his family members nearby.

The man’s only child, Riyad Lackhan, told reporters on Friday that he was in Berbice when he received a call from a tenant who lives in the lower flat of the building where his father resided. He said the woman informed him that there was a commotion upstairs; that was around 21:00hrs.

The woman later informed the young man that his father was found motionless on the bed next to a wardrobe.

According to him, his father was in the habit of knocking down objects around the house whenever he is intoxicated and he noted that the tenant assumed that was the case that evening.

“But after she saw someone leaving with bags… that’s

Dead: Terry Lakhan when she got scared,” the man’s son said.

Lackhan’s son said that his father, who had been a manager at Gafoors for several years, was not experiencing any problems. He said he was in Berbice on Thursday and the last time he spoke to his father was during the morning hours that day.

A post-mortem is expected to be performed on his remains on Monday.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

Pomeroon river communities detail needs to Minister Allicock, team R E S I D E N T S o f t h re e Pomeroon River communities in Region Two recently met with the Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, and a team from his ministry when visits were made to the predominantly Amerindian communities of Akawini, St. Monica and Wakapao during July 2021.

The visits were intended to give residents opportunity to discuss the issues affecting them, the Government Information Agency (GINA) has stated.

“This will help us to be able to work with you, be able to listen to you…. We are fixing anything that you decide upon together,” GINA quoted the Minister as saying.

Apart from the minister, the team comprised Region Two’s Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopkinson; Chairman Devanand Ramdatt; Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), Joel Fredericks; Advisor to Minister Allicock, Mervyn Williams; Legal Advisor to the Minister, David James; and officials from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.

Minister Allicock said officials many times sit behind their desks and think they know the needs of the people, but it was important to him to get out to the people to know what’s going on in the villages.

He cited the need for a better working relationship among the communities, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and Central Government.

And Fredericks called upon residents to have a vision for the development of their community. He said that working together is the

only way development can be achieved.

The NTC Chairman said, “There will be no government that can address all of our issues…so that is where the village council comes in, and they must have plans.”

Regional Chairman Ramdatt told the residents that they are in good hands as the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs is working assiduously to effect development of indigenous communities.

Residents of Akawini, which has a population of about 1200 people, raised the issue of senior citizens not receiving their old age pension payments in a timely manner.

They said the situation has become burdensome, since many depend on the money to survive.

The matter was addressed by the Regional Chairman, who assured residents that the RDC would find ways to ensure that officers visit the village and pay the pensions on time.

Barbara France, a resident and teacher of Akawini, raised concerns about transportation for students to get to and from school. “I am a widow and I have children going to Charity Secondary School, and I would also like to…have a secondary department here in Akawini,” France said.

The Regional Chairman responded by explaining, “We would have to have our technical people do a feasibility study, because we have also seen cases of schools being developed, but there were difficulties with the sustainable management.”

Wakapao, consisting of over 2000 residents, is one of the fastest growing indigenous villages. Its residents called for the development of the community’s roads.

Wakapao resident Roxanne Williams raising an issue during the meeting with Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, and team The Minister’s Advisor, Mervyn Williams, explained that government is currently working to have construction of three bridges and a road in the community included in the 2017 National Budget.

Roxanne Williams, a Wakapoa resident, said: “The disabled people in my community are finding it difficult to travel, and they are not getting assistance; and I see this as a big issue in my community.”

Minister Allicock assured the resident that he would be looking into the matter, to make available a boat which can transport those who are differently-abled.

Wakapao is an Arawak village, and the minister said efforts would continue to revive the use of that language.

St. Monica, which also has a population of over 2000

G/town man charged for stabbing neighbour A SOUTH Cummingburg, Georgetown resident was on Friday remanded to prison

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for stabbing his neighbour with a knife.

Oswald Andrews, 34, of Queen Street, South Cummingburg, was not required to plead to the charge, which alleged that he on July 19, 2016 unlawfully and maliciously wounded Wrenford Coleridge with intent to murder him. According to reports, Coleridge was allegedly watching television when he was confronted by his neighbour Andrews.

Andrews was unrepresented. Police Prosecutor Corporal Deniro Jones opposed bail since the victim, Coleridge, was still in a critical condition at the hospital.

Jones disclosed that Coleridge had suffered stabs to his head, chest and abdomen.

The chief magistrate ruled in the prosecution’s favour and remanded Andrews until September 5, 2016.

residents, called upon government to provide trained teachers and have the primary school’s sanitary block and fence built.

Requests were also made for extension of the school and the health post, and for a solar panel for the latter.

All concerns and needs were noted by Minister Allicock, who explained that the

residents’ proposals would be submitted for consideration in the 2017 National Budget.

He said that considering there are 212 indigenous communities, not all their submissions would be addressed in the Indigenous Peoples Affairs’ budget. However, the Minister noted that due to the overlapping responsibilities by other ministries, all com-

munities’ concerns would be addressed.

Additionally, Minister Allicock urged the toshaos from each village to be more engaged with the residents. They were advised that when problems arise, they should find ways of contacting the relevant officials to assist in resolving them.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

Conference cements ties between Rupununi, Brazil tour operators BUSINESS ties between Guyanese and Brazilian tourism operators were recently strengthened following a networking conference in Boa Vista, Brazil, last week.

The two-day conference was organised by Visit Rupununi in collaboration with the Department of Tourism for Roraima in Brazil and the local arm of Conservation International,Guyana.

Visit Rupununi was established in 2015 as a membership-based organisation which would function as a destination-management organisation (DMO) to market the services of its members, offering support through training and capacity-building and representing The Rupununi as a whole.

According to the organisers,the conference was regarded, by participants, as a timely and significant step in developing the cross-border tourism sectors in Guyana’s Region Nine and its neighbouring state Roraima in Brazil.

A press release from the organisers stated that approximately 75 participants with representatives from the private sector, public sector and communities/civil society attended.

The event consisted of presentations and information-sharing sessions and a business networking round-table. The objectives of the mission were to create greater awareness of the Rupununi and its potential in Brazil, to develop a better understanding of the needs and interests of the Brazilian market and to identify opportunities for networking and cross-border tourism business development, the organisers stated.

During the conference, both countries highlighted challenges which needed to be overcome in order to facilitate tourism development. From the Guyana side, these included limited information on Guyana and The Rupununi; expensive travel costs; the language barrier; policy regulations in relation to cross-border movement of people and vehicles and the state of the Lethem to Linden road. More than identifying the challenges, the conference was seen as a starting point for dialogue with national stakeholders to develop action plans to address these areas.

However, in spite of these challenges, Roraima tour operators and officials have signalled their intention to work with Visit Rupununi to build partnerships in promoting tourism development in both regions.

Further, as another result of this collaboration, Visit Rupununi and its affiliated tourism operators were invited by their Brazilian counterparts to share an exhibition booth with Roraima at the 44th International Tourism Fair organised by the Brazilian Travel Agencies Association ABAV) in São Paulo at the end of September. ABAV is the entity with the biggest tourism representation in Brazil.

In the meantime, Visit Rupununi is planning to host a Familiarisation Trip at the end of August throughout the Rupununi for tour operators from Roraima, who have indicated a strong interest in including the region as part of their tourism packages.

This familiarisation activity will enable Brazilian operators to learn about and understand the Guyana and Rupununi products they intend to market as part of their packages. In addition, Brazilian officials and Visit Rupununi representatives began talks to explore the establishment of a tourist information centre in the border town of Bonfim.

On the first day of the event presentations were made by tour operators from both Guyana and Brazil. Representing Guyana’s Rupununi region were tour operators Ron Allicock, of Ron Allicock Birding Tours; Melanie McTurk of Karanambu Lodge; Jacqueline Allicock of Surama Eco-Lodge; Jonathan Joseph, of Ariwa Beach; Kayla De Freitas and Leroy Ignacio of Rupununi Trails and Rupununi Eco Hotel, Daniel Gajie.

Each operator developed various aspects of the Rupununi product which included Community-Based Tourism; Nature-based tourism; Adventure Tourism and Bird-Watching.

Moreover, representing the Brazilian side of the market were tour operators Joaquim Magno de Souza of Roraima Adventures and Francisco Diniz of Makunaima Expedições, as well as Professor of Tourism Studies Dr. Ismar Borges de Lima who analysed the challenges and opportunities for cross-border tourism.

During the event, it was explained by Brazilian operators that their current customers want to explore additional tourism markets. These markets included Spiritual Tourism (reconnecting with nature) and Gastronomic tourism (tasting cultural dishes unique to a country). Guyana’s unique and di-

Tour package buyers browsing the destinations offered by Visit Rupununi affiliates

verse cultures and the Rupununi’s distinct natural environment and indigenous cultures were outlined as attractions that can support both markets.

It was discussed that interest in The Rupununi came particularly from southern parts of Brazil,such as São Paulo. “We have a scenario where we can show Guyana to the Brazilian people who want to be part of this market,” said de Souza.

Both tour operators also highlighted the eagerness of their customers to explore new destinations such as Guyana.

According to the tourism professionals, interest in Guyana has arisen due to the economic and political turmoil in Venezuela, a once popular destination for Brazilians. In addition, Brazilians also want to see more of their country and states such as Roraima in collaboration with Guyana are in an opportune position to supply that demand.

Thus, Shopping Tourism and Community-Based Tourism are becoming more attractive avenues for Brazilian travellers.

Further, Dr De Lima commended efforts in broadening tourism markets on both sides of the border. However, he stated that language barriers have to be broken on both sides for success to truly happen. “People on sides of the border need to speak both languages,” said the tourism professor.

On that note, there was an informal proposal by the Vice-Consul of Brazil to Guyana, Lisa Mary Dos Reis, to explore opportunities in developing a language-training programme focused on youngsters that would benefit both countries specifically in the frontier municipalities of Lethem, Bonfim and Boa Vista.

The event was supported by Conservation International- Guyana under the “Leveraging Natural Capital in Guyana's Rupununi” project being implemented by the organisation. This project is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) - Multi- lateral Investment Fund (MIF) to create and strengthen sustainable local-level, community-based enterprises with a focus on nature-based tourism and agriculture, which have been indicated as the most adequate to foster sustainable development in the region.

Tour operator Joaquim Magno de Souza of Roraima Adventures (second from right) along with his colleague, flanked by Leroy Ignacio and Kayla De Freitas of Rupununi Trails

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

Police Force embarks on ‘Team Policing’ to protect communities COMISSIONER of Police Seelall Persaud has urged new recruits to maintain their integrity while standing between the evil and the vulnerable as the Guyana Police Force (GPF) embarks on a “Team-Policing” strategy to more effectively protect and serve Guyana’s communities.

Speaking to graduates of the Felix Austin Police College during their “Passing Out” parade, Commissioner Persaud announced that the force will adopt the new strategy which will see officers divided in teams being responsible for a geographic space within the district in which they are stationed.

These officers will have responsibilities “to conduct analysis, to identify vulnerabilities, to come up with action plans [and] to mitigate the threats arising from those vulnerabilities,” the commissioner said.

Some 203 new police recruits have been added to the force after successfully completing a rigid five-month training programme.

The ceremonial closing ceremony was attended by several officers from the top brass of the GPF, other senior and junior ranks, and relatives and other supporters of the police.

A graceful military parade saw the new batch of officers

smartly dressed in blue and black police uniforms, standing before their seniors, relatives and other supporters during the presentation ceremony at the Tactical Service Unit (TSU) Square at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary.

Commissioner Persaud congratulated the new batch and staff at the college for executing the programme successfully and on time, sticking to schedules in delivery of the training and imparting to the new officers the culture required to serve communities in Guyana.

He said now that they have successfully completed the initial training leg of their careers, they will be deployed to various areas to deliver services based on the knowledge and skills they attained through training. He urged the officers to develop greater interpersonal skills and take seriously their own health and fitness.

He also urged the new police officers to always remember their “Oath of Office” in the practice of their daily duties in order to stay on track and enjoy their policing careers.

The commissioner said the new officers have joined at a time when the force seeks to employ a greater number of

policemen at each station and outpost.

“You are deployed to stand between the evil that we have in society and the vulnerable that we have in society so that the evil wouldn’t take advantage of the vulnerable.”

He pointed out that the public and the Guyana Police Force have developed a more meaningful relationship and charged the newly graduated policemen and policewomen to ensure they maintain and develop such relationships.

“Today people are happy when they see members of the force around. They feel safe and they feel that there is a helping hand and you have to continue that. It’s all about choices; it’s all about decisions you take.

“So you have to make sure that you are not sucked into anything that you consider is wrong by pressures from colleagues and other persons, by temptations that will come your way throughout your careers.”

He charged the newly graduated policemen to “Go the side of enjoying your work, go the side of getting achievements, making achievements, getting awards, getting recognition, because you are doing the right thing.”

Assistant Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine, Commissioner Seelall Persaud and Officer Royston Andries-Junior pose with the eight top awardees of the latest police recruit training course.

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Four of the delegates who will participate in this year’s Miss Moruca Pageant stand alongside the reigning queen Amanda Daniels (centre)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

Moruca Expo on next weekend

FOR the first time in its 12-year history, a Gospel Fest will feature among a variety of events in this year’s Jubilee edition of the annual Moruca Expo which will culminate with the much-anticipated Miss Moruca Pageant next Saturday night.

The exposition will run from July 28-30, the organizing committee stated.

The Gospel Fest, which will see participation of a number of churches within the region, is slated for July 28. On July 29, monetary prizes will be up for grabs when teams within the North West District clash at the recreational ground at Kumaka , Santa Rosa . A calypso competition will mix with the football action that day.

The main day of events is next Saturday. The events on the cards for that day will commence at 05:30 hrs with a road run through the communities there. Aquatics would then follow and the list of events includes swimming, canoeing and boat tug-o-war.

“Since it is the start of the crab season, patrons can expect a crab fest as well”, the committee said.

On the main day, traditional games in the form of archery, slingshot, crab quake making, crab-catching, h’achi pot eating, piwari drinking would follow at the Kumaka Recreation Ground.

In the evening, the Miss Moruca Pageant would plug the expo with six delegates vying for the crown.

The delegates hail from Manawarin, Waramuri, Santa Rosa, Assakata, Warapoka, Santa Cruz, Kariako and Kwebanna.

This publication was in Moruca last weekend and had an opportunity to chat with the reigning Miss Moruca , Amanda Daniels, as well as the delegates who will compete in the pageant on Saturday evening.

The ladies were going through their paces at the community centre at Kumaka. Daniels, who is part of the pageant committee, said that the event includes seven segments, including an introductory dance by the delegates, introduction of the delegates, a talent piece, traditional wear, beach wear, evening wear and an intelligence segment. The delegate who gains the most points will be crowned Miss Moruca 2016.

Those competing are Nikita Fredericks (Miss Manawarin), Margot Lucas (Miss Santa Rosa), Rehana Joseph (Miss Kariako) ,Tracy Thomas (Miss Assakata) , Indrecin Hackett ( Miss (Kwebanna ) and Rose Brescino (Miss Santa Cruz).

According to Daniels, the pageant presents an opportunity for the people of the area to showcase their cultural capabilities among other talents. ”It shows we have a lot of talent and we can produce good people who can go far in life and become a great leader someday”, she said.

The Kumaka Guest House is fully booked, while relatives and friends are currently making accommodation arrangements with their folk at Moruca as the event nears.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

National anti-violence vigil being planned

SEVERAL non-government organisations are planning a national anti-violence campaign called “Voices Against Violence.”

It is an attempt to get communities across Guyana involved in anti-violence activism, while fostering the concept of communal action for community well-being.

Currently, The Caribbean Voice, Golden Om Dharmic Youth, Save Abee Foundation, Orchid Foundation, the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex, NJASM, Art of Living (Guyana), Nirvana Humanitarian Foundation, Imagine Nation Foundation, GIVE Foundation, Monique’s Helping Hands, Guyana Women’s Roundtable, and Miss Universe Guyana are the organisations coordinating this vigil.

This candle light vigil is set for World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10, 2016, under the theme “Connect… Communicate…Care.”

The organisers are looking for widespread participation, pointing out that it is an initiative that is inexpensive and easy to organize - each participant simply needs a candle or can even use a cell phone - and that brings communities together.

“Thus, vigils can be organized by religious institutions, local businesses, sports and youth clubs, political party groups… just about any entity or set of individuals including schools,” the organisers stated.

Where possible, two or more groups can collaborate and each vigil can select routes around the community, end at a central point or any other selected place where the participants can be accommodated and hold a rally, whereby pre-selected individuals from within or without the community can speak on the theme of anti-violence and, if desired, inter-faith prayers can be conducted.

During the walk about, anti-violence slogans can be chanted. For the purposes of this vigil all of the following are considered acts of violence either against self or others:human trafficking, suicide, drug and alcohol addiction, domestic and child abuse, rape, incest, teenage pregnancy, road carnage, dysfunctional relationships, neglect of the elderly, abuse of the mentally and physically challenged.

Besides, relationship violence and its dysfunctional socialization spawn, which are more and more looming as issues of critical urgency, can and do shape personalities that easily gravitate towards crime and attending violence. Thus, violence

should be addressed holistically and when communities come together they can begin to become more caring and build more togetherness while getting their feet wet in the practice of mindfulness. In effect, anti-violence must become everybody’s business and immediately so! The candle light vigil, held in communities throughout the nation, is a step in this direction.

The Caribbean Voice is requesting that all vigil organizers/potential organizers do contact us ASAP. In

Guyana call Bibi at 621-6111 or 223-2637, Pandit Deodat at 627-4432 or Chandanie at 697-9968. In North America call Anna at 646-461-0574, Ty at 646-589-3135 or Sham at 954-778-3222. Send email to bibiahamad1@hotmail. com, keshni.rooplall@yahoo.com, deodatpersaud25@ yahoo.com or caribvoice@aol.com. IM Deodat Persaud, Chandanie Rooplall, Bibi Ahamad, Ty Talbot or Annan Boodram on Facebook.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

Credit bureau looking to expand service CELEBRATING three years since it was granted a licence to operate in Guyana, the credit bureau and information service group Creditinfo has cited the passage of the Credit Reporting (Amendment) Act in the National Assembly as the single most transformative aspect of its operations to date.

On July 15 last, when the company celebrated its third anniversary, Creditinfo hosted its subscribers to a Stakeholder Breakfast Roundtable where a comprehensive report on the credit bureau’s activities over the past three years was presented by the group’s CEO, Judy Semple-Joseph.

Semple-Joseph told those gathered that the passage of the Credit Reporting (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016 in the National Assembly allowed the expansion of the list of

subscribers from mainly financial institutions, including all commercial banks, to all major state and non-state service entities, as data providers to Creditinfo Guyana Credit Bureau.

The group singled out the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, (GTT), the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) and the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) who are now fully on board. The use of utility data in lending decisions has long ago been proven to be an effective mechanism for creating credit profiles and providing access to credit facilities for persons who have had little or no previous relationship (or familiarity) with the banks.

It said that the amendment also led to a substantial response to the utilization of the credit reports which has been recorded and, consequently, the operations of the credit bureau

have begun to experience a slight shift in a positive direction.

The group said that the establishment of its credit bureau in Guyana has resulted in the creation of an enabling environment in which larger numbers of persons can access much-needed credit much easier and within a shorter processing time. Additionally, the presence of a credit bureau leads to the facilitation of more responsible lending.

The Iceland-based group said too that it is currently assisting several local companies in developing their database integrity, a move which the group says places those entities in a better position to service the consumer market.

According to a release from the company, it aims to expand its value-added services, including Bureau Certified credit clearances for use by prospective employers and landlords and online ID and address verification services for use in the business sector.

The company said that it has been forging ahead with its mandate to provide the full range of credit- reporting services to the local market. The group said a series of activities is currently underway to mark its third anniversary.

These include the first-ever Open Day which will be hosted by the company on Wednesday, July 27, at its office at Lot 267 ‘B’ New Market Street, North Cummingsburg, in the city. The event, which is open to the public, will see presentations on the importance of responsible credit practices, how to understand your own credit report, and how to repair your bad credit will be done.

In addition, free credit reports will also be offered and bureau staff will be answering questions from visitors between the hours of 10:00 hrs and 16:00hrs( 4:00 p.m.). The credit bureau will also be launching its new public information brochure on this occasion, the company said.

Meanwhile, Creditinfo noted that its global affiliates are making preparations for the observance of Credit Bureau Day on Thursday, September 22, 2016 . It will focus on Access to Credit by SMEs this year.

Creditinfo stated that “responsible access to credit and service quality at this level is meant to support the development of a more robust financial sector, to create countless opportunities for the expansion of business and in general, better serve the possibility of better lives for all Guyanese.”

Credit bureaus are seen as important elements of the financial infrastructure that facilitate access to finance.

Easier access to finance is a significant driver of economic well-being in any country, but more particularly for those countries in the developing world, such as Guyana.

Sunday July 24th, 2016 - 08:30 hrs Monday July 25th, 2016 - 09:00 hrs Tuesday July 26th, 2016 - 10:00 hrs

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SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Turffontein 08:20 hrs Hypothermic 08:35 hrs Thunder Applause 09:30 hrs Daytona Charger 10:05 hrs Odd Job 10:40 hrs Hililyhililyhilo 11:10 hrs Catch A Thief ENGLISH RACING TIPS Pontefract 09:20 hrs Savannah’s Dream 00:50 hrs Fastnet Blast 10:25 hrs Street Duel 11:00 hrs vConvey 11:35 hrs Maureb 12;10 hrs Khairaat 12:40 hrs Henley CARLISLE 09:10 hrs Phijee 09:40 hrs Katebird 10:15 hrs Top Of The Glas 10:50 hrs Blacklister 11:25 hrs His Kyllachy 12:00 hrs Mister Royal 12:30 hrs Strummer UTTOXETER 09:00 hrs Ivor’s Queen 09:30 hrs Hygrove Percy 10:00 hrs Baraboy 10:35 hrs Presenting Arms 11:10 hrs Kayla 11:45 hrs Minella Differently 12;20 hrs Hepijeu 12:50 hrs Pay Your Way

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

Root’s epic 254 puts England in total control (REUTERS)-Joe Root’s masterful 254 and three early wickets for Chris Woakes put England in a commanding position on the second day of the second test against Pakistan at Old Trafford yesterday.

Root, who batted for more than 10 hours, struck 27 fours in his highest test score to lead the hosts to 589 for eight declared and Pakistan’s top order crumbled as they limped to 57 for four at the close.

Joe Root salutes the crowd after bringing up his second Test double-century against Pakistan at Old Trafford.

England, 1-0 down in the series, resumed in the morning on 314 for four and nightwatchman Woakes dominated the early strike, peppering the boundary with crisp drives and cuts.

Root went past 150 for the fifth time in his Test career but he did offer one chance that was spilled by Younus Khan at slip off leg-spinner Yasir Shah.

Woakes continued his fine run of form, hitting eight fours and a six on the way to his second test half-century before he poked a return catch to Shah and departed for 58.

Ben Stokes, returning to the side after injury, made a fluent 34, including five fours, and shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 57 with Root who went past 200 with a perfectly executed reverse sweep off Shah.

Stokes nicked a catch down the leg side to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed off Wahab Riaz. He was given out after a lengthy review but Jonny Bairstow kept up the momentum with a busy 58.

Root’s long vigil ended when he skied Riaz to Mohammad Hafeez running in from deep mid-wicket and the right-hander left the arena to a standing ovation.

SET EXAMPLES “You strive to make contributions and want to set examples so it was nice to go on and make a big one,” Root told Sky Sports.

The 25-year-old right-hander’s 10th test century signalled a return to form after a disappointing series against Sri Lanka.

“The little scores give you more drive not to just make hundreds but make big hundreds,” Root said.

“I have given it away on occasions so I wanted to hammer it home. I didn’t score as quickly as I have before but if that helps me get bigger scores, then that’s a way I have to play.”

England captain Alastair Cook declared soon after Root’s dismissal and Hafeez and Shan Masood safely negotiated a probing opening spell by James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

Woakes then struck in his first over, Hafeez (18) nicking a low catch to Root at second slip, and the all-rounder also caught and bowled Azhar Ali for one.

Stokes had Younus caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Bairstow for one and nightwatchman Rahat Ali popped a short ball from Woakes to short leg.

Masood battled through to 30 not out at the close with captain Misbah-ul-Haq on one but the touring side face a huge task to save the match and prevent England from levelling the four-match series.

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND1st innings (Overnight: 314-4) A. Cook b Amir 105 A. Hales b Amir 10 J. Root c Hafeez b Riaz 254 J. Vince c S. Ahmed b R. Ali 18 G. Ballance b R. Ali 23 C. Woakes c&b Shah 58 B. Stokes c S. Ahmed b Riaz 34 J. Bairstow c Misbah-ul-Haq b Riaz 58 M. Ali not out 2 Extras (lb-9 nb-10 w-8) 27 Total (for 8 wickets declared, 152.2 overs) 589 Fall of wickets: 1-25 A. Hales,2-210 A. Cook,3-238 J. Vince,4-311 G. Ballance,5-414 C. Woakes,6-471 B. Stokes,7-577 J. Root,8-589 J. Bairstow Did not bat: S. Broad, J. Anderson Bowling: M. Amir 29 - 6 - 89 - 2(w-2), R. Ali 29 - 4 - 101 - 2(w-2), W. Riaz 26.2 - 1 - 106 - 3(nb-9 w-4),Y. Shah 54 - 6 - 213 – 1, Az. Ali 11 - 0 - 52 – 0, S. Masood 3 - 0 - 19 - 0(nb-1).

PAKISTAN 1st innings M. Hafeez c Root b Woakes 18 S. Masood not out 30 Az. Ali c&b Woakes 1 Y. Khan c Bairstow b Stokes 1 R. Ali c Ballance b Woakes 4 Misbah-ul-Haq not out 1 Extras (lb-1 nb-1) 2 Total (for 4 wickets, 24 overs) 57 Fall of wickets: 1-27 M. Hafeez,2-43 Az. Ali,3-48 Y. Khan,4-53 R. Ali To bat: A. Shafiq, S. Ahmed, W. Riaz, M. Amir, Y. Shah Bowling: J. Anderson 6 - 3 - 7 – 0, S. Broad 5 - 2 - 9 – 0, M. Ali 3 - 0 - 11 - 0(nb-1),C. Woakes 6 - 0 - 18 – 3, B. Stokes 4 - 0 - 11 – 1.

Guyana continues Junior ...

From back page consecutive title.

Yesterday’s win marked the boys’ 18th overall team title at the annual Championships.

On the other hand, notwithstanding their upstanding fight, the Guyana girls lost 2 – 3 against Barbados, to finish second place.

As expected, the Guyana girls’ suffered heavy losses against the Bajan team, which boasted a line-up that included three Caribbean champions. Only girls’ under 19 finalists, Larissa Wiltshire and Taylor Fernandes, were able to manage wins in their matches.

T h e t e a m ’s l o s t t o Barbados followed wins against Jamaica (5 – 0), Cayman Islands (4 – 1) and Trinidad (4 – 1), respectively.

Barbados’ girls’ under 15 player Jada Smith-Padmore was no match for girls’ under 19 champion, Larissa Wiltshire, when the two went head to head in the final match between the countries. Wiltshire took her out 11/4, 11/4, 11/3.

Fernandes prevailed 11/3, 11/4, 11/6 against Chelsie Samuel, in the third match.

Earlier in the teams’ first match, girls’ under 13 champion Sumairaa Suleman’s winning streak was not to be cracked, and Guyana’s Abosaide Cadogan stood no chance.

Losing the first set 9/11, Cadogan fought hard in the next but still went under 10/12. With not much steam left in Cadogan,

Suleman wrapped up the final set 11/3, for the win.

Girls’ under 15 champion, Meagan Best, was next on the court, taking on Guyana’s Makeda Harding for an 11/2, 11/1, 11/2 win. Girls’ under 17 champion, Amanda Haywood, kept to the script and took a win against Rebecca Low, with the match ending 11/4, 11/2, 11/1.

Following the girls’ lost to Barbados, Guyana’s retention of the team title now depends on the boys’ assembling a win over the Cayman Islands.

Things got off to an upbeat start when the opening match pitted twotime Caribbean champion, Shomari, against boys’ under 13 third place finisher, Jace Jervis. In three sets, Shomari took out Jervis 11/5, 11/6, 11/1.

Next up, Daniel Islam was determined to snare another win for the ‘Golden Arrowhead’ when he came up against David Pitcairn, winning 11/6, 8/11, 11/7, 11/6.

Things took a turn for the worst when boys’ under 19 champion, Julian Jervis, got the better of Benjamin Mekdeci for an 11/1, 11/1, 11/2 win.

Guyana made it back into safe territory after Alex Cheeks sealed the deal for Guyana with an 11/9, 11/3, 9/11, 11/8 win over Jasun Sairsingh.

The team title win marked Guyana’s overall 22nd title at the competition.

Froome set to land third Tour de France

By Julien Pretot MORZINE, France,| (Reuters)-Chris Froome enhanced his reputation as one of the best Tour de France riders when he virtually secured his third title, holding on to his overall lead in the last competitive stage, won by Spain’s Ion Izagirre yetserday.

Froome will wear the yellow jersey in the closing stage, a largely processional ride to the Champs Elysees in Paris on Sunday and is highly likely to

join Belgium’s Philippe Thys, American Greg LeMond and France’s Louison Bobet on the list of triple winners.

Ahead of them are fivetimes champions Miguel Indurain of Spain, Belgian great Eddy Merckx, Frenchmen Bernard Hinault and Jacques Anquetil.

“It’s been a really intense race. It’s an incredible feeling to cross the finish line with my team mates, I want to thank them for their hard work, they’ve been with me every

step of the way,” Froome said.

The 31-year-old, who started the 146.5-km stage with a bandage on his right knee following a crash on Friday, was never threatened on a stormy and rainy day in the Alps.

He stayed safe on the slippery descents, well protected by his Sky team mates, and crossed the line with a relieved smile on his face.

Froome, who is set to become the first rider to retain his title since Indurain in

1995, leads France’s Romain Bardet by four minutes five seconds.

Nairo Quintana of Colombia, runner-up in 2013 and 2015, is third overall, 4:21 off the pace, while another Briton, Adam Yates, is fourth at 4:42 and will don the white jersey for the best under-25 rider in Paris.

Riders and officials, with German champion Andre Greipel in front of the peloton, observed a minute’s silence in tribute to the victims of Friday’s

mass shooting in Munich before the start of the stage.

Czech Roman Kreuziger, who started the day in 12th place overall 9:45 off the pace, was part of the day’s breakaway that also featured his Tinkoff team mate Peter Sagan, the world champion voted the most aggressive rider of the race, as well as 2014 champion Vincenzo Nibali among others.

They built up a maximum advantage of 6:22, meaning Kreuziger was virtually second

overall, but the Astana team, protecting Fabio Aru’s sixth place in the general classification, pulled in front of the pack to reduce the gap.

Aru cracked on the last climb and slipped out of the top 10.

On the last climb to the intimidating Col de Joux Plane, an 11.6-km ascent at an average gradient of 8.5 percent, Nibali attacked to catch and drop France’s Julian Alaphilippe and Colombian Jarlinson Pantano.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

Zouks maintain winning streak in Hero CPL THE St Lucia Zouks have made it two Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) wins in two at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium yesterday thanks to the bowling of Sammy himself and runs from Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher.

The win takes them to six points and makes qualification for the knockout stages for the first time in their history a real possibility for the St Lucian side.

Chasing just 138 to win Charles and Fletcher got the home side off to the best possible start. In the first 10 overs the openers managed 80 runs without losing a wicket.

It was actually a quiet start until the ninth over that was delivered by Imran Khan. That one cost 17 runs

as Johnson Charles smashed two sixes.

The Zouks lost Fletcher not long after that when he

stumps.

Charles was joined by Shane Watson who could well have departed on 10 when he

Skipper Darren Sammy was named player of the match for his three for 18 with the ball nicked a low catch through to Nicholas Pooran behind the

Vintage, Hikers and Bounty GCC register hockey victories VINTAGE, Hikers, and Bounty GCC all registered victories when the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB), in collaboration with the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) Lucozade Indoor Hockey League continued on Friday evening at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

According to a press release, Vintage, which is made up of former national players, defeated Old Fort Knockers 5-2,while Hikers made light work of Saint’s, winning by a 7-2 margin, and Bounty GCC battled to a 7-5 win against Old Fort Stallions.

After trailing 0-1 at half time, through Old Fort Knockers’ J. Gaskin 14th minute goal, Vintage rebounded in the second half with two successive goals off the sticks of Alan Fernandes (21st) and Devin Hooper (22nd).

Five minutes later, however, Stephon Sprosta equalized the score for the Old Fort team with a 27th minute goal.

Dwayne Scott, Fernandes and Eric Hing, subsequently sealed the issue with a field goal each in the 35th, 38th and 39th minutes respectively.

In the second match of the evening, Hikers enjoyed a 2-0 lead over Saints at the interval, through a 13th minute field goal from Robert France,and a penalty corner goal from Aroydy Brandford in the 16th minute.

On resumption, France netted three field goals in the 23rd, 24th and 37th minutes, while Bradford netted another Penalty Corner in the 36th minute and Randy Hope chipped in with a Field Goal in the 26th minute.

In the final match of the night, Bounty GCC trailed 3-4 to Old Fort Stallions at the interval after the latter’s Dwight Sullivan and Omar Hopkinson sent them ahead from as early as the 4th and 5th minutes respectively, then Jason Clarke made it 4-2 with field goals in the netted Field Goals in the 14th and 16th minutes.

At the time, Kevin Spencer and Orlando Semple had already nailed home field goals for Bounty GCC in the 7th and 12th minutes.

On resumption, Semple scored two more field goals in the 20th and 25th minutes, and a Penalty shot in the 31st minute.

Michael Craig and Spencer scored a field goal (29th) and a Penalty shot in the 31st minute respectively.

Jason DeSantos pulled one more for Old Fort Stallions in the 40th minute. The league will continue on Tuesday at the same venue with three more matches.

skied a catch off Ravi Rampaul that was well caught on the rope by Shoaib Malik. It was a no ball from Rampaul and Watson was reprieved.

A short rain delay

shortened the chase by one over meaning that when play got back underway the Zouks needed 30 runs from 36 balls. It looked to be a cruise for the home team but the Tridents were given some hope when Charles went for 41 to the second ball after the resumption.

Watson also departed before the end of the game to a brilliant tumbling catch by Ahmed Shehzad but the Zouks cruised home with 15 balls and seven wickets to spare.

It was a steady start by the Tridents after they won the toss and decided to bat first.

They reached 40 for no loss from their six over PowerPlay with Kyle Hope and Shehzad batting steadily in the opening exchanges.

The first wicket fell when Shehzad completely misjudged a slower ball full toss from Sammy and spooned it straight up in the air. Sammy

then picked up his second when Shoaib Malik mistimed a short ball and he was well caught by Mike Hussey on the midwicket boundary.

While wickets were falling at the other end Hope was making his career best T20 score, finishing with 55 from 48 balls – his first fifty in this format. The Tridents have struggled to find a successful opening pair in this tournament and Hope’s performance bodes well for the Barbados team going forward.

Hope and captain Kieron Pollard came together with the score on 60-2 and looked to set a platform from which they could launch in the death overs, but neither man got that far. First Hope lost his wicket to Sammy, Hussey once again the catcher at mid-wicket.

Then Pollard departed to a brilliant caught and bowled from Delorn Johnson who swooped low in his follow

through to pull off a great grab.

Going into the St Lucia leg of the tournament local hero Sammy had claimed just one wicket in three matches. Since he arrived he has claimed four wickets in two games. In this match he finished with figures of 3-18 from his four overs.

When Nicholas Pooran also fell going to a big shot the Tridents had stumbled to 98-5 in the 16th over. Things got worse when Shamar Springer and David Wiese had a horrible mix up and West Indies Under-19 star Springer was run out by the length of the pitch.

Wiese struck some lusty blows but the Tridents lower order couldn’t do the job that the top order had failed to do as they reached just 137-8 thanks to some brilliant bowling from the Zouks, a total that was chased down with some ease.

IOC announces 45 failed tests from Beijing and London FORTY-FIVE athletes have failed dope tests after their samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Games were reanalysed, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Friday.

The results are from a second wave of retests and take the total number of athletes who tested positive for prohibited substances to 98, the IOC added in a statement.

Of the 45 failed tests announced on Friday, 30 were from Beijing, including 23 medalists, and 15 were from London. The IOC did not say if any of the London athletes had won medals.

“The new reanalysis once again shows the commit-

ment of the IOC in the fight against doping,” IOC President Thomas Bach said.

IOC president Thomas Bach The IOC stores samples for a decade in order to retest using newer methods or

to look for new drugs.

The results are part of the IOC’s re-testing of samples from past Games to keep cheats from competing at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.

The athletes are being informed, after which proceedings against them can begin. All athletes found to have infringed anti-doping rules will be banned from competing at the Rio Olympics.

The failed tests will raise further speculation about the extent of doping at the Games, just weeks before the Rio Olympics starts.

Doping scandals have plagued the build-up to the world’s biggest multi-sports

event with Russia potentially facing a complete Games ban following the publication of the McLaren report on Monday.

The report revealed evidence of a systematic and widespread state-sponsored doping by Russian athletes at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

The second wave of retests included 386 samples from Beijing, involving four sports and eight countries.

There were 138 samples retested from London 2012, involving athletes from two sports and nine countries.

The third and fourth waves of tests are expected to continue throughout and after the Rio Games.

Romello Crawford out to defend GBTI’s 50-mile cycle road race title TROJAN Cycle Club’s Romello Crawford will be seeking to make a successful defence of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry’s (GBTI) 50-mile cycle road race title he won last year ,when the Flying Ace Cycle Club of Berbice stages the 11th edition of the event today on the Corentyne Coast.

The event, which is opened to cyclists from Berbice only, wheels off at 09:00hrs from outside the

GBTI’s Corriverton branch and proceed to Adventure on the Corentyne Coast, before returning to the place of origin for the finish.

While Crawford will be desperate to repeat his 2015 performance, he will have to be wary of national junior selectee of the Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF) junior team ,Andrew Hicks, who over the past few months has been showing great signs of progress as a road racer.

A p a r t f ro m H i c k s ,

Crawford will also have to watch his cousin Jevon Crawford, who has also been in good nick recently.

The top six overall finishers will be rewarded with cash and trophies, as will the top three finishers in the junior, juvenile, and veterans categories.

Six prime prizes will be up for grabs during the 50mile event, which is being coordinated by Flying Ace Cycle Club’s coach Randolph Roberts.

ROMELLO CRAWFORD

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

Guyana’s staging of CBC Championships was second to none – president Glyne Clarke

By Peter Haynes THE Caribbean Basketball Confederation’s Under -16 Championships was a complete success in terms of the logistics from the Guyana Amateur Bas-

ketball Federation’s Local Organising Committee.

This opinion was expressed by Mr Glyne Clarke, President of the C.B.C, in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday.He categorically stated

that the Championships was second to none.

In terms of the developmental aspects from the CBC perspective, this was the first Championship for the youths in seven years.

The last such championship

CBC president Glyne Clarke

a legacy for the GABF and the other sports, which is played at the Sports Hall.

The refurbishing of the’ CASH’ gave the championships an opportunity to use a very good floor, updated equipment while at the same time providing the opportunity for officials to understand what modern officiating is all about, particularly as required by FIBA. Speaking about the developmental aspect going forward for the top three teams - boys and girls - who will participate in the Centrobasket Championships, Clarke stated that the tour-

CBC has given FIBA a proposal to render some level of financial assistance to the Caribbean countries to fully manage the “ new competition system”.

He stated that while the championships were in progress in Guyana, the Regional Director, Alberto Garcia conducted a seminar/ workshop with representatives of the participating countries to update them on the new competition system and also the three-by-three competition.

Clarke explained that the new competition system comprises of teams playing

The Bahamas Men’s and Women’s teams swept the championships. was held in 2008 in Antigua and Barbuda.

Clarke said that essentially what happened was a generation of athletes who lost the opportunity to play competitive basketball as a teams as teenagers before moving on to the senior championships.

He reminded that FIBA has several age categories, which are the Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19.

Clarke lamented that CBC has not been able to host one of these age category championships since 2008, so most countries lost the opportunity to have their athletes play in those categories.

Developmentally, these championships gave the youngsters the opportunity to play basketball internationally and gain valuable experience.

The CBC President said that logistically, the Guyana Basketball Federation executed a championship which was second to none over the years. He said that the transportation was always on time; the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) was totally refreshed, and is now

nament comprises of teams from Central America and the Caribbean, including Mexico, Panama, Belize, Costa Rica and Guatemala.

Already qualified for the tournament are Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

Clarke stated that the Caribbean teams, the Bahamas, Guyana and Suriname will be in for a very tough tournament, as the teams from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Dominican Republic have a higher level of exposure from a young age.

He said that the Bahamas teams will represent the CBC division very well since that country is very competitive at this as well as at the senior level.

This is as a result of the situation that many of their players attend schools and play in the USA. Clarke started that without a doubt the other teams from the region going forward to Centrobasket will struggle unless they are able to get other players drafted from the USA. Clarke stated that the

home and away matches for a series, consisting of a group of four countries playing a round robin tournament. These matches will be played in November 2017, February 2018 and May 2018.

Clarke reminded that this would a challenge for Federations in the Caribbean to stage these tournaments, especially in attracting spectators and more so sponsorship. This,he said, is a tremendous undertaking, given the fact that immediately after playing a home game, they are required to travel to play the away match.

The CBC president said one of the biggest challenges for the Federation is the extremely high cost of travel within the Region. This will be very prohibitive for most of the countries.

In addition, he said that most of the Caribbean islands have relatively small populations compared to South American countries, which, in addition to having larger stadiums,also have the ability to have sell- out crowds.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

Boyce/Jefford Classic VII officially launched ––Over $2M in cash and prizes

By Tamica Garnett OVER $2M in cash prizes will be up for grabs as Guyana’s top athletes clash with athletes from over six countries, including Jamaica and the USA, when the seventh edition of the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic goes down at the MacKenzie Sports Club Ground on August 27 - 28.

This was disclosed yesterday when the event was officially launched at the Sports Maxx Store at the Giftland Mall. A lot of hype is expected for the annual event which will take place just after the Olympic Games 2016, and will see the top performing club walk away with a whopping $1M prize.

The prize money will continue all the way to fourth place, with the second place finisher taking home $500, 000. Third place is set to receive $300, 000, while fourth place will walk away with $200, 000.

Chairman of the Boyce and Jefford Committee, Colin Boyce, a former Police ath-

lete, reminded that the event was birthed upon the idea of aiding in the development of athletes, by providing the means for them to earn some much needed financial support for their respective clubs.

“Athletics deserves much more than what we’re receiving now, and we thought it fit that we, as former athletes, recognize the need to put cash prizes into the clubs because of the arduous training that the athletes have to go through, and then at the end of the day, what do we get in return? Nothing much.” Boyce said.

“We would have seen other sporting events receiving healthy cash prizes and so this year we would have seen the need to increase the cash prizes to a healthy $1M for the first prize, so those clubs that are represented here can vie for a healthy package.”

The former Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) president pointed out that its not just about giving the athletes monetary support,but as the

event continues to grow the organizers will be looking at other ways to help the athletes. This led to the inclusion of international athletes to the meet.

“We would have also seen the need to test our athletes, those who are based locally and those who are based abroad, by bringing a few foreign athletes to match strides with our local counterparts.”

And in continuing in that stride of making it bigger and better with each coming year, this year’s edition will see the increase of the “international events” at the meet from six last year to eight this year, with the addition of the men’s and women’s javelin throw.

The other international events carded for the Championships are the women’s 200m, 1500m, and triple jump, along with the men’s 200m, 800m, and long jump.

Each international event carries a purse of US$500, divided among the top three athletes in the events, with US$250 for first place, US$150 for second, and

A 555-strong U.S. Olympics team includes record 292 women (REUTERS)-A record contingent of 292 women will be part of a powerful 555-strong United States team at next month’s Rio Olympics.

The team, announced yesterday by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), will contest 244 of 306 medal events.

The Americans topped the gold medal (46) and overall medal (104) table at London 2012.

The record number of women on the U.S. team tops the previous mark of 289 by China in 2008. It is the second time the American roster has featured more females than males.

“I am especially excited for the historic achievement of our women’s delegation which is a true testament to the strength and growing number of women’s sport opportunities in the United States,” USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said.

The American team includes 191 returning

Eugene, OR, USA; Allyson Felix reacts after placing fourth in the women’s 200m in 22.54 during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field.

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Olympians. Equestrian rider Phillip Dutton and shooters Emil Milev and Kim Rhode are heading to their sixth Games.

Among those going to their fifth Olympics are swimmer Michael Phelps,

middle-distance runner Bernard Lagat, tennis player Serena Williams and beach volleyballer Kerri Walsh Jennings.

Phelps, who owns an Olympic record 18 golds, will swim in at least three events in Brazil.

Runner Allyson Felix, the most decorated U.S. Olympic woman with four golds and six overall, makes a fourth Games appearance, competing in the 400 metres and probably the 4x400 relay.

Among the strongest medal favourites are the women’s basketball team and gymnast Simone Biles in the women’s all-around.

The women’s rowing eight seek to continue a dynasty on the world stage.

They have not lost an Olympic or world championship title since 2006.

Dutton, 52, will be the oldest team member, with 16-year-old table tennis player Kanak Jha the youngest.

Orgianisers of the Boyce and Jefford Classic, Edison Jefford (left) and Colin Boyce (second from left), with Director of Sport, Christopher Jones (third from left), with representatives and athletes from some of the clubs set to participate at the meet US$100 for third.

Though some of the final arrangements are still being ironed out, organizer of the event, Boyce, confirmed that thus far athletes from Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad, Antigua, and the USA, are set to match strides with the Guyanese in the international events.

Co-chairman of the Boyce/Jefford Comittee, Edison Jefford, remarked that the event would be nowhere without the kind

sponsors,who for the second consecutive year,included government support through the National Sports Commission. On hand to speak on this contribution was Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, who commended the organisers for their years of service to the event,while reafirming government’s continued support.

Other sponsors for the event include returning sponsor, Digicel, K&B Mining, Sports Maxx, E-Networks, Ansa McAl, under their

Smalta brand. Fly Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines are the official airline carriers for the event.

Registration for the meet is expected to close off next Friday. Meanwhile, not forgetting the fans, over $500, 000 in gates prizes will be up for grabs to patrons of the meet.

In another new turn of events, the Classic is also expected to be streamed live on E-Networks, so those at home can also tune in to catch the event live.

Football fraternity mourns

THE Guyana football fraternity was thrown into a state of shock and mourning after it was revealed that Kevin Layne Snr, Manager of the Monedderlust FC of West Coast Berbice, passed away on Friday night.

The 38-year-old Layne was on his way to the hospital to seek medical attention, after complaining of not feeling well, when he succumbed.

Layne dedicated more than half of his life to building the Number Five Village facility and team. He was also pivotal in taking the side to the Guyana Football Federation’s top flight football competition -

KEVIN LAYNE SNR Elite League.

He leaves to mourn, his wife Nichelle, daughter Trevlyn,and son, former National U-17 captain Kevin Layne

Jr.He will be remembered for his selfless contribution to the development of the ‘Beautiful Game’ in his Village, his county and country at large.

Chronicle Sport joins the Guyana football fraternity in extending deepest condolences to the family.

Meanwhile, on hearing the news, president of the GFF, Wayne Forde, told Chronicle Sport,“Mr. Layne was a friend and colleague that invested enormously into football. He will be surely missed by the football fraternity. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family”.

Jaheel Hyde strikes gold at World Under-20s JAMAICA’s Jaheel Hyde continued to do his country proud on the world stage, copping yet another title, this time Gold at the IAAF World Under 20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Hyde hit the line in 49.03 seconds to outdo the personal best effort of Taylor McLaughlin, who finished in 49.45 seconds.

Kyron McMasters of the

British Virgin Islands, 49.56, performed wonderfully for his bronze medal, a new National Under 20 record.

Rounding out the field were Mikael de Jesus of Brazil, 50.06, Tatsuhiro Yamamoto of Japan, 50.99, Debin Gong of China, 51.03, Yoshiro Watanabe also o Japan, 51.09 and Mohamed Feres Jlassi of Tunisia, 52.14.

Hyde’s gold medal brings Jamaica’s tally to two of the same quality, while taking the overall count to five.

Tiffany James won Gold in the women’s 400 metres, while Junelle Bromfield copped a bronze medal. In the women’s 400-metres hurdles, Shannon Kalawan held on to a bronze medal, while Nigel Ellis won the country’s other medal, a bronze in the 200 metres.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE July 24, 2016

‘Inadequate preparations’ - recipe for failure By: Ras Wadada

ONE of the most commonly used maxim by management of teams after failure in sports is ‘failing to prepare is preparing to fail’ and in most instances the claim is justifiable, especially, here in Guyana where late and/or poor planning is often linked with preparations.

In an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport, rookie Head Coach of the national U-17 football team, Anthony Stephens, cited the inadequate preparations as the main reason for the team just securing one win and losing the other two matches in the just concluded CFU’s Group Four Preliminary competition staged in St. Thomas, USVI. “The difference between

Guyana and the other participating teams in the group is that we were underprepared. The Jamaicans were preparing for nine months, Antigua several months and the USVI some three weeks while we had just about a week and I must admit the team performed well taking into consideration the short time we had to get ready”, Coach Stephens exclaimed.

“There must be adequate time to adequately prepare the team: Tactically, Technically, Physically and Mentally. What makes it more complex is the fact that we have very little youth programmess here in Guyana, so what usually happens is the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) hand pick players and give you to work with a week or two before the tournament, that is a recipe for

National U-17 coach Anthony Stephens failure. As a Coach you need to have more input in the selection process as well”, Stephens stated.

The final year student of the Faculty of Natural

Sciences at the University of Guyana feels that the team possess a lot of naturally talented players and together with other players who were not selected should be invested in by the Federation since they can serve Guyana well in the future.

Coach Stephens also mentioned some of the standouts on the recent tour; Captain Jeremy Garrett, Sese Norville, Cecil Jackman, Akel Forde, Roberto Case, Joshua Ferreira and 14 year old Tyrell Khan.

“Our programmes or lack of programmes for youth football is non-productive for development and leaves us way behind other countries. We need to put more emphasis on improving our structure for football development from the Grassroots level

to the Youths and right up to the Senior nationals”, the Coach suggested.

It was Stephens’ first taste of national and International exposure which he described as,’truly a learning experience that opened my eyes to a lot of things and reminded me that Coaching is a continuous evolution with no limits to learning or acquiring knowledge. For instance Technology is a very important component of coaching today’.

Coach Stephens rose to prominence in schools football as he led the Wismar/ Christianburg Secondary to consecutive wins in the DIGICEL nationwide tournament. His exploits were recognised and rewarded by the GFF when he was selected to attend the first

CONCACAF ‘D’ License Coaches Course in 2013 in Aruba. Stephens’ career as a player ended when part of his left leg had to be amputated two weeks after he sustained a compound fracture just above the ankle in a game for his club Blueberry Hill FC against Netrockers in August of 2005. He also represented Upper-Demerara U-17 and was a member of the 3rd placed Eagles FC of the 2004 Kashif and Shanghai Tournament.

For now, Coach Stephens is focused on guiding the Wismar/Christianburg Secondary to a sixth consecutive DIGICEL Nationwide schools football Championship where today they confront Tutorial Secondary of Berbice in a quarter final fixture at Wisburg Secondary beginning at 16:00hrs.

Warner pays out thousands in WICB seek to improve relations with all present players defamation case settlement “THIS for me was a legal distraction,” said former FIFA Vice President, Austin Jack Warner.

The former football executive was referring to a defamation case brought against him by Suruj Rambachan, which was settled out of court for $375,000.

According to Warner, who is fighting extradition to the United States where he faces a dozen charges related to fraud and recketeering in football, the case is minor when compared to his battle with the Trinidad and Tobago government.

That matter has been in the court for the past three years, it had not even started, I don’t want myself to be distracted by these petty issues and have it go on for another three years,” said Warner.

This is the second case this year Warner has settled, according to him, for the same reason.

The former CONCACAF boss, earlier this year, was made to pay former government minister, Devant Maharaj.

“It was petty and I felt no point in burdening the court, I want to

focus on one matter and that is my extradition matter,” Warner said of this latest legal battle.

Rambachan, however, says the decision to settle,

Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner vindicates him and the position he has taken over the last three years.

“Mr Warner uttered several outlandish statements with the intention of assassinating my character and causing maximum distress to my family. These statements included baseless allegations of corruption of which there was absolutely no evidence. I am

extremely happy with the order of the Court,” said Rambachan.

“The statements that formed the subject matter of this action were made while I held the position as a minister of government and by his agreement to pay damages today it clearly demonstrates that those statements were made with the clear intention to gain a political advantage,” he added.

Warner, meanwhile, says he is spending time pursuing a doctorate and writing a book.

(Sportsmax.com)

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – West Indies Cricket Board president, Dave Cameron, says a grand event will be hosted for all “living West Indies cricketers”, along with a meeting for all present players, as the board seeks to improve relations in the regional cricket community.

Speaking annual WICB/ WIPA awards ceremony here this week, the Jamaican administrator said the two separate events would be held later this year, with the players’ conclave set for Trinidad and Tobago on August 24-25 and while the gala event scheduled for October.

“We have a number of

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday July 24, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) &AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) 0 (2) Martin Guptill

Today’s Quiz:

(1)How many fours and sixes Nicholas Pooran struck in his recent innings of 81 for the Tridents against the Zouks?

(2)Who had the best bowling figures in the first game staged at Sabina Park in Hero CPL 2016?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

initiatives for the rest of the year that will demonstrate to all our players and

WICB president Dave Cameron stakeholders how we want to view West Indies cricket as a tight family,” Cameron told those gathered last Tuesday.

The first of such is that we are meeting with our players in August 24 and 25 in Trinidad to understand what the challenges are and how we can get together.

“This is very important.

This is not a meeting to come and dictate to you, this is a meeting to listen, as we want to make it better.”

Among the guests at the Awards Ceremony were Sir Richard Williams, Gov-

ernor General of Antigua & Barbuda; Prime Minister Gaston Browne, West Indies legends Joel Garner, Courtney Walsh and Jeff Dujon; along with the members of the West Indies Under-19 team, West Indies women’s team, West Indies men’s team and the India men’s team.

“We intend to have a function on October of this year as we continue our 90th year of being part of the ICC family and also winning three championships on the world stage. We intend to invite all our living former players to this event,’ Cameron said.

“We are very proud to celebrate the success of the West Indies teams which won the three world titles earlier this year. Where we are, we are on a journey, we’re not at a destination.

We intend to get better.

“We will not compromise on our standards anymore. We have compromised on our standards for a long time, and I want to say to the cricketing public we won’t compromise anymore.”

The WICB and its players have endured a rocky relationship in recent time.

They clashed during the fractious abandoned tour of India in 2014 and issues resurfaced ahead of the recent Twenty20 World Cup in India and immediately after.

31

SUNDAY CHRONICLE JulY 24, 2016

India pacers dominate as Windies follow on (REUTERS)-An impressive India bowling attack had West Indies on the ropes on the third day of the first Test in Antigua yesterday.

Fast bowlers Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami took four wickets each as the visitors bowled out West Indies for 243 in their first innings.

After India captain Virat

Kohli enforced the follow-on, the hosts were then 21-1 at stumps, trailing by 302 runs, and with two days left perhaps only rain can save them.

Shami and Yadav led a strong five-pronged attack at the Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound.

Yadav (4-41) and Shami (4-66) found surprising life in the pitch in the first innings

while Wriddhiman Saha behind the stumps featured in six dismissals (five caught and one stumped), equalling the record by an Indian wicketkeeper.

India were aided in their quest by batting that retired West Indies great Richards, in the commentary box, described as “very, very ordinary”.

Mohammed Shami celebrates the wicket of Marlon Samuels. He went on to finish with four for 66.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite top-scored for the home side with a disciplined 74 off 218 balls in nearly five patient hours at the crease.

Number eight Shane Dowrich also hit a lively 57 not out and put on 69 for the eighth wicket with captain Jason Holder (36).

Marlon Samuels and Carlos Brathwaite, heroes of April’s World Twenty20 title triumph, went cheaply.

Samuels was caught behind for one while Brathwaite made an embarrassing golden duck when he did not play at a Yadav delivery and watched in dismay as his off stump was knocked over.

“India really bowled well today,” Kraigg Brathwaite said in an on-field interview.

“With three (fast bowlers) and spinners they had a lot to choose from.

“It was never easy because they really stuck to their plans. It was a tough day of test cricket.”

India relentlessly pressed home their advantage late in

the day as West Indies faced 13 overs in their second innings.

Kraigg Brathwaite could not emulate his first-innings

knock, trapped lbw for two by paceman Ishant Sharma.

Darren Bravo (10) and Rajindra Chandrika (9) then survived until stumps.

SCOREBOARD INDIA 1st innings 566 for 8 decl (V. Kohli 200, R. Ashwin 113, S. Dhawan 84, A. Mishra 53) West Indies 1st innings (Overnight: 31-1) K. Brathwaite c Saha b U. Yadav 74 R. Chandrika c Saha b Shami 16 D. Bishoo st Saha b Mishra 12 Da. Bravo c Saha b Shami 11 M. Samuels c Saha b Shami 1 J. Blackwood c Rahane b Shami 0 R. Chase c Kohli b U. Yadav 23 S. Dowrich not out 57 J. Holder c Saha b U. Yadav 36 C. Brathwaite b U. Yadav 0 S. Gabriel b Mishra 2 Extras (b-4 lb-2 nb-3 w-2) 11 Total (all out, 90.2 overs) 243 Fall of wickets: 1-30 R. Chandrika,2-68 D. Bishoo,3-90 Da. Bravo,4-92 M. Samuels,5-92 J. Blackwood,6-139 R. Chase,7-144 K. Brathwaite,8-213 J. Holder,9-213 C. Brathwaite,10-243 S. Gabriel Bowling: I. Sharma 20 - 7 - 44 - 0(nb-3), U. Yadav 18 - 8 - 41 – 4, M. Shami 20 - 4 - 66 - 4(w-2), R. Ashwin 17 - 5 - 43 – 0, A. Mishra 15.2 - 4 - 43 - 2 WEST INDIES 2nd innings K. Brathwaite lbw b I. Sharma 2 R. Chandrika not out 9 Da. Bravo not out 10 Extras 0 Total (for 1 wickets, 13 overs) 21 Fall of wickets: 1-2 K. Brathwaite To bat: M. Samuels, J. Blackwood, R. Chase, S. Dowrich, C. Brathwaite, J. Holder, D. Bishoo, S. Gabriel Bowling : I. Sharma 4 - 2 - 3 – 1, M. Shami 4 - 3 - 2 – 0, U. Yadav 3 - 1 - 8 – 0, R. Ashwin 2 - 0 - 8 - 0

CMRC 2016 Round 2 Trinidad…

Jeffrey Gores ‘Hollywood’ for pole position (By Stephan Sookram in Trinidad and Tobago compliments of Buy Me Auto Sales, Rent-a-tent, B.M. Soat Auto Spares and Jumbo Jet Auto Sales).

IT was a Hollywood style shootout at the Frankie Boodram Wallerfield, but not for the Jamaican Doug Gore, who often goes by the

nickname Hollywood, but rather for the Guyanese, Kristian Jeffrey Gore was gored by reigning Caribbean Group Four Champion Jeffrey, who piped him to pole during yesterday’s qualifying session of the Second Round of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC), in Trinidad.

Posting a 39.047 time, the reigning sportsman

of the year left it all on the three quarter mile stretch, in Arima blowing away the Jamaican by more than half a second and setting the scene for a tense race today.

“I actually thought the time wasn’t fast enough for Doug [Gore] because the rumours that he was doing 38.5 or something like that so while I was out there, I still thought I was in second

Derrick re-elected President of CFU ANTIGUAN Gordon ‘Banks’ Derrick, amid stiff competition, prevailed over Trinidadian David Williams by 18 votes to 12 to retain the leadership of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) at yesterday’s elections held in the Miami Sheraton Airport Hotel.

Also gaining re-election, yesterday, were first Vice President, Grenadian Cheney Joseph, second Vice President, Rignaal Francisca of Curacao and third Vice

President, St Lucian Lyndon Cooper while Aruban, Richard Dijkhoff was elected for the first time to 4th Vice President.

The four Executive Committee members elected are Barbadian Randolph Harris, Bruce Blake of the Cayman Islands, Puerto Rican Eric Labrador and the lone female, Jeaninne Wong Loi Sing from Bonaire. Among the list of nine candidates who contested for the four positions was President of

GORDON DERRICK the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde.

The nine-member executive will govern the sport for a four year period. (Ras Wadada)

Jeffrey Gores ‘Hollywood’ for pole position position but I managed to get pole and hope we can bring the time down some more today.”

Tr i n i d a d ’s K r i s t i a n Bourne will start third on the grid alongside countryman Gerard Carrington who had obvious problems.

On the two wheel drive end of things, Barbadian Mark Maloney (Mazda Rx3) will head the pile thanks to his (40.125) time with Trinidad’s Frankie Boodram and his Renault Megane posting 41.165.

Countryman, Richard Mohammed will start third ahead of Guyana’s Mohan Rangasammy.

At the group three end, Trinidad’s David Lyons will be on pole in his Suzuki swift after posting 42.586 while 2016 point leader Paul Vieira and his RX7 start second ahead of Trinidad’s Ronald Wortman and Barbados’ Steve King.

Guyanese Afraz Allie will start 6th while Danny Persaud will start at the back of the pack after suffering alternator damage.

Meanwhile, on the group two front, Marc Gill (44.741) secured pole ahead of countryman Mark Williams and Barbadian Mark Thompson

KRISTIAN JEFFREY with Guyana’s Shan Seejattan fourth.

Rameez Mohammed, Kemal Rahman and Nick Ramsaran all suffered mechanical issues before qualifying.

Vieiras run Rampant An all Vieira front

three will take the grid on the super-sport end of things as they utterly dominated the qualifying day.

Steven, the eldest will lead the pack aboard his Kawasaki ZX6-R after posting a 41.955 time but is only one tenth of a second faster than Elliot, whose fastest time aboard the same model of bike was 42.076.

“We had some difficulty with the bike and with power but Andy Phang sorted it out and he did a very good job. Today will be a race because my two cousins (Elliot and Matthew) are very fast; I’m hoping to get in front and just tuck my head down and go,” the multi-time Caribbean champion said.

M a t t h e w Vi e i r a ’s 42.311 was good enough for third as Dominic De L e o n ( Tr i n i d a d ) a n d Brook Miller (Barbados) took fourth and fifth ahead of Guyana’s Heeranand Boodram sixth and Kevin Persaud 7th.

India pacers dominate as Windies follow on See story on page 35

Guyana continues Junior Squash dominance

Winners! The winning Guyana Junior Squash team lifting the Golden Arrowhead, with team coach Carl Ince (second from right), and other officials

Guyana boys’ retain their title, girls’ finish second G U YA N A o n c e a g a i n proved it has the best junior squash team in the Caribbean, after taking their 12th consecutive Caribbean team title, following their win of the boys’ team titles and girls’ team secondplaced finish at the MA-

KRISTIAN JEFFREY

PLES Caribbean Junior Squash Championships which concluded yesterday at the South Sound Squash Club in the Cayman Islands.

Wins from boys’ under 13 champion, Shomari Wiltshire, Daniel Is-

lam,and Alex Cheeks, kept the Guyana boys afloat as they prevailed 3 – 2 over Cayman Islands in the finals, to see the team successfully defend their title and net their fourth See page 26

Jeffrey Gores ‘Hollywood’ for pole position See story on page 35

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

Boy’s under 13 Caribbean champion, Shomari Wiltshire (left) in his match against Jace Jervis

Derrick re-elected President of CFU See story on page 35

GORDON DERRICK SUNDAY, JULY 24, 2016