Chronicle 11 01 2015 by Guyana Chronicle

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- final tribute for Guyana-born NYPD officer

Randolph Holder

NYPD officers braved the rain in a final salute as the body of officer Randolph Holder arrived at the Brickdam Cathedral on Saturday (Delano Williams photo)

‘It is our duty to correct a glaring error’

Several leading Hindu leaders support November 10 as Diwali date

No decision yet on future of sugar industry – Granger 7 P.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

President visits Green Conference and Expo

PRESIDENT David Granger at one of the Green Expo exhibits

PRESIDENT David Granger Sunday evening checked out the Green Conference and Expo a t P a r a d e G ro u n d i n Georgetown, where he interacted with those who had set up exhibits. The event commenced Friday and ends today. As part of its initiative to revive Georgetown as the “Garden City,” the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) hosted the event with the hope of spreading awareness about its efforts. The conference also seeks to promote eco-

friendly practices and various conservation methods, both domestic and commercial, and targets, among others the manufacturing sector, food and beverage distributors, electrical, construction and mechanical services, and the mining, health and wastemanagement industries. The country is pursuing its developmental programmes within a green framework and environmentally friendly atmosphere, the council said. This approach was further emphasised in the 2015 Budget entitled, “A fresh start to the good life in a green economy.” In that light the M&CC, as the capital’s keeper, deems it essential to take the lead in promoting the advancement of an eco-friendly, sustainable city, and has put forward a number of ideas and programmes to boost this eco-challenge. Georgetown’s aim is to become the most eco-friendly city within the Caribbean and South American Region; and to be a model city for those seeking to attain green development. While the Council has commenced physical repair of the city, on the education front it is introducing the first of many such programmes such as the upcoming ‘Green Conference and Expo.’ The council has partnered with prominent branding and advertising company, Impressions, in the ongoing “Green City Campaign.” Impressions is a major force in the creative and branding sector, having been in the forefront of many expos such as GuyExpo, the Building Expo, CPL cricket and Festival Guyana, among others. The conference started with a national discussion that raises awareness on the present state of Guyana’s green potential, to sensitise stakeholders on the M&CC’s green campaign and to establish partnerships in prompting and maintaining a “clean and green” environment.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

‘He was a true hero of Guyana’ - final tribute for Guyana-born NYPD officer RANDOLPH Holder, the Guyana-born New York police officer killed in the line of duty, was on Saturday hailed as a hero by his colleagues at the final funeral ceremony held in Georgetown. “He is a true hero of Guyana; you should all be proud of him,” said Captain Reymondo Mundo at the funeral service held in the morning at the Brickdam Cathedral. Mundo serves as the commander of the Police Service Area #5, which is in charge of policing New York City Housing Developments in the 23rd, 25th and 28th N e w Yo r k C i t y P o l i c e Precincts. He was among some 60 NYPD officers who came to Guyana for the final tributes for their colleague, with whom they “chased the bad guys together.” Holder, 33, was killed on October 20 while chasing a suspect. At a moving ceremony in New York, the city’s Police Commissioner, William J. Bratton, promoted Holder to detective and gave him the same badge number his father had while he worked as a policeman in Guyana, # 9657. Holder’s body arrived in Guyana on Thursday evening, and was kept at the Merriman’s Funeral Home until Saturday morning, when it was retrieved for the funeral service. The body arrived at the Brickdam Cathedral to a salute by NYPD officers, who stood through an early- morning downpour. Several persons stood on the road with umbrellas to watch the proceedings, until the body was lifted to the entrance of the cathedral and then wheeled inside for the beginning of the church service, which was attended by a few hundred persons, including the NYPD officers, Holder’s family members, and a few outsiders. Diane Mitchell, 46, a housewife, was among those at the cathedral. She had never known Holder,

but watched the New York funeral on TV and was impressed that Holder was honoured in such a way, and so she decided to attend the funeral service. “I just came to observe; from what I saw on TV, he must have been someone who did a lot of good,” she said. She brought along a friend with her to the cathedral. The obituary was read by Arika Noel, the wife of Kelon Noel, Holder’s y o u n g e r b ro t h e r. S h e described the slain cop as humble and responsible, and noted that at times in New York he would help shovel snow from the neighbour’s driveway. “No one ever saw him angry,” she said, echoing the sentiments of family members, neighbours and friends, who all described him as a cool and calm person. “He listened, and was never judgmental,” she said, adding that he lived his life as an officer with a sense of purpose. “He had his life all mapped out,” Arika Noel said of her late brother-in-law. Mundo then asked the NYPD contingent (about 100 who came in for the funeral) to stand, and he said a prayer for them, asking God to keep them safe and walk before them. Desmond King, an uncle, described Holder as a good man who had taken on the NYPD job even while knowing the risks involved.

The NYPD’s Lieutenant Scott Stein presents the flag of the NYPD to Randolph Holder Snr., who had served in the Guyana Police Force (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo) “It was a risk he had to take, and it’s the risk heroes do to make a difference,” King said. Tr i b u t e s w e r e a l s o delivered by members of the Guyanese Ex-Presidential Guard and Immigration Services of New York, and the Ex-Guyana Defence Force Association of New York. Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green, in his tribute, urged all to emulate Holder, calling him an “honourable citizen.” “Let us all humbly do what he did in our country and elsewhere, to rid the world of crime and those elements who are intent on tarnishing our societies.”

Guyanese singer and current Miss Guyana, Lisa Punch, paid tribute in a song called “One Last Time.” After Mayor Green’s tribute, President David Granger arrived at the cathedral. “The President knew the grandmother of Holder, Elizabeth Lovell, since he [the President] was a young boy living in the Corentyne, Region 6,” the President’s Office said in announcing that he would attend the funeral service.

After the arrival of the President, the eulogy was read by Holder’s aunt, Marcia Lovell, who described him as someone who had always lived with hope and optimism. She recalled that Holder would always say that even if you don’t have a lot in life, you can still find fulfilment in helping others. Also attending the

funeral service were U.S. Ambassador Perry H o l l o w a y ; G u y a n a ’s Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; and Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

Russian airliner with 224 aboard crashes in Egypt’s Sinai, all killed

(Reuters) A RUSSIAN airliner carrying 224 passengers crashed into a mountainous area of Egypt’s Sinai peninsula on Saturday shortly after losing radar contact near cruising altitude, killing all aboard. A militant group affiliated to Islamic State in Egypt, Sinai Province, said in a statement it had brought down the plane “in response to Russian airstrikes that killed hundreds of Muslims on Syrian land”, but Russia’s Transport Minister told Interfax news agency the claim “can’t be considered accurate”. The Airbus A321, oper-

ated by Russian airline Kogalymavia under the brand name Metrojet, was flying from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg in Russia when it went down in central Sinai soon after daybreak, the aviation ministry said. “I now see a tragic scene,” an Egyptian security officer at the site told Reuters by telephone. “A lot of dead on the ground, and many who died whilst strapped to their seats. “The plane split into two, a small part on the tail end that burned and a larger part that crashed into a rockface. We have extracted at least

100 bodies and the rest are still inside,” the officer, who requested anonymity, said. Both black boxes of the plane had been found, Mohamed Hossam Kemal, the civil aviation minister, told a news conference. Kemal said communica-

tions between the plane and air traffic control before the crash had been normal, and that nothing irregular had occurred before the accident. “The plane did not request a change of route,” he said. Egyptian Prime Minister

Egyptian army with police and rescue crew transfer bodies of victims of a plane crash, from a civil police helicopter to an ambulance at Kabrit airport in Suez, east of Cairo, Egypt, October 31, 2015. . Reuters/ Stringer

Sherif Ismail also told the news conference that there did not appear to be any unusual activity behind the crash, but the facts would not be clear until further investigations had been carried out. Ismail said 129 bodies had so far been removed, and the chances of finding survivors were now near-impossible. Bodies were being transported to various hospitals, with 34 arriving in the Zeinhom morgue in Cairo early in the evening. Islamic State, in a statement on Twitter, said it had brought down the aircraft. Sinai is the scene of an insurgency by militants close to Islamic State, who have killed hundreds of Egyptian soldiers and police, and have also attacked Western targets in recent months. Much of the Sinai is a restricted military zone.

Militants in the area are not believed to have missiles capable of hitting a plane at 30,000 feet. Islamic State websites have in the past claimed responsibility for actions that have not been conclusively attributed to them. Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, launched air raids against opposition groups in Syria, including Islamic State, on Sept. 30. Two of Europe’s largest airlines, Lufthansa (LHAG. DE) and Air France-KLM (AIRF.PA), said they would avoid flying over the Sinai peninsula while awaiting an explanation on the cause of the crash. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi promised Russia’s President Vladimir Putin he would allow Russian experts to join the investigation.

Islamic State claims responsibility for Russian plane crash in Egypt A MILITANT group affiliated to Islamic State in Egypt claimed responsibility for the downing of a Russian passenger plane that crashed in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula on Saturday, the group said in a statement circulated by supporters on Twitter.

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Egyptian security sources earlier on Saturday said early investigations suggested the plane crashed due to a technical fault. The claim of responsibility was also carried by the Aamaq website, which acts as a semi official news agency for

31/10/2015

Islamic State. “The fighters of the Islamic State were able to down a Russian plane over Sinai province that was carrying over 220 Russian crusaders. They were all killed, thanks be to God,” the statement circulated on Twitter said.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

Major decline in STDs among sex workers KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS)—THE National Family Planning Board (NFPB) is reporting a significant decline in the prevalence rate of Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) among sex workers. A recent sex worker survey done by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) showed that the rate has dropped from 12 per cent to 2.9 per cent. Director of Health Promotion and Prevention at the NFPB, Andrea Campbell, who made the disclosure at a recent JIS Think Tank, said the results are encouraging, and indicate that the sex workers are receiving and acting on the safe sex messages from the NFPB. She informed that the entity, through its training and outreach activities, has been able to engage more sex workers and share prevention and safe sex messages. Campbell noted that sex workers are among the high risk group for STDs, as they are more likely to be raped, have multiple partners, and often practise inconsistent condom use. The NFPB team reaches out to them through workshops, by visiting

File photo clubs and massage parlours, and doing street visits. Campbell said that many of the sex workers who attend the workshops share the information with their colleagues. Through the NFBP’s intervention, some former sex workers are preparing to enter the workforce. “We have a group of 14 young ladies who will graduate this year from a vocational institution,” Campbell informed. She told JIS News that the NFPB is also placing emphasis on reducing

unwanted and unplanned pregnancies among the child bearing age group 16-39 years. She pointed out that emotional and socio-economic problems resulting from unwanted pregnancies can destroy the family structure particularly if the women who have turned to sex work as an alternative. The NFPB observed National Family Planning Week from October 25 to 31 under the theme: ‘Building Families, Building our Nation: A Focus on Vulnerable Populations.’

Two murders in city push toll to 358 (Newsday) TWO men were murdered hours apart in separate incidents on Thursday night in downtown Portof-Spain and East Dry River. In the first incident, commuters were forced to flee shortly after 7 pm as gunmen opened fire on a man while he was walking along George Street in Portof-Spain. The victim was later identified as Nicholas Allen, aka “Boy Boy.” According to police reports, Allen was walking along George Street in the vicinity of the Housing Development Corporation Building on South Quay when he was approached by a group of men. One of the men, armed with a gun, fired five shots in the direction of Allen, striking him about the body. A group of men were later seen running from the area. Allen was then observed lying on his back in the middle of the roadway.

Police officers who were alerted to the shooting rushed to the scene along with a District Medical Officer, and Allen’s body was ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre. In the second murder, Jonathan Joseph, 35, of St Paul Street, East Dry River, exited his house and was standing on the roadway when he was approached by gunmen, who fired several shots in his direction. Residents claim persons were seen firing shots in the area prior to Joseph being shot. He was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, suffering from gunshot wounds to the chest, and succumbed to his injuries at about 1 am yesterday. A party of homicide officers visited the scene, and enquiries are continuing. The two killings have pushed the murder toll to 358 for the year thus far.

Guyana

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

TRUTH BE TOLD Professor Daizal Samad

Neighbouring A School EDITORIAL

GAWU’s Strike and the Politics of Sugar THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) which represents the nation’s sugar workers mounted a three-day strike this past week. The union claimed the strike was called to protest the delay in the annual wage talks with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO). According to GAWU, it has engaged in these talks around this time of the year for the past 26 years and expressed frustration that they have not been held yet. GuySuCo and the government have said that the talks are being delayed until they receive the report from the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) that was set up by government to look into the state of the industry. The Minister of Agriculture charged GAWU with mounting a political strike on the urging of the opposition PPP. The union has since given GuySuCo a week to put arrangements in place for the talks and has not ruled out further strike action if the deadline is not met. It is now common knowledge that the sugar industry is bankrupt. It has been kept afloat by hefty government subsidies over the years, while frequently failing to meet production targets. Last year, the then PPP government pumped $6 billion into the industry. As Professor Thomas opined, the industry has been spending more to produce less. The cost of production of one pound of sugar is three times more the average price per pound on the world market. No doubt, the industry has accumulated a significant debt which Professor Clive Thomas estimates to be $82 billion. When the new government took power in May of this year, it inherited a broken industry. Within days of taking office, it was revealed that the company was so broke it could not pay workers’ wages. A sum of $16 billion was requested and the government promptly responded with a $4 billion bail-out package. The president pledged to do everything in his power to keep sugar alive. A further $3.8 billion was allocated by government in the truncated 2015 budget. The CoI was set up by the government to determine the true state of the industry and presumably to make recommendations on the way forward. A new board

THE small house which I rent in Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, sits obliquely opposite a secondary school. The gate of the school faces north and opens onto a slim street which we all share. As usual, the school was built with the same imagination it took to build match boxes. As usual, there is no ventilation to talk about, although the walls have small spaces between the concrete blocks, each space is about 8 inches by 3 inches. Enough, maybe, for a whisper of breeze, but more than enough for outside noises to disrupt teaching and learning, enough to befoul the minds of children. The school is surrounded on all sides by houses. The immediate neighbour to the east is separated from the school by about five feet; between the school and the house is a chain- link fence about five feet in height. The fence is porous. Everything is close, and I can hear the tiny bell signalling recess and lunch breaks. I can often make out easily the words of play and tease from the children at recess, a kind of music, a kind of freedom in the voices. I can hear the teachers. But too often I can hear nothing because of the surrounding noise. One night last week, a neighbour (two close houses away from the school) was embroiled in a nasty fight with her brother-in-law. It all came out, vulgar and loud. The "f's" and "s's" before and after every word. Who can cook roti? Who "bin wid who" and how many. The whole vile thing in graphic detail. Through it all, the husband sat in his hammock. No problem. It was night, so there were no children in the school. They were closer...in the homes. It is nothing strange at all. Mothers can be heard at any time screaming at children: "Ayuh guh bathe ayuh mudda's s...what de mudda's s...ayuh ah duh?" And, children, often quick learners, respond exactly in kind. No problem. Culture, one supposes. The problem came (for me anyway)on the morning of the next day. With the regularity of the "call in" school bell, a neighbour cranks up the noise:"Music"! It is loud, but not booming. At around 10 a.m., the fighting female neighbour was named with Professor Thomas, our foremost expert on the economics of sugar, as chairman. These were clear signals that the new government was serious about sugar. The Minister of Agriculture recently opined that despite the woes in the industry, sugar workers are among the most highly paid workers in the country. He also disclosed that the company has been meeting its targets over the last few weeks. Bearing the above in mind, it is very strange that GAWU would call the workers out on strike. The government has bent over backwards to ensure that the industry survives. It has not refused to negotiate with the workers; it is waiting on the findings of the CoI to determine the framework for the wage talks. That makes eminent sense. But GAWU, which has a representative on the CoI, cannot wait; it gives the false impression that the government does not mean well. On the other hand, the government has been criticised by the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) for showing a bias towards the concerns of sugar workers over those of other categories of workers, including bauxite workers and public servants. Embedded in the GTUC’s observation is the political element; sugar workers are the core constituency of the PPP, while the latter categories support the governing parties. There is a lot of merit in the minister’s political labelling

goes across to her immediate neighbour who lives in the house closest the school. She recaps the nasty incident of the previous night. For some reason, there is a disagreement between the two neighbours--maybe some quarrel about some detail. The cussing down began! The same poetic language. The teacher in the classroom five feet away, defeated by the vulgarity and noise, shuts the door, stopping what little breeze that may have come through the door. The teacher says nothing at all. The neighbourly cuss down lasts for about 50 minutes. It is now 10:50 a.m. There are five minutes of the school sounds. Then a car pulls up, silver- grey, nicely clean, windows down. It parks in front of the school, with the stereo going full blast. The driver gets out, leaves the front doors of the car open, sits and has a beer with the neighbour closest the school. The "music" from the car booms. The beer must be nice and cold. School? Never mind that. Just before the school's lunch break, the driver gets back into his clean car, noise booming, and drives off. After all, he must go for lunch as well. The tiny school bell rings signalling the end of the lunch break, the reassembly of school, and the resumption of teaching and learning. At 1 p.m., the people immediately opposite the school (separated by this thin ribbon of road) decide to show all others that their music set is second to none. The noise booms full blast. The "lyrics" employ all the kinds of words that were used the night before during the quarrel. This continues for an hour after school is dismissed for the day. Ah! The glory of education here. But it has all become quite ordinary since it is all a way of life. And yet, through all of this hourly, daily vulgarity and noise and acrimony, there is this persistent sense of neighbourliness. It is a miracle to behold. And through all the nasty habits and behaviour, I have never heard a word of racist talk. Not one N- word or B-word or C-word. Not even once. So maybe--just maybe--there is Hope yet. of the recent strike. If by political strikes we mean the use of a party’s influence over trade unions as a partisan weapon against its opponents, then political strikes are a fact of life in Guyana. During the long tenure of the PNC 1964-92 government, GAWU, which is an arm of the PPP and whose leaders have always sat in the highest councils of the party, openly used strike action to further the objectives of the then opposition PPP. Although the relationship between party and union is not as structurally cemented and the frequency of strike action has been less, one can make a similar argument for the public-sector unions during the PPP’s tenure. The argument here is that the line between industrial and political strikes is very thin, if it exists at all. We are, therefore, in for a rough period ahead as far as sugar is concerned. The PPP has made it clear that it does not intend to cooperate with the government and it has showed its hand as far as the use of its clout among sugar workers is concerned. The government, on the other hand, would have to make some tough choices as far as the sustenance of the industry is concerned. Getting rid of sugar totally, or even partly, is clearly not a political choice, even if it makes some economic sense. But the status quo cannot be preserved in its entirety. The challenge for the government is that any significant changes would have to have the confidence and cooperation of GAWU/PPP.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

Violence in society seeping into school system - Dr Roopnaraine sees need for more counsellors in schools

By Tajeram Mohabir EDUCATION Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine believes the breakdown in discipline and rise of violence in society has been seeping into the school system, as is clearly indicated by recent incidents. Early last month, two 13-year-old students -- one from Charlestown Secondary and the other from St George’s Secondary -- were hospitalised following a fight that reportedly stemmed from an incident that occurred when they were in primary school. One student was reportedly stabbed on the shoulder with a broken bottle while the other suffered blows to the mouth and thumb in the fight that occurred on Church Street, Georgetown. In October last year, another violent fight between students caught the attention of the media. Another 13-yearold student, this time from Cummings Lodge Secondary, East Coast Demerara, was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver during a verbal altercation with a classmate. That fight was said to have been instigated by students in their class. The mother of the victim later reported that the mechanical tool, which was stuck some two inches into her son’s head, had to be surgically removed. In February 2013, yet another 13-yearold student -- from Patentia Secondary -- was stabbed in the head with a pair of scissors during a scuffle with a fifth former. The scissors had to be surgically removed, and the child had to be placed on a life-support machine. He managed to make a full recovery. During the past year, crime in Guyana has been on the increase, and discipline, over the years, has been gradually eroding. Dr Roopnaraine told the Guyana Chronicle that violence in the

school system, many incidents of which are not reported, is a reflection of what is happening in the wider society. LEAK “The breakdown in discipline is unfortunately not just in the schools, but in society as a whole. The violence and indiscipline in society [are] leaking into the school system. Schools are not isolated from their communities, where personal violence and robbery occur; and it is getting into the schools, making

lems, but are problems of healing and reconciliation, (making them) a combination of problems,” he said. But for now, Dr Roopnaraine said, the Ministry of Education is banking on counsellors to maintain and create conducive environments for learning in schools. “The problem of discipline in the school system is best addressed, in my mind, through regular and proper professional counselling. We want to improve our counselling capacity in schools, and improve the performance

Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

our work more difficult,” he said. The minister conceded that addressing the problem is not an easy task, and it would require the sociologists and psychologists in Guyana teaming up to get to the root cause and to come up with solutions. “These are not simply policing prob-

of counsellors.” “It is a big task,” he said, but noted that it is a firm step in the right direction. The Education Minister said he wants to see an increase in the number of counsellors in the school system and pointed out that the current number is unsatisfactory.

“We have a situation where we have about one counsellor covering about eight to nine schools. In the ideal situation, I would like to see a trained counsellor in every school. It will help the teachers and create the school environment where learning becomes easier. Intensification of training of counsellors in the school system is a high priority,” he said. Aside from employing more counsellors, the Ministry of Education, in tackling violence in schools, has been making a concerted effort to remove corporal punishment from the school system. Dr Roopnaraine says the focus is to banish corporal punishment from schools, and refer incidents of indiscipline to professional counsellors, so that students can get to understand and correct their erratic behaviour, instead of being whipped and often left demoralised and isolated in their classrooms.

No decision yet on future of sugar industry – Granger

THE Government of Guyana has not taken an official position on the future of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO), as it is still to examine the interim report submitted by the Commission of Inquiry (CoI). This is according to President David Granger, who was speaking to the Guyana Chronicle and Capitol News, during the recently televised Public Interest show at the Ministry of the Presidency. Reports indicate that while the CoI, which was led by Vibert Parvatan, rec-

ommended that there be no closure, it urged that the corporation be privatised. But President Granger said “it is a recommendation of the Commission of Inquiry, it is certainly not the policy of the government at this time.” He said while the sugar industry has been ailing for several years, his administration cannot afford to make any “hasty” decision without consulting with the representatives of the working people. “We would certainly like the industry to survive; it is not a standalone industry. There might be some part of the industry which could be rehabilitated more quickly than other parts,” the

President pointed out. “It is not dead in the water; there is a lot of life left in the sugar industry, and as far as possible we need to reduce inefficiency, reduce cost and once we lower the cost of production we could aim at [other] markets,” he added. President Granger further added that any talk about the death of the sugar industry is premature. However, every sugar estate within the country is operating at a loss, as such, they are heavily subsidised by the government. Parvatan had told the press that the historical realisation of 300,000 tonnes of sugar is currently unachievable, since

there are major challenges in achieving 220,000 tonnes. It was explained that the cost to produce sugar in Guyana is three times higher than the world market price. Even as the world market price stands at approximately 13 cents per pound, GUYSUCO is producing sugar at a cost of 45 cents per pound. The CoI Chairman had further pointed out that the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government was forced to pump over $17B into the industry in 2014 to facilitate the operational cost which had exceeded the revenue generated from sugar production.(Svetlana Marshall)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

â€˜He was a true hero of Guyanaâ€™ - final tribute for Guyana-born NYPD officer

President David Granger, U.S. Ambassador Perry Halloway and his wife at the Brickdam Cathedral Service (Delano Williams photo)

The casket, draped with the flag of the NYPD and containing the body of Randolph Holder, is rested on the ground at the Le Repentir Cemetery, before being placed in the tomb (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, and Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green at the Brickdam Cathedral Service (Delano Williams photo)

A Guyanese member of the NYPD and her relatives in Guyana (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

The Guyana Police Force in a 21-gun salute (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

Mr Carl Bowen, Brand Manager of Fly Jamaica, with Guyanese of the NYPD who travelled to Guyana for the funeral of their colleague, Randolph Holder. Fly Jamaica brought home the body of Holder and also provided first-class tickets for Mr. and Mrs. Holder (father and step-mother) of the deceased and for the NYPD pall-bearers. The airline also provided discounted tickets for other family members and NYPD officers (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

Members of the Guyana Police Force Band make their way into the Le Repentir Cemetery (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

HINDS’SIGHT

Dr David Hinds

PPP’s manifest destiny and the death of power-sharing

THE strike by GAWU this past week is instructive. It has nothing to do with industrial concerns; it couldn’t. The new government has done everything to assure sugar workers. It has continued to subsidise the ailing industry. It has not treated workers of its own constituency half as nicely, yet GAWU called a strike ostensibly to protest the delay in wage talks. The PPP has made clear its intention to crucify this government, and it intends to use its influence in the sugar and rice industries to fulfil this objective. For me, this strike is another nail in the coffin of the much-anticipated power-sharing Government of National Unity. The coming to power of the new APNU+ AFC government reinvigorated hope that Guyana could be closer to achieving the desired goal of a national power-sharing government. The coalition, like the APNU at the previous election, campaigned on a platform of national unity and the realisation of a government that reflected that unity. The very coalition itself represents the ideal of national unity, bringing together six different parties under one big umbrella. But, of course, there can be no real national unity government without the PPP. Shortly after taking office, the coalition government signalled that it was ready to invite the PPP to begin talks towards such a government. The government also set up a constitutional reform working group, which I am sure has power-sharing at the top of its agenda. A few weeks later, the government went even further by naming a negotiating team led by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. This latter announcement was followed by a flurry of discussions in the media. Many welcomed the government’s move, and reiterated the potential of a power-sharing government for facilitating a shared national purpose. There were, of course, the power-sharing skeptics who argued for the retention of the status quo. The PPP, for its part, showed no enthusiasm for the initiative. It merely said it would not negotiate with Nagamootoo, and repeated its old mantra of

trust before power-sharing. Not surprisingly, we have since not heard anything on the matter. My view is that, despite the best efforts by the coalition, we are not likely to see any meaningful movement towards power-sharing under the present PPP. Power-sharing is dead for now; the PPP’s leadership is too consumed with power, both as a means to privilege and as a pre-ordained end. For the PPP leaders, holding governmental power in Guyana is a manifest destiny, a god- given right, which is of course the antithesis of powersharing. That is why it cannot come to grips with the fact that it lost two successive elections. The PPP’s notion of manifest destiny arises from a twin world-view. First, it assumes an unchangeable IndianGuyanese political solidarity, which has been borne out by actual political behaviour election after election. That that behaviour was slightly altered at the last two elections means very little to the PPP leaders, who have read it as a minor exception. It is for that reason that the party is singularly focused on correcting that exception in time for the next election. There is no room for power- sharing in such a scenario. The second aspect of the PPP’s world- view is the belief that PNC governance is synonymous with IndianGuyanese extermination. Put in its larger ethnic context, Indian-Guyanese survival is best guaranteed by denial of political power to African- Guyanese. Equating the PNC’s 28-year tenure to Indian-Guyanese horror, the prediction during the recent campaign of doomsday, replete with Indian blood running in the Demerara River if the coalition won the election and early charges of ethnic cleansing of Indian- Guyanese by the new government, forms the gist of the narrative that justifies this belief system. If one examines the PPP’s attitude over the years, one sees a clear pattern of the party becoming serious about power-sharing only when its hold on power is seriously challenged, or when it has felt that the door to absolute power is tightly shut. In the 1960s, it invited the PNC to

share power only when it became clear in 1963 that its end was near. It had, just two years before, when it felt comfortable in power, rejected Kwayana’s joint-premiership proposal. Again, in 1997, it was prepared to accept power-sharing when mass demonstrations made the country ungovernable and seriously threatened its hold on power. Its 1977 and 1985 movements towards power-sharing with the PNC were both driven by a realisation that the PNC’s authoritarian lock on government had virtually closed the door to the PPP’s coming to power via manifest destiny. Today, the PPP, despite losing two elections because enough Indian- Guyanese voted against it, still feels invincible. It feels that Indian- Guyanese could never abandon the PPP out of conviction; they were either complacent or misled at the last two elections. Hence the party is not in trouble; all it has to do is win back the errant voters. Jagdeo was the first PPP maximum leader to openly say to Indian-Guyanese that the PPP is theirs. That was meant more as a statement to the younger generation, some of whom may not take the “party is the race” gospel literally. It is against this background that I have concluded that, barring some major maladjustment in our politics, powersharing is dead for the time being. The PPP would have to be clobbered at the next election. Indian-Guyanese would have to vote against it in droves before it considers sharing power. And the risk is that, should that happen, the APNU+AFC would feel so strong that it also may not see the need for power- sharing anymore. Knowingly or unknowingly, the PPP is killing the prospect of a true Guyanese political nationalism. (More of Dr. Hinds’ writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com)

Gold bars from Karouni by mid-November THE Australian mining company Troy Resources Inc. has reported that it intends to cast its first gold bars from its Karouni Gold Project in Region 7 (Cuyuni/ Mazaruni) during the first half of next month. The company announced that it has completed commissioning of the processing plant at the Karouni gold project, where construction commenced in February this year, including construction of its mill. The mill was the last major component to be put through a process of dry and wet commissioning, and was put on an extended performance test under full-load conditions. Operating at a steady state, all pressure and temperature readings were recorded within specified limits. The company has said the mill is now being fed with

a limited amount of ore, to enable pressure and flow-rate adjustment to all systems. The last part of the elution circuit (the smelting system) is programmed and ready to be run in the next day or so. Once this happens, the entire elution circuit will be signed off by the chief design engineer. After the final adjustments have been made to the mill and processing circuits, ore feed will be steadily increased towards the plant’s nominal design capacity of approximately 80,000 tonnes per month. This level of throughput is expected to be achieved in early 2016. Company Managing Director Mr Martin Purvis commented: "Conclusion of commissioning activities represents a significant milestone in the fast-track development

of Karouni, and I congratulate all the employees and contractors who have worked together safely and tirelessly to achieve this outcome within very challenging physical conditions. “If the ramp-up in production continues as expected, the first gold pour is now expected to occur in the first half of November. This is another exciting step forward for Troy’s new flagship operation, following on from the start of exploration activities at Karouni in late September,” Purvis said.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

– Washington DC

LEADERSHIP

E cannot lead unless we have our fingers on the pulse of the issues. The broad issues at GuySuCo are outlined below in a SWOT analysis. I will expand on this SWOT analysis in this week’s column and in next week’s column. But before we dig deeper into this SWOT analysis, let us address some key issues on leadership. In light of all this above knowledge, if we do not have the competency to inspire and resolve conflict and effectively communicate our vision, we are actually flying at half capacity. Tough question? Do we think the ordinary cane-cutters are inspired and proud of GuySuCo as their place of employment? Does their current leadership team motivate them? Please note I did not use the word “like,” I used “inspired” and “motivated,” since even if the leadership is likable, that does not make them inspirational to motivate the team. Inspirational leaders are mentors who have the character to motivate the entire team from the cane-cutters up to the top leadership. Leadership skills can be found in anyone and some of the best leaders are the factory and field foremen. What we have at Guysuco is that “dotish” mentality that is based on “command and control,” which says I am the boss and I know best; trust me. Hell NO! The new way is to inspire, influence and motivate the workers to be the best they can be and in the process get them to the point where they see the industry as their own and thus continue to contribute beyond the call of duty to turn the industry around. This overall leadership in GuySuCo today cannot inspire the workers, because for years they have not effectively managed resources for the betterment of the industry and the workers know this fact. If one were to observe how Raj Singh managed that industry, he was one of the most despised officials. The difficult job now is to retrain the leadership to unlearn the command-and-control dictum and learn now to influence all levels to work beyond the call of duty. One thing that the workers will always hold against the Raj Singh team was how that team failed to justify their decisions to the key stakeholders, such as the workers’ unions (GAWU, NACCIE). How can you make a G$44 billion decision such as constructing a sugar factory and not seek the buy-in from the workers’ representatives? The workers are aware that there was a cheaper bid from a more experienced Indian company, but

of the respective disease or weed issues per field on each per estate as close as possible to real time? Are we collaborating with UG to provide science students to add manpower to this process? Have we properly mapped out and tagged the entire acreage? With such information, we can really drive cost down as we optimise the use of fertilisers and agro-chemicals. Dr. Evans from the Booker’s days had developed a technique called the “foliar diagnostic technique,” which basically permitted the examination of samples of cane leaves using rangers and the laboratory to detect the health of samples of cane plants on each respective field. His focus - nitrogen, potash, and phosphate deficiency. This process allowed corrective measures to be taken within 10 days by applying the right amount of the relevant fertiliser dressing to re-energise those fields at the respective locations. This kind of rolling information is vital to ensure that we do not waste two of the most expensive inputs into the industry - fertilisers and agro-chemicals. Controlled use of these products is so important in saving billions of dollars, yet I am advised GuySuCo is not practising this art in a structured manner. What is really wrong with the leadership at GuySuCo? FLOOD FALLOWING All the sugar experts around the world know that after working a field for 5-6 years, even with fertiliser application, the yield will drop because of soil exhaustion. This is not rocket science; it is common- sense. Flood fallowing is a process whereby the land is rested under nine inches of water for six months. The water is then drained away and new ratoons are replanted. Unfortunately, GuySuCo can be accused of extending this important process to periods as long as 12 years in each field and tag accordingly, so that a “cane-chopping many cases, which has institutionalised poor yields. This plan” can be pursued to ensure that the sugar cane is cut, is absolute insanity, since across the world flood-fallowing crushed and processed at the optimal moment to extract has proven to increase yield between 30-40 percent and the optimal sugar from the plant? Everything has to be thus it makes absolute financial sense to carry out this driven by when the cane is ready, not when the manager important process at the prescribed time of between 5-6 says let us grind. But if the cane is ready and the factory is years. In the days of Bookers, they had a standard model – 15 not, then there will be delays and every day of delay means losses. This is an extremely tricky situation and this is the percent of the fields were flood-fallowed and replanted most powerful argument to ensure that central government every year. Do we understand why in many of the Bookers’ urgently finances an accelerated programme to incrementally years, using archaic technology, they saw a production of mechanise the fields on all estates in spite of the challenges. over 300,000 tonnes of sugar and had a better yield rate that GuySuCo in 2014? They got the science right then. Today, with superior scientific knowledge, we continue to get the LEADERSHIP IN THE SCIENCES What about the scientific husbandry practice? scientific techniques wrong. We shall continue next week on why leadership has to Are we aware of the soil deficiency per field in each estate as close as possible to real time? Are we aware change in Guysuco and on this SWOT analysis. the leadership chose a more expensive bid from a novice Chinese builder who never built a sugar factory in its life. Do you think the workers will ever trust such leadership? TIME MANAGEMENT The workers also know that time-management is sorely lacking in the industry. In the sugar industry, time is gold. The real money is situated between the time the cane is chopped to the time it is crushed and transformed into sugar. Any delay in that process will hit the industry for billions as the sucrose content is rapidly depleted if this process is not managed with precision. Do we have a system that tests the sucrose content in

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

The breast cancer awareness march Saturday. First Lady Sandra Granger is third from left

Breast cancer ranked No.1 cancer in Guyana - public awareness helping more to get tested early By Ravin Singh THOUGH it was seven years ago, Amina Hassan remembers receiving the devastating news as if it had just been delivered. Aged 67, she sat in the hospital chair in an almost lackadaisical posture, sobbing softly, her eyes glued to a piece of paper which had changed her life. Her trembling hands gripped the paper firmly as if it were to be torn to pieces. Hassan was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was one of the 1,074 Guyanese women who were added to the list, according to statistics provided by Dr. Jeetendra Mohanlall, acting Chief Medical Officer. In Guyana, there was a steady increase in cases from 2003, peaking in 2007 with 149 cases; after which there was a steady decrease in 2011, which was followed by a marginal increase in 2012. Between 2003 and 2012, it was discovered that persons of Indian descent, like Hassan, were most affected, and that the second most affected ethnic group was Afro-Guyanese. Globally, 1.38 million new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed annually, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). With insufficient knowledge on the causes of this cancer, WHO supports the notion that early detection of the disease remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. And that’s why Hassan was among those marching on the streets of Georgetown on Saturday to raise awareness about breast cancer. The early detection of “a lump” in her breast a year before her diagnosis was what ultimately saved her life. “I went to Dr. Bacchus after I discovered the lump, and he tell me to go (to) Woodlands Hospital, but I could not afford it, because I am a widow,” Hassan, now 73, recalls. “I discovered the lump just like that. My hand went right there; I wasn’t even looking for a anything.” Due to her financial constraints, her next option was to visit the publicly-funded Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where she met two Cuban doctors, who made the discovery after a

thorough examination. Almost in tears, Hassan relates that her biopsy -- an examination of tissue to discover the presence, cause, or extent of a disease -– was done in 2008, after which she was told to return six weeks later. Upon her return, she was greeted by one of the Cuban doctors, who gave her the letter and sought to console her after she burst into tears at the damning revelation which she, at that time, had contended would change her life forever. In June of the same year, she was then requested to return for surgery, which was conducted successfully. “The surgery was successful, thank God; and I am currently on treatment and chemotherapy, which I take very seriously,” Hassan said. Apart from breast cancer, Hassan experiences low blood count, from which she also suffers, and this had caused her chemotherapy treatment to be reduced from six sessions to four. Hassan then joined the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) clinic, which provides her treatment. “I still do my work; everything -- washing, cooking. Every morning when I wake up, I have to sit in the recliner to relax myself. Then I start with my work. But some days when I am not feeling well, I just leave the work. But I make sure I cook my food,” she confided. Dr Mohanlall, quoted earlier, supports the view that raising awareness about breast cancer is essential in convincing women of the need to get tested. “Early diagnosis is best,” he emphasises, urging women to know the risk factors for breast cancer. “Once you’re a female, be cautious if you feel a lump,” is an advice he wants women to take. Those who feel uncertain about self-examination could access public health care facilities across the regions in Guyana. Being ranked as the leading form of cancer to affect Guyanese, breast cancer currently accounts for almost 17 percent

Breast cancer survivor Amina Hassan of all cancers and 27 percent of cancers in females, the new statistics reveal. Chief Oncologist at the Cancer Institute of Guyana, Dr. Sayan Chakraborty, explains that all four stages of breast cancer-related treatment: the diagnosis, chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy, can be done at the institute. He boasts that Guyana continues to make positive strides in addressing breast cancer and promoting awareness of the disease. “We have been diagnosing newer patients now. We have diagnosed, in the last 20 days, somewhere around five new cases of breast cancer, which are in their early stages, and two of these cases are being treated,” he said. “Usually, in the previous months, we were having patients who were coming to us at advanced stages”. Dr Chakraborty’s public awareness has really been working, thanks to several agencies, including non-governmental organisations. However, he sees the need for much more work to be done in this area. For Chief Oncologist Chakraborty, his favourite quote now should be everybody’s: “Know cancer; no cancer.”

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

‘It is our duty to correct a glaring error’ - several leading Hindu leaders support November 10 as Diwali date

SEVERAL leading Hindu organisations and learned priests have come out in support of the November 10 date declared by Minister Khemraj Ramjattan for the national celebration of Diwali, or Deepawali. The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has contended that based on consultation of the sacred texts, Diwali should be celebrated on November 11. But the group of pandits and Hindu organisations disagree, while noting that their position was not premised on creating division within the Hindu community. “Our intention was solely based on correcting what we believed to be the wrong date for Deepawali. We see this as part of our responsibilities as Hindu leaders,” it said. The group consists of the Sanatan Vaidic Dharma Pandits’ Sabhaa of Region 3, headed by Pandit Balbadar; Pandit Chowbay of the Par Upkaric Sabha in Essequibo; Pandit Rudranauth Sharma and associates from the Guyana Pandits’ Council; the Maha Sabha; the Gandhi Youth Organisation; the Cove & John Ashram; Swami Aksharananda; Pandit Prabhu Deo Sharma and others from the Corentyne; Pandit Dr Budhindranath Doobay of the Federation of Hindu Temples and Priest in-charge of the Vishnu Mandir in Toronto; and Pandit Rattan (Rajin) Balgobind, of the Hindu Society of Berbice. The group explained that the difference of opinion for some Hindu auspicious dates for 2015, was not confined to Deepawali, but also affected Phagwah, Janamasthmi, Hanuman Jayanti and Pitri Paksh. The Guyana Pandits’ Council and many other Mandirs

celebrated this year’s Phagwah the day before what was reflected on the national calendar. Attempts were made during the latter part of 2014 to have these differences resolved. The group of Hindu organisations and learned pandits also pointed out that some have ventured to create the impression that only in Guyana there is a difference of opinion regarding this year’s date for Deepawali. Not unique “This issue is not unique to our country for this year and is the case also in the United States of America and Canada. South India will celebrate on November 10 while the North [will do so] on November 11. “Our group wishes to reiterate that based on the astrological texts it is guided by, it remains convinced that the date for Deepawali 2015 is November 10.” The Indian High Commissioner in a release had said that he will be celebrating Deepavali on November 10. The Panchangs/Patras also allude to world zones for these dates. The zone for Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname shows that the festival will be observed on November 10. The group of Hindu leaders had petitioned Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan, who has responsibility for the declaration of national holidays, to change the date for the festival from November 11 to November 10. The petition was supported by some 90 pandits and Hindu leaders who represent a vast majority of Hindus in Guyana.

The petition was also supported by renowned Pandit Dr Budhindranath Doobay of the Federation of Hindu Temples and Priest in-charge of the Vishnu Mandir in Toronto and Pandit Rajin Balgobind of the Hindu Society of Berbice. “It is, therefore, inaccurate to suggest that a minority of Hindu leaders in Guyana disagree with the November 11 date,” the group said. It also noted that the Maha Sabha in Trinidad and Tobago is celebrating Deepawali on November 10 and it is also a national holiday in that country. Originally, the Maha Sabha of Trinidad & Tobago had printed November 11 as the date for Deepawali, but, after this incorrect date was recognised, it was magnanimous in recognising its error and changed the date to November 10. “While we would urge that devotees be guided by the teachings of our religion and observe the festival on November 10, we are also cognisant of the fact that we live in a democratic society. “As such, we believe that Hindus must also enjoy the freedom of celebrating Deepawali on which ever day they believe. This group calls for meaningful engagements with all Hindu representative bodies to help derive accurate auspicious Hindu dates for 2016. “Given how some of these dates directly impact national holidays, a respectful suggestion would be for the subject minister to convene related discussions with all Hindu leaders and learned priests in an effort to prevent a repetition of what is transpiring this year,” the learned religious leaders urged.

Some of the pandits supporting November 10 as the day Deepawali should be celebrated. In photo (back row) from left standing are Pandit Krishna Patiram, Pandit Sodama Maraj, Pandit Vijay Doobay, Pandit Hardesh Tiwari, Pandit Dhanesh Prashad, Bahinji Devica Uditram, Pandit Gopi Prashad, Pandit Maheshwar Maraj, Pandit Bhagwandin (Dado), and Pandit Aditya Persaud. In from row from left sitting are Pandit Ubraj Narine, Pandit Somnauth Sharma, Pandit Rudra Sharma, Pandit Rabindranath Persaud, Pandit Balbadar and Pandit Maneshwar Sawh

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

Open your hearts to children in need, Lawrence urges

- as Guyana observes Foster Care Month

MINISTER of Social Protection Volda Lawrence is calling on Guyanese to “open their homes and hearts” to children in need of foster care, as Guyana o b s e r v e s F o s t e r C a re Month, 2015. Foster Care Month is being celebrated under the theme: “Permanently keep the love for the foster children in your hearts, but let them go for a brand new start.” The occasion seeks to increase awareness of the foster care programme and to obtain support and “buyin” from the community. The aim of activities during this month is to encourage more persons to open up their homes and hearts and take in a child that is in need of alternative care.

Foster care is a family- based solution for a child in need of out-of-home care. Minister Lawrence in a statement said despite foster care, every effort must be made for a child to be cared for by his or her biological parents; foster care offers continued family-based care, support, guidance and love to a child who has to be separated from his/her biological family. It is a temporary arrangement until the child can be safely returned home. “The government is making it a priority to ensure that families are provided with supports and assistance to prevent unnecessary separation of children and to return children from

Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence institutional care to their families if they can,” she said. There are currently over 700 children in residential- care institutions with approximately 250

in State- care institutions, who should be in the care of their parents. The minister added: “To ensure that children in need of alternative care have opportunity for a family-like setting, foster care is the best option and the programme will be extended. More persons need to come on board to meet the care needs of children who are living in care centres which are not the ideal place for the positive care and development of children.” She said it hoped that at the end of the awareness-

month programme, there would be an increase in the number of families that would be willing to provide a child with a temporary home. But Minister Lawrence noted that they will also have to be willing to work towards the children getting an opportunity to be reunited with their biological families. Foster care is an appropriate alternative care option for a child and most Guyanese families have provided informal foster care to a child who lived in the family until they are grown.

But the Foster Care Programme of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CPA) is formal and subject to reviews, permanency planning and the return of the child to the family if they can. During this month, the awareness sessions will enlighten the population of the workings of the programme and how interested persons could be part of safe- guarding the nation’s children and being part of their right to a future filled with hope and promise.

Dominican Republic buying most of Guyana’s coconuts - Over 7, 000 tonnes exported annually

The local coconut industry is booming, with The Dominican Republic listed as the largest purchaser over the past several years, according to export data from the Guyana Marketing Corporation. For the period January to September 2015, The Dominican Republic led with coconut purchases followed by Trinidad, Suriname, Canada, USA and Barbados. The coconut industry in Guyana has been identified as one of the sectors with a large potential for further development, as over 7,000 tonnes are shipped annually. In Guyana, the coconut already exists as one of the key non-traditional crops, since it can be used in fuel, food, and feed, while it delivers a wide variety of other products such as coconut oil, coconut water, coconut kernel and coconut milk which are in demand internationally and regionally. Coconuts have been dominating agricultural exports annually; this has earned hundreds of millions of dollars, as the sector produces over 92 million nuts annually. Coconuts are grown widely in the coastal regions of Guyana, primarily along the Pomeroon River, the Essequibo Coast, East Demerara, West Berbice and on the Corentyne Coast. The estimated area under production is 24,000 hectares. In Guyana, coconut (Cocos nucifera) ranks third after rice and sugar in terms of acreage cultivated. Agriculture officials disclosed that some of the constraints hampering the development of the industry are lack of fertilisation, limited local manufacturing and processing facilities, poor drainage, high and rising costs of production, marketing, and inadequate crop management and farming. Farmers in the country’s coconut industry are currently benefiting from significantly increased prices, resulting from the availability of more lucrative markets in some Caribbean territories. Officials recommend the following three areas of intervention to aid the development of the coconut industry in Guyana: increasing the productivity and production potential of Guyana’s existing coconut sector; assessing the state of Guyana’s coconut oil industry and its future and considering possible support mechanisms, if deemed necessary; and exploring other coconut-derived products in terms of their value-added potential and export potential. In Guyana, the major oil extraction mills are the Pomeroon Oil Mill, National Edible Oils and Fats Incorporated and the Maharaj Oil mill.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 25, 2015

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 25, 2015

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

Region 8 villages benefit from labour and TIP workshop

- low levels of cervical cancer at Kato and Paramakatoi

INDIGENOUS villages in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) are now better able to address labour issues and trafficking in persons, their leaders having completed a workshop on such issues. The two-day interactive sensitisation and training sessions were held last week in the village of Kato by the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs in conjunction with the Ministry of Social Protection. Those who benefited from the workshop were village leaders, called toshaos, and councillors from their villages. Besides addressing labour issues and trafficking in persons, sessions were also conducted on domestic violence and on drug, alcohol and sexual abuse. A representative from the Ministry of Health and from the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) also conducted cervical cancer testing on females in Kato and Paramakatoi, and the results were “better than expected”. The eight-member team, spearheaded by Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Valerie Garrido Lowe, travelled to Kato from Sunday. While four returned to Georgetown on Wednesday, the others left for Mahdia, to conduct another workshop. The minister, who also held several meetings in Kato and sister village Paramakatoi, told the 59 participants after the sessions were completed in Kato that they now have knowledge to protect themselves and their fellow villagers. She admonished them to become instructors and relay what they have learnt to each member of their village, so as to keep their villages from being exploited. “The issues that you were exposed to over the last two days are not new to the villages, but now you have new knowledge on how to deal with whatever issues arise. You are leaders and decision-makers in your villages, so it is extremely important that you lead by example,” she charged them. The minister was adamant that certain issues will not be tolerated under her watch or that of head minister and vice-president, Sydney Allicock. Head of the Welfare Division (acting) in the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Pauline Welch, organised the event along with her workmate, Dexter Glasgow. Welch led the seminars on day one, while Labour, Occupational Safety and Health officer Neville Nichols and Kwanda Edmondson spoke about labour issues and trafficking in persons respectively. Nichols had a very interactive session, and most people were curious about their rights at the workplace. He said: “Most were interested in reclaiming outstanding wages, and [in] investigating workplace accidents”. In Mahdia, a total of 21 persons from seven villages attended a workshop dealing with the same issues on Wednesday and Thursday. LOW RATE OF INFECTION Medex Lorlene Ramsundar, who is attached to the GPHC, and Dr Shanique Greaves from the GRPA were both happy with the results of the cervical cancer tests. In total, for the two villages, the positive rate was six percent, with a 100% treatment rate. Ramsundar opined that the results were better than expected. A Ministry of Health report had, in 2014, indicated that Guyana has the third highest rate of cervical cancer in the Western Hemisphere.

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Valerie Garrido Lowe, is seen among the workshop trainers and representatives of the various villages

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

Homes for the elderly could be enriched by ancient wisdom

ER CONSUM S: RN CONCE

IN Western societies, from medieval times, the aged were never regarded as a challenge. It was only when societies became industrialised -- with concomitant urbanisation -- that old people became isolated and were oftentimes regarded as a burden. In rural societies, people lived in families with older members having their rightful and valued place; and in the villages, older people were regarded as an accepted and necessary part of the social landscape. With the growth of urbanisation, individual living space became much smaller and more costly, and could house an individual worker and possibly a spouse; but there was no place or space for the older members of a family who could not be a part of the urban work force. Such old folks were left in their dwindling rural communities with very few to accord them any help or care. This led to the growth of commercial institutions, sometimes called “homes for the aged” or “nursing homes”, where children or relatives could place their older members at a fee. These institutions generally offered a clean, furnished room with comfortable bed, medical help, meals and some exercising facilities. There was always a nurse on duty. These homes must be distinguished from the more ancient hostels or refuges conducted by churches and other religious bodies, and even individuals; which offered food and shelter for the homeless, the old, the sick and the indigent. Religious bodies conducted such refuges as charities, and no charges were made or sought. In Guyana, among the oldest of such institutions are the “Alms House”, now known as the “Palms,” and the “Dharm Shalas” in Berbice and Georgetown, which have been founded by the Hindu leader and great philanthropist Pandit Ramsaroop Maraj nearly a century ago. Such “old people’s” or “nursing homes” are gradually beginning to emerge in Guyana, and part of the reason for

Sunday November 1st, 2015 - 09:00 hrs Monday November 2nd, 2015 - 10:00 hrs Tuesday November 3rd, 2015 - 11:00 hrs

this is the very heavy emigration of Guyanese to the United States and other countries, leaving behind their older relatives in Guyana. These emigrants have often sent monetary remittances to those left behind, as well as supplies of food and clothing inexpensively shipped in “barrels.” But there eventually comes a time when these older relatives become too old, sick and isolated, and a “nursing home” is the only alternative open to them. A few weeks ago, a large well-appointed nursing home, the Demerara Paradise, was opened at Le Ressouvenir on the East Coast of Demerara. In addition to catering for a local clientele, the administrators expect an overseas clientele as well, and they have provided accommodation for visiting Guyanese from the diaspora, who may wish to be near their older relatives who may be residents. Unlike most homes, Demerara Paradise provides entertainment facilities such Pat Dial as gym, cinema and library. But nursing homes and homes for old people are not all goodness and glitter. They have two major deficiencies: the residents often sense that they are sent there by their relatives to assuage their relatives’ consciences, or for them to die not in isolation. And these homes tend to crush any manifestation of independence of spirit in the residents. Guyanese author Beryl Gilroy made a study and analysis of such homes in her novel, Frangipani House. Here, she underlines these two deficiencies. These homes, which proliferate in the developed countries, are now beginning to emerge in Guyana, and their administrators could certainly learn from the wisdom of the ancients as to how to make the homes more worthwhile to the residents and their families, and more amenable to the fundamental needs of the aged.

In the Vedic tradition, that is about 4000 B.C., the life of a man was divided into four phases: the first phase is that period from babyhood to youth, when a person acquires education and skills. The second phase is that of the householder, when the youth becomes married, raises a family, earns money and creates wealth for society. The third phase is when the householder begins to age and must begin to devote himself to public service and assisting his fellow man in any way he could, and increase his knowledge of God. And the fourth phase is when the person, now aged, fully concentrates on getting nearer to God and prepares for death. These phases are, of course, not mutually exclusive, but dovetail into each other. The residents of the homes tend to be in the third phase moving into the fourth. In the homes, the residents could be given the opportunity of doing public service. For example, they could be encouraged to pass on their knowledge of peculiar skills to younger people, or be encouraged to write. Almost all would be able to dictate on tape their life’s experiences, which could be of interest to relatives or even others. They may even be story-tellers to the young. Those who are so inclined could be involved in agricultural research or in painting. Vincent Van Gogh did many of his famous paintings when in a mental hospital, and T.S. Elliot wrote much great poetry when he was in a similar institution. But most important of all, those in the last two phases could be taught meditation, so as to still the mind, achieve greater peace and happiness, and increase their knowledge of God and religion. In our Western tradition and culture, life is regarded as one seamless tissue, moving from birth to death. Thus when, with the progression of life, the inevitable changes occur to body and mind, we are caught unprepared and become traumatic; and death comes as an explosive disaster. Grafting this ancient wisdom of the phases of life into our Western tradition could certainly help us to manage life’s progress with less tension and trauma. Probably some knowledge of this ancient wisdom could be introduced into the education system. If these homes were able to exploit this ancient wisdom, they may accordingly enrich their offerings and give their residents greater fortitude and creativity.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

Berbice Bridge to accept gov’t subsidy

MANAGEMENT of the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) has indicated that it has submitted a proposal to the coalition government, accepting the latter ’s proposed $40 million subvention towards reduction of the toll. Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, has stated that the proposal was indeed sent by the BBCI, indicating its willingness to accept the subvention being offered by the government. The proposal, she said, is with Cabinet and is being reviewed. It is expected that, before the end of the

week, feedback will be given. Dr Surendra Persaud, who is a representative o f t h e B B C I ’s B o a r d of Directors, said the proposal covers multiple aspects of the relationship between the BBCI and the administration. “Our proposal deals with the subsidy and other aspects of the relationship of the bridge company and the government, reduced into a legal framework…. While it is open to be amended, government still has to perform due diligence by ensuring (Cabinet agrees) with the clauses of the proposal,” Dr Persaud said. Egbert Carter, the BBCI

Chairman, indicated that whilst much was said regarding the inability of the company to readily accept the subsidy proposal, there was need to first notify the shareholders; and “now that they would have agreed, we can accept the proposal made by the administration.” The BBCI had first rejected the government’s offer of financial support on the premise that its shareholders had not been consulted on the matter. The government, in an effort to relieve the travelling public from paying high tolls, implemented river taxis. This mode of transportation was far cheaper and very

The management of the BBCI has now indicated a willingness to accept the government’s proposed $40 million subvention for reduction of its toll

successful, resulting in thousands of people, including school children, utilising the boats. T h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s proposal is a reduction of the toll from $2200 to $1900 for passenger cars

and buses, along with a 10 per cent reduction for other classes of vehicles. H o w e v e r, t h e b r i d g e company will not lose, as the difference of the reduction will be borne by government.

The call to accept the government’s proposal comes a week after Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, announced that the administration will be seeking to acquire more shares in the BBCI.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 25, 2015

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

Simmons to be reinstated as Windies head coach ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — Phil Simmons will be reinstated as head coach of the West Indies Cricket team weeks after his suspension, a top Newspaper in Trinidad and

Tobago has reported. The Guardian newspaper has quoted “well-placed sources” within the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) as confirming that Simmons will resume his post as head coach. The report in the newspaper follows a meeting between Simmons and the WICB Human Resource Committee after his public outburst in which he questioned the make-up of the One-Day International squad. The Guardian quotes WICB sources as saying Simmons was warned about his outburst and was told that comments like those would not be tolerated in the future. Simmons was suspended for saying there was “too much interference from outside” in the selection of the ODI squad. T h e f o r m e r Wi n d i e s all-rounder was upset that all-rounder Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, whose services are in high demand in Twenty20 leagues around the world, failed to make the one-day international squad. WICB selection panel member Eldine Baptiste is acting as coach for the current series in Sri Lanka. Simmons is expected to take the West Indies to Australia for three Test matches starting in early December.

ENGLISH RACING TIPS Carlisle 09:00 hrs At The Double 09:30 hrs Souriyan 10:05 hrs Celestino 10:35 hrs Vintage Star 11:10 hrs Out Sam 11:45 hrs Saphir Du Rheu 12:15 hrs American Gogolo HUNTINGDON 08:45 hrs Hawdyerwheesht 09:15 hrs A Little Bit Dusty 09:50 hrs Duke Street 10:20 hrs Lord Lir 10:55 hrs Barters Hill 11:30 hrs Three Musketeers 12:00 hrs Tokyo Javilex IRISH RACING TIPS Cork 0809:20 hrs Okotoks 09:55 hrs Goonyella 10:30 hrs Positive Approach 11:05 hrs Lord Scondrel 11:35 hrs King Leon 12:05 hrs P[erfect Woman 12:35 hrs Screaming Rose NAAS 09:05 hrs Marakoush 09:40 hrs Sizing Granite 10:10 hrs Daisy’s Gift 10:45 hrs My Hometown 11:20 hrs Fill Your Hands 11:55 hrs Sammy Black SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Greyville 08:50 hrs Black Agate 09:25 hrs Roy’s Strike Force 10:00 hrs Kileigh 10:35 hrs Fly First Class 11:10 hrs Snow Rose

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

All Blacks overwhelm Australia to win record third RugbyWorld Cup By Mitch Phillips LONDON, (Reuters)-New Zealand cemented their status as the greatest team in rugby history when they overwhelmed Australia 3417 at Twickenham yesterday to become world champions for a record third time, and the first nation to retain the Webb Ellis Cup. Tries from Nehe Milner-Skudder and Ma’a Nonu had the All Blacks cruising 21-3 early in the second half before Ben Smith’s yellow card opened the door for Australia, who got back with-

take his personal tally to 19 points New Zealand have lost just three times in 54 matches since their triumph on home soil four years ago, and have won every World Cup match since losing to France in the 2007 quarter-finals. “I’m pretty grateful to be where I am considering what happened four years ago,” said Carter, who was also part of the unsuccessful 2003 and 2007 campaigns. “I’m so proud of the team. To win back-to-back World Cups is a dream

Referee Nigel Owens missed a clear forward pass by Milner-Skudder moments before penalising the Wallabies, and though 80,000 fans inside Twickenham and millions around the world could see it on replays, the strict TMO protocols prevented the officials from checking the incident -- although they could have done had it led to a try instead of a penalty. Australia suffered another blow when they lost centre Matt Giteau to a head injury and their first-half misery was completed when Conrad Smith, Aaron Smith and

Captain Richie McCaw of New Zealand holds up the Webb Ellis Cup after winning the Rugby World Cup Final against Australia at Twickenham in London, yesterday New Zealand won by 34-17. Reuters/Toby Melville in four points with tries by David Pocock and Tuvita Kuridrani. But flyhalf Dan Carter, who missed most of the 2011 tournament through injury and who is retiring from international rugby after yesterday’s match, stepped up with an exquisite drop goal and a 50-metre penalty to put the result beyond doubt. Replacement wing Beauden Barrett applied the black icing to the Kiwi World Cup cake with a late try which Carter converted to

come true. It’s a pretty strong group of guys. We try to do things no other team has done before... it’s a special feeling to be part of such a great team.” New Zealand looked on their game from the start, zipping the ball sharply along the lines and creating quick ball at every ruck to keep the Wallabies on the back foot. Their pressure enabled Carter to thump over three penalties to one from Bernard Foley to make it 9-3 after half an hour. But it was a controversial lead.

Richie McCaw fired the ball wide for Milner-Skudder to score in the corner Carter converted for a 16-3 halftime lead and it took only two minutes of the second half for New Zealand to effectively put the game to bed. Sonny Bill Williams, on for Conrad Smith, delivered a trademark offload to Nonu and the centre tore through some soft defending and sprinted 30 metres to mark his 103rd and last New Zealand appearance with a killer try.

Australia, as always, refused to lie down though and immediately roared back into the attack. Smith was sin-binned for a tip-tackle on Drew Mitchell -- the first yellow card in a final -- and from the resulting penalty Australia drove over the line with Pocock the man at the bottom. Foley converted to make it 21-10 with 28 minutes remaining. That spurred Australia into greater efforts and they got their second try after 63 minutes when a probing kick by Will Genia bounced perfectly for Foley who fed Kuridrani to slide over and with Foley slotting the conversion they were back within four points. The atmosphere at Twickenham revved, but once again it was the cool head of Carter who regained control. The flyhalf, whose dropped goal in the semi-final against South Africa set in motion a momentum shift that turned that match, slotted another despite being under huge pressure. Carter then applied the coup de grace with a 50-metre penalty to make it 27-17 with five minutes remaining. Australia attacked again but great defence kept them out and Ben Smith then kicked into space for the fresh-legged replacement winger Barrett to collect the ball and score under the posts. The New Zealand bench erupted, celebrating their third triumph after 1987 and 2011, and their first on foreign soil. “It’s a great way to finish,” said their coach Steve Hansen of Carter’s orchestration of the win. “You couldn’t script it any better.”

Westbrook lifts Thunder in double OT, Warriors down Rockets RUSSELL Westbrook and Kevin Durant combined for 91 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder trumped the Orlando Magic in NBA action. Led by Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Orlando Magic 139136 in double overtime. Westbrook, who hit a three-pointer from just inside half court to force overtime, finished the game with 48 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, while Durant contributed 43 points and 12 boards of his own on Friday. Magic’s Victor Oladipo had just drained a three-pointer of his own to put Orlando up

117-114, but Westbrook rushed down the court and pulled up from well beyond the arc to send the game into overtime. Oladipo, who sank a shot from three-point range to level the score at 126-apiece as time expired in the first overtime, recorded the season’s first triple-double by scoring 21 points with 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Reigning NBA champions the Golden State Warriors accounted for the Houston Rockets 112-92. In a rematch of last season’s Western Conference finals match-up, MVP Steph Curry got the better of Rockets star James Harden as the Warriors maintained their winning start.

Curry scored 25 points, while Harden only managed 16 for the Rockets, who dropped to 0-2 this season. The Detroit Pistons made it three wins from three with a 98-94 overtime win against the Chicago Bulls. Andre Drummond produced a double-double, posting 20 points and 20 rebounds, while Pistons team-mate Reggie Jackson added 22 points. The Bulls were led by Jimmy Butler’s 23 points and 11 rebounds. LeBron James and Kevin Love helped the Cleveland Cavaliers past the Miami Heat 102-92. James posted 29 points, while Love contributed 24 and tallied 14 rebounds.

Elsewhere, the San Antonio Spurs were too good for the Brooklyn Nets 102-75. DaMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo had 21 points apiece in the Sacramento Kings’ 132-114 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Atlanta Hawks edged the Charlotte Hornets 97-94, the Toronto Raptors saw off the Boston Celtics 113-103 and the Minnesota Timberwolves were 9578 winners against the Denver Nuggets. The Washington Wizards downed the Milwaukee Bucks 118-113, the Philadelphia 76ers were outclassed 99-71 by the Utah Jazz, while the Portland Trail Blazers lost 110-92 to the Phoenix Suns. (Sportsmax.com)

American Pharoah secures historic Grand Slam (REUTERS)-TRIPLE Crown winner American Pharoah won the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky yesterday to end his career as horse racing’s first-ever Grand Slam champion. The Bob Baffert-trained colt, who earlier this year became the 12th horse -- and first since Affirmed in 1978 -- to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, romped to a commanding 6 1/2 length victory over a fading Effinex to bring the curtain down on a spectacular career. Honor Code was a distant third. Since winning the Triple Crown and cementing his place in racing history, American Pharoah won the Haskell Invitational but finished second in the Travers Stakes on August 29 at Saratoga in New York. The three-year-old colt showed no signs of rust from the extended layoff, charging to the front out of the gate and never surrendering the lead. He controlled the pace and pulled away from the pack on the final turn, to the thundering approval of a packed grandstand that had come to witness history.

Greaves wins fourth stage... From back page Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo, Ospina placed second to Raynauth `Obeahman’ Jeffrey returning a time of 57 minutes 13 seconds In yesterday’s fourth stage which started at Supenaam, proceeded to Charity and returned to Suddie for the finish, Ospina had to settle for third behind Greaves and Williams respectively in a three-man sprint after the trio broke from the pack on the downward journey. The Colombian clocked two hours, 25 minutes 20 seconds. When the fourth stage started, there were several mini breaks and at the turn back point at Charity, Barbadian Marloe Rodman and his fellow Barbadian Darren Matthews went on a two-man break and opened a 90 second lead on the pack. However, at Anna Regina, Raul Leal of `Team Gillette Evolution broke from the chasing pack and connected to the leading duo and shortly after, Geron Williams, Greaves and Ospina connected. Matthews was subsequently dropped and shortly after Rodman felt the pace and heat too much for him and he too was dropped, leaving Greaves, Williams and Ospina in the lead and the trio stuck together until nearing the finish when Greaves went into overdrive followed by Williams. Greaves went on to win by approximately one length from Williams with Ospina two lengths further afield. Today’s fifth stage which Starts at 08:30hrs from Kara Kara, Linden is expected to be a thriller with the top contenders for the top six places being Ospina, Leal, Hamzah Eastman, Greaves, Williams and Matthews who have all been in the limelight of the three days of racing so far. Ospina’s overall time to date is seven hours, 23 minutes 11 seconds (7.23:11), Leal’s time is 7.24:04, Eastman’s time is 7.24:16, while Greaves, Williams and Matthews’ times are 7.25:58, 7.26:01 and 7.26:48 respectively. It is not known as yet how many cyclists will face the starter at Kara Kara, Linden Highway for the journey that will end on Homestretch around 10:45hrs after a distance of 64.5 miles.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

UDFA kicks off season today with triple-header By Joe Chapman PRESIDENT of the Upper Demerara Football Association(UDFA) Sharma Solomon had declared that within one month of their being elected to office the residents of Linden will UDFA kicks off season today with triple-header see the staging of two football tournaments. Well that promise has been kept starting today with the UDFA Division One League championship. The official opening of the new UDFA’s football programme will begin this afternoon at the Mackenzie sports Club ground with a triple- header starting at 15.00hrs and a march past of the ten participating Division One Clubs which will be followed by a first game at 16.00hrs That game will feature a female encounter between Little Divas of Georgetown and the Demerara Queens. The second game will follow when the reigning National Schools Champions Christrianburg Wismar Secondary take on a Rest Schools Combination at 18.00hrs and then at 20.00hrs the big

clash when East of Linden meets the West in what should be a fitting opening night utilising the top footballers in the Upper Demerara region.

ments at the Egbert Benjamin Conference on Thursday night. He said, “ we want this to be made clear, we are not playing one tournament, two tour-

UDFA clubs and officials at the launch las Thursday night.

The UDFA President Solomon was at the time speaking to club representatives when the UDFA launched its two tourna-

naments are going to be played, Senior and Under- 17s, so the clubs with nursery will also have a chance to have those players that

are playing Under 17 at weekend, see their performance and get them involved in some of your senior games during the week. “So this is just the sort of development that we are already working on in less than a month. It means we weren’t idling and you have given us the sort of confidence by saying how you want to see your football played. But we need to do better.” Solomon stated: “We are prepared to play football. If we are going to represent what football means to Region 10 we have to convince sponsors, we have to convince so many people that we know what we can deliver. It is a product which is football for Region 10. So I only make that in reference that we are starting now and maybe what expectations we may have had, we hope to see all of our clubs, minus Kwakwani Strikers here tonight. There should be no excuse why a club should not be here tonight.” Play in the actual Division One League will start on Wednesday with a double-header at the MSC ground while the Under -17 tournament gets underway next Saturday.

Auto Supplies supports Team Xtreme for CMRC WITH the final leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) just 14 days away, local competitors are busy heightening preparations ahead of what is considered the biggest Racing Meet in the Series. The Meet which involves countries such as Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Jamaica, Cayman Islands as well as competitors from Canada and the USA will be staged on November 15, at the South Dakota Circuit. Auto Supplies, importers of Hawkins Pressure Cookers ad other kitchen appliances, Dunlop and GT Radial tyres and Gree and Lenox Air-conditioners offered its support to Team Xtreme by providing much needed tyres for the machines that will represent the team during the CMRC. Speaking with General Manager Patrick Koo, who made the presentation to Team Xtreme Manager David Bacchus, at the Company’s Head Office on Peter Rose Street in Queenstown, he said that the goodwill was born out of an existing

relationship between racer Gavin Gayadin and the entity which goes back quite a few years. “He approached us and we saw it as an encouragement and upliftment for the sport to adequately equip competitors to perform to their maximum during the event,” he stated. Koo disclosed that he and Managing Director of the Company Brian James are ardent followers and supporters of the sport and the entire sporting fraternity hence there was no hesitation in assisting Team Xtreme in their exploits to do well at the November Meet. Gayadin, who has been on a brief hiatus in the sport, is planning a return at the upcoming Meet and as part of his preparations did engage the Company for much needed support in a sport that without corporate involvement it is virtually impossible to do well. Meanwhile, Bacchus in his response thanked the Company for its invaluable contribution to the Team and promised to produce the kind of results that will make them proud. He mentioned other sponsors such as

Auto Supplies General manager Patrick Koo (right0 hands over the sponsorship cheque to Team Xtreme’s Manager David Bacchus yesterday, at the Company’s Head Office on Peter Rose Street, Queenstown. Royal Castle, Auto Stop, Star Car Auto sales and Singh’s Roti Shop as some of the

other entities to have pledged support to them.

Regal XI, Masters in Guyana Softball Cup 5 Finals EARLY morning showers did not dampen the spirit of the second day of competition in the Guyana Softball Cup 5 which continued its second day of competition

yesterday at venues across Georgetown. In the masters, Regal Masters beat New York Better Hope by to book their spot in the final after they were able to overhaul a

Part of the Guyana Softball Cup 5 action at the DCC Ground Queenstown.

small target of 77, set earlier. In the second semi-final for the masters Floodlight beat Albion by 111 runs after the earlier posted a 199 total. In response, Albion were all out for 88 in 19.4 overs. Meanwhile, the first semi-final for the open division at the Police Sports club ground had seen Regal advancing to the next round. Batting first, Regal rattled up 189 in 20 overs while in reply, Shakib fell 76 runs short as they finished all out for 113. In earlier matches in the open division, Regal XI beat off Mercenaries by 114 runs. Regal XI batting first posted 207 for 9 in 20 overs thanks to Navin Singh 51 and Safraz Khan 77 while Bowling for Mercenaries Nankishore Narayan had 25/3 in 4 overs. Mercenaries in reply made 63 all out

in 16.3 overs with Greg Singh and Gajanand Singh both making 19. Bowling for Regal XI Richard Latiff 25/3 in 4 overs. Shakib’s side had a closer battle against Hyde park at Malteenoes ground as they won by 19 runs They made 95 for 9 in 15 overs with Diaran Persaud 31. Bowling for Hyde Park Richardo Adams 11/5 in 3 overs and Uicle Armstrong 19/2 in 3 overs Hyde Park in reply 76 for 9 in 13.2 overs with Gribon Mohamed 13 while the bowling for Shakib XI saw A. Mohamed bagg 10/3 in 3 overs and L. Ramsarran 12/2 in 3 overs. Other winners included Wolf Warriors who beat Corriverton at Malteenoes by 51 runs while NYSCL All Stars beat Petama Enterprise at Everest by 83 runs.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

Slingerz FC in exciting 4 – 2 win over GDF Richardson keeps Pele FC on top...

PELE FC, thanks to another master class performance from their star player Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, defeated Buxton United 2 – 0 and Slingerz Football Club overcame the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in an entertaining 4 – 2 when the STAG Elite League continued on Friday night at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground. Playing in the opening game, Slingerz FC were led by a double from Dominican striker Julian Wade (23rd and 63rd minute) while Vurlon Mills (22nd minute) and Dwain Jacobs (83rd minute) scored a goal each to lead the ‘West Side’ club to their sev-

enth win in the league and second place on the points standing (21 points) behind Pele FC (24 points). For the Army, Eusi Phillips (nine minutes) and Delroy Fraser (89th minute) found the net but it wasn’t enough to stop them from fifth loss in the league. It was the first official meeting between the two sides in the league, after Slingerz FC failed to take the field for their scheduled game against the Army at the GDF Ground on October 13. The GDF as per league sanction that was meted out against Slingerz FC, won the game by a 3 – 0 default, and the result set up a clas-

West Indies women take 2-0 lead against Pakistan FOR the second time in a row, the West Indies women made light work of Pakistan when the teams met in a best of 20 overs encounter thanks to 48 not out from their skipper Stafanie Taylor. The second Twenty20 of the series between the teams at the Grenada National Stadium yesterday had a number of similarities to the first, one of which was Pakistan batting without putting any real pressure on the Caribbean side. The Pakistanis without Javiera Khan were toothless, though opener Nain Abidi’s 35 from 45 deliveries was refreshing. Also similar to the first Twenty/20 between the sides was the run out at the top of the order, Marin Iqbal sent back for three after Kyshona Knight’s direct throw left her short of her ground. There was to be a second runout after Aliya Riaz, 10 from 12 deliveries was run out by Deandra Dottin. Bisma Maroof also put up some resistance, scoring 25 from 31 deliveries to give the Pakistani’s a total they may have been able to defend. Dottin, who made 19 in her innings, followed up her all-round performance in the first Twenty20 between the teams, with three for 20 off four overs. Those wickets stopped Pakistan from gaining any momentum. Hayley Matthews has not been having a good Twenty20 outing and failed at the top of the order for the second game in a row, her five from seven deliveries, bringing Dottin to the crease. Dottin, more circumspect than she was in the first game, used 33 balls for her 19 but was instrumental in giving her captain Stafanie Taylor, the opportunity to unleash. Taylor would go on to slam 48 not out from just 43 deliveries. Her strike rate of 111.62, good enough to give the West Indies victory after rain reduced their innings. When it ended, the West Indies were well ahead of the Duckworth Lewis par score, 81, at 91 for three. Knight batted well with Taylor to end on 13 not out from 17 deliveries. In the end, the West Indies won by 11 runs courtesy of the Duckworth Lewis method. (Sportsmax.com)

sic showdown at the GFC Ground. Slingerz FC found themselves trailing early in the game when dubious officiating led Joshua Brown being called for a handball in the 18 yards box and it was Eusi Phillips who was tasked to take the kick. The midfield player made no mistakes in easily placing the ball at the back

of the net to hand the GDF a 1 – 0 lead nine minutes into the game. However, Slingerz FC, equipped with more firepower with than the Army, fired back with two goals in succession from Wade and Mills but things took a turn when central defender Colin Nelson picked up his second yellow card. Despite being down to ten men, Slingerz FC maintained control of the game and showed their superiority

to dominate the reminder of the contest. Meanwhile, Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson continued his excellent showing in the STAG Elite League when he scored and assisted the other goal to lead Pele FC to a 2 – 0 win over Buxton United. It was his ninth goal of the league and the most so far. Alpha United’s Delon Lanferman is second behind Richardson with eight goals. Richardson after trou-

bling the Buxtonians throughout the night Richardson using his experience and superior skill, evaded the Buxton United defender in the 61st minute to score the night’s first goal. Not having any chance to stop the prolific striker, Richardson, in the 75th minute after getting his way again with the defence, unselfishly laid the ball off to Keoma Gravesande to net the second goal for Pele FC.

STAG Elite League Points Standing for Round 11

Cairns’ defence questions police investigation THE question of why criminal charges were not brought against Lou Vincent has been raised by Chris Cairns’ defence in his perjury trial at Southwark Crown Court. Vincent is one of the key witnesses against Cairns but has faced no legal action despite admitting to match-fixing and money laundering in the UK. Vincent, who has previously said Cairns ordered him to fix matches, was banned from cricket for life in 2014 under ICC regulations and his evidence forms a large part of the case brought by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Vincent was not given any guarantees that he would not be charged by officers investigating the case but Oliver Pownall QC, representing Cairns, suggested the Metropolitan Police was only interested in material that could be used against Cairns. The court also heard of CPS concerns that not pursuing charges against Vincent could “seriously undermine

the prosecution”. Notes from a meeting in February 2014 questioned whether Vincent was “rushing to the door” to implicate others and minimise his own role.

and ECB. Cairns is accused of perjury and perverting the course of justice during his 2012 High Court libel action against Lalit Modi. “My decision was to investigate what happened at High Court, not match-fixing,” Duthie said. “I knew [Vincent] cheated and lied. We didn’t give any immunity or promises. If he started giving evidence about criminality in interviews with our staff, we would have stopped and cautioned him.”

Pownall suggested that the idea Vincent would have been pursued for his crimes was a “sham” and that officers feared he would not give evidence against Cairns if he was also charged, something Duthie denied. Duthie and detective constable Lucy Wade were the final witnesses to be called by the prosecution. Cairns, who denies all charges against him, is due to the take the stand next week. The trial continues. (ESPN Cricinfo)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday November 01, 2015) Lou Vincent has so far faced no criminal charges despite confessing to match-fixing However, detective chief superintendent Michael Duthie said that his main concern had been investigating the allegations of perjury, emphasising that issues to do with fixing were for the ICC

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: 2614 runs (42 tests) 28

Today’s Quiz:

Which SL player scored most runs in the just-concluded WI/SL Test series? Which WI player scored most runs in the just-concluded WI/SL Test series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

SUNDAY CHRONICLE November 1, 2015

COURTS Pee Wee Schools football

Enterprise, St. Angela’s, St. Pius, West Ruimveldt advance

ST. Angela’s, West Ruimveldt, Enterprise and St. Pius have booked a spot in the semi-final round of the fourth annual COURTS Pee Wee Under-11 Schools football competition after contesting the quarter-final round. Spectators at the Banks DIH Ground witnessed yesterday eight exciting matches in the Petra organised event. Enterprise upset the defending champions Stella Maris with a hard fought 3 – 1. Even though Stella Maris struck first in the tenth minute when Jayden Pitt was successful, Enterprise pressed and found the equalizer in the 13th minute thanks to Seon Archibald. As the two sides battled for the upper hand, the weight of the match shifted in the 32nd minute when Martin King put Enterprise ahead. Four minutes later Archibald completed his double which put the victory beyond doubt with only four minutes of play remaining. St. Angela’s destroyed Tucville 4 – 0 thanks to another explosive performance from Keyon Douglas who registered a hat-trick. He scored twice in the first half and completed his double in the 26th minute while be-

ing supported by Nickone Dover who struck in the 25th. West Ruimveldt then humbled St. Margaret’s as they were also led by a hat-trick performance from Mark Cameron who found the back of the net in the second, 26th and 37th minutes while Michael Oie accounted for the other West Ruimveldt goal in the 18th minute. Josiah King (21st) and Mickelle Andrews th (35 ) scored once each in St. Margaret’s’ effort. Last year’s runner up, St. Pius, moved one step closer to having another shot at the title with a 1 – 0 win over South Ruimveldt. After the teams romped to a goalless first 20 minutes, Christian Jupiter found the decider in the 35th minute to keep his side’s hopes alive. Earlier in the day, the 9 th -16 th-place playoff took place as St. Stephen’s defeated F.E. Pollard 8 – 0, led by a helmet-trick from Ronaldo Forde who scored in the third, 19th, 33rd and 36th minutes while Jequan Cole, Otis Straughn, Michael Beckles and Jaiheam Taylor pitched in with a goal each. In other results, North Georgetown defeated Winfer Garden 4 – 1, Smith’s Memorial won via walkover against Comenius and St. Agnes trounced St. Ambrose 4 – 0.

Ming qualifies 7 in Mexican Formula 4 th

By Stephan Sookram OVERSEAS based Guyanese Calvin Ming qualified 7th yesterday in the qualification sessions for the first Formula 4 championship race in Mexico City. The F4 driver spoke to Chronicle Sport yesterday indicating that most of the drivers

use the same combination of Mygale chassis and Ford engine as its British equivalent MSA Formula, but run on Pirelli tyres. Ferrari F1 reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez lends his initials and acts as advisor to the MartigaEG team, headed up by former Champ Car and A1 Grand Prix racer David Martinez.

Calvin Ming poses with his Mygale F4 machine before qualification are just separated by tenths of seconds and he expects the race today to be a challenge. The exhibition style race for Mexican F4 will be held on the revamped Mexico City circuit, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Sunday morning ahead of country’s first grand prix since 1992. A full 2015-16 season will then begin at the Puebla circuit on November 28-29. Officially named the F4 NACAM Championship after the body of FIA members in North America and Central America, it will

Mario Dominguez, another ex-Champ Car driver, will be involved in the championship as a coach. FIA F4 championships have run in Britain, Germany, Italy, Northern Europe, Australia, Japan and China this year, while others have recently been announced in the United States, Benelux and Spain for 2016. Following the F4 race in Mexico, Ming will bring one of his two cars down to Guyana for an exhibition run at the upcoming Caribbean Motor Racing Championships Final leg on November 14-15.

Action in the COURTS Pee Wee Under-11 quarter-final round at the Banks DIH ground, yesterday. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

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Ming qualifies th 7 in Mexican Formula 4 See story on page 31

‘Tour of Guyana’ Five Stage Cycle Road Race set for exciting finish TODAY

Greaves wins fourth stage; Colombia’s Ospina still leads overall By Michael DaSilva RORAIMA Bikers’ Alonzo Greaves returned a two hour, 25 minutes 20 seconds time in winning the fourth stage of the National Sports Commission (NSC) sponsored `Tour of Guyana ‘ Five- Stage cycle road race yesterday on the Essequibo Coast. However, going into today’s final stage, Colombian Carlos Ospina of Team Coco’s holds the overall lead in the grueling event

‘Roraima Bikers’ Alonzo Greaves celebrates winning the fourth stage of the `Tour of Guyana’ cycle road race yesterday on the Essequibo Coast. Following closely behind Greaves is Geron `The Lone Soldier’ Williams who placed second in the stage.

American Pharoah secures historic Grand Slam

See story on page 28

which attracted 49 starters on Thursday last. Ospina won the first stage which started at Corriverton, Berbice in one hour, 37 minutes 58 seconds, placed fifth in stage two which started at Rosignol on Thursday also and concluded on Carifesta Avenue with a time of two hours, 23 minutes .02 seconds. In stage three which was started a Wales, West Bank Demerara and ended at See page 28

Bolt accolades continue to rack up Vice Chancellor of the UWI Professor Sir Hilary Beckles (left) presents Usain Bolt with the inaugural UWI Vice Chancellor’s Alumni Exemplar Sports Award at the institution’s regional headquarters at Mona last Thursday. (Jamaica Observer photo).

Victor Espinoza aboard American Pharoah races during race eleven of the 2015 Breeders Cup Championships at Keeneland. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

USAIN Bolt has earned an honorary doctorate, the Order of Jamaica, and numerous entities named after him, on Thursday, the fastest man on the planet added to the long list after he received the inaugural Vice Chancellor’s Alumni Exemplar Sports Award. “Dr Bolt is one of the greatest men of Caribbean times, and it is fitting that the UWI - a highly respected Caribbean institution - acknowledge his legendary athletic prowess and contribution to regional advancement,” said Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, University of the West Indies Vice -Chancellor. The new award, Beckles explained, recognises outstanding performance, good

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sportsmanship, the creation of a positive role model for Caribbean youth in the area of sports, as well as the awardee’s affiliation with the UWI as a graduate. Bolt has won six Olympic gold medals and nine World Championship gold medals, enjoying the feats along with holding world records in both the 100 and 200-metre events. Bolt’s honorary doctorate was given to him by the UWI in 2011 while he also has sports facilities at the UWI, Mona in Jamaica and Cave Hill in Barbados named after him. The sprinter has also earned the IAAF World Athlete of the Year, Track & Field Athlete of the Year, and Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award.(Sportsmax. com)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2015