GUYANA No. 104389 TUESDAY DECEMBER 1, 2015
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$82B GuySuCo debt under review INCLUDING VAT
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Courts opens $65M optical store16 Page
Five sites being assessed for hydropower Page
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Courts Managing Director Clyde DeHaas with assistance from Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin (left) and Minister of Public Health Dr George Norton cut the ceremonial ribbon in the presence of staffers to open the optical store (Adrian Narine photo)
Paris climate talks ‘could be turning point’-Obama 5
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 1, 2015
Gold Board reopens Bartica office - Minister Harmon urges help to check lawlessness in the mines
By Svetlana Marshall GOVERNMENT yesterday re o p e n e d t h e G u y a n a Gold Board (GGB) office in Bartica, Region Seven, more than a year after it was closed over allegations of corruption. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman; Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Simona Broomes; Region Seven Chairman, Gordon Bradford; and Bartica IMC Chairman Gifford Marshall, among others, were present at the occasion. Even as he promised heightened security in the gold mining industry, Minister Harmon said the Gold Board, despite its location, ought to act as a “gatekeeper” to protect the country’s patrimony. “I believe that the Guyana Gold Board has a responsibility to protect our national patrimony, and therefore it is important that we are able to contribute in a meaningful way to the resources that are
available for the development of that patrimony,” he said. Stating that major emphasis is being placed on security, and stressing that miners, despite their scale of operation, ought to feel secure in the execution of their duties, Minister Harmon said: “The lawlessness which is taking place in the mining sector has to stop! It has to stop!” He reassured that the APNU+AFC coalition government is committed to creating a safe environment for all miners, and used the opportunity to advocate for responsible mining. “Mining, as you k n o w, c o n t r i b u t e s t o land degradation and deforestation, and therefore it has to be done in a sustainable way, which takes account of the need for us to preserve our forest and preserve the green of Guyana.” Minister Trotman, in delivering remarks at the opening ceremony, said Government’s decision to reopen the GGB office signals its confidence in Bartica and the people of Bartica.
“Reports indicate that thousands of ounces of gold are leaving our shores every week, and not all of it is being declared to the gold board. There are too many reports of illicit activities,” Minister Trotman said, as he called for an end to these illicit activities. With installation of a new Gold Board in January 2016, the Minister of Governance said there are major expectations. “We expect that integrity and accountability will be the hallmark of the staff and those who are placed to work here,” he said. In addition to the office in Bartica, Minister Trotman said Government has taken a decision to open other offices across the country, in regions One, Eight and Nine, to encourage more persons to declare their gold and pay up their royalties. He pointed out that the Specialised Organised Crime Unity (SOCU), Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) will be working closely with each other.
Minister Simona Broomes cuts the ribbon to recommission the GGB's Bartica Office, while Ministers Harmon and Trotman look on The IMC Chairman, in applauding the Government on its decision to reopen the GGB office in Bartica, used the opportunity to highlight two issues affecting the sector. He said small miners have suffered for too long,
and have been crying out against the unfair, unjust, and undemocratic principles that have stymied their success. He said another issue of concern is “the reckless handling of the environment by some miners.”
It was recalled that during President David Granger’s visit to Bartica on October 3, 2015, five strategic points were laid out. Those strategies, Marshall said, must be taken seriously if Bartica is to be transformed into a Green Town. “Gold mining remains the number one cause of deforestation. Gold mining remains the number one pollutant of our surrounding three rivers. Gold mining remains the number one cause of our aquatic life degradation, and gold mining is a major contributor to solid waste in Bartica. Traverse our streets and you will observe heavy metal -- derelict heavyduty vehicles, and even dredges, lining our parapets in an unsightly manner. Is this the price we have to pay? How long more will we continue to destroy the environment with no thought of tomorrow?” he asked. The recently appointed IMC Chairman said the opening of the gold board signals the opening of golden opportunities for the people of Bartica and, by extension, of Region Seven. Opportunities that will see small miners b e i n g t r e a t e d f a i r l y, sustainable exploitation of the region’s natural resources, and large miners leading the way in making Bartica a model town, Guyana’s first ‘green’ town.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 1, 2015
$82B GuySuCo debt under review
By Ariana Gordon
GOVERNMENT is looking at the “participatory privatisation” of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) following the revelation that the country’s lone sugar company is bankrupt. According to reports, the company has $82.2B in accumulated debt. An executive summary compiled by Commissioners of the recently concluded Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the operations of the sugar industry, and reviewed by Cabinet has revealed that the company is insolvent. “GuySuCo as a company is insolvent; we now have to figure how to pull back GUYSUCO,” a source close the Commission told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday. THE FINDINGS The findings of the COI were submitted to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, George Jervis in October. The company’s insolvency was highlighted to Cabinet members (minus President David Granger, who was in Malta attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting) on Saturday during a meeting with members of the COI, including its Chairman, Vibert Parvatan, at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre. Government had announced that before the COI report
could be made public, Cabinet members will participate in a ‘special retreat’ to discuss the findings and recommendations. The Guyana Chronicle has been given to understand that the recommendations made by the COI will be subject to additional discussion upon President Granger’s return, at the end of which a new chapter will be opened, with the aim of reviving the struggling sugar company. “Cabinet has to meet to discuss how to pull GuySuCo back from this,” the source said. The entire report has not yet been analysed, but discussions were had, based on the Executive Summary put forward by the commissioners last weekend. GOV’T SUBSIDY GuySuCo has enjoyed a government subsidy of $11.9B so far for the year, and is expected to receive an additional $12B in subsidy come next year. The ailing sugar company is in dire need of help, and it is left up to the government to charter a course to save it. Notwithstanding the troubles facing the company, there has been a marginal decline in the cost of producing sugar, while an increase in production is evident. “We are likely to have 214,000 tons of sugar this year, the highest since 2004,” the source said. The marginal reduction in the cost of production will increase revenue in order to contribute to Guyana’s foreign exchange earnings.
“The future of the industry is at stake, and thus careful consideration must be taken to deal with such a sensitive matter,” said the source. The sugar industry gives Guyana a large chunk of its foreign exchange earnings, and this will be at the forefront of subsequent Cabinet meetings on the industry. PRIMARY PRODUCE Sugar is one of the country’s primary agricultural produces, and thousands of sugar workers depend on the industry to maintain their families. As such, government is now forced to make life-and-death decisions with regard to the way forward for the sugar industry, given its current state of insolvency. Asked whether some estates would be closed, given the company’s inability to pay its debts, the source said that talks are underway to have a “participatory privatization partnership” with cane cutters. The cash-strapped sugar company’s former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rajendra Singh and Board were sent packing in June by the APNU+AFC-led administration for losses and wastage. An Interim Management Committee (IMC) is headed by Errol Hanoman, and Paul Bhim. Last year, government pumped $6B into the sugar company, while this year, some $11.9B has been spent thus far. The Corporation had requested a $16B bailout package earlier this year.
Five sites being assessed for hydropower – Minister Patte rson
GOVERNMENT is determined for Guyana t o h a v e h y d ro p o w e r generation facilities. In keeping with this thrust, five out of 67 possible sites are currently being assessed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for development. The assessment is expected to be completed by May 2016. Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson said the five sites are Kamira, Kumu, Tumatumari, Tiger Hill and Amaila. The government will be using $80M from the Norway funds that were set
Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson aside for renewable energy development. “At the end of this process, we will obviously assess them, however we will look to use the $80M in
the most acceptable means of renewable energy … but it could be any form of large scale renewable energy – which is the understanding that we have so it’s a process which we are going through, and I think it’s a wise way to go forward,” Minister Patterson stated. The Guyana Government is also working with the Government of Brazil and other interested stakeholders in seeking additional funding for the hydro power/ renewable energy project. “We are moving ahead, and we working through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Granny, three others held for gun, ‘ammo’ A FEMALE pensioner, reportedly 60 years old, together with her daughter and nephew, was arrested yesterday by ‘C’ Division police after they had unearthed an unlicensed .32 Rossi revolver and 46 matching rounds at the trio’s home at Vigilance South, East Coast Demerara. The trio told police investigators that they are unaware who owns the weapon, as none of them has knowledge of it, and where it came from. They did indicate to investigating ranks that the property in which they reside is owned by the pensioner’s son, who is presently out of the country. Investigators were informed that the man, who operates a grocery shop at the said location, is presently in Suriname. Upon his return, he will be questioned. Divisional Commander Marlon Chapman confirmed the discovery of the weapon and the arrest of the three persons. He said they will all remain in the custody of the police until the investigation has been completed, but he could not confirm who, if any of the three, would be charged. Chapman also indicated that a police check of criminal records did not implicate any member of the trio with brushes with the law in the past; neither did records show that the owner of the property, whose weapon and rounds it is suspected to be, had had any brushes with the either. Investigations are ongoing.
continuing discussions with them. There are other individuals who have MOUs. I think Kumu falls, there is a company that has an MOU with us and it remains to develop that falls, Tumatumari, Moco Moco - we are going out for
an expression of interest to resuscitate the Moco Moco hydro falls so we haven’t excluded any project. It’s always a question of time and cost,” the minister explained. Renewable energy has been identified as a growth industry and Guyana has
an abundance of wind, sun and water. Harnessing their potential would be a game changer for Guyana as it is believed that the country has enough capacity to not only satisfy its own energy demands, but to sell excess to its neighbours.
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Woman tries to sell baby online
IMF gives China’s currency prized reserve asset status (Reuters) - THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday, as expected, admitted China’s yuan into its benchmark currency basket in a victory for Beijing’s campaign for recognition as a global economic power. The IMF executive board’s decision to add the yuan, also known as the renminbi, to the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket alongside the dollar, euro, pound sterling and yen, is an important milestone in China’s integration into the global financial system and a nod to the progress it has made with reforms. To meet the IMF’s criteria, Beijing has undertaken a flurry of reforms in recent months, including better access for foreigners to Chinese currency markets, more frequent debt issuance and expanded yuan trading hours. IMF chief Christine Lagarde, who along with inhouse experts has previously backed the move, made it clear she did not expect Beijing to stop there. “The continuation and deepening of these efforts will bring about a more robust international monetary and financial system, which in turn will support the growth and stability of China and the global economy,” she said in a statement.
Tuesday, December 1 Wednesday, December 2 Thursday, December 2
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Russian deserter found after hiding in forest for over 10 years
- pleads guilty in South African court (REUTERS): A MOTHER pleaded guilty in a South African court on Monday to having tried to sell her baby on the Internet for 5,000 rand (US$346), the online news service News24 said. “I admit that my actions were wrongful, unlawful and intentional. I have no defense,” the 20-year-old woman was quoted as saying by News24. Police said the woman was arrested in October following a tip-off from a member of the public who said that a baby was being sold on the website ‘Gumtree’. She was freed on bail and placed under house arrest. Sentencing will be carried out on Feb. 29 at the Magistrates Court in the eastern town of Pietermaritzburg.
Moscow (AFP) - POLICE have apprehended an army deserter who hid in a forest in eastern Russia for more than a decade and kept his whereabouts secret from even his family, regional authorities said Monday. The 30-year-old man, whose identity was not made public, was drafted into the military in 2003 and was stationed in the remote Kamchatka peninsula for one year before fleeing the army’s ranks, police said. “He lived in Kamchatka all this time, mainly hiding in the forest,” the regional branch of the interior ministry said in a statement. “He got by with odd jobs and did not attempt to get in touch with his family.” The search for the deserter, who hails from the southern Russian city of Taganrog, was stopped when his family erroneously identified a dead body as that of their missing relative a few months after his disappearance, the statement said.
Indian economy grows by Russia says Turkey ‘shot 7.4% in second quarter
NEW DELHI: THE Indian economy grew at a more rapid 7.4% during July-September on the back of higher activity in manufacturing as well as most services sectors. The expansion was more rapid than the 7.1% rise during April-June 2015, but slower than the 8.4% growth registered during the second quarter of the last financial
year. The acceleration in economic growth will come as a boost to the government, which has identified getting the economy back on rails as the top-most priority. The Government of India expects the economy to grow at over 8%, although economists see a 7.5% expansion to be more feasible. (Times of India)
down plane for IS oil’
(BBC) - RUSSIA has accused Turkey of shooting down its warplane near the border with Syria in order to protect its oil trade with the Islamic State (IS) group. Speaking at international talks on climate change in Paris, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the downing of the plane a “huge mistake”. Turkey has denied any ties to IS and is part of a U.S.-led coalition carrying out air strikes against the militant group. The Turkish government has refused to apologise for the incident. One Russian pilot was killed and the other rescued following the crash on 24 November. Turkey says the jet entered its air space - an accusation Russia denies.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Paris climate talks ‘could be turning point’
- President Obama
(BBC) – U.S. President Barack Obama has said the UN climate conference in Paris could be a “turning point” in global efforts to limit future temperature rises. Negotiators from 195 countries will try to reach a deal within two weeks aimed at reducing global carbon emissions and limiting global warming to 2C (3.6F). Leaders from 147 nations have been addressing the meeting, known as COP21. President Obama urged negotiators to deliver a meaningful deal, because the “next generation is watching”. He told delegates: “Climate change could define the contours of this century more than any other (challenge). “I came here personally to say the United States not only recognises the problem but is committed to do something about it.” He added that recent years had shown that the global economy had grown while emissions had remained flat, breaking the old arguments for inaction “that economic growth and environmental protection were in conflict”. Russian President Vladimir Putin also addressed the conference. During negotiations for the preceding Kyoto Protocol, Russia was the last industrialised nation to ratify the global agreement, allowing the landmark deal to come into force in 2001. Echoing President Obama, Mr Putin said: “We have demonstrated we can ensure economic development and take care of our en-
vironment at the same time.” In a diplomatic play on semantics, probably to highlight the differing points of view between industrialised and emerging economies, Chinese President Xi Jinping told the conference he did not see the Paris talks as a turning point nor a “finish line, but a new starting point”. He said that climate change went beyond national borders and that it was “a shared mission for all mankind”, before reiterating China’s pledge to start cutting its emissions from a peak in 2030. British Prime Minister David Cameron used his address to consider how future generations would respond to the idea that it was “too difficult” for this generation of politicians to reach an agreement in 2015. “Our grandchildren would ask why it was so difficult,” he said, before listing how progress had been made in delivering climate policy, such as financing, carbon budgets and technological research and development. “Instead of making excuses to our children and grandchildren, we should be taking action,” Mr Cameron stated. Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga made a stark observation in his passionate address: “If we save Tuvalu, we will surely save the world.” “Like other nations in the Pacific, our survival depends on the decisions we take here in Paris,” he said, reflecting the concerns of many Small Island States (SISs) around the globe.
U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting at the start of the climate summit in Paris yesterday (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque photo)
U.S. President Barack Obama (C) is welcomed by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (L) and French President Francois Hollande as he arrives for the opening day of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) at Le Bourget, near Paris, France, yesterday (Reuters/Christian Hartmann photo)
“We stand on a cliff edge. Either we stand united and agree to combat climate change, or we all stumble and fall.” Much of the discussion in Paris is expected to centre on an agreement to limit global warming to 2C (3.6F). However, assessments of the more than 180 national climate action plans submitted by countries to the summit suggest that if they are implemented, the world will see a rise of nearer to 3C. Christiana Figueres, the head of the UN’s climate change negotiations, told delegates that never before had a responsibility so great been in the hands of so few. “The world is looking to you,” she said. “The world is counting on you.”
lamic State (IS) group. World leaders are attending the start of the two-week meeting to give
Protesters demonstrate during a rally ahead of the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, known as the COP21 summit, in Berlin, Germany on November 29, 2015. (Reuters/ Fabrizio Bensch photo) The talks are taking place amid tight security, two weeks after attacks in Paris claimed by the so-called Is-
impetus to the talks, after the high-profile failure of the Copenhagen summit in 2009.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 1, 2015
GPF taking steps to support families of fallen ranks Dear Editor,
EDITORIAL $2.5B Sophia enhancement initiative
Last week the government announced that the Sophia community would benefit from $2.5 billion in contracts aimed at improving electricity supply and resurfacing the roadways. This is a most welcome announcement. For too long this community which is home to thousands of citizens of all ethnic backgrounds have had to endure the untold hardships that resulted from substandard infrastructure. In a country where roads, especially those in poor neighbourhoods, have generally left a lot to be desired, the ones in Sophia are particularly bad. Residents have complained over and over about roadways that are in most cases not even fit for walking. When one adds the electricity woes and the inadequate access to other basic services, this announcement by the government takes on greater significance. It is a crying shame that people are forced to live under such conditions. There is, for example, a relationship between bad roads, inadequate water and electricity supplies and educational standards. Such conditions also encourage crime at a higher than normal rate and negatively affect freedom of movement. People in such communities are also challenged to arrive at work on time as transportation flow to several sections of the community are seriously affected. The wear and tear on vehicles are higher than normal. In such conditions women and children are most affected. After decades of neglect by successive PPP/C governments, that situation is about to change in a dramatic way. Providing such facilities to communities should be a primary function of all governments; residents should not see it as a gift from the government. Invariably, it is taxpayers’ money that is being spent. But some governments are much more forthcoming when it comes to spending public funds on the poor. In that regard this government stands out. The government has kept its promise to help lift the least among us—the poor. As Minister Harmon puts it “as a general rule we would like to see communities with proper roads, proper lights, and proper water facilities.” The Minister went on to point out that the government intends to make such interventions a staple during its tenure. In other words, this is not a one-time thing. According to Harmon, “While it might not be a part of every single contract the government does I believe it’s the government intention to ensure that every community receives that facility…This is why we moved away from a Ministry of Housing to a Ministry of Communities because we believe housing is a part of the community, and the community must comprise of certain things like schools, police stations, street lights and so forth so it’s a total package.” We are happy for the residents of Sophia and hope that the community would in a short while be transformed into the kind of space that would attract investments and in which citizens would in the words of Bob Marley feel “free to roam the open space.” They deserve nothing less. We also hope that the multitude of unemployed citizens, particularly the youth, would find employment through these projects. It is only right that monies being spent on the community should, in part, serve to enhance residents’ lives by way of employment. For us, this must be part of the package to ensure what President Granger and his government call” the good life.”
I WAS recently among Guyanese invited to a dinner here in Miami with Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, who met with a small group to update them on the work of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), including the launch of a foundation to assist the families of personnel killed in the line of duty. His was an informative and encouraging presentation, and the discussion was frank and honest. He said that the Guyana Police Force would be at full strength by mid2017, with batches of 200 to 300 recruits being trained, leading up to a reformed, more professional and more efficient law enforcement and protection agency. He added that Guyana had been offered assistance by some foreign countries, and he said that those offers would
be pursued with a view to enhancing training and technology, as well as increased resources, such as vehicles. He pointed to a donation of a number of computers recently made to the GPF by the ZARA Group of Companies based in New York, and he said it has better equipped GPF personnel to deal effectively with crime prevention and detection. He is encouraging other Guyanese-owned businesses, as well as organisations and individuals, to assist the GPF, where possible. Addressing the small group of Guyanese en route home, the Commissioner acknowledged that there has been an increase in crime in recent months, but made it clear “there has also been a marked increase in arrests of those committing these crimes”. He pointed out that efforts are ongoing to improve
the service and protection offered by his agency. Asked about enforcement of the law which requires bars, restaurants and clubs to close at 2 a.m., Persaud said this is the law, and it must be enforced. Though admitting there is no proven direct correlation between the rising crime rate and late-hour opening of bars and other such establishments, he said that the consumption of excessive alcohol has led to a number of social ills, including domestic violence. But he said that discussions were currently being held among stakeholders about easing the restriction on Old Year’s Night, when Guyanese traditionally party until the wee hours of the morning to usher in the New Year. The main focus of the Commissioner’s presentation was the setting up of a foundation to support the families
of police officers and ranks killed in the line of duty. He pointed to several cases where police personnel killed in the line of duty had left young spouses and children behind. He said it is critical that the GPF “takes care of its own in such cases”, and urged support for the foundation in the future. Persaud said that efforts were underway to provide an insurance programme for police officers and ranks, and he reported that negotiations with a local insurance agency were progressing satisfactorily. It is a good practice for officials to update and interact with the diaspora when they visit, even if just passing through cities where there are clusters of Guyanese. Regards, Wesley Kirton
A policeman is intimidating my grandson
Dear Editor,
I AM a senior citizen of Corriverton, and I am very troubled and disgusted by the actions of a policeman at the Springlands Police Station who, instead of serving and protecting, chose to violate the human rights of my grandson, Andrew Lewis, a decent, law abiding citizen. After his rogue behaviour was reported, the officer now stalks my grandson at nights with a gray car, and quite recently with a white hire car (number provided). This man is very dangerous. On Friday, September 11, 2015, at about 23:50 hours, this police officer attacked, kidnapped, brutalised, traumatised, humiliated, wrongfully arrested, and threatened to kill my 23-year-old grandson Andrew Lewis, an electrician at the Skeldon Estate. Andrew left his residence early Friday morning to reach at work at Skeldon Estate for 07:00 hours, and he finished working at 20:00 hours that evening. He then stopped over at my residence at Princetown, a home he grew up in, to use the WIFI Internet service. This is a usual practice for him, since there is no telephone service in # 76 Housing Scheme. The policeman and his accomplices, two African men, were in a gray car that was driven by one of the African men. At the time, Andrew was riding his bicycle to his residence in the new # 76 Housing Scheme. There is no light in the scheme. When he was almost home, this dark gray car suddenly drove by and blocked the entrance to his street. The occupants of the car came out, and the man, whom we later learnt is the policeman in question, ordered him to come off his bicycle. He thought they were
bandits because he had never seen any of them before. The policeman was very aggressive, and pushed his hands into Andrew’s pocket and took his wage, which he had withdrawn from the bank. He seized Andrew’s haversack, which had his green GUYSUCO overalls. He also took his chain and cell phone and placed his bicycle in the car trunk. Next, the policeman ordered Andrew to go into the car, and he threatened to kill him. While in the gray car, the policeman began to cuff Andrew in the head and behind the neck repeatedly. He also cursed him as he brutalised him, and continued with his threat to kill him. At that stage, the policeman accused him of having just ‘broken and entered’ his house. They then drove him further into #76 Housing Scheme, and stopped in front of a house; and the policeman informed Andrew that Andrew had just ‘broken and entered’ that house. They then drove the gray car to Springlands Police Station, where the policeman alone came out with him and commanded him to strip and remain in his briefs. The policeman then placed him in the cell, where he remained for over 12 hours, tired, hungry and thirsty. Andrew repeatedly asked a constable (name provided) to telephone his mother at #76 Housing Scheme or his grandmother at Princetown, but that constable completely ignored him throughout the night. (His mother thought he had stayed over at me that night.) My grandson had to drink water from one of the prisoners in the cell. It was only at 10:00 hours on September 12 that a policeman, (name provided) informed us that Andrew
was in the cell. When my daughter and I arrived, a policeman (named) was in the process of taking Andrew’s fingerprints while a rural constable (named) who was with that policeman had earlier accused Andrew of stealing with some man called ‘Bullah’. The policeman taking his fingerprints restrained my grandson from talking, but Andrew revealed that he had been was attacked and beaten by an East Indian man while he was almost home, and was brought in a gray car and placed in the cell. The rural constable then took him back to the cell. My daughter telephoned the Minister of Public Security, who assured her that he would contact the Commissioner. We then visited an attorney-at-law, who immediately telephoned the officer-in-charge of Springlands Police Station. We went back to the Springlands Police Station and met the officer-in-charge, who claimed that he had no knowledge of the problem. However, it was not until about 11:40 hours that Andrew was taken out of the cell and we were able to give him his first meal of the day. He was very traumatised and could not eat, yet the police chose that moment to take a statement from him. As he related what transpired, he identified his attacker, who was walking into the compound. An inspector, a traffic officer and a constable (all named) just looked and remained silent. We asked the identity of this attacker, but instead of answering, the inspector began to raise his voice to distract us, telling us that we had no right to talk at the station. We asked that Andrew receive medical attention and the police complied. When we
arrived at Skeldon Hospital, one of the nurses exclaimed that Andrew was the third person to visit the hospital as a result of police brutality on the night of September 11th. He received tablets from the hospital and was advised to put ice compression at the back of his head. When the police took him back to the station, the officer-in-charge had left, but he had instructed that a rank should have Andrew sign a recognizance and should visit the station on Monday, September 14th, so that he could speak with him. We took Andrew to Doctor Persaud, a private doctor, where he received an injection and tablets and paid a fee of $6,000. He had to take seven days’ medical leave with effect from Saturday, September 12th. On September 14th, the officer-in-charge informed us that he wanted Andrew to return in order to know how he was feeling. He disclosed, too, that a certain officer from Whim Police Station would investigate the issue. Tw i c e t h i s o f f i cer-in-charge fooled us that an inspector would come to investigate the matter. To date, we have not heard anything from the officers of the Guyana Police Force, and the policeman has now begun to stalk my grandson at nights. Thrice he drove his car behind him. He usually changes directions and trails him. This policeman is very dangerous and is a threat to society. I am calling on Minister of Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, to thoroughly investigate this matter. Yours faithfully, Shirley Hooper
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Guyana Prize for Literature
Bascom, Subraj, Dabydeen in winners’ row
PROMINENT Guyanese playwright Harold Bascom copped two awards at the 2014 Guyana Prize for Literature and Caribbean Awards ceremony held at the Guyana Pegasus Hotel on Sunday night. Bascom, who was not present to receive his award, won the Best Book of Drama award for his book, “Desperate for Relevance”, ahead of Milton Bruce’s “New York New York of Pieces of Dreams” shortlisted in the Guyana Prize for Literature category, and Montserrat’s David Edgecombe’s “Lady Parham”, shortlisted in the Caribbean awards category. Bascom, who resides overseas, is a four-time Guyana Prize winner in the best book of drama category. In a brief acceptance speech read by Secretary to the Management Committee, Al Creighton, said, “To have won the Guyana Prize for Literature for the fourth time is very pleasing; to have won the Caribbean Award for the first time, however, is a very crowning moment for me, a Guyanese writer continuing
to struggle for recognition.” Bascom, who said he received inspiration from “the creative community of Guyana” and further afield said he will be returning to Guyana next year to be part of the country’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Joining Bascom was Guyanese academic and renowned writer, Professor David Dabydeen who was once again awarded the Best book of Fiction for his book, “Johnsons Dictionary”. Dabydeen is now a fivetime winner of the Guyana Prize. Worthy of note is the youngest winner of the Guyana Prize, Subraj Singh; he won Best First Book of Fiction for his book, “Rebelle and other stories”. At 23, Singh is the second youngest writer to win the Guyana Prize. Ruel Johnson was the first to win the First Book of Fiction Prize. Other winners include Stanley Niamatali, for Best First Book of Poetry, “The Hinterlands”; and Maggie Harris for Best Book of Poetry, “Sixty Years of Loving”. Barbara Jenkins of Trin-
idad and Tobago won the Best Book of Fiction award for her book, “Sic Transit Wagon” under the Caribbean Awards, while Edward Baugh of Jamaica won the Best Book of Poetry for “Black Sand”. Chairman of the Guyana Prize, Professor Mark McWatt said the judging exercise was somewhat more difficult this year, given the last-minute arrangements to pull things together; late appointment of judges; and late provision of information on deadlines and other activities. Nonetheless, some 71 persons submitted entries for the Guyana Prize and represented an “interesting mix” of creative works. There were four unpublished works, and 13 shortlisted titles for the Guyana Prize Category. McWatt, a Guyanese and Caribbean Poet and fiction writer, was accompanied by Dr Louis Regis, Head of Department of Literary and Communication Studies at UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad; Robert Leyshon, senior lecturer in English and Drama at Cave Hill Campus
Professor David Dabydeen receiving his award for Best Book of Fiction in both categories of the Guyana Prize from Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Sunday of the UWI; and Ameena Gafoor, cultural activism critic and editor as judges. Meanwhile, members of the jury for the Guyana Prize for Literature’s Caribbean
Award 2014 were Chairman, Dr Stewart Brown, Reader at the Centre of West African Studies, University of Birmingham where he served as Director, Lecturer and
researcher; Rawle Gibbons, a leading dramatist in Trinidad and the Caribbean; and Professor Jane Bryce, a Professor of African Literature and Film at the Department of Language, Linguistics and Literature, UWI, Cave Hill, where she conducts a course in Creative Writing, specialising in the writing of fiction. Also in attendance at the ceremony were Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Ministers of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and Nicolette Henry; Cultural Policy Advisor, Ruel Johnson; Dr. Ian Mc Donald; and former Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 1, 2015
Prosecutor seeks High Court move for Westford POLICE Prosecutor Bharrat Mangru has made an application before Magistrate Fabayo Azore for the court matter involving former Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford and Chief Personnel Officer Margaret Cummings to be transferred to the High Court. This was because the Magistrates’ Courts’ jurisdiction was subjected to delays and fairness of trial as it relates to executive abuse, which is the complaint of the defence attorney. During a previous Court appearance, attorney-at-law Neil Boston had argued that the institution of criminal charges against the former minister and
her personal assistant had breached the amnesty that was reportedly granted to them by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon during a press conference on June 19 aired on HPGTV. Boston had related on November 12 that Harmon, during the press conference, stated that if the vehicles were returned the two would be granted amnesty. “They can quietly bring those (state assets) back to the Ministry, in which they came from or to the Office of the President (OP). They can park them outside the gate.” As such, the attorney stated that seeing that his clients had complied with this requisite, the charges should be dismissed. He
Jennifer Westford also contended that there was enough evidence for the matter to be stayed indefinitely, meaning that the two accused could not be charged for the offence again in the future.
In response to these allegations, Mangru yesterday stated that no amnesty was granted by Minister Harmon for the return of State vehicles. “While the Magistrates’ Courts has jurisdiction to deal with abuse of process, that jurisdiction is limited to delays and fairness of trial as it relates to executive abuse, which is the complaint of the Defence Attorney. Abuse of that nature based on the English Authority can only be dealt with by the High Court. Hence, this Court has no jurisdiction to deal with that kind of executive abuse.” As such, he requested that the matter be transferred to the High Court. The matter will continue on January 19, 2016.
Who killed Donna? ANTHONY Morrison, who is before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and a 12-member jury in the High Court, yesterday led his defence, and in an unsworn statement, told the court from the prisoner’s dock that he was innocent of the charge of murder. The charge against the accused is that in May 2012, he murdered Donna Thomas at their Lot 65 Cross and D’Urban Streets, Georgetown home. Morrison yesterday said that on May 25, 2010, he left his D’Urban and Cross Street, Georgetown apartment to go out at about 14:00hrs, because he had to work from 19:00hrs that day. He said, “I didn’t do her anything, and I want to know who killed her.” The trial will continue today, and both the defence and State will make their closing statements. Government pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh testified that the cause
of death was asphyxiation due to compression to the neck, compounded by blunt-force cranial trauma. He added that the deceased had 16 incised wounds to one hand, while the other had six such wounds, considered to be defensive wounds. Dr. Singh told the court that the wounds were not fatal, but contributed to significant bleeding, which resulted in the victim dying of being deprived of oxygen when the heart stopped. The post mortem was performed on June 1, 2012, five days after the corpse was found. It is believed that the woman was Anthony Morrison being led away from murdered between May 26-27, the High Court to prison 2012. year, a jury was unable to arrive at a At the end of Morrison’s first trial unanimous verdict. before Justice Navindra Singh last
Veteran soldier on narcotics charge GUYANA Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal Nicholas James of 104 South Better Hope was remanded yesterday after he appeared before City Magistrate Fabayo Azore charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. James, 33, a 14-year serving member of the Army, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on the November 27 at Devil Hole Landing, he had in his possession 278 grams of cannabis.
According to the facts related by police Prosecutor Payne, on the day in question, ranks were conducting foot patrols when they noticed James acting in a suspicious manner. A rank after identifying himself requested that a search be carried out. The cannabis was alleged to have been found on his person. His lawyer said his client along with another officer went to the area to collect a vehicle, when the ranks saw a bag which contained leaves, seeds and
stems, suspected to be cannabis. After the other individuals ran away he was arrested by the police and charged. The lawyer told the court that his client had no knowledge or control of the items and he was co-operating with the police. He requested that James be placed in the custody of the GDF, as opposed to Camp Street, considering his rank and the fact that he had no previous lapses. His request was denied and James was remanded until December 7.
‘Cayenne’ charged with child-mother’s murder A TAXI driver was on Monday remanded to prison after he appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts where he was arraigned for the murder of a member of staff of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Fifty-five-year-old Alan Sim, called ‘Cayenne’ of 860 Paradise Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was not required to submit a plea to the indictable charge which read that on Monday, November 23 at Georgetown, he murdered Mellisa Skeete, called Lisa. It was revealed by Police Prosecutor Steven Telford that the murder accused and the deceased shared a child together. It was further related that the dead woman worked at the GPHC as a dispatcher, and that on the day in question, Sims picked her up from work at about 15:00h in his motorcar, PRR6801. Telford disclosed that Murder accused about 30 minutes later, Alan Sim, called the woman was found in ‘Cayenne’, at court the vicinity of Carmichael yesterday Street, bleeding profusely from several stab wounds about her body. She was rushed to the GPHC, where she succumbed while receiving treatment. An investigation was launched, and the accused was arrested. Under caution, he reportedly admitted to the offence, and his car was found on Saturday with the passenger seat replaced. The Prosecutor requested and was granted two weeks to complete the investigation. Sim was remanded to prison, and will return to Court on January 10. On November 25, Sim turned himself in to the police at the Alberttown Police Station after news surfaced that he had allegedly stabbed and killed the mother of his three-year-old daughter, Jelana. Sim is alleged to have stabbed Skeete eight times about her body, and to have pushed her out of his car on Carmichael Street, Georgetown. A post-mortem revealed that a single stab wound inflicted to Skeete’s stomach was “too deep”, and was responsible for her death. Skeete’s relatives allege that she had shared an “on-and-off” relationship with Sim for more than ten years, during which time she had been constantly abused and controlled by him, although he is married. She had finally decided to end the abusive affair when tragedy struck.
Jury empanelled A 12-member jury was yesterday empanelled before Justice Navindra Singh in the High Court in the murder trial of Balram Singh, which took place between January 19-27, 2010. The indictment states that sometime between those dates in the county of Demerara, the accused, Balram Singh allegedly murdered Bhomeshwar Sukhdeo. He pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was read to him. The defence counsel is Jermaine Jarvis while the State Prosecutors are Teshanna James-Lake in association with Narissa Leander. The trial starts today at 09:00 hrs, and more than 10 police and civilian witnesses are expected to testify.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 1, 2015
AIDS activist urges parents to mind their children’s business - as Guyana joins in observing World AIDS Day
By Shauna Jemmott AS Guyana joins the world in commemorating World AIDS Day, Director of Artistes in Direct Support (AIDS), Desiree Edghill, is calling on parents to talk about sex with their children, and begin “minding children’s business” by joining the popular forums where they spend much time communicating. In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, Edghill said that while parents were, in the past, reserved about having sex talks with their children, many present-day parents have become too busy and are difficult to reach. “More parents need to talk sex with youths. Parents are so busy that not even the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) can get to them,” she declared. She explained that parents themselves should become knowledgeable about sexual and reproductive health, so that they can help their children get the correct knowledge about sex, and understand the implications of early sexual activity, sexual immorality, and unprotected sex. She also said that parents should become acquainted with social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and those which youngsters choose as popular hangout zones now, instead of taking a walk to a physical location, as was more common in the past. “Parents need to go there because that is where our youths are. Pay a little more attention to the children’s business,” she admonished. “Moms and dads need to take time to talk with their children, since some of them are having their own troubles and need their help before it gets to that place.” The ‘That place’ she talked about is suicide, which has become one of the social ills to be addressed by the group, since HIV/AIDS has, over the years, been one of the issues that influence the high rate of suicide. She said it is unwise for parents to have a child living Guyanese author Rawle Nelson
with them and asking them for “some space”. No child’s life should be too private for his or her mom and dad, and therefore parents must get in the attitude of “minding their children’s business,” Edghill advised. Edghill said she is concerned that there are various programmes being sponsored by donor agencies, but none seems to target youth. There is a health and family life education programme within the school’s curriculum, but it mostly targets abuse, domestic affairs, and such topics. “We need a vibrant sexual and reproductive health programme for our youths,” she pointed out, and added that young people are still indulging in early sexual activity, and there is still a popular Desiree Edghill culture of young girls having affairs with older men. Anal sex has also become a regular practice, but it puts those involved at a higher risk of contracting the virus, since much bruising takes place during the depraved and criminal act. She said, too, that HIV/AIDS research has revealed that many of those who contract the disease are in the transgender community, thus most of the group’s work is centred around that group, along with those working in the hinterland, especially loggers and miners. There is, she said, need for HIV/AIDS education and sensitization among men generally. It is men who have sex with these homosexual men, and therefore some of these men would also be a
woman’s partner, she explained. “Some of these men are our men, so it’s likely that it will come over to us,” she stated, and has warned women: “Do not let your guard down!” Statistics have revealed that some 1.3 % of Guyana’s population is HIV infected, but this is only reflective of cases that are reported with the National Aids Program Secretariat. There are still individuals who are still unaware that they are carriers of the deadly virus, for which medical experts and scientists have not yet discovered a cure. Today, Artistes In Direct Support will host its 23rd annual World Aids Day programme at the National Cultural Centre (NCC), with the programme being a tribute to those who have died as a result of the dreaded disease, and in particular one of its founders -- Keith Andre Subryan -- who succumbed to the killer virus 15 years ago. Minister of Health, Dr. Godfrey Norton, will deliver a feature address during the programme, which will also see tributes in dance, spoken word, drama, and oral reflections on the life of Subryan, after a onehour candlelight vigil within the NCC compound. Proceedings start at 7pm. “One of our Sons is missing”, a play written by Jamaican writer M Helquist, will be aired in honour of Subryan, who was also one of Guyana’s much loved actors. Edghill said the play was the first the late actor had dramatized, and its story is fitting for his life story, since he not only is “a son that is missing”, but he also battled from a young age with homosexuality, and has himself been affected by HIV/AIDS. It is the first Caribbean theatrical production centred around AIDS. It tells the story of a young bisexual man who contracts HIV, develops AIDS, dies, and leaves behind distraught parents, a frightened girlfriend, and AIDS-weary friends. Tickets are available for free at the National Cultural Centre.
New book, ‘My HIV Story’, to be launched today TALENTED Guyanese author Rawle Nelson will today be launching his very innovative and stirring book, ‘My HIV Story’. The book, which features the real-life stories of victims battling and coping with HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean, will be released today by the Ministry of Public Health, and is already widely used in Kenya, which has a high rate of persons battling with HIV/AIDS. According to Nelson, several agencies have collaborated in making the regional launch of the book possible, among them the National Aids Programme Secretariat (NAPS), in collaboration with the National Care and Treatment Centre, and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Nelson is an award-winning journalist in both health and
the business sectors, and has spent over two decades covering health issues. He has also founded media entities like News Alert (television newscast in Guyana), News Link (first tri-weekly newspaper in the OECS) WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN St. Kitts & Nevis, and Montserrat, and many others. He is also the co-founder and managing director of a media consultancy and public relations company called Optimum Solutions, while he free-lances for a number of regional media houses. He is also the president of the company, Media in Support of People living with HIV/AIDS, an OECSbased media-related group dedicated to reducing the stigmatisation and discrimination of HIV victims.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 1, 2015
Final report of Rodney CoI now Dec 15 PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo has confirmed that the government will be giving the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) until December 15 to submit its report. A few days before the Commission was to have submitted its final report last month, the Justice for Walter Rodney Group petitioned Governance Minister Raphael Trotman for a twoweek extension. 1000 SIGNATURES That petition reportedly garnered more than 1000 signatures from students, supporters and admirers of Walter Rodney in more than 50 countries, and is
imploring the government to allow the Commission to sit for two more weeks to properly complete its work. The petition was handed
The late Dr. Walter Rodney
over to Minister Trotman by rights activist Karen deSouza on behalf of those Guyanese in London who had spearheaded the signature campaign. Similar petitions were handed over to officials at the Guyana Embassy in Washington DC., on November 13, and at the Guyana High Commission in Jamaica on the same date. Government has, however, not authorised the CoI to reopen its inquiry to include testimonies. THE COMMISSION The Walter Rodney CoI was established in February 2014 under the stewardship
of former President Donald Ramotar. Its three commissioners were sworn in on February 25, 2014, while its mandate has been to inquire into circumstances surrounding the June 13, 1980 death, by explosion of an incendiary device in Georgetown, of the late Dr. Walter Rodney, a historian, scholar and leader of the Working Peoples Alliance (WPA) party. The three Commissioners are: Queen’s Counsel Sir Richard Cheltenham of Barbados (Chairperson); Queen’s Counsel Jacqueline Samuels-Brown of Jamaica; and Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam of Trinidad and Tobago. ITS WORK The alleged 1980 assassination of the author of ‘How Europe Underdeveloped Africa’ remains Guyana’s most
traumatising political incident to date. Reports are that approximately $400M have thus far been expended on the commission’s work. Some people are of the view that the Commission to determine how Rodney met his demise on June 13, 1980 on John Street near the Georgetown Prison has been a waste of taxpayers’ money. The APNU faction of the APNU+AFC coalition government allegedly thinks that enough money has been expended on the commission, and that the CoI had been given enough time to carry out its work. They allegedly think that further expenditure on this CoI constitutes financial wastage. Many people have, however, countered this assertion by saying that Rodney died by misadventure when a bomb in what was purportedly a
walkie-talkie exploded in his lap while he was seated in his brother (Donald)’s car. At the time of Rodney’s death, he had allegedly been waging a civil rebellion against what had then been considered the PNCled dictatorship of the late President Forbes Burnham. The major partner in APNU is the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), which Rodney’s W PA h a s c o n s i s t e n t l y maintained was the main architect behind Rodney’s death. The device that allegedly killed Dr Rodney had been provided to him by a Sergeant Gregory Smith, reportedly then a Guyana D e f e n c e F o rc e ( G D F ) electronics expert; and Rodney had allegedly been given clear instructions on how to test it near the metal fence of the Georgetown Prison.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 1, 2015
Troy pours second gold bar
- now set for round-the-clock production TROY Resources Guyana Inc. (TRGI), the Australian mining company operating the Karouni Gold Project in the Cuyuni/Mazaruni area (Region 7) poured its second gold bar weighing 2 kg on Friday, a source close to the company said. The pouring of the second gold bar comes just a few days after the pouring of the first gold bar weighing 4.7kg. The second gold bar, though weighing just over 2kg less than the first, represents a significant milestone for the company. According to the TRGI source, the pouring of the second gold bar paves the way for round-the-clock production of gold. It was produced via an elution circuit. Elution has been described as a process by which gold is removed from the activated carbon by reversing the adsorption process that occurs in the carbon-in-leach (CIL) circuit. The source said, “The activation of this process is significant as it will now allow for the continuous and faster processing of gold mined.” Additionally, the source said it will allow for “higher recovery” and “faster production of gold bars.” The source noted that all other bars will be produced weighing 15 kg. “The elution circuit in now fully operational and running smoothly,” the source added. TRGI received its mining licence earlier this year to commence operations in full at its Smarts and Hicks deposits within its 100%-owned Karouni Gold Project, formerly known as West Omai. The company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Martin Purvis, had said the company is looking at an estimated three-year open-pit mine life, producing on average 101,000 ounces of gold a year, barring the first year, in which 104,400 ounces are expected to be produced. The operation will use a conventional carbon-inleach plant, augmented with gravity gold recovery, treating a minimum of one million tonnes and configured to allow for easy, low-cost expansion at a later date.
$76M rehab slated for stellings THE Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure will be embarking upon $76M worth of rehabilitation works for the Bartica, Leguan and Parika stellings. For the Bartica stelling, T&HD will be undertaking $30M worth of rehabilitation. Major works will include a change of decking; fixing of piles; and upgrades to the office area and the washrooms. The next phase of the rehabilitation of the Bartica stelling is scheduled to commence next year. For the Leguan stelling, maintenance work will be conducted on the driveway, decking, beams and some piles. The fender system will also be rehabilitated. The total cost for the Leguan stelling rehabilitation is pegged at $24M. Meanwhile, the Parika stelling is slated to undergo approximately $22M worth of rehabilitation. Amongst its work are repairs to the roll on/roll off area and the fortification of the catwalk. The dilapidated area will not be a part of this phase; rather, this area will be tackled early next year as part of the next phase. (GINA)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 1, 2015
Use religion to build up, not tear down - PM tells Moravian brethren
By Shauna Jemmott
GUYANESE Christians have been urged to use religion as a force for reconstruction and moral rejuvenation, and not as an instrument of destruction. Acting President, Moses Nagamootoo, delivering an address during the opening worship service of the Third Biennial Provincial Conference of the Moravian Church in Guyana, said although religions have gone astray by extremism and violence, Christians should, with confidence, fight against
not only to set our religion right, but to make sure that it is not an instrument of destruction, but is a force for the reconstruction of our society; it is a force for the moral rejuvenation of our people, especially our young people,” he said. The church is on a campaign to spread righteousness through the life and work of Jesus Christ, who is proclaimed Lord and Saviour; and this year, its conference, held at the Queenstown Moravian C h u r c h i n G e o rg e t o w n last Sunday, has adopted
Christian society, their conviction, morality and work inspire strength. “You are not judged by your numbers. It is not the numbers that bring about the strength; it is the conviction; it is the morality; it’s that your works can change lives; it’s that you bring about improvement in the human condition,” he posited. He encouraged his audience to use the conference to address some internal problems within our society, which result in major social ills. “The problems of stress and depression; the problems
He said society calls many times for change, and people often hope that someone else would bring about the change they are searching for; but he said that even the Bible tells believers
audience that there is, inside of them, a better angel which makes them better than they believe; and “we ought to be better than we think we are and we are.” He said they should
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo addressing the audience at the Moravian Church’s 3rd Biennial Conference on Sunday (Photos by Adrian Narine)
Some members of the audience worshipping in song at the opening of the conference on Sunday the evils which continue to plague our society. “Religion might have gone astray by extremism and violence in the world. That is unacceptable, inhumane and cruel. But we still have to stand up,
the theme “The Church: Empowered by the Holy Spirit for Enhanced Mission and Ministry”. The conference ends tomorrow. Nagamootoo said that although Moravians make up just a small part of the
of losing confidence in ourselves for many reasons; that we fell prey to drugs and alcohol, and the evils around us; that we’re falling victims of depression that results in suicide, results in crime…” he declared.
Gunmen blitz M&CC tax collector
TWO armed bandits robbed a revenue collector of the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown of $1.8 million and shot two persons including her City Constable escort and a vagrant at Bourda Market in Georgetown early Monday night. City Constable Aaron Henderson was shot in both legs and was admitted at a city hospital in a stable condition, while the vagrant, whose name was not given, was in a critical condition at the Georgetown Hospital up to press time. City Council Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis told Guyana Chronicle shortly after the robbery that the constable had escorted a revenue collector to the market to collect revenues for the month from vendors, and as the two were making their way out through the gate along Orange Walk, Bourda, the bandits approached them on a CG motorcycle and robbed them of the day’s collection. The vagrant, a woman, was lying on the pavement outside the market when she too received gunshot wounds. “It looked like a well-orchestrated inside job,” Lewis stated. Though it has become a trend now for bandits to target markets with the more recent being a robbery of a La Penitence Market vendor last week, she said the bandits seemed to be getting accurate information since they knew the time of day, time of month and the individuals to target for the cash. City Council has since called an emergency meeting and have made a decision to have “more detailed” security systems in place at each of its locations, the PRO said. The matter is being investigated by police and the city constabulary.
to believe in themselves, since change lies in every individual. “The Good Book says that we’re always looking for the Messiah, but it also said we must believe in ourselves… We are in fact the change that we’ve been waiting for. We are here; the change is happening, and therefore we must have greater confidence in ourselves as we go along,” he exhorted. He said the church has to tell itself and its listening
spread the “Word” with vigour, leaving the biennial conference motivated “that you are part of the change”. “It was always a fight against evil; it was always a fight against the thieves, and the robbers, and the plunderers, and those who dominate people… those who oppress,” he said. He said the APNU+AFC coalition had long realized that the fight was against evil at the political level here, and for that reason
had staged a crusade and revivalist movement, instead of a political campaign, proclaiming that change was possible and evil shall disappear. “When I tabled the motion of no confidence in the parliament last year, that triggered the election, I chose ten words: “That this National Assembly has no confidence in the government”; and those ten words were symbolic, because it was motivated by the Ten Commandments,” he said, adding, “The reason that we wanted to bring about change, the reason that we wanted symbolically something that says that evil cannot survive, was because there was unlawful spending of the people’s money, which should go towards the people’s welfare. And we said very clearly that we were motivated by one of the commandments -- “Thou shalt not steal!” He said that since change in leadership has been effected, one can feel that change, even in walking around the capital city; and with a similar zeal, within churches, there can be greater changes still. “There is a new energy that you feel. There is an energy of righteousness… and if we can change from outside, we certainly can change from inside,” he posited. He assured the Moravians that government will be supportive of their efforts to take their work forward and put behind them a “miserable” past.
Local Government Elections
Women urged: Get on board
THE Women and Gender Equality Commission has called on women to take a bold step in contesting and ensuring equal representation on Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), when Guyana stages the much anticipated Local Government Elections (LGE) on March 16 next year. Chairperson of the Commission Indra Chanderpal made the call during a press conference last Thursday at the Human Rights Building in Queenstown. Chanderpaul said though she has not heard of any special consideration for women this time around, there was in the past, in 2001 and in 2003-2004, a major initiative by the then PPP Government in collaboration with the National Democratic Institute and USAID, in which more than 300 women were prepared for the elections. “We thought at that time that Local Government Election would have been around the corner but because of the political impasse in parliament,” the staging of that election was unsuccessful, she said. Since then, she said, more women who
are endowed with the expertise to be able to manage and get involved in community activities, have not been engaged in LGE preparations. “If you look at statistics not only here but around the world women have excelled in community initiatives and the way they get things to happen in the community. Our women (in Guyana) are still not seen in the way we would have wanted them to be seen - that they are capable and they can manage.” Speaking on behalf of her commission, the former Minister of Human Services and Social Security said, “We would like more women coming on board this time. Let them be candidates in the elections so that they will be able to offer themselves, as a viable candidate, as a Councilor (on NDCS).” She said her Commission is using its mandate and available forums to plug for this cause, especially in knowing that this time around there would be 50% percent political participation, and 50% participation from the core voluntary groups and also individuals who would like to participate as independents, at the local polls.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 1, 2015
Govt banking on youths - Henry tells youth awardees
WITH considerations for the welfare and development of youth, government is planning to establish an institute of creative arts to build a stronger economy, making available a wide expanse of job opportunities for Guyana’s younger citizens. Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry made the disclosure during remarks at the Ministry’s 2nd annual National Youth Awards Ceremony staged at the National Cultural Centre yesterday. Thirty-six youths and organisations were awarded plaques and gifts at the ceremony, which was held “in recognition of outstanding individuals and organisations for their work in youth volunteerism.” Minister Henry, in addressing the audience of awardees, students of various secondary schools, parents, and partners, said government was banking on a sustainable future for youths and was currently providing more funding for schools, providing easier access to more educational opportunities. The Government was already in the planning phase of designing the Institute of Creative Arts. “The APNU+AFC government does not believe in prescribing for young people what they can do, but encourages them to follow their own initiatives by providing the tools they need to accomplish their own goals, and recognising their efforts,” the Minister said, adding: “You are more than capable of forging your own path and making your own decisions and we respect that. So we’re partnering with you and providing the tools for you to make your own choices. We are not a government that pays lip service to the young people or seek superficial political foot-walks or to create the illusion of consultation through manufacturing contrived forums. We are a government that puts young Guyanese at the centre of what we do each and every day.” The youths awarded were drawn from each of Guyana’s ten administrative regions, and were nominated for their contributions to community service by members of their
respective communities, Regional Executive Officers, youthled organisations, governmental and non-governmental organisations. Awards of excellence were given to individuals, schools and organisations making a difference through voluntary service in areas of health, education, sport, advocacy and drama. “No one knows the challenges that you face at your community level better than you and no one is in a better position to actively advocate for and address these challenges than you all. The projects you undertake, the experience and passions you bring would change the lives of many Guyanese,” the minister stated. While it was highlighted that youths in Guyana experience significant challenges in pursuing educational advancement and employment, the minister assured the awardees that partnership efforts at the individual, governmental and non-governmental levels was vital for success. Acting Director of Youth, Gillian Frank said the President Youth Award hosted by Ministry of Education - Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, honors young people who have excelled in various backgrounds and provides an avenue for the talented to be recognized for their contribution to national and regional development. Over the years individuals and organisations have supported youth development through their participation in community services that are youth-focused and youth-led. Frank stated that in Guyana the challenges experienced by youths in decision-making, education and employment are significant, but various individuals and organisations work tirelessly to address barriers to youth development “through their continuous creation of participation in voluntary initiatives and youth advocate” The focus of the program she said is “to foster a culture of nation building through youthful participation and creating a world that youths would like to see.”
President Youth Awardee, Nikita Forde is excited about her trip to Jamaica, courtesy of Air Jamaica. She received her ticket from Grace Roberts during the awards ceremony yesterday
Kadeem Gordon, who also received the Presidents Youth Award for Participation, gladly accepts his prize of a gift voucher from Nigels Supermarket from Grace Roberts (Photos by Cullen Bess-Nelson)
Better water supply in the pipeline for Linden IN an effort to address the leakage problem in Linden which has resulted in water wastage in the distribution system, a leakage reduction programme has been launched following a meeting in Region 10. Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Van West Charles, in a meeting with the stakeholders, stated that leakage and wastage were among the factors contributing to low levels of service in Wisroc and Amelia’s Ward. He indicated that along with implementing the recommendations to improve the performance of the plants, GWI would be partnering with community leaders, heads of religious organizations, schools’, Parent Teacher Associations and the business community to create more awareness on reporting leaks and curbing wastage. “About 58% of the water produced by the plants in Linden is non-revenue water,’ stated Dr. Van West-Charles, “This is water we cannot account for, because it is lost through leaks or breakages in the distribution system.
Many customers at the end of the distribution system are receiving low levels of service due to this, hence it is imperative that customers be vigilant and report leaks immediately”. GWI will be implementing a leakage reduction programme immediately, and will be mobilising labour, tools and equipment to explore all areas. The company requested the support and patience of the Linden community, as service might be disrupted intermittently. The leakage-prevention plan was presented by Chief Executive Dr. Van West-Charles at a meeting held on Monday, November 23, with Regional Chairman (Region 10) Rennis Morian, Regional Executive Officer Gavin Clarke, Region 10 Members of Parliament Audwin Rutherford and Jermaine Figueira, representatives of the business community and other relevant parties. The GWI Chief Executive also addressed the operational challenges at the new water treatment facilities at Wisroc and
Two bodies identified
POLICE have been able to identify the remains of a man whose body was found behind the Marriott Hotel on Friday afternoon by guests of the hotel. Additionally, the remains of a man who was also found behind the Park Vue Hotel at Farm, East Bank Demerara have also been identified. The body behind the Marriott Hotel in Kingston was identified
as Leon Glasgow. The man, according to police sources, was of an unsound mind, and resided at Lot 1444 Bare Root Village on the Upper East Coast of Demerara. Relatives told the police t h a t t h e y h a d n o p ro p e r explanation as to how the man ended up behind the Marriott, but confirmed that he was on medication for an illness. The police could not confirm if there
was any foul play. Meanwhile, the police have confirmed that the body of the man found behind the Park Vue Hotel on Saturday afternoon has been identified as Samaroo Seepersaud of Lot 11 Herstelling New Scheme East Bank Demerara, who was missing since Friday morning. A post-mortem found that he died as a result of a heart attack.
Amelia’s Ward. Both facilities were constructed under the Government of Guyana and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Linden Water Supply Rehabilitation Programme (LWSRP) to supply potable water to the two communities. Following consultations with an IDB consultant and a team from GWI, an ‘action plan’ was developed to rectify the fault discovered in the filtration system. Dr. Van West-Charles indicated that the company would first implement the recommendations presented by the IDB consultant with particular regard to the filtration systems utilised by the plants. The Chief Executive explained that the first step would be to substitute mechanical aeration with chemical oxidation using sodium hypochlorite. This, along with other technical recommendations submitted by the IDB consultant, would enhance the overall performance of the production facilities, resulting in improved service for over 30, 000 customers within Linden.
Assailant flees after shooting Chinese national
FIFTY-three-year-old Chinese national, Zhifa Lu was shot yesterday morning at the Meadow Bank Wharf, moments after he had gone there to purchase fish. Police investigators disclosed that, after making his purchase, Lu was approached in a hostile manner by a man who was standing next to his vehicle; an argument and scuffle ensued, during which the man reportedly whipped out a firearm and shot the Chinese national to his leg. Police investigations into that matter are ongoing.
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‘Sicklers’ need a little more love By Shauna Jemmott PERSONS affected by sickle cell disease have complained that they have over the years been faced with additional agony, including discrimination from doctors and other medical personnel at the Georgetown Hospital. They are calling on the relevant authorities to help put an end to that part of their never-ending plight. FACES, an organisation with a mission to Fight Against Sickle Cell Stigma last Thursday hosted a seminar titled, “Meet Up” at the National Library, which aired testimonies of stigma and unjust treatment of victims at the hands of doctors. Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Allan Johnson; Dr. Martin Campbell also of the GPHC; Dr. Neerah Jain, Opthalmologist at the Balwant Singh Hospital; and Director of FACES, Sabrina Kazim were the main speakers at the event. MEETING UP Kazim, who is also living with the condition, presented a wonderful talk show (assisted by a visual presentation) on the disease and what it did. She told of personal experiences of discrimination when she visited the hospital for treatment, which she cannot live without. She said some victims of sickle cell had complained that they had been forced to endure their pains after visiting the hospital, as doctors told them they did not appear to be “in a crisis” and are asked to wait until they could prove that they were really having ‘crisis pain’ before receiving medication. The lives of victims depend on medication, and whenever one is experiencing a crisis, that person is not sure if they will survive. She believes that it is only prayer that is keeping her alive, as whenever she experiences ‘crisis pain’, her first reaction is to pray, asking God to save her life. NEED FOR SENSITISATION Citing the need for sensitisation and education of hospital workers on sickle cell, she said many times it was obvious that medical workers did not understand the plight and needs of those living with the condition. GPHC CEO Dr. Johnson applauded members of FACES for taking matters into their own hands to ensure that they live, but said that he, too, believes that many doctors were not knowledgeable enough about the disease, and do not understand the extent of the sickler’s pain. He has made a commitment to have discussions with the hospital’s doctors and spearhead a symposium where Kazim can make presentations, educating them about the disease, and enlightening them about the victims’ experience and what their needs were. “I’m not sure that it’s stigma; I just believe that people don’t understand the illness, and cannot treat the illness,” Dr Johnson said, adding: “Doctors, when they go to medical school, one of the illnesses they are taught about is sickle cell. After that, people don’t take it seriously, because it’s not one of the
across the country how to treat people who are affected and the treatment regime that they need and for us to also ensure that we have the treatment that they should have.” After listening to Kazim’s touching presentation, Dr Johnson said: “I really empathise with you; I realise what you’re going through, and I am going to do the best that I can.”
Dr. Martin Campbell of the GPHC makes a presentation on Sickle Cell disease
Dr. Allan Johnson, CEO of GPHC addressing the audience at the forum on Sickle Cell disease
A section of the audience at the forum (Photos by Cullen Bess-Nelson) common things that you treat when you get into a hospital; and so it goes to the back-burner.” As a matter of fact, he is thinking of starting an educational programme to deal specifically with sickle cell disease, so that doctors countrywide will be made aware and thus administer better care to parents. “We really need to alert people to this illness,” he said, “and to get maybe a cadre of doctors who will be taught
More trained midwives needed CHAIRPERSON of the Midwifery Association, Maria Francois had declared that because of the lack of both human and material resources, there has been an increase in the number of maternal deaths nationwide. Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the 5th Annual Midwives Conference last Thursday, Francois highlighted that “in any medical institution, there is a lack of resources.” She also made mention of the fact that most of the times when there is a maternal death, “it is not in the hands of the midwives or doctors, but because of the late move by the pregnant women to seek antenatal care… As such, there was just nothing that could have been done to prevent it.” The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), she disclosed, had the highest recorded maternal mortalities, because of not only the shortage of resources but also because all the “high risk” cases are referred to that institution. “Usually, when mothers go to hospitals and are labeled as high risk because of their condition,” she explained, “both private and other public hospitals transfer these cases to the GPHC, because of not wanting to take the responsibility in case of a fatality.”
INHERITED DISORDER Meanwhile, Dr. Martin Campbell explained that Sickle Cell disease is a group of inherited red blood cells disorder resulting from the formation of abnormal haemoglobin called haemoglobin SS. He said under circumstances of low oxygen, persons with the disease experience the formation of stiff rods which contort the shape of a blood cell. A normal red blood cell would have the shape of a disc or doughnut, but when one has the abnormal haemoglobin S, this shape is changed to that of a ‘crest’ or a ‘half-moon’, which causes the red blood cells “to be fragile; to be rigid, and to adhere to each other and to the walls of the blood vessels.”
However, she said if more midwives were trained at least once or twice a year, there can be a decrease in the number of maternal deaths. AN INTERNATIONAL TRAGEDY Meanwhile, maternal and child morbidity is an international tragedy. It has been found that 530,000 women die yearly from pregnancy-related complications and developing regions account for approximately 99% of the global deaths in 2015. So declared Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings at the same forum. In that light, she noted that the new focus of the ministry was on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals that were not achieved and also sustain those for which progress has been made. Through this approach they will not only identify challenges, but also take relevant action to maximise opportunities to improve the craft of midwifery. According to the Human Development Report, “Guyana has shown rapid improvement from the 1990s to present, but still has a long way to go,” Guyana has been performing in all Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) except goal five”
Signs of sickle cells, he said, can be explained through the destruction of the red blood cells and obstruction of blood vessels, abnormalities which can be recognised through a special blood test. Sickle cell, he explained, is a disease that is transferred genetically. The programme was hosted by Ms. Shirley Thomas. that addresses maternal mortality. The Guyana report stated that maternal mortality rate was (20.8) per 1000 and the neonatal morality rate was said to be 15 per 1000 in 2004; from the date of the launch of the report to present date, there has been 44 per 1000,000 reported maternal deaths (which still remains the highest per capita in the region). In order to tackle the rapidly increasing maternal mortality, midwives must, identify immediate causes of maternal morbidity and mortality such as the nutritional status and the health status of women. Help women to know Minister within the their reproductive and Ministry of Public maternal health rights, Health, Dr. Karen Cummings e n s u r e t h a t w o m e n participate in the decision making process, inculcate the correct attitude towards pregnancy and childbirth and encourage women to desist from harmful practices including violence and abuse.
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CJIA runway extension…
Some Timehri North residents to be relocated - but within the same community
NINETEEN homes in Timehri North, East Bank Demerara will be relocated, since they are in the direct path of the proposed site of the runway extension of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has said. The Minister met with residents of Timehri North over the weekend for discussions on the community, and the planned CJIA expansion. Minister Patterson held two meetings with residents of the community. At the first meeting, he met with those residents directly affected by the airport’s expansion, while at the second meeting, he met with the general Timehri North community. During the first session, members of the 19 affected households were able to speak directly with the minister and air their concerns about the matter. The minister explained that moving everyone out of the area was not necessary, since it was only those homes that were directly in the path of the expected runway would be affected, hence their relocation, but within the same community. He made the point, too, that while the expansion of the runway heralded development for Guyana, it should in no way be at the expense of people’s lives; that persons who would have dedicated their lives to the development of the Timehri North community should not have to suffer. 200 METRES WEST The affected residents are to be relocated some 200 metres to the west of their current location. Construction on the identified plot of land has already begun, and is expected to be completed sometime next year. The developed area will be equipped with roads and utilities such as electricity and water, while the homes will become the property of the residents. “This is the right thing to do,” Minister Patterson said. “If you move someone from his home, you have to ensure that you give something back. In a few years, these will be prime properties. Right now, you might be in this situation and think yourself unlucky, but in a few years, that feeling will change,” he added.
saying it must not be a ‘Wild West’,” Minister Patterson stressed. THE PROJECT The CJIA project was first initiated by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration and handed to China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC), the outfit in charge of the project, in 2011. The original components of the expansion were the extension of the runway from its original length of Minister of Public Infrastructure David 7,500 feet to 10,800 feet to accommodate the Boeing Patterson, in discussion with some of the 747-400 aircraft; doubling the affected residents of Timehri North aircraft’s position from four to eight; installing eight passenger boarding bridges; and installing GRATITUDE A number of residents expressed their gratitude to the approximately 300 cameras to boost the CCTV system. However, after the new APNU+AFC administration minister for the manner in which the situation was handled, and declared that their anxieties have been assuaged, since the launched an investigation into the project upon assuming office, previous administration had threatened the entire community rumour began going the rounds that the figure of US$150M previously quoted by the PPP/C was grossly understated, with eviction. The second session with the Timehri North residents was and that some expenditures were not included in the original also well received. During that meeting, Minister Patterson contract. These additional expenditures, as revealed by the new interacted with the residents, and shared with them the plans the government has in store for the community. Among those government in its earlier review, included a new car park costing plans are the regularisation of the community; the installation some US$2.7M; equipment in the terminal for US$16M; the of standpipes to facilitate improved access to potable water; and upgrade and replacement of navigational aids for US$1.3M; and construction of the perimeter fence and security lights for the rehabilitation of the main road. He, however, cautioned that while the Ministry will be US$565,000. The APNU+AFC administration and CHEC have working towards the betterment of the community, residents must also do likewise, since the ultimate objective is to see the reached a decision to cap further expenditures on the CJIA at US$23.7M, instead of the US$46.8M originally quoted. community become registered. “I’m not saying that the community cannot grow, but I’m (Rabindra Rooplall)
New Bartica IMC facing huge debt By Svetlana Marshall THE newly-appointed Interim Management Committee (IMC) at Bartica, Region Seven, has major plans in store for Bartica before its imminent township status, but it has to undo the damage done by the previous IMC. In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, newly-appointed IMC Chairman Gifford Marshall said upon assuming office he was faced with empty coffers and millions in debt. According to documents seen by this newspaper, the IMC owes the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) close to $1M for the supply of electricity. The Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) office has an outstanding electricity bill of $556,377; the Market Building, $431,637; and the abattoir building, $28,385. And gratuity owed two of the office’s 15 employees amounts to approximately $200,000. Moreover, the new IMC would have also received a document from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) indicating that some $906,553 in contributions is outstanding. “This is most troubling, because we have a staff of about 15 persons or less, and we have a NIS bill of $900,000-plus dollars,” Marshall said. DEDUCTED, NOT SUBMITTED The Ministry of Communities has launched an investigation into all the financial discrepancies that have been brought to light since the instillation of this new IMC on November 13, 2015. “Well, an investigation is on right now, because it seems as if NIS was deducted but it was never submitted, because this is what NIS submitted to us,” Marshall explained. NO MONEY FOR SALARIES Asked whether the IMC is financially capable of surmounting the financial burden it currently faces, Marshall responded in the negative, saying that only $147,000 was left in the accounts – $114, 000 in the Market Account and $33,000 in the General Account. As a result, the IMC has no money to pay workers their salaries. Marshall said the IMC will now be looking to the Ministry of Communities to help offset these expenses. “We cannot go
into the New Year or even a township owing NIS and even GPL hundreds of thousands of dollars,” he lamented. Despite major objection from residents, in May 2012 the then People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government through its Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development dissolved the NDC and replaced it with an IMC comprising 15 of its supporters. The last Chairman prior to this new IMC was Pastor Ovid Benjamin. The APNU+AFC Government through the Ministry of Communities installed a new IMC in Bartica after it was discovered that the Committee led by Benjamin had become dysfunctional. Marshall said since the installation of the new committee discussions were held with the past members to have a greater understanding of what may have been the reason for the high debts incurred by them. “They are saying they Bartica’s IMC would have inherited some Chairman, of these expenses but we are Gifford Marshall thinking if you are going to be responsible managers you need to find a way to get rid of these debts.” Investigation into the financial owes facing the IMC is likely to be completed soon. A report will be submitted to the ministry and then the IMC. “Investigators were in there last week and they promised that they will give a report to the minister and so we will be able to see where the weaknesses are within the system. Then we will be able to have a projection as to how many rates and taxes are likely to be collected yearly.” Residents of Bartica are now being urged not to get frustrated with the committee but to offer their support as the IMC works earnestly to address the many issues it currently faces.
… GPL, NIS, others owed
TRANSFORMATION However, Marshall said ahead of the March 18, 2016 Local Government Elections, the IMC will be working with stakeholders in and around Bartica to transform the physical, economic and social landscapes of the community. Already, the IMC would have had consultations with the Ministry of Communities, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, commercial banks and a number of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) including the Lions Club of Bartica, Red Cross, Bartica and Bartica Indigenous Green Enterprise (BIGE). “All of these groups and organisations have committed to doing their part in this transition period,” the Chairman posited. With the support of these organisations and the residents of Bartica, the IMC will be working to promote the sustainable exploitation of the community’s natural resources. Additionally, it will be moving to establish a “good” solid waste programme, develop and implement green technologies and promote the ecological integrity of the forests. These plans, the chairman said, are in keeping with President David Granger’s pledge to transform Bartica into the country’s first ‘Green Town’. “In the coming months, residents can expect to see a number of changes as we implement initiatives to fast track the development of Bartica,” the newly-appointed Chairman said, adding that the service sector would be enhanced even as the West Indian Housing Scheme is transformed into a ‘green’ zone. Currently rehabilitative work is ongoing at the Cenotaph, another area identified to become a ‘green space’ along with band stand. Clearing of the parapets and drains of shrubs, weeds and derelict objects is also on the agenda. Despite inheriting a ruined management system, empty coffers, unlawful practices and derelict infrastructure, Marshall reiterated that the IMC is determined to aggressively move Bartica forward. “Bartica must become the pride of Guyana, jewel of South America and the envy of the Caribbean. We are one in a million destinations that offers natural wonders, coveted natural resources, stunning wildlife, scenic landscape and a hospitable people all in one package,” the IMC Chairman said, emphasizing that it is time for Bartica to be placed among the world’s top tourist destinations.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Furniture giant opens $65M optical store B y Ta j e r a m M o h a b i r FURNITURE giant Courts Guyana Limited has diversified operations, opening a $65 million state-of-the-art optical store at its Main Street, Georgetown headquarters. Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin praised the investment, saying that it reflects the company’s confidence in the economy. Courts has been in operation here for over two decades, offering quality services to the Guyanese people, and the new store, Courts Optical will no doubt benefit from its effective marketing strategies. The new store, aside from providing a service to the public, has also created numerous jobs. Mr Gaskin said the role of government is to create an environment where businesses can be profitable, expand and persons have better paying jobs. But he said job creation relies heavily on private sector investment and one of the most important performance indicators is the level of Foreign Direct Investment it attracts. Guyana has not been producing regular Foreign Direct Investment data, and as such, it is unable to measure government’s performance in this very critical area. This situation, the Business Minister said will be corrected, and strong emphasis will be placed on using reliable data to aid decision-making. Over the years, the government has been investing in infrastructural development to make the economy more attractive to investors, but more needs to be done. Mr Gaskin said a proper transportation network is needed to move goods and people efficiently throughout Guyana. And this aside, he said greater attention is being paid to beef up security so that Guyana can be a safe place for citizens and businesses which operate here. The ministry will also
be paying strong attention to improve doing business in Guyana. Access to electricity and financing are two major bugbears facing the business sector, and Mr Gaskin said plans will be put in place to have these critical issues addressed. Minister of Public Health Dr George Norton was pleased to support the latest addition in the line of eye care in Guyana. Quality Service “Courts continue to make significant contributions to the country’s economy and has delivered standard and quality services to the Guyanese people,” he said, expressing confidence that the same level of service and customer care will be delivered by the staff of the optical store. Guyana has over the years made noteworthy strides in the delivery of eye care at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels. The National Ophthalmology Centre at Port Mourant, Berbice, Region 6, has transformed the landscape of the Health Sector with the help of the Cuban doctors, Dr Norton said. Eye care treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation has also been enhanced as well as the services at the regional hospitals throughout the country. Dr Norton said the administration will continue to embrace the private sector and non-governmental organisations in creating institutional links and network to enhance eye care and wellness among the population. Courts Managing Director Clyde DeHaas said the launching of the new store is a proud moment for the company as it broadens its product range from furniture, electronics and household appliances. “I am confident that we will make a mark in the optical sector,” he said, pointing out that though the investment is new to Guyana, it is not to other
Managing Director of Courts Guyana Ltd, Clyde DeHaas having his eyes tested by Health Minister, Dr George Norton, while Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin looks on Courts Caribbean stores. About two years ago, Courts introduced optical stores at its Caribbean outlets, and to date, it has 19 such facilities in countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Jamaica. Mr DeHaas is confident that the company’s corporate knowledge and direct contact with suppliers will positively impact the new store, and thanked Ministers Gaskin and Dr Norton for supporting its establishment.
Inside the multimillion-dollar optical store
Another Fung-a-Fat called to the bar
CHARLENE Fung-aFat, daughter of former Chief Magistrate Paul Fung-a-Fat, was yesterday admitted to the local bar after Attorney-at-law Peter Hugh had petitioned Chief Justice Ian Chang in the presence of several of her family members. Coming from a family of legal professionals, Charlene attained her certificate in legal education from the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year. She had, in 2013, graduated from the University of Guyana with
a Bachelor’s Degree in Law, prior to which she had achieved her secondary education at the Mae’s Schools. The Chief Justice accepted the petition, and advised the new attorney on the rigours of the journey ahead. “ Yo u m a y h a v e finished that heat, but the race is yet to commence, with the marathon ahead,” he cautioned the young lawyer as he congratulated her on attaining this new milestone. In response, Ms Fung-a-Fat thanked the Chief Justice for
Charlene Fung-a-Fat, flanked from left by attorney Peter Hugh; her father, former Chief Magistrate Paul Fung-a-Fat; and her uncle, Charles Fung-a-Fat, also a prominent lawyer his words of encouragement, and attorney Hugh for presenting her petition. And then
she vowed to uphold the principles of the legal profession. (Clestine Juan)
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Lichfield celebrates 175th anniversary THE West Berbice village of Lichfield celebrated its 175th anniversary with an award ceremony and cultural programme. The event was part of a series of activities held by the community to celebrate this momentous occasion. According to a release from the Department of Culture, villagers turned out in their numbers to join in the celebrations. Based on the village’s history, as shared by Mr. Cecil Semple, Lichfield was purchased in 1840 by 12 exslaves. He explained that the sugar cane was not cultivated in the area, but staples such as cotton, tobacco and coffee were planted. DEVELOPMENT After buying the land, a 12-member management team was set up to overlook the village’s development. That team was headed by Kudjoe McPherson. The team empoldered the land, and allotted farm lands. These two activities marked the start of a number of developmental projects that improved the livelihoods of the residents. Semple said that from the very start, the village had two churches, namely, the St. Jude’s Anglican Church, and the Moravian Church. However, how was selected as St Jude its patron saint, is still unknown. There was also a school, a railway station, a loans bank, and a village office. Most importantly, many of the families who resided in the village in the early days still do to this day. Semple noted that while the village is a strong one, and can withstand any challenge, migration, fenced yards, government policies and loss of village leaders have diminished village life. PROGRAMME OF EVENTS Aside from the cultural items performed by the residents, a number of awards were given to several village elders. Those elders are: J. B. Layne (99 years old); Lucille McAlmon (91 years old);
William Semple (88 years old); and Ivy Collins (84 years old). Awards were also presented to Oletta Semple, Robin Chichester, Dr. Randell Collins, Steve Chichester, Collette Adams, Alicia Robinson, Darren Wade, Alice Lynton, Pastor O’Brien Welch, Rev. Paul, Samuel Harcourt, Albert Straker, Alene Seraphin, Beyonce Peters and Nikelly Wilson, Alpha Harcourt, Greshan Grant, Ronella Chapman and Ian Archibald. Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry, attended the event. At the start of her remarks, the Minister saluted the sacrifices made by the ancestors, who struggled to achieve many things, including freedom. “This village has a rich history, and has produced outstanding sons and daughters,” Minister Henry said. She then shared on how her own life was touched by the late Col. Godwin McPherson, under whom she served while a member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). Minister Henry called on the villagers to reflect on those gains that are still to be made. In this regard, she recalled a statement made by the Head of State, President David Granger, which states “If we are going to construct a new economy, we have to make economic decisions like reviving village economies.” The lands that were bought many years ago must be used to solve the unemployment problem in a collaborative effort, government and community, he said. “People who find opportunities in a changing environment are those who are actively looking for them,” Minister Henry declared. While congratulating the awardees, particularly the schoolchildren, the Minister urged them to continue to recognise the true value of knowledge. “While it is good to possess it, it works best when you invest it. When you invest your knowledge in people and society, it grows and its returns are often in-
calculable,” she emphasised. Minister Henry also asked that, as this investment, is being made, they not be afraid to take risks. “Innovation is often the inevitable result of risk-taking by people who not only dedicated themselves to learning things, but often in challenging that knowledge or its application,” she said.
Minister Henry greeting village elders
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 1, 2015
Adventist men to caucus this weekend THE Guyana Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists will on Friday declare open its annual ‘National Men’s Ministries Conference’, which will bring together hundreds of men from across the nation for a truly life-changing experience. Activities will be held under the theme, “Equipping
Men for Today’s Challenge”, and the Conference will run from Friday through Sunday. Activities will be conducted at two locations: The Central Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church at Oronoque and Church Streets in Queenstown, Georgetown, and at the Sophia Exhibition Site on the eastern outskirts
of the city. Sessions on the opening and closing days will be conducted at the Central SDA in Queenstown, while the second day’s activities will be held at the Sophia Exhibition Site on Saturday. Friday’s opening session will begin at 18:00 hrs, according to Brother Fenton Park, Coordinator of the
Adventist Men’s Ministries in Guyana, while sessions on Saturday and Sunday will start at 9:00 hrs. Extending a warm welcome to all males between the ages of ‘nine years and 199 years’, Director of Adventist Men’s Ministries, Pastor Dennis, Hamilton, asserts: “All men from everywhere -– Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice -are invited, regardless of religious persuasions.” Pastor Hamilton announced that the main presenter will be Dr. Leon Wilson, Provost and VicePresident of the Alabama State University, USA. On Saturday, there will be an Awards Ceremony at which five awards will be conferred on four special individuals and a group (not members of the church, but recognized for their dedicated and impacting service within society). And 300 individuals from within the SDA Church who have been involved in ministry and active service will be awarded. Brother Lance Hinds of the Georgetown Chamber of Industry and Commerce will on Sunday speak on “Empowering Men through Entrepreneurship and Business Skills Development.” T h e A n n u a l M e n ’s Ministries Conference started in 2004 and was first held at the Grove Primary School. Subsequent conferences have since been held at Linden, in Berbice, Essequibo, and in Georgetown. According to Pastor Hamilton, the objective of the Conference is to bring men to understand their role in the home, in the community,
From left: Brother Fenton Park, Coordinator of the Adventist Men’s Ministries in Guyana, and Pastor Dennis Hamilton, Director of the Adventist Men’s Ministries, speaking with the Guyana Chronicle and even in the Church. The significant principled role in aim is to help them to be the community, hence they more stable in their outlook go awry,” Pastor Hamilton towards life -- their social as reasoned. “Therefore the well as working relationships. Conference is to help the This conference should be of men to have the value particular interest to those system that will help them young men who can be easily develop spiritually, mentally, influenced out in the streets. physically within the church “They need to understand and community; and even t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h economically, since we women, be it their wives, will also be teaching them friends, business colleagues business skills”. and their mothers. We need to He added that the idea get back to a point where men is to harness, as far as treat women with respect, possible, vulnerable young and not see them as elements men in society who are to be abused, battered and being fed into a culture slaughtered; and the time to of gun-toting, domestic act is now!” Pastor Hamilton v i o l e n c e , m u r d e r a n d has said. rape, and are significantly Pastor Hamilton reasoned contributing to the loss that while the men in church of lives by reckless and may have one perspective, drunken driving, all of others outside of the church which are infractions of invariably have a different the law. “We want them to outlook, based on their begin to see life for what it norms and value systems; is worth, and to take their and are very often influenced rightful role in society,” by misinformation, peer he concluded. Within the pressure, and sending of national Adventist body wrong signals. “In short, there are 19 chapters, and they may not have had any each chapter is made up of training with regard to their individual clubs.
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Millington’s clutch goal lands Slingerz FC $4M and STAG Elite Trophy
– Pele FC 1–0 Fruta Conquerors to finish third By Rawle Toney WHAT happens when the two biggest football clubs in Guyana square off for $4M? The answer: You will probably have one of the best
matches ever seen locally. On Sunday, Devon Millington turned out to be the night’s hero, when he headed home the winning goal for Slingerz FC in the 90+1 minute, to hand the ‘West Side Giants’ a 3 – 2 win over rivals Alpha United to be crowned the STAG Elite League (Genesis) Champion. The capacity crowd at the Leonora Stadium went into a crazy mood after Millington climbed high to score the game winner after receiving a cross from Vurlon Mills with scores tied at 2 – 2. Before the kickoff between the two juggernauts of Guyana’s football, Minister of State Joseph Harmon joined President Wayne Forde, other executive members of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), and the STAG Elite League sponsors in meeting the players. Not since their 5 – 0 win in March, 2014 has Alpha United defeated Slingerz FC. Their two previous meetings in the STAG Elite League saw a scoreless game in the first encounter while the second ended 1 – 0 in favour of Slingerz FC. With 28 points after their 14 games played, Slingerz FC topped the eight-team table while Alpha finished in third with 26 points; one point behind second place Pele FC but six points ahead of Fruta Conquerors. The results after the com-
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pletion of the preliminary round saw Slingerz FC taking on Fruta Conquerors and Alpha United facing Pele FC in the semi-final. After 90+ minutes of play in the two matches, Slingerz won 2 – 0 and Alpha United got the better of Pele 3 – 1 to set-up day’s dream final. In the final, the ‘West Side’ was welcomed to the ‘Vurlon Mills show’. The dapper attacking midfield player showed off his versatility and agility when he, just like the player in the video games, flicked the ball over the heads of three rushing defenders and then found Dominican International striker Julian Wade to give Slingerz a 1 – 0 advantage just four minutes into the contest. Wade’s goal seemed a little unkind to Alpha United given the fact that one minute earlier, Delon Lanferman could’ve scored if it wasn’t for the out-stretched leg of a Slingerz FC defender. In the 23rd minute, Alpha United’s Daniel Wilson scored the first of his two goals on the night to end the first half with Slingerz and Alpha United deadlocked on one goal each. Meanwhile, Alpha United’s Wilson picked up where he left off and scored almost two minutes into the second stanza as the West Side fans began to worry if their home team would lose the historic final.
12:10 hrs Glorious Asset 12:40 hrs Pensax Boy 13:10 hrs El Duque 14:10 hrs Malih South Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:40 hrs Peg O’ My Heart 09:20 hrs Forest Fox 09:35 hrs African Ruler 10:30 hrs Celtic King 11:05 hrs Lemonade River American Racing Tips Philadelphia Park Race 1 Next Right Race 2 Big Momma Race 3 Bridget Moloney Race 4 All About Abby Race 5 Loya Race 6 Punkin’s Pride Race 7 Flash Mc Caul Race 8 Resourceful Race 9 Private Marina
Kithson Bain, the Grenadian striker could’ve put the game out of reach for Slingerz FC, had he scored on a ‘onetime’ right footed volley, after collecting a sweet pass from Lanferman.
But, like true champions, Slingerz FC rebounded and got an equaliser from Wade which was his second goal of the night, coming in the 74th minute. With fans on the edge of their seats, Millington, a player known for coming up big when it matters most, scored beautifully in stoppage time
to hand Slingerz the much deserving win. While Slingerz FC went home with $4M, Alpha United had to settle for second place prize of $2M. Pele FC settled for third place and $1M following their 1 – 0 win over Fruta Conquerors ($500,000), thanks to a goal from Omallo Williams.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Kobe Bryant to retire at end of season By Frank Pingue
(REUTERS)-Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant, arguably the best player of his generation, announced on Sunday he will retire after the 2015-16 National Basketball Association season. Bryant, who is struggling through the worst
season of his illustrious 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, said in a piece posted on the Players' Tribune website that "I'm ready to let [basketball] go." The decision was not totally unexpected as the 37-year-old Lakers guard has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons and had recently said he was consid-
ering retirement. "I can't love you obsessively for much longer. This season is all I have left to give," wrote Bryant. "My heart can take the pounding, my mind can handle the grind, but my body knows it's time to say goodbye." Bryant, a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer who is third on the NBA's
all-time scoring list, has a career-worst 31.5 shooting percentage through his first 12 games of the season on a Lakers team that has the second worst record in the league. Named Kobe by his parents after they spotted the popular Japanese cut of beef on a restaurant menu shortly before his birth, Bryant is now a five-times NBA champion having won titles in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010. He was drafted out of high school with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets but was traded shortly after the Lakers for Serbian Vlade Divac. He has appeared in 17 All-Star games, was named the Most Valuable Player for the 2007-08 regular season and landed MVP honors in the 2009 and 2010 Finals when he led the Lakers to consecutive championships. Bryant has also won gold medals with the U.S. basketball team at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. 'THRILLING MEMORIES' During his career, Bryant made a habit of draining game-winning shots despite being double or triple-teamed by opponents and has established a reputation for being one of the
Kobe Bryant
best closers in the NBA. In his essay, Bryant talked about being a boy who would use his father's rolled-up socks to shoot imaginary game-winning shots at the Great Western Forum, where the Lakers played from 1967 to 1999. (here) "I'm ready to let you go," wrote Bryant, who trails only Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone on the NBA's scoring list. "So we both can savor every moment we have left together. The good and the bad. We have given each other all that we have." Bryant was sidelined nearly eight months in 2013 with a torn Achilles' tendon,
then played just six games during the 2013-14 season because of a severe knee injury. Last season, he played 35 games but increasingly suffered soreness in his knees, feet and back, prompting coach Byron Scott to cut back significantly on Bryant's playing time going forward while altering his on-court role. Lakers head coach Byron Scott, who was Bryant's teammate during the latter's rookie season, said he was shocked when his player told him of the decision on Saturday. "I think he still loves this game. He still has a passion for it. He's still a competitive young man," Scott said on Sunday. "His purpose is to finish out this season and play." NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, in a statement released moments after Bryant's news surfaced, called the Lakers guard one of the greatest players in the game. "Whether competing in the Finals or hoisting jump shots after midnight in an empty gym, Kobe has an unconditional love for the game," said Silver. "I join Kobe's millions of fans around the world in congratulating him on an outstanding NBA career and thank him for so many thrilling memories."
England wrap up T20 series with super over win v Pakistan (REUTERS)-England captain Eoin Morgan hit the winning run as the tourists secured their first T20 whitewash with a thrilling super-over win against Pakistan in the third match of the series in Sharjah yesterday. Pakistan were limited to three for one in their super over by the yorkers sent down by Chris Jordan and England reached their goal with a ball to spare after a 154-run tie.` "Handing Chris Jordan the ball in that super over epitomised the quality of our squad," Morgan was quoted as saying by the BBC. "We've watched him a lot in the nets and he's our best yorker bowler so once we de-
cided on that plan it was an easy decision to go to him. "Chris Woakes has a different set of skills but once we chose to go for six yorkers, it had to be Jords." Pakistan had looked set to avoid the whitewash but England managed to get the prized wicket of Shoaib Malik, who fell to a Sam Billings catch from Woakes' bowling for 75 in the 20th over, which stalled their progress. The hosts scored 154 for seven to tie the score England had reached for the loss of eight wickets, with James Vince top-scoring on 46. "Credit to England, they did well. We played well and
batted well but missed an opportunity again," said Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi. England's win completed a fine limited-overs tour with a 2-0 Test series defeat folloeed by a 3-1 win in the one-dayers. "Credit to England, they did well. We played well and batted well but missed an opportunity again," said Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi. England's win completed a fine limited-overs tour with a 2-0 Test series defeat followed by a 3-1 win in the one-dayers. The victory was England's sixth consecutive Twenty20 success heading into the World T20 in India in March.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Cairns cleared by UK court after perjury trial "Hell" (REUTERS)- Former New Zealand cricket captain Chris Cairns was cleared by a London court yesterday of claims he had lied in a libel case three years ago when he said he had never been involved in cheating. Cairns, 45, had been accused of falsely claiming he had never cheated at cricket during a libel action he brought against Lalit Modi, the former boss of the Indian Premier League over comments Modi had made on Twitter in 2010. London's High Court ruled in Cairns' favour in 2012 and ordered Modi to pay 90,000 pounds ($135,000) damages. However, Cairns, who played 62 test matches and more than 200 one-day internationals, was charged last September with perjury and perverting the course of justice by British police. He
Former New Zealand cricket captain Chris Cairns (Reuters/Philip Brownt-fixing)
always denied any wrongdoing and was acquitted of the offences by a jury on Monday at Southwark Crown Court. "It's been Hell for the last five or so years, and in particular the last couple of years," he said outside court. "I think I've been through the mill and come out the other side and (I'm) just a very happy man. I think reputationally, I'm completely scorched. Burnt completely. But it hasn't stopped me and it won't stop me." Despite being cleared of the charges, he said his involvement in cricket appeared to be over. "I don't know what cricket holds for me but I'm just happy for my father and mother that they can hold their heads high in New Zealand," he said. "I think it would be a pretty hard environment to go back into. There's been a lot
of damage done and that's unfortunate and sad." While other players gave evidence to support Cairns, former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent, who was banned for life last year from all cricket after admitting to match-fixing in games in England, told the court Cairns had tried to persuade him to take part in cheating. "I don't think people were there with malicious intent but I just think we're talking a long time ago," Cairns said. "There were really only a couple of people who had that assertion. The trial is the latest high-profile case to centre on claims cricketers have been bribed to fix matches. In 2011, three Pakistan cricketers were jailed after being convicted at London's Southwark Court of spo Caption.
Nine-member team for Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships National Athlete, Erwyn Smith, will depart today as part of a 9-member team for the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships set to run from December 1 to 6 in Vancouver, Canada. The event will see the top athletes from the Commonwealth territories competing at the Vancouver Olympic Oval, British Colombia for top honours. Smith, who trains out of Rip Hit Strength and Conditioning Systems, will be competing in the Unequipped (Classic or Raw) and Equipped Division on December 3 and 5. His sponsors include Cevons Waste Management, Footsteps Mega Store Fitness Express, and Citizens Bank Guyana. The other athletes competing at the championship include: Winston Stoby, Karel Mars, Brittany Mack, Osmond Mack, Marino Jeffrey, Rudolph Blackman and U.S. based Nirjan Sing.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 1, 2015
West Indies to target Australia's middle order
SYDNEY, Nov 30 West Indies can compete with Australia in the upcoming three-test series if they can exploit the inexperience in the hosts' middle order, captain Jason Holder said yesterday. Leading an inexperienced squad that suffered a 2-0 humbling in Sri Lanka on October, Holder is widely perceived to be embarking on a 'Mission Impossible' over the next seven weeks. The 24-year-old all-rounder, however, said Australia's series against New Zealand, which the hosts wrapped up 2-0 in Adelaide on Wednesday night, had revealed some chinks in the armour of the number two side in the world. "We saw weaknesses that we can exploit, it's important to analyse every batsman and every bowler and come up with plans best suited for the conditions," he told reporters in Brisbane. "There's some new faces mixed with some guys that have been in rich veins of form, it's important that we put some pressure on their middle order. "If we get early wickets with the new ball, we can get to Sean Marsh and those guys who are working their way back into the side, you know, put them under pressure to score it should be a relatively competitive series. "They have some inform batsmen like David Warner and Steve Smith so it's important we get them out early and put the new guys under pressure." Australia's middle order is the least experienced part of the test team, with Sean Marsh, Adam Voges, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh
West Indies captain Jason Holder
and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill all still trying to establish themselves in the side. West Indies are without all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, who have still not been forgiven for their role in the abandonment of last year's tour of India, while opener Chris Gayle prefers to play lucrative Twenty20 cricket. Despite those omissions, Holder was confident West Indies could restore some pride after the disappointment of the tour of Sri Lanka. "We come with a lot of belief, if you don't have belief there's no point in being here. We have to play aggressive cricket, we have to play smart cricket," he
added. "Obviously, Australia's the number two side in the world and they will come at us pretty hard. We need to learn as quickly as possible, not be intimidated by their bowlers and just be confident." West Indies will warmup for the series in a fourday match against a Cricket Australia XI starting tomorrow. The first Test, which is followed by matches in Melbourneand Sydney, starts next week in Hobart, where unseasonably coldweather brought snowfall over the weekend. "I heard about it, I've never seen snow so I'm looking forward to it," Holder laughed.
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER
(Tuesday November 03, 2015) COMPLIMENTS OF: THE TROPHY STALL Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE 176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Gordon Greenidge & Viv Richards (2) 55
Today’s Quiz: (1) Which two made their Test debut under Clive Lloyd? Andy Roberts; Michael Holding; Malcolm Marshall; Courtney Walsh; Curtly Ambrose (2) How many ODIs Lance Gibbs played? Answers in tomorrow’s issue
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Caribbean Development` Back to the Future’ Boxing Tournament
Barbados reaped most of the awards on final night By Michael DaSilva
Local amateur boxers failed miserably to lift championship honours when the curtains came down on the Caribbean Development `Back to the Future’ Boxing Tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Sunday night. Fielding eight boxers in different divisions in the Elite category on Sunday night, the locals could only muster four victories, while Trinidad and Tobago captured three titles and Jamaica two. However, it was the Barbadian team that were crowned overall champions as they dominated the women’s category and had finalists in most of the other categories, some of which their pugilists dominated. Trinidad and Tobago’s Aaron Hassett was voted best boxer of the tournament. He defeated Jamaica’s
Nico Yeyo in the final of the men’s Elite Welterweight division. Yeyo had won his two previous bouts and was almost sure to have been named Best Boxer but he was denied this opportunity by Hassett. In results from Sunday night’s finals, in the Novices category, Guyana’s Stephan Andrews scored a Technical Knock-Out (TKO) win over Trinidad and Tobago’s Mike Inniss at one minute 58 seconds (I;58) of the first round In the Bantamweight final, Nankurar Singh (Guyana) secured a unanimous points decision win over Jamal Skeeple of Antigua and Barbuda in the Lightweight division, Klaus Danile (Guyana) also won by the same route against Trinidad and Tobago’s Kyleron Ruiz in their Light Welterweight contest. Keyon King (Guyana) forced the referee to stop his Welterweight contest against Antigua and Bar-
Part of the action of the Caribbean Development Boxing Tournament which concluded on Sunday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo).
buda’s Lance Robinson in the second round, Charles Cox (Barbados) came out a unanimous points decision winner over Guyana’s Dwayne July and Colin Martin (Guyana) was too strong for Senthil Kumar (Antigua and Barbuda) and the referee stopped the fight at 1:54 of round three. In the elite category,
Tefon Green opened Guyana’s account on a winning note with a split decision win against Trinidad and Tobago’s Anthony Joseph in their Flyweight contest; Kesny Joseph of French Guiana defeated Guyana’s Clairmont Gibson by a unanimous decision in their Bantamweight bout; Ricardo Carter of Jamaica
French Guiana’s Simone Cambria (right) celebrates her heavyweight TKO win against Trinidad and Tobago’s Martha Rodney in the Women’s Final. (Cullen Bess Nelson photo)
defeated Guyana’s Joel Williamson by a split decision in their Lightweight contest; Jean Paul Cooper of Trinidad and Tobago scored a points decision win against Guyana’s Jason Phillips in the Light Welterweight final; Johnathan Hanson (Jamaica) got a split-decision victory over Guyana’s Dennis Thomas in their Middleweight contest; Desmond
Amsterdam (Guyana beat St. Lucia’s Marvin Anthony on points in the light heavyweight final; Jason Barker (Guyana) secured a walk over victory over Brendon Dennis of Trinidad and Tobago in the Heavyweight final and Nigfel Paul (Trinidad and Tobago scored a first round TKO win against Guyana’s Eon Fraser in the Super Heavyweight final.
6IX Men’s, Pizza Hut ladies and Hickers Vet’s win respective groups THE 6ix men’s team from Canada emerged men’s division winners by reversing their pool round loss against Bounty GCC with a 5-1 victory while the Pizza Hut GCC women dominated the women’s division with a final record of 10 unanswered goals against the Old Fort Shooting Stars and the Hickers made it 4 Carib veteran’s titles by cruising to a comfortable 5-1 win over Carib HC.
Although the final score ended solidly in favour of the Canadian side, The 6ix, the high temp of the match and the skill of both sides kept drew rapt attention and loud applause from the crowd throughout the battle. The teams appeared evenly matched in the opening minutes of the game which saw fine goalkeeping from both goalkeeper MVP Pradeep Koonar for The 6ix and GCC’s Gregory Garroway.
As the crowd waited in anticipation for someone to break the deadlock, that task fell to Canada’s Jonathan Roberts in the 12th minute as he turned a half chance into a goal with perfect control and an accuracy. The diminutive Satnam Dosanjh would play the game of his life as he followed Roberts with a field goal on either side of half time with clinical finishing. GCC’s Kevin Spencer, who had been
The Pizza Hut GCC ladies display their spoils after clobbering the competition
The Hickers Vets show off their 4th veterans title
having a solid tournament for the local side, produced one of his trademark drag flick goals with a diving finish to keep his team within striking distance in the 24th minute. Bickram Kandola however restored the three goal margin for The 6ix by catching the GCC defense napping with his quick free hit and shot to take the score to 4-1. As GCC poured all players forward in an effort to turn the match, young Jugraj Kalkat found himself free in the scoring circle and with only the goalkeeper to beat made it a 5-1 victory for the Canadians. The Pizza Hut GCC ladies put in a supreme performance
in the women’s final to deliver a 10-0 beating of the Old Fort Shooting Stars. The experienced side boasting several national players controlled the game and dominated possession from start to end earning them their fifth trophy in the competition’s 11 years. Ashley DeGroot led the charge with a hatrick, Sonia Jardine and Kerensa Fernandes scored doubles while Aliyah Gordon, Rebecca Xavier and Shebiki Baptiste each scored one for the victors. The veteran’s final saw the Hickers cruise to their 4th title in a row. Jerazeno ‘Skillaxe’ Bell scored three of the Hick-
ers five goals while Devin Munroe and Robert Fernandes scored the other two. Kevin Adams was the lone goal scorer for Carib. A number of individual incentive prizes were presented at the closing ceremony of the event inclusive Most promising female (MaryAnn Murray), Most promising male (Omar Hopkinson), Mens Most Valuable Player (Jeewan Bath), Women MVP (Sonia Jardine) and Veterans (Kern Ramsammy). Also the best goalkeeper awards were handed out to Pradeep Koonar, Sarafina Phillips and Sheldon Corlette in the men’s, women’s and Veteran’s categories.
Sport CHRONICLE
Barbados reaped most of the awards on final night Millington’s clutch goal lands Slingerz FC $4M and STAG Elite Trophy P. 31
The Chronicle is at http://www.guyanachronicle.com
– Pele FC 1–0 Fruta Conquerors to finish third
Alpha United’s captain Dwight Peters (#9) could only watch as Millington and his teammates celebrate his match-winning goal. (Samuel Maughn photos)
See Story o Page 27n
GOAL! Julian Wade (3rd from left) scores for Slingerz FC in the 4th minute against Alpha United.
CHAMPIONS! Slingerz FC’s head coach, Joseph ‘Bill’ Wilson, receiving the winner’s trophy from STAG Beer Brand Manager Lyndon Henry Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208
Julian Wade (left) and Devon Millington TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015