Chronicle 12 12 2015 by Guyana Chronicle

BRING THEM IN No. 104399

SATURDAY DECEMBER 12, 2015

Price: $80

â€“ President wants more police arrests, not killings

Mr and Mrs Claus move through the audience of children at the Dharam Shala Childrenâ€™s party yesterday afternoon (OPM photo)

Westford fraud files back with DPP 2

More talks on ganja reform - Granger

Jagdeo freed of race-baiting charge 2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 12, 2015

Westford fraud files back with DPP AN incomplete investigation by the Guyana Police Force Major Crime Investigations Unit has stalled the work of the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) from proceeding with a definite legal advice on whether to charge former Minister of Public Service Dr Jennifer Westford and PSM Personnel Manager Margaret Cummings on a series of fraud accusations. According to a press statement from the Chambers of the DPP, at the moment, there are only seven out of 24 files which are actively engaging the attention of the chambers, since the remaining 17 files are still with the

police for proper investigations. Of recent, there has been much talk about the length of time that the DPP chambers is taking to advise the Police in relation to the matter, which has been engaging that office for some time now. Senior police sources have given the impression that all the files were back with the DPP and they are awaiting instruction on if charges are to be laid, and if so, what charges. “The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) wishes to state that, as of Friday 11th December, 2015, it is in possession of seven of 24 police files in regard to the investigations

those were returned to the police by the chambers after it was found that additional work was needed. “After due legal attention was given to these 24 files, the files were returned with legal advice to the GPF because of incomplete investigations,” the Director of Public Prosecution Chambers said. The DPP Chambers noted that on October 9, the 24 files were again sent by the police

Former Minister of Public Service Dr Jennifer Westford

for the offence of fraud,” the release stated. It added that the offence was allegedly committed by former Minister of Public Service Dr Jennifer Westford and Margaret Cummings. According to the DPP Chambers, the files were received at the DPP’s office on December 9. The chambers, in its release, said the police did indeed send 24 files to the chambers for review and advice on September 7, but

to the chambers. However again, after due legal attention was given, the files were dispatched to the GPF on November 24 and November 30 with legal advice for the police investigations to be completed and for the police files to be returned to the DPP Chambers for further legal advice. On September7, the Guyana Police Force had initially sent 24 for legal advice. After due legal attention

was given to these 24 files, they were returned with legal advice. “On December 9, 2015, the Guyana Police Force returned seven (7) of the 24 files to the DPP Chambers for legal advice,” the release concluded. The former Minister and PSM Personnel Manager are embroiled in a fraud scandal for transferring several hundred million dollars to their personal bank accounts.

Jagdeo freed of race-baiting charge Charges against former President Bharrat Jagdeo for alleged racial incitement uttered earlier this year in the lead-up to the May 11 General and Regional elections were yesterday dismissed by Justice Navendra Singh. The charges were quashed due to the fact that particulars of the offense stated that the plaintiff did

not disclose an offence which was listed in the law. The case was initially filed by Attorney-at-law Christopher Ram in April of this year after it was reported that Jagdeo had uttered offensive racial remarks in March at Babu John, Port Mourant. Jagdeo had reportedly told the Babu John event Turn to page 3 ►

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

Bring them in 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 12, 2015

– President wants more police arrests, not killings

By Ravin Singh IN the light of a perceived spate of police shooting to death suspected criminals, President David Granger is calling for more arrests as opposed to killings, though sometimes the latter is not preventable. Quizzed yesterday during his weekly television programme, “The Public Interest”, on whether he was concerned about this trend, which seemingly reflects the inability of the police to disarm, apprehend and bring criminals to trial, the President responded in the affirmative, noting that his instruction would be to save lives. Mr Granger noted that it is not only important to suppress crime, but also to identify and remove the causes of this social ill. However, he reasoned that if criminals are killed, then it is impossible to find out what were their motives,

or who were the persons behind the scenes supporting them, perhaps financially. “I would like to see due process; I would like to see persons arrested and brought before the courts so we can find out who is the mastermind. Is there a gang leader? Are there guns, and whom are they coming from? If you kill them, you don’t know these things,” the President said during the interview. As such, he reiterated that he does not want to see any more deaths, but rather arrests, which lead to interrogation. Once this occurs, the retired Brigadier noted, it can aid in bringing an end to execution murders, gun-running and other forms of criminal activities in Guyana. Expressing his disappointment with confrontations, in which persons who are accused of crimes or are alleged to be criminals are killed, the Head of State reasoned that in some instances, these killings are not

Jagdeo freed...

Christopher Ram

that “They shout about racism of the PPP, but they practise racism; the whisper campaigns. In the last elections, they went to some of the Afro-Guyanese villages and beat some drums at 6 o’clock in the morning and say let us throw out these coolie people. Get up, go out and vote, throw out the coolie people. That’s the kind of language they use. Anybody from our party who uses that sort of language, we will kick them out; this is our approach.” He was subsequently charged at the Whim Magistrate’s Court in Berbice by Magistrate Charilyn Artiga

From page 2

who said that he was not required to plead and after which he was sent on his own recognisance. However, Jagdeo’s lawyer, Mursalene Bacchus, moved to the High Court to challenge the decision. It was reported that if the case had been heard and the former President was convicted, a fine of $100,000 would have been imposed, coupled with two years’ imprisonment. Additionally, the Representation of the People Act stipulates that any person found guilty would be barred from being a member of the National Assembly, local democratic organ, or be the holder of any constitutional or statutory office. Former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, in his capacity as one of Jagdeo’s legal counsel, had earlier dubbed the charge a “dubious” one. “I resolutely maintain that the charges are completely without merit, malicious and concocted, and further that we will spare no effort in ensuring that justice is done,” he said. (Ravin Singh)

preventable, given their nature. He referred to the latest episode of police shooting deaths, when two suspected bandits were gunned down by police after a two-hourlong exchange of fire between them. Additionally, he hinted that it is apparent that some gangs are re-emerging. Though these may be small gangs, with some comprising two or three members, the President offered that their existence still poses a danger. “And I would always put the saving of human life as a greater priority than just shooting down people; I don’t like that at all,” he said. REFORM Meanwhile, efforts are being made by government to reform the rules for Coroners’ Inquests. And according to President Granger, the coroners appointed will not necessarily be district magistrates. This, he said, will

enable the State to ensure that all unnatural deaths are investigated. “So even in a case where persons assumed to be criminals are shot, we will have inquests and there will be greater care exercised by the police authority to ensure that the policemen do not act unlawfully,” the President added. He is of the view, too, that presently more crimes are being detected and prevented than in previous times. And while this can largely be attributed to the fact that Operation Dragnet is yielding much success, the President acknowledged that Guyana cannot boast that it can prevent crime from occurring. Nevertheless, more cases are being brought before the courts, he added. As it relates to new plans to arrest the crime situation and boost domestic and national security, 14 plans which were comprehensively laid out while the now gov-

President David Granger

ernment was in opposition, will be implemented. “So we’re not in the business of creating new plans, we’re in the business of implementing the very plans which the previous administration failed to implement. The most important one is the Security Sector Master Plan,” President Granger said. This master plan, which

was signed by British High Commissioner to Guyana Fraser Wheeler seven years ago, was never implemented under the former administration, despite being funded at an estimated cost of 3 million pounds. And according to the President, during the United Nations (UN) General Assembly meeting last month, he met with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK), David Cameron, who extended support to Guyana. It was there that the Head of State told Cameron that he wished to have the master plan placed back on the front burner. Remaining hopeful, he said, “I am confident that once an agreement has been reached, that master plan will be back on the table in 2016.” And once this is implemented, the President is contending, it will have a positive impact on the crime situation in Guyana.

More talks on ganja reform – Granger By Ravin Singh Any move to decriminalise marijuana by the legislative arm of government could be seen as contradictory, given that active strides are being made to bring tobacco control legislation before the House, says President David Granger, speaking on his weekly telecast, “The Public’s Interest”, aired on the National Communications Network (NCN). The recent conviction of local football coach Vibert Butts for possession of marijuana has sparked renewed calls for revision of laws which provide for imprisonment of persons found with a certain quantity of the substance. The three-year custodial sentence which Butts received was described as the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, since, prior to this, there had been repeated public outcries for revision of such laws.

Executive member of the Guyana Rastafarian Council, Ras Leon Saul, recently announced that the Rastafarian community is prepared to adapt to any amendment to the country’s narcotics laws, with education and discipline being priority factors, should its wishes for legalisation of the marijuana herb be fulfilled. Following Butts’s conviction, Alliance For Change (AFC) Executive member Nigel Hughes and popular Attorney Mark Waldron completed a draft new legislation to relax the marijuana convictions. The piece of legislation, which aims to revise stipulations of the denial of bail, the mandatory minimum serving time, and violation of the separation of power, is likely to be tabled by AFC Member of Parliament Michael Carrington when the National Assembly reconvenes on December 17. This move had succeeded

Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams’s call for widespread consultations on the legalisation of the drug. However, when quizzed yesterday on what the government’s position was in relation to the possible decriminalisation legalisation, President Granger revealed that it is a matter which has not yet engaged the attention of Cabinet, and so he could not give a position on behalf of the Executive body. He offered, rather, that government has taken a position on smoking though the efforts of Public Health Minister George Norton, who is in the process of reviewing the Tobacco Control Bill, which will see a ban on smoking in public places and controls on tobacco advertisement. In this regard, the President independently reasoned, it would be contradictory for the Executive arm to bring legislation to prohibit smoking in public places and else-

where and simultaneously bring other legislation to decriminalise smoking of another substance. The Head of State also explained that government was concerned about establishing a convention by which all bills can be brought before Cabinet and discussed there, so that Parliamentarians in the coalition could be apprised of the position of the government. However, this has failed to happen. Against this backdrop of not having the convention, he said, there is nothing to prevent an independent Member of Parliament (MP) from brining his own bill to the House. “But because we are operating as a coalition, we would expect that bill to be brought to Cabinet first. The matter has been raised at Cabinet, and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who is Leader of the House, will take that in hand,” the President told reporters yesterday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday December 12, 2015

Spanish Embassy in Kabul attacked THE Spanish Embassy in Kabul has come under attack, the Spanish Foreign Ministry says. The Taliban say their fighters are inside a “foreign guesthouse” in the Afghan capital after detonating a suicide car bomb outside. It is the latest in a series of audacious raids by Taliban fighters on high-profile targets in Afghanistan. Several casualties have been brought in to a nearby hospital, and eyewitnesses say a gun battle is still under way. It follows a Taliban attack on Kandahar airport on Tuesday evening in which at least

Members of the Afghan security services arrived at the scene shortly afterwards

50 people were killed. Afghan security officials say that seven insurgents are involved in the attack. Both Afghan and Spanish security forces are reportedly at the scene. Spanish President Mariano Rajoy has been informed, the Europa press agency reported. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by heavy gunfire on Friday evening. Kabul Police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told the BBC: “I can only confirm a suicide car bomb in the Sherpur area at this moment”. Freelance journalist Bilal

Sarwary reported seeing two Spanish diplomats fleeing the compound shortly after the attack. He saw one of them repeatedly bang his head on a vehicle in a show of grief. Afghan police report that the militants had burned several armoured vehicles that they found inside the compound. The initial explosion left two houses on fire, a police official told the Associated Press. “It’s possible the attackers are hiding. We’ve blocked all the streets and are searching,” he added. (BBC News)

way as other essential items, such as water and food, or condoms. Valls said the change of heart was a “step in the right direction” on Friday. Opposing the change in October, Secretary of State for the Budget, Christian Eckert, said that VAT was also paid at 20 per cent on men’s shaving foam. But Finance Minister Michel Sapin said on Fri-

day that the reduction was “in the interest of half of humanity,” according to reports. Countries, including the UK, Australia and the Netherlands, have been targeted by online petitions with hundreds of thousands of signatures. In October, the UK Government said it would go to European Commission over calls for a reduction in the 5 per cent VAT rate on sanitary items. Australia decided not to remove its tax in August (BBC News).

French MPs embrace ‘tampon tax’ removal THE French Members of Parliament (MPs) have voted to cut the VAT on sanitary products from 20 per cent to 5.5 per cent despite previously blocking the move. The government opposed the change in October as it

would reduce tax receipts in 2016 by €55M (£40M, $60M). But Prime Minister Manuel Valls said after the latest vote in the National Assembly that the government had “found the money” to back the measure.

Campaigns have been launched around the world for the removal of the tax on tampons and sanitary towels. The feminist collective behind the French proposal, Georgette Sand, welcomed the “victory”, saying it was “proud but remaining vigi-

lant”. It called on manufacturers and retailers to pass on the savings so that customers would benefit in 2016. Women’s groups had staged protests, saying feminine sanitary products should be treated the same

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday December 12, 2015

600 in Trinidad laid off before Christmas

WITH just about two weeks to go before Christmas, about 600 workers at steel manufacturing company ArcelorMittal’s Point Lisas facility in Trinidad have been left without jobs. The company blamed the decision to lay off the workers on the inability to reach a consensus with the workers’ union on some employees going on vacation while there was not much work to be done. Last month, ArcelorMittal’s Point Lisas announced that because of the over-supply of steel in the international market and a reduction in demand for some of its steel products, it had to shut down operations temporarily. Company officials had told the Steel Workers Union of Trinidad and Tobago (SWUTT) that they could not keep employees on the plant over a protracted period without work for them to do. “Following the inability

to reach agreement with the Steel Workers Union of Trinidad and Tobago on a proposal from the management of ArcelorMittal’s Point Lisas for workers with accrued vacation days to proceed on paid vacation, while workers who do not have vacation leave engage in alternative functions on a temporary basis outside of their normal duties, the company has had no option but to begin a process of laying-off workers,” the company said in a statement. “At a meeting with the union the company communicated its decision to lay off employees. The company also informed the union of its preference for employees to proceed on vacation as proposed and left the door open in this regard.” It said it would not leave the workers in the cold during the Yuletide season. “Aware and conscious of the Christmas season,

and in the spirit of goodwill and the need of workers to be in a position to take care of their families, ArcelorMittal’s Point Lisas has undertaken the responsibility to provide the workers with some financial assistance, as has been done on occasions in the past. Management of ArcelorMittal’s Point Lisas is also offering staff members the opportunity to encash a limited amount of accrued vacation entitlement,” the statement added. ArcelorMittal Point’s Lisas said the global steel industry is experiencing its worst recession in 10 years, comparable to that experienced in the early 1990s. “Every steel company in the world is facing this difficult reality, and ArcelorMittal Point Lisas has had no choice but to react to these changes in the industry,” it said. (Caribbean360)

Bahamas PM expects bankrupt resort to open

THERE has been “significant movement” in the Baha Mar negotiations, Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie revealed on Wednesday, as he expressed his “expectation and fervent hope” that the bankrupt megaresort’s conference centre will be open by March. Christie, who spoke to reporters following the House of Assembly’s adjournment, said a “significant statement” will be made in the “not-toodistant future” regarding the future of the stalled project. “I’ve had, on my trip from London, a very long and involved telephone conference with President of the [Export-Import Bank of China],” said Christie, who returned to the country over the weekend. “We discussed the significant number of investors who had come forward from China. They include major construction companies, major engineering companies, communications subsidiaries,

equity funds, some very significant ones who have [visited] The Bahamas to look at the property. “The bank continues to meet with major potential investors, who then would request a meeting with us. Some

Prime Minister Perry Christie of them are from the U.S. and one or two from The Bahamas who are investors here. “There is significant movement.” Christie said he expects the resort to either fully or par-

tially open by March 2016, so that it can be the location for a major international conference that will take place in New Providence. “ T h e I n t e r- A m e r i c a n Development Bank (IDB) conference is being held in March in The Bahamas,” he noted. “There is a large number of people coming. I expect and fervently hope that the convention facilities at Baha Mar will be used to facilitate that convention, because you need more than Melia’s boardroom. “You need any number of facilities for such a conference. In short, I am anticipating that, in the not-too-distant future, you will have a significant statement giving an indication of what I’m talking about.” Christie said there is not much more that he can say about the project, as the negotiations are out of his hands. (Caribbean News Now)

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams

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

Editorial

Corruption

EVIDENCE is unfolding daily that corruption had been a feature of government and had robbed this nation of an enormous amount of money that could have been invested into other projects or seen better quality in projects that had been completed. This is a dark side of this nation’s history; and from it, exposure must not only be had and lessons learnt, but that feature must never be repeated, and perpetrators must have their day in court. Rarely has a day gone by in which corruption has not been reported, seen or heard. This is disgusting; is an unacceptable way to treat the nation’s resources, wealth and citizens; and must be ruthlessly stamped out. The cost of corrupt practices has robbed our children of quality education; workers of better pay; retirees of better pensions; and the nation of quality social services and improved public infrastructure. Justice must be served, and Guyana must be a nation in which corruption is not only frowned upon, but violators must be assured that the long arm of the law will get them and deal condignly with them. It ought to be said that a change in government does not necessarily translate to an end in corrupt practices; neither does it mean that new faces will not be prone to, or be involved in, corrupt practices. Where corruption is endemic, as in Guyana’s case, save for the complete overhauling and weeding out of personnel, players of this despicable conduct will continue to employ trusted old methods, or find new methods to continue employing their despicable ways, where stronger accountability systems are absent and perpetrators are not held to account. Corruption, according to the United Nations, is a human rights’ violation perpetuated by a government on its people. That body says the consequences of corrupt governance are multiple, and affect all human rights —- civil, political, economic, social and cultural; as well as the right to development. Bringing justice to the society for corrupt practices can also happen after the fact, and here is where the Auditor General’s Reports, recently commissioned audits as have been done at NICIL, and the work of the State Assets Recovery Unit are vital. It is encouraging to see efforts are being made to unveil or expose what is probably this nation’s worst kept secret. And while there continue to be denials of corrupt practices and cocksure calls for evidence -- even as evidence abounds in broad day-

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday December 12, 2015

Pleased at local interest in LGE Dear Editor,

THE Minister of Communities has noted, with pleasure, the interest that many Guyanese have shown in the role of local government in the context of the upcoming local government elections (LGE), scheduled for March 18, 2016. Letters by Messsrs Gordon Forte (Recognising irony; SN Nov 22), Sherwood Lowe (Are we imposing too grand an agenda on local government? SN Dec 2), Lincoln Lewis (How different in political culture are PPP, APNU and AFC? KN Nov 24), Vishnu Bisram (PPP, APNU and AFC are on the same political page; KN Nov 25), and others; even

cartoons and editorials, have made reference to LGE and have offered opinions and suggestions. All views and propositions are helpful. The fact that, in 50 years since independence, LGE have been held only twice is a forceful reminder of a mindset that says that local government is not important. Further, centralisation of decision-making power has, unfortunately, been particularly ruthlessly executed by the Jagdeo and Ramotar administrations. The Government of Guyana is committed to undoing the current non-existence of local democracy. The administration has un-

dertaken to effect a repair job that it knows will be arduous and tedious. Be that as it may, the government will not shy away from this necessary task of strengthening democracy. We will not pause in our quest to place power in the hands of the people. Even as we remain steadfastly committed to decentralised government, strong local governance and democracy, we welcome all comments. That is what real democracy is all about. Again, your government is happy that Guyanese across the political spectrum are excited and vocal about local democracy. Additionally, Minister Bulkan wishes to express

his gratitude to US Ambassador Perry Holloway who, during a courtesy call on President Granger on December 3, congratulated the administration for selecting a date for local government elections. Minister Bulkan agrees with Ambassador Holloway that this is indeed a historic event for Guyana. The administration is determined to deepen the democratic process and to finally honour the constitutional provisions relating to local democracy. Yours Faithfully, MARK DACOSTA Research Officer to the Minister Ministry of Communities

Get your facts right, Reverend Dear Editor WITH reference to the letter by Reverend Gideon Cecil on the Guyana Prize (Guyana Chronicle, December 11), while it is not my mandate to respond to the other issues Mr. Cecil raises, and while I agree in essence that the Guyana Prize needs to be reformed to better serve resident writers, I am obligated to correct his ignorance on my own Guyana Prize-winning works.

Firstly, however, I would like to congratulate Mr. Cecil on his public resurgence, since he went into silence a few years ago when I pointed out his involvement with the tarnished Caribbean Press. With regard to my work at reference, I suppose that the good Reverend’s ignorance of the fact that when both times I won the Guyana Prize I won with manuscripts, not published work, is excusable. When my manuscript for Fictions won the Guyana Prize for Fiction in 2013, it

light -- accountability must be the key word in dealing with this scourge. Citizens have to vest confidence in the system, knowing that these corrupt revelations are not mere exposés, and that the culpable will be held accountable. The people who are most affected by corrupt practices are neither the well-off nor the politically connected, but are the ordinary men and women who have to send their children to public schools; access government-run healthcare facilities; earn a fixed income; rely on water from the tap, electricity from the national grid, and the police force for protection. These citizens need a judicial system that will work for them by upholding the laws, not only for them but also for the well-connected. And this demographic is the majority in society. Guyana has to emerge from its sordid reputation as the most corrupt English-speaking country in the Caribbean Community, according to the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index of 2014. This is a scourge which has embarrassed average Guyanese and which former governmental officials have sought to downplay and deny. It will tarnish the country’s image, impede development, and increase flight of scarce human capital. Efforts to stem and reverse this tide are hinged on a

was on the basis of stories that were not present in my 2002 collection, Ariadne & Other Stories. When I subsequently decided to publish Fictions, I took the decision to drop some of the stories in the prize-winning manuscript and to include some of the stories that I had published in Ariadne. In brief, the text that won the Guyana Prize for Best First Book of Fiction in 2002 was completely different from the text that won the

Guyana Prize for Best Book of Fiction in 2012. Now that Mr. Cecil has seen it fit to enter the public fray on the issue of literary endeavours, I would expect that he is now willing to answer my own questions with regard to the process under which works were invited, selected, edited and published in the Caribbean Press books in which he is listed as editor. Yours faithfully, RUEL JOHNSON

corruption-free environment in a country in which a significant amount of its skilled and professional workers and approximately 80 percent of its university graduates are migrating. Nobody wants to stay in a country where basic social services and public infrastructure are in deplorable condition; where the judicial system does not hold all equal before the law; and where a payday is more a day of pain, given the expenses that have to be honoured. Even as these push factors are noted, important staying factors are also present. Consequently, ethics must be restored to public service and be a matter of everyday practice by public officials. Public watchdog bodies and personnel must be given requisite tools to supplement muscle to get the job done; there must be intolerance for the proverbial square pegs in round holes; and the constitutionally required independent judicature must see resources being channeled for its strengthening. Corruption is everybody’s business, since it negatively impacts lives and livelihoods; and, as such, everyone must be a crusader against it. The society must reach a place where, when persons hear something that does not confirm to what sounds or looks right, they report it; and enabling systems must be put in place to guarantee persons the privacy to report corrupt practices.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday December 12, 2015

Trans-Guyana takes Santa to Kamarang S

TUDENTS of the Kamarang Nursery and Primary schools were yesterday treated to the joy of meeting Santa Clause and his entourage, who were on a mission to bring them Christmas cheer. This year, the Correia Group of Companies, via its Trans-Guyana Airways arm, transported a quantity of goodie bags to the village, where Pilot Connor Allen acted as Santa Claus, spreading the ultimate Christmas cheer for the group’s annual Christmas festivity. The aircraft landed at Kamarang sometime before midday yesterday, to be greeted by a

The auditorium of the Kamarang Primary School was filled with parents and their children large number of residents who gathered around the airplane to get glimpses of that jolly old feller dressed in his red suit with his rotund belly and famous white beard. There was no chimney for Old Saint Nick to climb down, but the Kamarang Primary School was where the sleigh landed, as students jumped, faces beaming with joy as they heard his “Ho! Ho! Ho!” and Christmas carols echoing throughout the school. Each child got the chance to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him all about their Christmas wishes, after each had been treated with gifts and a bag full of goodies. Unquestionably, every child living in Kamarang guaranteed Mr Claus that they have not been naughty at all this year, and therefore deserve to get a gift. Close to 200 nursery and primary school students each benefited from receipt of a hamper, which consisted of toys and sweets and much needed school supplies, while others opened their gifts and played with their toys. Parents who were there expressed gratitude for their children’s gifts, which sparked the Christmas mood of the kids. Headmistress of the school, Ann Cramer, told Guyana Chronicle she was happy the company has continued its annual gift-giving, since it has been three years in a row that the company graced her students with the Christmas cheer. One primary school student told this newspaper that all she wanted for Christmas was for her father to come back home from the army, since he is currently based away from the village; and she hoped that Santa could grant her wish. Meanwhile, Captain Conner Allen told Guyana Chronicle that he continues to make the annual visit to Kamarang so as to ensure that children in that particular area are catered for.

Eager to see what Santa had brought, these youngsters could not go home.

Predictable Alexander response Dear Editor,

GECOM Commissioner Alexander, in a reply to my recent letter pointing out that the withdrawal of the application to the courts to have the application filed on CEO Lowenfield’s behalf to strike out the Ganga Persaud Elections Petition would have been a better course of action by GECOM so as to allow for a full hearing and determination in the courts, suggests my “rethink” of my “conflict of interest” in the matter as a GECOM Commissioner. Mr Alexander’s response has, in the main, been predictable in his patently obvious attempts to distract the public’s focus from the pivotal issues raised by the Motion at GECOM. I wish to point out that, at no time during the formal tabling and debate on the Motion, inclusive of a week’s “cogitation” by Chairman Surujbally, was the question of the arising of a conflict of interest noted or discussed; least of all by Commissioner Alexander! It should be of some

interest as to why Mr Alexander is now raising this issue post facto, when he had the fullest opportunity to enter it into the debate if he considered it material and fatal at the time. Surely, it could not have been that Mr Alexander was assuredly and supremely confident in an expectation of the direction Chairman Surujbally’s casting vote would have gone in the obvious presence of a division at the meetings! One can only conclude that any issue of conflict of interest was not considered material or relevant then, and it remains so now. However, Mr Editor, the issues raised by Mr Alexander are moot when one considers the two larger and overarching grave matters implicit out of the discussions of the failed Benn Motion, to which Mr Alexander ascribes an “ulterior” motive. I repeat these for emphasis. Firstly, do the electorate, stakeholders, and the public at large have any right to the fullest, or any elucidation and determination by a court process of the Ganga Persaud Elections Petition?

And secondly, would it not be of immense benefit to GECOM, and for our evolving electoral democracy, if a full and dispassionate court review helps to significantly improve public perceptions of its systems, conduct and practices with respect to its mandate? If there is an “ulterior motive” I may have revolving on these two issues, I hope Mr Alexander states them publicly, as enquiring minds ought to know what he avows he knows. I, however, will not dare, at this time, to ascribe to Mr Alexander any “ulterior motive”, but would simply note his rush to deflect an understanding of the Motion, and his strident defence of an attempt at preventing a full hearing of the Elections Petition. In closing, it is not my interest to engage in “last lick” in the media, but to await the determination of the matter in the courts; and especially in the court of informed public opinion. Yours sincerely, ROBESON BENN, Commissioner

Santa and his helpers present a toy to this smiling nursery school student

G A WU / G u y S u C o c o n c i l i a t o r y p r o c e e d s e n d s wi t h o u t s e t t l e m e n t

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 12, 2015

Corruption, brutality occurred under PPP Time for

– U.S. report By Ariana Gordon UNLAWFUL killings by police, abuse of suspects and detainees by security forces, and poor prison and jail conditions were cited as the most serious instances of human rights abuses in Guyana by the U.S. Government in its 2014 Human Rights Report on Guyana during the tenure of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration. The report also highlighted the issues of lengthy pretrial detention; excessive government influence over the content of the National Communications Network (NCN), and continued restrictions on radio licensing; allegations of government corruption, including among police officials; sexual and domestic violence against women; abuse of minors; and laws that discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons. However, few reports of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government or its agents committing arbitrary or unlawful killings during the year assessed were found. The shooting to death of Adrian Bishop by police while they attempted to arrest him was reported as an accident by police. However, eyewitness accounts reported through the media suggest that the police officer had arbitrarily shot Bishop in the police van. No politically-motivated disappearances occurred, but there were reports alleging mistreatment of inmates by prison officials as well as allegations of police abuse of suspects and detainees. “The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) received 36 complaints of unnecessary use of violence in 2012, the latest year for which data was available. Local media reported several cases of random police brutality, arrest, and interrogation prior to investigation,” the 2014 Report on Human Rights said, citing the case of Colwyn Harding,

the baton-raped male, and Police Officer Franz Paul, who allegedly arbitrarily shot Alex Griffith, a 15-year-old, in the mouth. There were no independent and transparent procedures for handling allegations of abuses by security force members. Prosecutions when followed were extremely lengthy, and convictions rare, leading to a widespread perception that security force members and government officials were enjoying impunity.

LIFE THREATENING According to the report, “Prison and jail conditions, particularly in police holding cells, were harsh and life threatening. Overcrowding was a severe problem.” The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) reported that as

fessional was absent during all of Victor’s visits to the infirmary,” the report said. The escape of four female juveniles from the New Opportunity Corps because of allegations of sexual and physical assault at the hands of a senior official was also highlighted by the U.S. Government. “The management of the New Opportunity Corps and the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Sports, under which the New Opportunity Corps falls, initially denied the allegations, but a formal investigation into the allegations carried out under the auspices of the Child Care and Protection Agency implicated several staff members of the facility in sexual molestation and physical abuses of juveniles.” Meanwhile, no infor-

Colwyn Harding

Alex Griffith

of 2011 (latest data available) there were 1,962 prisoners in five facilities with a combined design capacity of 1,580. A total of 997 prisoners were in Georgetown’s Camp Street Prison, which is designed to hold 775 inmates. Overcrowding was in large part due to a backlog of pretrial detainees, who constituted approximately 39 per cent of the total prison population. Prisoners had access to potable water, and government medical officers visited each prison on a monthly basis. “In August, authorities found inmate Larry Victor dead in his cell in the Camp Street Prison. The media reported that Victor complained of feeling unwell for two weeks prior to his death, but the prison’s medical pro-

mation on the adequacy of prison record-keeping or the extent to which authorities used alternatives to sentencing for non-violent offences was available. ROLE OF THE POLICE AND SECURITY APPARATUS Inadequate training, poor equipment, and acute budgetary constraints severely limited the Guyana Police Force’s effectiveness, the report noted. “According to the Caribbean Development Report commissioned by the UN Development Programme, public confidence in the Police Force was very low. There were reports of corruption in the Police Force. In 2011 (latest data available) authorities charged and brought to court 39 GPF

members for various crimes, including robbery, simple larceny, bribery, and indecent assault. While Police Force abuses may be reported to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), the PCA did not possess an independent investigative unit,” the report said. In 2012, the latest year for available data, the PCA received 700 complaints, 106 of which were sent from the Commissioner of Police. “Most cited police neglect of duties, unlawful arrest, and unnecessary use of force. The PCA recommended disciplinary action in 70 of those cases and criminal charges in five others. At the end of 2012, there were 91 cases outstanding. Lack of an investigative unit hampered the PCA’s efforts to conduct impartial and transparent assessments of the complaints it received. As of 2013, the PCA had a staff of six fulltime positions, and requested an additional position be created to handle statement records. By law, the Police Commissioner must comply with the PCA’s recommendations on complaints, but the PCA relied on the GPF to conduct investigations into complaints against its own officers,” the report noted. Long delays in receiving reports from the commissioner also thwarted the complaints process.

PRETRIAL DETENTION Lengthy pretrial detention, due primarily to judicial inefficiency, staff shortages, and cumbersome legal procedures, remained a problem. Pretrial detainees constituted 39 per cent of the prison and detainee population in 2012 (latest data available). The typical length of pretrial detention ranged from six to 18 months for those awaiting trial at a Magistrate’s Court or in the High Court. CORRUPTION, LACK OF TRANSPARENCY Although the law provides for criminal penalties for corruption by officials, the government did not imTurn to page 10 ►

a gyaff

Priya Manickchand seems to be vying for Humanitarian of the Year Award, and apparently spends her days going about chatting with the common man, now that she has more time on her hands. Following a vox populi-like post on her page about the struggling state of Guyana’s economy, the ex-minister accused the government of ignoring the situation and encouraged them to have a “gyaff” with the man on the street. Thing is, most of her posts have been warm and heartening these days, like she actually cares. What a transformation: from sassing high ranking diplomats in their own home to woman of the people. Priya, you are a woman of many voices. Kudos. DREAMS AND HOPES Mark Benschop has recently reiterated his intention to run for Mayor of Georgetown in a passionate statement on his Facebook page, stating that this is his “purpose on earth”. While this may be a tad melodramatic, Benschop has admittedly been speaking of this dream for years, and is perhaps one of the most anxious of all of us for the ever promised Local Government Elections. My advice to Benschop is: Take deep breaths sir. It’s been 21 years and the country is still waiting. Don’t want you to be disappointed yet again. Here’s hoping that the elections will actually be held next year as again promised (this time by a new government) so that #teambenschop can be given a fighting chance. EXOTIC TASTE The public still patiently waits for Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan to do some redecorating after photos surfaced of the minister sporting the skin of a jaguar (an endangered species and Guyana’s national animal) on the wall of his office. Ramjattan’s exotic taste in wall hangings caused him to be a trending topic recently, as citizens – such as the ever satiric Ajay Baksh – posted memes bashing him on the issue. The minister even received spanks on his knuckles from Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes, who called the display inappropriate. Based on the outrage this move caused, Ramjattan may as well have slaughtered the animal himself. My question is: At which point did he actually think such a choice would be tasteful?

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 12, 2015

Save children from climate change – act now, UNICEF urges WITH climate change already having humanitarian consequences, affecting millions of people every year, there is a major humanitarian threat for the future. Over the past two weeks, more than 150 world leaders attending the 21st United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP21 in Paris, worked towards reaching an agreement on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions which most experts say is critical to addressing potentially catastrophic global rises in temperature. Climate change is one of the most pervasive environmental problems that have confronted human-kind. The rise in the earth’s temperature leads to droughts, floods, and other severe weather conditions. These events, in turn, contribute to increased vul-

nerability and threaten children’s most basic rights, including their health and access to food and water. Compared to adults, children are more susceptible to its harmful effects, and more vulnerable to conditions such as poor air quality, contaminated water and extreme temperatures. UNICEF, in a release, said children will bear the greatest burden of hunger and malnutrition as droughts and flooding damage food production, and they will also be the worst affected by water-borne diseases and respiratory conditions due to water scarcity and air pollution. Young children in particular rely on adults for their survival and development, and conditions that affect adults often have a devastating impact on children too.

Besides the direct risks of climate change, children are also affected by its impact on their parents and caregivers, due to loss of crops and livelihoods, UNICEF said. A recent report released by UNICEF, “Unless we act now; The impact of climate change on children”, highlights that more than half a billion children live in areas with extremely high incidences of flooding, while 160 million live in high drought severity zones, leaving them extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. VAST MAJORITY The vast majority of the children living in areas with extremely high risk of floods are in Asia, and the majority of those in areas at risk of drought are in Africa. Whilst Guyana is a net sink country for greenhouse gases, it is still extremely vulnerable to the physical, social, economic, and ecological risks

resulting from this global environmental problem, particularly given its low-lying nature. Consequently, global climate change is one of the most critical threats endangering the country’s environment and development objectives. The direct impacts of climate change, such as flooding of coastal areas, overtopping of sea defences, and impacts on water resources, are very real. Children and women are among those most affected; the impact is often more severe for children living in poverty, indigenous groups, and for children living with disabilities. Children are the adults of the future, and failure to take action now to address the issue of climate change will have serious impacts for the future of children. “They are the ones who will pay the price for our actions or inaction. As Prince

Charles noted in his opening speech at COP21, we should ‘consider the PRESS RELEASE needs of the youngest generation, because none of us has the right to assume that for our today they should give up their tomorrow’,” UNICEF said. ACTIVELY INVOLVED In Guyana, UNICEF has been actively involved in integrating climate change and environmental issues across the education system, including, among other things, policies and legislation, education sector plans and teacher education. This will help to ensure that children’s environmental rights, as set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, are realised. “Working in partnership with the Ministry of Education, we continue our commitment to building knowledge and providing the basis for children to be change

agents and to contribute to safeguarding their future. “Cultivating positive attitudes and actions towards climate change from a very early age are key to success, and with this in mind, UNICEF Guyana has supported climate change education initiatives at the nursery, primary and secondary levels of the school system in Guyana. “Starting young is the best way to mould responsible adults and preserve the environment for future generations. As the outcomes of COP21 will demonstrate, it will take a truly collaborative effort to ensure that we create a sustainable environment for our children and grandchildren,” UNICEF said. Director of UNICEF, Anthony Lake, said: “We know what has to be done to prevent the devastation climate change can inflict. We owe it to our children – and to the planet – to make the right decisions at COP21.”

Don’t beat the woman Corruption, brutality... – forum urges Linden men By Vanessa Braithwaite IN the continuing campaign to eliminate violence against women, the Adolescent Department of the Ministry of Public Health and the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport of the Ministry of Education, along with several NGOs based in the Region 10 mining town of Linden, collaborated recently to host a men’s forum at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre. Organised by For The Children’s Sake Foundation, the forum saw attendance of 53 men, several of whom were dignitaries. Given a chance to voice their concerns on the issue, the attendees received information designed to empower them to deal with relationship issues by using non-violent methods, and benefited from several lectures which addressed the issue of violence against women and how it can be reduced significantly within the town. Ronesha Henry, treasurer of For The Children’s Sake Foundation, posited that violence against women is not inevitable, and can be prevented. “Violence against women and girls is not only one of the most serious human rights’ violations, but is also

one of the most tolerated violations of rights,” she declared. Its eradication, she posited, requires commitment and zero tolerance at the highest levels of leadership. Henry reminded leaders in the audience that they have responsibility to ensure that all women have access to justice and are supported by essential services. “We are fighting to end gender stereotypes and the continued existence of unequal power relationships that underlie the continuation of violence in its many forms,” she contended. Men were admonished to avoid the legal consequences attached to violating women, and were advised of the effects such unacceptable behaviour would have on children exposed to it. Elroy Hercules, advisor of the foundation, challenged men to seek non-violent avenues to vent their anger when arguments erupt within the home. One such avenue, he said, is by focusing on the positives and drowning the negative elements that can increase stress levels. “Mute the bad, or turn it to the lowest; and turn up the good so it can drown out the bad,” he urged. Member of Parliament (MP) Valarie Patterson said she believes that more se-

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rious penalties should be enacted in an effort to combat this unwanted reality within society. She believes this issue should be discussed at all forums -- in the home, at school, in religious groups, and even in Parliament – since women in all segments of society are affected by this unwarranted social phenomenon. Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian vowed to address the issue of violence against women in the security sector, as, he said, at a minimum, 75 per cent of the security personnel are unarmed women placed to work at lonely locations. “Three weeks ago, a man raped a young security guard. Added to the violence, the employer gave her a week off, after which she’s expected to be back on the job with no compensation or medical support. That is violence against women, and this is a prevalent issue not only in Region 10, but across Guyana,” the Chairman articulated. For the year 2015 so far, there were 273 reported cases of domestic violence in Linden. Out of this quite appalling figure, 178 persons were charged while 50 were referred. Commander Brutus has said the division is strictly aiming to have zero tolerance for perpetration of domestic violence.

plement the law effectively, and officials sometimes engaged in corrupt practices with impunity, as there were several reports of government corruption the report. “There remained a widespread public perception of corruption involving officials at all levels, including the police and the judiciary.” The 2014 Human Rights Report noted that the Constitution outlines roles for the Office of the Auditor General, the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), and the Integrity Commission in the area of governmental transparency and accountability. NO PPC, INTEGRITY COMMISSION “The PPC and the Integrity Commission have not been established. The Office of the Auditor General scrutinises the expenditure of public funds on behalf of parliament; conducts financial audits of all publicly-funded entities, including donor-funded entities, local government agencies, and trade unions; and reports to the National Assembly.” The effectiveness of the Auditor General’s Office, the report added, was limited, “since the government may or may not act on the

discrepancies noted in its reports.” “Observers noted that recurring discrepancies repeatedly were highlighted in the reports without officials taking appropriate follow-up actions to investigate and resolve the discrepancies.” In the case of the PPC, there was significant public criticism of the system’s ineffectiveness in awarding government contracts in an equitable and transparent manner. The PPP administration had said that it would not establish the PPC. RAPE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE The report noted that the authorities seldom successfully prosecuted rape and domestic violence that were reported to law enforcement officers. “Based on media reports and commentary, a high incidence of rape and sexual assault was not reflected in official statistics. Many survivors did not report rapes, presumably because of fear of stigma, retribution, or further violence.” The report said, too, that “Domestic violence and violence against women, including spousal abuse, was widespread and crossed ra-

cial and socioeconomic lines. The law prohibits domestic violence and allows victims to seek prompt protection, occupation, or tenancy orders from a magistrate.” Accordingly, court records showed that 279 domestic violence cases were filed during 2012, and 143 persons were convicted. Penalties for violation of protection orders include fines up to $10, 000 (US$49.50) and 12 months’ imprisonment. “Survivors frequently were unwilling to press charges due to a lack of confidence in obtaining a remedy through the courts. Some of those persons preferred to reach a pecuniary settlement out of court. There were reports of police accepting bribes, and other reports of magistrates applying inadequate sentences after conviction. In addition, cases heard involving violation of a protective order tended to be categorised as assault cases,” the report added. In most cases of domestic violence reports, it was observed that victims were not counselled in private, but rather in open spaces at police stations, and the cases were not treated as a matter of urgency.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 12, 2015

Lindeners briefed on border controversy By Vanessa Braithwaite

PRESIDENT David Granger has reiterated his stand to stakeholders in Linden that Guyana will not be giving in to the advice of some Guyanese to surrender to Venezuela’s claim of the Essequibo. The President said some Guyanese are of the opinion that the only true solution to this dispute is to give in to Venezuela’s claim by offering that country a section of Guyana’s territory. “Not with this President!” Mr Granger affirmed. Venezuela has never given up on its claim to the Essequibo since it orchestrated the dispute, and it is unlikely that any concession will hush them up. With the recent discovery of oil here, Venezuela has not only renewed its claim, but has taken matters a step further by claiming Guyana’s ocean front.

President David Granger speaks at the luncheon held at the Watooka Guest House, Linden

President Granger revealed that Venezuela and Guyana had shared a superficial friendship over the last 50 years, and Guyanese should not allow this to af-

fect the jubilee celebration next year. The President will be using the upcoming celebration as a period of healing, as the country has been in a state of emergency in 1966 and had experienced tremendous struggles over the last 50 years. He reminded the Lindeners of the immense struggle the town was forced to experience over these last decades, and he said we should use the occasion to strengthen peace and unity. “This town suffered the worst history in Guyana, and should take time to heal,” urged the President Meanwhile, being cognisant of the upsurge in terrorist activities globally, President Granger said no one is safe. “We are all vulnerable to these extremist activities, and this territorial dispute can be deemed and act of extremism against Guyanese,” he posited. The President expressed

these remarks at a luncheon held at the Watooka Guest House, Linden. The luncheon was hosted after the launch-

ing of the Linden Enterprise Network, and the Guyanese leader used the opportunity to edify Lindeners on the cur-

rent border situation, which he has raised at several international forums over the past few months.

USAID team meets AG Williams

Members of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) team with Attorney General Basil Williams

An assessment team from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), including persons from Eastern and Southern Caribbean, and Washington DC, has met with Attorney General Basil Williams to assess the possibility of a democracy in governance programme in Guyana. The team which comprised Sue Nelson, Dr Sta-

cy Ann Wilson, Lawrence Latchmansingh, Chloe Noble and Aaron Aabbarno, discussed a broad array of issues with the Attorney General regarding the administration of justice in Guyana. The issues discussed included law revision and a law reform commission; the backlog of criminal cases and its effect on persons held on remand; the implementa-

tion of the civil proceedings rules; constitutional reform; the need for more experienced draftspersons and attorneys in the Attorney General’s Chambers; and the training of judges, magistrates and other judicial officers. The USAID assessment team promised to look into the possibility of providing assistance to the judicial sector in Guyana, a release said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 12, 2015

GWI investigating sabotage THE Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has launched an internal investigation following the discovery by GWI Information Communication Technology (ICT) personnel of a device which compromised GWI’s ICT network. On Friday, the ICT Department of the state company received an unusually high number of complaints from internal users of its network at Vlissengen Road and Church Street, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. According to a release, these complaints ranged from reduced connectivity to the complete loss of the

network connection. Following a scan conducted by the ICT Department, a ‘hidden wireless device’ was discovered. Efforts are being made to locate the source of the signal. The discovery has alarmed Chief Executive, Dr Richard Van WestCharles. He said a full investigation will be launched into the origin of the device. “One can only conclude that this was attempted sabotage by unknown persons who wish to undermine the integrity of GWI’s Internal Network,” stated the Chief Executive. He added: “In fact, I

have consistently experienced difficulties connecting to GWI’s Network from my secretariat since the commencement of my tenure. I can assure that once the culpable party is identified, full disciplinary action will be enforced. We cannot allow these attacks within such a vital utility. We will contact the Guyana Police Force should there be a recurrence.” The company’s ICT Department is currently conducting an investigation into the discovery of the device, and findings are expected to be presented to the Chief Executive and Management of GWI.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo was among a number of leaders in the Region who attended the inauguration ceremony of new Argentine President Mauricio Macri. In photo, from left to right, are Michel Martelli, President of Haiti; Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia; Moses Nagamootoo, Prime Minister of Guyana; Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador; and Evo Morales, President of Bolivia (Office of the Prime Minister photo)

‘Land war’ brewing at Number 40 Village CONFLICT is reportedly brewing in the backlands of Number 40 Village, West Coast Berbice, allegedly over the issue of rice farming lands that had been under the control of the Number 40 Rice Farmers Co-operative Society Limited since 1972. The lands were arbitrarily taken away from the co-op last year and given to known supporters of the then PPP/C Government and other persons, who were not members of the co-op, or even living in the West Berbice area. Secretary of the Number 40 Rice Farmers Co-operative, Patrick Hamilton, made this disclosure to the Guyana Chronicle recently. Mahaica/Mahaicony/ Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ ADA) is reported to have cancelled the leases given to those allegedly PPP-favoured individuals, and those

persons should have vacated the lands; but, Hamilton has said, as at last week, the situation was that those persons whose leases have been cancelled have adamantly refused to vacate the lands. They now reportedly illegally occupy co-op lands, and have allegedly proceeded to plough 175 acres of those lands in preparation for the spring crop of 2016. This volatile situation has reportedly already led to verbal clashes between the involved parties, Hamilton has said. During a confrontation last week, the allegedly illegal land occupiers verbally threatened members of the co-op, and this matter is now being investigated by the police. CO-OP RIGHTS Hamilton has said that, on Tuesday, November 3, the MMA/ADA informed the Executive Committee of

the Number 40 Rice Farmers Co-op that the land has been returned to the co-operative, thus its members are unflinching in their resolve to reclaim the land which had been unjustly taken away from them. He said the members have decided that they will chip the land ploughed by its allegedly illegal occupiers; and “if they plant, we gon plant on the same land, too”. Hamilton has said that co-op members are resolved that persons illegally granted co-op land by the PPP/C Administration in 2014 have to vacate the land. He said the coop members have been in constant contact with MMA/ADA officials and the police, and are hoping for a speedy resolution to this potentially explosive situation before it reaches a stage of being uncontrollable.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday December 12, 2015

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 12, 2015

Harmon: Venezuelan chopper landing here unacceptable By Ravin Singh GUYANA is rejecting Venezuela’s explanation that its military aircraft had made an accidental landing here on December 3. The Venezuelan-registered helicopter landed on an airstrip at Kaikan, Region 7, with approximately eight heavily armed Venezuelan soldiers; two of whom disembarked the aircraft and questioned two Guyanese indigenous women about whether the area was San Juan, a farm in Venezuela. Having responded in the negative, the women reported, the heavily-armed military men boarded the helicopter and subsequently left. According to online sources, San Juan also has indigenous settlers, and Kaikan is located approximately 10 miles away. Although the landing was reported within minutes and there was a prompt response, members of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) were unable to intercept the activities. According to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, these issues do happen when flying across dense jungle territory, since sometimes the definition of the border is not so clear. But the Minister of State made it pellucid that “we [government] cannot accept that to be the position in this case, because a Venezuelan military pilot must know where he is going; he must see that this is not Venezuelan territory.” Harmon, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Guyana Defence Force, noted that it would have been understandable if the aircraft was a civilian one, and the pilot might have been disoriented. However, he noted that the government will not ac-

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

cept this as it was a military aircraft from a country currently locked on attempting to annex two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. REPORT TO UN Minister Harmon also revealed to reporters that in addition to dispatching a note verbale to the local Venezuelan Embassy complaining about the incident, the government has also sent a report on the matter to the United Nations, and other regional and international entities were also written to, informing them of these violations of Guyana’s airspace and territorial integrity. Meanwhile, the GDF Coast Guard, a few days ago, discovered a go-fast boat in the vicinity of Shell Beach. According to security personnel, the boat was discovered by persons in the area, who informed the army and the police. Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan had said that the vessel, based on initial checks, was not a Guyanese registered vessel and no one has been coming forward to claim ownership of it. He said the administration and law enforcement officials are not ruling out the possibility that the vessel might have been there to facilitate the drug trade.

ExxonMobil donates books to UG OIL EXPLORATION company, ExxonMobil in a second donation to the University of Guyana this year, presented $750,000 worth of books and maps on Wednesday. Speaking at the handing over ceremony, UG Registrar Nigel Gravesande called on the company to establish an “educational matching grant programme” with the in-

stitution. The UG Registrar told the gathering in the foyer of the library that the establishment of the programme will enhance the university’s capacity. The company supports many universities worldwide and so the programme will boost the exposure of UG, while also raising the academic level of the popTurn to page 15 ►

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 12, 2015

Dharam Shala Christmas party rocks

Wife of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Mrs Nagamootoo speaking to the children at the Dharam Shala Christmas party

SWAYING to the sweet sounds of steel pan music, singing and laughing, enjoying Christmas carols and a whole host of other festive activities, the children of Albouystown gathered at the Dharam Shala to enjoy the annual children’s Christmas party. In what was seen as the best turnout ever, the late Harry Ramsaroop’s three daughters, Eula Powell and Pamela and Kella Ramsaroop, were patrons of the event. Specially invited guests included the wife of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Seeta Nagamootoo, the British High Commissioner’s wife, Wendy Quinn and Father Christmas, AKA Santa Claus, among others. In brief remarks to the children at the party, Mrs Nagamootoo extended holiday greetings. “I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. I believe that Christmas is a time for children and family,” she said. According to Pame la Ramsaroop, the annual children’s Christmas party at the Dharam Shala was started in the late 1940s by her grandfather, Pandit

Ramsaroop Maraj and was later continued by her father, the late Harry Ramsaroop “because he felt it was a wonderful thing to entertain the deprived children in the neighbourhood”. Ms Ramsaroop explained to the Guyana Chronicle that despite the death of her father, which occurred a mere month ago, she and her sisters, “did not want to stop the tradition”. “We would like to continue hosting the Christmas party and continue to support the work of the Dharam Shala,” she said. Approximately 200 children were entertained with food, drinks and treats while being entertained by Christmas carols played by popular steel pan player Ras Camo. At the end of the party, they were presented with wrapped presents and goodie bags. The Dharam Shala is an institution that assists homeless persons and the less fortunate with food and shelter. It is managed by the Ramsaroop family year round and is totally dependent on donations from individuals and firms.

ExxonMobil... ulation. Gravesande also lauded the donation from the company, given that it is the second time for the year they are donating a quantity of educational materials. The materials donated focus mainly on oil and gas, as well as some science-based subjects. The Registrar noted that “even though the university at present does not offer courses in that field, exposure to the knowledge for the students could lead them to further their studies in these areas.” He said it is a first step in ensuring that the university offers training that

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meets the needs of industry. Country Manager of ExxonMobil Jeff Simons said the company operates in over 80 countries and employs over 80,000 persons. Simons said the educational materials are intended to be used to boost the institution’s academic capacity, and also to get students more involved with the oil and gas sector, given that it is a developing industry in the country. He also requested that some of the equipment used in the operations be donated to the institution for use in training.

Mrs Quinn, wife of the British High Commissioner, distributing goodies to the children at the Dharam Shala Christmas party

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday December 12, 2015

AML amendments for next House sitting

PROVISIONS in response to matters that were recently raised by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), relating specifically to the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Amendment Bill 2015 have been approved by Cabinet. This was disclosed at Thursday’s post-Cabinet press conference held by Minister of State Joseph Harmon at Shiv Chanderpaul Drive. These provisions are related specifically to legislation in certain areas.

According to Harmon, the draft bill focuses on “greater emphasis on terrorist financing, due diligence and beneficial ownership, financial sanction as it relates to terrorism and terrorism financing, and also strengthening for supervisory regimes by expanding the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), and proper criteria to be utilised by financial supervisory authorities”. The amendments, approved by Cabinet, were proposed by Attorney General Basil Williams, and the bill will be presented at the next

sitting of the National Assembly. Williams had also earlier disclosed that following a meeting with the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) in Trinidad and Tobago recently, Guyana was lauded for its efforts in complying with some of the requirements. According to the Attorney General, Guyana is now required to report to the next CFATF plenary in May 2016 on its compliance status, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.

Attorney General Basil Williams

59 TV sets to bo

More stakeholders are coming onboard to support the Ministry of Education in realising its stated goals of integrating and utilising more fully the use of technology in education delivery. Coming just a few weeks after Samsung provided an innovative smart school classroom to the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) donated 59 twenty-one-inch television sets to the Ministry of Education on Thursday. These will allow for even more students to benefit from educational television program-

ming in the classroom. According to Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Delma Nedd, the sets will be used to bring recorded lectures and educational televised programmes produced by the Guyana Learning Channel to several classrooms across the country. Nedd, who on behalf of the ministry, collected the sets from GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur at the GRA’s headquarters, explained that as soon as the ministry heard about the donation, it put together a list of schools which would benefit from the intervention.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday December 12, 2015

oost education delivery “We have already streamlined how we would get some of the TV sets to the remote areas… so we are more than excited…,” she said. Chief Education Officer (CEO) Olato Sam, who joined Nedd at the exercise, applauded the GRA for coming on-board in support of the ministry’s goals. Sam noted that all education stakeholders need to work in tandem, if the sector is to be successful and achieve the best possible outcomes. “We alone at the Ministry of Education cannot effectively deliver the task of educating the nation’s children. Clearly, for

us to be successful, we need a broader-based sector approach and this is why we certainly welcome the gesture,” he said. For its part, the GRA also sees the provision of the sets as a perfect opportunity for a wide section of school-aged Guyanese to follow the developments within the Revenue Authority. More importantly, it will instill in the students the value of complying with the various tax laws and obligations from an early age. Sattaur explained that the donation is in keeping with the Revenue Authority’s mission

to promote compliance with Guyana’s tax, trade and border laws and regulations, through education, quality and responsible enforcement programmes, thereby contributing to the economic well-being of Guyanese. The GRA had previously presented 15 sets to the Ministry in 2010. “Quite often at sensitisation seminars and career fairs, the feedback from students is that ‘GRA is out to rob people,” Public Relations Officer Melissa Baird explained. She noted that this is a

notion that has no doubt been passed down by adults who are not fully educated on the roles and responsibilities of the Revenue Authority. “There is a need to properly educate students on the necessity of complying with the various tax laws and obligations. The Guyana Revenue Authority believes that the need to instill these values should begin at an early age,” the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported her as saying. Since GRA currently produces its own weekly sensitisation programmes, the sets will allow for the students to be more knowledgeable about the works of the agency, she added.

Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General Sattaur hands over the TV sets to Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Delma Nedd

Debt relief proposed for Anglophone Caribbean

THE Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has proposed, in the framework of the climate conference in Paris, a strategy to reduce the external public debt of English-speaking Caribbean countries that are considered to be Small Island Developing States (SIDS), through the creation of a regional resilience fund to finance climate change

adaptation and mitigation measures. This proposal was presented by the Director of the regional organisationâ€™s Economic Development Division, Daniel Titelman, during an event organised by ECLAC in conjunction with the Commonwealth Secretariat, in the context of the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the Unit-

ed Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is taking place from November 30 to December 11 in France. Titelman explained that in 2013, ten countries of the Caribbean (Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday December 12, 2015

ECLAC has proposed in the framework of the climate conference in Paris a strategy to reduce the external public debt of English-speaking Caribbean countries that are considered to be Small Island Developing States Grenadines) had total public debt percentages of between 76 per cent and 130 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), above the limits of what is considered to be sustainable debt. Total public debt, both internal and external, in 15 countries of the Caribbean (the 10 already mentioned plus Anguilla, Guyana, Montserrat, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago) reached nearly 50 billion dollars, equivalent to 72 per cent of sub-regional GDP. Of this amount, about 30 billion correspond to internal debt and nearly 18 billion to external debt, 46 per cent of which is owed to private creditors and 54 per cent to public creditors. ECLAC underscores that these high debt burdens reflect the economic and environmental vulnerabilities of these countries, and have become a hindrance to development of the SIDS, (which also include countries that are not islands, but face similar challenges).

As an example of this, it is estimated that between 2000 and 2014, natural disasters caused damage of at least US$27 billion in English-speaking Caribbean countries. The United Nations regional organisation proposes the creation of a resilience fund that can be financed through instruments such as Debt Swaps for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, which require interaction between multilateral institutions, donor countries and debtor countries. The sources of financing for this mechanism can come from the global funds for climate change. In exchange, the beneficiary countries would have to commit to allotting the resources that they save on debt servicing to this Caribbean resilience fund, which would be dedicated to financing climate change mitigation and adaptation actions, and would be managed by a solid and credible financial institution.

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WICB Regional 4 Day cricket cricket scores CLOSE of play scores in fifth round matches of the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day tournament which started yesterday. Jamaica vs Guyana at Sabina Park. Guyana 189 all out; Jamica 63/4 . Fudadin 47, Vishal Singh 45. N.Miller 6 for 46, J. Campbell 3 for 45. Guyana 189 McCarthy 8* Windwards vs T&T at Beausejour Windwards 170/7 (3:17PM mitch44) Shillingford 2* Fletcher 63 Sebastien 30 Wickets: Muhammad 2. Khan 2. Deonarine 1. Barbados vs Leewards –at Kensington Oval Barbados 272/6. R. Chase 94 not out J. Carter 54.

ENGLISH RACING TIPS Doncaster 07:50 hrs Holy Bush Henry 08:20 hrs Off The Ground 08:55 hrs Atlantic Gold 09:30 hrs Generous Ransom 10:05 hrs Robertstown 10:40 hrs Southfield Royale 11:15 hrs Qewy SOUTHWELL 07:55 hrs Teenage Dream 08:30 hrs Weybridge Light 09:05 hrs Justice Well 09:40 hrs Keep It Dark 10:15 hrs Roger Thorpe 10:50 hrs U S Navy Seal 10:25 hrs Amenable LINGFIELD 08:00 hrs Rouquine Sauvage 08:35 hrs Krugermac 09:10 hrs Alder Mairi 09:45 hrs Baron Alco 10:20 hrs Fruity O ‘ Rooney 10:55 hrs Chambord Du Loir 10:30 hrs Quarenta CHELTENHAM 08:05 hrs Leoncavallo 09:15 hrs Astracad 09:50 hrs Mozoltov 10:25 hrs Unowhatimeanharry 11:00 hrs Peace And Co 11:35 hrs Blue Buttons SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Kenilworth 08:05 hrs Barnstable 08:40 hrs Aliysa’s Prize 09:15 hrs Stockade 08:50 hrs BUFFALO Trip 10:25 hrs Gallica Rose 11:00 hrs King Of Pain 11:35 hrs Dazzling Dancer 12:10 hrs Avail IRISH RACING TIPS Tramore 08:10 hrs Hello Sweetie 08:45 hrs Lake Field 09:20 hrs Dramatic Event 09:55 hrs St Peter’s Square 10:30 hrs Ballycahane 11:05 hrs Corporate Box 11:40 hrs Delegate AMERICAN RACING TIPS Aqueduct Race 1 Star of New York Race 2 Surfspun Race 3 Readtheprospectus Race 4 Zoo Yorker Race 5 Total Joint Race 6 Looking Cool Race 7 Leave the Light On Race 8 Temper Mint Patty Race 9 Fumin Newman

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 12, 2015

Europe’s football chief Platini fails in bid to have FIFA ban lifted ZURICH, (Reuters)-European football chief Michel Platini failed yesterday in his bid to have a 90-day provisional suspension from world football lifted, further denting his hopes of running for the presidency of the game’s scandal-hit global governing body FIFA. The decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the top body for settling sports-related disputes, means Platini will not be able to attend Saturday’s draw for the Euro 2016 Championship. That occasion would have given him the opportunity to promote his ambition to succeed veteran leader Sepp Blatter at a vote in February.

Platini, barred for 90 days during an investigation centring on a 2 million Swiss franc (£1.29 million) payment from FIFA to Platini, cannot run for

MICHEL PLATINI

the presidency while under suspension. FIFA is suffering the worst corruption scandal in its over 100-year history, drawing in top officials and triggering investigations by U.S. and Swiss authorities. Platini’s legal team were confident Platini would be cleared when a FIFA ethics committee makes its final ruling on his case, which is expected to happen just before Christmas. ‘SOLID CASE’ “Michel Platini notes with satisfaction that CAS partially granted his request when it demanded that FIFA not extend his ban,” his lawyer Thibaud d’Ales

told Reuters. “In substance, he is confident that his case is solid.” UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, who has declared his candidacy for the FIFA presidency, supported Platini’s “right to a due process”. “It is complicated for Michel, for the institution, but Michel is strong, the institution in strong,” he told a news conference after a UEFA executive committee meeting in Paris. “Patience is a virtue of the strong, we have no influence over the legal case, so we must wait for a decision.” Asked about the CAS decision, French federation president Noel Le Graet earlier told reporters: “I am disappointed, I regret that Michel cannot be at the Euro 2016 draw tomorrow because he deserved it so much,” “It would have been a nice symbol to have him present at the draw.” DEEPENING SCANDAL Platini and Blatter have been suspended since Oct 8, engulfed by a deepening corruption scandal as the sport faces criminal investigations in Switzerland and the United States. CAS ordered FIFA not to extend its 90-day provisional suspension on Platini, saying doing so would be an unjustified restriction of his access to justice. Ye s t e r d a y ’s r u l i n g means that Platini’s only realistic hope of re-entering the presidential race is if he is cleared by FIFA. If the ethics committee fails to exonerate Platini and Blatter, who both say they have done nothing wrong, both men could face bans of several years if found guilty of wrongdoing. Blatter has said there was a verbal agreement between the two while Platini says the payment was delayed several years only because of financial problems at FIFA. FIFA’s electoral commission said in October that, in the case of the ban being lifted, it “would decide, depending on the respective exact point in time, on how to proceed with the candidacy concerned.” Platini’s ban ends 52 days before the election for a new FIFA president.

West Indies follow on after Bravo ton IT took Michael Clarke until the last Test of his career to enforce the follow on; Steven Smith has done it in his fourth as Australia’s full-time captain. Smith asked West Indies to bat again after his fast bowlers rattled through the West Indies tail on the third morning in Hobart, taking only five overs to claim the remaining three wickets of the innings. However, there was time for Darren Bravo to complete a well-deserved century, his fighting innings far and away that stand-out in an otherwise listless West Indies batting display. Bravo began the morning on 94 and brought up his hundred - the seventh of his Test career - in the first over of play, with a pair of boundaries driven through the off side off Peter Siddle. But the celebration was short-lived. He lost his partner Kemar Roach for 31 in the next over when he edged behind off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood, and next ball Jerome Taylor chopped on for a golden duck to have Hazlewood on a hat-trick. It was the last ball of the over so Hazlewood had to wait for his hat-trick delivery and when it arrived, Jomel Warrican survived a ball that lobbed off his leg out of reach of bat-pad. The next over brought the end of the innings when Bravo tried to force some late runs and was caught at point off a top edge, giving Siddle his second wicket. Bravo finished with 108 from 177 deliveries and although his was only the ninth wicket to fall, Shannon Gabriel’s foot injury meant he did not bat and West Indies had been dismissed for 223, still 360 behind the Australians.(ESPN Cricinfo)

Honduras international Peralta shot dead (REUTERS)-Honduras midfielder Arnold Peralta was shot to death in the Honduran city of La Ceiba on Thursday, police said. Peralta, 26, was attacked by several men as he got into his car at a shopping centre in his birth city La Ceiba, 185 km north of the capital Tegucigalpa, a region noted for drug cartel activity. “Robbery has been discarded as a motive because Peralta had no personal belongings stolen,” said Leonel Sauceda, a spokesman for the Security ministry. “The player died from multiple wounds from a firearm,” the Honduran daily La Prensa yesterday quoted the forensic report as saying. Peralta, who played for top Honduran club Olimpia after spending the 2013-14 season with Scottish Championship (second-tier) side Glasgow Rangers, was in the Honduras squad taking part in CONCACAF 2018 World Cup qualifying. The shooting recalled the murder in 1994 of Colombia defender Andres Escobar in Medellin days after his country’s first-round elimination at the World Cup finals in the United States following a 2-1 defeat by the hosts in which he scored an own goal.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 12, 2015

Windies pacers Roach and Taylor UEFA to decide on goal line refuse to bowl into the wind

IN a sign of just how diabolical the lack of discipline is in this West Indies outfit, Jason Holder’s fast bowlers told their captain they didn’t want to operate from one end of the ground on day one in Hobart. Kemar Roach and Jerome Taylor had no interest in running up the hill into the breeze from the Derwent River southern end in Thursday’s final session and let their skipper know. It meant Holder was forced to let the game drift with spinners at a time when the new ball could have been taken and Australian pair Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh were cruising towards the sixth highest partnership in Test history. Is it any wonder Holder had a DRS brain explosion

on Friday, choosing not to review a poor lbw decision

Holder is a 24-year-old captain with zero support.

West Indies bowler Kemar Roach told his captain he didn’t fancy running uphill in Hobart. (AAP photo) when replays showed the ball clearly going over the stumps?

You would think in a time of crisis for West Indian cricket, and with

stars like Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy off playing Twenty20 tournaments, he might expect some support from his senior men on the field. But it would seem experienced campaigners Roach, 27 and Taylor, 31 couldn’t care less. Yesterday, another veteran Marlon Samuels refused to walk in with the bowler, standing with hands in pockets in the field until Australia finally declared. Holder’s decision not to review a Peter Siddle ball that hit him above the knee roll yesterday was ridiculous when you consider he’s a giant of a man at 2.01 metres and the score was 5-116 with he the last recognised batsman in the line-up chasing 583.(Daily Telegraph).

technology in January By Julien Pretot

PARIS,( Reuters)| European governing body UEFA will decide in January whether to use goal line technology in continental competitions, general secretary Gianni Infantino said yesterday. “This has been on the table for quite some time. It was discussed in depth today and we decided that a decision on the use would be taken in January at the next executive committee meeting,” Infantino told a news conference after an executive committee in western Paris. “There is a positive attitude towards that. Then there are practical aspects. If we go for the goal line technology, it will be for the top competitions next season. “There are logistical challenges.” Goal line technology is currently used in the English Premier League, the French Ligue 1, Bundesliga, and was also utilised at the World Cup in Brazil last year.

Expanded NAGICO Super 50 format for 2016 Tournament ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Co-hosts Trinidad & Tobago Red Force are expected to face a typically stiff challenge, when they open their defence of an expanded NAGICO Super50 Tournament against Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, the capital of their two-island republic. The West Indies Cricket Board announced today the schedule for the Tournament which opens on Thursday, January 7 next year in Trinidad and St. Kitts. It will again be contested between eight teams, comprising the six territorial franchises, as well as the Marooners and an ICC Americas composite side. In the other first round matches, Barbados Pride meet ICC Americas, Guyana Jaguars, last season’s beaten finalists, tackle Windward Islands Volcanoes, and Leeward Islands Hurricanes host Jamaica Scorpions. The preliminary competition will be played under a non-elimination format with the eight teams equally divided into two groups. Each side is carded to play six matches apiece during the preliminary rounds, with each playing the others in their group twice. The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals at Queen’s Park Oval, where the group winners play the runners-up from the opposite group in a one-off match for a place in the Grand Final on Sunday, January 24, at the same venue. This equals a total of 27 matches for the biggest, senior regional domestic 50 overs-a-side tournament ever staged by the WICB. Group “A” which will be played in Trinidad comprises Red Force, Marooners, Pride and ICC Americas, a pre-selected group of the best players in the Western Hemisphere outside of the WICB territories plus eight players that advanced from a player combine held in September in the American city of Indianapolis. Group “B” which will be played in St. Kitts consists of the Jaguars, as well as the Scorpions, Volcanoes and Hurricanes. Earlier this year, a purposeful hundred from Jason Mohammed and Sunil Narine’s guile combined to catapult the Red Force to the title over the Jaguars with a comprehensive 135-run victory in a lopsided Grand Final before a sea of masquerading red-clad fans at Queen’s Park Oval. MATCH SCHEDULE (Start time in brackets) GROUP A: Played in Trinidad & Tobago – Red Force, CCC Marooners, Pride, ICC Americas GROUP B: Played in St. Kitts – Jaguars, Scorpions, Volcanoes, Hurricanes THURSDAY, JANUARY 7 Red Force vs Marooners – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad (1:30 pm) Pride vs Americas – National Cricket Centre, Trinidad (9 am) Jaguars vs Volcanoes – Conaree, St. Kitts (9 am) Hurricanes vs Scorpions – Warner Park, St. Kitts (1:30 pm)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 9 Marooners vs Americas – Shaw Park, Tobago (9 am) Red Force vs Pride – Queen’s Park Oval (1:30 pm) Hurricanes vs Jaguars – Warner Park, St. Kitts (1:30 pm) Volcanoes vs Scorpions – Conaree, St. Kitts (9 am) MONDAY, JANUARY 11 Red Force vs Americas – Shaw Park, Tobago (9 am) Pride vs Marooners – Queen’s Park Oval (1:30 pm) Hurricanes vs Volcanoes – Warner Park, St. Kitts (1:30 pm) Jaguars vs Scorpions – Conaree, St. Kitts (9 am) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13 Red Force vs Marooners – National Cricket Centre, Trinidad (9 am) Pride vs Americas – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad (1:30 pm) Jaguars vs Volcanoes – Warner Park, St. Kitts (1:30 pm) Hurricanes vs Scorpions – Conaree, St. Kitts (9 am) FRIDAY, JANUARY 15 Pride vs Marooners – UWI SPEC, Trinidad (9 am) Red Force vs Americas – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad (1:30 pm) Hurricanes vs Jaguars – Conaree, St. Kitts (9 am) Volcanoes vs Scorpions – Warner Park, St. Kitts (1:30 pm) SUNDAY, JANUARY 17 Marooners vs Americas – UWI SPEC, Trinidad (9 am) Red Force vs Pride – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad (1:30 pm) Hurricanes vs Volcanoes – Conaree, St. Kitts (9 am) Scorpions vs Jaguars – Warner Park, St. Kitts (1:30 pm) THURSDAY, JANUARY 21 Semi-final #1 Winner Zone A vs Runner-up Zone B – Queen’s Park Oval (1:30 pm) FRIDAY, JANUARY 22 Semi-final #2 Winner Zone B vs Runner-up Zone A – Queen’s Park Oval (1:30 pm) SUNDAY, JANUARY 24 Grand Final Winner Semi-final #1 vs Winner Semi-final #2 – Queen’s Park Oval (1:30 pm)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 12, 2015

Australia in control in Hobart after record stand (REUTERS)-ADAM Voges and Shaun Marsh combined for 449 runs and the sixth highest partnership in test cricket history to put Australia firmly in control after the second day of the first Test against West Indies yesterday. Voges hit a majestic 269 not out and Marsh a career-high 182 to claim the world record for a fourth-wicket stand, allowing Australia skipper Steve Smith licence to declare on 583 for four at lunch in Hobart. Spinner Nathan Lyon (3-43) and paceman Josh Hazlewood led the charge as the Australian bowlers drove home the advantage in the rain-disrupted final two sessions to reduce the tourists to 207-6 at stumps. Darren Bravo gave a timely reminder that West Indies do have some quality in a defiant innings of 94 and will resume his 91run partnership with Kemar Roach (31 not out) on day three looking to make further inroads into Australia’s 376-run lead. The day, though, belonged to Western Australians Voges and Marsh, who were scarcely troubled in the opening session when, having resumed on 438-3, they plundered runs and sent records tumbling almost at will in an epic stand. “It was great to see those two do what they did,” Hazlewood told ABC radio. “Voges especially from ball one just hit the ball

so well and was scoring at quite a quick rate without even trying. Really happy for Shaun Marsh as well.” The duo were separated when Marsh was caught at midwicket just before lunch, leaving them just two runs

Still in his first year of Test cricket after making his debut against West Indies in June, Voges may have been aggrieved that the declaration robbed him of a chance to go for a triple.

Adam Voges celebrates his double-century on the second day in Hobart. The Aussie batsman went on to finish on 269 not out when the declaration came. shy of the Australian record set by Bill Ponsford and Donald Bradman for the second wicket against England at the Oval in 1934. Voges’s brilliant knock gave him his maiden test double century and overhauled the Bellerive Oval individual test record of 209 that Ricky Ponting set against Pakistan in 2010.

The 36-year-old faced only 285 balls and hit 33 fours, including the one that took the partnership past the fourth-wicket record of 437 that Sri Lankans Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera scored against Pakistan in Karachi in 2009. An attempted slog sweep by Marsh off left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican that

went straight to Bravo at midwicket brought an end to a glorious partnership and, a couple of overs later, the innings. Hazlewood made an early breakthrough by trapping opener Kraigg Brathwaite lbw for two but it was not until Lyon came on that the West Indies wickets started tumbling. The 28-year-old, playing his 50th test, dismissed Rajendra Chandrika (25), Marlon Samuels (9) and Jermaine Blackwood (0), the latter two in a wicket-maiden over shortly before tea. Hazlewood claimed his second victim when he trapped Denesh Ramdin (8) lbw before Peter Siddle took the final wicket to fall when West Indies skipper Jason Holder (15) was also adjudged lbw by a delivery that technology showed was going over the stumps.

SCOREBOARD

AUSTRALIA 1st innings (Overnight: 438-3) J. Burns b Gabriel 33 D. Warner c Ramdin b Warrican 64 S. Smith c Blackwood b Warrican 10 A. Voges not out 269 S. Marsh c Da. Bravo b Warrican 182 M. Marsh not out 1 Extras (b-4 lb-3 nb-14 w-3) 24 Total (for 4 wickets declared, 114 overs) 583 Fall of wickets: 1-75 J. Burns,2-104 S. Smith,3-121 D. Warner,4-570 S. Marsh Did not bat: P. Nevill, P. Siddle, J. Pattinson, J. Hazlewood, N. Lyon Bowling: J. Taylor 17 - 0 - 108 - 0(nb-2 w-1), K. Roach 16 - 1 - 99 - 0(nb-4 w-1), S. Gabriel 10 - 1 - 59 - 1(nb-4), J. Holder 24 - 3 - 75 0(nb-4 w-1), J. Warrican 28 - 1 - 158 – 3, K. Brathwaite 13 - 0 - 52 – 0, J. Blackwood 6 - 0 - 25 – 0. WEST INDIES 1st innings K. Brathwaite lbw b Hazlewood 2 R. Chandrika c Smith b Lyon 25 Da. Bravo not out 94 M. Samuels c&b Lyon 9 J. Blackwood c Burns b Lyon 0 D. Ramdin b Hazlewood 8 J. Holder lbw b Siddle 15 K. Roach not out 31 Extras (b-7 lb-10 nb-5 w-1) 23 Total (for 6 wickets, 65 overs) 207 Fall of wickets: 1-17 K. Brathwaite,2-58 R. Chandrika,3-78 M. Samuels,4-78 J. Blackwood,5-89 D. Ramdin,6-116 J. Holder To bat: J. Taylor, J. Warrican, S. Gabriel Bowling: J. Hazlewood 16 - 4 - 43 – 2,J. Pattinson 15 - 0 - 68 - 0(nb-5 w-1), P. Siddle 12 - 5 - 22 – 1, N. Lyon 19 - 6 - 43 – 3, M. Marsh 3 - 1 - 14 – 0.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday December 12, 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 Thursday’s quiz:

(1) 5-Karl Nunes, Gerry Alexander; Deryck Murray; Ridley Jacobs; Dinesh Ramdin (2) Deryck Murray Today’s Quiz: (1) What was Deryck Murray’s highest Test score? (2) When did David Murray play his final Test?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Sri Lanka’s hopes rest with SCOREBOARD Chandimal after defiance

(REUTERS)-Sri Lanka’s hopes of getting close to New Zealand’s first innings total today rest on the shoulders of Dinesh Chandimal after he and Dimuth Karunaratne obstinately defied the Kiwi bowlers for much of the second day of the first Test at University Oval in Dunedin. Dismissed for 431 early in the first session, the hosts reduced Sri Lanka to 29 for two when Karunaratne (84) and Chandimal combined in a patient 122run partnership before the left-handed opener was dismissed in the final session. With Angelo Mathews falling for two, just five runs later, Sri Lanka’s inexperienced side will now look to Chandimal to build on their close of play score of 197 for four and ensure they do not concede a mammoth first innings lead. The 26-year-old Chandimal, who

is his country’s leading test run scorer in 2015 and assumed the mantle of the critical number four spot left by the retirement of Mahela Jayawardene, ended play on 83 and within sight of his sixth test century. New Zealand have only bowled one over with the second new ball, however, and opening bowler Trent Boult felt there was still enough in the wicket to put pressure on Sri Lanka early on the third day. “If we can get one early the cliche is one brings two and we’ll be into the tail and that starts with (Rangana) Herath at eight,” Boult told reporters about the importance of breaking Chandimal’s partnership with Kithuruwan Vithanage, who was on 10. “That’s the incentive. “We’re looking to turn up and put a strong foot forward.” Karunaratne and Chandimal had weathered a tough working over from

New Zealand’s four-pronged pace attack and looked well settled to bat through until the close to drag their side closer to parity. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, however, managed to break their partnership when Karunaratne went to cut a delivery that did not turn and only succeeded in getting an edge to wicketkeeper BJ Watling for his third catch of the innings. The 30-year-old took his fourth catch when Tim Southee tempted Mathews with a full delivery on leg stump and he got a faint inside edge before the ball also brushed his pad. Umpire Nigel Llong, who was the centre of controversy as the third umpire in New Zealand’s last Test in Adelaide, initially gave the Sri Lankan captain not out but Paul Reiffel overturned the decision after Brendon McCullum asked for a review.

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings (Overnight: 409-8) M. Guptill c Chandimal b Mathews 156 T. Latham c&b Lakmal 22 K. Williamson c Karunaratne b Pradeep 88 R. Taylor lbw b Pradeep 8 B. McCullum c Vithanage b Siriwardana 75 M. Santner c Chandimal b Chameera 12 B. Watling c Vithanage b Chameera 5 D. Bracewell lbw b Pradeep 47 T. Southee c Siriwardana b Lakmal 2 N. Wagner c Jayasundara b Pradeep 7 T. Boult not out 0 Extras (b-4 lb-3 nb-1 w-1) 9 Total (all out, 96.1 overs) 431 Fall of wickets: 1-56 T. Latham,2-229 K. Williamson,3-245 R. Taylor,4-334 B. McCullum,5-359 M. Santner,6-365 B. Watling,7-394 M. Guptill,8-399 T. Southee,9-426 N. Wagner,10-431 D. Bracewell Bowling:S. Lakma 16 - 1 - 69 – 2, N. Pradeep 23.1 - 2 - 112 – 4, A. Mathews 9 - 2 - 28 – 1,D. Chameera 20 - 2 - 112 - 2(w-1), R. Herath 19 - 1 - 46 – 0,U. Jayasundara 5 - 0 - 33 - 0(nb-1), M. Siriwardana 4 - 0 - 24 – 1. SRI LANKA 1st innings D. Karunaratne c Watling b Santner 84 K. Mendis c Watling b Boult 8 U. Jayasundara c Watling b Wagner 1 D. Chandimal not out 83 A. Mathews c Watling b Southee 2 K. Vithanage not out 10 Extras (b-1 lb-4 nb-4) 9 Total (for 4 wickets, 81 overs) 197 Fall of wickets: 1-19 K. Mendis,2-29 U. Jayasundara,3-151 D. Karunaratne,4-156 A. Mathews To bat: M. Siriwardana, R. Herath, D. Chameera, N. Pradeep, S. Lakmal Bowling: T. Boult 16 - 5 - 38 – 1, T. Southee 16 - 4 - 35 – 1, D. Bracewell 16 - 4 - 29 - 0(nb-4),N. Wagner 13 - 2 - 53 – 1, M. Santner 19 - 6 - 37 – 1,K. Williamson 1 - 1 - 0 - 0

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 12, 2015

Archery extravaganza on this weekend ARCHERY Guyana, a discipline under the Guyana Sport Shooting Federation (GSSF), announced that plans are on stream to host their final archery event

for 2015. The group will host their “Christmas Archery Extravaganza 2015” this weekend at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

Members of the GSSF present at the indoor facility will be able to try the Federation’s member made PVC Olympic-styled Bows that were fabricated with the

assistance of World Archery Americas through their Archery Development Seminar that was held in Guyana a few months ago by Top Columbian Archer Diego

Outdoor Archery Training with Mr. Diego Torres (left) of Columbia at the Leonora Track & Field Facility

Saraswat Primary win Scotiabank Kiddy West Coast Demerara Zone cricket A GOOD all-round effort by skipper Vishal Persaud led Saraswat Primary to victory over Cornelia Ida Primary to emerge as champions of the West Coast Demerara Zone of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Scotiabank Kiddy Progression One Cricket. The match was played at Zeeburg ground where Cornelia Ida Primary batted first and were restricted to 91-7 in their 14 overs. Jodesh Dookie top scored with 23 while Vishal Persaud claimed two wickets for the opposition. Defending a low total, Cornelia Ida never gave up hope of winning as they jubilantly celebrated each wicket to fall. However, Persaud held his nerve to score a composed 28 which led his team to victory as Saraswat Primary reached 95-5 in the 12th over. Sameer Zaman had 1-1 for Cornelia Ida

Saraswat Primary’s captain Vishal Persaud receives the winning Trophy while the team shares the moment. Primary. Meanwhile, on Thursday North Georgetown Primary defeated St Margaret’s Primary by five wickets to win the North Georgetown Zone. The Racquet Centre saw St. Margaret’s Primary win the

toss and take first strike. However, they lost a wicket in the first over of the innings and they never recovered as they limped to 66-7 in 14 overs. None of their batsmen reached double figures as the North Georgetown Primary bowlers didn’t offer many loose de-

liveries. North Georgetown’s Shaquel Jones claimed 2-5. In reply, the eventual victors were led by Nigel Lowe who was unbeaten on 29 and achieved their target in the 10th over losing five wickets in the process.

Stella Maris to face South Ruimveldt for Smalta Girls title today AFTER a few intense weekends of action, the Petra organiSed Smalta Girls 11-and-Under Schools Football Tournament will wrap up today at the Carifesta Sports Complex Ground. Like any other day in the event, a packed schedule brings the curtain down as every team will battle for a place in the final 14. The day gets started at 10:00 hrs even though there was a venue switch from the regular playfield, the Ministry of Education Ground. However, the finals between Stella Maris Primary and

St. Stephen’s Primary kicks off at 13:00 hrs while North Georgetown and South Ruimveldt are billed to face off in the third-place showdown which is scheduled to get underway at 12:15hrs. The other scheduled matches are: West Ruimveldt versus St. Pius – 5th place match Enterprise versus Tucville – 7th place match St. Angela’s versus F.E Pollard – 9th place match St. Margaret’s versus St. Agnes – 11th place match St. Ambrose versus Winfer Gardens – 13th place match

Torres. New members in attendance will be able to obtain instructional training in order to practise the art with a bias towards Indoor Olympic Style shooting in this upcoming Archery Extravaganza. President of the GSSF, Ms. Vidushi Persaud reported that the Board of Directors is planning a rigorous Calendar for the New Year that will include regularly scheduled shooting sessions for this Olympic sport. The 2016 calendar will include both indoor and outdoor Archery seminars, safety instructions, practice sessions, extensive training and a series of competition all using the Federation’s PVC bows, arrows, targets

and other resources. In this regard, Persaud extended thanks to the Government of Guyana, Ministry of Education Department of Sport, and the National Sports Commission for the support they have given to the development of this sport in 2015. She also indicated that under the Archery Guyana tag the GSSF will be taking the sport to various communities around Guyana in an effort to tap into skilled archers in these areas. Some locations earmarked for Archery sessions are the National Gymnasium, the Leonora Synthetic Track, the Providence National Stadium, and the Carifesta Sports Club Ground.

Guinness Greatest In Da Street …

Sparta and Warriors contest Georgetown finals tonight

TONIGHT, the Georgetown leg of the 2015/16 Guinness Greatest In Da Street Futsal Tournament wraps up with the final and third place showdown at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac. Sparta Boss, one of the most dominant futsal forces to emerge lately will face off against Channel-9 Warriors who have had an excellent run so far. These two teams automatically qualified to represent Georgetown in the National Championships next year but at the moment, the top prize of $500 000 will be in minds of the finalists. The runner-up will however have to settle for the second-place purse of $250 000 while the third and fourth-place finishers will pocket $125 000 and $75 000, respectively. Sparta Boss won a pound-for-pound battle against North Ruimveldt in semis on Tuesday night to enter the final, while Channel-9 produced an upset performance to win against former champions Back Circle on penalty kicks. North Ruimveldt and Back Circle are billed to contest the third place match prior to the final. Kick off time is 20:00 hrs.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 12, 2015

Second Stag Beer Super 16 knockout football launched By Stephan Sookram THE second instalment of the Stag Beer Super-16 knock out football competition was yesterday launched as a joint initiative among the East Bank Football Association (EBFA), West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) and the East Demerara Football Association (EDFA). The tournament which is set to commence on December 16 at the Leonora Sports Facility, will feature a 1.5 million dollar purse to the winner, while the secondplaced team will take home 500,000, third place 300,000 and fourth place 200,000. During yesterday’s launch, Public Relations officer of Ansa McAl, the parent company for Stag, Darshanie Yusuf, contended that based on last year’s success, the tournament had to have a second instalment with the overall aim of taking it to every part of the country. “Our whole intention is to ensure that football

is played in this country. What we will do on our part is that we will support football, whether it be from the ground level, whether it be these associations or the

football is played in this country and it is played at such a level that we can be proud.” Ansa McAl, under this programme, will look after

of the sponsorship package as well as their usual beverage products. EBFA President Franklin Wilson during his remarks stated that this time

wider integration of players. “Last year we went the route of having guest players for each team, but based on advice from the Technical

WDFA president Franklin Wilson (Second from right) sits with Ansa McAl P.R.O Darshanie Yusuf, and Linden Henry Stag Brand Coordinator while various team members stand behind (Delano Williams Photo) Stag Elite league where the top brass get to play. But what we will ensure is that

transportation to and from the venue on playing dates for all the participating teams as part

around, they have decided to include West Demerara teams as they look for a

Director of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Claude Bolton, that is not in the rule,

there will be no guest players” and he noted that as Guyana tries to get in line with FIFA transfer window periods, whereby players can only move from club to club during e specified times in the year. Both representatives of the WDFA and EDFA expressed their gratitude at being included in the tournament. The 16-team tournament will feature six West Demerara teams (Eagles, Beavers, Den Amstel, Uitvlugt, Stewartville and Pouderoyen, while five each have been drawn from the East Bank (Agricola, Kuru Kuru Warriors, Herstelling Raiders, Grove High Tech and Soesdyke Falcons) and East Coast (Victoria Kings, BV Triumph, Ann’s Grove, Mahaica and Golden Grove). The opening round will pit Beavers against Herstelling from 18:00 hrs while Uitvlugt and BV triumph get going two hours later.

India kick off World T20 proper Uitvlugt Secondary win National Secondary Schools Cricket League against New Zealand on March 15 UITVLUGT Secondary defeated Leonora Secondary to win the West Coast Demerara Zone of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) National Secondary Schools Cricket League (NSSCL) sponsored by Digicel and Banks DIH. Playing at the Zeeburg ground, Leonora Secondary batted first after being inserted by Uitvlugt and were bundled out for just 94 in 25 overs. Sachin Basdeo was the main contributor with 31 as Reaz Khan who took wickets consistently for his team to finish with 4-16 off six overs, while Reidell Reddy supported well with 3-12. Uitvlugt successfully chased their target with four wickets in hand and nine overs to spare. Dodi Oselmo led the fight with 23 while Chandrapaul Mohabir chipped in with 21. Moen Khan was the pick of the

bowlers for Leonora as he took 3-22. Meanwhile, Charlestown Secondary won their semi-final matchup against Tucville on Thursday at GNIC to move in the South Georgetown zone final. Tucville Secondary won the toss and decided to bat first. However, they could only get to 98-8 when their 20 overs expired. Only Rondave Noel and Godfrey Phillip offered any resistance with 25 and 21 against Qumar Torrington who finished with 4-16. Charlestown Secondary then made light work of their target, finishing the game with a six in the 16th over as they stormed into the final. Torrington showed his all-round ability when he returned to stroke an unbeaten 26. Charlestown Secondary will now play Lodge Secondary in the South Georgetown Zone final on a date to be announced.

Uitvlugt Secondary School claimed the NSSCL West Coast title

By Sudipto Ganguly MUMBAI, (Reuters)-Hosts and inaugural champions India will kick off the Super 10 stage of the World Twenty20 with a March 15 match in Nagpur against New Zealand in the sixth edition of the tournament offering a record $5.6 million in prize money. Mumbai and New Delhi will host the two semi-finals, while Kolkata’s Eden Gardens will stage the final of the March 8-April 3 tournament, to be played across eight venues in India, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Friday. Defending men’s champions Sri Lanka have been placed in Group One of the Super 10 stage along with South Africa, 2010 winners England, 2012 champions West Indies and a qualifier. Group Two will include India, 2009 champions Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and a second qualifier. “We, as hosts, are fully prepared to organise one of the most entertaining spectacles in world cricket,” The Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) secretary Anurag Thakur said at the launch ceremony. “India has hosted World Cups in 1987, 1996 and 2011. We can assure you this time it will be bigger, better and most entertaining.” Eight teams have been

split into two groups for the qualifying stage from March 8-13. Two of them will progress to the Super 10 stage of the event, which will see a 86 percent jump in total prize money for the men’s competition from the last edition in Bangladesh in 2014.

in picturesque Dharamsala, against the backdrop of mountains. “We need a cooler climate for such a high-voltage contest,” Thakur quipped. ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar promised a successful tournament in the game’s financial powerhouse.

(L-R) Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC) David Richardson, Chairman of ICC Shashank Manohar and Secretary of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Anurag Thakur, pose with World Twenty20 trophies during a ceremony to announce the fixtures in...Reuters/Shailesh Andrade The total prize money for the women’s event, to be played simultaneously with the men’s, is $400,000, a 122 percent increase from the previous tournament. Bitter neighbours India and Pakistan, who have been wrangling over a bilateral series this month, will clash in a March 19 contest

“India is a country where cricket is a religion and not many places can match the passion for the game like (in) India,” said Manohar, who is also the BCCI president. “I am fully confident that the BCCI will deliver an outstanding world cricket event.”

Second Stag Beer Super 16 knockout football launched See story on page 31

Giftland Mall hands over packages for National Schools champion athletes GIFTLAND Mall yesterday handed over six packages comprising school supplies that will be given to the Champion Athletes in six age categories from the recently held National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships. Giftland has been a longterm sponsor of the Ministry of Education and Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) National Schools’ Championships, and plans to continue its support of student-athletes to ensure that they become well-rounded individuals and ambassadors. Marketing Assistant at Giftland Mall, Candacy Baveghems, said that the company has a mandate from its President, Roy Beepat, to give back to Guyana. “Our President, Mr. [Roy] Beepat always says that Giftland is about giving back to Guyana, especially youth because they are the future,” Baveghems said. She said that Giftland “is very pleased to be associated with Nationals”. General Secretary of the union, Coretta McDonald,

Marketing Assistant at Giftland Mall, Candacy Baveghems,(second, right) hands over the school packages to GTU General Secretary, Coretta McDonald yesterday in the presence of the Ministry of Education’s Principal Assistant Secretary (Finance), Glendon Fogenay; his Deputy, Allison Odell and Marketing and PR Officer, Edison Jefford. received the packages in the presence of other members of the Management Committee for the National Schools’ Championships. McDonald thanked Giftland for their contribution to the development of

both athletics and academics, stating that it is such support that is required to move sport forward. According to the GTU General Secretary, Giftland’s support raises the profile of the Games.

West Indies follow on after Bravo ton

Darren Bravo celebrates his s e v e n t h Te s t century

See story on page 27

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Giftland will be partnering with the School Championships in an extensive deal that will feature among other aspects, apparel for all the age-group champions and enrolment into its ambassador programme.

The programme will ensure that athletes become well-rounded individuals. It will provide for the holistic development of student-athletes with similar clauses to scholarship. Student-athletes will be able to benefit

from funding for school programmes and athletics participation, and training in fields crucial to their development such as public speaking. Giftland has been a major contributor to the championships since 2010.

Honduras international Peralta shot dead See story on page 27

Arnold Peralta of Honduras is seen during their 2018 World Cup qualifying soccer match against Mexico at Olimpico stadium in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, in this November 17, 2015 file photo. Reuters/Jorge Cabr SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2015