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Granger unveils plan to revive NA No. 104353

MONDAY OCTOBER 26, 2015 GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

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– at launch of Berbice edition of town week P 3 .

Soldiers face off

P.2

…in live ambush exercise at Bartica

Audit finds

Untidy record keeping at IAST

P.9

PM at Hand-in-Hand anniversary celebrations...

Gov’t P.8 looking to partner with insurance companies

Making sure that the enemy is indeed dead (Photo by Delano Williams)

– to help propel development here

Soldiers face off MEMBERS of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) late yesterday demonstrated how an ambush works in real-life situations during the conduct of a Force Tactical Exercise codenamed EXERCISE

GREENHEART. The seven-day exercise, which began last Tuesday and ends today with an inspection by Commander-in-Chief, President David Granger, is being conducted primarily in

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2015

…in live ambush exercise at Bartica

The trap is sprung

the Bartica-Potaro area of Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), the jungle-like terrain of which is conducive to such operations.

Dead? Or just playing possum?

Major Rawle Jerrick, commanding officer of one of the battalions participating in the exercise, told the media that yesterday’s aspect of the operation represents a simple but deadly exercise that is most successful globally. Noting that the exercise at reference is done once a year at different locations, Jerrick said: “An ambush in the military is a surprise attack by force lying in wait on a stationary or moving enemy.” He said that after the ambush is sprung, the next sequence of events is to ensure that all those who appear to be dead are indeed dead. As he was at pains to explain, “It is important that you carry out a diligent search on the target, as most of the times, they would have grenades under their stomachs...” Asked how often troops are trained for such activities, Jerrick said, “We do it as often as possible. You see, the ambush is one of the most deadliest forms of offences practised in all military... Training is an ongoing cycle; you learn the basics, and you have to keep practising to perfect it.” He said that should the situation be reversed, “troops, depending on the distance,

Staking out the enemy

either evade or attack.” He noted that while real grenades and bullets were not used in the exercise, he gave a live impression of what should take place in a real ambush situation. “In an ambush,” he said, “you’d have several teams; early warning is a most critical aspect.” Equally critical, he said, is “the killing group”, as the two

work hand in hand. When similar exercises are conducted, troops awake at 06:00hrs and walk through the jungle. They walk for the entire day, using a map. “When it is evening, we go into a defensive position, and we sleep for the night. And then we continue the next morning,” Major Jerrick said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2015

Granger unveils plans to revive NA – at launch of Berbice edition of Town Week

By Shauna Jemmott PRESIDENT David Granger visited the East Berbice, Corentyne region yesterday and he left New Amsterdam, which he called “The Queen of the Region”, with five pillars on which to build a model town that would generate massive income for the economic development of Guyana. Delivering the feature address before hundreds who witnessed the launching of the inaugural New Amsterdam Town Week celebrations, Granger pointed out that while Region 6 is uniquely “a frontline region”, being the only place where two Caribbean countries touch each other, it can become the most commercially productive, with booming rice and fish industries, with New Amsterdam as the most central of the region’s three towns. New Amsterdam has the potential to be the centre of commercialism in Guyana, if coupled with its rich history and accomplishments, it develops a safer, more organized and welcoming environment. URBAN REVIVAL He visualises Town Week as an opportunity to bring development visions to the table and for stakeholders to make decisions for an urban revival, beginning with the development of a model physical character. “Let us begin tonight to lay a foundation for the revitalization of this community. We want New Amsterdam to be well laid out, to be well drained (and) to be a well zoned town… The mayor and councillors must make New Amsterdam a ‘green town’.” Emblematic with his inaugural environmental

cleansing campaign as President, he threw out the challenge that littering must no longer be associated with New Amsterdam and the bottles and cups, plastic and Styrofoam must be pulled out of gutters and trenches first of all. The community must be redesigned with richer vegetation and the planting fruit and breadfruit trees for beautification and business benefits. “When I say ‘green’, I mean sanitation. I want to see trees; I want to see a boulevard. We have to plant up New Amsterdam with fruit trees; breadfruit trees. Let us keep it looking clean and green. The whole town should come out planting.” And litterbugs, he said, must be penalized and children should be trained to maintain a healthy environment by the various institutions, beginning at home. He referred to a saying of the Amerindians that, “trees hold up the sky”, indicating that planting trees will enrich and elevate communities. Using Bartica as an example, Granger explained that the Region 7 community, which is soon to be officially named a town, has supported the National Tree Day October 3 activities, where each of some 3,000 households decided to plant a bread fruit tree. This move he said will be profitable in the end. “We calculated that if every household in Bartica planted one breadfruit tree, when that breadfruit tree matures, Bartica would be able to produce a million pounds of breadfruit a year.” BUSINESS CENTRE The nation’s business center is what the President said New Amsterdam could Turn to page 13 ►

Scenes from the launch of New Amsterdam Town Week (Photos by Cullen Bess-Nelson)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday October 26, 2015

Guatemala’s Perez says Biden forced him to accept anti-corruption purge By Sofia Menchu and Enrique Pretel GUATEMALA CITY, (Reuters)-Guatemala’s jailed former president, Otto Perez, says he regrets bowing to U.S. pressure to extend the work of an anti-corruption unit that then toppled him from power and that it was U.S. Vice President Joe Biden who forced his hand. Perez resigned and was arrested last month after Guatemala’s attorney general and the U.N.-backed anti-corruption body accused him of leading a customs racket. In a series of meetings earlier this year, U.S. officials pressured Perez to fire corrupt officials and allow the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) to continue its work, officials with direct knowledge of the talks have told Reuters. Renewing the CICIG´s mandate “was one of the things I must regret,” Perez told Reuters on Saturday at the military prison where he is being held awaiting trial. He maintains he is innocent of the charges against him. Perez said he opposed CICIG’s work because it was trampling on Guatemala’s sovereignty but that Biden demanded he renew its mandate and threatened to halt U.S. aid to Guatemala if he refused.

Vice-President Joe Biden (L) and Guatemala’s then-president Otto Perez Molina shaking hands during a photo opportunity at the Presidential Palace in Guatemala City, March 2, 2015. Reuters/ Jorge Dan Lopez toms racket and was working amounts to “a new form of “He told me it was prac- closely with Attorney Gen- (U.S.) interference” in Guatically a condition” for the eral Thelma Aldana. Perez temala’s affairs and that his aid, Perez said in a small reluctantly agreed in April to country has surrendered its courtyard surrounded by 10 allow it to continue its work sovereignty over the justice guards, adding that Biden and its investigation led to system by allowing the unit pressured him twice in per- the removal of cabinet min- to operate. isters, the vice-president and son and twice on the phone. “It is a commission CICIG spearheaded the finally Perez himself. that reports to no-one,” P e r e z s a i d C I C I G he said, accusing its head, probe into the alleged cus-

former Colombian state prosecutor Ivan Velasquez, of using the support of the U.S. government and the United Nations to throw his weight around. “With the interests of the U.S. embassy behind him, he felt all-powerful and undoubtedly responds to their interests.” A spokeswoman for Biden said the vice president had “consistently made clear to leaders throughout the Central American region that U.S. assistance was only possible if they continued to make progress on tackling corruption”. She said that Biden, who on Wednesday ruled out a run for president in 2016, emphasized that CICIG’s extension was important in the effort and that “has also made clear that CICIG is a model other countries should emulate.” She did not say whether

Biden specifically made the extension of CICIG’s mandate a condition of continued U.S. aid to Guatemala. Perez said on Saturday that U.S. pressure forced him to yield and that he had also not wanted to give the impression he was “hiding something.” The United States early this year offered $1 billion in new aid to help revitalise Central America - one of the world’s poorest and most violent regions - and stem the flood of child migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The three countries say they need as much as $20 billion from a variety of sources over the coming years to lift their economies with improved infrastructure and better education to curb undocumented migration into the United States, according to a plan seen by Reuters.

In Hurricane Patricia’s wake, heavy rains move toward Louisiana (Reuters)-TORRENTIAL rains pounded southeastern Texas yesterday as the remnants of Hurricane Patricia converged with a second storm system, but the area that is home to more than six million people and the center of the U.S. refinery industry sustained little damage. More than 9 inches (23 cm) of rain swelled rivers and flooded roads in parts of the Houston area, but no injuries or deaths were reported as of Sunday morning as flash flood warnings ended and storms targeted southwest Louisiana. “Expect rain all day, but (the) storm has largely passed with minor problems,” Houston Mayor Annise Parker said

on Twitter on Sunday. Petroleum refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast - more than 40 percent of U.S. capacity - appeared to have survived the storm unscathed. In the Eagle Ford and Permian Basin oil fields of south and west Texas, firms did not report any major production cuts. While the rains were steady and heavy in Houston, they came after a month-long dry spell so flooding was relatively limited. Two dozen people died in Texas in a one-week period in May after record rainfall sparked flooding that ripped homes from foundations and swept over vehicles. The storms over the past

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two days drenched a large swath from south of Dallas to the southeast coast, triggering flash flooding in Navarro County, about 50 miles (80 km) south of Dallas, on Saturday. A Union Pacific freight train carrying cement derailed in Navarro County after a creek overflowed, washing out the tracks. Locomotives and rail cars were pushed on their sides, and a two-person crew was forced to swim to safety. Repair teams cleared the derailed cars by Sunday morning, but they were not expected to be righted for several hours and a locomotive was not seen being moved until later in the day, Union Pacific spokesman Jeff DeGraff said

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on Sunday afternoon. Crews began to repair damaged tracks, but water was still rushing over sections. The rail line was not due to reopen until Monday at the earliest, he said. Navarro County was one of the hardest-hit areas. The tiny town of Powell got 20 inches (50 cm) of rain over 30 hours, said meteorologist Brett Rathbun of Accuweather. Navarro County Sheriff Elmer Tanner reported dozens of rescues from vehicles, homes and businesses since Friday. Interstate 45, nearly 300 miles long running from Dallas to Houston to Galveston, was shut down in Navarro on Saturday, then reopened Sunday morning. In San Antonio, a woman

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reported her boyfriend being swept into a drainage ditch as he walked his dog early Saturday. Officials said he was considered missing. There were no confirmed deaths reported. The rain systems were intensified by the remnants of Patricia, which was downgraded to a tropical depression after crashing into Mexico’s west coast on Friday as a powerful hurricane. The Houston Fire Department responded to 28 water rescue calls from Saturday morning to Sunday morning, Captain Ruy Lozano said. One man sleeping under a bridge was rescued by boat after climbing a tree, he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday October 26, 2015

New Region 6 water facility to benefit over 5, 000 households

GUYANA Water Inc. (GWI) Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles met with Region 6 Chairman David Armogan and Regional Executive Officer (REO) Dr. Versammy Ramaya last Thursday to discuss the current developmental plan for the water sector in the region. “With such a densely populated region, GWI’s aim is ensure consistent and quality service with minimum disruptions,” stated Dr. Van West-Charles in his remarks to the Regional

Chairman and REO. “With the recent investment in the region’s water service infrastructure, GWI will ensure that all works are executed to a high standard with the improvement of the standard of living being the ultimate goal.”

GWI CEO Dr. Van West Charles in discussion with Region 6 officials.

Three new entities join Giftland family

THE Closet, Designz Unlimited and Rare Findz yesterday opened their doors to the public at the Giftland Mall, joining an unending list of companies to see the location as fertile ground in which to grow

their business. Nadia Jonas, owner of the Closet, told the Guyana Chronicle that hers is the first establishment of its kind here, as it brings to the Guyanese public “classy English clothing” best suited

for work purposes. “We are trying to move away from the everyday basic American style, and the clothing which I have to offer will offer that opportunity at an affordable price to the consumers,” Jonas

A close-up of The Closet

Rare Findz Chaka Parris on location (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

said, adding that the reason she chose the Giftland Mall was because of its newness among other factors. For Chaka Parris, the owner of Rare Findz, coming to Giftland will afford her the opportunity to attract even more clientele than she already has at her branch store on Robb Street, which has been doing “exceedingly well” since it opened. She has in stock a wide variety selection of male and female apparel, which she sells at affordable prices.

STATE-OF-THE-ART The Government of Guyana is investing $2.581 billion to improve the water sector infrastructure across all the administrative regions and GWI customers in Region 6 will benefit from the construction of a state-of-the-art water treatment facility at Sheet Anchor which will serve customers from No. 19 Village to Fort Ordinace and Good Banana Land, Canje. The construction of the new facility forms part of the Water Supply and Sanitation Infrastructure Improvement Programme (WSSIIP), funded by the Government of Guyana, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Caribbean Investment Facility (CIF) of the European Union (EU). In excess of 20, 500 or more than 5, 300 households will have enhanced levels of service and improved quality of water upon completion of the facility which will

commence construction in January 2016. WATER METERS To encourage water conservation by customers, the programme will include the installation of water meters within the project area. To foster improved public health, the programme also includes a component for the installation of septic tanks within the community of Sheet Anchor, East Berbice. “Enhancing public health through the provision of safe, potable water and the improvement of the sanitation system is the main thrust of the water service improvement programme for Region 6,” stated Dr. Van West Charles. “We are partnering with the regional administration, NDCs and all community-oriented bodies to ensure that GWI customers of Region 6 benefit from an improved quality of life,” he added. GWI would be available 24-hours to the regional administration through Divisional Manager, East Berbice, Jawaharlal Ramjug, who will be implementing an ‘after-hours’ emergency team to respond to service disruptions, leaks and any emergencies.

Guyana

EDITORIAL

Salary hike and communication

THERE is a great deal of talk and writing about the proposed salary increases for our senior politicians, including the President, the Vice-Presidents, Senior and Junior Ministers, and Members of Parliament. It is a sensitive issue, and just about every citizen has an opinion. A great number of our citizens seem to find these salary increases to be unreasonable and untimely. There have been a series of cross-signals in the press. Unions and their veterans have weighed in, adding to the entanglement. All reported in the press, and all for or against, vilification or verification or vindication. To most of us, it is all very confusing. The justification for the increases in vice-presidential and ministerial salaries is communicated through percentages and comparative statistics. The Minister of State has tried to convey the justification. It makes sense for people who are adroit with statistics and percentages and figures. It could all be because the messages of vilification and justification are simply not clear to many. It could be that the ordinary folk of this country would prefer talk in dollars and cents, and to be shown clearly what it means to them. Many of this nation cannot even conceive of $100,000 or so per month, much less millions per year. It must seem so exorbitant; it is a matter of perception, and politicians ought to be cognisant of perception and perspective. It may be a matter of the manner in which we convey the message, rather than the substance of the message; the enveloppe rather than the letter in which the letter is pouched. Maybe. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has even gone on record as saying that the issue was not communicated properly, and blamed his office, which has responsibility for public information, for this breakdown. We hope not to add to the confusion, but in other places in the world, people are paid according to qualifications and experience. Politicians ought not to be exempt from this basic remunerative principle, something which President David Granger has alluded to in making reference to the salaries some of his ministers earned while working in the private sector. Many of our new ministers in our new government have little governance experience, but many are well qualified. Of course, being in government is not equivalent to experience in governance. This goes for all governments, whatever the stripe and era. The issue may not even be qualifications, since a first degree in law is not equal to a doctorate. And

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday October 26, 2015

City cleaners need protective gear I HAVE observed, within the central districts of Georgetown, a flurry of activity in terms of the cleaning of drains, weeding and levelling of parapets, and the replanting of trees that were lost over time. This situation reminds me of Washington Irving’s story, where Rip van Winkle fell asleep and woke up 20 years later, having missed the American Revolution, the death of his wife, the marriage of his daughter, and the birth of his grandson. This is the same period of time that Hamilton Green and his Councillors took office at City Hall, and have now seemingly awakened. However, my more serious concern has to do with the health, safety and welfare of the workers carrying out these remedial works. Having spoken to a number of them

at the Bourda Cemetery and in the Lacytown area, I learnt that they were not workers of the City Council, but rather were hired by individuals who were given contracts by the Council to carry out these works. These workers, who were doing a very painstaking and first-class job, complained that they were being paid low wages; were given no protective gear; were not covered by any insurance scheme; and did not have access to any disinfectants. In fact, they were without a simple first aid kit, or drinking water to alleviate dehydration in the sweltering heat. This is in spite of the persons who were given the cleaning contracts by Council being paid tens of millions of dollars. Now, surely, the Georgetown City Council must appreciate the need to build

into the contracts being doled out, provisions to ensure that suitable personal protective equipment must be provided to the workers, that must include waterproof/ abrasion-resistant gloves, footwear, and eye and respiratory protection. Face visors are particularly important against splashes. That they also provide adequate welfare facilities, including clean water, soap, nail-brushes, disposable paper towels, and where heavy contamination is foreseeable, such as the Bourda Cemetery where the remains of many cholera victims lie, showers. Also, portable toilet facilities should be provided. For injuries which will inadvertently occur because of broken bottles, rusty nails, and other unmentionables lying in the canals and alleyways, it should be mandatory

that the workers are provided with adequate first-aid equipment, including clean water or sterile wipes for cleansing wounds, and a supply of sterile, waterproof, adhesive dressings. Not because it is not City Council workers doing the work, should the Council be exonerated morally or legally from ensuring the proper taxes are paid by the contractors; that the NIS laws are respected; that the occupational health and safety act of Guyana is upheld; and that proper wages and premiums are paid to these cleaners. But then again, 95% of the contracts given out are to Councillors, friends and family members of Councillors and Officers. It should be given to reputable companies and contractors instead. MARK ROOPAN

Border controversy with Venezuela...

Ralph Gonsalves believes CARICOM will stand with Guyana PRIME Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has said that the “ballgame”, the nature of CARICOM’s relations with Venezuela, would change should that country ever exercise the military option in pursuit of its claim to Guyana’s territory. He said that CARICOM maintains that the territorial integrity of Guyana must remain intact, in keeping with the 1899 Arbitral Award, and has publicly expressed its position on numerous occasions. He said CARICOM

had expressed its grave concern to the initial decree issued by President Maduro, and that it was withdrawn and replaced with one that was not threatening. Prime Minister Gonsalves was responding to a question I posed to him during the question period following his Eric Williams Memorial Lecture at Florida International University on Friday night. Gonsalves said that CARICOM supports the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the controversy, noting that

then, not all doctorates are equal, especially given the fact that many who hold doctorates are woeful as administrators. What about a person who has served as a defence lawyer, or a prosecutor, with excellence? In essence, it is about the standards that we use to measure our service. Does sheer hard work matter? Hard work is not equivalent to results, but hard work should be recognised as being so. Back to competence! As taxpayers, we would be happy to reward competence. We should be, anyway. So, qualifications plus industry, plus effort, plus competence. Qualifications plus proven competence, plus dogged hard work, plus results ought to be rewarded highly. Many of our ministers are working practically around-the-clock. Apart from the seeming not-so-good communication is the fact that our efforts are bedevilled by the ‘red-tape’ we have inherited, and that we cannot seem capable of changing.

Ban Ki-moon met recently with Presidents Granger and Maduro in this regard. He said CARICOM supports a legal approach to resolving the controversy. Noting that there had been movement of Venezuelan troops along the border with Guyana not so long ago, Gonsalves said that in his view, Maduro would not exercise the military option, although there were forces in Venezuela that would want to use that option. It is not an easy situation for Guyana, he said, but he is of the strong belief that the controversy

will be settled peacefully. I have written this letter to share with your readers a view expressed about CARICOM’s support for Guyana on the Venezuelan issue by one of its leaders. There was much said about Guyana in Dr. Gonsalves’ lecture, especially about the role the country played under Forbes Burnham especially, as part of CARICOM to pave the way for the process towards normalisation of US/Cuba relations. WESLEY KIRTON

This change takes a different kind of quiet work. It may not be popular, and may not be broadcast, but it is all so desperately needed. In the world of business, they know full well the idea of incentive and encouragement. Governing a country is business, so yes, incentives. In the world of politics anywhere, the time for politicians to give themselves a pay hike is never right. If these salary increases were to be done in two or three or four years, the time still will not be right. It never is. The amount or percentage of increases will never be right either. Perception again, so communication again. Clear, simple, concise and precise communication. It is communication that governs perception. Make it simple. Geniuses make very complex things seem simple; the mediocre makes simple things seem difficult. The latter make much ado about nothing.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday October 26, 2015

Red-circling the AG’s salary would have been a wiser solution WE all know that hindsight is 20/20 vision, and that the dilemma of raising the bridge versus controlling the flood must be confronted from time to time. As reported in the media, the government felt obliged to raise the salary of the Prime Minister, Vice-Presidents, Ministers, et al in order to remove the anomalies in the salaries payable to the incumbents in its upper echelons, vis-à-vis what is paid to the Attorney-General. The ideal would have been a comprehensive Job

Evaluation exercise. In the absence of the latter, an alternative solution was the “red-circling” approach, as provided for in professional salary administration principles and practices. ”Red-circling”, in this case, would have meant holding the AG´s salary at its historical (not objectively/systematically evaluated) level until incremental increases in the related salaries catch up or achieve job-evaluated relativities. As has been reported, the

abnormally high salary attached to the AG’s post goes back many decades when, because of the unusual demands and circumstances at the time, it was necessary to ‘import’ a Guyanese legal luminary with the unique competences required at that particular time. This brilliant Guyanese had to be lured from his highpaying position overseas to discharge the unprecedented responsibilities required of the post, given the unusual context

at that time. It was obviously a unique situation that required unconventional treatment. The unusual salary paid then should have been discontinued when the circumstances changed, as indeed they did, and the incumbent demitted the said office and returned overseas. The unfortunate error, or oversight, in not doing so before does not mean that it should have been continued, ad infinitum, certainly not till this day. Therefore, instead of en-

Fixing the problems in our society WHILE visiting one of my in-laws in Zeelugt during the past week, I was saddened to hear her moans after receiving her first water bill under this new administration, although she’s a pensioner. Like her, many others are faced with the same dilemma, but the cry does not stop there. During the day, water is turned off around 10:00hrs and turned on in the afternoon after 15:00hrs. At Cornelia Ida, water

flowing through their main is switched off around 18:00hrs, and switched back on around 06:15hrs next day. Most people have to resort to storing water in containers, especially cane-cutters who leave their homes between 04:00 – 05:00hrs. At Uitvlugt, the water is switched off after 21:00hrs, and switched back on the following morning. Many of these people don’t have meters, but they still have

to pay the full amount that is requested by GWI, whilst many without meters get the full 24hrs service, paying the same money. Before the elections, I penned a letter commending the pressure that I was getting; surprisingly, after the elections, I have to go back to using a bowl to full a bucket. With all the promises before the elections, I would have expected better; sadly, like many others. I am disappointed. Finally, editor, a recent

survey was published with the results about school dropouts and drugs usage amongst our youths, and years before I wrote a letter citing the high increase and using Zeelugt as an example. To date, it still continues, and vulnerable youths are being introduced to drugs and sex and crime. No one, organisation or ministry, visits that village to offer help, but everyone jumps and cheers when the organisation came and spent a

tertaining the flood of unprecedented salary increases to correct the untenable and unjustifiable differentials between the AG´s salary and his colleagues, and given all the circumstantial considerations which cannot be ignored at this stage of Guyana’s affordability, the more equitable solution would have been to ‘hold’, or reduce, the salary level attached to the AG’s post before a new AG was appointed. Reduction of the disproportionate relativities would have

been initiated, and the government would have been spared the millstone it has now put around its neck, which future governments in relatively poor Guyana would have to carry. Certainly, the current ground-swell of acrimony would have been avoided, thus allowing the government to focus on the important and urgent task of attending to the development of Guyana.

huge amount of money to conduct a survey to tell us what we already know without any help. Our legal system needs great improvement; instead of visiting places to tell us about the condition and blaming the previous administration, they should actually do something about it. We already know about the condition; we don’t need a reminder. Health Centres and Hospitals are still without drugs. Dr. Jennifer Westford got charged, and to date her matter is still pending in court. Similarly, many other people are locked away in

prison awaiting trial, but unlike her, they don’t have freedom. We are reading every day about corruption by the previous administration, and this present administration’s intentions of getting them charged; but, given the way our legal administration operates, I am quite sure that another election will come, and if they are to get charged, their matters will still be pending in the courts. Are we going to actually see improvement, or continue to dream about it?

NOWRANG PERSAUD

SAHADEO BATES

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2015

PM at Hand-in-Hand anniversary celebrations...

Gov’t looking to partner with insurance companies – to help propel development here By Rabindra Rooplall THERE is need for government to partner with insurance companies to ensure that there are sufficient securities for investment, and attractive profiles to develop Guyana. This is the position taken by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo during his feature address at an event at the Marriott Hotel Saturday evening to mark the 150th Anniversary of the Hand-inHand Group of Companies. According to the Prime Minister, Guyana has embarked on the regulatory strengthening of the insurance sectors, since insurance and pensions protect the poor against vulnerability and livelihood risks, allowing for

an increase in income and consumption and an accumulation of assets. Nagamootoo said government has recognised the important role the insurance industry has to play in the transformation of Guyana’s economy. In that light, the debacle of Colonial Life Insurance Company Limited (CLICO) can bring about the loss of confidence in the local insurance industry, which is a peril to the industry and citizens. AFTER CLICO CLICO collapsed in January 2009, following the global financial crisis in 2008. The global recession exposed the company’s inability to meet its commitments to pay

maturing investments at CLICO and CLICO Investment Bank (CIB). “Together, government and financial institutions must guard against this occurring again by putting measures in place to ensure that the industry is supervised and regulated in the most efficient manner. And so the insurance industry is now under the purview of the Central Bank, and the new insurance Act has recently been drafted to repeal the Insurance Act of 1998 under which insurance companies operate,” the Prime Minister explained. “This is to bring insurance companies in line with international best practices, and meet the country’s specific needs.” Noting that the company plans to expand into the banking sector, Naga-

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and wife Sita with Chairman of the Hand in Hand Group John G. Carpenter at one of the many postage stamp displays to observe the insurance company’s 150th anniversary

mootoo said: “I commend the company for its immense contribution to the local insurance industry and the company should be proud of its achievement, over the past 150 years. In order to differentiate yourself from your competitors, you need to be in the forefront of innovation, creating new products that can resonate with a discerning and skeptical public.” He said the company must look for profitable investments that will accelerate growth and development in Guyana. “I rejoice with you, because not only have you helped Guyanese to mitigate the impact of grief, losses and injuries, but because the insurance industry of which you’re a pioneer has contributed to economic and financial development in Guyana,” the Prime Minister said. “The company has gone through a remarkable transformation from its humble beginnings and to become a major player in the insurance industry in Guyana today.” ESSENTIAL SERVICES He said insurance services are essential to the economic by social development and stability of any economy by reducing uncertainty and development, making the economic cycle smoother. Additionally, the Prime Minister said that as part of the financial system, customers are allowed the choice to diversify their portfolios by investing in alternative financial instruments. “Since Hand in Hand

commenced operation in Guyana the insurance companies have expanded and evolved. The industry and its benefits of having insurance have become better understood and the industry is now well received by the public,” he explained. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Hand in Hand Group, John G. Carpenter said the company, as the largest Trust institution in Guyana, has a long and proud history of local service. Underscoring its genesis at a critical point and time in Guyana, Carpenter said in 1864 when Georgetown was a rapidly expanding wooden city with thousands of buildings in close proximity, the fear of fire was always present. He explained that the fear was realised after in the same year there were two disastrous fires which crippled the commercial area of Georgetown with losses that would amount to one billion dollars in today’s value. At that time the insurance for the city was controlled by expatriate companies, Carpenter observed. He said the companies had decided after those fires to increase their rates from 4 per cent to 6 per cent of the sum insured. “This was extremely difficult for the already locally suffering businesses to deal with those sort of premiums.” In October 1865, he said a group of local businessmen launched the Hand In Hand Mutual Fire Insurance Company Ltd.

INDIGENOUS ENTERPRISE “This company was probably one of the first examples in Guyana of an indigenous enterprise venturing into an arena that was previously controlled by expatriates.” In August 10, 1878, he said the foundation stone was laid and the Hand in Hand building stands now next to the Bank of Guyana. “Even in 2015 that is a classic building, it appears modern even in today’s standards which has enhanced the city of Georgetown for all those years.” He declared, “I would like to emphasise our pride in what Hand in Hand has achieved in 150 years. During that time we have served our policyholders efficiently and in full recognition of the importance of what we represent in the lives of the ordinary people.” POSTAGE STAMPS To also commemorate the anniversary, the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC), in collaboration with the Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies, released four new locally-themed postage stamps earlier this month to observe the insurance institution’s 150th Anniversary. Stamps will be available for circulation in $80 and $150 denominations at selected post offices. The Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies was established in 1865 and began its operations at its current location and today the company operates 14 offices countrywide.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2015

Audit finds...

‘Untidy’ financial record-keeping at IAST

– improperly maintained cash book among other lapses THE Audit Office has found a number of shortcomings in the financial statement for the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) for year ending December 31, 2010. According to Auditor-General, Deodat Sharma, while bank-confirmation letters reflect a balance of $45.784M at December 31, 2010, but nothing to show opening and closing balances at the end of each month for the entire year under review. As a result of this, he said, the overdraft of $844,499M reported in the financial statements could not be verified. The Audit Office has also revealed that the cash book for the Institute was not properly maintained, and there were no opening and closing balances for each month. Further, a Suspense Account of $32.6M was re-

Gopaul wanted for fraud

ported in the financial statements, and this would have resulted in an under/over statement in one or more accounts, as the Statement of Cash Flows presented was not balanced. According to the auditors’ report, the amount of $153.545 million was reported as net book value of the fixed asset for the year under review, and the Institute did not maintain a Fixed Assets register and general ledger. Included in the figure were assets acquired in the previous years to the value of $4.260 million, which could not be verified, since relevant records and schedules were not presented to substantiate the existence of such assets. The auditors have recommended that IAST management introduce and maintain a Fix Asset register, which is required to be kept as a permanent record. It was also found that the Institute maintained a revenue account with Republic Bank Limited for the year under review. The Bank’s confirmation letters reflected the balance at December 31, 2010 for the year under review as $6.190 million. However, a cash book was not maintained, nor was

the bank account reconciled, and as such, the balance of $6.190 million reported as cash and cash equivalent for the revenue account could not be verified. UNACCEPTABLE “This state of affairs is unacceptable and should be corrected, since bank reconciliation statements should be properly prepared and certified to validate authenticity. The statements should be properly stored and preserved for presentation to the auditors,” the audit report said. The auditors also found that the amount of $50,000 was reflected as debtors in the financial statement for the period under review, but a general ledger was not maintained nor was a schedule of the debtors presented for the audit examination. The non-maintenance of the general ledger made examination difficult, since pertinent details of the figure could not be verified. As a result, the completeness, accuracy and validity of the figure was not verified. This aside, the report noted that an amount of $6000 was reflected as creditors for the year under review and the bank-confirmation letters reflected the balance at December 31,

Wanted: Gopaul Tawari, called ‘Omkar’

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday issued a wanted bulletin for Gopaul Tawari, called ‘Omkar’, for questioning in relation to a series of fraudulent activities which occurred between October 19-22, 2015. The police is asking that anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Tawari to contact them on telephone numbers 229-2700-3; 229-2557; 225-6411; and 226-9941; 911; or the nearest police station. All information will be treated with strict confidentiality, the police stated. Tawari, 46, is of East Indian descent and brown in complexion. He is 173 cm tall, and his last known address is Lot 73, Second Street, Craig Village, East Bank Demerara.

Monday, October 26, 2015 - 14:30 hrs Tuesday, October 27, 2015 - 14:30 hrs Wednesday, October 28, 2015 - 05:00 hrs

2010 as $45.784 million. The cash book for the general account, the auditors said was not properly maintained and again, the opening and closing balances were not reflected at the end of each month for the entire year under review. As a result, the overdraft

balance of $844,499 reported in the financial statements could not be verified. And for the Suspense Account of $32.6 million, the details and supporting documents were not presented to the auditors. The audit report noted that since the Suspense Account is made up of un-reconciled balances that existed

in the financial statements over a number of years, the amount of $32.6 million acts as a balancing figure in the Institute’s accounts. “Given the circumstance, it would seem that material errors have occurred over the years, which have not been clarified to date,” the audit report said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2015

Guyanese rum to feature at Toast of Brooklyn By Tangerine Clarke T H E a n n u a l To a s t o f Brooklyn Food and Wine Festival, slated for November 6 and 7, will for the first time include a farmer’s market. Approved by the New York Department of Agriculture, the farmer’s market will allow vintners to sell their products at the event. Artisans will, also for the first time, showcase and sell their art and craft at the festival, which is expected to draw thousands of patrons over the weekend celebration set for the Brooklyn Industrial Studios at 1260 Atlantic Ave., between Bedford and Nostrand Avenues. More than 20 New York State wines, as well as brands from the Caribbean, Guyana and South Africa will be available for sampling and for sale. The event, which will have live entertainment, will start with an invitation-only awards ceremony on Friday, November 6. Two sessions will be held the following day, from 12:30hrs to 16:30hrs, and 17:00hrs to 21:00hrs, where nationally acclaimed Chef Irie of the recently launched

Taste of the Islands TV show on PBS, and Create TV will showcase his cooking skills. The South Florida-based chef will conduct cooking demonstrations, and will dish out his delectable Caribbean and American cuisine during the Saturday session of the festival. Some of the brands slated for the festival include Royal Wines, Jamaica’s Appleton Rum, and Guyana’s XM line of spirits. Others are Obikwa, that offers a range of high-quality and affordable South African wines, as well as Mandela Wines, Fulkerson Winery, Birthday Cake Vineyards, AVIVA Vodka, America’s Southern Wines, Gallo Wines, Hennessy, Opici Wines and many others. Founding member of Toast of Brooklyn group and Bedford Stuyvesant Gateway official, Guyanese-born Edmon Braithwaite, said when the African-American community in the area wanted to celebrate Bedford Stuyvesant with something advanced and classy, it was the help of then President of Carver Bank Debra Wright who offered space in the bank to host the first festival in 2008.

“We African Americans spend billions of dollars in this industry, but do not get a fair shake, and proper representation,” said Braithwaite, owner of Nostrand Wines and Liquors in Bedford Stuyvesant, and a member of the Fulton Nostrand United Merchants Association (FNUMA). “It was a stunning move by Ms Wright who felt it was important to give this event we were going to host, the recognition it needed seven-years ago,” added Braithwaite, who, along with organisers are adding the last touches to showcase some of the industry’s best connoisseurs. “This year the festival will be bigger and better in its new venue that can hold thousands of guests,” said Braithwaite, who has over the last 15 years built his wine and spirits business to prominence in Brooklyn. “We are still working on finalising other brands, like a Barbados rum,” added Braithwaite who said a fee of US$50.00 per session will give patrons access to all tasting and access to vintners and artisans. (Reprinted courtesy Caribbean Life)

Santa Rosa Secondary outperforms – at annual education Region 1 counterparts awards ceremony

Awardees and education officials of the Moruca Sub-Region in Region 1 pose for a picture at the annual education awards ceremony

THE Education Department of the Moruca Sub-Region in Region 1 (Barima/Waini) held its annual award ceremony earlier this month when outstanding students and teachers were awarded in their various fields. Regional Education Officer Nigel Richards in his remarks, indicated that Santa Rosa had performed the best in the region at the National Grades 4 and 6 and CSEC examinations in 2015. The region’s top Grade 6 pupil, Carlos Hernandez of Santa Rosa Primary, gained 512 marks, and was awarded a place at St. Stanislaus College. However, he has chosen to remain in the village, and attend Santa Rosa Secondary. Santa Rosa Secondary, one of the three secondary schools in Region 1, has outperformed its counterparts at the recent Caribbean

Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination, with an average Grades 1 to 3 passes of 62 per cent, with three of its students securing 10 Grade Ones, including distinctions in English and Mathematics. These awardees were Delon John, Trishell Torres, and Alicia Harris. The school has also secured its highest ever passes in mathematics, and highest number of students matriculating in its history. Commenting on the performance of the school, former Head teacher Marti De Souza, who is now seconded to the Department of Education in Georgetown, indicated that the success of the school came about as a result of careful planning, proper supervision and dedication on the part of all teachers. There is little surprise that the school has performed well since the statistics over

the past five years has shown steady and consistent progress. PTA Several teachers of Santa Rosa Secondary and Waramuri Primary (Secondary Department) also received awards for their excellent output at the CSEC examination. Two retirees were also awarded for their contribution to education in the region, while the excellent contributions of the Parent Teacher Association of schools were also recognised. Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley congratulated the awardees and charged the schools to continue to perform and to do even better in the years to come. He also pledged the Regional Democratic Council’s full support for the development of education in the region.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2015

Police explain SOP for removal of human remains – slam Kaieteur News article THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday responded to an article published in the day’s edition of the Kaieteur News titled “Police now selling the dead.” According to the police in a press release, part of this investigation requires that the post-mortem be done by a registered government pathologist. The practice of the police has been that whenever an unnatural death occurs at a place other than at public hospitals with storage facilities for bodies, the police will have these bodies stored at a funeral parlour until the

post-mortem is conducted. Thereafter, the body will be handed over to relatives for burial. Whenever no relatives come forward to accept the body, the police will cause it to be disposed of at the expense of the State. Among the funeral parlours being used by the GPF is Lyken’s Funeral Parlour. However, unlike the complaint made by Managing Director of Lyken’s Funeral Parlour, Dr Dawn Stewart, that she is now having problems with the police, that funeral parlour has been complaining a long time ago with

the advent of competition in the industry, the release said. The fact that she is complaining of non-payment since 2012 is evidence that the complaints started long before this sitting police commissioner. Again, unlike what is reported by Dr. Stewart, the unpaid monies (not consistent with her version) are still being processed by the government,the police explained yesterday in the press statement. The GPF noted too that the standard procedure relating to the removal of human remains is for detectives to inform the Duty Officer in the Police Division whenever processing of the scene is

completed. The Duty Officer will then call a parlour to pick up the body and store it. Earlier this year, the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) by way of a letter informed the commissioner of police (COP) that it is handling funerals of Muslims in Guyana and paying costs associated with those deaths, GPF said. They also informed the GPF that they have a contractual agreement with the Memorial and Crematorium Gardens Funeral Parlour to handle bodies and funerals of Muslims. The CIOG requested that the GPF facilitate the collection of bodies by the

said Memorial and Crematorium Gardens Funeral Parlour from the scene. The GPF found the request to be a reasonable one and as a result, the commissioner of police (COP) forwarded the letter to the Divisional Commanders with instructions to facilitate the request.

MONOPOLY No funeral parlour complains about this arrangement except the Lyken Funeral Parlour, which has been insisting that it has a contract with the GPF that gives them a monopoly to uplift and store bodies. However, when asked by

the GPF and other government authorities to produce a copy of the said contract, Dr. Stewart has so far failed to so do . The GPF believes that Kaieteur News would have been able to publish a far more professional account of this matter had they contacted the funeral home that Dr. Stewart referred to, or any Muslim organisation in Guyana instead of behaving unprofessionally in the publication of the article referred to and that of “Dem boys seh” also in Kaieteur News of Sunday, October 25, 2015 captioned “Two big man touting dead people.”

Public Health Ministry Suspects in Pouderoyen donates to Mabaruma armed robbery arrested Heritage Committee MINISTER within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings last Friday, on behalf of the ministry, made a donation to Treasurer of the Mabaruma Heritage Committee, Amanda Gomes. The Mabaruma Heriage Committee is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) involved in promoting various cultural activities, sports and health-related issues such HIV/AIDS awareness programmes in Region One (Barima-Waini) communities for the past nine years.

Meanwhile, the communities of that region have benefited economically and socially from the activities spearheaded by the committee in the past years. The mission of the Mabaruma Heritage Committee Initiative is to help young, underprivileged youths and communities by providing opportunities through training programmes and by assisting communities to promote culture and sports. The Mabaruma Heritage Committee Initiative also

Minister Cummings hands over the cheque to Treasurer of the Mabaruma Heritage Committee, Amanda Gomes

aims to develop a closer relationship with members of the public, business community and community leaders. It also seeks to collaborate with government ministries and other stakeholders in order to make a positive difference in the lives of the poor and the needy, in order to foster self-confidence and personal growth.

FIVE suspects have been arrested and are cooperating with investigators in connection with an armed robbery last Thursday at Sookram’s residence, Samaroo Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara (WBD). According to reports, the suspects, whose apprehension is due to diligent work by ranks of ‘D’ Division, are likely to be charged soon and placed before the court.

Around 20:30 hrs on Thursday, five men, one of whom was armed with a handgun and the others with cutlasses, entered the home of Andy Sookram, 54, of 82 Samaroo Dam, Pouderoyen, WBD, and tied up himself and occupants, Andrew Sookram, 18, and Esardai Sookram, 47. The men then took away two generators, a weeding machine, eight gold finger rings, two gas cylinders and four cell phones and

escaped. During the home invasion, the bandits terrorised the victims and even dealt them some blows about their bodies before making good their escape after spending some time inside the house ransacking it and selecting what they wanted. The house is without electricity and the family had received barrels from overseas, which included the generators, among other things.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday October 26, 2015

No financial discrepancies found at Go-Invest

HE Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest) has scored a rarity: It was probably the only State agency which was given a clean financial bill of health by the Audit Office. The Auditor-General, in his 2013 report, said the entity’s financial performance and cash flows for the year in question was in accordance with international financial reporting standards. Go-Invest was at the time headed by Keith Burrowes. However, the Auditor-General pointed out that audit examination of payroll and personnel files for the period under review has revealed that an employee who joined Go-Invest on January 1, 2013 received a gross salary of $562,552 for the entire year. But employee and employer’s National Insurance Scheme (NIS) totalling $31,497 and $40,497 respectively were not deducted for the period 2013. It was also observed that the employee was not registered with the Scheme for the period reviewed. The auditors noted that deductions for, and registration with the scheme have implications for social security benefits. As a result, the NIS contributions would have been understated for the year in review. The Audit Office recommends that the management of Go-Invest ensures that all statutory deductions had are deducted and paid over in a timely manner. Go-Invest for its part acknowledged the error, contending that it was an oversight and deductions commenced in 2014 for the officer in question. Meanwhile, Go-Invest has reported that 2014 was a bright year for Guyana in terms of investments. According to Go-Invest, Guyana was able to attract some $196 billion in investments from 234 projects, creating some 15,868 jobs. Of the 234 projects, 162 were piloted by local businesses while the remainder were drawn from Foreign Direct Investment. The areas that attracted the investments were agriculture, energy, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), light manufacturing, mining, services, tourism and wood products. Investments in locally proposed projects totalled some $107.5 billion, creating some 7,254 jobs, while proposed Foreign Direct Investment amounted to $88.4 billion. Burrowes had told the Guyana Chronicle that the successes achieved last year was due to more aggressive marketing, pointing out that the marketing and promotional campaigns will intensify both locally and overseas this year.

Former Go-Invest CEO, Keith Burrowes

Last year, in the local arena, light manufacturing accounted for the most projects, some 39, which together valued some $6729.1 million, creating some 1247 jobs while the agriculture sector attracted investments worth some $14088.6 million, the highest sum compared to the other sectors. This sum was from 36 projects, creating some 916 jobs. The light-manufacturing sector created some 1,946 jobs, the highest compared to the other sectors in 2014, from 17 projects worth some $5887.2 million.

Digicel Guyana opens outlet at Giftland Mall

AS part of their commitment to enhance their services and keep them connected in every way possible, Digicel Guyana on Friday launched a new outlet at the recently opened Giftland Mall at Turkeyen, on the lower East Coast. The outlet is being managed by Cellular Planet, an authorised Digicel dealer, and will be providing all the services of a full-fledged store. This means that it has the capacity to supply whatever the demand might be, whether credit, handsets, or data plan activation among a host of other services it has to offer. During the launch and over the weekend, customers were able to cash in on a number of exciting offers, such as a chance to win a handset, free credit, and other Digicel gifts items on purchases made those days. As Head of Sales, Nalini The spanking new Digicel store housed at eryone to come out and take Vieira observed: “Digicel the Giftland Mall prides itself on being the able to keep abreast of what advantage of all we will have innovator in the business of was happening via a live ra- for you,” said Sales Distributelecommunications, always dio broadcast from 12:00hrs tion Manager, Aisha Viapree. Apart from the live striving to keep our custom- to 14:00hrs, which, according ers engaged, and letting them to Vieira, was a first for the broadcast, customers also know, what’s new and what’s Mall since its opening back benefitted from reduced prices on selected handsets, and in July. fresh. “We are so excited to five lucky shoppers had the “It’s important that we are aware where our customers partner with Giftland on this chance of winning a handset are, and we are coming to the venture; we guarantee that after making a purchase on customers and connecting our location will always offer any of the handsets that on you the latest smart-phones sale that day in their ‘BUY a with them.” On the day of the launch and other new technologies. phone WIN a phone’ launch also, persons at home were We want to encourage ev- day promotion on Friday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday October 26, 2015

Ramjattan on Diwali date...

‘I will not budge; November 10 it is’ NATIONAL Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan is as solid as a rock on the observance of Diwali on November 10, contending that he has been advised by pundits and swamis. President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr Vindyha Persaud, Mr Ramjattan said, is not a priest but a pure politician, and as such he can only submit to the views of the learned on the subject. “The pandits and swamis of this country, totalling some 90, whose signatures I have, and who have rationalised and justified why it should be November 10, 2015, asked me, the Minister with power under the law, to correct the mistake made by politician, Dr Vindhya Persaud. In accordance with my religious principles and my legal duty, I did exactly that,” Minister Ramjattan said. The swamis and pandits to whom Mr Ramjattan referred, represent other sabhas, including the Maha Sabha, the Viraat Sabha, and the Vedic Sabha, amongst others. He said it would be oppressively discriminatory to leave the decision to just one sabha, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha. According to the Dharmic

cally, a new moon begins, Viraat Sabhaa is arguing that this further confirms November 10 as the official day, since the festival cannot be observed in the new moon, but must be on the darkest night of the year.

National Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan Sabha, Diwali, which occurs annually on Amawasya, or the new moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik, is the 15th Tithi in the dark half of Kartik, and the darkest night of the year. And according to the Panchang/Patra, this occurs on November 11. “This coincides exactly with the western astronomers’ calculation of the new moon, which is listed for Guyana as occurring on November 11 at 13:47hrs. The new-moon effect will be experienced as darkness falls,” the Dharmic Sabha said,

Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha President, Dr Vindyha Persaud adding that performing Maha Lakshmi Puja on November 11 would, therefore, be on new-moon day as prescribed. The Viraat Sabhaa is, however, arguing that what is explicit, as contained in the Kaashi Panchang/Patra (an annual publication on astrology and Hinduism) is that Pradosh Kaal, Nisheet and Mahaa Nischeet Kaal (all being auspicious times), are present on November 10. With Amawasya (dark night) ending on 13:47 hours on Wednesday, November 11, after which, automati-

Granger unveils plans ... From Page 3 become if it builds on its existing commercial foundation. This, he said, is the second pillar on which to progress. New Amstardam has to be the pillar of business again as it is situated in one of the most commercially vibrant regions in Guyana. “You produce the most fish in this country, you produce some of the best rice in this country (and) sugar,” he reminded, adding that bauxite and timber also come out of Berbice River. He added: “Your commerce must enrich this town. People must come here to do business. I want to see New Amsterdam being the commercial hub,” where international business people visit through a nearby aerodrome to “do business and cut deals”. The town must be “a boom town” and “the commercial capital of a booming economy… a place for investment… You have the capability to have a strong legitimate economy. You’re a better place than any other region for commerce. Let us use your natural advantage to make the East Berbice/

Corentyne region a commercially advanced region in this country,” Granger stated. ORDER AND SAFETY Meanwhile, he listed the third and fourth pillars as orderliness and safety, being important attributes in attracting visitors. He noted that nobody wants to come to a place where there is an obvious threat of crime, and citizens must collaborate with the police to ensure a safe town. Citizens should communicate with the neighbourhood police, giving them bicycles so that they can make the town safer, and learn to help themselves instead of just blaming the crooks and criminals. “Let us work with the divisional commander to make this town a place that people want to come for Town Week, for entertainment any day of the week, and time of the month, any month of the year, but they must feel safe and secure.” Instead of emphasizing on what they do not have, residents should appreciate and take full advantage of the facilities they have. Berbice has the New Amsterdam Prisons, the High Court, the University of Guyana Berbice campus, and other facilities that many other

regions do not. “Let us make use of those facilities to give our people that good life” and problems should be solved by all stakeholders developing rapport and instituting decisions. “You don’t have to wait for central government. You can do it here if you show the vision and the energy. The solution is in your hands,” he stated. Lastly, Granger said Region 6 must be a services town, with offices to distribute licenses, passport and birth certificates, thereby developing a sense of regionalism. He cited the lack of services as the reason that Region 6 has a rapid population decrease and recommended solutions. “People are migrating. People are abandoning lands and homes. You have to create a virtual cycle in which people are to come back and invest. (Have a) strong un-bribable service.” He said Town Week is not a time for having the ‘highest rate of consumption of Guinness’ in the country, a cryptic reference to widespread alcohol indulgence, but a time to make Guyana a place where people want to come and do business.

NOT WITHIN NORM Learned Pandit, Ramdial Balbadar, in a letter to Mr Ramjattan, has accused Dr Persaud of fixing the religious date according to her whim and fancy, and not in keeping within the norms of the Hindu tradition. “In trying to wiggle out of a situation, Dr Persaud is trying to use arguments which cannot stand up to reason and basic Hindu Astrology facts. This thing na wuk so. But I can now understand why all dates in the Dharmic Sabha Calendar occurs a day after the dates in the panchangs,” he said, contending that the Dharmic Sabha, a cultural organisation, does not appear to be familiar with the subject. Meanwhile, the Peo-

ple’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has thrown its support behind the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, and is calling on the government to rescind the November 10 date declared for the celebration of Diwali. The PPP, in a release, said it unequivocally supports the call of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha for the festival to be celebrated on November 11, saying that there must be no political interference in religious affairs.

“Further, the party demands the political date given as a national holiday be withdrawn forthwith and that November 11, 2015, be declared the national holiday as agreed and reflected in all calendars issued in the national territory of Guyana,” the release concluded. But Minister Ramjattan said he had “very good” reasons to declare the date for Diwali, and will not relent. “November 10th it shall be,” he said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 26, 2015

UG students decry slothful registration process, hike in tuition fees STUDENTS at the University of Guyana (UG) are dismayed at the delayed registration process, and the increased tuition fees while the institution’s top officials seem not to be getting their act together.

Rhinold Cameron

Rosheni Takechandra

Stephan Sookram

ity… They are not treating us with dignity. The next batch of students must not face these same issues. We demand better! And we demand it right now!” a frustrated Takechandra declared.

According to Rosheni Takechandra, it is already half-way through the semester, and students have not been registered as yet. “Why is it that issues have to be made public before they are taken seriously or resolved? When will the services provided by the University of Guyana improve? Today is the due date for payments, and I have not been registered as yet. The same is the issue for my other colleagues,” Takechandra said. She said the reason students have not been able to register, is simply because their grades were submitted late by the university, and by the time these were added to their profiles, registration had closed off. “We were told they will allow us to register,” she said, “but until this day, there has been no progress on this matter. They need to be more efficient! When will the University of Guyana start to treat students with more respect and dignity? “We are making a huge sacrifice to pay for a service. We want to be educated; we want to develop our skills and abilities to serve human-

NO INCREASE IN EFFICIENCY Another student, Rhinold Cameron, said that with the recent increases in both tuition and miscellaneous fees at the University of Guyana, it was expected that there would have been yet another increase. That is, the increase in efficiency in the administrative and other processes. It has been seven weeks since the commencement of the 2015/2016 academic year, and yet many students, both new and continuing, are attending classes “like illegal immigrants in a foreign land.” This dilemma, he said, has been caused by a number of factors, ranging from tardiness of either lecturers or administrative officers, to complex registration systems Online, depending on the need of the student. However, he said it would be almost ludicrous for one to accept any of the aforementioned reasons - at this our highest academic institution. “We are not prepared to pay any penalties which becomes effective after October 23, 2015.” Another student, Stephan

Sookram, related: “I find it very disturbing that Guyana’s premier tertiary institution is also one of its most delinquent. “How is it possible that at that level, basic things pose the largest hindrances to education? Simple problems should not require constant daily trips to the university campus to fix it. “The basic processes of the university are frustrating, and even though I know there are lecturers who try their utmost to lift the perception level of the university and act in a professional manner, the administration aspect continues to let students down. “Sometimes, UG makes me think that for an advancing institution, it has only retarded since its inception. I hope that I’m wrong.” Expressing his frustration with the process, Alva Solomon said, “I went to see our department head, Ms Walcott, and she endorsed my registration for the next phase of the programme, which is the degree... “To date, Admissions has done nothing to speed up that process, which would see me choosing the courses for this semester. The problem is that the deadline is coming and going and UG will more than likely expect us to pay those fees. Which is totally unfair!” Newly-appointed UG Registrar, Dr. Nigel Gravesande was unavailable for a comment over the weekend pertaining to the complaints made by the frustrated students.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 26, 2015

Root steadies England but Pakistan in control By Matt Smith

DUBAI, (Reuters) - Joe Root made a half-century as England rallied to 130 for three at the close of the fourth day of the second Test yesterday, 360 runs behind Pakistan after the hosts’ Younus Khan had made a swaggering 31st Test century. Root, 59 not out, put on 102 runs with Ian Bell (46), the duo’s second innings defiance giving the tourists hope of forcing an improbable draw. Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq had declared in the early afternoon on 354 for six to set England a daunting victory target of 491. Batting for a second time, England appeared as if they cared little for the scoreboard and were simply aiming to get through potentially more than 140 overs without losing 10 wickets. Pakistan were similarly unconcerned by the run rate, positioning four slips as Misbah began with an all-seam attack of Wahab Riaz and Imran Khan. Moeen Ali (1) lasted 15 balls in another miserable outing for the novice opener, his series average now just 12 after a thick edge

carried to Younus at second slip off Imran Khan. In came Bell to partner skipper Alastair Cook, who appeared to be struggling with an injury that left him labouring between the wickets. Cook’s (10) torment was soon over, his attempted sweep off Yasir Shah giving Wahab a catch at deep backward square as England stumbled to 19 for two. Misbah switched from seam to spin and then back to pace, but Bell and Root defended adroitly. Root brought up his 15th test half-century, and third of the series, with a four past third man. Bell then tried to leave a Zulfiqar Babar delivery, but the ball hit his glove and carried to Younus. Jonny Bairstow is six not out.

PAKISTAN STROLL Pakistan, who have never lost a series in the United Arab Emirates, their adopted home since 2009, began the morning on 222 for three. They suffered an early setback, however, when Misbah (87) thumped James Anderson’s slower delivery to Cook at mid-off for a comfortable catch. Younus was unruffled and Pakistan’s record

run scorer registered his 10th hundred in the UAE with a cut for four as Pakistan reached lunch without further loss. England were lethargic in the afternoon, their sluggish movement in the field allowing Pakistan to score freely. That slowness lulled the hosts into complacency, however, as Younus (118) lofted a top edge from Adil Rashid beyond the bowler ’s head and Moeen made a sprawling

catch. Asad Shafiq (79) was then trapped leg before wicket by Moeen as Pakistan scored 43 runs in seven post-lunch overs. The highest total England have ever chased down successfully in the fourth innings is 332, against Australia in 192829. The first Test in Abu Dhabi was drawn. Sharjah will host the final match in the series from Nov. 1.

SCOREBOARD PAKISTAN 1st innings 378 (Misbah-ul-Haq 102, A. Shafiq 83, Y. Khan 56, S. Masood 54) England 1st innings 242 (J. Root 88, A. Cook 65; W. Riaz 4-66, Y. Shah 4-93) Pakistan 2nd innings (Overnight: 222-3) M. Hafeez c Root b Wood 51 S. Masood c Buttler b Anderson 1 S. Malik b Wood 7 Y. Khan c Ali b Rashid 118 Misbah-ul-Haq c Cook b Anderson 87 A. Shafiq lbw b Ali 79 S. Ahmed not out 3 Extras (b-6 lb-1 nb-1) 8 Total (for 6 wickets declared, 95 overs) 354 Fall of wickets: 1-1 S. Masood,2-16 S. Malik,3-83 M. Hafeez,4-224 Misbah-ul-Haq,5-337 Y. Khan,6-354 A. Shafiq Did not bat: W. Riaz, Y. Shah, Z. Babar, I. Khan Bowling: J. Anderson 15 - 7 - 22 – 2,S. Broad 10 - 1 - 34 – 0, M. Wood 14 - 3 - 44 - 2(nb-1), M. Ali 11 - 0 - 60 – 1, B. Stokes 17 - 3 - 54 – 0, A. Rashid 25 - 1 - 107 – 1, J. Root 3 - 0 - 26 - 0 ENGLAND 2nd innings (Target: 491 runs) A. Cook c Riaz b Shah 10 M. Ali c Y. Khan b I. Khan 1 I. Bell c Y. Khan b Babar 46 J. Root not out 59 J. Bairstow not out 6 Extras (b-6 nb-2) 8 Total (for 3 wickets, 54 overs) 130 Fall of wickets: 1-9 M. Ali,2-19 A. Cook,3-121 I. Bell To bat: B. Stokes, J. Buttler, A. Rashid, S. Broad, M. Wood, J. Anderson Bowling:- I. Khan 6 - 2 - 16 - 1(nb-1), W. Riaz 8 - 1 - 15 - 0(nb-1), Y. Shah 16 - 5 - 37 – 1, S. Malik 6 - 0 - 32 – 0,Z. Babar 18 - 7 - 24 – 1.

Three tons power South Africa to ODI series win against India ... South Africa post their second highest score

MUMBAI, (Reuters) - Quinton de Kock, Faf de Plessis and AB de Villiers all scored hundreds as South Africa crushed India’s bowling attack to post 438-4 and win the deciding one-day international by 214 runs at the Wankhede Stadium. With the five-match series tied at 2-2, de Villiers won the toss and opted to bat in hot and humid conditions and could not have been a happier man at the close of their innings as his team matched their second highest score in the 50-over format. A 58-ball 87 from local boy Ajinkya Rahane and a 60 from outof-form opener Shikhar Dhawan brought some cheer for the crowd but it was never going to be enough for the hosts, who folded for 224 inside 36 overs. Kagiso Rabada took four wickets while pace colleague Dale Steyn took three for the touring side to

complete a 3-2 series win, their first in ODIs in India. It was only the second time that a team had scored three centuries in an ODI innings after South Africa did it against West Indies in January this year on their way to their highest total of 439 for two. De Kock (109) continued to make merry against the Indian bowlers, scoring his fifth century in nine innings against the opponents after South Africa had lost Hashim Amla (23) early. The left-hander hit 17 fours and a six on his way to his eighth ODI hundred and laid the perfect platform for de Villiers’s onslaught with a 154-run stand with du Plessis (133 retired hurt). India compounded their misery by dropping catches and du Plessis made the most of his good fortune to score his first century against India and his fifth overall after being put down twice, on 45 and 85. The right-handed batsman suf-

fered severe cramps during the later part of his innings and had to retire but had added 164 runs with de Villiers for the third wicket before that. De Villiers, the owner of the record for the fastest hundred in the format, needed no invitation to launch into the Indian bowlers with the stage set perfectly for his pyrotechnics. The 31-year-old reached his century, his 23rd in the format, in just 57 balls and cleared the boundary ropes with ease. The right-hander hit 11 sixes and three fours in his knock. India medium paceman Bhuvnehwar Kumar ended with figures of 1-106 in his 10 overs, the second most expensive in ODIs behind Australian Mick Lewis’s 0-113 against South Africa in 2006. The two sides will play a fourTest series with the first match starting at the Northern Indian city of Mohali on Nov. 5.

Sir Garry says Lloyd’s team the greatest ... From back page

going around. Malcolm (Marshall) came along a little later and he was just world-class. So this made for a tremendous bowling attack. “You must remember that before the West Indies produced that kind of attack there was always two quick bowlers, a medium pacer and a spinner. But then Clive Lloyd came up with the master plan and the world had to contend with something they had never seen before - four big strong men bowling at express pace.” As part of their world dominance, Lloyd’s team won the first World Cup in 1975 when they beat Australia at Lords and repeated in 1979 when they rolled over England at the famous venue. The side went on to dominate the longer format under Lloyd and then under his successor, Sir Vivian Richards, who never lost a Test during his time in charge. Sir Garry pointed out that Sir Viv, along with several other batsmen, made Lloyd’s team extra special. “Clive was a great captain and a great leader and he was also a tremendous player ... he was respected by everyone,” Sir Garry continued. “They dominated because they had the amazing players. When you looked at the batting line-up, they had Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes, the great opening combination, the best opening pair of the time. “Then you had Viv Richards and Lawrence Rowe and Alvin Kallicharan, players who really established themselves and dominated. Larry Gomes and Richie Richardson followed and that made the team quite powerful. “They had someone special in every department. They had it all. I don’t think you will ever see that again. It was simply a great team.” Sir Garry is in Sri Lanka for the second Test match of the Sobers/Tissera Series between West Indies and Sri Lanka. The two-match rubber is named in honour of Sir Garry and Michael Tissera, the former Sri Lanka player and manager. The two were the captains when West Indies played a three-day unofficial ‘Test’ against Ceylon back in 1967. Sir Garry is universally hailed as the greatest Test all-rounder ever. He played 93 Test matches between 1954 and 1974 and made 8,032 runs, took 235 wickets and held 109 catches.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 26, 2015

Ashley-Cooper hat-trick sends Australia into Rugby World Cup final By Justin Palmer LONDON, (Reuters)-Winger Adam Ashley Cooper’s hat-trick of tries sent Australia into a first Ruby World Cup final since 2003 after a 29-15 victory over Argentina yesterday secured a showdown with holders New Zealand at Twickenham next weekend. T h e Wa l l a b i e s w e r e superior at the breakdown where David Pocock was immense and too clinical in the backline for the gung-ho injury-hit Pumas who paid the price for costly early mistakes. Australia, in control from two early tries, were under the cosh for long periods of the second half but resilient defence and Ashley-Cooper’s third try on 71 minutes put the game beyond reach. “It was a tough game and we knew it would be. We had to defend a lot. That took a fair bit out of the tank,” said Australia captain Stephen Moore. Coach Michael Cheika added: “What we did was let the game open up which suited them. We had to work hard to stop them from scoring a try. We can improve again and that’s really important now.” Saturday’s match will be the first time the southern hemisphere powers, both world champions on two occasions, have met in a World Cup final having clashed in three semis. The only final not to feature either New Zealand or Australia since the tournament’s inception in 1987 was eight years ago when South Africa beat England. Australia, who scraped into the semi-finals with a controversial last-gasp penalty against Scotland,

flew out of the blocks with 14 points on the board in the opening nine minutes. Sixty-seven seconds had elapsed when Australia lock

tackle on Israel Folau. Wo r s e w a s t o f o l low when captain Agustin Creevy, a fitness doubt all week, trudged off after half

Australia’s Adam Ashley-Cooper scores a tryReuters / Stefan WermuthLivepic Rob Simmons intercepted a risky Nicolas Sanchez offload to sprint under the posts from 30 metres out and set the tone for an open and exhilarating contest. The Pumas, with confidence high after their mauling of Ireland, lacked nothing in ambition but the ploy backfired again when they knocked-on from a quick tap-penalty deep in their own half. Superb back play by the Wallabies from the ensuing scrum ended with a fine floated pass from Bernard Foley that gave Ashley-Cooper a clear run to the line. The Pumas, who lost winger Juan Imhoff to a head knock after 20 minutes, were weakened further when lock Tomas Lavanini was sent to the sin-bin for a no-arms

an hour. The Wallabies quickly rubbed salt in the wounds, Ashley-Cooper this time taking a long pass from Will Genia to score in the left corner. Sanchez’s boot gave the Pumas hope as they trailed 19-9 at the break and two more penalties from the tournament’s top points scorer got his side to within seven with plenty of time left. The Pumas came at the Wallabies hard and it needed plenty of scrambling defence to keep them at bay. Having held firm, Australia got back into Pumas territory and wrapped up the game when winger Drew Mitchell zipped through a flurry of tired tacklers and Ashley-Cooper walked the ball over the line.

Wong cleans up Bartica Grass Track

BARTICA’S Andrew Wong carted off top honours in the recently concluded Bartica annual grass track event over the weekend. The event, hosted by beaks and custom racing saw Wong take the professional categories by producing three wins from as many races on the day. In the Novices category, Stephon Boodram had to fight off

stiff challenges from the rest of the field for his two wins on the night. Ravin Ramkumar was the other person that won in the novices category. In the 100c event, picking up one first and one second place finishes in the two races. The event was held at 7 Miles Madhia.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 26, 2015

Windies Women hammer Pakistan to join Australia at the top

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, (CMC) – West Indies Women trounced Pakistan Women by six wickets in the final One-Day International on Saturday night to clinch the four-match series, 3-1, and join Australia at the top of the ICC Women’s Championship. Chasing a modest 183 for victory at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium, the hosts cantered home in the 43rd over with their inspirational captain Stafanie Taylor stroking an attractive unbeaten 87 from 107 deliveries, to pick up the Player-of-the-Match ward. The win was the Windies Women’s third on the trot after losing the opening game two Fridays ago and more importantly, saw them sweep the contests designated as ICC Championship games and grab the six vital points required to move to the top of

the points table alongside the Aussies on 16 points. A qualifying tournament for the 2017 Women’s World Cup, the top four sides from the Championship will gain automatic qualification for the event scheduled for England. “We executed really well throughout the series. We recognised the importance of trying to dominate this game and again, we did that really well,” head coach Vasbert Drakes said. “Our objective was to move up the number one spot and it was a great series to do that, and certainly that was one of the biggest motivating factors.” Sent in, Pakistan Women were restricted to 182 for five off their 50 overs, thanks to superb bowling from pacer Shamilia Connell who snared three for 32 from her ten overs. Off-spinner Anisa Moham-

med picked up two for 30 while Hayley Matthews strangled the visitors with her off-breaks in a ten-over spell that went for just 20 runs. Asmavia Iqbal top-scored with 44 not out off 43 balls batting at number seven while Bismah Maroof chipped in with 41, Javeria Khan, 25 and captain Sana Mir, an unbeaten 24. The Pakistanis’ start was a sluggish one, as Javeria Khan and debutant Ayesha Zafar (20) put on 32 from 62 balls before both fell to Mohammed. Bismah Maroof, who faced 88 balls and struck four fours, put on 35 for the second wicket with Javeria Khan, before adding a further 24 for the third wicket with Nain Abidi (14), to lift the visitors to 91 for two in the 31st over. However, Bismah was one of three wickets to fall for 16 runs in the space of 34 deliver-

Windies Women celebrate their series victory after beating Pakistan in the fourth ODI on Saturday at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium (Photo by WICB Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Photography) ies as Connell ripped through Iqbal who struck seven fours the 23rd over to a catch at the the middle order in an incisive and Sana Mir who faced 48 wicket off leg-spinner Bismah, spell. balls without a boundary. Taylor found an ally in former Languishing at 107 for In reply, West Indies lost captain Merissa Aguilleira who five in the 37th over, Pakistan Matthews without scoring stroked an important 37 off 62 Women were then bolstered with six runs on the board in deliveries with two fours. by an unbroken 75-run, sixth the fourth over, and were furTaylor played with assurwicket stand between Asmavia ther set back when they also ance, gathering ten boundlost the other opener Kycia aries to dominate the inKnight for 19 at 32 for two in nings, and record her second in the ninth. straight unbeaten half-centuHowever, any fears of a ry of the tournament. West Indies Women collapse Overall, she finished with were quickly dashed as Taylor 261 runs at an average of 130, took control in two telling to also cop the Player-of-thepartnerships. Series award. First, the right-hander put The two teams will now Virgin Islands. The TD disclosed that Guyana’s on 54 for the third wicket with turn their attention to the Spanish speaking neighbour will be Deandra Dottin who struck 25 three-match Twenty20 series sending a team following recent dis- from 43 balls with a four and which bowls off in Grenada cussions with GBA president Steve a six. When she departed in on Thursday. Ninvalle and his Venezuelan counterpart Frank Lopez in Doha, Qatar just over a week ago. “Mr. Lopez would have indicated to our president that a team of two boxers ‘Big’ John Douglas collected a rare victory on October would be making the trip to Guyana. 26, 2005. On that day Douglas won a six-round UnanHowever, we have not received Vene- imous Decision over Jamal McKay at the Hilton Hotel zuela’s registration form as yet. Until in New York. It was the second time that he defeated the such time we cannot pronounce of the American. category of fighters,” Poole pointed out. In November of the previous year Douglas walked away Meanwhile, Team Guyana would with a Split Decision at the end of six rounds. Douglas repbe known following this weekend’s resented Guyana at the 1996 Olympic in Atlanta and joined National Open scheduled for the the professional ranks soon after. East Ruimveldt Community Centre He was roughed up by compatriot Wayne `Big Truck’ ground (California Square). “Follow- Braithwaite in 1997 and later moved to the USA. His caing the conclusion of this tournament reer never gained solid footing and was punctuated with a team of fighters would be named for several defeats. In a rare instance Douglas, fighting in encampment,” Poole said. the cruiserweight division was able to three consecutive victories. He had his last fight in May 2010. Undefeated 25-year-old Egyptian Ahmed Samir made sure that the 39-year-old Guyanese went out on a losing note by winning the six-rounder by Unanimous Decision. Judge Waleska Roldan scored the fight 60-54 while since Jackie Stewart in 1973 to win Frank Lombardi and Carlos Ortiz had Samir winning three titles. But for much of the race, on a 59-55. drying track after torrential rain forced qualifying to be postponed from Saturday to Sunday morning, it had looked as if Hamilton would be kept waiting to realise his dream. He had seized the lead at the start, banging wheels with Rosberg at the first corner and forcing his team mate wide COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) &AUDREY’S and down to fourth place. Hamilton could not pull away TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown from the chasing Red Bulls however, (Tel: 226-4512) with Australian Daniel Ricciardo taking the lead with 15 laps gone. The Briton then dropped down to SL vs IND, Colombo (PSS), 1985 fourth place, with Rosberg back in SL vs WI, Galle, 2001 the lead after 22 laps following the Today’s Quiz: pitstops, but the first of two safety car deployments brought everything back When and where did WI win a Test match for the first into play. time? Rosberg was heading for victory When and where did WI win a Test match against SL for when, seven laps from the end, he the first time? made an unforced error, ran wide, and Hamilton seized his opportunity. Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Barbados registers largest contingent For International Goodwill Boxing BARBADOS is set to invade Guyana next month with a team of 27 boxers and officials that will participate in the International Goodwill tournament. Late last week Barbados registered 21 boxers and six officials with the Guyana Boxing Association(GBA). The contingent is the largest so far registered to take part in the upcoming event that is scheduled to run from November 26 to 29 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The team includes four juniors, four novices, six youths and seven elites. The Bajan team would be headed by manager Richard Atwell and includes the mother of Caribbean Amateur Boxing Kathy Harper-Hall, who will act as Assistant Manager. Last week’s registration has brought the total number of overseas boxers scheduled to fight in Guyana

to 41 with the final figure set to be around 70. French Guiana has registered 10 boxers and St. Lucia six. Both St. Maarten and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have registered two boxers each. GBA Technical Director Terrence Poole yesterday disclosed that Trinidad and Tobago is also expected to send a large team. He confirmed that Jamaica held a box off over the last weekend specifically to name a team for the tournament. Poole noted that Jamaica was one of four countries in the inaugural Goodwill tournament that was held here in February last year. The others were Trinidad, St. Lucia and Guyana. According to the Technical Director the Jamaican team is expected in before the end of this week along with that of Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, Grenada, Dominica and the US

Notable Dates

Hamilton takes third F1 title after U.S. thriller By Alan Baldwin AUSTIN, Texas, (Reuters)-Lewis Hamilton joined the elite group of triple Formula One world champions yesterday after winning a thrilling U.S. Grand Prix that kept the crowd on tenterhooks right to the very end. “That’s the greatest moment of my life,” he gasped over the team radio, choking back the tears, after crossing the line 2.8 seconds ahead of German team mate Nico Rosberg who had led before a late mistake. The first British driver to win back-to-back titles, Hamilton realised a lifelong ambition to equal the tally of his boyhood idol Ayrton Senna, the Brazilian triple champion who died in 1994. Ferrari’s four-times champion Sebastian Vettel finished third, after starting 13th and fighting back to chase Rosberg nose-to-tail over the final lap with the crowd on the edge of their seats. Had Vettel passed Rosberg, the

celebrations for the ‘double double’ -- with Mercedes retaining their constructors’ title two weeks ago in Russia -- would have remained on hold. “I’m just overwhelmed,” said Hamilton, who had needed to beat Vettel by nine points and Rosberg by two to take the crown with three races to spare. “There were so many times when I thought I had lost the race.” Interviewed on the podium by pop’s very own ‘rocket man’, British pop singer Elton John, Hamilton sprayed the champagne with abandon while Rosberg looked shellshocked and barely reacted. Before the podium ceremony, Hamilton tossed his team mate a cap to wear. The German threw it back in disgust. No words were necessary. The victory on a rollercoaster afternoon was also Hamilton’s third in four grands prix held in Austin and made the 30-year-old the first driver to win 10 or more races in successive seasons. He was also only the second Briton

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday October 26, 2015) Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday October 26, 2015

Slingerz FC in entertaining 2 – 0 win over Monedderlust ...GFC in morale boosting win against Buxton United

Julian Wade goes airborne in one of his attempts on goal but was denied by Monedderlust’s goalkeeper(Delano Williams photos)

By Rawle Toney SLINGERZ Football Club defeated Monedderlust 2 – 0 to snap the Berbicans impressive home record in the STAG Elite League when action continued at the #5

ground, West Coast Berbice. Monedderlust was up until Saturday night, undefeated at the West Coast Berbice facility, but with Slingerz FC on a mission to dominate the league, it wasn’t business as usual for Coach Gordon Brathwaite’s men.

The Vergenoegen based club was led by goals from Dexroy Adams (8th minute) and Vurlon Mills just on the stroke of half time (45+1) to pick up their fifth win of the league while Monedderlust slumped to their sixth loss. It was a start that any club would dream of playing on the road, as Adams, from a one-time volley, just inside the 18 yards area, nicely placed the ball at the top right hand corner and way out of reach of the Monedderlust goalkeeper. But as customary, Monedderlust as much as their present track record in the league isn’t impressive on tour, at home, they can boastfully pronounce that they were very difficult to get around. Kevin Cottoy, regarded as the club’s best player, in the 20th minute, could’ve clawed his team back into the contest, but he was inches short from the ball that came into his path as it raced off the back for a goal kick. Almost ten minutes later, Travis Henry also had his chance of leveling the score but his header was directed off target and went over the cross bar. On the other end, Slingerz FC, through their forward Julian Wade had a number of chances to pull his side away in the contest, but his effort was either saved by the keeper or saw the ball going just wide off target. Already controlling the bulk the posses-

sion and the tone of the game, Slingerz FC’s talisman and central midfield player Mills would bring the crowd to their feet with his execution of a spectacular goal. Mills showed the Berbice crowd why he’s highly favoured on the country’s National Team – the Golden Jaguars, when he faked a defender as if he was about to let a shot loose, forcing the defender to slide by after missing on a vicious tackle. The player known to many as ‘GQ’, then executed a step-over and ensured that the ball was on his blessed right foot and then from about 26 yards out, let loose a bomb that stunned the keeper. So sweet was the strike that even the home side’s supporters applauded in appreciation In the second half, nothing much changed; Slingerz still dominated but missed their easy chances. Meanwhile, in the opening game, the Georgetown Football Club (GFC), after being hammered by Slingerz FC 5 – 0 in their previous match, bounced back to whip Buxton United 2 – 0. With goals from Romario Welcome (4th minute) and Dellon Cadogan (28th minute), the city team picked up a crucial three points. The win puts GFC to eight points; one less behind Buxton United (nine) who have also picked up six losses.

Jeffrey captures

Digicel sponsored Cancer Awareness two-stage cycle road race By Michael DaSilva RAYNAUTH ‘Obeahman’ Jeffrey’s return to form paid off yesterday when when won the 4th Annual sponsored Digicel sponsored two-stage cycle road race in a win-

ning time odf three hours 15 minutes 32 seconds. The event which attracted cyclists from several Caribbean countries was keenly contested and though Jeffrey won the first stage from the Demerara Harbour Bridge which

turned back at Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo, it was the final stage from Abary, East Coast Demerara to Carifesta Avenue that the winner was decided as there were several top contenders for the top position.

During the first stage, there was a cat and mouse game going on between the country’s top cyclists on the upward journey, but on the way down, Jeffrey in company with Darren Matthews and Marlon Fisht’ Williams broke

Raynauth `Obeahman’ Jeffrey” left accepts the winners yellow jersey along with his cheque and trophy from Digicel’s CEO Kevin Kelly for winning the 4th annual sponsored Cancer Awareness Two-Stage cycle road race yesterday (Photo by Samuel Maughn).

Prize winners of the various categories of the 4th Digicel sponsored Cancer Awareness two-stage cycle road race strike a pose with their silverware at the presentation ceremony yesterday (Samuel Maughn photo).

away from the others and dominated the oeroceedings. Stage two started approximately three hours from up the East Coast and like the first stage it was a `Cat and Moue’ game with each of the top cyclists eying each other. Jamal Eastman of Barbados attempted a break on the down ward journey but was sucked by Howard Eastman and Jamaica’s Mark Redman. Eastman then went on a break but was caught up

with going through Mahaica and the bunch came to the top of the Tropo Station on Carifesta Avenue where Orville hinds led slightly over the bunch of about 13 riders and with just under 400 metres remaining, Jeffrey pointed his wheel and that was the end of the proceedings. Meanwhile, the local and foreign cyclists used yesterday’s race as a warm up for this week’s Tour of Guyana Five Stage road race which wheels off on Thursday.

Sport CHRONICLE

The Chronicle is at http://www.guyanachronicle.com

Slingerz FC in entertaining 2 – 0 win over Monedderlust See story on page 31

tage of this , taking the fight to his opponent who resorted to boxing/fighting . It was in the eight round that Gonsalves caught Atwell in the neutral corner and unleashed a four punch combination with the last punch being a left dig to Atwell’s solar plexus that sent him to the canvas and in the process, apparently twisting his ankle. Referee Eon Jardine took approximately five seconds in starting to administer the eight count and as Atwell tried to get to his feet, he wobbled forward and struggled to hold on to the ropes but fell again to the ground. The ring doctors headed by Dr. Max Hanoman was called into the ring and after about three minutes, referee Jardine raised his hands into the air signaling the end of the fight and victory for Gonsalves by a Technical Knock-Out verdict. This brought the crowd to their feet celebrating the victory for the new WBC/ FECABOX Super lightweight title. Making his debut with an amateur record of 124 fights with 102 victories, Imran Khan proved that he is a force to be reckoned with as he pounded out a third round knock-out

Gonsalves wins by TKO to lift WBC/FECABOX super lightweight title

win against Thomas From the first round, Khan attacked Thomas throwing and landing punches from all directions, dominating the fight and striking Thomas at will In the 54th second of the third round, Khan landed a one/two combination to the head and body of Thomas sending him scattering across the canvas and the referee had no other option but to halt the fight in favour of the debutant Khan. In other results from the four-bout professional card, Keeve Allicock secured a TKO victory against Terance Adams in their four-round catch weight bout with the referee stopping the fight at two minutes 57 seconds of the third round. In the co-feature fight of the night, a six round affair between Anson Green and Quincy Gomes, Gomes started taking the fight to his opponent from the first round. Both boxers were exchanging combinations in the second round with Green enjoying the advantage and from then the fight took a turn but it was a stalemate thereafter and in the end, Green was adjudged the winner by a split decision

Imran Khan connects with a left uppercut to Thomas during their lightweight fight at the Giftland Office Max Mall on Saturday night (Photos by Samuel Maughn).

––Khan makes impressive debut with 3rrd TKO victory over Thomas By Micael DaSilva AFTER absorbing almost five rounds of punishment at the hands of Clive `The Punisher’ Atwell, Dexter `The Cobra’ Gonsalves came back strongly to register an 8thround Technical Knock-Out (TKO) victory over Atwell at the Guyana Boxing Board of Control’s (GBBC)/Next Generation Boxing card staged at the Giftland Office Max Mall on Saturday night. Gonsalves’ victory now places him in the top 20 of the World Boxing Council’s (WBC)/ FECABOX ranking and earned him a place to fight the WBC’s Super Lightweight title before the end of the year. On the same card, Imran Khan with

an amateur record of 124 fights with 102 victories to his name, scored a third round knock out win against David Thomas who is still to get off the mark after Saturday’s fifth fight as a professional. Both the Gonsalves versus Atwell and Khan versus Thomas fights were very entertaining from the vey first bell but they both ended short of the distance. In the feature bout, Atwell was all over Gonsalves for the first five rounds, but the latter defended himself, absorbed the punishment and countered well. After the fourth round Atwell was leading 40-36 on three of the judges score cards, but from the sixth round it was evident that Atwell was tiring and Gonsalves took advan-

Atwell right connects with a right uppercut to the chin of Gonsalves in his losing cause of winning the WBC’s/FECABOX Super lightweight title

Sir Garry says Lloyd’s team the greatest one ever Hamilton COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CMC) -- Sir Garfield Sobers has hailed Clive Lloyd’s all conquering team of the 1970s and 80s as the greatest in the sport, the likes of which will probably not be seen again. The legendary all-rounder made the assertion as he spoke passionately here earlier this week to members of the cricket fraternity. “In the 1970s and 1980s and into the 1990s, West Indies were champions and had the best players in the world,” Sir Garry said. “I don’t think you’ll see that again in the history of cricket. They were simply

Sir Garfield Sobers (left) making a point to West Indies chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd during a practice session in Colombo, Sri Lanka, ahead of the second Test. (Picture courtesy WICB Media)

the best team in the world, the greatest cricket team ever, and probably one of the greatest sports teams ever. “People talk about the fast bowlers, but I don’t call them fast bowlers, I call them express bowlers. You had Michael Holding and Andy Roberts coming at you and when they were finished you had Colin Croft and Joel Garner to follow up. There was no let up.” He continued: “Waiting in the wings you had Wayne Daniel and ‘my boy’ Sylvester Clarke, who was just as quick as anyone See page 20

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takes third F1 title

Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain sprays champagne as he celebrates after winning the U.S. F1 Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, yesterday. Reuters/ Adrees Latif. (See story on Page 22) MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015