Guyana chronicle 10 11 14

GUYANA No. 103977 SATURDAY OCTOBER 11, 2014

President Donald Ramotar

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Opposition using one-seat majority to stall progress – President Page

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US$96M of development financing mobilised for Guyana – Finance Minister signs historic agreements with IDB, EU in Washington D.C to benefit electricity and water sector Page

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Guyanese broadcasting giant Rafiq Khan dies

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Texila University says no Ebola affected students admitted Page

Rebounding gold prices trigger optimism Page

Nothing to show for the massive PNCcreated debt

Finance Minister Ashni Singh (left) and President of the IDB, Alberto Luis Alberto Moreno signing the historic agreements

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–President Page 2

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday October 11, 2014

Opposition using one-seat majority to stall progress –President

President Donald Ramotar

THE gaining of the oneseat majority by the Parliamentary Opposition was seen as a milestone in local politics, however, gaining of numerical superiority, in the National Assembly has not been put to effective use by the combined Opposition, according to

President Donald Ramotar.

Speaking during an interview with the National Communications Network yesterdayy, the president said that with their new found position in the National Assembly, the Opposition should have seized the opportunity to further Guyana’s developmental agenda by working with Government to ensure that key transformational projects were undertaken.

“They have never used their one-seat majority to say, PPP, you are not building enough houses, you are not building enough roads, they’re cutting our budget, and the emphasis from them is obstruction, not to use their one seat majority to try to push us to do more,” he stated.

Listing projects such as the Specialty Hospital to

give people services that they cannot afford now, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion, Amaila Falls Hydro project, Amerindian Development Programmes, and other infrastructural projects, the president said that the Opposition is not trying to push Government, as far as development is concerned.

“What we have,” he explained, “is an Opposition that is trying to hold back the progress of the country.

That is the sad reality of the one-seat majority.”

He also cited the failure of the Opposition to support the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) Bill, a piece of legislation that most recently saw the Caribbean Bankers Association describ-

“What we have “is an Opposition that is trying to hold back the progress of the country. That is the sad reality of the one-seat majority.- President Ramotar” ing as necessary, in addition to many other international financial bodies. This legislation is so necessary to Guyana’s wellbeing, yet the Opposition refuses to support it.

The Head of State recalled that when the PPP was in Opposition, they always had the nation’s interest at heart. “We were pointing out mistakes; we were making proposals to show where you could do better. We don’t have that kind of Opposition at all. We have an Opposition that seems to be seeking to do as much harm and see how they can hold back the development of our country,” he stated. “ The fact that you have

this conscious position over the last three years of the Opposition … going forward we know our country needs new infrastructure to go into the future, to take us to higher levels instead of encouraging us and be very happy that we would be able to provide cheap energy for our people, that the country will be able to save a huge amount of money on importation of fuel, that we will be able to save on the subsidy we are spending on electricity, that there is much more we can do with this money… here we have them cutting, holding back, doing their best to stop these development projects from taking place.”

The president said that despite the efforts of the Opposition, Guyana’s economy has continued to grow, and this “speaks to the importance and strength of the democratic system that we have established in Guyana, and with all the negative comments in the press and media about this, tells us that our democracy has taken root in our society and it has facilitated our development in very difficult circumstances and our country continues to move forward.”

Last year, the combined Opposition cut the Budget by $31B and in 2012 by $21B. This year, $37.4B was cut from the budget.

(GINA)

Nothing to show for the massive PNC-created debt –President GUYANA’S economic performance has been lauded by several financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). Since gaining office, via the country’s first

free and fair elections, under the theme’ Time for Change; Time for rebuilding’ the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has steered the country’s economic fortunes to greater heights.

Looking back at the country’s dire economic straits

under the PNC administration, President Donald Ramotar said the PPP knew it was bad while they were in Opposition, but didn’t realise it was so bad.

The President said that the massive amount of debt was worse than many had imag-

“The unfortunate thing about the debt that the PNC accumulated for this country was that there was nothing to show for the huge debt. We spoke about the broken infrastructure in every area, so there was nothing to show.”

-President Ramotar ined. With debt exceeding 700% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and repayments to creditors at 94% of each dollar earned, the current administration had its work cut out for it, so to speak.

“We were in a really, really bad shape,” he stated.

On October 5, 1992, the PPP won the elections and that time was generally hailed as the return of democracy to Guyana, after 28 years of dictatorial rule under the PNC. There was enormous enthusiasm by many following the change in Government, the President noted during an interview with the National Communications Network yesterday, “Moreover, I would say that the reintroduction of democratic rule in the country was extremely significant,” the President asserted Rooted in the PPP’s ethos is the feeling that democracy is very essential to social and economic development, Pres-

ident Ramotar explained. “Dr. (Cheddi) Jagan said very often that you cannot have sustained growth without social and economic development, without political democracy and for us it is not just a slogan, it is a deep belief.”

The country’s experience under the former PNC Government proved this belief, he added, as well as the economic successes under his and prior administrations. The current Government has deep faith in the “collective intelligence” of Guyanese people; President Ramotar said and always felt that by “freeing” the country from the clutches of dictatorship, energies would be released by all stakeholders to help turn the country around.

Describing the leadership of former President Cheddi Jagan as visionary, this, the Head of State said imbued, not only the PPP/C, but also the rest of the population, to work together to turn Guyana

around and make it a better place.

Guyana has already repaid more than US$1 billion or Gy$200 billion to international financial institutions, in addition to obtaining debt relief, the President explained as he noted, ironically that there was not much to show for the monies borrowed by the previous PNC administration.

While acknowledging that Guyana was granted debt relief, he reiterated that Guyana paid out of its treasury.

“The unfortunate thing about the debt that the PNC accumulated for this country was that there was nothing to show for the huge debt.

We spoke about the broken infrastructure in every area, so there was nothing to show,” he lamented, even as he wondered how much that money could have done to better the country.

Speaking of the first deTurn to page 14

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday October 11, 2014

US$96M of development financing mobilised for Guyana – Finance Minister signs historic agreements with IDB, EU in Washington D.C to benefit electricity and water sector

FINANCE Minister Dr. Ashni Singh signed two project agreements yesterday in Washington D.C w i t h t h e I n t e r- A m e r ican Development Bank and the European Union (EU), mobilising a total of US$96M of development financing to benefit the electricity and water sectors of Guyana. Signing the agreements alongside the Finance Minister was IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno in the presence of European Union Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs.

HISTORIC The signing is historic as the two projects are the first to be financed as part of the IDB’s new Grant Leverage Mechanism (GLM), under which IDB loan funds are provided to co-finance a project with grants provided by another development partner. In this case, the partner providing the grant is the EU. In addition, these projects are also the first to benefit from the EU’s new Caribbean Investment Facility (CIF).

“Guyana considers itself privileged to have been chosen by these two development partners to pioneer these two new financing facilities,” Singh stated, referring to the IDB’s GLM and the EU’s CIF. “We appreciate the vote of confidence reposed in us by this pioneering collaborative effort, and we trust that our experience shapes the efficient and effective functioning of these mechanisms going forward, to the benefit of all other beneficiary countries across the Region,” the Minister added.

He saluted the multi-donor involvement in the

(L-R) Finance Minister Ashni Singh, President of the IDB, Alberto Luis Moreno EU and Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs sharing a light moment following the signing of the historic agreements

two projects and expressed the hope that it becomes a model for replication.

POWER SUPPLY Under the first agreement, an amount of US$64.6M will be provided to finance a Power Utility Upgrade Programme, under which GPL’s efficiency and reliability will be enhanced through electricity loss reduction measures, improvements in the operational capabilities, and strengthening the management and corporate performance of the utility company.

The programme consists of three components which will be implemented over a five-year period.

The three main components of the agreement are expected to produce the following results: (1) A sustained trend in overall loss reduction; (2) An improved and accountable management performance against consistent Key Performance Indicators and within minimum international standards; (3) More modern, efficient, and reliable opera-

tional systems in GPL. This new programme will rehabilitate approximately 830 kilometres of GPL’s distribution network by implementing an integral approach to tackle overall losses while strengthening its management and technical capabilities.

This project is funded by loans totalling US$37.6M provided by the IDB and grants totalling US$26.9M provided by the EU. WATER AND SANITATION Under the second agreement, amounts totalling US$31.7M will be provided to finance a Water Supply and Sanitation Infrastructure Improvement Programme.

The programme is expected to increase the percentage of households with 24-hour access to water, and water pressure that is

in line with national standards, reduce the percentage of water that goes unaccounted for and increase the number of homes with improved access to drinking water and proper sanitation arrangements.

This programme will also improve efficiency, quality and sustainability of potable water services in Regions 3, 4 and 6, strengthen GWI’s operational capacity and the management and improve the delivery of sanitation in programme areas.

The programme specifically aims to improve water service pressure, quality and continuity of water service as well as reduce the level of Non-Revenue Water (NRW) in programme areas. Civil works will include the construction of three new Water Treatment Plants at Uitvlugt in Region 3, Diamond in Region 4 and Sheet Anchor in Region 6. It will

also involve the expansion of 2 existing water treatment plants in Georgetown located at Sophia and Central Ruimveldt, as well as the rehabilitation of the Shelter-Belt Water Treatment facility in Georgetown. Other works will include the upgrade of nearly 20,000 service connections, as well as the replacement and installation of 70 km of transmission and distribution mains in programme areas.

This project is funded by loans totalling US$16.8M provided by the IDB and grants totalling US$14.8M provided by the Caribbean Investment Fund of the European Union.

IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ALL GUYANESE After the signing ceremony, Dr Singh stated that the two projects aim to continue the work be-

ing done by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government to deliver demonstrable improvements to the quality of life enjoyed by all Guyanese. In the case of the water and sanitation project, the minister pointed out that access to potable water and acceptable sanitation facilities are amongst the Millennium Development Goals to which Guyana is firmly committed to achieving and to which much progress has already been made. In relation to the power supply improvement project, Dr Singh pointed out that improving efficiency at GPL is critical not only to ensure that consumers on the grid enjoy a more reliable supply of electricity in the near term, but also to ensure that GPL is prepared to be an efficient off-taker of the power to be supplied by Amaila Hydro Falls Project, once it comes on stream. The minister further explained that the project serves not only as a measure to bring early relief to consumers but also as part of necessary preparedness for the Amaila Hydro Project.

The minister also thanked the IDB and the EU for their support to t h e G o v e r n m e n t ’s d e velopment efforts. He noted that both donor agencies have delivered demonstrable development impacts across Guyana through tangible improvements in the quality of life enjoyed by Guyanese citizens.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday October 11, 2014

Thousands ‘will most likely be massacred’ if Kobani falls to jihadists, U.N. warns (Reuters) - THOUSANDS of people “will most likely be massacred” if Kobani falls to Islamic State fighters, a U.N. envoy said on Friday, as militants fought deeper into the besieged Syrian Kurdish town in full view of Turkish

tanks that have done nothing to intervene.

U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura said Kobani could suffer the same fate as the Bosnian town of Srebrenica, where 8,000 Muslims were murdered by Serbs in 1995,

Europe’s worst atrocity since World War Two, while U.N. peacekeepers failed to protect them.

“If this falls, the 700, plus perhaps the 12,000 people, apart from the fighters, will be most likely massacred,”

A woman walks past a tank from which Turkish soldiers keep guard on a main street in Diyarbakir October 9, 2014 Credit: REUTERS/Osman Orsal de Mistura said. The United Nations believes 700 mainly elderly civilians are trapped in the town itself and 12,000 have left the centre but not made it across the border into Turkey.

“Do you remember Srebrenica? We do. We never forgot and probably we never forgave ourselves,” said de Mistura, the U.N. peace envoy for Syria. “When there is an imminent threat to civilians, we cannot, we should not, be

silent.”

The plight of mainly Kurdish Kobani has unleashed the worst street violence in years in Turkey, which has 15 million Kurds of its own. Turkish Kurds have risen up since Tuesday against President Tayyip Erdogan’s government, which they accuse of allowing their kin to be slaughtered.

At least 33 people have been killed in three days of riots across the mainly Kurd-

ish southeast, including two police officers shot dead in an apparent attempt to assassinate a police chief. The police chief was wounded.

Intense fighting between Islamic State fighters and outgunned Kurdish forces in the streets of Kobani could be heard from across the border. Warplanes roared overhead and the western edge of town was hit by an air strike, apparently

by U.S.-led coalition jets.

Pakistani teen, Indian activist win Nobel Peace Prize (Reuters) – PAKISTANI teenager Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012 for advocating girls’ right to education, and Indian children’s rights activist Kailash Satyarthi won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.

Yousafzai, aged 17, becomes the youngest Nobel Prize winner by far.

Satyarthi, 60, and Yousafzai were picked for their struggle against the oppression of children and young people, and for the right of all children to edu-

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cation, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said.

The award was made at a time when hostilities have broken out between India and Pakistan along the border of the disputed, mainly Muslim region of Kashmir - the worst fighting between the nuclear-armed rivals in more than a decade.

“The Nobel Committee regards it as an important point for a Hindu and a Muslim, an Indian and a Pakistani, to join in a common struggle for education and against extremism,” said Thorbjoern Jagland, the head of the Nor-

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wegian Nobel Committee.

Yousafzai was attacked in 2012 on a school bus in the Swat Valley in northwest Pakistan by masked gunmen as a punishment for a blog that she started writing for the BBC’s Urdu service as an 11-year-old to campaign against the Taliban’s efforts to deny women an education.

Unable to return to Pakistan after her recovery, Yousafzai moved to Britain, setting up the Malala Fund and supporting local education advocacy groups with a focus on Pakistan, Nigeria, Jordan, Syria and Kenya.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday October 11, 2014

Government Mom who thought she was having twins has triplets instead pledges help for Coretta

Help for Coretta from Digicel

(Jamaica Observer) MORE assistance may be on the way for Coretta Vincent, the woman who was on Tuesday robbed at gunpoint of her wheelchair in Kingston, this time from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

In a statement to the media yesterday, portfolio minister Derrick Kellier said the ministry was “ready to assist Ms Vincent in whatever way possible to stabilise her life after her horrific ordeal.”

Telecoms giant Digicel presented Vincent with a motorised scooter on Wednesday, the same day that an Observer front page story detailed how armed men relieved the woman of her wheelchair, leaving her on the sidewalk in the vicinity of May Pen Cemetery.

Security firm King Alarm also committed to providing her with security to prevent a recurrence of her ordeal.

Yesterday, in addition to pledging assistance, Kellier condemned the robbery, especially having been committed against a disabled person who, in his words, was not sitting idly by seeking handouts or special treatment.

Vincent was reportedly on her way downtown to buy supplies for her small shop when the incident occurred.

“I join all well-thinking Jamaicans in strongly condemning the recent robbery at gunpoint on Spanish Town Road -- and in broad daylight — of the motorised wheelchair that was being used by Miss Coretta Vincent to move about and to execute her lawful business as she seeks to provide for her family,” the statement said.

“Nothing can justify this act of robbery against a member of the disabled community. It is, without doubt, a vile and dastardly act. It is, furthermore, symptomatic of the low level of immorality to which some in the society have sunk; and we must resist this trend at all costs,” Kellier said.

The minister called on those with knowledge of the robbery or the whereabouts of the stolen wheelchair to report it to the police or to the ministry, which has oversight responsibility for people with disabilities.

He also used the occasion to urge people to become familiar with the National Disabilities Act which was passed in Parliament earlier this year.

The Act, Kellier said, “eschews in no uncertain terms all acts of discrimination and insensitivity perpetrated against persons with disabilities. It encourages a change in attitude towards persons who are disabled.”

(Jamaica Observer) A ST JAMES mom, who thought she was delivering twins, got an unexpected bonus in the delivery room when a third baby emerged. Jacqueline Miller-Brown, 40, a grocery shop operator of Cambridge, recently gave birth in August to three girls — two identical — at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, in a case that shocked her, her medical team, as well as her husband Aldaman.

“We were really expecting twins, that’s what the ultrasound showed, but when I was delivering we realised that it was triplets,” said Miller-Brown, who also has two boys, ages 17 and four years old.

“When I had the first two, the nurse took them away to clean them up, but soon afterwards I started to have excessive pain, so I called her [the nurse] back and told her [about the pain] and she said it was caused from induced labour.

Jacqueline Miller-Brown She however decided to ping in preparation for the have another look, and when arrival of twins, was even she did, she shouted: ‘oh my more surprised at the delivGod, it is another one,!” a ery of the three babies, who smiling Miller- Brown told were born within 35 minutes. the Jamaica Observer West.

“When I called him and told She added that her hus- him that I had three babies he band who lives overseas and was shocked,” Miller-Brown had done most of the shop- stressed.

“Wha you just sey, not two, three?” Are you sure all of them are yours? she said her husband enquired.

Miller-Brown added that the nurse who attended to her was also surprised when she discovered that the ultrasound had apparently missed a third baby. The triplets — Brianna, Bianca and Brineca who were born on August 25 — are all said to be in good health.

Miller-Brown explained that since their birth her husband has had to go back shopping for the “unexpected baby.” “Since he had only shopped for two, he had to go back to get another car seat, the stroller he bought was a twinstroller so he had to change that and of course he had to buy other clothes,” she told the Observer West.

Head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at the Cornwall Regional Hospital Dr Judith Neathly- Roberts, described the birth of the triplets as “unusual and a pleasant surprise.”

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guyana CHRONICLE Saturday october 11, 2014

EDITORIAL

guyana

Is the world on the threshold of another deadly pandemic since ‘Black Death’?

It is an understatement to say that the world is now gripped in fear of the dreaded Ebola virus.

Certainly, its opening assault, persistence and spread in its original location of Guinea, then to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Senegal sounded the alarm bells, as it began its deadly collection, of over 4,000 deaths and 8,000 infected cases, according to recent reports.

But now with its apparent threat in European Spain, a recent death in the United States, and now a reportedly diagnosed case in Brazil, the inevitable must certainly be asked - Is the world on the threshold of another deadly pandemic since ‘Black Death’, that reaped a grim harvest of between 75 million to 200 million people in the 14th century?

The powers that be have acknowledged not only the ongoing toll of lives taken, but also the destruction of the already fragile socio-economic infrastructure of the most severely affected states, and the threat that this deadly virus, if not checked, can cause to global stability and peace.

As a result of this stark projection, the key multi-lateral agencies together with their principals have drawn up what can be described as contingen-

cy plans in the form of financial aid, and specialist personnel that should already be on their way to the severely stricken states.

Cuba, is one of the countries that has announced sending a team of medical personnel, consisting of over 60 doctors and in excess of one hundred nurses to the gravely struck African countries. Now this island, which declared communist ideology in 1959, after the well-known Fidel Castro – led revolution seized power, has had to endure a crippling economic embargo, compliments of the United States of America, since then. It has stagnated the island’s socio-economic development, to such an extent, that vehicles of the 1950s made are still a common sight on Cuban roads, concomitant with a reported estimate of 500,000 houses in the Havana capital, badly in need of repairs.

But despite this perennial adversity, this island has developed what is definitely the most efficient medical system in this part of the Hemisphere. Not only has its universities trained tens of thousands of doctors throughout the decades, for health care services throughout the island, but it has also been

Ram wrong again!

I WOULD like to congratulate the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Ms. Indira Anandjit for her erudite work on defending her Ministry against the sometimes very harsh and unrelenting critique and social activist, Mr. Christopher Ram. That being said, she was in her right to defend her Ministry against Mr. Ram’s accusations which were in their entirety, baseless and unfounded based on the exchanges that I read between the two parties.

Mr. Ram began his shifty arguments in a letter dated the 8th of October, 2014, under the caption, “Deficiencies in two legal areas” by saying that the Judicial Review Act is not being brought into force and that the Attorney General Mr. Anil Nandlall is frustrating the decision of Parliament by not bringing the Act into “operation”.

Apparently at the time he wrote that letter he didn’t know that there was no procedure in the Act to make what he is calling for effective, the procedure to do so was contained in the High Court Rules. The Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs had to draw that to his attention.

Ms. Anandjit, highlighted Section 3(1) of the said Act which stated, “an application to the Court for relief against an administrative Act or omission shall be made by way of an application for Judicial Review in accordance with this Act and with Rules of Court.”

Rather than being grateful for the learning he received, he launched an ill-advised attack on the Ministry of Legal Affairs in another letter dated the 8th of October, 2014, under the caption ‘Mr. Nandlall has taken the administration of Justice to its nadir,’ contending that the Ministry was wrong and that

the Rules of Court have been in force since 2010 and then demanded that the Attorney General extract, from the Rules of Court, the part dealing with the Judicial Review Act. Again the Ministry of Legal Affairs had to correct him by responding in another letter dated October 10, 2014, captioned, ‘Comprehension could have avoided this entire exchange,’ where it was articulated that the Rules were not in force and are to be brought in force, not, by the Attorney General, but by the Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Carl Singh.

This was substantiated in the letter, where Ms. Anandjit highlighted from the commencement of Rules, the part which read that, “Rules shall come into operation subject to the transitional provisions in Part 73, on a date to be fixed by the Chancellor, acting on the decision of the Rules of the Committee.”

In any event, the Rules of Court are always dealt with by the Judiciary and not the Executive, as enshrined in Constitutional Doctrine of Separation of Powers.

Mr. Ram, although he received legal training late in life, he is still a lawyer. Against that backdrop it is shocking, that a lawyer does not know what appears to be matters of an alphabetical nature. I was advised that Mr. Ram lectures law at the University of Guyana.

If that is the case then I am truly sorry for the crop of law students that he lectures to. The institution would have to, in the future, make sure that they get capable persons to teach the prestigious law course or risk diluting its standards.

FARUK MOHAMED

sending these medical personnel to regions such as Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean – all in the spirit of international fraternity. Guyana has been a prime recipient of Cuban doctors dating back to the seventies.

In fact, most of our young doctors have been trained in Cuba, as well as many others from the Caribbean.

It is not traditional for states such as Cuba with its struggling economy, that had been mostly kept alive by the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) during the cold war, to be volunteering such vital support to countries that are threatened by a viral decimation, as Ebola. But this has always been Cuba’s line in rendering assistance to countries that have faced natural disasters; whether in the form of technical expertise such as engineers and agronomists, and now medical specialists as is the current case.

Notwithstanding its still consistent and unswerving embrace of its institutional ideology, Cuba must be commended for its continued practice, of fraternal brotherhood among nations, with its tenet of willing and ready assistance in times of distress.

Kaieteur News’ insinuation that Foreign Ministry tolerating wrong doing disturbing FURTHER to my letter to (the Editor of Kaieteur News) and his published response which appeared in (yesterday’s) edition of the Kaieteur News, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes not to become embroiled in any exchanges with the Kaieteur newspaper, I am constrained to write only for the purpose to clarify for the reading public, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not been provided with any “facts” as mentioned by (the KN Editor).

(His) insinuation that the Ministry is tolerating wrong doing is therefore disturbing.

ELISABETH HARPER Director General Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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guyana CHRONICLE Saturday october 11, 2014

There is need for a national Hindu organisation

I WAS unable to respond to the letter ‘Pandits have to live the message they preach’, written during the month of September 2014, by Cecil Ramkirath, due to my absence from Guyana and my busy schedule.

Mr Ramkirath, who resides in a foreign country, has proven that he has the courage to represent his opinions on issues relating to Hinduism at the local level. Even though I made a call for a National Hindu Organisation, not one person at the local level seems able to muster the energy to even voice an opinion. In this regard I hold him in high esteem. Still, for me that cannot be the end of the matter.

Let me say that as long as there is no forum to address Hindu issues at the intellectual levels, topics of interest will be aired in the public regardless of how distasteful they are.

I agree with the writer that Pujas are supposed to be an expression of love for God and that all items of the pujas, including bhajans, are impregnated with symbolism. However, I cannot call his argument anything else but simplistic at best.

Most Pujas are mere process of negotiation and bargaining with God, or rewarding God for the perceived good that he did.

I may have erred, and I do apologise if I conveyed the understanding that all Pandits are incapable of transforming the hearts of devotees. Pandits do perform a desirable service and they have to be paid. Often it is their only source of income. What I cannot stand for is when the service of a Pandit is turned into a business. The very long list of expensive items that is given to the devotee is being sold by many pandits.

Their sermons are almost always incoherent and consist of abstract scripts lacking in any metaphor.

I am not against Puja. I do perform Puja. On Deepawali I will be performing Lakshmi Puja. We will light our Diyas, and then I will aarti my wife and bow at her feet. I never hit her and always say thank you when she places my meal before me. Coming up to the last years on my parent’s life, my brothers and I made sure that their desires and needs were fulfilled.

That was our Vishnu and Durga puja. During last Pitri Paksha one of my sons performed Pitri Puja by asking me to sit and allow him to care for my feet and toe nails, the way I did for my father. That action is far more expensive than athar and chandan and innocence.

We can learn a lot from the devotees of the Devi Mandirs about Pujas. They fast and pray for months and they make their offerings without Pandits. Their piety and faith will make many Pandits envious.

Records have proven that the Ancient and New age saints all agree that, in the age of Kali, chanting the name of God and right actions will bring peace and salvation. The Panduas worshipped Krishna. They won the Mahabharata war. Tell me what peace they had?

Buddha, Kabir Das, Dayanand, Prabhupada, et al inspired change for the better. When our ancestors first arrived in Guyana, the journey from India took about six months. Now the same distance can be covered in one day. It is good to keep traditions alive, but it is better to give essence to the life of the practitioners, for without them what is the use of traditions?

During 2006 I was contracted as a facilitator with the Guyana Social Cohesion Programme. On one occasion, when I had to travel to an interior location in Guyana, I arrived at the Ogle Airport and enquired if any flip chart was available for me to take on the plane. I was informed by the Logistics Officer that a vehicle with all necessary materials left for the conference venue the morning before. When I demanded a flip chart, because there was no guarantee the vehicle would arrive, that officer said “Pandit, you are a man of little faith.”

My answer was “what I can do for myself, I do not burden God with.” The said vehicle never arrived.

My point is that we have to shoulder our responsibilities. If we want peace and happiness then we must be realistic and not symbolic. If we love God why then do we burden him with all our tasks and menial responsibilities? After every prayer the Hindu says ‘Shanti, Shanti, Shanti’ - a declaration that there

A soap opera with great amusement I AM following the almost daily reports what can only be described as a soap opera with great amusement.

Who would have thought that the villain in this soap opera which we will call ‘The man who dreams of driving Lexus’, would have been Glenn Lall. This is the man who is getting it as good as he has been giving in his usual doses of scurrilous reporting on others.

As the saying goes people who own glass houses should never throw stones.

How can this man be a match for the heavyweights he has chosen to challenge? He must be extremely paranoid and I hope the Police Commissioner takes steps to relieve this man of his firearm if he has one, a man who once regarded himself as the vanguard of virtues, before it’s too late.

My recollection goes back to not too long ago when a young child who suffered from mental problems, called paranoia similar to the illness that Lall seems to be afflicted with, went berserk and a shooting spree ensued.

Seven innocent persons died in the rampage caused by the delusionary mind of the

perpetrator and while the ruling party may be waiting for such a disaster to occur before it acts, as if to say when it happens he proved us right, innocent lives may be lost.

How can this man ever believe that he is match for the Commissioner General?

It makes me more convinced that Lall has reached the breaking point. Mr. Sattaur has, thus far in his illustrious career, retained an impeccable character. He has brought about through his brilliance a department that is a far cry from the days when Glenn Lall had his cohorts at the Customs who were (allegedly) stealing containers belonging to Lall off the wharves.

That’s the genesis of this man’s rags to riches infamy. But as they say, a leopard never changes its spots. Now he is stealing duty free concessions and putting false labels on ink because old habits (of not wanting to pay his taxes) do die hard.

AMUSED GUYANESE LIVING ABROAD

is peace everywhere. Why then is peace so elusive? While I agree that prayers are expressions of humility, glorification and supplication it cannot be treated as a wishing well.

Peace is not a product that Krishna will give to us because we pray for it. It has to be earned. It is not a place we can go to. Peace is internal. It is a learnt process that we can all access. Will you pray for peace when your children are crying that they are hungry?

I will be the last person to say ‘not to perform pujas’.

However, I will be among the first to say we must deepen the philosophy of Hindu traditions. Only when we can give meaningful expression to our rituals will people have greater participation. However, to say that if we stop doing pujas “we will lose the very enduring values of Sanatan Dharma” cannot be substantiated. Those values are enshrined in Gyaan Yoga, Karma Yoga, Raaj Yoga, the yams and Ni-yams, etc. Pujas are not a requisite for honesty, benevolence and compassion.

In the same letter Mr. Ramkirath informs us that there are more than enough motivational speakers among the Pandits’ clan. Well, I can’t find them. Let them be pointed out. Please answer how come the Mandirs are scarcely attended. How come we have a problem with conversion? Let me inform Mr. Rarkirath that when most Pandits are asked to address a topic out of his mandir, they always decline and say they prefer to sing. During 2013 I was approached by a group of Pandits to hold a class on Patra for them. My question to them was “Who will be the beneficiaries.” And they answered “the Pandits”.

That was the end of the meeting.

It is not my intention to bash anyone, but we must stop living in denial, Some Hindu organisations are of the opinion that they have the answers. We have a crisis on hand which is not being addressed. For this reason I am repeating the call for Panditii professionalism and a national Hindu organisation.

PANDIT CHRISHNA PERSAUD, JP, FILS

Gratemur Scholae: An evening of QC music slated for Theatre Guild THE Theatre Guild, on Friday October 31, 2014, will be the venue for Gratemur Scholae, an evening celebrating the creativity of Queen’s College (QC) alumni, especially the music they composed over the past 170 years.

Gratemur Scholae will feature performances by current QC students, alumni, and Friends of Queen’s College.

The show is produced by QC alumni Basil Bradshaw, Dr. Paloma Mohamed, and Ron Robinson, along with QC faculty members, Radiante Frank, Gem Rohlehr, and Leon McDonald.

Attendees will receive the souvenir programme Laude, which can also be purchased separately. Laude contains a brief history of Queen’s College and includes

reminiscences of notable alumni.

The proceeds from the sale of Laude and tickets to Gratemur Scholae will go towards creating a centre of excellence for the performing arts at Queen’s College.

The centre of excellence which is slated for completion in 2019 on QC’s 175th Anniversary, will support students preparing for CSEC and CAPE examinations in the performing arts. It will also be a hub for the creative arts in the community.

For further information, persons can contact: Eden Gajraj, ICQC Fundraising Coordinator (gagee28@ gmail.com); or Alfred Granger, Executive Secretary ICQC (qchorse@ gmail.com)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday October 11, 2014

Many questions still unanswered after 1994 killing of Kenny France

– Glenn Lall is the self-confessed ‘vigilante’ who fatally shot France THE 1994 killing of 30-year-old Kenny France on January 20, which triggered widespread interest around the country, holds an equal level of interest today, particularly in light of recent events.

Current publisher of the Kaieteur News, Mr. Glenn Lall, is the self-confessed “vigilante” who shot and killed France at McDoom and later described the incident as an “unfortunate” accident.

According to the Stabroek News, which reported extensively on the killing, Lall, a well-known stall-holder at the Stabroek Market and then rural constable with the police force shot France in the chest at close range with a .38 revolver.

Reports are that France’s step-son, Oliver Marshall, was wanted by the police in connection with a robbery at Lall’s home. On the day of the killing, Lall, using his post as a rural constable,

went to France’s McDoom residence to arrest Marshall, where he was met with strong resistance by the boy’s relatives.

The Stabroek News article stated that police information indicated that there was a scuffle between Lall and Marshall, at which time the shot was fired and France was hit. “We have information to suggest that the two were engaged in a scuffle before the shot was fired.

It was not a cold-blooded killing as France’s relatives would want us to believe,” the police source said, in the February 2, 1994 report.

In the case of France’s killing, there was no inquest into the circumstances of his killing – an action that has left eyebrows raised and many interested parties dissatisfied.

The conclusions reached by the police were deemed “not good enough” by France’s relatives.

Glenn Lall

QUESTIONS BEING ASKED This sense of discontent has resurfaced and many persons, including eyewitnesses of the shooting, are now asking questions, following Lall’s recent alleged threats to a senior public official, as well as talk of Government ministers being blackmailed by him.

Lall’s alleged threats and talk of blackmail follow investigations by the relevant

authorities into his alleged criminal activities.

In early September, Lall was alleged to have evaded taxes for over a decade now.

Reports are that Mr. Lall, the owner of the Guyana National Media Publishing Company, is being investigated by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for the importation of printing ink packaged as a CARICOM (Caribbean Community) product, which enjoys duty free concessions under the Revised Treaty of Chaguramas. Upon closer inspection, however, it was allegedly found that the origin of the inks was from overseas, and therefore in breach of the Treaty. As it relates to the progress of the investigation of the alleged tax evasion, the Guyana Chronicle has been made to understand that the necessary verification requests are still with the relevant authorities in Trinidad and Tobago.

Prior to the tax evasion

allegation, Mr. Lall was fingered in an alleged re-migrant duty-free concession scam.

Six criminal charges have altogether been filed against Lall; his wife, Bhena; and Narootandeo and Gharbassi Brijnanan, who have all been implicated in the scam.

The charges follow the seizure of two vehicles that are allegedly at the centre of a duty-free scam. The two vehicles in question, PRR 8398 and PRR 8399, were handed over to GRA and impounded at the Authority’s warehouse at the end of August, after an hours-long standoff between GRA officials and the Brijnanans’ son, Navin Sankar, a high-ranking GRA employee.

An investigation was then launched to ensure that procedures and policy, as well as the provisions of the law were adhered to. The criminal charges, this newspaper understands, stem from that investigation. Lall is expected to appear in court on Monday

to answer the charges.

Also, in mid-September, both Lall and his wife were sued by Acting Town Clerk of the Mayor and City Council, Ms Carol Sooba, for the sum of $ 5,660,142 and $60,142 as unpaid rates and taxes for the years 2004 to 2013 in relation to their property at 24 Saffon Street.

The case is currently being heard at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. In a defence seen by this newspaper and filed by attorney-at-law, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, the Lalls claim that they had a set-off arrangement with the City Council, and they are not indebted for the taxes and that they repaid these taxes by publication of advertisements in the Kaieteur News. However, a source in the accounting department at City Hall denies any such arrangement. “There is certainly no document in writing to this effect,” the source disclosed.

Texila University says no Ebola affected students admitted

By Leroy Smith CHIEF Administrative Officer of the Texila American University (Guyana), Sreebalakumar, has cleared the air on reports that several students from Ebola affected countries travelled here to attend classes.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Friday morning, the university official said that they are in constant contact with the Ministry of Health, World Health Organisation (WHO) and all other bodies which are monitoring the outbreak.

He added that the university has a standard operating procedure in place to deal with anyone coming from any country outside Guyana for classes and of more recent there has been special attention paid to anyone coming from West Africa for classes.

“We are experts in the medical field and we discuss with the Ministry of Health and WHO and other organisations, so the process is followed like in any other country; the students who are sent from these countries

are not directly coming from the affected countries; they have to make stops,” Sreebalakumar told the Guyana Chronicle.

On Thursday evening the Guyana Chronicle received several calls from persons who frantically urged that the newspaper track down a development where several students from West Africa arrived on a flight earlier in the day.

Sreebalakumar reported also during the interview, that there are students from West Africa who are attending the University but they have not returned home for holidays since the outbreak of the virus. He, however, said that the if there is a case where students travel back home for holiday or to any other country where the virus is now present, they would have to be subjected to the screening process before being integrated into the society and or the university population.

The official told the Guyana Chronicle also, that the only person the university was expecting on Thursday night was a doctor from the

Texila University (Guyana)

Philippines. He reiterated that the university does have a social responsibility to Guyana and its population and will do nothing to affect the health of the population by exposing them to anyone suspected to have contracted Ebola.

He added that the management also has to take into consideration the socio-economic well-being of the nation and it does take its responsibility very seriously.

Initially when this re-

porter entered the building, a decision was taken not to come into contact with any object or person at the facility nor was I willing to sit in any chairs, since the facility was extremely hot and persons were seen sweating tremendously.

My decision did offend the Chief Administrative Officer but he was soon comfortable after our interview was completed. By that time, he confirmed that no person

from the affected areas was present at the university nor were they expecting anyone.

Meanwhile, immigration officials have confirmed that they have no records to suggest anyone travelled from the affected countries in recent times.

The Ebola virus which was first discovered in West Africa has caused more than 3,000 deaths. Of recent, the virus was discovered in the United States,

Spain, and more recently Brazil reported that the first suspected case of the disease was discovered.

Should the suspected case in Brazil turn out to be factual, Guyana could be at a great risk of being exposed to the deadly virus, for which this country may not, at the current time, have the capacity to treat or test.

No Caribbean country has reported any signs that the virus is present.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday October 11, 2014

Rebounding gold prices trigger optimism

By Clifford Stanley AFTER a steep drop last Monday gold prices rebounded Thursday to regain trading above USD $1,200 an ounce.

Spot gold prices closed Thursday at USD 1226.75 an ounce, the equivalent of GD 255,703 up from the low of USD 1193.25 equivalent of GD 248,460 on October 6 last.

Some analysts feel that the only movement now is upwards towards breaking through the current solid technical resistance level, or cap, of USD1,250 an ounce.

A local analyst explained the fall below USD1,200 an ounce last week was because many investors had expected the Federal Reserve, the

central banking system of the United States, to increase interest rates in the U.S. As is generally known, rising interest rates reduce gold’s allure because the metal only offers investors returns through price gains, while a stronger dollar typically cuts demand for stor-

age.

But some positive events for gold prices occurred, mainly on Wednesday.

Traders were yesterday still digesting a Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes released Wednesday afternoon which hinted that the Fed

may have to hold off longer on raising U.S. interest rates due to concerns about weakening world economies especially in the European Union (EU).

“The dovish FOMC minutes have created a friendlier environment for gold,” the analyst said.

Consequently, the U.S. dollar index continued under selling pressure Wednesday morning, all in the favour of higher gold prices.

Additionally, China the largest consumer of the metal, resumed buying gold after a one week “golden” holiday from October 1 to October 7.

With the return of the Chinese participants Wednesday, volumes on the Shanghai Gold exchange rose to 26 tonnes compared to an av-

erage daily turnover of 24 tonnes last month.

Demand has also risen in India.

“The physical demand is not just from China; India is also buying consistently.

While a weak monsoon season this year could somewhat dampen gold purchases, the impact is likely to be very contained.”

“With the start of pre-Diwali buying in India – the near-term outlook on gold could improve somewhat,” the analyst said.

These developments combined with heavy buying back of shares earlier sold at low prices (a process known as short covering) and safe-haven buying are all very favourable for boosting the prices of the

yellow metal, the analyst said.

The gold ‘bulls’ who are positive about the upward trend in prices aim to produce a near-term price breakout objective close above a cap of USD1,250.00.

In a media release the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNR&E) along with its regulatory agencies for the gold mining and trading business noted the three week high in global gold prices.

“The local gold mining industry is being encouraged to capitalise on the rise in prices as we seek to close out the year on a high for the level of declaration that is currently being recorded,” the media release said.

CUSO volunteers to tackle social issues in Guyana

From Left: Canada High Commisson Daniel Joly alongside the new volunteers and CUSO Guyana-Country Representative Melanie McTurk at the volunteer arrival press briefing yesterday

By Shivanie Sugrim AIMING for positive developmental growth through a plethora of strategies in combating common social issues, CUSO International has yet again issued 10 new volunteers to undertake various roles in the Guyanese societal arena.

At a press briefing at the National Library’s conference room, yesterday, following the volunteers’ arrival, Canada’s High Commission official Daniel Joly graced the occasion alongside CUSO Guyana-Country Representative Ms. Melanie McTurk, as well as coordinator of Women’s Across Differences (WAD) Clonel Samuels-Boston, and President of the Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC), Tiffany Daniels.

The volunteers have brought along a wealth of

technical and developmental proficiency ranging from expertise in the Creative Arts, to Monitoring and Evaluation as well as Natural Resource Management, among others. They will partner with local and regional Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport, and communities.

Holding firmly to partnerships with Government agencies, the private sector and local and regional Non-Governmental Organisations, McTurk underscored that “all our partnerships represent our commitment to the furtherance of locally evolved developmental objectives.”

Moreover, the volunteer group aims to be gender responsive in acknowledging the different needs of young men and women and supporting the development of

services that would respond to the different needs while promoting gender equality and inclusion.

Additionally, they will also acknowledge the needs of young persons with disabilities and support also support services which are relevant and inclusive of

people with disabilities in Guyana. Engaging diaspora communities is also huge on their agenda as well as ensuring sustainability with relation to NGOs with the mindset to change from “NGO” status to a “social enterprise” model of working.

Mr. Joly emphasised that he believes volunteerism must be at the “base of Development Cooperation.”

He further highlighted the significance of volunteerism to the 10 presented volunteers by reminding them that: “Your work as a volunteer is so significant: beyond the transformational power of your individual action, you bring a human face to our presence and to Canada’s cooperation. This is why CUSO’s legacy in Guyana is so valued, and why it is important to us.”

With a contribution of CAD$67 million, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada supports the 2009-2015 Cuso Interna-

tional Volunteer Cooperation Programme, which is active in 26 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean including Guyana.

Long-standing NGOs: Guyana National Youth Council and the Women’s Across Differences (WAD) both echoed similar sentiments in continuing to collaborate with CUSO since the support gathered from CUSO has marvelously enhanced the effectiveness of their NGOs. Ms. Daniels bemoaned that: “As CUSO commits to the GNYC, the GNYC commits to striving to ensure that the sustainability and longevity of your (CUSO) investment is felt by the country’s youth.” She added that “we as a body continue to strive towards securing visibility and youth partnerships.”

Additionally, CUSO has been placing volunteers in Guyana for nearly 52 years and holds a central place in

the history of relations between Guyana and Canada.

Its first volunteer in Guyana was placed in 1962. CUSO International is collaborating with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) and has taken over VSO’s operations in 2012 as part of its Latin American and Caribbean Program. They have incredibly worked in areas of Education, Natural Resource Management, Hinterland Community/Organisation Development and Sustainable Livelihoods in Guyana.

CUSO International is a registered charity in Canada that works to reduce poverty and inequality through the efforts of skilled volunteers with the vision of: “A world of engaged and empowered citizens working together to overcome poverty, and to promote equality and justice…where all people are able to realise their human rights, develop their capabilities and participate in society.”

A section of the gathering at the CUSO International Volunteer Arrival Press Briefing at the National Library yesterday

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday October 11, 2014

Facing Facebook ‘Sexting’ PART II

By Keith Burrowes I WANT to deal with a specific issue; that of the phenomenon called ‘sexting.’

I suppose the best point of entry I can conceive of for this piece is an e-mail a friend sent me, the main point of which was to bring my attention to a segment of some show aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) which dealt with this most recent of ‘techno-social’ issues.The term — an obvious contraction or bringing together of ‘sex’ and ‘texting’ — has recently become mainstream, for reasons both relatively run-of-the-mill and notorious.

For example, it’s not uncommon for the celebrity pages of our local newspapers, this one included, to carry some story about some movie star and musician ‘sexting’ each other.

According to the Online Encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, arguably the most reliable source for most things to do with the technology that this generation thrives on, “Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit messages

or photographs, primarily between mobile phones.”

In a previous article, I mentioned a story surrounding an incident at an otherwise reputable senior secondary school, where two young people recorded some sexual activity using a mobile phone.

‘As a parent, all I can say is that the two things that have worked for good parenting throughout history, namely, vigilance and understanding, need to be applied here, granted with much greater intensity’ While it was said that the video was accessed on the young man’s computer, reports were that it was spread among other students by way of mobile phone. This represents the more notorious side to the phenomenon, both in terms of degree of graphicness as well as the persons involved. Two adults engaging in what is decidedly adult behaviour is one thing; but it’s different if two minors are involved.

In researching this article, I found a rather interesting report Online on the CBS website: “While it may be shock-

ing,” the piece begins, “the practice of ‘sexting’ — sending nude pictures via text message — is not unusual, especially for high schoolers around the country.

Some time ago, three teenage girls, who allegedly sent nude or semi-nude cellphone pictures of themselves and three male classmates in a western Pennsylvania high school who received them, were charged with child pornography.

In October 2010, a Texas eighth-grader spent the night in a juvenile detention centre after his football coach found a nude picture on his cellphone that a fellow student sent him. Roughly 20 per cent of teens admit to participating in ‘sexting’, according to a nationwide survey by the National Campaign to Support Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

Now, I am the last person to take data from another jurisdiction and simply transplant it here to prove some point about correlation, even in the light of relevant data here being absent.

That said, I think it’s reasonable to expect that, in light of the fact that Ameri-

can culture so heavily influences our own, and because of the level of penetration of cheap mobile phone technology in Guyana, it can be reasonably safe to speculate that a significant number of local teenagers either have been involved in ‘sexting’ themselves or have been exposed to ‘sexted’ material.

While I made the point in my previous article that our reaction to the effects of the new technology needs to be reasoned and objective; that we need to respond to these developments within the context of the generational gap, there are things that need to be dealt with ‘swiftly and condignly’, even as we are keeping an open mind.

The advent of ‘sexting’ is a particularly dangerous trend when it comes to the moral decline — and there has been, as even the most liberal of people would admit, a decline — that is affecting our society.

In my formative years in the early 1980s, if you found a pornographic magazine, that was like a treasure for teenage boys, and even a few girls if I remember correctly.

I’m not saying me, mind

Keith Burrowes you, but someone in possession of one would make it last for years.

In the late 1980s, even among adults, pornographic VHS tapes were probably worth their weight in silver or some other semi-precious metal at least.

In the late 1990s, teens were able to access some pornographic websites, and then suddenly a lot more as the millennium changed.

Now, worse than even the access to pornography online, our teenagers now have the means of pornographic production as well as its dissemination, literally at their fingertips.

Literally, any teenage child with a camera-phone is a potential porn director

and actor or actress, and that — in a culture bombarded by sex and sexual messages — cannot be a good thing.

Again, I can’t offer any detailed solution to this problem. I frankly think nothing short of fanatical religious fundamentalist type oppression has a chance of slowing it down, not stopping it, mind you.

As a parent, all I can say is that the two things that have worked for good parenting throughout history namely, vigilance and understanding, need to be applied here, granted with much greater intensity.

This article was previously published in this newspaper)

Peter’s Hall koker door temporarily fixed -flood under control

The koker after it was temporarily fixed using logs and tarpaulin

items were fridges, television sets, couches, poultry, glass wares, carpets, etc. Many students and workers had to stay at home to help clean up after the flood; and most elderly persons in the villages were seen in tears.

One resident who was at the koker yesterday morning told the Chronicle that the incident occurred around 16:30 hrs on Wednesday. He said

By Asif Hakim THE National Drainage & Irrigation Authority (NDIA) on Thursday afternoon placed temporary logs with the use of tarpaulin and a mobile pump to stop the constant flowing of water when the high tides are in. This was after the main door of the koker collapsed and caused the entire western part of Peter’s Hall and Providence, East Bank Demerara to be flooded with

water at a height of about one metre.

Speaking with the Chronicle yesterday, Head of the NDIA Mr. Lionel Wordsworth said that on Thursday afternoon temporary logs were put in place to keep the high tide out and the flooded areas were completely drained out using a mobile pump with the help of the logs.

Wordsworth added that the NDIA also secured the materials for the new perma-

nent door and the NDIA was successful in bringing the flood under control.

On Wednesday afternoon hundreds of residents residing in west Peter’s Hall and west Providence lost millions of dollars in damaged property after the door of the main koker that separates the two villages collapsed causing the entire western part of the villages to be flooded, with water reaching one metre high in most homes.

Among the damaged

that when he heard that the koker door was broken, he waited till the water cleared up and went to assist in helping to repair the koker door since he knows a little about it.

“I won’t lie, everybody blaming the engineer for the delay in fixing the koker, but what they don’t understand is that when the door collapsed it fell into the

The koker after it had collapsed

Head of NDIA Mr. Lionel Wordsworth groove security of the koker which made it take about five hours to come out. It’s not as if things like this don’t happen, this is God’s work we need to be prepared for any disaster,” the resident said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday October 11, 2014

Guyanese broadcasting giant Rafiq Khan dies

Rafiq Khan

BROADCASTING legend, Mr. Rafiq Ahmad Khan passed away in Jamaica yesterday after having contracted the Chikungunya virus.

A close colleague of his, Mr. Ron Robinson, in a tribute to Khan stated that Khan’s name will be “indelibly etched into the weave of the broadcast quilt” that should be woven for broadcast history and posterity.

‘THE RAF’ “Call the name of any great broadcaster of yesteryear and the name Rafiq Khan would be associated with their success. Indeed his worth was recognised

throughout the region and beyond…he was fearfully, but fondly respected and endeared himself to us all,” Robinson reminisced.

He added: “His advice became the solid foundation on which we built our careers, advice that is remembered to this day.

As a programme director and, subsequently, General Manager, his uncanny ability to identify individual weaknesses and strengths in broadcasters made him the powerful motivator he was as he knew that ‘The

“All the icons of the golden years of radio of the 60s, 70s and 80s benefited from the mentoring of ‘The Raf’. Not only was he a great motivator and teacher, but one of the finest practitioners of broadcasting.” – Ron Robinson

broadcasting…He was simple and natural, especially his supreme command of the spoken word,” Robinson said.

He also recalled the fact that it was Khan who described the hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead for the first time on May 26, 1966, and this was because every other broadcaster at the time knew that he would be the best.

“Guyanese were moved to tears at that moment…

“He has always been the kind of personality that inspired you.” -- Shamshun Mohamed Raf’ could do (or expertly advice on) what he demanded of us.”

According to him, broadcast history would be incomplete without the name Rafiq Khan deeply etched in it.

“All the icons of the golden years of radio of the 60s, 70s and 80s benefited from the mentoring of ‘The Raf.’” “Not only was he a great motivator and teacher, but one of the finest practitioners of

the Raf’s work was incomparable…this was complemented by a voice that was unique and, I repeat, a command of English that was enviable,” Robinson stated.

INSPIRATIONAL Ms. Shamshun Mohamed who also worked with Khan, described him to the Guyana Chronicle as an inspiring individual.

She said: “I worked

with Mr. Khan for a number of years at Radio Demerara, while he was General Manager, and I have always found him to be s omeone w ho set goo d examples and that was one of the hallmarks of his tenure. He has always been the kind of personality that inspired you.”

According to her, Khan has made significant contributions to the broadcasting field, both in and out of Guyana. “He will no doubt be very missed by those who had the privilege of knowing him, especially in the media broadcasting fraternity,” she said.

A GIANT Another one of his colleagues, Dr. Rovin Deodat, offered his condolences to Mr. Khan’s family and highlighted that he was a “pioneer” in the broadcasting field locally, in the Caribbean and in other

countries.

“I can talk for an hour about Rafiq, but the simple fact is that he was one of the greatest architects of broadcasting in Guyana. He set the benchmark for good broadcasting and for what a good broadcaster should be, in terms of quality and characteristics,” Deodat said.

He recalled that Khan schooled a number of other young people, including him – many of whom are

ing not about the broadcaster, but about the public, about the people we served.”

“There is no doubt that Rafiq was a giant in the field. We will not see another Rafiq in this generation,” Deodat said.

Similar tributes have been pouring in from all quarters since news of Khan’s passing was made public.

HIS LIFE

“There is no doubt that Rafiq was a giant in the field. We will not see another Rafiq in this generation.” – Rovin Deodat today renowned personalities in broadcasting.

“Rafiq virtually took a number of young people including myself and other well-known broadcasters now and transformed us from individuals with potential talent and into the people of whom we are,” Deodat said.

He stressed that the one message Khan strived to impart in all those he mentored was that “Broadcast-

Khan was involved in the broadcasting scene at a unique historical moment in the Caribbean. British broadcasting policymakers were grudgingly coming to recognise that the paramountcy of British cultural and political interests in the colonies had to make way for local interests.

Managing and influencing change in this area was a difficult role that he Turn to page 15

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guyana CHRONICLE Saturday october 11, 2014

‘Back trackers’ get six months jail for illegal departure TWO confessed “back trackers “ were each sentenced to six months’ imprisonment by Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs at the New Amsterdam Magistrates Court, after they confessed to leaving the shores of Guyana at Number 78 Foreshore for Suriname.

In addition, Arina Francis and Deryck Persaud were fined $15,000 each, failing to pay which they will have to serve 30 days and 20 days imprisonment, respectively.

Nineteen-year-old Arina Francis told the court that on September 1, 2013, she departed the Number 78 foreshore, and failed to present herself to an immigration officer.

However, it was whilst living in Nickerie, that Surinamese officials during a routine check realised that she was undocumented. She was arrested and thereafter handed over to their Guyanese counterparts, who instituted the illegal departure charge.

Meanwhile, 47- year- old Deryck Persaud, who resided in Parimaribo, said he too had departed from the Number 78 Village foreshore on July 12, last. However, he confessed to being the holder of a Guyana Passport, but said that he had misplaced the travel document, resulting in him being deported from the neighbouring republic.

Defence threatens to move constitutional motion in Caracas house demolition murder PI

THE preliminary inquiry (PI) into the death of Caracas resident Errol Lindo called “Son Son,” who was fatally shot during a house demolition on April 16, 2014, continued before New Amsterdam Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs Marcus with the testimonies of three witnesses.

Prosecution witnesses Travis Crandon and Cassandra Arthur were cross-examined by Attorneys-at-law Nigel Hughes and Horation Edmondson.

However, the battery of lawyers which included Mortimer Coddette, declined to question police witness, Detective Ryan Caesar, through whom the post- mortem report was tendered.

Nevertheless, Codette brought to the court’s attention that come October 16, it will be six months since the defendant has been in custody. Clearly then, if the remaining eight witnesses are not available by the 20th October, he will move a constitutional motion based on Section 144:1 of the Constitution of Guyana.

Consequently, the court has availed October 16 and 20 for the continuance of the matter.

Facing the capital offence of murder is New Amsterdam businessman Charles Henry, called Bristol, of Lad Lane, New Amsterdam, who allegedly fatally shot the squatter during the Christian-celebrated Holy Week.

Pestano murder trial…

Father, son placed on $450,000 bail each AFTER the mixed jury at the Berbice Assizes had twice failed to arrive at a verdict in relation to the Pestano father and son murder case, a subsequent petition for bail was granted by acting Chief Justice Ian Chang.

The petition of Rookmin Pestano, through Attorney-at-law Peter Hugh, was accepted , and the men Roy Snr. and Raymond Pestano were granted pre-trial liberty in the sum of $450,000 each.

The Pestanos second trial had concluded two weeks ago, because the jury had failed to reach a verdict, after deliberating for over three hours.

Consequently, the then presiding Judge Navindra Singh ordered that the duo be further remanded until their third trial.

After the order had been given, the elder Pestano was overheard saying that he hoped to have an early trial.

The Pestanos are accused of unlawfully killing their relative Davindand Ramlagan on October 19, 2002 at Number 41 Village, West Coast Berbice.

In her address to the jury, Prosecutrix Renita Singh, had referred to the overwhelming evidence and urged the jury to return a verdict in keeping with the oath they had taken and the dictates of their conscience.

guyana CHRONICLE Saturday october 11, 2014

Three in custody for multi-million robbery at Gold establishment -gun, money, gold, diamond other items taken

By Leroy Smith SIX persons including a husband and wife were on Thursday held up at gunpoint by four bandits, three males and a female, during a daring mid-morning robbery in Alexander village where the couple operated a goldsmith shop.

Theresa Ali, 38 years, a housewife and her husband Intikhab Ali, 39, a goldsmith were pounced upon by the bandits just about 11:30hrs on Thursday morning while customers were in their establishment, Kumar Jewellery. The woman was upstairs in her living quarters while her husband was downstairs with workers and customers.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Friday, Crime Chief Leslie James confirmed that the incident did take place and that during the incident the couple were relieved of millions, while other goldsmiths who were in the shop working at the time, as well as customers, were relieved of their belongings and valuables.

The bandits also took away a .32 firearm according to the crime chief. Asked if any of the persons were masked, James related that three of the bandits were not while the other was masked. He said that while the men robbed the persons who were present at the Lot 4 First Street Alexander Village property which houses the business place and living quarters of the couple, the female bandit used duct tape to bind her victims.

Up to late yesterday afternoon three males were still in police custody assisting with the investigations after they were picked up following the robbery. The police are looking to have them finger printed and profiled and they are likely to be placed on an identification parade even as the police continue to seek the female accomplice who accompanied the two men who entered the shop. There were also reports that the bandits had another accomplice waiting outside the business a short distance away in a car, which was used to escape from the scene.

The other four persons who were robbed were identified as 30- year-old Charrandat Paul of Block 12 Non Peril East Coast Demerara. He was robbed of a Nokia cell phone worth $66,000; Thirty-year-old Goldsmith Ricky Ronald of 93 First Street Grove East Bank Demerara was robbed of two gold rings valued at $70,000 and a Samsung mobile phone.

The other two persons who were present and robbed were Latiff Persaud a 22-yearold Goldsmith of 18 First Street Alexander Village, and Pooran Ramoutar, a 32-yearold manager of another gold establishment and of 19 First Street Alexander Village The former was robbed of a mobile phone and a silver band, while the latter was robbed of eight penny weight of 14 karat gold valued at $40,000 and three pennyweight of 12 karat gold worth $16,000.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday October 11, 2014

Father of six urgenty needs $5M for brain surgery in T&T WAYNE Bovell of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, a 32-year-old father of six is stricken on a hospital bed with life-threatening internal head injuries and is desperately seeking to raise the sum of $5M in order to undergo brain surgery in Trinidad as soon as possible.

To this end, his deeply distraught mother, Lorna Hickens, is appealing to the public to come to his rescue by making generous donations to save a life in this humanitarian cause.

Tragedy struck on June 2 last, when Bovell, a GuySuco sugar-cane harvester was dealt several blows, by a man, on the head with a metal plate from a car wheel, resulting in him receiving about eight punctures. The incident stemmed from an argument between the two.

Ever since then, the injured man has been in and out of the New Amsterdam Hospital and his condition has been deteriorating. He has since had two C- T scans, the most recent having been at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital last Monday, after he began developing seizures and was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital and

hurriedly transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The scan showed that there was a huge deposit of blood on the brain as a result of the injuries sustained.

Immediately following the attack, the victim went to the New Amsterdam police station bleeding, and reported the matter. At the request of the police, he visited the station four consecutive days to see if the police had arrested the aggressor. However, on the fourth morning he arrived at the station, he was advised by the police that it was a civil matter and that they could do nothing about it; he would have to secure the services of a lawyer if he wished to proceed with legal action.

Since he was in no position to hire a lawyer, Bovell returned home where he quietly endured his agony. A few weeks later, his condition took a turn for the worse and he was rushed to New Amsterdam Hospital where he was given saline, x-rayed and sent home with medication.

But that provided temporary relief only, for he was back at hospital within a few days, and that was when his mother did a CT-scan on her own at the Mercy Hospital. The scan showed bleeding in the brain.

Wayne Bovell: in urgent need of brain surgery

But one week ago, after he had developed seizure and was admitted to the GPHC, the doctors gave his mother a medical report recommending that brain surgery be done in Trinidad.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has offered to pay G$1M towards the cost of the operation. His mother Lorna Hickens or his wife Sharmain can be contacted at Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, or at 40 Garnett Street, Campbellville, on phone number; 227-0502 or cell No: 696 1800.

Noting that time is of the essence in a situation where much damage would have been done to the brain, Mrs. Hickens, who is expressing gratitude in advance, is asking prospective donors to kindly treat this matter with grave urgency.

Nothing to show for the... cade under the PPP/C; the president said that the fortunes were mixed. “The first five years saw a big spurt in economic development of our society, production was raised, the economy began to grow at a much more rapid rate, the Government also engaged the international community, we demonstrated that this was a big difference, we practically had a revolution and people were seeing we were doing everything we could… we engaged international financial institutions on the issue of debt relief, because you know we had a debt of more than $200Billion.”

The 1997 elections was perhaps one of the best because of the processes, according to the President, but when the Opposition staged their protests and evoked racist tendencies these set the country back, and hampered the momentum that was built up in the 1992 to 1997 period.

Following the 2001 elections, the process had to start again to continue replacing the broken down infrastructure. He said the PPP shifted the emphasis on spending on

the masses, where it would affect people more.

“Up to 1992 the PNC Government spent more money on Ministry of Foreign Affairs than the whole social sector budget plus the Ministry of Agriculture put together.

We shifted that, the biggest amount went to the social sector - to education in the first place, health secondly, housing began to get a spurt. Actually the last PNC Government had closed down the Ministry of Housing we reestablished the ministry of housing to tackle the housing issue.. So we started to put more emphasis on areas where they would have had a bigger impact on the masses… instead of paying a rent they were paying for their own homes and they get the security of living in their own home.”

He spoke of the strides made in education and health especially where he said there has been a revolution in the latter area, even as he recalled the health situation pre – 1992. .Life expectancy was low as HIV/ AIDS was wreaking havoc in society. Today life expectancy is now age 70.

From page 2

Speaking of the following 12 years, he said the economy became stronger, debt reduced and the Government began to invest more in its people and in services for the people.

He cited the nightmare situation prior to the construction of the Berbice River Bridge which allows one to cross the river in about three minutes. There is specialized eye care offered at the ophthalmology hospital, the housing situation became more accelerated, under every PPP/C Government as people now in their 20s own a home.

“I feel so proud that I have been part of this whole process of Government at the time when those things took place,” he stated.

Listing some of the other major developments - national stadium, synthetic track, aquatic centre, conference centre, new hotels, he stated that all of these have helped to push the country forward.

Guyana has had eight years of economic growth and is projected to grow its GDP by another 5% by the end of this year. (GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday October 11, 2014

Electricity boost for several hinterland regions

CABINET earlier this week cleared a contract for the supply of cables, switches and other related items for the Hinterland Electrification Project at a cost of more than US$192,000, equivalent to G$39.8M, Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon announced.

Speaking at his usual post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President, in Georgetown, Luncheon said the tender was opened last September 23.

The contract would see a completion of the distribution of solar panels to the households in Regions1, 2, 7, 8 and 9.

About 6,000, in addition to the earlier 11,000 solar panels, are now being distributed and this equipment is needed by the householders to install their 65 watt solar panels, Luncheon explained. “So that project would see almost 20,000 solar panels distributed in the hinterland regions to allow

Guyanese broadcasting...

From page 11

played well. Starting out as a radio announcer in 1949, when he was just 16 years old, he came up through the ranks. In 1956 Khan became Programme Director of Radio Demerara, British Guiana’s sole radio station in those days. In 1958 he set up and nurtured BGBS (which later became GBS) as a companion station to Radio Demerara. With both stations operating under the umbrella of the Guyana Broadcasting Company, he was appointed General Manager in 1970.

By then, British Guiana had gone through tumultuous changes, and had, in 1966, become an independent Guyana. In the year 1970 Guyana went on to become the Co- operative Republic of Guyana.

Throughout the changing scenes, Rafiq Khan coupled management skills with continued demonstration of his abilities as broadcaster par excellence and master of the spoken word. Notably, he led or participated in radio broadcast coverage of major national events in Guyana.

He also nurtured local broadcast talents and in some way touched the lives of virtually all professional Guyanese broadcasters of that period. He encouraged the production of local radio drama, comedy, and music, always insisting on the highest standards possible.

As head of a major media organisation, he could not escape the rough currents of political and social change. To his credit, he

survived them rather well.

Armed with the experiences of a unique historical moment, with no textbook to go by, he himself became a textbook in managing and influencing change and development in broadcast communication in the Caribbean.

Even while Khan served the Guyana Broadcasting Company, he became Management Consultant to the Rediffusion Group of Broadcasting Systems in the Caribbean. After resigning from the Company in 1978, he served regional communication organisations in various capacities.

In 1979, he began a period of 13 years with Unesco, 10 of them as Regional Communication Adviser for the Caribbean.

Khan continued promoting excellence in radio and television as he advised governments as well as non- government institutions on the development and use of communications nationally and regionally, as he lectured at UWI and University of Guyana, and as he served as Communications Consultant.

After retirement from UNESCO in 1992, he went into private practice as International Media Consultant.

K h a n h a s re c e i v e d awards for his contributions to broadcast communications from governments and regional organisations throughout the Caribbean, including induction into the Caribbean Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1996.

them to achieve a degree of power, a degree of electrification.”

Meanwhile, residents of the Region 1 (Barima/ Waini) community of Santa Rosa (Barima/Waini) will soon benefit from a G$35M upgrade of the elec-

tric grid serving that community.

The project is being done by contractors working under supervision of the Hinterland Electrification Unit (HEU) of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).

Chief Executive Offi-

cer (CEO) of the HEU, Mr. Horace Williams, disclosed his optimism that the project would be completed this month, so that many more residents of the hinterland community in the Moruca District can access electricity from the upgraded grid before the start

of the Christmas season.

Williams also disclosed that the network at Matthews Ridge, which falls under the same Hinterland Electricity Programme in the same region, is completed and the contractors will shortly boot up the system.

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Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr Kamalesh Sharma (left) shares a light moment with President Donald Ramotar during a meeting to discuss a range of issues on the sidelines of the recent United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York

guyana CHRONICLE Saturday october 11, 2014

International Day of the Girl Child 2014 celebrated today

– Commonwealth Secretary-General reaffirms commitment to support all efforts to end cycle of violence against girls, women

TODAY is International Day of the Girl Child and in a message to mark the occasion, Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma said: “Every Commonwealth citizen can and should contribute to a world that is safe from violence against girls. Our 53 Governments and the extensive range of Commonwealth organisations that link our citizens are already making valuable contributions, and have the scope to do much more.”

The theme for 2014 ‘Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending the Cycle of Violence’, is a particularly pertinent one for the Commonwealth, the Secretary-General said.

“International Day of the Girl Child is a reminder of our collective commitment in the Commonwealth Charter to recognise gender equality and women’s empowerment as components of human development and basic human rights. This embodies the rights of the girl child, too.

“Our Commonwealth words are being followed up by practical action through support to our member states on legislative reform, prevention strategies and redress to end Child and Early Forced Marriage. This includes a Commonwealth submission to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for her report to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2014; as well as upcoming work on the reform of laws, including customary laws, to combat Female Genital Mutilation.”

Mr. Sharma said the Commonwealth Secretariat continues to strengthen Parliaments and National Human Rights Institutions, which have a critical rights protection mandate and are key in advocating for the protection of the girl child.

“Commonwealth civil society too can play a crucial role in advancing awareness and practical action to eliminate the scourge of violence against women and girls. The immense good that is achieved through cooperation between governments at various levels is immeasurably enhanced by the vigour and dedication of Commonwealth civil society organisations, professional bodies, and groups serving various causes. As agents of change they can mobilise to alter attitudes and advance practical action to end violence against women and girls.”

“We celebrate the girl child in the Commonwealth today and reaffirm our commitment to support all efforts to end the cycle of violence and give to girls their right to freedom, choice and self-determination,” he said.

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guyana CHRONICLE Saturday october 11, 2014

Mings Products & Services donates outboard motor to school on Berbice River

Mings Products & Services (MPS) has donated a new Yamaha 25H.P outboard motor valued at $679,000 to be used to transport the children who attend the St. Lust Primary School, located on the Berbice River.

The donation is a result of a visit to the St. Lust, Wiruni and Dubulay communities several months ago

by Stanley Ming and Dr. Michele Ming, directors of MPS. During the visit, it was observed that the open boat and engine being used, were relatively small and could only transport approximately 40 students whose parents could afford to pay for the motorised transport, whilst the others had to paddle several miles.

A brief discussion was held with some of the parents and Mrs. Henrietta Sampson, the Headteacher of St. Lust Primary School. Stanley Ming committed MPS to donating a suitable engine, depending on the size of boat that the communities

In photo, from left, are John Chin - MPS Director; Telford King – Wiruni Captain; Henrietta Sampson St. Lust Primary School Headteacher; Audrey Ford – MPS Director; and Amesha Fredericks – St. Lust Primary School PTA Secretary

can come together and have built.

The new engine will be used on a 32ft long x 7ft wide x 2ft deep boat with a shed, which has been recently built with funding from the Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) of St. Lust Primary School, the Wiruni Village Council and members of the surrounding communities.

The main purpose of MPS providing the engine is to ensure that all the students who require motorised transport, are provided with same daily, in a safe and timely manner to and from the school. The students come from the various surrounding communities and total approximately 75 persons.

The schedules and operations of the engine and boat will be coordinated by the Captain of Wiruni, Mr. Telford King, the St. Lust Primary School Headteacher Mrs. Henrietta Sampson, and the Chairperson of the PTA, Mrs. Ehourta Barker.

Iwokrama to conduct bird watching and basic tour guide training COASTAL mangrove forests are a critical part of Guyana’s sea defence to the Atlantic Ocean as they prevent erosion and degradation of Guyana’s vulnerable coastline, which is under constant threat as it is seven feet below sea level.

As Guyana continues on its upward development path, a key component to sustainable management of our coastal natural resources is to combine conservation of these systems with revenue-generating opportunities for the local communities, that live within and nearby coastal mangrove forested areas.

In this regards, the Iwokrama International Centre will be conducting a preliminary field bird watching and basic tour guide training to support community conservation and development in the Mangrove Forests near Hope Beach and Greenfield communities on the East Coast of Demerara.

Bird watching is one of the fastest growing environmental tourism niches and the coastline of Guyana is perfectly suited to develop and benefit from this type of tourism.

A statement from Iwokrama said participants will be engaged in learning the basics of core bird identification

techniques, understanding bird habitats, behaviour and ranges. Iwokrama’s unique approach to training combines scientific technique with hands on and experiential learning. As a result, classroom learning will be enhanced with field exercises to hone birding techniques and identification on Hope Beach, the Botanical Gardens and other coastal locations.

Visits to various agencies including government and other tourism entities will give participants a broader understanding of tourism in Guyana. A field exchange visit to the North Rupununi, Region 9, Surama Eco Lodge, will give participants a first-hand look at a community owned and managed tourism initiative. Participants will deepen their understanding of bird ecology as well as conservation and local perspectives as participants will visit Iwokrama River Lodge and the Canopy Walkway.

Here they have opportunities to interact with indigenous guides who have been bird guiding for years and have also been trained by Iwokrama, since, some of these guides have grown into full-fledged, independent tour guides and operators.

Iwokrama said this initiative is part of a regional programme titled Caribbean Aqua-Terrestrial Solutions (CATS), supported by GIZ.

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bid for the rehabilitation was opened last July 22.

It was at this airstrip that 22-year-old Raquel Joseph lost her life being struck by a spinning propeller of a single-engine Cessna 172 aircraft. The incident occurred last year June.

In 2012, Luncheon had similarly announced Cabinet’s no objection for an award of $40.32M for the rehabilitation of the said airstrip.

CABINET last Tuesday gave its no objection to a $266.4M contract for the supply of fortified sweetened biscuits under the National School Feeding Programme, Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon announced recently.

Speaking at this week’s post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President, in Georgetown, he said the supply would be made to

students along the coastal regions in the public education system.

A second component of the programme, the supply of fruit juices, was also approved by Cabinet at a cost of $299.2M. The Government of Guyana had commenced its National School Feeding Programme in February, 2010. The Ministry of Education receives support

from the Ministry of Local Government and other stakeholders to ensure that this policy initiative of the Government is successfully implemented.

The National School Feeding Programme targets all nursery schools and Grades 1 and 2 in primary

schools.

The School Feeding Programme was implemented in Regions 1, 2,3,4,5,6,10 and Georgetown. (Regions 7, 8 and 9 are targeted separately).

The programme consists of biscuits and juices, both locally made.

Corriverton to get $23.6M fire station HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon last Thursday announced that a fire station would be constructed at Corriverton, Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne).

Speaking at his usual post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President, in Georgetown, Luncheon said Cabinet granted its no-objection to the $23.6M contract last Tuesday.

Just recently, Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle disclosed that from 2009 to now, considerable resources have been invested in the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) to re-tool and modernise its fleet and equipment.

Fire-fighting vehicles and auxiliary equipment, such as hoses and rescue equipment, have been purchased and five new fire stations have been opened at the following locations: Diamond, Onverwagt, Rose Hall Town, Mahaica and Bartica.

Gentle had said that the auxilary fire stations all have equipment ranging from all-terrain type fire fighting vehicles at Lethem, Mahdia and Kwakwani to two fire-fighting trailers being installed one each at Port Kaituma and Mabaruma.

Below rates for October 10, 2014

CABINET last Tuesday gave its no-objection to a $25M contract for the rehabilitation of the Ekereku Bottom Airstrip in Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon made the announcement last Wednesday at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President, in Georgetown.

According to him, the

Cabinet gives no objection to $565.6M in contracts for School Feeding Programme

Cabinet gives green light to $25M Ekereku Bottom Airstrip rehabilitation contract

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday October 11, 2014

Currency G$/US$ G$/GBP G$/CAD$ G$/euro BDOS$ G$/EC$

Buying 205.98625 330.41853 184.03816 260.79603 101.86969 75.45903 32.21736

Selling 208.43594 334.56053 186.16257 264.10918 102.89094 76.21551 32.54034

For Saturday October 11, 2014 -05:30hrs

guyana CHRONICLE Saturday october 11, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday OCTOBER 11, 2014

Five cyclists off to Puerto Rico to compete in CECC GUYANA’S five-man team to this weekend’s Caribbean Elite Cycling Championships (CECC) to be held in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, left these shores yesterday. The team is headed by national road race champion Geron Williams and includes Alanzo Greaves, Marlon Williams, Raynauth Jeffrey and Hamza Eastman, Participation of the full team was in doubt over sponsorship Chronicle Sport was told earlier in the week.

As a result of their departure for Puerto Rico, the quintet will not be able to compete in tomorrow’s third annual Kadir

Racing Tips South Africa Racing Tips Turffontein 08:15 hrs Trip To Heaven 08:45 hrs Flame Cat 09:30 hrs Amazing Strike 10:10 hrs De Var Hyt 10:45 hrs Siren’s Call 11:20 hrs Dante’s Legacy English Racing Tips

10:10 hrs Connecticut 10:50 hrs Swnymor 11:25 hrs Moruadh 12:40 hrs Enobled Irish Racing Tips Fairyhouse 09:15 hrs Redrobin

09:20 hrs First Floght

11:00 hrs Pumped Up Kicks

09:55 hrs Mattmu

11:30 hrs The Two Jays

10:30 hrs Aetna

12:00 hrs Sultana Belle

11:10 hrs Akeed Champion

12:35 hrs Snow Falcon

11:45 hrs Kashmiri Sunset 12:20 hrs Ingleby Symphony

Mohamed 80-mile event, which is offering some three ounces of smelted gold, worth about $700 000 as the top prize.

The time trials for the CECC will be held today, with the road race set for tomorrow. Judging from the performances of the Guyanese on the roadways here prior to their departure, and once they ride as a team, one can expect success for the Land of Many Waters.

Guyana will compete against cyclists from Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, St Kitts & Nevis and the Dominican Republic. Eighteen countries are fielding teams, according to the preliminary start list.

09:40 hrs Provenance

10:25 hrs Donatis Comet

08:50 hrs Lily Rules

Alanzo Greaves

09:05 hrs Future Empire

09:50 hrs Sheamus

York

Geron Williams

Newmarket

American Racing Tips Belmont Race 1 It’s Easy

Musselburgh

Race 2 Bowman’s Beast

08:55 hrs Henrytheaeroplane

Race 3 Okey Dokey Smokey

09:30 hrs Gabrial The Thug

Race 4 War Correspondent

10:00 hrs Zuhoor Baynooma

Race 5 Queen’s Prize Race 6 Ready for Rye

10:35 hrs Gold Chain 11:15 hrs Kickboxer

Race 7 Colorful Race 8 Up With the Birds

11:50 hrs Chesil Beach

Race 9 March Reward

12:25 hrs Classy Anne

Race10 Jimmy Fillpot

Expect a lot from National ...

From back page

He added that pugilists would be using the competition to gain selection on teams to represent Guyana at overseas engagements.

Quincy `Biggy’ Small, the younger brother of former WBC cruiserweight champion Wayne `Big Truck’ Braithwaite, will arrive from the USA on October 19 to take part in the super heavyweight division.

“A victory here would not only earn you bragging rights but enhance your chance of representing Guyana overseas. Also, everyone wants to beat a champion. So we have found

that boxers are training extra hard right now. No one wants to come out a loser at the National Open. We have a lot of expectations. Some people might maintain their title and some would lose. The public can expect very stiff competition.“ Touching on the venue, Poole claimed that `California Square’ has brought out much needed support for amateur boxing.

“I support the initiative taken by our president Steve Ninvalle to take boxing to the people. We have held two previous tournaments there, one

being part of the Nuff Cuff and the other the National Intermediate. On both occasions we had large crowds the likes never seen at indoor events and the people have shown their appreciation for the outdoor boxing, so that is where we plan to go.”

The gyms scheduled to participate at the National Open are: Forgotten Youth Foundation, Essequibo Boxing Gym, Rose Hall Jammers, Republican Gym, Police Gym, GDF, Carryl Boxing Gym, Harpy Eagles and Young Achievers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday OCTOBER 11, 2014

Kevin Pietersen still ‘unsure over sacking’ KEVIN Pietersen claims he is still none the wiser as to the reasons for his sacking from the England team.

The 34-year-old Pietersen has stirred extraordinary controversy this week with a series of remarkable claims in his newly-published autobiography.

He was axed by the England and Wales Cricket Board after last winter’s Ashes whitewash in Australia and has now put his side of the story clearly in the public domain.

The England and Wales Cricket Board members

have not officially responded with their version of events, nor have they commented on any of the book’s other controversial claims and that leaves Pietersen still asking the simple question of why he was actually dismissed eight months ago!

Speaking to talkSPORT as his exhaustive schedule of interviews continued, Pietersen said: “I was angry with the ECB when I got sacked. I wouldn’t be sitting here now if the ECB had said, ‘This is why he got sacked’. But we are here, and it’s such a controversial

topic because nobody knows why. I don’t know why.”

In another interview, with the London Evening Standard, Pietersen also turned his attention to ECB chairman Giles Clarke, suggesting he was one of the chief reasons why he has been exiled.

“What would have to happen for me to be recalled

by England?” he asked.

“Clearly, the boss would have to go. Clarke would have to go, and I’ve been hearing that could happen in the next few months.

“That’s all hearsay; you

KEVIN Pietersen never know. If there is a change at the top, there is potential, but we will wait and see.”

As other people within the game continued to have their say, former England team-mate Paul Collingwood suggested there would be little chance of a Pietersen return.

Speaking at a winetasting event at Lord’s, Collingwood said: “I would have thought there’d be no chance after this book’s come out, to be honest, but you never know what happens in the future.

“I’m sure if he got back

in the nets and played for a county and scored the runs he’d put the pressure on them. (But) certainly there are a few people disgruntled with his book, so I can’t imagine that’ll happen in the near future.”

The fallout from Pietersen’s book this week has also seen Geoffrey Boycott launch a stinging attack on the ECB over a leaked document which portrayed Pietersen as a troublemaker in the England dressing room.

On Tuesday evening a document emerged which outlined a list of what the ECB saw as Pietersen’s misdemeanours on the disastrous Ashes tour last winter with the governing body having to issue a statement, stressing that it was not part of a wider dossier compiled on the actions of the flamboyant right-hander.

The document specified instances of Pietersen being “disengaged” during Flower’s addresses to team meetings, another entry relating he wanted to leave the tour because of pain in his knee if England lost the third Test to go 3-0 down - which

they did - and later, abusive subsequent exchanges between him and his teammates as relationships apparently broke down.

In a column in the Daily Telegraph, former England batsman Boycott labelled some of the accusations “so trivial it beggars belief” and stated his belief that whoever leaked the document should lose his job.

“This has been a sorry week for English cricket, but the England and Wales Cricket Board started this farce with Kevin Pietersen so it should not try to take the moral high ground,” he said.

“For me, it reached its lowest point on Tuesday when a “strictly confidential” ECB document was leaked to the media. The points it contained were pathetic and it was a crass idea to put together such a report to try to trash Kevin. It stinks.

“Whoever dreamt that up is not fit to lead English cricket. Kevin has been a fantastic batsman for England. He thrilled millions and helped win matches for the England team that enabled some people at the ECB to bask in reflected glory.”

Federer sets up Djokovic showdown in Shanghai semis (REUTERS) - Two-time champion Novak Djokovic thumped Spain’s David Ferrer 6-4, 6-2 to march into the last four of the Shanghai Masters and set up a semifinal showdown with third seed Roger Federer.

The Serbian world number one, who won the China Open title for a fifth time last week, hit 26 winners against the Spaniard’s 11 to stretch his winning streak in China to 29 matches, taking control early by breaking Ferrer’s serve in the second game and then saved two break points at 5-4 to serve out the first set.

World number five Ferrer did not have another opportunity to break the top seed’s serve and was broken twice in the second set as he lost his seventh consecutive meeting against Djokovic.

“Roger is one of the best players ever in the game,” Djokovic told reporters.

“There is no clear favourite.

I think every time we play against each other, it’s a thriller. It’s really a big challenge for both of us. We need to bring our ‘A’ game in order to win.”

Frenchman Julien Benneteau matched Federer shot for shot in the first set but the 17-time grand slam found

Novak Djokovic a new level in the second to Feliciano Lopez. win 7-6(4), 6-0.

The tall left-handed Federer converted three Spaniard, who knocked out out of four break-point compatriot Rafael Nadal in opportunities in the second the second round, fought set to canter to victory as the back from a set and a break Swiss, who served 11 aces, of serve down to beat Russian won 91 percent of his first Mikhail Youzhny 5-7, 6-4, serve points and smashed 34 6-4 for his second big upset winners, double the number of the tournament following the Frenchman could manage. his second round victory over Unseeded Frenchman Australian Open champion Gilles Simon also moved into Stan Wawrinka. the semi-finals after ousting Berdych is currently sixth seed Tomas Berdych in seventh in the ATP Race three sets, leaving the Czech to London standings, with sweating about a place at the five singles spots left up ATP World Tour finals. for grabs at next month’s Simon, ranked 29th in the season-ending event and world, earned a 7-6(4), 4-6, will compete in next week’s 6-0 win after a two-and-a- Stockholm Open to try to half hour slugfest to set up a book a spot in the eight-man last-four meeting with Spain’s field for London.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday OCTOBER 11, 2014

Hinds says he will not resign as WIPA president KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) - President of the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA), Wavell Hinds, says he will not tender his resignation in the wake of a fall-out with the members who are currently on tour in India.

The players, led by skipper Dwayne Bravo, have demanded Hinds’ resignation along with other officials of WIPA because of conflict of interest.

In a letter to Hinds, Bravo said the players have lost confidence in the president because of the Collective Bargaining Agreement/Memorandum of Understanding he signed with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) on their behalf.

“I must take this opportunity to remind you that there is a process embedded in WIPA’s Memorandum & Articles of Association regarding the election and removal of officers, and that your call for some members of the current executive and Board to resign is not supported by that process,” said Hinds in his letter to Bravo.

“We were placed here by the rules of our Association, and will leave only according to the will of the majority of our membership as provided for in those rules.”

Hinds, WIPA’s chief executive, also serves as Jamaica’s chairman of selectors and is a Board member of the Jamaica

Cricket Association.

“There will be no resignation by any member of the current executive,” declared Hinds.

“They (negotiating team) acted and fulfilled their duties properly in all the circumstances, including the subsequent ratification of the signing of the new agreement by the Directors present at our Board meeting held in Jamaica on October 2, 2014”.

The players protested the new terms of WIPA’s CBA/ MOU deal with the WICB by threatening strike action on the eve of the first One-Day International against India on Wednesday.

They argue that the new agreement has reduced their income and that their Test, ODI and Twenty20 fees had been decreased by 75 per cent.

They also claim that their International Cricket Council fees have been decreased by “close to 100 per cent” and that they would not be compensated for the use of their rights under the new deal.

Hinds’ letter to Bravo dismisses those claims as false and says the new agreement reflects a 15 percent across the board increase in match fees and retainer contracts that range from 12.5% to 25%, along with the introduction of two new contract categories.

The WIPA president has also disputed Bravo’s claims that the players’ union is receiving, in addition to the

Wavell Hinds 3% of all players earnings, a sum of US$500 000 annually from WICB once the new agreement remains.

“The assertion is wrong on 2 counts: WIPA does not receive 3% of all players’ earnings. In fact there are many of our members who contribute nothing to the Association by way of dues – including a number of them who are currently on tour in India,” said Hinds.

“May I also remind you that it was this current WIPA executive which (at the request of some “senior players”) reduced the percentage of players’ earnings to be paid over as dues from the previous 5% to the current 3%”.

Hinds, who is a former West Indies cricketer, has also refuted claims that the players have not been consulted and sought to clarify concerns raised

by Bravo about “special relationship” between WIPA and WICB. “It is a departure from the adversarial nature which characterised it under WIPA’s previous leadership,” Hinds told Bravo in his letter.

“My Executive has made a designed effort to operate in an environment of mutual respect and professionalism, with the common goal of providing an opportunity to earn a livable wage for more of your fellow cricketers.”

Windies pay dispute no threat to series, says BCCI NEW DELHI, India (CMC) - The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) says there is “no threat” to India’s ongoing home series against West Indies despite a bitter pay dispute between the visiting cricketers and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA).

BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel says matches will be played as scheduled after West Indies cricketers threatened strike action hours away from the first of the five One Day Internationals (ODIs) against India last Wednesday.

“I want to clarify that there is no threat to the India versus West Indies series. The matches will go on as per schedule,” said BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel. “In fact, I have spoken to a few officials from the WICB and have got assurance that there will be no disruption.”

The players have protested the new terms of WIPA’s CBA/MOU deal with the WICB, arguing that the new agreement has reduced their income and that their Test, ODI and Twenty20 fees had been decreased by 75 per cent.

They also claim that their International Cricket Council fees have been decreased by “close to 100 per cent” and that they would not be

compensated for the use of their rights under the new deal.

“I got an e-mail from WICB chairman Dave Cameron, who thanked BCCI for playing a proactive role,” said Patel.

“Look, our job was to ensure that the series is run smoothly. This series of 3 Tests, 5 ODIs and a T20 International was chalked during the FTP calendar of 2007-08”.

WIPA’s president Wavell Hinds has dismissed the players’ claims as false and says the new agreement reflects a 15 percent across the board increase in match fees and retainer contracts that range from 12.5% to 25%, along with the introduction of two new contract categories.

Patel has given the assurance that the BCCI will be happy to help the WICB mediate their dispute with WIPA once the series ends.

“Futures Tour Programme (FTP) is sacrosanct and all the member nations must abide by it. You cannot disrespect what was decided in FTP calendar,” he said.

“I told them that there isn’t a problem that can’t be sorted out across the table. If WICB wants, we can mediate once the series ends. These players are good boys and they know their duty.”

Windies staying focused ahead of World Cup, states Bravo DELHI, India (CMC) – West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo is refusing to look too far ahead despite his side’s impressive win over India in the first One-Day International of the five-match series last Wednesday.

The Caribbean side shook off an on-going contracts dispute with their players union, WIPA, to slam the reigning World champions by 124 runs in a clinical performance at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

And even though the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is only months away next year, Bravo backed away from any predictions, preferring instead to focus on winning the current series.

“World Cup is still a long way to go. Playing against one of the better teams in the world gives us an opportunity to see where we are as a team,” Bravo told reporters here yesterday.

“At the moment, we are here in India and the focus is on this tour. We want to see how we play in the next four games and how we can do as an ODI team. We can’t think about what happens four months hence.

“Before that we have a tour of South Africa coming up, and that will be tough as well. So we need to just focus on the present.”

West Indies middle order batsman Marlon Samuels takes strike during training at the Feroz Shah Kotla yesterday.

(Photo courtesy West Indies media)

He continued: “At the moment we are here in India so that is where our focus is. We can’t (begin) to think too far ahead of ourselves or we can’t study Australia as we have the South Africa tour before.”

Bravo said though conditions in Australia would differ from those on the subcontinent, he pointed out that most members of the West Indies side were well travelled and were already accustomed to playing in different environments.

The World Cup runs from February 14 to March 29 in seven venues across Australia and seven in New Zealand.

“The players have already played in Australia, they have played in India and they have played in South Africa. That’s the good thing about international cricket (it’s about) being able to adjust and adapt to different conditions,” Bravo pointed out.

West Indies head to South Africa following India for three Tests, three Twenty20s and then five ODIs which conclude January 28.

They will contest Pool B of the World Cup against India, Pakistan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ireland and qualifiers United Arab Emirates.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday OCTOBER 11, 2014

United Insurance Golf Tournament at Lusignan tomorrow THE Barbados-based United Insurance Company, through its local agent John Fernandes Insurance Services Ltd (JFISL), will be sponsoring its fourth Golf Tournament at the Lusignan Golf Course today, with tee-off time scheduled for 12:30hrs.

“United Insurance of Barbados is pleased to continue supporting golf in Guyana,” said Ms Gayle Robinson, Administrative Manager of JFISL. United Insurance, now renamed Massy United Insurance, offers a wide range of general insurance products for businesses throughout 14 territories in the Caribbean.

Ms Robinson indicated, “I expect all arrangements related to the tournament will go excellently, and I look forward to being at the ground, with

some of my staff, for the prizegiving ceremony that usually takes place at the end of play.”

LGC president David Mohamad said, “We at Lusignan Golf Club really welcome and appreciate the continued support of United Insurance. They have been faithful and always cheerful to support us and golfing in Guyana.”

Mohamad pointed out that past tournament winners include Colin Ming, Alfred Mentore, Mark Lashley, Fazil ‘That’s it’ Haniff and Kasim Khan.

These golfers are expected to participate today with serious contention from more recent tournament winners such as Mohamad, Dr Philbert London, Mike Guyadin, captain Chatterpaul Deo, past captain Patrick Prashad, Rishi Sukhram, Pur Persaud, Mahendra Bhagwandin and Richard Haniff.

Windies to face Ishant after injury sidelines Mohit

Ishant Sharma MUMBAI, India (CMC) – A foot injury has ruled seamer Mohit Sharma out of the five-match one-day series against West Indies.

The 26-year-old Mohit played in Wednesday’s opening one-dayer, going wicket-less in nine expensive overs which cost 61 runs.

“Mohit Sharma has aggravated his bilateral shin pain, and has therefore been ruled out of the ongoing Micromax Cup, India vs West Indies ODI series, 2014,” the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) said yesterday.

Mohit has played 11 one-dayers and four

Twenty20s for India since making his international debut last August against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

He has been replaced by experienced seamer Ishant Sharma who last played a One-Day International in January against New Zealand and is making a comeback after missing matches against Bangladesh, the Asia Cup and the ODI series in England.

He is well-travelled, however, having played 58 Tests and 72 ODIs. India are looking to level the series in New Delhi today after losing the first ODI by 124 runs in Kochi on Wednesday.

GRFU 7s League continues today F R O N T- R U N N E R S Pepsi Hornets with eight points will be looking to maintain an unbeaten record when play in the Golden Brook/ Windjammer/Rawle Toney Sevens League continues today at the National Park Rugby Field.

Today’s action, which gets on the way at 15:00hrs would see the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) take on Yamaha Caribs in the first game, followed

by Hornets against the University of Guyana (UG) Wolves.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) will lock horns with Caribs, after which

Hornets and the GDF are expected to meet in a highly anticipated game while in the day’s final clash the GPF will attempt to arrest UG Wolves.

When the tournament opened last weekend, Pepsi Hornets defeated Yamaha Caribs and Guyana Police Force 127, 22-0 respectively while the GDF were thrashed

by University of Guyana Wolves 5-31 before Yamaha Caribs defeated University of Guyana Wolves 29-7.

In the battle of the forces, the GDF made light work of the lawmen, winning by a 20-5 margin.

Points standing:

Alfred Mentore

Teams Win HORNETS 2 GDF 1 UG 1 CARIBS 1 POLICE 0

Lose 0 1 1 1 2

Points 8 4 4 4 0

Dubai delight for Australia as Maxwell secures series win (REUTERS) Glenn Maxwell’s brisk 76 guided Australia to a comfortable five-wicket win over Pakistan in the second one-day international in Dubai yesterday, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Pakistan wasted a strong start from openers Sarfraz Ahmed (65) and Ahmed Shehzad (61) as they were bowled out for 215 in the final over after captain Misbah-ul-Haq had won the toss and opted to bat.

Australia lost a couple of early wickets in their runchase but a fourth-wicket partnership of 85 between Maxwell and captain George Bailey (28) proved the key.

Bailey was run-out before Maxwell, who was dropped on two by Umar Akmal at slip off debutant Raza Hasan, top-edged a sweep off Zulfiqar Babar for

Asad Shafiq to complete a running catch.

All-rounder James Faulkner (26 not out) and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (17 not out) then struck a few lusty blows to take Australia past their target with 6.4 overs to spare.

“I was just playing my role,” said man-of-the-match Maxwell at the presentation ceremony after hitting nine fours and a six in an 81-ball knock. “Today I came in at a different situation with the ball spinning ... I just tried to play to the situation and get the team close to the total.”

Earlier, Pakistan reached 126 without loss in 25 overs but the innings then imploded as they lost 10 wickets for 89 runs.

The openers were removed in successive overs before Misbah’s untimely run-out for 15 robbed the Pakistan innings of momentum on the spinning

Australia’s Glenn Maxwell makes Pakistan pay for dropping him when on 2, as he stabilises the innings. track.

The Australian bowlers, led by Mitchell Johnson’s three for 40, turned the screws and made scoring difficult for the batsmen on the slow pitch.

“Poor display in the last

25 overs,” Misbah said. “If we had batted normally we would have scored 250 ... we could have defended that.”

The third and final match will be played tomorrow in Abu Dhabi.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday OCTOBER 11, 2014

Hopkinson cops gold at int’l competition

Harold Hopkinson

VETERAN MARKSMAN Harold ‘Top Gun’ Hopkinson captured a gold medal for Guyana at the just concluded International Practical Shooting Federation Level 11 competition, held last Sunday at the MTC Shooting Range in Suriname.

It was Guyana’s only gold medal at the international meet in the neighbouring Dutch republic as Hopkinson rolled back the years to win Stage Two named ‘Precious Cargo’ with a 100 percent score, beating his much younger competitors.

The former national

handgun champion recorded 37 points with accuracy and a blistering time of 13.50 seconds in the stage where competitors had to use their weak hand to hold a Case while shooting four paper targets and one popper with the unsupported strong hand.

The seasoned campaigner said he used an out-of-the-box un-tuned Walther P99AS, with a fourinch barrel, placing sixth overall with 62.50 percent in the production class.

According to Hopkinson, he made Guyana and the Guyana National Rifle Association proud with his performance, while adding

he now has his sights on the upcoming Level 111 match, billed for November 7-9, also in Suriname.

Guyana is expected to be represented by a strong team at the competition, which is expected to attract top handgun shooters from around the world.

Hopkinson expressed thanks to the acting Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud DSM, the Commissioner General of Guyana Revenue Authority, Khurshid Sattaur, General Marine Company Limited and the executives and members of GNRA for making the trip possible.

Petra Organisation/COURTS Pee Wee Football tournament continues today … 12 matches at Thirst Park THE FOURTH Annual Petra Organisation/ COURTS Pee Wee Football tournament will continue at the Banks DIH Thirst Park ground from 10:00hrs today, where another 12 matches will be played.

The event kicked off last weekend, featuring 24 primary schools both public and private

from Georgetown after a glorious and colourful opening ceremony and today’s second -ound fixtures are as follows: St Margaret’s will oppose St Ambrose on field number one while on field number two, South Ruimveldt and Smith Memorial will go head-tohead in the opening fixtures, followed by F. E Pollard

meeting J. E Burnham and defending champions St Pius going up against St. Angela’s from 10:45hrs.

From 11:30hrs, Success Primary and Ketley Primary will clash, even as East La Penitence and Enterprise match skills.

From 12:15hrs, Marian Academy and North Georgetown will oppose Winfer Gardens and Stella

Morris respectively.

At 13:00hrs, West Ruimveldt and Green Acres will collide while New Comenius and Redeemer face each other. The day’s action will culminate with clashes by Tucville and St Stephen’s facing St Gabriel’s and Thomas Moore in their respective matches.

France and Heeralall steer D’Edward to title D’EDWARD SPORTS Club are the 2014 Handin-Hand Insurance second division 40 overs cricket champions in the West Berbice area, thanks firstly to a devastating spell of medium pace bowling from left-armer Christian France and then a commanding innings from skipper Jaipaul Heeralall which helped them conquer Hopetown United in the final, played last Monday.

In the match at the Cotton Tree Die Hard ground, Hopetown United won the toss and took first strike and were soon 30 for 2 after 6 overs.

France was introduced into the attack and immediately he made an impact, picking up five consecutive wickets on his way to ending with 5 for 32, which saw Hopetown

Shabeer Baksh, assistant treasurer of BCB, hands over the winning trophy and cash prize to the victorious captain, Jaipaul Heeralall of D’Edward Sports Club, in the presence of Anil Beharry, BCB’s first vice-president.

United slump to 70 for 7 in the 16th over, before they were bowled out for 92 off 18.4 overs, with Devendra Singh supporting France with his 2 for 10.

In reply, D’Edward began shakily with pacer Derrick Cadogan picking up

two early wickets to leave them at 17 for 3.

However, the hardhitting Heeralall came to the crease and tore apart the attack, featuring in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 76 with Mahadeo Persaud, to take his team

home by seven wickets, with Heeralall ending unbeaten on 50 (9x4, 1x6) and Persaud 16.

Cadogan ended with 2 for 42 while France was adjudged the Man-of-theMatch and at the presentation ceremony which followed, Anil Beharry, Hubern Evans and Shabeer Baksh, all executive members of the Berbice Cricket Board, thanked the sponsors for their continued investment in West Berbice cricket.

Cash incentives and trophies valued over $100 000 were up for grabs and Beharry said while the West Berbice Cricket Association does little or nothing for cricket in the area, the BCB will continue to do so adding that the giant insurance company has played a part in the betterment of lives of the people in the area.

Winston George

Inter-Service Championships commence on Sunday THE ANNUAL InterService Athletics Championships will commence tomorrow with a road relay race from 06:00hrs, outside the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, proceeding to the University of Guyana access road and finishing at the point of origin.

The competition will continue with the heats at the Guyana Defence Force Sports ground, Camp Ayanganna on Tuesday, October 14 and Wednesday, October 15 commencing at 10:00hrs each day, with the finals set for next Friday at the

same venue from 14:00hrs.

The Guyana Police Force are the defending champions and will be competing against the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Prison Service, Guyana Fire Service and the City Constabulary for supremacy once again.

Competing athletes will include national 400 metres recordholder Winston George, Natasha Alder and Ronald Payne of the Guyana Police Force and distance runner Cleveland Forde, Rupert Perry and Neisa Allen of the GDF.

CRICKETQUIZ CORNER Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)

Colin Croft & Joel Garner

(2)

Jimmy Adams & Alvin Kallicharran

Today’s Quiz: (1) When and where did the WI twice defeat England 5-nil in Test series?

(2) India’s KapilDev once cracked 175 in an ODI game. What was the score when he arrived at the crease?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Hopkinson cops gold at int’l competition See story on page 31

Expect a lot from National Open, says Poole TECHNICAL Director of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) Terrence Poole is of the opinion that the upcoming National Open competition would be one with a difference, adding that the executive of the GABA is continually putting systems in place to make sure that the 2014 edition stands out.

“I expect a lot from this competition. We would see a return of overseas-based fighters and fighters of Guyanese parentage to the Open. In addition, we have seen

an upsurge in training activity at the gyms. My experience tells me that we are in for something special,” Poole, a Three Star coach, said.

The National Open is scheduled for October 24, 25 and 26 at the East Ruimveldt Community Centre ground, popularly known as California Square, and boxers from around the country are sharpening their skills for a chance at claiming bragging rights.

“This is the premier competition on our calendar and approximately 50 boxers would be taking part. We also have

Terrence Poole some overseas-based fighters who would be returning. If we put all that I have said together then there is no reason why we shouldn’t have a truly exciting affair,” Poole, who also doubles as GABA Tournament Director, declared Turn to page 27

Quincy `Biggy’ Small,

Atwell to fight in Australia

Clive Atwell Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

GUYANA’S world-rated featherweight Clive Atwell would be stepping back into the ring early on November 12 in Melbourne, Australia, where he is scheduled to fight the undefeated Kyle MacKenzie according to the BoxRec website.

The eight-round bout would be held at the Hisense Arena and the 25-year-old Atwell, who resides in Dominica, has not touched the ring since losing a world title challenge to WBC champion Jhonny Gonzalez in May. He announced his retirement from boxing soon after following disagreement with his management team but rescinded later in the year and will match gloves with MacKenzie, who is three years younger and has won all 12 of his fights - 10 by way of knockout.

The upcoming fight would be Atwell’s second outside of his homeland and will take place one day after his 26th birthday.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2014