Guyana chronicle 11 02 15

GUYANA No. 104097 WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2015

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

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

Brassington says...

PRICE: $80 Page

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10% cut in power charges nothing to do with elections - but more about $3B in pockets of Guyanese - less reliance on Gov’t subsidy for ‘operating expenses’

INCLUDING VAT

President reiterates commitment to hydropower project

- says Amaila Falls Project remains number one priority of his Gov’t - Company identified to start construction before year-end Page

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Dr. Paloma Mohamed, Dr. Suresh Narine named Laureates - for the Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Awards for Page Excellence

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GECOM clarifies...

Contrary to misleading articles in Kaieteur, Stabroek…

GPSU not accredited with Local Observer Status Page 16 East Demerara Estate strike...

An aerial view of the spanking new US$35M Vreed-enHoop generation plant (Photo by Adrian Narine)

GAWU, GuySuCo call on strikers to return to work Page

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

Brassington says...

10% cut in power charges nothing to do with elections

- but more about $3B in pockets of Guyanese - less reliance on Gov’t subsidy for ‘operating expenses’

By Gary Eleazar THE 10 percent reduction in electricity charges by Guyana Power and Light (GPL) company will result in its customers being able to hold on to an additional $3B annually, in disposable income.

Head of State, President Donald Ramotar on Monday during the commissioning of the power company’s Vreed-enHoop plant, its latest installation, announced that GPL will be reducing its rates by 10 percent.

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Winston Brassington and Chief Executive Officer Bharat Dindyal met with media operatives yesterday at the entity’s Duke Street, Kingston head office along with key directors, to offer clarity on how the power company proposes to effect the reduction.

It was revealed that in addition to the $3B, which would be foregone in revenue this year as a result of the reduction in tariff, the power company, between 2003 and 2014, had already foregone an estimated $29B, in order to stave off increases in charges.

He reminded those present that in recent years, when fuel prices had escalated, the power company did not seek to increase the amount passed on to consumers but rather opted to forego the revenue to be recouped in future.

“This tariff reduction,” according to Brassington, “re-

Deputy CEO, Ash Deonarine (left), flanked by CEO Bharat Dindyal (centre) and Chairman Winston Brassington, as he made a point to media operatives yesterday during the power company’s briefing on the tariff reduction (Photo by Adrian Narine)

Continued page 3

Dr. Paloma Mohamed, Dr. Suresh Narine named Laureates - for the Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence

THE Laureates for the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence were named on Friday February 6, 2015, at the TATIL Building in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

This marks the tenth anniversary for the awards, and the introduction of a new category, Entrepreneurship.

The 2015 Laureates are: * Arts & Letters: Dr Paloma Mohamed, poet, playwright & academic from Guyana * Entrepreneurship: Mr Herbert Samuel, energy consultant and entrepreneur from St Vincent & the Grenadines * Science & Technology, Prof Suresh Narine, a bio-technologist from Guyana, and

DR PALOMA MOHAMED

DR. SURESH NARINE

* Science & Technology, Prof Patrick Hosein, a Computer Scientist from Trinidad & Tobago.

The Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards is the only programme in the Caribbean which seeks out and rewards outstanding nominees in Arts & Letters, Public & Civic Contributions, and Science & Technology, and as of 2015 - Entrepreneurship. It has been in existence since 2005, and was, till 2010 a biennial award, at which time it became an annual award.

The prizes are worth TT$500,000 each, and each laureate receives a medal and citation at a ceremony in April.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

10% cut in power charges ...

From page 2

affirms GPL’s continued commitment in providing quality electricity supply at fair cost.”

BELOW US$70 PER BARREL Pressed on the company’s ability to sustain the reduction in tariffs, taking into account the volatility of the oil market, along with the fact that GPL has over the years been dependent on subsidies, Ash Deonarine, the power company’s Deputy CEO told media operatives that as long as oil prices stayed below US$70 a barrel, the reduction can be afforded.

Should the price of oil on the international market increase above US$70 per barrel, then the company

would not be able to break even, and may very well have to restore its tariffs.

Brassington was quick to point out, however, that at present, the company can afford to make the reduction in tariffs charged, but this situation will be reviewed on a quarterly basis and adjusted, based on the prevailing circumstances at the time.

“We’re doing this on a quarterly basis, so in July, we will again review where fuel prices are and depending on that, adjustments to what we are doing may be made,” Brassington said.

Noting that Government’s strategy in the past has been to stave off any increases, Brassington said: “That strat-

egy is likely to continue.”

ELECTIONS COINCIDENCE The GPL Chairman did point out that the current 10 percent reduction will be applied to Residential, Commercial and Industrial Tariffs.

In fact, Brassington further noted that “consumers whose billing cycle begins in the latter part of February and ends in March will benefit from the reduction on their entire consumption for this period.”

Brassington was however quick to dismiss any notion that the revision downwards in the amount being charged by the power company for electricity had linkage to the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

According to Brassington, the decision to reduce the electricity tariff was one made by the Board of Directors and was in response to the declining fuel prices over the past year.

NO SUBSIDY He stated further that this year, the power company will not have to rely on Government for any subsidy to meet any of its operational expenses.

He said, however, that on the capital side, the power company, despite the reduction in tariffs, will have to still depend on Government for assistance in that regard.

According to Brassington, this year a substantial part of the European Union/ Inter-American Development

Bank’s US$65M project, will continue and will see the money being channelled through Government.

He said that this would be in addition to Government funding some of its capital programmes directly, the details of which will be made public when the 2015 National Estimates are presented to the National Assembly.

In order to deliver on its mandate while foregoing revenue when there was high fuel prices, the power company was forced to seek assistance from Central Government in the form of subsidy and loans in order to ensure the tariffs were not increased.

According to Brassington, “when we faced high fuel prices GPL has not in-

creased tariffs, instead we relied on Government to provide operating support both on the operating side and to fund our capital expansion programme.”

“This year we will not require any operating subsidy from the Government,” said the GPL Chairman.

In fact, Brassington reported that last year there was no subsidy either for operating expenses but rather, “we did receive over $3.7B in capital funding for our various capital projects….we are very happy that we are able to stand on our own feet this year and enjoy the benefits of these lower fuel prices and we are looking to pass on what we can to you.”

GWI responds to Stabroek News’ ‘fetching water’ caption-piece THE Guyana Water Incorporated has responded to a Stabroek News front page photograph titled “Fetching water”, dated Tuesday, February 10, 2015.

GWI says the photograph and corresponding caption indicates that the customer, Bennita Kissoon, had applied for a new water service connection and was unable to pay the cost.

“GWI wishes to clarify the issues surrounding what is depicted in the photograph.

Firstly, GWI’s Customer Services Manager, East Coast Demerara, following an investigation, confirmed that there is no application for a new water service connection in the name of the customer identified in the image.

“Following publication of the image, GWI’s Divisional Operations Manager visited the customer, who indicat-

ed that she could not recall applying for a new service connection.

“GWI wishes to state that any customer applying for a new service must visit the nearest GWI customer services office and complete an application form. Customers must also provide proof of ownership/tenancy, as required by the company’s policy, before the application is processed.

“The company wishes to emphasise that the cost for a new service connection for a domestic customer is Gy$1000. No customer is

required to pay any further charges, as the majority of the cost to install a new water service connection is borne by the Utility.

“GWI will not deprive any resident of water service; however, persons must follow the required procedures and provide the

necessary documentation for obtaining a new service connection, which includes visiting GWI and completing the necessary application form.

“The company wishes to underline the fact that no customer will be required to pay more than Gy$1000

for a new service connection.

“GWI also challenges the Stabroek News’ publication to complete a thorough investigation before publishing an image and caption without the required facts, since this can lead to misconceptions that GWI

is depriving customers of a valuable resource.

“The company wishes to reassure customers that providing efficient customer service remains its priority”, said a release dispatched to this publication from GWI Public Relations Officer Timothy Austin.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

World’s largest Solar-Power Plant opens in California Farm will produce enough energy to power 160,000 California homes, reports USA Today.

Governor Jerry Brown has called on the state to increase its renewable-en-

THE world’s largest solar-power plant officially opened in the Riverside County desert, in California, on Monday.

The 550-megawatt Desert Sunlight Solar

ergy use to 50% of the total by 2030, up from 33% by 2020.

Desert Sunlight was built using a US$1.5 billion federal loan-guarantee programme from the U.S. Department of Energy, who says the project is expected to make a profit of US$5 billion to US$6 billion.

(USA Today)

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U.S. Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell, left, tours the plant during the power-on ceremony at Desert Sunlight Solar Farm in Desert Center, Calif., on Feb. 9, 2015

Obama to request using force against Islamic State seizing swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria.

The administration’s failure so far to seek a formal Authorisation to Use Military Force for the campaign has caused some members of Congress to express concern that it overstepped the president’s constitutional authority.

Others have said that lawmakers should weigh in on an issue as important as the use of military force.

The administration has said the campaign is legal, based on au-

(Reuters) - THE White House will today ask Congress for new authority to use force against Islamic State fighters, congressional aides said on Monday, paving the way for lawmakers’ first vote on the scope of a campaign that is already six months old.

The United States is leading an international coalition against Islamic State, and President Barack Obama launched an air campaign in August against the militant fighters, who have killed thousands of people while

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thorisation passed under President George W. Bush in 2002 for the Iraq War and in 2001 for fighting al Qaeda and associated groups.

Nancy Pelosi, leader of the House of Representatives’ Democrats, told reporters last week the White House would seek an authorisation that would last three years. She said there had not yet been decisions about the geographic scope of an authorisation or what limits would be placed on combat troops - “boots on the ground.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

No arrests yet for rape/murder of Berbice ‘granny’

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––woman was found nude, dead in bed Monday

THE police have not yet been able, up to late yesterday, to arrest anyone suspected of the dastardly rape and murder of a 67-year-old mother of three, whose naked and brutalized body had been found in bed at her Lot 665 Topoo, Albion home by relatives on Monday morning.

Senior police sources yesterday confirmed that they were still conducting their investigations and working on leads to ascertain who may have been responsible for the pensioner’s death.

R a m d a i M o h a b i r, called “Aunty Elsie”, had been discovered dead by relatives shortly after 07:30hrs on Monday morning.

Her son, ‘Short Boy’, who made the horrifying discovery, said he immediately called out to his older sibling, Mrs Vinmattie Reddi, who lived a houselot away.

“When my brother alerted me, I thought my mother had fallen, as she had difficulty in walking after she involved in an accident many years ago,” Mrs Reddi said.

According to Mrs. Reddi, on looking through her window, she observed

that several louvre panes were missing from her mother’s house, but she was made aware of what had happened to her mother only after her brother had raised an alarm.

Mrs Reddi said she hurried over to her mother’s house, only to find her

Found dead: Ramdai Mohabir lying naked in bed, with an empty bottle of baby oil, a new toothbrush and several safety pins strewn about her.

“My mother’s feet,” she said, “were upraised, and there was blood all around. Her left side face was swollen (and) her right side neck had a bruise. The two bed sheets were crumpled, as both were under her body. Apparently, she was resisting

(her attacker/s). Her neck was swollen and the pillow was found under the bed. She had (had) $6000, (but) that was missing.”

Mrs Reddi said she covered her mother’s body before alerting neighbours to the tragedy. She said her mother had, by request, begun to live alone in her own home, situated aback her son Short Boy’s fenced residence, a mere six months ago.

She recalled last seeing her mother at approximately 17:00hrs on Sunday, just before her sisterin-law took dinner for her.

“When my sister-inlaw took the dinner, my mother accepted it through the window. My mother (used to have) trouble with her nerves; sometimes she would open the door for the food, and other times she would collect it through the window. My mother (was) on medication from the doctor; I would sometimes give her a valium,” Mrs Reddi disclosed.

The police have indicated that the woman appears to have been strangled, as her home showed signs of forced entry, in that several louvre panes had been removed from her window to facilitate

The house in which the naked body of the late Ramdai Mohabir was found the intruder/s gaining access to the home.

Speaking with this newspaper via telephone yesterday, the dead woman’s daughter-in-law recounted events leading to the discovery of the woman’s body. She explained that her sister-in-law had gone from the front house to the woman’s house at the back, and had realised that several louvre panes had been missing from the woman’s house.

She became afraid, headed back to the front of the yard, and called out for the dead woman’s son, and together they returned

to the house, where they observed that louvre panes had been missing from the back room which leads directly to their mother’s bedroom.

When they peered into the house, they saw the woman lying naked on the bed with her two feet in the air. They immediately raised an alarm, and the woman’s grandson then entered the house through the same window, opened the door and placed a sheet over the woman’s body.

Asked if they have any suspect in mind, the woman said they are not aware

of anyone who might have wanted to hurt their mother or cause her such a dishonourable death.

An assortment of female underwear were allegedly found on Sunday afternoon at the wooden fence behind the slain woman’s home.

The body of Ramdai Mohabir is currently at Ramoo’s Funeral Parlour awaiting post-mortem examination, but investigations are ongoing.

Ramdai Mohabir had worked as a fish vendor in her early days. (Leroy Smith and Jeune Bailey Van Keric)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

Moms, teenage daughters and ‘sugar daddies’ ON January 11, 2015 this publication reported that concerned relatives of a 14-year-old schoolgirl had alleged that a 40-year-old mom was using her teenage daughter as bait to extract monies from a lover.

This information, which was disclosed to a reporter of this newspaper by a close male associate of the family, who visited Chronicle’s Editorial Department in the company of two female neighbours of the woman, was disputed by the mother who subsequently visited this newspaper and told a different story.

Whatever the facts are, and whoever is telling the truth there should be investigations by the Child Welfare authorities into these allegations because a child’s welfare is at stake here. The Neesa Gopaul saga is a prime example of what happens to child victims if reports by neighbours and/or concerned persons about child abuse are left unheeded.

Mothers and other relatives using children to bait paedophiles for gain is a worldwide phenomenon; as was the recent allegations made by one Johnny Welshman against a prominent politician, whose stepfather was the accused

culprit in this instance.

When the children grow up, find the courage and complain to the authorities they are most often treated with scorn and disdain; or if the perpetrator is influential enough, they never even get their day in court, much less receive justice and closure in any way from the skewed justice systems of the world.

The vociferous do-gooders, who stage mass protests when a political opponent is accused of a criminal act, are often silenced because many of these perpetrators are their friends and colleagues.

A post on a social media site, extrapolated from a US newspaper, again stressed that this is a worldwide problem. As was stated in the publication, “A mother was arrested on charges of sex abuse after selling her young daughter to her boyfriend for sex in exchange for a few hundred dollars,” police in Washington said.

Bellevue Police said that they arrested 46-year-old Mary Miles of Carnation, after being accused of selling her 14-year-old daughter to 36-year-old Bryan T. Murphy, who works as a truck driver.

The boyfriend of Miami, Oklahoma,

was arrested on Friday night. He was booked into jail, and he will be extradited to Washington.

According to the police investigation, Miles made arrangements for her boyfriend to have sex with her 14-yearold girl in exchange with helping her pay rent.

Miles took the girl to her boyfriend, where the mother and her boyfriend had sex in front of the girl. During sex, the boyfriend grabbed the leg of the girl, but she managed to flee from the scene.

The frightened girl ran to her school, where her 17-year-old sister was waiting for her. They both called police.

Miles admitted that she agreed to allow her boyfriend to have sex with her 14-year-old daughter or with her other minor daughter.

Miles admitted that Murphy wanted to have sex with her daughters and especially the 14-year-old girl because she was still a virgin.

Police said the agreed price was US$400. The girl and her sister have been removed from the family home and placed in protective custody.”

There are many such instances of child abuse of minors – reported and unreported in Guyana.

While society is concerned about delinquent children, it should first determine if there are delinquent parents who are the real culprits behind aberrant behaviourial patterns of their children – in whatever way, shape or form this pattern unfolds itself.

Oftentimes the children fall through the cracks, despite the many initiatives of Government and NGOs; and they most likely surface as adults with deep-rooted problems and no moral compass: In other words, they do not know right from wrong.

All they know is that survival comes at a cost; and most desirable is that the cost is to others from whom they profit, many times leading to tragedy for innocents who are merely going about their daily lives, unaware that they are being targeted by predators.

These neglected/abandoned/ abused children themselves become delinquent parents in a vicious cycle that seem to have no end, and until a holistic solution is found to address this recurrent problem that is infusing our national way of life, the high standards that Guyanese were once famous for would soon be lost in the dynamics.

APNU Shadow Youth Minister underscores importance of youths voting in May 11 polls AS the political atmosphere intensifies in the face of general and regional elections slated for May 11, the importance of young people casting their ballots cannot be sufficiently emphasized.

Political parties, civil society groups, religious bodies and even the elections regulatory body, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have continued their call for youths to be engaged politically by exercising their democratic right come Election Day. The person who most recently expressed these concerns was APNU Shadow Minister of Youth, Cul-

ture and Sport, Member of Parliament (MP) Christopher Jones.

In an exclusive interview with this publication, Jones, like those who have previously expressed similar concerns, underscored the need for eligible members of the youth population to cast their ballots on May 11.

He said: “I think the single most important thing in the life of a young person is the ability to cast a vote.”

Reflecting on what are considered taboo cultures, in which females are prohibited from exercising any form of democratic right

through the election of a government, Jones said, “When one thinks of not

APNU Shadow Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports, Mr Christopher Jones

only the young population, but woman in some parts of the world who have no right to vote, we should always place that at the back of our minds how important this single right is.”

Jones feels the most important effect of one vote is the ability to have the power to choose the type of future one would want for oneself. Attendant issues, he opined, include where you work, if you would be able to find a job, the type of job you would be engaged in based on your studies, how much you are paid, if you could afford a house lot, how secure would you and your family

be, and the education you and your children will get, among other things. These, he added, were just some of the critical issues which depend on the younger generation voting.

Calls were also made last week by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Joseph Harmon to ensure that voters’ education was of top priority for GECOM, so as not to have a repeat of the last elections, when there was poor voter turnout.

However, GECOM last week expressed its intent to engage young people as it unveils a comprehensive

civic and voter education campaign in the lead-up to General and Regional Elections.

In an interview with the Guyana Times Newspaper, GECOM’s Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Vishnu Persaud explained that the elections regulatory body has already instructed its field officers to have initial engagements, and to organise further discussions with youth groups.

He further noted that is important for new voters to understand their roles and responsibilities as well as the voting procedures.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

UPA open to Granger, Ramjattan –– confident of doing well at May 11 polls

By Tajeram Mohabir

THE United Republican Party (URP) is back, and its leader and Presidential Candidate, Vishnu Bandhu is confident of creating some upsets at the May 11 polls.

The party, which has been resurrected, was established in March 1985 in the U.S., but was launched in Guyana in May 1987 and formally registered on April 26, 1988.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle on Friday, Bandhu said the party was formed to return free and fair elections to Guyana, and he noted that it played a role in bringing former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to Guyana to facilitate the process.

He said on achieving the goal of removing the dictatorial People’s National Congress (PNC) from office, the party decided to “close shop” but of late it had decided to return to the political fray, contending that “things are not right.”

Bandhu, who is also the President of the Guyana Central Arya Samaj, said politics today is more about name calling and less about consensus and decisive actions to improve the lives of ordinary Guyanese.

The Arya Samaj Leader, who is also a businessman, said the URP like many Guyanese are tired of the “revengeful politics” of the Government and the Opposition.

For this reason, he said the URP would not be forming an alliance with any political party going to polls, because from 1992 to now, especially during the past three years, the Government and the Opposition seem unable to stop “banging each other”.

The 10th Parliament has been the most turbulent the country has experienced, as it has been marred by Government-Opposition stalemate, budget cuts and the voting down of critical legislations by the combined Opposition, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC).

There have also been a few cases where there have been disagreements between APNU and the AFC. To this, Bandhu proposed a novel solu-

tion. He said APNU Leader David Granger and AFC Leaders Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo can join the URP and experience a different brand of politics. In fact, he said, even Ravi Dev, Leader of the now lost and forgotten party, Rise, Organise and Rebuild Guyana (ROAR), can come onboard.

According to the businessman, the URP is a multi-racial party, focused on “love, truthfulness and honesty”, pointing out that all can come onboard, who have their interest of the country at heart.

He said he is quite confident that the party will do well at the upcoming elections, noting that it has already begun reaching out to communities in Region One (Barima-Waini), Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Upper Berbice). According to Bandhu, he is more than convinced that the URP will get a huge chunk of the some 120,000 persons who did not vote at the last elections.

He claimed that the feedback from these outreaches has been positive. He said should he get into power, he will reduce the power of the President, contending that as the situation stands now, the power of the President can allow him to become a dictator.

Even though the Opposition had rejected dialogue with the President, the URP Leader maintained that the Government is not doing enough to reach out to the Opposition. He said if this was done, no move would have been made to prorogue Parliament.

He also lamented that when Parliament was prorogued, Parliamentarians were paid even though they did nothing.

On this note, he warned the electorate of the AFC and APNU, accusing them of hypocrisy. The leader of the party, whose symbol is a cow, related that when Parliament was prorogued, both the AFC and APNU said Government Parliamentarians should not be paid, but yet they drew down their salaries and benefits.

This two-faced approach, he said will

APNU Leader, Mr David Granger

URP Leader, Mr Vishnu Bandhu

do no good for Guyanese, especially ordinary Guyanese, and aside from the need to stop this “non-sense”, he is advocating for Parliamentarians to stop voting in Parliament along party lines, and vote on conscience.

Bandhu said if the URP gets into power, this is one of the changes he will effect. But apart from this, it would be looking at implementing a stimulus package, where cash grants are given to the poor to lift them out of poverty, to students from primary to university to ensure they complete their education, and to businesses to grow and expand.

The latter, he said will pave the way for the creation of more jobs, but generally, the plan will provide the impetus for further

AFC Leader, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan

growth and development.

The political leader also pointed out that the programme would be designed to target the poor, noting that persons who earned less than $ 400,000 will qualify to benefit.

Bandhu said as a political and religious leader, he listens to the people, and if he becomes President of Guyana, he will never fail to give an ear to those in need.

The URP will be campaigning on a number of issues including shared governance, the need for a better health and education system, affordable housing and a new capital in the hinterland, the need for a unified trade union movement and the creation of more and better paid jobs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

GPL says...

10% fuel rebate applies to all categories of tariffs THE Guyana Power and Light (GPL) said yesterday that the 10 percent reduction in electricity charges recently announced by President Donald Ramotar is applicable to residential, industrial and commercial tariffs, and that the reduction will result in an estimated $3B being passed on to consumers annually, through lower electricity rates.

The following is an excerpt of a statement issued yesterday, detailing the specifics of the rebate: “The 10% fuel rebate is being applied to the Residential, Commercial & Industrial tarrifs.Consumers whose billing cycle begin in the latter part of February and ends in March will benefit from the reduction on their entire consumption for this period. GPL will therefore, not prorate consumption when applying the fuel rebate. The rebate is in keeping with the fall in the world market fuel prices, resulting in the decision to reduce tariff rates by 10%.

“Consumers should be aware that the 10% rebate is being applied to energy charges and not fixed charges.

This 10% fuel rebate across all tariffs is estimated to pass on to consumers annually GY $3 Billion through the reduction in their electricity bills. The new Net Rates can be seen in the table below:

“This reaffirms GPL’s continued commitment in providing quality electricity supply at fair costs to our valued customers.”

Cummings Lodge skeletal remains…

Samples ready, but not yet uplifted from T&T THE skeletal remains found aback of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara on September 23, 2014 had samples taken therefrom and dispatched by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to Trinidad and Tobago for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing.

That procedure has been completed, but a rank from the local Force will have to travel to the twin-island republic to uplift the results of the testing.

Police say the samples

were sent to be analysed in the twin-island republic since last year, and they are awaiting the results.

Suspecting the headless body which had been found in an advanced state of decomposition to be that of former MFK Trading boss Mohamed Khan, sleuths sent samples to have the identity confirmed in Trinidad and Tobago.

The remains were found a month after Khan had disappeared following a visit to Guyana from Venezuela to

conduct business.

Khan, 54, sold his Hadfield Street business and fled Guyana after his life had been threatened. During a visit to Guyana on July 9, 2014, he was shot and injured by a lone gunman at La Grange, West Bank Demerara.

He was last heard from on August 21, 2014 after he left his wife and children in Venezuela and headed to Guyana.

He is still missing.

The skull, wrapped in a plastic bag, was found several feet from the skeletal

remains of the unidentified body.

Missing: Mohamed Khan

East Demerara Estate strike...

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GAWU, GuySuCo call on strikers to return to work - so as to allow for discussions

By Navendra Seoraj FOLLOWING the strike action by some 380 workers of the East Demerara Estate yesterday morning, after the dismissal of 15 cane harvesters, the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Ministry of Labour have called on the workers to return to work so the matter could be better discussed.

GAWU President Komal Chand told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday that the strike could halt the progress of the estate’s first crop for 2015 because the majority of the strikers are factory workers who take care of maintenance work at the estate, hence the three parties have met and agreed upon terms of resumption.

The terms of resumption include four conditions: * The strike action by the field and factory workers attached to the East Demerara Estate will be called off with immediate effect. * The union will endeavour to ensure that there is full resumption of work no later than 7:00am today, February 11, 2015.

GAWU President Komal Chand yesterday during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle (Photo by Delano Williams) * Within 24 hours after there is full resumption, the parties will meet at the bilateral level and commence discussions on the grievance which led to the strike at stage IV of the extant grievance procedure. Moving on this stage of the grievance procedure, in this matter shall be without precedent. * There will be no victimisation by either side.

SUBSTANDARD WORK ALLEGATION According to Chand, it was alleged by the Management of the East Demerara Estate that the workers did substandard work, in that they failed to apply fertilizer to the cane on July 25, 2014.

“As a result of the dismissal of the workers, their fellow workmates struck in solidarity in order for the dismissal to be rescinded,” he said.

GAWU decided to engage in talks with the company, but unfortunately, Chand stated, the company refused to meet with them to discuss the dispute while the strike is still on.

Therefore, he stated, if the workers heed the call for them to return to work, GAWU will have a chance to meet with the company in an effort to get the dismissed workers their jobs back.

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Woman uses car to foil robbers’ escape

––after being robbed at knife-point TWO men who reportedly held a woman at knife-point before robbing her of her cellular phone along with a quantity of gold jewellery was on Monday remanded to prison by city Magistrate, Judy Latchman on a robbery-under-arms charge.

William Evans, 24, of Lot 444 East Ruimveldt and Tambico Mackenzie, a 29- year- old construction worker pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on February 6, at Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt,Georgetown, while being armed with a knife, they robbed Marissa Hoenkirk of an Apple cellular phone valued $120,000; a $70,000 gold chain; three gold bands worth $100,000; and a gold ring valued $80,000 – totalling $370,000.

The prosecution’s facts alleged that the defendants’ get -away was foiled when Hoenkirk ran them down with her car which led to their arrest.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Shellon Daniels, objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the offence and the penalty attached to the charge if the duo were found guilty.

Daniels told the court that the three stolen gold bands were found in Mackenzie’s possession, while the other items were recovered on Evans.McKenzie and Evans told the court that they were beaten by the police.

The duo was refused bail and the matter was adjourned to February 20 for statements.

Businessman on firearms, ammo,ganja charges DEON Coates, a 35-year-old businessman, was remanded to prison yesterday after being arrested during a police raid lately with a quantity of firearms, ammunition and narcotics that were allegedly found in his bedroom.

Particulars of the charge alleged that on February 6 at his 5thAvenue Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara home, he had in his possession 13 grammes of marijuana. It is also alleged that on the same day, at the same location, he was found with a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver with three matching rounds, when he was not a licensed firearm holder.

According to the Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant, acting on a tip-off, a party of police ranks went to the defendant’s home and conducted a search in his presence and five other persons, who were also found in the house at the time of the search; they reportedly told the police that they were visiting.

Grant noted that when the articles were found in the defendant’s bedroom, Coates admitted to the police that the marijuana belonged to him, but denied being the owner of the gun and ammunition.

Coates’s Lawyer, Gordon Gilhuys, contended that the alleged articles were found in a storeroom, citing that even the prosecutor admitted that there were five other persons present in the house at the time.

The inspector objected to the businessman being allowed his pre-trial liberty, citing the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence, plus the penalty if found guilty. He argued too that no special reasons that satisfied the court had been raised for bail.

Coates was granted $50,000 bail for the narcotics charge, but was remanded for the possession of arms and ammunition. He will make his second court appearance on Friday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

East Coast businessman on illegal gun, ammo charge

A FORTY-five-year-old businessman held for an illegal gun and matching ammunition found in his business premises during a police search, has been remanded to prison.

Ronald Singh, of Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara appeared Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to respond to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

According to the police, Singh was “busted” with a .45 Colt pistol and seven matching rounds of live ammunition at his Lot 9 Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara business place on February 6.

Appearing before the Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine Beharry, Singh pleaded not guilty to the charges and submitted an application for bail through his attorney, Sandil Kissoon.

Kissoon told the court that his client suffers from chronic kidney and heart conditions, and that he was set to commence dialysis for his bad kidney.

Police Prosecutor Inspector Michael Grant said that acting on a tip-off, a party of police ranks went to Singh’s businessplace and conducted a search in the presence of the businessman. He explained that the gun and rounds of ammunition were found in the living room.

The court heard that when the defendant was shown the

items, he confessed that they belonged to him, stating that he bought it from a policeman for protection. The businessman was taken into custody and charged.

The prosecutor objected to the businessman being allowed his pre-trial liberty, citing the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence; also, the penalty attached to the charge if found guilty. He argued too that no special reasons that satisfied the court had been raised for bail.

In his bid for bail Kissoon said that his client is a father of eight, while his wife is presently eight months pregnant.

The lawyer noted that Singh is a well known auto mechanic shop owner in the East Coast area and he is also a distributor and authorised dealer in lubricants and mechanicals parts.

Singh, he said, was not present in the room when the alleged items were found, and had to be informed by an officer who called him into the said room enquiring about the alleged find.

The lawyer contended that, that same room is an open area accessible to the public and Singh’s employees.

Notwithstanding his application, bail was refused and the case was transferred to the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court. Singh is slated to appear there next Wednesday, January 11.

Miner refused bail on narcotics charges TWENTY–nine–year-old Ohyama Gomez, a miner of 1-11 Mile Mahdia, was on Monday refused bail on two narcotics charges by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Gomez pleaded not guilty to the charges, which alleged that on February 6 at Noitgedacht Public Road, Madhia, he had in his possession 11 grammes of cannabis.

The court also heard that on the said day at the Madhia airstrip, he had in his possession 235 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. He denied this charge also.

Police Prosecutor, Michael Grant told the court that on the day in question, the police, during a road block, stopped and searched Gomez, who was riding a motor-

cycle. It was during the search that the police unearthed the 11 grams of cannabis.

Grant said that while Gomez was being questioned while in police custody, the police became suspicious and subsequently carried out a search at Gomez’s house in his presence.

The court heard that Gomez opened the locked door to allow the police to search his bedroom, where the rank unearthed the said 235 grammes of the drug in his room.

Prosecutor Grant opposed bail on the basis of the nature and prevalence of the offence and the fact that no special reason was raised by the defendant for bail.

He was remanded to prison, and the case was transferred to the Madhia Magistrates Court for April 4.

Bus conductor facing ganja possession charge THIRTY-six-year-old Randy Norton, a bus conductor of Lot 39 Austin Street,Campbellville Housing Scheme, was on Monday granted $50,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry for the illegal possession of marijuana.

Norton pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that he had in his possession 14 grammes of

marijuana at Cornhill Street, Stabroek, Georgetown.

Representing Norton is Attorney-at-Law, Renold Daniels, who told the court that his client is a father of seven children and is the sole breadwinner for his family, while finally requesting reasonable bail.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant did not object to Norton being granted bail.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

GPF refutes ‘lies’ peddled by Simona Broomes about police RANKS of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) stationed at interior locations are specially trained to deal with situations they are likely to face there.

This assurance was given

by Public Relations Officer of the GPF, Mr Ivelaw Whittaker, in a letter to the media refuting the allegations made by the President of the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO), Mrs Simona Broomes.

Whittaker said the GPF administration was concerned that Mrs Broomes chose to appeal for resources “by using the distasteful strategy of telling lies.”

An allegation published in an article in the Monday edition of the Kaieteur News accuses the GPF administration of, among other thing, posting to interior locations “those that have been involved in something or the other that is not in keeping with the lawful expectations of a cop.”

Broomes is quoted as saying: “Let me tell you what

- says ranks sent to interior locations not ‘rogue’ cops happens when they are ready to select police to send them into these interior locations: They take a police who misbehaved under supervision; move him from under supervision and send him in the interior, where there is no supervision.”

Whittaker’s replay to the article stated: “The Guyana Police Force has trained 63 ranks of ‘F’ Division (Interior locations), including all the Sub-Divisional Officers and ranks in charge of stations, in Trafficking in Persons, the Sexual Offences Act, the Mining Act, the Forestry Act, the Environmental Protection Act, Domestic Violence, and the Protection of Children Act in order to build their capacity to operate in the division. In addition, another 13 ranks from Police Headquarters, including policewomen who are conducting roving patrols in partnership with Officers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), have

received similar training.”

The GPF’s refutation letter of Mrs Broomes’ claims stated that the GPF administration, being cognizant that the level of supervision for its ranks in the interior is not the same as on the coastland because of the challenges with transportation and communication, and conscious of the significant development that is being undertaken in the interior locations, has been making every effort to ensure that its policing strategies are effective, and that compatible ranks are transferred for duty in those remote areas.

Whittaker said: “The policy of the Police Force to treat with ranks who have committed breaches of discipline and are allowed to continue employment in the Force is to transfer them to locations where they could be properly supervised; and therefore, during 2014, no such person was transferred to remote areas.”

Pointing to other measures the GPF has adopted to increase its effectiveness

Police ‘D’ Division holds development seminar for ranks RANKS of the Police ‘D’ Division - West Coast and West Bank Demerara – participated in a development seminar on Saturday last, where the performance of the Division for the last year was reviewed and discussions were held on approaches which ought to be taken in 2015.

Assistant Police Commissioner Marlon Chapman, together with sub-divisional officers and traffic and crime officers, addressed the ranks. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday in regard to the training, Commander Chapman explained that the seminar targeted the ranks from all departments of the division, including the general duty ranks and those who work in the operations room.

Chapman addressed the ranks on the issue of professionalism on the job, satisfaction during investigation, intelligence gathering, the use of the roadways by pedestrians, and other areas of concern that affect the smooth flow of police work.

The seminar was also facilitated in part by former Assistant Commissioner of Police Clinton Conway and a doctor from the Regional Health Services in that police division. Commander Chapman said the topics of communication, approach towards the job, and the modus operandi of ranks in uniform or civilian clothing were deliberated upon by the two civilians.

Mrs Simona Broomes, President of Guyana Women Miners Organisation in interior locations, Whittaker said, “The Guyana

Mr Ivelaw Whittaker, Police Public Relations Officer Police Force also, in 2014, held a Stakeholders’ Consultation Forum where in-

dividuals, including Simona Broomes, who represented the GWMO, Government and Non-Government and Private Sector Organisations were represented, to develop the plan to police the interior, (which) the Guyana Police Force is now implementing. The plan is being implemented in partnership with many of the stakeholders, inclusive of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA).”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

CRIP constructing roads in BV, Enmore

THE Community Roads Improvement Programme (CRIP), at an aggregated cost of $50.3M, is currently reconstructing Dr. Miller Street, better known as Bakewell Street, in Beterverwagting; and Lumber Yard and Sheik Streets in Enmore.

The ministry related that works are currently moving apace and by this month-end, any inconvenience faced by residents would be eliminated. The roads in these areas have been in a deplorable state with craters, potholes and depressions for a number of years inhibiting the free flow of traffic, and creating a slushy environment during the wet weather. Approximately 700 residents of Beterverwagting and Enmore, Region 4 (Demerara-Mahaica), would soon benefit from improved roads with an asphaltic concrete surface.

At Beterverwagting, the contractor is excavating the failed areas, including the “high bump,” reconstructing sub-base and placing crusher run, the ministry explained. Meanwhile, in Enmore, the contractor is currently compacting crusher-run and preparing to place asphalt on Lumber Yard and Sheik Streets.

The previous clay surface of Lumber Yard Street made it difficult for residents to traverse when there was rainfall.

Some residents who were tired with the poor condition had upgraded in front of their gaps. The Ministry of Housing and Water under CRIP is now upgrading the entire stretch for the benefit of all residents.

Andre James, a taxi driver operating on the East Coast of Demerara for about 12 years, said that Dr. Miller Street is one of the most deplorable roads he was forced to traverse.

He is grateful that the ministry has undertaken to reconstruct this road. He recalled, “At the head of the street by the embankment there was a high bump; an afternoon I driving and I didn’t see the bump and I drive and hit the bottom of my car and put myself in expense to fix it.”

Residents are anxiously waiting for the roads to be completed so as to make their lives easier. They have also been monitoring works. CRIP is thankful for such community engagements as it fosters community ownership and protection

of these assets.

The CRIP is a multi-million dollar road project being implemented by the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development

and the Ministry of Housing and Water, and it is aimed at improving access to housing, education, health and other social infrastructure through the improvement and upgrading of roads in existing housing schemes.

A section of Dr. Miller Street that is being reconstructed

‘Trini’ confidence trickster strikes again - lures popular designers with visa promises

By Alex Wayne THE Trinidadian confidence trickster who goes by the name Daniel Ali (and uses several aliases) has struck again.

This newspaper several months ago had broken the story about him, in the company of a male accomplice, renting cars from several dealers and selling them to unsuspecting individuals.

This time around he has allegedly swindled popular designer Olympia Small-Sonoram out of $75,000, feigning that his gay lover had cheated him out of his valuables and had thrown him out into the streets. That aside, he also reportedly extracted $30,000 from another designer Alex Lawson, pretending he can provide accommodation for him in Trinidad.

When this newspaper contacted Mrs. Sonoram, she said that the man was introduced to her by a reputable close associate who had sent him to her since he, the con artist, wanted a Mash costume custom made. She said the man seemed quite okay and paid in full for his first costume.

The very angry designer indicated that Ali (or whatever his real name is) visited her a few other times, and ordered designer clothing for which he paid. She said on a recent visit he engaged her in a mournful tale about his lover stealing his belongings and putting him out in the street.

She said he was all emotional and weeping and begged her to loan him $75,000 to get himself together, promising to leave his Trinidad passport and other valuables as security until he returned the cash in a few days. The designer

said since he had seemingly become a good client, she decided to help him, but did not check the contents of a small bag he had left behind.

LEFT TRASH BEHIND She said at the time of his speedy departure she was dealing with another client, and did not check the bag until about fifteen minutes later. Sonoram said she almost caught a fit when she realised the bag contained only strips of old newspaper, lip stick, other makeup, and other items of no importance.

She said by the time she raised an alarm and began searching for him, he had already disappeared.

The designer indicated that during their conversation he had lamented about his lover holding his car and refusing to return it despite his pleadings.

Lawson on the other hand said the trickster was introduced to him one night by another friend of his, and immediately began telling tales that he was a born Trinidadian and had come to Guyana with the intention of opening a hospitality business. Lawson said he was planning to visit Trinidad in a few weeks and quite naturally believed when the man told him that he was rich and that his father was a ministerial official there. Lawson said the man offered to get accommodation for him, but indicated that he would have to pay $30,000 up front to which he complied. He said since then he has not been able to make contact with the individual on the telephone number he had supplied.

When this publication received word of ‘Ali’s’ illegal operations a few months ago, our reporter contacted the car dealers who were robbed of their vehicles and soon

realised that the description fitted ‘Ali’ who was renting an apartment in his neighbourhood.

The police were summoned but by that time ‘Ali’ had hurriedly left that location and had taken up residence at Uitvulgt, West Coast Demerara, where he lured a certain ‘Mr. Bruce’ into renting him a bottom flat to sell fast-food items.

It was from this location that police who were tipped off attempted to apprehend him, but not before he had made good his escape, leaving his accomplice Steven Baboolall to face the blunt force of the law.

Baboolall was arrested and later released from custody on bail and he never returned to the police station as instructed. Sources had indicated that Baboolall was reportedly hiding at relatives in Black Bush Polder.

DRAMA UNFOLDED Right after such developments, this newspaper received information that ‘Ali’ had relocated at Black Bush Polder with his lover and had stayed there for a few weeks until the lover’s relative threw him out unto the streets.

Not long after he was spotted in the company of another male at a gay party at Brickdam, Georgetown. When he realised that he was being scrutinised by persons who knew he was wanted, he hurriedly left the venue in a taxi.

Lawson said that this individual is presently soliciting unsuspecting clients to whom he makes promises of being able to provide visas and demands partial payments to get the transactions completed. It is believed that this individual is still in Guyana making huge profits from his con games.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

Crime Scene Investigator tells court...

‘I did not identify the body in the suitcase to be Neesa Gopaul’

WHEN the Neesa Gopaul murder case continued yesterday before Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed jury at the Demerara Assizes, a crime scene investigator related his inability to identify the body.

A passport, a bank book, and other documents bearing the name of Neesa Gopaul, a 16-year-old Queen’s College student, were found in a compartment of the suitcase with the body.

But in answer to cross-examination by lawyer, Mr. George Thomas, the crime scene investigator (CSI) disclosed that part of the head was missing and there was no nose nor hair for him to identify the body to be that of Neesa Gopaul.

However, two persons had later identified the body to be that of Neesa Gopaul prior to a post- mortem that was performed on the body

by Dr. Nehaul Singh.

The 16-year- old Q.C. student was allegedly murdered in October, 2010.

Following police investigations, her mother, Bibi

Gopaul, and her alleged paramour, Jarvis Small, were arrested and charged with murder.

Both of them have pleaded not guilty and are being represented by top lawyers in

Prosecuting for the state are Ms. Diana Kaulesar-O’Brien , Ms Mercedes Thompson and Ms. Stacy Goodings.

Corporal Hosanah, the CSI said that he was on

Murder accused Number One, Jarvis Small and his paramour, the Number Two accused, Bibi Gopaul, Neesa’s mother the country.

Senior Counsel Mr. Bernard De Santos,Mr. Glenn Hanoman, Mr. Linden Amsterdam and Miss Zanno Frank are representing Jarvis Small, while Lawyer Mr. George Thomas is representing the number two accused, Bibi Gopaul, the deceased’s mother.

duty when he received instructions to visit the scene; he left Eve Leary around 1.35pm and arrived at the Emerald Tower Resort about 3.45pm that day.

According to the witness, he and Constable George had travelled by bus.

Witness said that on arrival at the scene they had

cordoned off the area.

Photographs were taken of the scene he said, but declared that some of the photographs had been spoiled.

In answer to questions, witness said that he was the only crime scene expert in the area that day.

He told how Lance Corporal Laundry cut a rope that was tied to the partly submerged suitcase that day and piloted the suitcase to his direction at the side of the creek.

He supported the story that was earlier told by Laundry about seeing the corpse’s left hand from elbow protruding from the

suitcase.

Witness told Mr. Thomas that he examined the body but could not lift fingerprints because of the condition of the body. And he said that he could not identify the corpse since there was nothing for him to base his identification on.

However, he identified certain exhibits which he said were found in a compartment in the suitcase such as a sheet,, an extra large black gown and a passport which were found in a compartment of the suitcase.

The witness however admitted under cross-examination that certain aspects of evidence that he gave in

the Magistrates Court during the preliminary inquiry were untrue; and that they differed from a part of what he said on Tuesday.

In answer to attorney Thomas, witness said that he did not see the dumbbells that day because they were under the water in the creek.

Witness denied a defence suggestion that the police were in possession of the dumbbells before that day Witness also told counsel that it would be wrong to suggest that he (witness) had planted the dumbbells in the creek.

The hearing is continuing.

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Courts launches its ‘Mash Frenzy’

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

COURTS Guyana yesterday launched their “Courts Mash Frenzy” showcasing the company’s support for all aspects of culture in Guyana.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Company Marketing Manager, Pernell Cummings related that Courts is supportive of all aspects of Guyanese culture and even though they would not be participating on Mashramani Day, this is their way of celebrating the festival.

Spend $49,999 at any of the eight Courts branches countrywide, and the customer will be given the opportunity to be one of 15 winners of a cooler filled with Banks DIH products.

“We want the competition to be all Guyanese, so we partnered with Banks. The cooler is filled with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages so it is a family deal,” Cummings said.

He noted too that the prizes will be distributed on February 20 and “on this day also we will have a lime and other customers would be given the opportunity to spin our wheel of prizes and win.”

Cummings was at the time speaking at the Main Street Office, where the company also made a monetary donation to two of the most outstanding local schools in athletics: Queen’s College and Tutorial High School.

Courts Guyana Inc., the furniture and appliance giant is also known for its substantial contributions to sport in Guyana. The company has been a strong advocate for healthy and active lifestyles and encourages youth in sport through their many activities and sponsorships.

Courts Guyana Marketing Manager, Pernell Cummings

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

GuySuCo dismisses 15 workers for dereliction of duty - hundreds of workers down tools in retaliation

APPROXIMATELY 380 workers on the East Demerara Estate downed tools yesterday morning in protest of the dismissal of 15 cane harvesters who, over the weekend and on Monday, were summarily dismissed for inadequate application of fertiliser, intended for 10 week-old cane plants, at Felicity Fields 49, 49A, 52 and 53, and a section of the LBI cultivation, on July 24 and 25, 2014.

Prior to the dismissal of these 15 workers, three junior staff and one senior were earlier dismissed on September 26, 2014, September 19, 2014, respectively, for allowing these workers to have fertiliser inadequately applied to the cane plants. These

15 workers have adequate experience in the application of fertiliser, since it is routine for them to be assigned to this task during the out-of-crop periods.

Management, in their routine inspection, discovered that many cane plants were devoid of fertiliser, and as a consequence, a thorough examination was done, only to find that there was massive skipping in the application of the fertiliser. Subsequently, the Corporation’s agriculture audit team was deployed to make an assessment of the extent of fertiliser not being applied to the cane plants.

Not only was it confirmed that there was indeed massive skipping, but that the

supervisory staff made full payment to the 15 workers for the poor quality of work done.

226 CWT of fertiliser was intended to be applied on the fields that comprised 20.3 Ha, of which it’s estimated that almost half of the amount was applied. The rest could not be accounted for.

The Corporation annually expends approximately $2Bln to import fertiliser, and finds it totally unacceptable that fertiliser that is intended to nurture the cane plants could not be applied to them in the stipulated amount. This development could be the contributing factor for the East Demerara Estate experiencing low

cane yields and stunted cane growth. The Corporation will continue to exercise a zero tolerance for this type of work behaviour, and in this sense wishes to advise those workers who are on

strike to have an immediate end to their protest action and allow either the process of the grievance and/or disciplinary procedures to have their course.

The East Demerara

Estate is expected to commence its 1st crop this year mid next week and the strike by the factory workers could only jeopardise the startup of this crop.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

GECOM clarifies...

Contrary to misleading articles in Kaieteur, Stabroek…

GPSU not accredited with Local Observer Status THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) yesterday issued a statement in which it sought to “clarify a couple of misleading articles” recently pub-

lished in the print media.

Kaieteur News, on February 4, 2014, carried an article headlined: ‘GPSU approved as observers for May 11 polls’, while Stabroek

News, on February 7, 2015, published one headlined: ‘GPSU granted observer status for elections’.

GECOM said it “wishes to categorically state that

it has so far made no such accreditation of the GPSU as an Observer of any kind for the upcoming May 11 elections.”

GECOM said it would

like to further point out that it is in receipt of a letter of application for Domestic Observer Status from the GPSU, to which it responded - by way of a letter - meticulously outlining a menu of terms and conditions that the GPSU must satisfy before consideration could be given

by GECOM for accreditation.

Upon the agreement by the GPSU on the terms

and conditions outlined by GECOM, the Commission said it would then write to the GPSU, inviting them to meet with GECOM officials relative to a further finalisation of accreditation arrangements.

GECOM said it welcomes the interest shown by the GPSU in ensuring that this Election Management Body produces elections that are transparent, free, fair and credible.

Relative of elderly woman who died after fight surrenders to police

THE woman who the police were trying to locate for questioning in relation to the February 5, 2015 death of 72-year-old June Archer has since turned herself in, and was placed on bail pending advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Sleuths have stated that the woman had fled with her children following Archer’s death at her Lot 33-34 Stevedore Housing Scheme home at about 17:00 hours on February 5.

The elderly Archer had reportedly been embroiled in an argument about the choice of curtains with her female relative who, with her two children, had resided with her.

The argument allegedly turned physical, and the senior citizen was reportedly pushed by the female relative, who claimed that Archer had cuffed her in the face.

Shortly after that incident, Archer reportedly collapsed and succumbed, but not before she had managed to telephone her son and relate what had transpired.

The younger woman and her children subsequently fled Archer’s residence, and their whereabouts were unknown until she showed up at the police station and gave a statement.

Police are awaiting advice from the DPP on the way forward in relation to the incident, since the fight may have exacerbated Archer’s heart condition and claimed her life.

A post-mortem revealed that Archer had succumbed to heart failure.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

Tax workshops for selfemployed persons commences THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has commenced a series of Taxation Workshops geared specifically at meeting the needs of self-employed persons.

These interactive sessions are being facilitated, free of cost, at the GRA’s Headquarters, 200-201 Camp Street, Georgetown, from 09:00 hrs to 12 noon, Monday to Friday, and are expected to conclude on Friday, February 20, 2015.

Over the years, the GRA has noted with increased concern the tendency of self-employed persons to take a lackluster approach to the payment of taxes. This category of taxpayers often experience difficulties in correctly GRA Head Mr. completing tax related docKhurshid Sattaur uments and in many instances would ignore their obligation to pay taxes on a quarterly basis.

It is against this backdrop that the GRA has taken the initiative to design a series of workshops aimed at ensuring that self-employed persons are well informed of their tax obligations, thereby, fostering healthier relationships, and further allowing for easier transaction processes between them and the Guyana Revenue Authority.

The specific areas of concentration for these sessions include, but are not limited to: the Preparation of Financial Statements, deductions allowed and expenses to be claimed, correct preparation and completion of Tax Returns, record-keeping and other areas of difficulty facing self-employed persons.

In this regard, Commissioner General of the GRA, Mr. Khurshid Sattaur has expressed the hope that with the completion of these workshops there would be a significant increase in the number of accurate returns submitted to the Authority and increased levels of compliance among self- employed persons. Mr. Sattaur further urged self-employed persons to “get in contact with the GRA and register as soon as possible to be a part of these workshops. The registration process is ongoing and new persons can register at any time.”

For the GRA’s purposes, a self-employed person is any person who works for him/herself and is responsible for setting charges for goods or services offered. Examples of self- employed persons include doctors, lawyers, beauticians, barbers, taxi-drivers, mini-bus owners and operators, farmers, hucksters and shop-keepers.

The GRA is encouraging self-employed persons to take full advantage of these workshops since it is in their best interest to understand their tax obligations.

Person desirous of participating in these workshops or in any other specific workshop on various tax-related matters can contact the Communication & Tax Advisory Services Division, Tax Advisory Services Section, 227-6060 extensions 1201, 1203 & 1204, to schedule a convenient date. All workshops facilitated by the GRA remain free of charge.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

The weapon, mismatched 9mm rounds, and the magazine of a toy gun

Miner arrested with gun, ammo and toy magazine OZARIO Dos Santos, 23, was on Monday arrested in the mining town of Linden after a search conducted by police ranks found on his person an unlicensed .32 semi-automatic Walther PPK pistol with its serial numbers filed off; two .9mm rounds, which are not prescribed ammunition for the weapon he had in his possession; and a magazine of a toy gun.

Dos Santos, who works in the mining communities of Region 8, had reportedly forced one of the 9mm rounds into the chamber of the Walther pistol, where it became stuck.

Police investigators had to disassemble the weapon upon its confiscation to retrieve the bullet from its chamber.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the discovery was made at Lot 470 Kairuni Village, Linden, after a party of policemen descended on Dos Santos’s home just after 19.30 hours on Monday evening to conduct the search, acting on intelligence received.

Ozario Dos Santos will be appearing before the Linden magistrate today to answer to charges of being in possession of the weapon and ammunition, according to police sources.

Up to late yesterday, the police were checking to determine whether the weapon had been used in the commission of any crime before the find was made. The Chronicle was assured that checks have revealed that Dos Santos was never wanted by the police for any offence, and that he was never a person of interest to the police.

NGO to hold cancer-screening health camp Sunday

- at Meten-Meer-Zorg masjid compound

THE National Committee of Sisters’ Affairs (NACOSA) held a very successful cancer screening camp at the Masjid compound in Adelphi, East Canje Berbice in 2013, and of the more than 100 women tested, 22 needed follow-up treatments.

This camp was facilitated by Dr. Ghazi and his team from the Guyana Cancer Institute.

NACOSA will be hosting another health camp at the Masjid compound at Meten-Meer-Zorg West, West Coast Demerara, this Sunday.

Inshallah will be held from 10am to 4pm, with an emphasis on cancer screening. Muslim and non-Muslim women from all neighbouring communities are invited to participate in the camp, and are being urged to invite their neighbours, families and friends to participate as well.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

CRIP upgrades Region Four roads in $94M undertaking

THE Ministry of Housing and Water, under the Community Roads Improvement Programme (CRIP), rehabilitated and constructed several community roads on the East Coast of Demerara to the accumulative value of $94M. The refurbished roads in Enterprise, Enmore and Good Hope, ECD have directly benefited 5,100 residents.

The contract for the project, awarded to GuyAmerica Construction Inc, included upgrading of Enterprise Sideline; First Cross Street (east) and Sideline (east) in Good Hope; and Pasture Dam in Enmore. CRIP is currently constructing roads in Betterverwagting and Enmore. These projects are expected to benefit another 700 residents.

The rehabilitated roads were all in deplorable condition, with potholes and depressions. The Works Ministry noted thus: “Today, (the roads) have smooth surfaces, with safety features such as road signs, speed humps and road markings installed. The importance of these roads to residents cannot be understated. Residents now have easier access to the main thoroughfare, health facilities, schools, places of worship, and businesses.”

Sixty-two-year-old Enmore, ECD resident Lucil Anthony explained that she was pleased that Pasture Dam now boasts a sturdy surface that could withstand rainy conditions. This road was formerly a dam that greatly inconvenienced those traversing it during the wet season, and residents were forced to use builders’ waste to fill its numerous potholes.

“Sometimes when it rains (the dam would) get slushy, school children couldn’t walk with their footwear. But this looks good, and I hope it lasts long…because I born and grow here, and now we get a proper road,” Anthony said.

She said Pasture Dam is also used to transport employees and goods of the Enmore Sugar Estate and Packaging Plant.

She believes some of the trucks helped to deteriorate the dam’s surface, and she hopes that caution would be exercised when commuters use the road.

The residents of Enterprise told various accounts of their travails in using the road in times past. Those accounts were similar in their tales of inconvenience even though the residents did not have a mud structure. Those residents are now pleased that their travel from Enterprise to Non Pareil would no longer be interrupted by road defects.

According to a motorcyclist, “Playing dodge ball is the fitting description of how this road was before it repair…now I can ride my motorbike and don’t have to worry about riding in a pothole…I am happy the Ministry rehab this road…it got other roads in the community that need repairs.”

The CRIP is a multi-million-dollar road project being implemented by the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and the Ministry of Housing and Water. It is aimed at improving access to housing, education, health, and other social infrastructure through the improvement and upgrading of roads in existing housing schemes.

19 CRIP has rehabilitated the Enterprise Sideline Dam in Buxton, ECD

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

President reiterates commitment to hydropower project - says Amaila Falls Project remains number one priority of his Gov’t - Company identified to start construction before year-end

REITERATING that the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project remains the number one priority of his administration, President Donald Ramotar said he remains hopeful the mega-project would become a reality.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) power station at Vreeden-Hoop, West Coast Demerara on Monday, the President said efforts are being made to restart work on the transformative project before yearend.

He said a lot of work has already been done on the project, and he pointed out that Norway has already transferred US$80 million to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in this regard.

“We have already identified another company to step into the shoes of Black Stone and Sithe Global. We are working feverishly to conclude this arrangement, so that, hopefully, we can start construction very soon,” President Ramotar said.

He pointed out that, through the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) agreement with Norway, some US$150 million of the US$250 million have already been disbursed to Guyana.

Contending that a report in one section of the media that the US$80 million is unlikely to be approved by the IDB until June 2016 is misleading, President Ramotar said, “We have the resources to go in that direction [restarting work on the Amaila Project].” The President said Government is committed to seeing the Amaila Falls Project to fruition, as one of its foremost goals is to provide cheap electricity to consumers.

He also warned that while Guyanese are enjoying the drop in fuel prices, it is not a situation that the country can control, and as such, it will not last forever.

President Donald Ramotar reiterating his government’s commitment to construct the Amaila Falls Hydropower project while addressing Monday’s commissioning of GPL’s US$26M power station at Vreed-en-Hoop OTHER SOURCES “We have to take the opportunity available to try to ensure that, in the future, we have power at a cheap rate. That is why we are looking -- more and more -- at renewable energy; renewable energy not only in hydro, but in many other areas, harnessing the possibility in the sugar and rice industry to generate power.”

The President said Guyana has to be ambitious and begin looking beyond its needs. The energy

The artist’s impression of the Amaila Falls Hydro Project

sector, he said, has to be seen as an important revenue earner with the potential of exporting electricity.

“When you look at the (production capacity) figures of Upper Mazaruni, the 4,000-megawatt capacity (coming from) that area alone, you can see that we can become a powerhouse in exporting electricity to other countries and (to) our neighbours (to) the south,” he said.

The President said there is now talk of building an arc linking the electricity sectors from Brazil, Roraima State, through Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, and back again to Brazil.

“That (arc) can allow us to develop our renewable energy resources and become a major earner in electricity. This is the way we need to go in the near future. We have other possibilities. We have to exploit solar energy more and wind power to give ourselves a wide variety of access to eventually enable us to switch from one to the other.”

President Ramotar is also hoping that Guyana would strike oil in the not-so-distant future because, he said, it would give the country the impetus to speed up development. He said the focus for now is on providing a cheap and stable energy supply, as it is important for accelerating the modernisation of Guyana, creating avenues for creation of more jobs.

“I am committed towards the completion of the Amaila Falls Project, which will help us to produce electricity at a cheaper cost,” he declared.

With cheap electricity, he said, waste from agricultural products would be reduced, and Government would be in a better position to give more resources to farmers and workers generally.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

Scenes from Monday’s commissioning of GPL’s US$26M power station at Vreed-en-Hoop

Photos by Delano Williams

A side view of the Vreed-en-Hoop power station

President Ramotar greeting some of the GPL workers at the Vreed-en-Hoop power station

A Guyana Power and Light (GPL) engineer briefing President Donald Ramotar and Prime Minister Sam Hinds on the standard operating procedures of the newly commissioned Vreed-en-Hoop power generation on Monday. Among those paying keen attention are Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, GPL’s Chief Executive Officer Bharat Dindyal, GPL Chairman Winston Brassington and Region Three Chairman Julius Faerber.

Inside the newly-commissioned power station

Another section of the gathering at Monday’s commissioning of GPL’s US$26M power station at Vreed-en-Hoop

President Ramotar and a high-level team at the commissioning of the Vreeden-Hoop power generation on Monday.

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GRPA ‘Sex Tempo’ for Castellani House Friday A “WHIMSICAL VALENTINE” is promised this weekend with the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association’s (GRPA) “Sex Tempo”.

The “Let’s talk Sexuality and Romance” with spoken words, poetry and music will be on at Castellani House, on Vlissengen Road and Homestretch Avenue on Friday from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

Performances by leading artistes will also be featured during the programme.

According to GRPA Programme Director, Ms Renuka Anandjit, special Valentine packages of vital sexual and reproductive health services at the GRPA’s medical clinic will GRPA’s Programme be offered on Friday Director, and Saturday, along Ms Renuka Anandjit with free HIV counselling and testing for couples.

“There will also be Free VIA screening for females, and testicular examinations for males. Persons 24 years and under are especially encouraged to visit the clinic,” Anandjit urged.

Furthermore, Pap Smears will cost $3000 for females and PSA (prostate blood test) for males $3000 with a free doctor consultation.

Queries can be made on telephone number 225-0739 or by e-mail grpa.gy@gmail.com

Wednesday, February 11, 2015 –– 09:00hrs Thursday, February 12, 2015 –– 10:30hrs Friday, February 13, 2015 –– 12:00hrs

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President Donald Ramotar and Minister Robeson Benn speaking with Burma residents last Saturday

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

Burma Road 70 percent completed PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar and Minister of Public Works, Mr. Robeson Benn were assured Saturday that the Burma to Esau road in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) will be completed in another two months.

According to the Ministry of Public Works, the road, which is at the moment 70 percent completed, is costing them G$70.1M to upgrade.

Works to critical sections of the main access road, the Ministry says, include the compacting of a 2,600foot section with an asphaltic concrete finish. It also noted that other parts of the road that have potholes will be fixed.

The project, which began on October 22, 2014, is being carried out by Shereaz Bacchus General Contractors.

Upon completion, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) will be responsible for the road’s maintenance.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

Sledgers to face match bans at World Cup

By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE, (Reuters) - The International Cricket Council will crack down on excessive sledging between players at the World Cup, saying first offenders can expect heavier fines while repeat offenders face suspension from matches.

ICC chief executive David Richardson also said players with already poor records of on-field behaviour could face immediate match bans if found guilty of a single breach of the ICC’s code of conduct during the Feb. 14 - March 29 tournament.

“That issue has been addressed at all the pre-event team briefings,” Richardson told reporters in Melbourne yesterday.

“I suppose it started a few months back already that the behaviour in some matches by some players was deemed to be unacceptable and not a good example to young fans watching the game.

“I think there’s been something like 12-13 code of conduct charges laid in the last few months in bilateral

series.

“So the crackdown had already started. I think the teams are going to be told that the umpires intend to remains firm, that the penalties handed out by the match referees will be perhaps a little bit more serious or higher than before but that hopefully everyone will be treated equally and fairly.

“For a first offence, you’ll likely end up with a fine which no player likes, handing back most of his match fee.

“But certainly a repeat offence, not only in this tournament but some players already sitting with offences behind their name, will be punished with a suspension.”

The crackdown may give Australia opening batsman David Warner some pause before charging into a verbal altercation given he has been found guilty of breaching the code of conduct twice in two months.

India batsmen Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli were

also fined for conduct breaches in December during the occasionally ill-tempered test series with Australia.

Pundits have suggested a soccer-style yellow and red card system to better stamp out poor on-field behaviour but Richardson said cricket would continue to rely on post-match reviews with onfield umpires and off-field referees to analyse incidents and lay charges where necessary.

“That idea has been debated at a number of previous cricket committee meetings that I’ve attended and probably will be debated again,” he said.

“We don’t necessarily want to follow the way that football goes. A lot of these decisions are taken after a measured response by match officials reviewing footage of the match afterwards.

“That obviously cannot happen when you are brandishing a red or a yellow card on the spur of the moment.”

Machan, Evans shine as Scotland thrash Ireland in warm-up S Y D N E Y, A u s t r a l i a (Reuters) - Matt Machan scored a century and Alasdair Evans took four for 17 as Scotland romped to a 179-run victory over Ireland in a World Cup warm-up match at Blacktown Oval yesterday.

Ireland have caused huge upsets at both their previous World Cups but it was Scotland, who have yet to taste victory in two tournaments, who won the battle of the Celtic minnows with 23 overs to spare.

Scotland won the toss and chose to bat but made a faltering start when they lost their top batsman and skipper for the day, Kyle Coetzer, for a duck in the second over.

They slumped to 2-42 when Hamish Gardner became paceman Max Sorensen’s (3-55) second victim in the eighth over but that brought Machan to the crease.

The young left-hander formed partnerships of 44 with Calum MacLeod (41), 96 with Preston Mommsen (56) and 98 with Richie

Berrington, who hit his 52 off 40 balls as Scotland accelerated the scoring rate in their final 10 overs.

Machan was finally bowled by Craig Young having blasted six fours and four sixes in his 108-ball knock but the Scots were already well on their way to an imposing score of 296 for six.

Ireland started their run chase with a solid opening stand of 57 between skipper William Porterfield and Paul Stirling (37) before Evans struck with a three-wicket blitz in two overs.

The right-arm seamer returned to remove Porterfield for 23 and the Irish were really on the ropes at 77-5 when Andrew Balbirnie followed for eight in the following over.

Ireland’s tail were only able to eke out another 40 runs as experienced off-spinner Majid Haq (3-9) and seamer Josh Davey (2-36) got among the wickets to secure a handsome victory.

Ireland get their World Cup campaign under way against West Indies in Nelson next Monday, while the Scots face co-hosts New Zealand in their opener in Dunedin the following day.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

Sharma hits century in timely win for India (REUTERS) - OPENER Rohit Sharma smashed 150 in India’s 153-run romp against Afghanistan in their final World Cup warm-up match yesterday, helping the holders register their first win in Australia since they landed in November.

Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane (88 not out) and Suresh Raina (75) made merry against Afghanistan’s limited bowling resources to propel India to 364-5 at the Adelaide Oval.

The two-time world champions then restricted Afghanistan to 211-8 to finally taste victory before they begin their title defence against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday.

In an otherwise frustrating Australian summer, India lost the four-Test series to Australia, could not win a single match in the subsequent tri-series also involving England, and were

spanked by the World Cup hosts in their first warm-up match on Sunday.

Opting to bat first, India lost quick two wickets before Sharma and Raina (75) added 158 runs in the next 25 overs.

Worryingly for them, however, opener Shikhar Dhawan’s lack of footwork once again led to his dismissal while batting mainstay Virat Kohli and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni also could not spend enough time in the middle.

Sharma, the only cricketer to hit two 200-plus ODI scores, appeared to have recovered fully from a hamstring injury as he hit seven sixes and 12 boundaries in his 122-ball knock.

Contrary to expectations, Sharma did not retire after his century to allow other team mates some batting practice.

In a pitch-side interview after the Indian innings, Raina said his team would

try to restrict Afghanistan to under 250 which they did but their inability to bowl out the minnows once against proved their bowling limitations.

Nawroz Mangal (60) and Usman Ghani (44) shone with the bat for Afghanistan who begin their World Cup campaign against Bangladesh on February 18.

India lacked sharpness in the field with Mohammad Shami and Ambati Rayudu dropping regulation catches.

In contrast, Dhawan and Umesh Yadav collaborated to take a spectacular catch to remove Ghani.

Dhawan ran back from short midwicket to take a tumbling catch but the ball popped out of his hands and he juggled with it before flicking it into the hands of Yadav, who had rushed from long-on to catch the skier before halting to avoid a collision.

BCB begins preparation for GCB Inter-County U-17 competition IN AN effort to get its team ready, the junior selection panel of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), led by Leslie Solomon, has arranged several sessions across Berbice and advises that cricket teams send players who they think are good enough to make the Berbice Under-17 team that will participate in the upcoming Inter-County tournament.

Today, sessions will be

held at the Albion Sports Complex for players from the lower Corentyne area, while tomorrow the same will be done for players from West Berbice area at the Bush Lot ground.

For players from the Upper Corentyne area, sessions will take place at the Skeldon Community Centre ground on Saturday February 14 and on Monday, February 16, at the Cumberland ground, players from the East Bank/New Amsterdam/

Canjie/No 19 areas will have theirs.

The BCB will wrap up its talent-spotting process at the Bush Lot Farm ground on Wednesday, February 18, for players from the Central Corentyne area.

According to the BCB, all sessions will commence at 15:00hrs except for the session at Skeldon Community Centre which will begin at 10:00hrs. Players have to be born on or after September 1 1998.

GFSCA to host Mash softball tournament on February 21 AS Guyana celebrates 45 years as a Cooperative Republic, the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) will commence their activities for 2015 by organising a Mashramani one-day softball tournament.

The tournament will be a day/night contest, set for Saturday, February 21, at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground in Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown.

Matches start at 14:00hrs and will conclude at 11:30hrs.

Fourteen teams will be accepted. Eight teams will play in the Open category (males, any age) and six teams will play in the Masters category (40 years and over).

The Male Open will be a five-over event while the Masters will be 10/10.

Matches will be played on two pitches simultaneously.

Entrance fee for the Open category is $15 000 and for

the Masters it is $20 000.

Winners of each category will receive $50 000 and the runners-ups will receive $15 000 each.

According to the GFSCA, the yellow Floodlight ball will be used and teams can purchase it at Mike’s Pharmacy on Sheriff Street.

Teams who are interested can call GFSCA organiser Wayne Jones at 650-1790 or 685-6908 to book their spots early.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

Sky to pay £4.2 billion for top English football rights

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Pay-TV group Sky (SKYB.L) has agreed to pay £4.2 billion to show 126 live English Premier League matches a season from 2016 to 2019, paying well above the expected amount to beat fierce rival BT (BT.L) to the best games.

Following one of the most highly anticipated

… BT takes the rest

broadcast auctions of recent times, the Premier League said Sky had won five of the seven packages of rights, with BT winning the last two. BT will pay £960 million for their three-year contract.

“Sky will pay £1.4 bil-

NOTABLE DATES

KENNY Bristol improved his record to 3-0 after defeating American Bob `The Hunter’ Patterson by points in a six-rounded held on February 11, 1977 at the Sunny Side Garden in New York, USA. Bristol had his first five professional fights at the same venue.

On December 3, 1978 he won a hard-fought unanimous points victory over Reggie Ford. It was the 26th professional fight for the southpaw Ford, while Bristol remained undefeated in eight bouts. In June 1979, Bristol became the only Guyanese to win a Commonwealth title at home when he out-pointed Pat Thomas, who was born in St Kitts and Nevis.

Bristol, a junior middleweight, went on to achieve a record of 20 fights with 15 victories from an eight-year career. He remains one of the best junior middleweight products from Guyana.

Soutrh Africa Racing Tips Kenilworth 08:20 hrs Queen’s Music 08:55 hrs Royal Folly 09:30 hrs Wine Master 10:05 hrs What A Mission 10:40 hrs Jay Jay’s Wild 11:20 hrs Bono Vox Irish Racing Tips Down Royal 09:30 hrs Ardmillan 10:00 hrs Nosey Box 10:35 hrs Kilmurry Kid 11:10 hrs Altiepix 11:45 hrs Glenquest 12:20 hrs Walk To Freedom 12:50 hrs The West’s Awake American Racing Tips Aqueduct Race 1 Dangerous Cowboy Race 2 Lady Luciano Race 3 Sakonnet Point Race 4 Annie Walker Race 5 Stallwalkin Dude Race 6 Cosmic Coincidence Race 7 Storied Lady

Race 8 Charitable English Racing Tips Musselburgh 09:40 hrs Beau Dandy 10:10 hrs Red Spanner 10:45 hrs Brunello 11:20 hrs Urban Kode 11:55 hrs Streets Of New York 12:25 hrs Walden 12:55 hrs Viron

lion per annum for each of the three years of the new agreement, representing an 83 percent increase over the cost of the existing contract,” Sky said.

Combined, the two firms will pay £5.2 billion for the three-year rights deal, well above the £4 billion that analysts had expected and a 68 percent rise on the £3 billion the two firms paid for the current three-year deal.

After three days of bidding, Sky won the key Sunday afternoon games, while BT will show Saturday evening matches.

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany (C) celebrates after winning the English Premier League trophy following their soccer match against West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northern England May 11, 2014. (Credit: Reuters/Darren Staples)

Arsenal capitalise on Tottenham defeat to climb into top four LONDON,(Reuters) - Arsenal climbed into the Premier League’s top four with a laboured 2-1 win against spirited Leicester City and Liverpool continued their push with a pulsating 3-2 home defeat of rivals Tottenham Hotspur yesterday.

With a revitalised Mesut Ozil playing a central role, Arsenal led 2-0 through Laurent Koscielny and Theo Walcott but Andrej Kramaric pulled a goal back as bottom club Leicester dominated the

second half.

Mario Balotelli’s first Premier League goal for Liverpool sealed a topsy-turvey game that they twice led through Lazar Markovic and a Steven Gerrard penalty before being pegged back by the in-form Harry Kane and Mousa Dembele.

Fourth-placed Arsenal have 45 points from 25 games -- two clear of sixth placed Spurs and three ahead of Liverpool in seventh -though they could be dis-

Chepstow 09:50 hrs Sebastian Beach 10:20 hrs King’s Odyssey 10:55 hrs Bulfin Island 11:30 hrs Ascendani 12:05 hrs Bobble Bori 12:35 hrs The Geegeez Geegee 13:05 hrs Buckhorn Tom Lingfield 09:55 hrs Secrets Safe 10:30 hrs Highland Blaize 11:05 hrs Feb Thirtyfirst 11:40 hrs Draco’s Code 12:15 hrs Saint Helena 12:45 hrs Lord Of The Shadows

Theo Walcott

placed by Manchester United in fifth who host lowly Burnley today.

Queens Park Rangers claimed their first Premier League points away from home this season with a 2-0 victory against Sunderland thanks to goals from Leroy Fer and Bobby Zamora.

Hull City climbed out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 victory against free-falling Aston Villa -- courtesy of goals from Nikica Jelavic and Dame N’Doye -- subjecting the Midlands side to a fifth successive league defeat in the process.

NOTABLE DATES

ALTHOUGH born in Guyana, middleweight Steve Frank never had a professional fight on home soil.

On February 11, 1995 Frank won an eight-round contest against American Kenneth Parker via points decision.

The contest was held in Miami, Florida and was the 16th fight for Frank, who had lost twice. Known as the `Lion Heart’, Frank enjoyed a rewarding time in the ring and in a professional career that spanned 11 years, became one of a handful of locals who challenged for a world title.

He turned pro on April 18, 1986, three days after his 21st birthday, but it was in January 1996 Frank created history by becoming Bernard `The Executioner’ Hopkins’ quickest knockout victim.

Challenging for the American’s International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight title, Frank received a Hopkins-sponsored ticket to dreamland with the fight just 24 seconds old.

The elder brother of welterweight boxer Raul Frank moved on to win the NBA super middleweight title in 1997 and retired the same year. His record includes 17 victories (5 KOs), four defeats and one draw.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

Roberts backs Garner for WICB president K I N G S TO N , J a m a i c a (CMC) - Former West Indies fast bowler Sir Andy Roberts has spoken out against the re-election of Dave Cameron as president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) ahead of elections carded for March 7.

Sir Andy is instead throwing his support behind Joel Garner, his former Test team mate in the 1970s and 1980s and who is seeking to unseat Cameron.

“I am happy to hear that Garner has put himself up for the position of president. It is about time that someone takes the presidency from Cameron,” said Sir Andy, after participating in the third

Former West Indies fast bowler Andy Roberts er my choice to be there in the first place, and his annual Caribbean Premier behaviour and practices League Twenty20 draft in since have only worsened Jamaica. my position.”

“He (Cameron) was nev-

Cameron was elected 7-5 during the WICB’s last voting annual general meeting held in Barbados in 2013 and has presided over the introduction of the Caribbean Professional League (CPL), the revamped regional first class tournament.

However, he has come under fire for the withdrawal of the players from the West Indies’ tour of India last month, and a subsequent US$42 million debt.

“The whole India situation was a nightmare,” Sir Andy said.

“Things should have never been allowed to escalate in the manner which they did.

It is a travesty, and as the leader, the buck stops with him (Cameron).”

CAF chief Hayatou seeks to extend leadership CONFEDERATION of African Football (CAF) president Issa Hayatou wants to change the body’s rules on age limits so he can continue into the next decade.

CAF requires officials who reach 70 to step down but a change will be proposed and discussed at a congress in April.

Hayatou, 68, is in his seventh term of office, having been elected in 1998.

“FIFA does not have age limits for its committee mem-

bers so CAF wants to bring this in line with them,” executive committee member Kwesi Nyantakyi said.

Hayatou’s current mandate ends in 2017 and he is seeking four more years until at least 2021, when he turns 75.

The CAF statutes state that “at the time of their election, all candidates nominated to the CAF Executive Committee must be “bona fide” members of their national associations and must be under seventy

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday February 11, 2015) 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)India (2)1992 Today’s Quiz: (1) How many teams took part in the first ICC Cricket World Cup? (2)Who were the two non-Test playing teams participating in the first ICC World Cup? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

ecutive committee, a tightknit club closely controlled

by Hayatou. FIFA does not have the same restriction.

Cameroon-born Hayatou, a former athletics official, is already the longestserving senior member in FIFA structures, where he acts as vice-president, and has had few challengers for power in Africa. (BBC Sport)

The Jamaica Cricket Association’s board of directors voted to support the candidacy of Garner, while the Leeward Islands Cricket Association says it’s backing Cameron.

“West Indies cricket needs a more competent and respected leader,” insisted Sir Andy.

“Someone who can easily galvanise the support of the entire region, and I believe Joel fits that bill easily.”

Trinidad Cricket Board gets $250,000 from government P O RT- O F - S PA I N , Tr i n idad, (CMC) -The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) has received a cheque valued at $250,000 from the government, as well as accolades for its management of the sport in the twin island republic.

CAF president Issa Hayatou

(70) years of age.”

But this will be scrapped if passed, as expected, at the congress.

The change in the rule follows success in recent years in adapting the statutes to limit potential opponents to Hayatou’s rule.

CAF previously brought in a rule that candidates for its presidency can only come from the ranks of its own ex-

Cameron of Jamaica has been nominated by the Guyana Cricket Board and will enter the contest with Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control president, Emmanuel Nanthan, once again his running mate.

Garner, who has been nominated by the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), is set to have Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board director, Baldath Mahabir as his running mate.

Newly appointed Sports Minister Brent Sancho has praised the TTCB saying the cricketing governing body has “exemplified good governance” and is being rewarded.

“We had a long discussion…and I think it is the first time Mr. Bassarath has left the Ministry smiling,” Sancho told the media following a press conference at the Ministry of Tourism.

“We have had a lot of acrimony in the past but I said to him we cannot right the wrongs of the past but we will work in partnership moving forward.”

President Azim Bassarath has complained that TTCB has received no financial assistance since 2011, and

that it was owed funds which have severely hampered the organisation’s ability to administer its programmes.

“We presented a cheque to Mr Bassarath for a $250,000 because I believe that the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board has exemplified good governance in sports in terms of what is required to get funding for various programmes,” said Sancho.

“They have done the requirements that we need in the Ministry of Sport and we want to reward and show the other sporting bodies what good looks like.”

Sancho, a former national footballer who become the new sports minister following last week’s cabinet shake-up, says government and TTCB have agreed to partner on a number of initiatives.

They include the use of the country’s cricket icons to facilitate training camps during Easter and summer for young cricketers.

Hinds re-elected to lead WIPA

KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC)-Wavell Hinds, who ignored calls to step down at the height of an impasse with the West Indies Cricket team late last year, has been re-elected as president of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA).

Hinds, a former West Indies cricketer, was re-elected unopposed at WIPA’s Annual General Meeting at the Four Season Hotel in Jamaica on Monday.

Wavell Hinds He was involved in a bitter row with former

West Indies One- Day International captain Dwayne Bravo who raised concern over his role in a signed collective bargaining agreement between WIPA and the West Indies Cricket Board.

The dispute over the agreement led to the controversial decision by West Indies to cut short their tour of India.

The new WIPA VicePresident is Nixon Mclean,

whose position was previously Honourary Treasurer, a release from WIPA said yesterday.

Wayne Lewis retained his position as Honorary Secretary; the new Honourary Treasurer is former West Indies Captain and Wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs and the newly elected Asst Honourary Secretary is Windward Islands Volcanoes Captain Liam Sebastien.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 11, 2015

COURTS Guyana Inc. supports Barbados Relay Fair-bound schools can eventually grow from the regional stage and someday represent the country at the World Games and even the Olympics.

Representatives of the schools thanked COURTS for what they described as a timely contribution which helps with regard to fostering growth in athletics and also helping the students to strike a balance between academia and sports.

The Barbados Relay Fair first took place at the National Stadium in Barbados on Saturday, February 15, 2003. It took the form on an Inter-School competition, with one local Combined-schools team competing in the Under-20 category.

At that inaugural event, ten local schools and school teams from St Vincent, St Lucia and Guyana participated.

The Relays were contested in three age categories (male and female), Under-15, Under-17, and Under-20. In each category there were 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and a sprint medley. The Swedish

COURTS Marketing Officer Roberta Ferguson presents Queen’s College with their $100 000 cheque.

Queen’s College and Tutorial QUEEN’S College and through our many activities High School. These schools Tutorial High School, the and sponsorships,” said the over the last number of years two institutions who will be company’s Marketing Officer have shown their ability to compete on a regional scale heading to the famed BarRoberta Ferguson. bados Relay Fair, yesterday She added, “This time at the Barbados Relay Fair got a corporate boost from COURTS is very happy to and to bring home several COURTS Guyana Inc. be on board with two of the medals.”

The company hopes that The two schools each remost outstanding schools in ceived $100 000 which will terms of athletics in Guyana - some of these same athletes enhance their chances as they compete with some of the Region’s best schools and clubs in the Land of the Flying Fish on Saturday, February 14.

Queen’s College, one of the foundation schools, a regular at the Championships since the inaugural event in 2003, will send a team of 18 athletes, while Tutorial will be represented by 16 athletes, to compete primarily in the Under-13 and Under-15 categories.

“COURTS Guyana Inc., the furniture and appliance giant is also known for its giant contributions in the area of sport in Guyana. The company has been a strong advocate for Students and a teacher of Tutorial High School along with COURTS healthy and active lifestyles Guyana Inc. Marketing Officer Roberta Ferguson, who presented and encourages youths in sport them with $100 000 towards the Barbados Relay Fair.

NCN in talks with ESPN over ICC Cricket World Cup coverage THE state owned National Communication Networks (NCN) yesterday said that they are currently in talks with rights holder ESPN, to air the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup which bowls off on Saturday February 14 in Australia.

Marketing Manager Raymond Azeez, speaking to Chronicle Sport yesterday, explained that unlike previous years when NCN had to simply deal with the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), now, it’s complicated, since they have to negotiate with ESPN who only distribute to its cable partners.

NCN’s Marketing Manager Raymond Azeez

ESPN’s partner in Guyana is E-Networks and Azeez said that NCN is trying everything in its power to ensure that the Walt Disney Company and Hearst Corporation owned entity breaks protocol to allow them the right to air the matches.

He said that it will cost the Government of Guyana owned station approximately US$30,000 to have to the event shown; almost three times what was paid for the 2011 tournament rights.

“We understand that they (ESPN) are dealing with their cable partner who in Guyana is E-Networks. We had first

reached out to E-Networks who pointed us to ESPN and we’ve been in talks with them. It’s just a matter of them (ESPN) understanding that in Guyana, more than 60% of the population depend on us for events like this and not everyone has E-Networks” said Azeez.

Azeez pointed out that NCN remains committed to bring ball-by-ball coverage of the ICC showpiece, adding “We’re going to fight hard to get the rights. It’s only a couple of days left and so we’re waiting on ESPN to give a final word after making a proposal”

Medley and the Distance Medley were offered as open events, while a hurdle shuttle relay was done as an exhibition event.

By 2006 the number of

participants was well over 600. Approximately 150 of these were from overseas, with teams averaging 15–20 persons plus supporters.

T&T to host CPL semi-finals, final

CPL chief executive officer Damien O’ Donohoe PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC)-Trinidad and Tobago have won the right to host the semi-final and the final of the 2015 Limacol Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 competition, organisers announced on Monday.

CPL chief executive officer Damien O’ Donohoe also announced that the twin island republic have secured the rights ahead of competing venues United States and Dubai.

T&T, home to the Red Steel franchise, will host seven matches, including the CPL final dubbed “Super Bowl of the Caribbean”.

“We actually had bids from outside of the Caribbean to host the finals but Gerry (T&T Minister of Tourism Gerald Hadeed) was insistent that we brought it back here to Trinidad and Tobago,” said O’Donohoe during a press conference at the Ministry of Tourism.

“It was actually two countries (that bid to host the semifinals and final). One was going to be the United States and the next one was going to be in Dubai”.

O’Donohoe told reporters that taking the competition into the US market remains a goal of CPL which officials say has been growing in popularity after two seasons.

“We were in discussions to take some games over there... that is the future,” he explained.

“I have always said and it was always part of the plan to take the CPL into the US because we believe we have the best platform and we all know if you can make any traction in the US, the scale that they have changes things considerably”.

The announcement of the venue for CPL semi-finals and finals follows last Thursday’s draft which saw Barbados Tridents retaining the bulk of the team which lifted last year’s title while St Lucia Zouks have strengthened their squad significantly.

The third edition of the CPL will start slightly earlier this year, running from June 20th to July 26th.

“We are going to have the top West Indies and international stars in Trinidad for two weeks, so we have to come up with initiatives to make sure they get into the schools, into the summer camps,” said O’Donohoe.

“The CPL final is the Super Bowl of the Caribbean and you are going to have the biggest stars from the world of cricket and the biggest entertainers, and big celebrity names”.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Sledgers to face match bans at World Cup See Story on Page 35

COURTS Guyana Inc. supports Barbados Relay Fair-bound schools See Story on Page 39

ICC chief executive officer David Richardson interacts with the press in Melbourne, yesterday.

Nominations close for WICB elections

…Cameron , Garner the only two presidential candidates

The start of the Men’s Open 6km Cross Country Run in Linden last Sunday

Thomas wins first Cross Country for 2015 RUNNING Braves athlete Cleveland Thomas claimed victory in the Men’s open division of the Cross Country 6km race in Linden at the weekend.

Thomas registered at time of 19 minutes 17:16 seconds as he crossed the finish line at the Bayrock Football ground, in the Athletics Association of Guyana-organised event.

One time race leader Nathaniel Giddings trailed him home in 19 mins 27.54 seconds with Police Sports Club team mate Kevin Bayley in 3rd, three seconds back.

There were 22 starters in this division; the longest distance on the day. Some 73 persons competed in eight age-group categories.

Alika Morgan of Rising Stars won the Open Women’s 4km from a field of 12, in 18 mins 42.5 seconds. Junior Carifta Games gold medalist Cassey George came home in 19 mins 24.4 seconds to take the silver with Andrea Foster of Running Braves; third, in a time of 19 minutes 35:2 seconds.

Here is a list of the top finishers in the other divisions; 13-15 females for one km 1st - Maria Urguhart R/B - 10:06:6 2nd - Lenanna Charles GDF - 10:28:9 3rd - Chantoba Bright UDSAC - 10:44:0 13-15 Males for one km

1st - Moses Best - Police - 8:55:3 2nd - Murphy Nash - CWSS - 9:09:5 3rd - Tabiki Thompson - UDSAC - 9:49:6 16-17 Youth Females - 2K 1st - Joanna Archer - Police - 15:57:3 2nd - Vanetta Hinds - CWSS 3rd - Melissa Thomas – UDSAC - 22:18:9 Youth Male 16-17 - 3K 1st - Odwin Tudor – GDF - 14:08:0 2nd - Samuel Lynch - R/B - 15:03:0 3rd - Jamal Johnson - UDSAC- 15:11:0 Junior Female 18yrs - Under 20 4K 1st – ClaudariceMcKoy - R/B - 17:18:83 2nd - Mariah McKenzie - R/B - 18:17:26 3rd - Onika Eastman - Police - 25:43:94 Junior Male 18yrs - Under 20 4K 1st - Matthew Mackenzie - R/B - 16: 59:3 2nd - Carl Mackenzie - R/B - 17:36:6 3rd - Leon Benjamin - CWSS - 17:50:0

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Joel Garner and Dave Cameron ST.JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC)- Incumbent Dave Cameron and challenger Joel Garner will contest the elections for president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), at the Annual General Meeting carded for March 7.

Cameron a Jamaican businessman and Garner a cricket legend and former West Indies pacer are the only two presidential candidates after the deadline for nominations ran out on Saturday.

A statement released by the WICB yesterday afternoon said Cameron and Garner were the only two nominations received.

Cameron is entering the contest with Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control president, Emmanuel Nanthan once again his running mate while Garner’s running mate is Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board director, Baldath Mahabir. The elections are shaping up to be a keen tussle between the two candidates and a major highpoint of the WICB AGM. Guyana, Leeward Islands and Windwards islands have already declared their support for Cameron’s reelection while Garner appears to be receiving the backing of Jamaica as well as Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

Each of the six WICB associations is entitled two votes each.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2015