Guyana chronicle 18 11 14

GUYANA No. 104015 TUESDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2014

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

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Two girls killed in early morning city fire

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– father hospitalised

– girls were rescued from same building in 2010 fire

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DEAD: 12-year-old Theresa Rozario

T&HD Ferry runs aground at Wakenaam Island

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DEAD: 14-year-old Clarissa Rozario

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Members of Labour, Religious bodies reiterate calls for dialogue Page

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Sugar industry close to surpassing 2013 production target Page

The MV SABANTO ran hard aground at Wakenaam Island in the Essequibo River early on Monday morning while plying its Supenaam/Parika route

Police Force beefs up security – as Christmas season approaches

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Gov’t to spend $89M rebuilding Linden Electricity Inc offices Page 11

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

Two girls killed in early morning city fire – father hospitalised

– girls were rescued from same building in 2010 fire

DEAD: 12-year-old Theresa Rozario

DEAD: 14-year-old Clarissa Rozario

By Leroy Smith

called to the scene of the fire by commercial sex workers who observed fire coming from the building early yesterday morning.

However, due to the derelict state of the wooden building, the entire structure was gutted while the two children from the St. John’s College and Guyana Trust College remained trapped inside, while their father jumped to safety.

The property at the

FIREFIGHTERS early yesterday morning removed the charred remains of Theresa Rozario, 12 years, and her sister Clarissa Rozario, 14 years, of 65 Robb and King Streets, Georgetown, after their home was destroyed by an early morning fire.

Their father Randolph Thomas, 63 years, is hospitalised with burns about

source of contention between the now hospitalised man, and another gentleman whose name was given as ‘Buddy’.

In the 2010 fire, the man called ‘Buddy’ was considered a suspect and he is also being fingered in yesterday’s tragedy that claimed the lives of the two children.

Persons said that after the fire started and the man jumped to safety, he informed persons that his daughters were trapped inside the building but because of the heat, smoke and falling debris persons were unable to enter the building to attempt a rescue.

Meanwhile, the children’s screams were reportedly drowned out by the crackling sounds of firewood and shattering glass as the building was being gutted.

When firefighters were finally able to put the blaze out and they ventured into the building they discovered the remains of the children, which were removed to a city funeral home to await a post-mortem.

Speaking with the Guy-

the father of her children were not communicating with each other. Moreover, the children were kept away from her by the man and his relatives.

The grieving mother told this newspaper that she was at home when she got the call about the fire from her eldest son. The woman said that she hurriedly left her Guyhoc Park home and

The police and fire service are continuing their investigations into the cause of the fire. Rosemary Rozario has four other children, ages 22, 19, 18 and 17.

Meanwhile, during a visit to the schools the girls had attended, very positive reviews were given about them. The directors and teachers of the Guyana Trust College said that the younger of the two girls was an ‘A’ student who got along well with the other children.

An older sister who had survived the fire in 2010

‘MOURNING’: Theresa Rozario’s classmates from Guyana Trust College react to the news of their friend’s demise yesterday (Sonnel Nelson photo)

‘DESTROYED’: The building at the corner of Robb and King Streets in Georgetown that was destroyed by fire yesterday morning

the body.

The fire service was

junction of Robb and King Streets has long been a

ana Chronicle yesterday morning, mother of the children Rosemary Rozario said that the man did threaten to burn the building down with Randolph Thomas and his children inside. Asked if the threat was ever reported to the police, she said that she was not certain since she and

rushed down to the scene where she saw the fire engines battling to put the blaze out.

The woman said she knew that her children were trapped in the building since she did not see them or their father when she arrived on the scene.

Yesterday the children wrote individual letters to send to the mother and relatives of the young girl expressing their sympathies and commenting on what a pleasant person she was.

Over at St. John’s College, the reviews of the older girl were also positive and the teachers there said that

the child was one who was always keen on learning and would also ask questions.

In 2010, the same two children along with an older sister and their father who is now hospitalised were rescued by firefighters from the same building after it mysteriously caught fire.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

Members of Labour, Religious bodies reiterate calls for dialogue are capable individuals in the local society who can bring the Government and the Opposition together for dialogue.

“If we continue to do this Guyana will lose in the end.

We hope we make a breakthrough sooner than later... we owe it to our children and descendants to build an ideal nation. This business of fighting, the politicians will need to realise it’s not their country, and it belongs

“If there is no discussion then we will not get anywhere, it’s very frightening if we don’t talk, I think the Opposition should reconsider their position.”

– Rev. McGarrell move the process forward, and I think what the President intended to do is give Guyanese an opportunity to resolve the problem.”

Duncan also called on the Private Sector and other sec-

motar in response to the same issue said his first preference would be for Guyanese leaders to work out the issue internally.

President Donald Ramotar

MEMBER of the Inter Religious Organisation (IRO), Reverend Ronald Mc Garrell has reiterated the need for dialogue as the way forward to address the parliamentary situation as urged by President Donald Ramotar.

The Guyanese Head of State prorogued the Parliament on November 10, and since then, the Opposition has said they are not going to engage in dialogue with the President.

During the National Communication Network’s (NCN) programme, ‘The 10th Parliament, the way Forward’ on Friday, Reverend Mc Garrell, stressed the need for the political Opposition to find common ground and that some concession will have to be made in order to bring the best results that are needed to take Guyana forward.

“If there is no discussion then we will not get anywhere, it’s very frightening if we don’t talk, I think the Opposition should reconsider their position.”

Mc Garrell said he is of the strong belief that there

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

in provocation, the President has always responded by saying there is need for dialogue in the interest of Guyana once the Opposition is prepared to put Guyana first.

“Closed doors can’t help.

If one understands history well, Hitler did everything in the world and after the war he still had to sit and talk; with dialogue you can reach consensus, and you can Opposition Leader David Granger

to all of us.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by Trade Unionist Carvil Duncan who noted that when the president made his decision to prorogue the 10th Parliament he was merely opening the door as he always does for dialogue.

“What he did is primarily out of a desire to have a better Guyana and where Guyanese can reap the fruits of their labour by seeing Guyana developing. One needs to see that the president was very tolerable...”

Duncan noted that even

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

Reverend Ronald Mc Garrell

Carvil Duncan

tions of civil society to call on their leaders to do what is right in the best interest of all Guyanese.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand has described the Speaker of the National Assembly’s call for external mediators in the current parliament situation as unpatriotic. The Minister was also speaking at the same forum with Duncan and Mc Garrell.

With mere days elapsing since the President’s proclamation to prorogue the 10th Parliament, Speaker Raphael Trotman has written to the Commonwealth Secretary General seeking his intervention in finding a solution to the situation.

President Donald Ra-

Speaker of the House Raphael Trotman

Meanwhile Ms. Manickchand said she is confident that Guyana has people who are quite capable of working out this situation peacefully and in the interest of the citizens.

“We should try ourselves first. If you have to call in people it means you don’t have confidence in our people to solve our own problem and that is unpatriotic.”

The minister cautioned that the Guyanese people showed their confidence in their leaders whom they voted for at the last election and by calling for external help is simply showing that the leaders are not capable of serving their people’s best interest.

She also echoed senti-

ments expressed by her fellow Cabinet members that the President’s decision is constitutional as she rubbished claims by the Speaker of the National Assembly which seeks to suggest contrary.

Minister Manickchand noted her disappointment by the utterances of the Speaker as he has knowledge of legal issues and is au fait with the Constitution.

Further, Minister Manickchand called on the Guyanese public to continue to show their maturity and not to yield to calls by members of the Opposition for street demonstration.

“I can’t say for sure that the Opposition will accept the invitation for dialogue, but we have a duty to create an environment for dialogue to take place, the nation is important and the president’s duty was to create that space for dialogue.”

PPP calls for more transparent process to shortlist, recruit elections day staff THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has again voiced its concerns over the transparency of GECOM’s recruitment policy as well as its training of polling day staff.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday at Freedom House, Robb Street, PPP General Secretary

Clement Rohee stated that many young, educated persons are indicating that they had applied to GECOM but never received a response.

However, the nation was awakened to learn that GECOM has already begun training of polling day staff.

Rohee said the Party is suggesting that GECOM do

‘Many young educated persons are indicating that they had applied to GECOM but never received a response’ - PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee a re-advertisement for these positions.

Moreover, it is hoped that a more open and transparent process to shortlist and recruit elections day staff will be used so that the electoral machinery can be

outfitted with suitably qualified and competent persons.

VOTER EDUCATION Rohee said GECOM should also launch a countrywide voter education programme to indicate to

Guyanese the importance of voting and making a contribution to Guyana’s continued development.

The main reason why this should be done is because of the number of spoiled and rejected ballots

recorded in the 2011 elections, he said.

He noted that these education programmes should be implemented in most of the rural, hinterland and riverine areas in order to make sure that the mistakes that were made in the 2011 elections are not repeated.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

Police Force beefs up security as Christmas season approaches security operations as part of security measures.

According to Commander of ‘A’ Division, Clifton Hicken, this traditional policing arrangement will target increased commercial activities around the city and the inevitable increase in traffic congestion.

Sector five caters for North-Seawall Road, South-Princes Street, East-Sheriff Street and Mandela Avenue and West-Vlissingen Road.

Ranks who will be policing the areas on foot will be working on a four-hour shift to avoid officers from being overworked. Foot Patrols will be done between 06:00hrs to 10:00hrs / 09:00hrs to 13:00hrs /12:00hrs to 16:00hrs/15:00hrs to 20:00 hrs daily. During the period

MANNING BY SECTORS To ensure adequate policing of the city, Hicken pointed out that Georgetown will be divided into five sectors, Traffic Officer, Hugh Denhert explaining the plans for traffic control during the Christmas period THE festive season of Christmas brings along with it increased commercial activities and in order to prevent crimes during this period, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has special plans in place for the period November 15, 2014 to January 2015.

Speaking at a presentation yesterday, at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, Head of Law Enforce-

ment Mr. Leslie James noted that the objectives of the security plan are to minimise criminal activities, traffic congestion and make the city of Georgetown safe for visitors, citizens and shoppers during the Christmas season.

The Force will be increasing its patrols using its motor vehicles and bikes, along with its various ranks, and strategically-placed manned booths and conduct

Head of Law enforcement, Mr. Leslie James delivering his remarks to the gathering at the event each will be supervised by a Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent assisted by a Cadet Officer and an adequate number of ranks.

Section one which covers North - Seawall, South Hadfield Street, East - Camp Street and West - Demerara River, comprises primarily the commercial sector around the city.

Section two which comprises North - Hadfield Street, South - Punt Trench Dam, East -Camp Street and West the Demerara River -contains many hardware stores, lumber yards, hotels and municipal markets. This area will be covered by vehicle patrols, as well ranks on foot.

Section three contains to the North - Seawall, South -Croal Street, East-Vlissengen Road and West-Camp Street.

Section four’s boundaries are North - South Road, South- Princes Street, East-Vlissengen Road and West-Camp Street/Russell Street, and these will be policed by vehicular patrols.

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Commander of the ‘A’ Division, Clifton Hicken delivering his presentation yesterday around the city by the Crimi- their patrols with West Denal Investigation Department merara from the mouth of the (C.I.D) and Intelligence Sec- Demerara River to Garden of tion according to the com- Eden. mander.

The patrols will concenTRAFFIC trate on the Upper East Bank Traffic Officer, Hugh and around Georgetown with Denhert, during his presenspecial interest on hot spots tation noted that traffic patrol and the Georgetown prisons, will be conducted on a 24and the Stabroek and Bourda basis through beat patrols, Markets. These patrols will fixed duty points, motor cyalso enforce snap road blocks cle and motor car patrols and and stop and search exercis- crash truck patrol. es. Individuals are asked to He added that traffic pacomply with these exercises trol will be intensified on

A section of the gathering at the launch of the Police Force’s Christmas security plan December 22 to 24, and 29 to 31, the foot patrol times will be adjusted to accommodate late shopping.

Meanwhile, motor cycles and vehicular patrols will be done on a 24-hour basis on 12- hourly shifts.

Emphasis will also be placed on noise nuisance and public crime tips will be disseminated by the force.

HEIGHTENED PATROLS AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS Arrangements have been made to conduct special operations around the banks, hotels and night spots, post offices, and business entities

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as they are only in the interest of the people with regards to crime fighting.

Hicken also noted that Community Policing Groups under the supervision of the police will conduct mobile patrols in the areas of Alberttown/Queenstown, Alexander Village, and East La Penitence among other locations.

Marine patrols will be done daily in Timehri by the One Balahoo. This vessel will patrol the Demerara River from Land of Canaan to Dora, while in Ruimveldt the One Balahoo will coordinate

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Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Old Year’s Day/ Night.

Denhert also noted that while there has been a decrease in accidents in the serious, minor and damage categories, the 2014 figures for fatalities have increased when compared to the previous year.

The gathering at the ceremony included Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud, Assistant Commissioner Balram Persaud along with other senior ranks and individuals from the business community. (GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

Following boycott calls of State Media and Guyana Times…

PPP says APNU ‘spits its venom’ against media houses it cannot control STATE media and the Guyana Times, which is seen as friendly to the Government, was targeted by A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Dr. Rupert Roopnarine.

And General-Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee, contends that the main Opposition’s members are clearly “spitting venom” in the direction of media houses they cannot control.

“It is clear that the Opposition parties are finding it difficult to come to terms with the new dispensation, which arose from the decision taken to prorogue Parliament and like a wounded creature, now spits its venom against these sections of the media over which they have no control,” Rohee said at a news conference yesterday, which was held at the PPP’s Freedom House headquarters

on Robb Street.

Speaking at an APNU rally last Friday at Square of the Revolution, Roopnarine started off by urging attendees, “Do not buy the Chronicle or the Guyana Times; and when you see Channel 11 come on, change it.”

What was cause for alarm, however, was when he took things up a notch, saying: “Within a very short time, we will have to arrange a ceremony at Square of the Revolution where we can make an enormous ‘bonfire’ of the Chronicle and the Guyana Times.”

APNU’s rally was organised in protest of President Donald Ramotar’s decision to prorogue Parliament, last Monday. The announcement was made in an address to the nation and Mr. Ramotar disclosed that he issued a proclamation to prorogue Parliament, which essen-

Sugar industry close to surpassing 2013 production target –Minister Ramsammy MINISTER of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said Guyana is on the verge of surpassing the 2013 sugar production as the sugar industry is quietly approaching the 200,000 tonne production mark.

Dr. Ramsammy said he is still very optimistic that the 216,000- tonne target for 2014 will be reached as there are still four weeks before the crop is closed off.

“We have enough cane in the fields, and therefore once we have the right weather, I have no doubt that we will be able to meet that target.

I am hopeful that by the end of next week we will surpass the 200,000 tonne target mark.”

O n c e t h i s t a rg e t i s reached, then work will continue to reach the additional 16,000 tonnes that are required to surpass the target established for 2014.

Speaking on the issue of sugar export, the Agriculture Minister said the export markets are guaranteed and there is no difficulty in this area.

“In fact it would be nice for Guyana to go back to production of 250,000 to 3000,000 tonnes because we have the market.”

He noted that the industry had fallen short in the last few years in meeting the needs of the Caribbean market, hence an agreement was made with COTED allowing some of these countries to import from outside of the region.

However, earlier this year, the minister explained that Guyana indicated that it will meet the demand for the Caribbean suppliers.

“So we continue to supply markets in the Caribbean and Europe and we continue to have a demand for Guyana’s sugar and sugar products, so I’m not worried that in increasing our production that we may have market problems.”

Minister Ramsammy pointed out that this does not accentuate the problems the industry has had with the European market. Those problems, he noted, have nothing to do with standards or volume since Guyana has exported sugar for hundreds of years and meeting volumes and standards is not new.

“As we increase, the market will remain a significant part, our major difficulty in Turn to page 13

tially means that the current session is suspended up to a maximum of six months – a move that is provided for in Section 70 (1) of Guyana’s Constitution.

“It seems that the only information that is considered acceptable and newsworthy

by APNU is that which is anti-PPP or anti-government.

This explains its obsession against sections of the media and its hysterical call for a boycott of those media outlets that refuse to play up to their nefarious agenda,” Rohee told members of the media yesterday.

According to him, the main Opposition’s “obsession with the media” dates back to the dictatorship Guyanese lived under, during the rule of the People’s National Congress (PNC).

The PPP General-Secretary said, “This obsession with the media has its gen-

“It is clear that the opposition parties are finding it difficult to come to terms with the new dispensation, which arose from the decision taken to prorogue Parliament and like a wounded creature, now spits its venom against these sections of the media over which they have no control” - Rohee esis since the early days of dictatorial rule when the regime used every conceivable means to suppress freedom of expression which included the banning of newsprint for the Mirror Newspaper and the harassment and in some cases outright dismissals of journalists who dared to publish the truth.…(the PPP) encourages all Guyanese to ignore such calls which are clearly misdirected.”

Rohee stated that the President having ‘trumped’ the combined Opposition’s move to push through the Alliance For Change (AFC) sponsored no-confidence motion against the current Administration, has left the parties blaming others for

their political folly.

“Mr. Granger and his bedfellows have now mastered the art of deception.

Instead of accepting the fact that they have committed an act of serious indiscretion in pursuing the path of the no-confidence motion against the PPP/C administration they have now, in typical Don Quixote fashion, started tilting at windmills and blaming everyone except themselves for their political folly,” the PPP General-Secretary concluded.

The effect of ending a session by prorogation is to terminate business of the National Assembly.

As a result, the AFC’s no-confidence motion was

not considered. Also, APNU had, prior to Monday, signaled its intent to support the push through of the motion.

Had it not been for the proclamation to prorogue Parliament, if the no-confidence motion was passed, Guyana would have been headed to early general elections within three months.

According to President Ramotar, his move in proroguing Parliament was intended to pave the way for greater dialogue among political parties, while keeping the 10th Parliament alive.

However, he has made it clear that if these efforts prove futile, there will be a move to early general elections.

T&HD Ferry runs aground at Wakenaam Island THE Ministry of Transport, through the Transport and Harbours Department, Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), says it is currently investigating the circumstances which resulted in the MV SABANTO running aground on to Wakenaam Island during the wee hours of yesterday.

The T&HD confirmed reports that the Chinese-donated vessel, the MV SABANTO, ran hard aground at Wakenaam Island in the Essequibo River early on Monday morning while plying its Supenaam/Parika route. The incident is reported to have occurred at approximately 00.35 hrs.

There have been no reported injuries, according to the Transport Department, which reported that all passengers and crew members

were safe and were able to disembark the vessel and depart the scene with the use of water taxis which responded to the vessel’s distress call.

Nobody was allowed to disembark the vessel until first light (when the place became clear) yesterday morning.

The Transport and Harbours Department, in its statement to the media yesterday, said efforts are being made to have three trucks and seven cars taken off the vessel with the use of dumb barges.

In the meantime, mariners, marine surveyors and engineers will assess the vessel to determine the extent of its damage. The vessel is to remain at its present location where it ran aground, until this coming weekend, when the tide

would rise to the level that would facilitate its re-floating.

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn yesterday visited the area where the vessel encountered its difficulty, and was briefed by workers on the ground as to the moves being adopted to ensure that everything is being done to return the vessel to operational status.

Meanwhile, the vessel

will be guarded to prevent any form of damage or vandalism by anyone.

Traffic movement would be maintained at normal levels by a doubling up of runs of the MV KANAWAN and the MV MALALI, to ensure that commuters are not inconvenienced.

The T&HD has, in its statements, apologised to commuters for the inconvenience caused.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

The Death Knell of Press Freedom

FREEDOM of expression and the right to information of citizens of the land are enshrined constitutional and moral rights, ratified by the Declaration of Chapultepec; but today, once again, Guyana is being held ransom to ethical depravity and moral turpitude by persons whose moral compasses need serious calibrating.

At an APNU rally held at Square of the Revolution last Friday evening to protest President Donald Ramotar’s prorogation of Parliament, that party’s co-chair, Rupert Roopnarine urged the crowd to, among other methods of protest, “… do not buy the Guyana Chronicle or the Guyana Times; and when you see Channel 11 come on, change it.”

He went on to say: “Within a very short time, we will have to arrange a ceremony at the Square of the Revolution where we can make an enormous ‘bonfire’ of the Chronicle and the Guyana Times.”

The Guyana Chronicle which boasts probably the largest global online readership among local news sites, is a State owned media entity, but merely because this publication adheres to the tenets of truth, factual dissemination of information without recourse to sensationalism, pandering to power-hungry politicians clamouring for public recognition,

it is being targeted right alongside its sister State Media agency (NCN) and the privately-owned ‘Guyana Times’ newspaper.

The joint Opposition – including their supporting media houses, perceives and treats as enemies to be destroyed, any person or entity that does not support their histrionics, or who/which condemns their calls to insurrection and violence in the nation.

However, Opposition parties’ periodic calls for the boycott of State Media – singly or collectively, as well as for the burning of state publications such as the ‘Chronicle’ newspaper, has sinister overtones and troubling implications for the security of the staff of state media houses and the ‘Guyana Times’, given Guyana’s history of oppressive forces dictating – or attempting to dictate what is acceptable information that should be transmitted to the public, even to the point of unleashing violent attacks on perceived offending media entities and media operatives.

In yesterday’s publication of this newspaper, General-Manager of Guyana National Newspapers Ltd (GNNL), the publishers of the ‘Chronicle’ newspaper, Mr. Michael Gordon expressed his alarm at the threat to the security of his staff members. Mr. Gordon said, inter alia: “It is a sad day in Guyana

when an individual, moreso a political leader, believes that a media entity does not represent his views; and as a consequence, he sees it fit to rile the masses against the news entity…I think the frivolity of Dr Rupert Roopnarine’s comments borders on the irresponsible. The fact that Dr. Roopnarine has threatened to burn the physical paper itself is cause for concern. I’m now left to wonder whether such threats could be transcended into other spheres. I am now even more concerned than ever about the safety of my staff.”

Referencing the Declaration of Chapultepec, which addresses the protection and defence of Freedom of the Press, Mr. Gordon posited: “I do not believe that the Declaration of Chapultepec, to which Guyana is a signatory, speaks only to the Executive Branch of Government,” and affirmed “The Guyana Chronicle remains committed to upholding the fundamental tenets of journalism, and to providing fair and balanced information, including Dr. Roopnarine’s views, to the general public.”

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr Anil Nandlall, said, in response to Roopnarine’s inflammatory calls for boycott and conflagration of the two publications: “… one would expect a more responsible statement from Dr. Roopnarine. His

remarks constitute nothing less than an assault on the constitutionally guaranteed right of Freedom of the Press and the right of the Guyanese citizens to receive information…I do not expect the Opposition to be supportive of these News Agencies, but at a minimum, they should respect their right to publish, and the right of the Guyanese people to receive that which is published.”

Nandlall said he hopes that the persons and organisations who came out so stridently in defence of Press Freedom recently will now come out in full force on this matter. “Their silence will lend itself as tacit support for Dr. Roopnarine’s obvious thinking that only information that is one-sided; that attacks the Government; and that is biased in a particular direction must permeate the airwaves and the print media.”

However, the deafening

silence by these individuals and bodies, inclusive of normally vociferous members of the diplomatic community, is indication of the overt and covert support that the extreme positions adopted and expounded by anti-national, anti-democratic forces in the collective Opposition receive.

From silencing the press, how far is the distance to silencing the voice of opponents – as has happened once before with many who opposed the repressive PNC regime, such as Roopnarine’s former political colleague, Dr. Walter Rodney, who was blasted into oblivion approximately three decades ago? We have gone that route before; and the very persons who were victims of that suppressive dynamic have now joined hands with their former oppressors and have become oppressors in turn.

Politics have, in this instance, indeed proven to make strange bedfellows.

Let the Nestor woman do her thing then see who has purchasing power in Guyana LURLENE Nestor said, “We give them (businesses) by Monday to get this notice…up, failure to have this visible notice will result in us not buying from them, we did it before and we can do it again…we talking to the big ones from Courts, Bounty, Banks DDL, fish shop, all market stall holders and vendors, all businesses on Regent Street, Water Street. We talking to every business from the largest to the smallest.’’

I have read many letters in the media that this woman has written and she is a strong and deadly advocate for Afro Guyanese and Af-

ricans the world over and could not care less for any other ethnicity.

I remember one bigshot Afro Guyanese man during the PNC reign of terror on Guyanese had a salt goods shop on Middleton St, C/ ville.

He was selling some food items, which were banned by the PNC regime from Guyanese.

He was selling flour and dhal, the stuff East Indians like best.

One day some banned food items arrived at his shop and East Indians lined up to get their stuff, and despite the fact he was

charging them an arm and leg they paid.

The PNC man was called ‘Rabbi’, and that day Rabbi came out from his back room and stood behind the counter and said “awww…this is how I like it. I love seeing ‘coolie’ line up to get what they want”.

Well, I thought that was a racist statement and waited for some of those Indians to come out of the shop.

I asked two East Indians if they appreciated being insulted with racist remarks for things they are paying a very high price for: They said ‘no’, but that only Rabbi had the things they need.

I told them if they can spread the word with the others in his shop to see if they can buy these banned goods from someone else, where they would not be insulted for things they are paying for, since they were not begging him for the goods.

They said they understood what I was saying.

I told them to give it about a month or two and see who will support the PNC hotshot Rabbi.

I made sure I kept an eye on the shop to see who was going and coming, and soon the PNC hotshot Rabbi was forced to close shop.

One guy told me that he thinks the Rabbi man is begging on the street in the Kitty area these days.

The bigshot PNC man was stupid not to see who was supporting his business.

I tell you guys what!

Let her do what she intends to do and see who gets hurt.

Let Lurlene Nestor go ahead and put her signs up.

PPP/C supporters, including decent Afro-Guyanese and all other ethnic groups should boycott those business places that put up those signs and come back two months after and see if

they are still in business.

Let us see if those who support Nestor and her call for boycott would be able to sustain that business without Indians and other ethnic support.

You see, it is people like Lurlene Nestor who cannot see further than their noses; and I would not call her a racist, I would say she is a strong advocate for her race, to the point of forgetting the rest of the human race.

The woman just cannot help herself from being most ignorant.

TED KING

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

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If you don’t like it for yourself, you shouldn’t like it for others I THINK apologies are in order for the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Anil Nandlall. By now everyone should know of the impugned recording that was attributed to the minister which came about because the Kaieteur News unscrupulously, unethically and without the authorisation of the minster taped, manipulated and distorted a private conversation between the minister and a journalist attached to the newspaper.

The Attorney General has, since the publication of that recording

by Kaieteur News, made a public statement where he addressed aspects of the recording which have been attributed to him.

One of those aspects, which had caused quite a stir among the proponents of the combined Opposition, Kaieteur News and indeed, some members of civil society, was Nandlall speaking about medical expenses being paid for, using

government financing, which he subsequently refunded.

In his statement to the public on the impugned recording, the minister said, “I wish to set the record straight on that issue.

The reference relates to the reimbursement I received for monies I expended on medical treatment. This reimbursement was approved by Cabinet in a written Cabinet decision dated 20 June 2013. This is, and historically has been, an entitlement of every member of Cabinet long before my appointment.”

Even though the minister vindicated himself from the impugned recording, the onslaught over his use of the public funds still continued, with the Opposition aligned Kaieteur News blazing on the front burner as usual, misinformed, reckless and unsubstantiated information.

Those reckless assertions have not diminished, causing the Head

of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon to address the issue. In a Chronicle news article dated 13th November 2014, captioned ‘No financial impropriety affording Cabinet members medical allowance – HPS’, Dr. Luncheon cleared the air over the financing and vindicated what the Attorney General was saying all along.

Dr. Luncheon was quoted as saying, “Most of the Cabinet members benefit from the provision of expenses; this is a provision where expenses are met, incurred by the Cabinet member and the members of their immediate family. They essentially present Cabinet with documentation, based on which the authorisation is provided by the Cabinet for the Ministry of Health to cover those expenses.”

He said also that, “the rule of thumb is once it is a medical expense and the documentation is made available, the Cabinet office

An assault on the Fourth Estate

- ANYONE who threatens the Media, attempting to coerce it into silence, is an enemy of democracy.

Senior Opposition Member of Parliament, Dr Rupert Roopnarine’s call for a boycott of the State Media, and those that are perceived to be state friendly, has reverberated throughout Guyana. Many including this writer, have been left aghast by the menacingly clear threats in his “bonfire” call.

Such threats, especially the “bonfire”, reminds of the attack by Nazi Germany, when they ordered all works particularly those written by Jews, burnt in May of 1933 in Berlin. Is

this academic/politician out of his mind? Sure as day, that such incendiary did emanate from this politician.

Well, one is judged by what one speaks! Apply this to Roopnarine in any given context, and this means an attack on the Media, that dares a different political opinion to his.

This is indeed an assault on the Fourth Estate.

This cannot be the Roopnarine from the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Party, of that great martyr, the renowned Dr. Walter Rodney! But, unfortunately it is, and Rodney must be turning in his grave!

The nation, perhaps, may now appreciate the exclusion of this party by Rod-

ney’s widow, in matters relating to the formation of the Rodney Commission of Inquiry.

It is a threat that State authorities should take very seriously, as it takes into account the safety of staff, not only of the Guyana Chronicle, but also those from other state media: GINA and NCN. Anyone who threatens the media, attempting to coerce it into silence, is an enemy of democracy; and this includes, Roopnarine.

What a shock, shame, and let-down from one who, from all appearances, had been deceiving the nation!]

HAROLD GREENE

authorises payment” and even went further to state that such a practice is not a strange one and that some Cabinet members utilise it while others choose not to.

To all of those persons, who hurried in haste to condemn the minister, to be the judge, jury and executioner without allowing natural justice to take place, I say to you, that an apology is in order for the minister. We are often too quick to take sides and form conclusions prematurely; this I must say is something that Kaieteur News knows only too well.

Furthermore, to all those persons who have been calling for the resignation of the Attorney General such as the Guyana Bar Association/Guyana Association of Women Lawyers, members of the combined Opposition, such as Mr. Sasenarine Singh among others who are supposed to be learned men/women, they should know better and conduct themselves

more impartially. None can discredit the indispensable amount of excellent work that this Attorney General has done for his country.

We should not be so easily swayed to discredit, malign and cast aspersions, especially when our private conversations which most if not all of us discuss in an atmosphere of lightness and confidentiality can apparently now and at any point in time be tapped and published without our consent/authorisation.

I don’t think anyone of those critics would acquiesce to the contents of their private conversations being randomly recorded, manipulated and published without their consent for all and sundry to consume. If you wouldn’t like it for yourself, you shouldn’t like it for others. Maybe that is a lesson the Kaieteur News should inculcate.

FARUK MOHAMED

Be careful what you wish for

MUCH has been said by commentators with regard to President Donald Ramotar’s prorogation of Parliament. The political Opposition has generally labelled the President’s move undemocratic, leading to a one-party State.

Perhaps, they should learn from the Canadian precedent. In December 2008, the Canadian Prime Minister Mr. Steven Harper, who had a minority government (143 of 308 members of Parliament) was on the verge of facing a ‘no confidence’ motion in Parliament by the combined Opposition.

Earlier, Mr. Harper had alienated the Opposition

parties by introducing legislation in Parliament that would deny valuable public funds to the Opposition parties, depriving them of the ability to do research on public policy.

The Opposition Liberals and the New Democratic party agreed to form a coalition with the intention of defeating the Government and forming a new government. They, however, never had the opportunity to introduce the vote of ‘no confidence’ as Mr. Harper pre-emptively requested the Governor General, Michelle Jean, to prorogue Parliament.

After consulting well known constitutional

experts, the Governor General agreed and Parliament was prorogued.

By the time Parliament met in late January, the Opposition coalition disintegrated and the Prime Minister survived.

Mr. Harper’s Conservative government would eventually be defeated. A new election was called and the Conservatives won a majority (166 members elected out of 308), after two successive minority governments.

What is the lesson to be learnt? Be careful what you wish for.

GANESH HARILAL MONTREAL, CANADA

Write but do so with accuracy and without wicked intentions THE Guyana Police Force is responding to a Letter to the Editor published in the Guyana Times of Saturday November 15, 2014, under the caption: “It is ‘ok’ to augment one’s income, but do it honestly”.

The Guyana Police Force wants to once again bring to the attention of the public, the wickedness of the author of the letter,

Mr. Baliram Persaud. The Police Force has on the payroll for the Aurora Police Station members of the Regular Police Force as well as a Barrack Labourer who is known personally to Mr. Baliram Persaud.

Ranks of the Police Force are required to record their timings when they perform duties and this has been occurring at

every Police Station, including the Aurora Police Station. Barrack Labourers on the other hand are required to perform specific functions relating to the cleanliness of the buildings and compounds, and therefore their times of work is flexible as required by the management of the particular location to which they are attached.

The Guyana Police Force is aware of the involvement of the Barrack Labourer at the Aurora Police Station in legitimate economic activities that are unrelated to the work of the Police Force, at times when he is not required to perform duties at the station.

There has been no “lack of proper administrative work at the top level” in this matter as allud-

ed to by Mr. Baliram Persaud.

The Guyana Police Force wishes to encourage Mr. Baliram Persaud to continue writing on police matters, but with accuracy and without wicked intentions.

IVELAW WHITTAKER POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS & PRESS OFFICER

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

Stressing that a proper investigation was done…

N.K. Gopaul says NBS Board stands firmly by decision to dismiss Maurice Arjoon, other senior managers

– for ‘dereliction of duty, negligence, and serious misconduct’ (Following is the full text of a Letter sent yesterday to this newspaper for publication by Hon. Minister of Labour Dr. Nanda K. Gopaul on the NBS fiasco surrounding the dismissal of Mr. Arjoon and other NBS managers, and the just released Ombudsman’s report) THERE seems to be a lot of spin, political and otherwise, on the Ombudsman’s report on a complaint by Mr. Maurice Arjoon against his prosecution as a result of a fraud committed at the New Building Society in 2006.

Reports emanating from the media would give one the impression as if senior Government functionaries, including former President Bharrat Jagdeo, had a hand in some form of victimisation against Mr. Arjoon.

I wish to categorically state that had there been a proper investigation done and persons who have been accused of certain wrong doings given an opportunity to be heard, it would have been revealed that all the accusations made by Mr. Arjoon are baseless. Further, at no time did I see anywhere in the report that the accusations by Mr. Arjune against anyone outside of the Director of Public Prosecution’s office was upheld by the Ombudsman.

On January 30, 2014 I was requested by the Head of the Presidential Secretariat to respond to a letter from the Ombudsman to explain, “whether Dr. N.K. Gopaul did call Mr. Arjoon as alleged and what did he tell him.”

My response to that letter dated February 7, 2014 is reproduced hereunder: “Dr. Roger Luncheon Head of the Presidential Secretariat Office of the President Shiv Chanderpal Drive, Bourda Georgetown.

Dear Dr. Luncheon, Re: Correspondence from Ombudsman concerning complaints by Mr. Maurice Arjoon Your memorandum dated 30th January, 2014 on the above subject refers.

I would be grateful if you will pass this correspondence to

Maurice Arjoon

Minister N. K. Gopaul

His Honour Hon. Justice Winston Moore, Ombudsman of Guyana on the complaints made by Mr. Maurice Arjoon former C.E.O. of New Building Society.

1. The issue of dismissal of Mr. Arjoon is currently before Hon. Justice Reynolds in the High Court. The plaintiff, Mr. Arjoon is claiming wrongful dismissal and is currently on the witness stand.

2. I deny ever making any threatening telephone calls to Mr. Arjoon on any matter whatsoever.

3. Mr. Arjoon and I, along with other Board members, shared a very cordial relationship up to the time of his dismissal and even socialised together on several occasions after the initial Berbice Bridge Investment.

4. The NBS Board accepts the decision of its members and invested the sum of $350M on the Berbice River Bridge based on a decision by the Board. No bitterness or rancour amongst members prevailed during or after the deliberations on this matter. Threats could therefore not have been made to Mr. Arjoon while a harmonious relationship continued.

5. Long after the departure of Mr. Arjoon from NBS, the society made further investment in the Berbice River Bridge through the purchase of bonds owned by CLICO. It was the most lucrative investment ever made by NBS and was never in violation of the rules

of the society or the Financial Institutions Act. 6. At no point in time during any investment over the last decade was there any risk to the society’s financial well-being. In fact, since 2008 the society grew by leaps and bounds increasing its asset base, its funds, liquidity and profit margin by record level. We also constructed and now occupy a modern state-of-the-art billion dollar “Chief Office” (Headquarters) at North Road and Avenue of the Republic.

7. Almost all of the allegations contained in the documentation attached by His Honour, from Mr. Arjoon were subject to Public debate, newspaper reports and or Legal inquiry. I along with the directors of NBS deny them all including the issue of payment of a special prosecutor by the society.

We did not aid, encourage, support or finance the charges laid against Mr. Arjoon and others.

8. The wrongful prosecution case brought by Mr. Arjoon against the DPP was dismissed in the High Court.

9. Mr. Arjoon was not dismissed for fraud but for serious misconduct. He approved successive large payments from one member's account via a false Power of Attorney, without the presence of a passbook and other relevant documentation, and without the necessary checks and balances

in violation of several of the Society’s rules and procedures. This caused the society to have had to refund the member an amount in the vicinity of $74M, which was illegally withdrawn from the account, following litigation by that member. This decision of the Board to dismiss Mr. Arjoon and others was a unanimous one. The Board then comprised of Messrs.

Moen McDoom S.C. (Chairman), N.K. Gopaul (Vice chairman), Leon Rockcliffe, David Yhann Jnr, Steven Bovell, and Seepaul Narine (Members) 10. Since this matter is subjudice, I am not inclined to go into further detail but would kindly urge that the complaint be disregarded on this basis and on my denial of ever behaving at anytime in an unprofessional manner to Mr. Arjoon.

11. I would be pleased to offer any additional information should it be required.

Yours Sincerely, Hon. Dr. Nanda K. Gopaul M.P Minister of Labour” From the foregoing, it would seem clear that there was absolutely no acrimony over the investment in the Berbice River Bridge and that Directors of NBS had hired the services of Mr. Ramon Gaskin to advise on this matter. Following a meeting with Mr. Gaskin and the Board of Directors at NBS, a decision was taken by the Board to invest the sum of $350 million on the Bridge.

There was no Government pressure on anyone and I can say clearly that in as much as others felt before the decision was taken that more could have been invested, there was absolutely no “bitterness” or “rancor” amongst members as stated in my response.

The dismissal of Mr. Arjoon has no relevance to the investment in the bridge project. In fact, it will be shown and established that had the Society invested more on the Bridge, it would have

been to a greater benefit to the society and its members.

Mr. Arjoon’s advice therefore cannot be deemed to be advice saving the Society from any reckless investment. As stated, Mr. Arjoon’s dismissal is a completely different matter altogether and I list here the text of his dismissal dated August 14, 2007 so that members of the public can see clearly what the spin doctors in the media are seeking to do.

“Dear Mr. Arjoon, As you are aware unauthorised withdrawals took place from Ac #..... in the name of Bibi Shamila Khan amounting to the loss of funds to the Society in excess of $69M, due to fraud, dereliction of duty, negligence and/or serious misconduct.

Following investigations on the part of the Society and procedures in which you decided not to personally participate, the Society’s Board has taken a decision to summarily dismiss you as Director/Secretary of the Society with immediate effect for serious misconduct.

Refund of your contributions to the Pension Scheme based on its Rules will be settled by the Trustees after your indebtedness to the Society is determined.

Thank you for your past services to the Society.

Yours faithfully, Dr. Nanda K. Gopaul Chairman (ag).”

Let me repeat that at no point in time was there any interference on the part of any director to influence any decision made to either charge Mr. Arjoon criminally or to accuse Mr. Arjoon of committing fraud.

The Board is firmly of the view that Mr. Arjoon and the other senior managers who were dismissed, were dismissed for “dereliction of duty, negligence, and serious misconduct.”

We stand by that decision.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

APNU must break from its ‘undemocratic past’ and pursue dialogue – Rohee THE feeling of the Guyanese people is a mixed one and there is support for moves in at least three directions, as Guyana contemplates the way forward since last Monday’s prorogation of Parliament.

This is according to General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee, who addressed the issue of moving forward yesterday during the party’s weekly press briefing at Freedom House, Robb Street.

He explained that the three routes are: one, the passage of the Alliance For Change (AFC) no-confidence motion and moving straight to early general elections; two, give dialogue a chance and have Parliament reconvened; and three, the move directly to snap elections.

CARDS ON THE TABLE The PPP General Secretary contends that the first option is a view that has

“…the three routes are: one, the passage of the Alliance For Change (AFC) no-confidence motion and moving straight to early general elections; two, give dialogue a chance and have Parliament reconvened; and three, the move directly to snap elections. Those are the cards that are on the table. Let’s see where it goes from there…(but) the PPP would prefer the option of dialogue and engagement, but if that fails we would go straight to the dissolution of Parliament and head to election.” – PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee engagement, but if that fails we would go straight to the dissolution of Parliament and head to election,” he said.

Clement Rohee

emanated from the combined Opposition, while the latter two “straddle” both Government and Opposition camps.

“Those are the cards that are on the table. Let’s see where it goes from there… (but) the PPP would prefer the option of dialogue and

UNDEMOCRATIC PAST On that note, Rohee called for the main Opposition to “break from its undemocratic past” and its refusal to play by the democratic rules of engagement and acknowledge the merits of dialogue, which is President Donald Ramotar’s intent in proroguing Parliament in face of the current political gridlock.

“The PPP is of the view that the time is now for the PNC to make a break from its undemocratic past and its

refusal to play by the democratic rules of engagement,” Rohee said.

The effect of ending a session by prorogation is to terminate business. As a result, the Alliance For Change no-confidence motion was not considered. Also APNU had, prior to Monday, signaled its intent to support the push through of the motion.

Had it not been for the proclamation to prorogue Parliament, if the no-confidence motion was passed, Guyana would have been headed to early general elections within three months.

According to President Ramotar the move to prorogation was intended to pave

PSC notes Gov’t intervention when gas prices are high – but wants consumers to benefit from lower world market prices THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) is acknowledging Government’s intervention to lower the Excise tax when gas prices are high but the body is saying that local consumers should benefit from lower world market oil prices.

According to a statement issued by the PSC, over the last year the world market prices for Brent Crude Oil fell from a high of $114 per barrel to a low on November 13, 2014 at $74 per barrel. This they noted was a reduction of 35% between the highs and lows for the last 52 weeks. As such, analysts have projected that the prices will fall further in the days to come and that low oil prices will be the norm in the near future.

PRICES AT PUMP As a result, the PSC sees the lower world market prices as having a “positive impact” on business but is disappointed at the pace at which the prices are lowered at the pumps in Guyana with much benefit not being garnered by consumers locally as yet.

In this light they said, “We understand from a release from the Ministry of Finance that when the prices were high an intervention was made by the

Government’s policy is to ensure that the consumer does not feel the pressure of any fluctuation in oil prices.

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh

Government to lower the rate of excise taxes and now the prices are low the taxes will be readjusted to where they were to facilitate stable prices.”

However, though they acknowledge this position, the PSC still believes the Finance Minister should give due consideration to other factors when this adjustment is being done, to ensure that some of the savings seen worldwide will be passed on to the consumers in Guyana, especially since gold and rice prices have fallen dramatically and the performance of the economy has dampened in the last year.

Only recently, the main Opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) said it views Cabinet’s approval of the tax increase on gasoline from 20 to 40 per cent and the hike

on diesel from 15 to 35 per cent as “unwise and uncalled for.”

The Ministry of Finance through a press statement, however, assured that it continues to apply a concessional tax rate on fuel and the movements of oil prices on the world market will not affect current prices. Oil prices have dropped on the world market, triggering the expectation that gas and diesel prices will also decrease.

However, the normal practice as noted by the media over the last four years is that Government’s policy is to ensure that the consumer does not feel the pressure of any fluctuation in oil prices.

In other words, for example, consumers paying $980 per gallon at the pumps will pay that same price when oil prices go up because Government lowers the excise tax.

On the other hand, when oil prices go down, Government increases the excise tax and consumers will continue to pay the same amount.

This way the commodity market, relative to gasoline

and diesel, remains constant in the interest of the Guyanese people – a welcomed move in many sections of the private sector given that increases and decreases in oil prices fluctuate invariably every quarter, every year.

CUSHIONED FROM SPIKES The Ministry of Finance contends that this mechanism is in place to ensure that consumers are cushioned from spikes in the world market price, and has functioned effectively in protecting the Guyanese consumer from exorbitant price fluctuations when the world market price reflects high volatility.

As such, the Ministry is expected to continue to monitor the acquisition cost of refined fuel products and would make the appropriate interventions by adjusting the Excise tax rates in order to minimise any adverse consequence on the economy from fluctuations of oil prices on the world market.

the way for greater dialogue among political parties, while keeping the 10th Parliament alive. However, he has made it clear that if these efforts prove futile, there will be a move to early general elections.

VOICE OF REASON The PPP General Secretary said, “Mr. Granger is better advised to listen to the voice of reason and embrace the opportunity provided by the prorogation of Parliament to engage the PPP/C Administration on the way forward for Guyana. “…the PPP urges all stakeholders to continue exerting every effort to build

consensus on important national issues. The ball is now fully in the court of the Opposition parties who now have a historic opportunity to bring an end to adversarial and confrontational politics and put the interests of the country and its people ahead of narrow partisan politics.”

Additionally, the PPP has also called on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to “get its house in order” and be prepared for any eventuality.

Asked about the party’s plan if there is an early general election and the PPP/C returns to the National Assembly with a minority once more, Rohee stated simply that the party “will cross that bridge” when it gets to it.

“The best way to ensure this does not happen is to do your groundwork and try to get as many votes,” he concluded.

The last general election was held in November 2011.

(Vanessa Narine)

Jury hears about spent shells found after fatal shooting of drugs counsellor

By George Barclay DETECTIVE Corporal Floyd Ozama yesterday told the judge and jury in the Ralph Turpin murder trial about spent shells and what appeared to be blood stains that he found at the crime scene.

He found two spent shells at different places and he also observed red substances which appeared to him to be blood stains.

And in answer to defence counsel, Mr. Glenn Hanoman, he said that by the scent of the substance, he was sure that it was blood. He however admitted that he did not analyse the substance.

Ozama was testifying before Justice Brassington Reynolds and the jury at the Demerara Assizes at the trial of Sherwyn Smith who is accused of shooting Turpin following a heated argument at Stabroek Market area between the 14th and

15th September, 2011. The police detective also said that he caused photographs to be taken of the blood stains and the spent shells.

At the time Turpin was a drugs counsellor attached to the Infinity Transition House, which is an institution dedicated to the rehabilitation of alcoholics and drug addicts.

Ozama went on to say that the two shells he collected were sent to the Firearms and Ammunition Department at Eve Leary for examination

by Sergeant Jackson.

The witness Ozama was about to open the white pill box that contained the spent shells, but the exercise was put off until later after defence counsel Hanoman informed the prosecutrix, Mrs. Tashana Lake, that he would first wish to ask the analyst certain questions. The application was granted.

The trial is continuing.

10

APNU distances itself from party zealot’s call to boycott certain businesses

APNU Member and former PNCR MP, Ms Lurlene Nestor A screen shot of the controversial Facebook post

Joseph Harmon

THE impact of the actions of key party supporters does extend to political parties, in that their actions contribute to instability in Guyana or the impression of instability, particularly given the current political state of affairs.

The General Secretary of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Mr. Joseph Harmon, told the Guyana Chronicle that personal positions expressed by party supporters are not always condoned by the party itself.

His comments follow a most shocking announcement from APNU member Ms. Lurlene Nestor, made over the weekend in a Facebook post in which she called for a boycott of businesses that do not outrightly indicate their rejection of the current administration.

“Today we begin ‘Opera-

tion Sus-Out and Boycott’,” Nestor said. Harmon, in response, has made it clear that this is not the position of APNU. He said that APNU has no part in any operation named ‘Operation Sus-Out and Boycott’.

The APNU General Secretary said, “This is not the official APNU position.

These social media sites are something over which you can exercise very little control. This is a personal position Ms. Nestor has taken, not the official position of APNU. Unfortunately, you will have people taking these personal positions, and some can be extreme, all of which we do not condone.

“Yes, there are implications for the party, and we understand (the) business community will be nervous; but APNU is business-friendly, and APNU believes that the private sector is important to Guyana’s development, since it is the engine of growth”, he said.

Harmon added that Ms. Nestor’s call is expected to be discussed at the APNU shadow cabinet meeting today. “Things like this are discussed at cabinet meetings on Tuesdays; afterwards we will make a statement,” he said.

DISTURBING CALL Nestor’s call, made over the weekend, aroused the

ire of the local private sector. Her shockingly obnoxious and disturbing call was made in the social media site Facebook.

The former People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Member of Parliament (MP) made the call last Saturday, posting, “Today we begin ‘Operation Sus-Out and Boycott’. This is what we do: We will ask every business in Guyana to place a banner or a placard on their business which reads: ‘WE SAY NO TO PPP/C DICTATORSHIP’.

We give them by Monday to get this notice up, failure to have this visible notice will result in us not buying from them. We did it before and we can do it again… we talking to the big ones from Courts, Bounty, Banks, DDL, Fish Shop, all market stallholders and vendors, all businesses on Regent Street, Water Street. We are talking to every business, from the largest to the smallest.

“Failure to post the notice will indicate to us that these businesses are in bed with the PPP/C regime and they are not on the side of the people. Our scouts will cruise the various business sites and note their observations.

“We will then make a list of all these anti-democ-

racy PPP businesses, and circulate to all so that the boycott mission will be far and wide…Time for real action.”

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Mr. Ramesh Persaud, has since indicated that the private sector welcomes clarification from the main Opposition party on the matter.

“I am glad that APNU clarified its position on the matter,” he said.

Former head of the Private Sector, Captain Gerald Gouveia, said, “It is most anti-development and anti-business comment I have ever heard. If it wasn’t so serious, I would think it was amusing. I sincerely want to believe that it is not the position of the Opposition, and the APNU should come out clearly to clarify their position on Ms. Nestor’s call.”

Additionally, the midyear report on the performance of the local economy indicated that despite the challenges facing global and regional economies, as well as the new political situation locally, Guyana has been able to record a 3.2 per cent growth in the economy.

The Guyanese economy has experienced eight consecutive years of economic growth, up to 2013, and is projected to expand by a further 5.6 per cent by the end of 2014.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

Resolution of elections issues could pave way for free, fair elections - PPP THE governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) yesterday expressed the opinion that resolution of its concerns raised relative to elections issues could pave the way for free and fair elections in Guyana.

The party has said that after it had raised legitimate concerns over the last several months, it has been on the receiving end of verbal attacks made by the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally.

“Over the past several months, the PPP has had cause to write the Commission on a number of discrepancies that were unearthed by our activists and supporters while conducting field work,” the party said as it further detailed its bemusement to note that, instead of focusing on the concerns and loopholes that exists, Dr. Surujbally is taking the approach of brushing aside issues of concern and issuing statements full of rhetoric.

The PPP has, accordingly, reiterated its position that “no stone will be left unturned” in its efforts to remove any impediment to free and fair elections.

“We will strive to ensure that proper mechanisms are in place so that no eligible Guyanese will be disenfranchised,” the PPP explained.

The party was, however, quick to add that its representation to GECOM should not be viewed as a loss of its confidence in the elections regulatory body, but rather as a fulfilling of its responsibility to its constituencies as a major political stakeholder in Guyana’s future.

“Many so-called elections pundits have accused the PPP wrongfully, but our position remains firm to this day. We deal with issues not

GECOM Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally

personalities”, the party has said.

Moreover, the PPP said it was responsible for making the call for an extension to the sixth cycle of Continuous Registration, and had made representation to GECOM with regard to its concerns. The party noted that it was also responsible for requesting an extension of the last Claims and Objections period after its field work had indicated that a number of Guyanese from every community and from all walks of life were still to conduct transfers, especially those living in the new housing schemes; while many were yet to secure source documents and be registered.

Taking this into consideration, the party had made another call on GECOM to conduct another cycle of continuous registration “to facilitate persons who have not done so as yet, so they can be registered and afforded their democratic right, now that Parliament has been constitutionally prorogued, allowing for meaningful dialogue with the Opposition and creating a window for GECOM to conduct its operations in a transparent and accountable manner”, the PPP stated.

Seven petitioners granted $2.5M bail ACTING Chief Justice, Mr. Ian Chang, S. C., last Friday granted seven petitioners bail in the sum of $2,520,000 pending the hearing of their eight cases.

Following is a list of the offences and the accused: ● Possession of narcotics: Lishona Henry - $900,000; Jacquelene Blaize $100,000;

● Causing death by dangerous driving: Sampson Perrieira - $350,000; Murphy Thompson - $500,000; ● Prohibition of tinted glass: Sampson Perrieira $20,000; ● Sexual assault: Dwayne Vyphuis - $300,000; and ● Robbery with aggravation: Treyevon Anderson - $200,000.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

Over 500 underprivileged in city benefit from Global Shapers ‘Mobile Soup Kitchen’

RECENTLY the Global Shapers of the Georgetown Hub organised a ‘Mobile Soup Kitchen’ which provided hot meals for over 500 underprivileged Guyanese around Georgetown.

This initiative, however, was not just an “external” Hub project but was aimed at building the capacity of the Shapers while providing a unique opportunity to work together in building stronger interpersonal relationships.

The communities target-

ed were the Night Shelter, Tiger Bay, Orange Walk and Stabroek Market since most persons residing in these communities are in dire need of basic supplies.

CHOWMEIN & COOK-UP The Shapers stepped out in the early hours of the morning to commence the mega “cook-down.” Chowmein meals, creole style, were supplemented by cookup rice and salads. Thereaf-

ter, they were distributed to the selected communities.

While this is the first time a project of this nature has been executed by the Global Shapers, the Hub has been actively engaged in other projects.

One such project is the recently concluded “HeadStart! Stationery Drive” which provided 500 hinterland students with school kits, including backpacks and stationery for the new academic year.

Global Shapers members distributing hot meals to communities in the city

In the meantime, the Shapers are currently working on a “Save the Libraries” project which seeks to increase access to reading materials and basic literacy services among the youth population, beginning with the youth of Sophia.

The Hub has extended sincere gratitude to their corporate sponsors for supporting this initiative - Caribbean Containers Inc. for donating 500 Eco Pak Biodegradable Food Packaging

Containers, Edward B. Beharry Ltd for donating 100 packs of Champion Chowmein, and German’s Restaurant for donating a large pot of delicious cook-up rice.

Additionally, 500 cans of Fruta juice were donated by a Shaper.

The Global Shapers Community is a worldwide network of more than 350 city-based hubs developed and led by promising young leaders between the ages of 20 and 30, who want to

build on their achievements and entrepreneurial drive to make a positive contribution to their communities.

To g e t h e r, t h e y e m body the “community of the future,” bringing together empowered youth in a community that is diverse. Global Shapers Community is an initiative of the World Economic Forum and is independent, neutral, non-political and not-for-profit. (Shivanie Sugrim)

Global Shapers members preparing food to be distributed to communities through their ‘Mobile Soup Kitchen’ initiative

Gov’t to spend $89M rebuilding Linden Electricity Inc offices – destroyed in 2012 electricity protest GOVERNMENT has made available some $89M to be used for rebuilding the office of the Linden Electricity Inc, the distributor of electrical power to Linden communities located on the eastern bank of the Demerara River.

Following an announcement in 2012 that electricity tariffs would be increased in Linden, a protest was started by residents, which resulted in fires that destroyed a range of buildings, including the LEIC office and equipment, the Guyana Revenue Authority, and the Linden Care Foundation. Work to rebuild the LEIC office began this past week, and should be completed by mid-next year.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle recently, Horace

James, Linmine Secretariat’s Chief Executive Officer, who is also head of the LEIC, said: “Following the destruction of the LEIC offices, we lost a lot of our essential tools and equipment to supply electricity to the Linden community.

Following the 2014 budget, we realised that, even at that stage, we were not able to replace all the items that we needed; and the Board of Directors decided to approach Government for assistance, both in terms of rebuilding the office and also (in) acquiring more tools and equipment.

“We initially applied for over $125M, and in the 2014 budget $89M (were) awarded, of which we would use $51M plus for the building.”

James said: “We advertised for the building,

and General Contractors Company won the award, and we have signed the contract with them. They are rebuilding a two-sto-

rey general office at the old Linden Electricity Inc compound office site, where parts of the building were burnt down on Casuarina Drive, Watooka. It will take probably about six to nine months to rebuild it.”

James highlighted: “One of the problems following our destruction…we are scattered at four different locations to operate. Down in the community, the commercial section is at

Rebuilding works have commenced at the old site of the Linden Electricity Inc office

the Republic Avenue, the linesmen crew are at the Old Railroad Office, the management team at the old Maids Quarters, and I am operating at the bottom flat at Watooka House.” (Joe Chapman)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

Georgetown Budget falls victim to City Council’s ‘delay’ tactics

Acting Town Clerk of the Georgetown Mayor & City Council, Carol Sooba at yesterday’s meeting

WHILE five of the six municipalities gathered in the Local Government Ministry boardroom yesterday to report on budgetary estimates for 2015 before the November 15, 2014 deadline, the Georgetown Mayor & City Council (M&CC) was singing a different tune.

“The Georgetown municipality had some political issues in the preparation of our 2015 budget,” Acting Town Clerk of the Georgetown Mayor & City Council, Carol Sooba reported as she was called to present the capital city’s budget.

Sooba explained that while there were several meetings of the Finance Committee to produce the approved budgetary es-

timates and expenditure, “There was a change of our Finance Chairman, Councillor Junior Garrett, [who] was removed for some reason or the other. And we are without a Finance Chairman.”

Efforts to remove the Finance Committee Chairman were first realised in May 2014 when the Mayor and Councillors held an ‘unlawful’ statutory meeting in the compound of City Hall after they had been refused entry to the Chambers by then Town Clerk Carol Sooba.

During this meeting, motions of no-confidence were passed against the Finance Committee Chairman as well as the Town Clerk.

While the Council did not have the power to remove the Town Clerk (Ag.), they did however have the power to replace Councillor Junior Garrett in his capacity as the Finance Committee Chairman. Another Chairman has not been appointed since.

Acting without a Finance Committee Chairman and desperate to complete a draft budget, Sooba said that the City Treasurer and other Staff came to the rescue and “were able to produce our budget.”

However, the efforts fell

Minister of Local Government Mr. Norman Whittaker makes a point at the meeting. Also in photo, second left, is Permanent Secretary Colin Croal

by the wayside as she said “the political arm decided that they would do delaying tactics back and forth.” She added that “there was an extraordinary meeting set for Friday last and the Deputy Mayor [Patricia ChaseGreen] and others did not attend that meeting.”

The Town Clerk was forced to present a Draft of the 2015 Municipal Budget that had not been approved by the Council to the gathering of Local Government officers from the six municipalities and other officials from the Local Government Ministry.

Beginning in the second quarter of the fiscal year, the budgetary cycle will see Town Clerks, according to

Municipal Services Officer at the Local Government Ministry, Fabian Jerrick, “issuing a circular to the Council as well as to all departments.

Since the local government system sees Councillors being drawn from various constituencies, those Councillors are expected to consult with constituencies on matters of urgency.

Departmental budgets are created at the same time, he added, “after which a draft budget is then submitted to the Finance Committee by the Municipal Treasurer.”

The Finance Committee is expected to scrutinise that budget based on information gathered from constituents.

“There is where both the

Council aspect and the Administrative aspect are then combined after which you have the first public meeting.”

These processes, in the case of the Georgetown Municipality’s 2015 budget would have been effectively disregarded since the Finance Committee, to this point, as previously stated

by Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba is still without the appointment of a Chairman.

After a public meeting would have been held, Jerrick continued, the draft budget is then taken back to the Finance Committee for consideration by both members of the Council, headed by Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green, and the

City Administration, headed

by Town Clerk (Ag.) Carol Sooba.

The last two steps involve an approval of the budget which is then subjected to assent by the Finance Committee Chairman and the Municipal Treasurer then for final approval by the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development.

Meanwhile, Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker at the meeting yesterday expressed disappointment since, he recalled, this is not the first time the Georgetown Mayor & City Council has been faced with such a situation of budget clashes between the Council and the Administration. (Derwayne Wills)

U.S.-based Pediatric Oncologist arrives in Guyana - Dr. Lorna Fitzpatrick to help expand Oncology Services at GPHC THE Ministry of Health has announced the arrival in Guyana of Dr. Lorna Fitzpatrick, Pediatric Oncologist and Associate Clinical Professor at Buffalo State University, in the United States.

The ministry said Dr. Lorna Fitzpatrick is visiting Guyana for the third time, from 16th – 19th November, to further expand the Oncology Services at the

Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Dr. Fitzpatrick initially visited Guyana in February and October 2013 where she and her team trained two Guyanese Pediatric Residents to perform bone marrow biopsies in the Oncology Department at GPHC. Dr. Fitzpatrick also outsourced (free of charge) medications and pathology

arrangements for sick kids through the University of Buffalo.

So far twenty-five children have been screened for various type of cancers such as Leukemia and Lymphoma at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Further, during her last visit to Guyana, Dr. Fitzpatrick and her Team’s objectives were to under-

stand and advise on issues surrounding: ► Establishing a Tumor Review Board ► Review and advise on Practices and procedures governing the administration of Chemo and related drugs; dispersal of blood platelets from the Blood Bank; dispersal of medication for patients and discharge regimens in Guyana.

Dr. Fitzpatrick works

closely with a well established Strategic Partner, Guyana Help The Kids Foundation, headed by Dr. Narendra Singh, which is a Diaspora-lead initiative, in providing financial assistance to children in need for CT Scans and MRI’s.

The Ministry of Health said it fully endorses and supports the Paediatric O n c o l o g y P ro g r a m m e headed by Dr. Fitzpatrick.

Dr. Lorna Fitzpatrick

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

Israeli ambassador pays farewell courtesy call on President Ramotar

ISRAELI Ambassador, Amiram Majid has expressed a desire to continue to serve the Caribbean as he paid a farewell courtesy call on President Donald Ramotar, yesterday.

The non-resident ambassador, who is accredited to seven Caribbean countries and Caricom, said it was a pleasure to serve his country. He added that it was a unique experience to able to have constant dialogue with the heads of states, and the various peoples of the various countries.

Ambassador Majid said he is preparing to retire from his country’s foreign service in two months.

“I am quite sure that I will be able to continue to do it voluntarily, and if I find the time also to do it in Isra-

SOME 170 patients benefited from the Guyana Pandits’ Council medical outreach that was conducted late last month in collaboration with a few mandirs.

This marks the 6th medical outreach spearheaded by the Pandits’ Council alongside the Hindu Parishad and Radha Krishna Mandir in collaboration with the Farm/Herstelling Vishnu Mandir, on the East Bank of Demerara.

This outreach was done under the guidance and leadership of the renowned Pan-

dit Rudra Sharma, Spiritual Head of the Radha Krishna Mandir who ensured the activity was executed efficiently.

The majority of the patients ranged from fifty years and over and they were all given ample time to sit and discuss their issues with the doctors, ensuring that appropriate medications were provided to help improve their conditions. The medical outreach saw many cases of hypertension, diabetes and chikungunya.

The patients also received hampers as part of

the medical initiative to show appreciation of their participation.

Additionally, the Guyana Pandits’ Council extended heartfelt gratitude towards the medical doctors: Anila Ramphal, Varun Budhram, Michael Perreia and Rupan Singh who worked tirelessly from 11:00am to 4:30pm with the patients as well as the pharmacists who also played a significant role alongside the members of the Guyana Pandits’ Council and Radha Krishna Mandir. (Shivanie Sugrim)

President Donald Ramotar and Israeli Ambassador Amiram Majid during his farewell courtesy call yesterday

el, I will also be a very good advocate for this Region because I think it deserves it, Guyana especially.”

He anticipates that his replacement will take up the post, in January of 2015. (GINA)

Made in Brazil guns top illegal seizure list, U.S. trailing CRIME Chief Leslie James yesterday disclosed that over the past three years weapons from neighbouring Brazil lead the way in the illegal seizure list while those out of the United States follow closely.

The Crime Chief was at the time addressing members of the media, senior police officers and business stakeholders at the Police Officers Mess, Eve Leary during the presentation of the police Christmas security plan.

James said that between 2009 and October 31, 2014 the types of weapons seized and were determined to be illegally obtained are mostly pistols and revolvers. He added that 35 percent of the weapons seized between that period were revolvers, the preferred weapon for crimi-

Nearly 200 patients treated during Guyana Pandits’ Council 6th medical outreach

nals here, while pistols were recorded at 34 percent.

With respect to the origin of the weapons seized between 2012 and 2014, the Crime Chief said that weapons from Brazil lead the way followed closely by those from the U.S. The Police Force records have shown that Brazilian type weapons were the choice of criminals and in 2012 the Police Force was able to seize a total of 111 while in 2013 the number went down to 100. Weapons from the United States have been recorded at 33 for 2012 and 18 for the year 2013.

The Crime Chief said that one of the main factors for the presence of the numerous Brazilian-made weapons found here is the common border which Guy-

ana shares with its Portuguese neighbour in the south and south west.

In addition, reference was also made to the many Brazilians who travel to this country illegally through the interior and engage in mining with their weapons on them.

According to James, the miners and the illegal immigrants might be bringing their weapons as a means of personal protection.

However many of those weapons make their way into the city and are usually confiscated by the police during raids and other operations. In some cases weapons were smuggled into the country while others might have been taken away from Brazilian miners during robberies in the interior locations.

Participants from the Guyana Pandits’ Council and mandirs busily allocating medications to patients at the 6th Medical Outreach

A senior citizen being examined by a volunteer at the Pandits’ Council Medical Outreach

Sugar industry close to... that market is the price. The price was reduced in 2010 by 43 percent resulting in Guyana losing some US$37 million annually and in part that contributed to the cash flow problem that GuySuCo had experienced.”

He explained that at present, sugar and sugar products prices are at a very low level.

When the production level is

not so high, there is the price difference that contributes to the problem, he explained as well.

Nonetheless, Dr. Ramsammy said his ministry is responding to that by ensuring that the industry continues to sell sugar to its regular destinations.

“We have had interest from non–traditional destina-

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tions, people want Guyana’s sugar and once the price is right we are going to explore the stability of those markets.”

He noted that Guyana will not exchange its old markets for new ones, but instead the industry will seek to sustain the traditional markets while exploring its other options.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

Timeframe for talks following prorogation…

‘Any number can play’ – Rohee THE national budget has to be presented in the National Assembly in March and approved by the House before the end of April 2015, limiting the timeframe for dialogue among local political parties to break the current political gridlock, as intended by President Donald Ramotar when he prorogued Parliament last Monday.

Commenting on the timeframe for talks, General Secretary of the ruling

People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee, said “any number can play” out in the coming weeks.

“We have to present a budget by the end of March so you have to count back from there in terms of determining a reasonable timeframe; between now and then any number can play,” he told reporters yesterday at the PPP’s weekly press briefing at Freedom House, Robb Street.

He acknowledged, however, that a number of fac-

tors must be considered in moving forward, including the readiness of the Guyana Elections Commission.

“The validity of the list has to be taken into consideration, (as well as) GECOM’s agenda and need for GECOM to put their house in order…all these are factors to be taken into consideration,” Rohee said.

‘WE ARE READY NOW’ Asked if the party was ready for elections, the PPP General Secretary was em-

phatic in responding in the affirmative.

“If elections are called tomorrow we are in the fray…we are ready now, we are prepared to run with any timeframe….this party is ready for elections at any point in time…this is not an electioneering party, the PPP is always on the ground…let the chips fall where they may,” Rohee declared.

Additionally, the two Opposition parties, A Partnership for National Unity

(APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), have made it clear that they will not engage in talks.

Meanwhile, President Donald Ramotar has been clear in stating that the move to prorogation was intended to pave the way for greater dialogue among political parties, while keeping the 10th Parliament alive.

The prorogation, constitutionally provided for in Section 70 (1) in the Laws of Guyana, can last up to a maximum of six months.

However, Mr. Ramotar has maintained that if efforts at dialogue prove futile, there will be a move to early general elections.

“My motivation to get some kind of agreement moving forward…what I have done in a way is to take everyone off the hook, wipe the slate clean and have a possibility of going forward again… if we can’t then election is it,” the President said at a news conference last Friday. (Vanessa Narine)

New GPC Inc. cleared for continued export recent inspection of facility of products to the U.S. –byfollowing U.S. Food & Drug Administration

In an effort towards continuous improvement and excellence, New GPC Inc said it is focused on expanding the Quality Assurance and Quality Control Departments by investing in state-of-the-art testing equipment, a few of which can be seen in the above photos

THE United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) recently completed a comprehensive current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) inspection of the New GPC Inc. facility located on the East Bank of Demerara, Guyana.

The inspection occurred from September 1 to September 4, 2014. New GPC Inc., in a statement over the week-

end, said it currently exports Over-the-Counter (OTC) drug products and Dietary Supplements to the United States market. The inspection culminated in continued clearance for the company to export its products to the United States.

The US FDA periodically inspects foreign companies that export products to the United States to assure com-

pliance to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 21, Parts 111, 210 and 211.

Compliance to these regulations is essential in assuring that only safe and effective products are manufactured and exported to the United States.

The recent inspection of the New GPC Inc facility covered many areas which may have included proce-

dures for procurement, inspection, testing and approval of materials, requirements for manufacturing equipment, product specifications, warehousing, storage conditions, stability of products, and management of product traceability after distribution or sale. Additionally, various systems established to drive continuous improvement were examined such as train-

ing, complaint handling, and changes related to products and systems.

The final inspection report supported and validated New GPC Inc’s compliance and commitment to US regulatory standards, assuring safety to all users of its products. In an effort towards continuous improvement and excellence, the company is focused on expanding

the Quality Assurance and Quality Control Departments by investing in state-of-theart testing equipment. The new instrumentation is and will be used to test incoming components, raw materials and finished drug products conforming to the British Pharmacopeia and the United States Pharmacopeia.

The Company said it is proud to meet or exceed the requirements of all of its international importers, in the United States, as well as other global markets. With global standards becoming increasingly rigid, New GPC Inc. said it is committed to making future capital investments in its manufacturing and inspection facilities to maintain compliance.

The New GPC Inc. Board of Directors thanks the management team and staff for maintaining the high standards necessary to be considered a world class facility. New GPC Inc. would also like to thank its loyal customers for their continued support.

Police Force records overall decrease in serious crimes STATISTICS released by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday reveal that there has been an 11 percent reduction in serious crimes thus far for the year, as compared to the same period last year.

The 11 percent drop reflects crimes committed between the period of January 1, 2014 to October 31, 2014

and for the same period for 2013.

Among the serious crimes policed by the Force are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping.

Thus far a total of 119

murders were recorded at the end of October 2014 in comparison to 111 murders for the same period in 2013, an increase of 7%.

At the end of October 2014, robbery under arms overall increased by 8% in comparison to the same period in 2013.

The statistics also indicate an increase of 13% in

the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms; and a 1% decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.

For 2014 up to the reporting period, there were 674 reported robberies with the use of firearms while in 2013 there were 596 report-

ed cases.

As it relates to murders, ‘F’ Division reported the highest figures for the year with a total of 34 thus far for 2014, compared to 29 for the same period last year.

In ‘A’ Division there were 31 murders compared to 36 for the same period last year, 18 in ‘B’ Division for 2014, 16 in 2013, ‘C’

Division, 17 for 2013 and 18 for 2014, ‘E’ Division, 2 for 2013 and 3 for 2014, and ‘G’ Division, 2 in 2013 and 5 in 2014.

Of the 119 murders, 33 were committed under disorderly circumstances, 23 in domestic circumstances, 22 as a result of robbery and 4 execution style. (GINA)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

Commander-in-Chief among thousands thrilled by military display - During GDF’s Military Tattoo COMMANDER-in-Chief of Guyana’s Armed Forces President Donald Ramotar, First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar, Government Ministers and other top officials were among thousands of people who attended a gala display of military skills and musical prowess put on at the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Ground, Camp Ayanganna on Sunday afternoon.

Attendees were thrilled as the Joint Services showcased their individual musical skills, in various formations, in addition to giving musical renditions courtesy of their choirs.

One of the highlights was a parachute jumping display, which saw members of the GDF special- forces conducting freefalls from a Sky-van aircraft then landing at the Base Camp Ayanganna Ground at Thomas Lands.

The ‘Military Tattoo’ was part of the GDF’s 49th Anniversary activities. This year’s celebration is being held under the theme, ‘Towards greater operation readiness for national defence and security’.

Parachutists descending during the Military Tattoo

Parachutists landing during the Military Tattoo at the Guyana Defence Force, Sport Ground, Camp Ayanganna Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Donald Ramotar, First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar, Army Chief of Staff Brigadier Mark Phillips and others look on as parachutists free fall during the Military Tattoo on Sunday

President Ramotar meeting Parachutists after their successful jump as part of the Military Tattoo on Sunday

President Donald Ramotar conducting the Guyana Police Force band during the Military Tattoo

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

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Lions clubs of South G/town, East Brooklyn, and FGA church distribute aid in Albouystown THE South Georgetown Lions Club collaborated with the Lions Club of East Brooklyn in New York, USA and the Heavenly Light Full Gospel Church of Cooper Street, Albouystown, Georgetown to bring joy to the hearts of some 250 children of the Albouystown community through a school supplies distribution exercise conducted in the church compound last Saturday.

Each child was presented with a back-pack and a snack. A similar exercise targeting approximately 150 children was planned for Plaisance, East Coast Demerara last Sunday. Distribution took place at the Plaisance Library, according to Lion Terrence Drayton of East Brooklyn, New York, who is the chief organiser of the outreach. Drayton is accompanied on the trip to Guyana by his wife, Pastor Wendy Collins.

Lion Drayton was born and bred in Barr Street, Albouystown, but has been residing in New York for over 50 years. He said that, two years ago, the idea of reaching out to the needy children of Albouystown was mooted by his eldest sister, Ms. Esme La Rose, a former head nurse at the Georgetown Public Hospital, who now resides in Florida.

“That idea grew in my head, and I started working on it,” Lion Drayton said. He readily took up the challenge, and began mobilising and galvanising to make it a reality. It was with great excitement that Esme La Rose and her three sisters -- Melissa Calender, Cecily Fontinelle, and Joan Abrams (one of Guyana’s first women police ranks) -- began

working enthusiastically towards making a reality of the first activity. The four sisters also hail from Albouystown, and now all reside in the USA. By 2012, they were ready for the inaugural activity. They travelled to Guyana and made their maiden presentation to the children of Albouystown, starting with 100 back-packs and snacks.

It was such a huge success that it motivated them to expand.

This time around (the second donation), they have involved the Lions Club of East Brooklyn and have made it their club’s humanitarian project. “The Lions’ Motto is: ‘We Serve’, and our aim is to serve, so we’ve made it our project and (have) increased the numbers targeted to 250 this morning.

But our aim is to do a lot more for the community,” Drayton said.

Included in the Brooklyn team is Mr. Volton Bagot, past president of the Lions, who hails from Bagotville, West Bank Demerara.

As part of the distribution exercise, the clubs have also involved the South Georgetown Lions, which helped with logistical arrangements and assisted with distribution of the packages; and the Heavenly Light Church, which provided the venue for distribution.

The donors are hoping, in the future, to venture out into other communities outside of Georgetown, since the East Brooklyn Club has members who are from other parts of Georgetown and its environs.

Their plan is to make next year’s project bigger, and to involve more communities, Drayton said.

Lions Club members along with the four donor sisters (seated at front). From left are: Melissa Calender; Joan Abrams; Esme La Rose and Cecily Fontinelle. Standing third right in front row is Pastor Wendy Collins, wife of head donor Terrence Drayton.

The backpacks that are to be distributed

Lion Terrence Drayton addressing the children at the outreach

A child poses with her newly acquired back-pack

Lions Club members distribute backpacks to the children of Albouystown

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

Caribbean Export OUTLOOK: a step in the right direction

THE Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) launched

its new flagship publication the ‘Caribbean Export OUTLOOK,’ on Wednes-

day last, at the Hilton Barbados Resort on the final day of the 2-day high pro-

From left, Ambassador Mikael Barfod, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean; Pamela Coke-Hamilton – Executive Director, The Caribbean Export Development Agency; and Christopher Lewis – Chairman of the Board, The Caribbean Export Development Agency

file Exporters’ Colloquium.

The OUTLOOK publication fills a gap in the market where there are no other publications dedicated to providing market intelligence on trade and exports for the CARIFORUM Region. As noted at the launch event by Head of the European Union Delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean H.E. Ambassador Mikael Barfod, trade and export data “serves as a critical input for economic indicators, analysis, and the development of national policy and macroeconomic management.”

“ T h r o u g h t h e O U TLOOK, the private sector will receive relevant information to equip them to enter new markets, gain a better understanding of the strategies used by successful exporters and empower them to understand trends in key export markets,” stated Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director at Caribbean Export.

It is believed that this new publication, the first of its kind in the Caribbean is a step in the right direction to not only providing useful information on the key niche sectors that the Region could

capitalise on but also for the international market to get a greater insight into trade opportunities in the Caribbean.

“The 'Caribbean Export OUTLOOK' was conceptualised in such a way as to meet the varied needs of our constituents and is a versatile tool that we are proud to add to our Market Intelligence suite of services,” expressed Coke-Hamilton.

Caribbean Export OUTLOOK is available free in print and electronically from the Agency’s website in both English and Spanish.

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Captain perishes after cargo-laden vessel capsizes in Atlantic Ocean

A BOAT with a cargo of lumber and empty gas bottles was heading to Charity from Barama in the North West District of Region One, on Saturday last, when it capsized and sank in the Atlantic Ocean near the estuary of the Pomeroon River at about 9 pm.

Boat Captain Victor Waziram of Charity Housing

Scheme reportedly perished in that mishap.

Upon learning of the accident on Sunday morning, Waziram’s relatives made a report at the Charity Police station and headed to the site of the accident in search of their loved one, desperately hoping to find him alive on the shore. They reportedly called out for him several

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

- 14:30 hrs - 14:30 hrs

This is a terrific day for you, and you will glow brightly from head to toe as you radiate your true inner self to the world. You will find profound joy in the simplest, most ordinary circumstances. If you run out of things to say, feel free to whistle a tune. This isn’t likely to happen today, since you will overflow with things to talk about.

Taurus Tap into the boisterous, light-hearted mood of the day instead of getting bogged down with heavy emotions. This is a good time to engage your mind rather than let your heart take control. Be aware of the expansive nature of the day that allows you to think clearly without getting bothered by emotions. Take the cerebral route to figuring out what you need to do to smooth any bumps in the road.

Gemini

DEAD: Boat Captain Victor Waziram

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Aries

times but got no answer, then suddenly Waziram’s lifeless body began to float.

The back of Waziram’s head is said to have sustained a serious injury; and family members are baffled as to why he had tied himself to the boat with a rope around his waist while it was sinking.

Two passengers who had been travelling on the ill-fated boat reportedly survived, and were found

by Police drifting in a small boat not far from the scene of the accident.

Survivor Ms Irma Burnette said she is thankful to God for saving her life. The 67-year-old said the experience was horrible and she does not want to remember it.

She said that Waziram had collected her and an Amerindian man as passengers heading to Charity.

The boat usually transports groceries from Charity to Barama, and was bringing a quantity of lumber and empty gas bottles on its return trip to Charity.

Police are investigating the mishap.

Your optimism will be inspiring today. You will find that your lighthearted approach is perfectly suited to taking care of any issue that arises. Toss a few jokes into the mix and remind other people that it isn’t necessary to take things so seriously. The Sun is shining as you proudly parade down the street with your head held high.

Cancer Difficult challenges that have been lingering on the sidelines will probably become more prominent today. There is a strong possibility that things will come to a head.

The problem was easy to overlook at first, but now that it has taken on a life of its own, you may have to consult someone who is more of an expert on these types of situations than you are.

Leo You could be the one everyone runs to for advice today. You’re the one with all the answers who can easily pull the rabbit out of a hat. Trust your judgment and intellectual know-how. Feel free to push yourself to the limit. If you go too far, you can always take a step back. If you never drive all the way to the boundaries, you will never know how far you can go.

Virgo You may get frustrated when you find that people aren’t as sensitive to a situation as you want them to be. While you’re looking to make a strong connection with someone, almost wanting to take possession of his or her feelings, that person, in turn, is trying to pull back. People are apt to gravitate toward rational facts rather than intense, smothering emotions.

Libra A small spark in a dry field is apt to whip the hill into flames. A raging wildfire may be underway by the end of the day. Know that you’re one of the biggest perpetrators, but don’t feel badly about it. Fire is destructive but also necessary.

Clearing out brush and offering a fresh new place in which new growth can flourish is an important part of the cycle of nature.

Scorpio Put on some lively music you can dance to and really kick up your heels. It’s time to put away the sour mood and have fun with a large group of people. You will find that the more you engage in intellectual discussions, the more you will get warmed up to the idea that life should be fun, not the pain and stress you sometimes make it out to be.

Sagittarius This is a tremendously expansive time for you, and there is very little that will stop your momentum once you get going. Your eyes are alive with a spark that says that you’re ready to take on the world. Believe this about yourself and others will believe in you. There is a great deal of luck on your side today, so take a gamble in a certain part of your life.

Capri corn This is a good time to put things in writing. Your gift with words is apt to shine today as you write a proposal, email, or love poem. You’re able to communicate very well when you put your sensitive emotions aside and concentrate on what you think instead of what you feel. Expand your influence by focusing on those things that require a more cerebral approach.

Aquarius The day’s energy is apt to be lively, making it much easier to get the things done that you need to do. You will find people are more than eager to help you. The trick is to integrate your leadership abilities with the knowledge available from other people. You will create a winning combination of power and strength to put to use in just about any realm of your life.

Pisces Obstacles that you have ignored are suddenly starting to expand beyond reasonable proportions. Be careful of what you say as a result, because your words could spread like wildfire. This is no laughing matter. Difficulties in your world are likely to crop up, and you will find your ego threatened. Try to keep some sort of emotional barrier.

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National Schools’ ...

From back page Track and field is set for tomorrow on the Camp Ayanganna ground and weather permitting track cycling. The opening ceremony precedes all events on the day.

Meanwhile, the districts have arrived at the Games Village – located along Woolford Avenue. Four schools are being used to house the 15 districts.

Guyana Teachers Union President Mark Lyte yesterday said the Village was some 95 percent ready. Communal areas had to be set up.

Security for the entire championships will be provided by the Guyana Police and Defense Forces.

‘Security is being handled by the Guyana Police Force, specifically ‘A’ Division to provide patrols through the games village, also security at the ground will be provided by the Guyana Defense Force. Security wise I think we’re headed in the right direction,’ said Lyte who will be presiding over his first Schools Championships as President.

On Championships

logistics Lyte said, ‘I wouldn’t say everything is 100 percent but we’re working with what we have and we would have loved to have everybody on board, as you know we usually have some other sponsors on board but at the launching you saw we hadn’t everybody there, but we’re working with those on board and I’m sure that the National Championships will be a good one because we’re doing all within our power.’

Of some concern – the weather pattern. Monday’s rains raised concerns over whether or not track cycling

would be allowed on the GDF ground. Should this not be possible, then cyclists would be taken to the National Park.

‘As you know we have some rain this morning (Monday) and we’re hoping that the rain would go away and allow the national championship to really take a strong footing.’

North Georgetown are the overall Defending Champions. They also won the Swimming Championships. Corentyne are the Cycling champs, Upper Demerara won the Track and Field crown while West Demerara took the Teachers title.

Sixth edition of `Guinness Greatest of De Streets’ Futsal kicks off tonight

By Calvin Roberts

BEVERAGE manufacturing and distribution giants Banks DIH yesterday afternoon for the sixth successive year, collaborated with the Petra Organisation and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to launch the fourth edition of the ‘Guinness Greatest of De Streets’ Futsal football competition.

Present were Banks DIH’s Lee Baptiste, Communications Manager Troy Peters and Aqua Mist brand manager Errol Nelson along with Troy Mendonca of Petra Organisation, members of the media and Wayne ‘Harry’ Griffith, Guyana’s top Futsal football referee.

In his remarks, Men-

donca outlined the logistics of the tournament while he applauded Banks DIH, the teams and fans for their unwavering support in making the tournament a success story over the past three years.

“Petra is pleased to be associated with this tournament once again, wherein this time around we have attracted 51 teams to compete, thanks mainly to the efforts of Banks DIH and the Guinness brand which allowed Guyanese the privilege of seeing the Caribbean championships via Sportsmax last year,” said Mendonca.

He believes that the interest in the sport has grown tremendously and with his Organisation catering for 32 teams to compete, the additional teams were forced to compete in the playoffs, where the top eight teams will play against the eight who did not advance last year.

“We will be having eight games per night, including this preliminary round play-offs, from which eight newly registered teams will compete against the teams who failed to advance from the group stages last year, from which the two top teams per group will advance to the round of 16, which will be played on a knockout process,” added Mendonca.

According to Mendonca, who in his own right is a former president of the Georgetown Football Association, matches will be played at the East Ruimveldt Community Centre, Burnham Park, Albouystown, National Cultural Centre and National Park, which will host the finals.

In his remarks, Baptiste outlined the theme for this year’s tournament which is ‘Who will be made of

more,’ saying last year was seen as the most successful year for street football since its launch in Guyana, based on the number of tournaments contested in this format amongst teams.

He believes that the broadcasting of the Caribbean Championships

by Sportsmax- in which Guyana’s very own Queen Street Tiger Bay, who are the defending Georgetown and national championscompeted and placed second, had a part to play.

He disclosed that the Skills Challenge category of the tournament will be back in action, but this time players and non-players can compete for the top prize of $20,000, while he challenged all teams to be disciplined, as Banks DIH has introduced a Fair Play Award of $50,000 as well, in this year’s edition.

“The winner of the Fair Play Award will be chosen by the organisers and a special team they would have put together for such a purpose, so with that in mind I wish to say to all teams, ‘discipline in the key to success’ so play with discipline even as you battle hard for supremacy,” said Baptiste.

As it relates to the Skills Challenge Tournament, Baptiste informed that the defending champion has migrated, making way for a new champion to be crowned and called on the teams and their supporters to go on the internet, Google new ball skills and come and showcase their talent with the chance of representing Guyana.

According to Baptiste, Street Futsal Football teams in West Coast and West Demerara along with Berbice can commence their preparations since the tournament will be coming their

way next year, along with the traditional one that is held on the East Coast of Demerara, Linden and the national playoffs.

“We are looking to spread our wings with this tournament which has gained international recognition, thanks to Digicel SportsMax, so three new areas in West Bank Demerara, West Coast Demerara and Berbice can expect our presence next year.

Not forgetting also, we host the tournament in Linden and on the East Coast of Demerara, with all the various winners coming together to do battle in the national playoffs for a chance to see who will represent Guyana in the Caribbean ‘Guinness Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Football competition,” said Baptiste.

He called on City teams to look at the bigger picture, which is representing Guyana in the Caribbean tournament, even though the prize money at stake for the Georgetown championships is great.

The playing dates with their venues in brackets are as follows: tonight (Demerara Car Park), 20th November (Albouystown), 23rd November (Burnham Court), 25th and 27th November (National Cultural Centre), 29th November (East Ruimveldt) and 3rd December (National Cultural Centre).

On 6th December, the quarter-finals will be hosted at East Ruimveldt, with the semi-finals being held three days later at the National Cultural Centre, while the National Park will host the finals, third place encounter and exhibition matches on 13th December, with all matches commencing at 19:00 hrs sharp.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

27

Latham’s unbeaten 137 gives New Zealand strong start (REUTERS) - Opener Tom Latham struck his second consecutive hundred to keep New Zealand on course for a big first-innings total on the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan yesterday.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the visitors, trailing 1-0 in the three-test series, reached 243 for three wickets at the close.

Latham, who scored a century in the first Test in Abu Dhabi, remained unbeaten on 137 with Corey Anderson on seven.

The 22-year-old Latham, playing his sixth Test, displayed good temperament and solid technique against both the fast bowlers and the spinners and reached his century with a single off paceman Ehsan Adil.

The left-handed batsman survived a close lbw appeal against Adil on 11 and edged Rahat Ali on 71 but the ball went between the wicketkeeper and first slip.

Azhar Ali dropped Latham at gully after the batsman had reached his hundred and failed to latch on to a sharp chance at silly point off Ross

Tom Latham’s second consecutive Test hundred lifted New Zealand to 243 for 3 against Pakistan on the first day in Dubai.

Taylor.

Latham added 77 for the opening wicket with Brendon McCullum before the New Zealand captain succumbed to a rush of blood to be dismissed on 43.

Adil, who replaced paceman Imran Khan in Pakistan’s starting line-up, broke the gritty opening stand 15 minutes before the lunch break.

McCullum pulled Adil, playing his second test match, straight to Shan Masood who was placed at square leg precisely for that purpose.

Latham added 76 for the second wicket with Kane Williamson who fell an over before tea, bowled by left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar for 32.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah dismissed Taylor (23) in the final session but not before he had added 73 for the third wicket with Latham.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq introduced spin as early as the ninth over after his pace bowlers failed to make early inroads with the new ball.

Pakistan, who won the first Test by 248 runs, went in with a new left-handed opening

Scoreboard NEW ZEALAND 1st innings

T. Latham not out 137 B. McCullum c Masood b Adil 43 K. Williamson b Babar 32 R. Taylor c Masood b Shah 23 C. Anderson not out 7 Extras (lb-1) 1 Total (for 3 wickets, 87 overs) 243 Fall of wickets: 1-77 B. McCullum,2-153 K. Williamson,3-226 R. Taylor To bat: J. Neesham, B. Watling, M. Craig, T. Southee, I. Sodhi, T. Boult Bowling: R. Ali 20 - 2 - 46 – 0, E. Adil 17 - 4 - 47 – 1, Z. Babar 25 - 4 - 92 – 1, Y. Shah 22 - 3 - 51 – 1, Az. Ali 3 - 1 - 6 - 0 pair after Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez failed to recover from injuries.

Masood, with just two Test caps, and Taufeeq Umar, who last played in July 2012, will open the batting for the hosts.

Australia eye captaincy options after Clarke limps home

By Nick Mulvenney

SYDNEY, (Reuters) - With the optimism over Michael Clarke’s fitness for the Test series against India fading fast, Australia’s selectors will have to ponder their captaincy options as well as the make-up of their bowling attack over the next week.

Chief selector Rod Marsh’s confidence the 33-year-old would be fit to face India at the Gabba on Dec 4 was undermined by Pat Howard yesterday, the team performance manager saying Clarke had virtually no chance of playing in the series.

Coach Darren Lehmann has not given up hope, however.

“Until I get confirmation, I’m not going to say he’s in or he’s out,” he told reporters in Perth yesterday.

“At the moment, he’s captain of Australia and, if he’s fit to play and gets through the next little bit, then hopefully he’ll front up in the first test.”

Since taking over as captain in 2011, Clarke has managed a long-term back injury, which contributes to his frequent hamstring problems, to play all but one of his country’s 39 Tests.

But with Australia’s main priority over the next couple of months being to keep him fit for the World

players who returned from Australia’s 2-0 test defeat at the hands of Pakistan in October with his reputation enhanced.

Brad Haddin Cup, an understudy might The former Twenty20 now be required for the four captain is admired for his matches against India. calm leadership but just 183 The most obvious choice runs in the last Ashes series to become Australia’s 45th appear to have curtailed his Test captain is vice captain test career after only five Brad Haddin. matches.

The wicketkeeper has Of the younger the leadership qualities candidates, opening required but has also been batsman David Warner ruled out of the ongoing is in the frame by virtue one-day series against of being an automatic South Africa because of a selection, but his chequered shoulder injury. disciplinary record might Shane Watson, who stood work against him. in for the injured Clarke for The 28-year-old was one Test on the India tour fined for a twitter outburst last year, is another option aimed at two journalists last but neither the 33-year-old year and suspended ahead of all rounder nor Haddin, 37, the first Ashes series of 2013 are long term solutions. after punching England’s George Bailey, 32, stood Joe Root. in as skipper of the oneAnother top order day team after Clarke’s batsman, Steve Smith, has hamstring failed him again come from nowhere to be in the opening match of the widely touted as a future series against South Africa Australia captain. last Friday.

Smith is one of the few

The 25-year-old, though, might be considered in need of more time to cement his status as a test cricketer.

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

Adams hits ton for ECC, Gibson, Squires and Mohammed also sparkle

DCC crowned Noble House Seafoods second div. champions

DWAYNE ADAMS struck a ton for Everest Cricket Club (ECC), but when the proceedings culminated last Saturday afternoon, their host Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) were crowned champions of the Georgetown Cricket Association/Noble House Seafoods second division two-day competition.

Batting first on the previous day after they were invited to do so, ECC who advanced to the finals on the most wins system after their semifinal encounter with Georgetown Cricket Club was rained out the previous weekend, scored what looked like an imposing 267 all out off 68.2 overs.

Adams struck 11 fours and five sixes in his 102, a she added 90 for the first wicket with Rishi Heeralall 32 (5x4, 1x6) and an additional 97 for the second wicket with Troy Gonsalves whose 59 included six fours and three sixes struck off successive deliveries from Antonell Atwell.

Steve Ramdass also contributed healthily to ECC’s total with 38 (4x4, 2x6), as Dennis ‘Bitterman’ Squires led the home team bowl-

The winning DCC team pose with representatives of the sponsors ing by picking up 5 for 45, with support from National Under-15 left arm spinner Ashmead

Nedd who took 3 for 52 and Atwell with 2 for 65.

When the home team batted, they had contributions of an unbeaten 99 from Andrew Gibson that included eight fours and one six, 51 (5x4, 3x6) from Atwell, and 35 with five fours from Dexter George, which guided them to 372 all out off 116 overs, with Gibson and

George adding 82 for the fifth wicket.

Shaheed ‘Cocoo’ Mohammed led ECC bowling with his 5 for 100 and got support from Raphael Singh and Javed Rasheed who took two wickets each for 9 and 68 runs respectively, but found it hard to contain the home team on a track that was conducive for batting.

At the presentation ceremony that followed, GCA president Roger Harper applauded the sponsors for their tangible and unwavering support over the years, even as he congratulated both teams for a well played game, especially DCC for claiming the crown.

While the two on-field umpires, the stand-by umpire and Match Referee all received medallions, both teams were also the recipients of medallions and trophies, while DCC claimed the winner’s trophy and $100,000 and ECC the runner’s up trophy and $60,000.

Individually, Tevin Imloch of DCC got rewarded for Most Catches, Adams for Highest Score in the Final, Squires (Best Bowling) while Gibson was named Man of the Match, to which they all received trophies, before both teams posed for a photo opportunity with their spoils.(Calvin Roberts)

Victories for Ninvalle, Wong and Edghill The curtains came down on the Guyana Table Tennis Association’s (GTTA) Mini Cadet, Cadet and Junior Team’s and Single’s Table Tennis Tournament sponsored

by Digicel finally ended on Sunday with the singles segment.

Khalid Ninvalle, Miguel Wong and Kyle Edghill, won their respective age groups.

Ninvalle of Mae’s defeated Tyriq Saunders of Dolphin Secondary in the 13 years and under open final at 11-4, 11-6, and 11-3. Joint third place went to Amit Mookram of Marian Academy and Nicholas Romain of Central High.

In the 15 years and under open Round Robin finals, Miguel Wong of Mae’s played unbeaten. He defeated Kristie Lopes of Marian Academy 3-0, Clarence Baird of Queens College 3-0 and Priscilla Greaves of Marian Academy 3-0. Baird finished second after defeating Lopes 3-1 and Greaves 3-0. Greaves and lopes finished third and fourth respectively.

In the 18 years and under open round robin play off, there was a tie involving Kyle Edghill of Mae’s, Shemar Britton of Queens College and Elishaba Johnson of St. Stanislaus College. Edghill came on top with a 4-3 ratio (133%), Britton

second with 3-3 ratio (100%) and Johnson third with 3-4 a (75%) ratio.

Edghill defeated Amar Ramlall of QC 3-0, Lloyd Anderson of QC 3-0, Alex Hopkinson of Mae’s 3-0, Sephron Dyal of GTI 3-0 and Britton 3-0 but lost to Johnson 1-3.

Britton defeated Anderson 3-0, Ramlall 3-0, Dyal 3-0, Hopkinson 3-1 and Johnson 3-0. Johnson defeated Anderson 3-0, Dyal 3-0, Edghill 3-1, Ramlall 3-0, and Hopkinson 3-1.

Meanwhile, Hopkinson finished fourth with (three wins and three losses), Dyal ended fifth with two wins and four loses. Ramlall placed sixth with a single victory and five losses, while Anderson ended seventh with six defeats.

This tournament attracted 18 schools namely, Mae’s School, Queen’s College, St Stanislaus College, Bishops’ High, Marian Academy, Central High, The Business School, St Rose High, Ash Educational Trust, Dolphin Secondary, Tutorial High, Government Technical Institute, West Demerara Secondary, St Pius Primary, New Guyana School, Berbice Multilateral, South Georgetown Secondary, St John College. Over 120 players participated.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

29

Caribbean Cup…

Reggae Boyz, Soca Warriors to meet in final MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, (CMC) – Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz will meet Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors in the final of the Caribbean Cup, after brushing aside Haiti 2-0 in their final Group B game on Sunday.

Playing at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, the hosts got goals from Simon Dawkins and the in-form Darren Mattocks, to easily secure their spot at the top of the group and qualify for the final.

Haiti, however, the 2007 champions, finished second in the group and booked their place in next year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States.

Today’ss final will now see the battle of the two traditionally strongest teams in the region, though Jamaica has slipped in the rankings of late behind a string of poor results.

T&T, meanwhile, the highest ranked Caribbean side in the most recent FIFA World rankings at 49th, will start as favourites.

On Sunday, Jamaica secured their passage to the championship game when they scored two first-half goals in quick succession to stun the Haitians.

Dawkins put them on the scoresheet in the 13th minute after being set up by Mattocks, who buried his third goal of the tournament

FIFA ethics chiefs to meet on Thursday over report ZURICH, (Reuters) - FIFA’s ethics adjudicator Hans-Joachim Eckert will meet investigator Michael Garcia on Thursday to discuss their differences over the probe into the controversial bidding process for the 2018/2022 World Cups.

A source close to the investigation confirmed to Reuters that the meeting would take place on Thursday and said the location had not been decided. No other details were available.

World football’s governing body FIFA was plunged into chaos last Thursday when Eckert, head of the ethics committee’s adjudicatory chamber, said in a 42-page statement that there were no grounds to reopen the bidding process which led to Russia and Qatar getting the tournaments.

But three hours later, former U.S. prosecutor Garcia, the head of the investigatory chamber who spent 18 months probing allegations of corruption in the bidding process, said Eckert’s statement had misrepresented his 430-page report.

Garcia also said he would take his case to FIFA’s appeal committee, the latest twist in the investigation which has been dogged by delays

Darren Mattocks ... scored his third goal in as many games. seven minutes later to double Jamaica’s lead.

Haiti never seriously threatened but gained a penalty kick with a min-

ute remaining in the game.

However, goalkeeper Andre Blake guessed the right way to pull off the save.

Martinique, meanwhile, finished their group campaign on a winning note when they easily turned away Antigua and Barbuda 2-0 at the same venue.

Bedi Buval put them ahead in the 57th minute following a goal-less first half before Jose Goron doubled the lead with seconds left in the contest.

French Guiana finished with the best third-place record in the tournament and will face Honduras in a playoff next year to determine which will seize the last of Gold Cup berth.

Alpha’s performance surprising

-Lumumba

Michael Garcia and confusion over the exact procedure.

England, Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Netherlands were also bidding for the 2018 tournament and Japan, the United States, South Korea and Australia were bidding for 2022.

Earlier on Monday, former England FA chairman David Bernstein urged the FA to lobby European football’s governing body UEFA to organise a European boycott of the next World Cup in Russia unless FIFA reforms itself.

German Football League president Reinhard Rauball has also warned that European football federations could pull out of FIFA if Garcia’s complete report is not made public.

Alpha United’s run in the Stag Beer Futsal competition has been labeled as surprising by club president Odinga Lumumba.

Alpha United has crushed every team in its way and crashed into Saturday’s final with a 5-1 whipping of previously invincible Western Tigers last Saturday.

“It is surprising that we have gone so far in this tournament. The fact is that Alpha United has not played Futsal before. So to be in the final is quite an achievement,” Lumumba said.

Guyana’s number one club took the Stag Beer competition by storm. In their opening game Alpha toppled Beacons 4-1. Renaissance got a 12-1 humiliation next and GDF followed with a 5-0 brush aside to end the round-robin stage and move into the knock out round.

In the quarter final Alpha shocked defending champion Fruta Conquerors 6-2 before meeting Western Tigers in the semi-final. Goalkeeper Ronson Williams, Daniel Wilson, Chris Camacho and Dwight Peters have all been instrumental in the final.

GFF Normalisation Committee head says no decisions taken as yet ByJoeChapman

Clinton Urling, head of the Guyana Football Federation’s Normalisation Committee, installed by FIFA to run football in Guyana for one year, in an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport yesterday, has advised that media operatives refrain from rumours and report the facts which emanate from his administrative body.

Urling was at the time responding to comments attributed to Collis Gift, president of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) which met the Normalisation Committee two Tuesdays ago.

Gift said he felt his group was slighted and accused Urling’s body of even trying to promote the lifting of the suspension of the previous Sharma Solomon UDFA executives.

Speaking about their meeting with associations individually Urling said “We have made no decision on anything. This (meeting with UDFA) was the initial feeling-out discussions talking about unity.”

He added: “I don’t know even why these things are going out to the media.

Unless the GFF writes an association and makes an official decision then I think these things should be rumours and these things are not helpful for the sport.”

Lifting UDFA Executives’ Ban? “We got a meeting Thursday with all the associations, but the idea is

moving forward,” Urling further pointed out, while noting that: “It’s all about when the GFF issues something official, that’s our official position. There is not an official position about lifting any ban or doing this or doing that, telling anybody anything.

So that’s the approach we are taking. If at the end of the day, our final position is when it comes down and we put it in writing. The GFF will write the clubs and notify them. That’s how we are moving forward with everything we do.”

Year End Football As it relates to the year-old tournament when asked about sanctioning Urling said, “Once we have not written any club or association officially to have any tournament, proceed as though it’s not.”

He further stated: “We have not issued any official correspondence in that regard. I have come back to the country last night (Sunday-night). We got the application, and the Normalisation Committee is still reviewing that application.

In terms of tournaments at the end of the day, only the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation we have to approve. If our member associations want to hold their tournaments they are free to do so. ” Urling re-emphasised that the goal of the Normalisation Committee “is trying to get the whole football fraternity come together and work together as one unit.”

Pollard all-round effort hands Cape Cobras victory Odinga Lumumba Peters is the tournament’s second highest scorer with seven goals to his name.

“We have a very skilled team that is multifaceted and always in readiness. Much credit must be given to the coach Mr. Wayne Dover. He has been doing an excellent job and is part of the reason we have made it this far.”

Alpha United will clash with Riddim Squad in the final scheduled for the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall this Saturday. The winning team shall receive $400,000.

DURBAN, South Africa, (CMC) – West Indies allrounder Kieron Pollard hit an unbeaten half-century and snatched a brace of wickets in the final over, to propel Cape Cobras to a narrow four-win victory over the Darren Sammyled Titans in the South Africa Ram Slam Twenty20 League here Sunday.

Sent in at Kingsmead, Cape Cobras rallied to 169 for six from their 20 overs, with Pollard smashing 56 not out off 29 balls with three fours and four sixes.

Dane Vilas chipped in with 32 and Omphile Ramela, 31.

Sammy’s one over of medium pace leaked 13 runs.

In reply, Qaasim Ad-

ams top-scored with 68 from 36 balls to leave Titans requiring 11 from the final over for victory. However, David Wiese, who smacked 24 from eight balls, was prised out by Pollard off the second ball.

Pollard then kept Sammy scoreless from the two next deliveries before having him caught in the deep off the fifth ball of the over.

In another contest at the same venue, Windies fast bowler all-rounder Andre Russell grabbed four for 18 for Knights as they bundled out Dolphins for 82 off 18.5 overs.

However, rain had the final say, washing out the remainder of the game and forcing the teams to share the points.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

India’s Srinivasan cleared of IPL corruption * Report says Srinivasan did not try to hinder probe; * Next hearing in the case on Nov. 24 (REUTERS) International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan has been cleared in a report submitted to India’s top court by a committee probing allegations of corruption in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 competition.

The Supreme Court had relieved Srinivasan of his duties as the country’s cricket board president to ensure a fair investigation into the controversy, in

which his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was indicted for illegal betting on the 2013 IPL. The report said Srinivasan, who took over as ICC chairman in July, was not guilty of betting and fixing nor of having tried to prevent the investigation.

Meiyappan, an official of the Chennai Super Kings IPL franchise, was arrested in May last year by Mumbai Police probing illegal betting on the lucrative tournament but he was released on bail

Racing Tips French Racing Tips

10:00 hrs Grimley Girl

Marsielle

11:00 hrs Miss Biscotti

11:40 hrs Benjale

11:30 hrs Carobello

12:10 hrs Puce Du Rheu

South Africa racing Tips

12:40 hrs Zanakoff

Vaal

13:10 hrs Mubaarez

08:35 hrs Greek Legend

13:40 hrs Simone Angel

09:15 hrs Orchestrated

14:10 hrs Oak Harbour

09:55 hrs Dashing Scarlet

14:40 hrs Counterbid

10:30 hrs Vulcan

English Racing Tips

11:05 hrs Barbel Run

Fontwell

Irish Racing Tips

08:10 hrs Nellie’s Quest

Wexford

08:40 hrs Sparkling Sapphire

08:45 hrs Aminabad

09:10 hrs Musical Molly

09:15 hrs Measureofmydreams

09:40 hrs Best Tamayuz

09:45 hrs Dick Dundee

10:10 hrs Toofeeg

10:15 hrs Cloudy Rock

10:40 hrs Honey Required

10:45 hrs Vroum Vroum Mag

11:10 hrs Royal Holiday

11:15 hrs Tailors Hill

11:40 hrs Arabian Flight

American Racing Tips

Doncaster

Philadelphia Park

08:50 hrs Carli King

Race 1 Sunshine Ken

09:20 hrs Annalulu

Race 2 Frame

09:50 hrs Vide Cave 10:20 hrs The Pirate’s Queen 10:50 hrs Robbie 11:20 hrs Monksgold 11:50 hrs Act Now Fakenham 09:00 hrs The Omen 09:30 hrs Jewellery

Race 3 City Angel Race 4 It’s Time To Reign Race 5 Charli Sunshine Race 6 Razzle Dazzle Man Race 7 Market Blaster Race 8 Cat’s Holiday Race 9 Potiche

Narayanaswami Srinivasan

after two weeks.

Legal sports betting in India is confined to horse racing.

Srinivasan, often described as the most powerful man in cricket, was also accused of having a conflict of interest because his India Cements company owns the Chennai franchise.

The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case on Nov. 24 but the report is expected to clear the way for the Chennai native Srinivasan’s return as the

head of the Indian cricket board.

Controversy surfaced when former test bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and two other local cricketers, all playing for the Rajasthan Royals franchise, were arrested on suspicion of taking money to concede a fixed number of runs.

Sreesanth, who had denied any wrongdoing, was subsequently banned for life by the Indian cricket board.

Injured Federer hands Djokovic year-end title by default

By Martyn Herman LONDON, England (Reuters) - A mouthwatering finale to the season ended before it even began yesterday when Roger Federer was forced to pull out through injury prior to his ATP World Tour Final showdown with world number one Novak Djokovic.

The 33-year-old Swiss, who spent two hours 48 minutes defeating compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka in a brutal semifinal the previous night, announced his decision on court as the 17 000-seat O2 Arena filled up.

It meant Djokovic became the first man to win the title three years in succession since Ivan Lendl in 1987.

World number two Federer, who was bidding for a seventh title at the year-ender, apologised but told the crowd he was not “match-fit” after developing a back problem.

Looking as stylish as ever as he stood on the blue indoor surface wearing a red and grey cardigan, Federer apologised, saying: “I hope you understand I wanted to come out personally and excuse myself for not playing ... I can’t compete without a back at this level.”

Despite the huge anticlimax for the crowd, some of whom had forked out thousands of pounds for a courtside ticket, there was no booing, with applause breaking out as seven-time Wimbledon champion Federer spoke.

Explaining how the injury arose, Federer said later: “I was feeling great until yesterday’s tiebreaker.

I felt all of a sudden the back was feeling funny.

“I tried to have treatment on it, medication, just tried to turn around as quick as possible really, but didn’t really feel much of an improvement overnight.”

It was only the third time in a career spanning nearly 1 000 matches that Federer has withdrawn because of injury.

Djokovic was not really in the mood for celebrating when he collected the trophy and a $1.92 million cheque.

“Obviously not the way I’d like to win this,” said the 27-year-old, who clinched the year-end world number one ranking for the third time in four years this week.

“I feel sorry for Roger.

I’ve been in tennis 10 years and I know Roger and Rafa (Nadal) have been the biggest competitors and always give their 100 percent. If Roger could have come out and played he

would have played.

“I’m not the kind of player to celebrate these wins, but I have to celebrate the whole season and this trophy is the crown on the season,” he added.

To appease disappointed fans, home favourite Andy Murray, thrashed by Federer in the week, agreed to play Djokovic in a one-set exhibition match, before partnering John McEnroe in

a doubles game against Tim Henman and Pat Cash.

Federer now faces an anxious week as he tries to recover for the Davis Cup final against France in Lille next weekend.

Along with the Olympic singles title, the Davis Cup is the major honour which still eludes the 17-time grand slam champion, with Switzerland’s hopes resting on the shoulders of him and Wawrinka.

CRICKETQUIZ CORNER (Tuesday November 18, 2014) 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) Sanath Jayusuria-115 (2007) (2)Maurice Fernandes (WI vs ENG, Bourda, 1930) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who made their Test debut in the same game?

Carlton Baugh; Omari Banks; Devon Smith; Dave Bernard; Jerome Taylor (2)Which team the WI last engaged in a Test match at Bourda?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday November 18, 2014

31

`My hard work has paid off’ – Kristian Jeffrey ceptionally well.

“We’ve put a lot of work into the car and I want to also thank Stag Beer for their timely input. They came in and helped me to get some much needed parts and stuff for the car and I also want to dedicate this championship to them,” Kristian said while standing next to his Mitsubishi ‘EVO.’ After a catastrophic start

Kristian Jeffrey (left) and his father Kevin

By Rawle Toney The name Kristian Jeffrey will now be forever remembered, not because he is a sensational squash player, but for his skills behind the wheels which earned him the distinction of being ‘Caribbean Champion Driver’.

Jeffrey, the son of famed race car driver and sports enthusiast Kevin Jeffrey, created history when he became the first Guyanese to ever win the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) Driver’s championship on Sunday last at the South Dakota Circuit.

Witnessed by thousands at one of the Caribbean’s famous racing venues, Jeffrey did what many before him failed to do; including his father, and he did so emphatically.

In 2010, Kevin (Jeffrey) came just four points short of taking the crown and allowed Jamaica’s David Summerbell to take to pres-

tigious title. Summerbell has won three CMRC championships.

Andrew King, in 2009 also placed second behind Summerbell while last year, Kevin Jeffrey again played second fiddle to Jamaica Doug Gore.

“I’ve been chasing this title for years and I came up short, but I’ll take this one through my son,” a joyous Kevin said while speaking to Chronicle Sports in the Pitts at South Dakota on Sunday last.

“I know my dad wanted to win this, so I’m dedicating this championship to him. He did a lot, the entire team worked hard and I think this is well deserved.

Words can’t really express how I feel right now because I didn’t expect it,” Kristian said.

The historic run started from the first leg in Barbados when Kristian won all three Group 4 races and then travelled to Trinidad and Tobago in August and did ex-

Dr. Wu congratulates ...

From back page upon your recent election as amember of the AIBA Executive Committee.

This important result is the right recognition for the unshakable devotion to the development of boxing followed by the exceptional results achieved in the past years.

Therefore, I am confident that with your support and dedication we will continue to implement all the necessary reforms for the betterment of our beloved sport.

Once again, I congratulate you for this accomplishment and look forward to working with you for the next four years hand to hand with the other members of the Executive Committee. Wishing you the very best in your future endeavours, I send you my warmest and most heartfelt regards.”

Ninvalle created history last Friday in South Korea when he became the first person from the English speaking Caribbean to be elected to the Executive Committee of the world’s second most powerful sport organisation.

AIBA has 197 affiliated countries.

to Sunday’s Group 4 races which saw Kevin being sidelined for the remainder of the day, Kristian won two of the three races beating former Champion Stuart Maloney in the process.

All the ‘big guns’ in Caribbean Motor Racing were present in Guyana, which according to Kristian, makes this championship even more remarkable.

“It’s always a pleasure racing against the best drivers, you learn a lot from those guys even while competing against them, so its all the learning process still,” said Kristian of his first time racing in the CMRC. Along with Mark Vieira, Kristian Jeffrey will represent Guyana at the December 14 – 16 ‘Race of Champions’ in Barba-

dos, where the world’s best drivers will converge on Bushy Park.

“That’s huge! Not every day you get to drive or race with some of the people you see on TV and who are stars in the world in motor racing, so I’ll be looking forward to teaming up with Mark and hopefully, we do Guyana proud,” Kristian added.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

`My hard work has paid off’ – Kristian Jeffrey See story on page 31

National Schools’ Championships begin today

By Leeron Brumell Today, the Guyana Teachers Union/Ministry of Education run 54th Annual National Schools Swimming, Cycling and Track and Field Championships open with the traditional early morning 10km road race slated to begin at 6:00 hrs.

With athletes lining up just before the GT&T Earth Station on Carifesta Avenue, expect some traffic restrictions until it concludes.

The student-athletes will follow this year’s South American Road Race Classic Route – proceeding to the University of Guyana lights, turning to head back down the Rupert Craig Highway, onto Kitty Public Road, into Vlissengen Road, before swinging west on Thomas Lands and finally into the National Park to end in the area of the Children’s Monument.

At 9.00 hrs, swimmers make a splash at the National Aquatic Centre on the Railway Embankment, Liliendaal.

Then at 10:00 hrs – cyclists mount their saddles for the 25 and 40 km road races. Beginning in front Ocean View International Hotel and Conference Centre – cyclists turn just after the old gas station in Stratsphey for the shorter distance, while the seasoned and older cyclists head to Belfield.

Turn to page 26

GAMES VILLAGE: Moving in! Mattresses being taken into the National Schools Games Village

PETRA ORGANISATION/BANKS DIH/ ON BOARD

Dr. Wu congratulates Sixth edition of`Guinness Greatest GBA president of De Streets’ Futsal kicks off tonight See story on page 26

Here we go again! From left, Errol Nelson, Troy Mendonca, Lee Baptiste, Troy Peters and Wayne ‘Harry’ Griffith smile broadly as they display the four top place trophies which will be up for grabs during this year’s edition of the ‘Guinness Greatest of De Streets’ Futsal football competition (Photo by Cullen Bess-Nelson) Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Guyana Boxing Association president and newly elected AIBA Executive Committee member, Steve Ninvalle, has been congratulated by president of the world governing body Dr. ChingKwo Wu. In a letter seen by Chronicle Sport yesterday Dr. Wu reasoned that with Ninvalle’s support and dedication, AIBA will continue to implement all the necessary reforms for the betterment of our beloved sport.

The letter reads: “I would like to extend my GBA president and new AIBA executive member sincere congratulations ...

Turn to page 31 Steve Ninvalle TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

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