Guyana chronicle 20 12 14

GUYANA No. 104047 SATURDAY DECEMBER 20, 2014

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

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Opposition’s small mindedness inhibiting Guyana’s development and expansion - Ali Page

GAWU welcomes release of Cuban patriots Page

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Finance Minister commissions spanking new Salvation Army building Page

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Two killed as truck topples on Linden/ Lethem road 13 Page

Stepfather conspiracy murder trial…

All three accused freed 12 Page

Tuschen triple-murder…

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh hands over $5M cheque to Major Emmerson Cummberbatch. Looking on is Chairman of the Advisory Board, Edward Boyer and Administrator Major Urick Thibaud

GPHC appeals for two units of ‘O’ positive blood for Geeta Boodhoo Page

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Finance Minister commissions spanking new Salvation Army building

By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally THE Salvation Army (SA) yesterday commissioned its spanking new building at Water Street, Kingston and as a result will now be able to serve a wider cross-section of the society.

The building was completed through Government’s assistance to the tune of $16.5M. Speaking at the opening ceremony at Water Street, Kingston, the Administrator, Major Urick Thibaud noted that for some time now conditions at the facility were not conducive to a proper living environment. He applauded the Government of Guyana for its generosity in making his dream reality.

Chairman of the Advisory Board, Edward Boyer, explained that the board was tasked with finding the funds to rehabilitate the institution and they had approached the then President, Dr. Bharat Jagdeo. Boyer noted that he gave the green light and a proposal was made to

the Government seeking assistance to rehabilitate the institution. “We have managed to complete the building despite all the challenges we have faced,” Boyer said.

Boyer empahsised that the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh was very instrumental in all aspects of the rehabilitation as well as other works that the army conducts. He also thanked the Government for their tremendous support.

Dr. Ashni Singh complimented the SA for its drug rehabilitation programme, while noting that he “has always been impressed by the work of the Salvation Army in Guyana since I first came into contact with them several years ago.”

Apart from the work in spiritual ministry which stands out and speaks for itself, the army has proven to be a proactive and dynamic partner, confronting some of the most serious and pressing social challenges.

He noted that countless lives were saved and transformed by the army over the years. For its sterling

The newly rehabilitated Salvation Army building in Kingston

performance and outstanding work in the community, Dr. Singh acknowledged, the Salvation Army was conferred with the prestigious national award of Medal of Service (M.S).

He explained that “what is commendable also is that persons that were saved have in turn assisted the army as councillors.

“You have proven your worth as a proactive partner by giving persons a second

chance in life,” he said, noting all the works that the army would have conducted over the years.”

“Government is proud to partner with the Salvation Army in helping to transform the lives of the thousands of clients who pass through here” Dr. Singh stressed. With the new facility, he related, more persons will be assisted in a more comfortable environment and this is

very heartening to him.

The rehabilitation of this facility has been long awaited amongst numerous challenges, it has been completed. “We consider ourselves privileged to have been able to have supported by the provision of a grant of $16.5M to reconstruct this social centre which will serve as a residential facility and a halfway house,” the Finance Minister said.

D r. S i n g h a f f i r m e d that the Salvation Army’s Drug Rehabilitation Programme was the kind of programme, Government would like to embrace and participate in. Consequently, Government has been contributing $10M per annum to the Salvation Army’s Drug Rehabilitation Programme, with Dr. Singh handing over the final installment of $5M at the ceremony.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Opposition’s small mindedness inhibiting Guyana’s development and expansion - Ali WHILE Guyana has grown tremendously in the last eight years, there is still a lot more that could have been done if Guyana as a country, and the Parliament as a unit, had understood the importance of various transformational projects and had allowed those projects to blossom and bring economic empowerment, improvement and opportunities to the Guyanese people.

This was the view ex-

whilst Guyana is at present producing above 35 cents per kilowatt/hour.

“If you look at countries who compete in the manufacturing sector, who we have to compete with to bring manufacturing jobs to Guyana, look at India, Russia, Canada, the US, they are far below...we cannot compete. There is no way we can compete and bring the large companies, the Chinese investors who have lots of money to spend, the

An artist conception of the Amaila Falls hydroproject

pressed on Thursday by Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali on the National Communications Network programme, “Political Scope.”

Speaking of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), which was delayed due to the Opposition’s non-support, Ali pointed out that the implementation of this project will accumulatively add 6 percent to Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP). The minister said that in the construction phase alone, implementing this transformational project would have seen the country growing above 5 percent in the next five years. Without the project, the country is instead set to experience a “flat growth curve” at 4 percent, “so we will be denying our people in the medium-term of 1 percent in terms of growth per year,” the Housing Minister explained.

INHIBITING FACTOR That project would allow for cheaper electricity rates which would permit Guyana to compete with major countries in the manufacturing sector such as India, Russia, China, United States and Canada for jobs. Comparing the annual average electricity prices in these countries as against Guyana, the minister highlighted the fact that most of them produce electricity at US 10 cents at the most,

US investors, the Canadian investors, Indian investors. It makes it non-competitive for them to come here because of this single inhibiting factor---the cost of electricity,” he said.

If the project is implemented, the cost will be less, the country will be able to attract more investors and jobs will be created, he noted. “... so when the Opposition talks about the creation of jobs, the creation of opportunity for our young people, they must understand that those opportunities can only be created if we have the right infrastructure, if we have the right investment platform, if we have the essential elements that would create new aspects of our economy, that would generate new jobs within our economy,” he said.

Ali said these are very important aspects of economic development that are missing, “because we are not bold enough, because the Opposition is too inhibited, because they are not mature enough to allow Guyana to mature into this stage of economic prosperity,” he continued.

With all the talk about generation of jobs and the future of the economy, he said people need to understand how important these transformational projects are to unfold that future.

SAVING US$90M The implementation of the AFHP would save consumers US$3.5B over 20 years.

Ali explained that this is US$3.5B additional resources that are in the consumers hand to motivate spending. “When you stimulate spending, you are stimulating transaction. When you stimulate transaction, you are stimulating businesses, so it is an entirely linked facility,” the minister noted.

The implementation of the project would also reduce the fuel import bill by almost 20 percent, saving the country close to US$90M. “Can you imagine what we can do with US$90M?” Ali asked.

“It would mean being able to take care of all our outstanding education needs in infrastructure. It could bring our health care system on par with any health care system in this Region. It could be used to improve access and improvement in the road network all over the country,” he answered.

The Amaila Falls project would also lead to reduction of electricity charges up to 40 percent. For a low in-

come family with an electricity bill of $10,000 that would mean a saving of $4,000, the minister pointed out.

“That is $48,000 per year or $480,000 in ten years,” he noted.

The implementation of the Amaila Falls project would also allow for 100 percent electricity generation by renewable resources, which is where the future is heading. “In the future, having green energy is going to be part of a company’s competitive advantage in advancing its investment portfolio,” he noted. He pointed out that this is the aim of all Government’s transformation projects, improving the economy and advancing the country.

The minister touched too on the Marriott Hotel, which

has evoked criticisms about its potential and what benefits it will bring to Guyanese.

He noted that in addition to what this would mean for the tourism sector in driving traffic into Guyana, it would also mean employment for many.

The Marriott has 197 rooms. Ali explained that according to international standards in relation to the employment, there must be four persons per room. That would mean that 780 direct jobs will be created by the Marriott when it is fully operational, the Minister said. “How can this be a bad investment for Guyana, when it would generate 780 new jobs, how can this be something that the Opposition does not find favour with?” the minister said.

In addition to the 780 direct jobs, the hotel would also create 1,000 indirect jobs in terms of suppliers and out-sourcing facility, the minister explained. This calculates to just about 1,800 jobs, and if each of those employees is from a family of four, then it calculates to 7,200 persons benefiting as result of Marriott employment opportunity.

The minister noted that these are some projects that have been disallowed and criticised by the Opposition without any economic and social justification. He pointed out that this type of small mindedness, in relation to the development and expansion of Guyana, cannot move the country forward.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Pakistan resumes executions after Peshawar school attack (BBC News) PAKISTAN has carried out two executions, the first since a death penalty moratorium was lifted after a deadly attack on a Peshawar school.

One of those executed was convicted over an attack on Pakistan’s Army HQ in 2009, the other over an assassination attempt on ex-leader Pervez Musharraf.

The UN had earlier urged Pakistan not to resume its executions.

Some 141 people, all but nine of them children, died in the Taliban attack on the Army Public school in Peshawar.

Pakistan’s military carried out operations against Taliban units in areas near the border with Afghanistan on Friday, saying it had killed 59 militants.

‘DIFFERENT CRIMES’ The two executions were carried out in the central city of Faisalabad late on Friday, officials said.

more than 8,000 people awaiting execution.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lifted the moratorium on executions in terror cases amid outrage at the massacre of the children.

The country’s de facto foreign minister, Sartaj Aziz, said the Peshawar attack was his country’s own “mini 9/11” and required a sea-

change in its fight against terrorism.

Special classes were held in Pakistan on Friday in which schoolchildren chanted prayers in memory of the victims of the massacre.

The Taliban said that the attack was an act of revenge for its own losses in the army’s military offensive.

Civilian deaths in Afghanistan war reach new high in 2014: U.N. The Peshawar massacre sparked national outrage Pakistani media named the two executed men as Aqeel, alias Dr Usman, and Arshad Mehmood.

Usman was arrested during the raid on the Rawalpindi HQ and sentenced to death in 2011.

Mehmood was sentenced to death over the attempt on

Mr Musharraf’s life in the same city in 2003.

The home minister for Punjab province, Shuja Khanzada, told Associated Press: “Today’s executions of terrorists will boost the morale of the nation, and we are planning to hang more terrorists next week.”

The Pakistani army chief has so far reportedly signed the death warrants of six terrorism convicts.

UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville had earlier urged Pakistan not to resume executions.

He said: “To its great credit, Pakistan has maintained a de facto moratorium on the death penalty since 2008,” he said, adding that

19/12/2014

(REUTERS) – AT LEAST 3,188 Afghan civilians have been killed in the intensifying war with the Taliban in 2014, making it the deadliest year on record for non-combatants, the United Nations said on Friday.

The numbers are a sharp reminder that the Afghan war is far from over, even as a U.S.-led international force formally ends its combat mission at the end of the month, shifting to a supporting role for Afghan forces after 13 years.

“The situation for civilians in Afghanistan is becoming increasingly dire,” said Georgette Gagnon, human rights director for the U.N. mission in Kabul.

As of Nov. 30, the United Nations had recorded a total of 3,188 civilian deaths and 6,429 injuries.

That puts 2014 on track to be the first year on record that combined civilian casualties will surpass 10,000.

Civilian deaths over the year to the end of November were up 19 percent over the same period last year and had already surpassed the previous high set in 2011, when 3,133 civilians were killed.

For the first time, ground battles between the Taliban and Afghan forces became the main cause of civilian deaths. In previous years, planted bombs killed the most civilians.

“That is very worrying,” said Gagnon, calling on all sides to do more to keep civilians from being caught in crossfire of mortars and other heavy weapons.

About three-quarters of civilian casualties were caused

by Taliban insurgents, who are intensifying their fight to re-establish their hardline Islamist regime that was toppled in a U.S.-backed military intervention for sheltering the al Qaeda architects of the Sept 11, 2001, attacks on U.S. cities.

Since the U.N. began tracking civilian casualties in 2009, a total of 17,252 civilian deaths and 29,536 injuries have been recorded.

While U.S. military officials have portrayed the war as in the process of being won by Afghan security forces, the national army and police have also suffered record losses this year, with more than 4,600 killed.

Since 2001, nearly 3,500 foreign soldiers from 29 countries have been killed in Afghanistan, including about 2,200 Americans.

those at risk of imminent execution were unconnected to the “premeditated slaughter” in Peshawar.

“We urge the government not to succumb to widespread calls for revenge, not least because those at most risk of execution in the coming days are people convicted of different crimes.”

The human rights organisation Reprieve warned that innocent people could be executed as a result of the government’s decision, accusing the authorities of routinely overusing anti-terrorism laws to secure convictions.

It said Pakistan had the world’s largest number of death-row inmates - with

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Guyana Editorial Cane Grove Reunion Group Inc. should be lauded for its charitable work THE Guyanese Diaspora has helped sustain the Guyanese economy with generous remittances and gifts – to families, communities and country; and one group that has sustained programmes that have benefited their home community is the Cane Grove Reunion Group Inc. For the duration of his tenure as Head of State, President Donald Ramotar graced with his presence and participation the annual gift-sharing to the senior citizens and vulnerable in the Cane Grove/Strathavon communities.

This event, as well as a children’s Christmas party, have become calendar activities organised by members of the

Cane Grove Reunion based in New York and currently spearheaded in the local chapter by Dharamkumar Seeraj, M.P, General-Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA).

Last December, in brief remarks before introducing the President, Seeraj, chief organiser of the local chapter, who also has roots in the community, lauded Kenrick Gopaul, Ivor Ramphal and others of the New York-based group for honouring and taking care of the elderly, among their other activities they plan and implement within the community.

He also congratulated the volunteers in the community who, year after year,

work hard to make the various events success stories, which he said could be emulated and used as a model for other communities.

Having been present at the organisation’s 2010 annual fund-raising dinner and dance gala in New York, Seeraj recalled meeting some of the old people who had helped bring him up, including his former headmaster, Mr. Williams who had attended the event with his family, even though he had to lean heavily on his cane.

He also praised the Gopaul children, who save all year long so that they could make contributions to the organisation’s charitable activities.

The organisation’s health care

programmers also initiate medical outreaches to the community, with additional local medical personnel spearheaded by local doctors; as usual in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. Seeraj said this is to boost the excellent healthcare being provided by the community’s health centre.

As Christmas approaches many of the needy and vulnerable would be enabled to enjoy their holidays through lavishly packed hampers, with the children enjoying another Christmas party, all through the beneficience of Guyanese who have never forgotten their roots, their neighbours and their country.

President Ramotar’s belief that Guyana can become a ‘Developed Nation’ is realistic PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar belies his seriousness with a most benign and calm visage; however he is sure, solid and confident. When he decisively enacted his November 10th Proroguing of the 10th Parliament, it was done with certainty and finality-he was not going to be ‘foot-balled’ around by the Combined Opposition, who always showed great vacillation and carping.

In fact, the decision was made not in a ‘knee-jerk’ manner, but with the good of Guyana at heart. The ‘Man’ of Guyana wanted the ‘Best’ for Guyana, and he had hoped for important and ‘necessary’ dialogue, with the Joint Opposition. His well-intended invitation to prolong the life of the 10th Parliament was encapsulated with the “My Doors are always Open (or conversely, “My doors are never closed”) for dialogue; it still resonates and is a solid testimony of the munificence and magnanimity of this ‘fatherlike’ leader. Up to this point, he remains most amicable and desires fraternal ‘face-offs’ and possible agreements with Government and the Combined Opposition.

ANNOUNCEMENT November 10, 2014 will always be looked at as quite pivotal. In announcing the proroguing of the 10th Parliament, all Guyana saw a rigid and fixated leader in President Ramotar; he ‘called the bluff’ of the Opposition parties.

They threatened a No-Confidence Motion, hoping to either engender fear in Government,

or take a chance with ‘snap polls.’ The former (likely their preference) did not work, and the latter’s magnitude they did not envisage.

They have now exhausted the ‘Grace of Dialogue’ and 2015 elections are now imminent, but very troubling for the two carpers and cavilers, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC). Both parties seem quite opportunistic and both want to abuse the other, even though subtly, and for selfish gains. The desire for ‘power exclusive’ seems to be the driving factor.

Also, both cannot decide, under what group to go to the polls. For now, the People National Congress Reform (PNCR) is subsumed under APNU, but its politics remains very pro-Burnham/Hoyte like. AFC, in namely Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo, cannot risk being duped, but yet cannot be pro-Government. Their dilemma is self-eroding and it likely that AFC will be another erstwhile.

The lessons from the 1964 coalition between Burnham and Peter D’Aguiar of the United Front, is still resonating-use, abuse, and cast away.

2015 will be decisive and intense. President Ramotar will announce the date for the polling exercise, but he wants a good Christmas for all Guyanese. He desires that Guyanese have a trouble and stress-free season, and this is why the actual election date was not unveiled.

THREE YEARS-FRUITFUL ...

YET FRUSTRATING AT TIME

Guyana continues to experience unprecedented growth and development, in its ‘transformation through modernisation’ initiatives. The country is most definitely on an ‘unrelenting upward developmental trajectory.’

The economy is stable, robust, diverse and expanding; education is at an all time high-Guyana dominated the Caribbean Region in the last two years and urban schools are outdoing the city ones; infrastructures for sports are on the increase; Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2015 are in sight (Universal Primary Education reached ahead of time); Health Care/Medicare is flourishing; and the list goes on, giving credence to Guyana’s new status. The nation has long moved away from its pre-1992 “Highly Poor Indebted Country” milieu; it is now driving towards being a “Developed Nation.”

President Ramotar has a Dream-realistic but attainable “Guyana in the future” is ‘rankling in the mind’ of President Ramotar. He recently completed three years as the “Head of State” and his assessment of this period at the helm is most candid.

“I think it was a mixed one. It was a very difficult political situation locally … and a not so favourable international one … but the fact is (that) we kept our economy growing and we further improved our social services. Those are really monumental achievements” “I suspect that in another 20 years, looking

back at Guyana (and especially these three years), historians will probably see it in a better perspective … it has not been easy, in an international environment, that was not conducive, and a local political situation that was very difficult.”

“So it was very satisfying that we were able to do these things, despite the huge challenges … I am proud of our team.”

The Guyanese Leader admits his frustration, as he is aware of how much more progress was possible.

“My regret is that we haven’t yet started the Amalia Falls Hydro Project, because that project is the one that every single Guyanese would benefit from, and it is a project that will transform the country … to realise the dream that we have, of accelerating growth and development in Guyana, so that we can reach a ‘develop status’ in a short period of time.

The annoyance for President Ramotar is two-fold: the Combined Opposition voted against Amaila Falls for no other reason but (their) being vindictive (as both the Opposition parties have it in their manifesto, that they were in support of hydro); and because Amaiala Falls is foundational to all other sectors in the country.

He remains optimistic though, as the conviction is that the PPP/C will be restored to a majority in Parliament, and this means a continuation in progress, and thus the inevitable-Developed Nation status.

HENRY SINGH

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Lorries blocking mandir’s entrance WE the members of the Cotton Field, Essequibo Coast Vedic Mandir are calling on the relevant authorities to remove two lorries which are blocking the entrance to our mandir during prayers time.

We have made several reports to the IMC at Anna Regina and the Commander of ‘G’ Division without any help and our members are very disturbed at the attitude displayed by both of these entities.

The Commander told us that is not the police’s job to remove lorries which are encumbering the roadway and entrance of people’s property, but rather the IMC which is mandated to remove obstructions.

Editor, these two lorries are parking side by side during the day and night in front of our mandir, taking over half of the roadway which has become a traffic hazard to lives and limbs and most of all it is an obstruction to our church. We know that previous Commanders who were stationed here removed parking vehicles from the roadway which were blocking people’s entrance.

We have lately built a concrete culvert which has cost the mandir $2M and the owner will park his lorries on our newly constructed culvert causing damages to it. We appealed to him many times not to park his lorries and blocking our entrance, but he still continues.

On many occasions our church members turned up for services and had to turn back because they cannot enter the mandir. The owner of these lorries lives opposite our mandir, but instead of parking his vehicles on his side, he chooses to block the entrance of the mandir.

We had planned also to construct the eastern side of the street running to the Caricom Rice Mills which will beautify the township and save the IMC millions of dollars from cleaning the drains. This project will cost the mandir an additional $2M but we will only do it if we get the cooperation from the police and IMC to prevent vehicles from damaging the

culvert.

The owner of these vehicles has several businesses in his yard but do not park his lorries to disturb his business.

School children and members of the public have to navigate between them during busy days of the traffic. At nights it is worse because there is a junction with a sharp turn leading to the Caricom Rice Millls Ltd. We are calling on the Commissioner of Police and the Traffic Chief to do something urgently so we can pray in peace.

MEMBERS OF COTTON FIELD VEDIC MANDIR

ID cards should be issued to all who are entitled PLEASE publish this article for the benefit of all Guyanese in Guyana and abroad.

There are three important documents every Guyanese must possess; A Birth Certificate at the time of birth, an ID card when you reach that age and a passport which can be used for travelling outside of Guyana or which can be used as a secondary form of Identification.

I am hearing that ID cards and registration for ID cards will only be issued at a convenient time prior to a general election.

I am told that if you do not have an ID card you have to wait for three to four years when registration will be convened.

I am told that if you do not hold an ID card, people like pensioners and others who need to do business transactions will have major setbacks and inconveniences.

I am told that the three political parties must be present at the time of registration to acquire an ID card.

I am told by a staff at the Guyana General Consulate in Canada that the country cannot afford to maintain offices

and staffing of these offices throughout the country to continuously issue ID cards.

This information was gathered from the general Consulate’s office while enquiring for an ID card personally.

This is a great concern to all Guyanese and I do believe this card is a legitimate piece of ID which should be issued to all who are entitled and require one under all circumstances.

An ID card in any country is a legal piece of information or document which serves its purpose for Identification. To achieve one you must present a Valid Birth Certificate. To be the holder of a Passport you must possess a birth certificate and an ID card.

It is the Government’s responsibility to its citizens to provide this service and not that of other political parties.

Whichever political party is in power, it is their responsibility to provide to the citizens by continuing this essential service.

If other political parties want to query an ID card, they need to use other avenues

without disruption of this service. It must be a year -round service.

There should be no excuses by the Government that it is too costly for this service and staffing of offices around the country is too much of a cost.

The GPO where you can acquire a birth certificate or a replacement of a birth certificate and the Passport Offices where passports are issued and replaced should be the place to provide these services.

So there is no need to set up new offices all across the country specially to provide ID cards to the citizens of Guyana just for the purpose on an election. However, offices can be set up permanently at strategic locations to satisfy the population.

It is important to note that this should be a timely service as well similar to that of a birth certificate or a passport.

Think about the inconvenience of those people who are now reaching the age to acquire one, or those people especially the older folks who need one for their pension and so forth.

We cannot ignore that fact that ID

cards that are misplaced, destroyed or lost for some reason. Why do people have to be in such inconvenience to get a replacement.

The system must be organised, monitored and be legal and provide a service that is authentic. Records, files, documents etc. pertaining to issuing of ID cards must be secure and be available for tracking and for replacing of this document as it is a very legal piece of personal information.

I understand that political parties are concerned about ID for voters but that should not disturb the ongoing issuance of this document. Setting up offices to validate ID cards for voters at the time of an election should be separate and can be done at the local regional offices for that period.

I do hope that this letter can be published and the Government can make amendments to this process for the benefit to all in need in Guyana and abroad.

BALBIR BAHADURSINGH

Wounding convict gets bail pending appeal determination JUSTICE James Bovell Drakes granted a bail petition in favour of Vishnu Mangal, who was convicted for unlawful wounding.

He was ordered to post bail in the sum of $50,000 pending his appeal determination, and to hand over his passport to the Police Commander of Berbice Division, and report on the

third Monday of each month at the Fort Wellington Police Station.

The bail petition was made by Attorney-at-law Lloyd Thomas in the Berbice High Court. In an affidavit, the lawyer said his client was charged with the offence of unlawful wounding, was found guilty by Magistrate Rhondel Weaver, and was sentenced

to six months’ imprisonment. However, the appellant has been advised by his attorney that the Magistrate’s decision is wrong, having regard to contradictory evidence.

Additionally, the petition is not likely to be heard within a reasonable time; and further, the appellant is presently suffering from an injury which impedes

his locomotion, as he presently has two screws in his right ball joint which assist him to walk with much discomfort.

Besides, the appellant has no one to take care of his cattle, and he is fearful of his cattle being impounded or stolen, resulting in him suffering irreparable loss if he is not placed on bail.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

LAMAHA PARK UNDER SIEGE!

– armed bandits open fire on pursuing residents after a failed robbery HAD it not been for the grace of God, a mother would have been mourning the loss of her two innocent public-spirited sons; and the operator of an Internet café, sleeping in her bed, might have also been killed by the indiscriminate gunfire employed by armed robbers during a foiled robbery attack at Lamaha Park early Tuesday morning.

Shortly after 02:00hrs on Tuesday morning, two bandits allegedly forced their way through a window into the lower flat of a two-storey home in Lamaha Park, Georgetown, while about four others kept watch at strategic points around the building. They had swooped down on the home after hearing that a crate may have come from overseas

with items for a wedding.

But the two who had entered the building were discovered and intercepted by occupants of the home, who raised an alarm.

Frantic shouts of “Thief!

Thief!!” rent the solitude of the neighbourhood during that early Tuesday morning, and public- spirited neighbours ran out of their homes to render assistance to the beleaguered.

The valiant young men of the neighbourhood who pursued the robbers had no idea their quarry was armed.

They hurled sticks at the robbers to keep them at bay; but, incensed at the audacity of the youths, the armed men turned back and recklessly opened fire on the residents, discharging approximately five shots at their pursuers.

Two brothers narrowly

escaped being struck by the bullets, even as a third bullet traversed to the other side of the road to hit the glass door of an Internet café and remain trapped in the curtain behind the glass door.

Amidst the panic occasioned by the gunfire, the occupants of the home housing the Internet Café were completely unaware that a bullet had made its way into their yard and had hit the café, until the following day when it was discovered by little boys playing in front of the business place.

A report was made at the East La Penitence Police Station, from where ranks visited the scene and removed the warhead from its trappings.

Residents are amazed at what had happened, and claim it is a miracle that

the bullet, travelling with that speed and force, could have gone through the glass door, made such a hole, and be suddenly stopped in its tracks by a mere curtain fabric.

The young woman who owns the café is still giving God thanks and praise for His mercies.

Residents, meanwhile, are proverbially holding their breaths even as they experience sleepless nights as they continue to live in fear of what could happen on any night of the bandits’ strike.

Over the last six weeks or so, at least fifteen attacks have been made on homes in that community, and it is alleged that, on three occasions, the men raped women in the homes broken into because they felt that they did not find enough booty.

It has been noted that the majority of these attacks are carried out between the hours of 02:00 hrs and 03:00 hrs, when the community is soundly at rest.

Most attacks, it is felt, have been carried out randomly, with no real knowledge of the material assets in the homes broken into.

About six weeks ago, a man carrying ‘a shine gun’ walked up the back stairs of an unemployed septuagenarian amputee, (in his seventies), came face to face with his victim, and ordered him to hand over his cash.

Shocked out of his wits, the septuagenarian told him that he had no money, and that he was just out there puffing a cigarette as he wondered what he’d cook the following day. The resident said he turned away for a brief mo-

ment, and when he looked again, the man with the shine gun had disappeared.

The prevailing circumstances are making it incumbent upon Lamaha Park residents to implore the police to recommence their routine patrols around the area, which hopefully will serve as a deterrent to criminal elements wishing to carry out nefarious activities in the neighbourhood.

With the Christmas holidays being here and the likelihood of people firing squibs, residents find themselves facing a dilemma to determine when the cracking sounds are those made by lighted squibs as against those made from revolvers. They are perplexed to determine how to react to the sounds. (Shirley Thomas)

Commander ‘D’ Division hosts Christmas – reflects on a successful year breakfast for subordinates of challenges, hard work

By Leroy Smith SUBORDINATE police officers from ‘D’ Division(West Coast-West Bank Demerara) were on Friday treated to breakfast served to them by senior officers of the Division and members of the Creating Positive Environment through Safer Communities and Partnership-Project (C-PETS) as part of activities to mark the Christmas season in the Division.

The venue was the compound of the Leonora Police Station, the divisional headquarters and was attended by ranks representing every department of the Division. It was also attended by persons who have been partnering with the police within the Division

Commander Amsterdam addresses the gathering at the breakfast

Junior and senior ranks who were present to share in the moment

Senior Police ranks in ‘D’ Division get ready to serve their juniors on Friday morning

also.

Speaking to the gathering, Commander Ian Amsterdam explained that thus far the Division has been doing exceptionally well and credited all ranks for their dedication and commitment to the job.

He said that ‘D’ Division has shown the greatest decline in serious crimes and that it represented a 37 percent decline from April to date. The commander added that since April, the division has been showing a steady reduction in serious crimes and attributed the decline to the workable crime- fighting strategies which have been employed.

He mentioned the strategic management team, which he said played a major role in the

assistance of putting the Division in the position it currently enjoys.

He said that Project C-PETS is slowly becoming a household name, something that he has been praying for since the inception of the project in July of this year.

The Commander said C-PETS has been working, pointing to the period when he took over the helm of the division, Tuschen and Parfaite Harmonie were regarded as the “craziest” places in the division and the areas of which persons were very fearful, owing to the level of crimes which were committed in those two communities.

Amsterdam reported to the gathering that the community of Tuschen has moved from the most feared community to one where serious crimes were non-existent except for Thursday morning, when “someone decided to put us back on

the map,” he was quoted as saying, alluding to the triple murder.

From August up to the day that the cane cutter allegedly hacked three persons to death, the community of Tuschen had no serious crimes. The Commander reiterated that the police are getting the responses they have been looking for, which are reports from persons that they are feeling safer in that community now.

He added that Parfaite Harmonie has also showed a very big decrease in serious crimes; and even as the police are also working on the element of fear which exists in that community.

The breakfast which was served included pepperpot, salted fish, eggs and sausage, ground provisions, bread, bake, coffee, milo, green tea and non-alcoholic beverages topped up with fruit and desert.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

GAWU welcomes release of Cuban patriots THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the very many statesmen, political leaders and numerous organisations around the globe, are delighted in the freedom of the remaining three Cuban patriots:- Antonio Guerrero, Gerardo Hernández and Ramón Labañino, w h o w e re i n c a rc e r a t ed and languishing in US prisons for several years.”

GAWU in a press release said: “The heroic five were exposing the

terroristic actions and planned activities against Cuba with the coverage and support of the United States of America (USA).

We all hail the sacrifice and fortitude of the Five.

They would inspire their families, the people and the revolutionary Government of Cuba who stood firmly behind them.”

“The liberation of the Cuban patriots takes place in a framework in which the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the USA and Cuba has been announced. This,

we are told will lead to the lifting of several sanctions imposed by the USA over the years against a sister Caribbean country – Cuba.”

“In taking this historic and courageous move, President Obama has clearly signalled that the sanction regime against Socialist Cuba, maintained for over fifty (50) years, did not bring the results that were expected.

Moreover, it is recognised worldwide that the ‘Cuba sanctions’ has been one of the few remaining relics of

the Cold War which, it is generally acknowledged, came to an end at the beginning of the 1990’s decade.”

“In this approach, the GAWU believes, President Obama would have made a significant contribution to policies that would define his Presidency. At the same time, we recognise there remain serious and unresolved problems and interference against Cuba and its sovereignty. We would hope that the measures taken will be the first significant step to full

Gerardo Hernández

Ramón Labañino

normalcy in the relations of the USA and Cuba.” “ G AW U c e l e b r a t e s this victory for Cuba and looks forward to the other steps and measures that will assure full economic, trade, cultural and diplomatic relations as enjoyed by other countries of our hemisphere and the world

over.”

“GAWU also greets the five Cuban patriots while extending congratulations to the Cuban working people, as well as the Communist Party and Government of Cuba on this another victory scored in their rich and revolutionary history.”

Guyana’s massive development seen in opposition’s inability to criticise THE fact that Guyana has seen massive development over the past two decades was further highlighted by the response reported given by the Alliance For Change Parliamentarian, Ms. Cathy Hughes.

Responding to questions posed by the media at their recent press conference about the performance of which sectors her party is most concerned about she pointed to the health and security sectors.

The reasons given for the concerns was stated as the high incidents of maternal deaths and stated two incidents where she claimed that persons died under questionable circumstances while receiving treatment at public health facilities.

While every death is a tragedy for the loved ones and a loss to the nation the reality is that one can hardly condemn the entire system for the anecdotal cases men-

tioned by Hughes.

Without defending the persons who work in the public health care system, one must examine the systems that have been put in place and the extensive ongoing training health care providers are given. That coupled with the fact that when these deaths occur they are not at liberty to expose the other underlining medical conditions that the deceased may have been afflicted with. Added to that is the fact that the average Guyanese only visit health facilities in emergencies leaving the health care provider working blind; with no history of existing or previous health conditions.

Guyana has moved a long way from the days of “two Panadol” to cure everything. The advance treatment being offered at the Georgetown Hospital compares and surpasses that provided at any of the

private institutions locally.

The addition of the health centres and Regional hospitals which are opened and staffed by qualified medical professionals 24 hours a day will continue to save lives. It takes the strain off the main health facilities by dealing with minor illnesses while providing emergency care for persons in need before being transferred to the main health facilities.

One must also remember that Kathy Hughes and the AFC joined with the APNU in three successive budgets, voted down among other things, provisions for the establishment of the Specialty Hospital. This begs the question, who will benefit for that action?

Was it done to ensure that anecdotal evidence is always present to criticise the Healthcare system at the peril of the people? The specialty hospital would bring more skills to the country,

create more jobs and help to put better systems in place as more qualified people would be in the system.

Yes, there is a lot more to be done in the health sector but the massive development cannot be ignored.

Our public health sector is comparable to that of any other country on the same level of development as ours and surpasses some.

Hughes criticism of the security sector was amusing as she attempted to chastise the Home Affairs Minister and the Commissioner of Police for the high level of interpersonal violence. Had the criticizing come from the JFAP that would have been understood. The high level of interpersonal violence is not a security issue it is a social issue. Unless she proposes that personal security be provided for every citizen.

There is tremendous work being done by a num-

ber of social organisations around our country addressing the issue of domestic violence and anger management. Some working with the security forces reaching perpetrators and victims after the fact while others are reaching potential victims and perpetration. These institutions should be allowed to function.

The fact is that the most any government can do to intervene in cases of interpersonal violence is to educate the population, train the resource personnel to identify and address incidents and make the facilities available for the public to use. This is being done quite commendable by the relevant agencies. I will not deal with the veracity of the incident reported in her anecdote; suffice to say that what was reported seems not to represent all the facts of the matter but was greatly exaggerated.

The response by the police earlier in the week to a robbery on the East Coast Demerara seemed to have been forgotten or if remembered was ignored.

When people in society who hold themselves out as leaders, constantly abuse those in authority and encourage others to so do there is the likelihood of a breakdown in order, chaos and the resultant antisocial behaviours.

Having managed Guyana for the last 22 years through some of the most troublous times when deliberate attempts were made to derail progress and development, the most direct being the deliberate and vicious slashing of funding for developmental projects over the last three years, and only being able to criticise the Government for those two sectors speaks volumes. Let progress continue!

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

By Shaun Michael Samaroo

Greenidge challenged Granger at the Party congress; and the WPA retreated into stony-faced embarrassment after testimonies at the Walter Rodney Commission exposed the draconian PNC harassment of WPA leaders during the time that Dr Walter Rodney was assassinated in Georgetown. To compound its problems, an APNU Member of Parliament got into trouble in the United States for terrorism activities.

So APNU promised a new political dimension, involving no less than the PNC, which had crippled Guyana’s socio-economic structure over a 28-year reign that stifled all democratic functions of the society. But it has failed to live up to that promise.

Today, as its name implies, it should be seeking partnership for development.

This involves a genuine effort to cultivate consensus, cooperation, civil national conversations and conciliatory understanding. If APNU is really serious about transforming the Guyanese political landscape, it must live up to the promise inherent in its name. Franklin’s vision seems to have died when he passed away, and today APNU is nothing but a shell depending on its core base to gain political power.

But it knows it cannot win national elections purely on ethnic support; so it has started engaging the even more disappointing Alliance For Change (AFC).

of Partnerships and alliances Anthe analysis Guyanese political impasse demand humble leadership

CANADA’S Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Donald Ramotar share some common traits: They both sing with real talent in public; they both became Head of State with a Minority Government; and they both prorogued Parliament in the face of criticism of anti-democratic behaviour.

Harper came out to win a majority at elections, and governed Canada to stand as the premiere economy in the lauded Group of Eight.

Both Harper and Ramotar battled to prevent their nations falling into political decay, and to restore political order, with strong leadership despite severe criticisms.

Francis Fukuyama, the great American political thinker, wrote a ground-breaking two-volume book exploring the history of liberal democracy, particularly pronouncing on political order and political decay.

Guyanese approach 2015 with this choice staring us in the face, demanding we tackle our socio-political dysfunction, or face another year of impasse, unworkability, crass scapegoating, and lack of consensus, cooperation and conciliatory conversation.

Were we to introspect what’s not working for us as a nation, what’s keeping us stifled and bedraggled and beggarly for five decades; were we to, with authenticity and integrity, really look into our hearts, we would feel the pulse of what’s decaying us.

POLITICAL CULTURE The Guyanese society suffers from its political culture. Since the 1950s-with Forbes Burnham and Dr Cheddi Jagan unable to reconcile their differences, instead opting to split and divide into two camps, each gravitating to an ethnic base - we’ve suffered as a nation.

It’s astounding, though, that the political culture never eroded the personal relationship amongst us. Among the nations of the world, Guyana stands tall as a symbol and role model for multicultural tolerance, religious freedom, ethnic relations and peaceful co-existence among its citizens.

Yet, we face 2015 with that political debacle hanging with menacing fierceness over our nation.

Why? We’re in a three-decade

process of the Guyanese democracy maturing, growing up. Democracy takes time.

In fact, Fukuyama saw it fit to detail his thoughts on the progress and development, and possible decay, of liberal democracy, in two monumental volumes, each 600+ pages: Ideal democracy is not easy, and does not happen overnight. Even today, great democracies like India and the United States face serious structural problems, and in Britain, democracy-sowed freedom now stands threatened with an Orwellian-type surveillance society.

We lack the kind of sanity and sense a Fukuyama could bring to our national conversation; to the exploring of who we are, and why we’re where we are today. Public commentators across Guyana lack the rational clear-sighted insight to contribute anything of significance to the national consciousness.

The influential national newspapers, including the Guyana Chronicle, but especially the Stabroek News and Kaieteur News, lack serious insight into the society’s body politic, and more and more engage in petty, crass, biased, prejudiced and incompetent reporting and editorialising.

In fact, the average citizen ignores the newspapers, except to devour gossip and gore.

So the national media fail the citizen.

DEMOCRACY DEFINED Democracy comprises a three-pillar national structure: A professional media, where press freedom means cultivating responsible, balanced and ethical national conversations; a freely and fairly elected Government, comprising State institutions efficiently serving citizens; and a National Assembly to represent constituencies around the country, where Members of Parliament seek not their own power and aggrandizement, but the welfare of their community members.

Given the nature of our current Constitution, as Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General Anil Nandlall asserts, we’ve got to work within certain frameworks, such as President Donald Ramotar being Executive President, with hands-on management of the society.

Yet, President Ramotar takes a very hands-off approach to Government. He largely ignores his vast presidential powers; he allows ministers, managers and state employees to use their ini-

President Donald Ramotar

tiative; to come up with and implement solutions, and to work unimpeded. He is re-defining how the Guyana Government works, within that framework that endows him with so much power. His humility and humble heart of service is his most endearing quality, and it defines his Presidency. These things the Guyanese nation is not matured enough to analyze; we lack insight into such things as character, leadership integrity and human nature.

Instead, we focus on vague abstractions to scapegoat and blame and refuse to take personal responsibility for the state of our nation.

Of course, critics say he’s too laid back and passive.

This is the society we cultivated over the five decades of our Independence; we’re all critics, seeing nefarious shadows and suspicious intentions in everything. We’re a nation of complainers.

Apart from a few level-headed public commentators, the Guyanese national platform lacks any conversation that inspires, motivates, seeks understanding and goodwill, or embarks on bridge-building.

We dream big, and express good intentions, but we always fall back into our default way of being, complaining, criticizing, cussing, crass and irrational and base and ignoble.

A PARTNERSHIP FOR NATIONAL UNITY Let’s take the political alliance, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), for example. The initiative started with a gaff between friends, but, motivated and visionary, Everall Franklin, late leader of the Guyana Action Party, took up the idea.

He approached several outstanding, respected Guyanese to head up a political alliance

Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper

of all the political parties; a kind of national-front effort.

His hard work and dogged determination paid off with APNU, a partnership that brought together bitter foes, namely the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and the People’s National Congress (PNC), along with smaller outfits, including Franklin’s party, which, in fact, was rooted in the Rupununni, among the families that revolted against the PNC in the 1960s. Franklin, who had spent time in England, and counted several high-profile national figures as friends, took over the Action Party leadership from Paul Hardy, a descendant of a respected Rupununni family.

These strange bedfellows came together and forged APNU, mirroring the move in Trinidad and Tobago of Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her visionary People’s Partnership. APNU’s leader, Brigadier David Granger, a bright historian and accomplished military officer, brought a new look to the Guyanese political scene.

But the success that Persad-Bissessar achieved eludes APNU. In fact, the Partnership has become a bitter battle ground, with in-fighting, disagreements and leadership struggles erasing its noble intent so inherent in its name.

Rumour has it that one of its political partners, the slow-witted Justice For All Party founded by controversial TV personality, C. N. Sharma, who became embroiled in allegations of pedophile crimes, up and quit APNU after its Member of Parliament, Sharma’s son, got vexed with the APNU leadership.

Lindeners revolted against Granger’s leadership; PNC strongman Carl

ALLIANCE FOR CHANGE If any national Guyanese political outfit promised much and delivered stunning disappointment, it’s the AFC. Co-founders Raphael Trotman and Khemraj Ramjattan came together in a vision of healing and bridge-building, with strong support from the Diplomatic Corps, professional citizens and independent analysts.

The AFC promised to rebuild the Burnham-Jagan 1950s divide.

Trotman acted with noble intent, walking away from the PNC after that Party refused to apologise for destroying the socio-economic structure of Guyana over its 28 years of rigged-elections rule. Ramjattan walked away from the PPP, demanding a dismantling of the Party’s inner centralism.

They joined hands and formed the AFC, and won big at the 2006 elections, re-

placing the WPA and United Force as political forces to reckon with, and ushering in a new promise of a new dispensation. But like APNU, it failed. The AFC has absolutely given up on looking for national consensus, conciliation, cooperation and understanding. It has settled into a very limiting oppositional role.

After the bitter Parliamentary feud over the last National Budget, Trotman sought to make a difference, to re-ignite the AFC’s founding vision. He called up President **Ramotar and Ramjattan, and met with them at an informal setting, and raised the possibility of cooperation, consensus and mutual understanding to move the country forward, to ensure consensual development.

Ramjattan today refers to the meeting as “the grey goose summit,” brushing it aside. In fact, the leaders had come up with a verbal agreement to work together, to advance, to move the country in the right direction.

But, after the meeting, APNU got wind of the meeting, and became upset, accusing the AFC of selling out the cause of the Opposition, such cause being just to oppose Government, a view that top leaders of the AFC came to hold dear to their heart, and now practice. The AFC has lost its way.

Trotman took a backseat in the Party, and focused on his Speakership, trying his best to conduct the business of Parliament with impartial and rational sense. He got back somewhat into the fold after facing controversy, but the AFC lost that Trotman touch, and despite Ramjattan’s noble intentions, the AFC today has fallen into myopic pettiness. It lacks the integrity of fostering a new national conversation, of engineering a new social dynamic, or engaging with Government and APNU to bring a new paradigm to the national table.

In fact, the Party’s leadership took a serious blow when a rift widened between Trotman and Ramjattan, and two camps developed internally, ironically mirroring the very situation Trotman and Ramjattan wanted to heal back in 2006.

Today, the AFC harbours discontents, crass critics without a real agenda, and hangers-on who seem determined to dismantle and destruct, rather than build Turn to page 21 ►

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Tuschen triple-murder…

GPHC appeals for two units of ‘O’ positive blood for Geeta Boodhoo THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) yesterday made an appeal for two units of ‘O’ positive blood for Geeta Boodhoo, who was chopped about the body by her reputed husband early on Thursday morning at her home.

A press release said Boodhoo was severely chopped about the body, has lost her left hand, and is in dire need of two units of ‘O’ positive blood.

GPHC asked members of the public to assist by donating the much needed blood to the Blood Bank in the GPHC Compound on Lamaha Street.

Boodhoo underwent emergency surgical operation on Thursday at GPHC, but her condition has been listed as critical up to press time.

Meanwhile, her mother, fifty-five–year-old, Bibi Zalima Khan, and nineyear-old, Ashley Boodhoo were yesterday laid to rest according to Muslim rites following a post-mortem.

Police have reported

that Khan, Boodhoo and Floyd Drakes all died as a result of multiple incised wounds to the body.

However, the suspect in the slayings, identified as cane cutter Joshua Franklin, remained at large up to press time, and is being sought by the police.

In a fit of rage after gaining entry to the home of his reputed wife, Geeta Boodhoo, by breaking a window in the verandah, Franklin launched a cutlass attack which resulted in three being killed.

Boodhoo’s mother was hacked to death in the living room, while Ashley Boodhoo was fatally chopped in the kitchen after she had exited one of the two bedrooms in which she was hiding with her other siblings.

The body of Floyd Drakes, who was at the home at the time, was found near the outhouse at the rear of the yard.

Franklin reportedly tried to escape after launching his attack, but was pursued and chopped

The living room where Joshua Franklin attacked Geeta Boodhoo and Floyd Drakes

multiple times about the body.

Boodhoo escaped from the house after she had been injured, and went to a neighbour’s house, where she asked for help while hiding from her attacker.

The rest of the children, including twins, survived the brutal cutlass attack by hiding under a bed.

Joshua Franklin’s son, who resides in a cottage in the same yard as the Boodhoos, remains in police custody assisting with investigations.

The police have reported that at about 00:30hrs on December 18, 2014, the reputed husband of Geeta

Boodhoo, 30, of Phase Two, Tuschen New Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, smashed his way into her home through a glass window and inflicted severe chops with a cutlass to her and others who were in the home.

As a result of the as-

sault, Geeta Boodhoo’s m o t h e r, B i b i Z a l i m a Khan, 55, her daughter Ashley Boodhoo, 9, and upholsterer Floyd Drakes, 30, also of Tu s c h e n N e w H o u s i n g Scheme, EBE, succumbed to their injuries. (Michel Outridge)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Five homeless after La Penitence fire FIVE persons were dealt a blow to their Christmas celebration on Friday when fire ripped through their home located at Sideline Dam, Middle Road La Penitence.

In addition, one adjacent home in which five other persons also lived saw the occupants of that building

suffering water damage to personal appliances and other belongings and they seem to be temporarily displaced.

This newspaper was told that no one was at home at the time the fire started, even though persons in the area reported that a pot was left on a stove unattended. No one from the fire service was

immediately available to say on the basis of preliminary investigations, what may have caused the fire.

The Guyana Chronicle was also told by one resident that the fire might have also been electrical in origin, since the home is not powered by the Guyana Power and Light Company but still

Marcelle’s house standing in the background with its broken windows; the remains of the destroyed house can be seen in the foreground

Stepfather conspiracy murder trial…

had electricity and some electrical appliances.

Speaking yesterday was a neighbour, who had to remove her items from her home when the fire started, Marcelle Wilbert explained that she was at work when she received a call that the home behind hers was on fire and that she needed to come

home quickly.

The woman said that when she arrived the fire was almost under control, even as the owner for the burning house could not be located.

One woman said that the house could have been saved had the fire tenders responded more quickly.

Another female resident

said that she was first alerted to the smoke and when she rushed out, she noticed that a house was on fire but by the time she could rush from the short distance she lived to where the fire was; the building was already completely destroyed. The home was made of wood and concrete.

Marcelle Wilbert speaking with the Chronicle after she rushed home to save her home and items yesterday

All three accused freed

By George Barclay

A Demerara Assize jury late yesterday afternoon rejected the prosecution’s story that the trio accused in the murder of their stepfather, Motielall Singh, had received over US$7M from their overseas-based mother to hire a killer to murder their stepfather, who was on a visit to Guyana.

And their verdict, delivered to Justice Dawn Gregory, presiding over the trial, was that the accused Bibi Shamiza Khan, called ‘Sham’; Hoosman Khan, called ‘Strong Man’; and Bibi Farida Khan, called ‘Pum’, were all not guilty of the crime.

Represented by Senior Counsel, Mr. Bernard De Santos, the trio was discharged by the judge. While leaving the dock, the number two accused, Hoosman, resorted to tears; but his sisters, whom the prosecuting attorneys, Misses Natasha Backer and Mercedes Thompson, had accused of making confession statements to the police implicating themselves in the crime,

hurried from the dock and began jubilating.

Earlier, the prosecution had asked the jury to return a verdict in accordance with the evidence led and the oath they had taken. On the other hand, Senior Counsel, Mr. Bernard De Santos had requested a not-guilty verdict on behalf of his clients. Mr. De Santos had also asked the jury to find that there was doubt in the prosecution’s case, and he had said that the accused should be given the benefit of that doubt.

He had exhorted the jury to disbelieve the prosecution’s case, which stated that the three accused had carried out a plot hatched by their mother in the USA, who had sent them more than US$7M to hire a killer to murder her husband Motilall Singh, who was on a visit to Guyana.

The prosecution was alleging that the plot had been carried out.

Senior Counsel had also asked the jury to believe the defendants when they said they had not made any confession statement, as alleged by the police, but that the

police had taken advantage of their ill condition from diabetes and their inability to read or write when they were handed a paper to sign, which they did, not realising that they were signing to an alleged confession.

According to the prosecution, on the early morning of September 7, 2009, Motilall was attacked and murdered. The doctor who performed the post-mortem recorded finding 20 stab wounds on Motielall’s body.

He concluded that death was caused by shock and haemorrhage due to multiple stab wounds.

Replying to the defence claim that the deceased was attacked by masked bandits, the prosecution said the nail to that lie was the fact that the gold rings still decorated the fingers of the murdered man; something robbers would not have left behind.

Prosecuting Ms. Thompson also told the jury that they had overwhelming evidence that they could use to come to a verdict of guilt. The prosecution expressed shock at the verdict, but some spectators welcomed it.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Two killed as truck topples on Linden/Lethem road is registered to one Sohan Bipta of 34 Almond Street,

The toppled truck. One of the dead men is to the extreme left at the back of the truck

THE police late Friday evening were still trying to ascertain the identities of two men of African descent who were killed in an early morning accident on the Linden/Lethem road.

The Guyana Chronicle was told yesterday that the men had been pinned beneath some wood after the truck in which they were travelling toppled while negotiating a turn approximately 10 miles past the Rockstone junction.

Information received state that the truck, GRR 9317, was being driven by 25-year-old Andy Ramsawack of 568 Block X, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara in a north/easterly direction to Linden with a full load of ‘form boards’ when the two men, who were standing on the road corner, asked for a drop and were picked up in the vicinity of Frenchman Junction.

The damaged front of the truck from which Ramsawack and two other persons were rescued after the accident

Ramsawack offered the men a drop, but while going around a turn along the road, one of the wheels of the lorry suffered, a blowout and the driver’s efforts to control the vehicle became futile. The vehicle toppled, in the process fatally pinning the two men who were travelling in its tray atop the wood.

The driver told the police he was driving at a normal rate, but lost control after the wheel blew out. Mean-

while, Ramsawack and two other persons, who were reportedly in the vehicle at the time of the accident, were being treated for injuries up to late yesterday, while the two unidentified men were pronounced dead on arrival at the Mackenzie Hospital in Linden.

The matter was reported to the police at approximately 09:30hrs on Friday morning. The truck that Ramsawack was driving

City Hall budget discussions still on hold - M&CC AS one matter is resolved at City Hall another looms.

Recently, the issue of wage increases for workers of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) was resolved, but now another problem lurks in connection with the approving of M&CC’s budget for 2015.

Recently speaking in an invited comment, Georgetown’s Deputy Mayor, Patricia Chase- Green noted that the budget has not been approved as yet and would not be dealt with until December 22, 2014.

She stated that the main reason the budget is not being discussed earlier, is because, when the Mayor and City Council requested a meeting to discuss it, The Acting Town Clerk, Carol Sooba, stated in a written report that the budget is not important and it could wait.

RECENT BUDGET ISSUE On November 17, 2014, five of six municipalities gathered in the Ministry of Local Government’s boardroom to report on budgetary estimates for 2015, but the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) was singing a different tune.

Sooba at that meeting had

stated: “The Georgetown municipality had some political issues in the preparation of our 2015 budget.”

Sooba explained that while there were several meetings of the Finance Committee to produce the approved budgetary estimates 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.”

ACTING FINANCE CHAIRMAN Since that meeting was held on November 17, the M&CC appointed a new Acting Finance Chairman, Oscar Clarke, who has since been carrying out the duties of Finance Chairman for at least a month according to an employee attached to the M&CC on Tuesday last.

She noted that hopefully now that a person is in place to take care of the Finance Committee, the meeting can be a success and M&CC’s budget can be presented on December 22 without any flaws or arguments.

But lately the M&CC has been receiving bad criticism and are known for having

faults or flaws in any step they take, this was according to several recognised

personnel, who have been witnessing the failures of the M&CC throughout the year.

Queenstown in Georgetown.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Region 6 heavy-duty machinery being vandalised – Chairman Armogan

REGION 6 Chairman Mr. David Armogan has expressed concern over the continuous vandalism of heavy-duty vehicles procured to enhance the drainage and irrigation sector in the East Berbice, Corentyne district.

“Our machines are being vandalised! One of our big excavators that would normally clean drainage and irrigation trenches at Sandvoort Village has been vandalised,” he lamented.

“Someone removed the monitor, which costs $700,000. Until today, it is not operable, because we cannot get the parts for it,” Armogan further lamented.

He said the stolen part has to be imported, and would result in implications in terms of finance and time.

Additionally, he said, two days ago, persons unknown removed other machine parts from an excavator located at Bengal, Corentyne. The thieves stole the vehicle’s starter, alternator, and batteries, which resulted in a loss amounting to $300,000.

“These machines are there to assist farmers. I don’t know if anyone is not seeing…. Nobody is seeing when these machinery parts are taken away!” he fumed.

“Nobody seemed to see when the machinery is stolen, but they see when the machinery is not doing its work,” Armogan declared.

David Armogan

“We are appealing to persons who are benefiting from the machinery to pay attention, because, overtime, if we continue to get this level of attack we are getting, I don’t think we will have machines in another couple of months,” he lamented.

The chairman noted that there are suggestions that the machinery is being sabotaged.

“Some people are saying that the machinery (is being) sabotaged…. At this period, when we are trying to give a helping hand to farmers…. I wonder if there are elements in the community who are trying to sabotage these machines, so that we cannot effectively deliver these services to our farmers?

Armogan mused.

“It is opined that it may be a well-orchestrated attack on these machines, so that mischief can be created,” he concluded.

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

U.S, CUBA relationship improves significantly – St. Vincent PM Gonsalves adjourns Parliament to pay respect Francis for his kind intervention.

Critics feel that the Cuban President did not have a choice to forge a good relationship with the United States because his country was facing serious economic problems since most of their financial assistance were coming from Russia and Venezuela and both countries are now facing serious economic problems and will soon cut off all assistance.

Meanwhile leaders in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are extremely happy about the move. Chairman of CARICOM, Gaston Browne,

Raul Castro

Barack Obama

Dr Ralph Gonsalves

By Oscar Ramjeet

The critics include a few Cuban born US lawmakers including two who are possible Republican candidates for the US Presidency.

Most of the dissatisfied Cubans are the older ones --there is a generation split on the move.. arguing that Castro and the old brigade are still in power and who will continue to rule without holding free and fair elections, and will continue to imprison persons who spoke out against the regime without a fair trial.

However on the brighter side both the Cubans and Americans will set up embassies in Washington and Havana. However critics feel that now that the Republicans control the House and the Senate it would be difficult for a US Ambassador to get the nod of the lawmakers who might block funds for the Embassy in

Havana.

Americans will now be able to travel to neighbouring Cuba, but with little restriction since they have to go through agencies who have licences to do so. This situation will improve after the embassies are established and banking and commercial relationships are established.

Both Presidents Obama and Castro made the announcement at noon last Wednesday and reports from Havana state that church bells were ringing during and after Castro’s speech and there were tears of joys from hundreds. It was the first time in more than five decades that a Cuban President has offered good words for a US President when Castro praised Obama for his action. Both Presidents Obama and Castro also praised Pope

WHILE Alan Gross is celebrating his return back home with his wife, children and close friends, the United States, Cuba and several countries in the world are debating whether or not US President Barak Obama has made the correct move in releasing three convicted spies in exchange for his release as well as other comprimises he made with his Cuban counterpart, Raoul Castro.

It seems to me that most persons agree with the historic move by President Obama, but a large number of American, both Republicans, and Democrats, well as Cubans who live in Miami and the communist island feel that Obama gave too much and received very little.

who is Chairman of the regional body has lauded both Obama and Castro while St. Vincent Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves on hearing the news while in Parliament debating his country’s Budget adjourned Parliament for the day describing the event as one “of earth proportions” In fact at a meeting of Cuba/ Caricom leaders in Havana earlier this month the parties involved in the discussion were optimistic about a Cuba/US trade relationship, but there is still a long way to go for this to become a reality.

The Organization of

American States (OAS) removed the trade barriers at its 39th General Assembly on June 8, 2009. I was present at that CONFAB which was held at San Pedro Sula when the then Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, walked out of the Assembly when she was questioned about US embargo and stated that the ban will not cease until there is free and fair elections in Cuba. There is freedom of speech and the US prisoners are released. It seems as if we will get there sooner than later.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Prolonged dry weather increases fuel consumption – Region 6 Chairman Armogan THE Region 6 Administration has noted that, with the prolonged dry weather, there will be increased usage of fuel; $200M has been allocated for fuel for 2014.

Regional Chairman Mr. David Armogan, during a press conference, observed that as the various pumps are utilised for

longer periods, more fuel would have to be procured.

“At the moment we have fuel, which will last until mid-January 2015, so we will have to go back to central government for additional funds if the pumps are to be operable after mid-January,” he disclosed.

The Chairman noted that if it

does not rain, the pumps would have to continue working to maybe mid-February. This, he said, would have implications for fuel, as monies have already been exhausted.

“As a result, we will have to look to central Government for additional funding, and I hope that the Opposition will

understand this, because they are talking about additional spending…. They must go and tell the farmers that we are stopping the Government from pumping water. They should go there instead of going when there (are) little problems with water and making big noises. They should now go tell the farmers that ‘we are not

going to allow the Government to spend money to buy fuel to pump the water…’

“But they are not going to do that. They are just hiding; they are hiding all over the place.

We have got to be careful with these people, who are running around trying to create mischief in the communities…. You know what they call the silly period -- election period, and we should expect a lot of silly things coming from some of these people,” Armogan declared.

Armogan has, in the meantime, debunked the suggestion that fuel has been pilfered, resulting in a $7M increase when compared with 2013. This year, $200M have been allocated for fuel.

“We do not have evidence of pilfering…the problem is that (with) the dry weather, we have had to push the pumps for longer periods, we are now supplying more acreage…. Two years ago, we only had about 50,000 acres under cultivation. Now we have 62,000 acres under cultivation, so we are providing water to an additional 10,000 acres,” he boasted.

GARBAGE Addressing the garbage issue, Armogan confessed that the administration was not able to deal with the problem in a way it would have liked.

“We have a private contractor picking up garbage in the Berbice area, but as far as I am concerned, he has not been effective with respect to service delivery to the householders; and understand, too, (that) the householders have been hesitant to take his services, as they have to pay $300 per barrel,” Armogan said.

However, he noted that, despite residents’ resistance, the laws have now been put in place under the new regulation, which is now in effect.

“We have asked the members of the neighbourhood policing group who will be working with the municipality, and they will be empowered by law to enforce the regulations. One of the big problems we have had is that we have only been talking.

The time has come to enforce the regulation.’

The fine, he said, is $50,000 per householder who disposes of garbage in public places and practises indiscriminate dumping.

“The businesses have a way of giving the junkies [narco addicts] a hundred dollars to let them dispose of it (their garbage)… We are not going to charge the junkies, they will have to tell us where they get the rubbish from, and we will work to charge those persons who are using the junkies to throw the garbage around the place. For businesses, the fine is $100,000,” he added.

“Additionally,” he said, “if

a person throws garbage out of a car and it’s a hire car and we cannot identify who did it, then the chauffeur will be charged, as he is responsible for providing a receptacle for people to put garbage. At the Berbice Bridge road entrance, when the grass is slashed, it is disgusting to see the volume of garbage thrown on the roadside. We are serious about enforcing the law. In Berbice, we must implement the rules,” he iterated.

WORK STATUS With respect to the work status, the region has completed ninety three percentage of capital works. “We still have another seven percentage of work… the administration is optimistic that we will complete 100% work as long as the weather is in our favour,” Armogan declared.

“In terms of current expenditure, we are just over ninety percent in spending, and we are hopeful that all monies under the current expenditure will be expended before the end of the year,” he said.

Armogan was convinced that monies would not be returned to the treasury. “We are not going to send back any monies to the treasury, because every dollar you send to the treasury is a dollar you are robbing the people of services….

Every extra dollar we can spend we will spend to make sure our people are happy, so that we can bring some measure of comfort to residents in the various communities,” Armogan said.

RAINS We are preparing for the rains…and we have already been working over the last couple of months to ensure that our drainage systems are clean; to ensure that the water can flow out of the land as quickly as possible.

“At present there are twelve machines working throughout the region in the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and municipalities. When it rains, it is expected that the situation will be so managed as to eliminate or minimise flooding,” the Chairman promised.

“We are also cleaning our sluices. People accuse us of cleaning the sluices only when it rains, but there is a reason for that. If you clear the sluices in the dry weather, within one week it is blocked up again because of the siltation which takes place at the mouth of these sluices.

Once you don’t flush regularly, there will be siltation, and to do so (flush regularly), water is needed.

“Additionally, our Meteorological office is not accurate, and sometimes you cannot depend on their predictions to accurately say what you will do. Many times they say it will rain and then there is sunshine, and when they say sunshine there is rain,” he admitted.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Clean-Up My Country activities sa – overall health and aesthetics of THE Georgetown aspect of the Government of Guyana Clean-Up My Country initiative which commenced in July 2014 with a mandate to clean up the Capital City continues to bring significant health and economic benefits to thousands of the City’s residence.

A press release from the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development stated that to date, 52 communities have signed onto the Georgetown Clean-Up Programme. Of those communities, 20 have completed the community

sanitation and aesthetics improvement project while 32 are actively involved in de-weeding and de-silting of drains, de-weeding of parapets and alleyways, and removal of garbage piles.

The following lists outline the communities completed and other communities where works are in progress: 20 COMMUNITIES COMPLETED: Albouystown, West Ruimveldt, East La Penitence, Lamaha Park, Middle Road La Penitence, Durban Backlands, East Ruimveldt, Shirley Field-Ridley,

Stevedore Housing Scheme, Riversview, Wortmanville, Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Kitty (north & south), Century Palm Gardens, Meadow Brook, De-bushing in Plum Park Sophia Tucville (Phase 1), Rasville, Cummings Lodge (1st to 6th Street), guyhoc Park and South Ruimveldt Park (Phase 1 & 2).

WORKS IN PROGRESS IN 32 COMMUNITIES: Festival City, Tiger Bay, Alexander Village, Kingston, North Ruimveldt,

Some of the extensive clean-up works that have been executed

South Ruimveldt (Phase 1 & 2), Guyhoc Garden, Guyhoc Park, Tucville, Alberttown (North), Alberttown (South), Campbellville (West), Sophia ‘A’ to ‘E’ Fields, Lodge Housing Scheme, Tucville (Phase 11), Tucville (Phase 111), Atlantic Ville, Cummings Lodge, Subryanville, Lamaha Gardens, Kitty (Central), Campbellville (East), North East La Penitence, West La Penitence, Lodge

Housing Scheme, Castello Housing S Charlestown, Nort Queenstown and Me For the hundred are benefiting from t nity clean-up activity pleased to see the co the communities drai had been covered wi

A typical alleyway in Lamaha Gardens prior to the community

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

aturate about 80% of Georgetown communities are improving daily entering the communities.

Dwelling in filth and stench had become a comfort zone for many residents since they continue to dump garbage and human waste in drains and in alleyways and they show little appreciation for the resources put into cleaning-up their community.

d in and around the city

Lamaha Springs, Scheme, Agricola, th Cummingsburg, eadow Bank. ds of residents who this general commuy, many of them are oncrete foundation of inage systems which ith 4 to 5 feet of silt;

clean-up

water which was stagnant for many years is now moving; heavily sited-up culverts are now cleared; alleyways which were engulfed with dense and overgrown vegetation are now visible and accessible.

A preview of an alleyway in Lamaha Gardens during the community clean-up.

The garbage crisis continues to be a concern across the board. For many areas, the unsightliness was visible upon

In other instances, the well-manicured lawns and picturesque scenes are disguises to the poorly kept alleyways since many persons residing in residential areas choose to dump their garbage into alleyways instead of utilising the disposal service provided by the City.

On the positive end, close to 2,000

persons have been employed as supervisors, community enhancement workers and truck drivers. Hundreds of truckloads of silt and garbage have been removed from communities.

Overall the health and the aesthetics of the communities across Georgetown are improving daily.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Contractor Nauth gets $350M to construct part of East Bank Berbice roadway DESPITE receiving severe criticism for alleged substandard work having been done along the East Bank Berbice thoroughfare, Contractor Nauth has been awarded another contract, valued at $350M. According to Regional Chairman Mr. David Armogan, the rationale is that it is

difficult for a contractor to repair what is irreparable.

“Sometimes a contractor gets a bad name for something he himself cannot do better. Even Peter Lewis [another contractor] …the work he did has returned to the way it was before. Once the rain begins to fall, all the patchwork will return to

(their) poor original state,” Armogan rationalized.

He, however, noted that the contract is for the stretch of road from Bermine to Light Town Village, East Bank Berbice.

According to Armogan, the Chief Planning Officer is expected in the region shortly, and he would be

looking at the bad part of the road, from Tacama Turn to Bermine.

“That’s where most people live…. Sometimes it boggles my own mind that, why should we expend monies…. However, there is an explanation for that…. The Inter-American Development Bank [IDB] (is funding) the

first phase, which is about US$7M…. the whole road has to be redug…there is no foundation on that road….

The IDB has already done the consultation and had already done the design for the road, and they have returned to explain the design to the people. Once the design phase is completed, the monies will be released, but I do not know when,” he said.

The chairman, however, admitted that the East Bank Berbice roadway is vital for economic activities, as it is the only area in the region where cultivable lands are available and where there is an increase progression of rice cultivation.

Meanwhile, in June 2013, Armogan had described the ongoing issue in relation to the East Bank Berbice Road as “a contentious issue which we are trying to dissolve all the time.”

Recalling, he told the Guyana Chronicle, “We have warranted to the Ministry of Public Works $20M out of our own (Region Six) budget, which would have been used for the maintenance of roads in Region Six this year.

We had taken that money because we have a limit on what we can spend, and they [Ministry of Public Works] have added $19M, and Nauth [contractor ] has been given a contract to do a maintenance programme on that road (that would last) for the rest of this year. The maintenance work has been started, but when we inspected the road recently, we found that what Nauth is doing is not going to hold, it will be a waste of tax payers’ money,” he had emphasised.

“As far as I am concerned, it will be a waste of tax payers’ money…. I have asked the Ministry of Public Works to relook at that exercise, to look at what he (contractor) has been doing and change his scope of work, as it will be meaningless to scarify, throw some loam, throw some crusher run…. As soon as the rain falls (for) a couple of days, it will be displaced.

So they have to look at another scope of works, and that is what the ministry is currently looking at. And hopefully, we

will get some action within a couple of days. Thirty-nine million is a lot of money to go down the drain like that.

That which is done presently cannot hold, so we need to see what else can be done.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of the East Bank Hire Car Association, Mr. Maxwell Semple, revealed that the ongoing works are of a substandard level and the contractor is not maintaining the thoroughfare as specified on the bill of quantities document.

As a result, Semple informed this newspaper, works have been stopped along the East Bank roadway, as the contractor was expected to fill the holes with reef sand, then crusher run, then asphalt.

“But what he is doing is that the potholes are being filled with reef stand and crusher run, and no asphalt.

As the rains come, everything washes out in a matter of three/four days.I told the chairman [Regional] that the work must (be stopped) as it is a waste of taxpayers’ money.”

This newspaper was informed that officials from the Public Works Ministry, along with regional officials and concerned residents, inspected the stretch of road between the villages of Islington and Light Town, were dissatisfied, and have deemed the exercise “unacceptable.”

“At the rate he [the contractor] is going, within a month or two, $38M to $39M will finish and the residents will not benefit from the temporary relief,” Semple lamented.

In April 2013, President Donald Ramotar had assured residents that remedial works would continue on the East Bank Berbice roadway until the International Development Bank [IDB] approves a $20B loan to reconstruct the twenty-five-mile thoroughfare.

Residents and hire car operators had protested the condition of the road by parking their vehicles to block access to the roadway and by blocking the roadway with derelict vehicles.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

18 months jail for break and enter and larceny FORTY-EIGHT-YEAROLD Ray Singh of Lot 180 Third Street, Alexander Village Georgetown was sentenced to eighteen months’imprisonment after he confessed to a charge of break and enter and larceny.

The craftsman ap-

peared before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs Marcus, who imposed the custodial penalty even as the thief begged for a month, i n c o n t r a s t t o S e rg e a n t Godfrey Playter’s request for a three-year term of imprisonment.

In the New Amsterdam

Court, Playter said that on Wednesday, December 3, at about 02:30hrs, Lorna Campbell, who lives at Winkle Road, was awakened on hearing a noise emanating from her storeroom. On checking, she discovered that a vacuum cleaner and a Shell (Rubis)

Partnerships and alliances demand...

From page 10

and construct. Its leadership seems without vision or direction.

Its focus on good governance and corruption and accountability lacks depth.

The AFC dances a directionless waltz with the private newspapers, each feeding off the other for relevance to the citizen.

Both the Government and the ruling PPP/C admit there’s corruption in the State system. Corruption is a five-decade old problem.

Lack of accountability is a five-decade old problem: ask the Auditor General. Government and the PPP know this. The AFC and APNU want widespread corruption among police officers to stop, but chops the national Budget for Amerindian development and tuition fees to the University of Guyana. This irrational behaviour baffles any right-thinking person.

Not once has the AFC or APNU produced a single article to showcase the progress Guyanese have made in the past two decades. Yes, there are major setbacks in development, but Guyanese today live way easier lives than even a decade ago. The AFC leadership engages a national newspaper with deep roots in the underworld, being hypocritical in who they criticise for moral, ethical behaviour.

Squandering their majority in Parliament, neither APNU nor the AFC came up with any defining national solution, but instead adopted a stance of opposition, criticism and scapegoating, becoming petty, crass and non-working. It’s a lazy, irresponsible and silly way to see oneself and one’s role in the history of this nation.

Even Peter D’Aguair’s United Force (UF) and the WPA played a defining role in this country. The AFC is yet to find its footing to make the difference it says it exists to make. It must learn to lead with courage and strength, and not allow just anyone to speak on its behalf. It must adopt principles, policies and practices that define its integrity and intent, instead

of allowing its name to be associated with crass characters lacking even basic conciliatory skills.

Across the Guyanese society, the political culture defines us, shapes how the citizen lives, informs on how we develop ourselves.

One would think a Majority Opposition Parliament would have delivered telling solutions to pressing community problems. Instead we saw major fallout in the AFC, with many overseas activists migrating to APNU, or quitting the national stage.

Several scandals have hit party leaders. It deals with these with self-righteous indignation.

In its self-righteousness, it failed to deliver solutions.

It failed to build bridges. It failed to transform the national conversation. It failed to cultivate cooperation, consensus and conciliation.

Instead, it resorts to the blame game, something that has defined the Parliament, to the chagrin and frustration of Guyanese around the world.

In all this, the nation ignores the man who is its President. President Ramotar and the Government got into power because they won free and fair national elections.

Whatever the challenges, difficulties, shortcomings, inefficiencies and internal issues that face Guyana and its Government, it’s our moral duty to work with a freely and fairly elected Government to develop this society.

President Ramotar, and in fact most ministers, would easily admit that several handicaps and shortcomings bedevil the society. Governance is not an easy thing in this society. The national skills crisis, widespread illiteracy, affecting especially the Public Service, the migratory brain drain, all these add up to make governing this society a task with monumental challenges.

These same problems in fact affect APNU, AFC and every organization in this country. It is, therefore, a moral imperative that AFC and APNU, being Parlia-

mentary parties, engage the Government, seeing that our nation is approaching our 50th Independence Anniversary.

The defining political leaders of our time – Trotman, Ramjattan, Nagamootoo, Ramotar, Rohee, Texeira, Luncheon, Granger, Greenidge, et al – these must learn to sit around a table and talk, engage each other in goodwill and good sense.

The Opposition leaders must ditch their arrogance, and see that Government, as freely and fairly elected, holds the Chairmanship of the nation. Government sits at the head table. Government sets the agenda.

Everyone knows how humble and easy-going President Ramotar is: it’s his character, the nature of the man. He might not be totally in charge at Freedom House or even at Cabinet, but he is the President today, and his simplicity, humility and easy engagement are qualities that are especially suited to this time.

The future of the Guyanese nation lies in the hands of these few leaders. The nation watches, wanting each one to inspire us, motive us, become our role models, show us how we could cultivate harmony and peace and goodwill.

In the hands and hearts of these leaders lies the destiny of the Guyanese body politic: are we going to see political progress in 2015, or political decay?

As we see emerging from the Rodney Commission, political decay leads to economic and social destruction, and even assassination of our noble sons and daughters.

Our history warns us not to allow our nation to fall into political decay. We must seek cooperation, conciliation and empathy. These lead to political order. We’ve got to shun the chaos of divisive, scapegoating rhetoric.

Let’s cultivate a new season in our nation, with humility, a heart of service, mutual understanding, cooperation and goodwill.

gas bottle were missing.

Checks were made within the surrounding area, and the two articles were found under a heap of grass. The police were informed, and the thief was found in close proximity to where the items were

recovered.

When questioned, Singh admitted entering the storeroom and removing the articles.

In court, Singh said he saw the storeroom open and he entered and took the articles. He claimed

that the son of the virtual complainant gave him a trashing just before the police arrived at the scene.

Singh told the magistrate that he did not ask for the items, as it was late and he did not want to disturb the occupants.

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CAMERON APPLAUDS GCB ...

From page 33 selectors, now headed by your own Clive Lloyd, will have to choose.

And there are economic benefits and incentives to be had as well.

The franchises across the region will gain a percentage of the WICB revenue which will go towards the broader First Class player pool. Before, this revenue share went only to the international players. Let me state that the WICB is committed to partner with the 6 TBs to fund 6 First Class Franchises in the region.

I am happy to say that the GCB recently set up the Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) which will oversee the operations of the franchise system on behalf of the WICB. The CGI is charged to ensure the 15 players selected under their franchise are properly developed and prepared for WICB selection.

As I alluded to earlier, the franchise players have the responsibility of adhering to their signed retainer contractual agreement by maintaining their fitness levels and training standards as outlined by the Guyana Jaguars coaching staff.

The players are being paid and provided the support to ensure that they are true professional cricketers.

They have a responsibility to attend to their end of the bargain by ensuring that they do what is required of

them in maintaining high standards of fitness, performance and professional conduct on and off the field.

It is a system of professional accountability to which the players must sign on and conform. The franchise system also gives the franchise the opportunity of addressing one of the concerns the just concluded Task Force cited of getting closer to our players.

Our players need to feel we are supporting them in their endeavour to improve their performances. “We believe that if we take care of the players they will take care of the performance”.

We now are turning our attention to Women’s Cricket as they have been our most successful team. We now have a Women’s Championship and we need to improve on the domestic structure as well.

I take this opportunity to charge the selected 15 professional cricketers to commit to your development and your career. At the same time be very cognizant of the need for you to develop yourselves off the field, make the time to further your education, speak to the Board and ask for guidance they will know how best to advise you.

It is important that you ensure you are well rounded for life after cricket. In this regard there are also other opportunities available for your life after cricket

– there are coaching certification programmes, umpiring and match refereeing opportunities among others.

You should not wait until your playing days are over to think about these things. You must think of them now and formulate a plan.

Cricket, on average will take up between 10 to 15 years of your adult life. Cricketers these days, with the exception of the evergreen Shivnarine Chanderpaul of course, retire in their mid to late 30s.

There are several decades of life left after retirement.

Not only will you, as a professional cricketer, want to give back to the game but you will also want to keep active and continue to earn an income from the game.

Our sport is a diverse o n e w h i c h re q u i re s many talents and skills and you should also give thought to what you wish to pursue once the bails are lifted on your playing days.

Of note we have also created the West Indies Retired Players Foundation to raise funds, assist our former heroes and most of all look at ways that we can keep some of our former players in the game as mentors, trained coaches etc.

Once again congratulations to the awardees, and I applaud the efforts the GCB has made and continues to make in the development of the youth cricket through the stages.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Smartt and Permaul named Senior Cricketers-of-the-Year … Hetmyer cops Junior Cricketer-of-the-Year title

By Calvin Roberts

FEMALE West Indies fast bowler Tremayne Smartt and former West Indies ‘A’ team skipper Veerasammy Permaul were last Thursday night named the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Female and Male Cricketers-of-the-Year for 2014.

Pugnacious national opener Shimron Hetmyer who carted off three individual prizes and was in the reckoning for another, was named Junior Cricketer-of-the-Year, even as Phaffiana Millington, Joshua Persaud and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, walked away with multiple accolades.

Narsingh Deonarine, who earlier in the day was named as replacement for the injured Assad Fudadin and will join the

West Indies team in South Africa, was named the Senior Domestic Cricketer-of-the-Year, while national skipper Vishaul Singh won the Most Improved Player award for his exploits.

Millington won awards for Most Wickets in Regional Under-19 and Most Valuable Player (MVP), Persaud for Most Runs in the Regional Under-15 and MVP in Regional Under-15 and Chanderpaul for Most Runs in the Regional Under-19 three-day and MVP in the Regional Under-19 three-day.

Hetmyer was rewarded for scoring the Most Runs in Regional Under-19 50 overs, MVP in 50 overs and his Junior Cricketer-of-the-Year Award, while he was also nominated for the Senior Cricketer-of-the-Year Award alongside Permaul and Deonarine.

Latoya Smith (Most Runs in female U-19), Kevin Sinclair (Most Wickets in Regional U-15), Adrian Sukhwah (Most Runs in Regional U-17), Kemo Paul (Most Wickets U-17), Shurfane Rutherford (MVP U-17), Steven Sinclair (Most Wickets, U-19) and Shiraz Ramcharran (Most Wickets U-19 50 overs), were also rewarded.

Guyana and West Indies ‘A’ fast bowler Ronsford Beaton and the country’s latest Test player Leon Johnson also attracted individual awards for their achievements with the West Indies ‘A’ team and recognition of his selection to the Test team respectively.

Special Service Awards were presented to Zaheer Mohammed (Journalist), Wazim Habib (Curator), Jaipersaud Hardeo (Umpire) and Savitri Persaud (Administrator) even as Sterling Products Limited and Banks DIH were honoured for their sterling contributions to the game as a sponsor.

Albion Cricket Club won the Club-of-the-Year Award from Demerara Cricket Club and Berbice Police Cricket Club respectively, who were all nominated for the said title.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Smith and Johnson drive Australia to lead of 97 over India … Skipper Steve Smith hits sixth Test century

(REUTERS) - Skipper Steve Smith scored 133 and Mitchell Johnson a gamechanging 88 as Australia took a first-innings lead of 97 after being dismissed for 505.

Australia had looked to be facing a sizeable deficit in the second Test when they lost two early wickets to slip to 247-6, but Smith and Johnson combined for a Gabba record seventh-wicket partnership of 148 runs from 160 balls.

Both fell to paceman Ishant Sharma (3-117) in the same over an hour after lunch but Mitchell Starc continued the resistance with his fourth Test half-century and partnerships of 56 with Nathan Lyon (23) and 51 with Josh Hazlewood (32 not out).

Starc was the last batsman to fall, bowled by Ravi Ashwin for 52 four balls after the delayed tea break.

Steven Smith acknowledges the cheers, reaching a century on his captaincy debut.

Smith, deputising for the injured Michael Clarke for the remainder of the series, became the first Australian to score a century in his maiden Test as captain since Graham Yallop in 1978.

It was his second century of the series after his unbeaten 162 in the first Test victory in Adelaide last weekend and a fourth in eight Tests this year.

It was Johnson’s pugnacious 93-ball knock, though, that turned the day in Australia’s favour after he arrived at the crease an hour into play with his team tottering and well short of India’s tally of 408.

Fired up by some sledging from the tourists, the paceman stopped the rot in no uncertain fashion by clubbing the ball around the ground with 13 fours and one six.

The left-hander looked to be heading for his second Test century when he chased an Ishant delivery only to get a top edge which Mahendra Singh

Dhoni snaffled up behind the stumps.

Smith, who had brought up his sixth Test hundred with his 10th four through the covers just before lunch, followed five balls later when he chopped on to be dismissed for the first time in the series.

For the first hour, however, it had looked like being India’s morning after an Ishant inswinger bowled Mitchell Marsh for seven and Brad Haddin fended a short Varun Aaron delivery straight to Cheteshwar Pujara at short leg for six.

Scoreboard

INDIA 1st innings 408: M. Vijay 144, A, Rahanie 81. J. Hazlewood 5-68.

AUSTRALIA 1st innings o/n 221-4 C. Rogers c Dhoni b U. Yadav 55 D. Warner c Ashwin b U. Yadav 29 S. Watson c Dhawan b Ashwin 25 S. Smith b I. Sharma 133 S. Marsh c Ashwin b U. Yadav 32 M. Marsh b I. Sharma 11 B. Haddin c Pujara b Aaron 6 M. Johnson c Dhoni b I.Sharma 88 M. Starc b Ashwin 52 N. Lyon c R. Sharma

b Aaron 23 J. Hazlewood not out 32 Extras: (lb-4 nb-10, w-5) 19 Total: (all out; 109.4 overs 505 Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-98, 3-121, 4-208,,5-232, 6-247, 7-395, 8-398, 9-454.

Bowling: I. Sharma23-2-117-3 (nb-6, w-2), V. Aaron 26-1-145-2 (4b-1), U. Yadav 25-4-101-3(w-2), R. Ashwin 33.4-4-128-2.

INDIA 2nd innings M. Vijay b Starc 27 S. Dhawan not out 26 C. Pujara not out 15 Extras: (lb-2, nb-1 3 Total: (1 wickets; 23 overs) 71 Fall of wickets: 1-41 Bowling: M. Johnson 8-3-29-0 (nb-1), J. Hazlewood 6-0-24-0, M. Starc 4-1-10-1, S. Watson 5-3-6-0.

Guyana lose Wasteful Windies batsmen final hockey ... must do better, says Johnson From page 35 scoring off two penalty corners in the 21st and 26th minutes, through Jordon Reynos and Marcano respectively to go into halftime up 3-0.

Guyana came out strong in the second half and were rewarded for their efforts with several penalty corners, which again were not converted and the third quarter ended without any further goals being scored.

Facing their first defeat of the tour, the Guyanese upped the pace even more in the fourth quarter and were awarded a penalty stroke when their star striker Aroydy Branford was fouled by the Trinidadian goalkeeper in the scoring area.

Branford stepped up and calmly dispatched the ball into the goal and the hunt was now on. Attack after attack was turned back by a strong T&T defence. Branford was unfortunate not to score his second as one of his shots rebounded off of the crossbar.

With Guyana now pressing high up-field Trinidad were able to counterattack off every turnover and were awarded a penalty corner on the stroke of full time, which was covered

by Marcano to complete his hat-trick.

Although the defeat was a disappointment to the players who had won their previous three matches on the tour, the coaching staff was pleased with their overall performance and the fact that they were able to match skills with one of the best hockey-playing nations in the Caribbean.

Their performance was even more impressive considering the fact that Guyana players do not possess an artificial turf on which to train and play. This developmental tour was just the first step in a two-year preparation programme designed to expose the team to a series of high-level competitions as they prepare for the junior Pan American Cup in Toronto, Canada scheduled for June of 2016.

CENTURION, South Africa (CMC) – Rookie left-hander Leon Johnson yesterday lamented the West Indies’ wastefulness, after their batsmen wasted good starts to be knocked over cheaply on the third day of the opening Test against South Africa.

The top five batsmen all passed 20 but none managed to convert his innings into a major score as West Indies tumbled for 201 in their first innings, in reply to South Africa’s mammoth 552 for five declared.

Following-on by 351 runs, the tourists battled to 76 for two at the close at SuperSport Park.

“It was frustrating because the first round batter got into the 30s but no one carried on but that’s just how it goes sometimes,” said the left-hander, who was among the offenders with 31 in an hour at the crease.

“I think come this innings we have got to set that right, we’ve got to get in and play very long innings.”

West Indies were given a good start by openers Devon Smith, who top-scored with 35, and Kraigg Brathwaite, who got 34, as they put on 71 for the first wicket.

They were both dismissed in the space of 13 balls with just one run added, but West Indies rallied to 162 for three before losing their last seven wickets for 39 runs.

Marlon Samuels chipped in with 33 while veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul got 21.

“It is difficult to put the finger on exactly what it is but if you bat a period of time and you get in and get yourself out, it’s probably a mental lapse somewhere along the line,” said Johnson, in only his second Test for West Indies.

“Smithy (Devon Smith) and Kraigg gave us a platform to launch from but unfortunate, as I said, the guys got in and then got out. It was very important they saw off the new ball as openers usually do, it’s just unfortunate we didn’t capitalise.”

Johnson was leading the Windies fight at the close, having occupied the crease for 73 balls and hit six fours in his unbeaten 33.

He put on a crucial 44 with Brathwaite (20) for the second wicket after Smith perished cheaply for five with the score on eight in the fourth over of the innings.

With West Indies still 275 runs behind, Johnson said it was critical for the Caribbean side to display their fighting spirit in order to save the Test.

“We’re (275 runs) behind and we have two days to go so obviously we have to fight hard, the guys have to dig in and bat for long periods,” he stressed.

Left-hander Leon Johnson hooks during the third day’s play yesterday. (Photo courtesy WICB Media)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

FIFA to publish Garcia report in ‘appropriate form’

By Brian Homewood MARRAKECH, Morocco (Reuters) - FIFA’s executive committee has unanimously agreed to publish an “appropriate” version of a report into the bidding process for the 2018/2022 World Cups but said Russia and Qatar would still stage the tournaments.

“The decision which has been taken on December 2, 2010, stands and there is no revote to take,” FIFA president Blatter told a news conference in a luxury Marrakech hotel.

“We will go on by sticking to our decisions, both tournaments are in our calendar, and we also need to determine when 2022 will take place,” he added, referring to the controversy over the timing of the tournament in the Gulf state.

“There must be huge upheaval; new elements come to the fore the change this, but the executive committee sees no need to change anything.”

Blatter added that the crisis FIFA has faced since the publication last month of a summary of former investigator Michael Garcia’s 18-month investigation was over.

“We have been in a crisis (but) with the decision of the executive committee today, the crisis has stopped.”

Football’s governing body had previously said it could not publish Garcia’s 430-page report for legal reasons.

However, FIFA’s ethics committee will now publish the report “in an appropriate form once ongoing procedures against individuals are concluded”, Blatter said in a statement issued shortly before a news conference.

Garcia has opened official investigations

against a number of individuals, which Blatter confirmed yesterday, including three members of the current FIFA executive committee.

FIFA could not say how long the process would take but Blatter said the ethics committee should speed up.

would investigate how the names of the three members were leaked to the media.

SHED LIGHT Football’s governing body had been under pressure to publish a redacted version of

Journalists look at a light installation showing the official logotype of the 2018 FIFA World Cup during its unveiling ceremony at the Bolshoi Theater building in Moscow, October 28, 2014. (Credit: Reuters/Maxim Shemetov) “The executive committee is asking the ethics committee to accelerate the movement, to take on more lawyers because we have needed two years to have a first report and we have to accelerate movement,” he said.

He also said the disciplinary committee

Phelps sentenced to 18 months probation for drunken driving

By Steve Ginsburg BALTIMORE, USA (Reuters) - American swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all-time, was sentenced yesterday to 18 months probation and a year suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to drunken driving.

The 18-time Olympic gold medallist was arrested for drunken driving early on September 30 after speeding and then crossing the double-lane lines inside a Baltimore tunnel, police said.

The sentence was handed down by Baltimore City District Court Judge Nathan Braverman.

Phelps, 29, was clocked by radar around 01:40hrs travelling 84 miles per hour (135 kph) in a 45-mph (72MICHAEL PHELPS kph) zone, police said.

Phelps, who has won 22 Olympic medals and appears to be eyeing a spot on the U.S. team for the 2016 Olympics, blew a .14 on a Breathalyser, nearly twice the legal limit of .08 in Maryland.

Police said an officer followed Phelps’s 2014 Land Rover onto northbound Interstate 95, through the Fort McHenry Tunnel under Baltimore Harbour, and pulled him over just beyond the tunnel’s toll plaza.

Garcia’s report to help shed light on what happened during the turbulent process for the tournaments awarded to Russia and Qatar, respectively.

“I am pleased they have agreed. It has been a long process to arrive at this point

and I understand the views of those who have been critical,” Blatter said.

“We have always been determined that the truth should be known. That is, after all, why we set up an independent Ethics Committee with an investigatory chamber that has all necessary means to undertake investigations on its own initiative.

“At the same time we also need to remember that while the report is complete, the investigations flowing from it are not.

We must ensure that we do not jeopardise those investigations and the proceedings against various individuals already initiated by the independent Ethics Committee.”

The decision followed a presentation by Domenico Scala, head of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee and one of only six people to have seen the report.

Garcia, who said himself that the report should be published, investigated allegations of corruption in the bidding process, during which he interviewed 75 witnesses.

In November, FIFA’s ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert issued a 42-page summary of Garcia’s report which identified cases of “inappropriate conduct” in a number of the bids but said there was not enough evidence to justify re-opening the process.

Garcia immediately appealed against Eckert’s statement, saying it contained misrepresentations.

His appeal was ruled inadmissible this week, prompting his resignation.

Scala said the decision not to revisit the 2018 and 2022 vote was supported by two independent, legal experts he had consulted.

Universal Solutions T20 Final action at Albion today

… Female exhibition to be played

By Calvin Roberts FOLLOWING the performances of the Berbice Titans and President’s XI in the Universal DVD Club and Universal Solutions ninth anniversary T20 Festival last Sunday, excitement will be at fever pitch level at the Albion Community Centre ground tonight from !8:30hrs, when the two meet in the final for the $200 000 top prize.

Prior to the playing of the final, Universal Warriors will oppose Universal Solutions Tigers in the third place playoff, a game that will be preceded by a female exhibition featuring two sides, led by West Indies players Shemaine Campbelle and Tremaine Smartt.

The Titans will be missing five key players in Raun Johnson, Jonathan Foo, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Jason Sinclair and Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai, who along with Royston Crandon are involved in the Guyana Cricket Board/NAGICO Super50 practice matches at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

Despite this, they still have at their beck and call, former national Under-19 skipper Eugene LaFleur, Ashkay Homraj, Joshua Ramsammy, Romario Shepherd-DeJonge, Eon Hooper and skipper Devendra Thakurdeen to call on for tonight’s final.

Lloydel Lewis will lead the President’s XI and he can expect support from of Arthley Bailey, Linden Austin, Krisendat Ramoo, Manoj Looknauth and Keon DeJesus who can all combine to destrot the Titans, thus creating an upset win in the process.

With the expected unavailability of Crandon, players of the calibre of Joemal LaFleur, David Latchaya, Dimitri Cameron, Clinton Pestano, Shawn Pereira, Troy Gonsalves and Damion Van Tull are all expected to turn up trumps for the Universal Warriors.

However, the Universal Solutions Tigers with such players as skipper Anthony D’Andrade, Seon Hetmyer, Kevon Jawahir, Arif Chan, Daniel Lewis and national Under-19 fast bowler Nial Smith within their ranks, the Universal Warriors will have their work cut out for them if they intend to land the thirdplace spot.

The runners-up in this tournament will pocket $100 000, with third- and fourth- placers receiving $50 000 each, while individual prizes for Best Batsman, Bowler and Man-of-the-Match in the Final will be up for grabs.

Meanwhile, the female teams will be chosen from Shemaine Campbelle, Sherica Campbelle, Tremaine Smartt, Shabika Gajnabi, Rushanna Lynch, Phaffiana Millington, Devonna Frank, Aleema Arokium, T’Keyah Isaacs, Nagma Budhoo, Sheneeta Grimmond, Erva Giddings, Natasha Gangoo, Jennifer Kewley, Melanie Henry, Kavita Ramsammy, Tessa Park, Steffi Rodney, Mandy Mangru, Odessa O’Neil, Latoya Smith, Shirley Boyce, Akaze Thompson, Shawna Vanderstoop, Christine Quintyn and Erica Batson.

Side attractions for the day’s activity include trampoline, Granny Ivelaw and her dancing girls, bouncy castle and musical sound system, while a drinks and food bar will also be available.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Cameron applauds GCB on fantastic year

By Calvin Roberts PRESIDENT of the West Indies Cricket Board Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron last Thursday night showered praise on the Drubahadur-steward Guyana Cricket Board for another fantastic year on and off the field of play, at that entity’s annual awards ceremony.

Addressing his audience which included former GCB president Chetram Singh, Retired Chancellor of the Judiciary Cecil Kennard, Guyana Olympic Association president K. Juman-Yassin and other special invitees and awardees, Cameron said he was heartened by the success story the GCB wrote this year, despite the circumstances they faced.

He began his feature address by responding to a statement made by Juman-Yassin who called for the WICB and if possible International Cricket Council’s strong intervention with the issues affecting the GCB and its administration of the game locally.

Below is Cameron’s feature address, including his response to Juman-Yassin; “I must say that we have been trying at the WICB level, to bring the situation in Guyana to an end and up to today, I spoke with CARICOM Secretary General as it relates to the GCB situation, so yes we are working on seeing things being straightened out as the GCB is an important factor of the WICB. The strength and legacy of club cricket in this country is rich and in many ways unparalleled in our region. So many clubs in this vast country have nurtured players from their cricketing infancy all the way to the Test arena.

From the Georgetown Cricket Club to Demerara Cricket Club to Albion to Port Mourant to Blairmont – international cricketing legends and icons of the finest calibre have come from all corners of Guyana.

Their names are as familiar to you as they are to cricket fans everywhere in the world – Clive Lloyd, Rohan Kanhai, Lance Gibbs, Alvin Kallicharran, Basil Butcher, Colin Croft, Roy Fredericks, Carl Hooper, Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

The production line of iconic cricketers here in Guyana and in the rest of the Caribbean was something we all took for granted. We were so richly blessed with players who were world-beaters that we became complacent in the thought that these players would just keep popping up.

Things have been different in recent times.

The production of world class players has dried up.

Some of the players of the past who played a handful or no international matches at all, in today’s world, would have likely had long careers – Faoud Bacchus, Rabindranauth Seeram, Leonard Baichan, Andrew Lyght and so many others.

It brings us to the question of what must we do to strengthen our game to ensure the future success of West Indies Cricket?

You have all heard it said before – that in the past when Guyana played Barbados at Bourda or at Albion, or even at Hampton Court it was like a mini Test match. The contests were intense, the players were on both sides were gunning at each other and it was a battle royale and the crowds came out in the thousands to view these epic encounters.

How are we going to raise the profile of First Class cricket to a level where we can market it as an attractive product?

At the WICB we have examined the West Indies cricket structure from bottom up and we recognised that there has been a weak link in our First Class competition.

It had become diluted and lost a good deal of interest. We also came to our senses that when we were beating the world they put in a proper First Class structure and restricted our participation.

The players were not always able to prepare for the regional season in as thorough a manner as they would have liked because they could not dedicate the time and energies towards it as they were seeking livelihoods elsewhere.

I am pleased to report to you that as of this

administrators.

We now have the beginning of a professional cricket structure. This is the sound bite for the media - we believe this structure will start bearing fruit in 2-3 years not after 4 rounds.

From the results thus far it appears as though the newly minted Guyana Jaguars have found an excellent formula for success as with four rounds of the Regional 4-Day completed they lead the points table with 57 points.

This marks a tremendous turnaround from finishing bottom of the table last season. The team management, the GCB and all those involved deserve a resounding round of applause and I am certain you are looking forward to this continuing all the way to the final round.

A confident-looking WICB president Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron was caught by Chronicle Sport Cullen Bess-Nelson delivering his feature address last Thursday night at the Guyana Cricket Board awards ceremony. year that has changed.

The WICB has launched the Professional Cricket League. Players are on annual retainer contracts and cricket and only cricket is their job. No longer do they have to treat cricket as an amateur or semi-professional endeavour.

You now have 15 of your best players on contract who receive a monthly salary which allows them the comfort of taking care of themselves and their families’ needs.

They go to their cricket jobs every day like any other employee. They train and practice and enhance their skills and on a day-to-day basis – all with a view to ensuring that they are fully prepared for competition in the Regional 4-Day and NAGICO Super50 tournaments.

We have umpires a few years now that are full time. We have 12 umpires who are being paid annual retainers a few years now.

The Franchise system is supposed to hire at least 12 full-time coaches and competent

I must also say this is not a surprise to me as they were the most prepared at the seminar we had in Barbados to discuss the business plan around the new franchise, with special kudos being given to Anand Sanasie and Raj Singh.

What this turnaround tells me though is something very instructive. It is that the teams are not markedly superior to one or the other and therefore with an equal opportunity of preparation any team can move to the top of the table and take the title.

This is not only instructive but also encouraging as we are unlikely to see regional cricket dominated by one team for a long period and this will only help to engender strong competition and lift the quality of regional cricket – not only at the top levels but also at the junior levels.

It is this sort of commitment to purpose, detailed execution of plans and sustained

preparation that will be required of each of the Territorial Boards and the franchises across the region to ensure the rebirth of a world class West Indies First Class Tournament and I cannot emphasise this enough.

But this is certainly not the be-all and endall. After all, First Class cricket is the level just below Test cricket so First Class cricket, in terms of the developmental pathway is at the top level.

However, we envision, that with a strong First Class structure where young players can see that there is a viable career and a livelihood to be had from cricket they will have a greater interest at the youth level.

What a strong First Class structure allows is for cricket to be an attractive life choice. So even if a player does not make it to the Test arena he can still benefit from a reasonable life once he sustains his performance at the First Class level.

So the first thing is that we will be able to ensure that our best players are playing in the franchises. They will have high quality coaching and support staff, they will be playing at the best venues and on improved pitches (We have engaged Kent Crafton from St Lucia as the consultant on our pitches and he has started his remit). The quality of the competition will rise.

Then following on we will see a greater level of competition within the various territories among players who will be competing for those attractive annual franchise contracts.

This will then have the knock-on effect of raising both the quality and profile of the Under-19, Under-17 and Under-15 tournaments as selectors and franchises will be looking at these competitions to identify the best players of the future and to secure franchise contracts.

It is the natural developmental path but one which had to be structurally organised by the WICB and one which now has to be executed by the Territorial Boards and the franchises. It is not a secret formula; it is a practical approach to strengthening our beloved regional sport.

(I must congratulate the President and Hon Sec and the rest of the executives for the work they have done in winning the WICB U-19 and U-15 competitions this year - round of applause) It is truly the professionalisation of West Indies cricket.

There is no doubt that talent exists within each territory but these young players need that developmental pathway where they can receive the coaching and be part of a meritocratic system that they know what is required of them at every stage to move on to the next level; a system which provides them with the resources to improve their skill level and fine-tune their game to allow them the competitive edge.

The first responsibility is for these players to be captured in our school and club systems.

This will then allow the Territorial Boards through the Professional First Class Franchise System, to identify the best players at these various stages.

As it stands to date, the choices from which the WI sectors are working at the various stages are very limited. The Professional Cricket League will expand the pool of players from whom the West Indies See page 29

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Ramdhani set to rack up more badminton wins NATIONAL badminton player Priyanna Ramdhani seems poised for another year of multiple title wins at the annual Woodpecker Products Badminton tournament, as she racked up more wins in the Girls’ Under-13, Under-15 and Under-19 singles when the second day of the competition continued last Wednesday at the Queen’s College auditorium.

Having already triumphed in the Girls’ Under-13 singles when the competition began last Monday, Ramdhani followed up with another win against Abosaide Cadogan when the two went head-to-head in a Girls’ Under-15 singles on Wednesday.

Ramdhani defeated Cadogan in another two-set, this time ending 21-8, 21-3, capturing one of three wins that she registered in the Under-15 category that day. Ramdhani also trounced Priyanka Shivnauth (21-1, 21-0) and Siya Persaud (21-3, 21-5) in the Under-15 category.

Priyanna also routed Sudarshani Sooknarine 21-1, 21-1 in the Girls’ Under-13 category, and smashed Nyckelle Yearwood with a similar score in the Under-19 category.

Barring her defeat against Ramdhani, Cadogan, who also participated in multiple categories, registered wins in all her other matches. She whipped Shivnauth 21-3, 21 -1 in the Under-13 category, and triumphed

against Persaud 21-9, 21-7 in the Under-15 category and against Amanda Daniels in the Under-19.

Over in the Boys’ category Narayan

ceremony at 13:00hrs.

Full results for Day 2 matches are as follows: Under-13 Girls Singles Round Robin:

Priyanna Ramdhani (fourth from left) with some of the other girls participating in the Woodpecker Products Badminton Tournament.

Ramdhani also claimed multiple wins defeating Ronald Chang Yuen in the Boys’ Under-19 singles and Open singles.

The competition, which is being sponsored by Woodpecker Products for the fourth consecutive year, is scheduled to conclude today at the same venue.

Competition starts at 11:00hrs and is expected to be followed by a short presentation

Priyanna Ramdhani trounced Siya Persaud: 21-1, 21-1.

Priyanna Ramdhani whipped Sudarshani Sooknarine: 21-1, 21-1 Abosaide Cadogan thrashed Priyanka Shivnauth: 21-3, 21-1.

Siya Persaud defeated Sudarshani Sooknarine: 21-5, 21-9.

Under-15 Boys Singles Round Robin:

Super 8 semi-final action tonight on the ‘West Side’ ... Slingerz FC vs Pouderoyen, Den Amstel vs Uitvlugt

IT’S ALWAYS a David versus Goliath scenario whenever a team opposes the mighty Slingerz FC. And tonight, in the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) Super 8 Knockout tournament, Pouderoyen will be tasked with what has been so far impossible, that is, to defeat the ‘West Side’ champions.

To date, teams in the WDFA have not been able to stop Slingerz and tonight, all roads lead to the Den Amstel Community Centre ground as football fans will be eager to witness the duel.

Slingerz and Pouderoyen will play in the second game of the double-header while the home side (Den Amstel) will come up against their neighbouring nemesis Uitvlugt in the first game.

Two years ago, businessman Javed Ali gathered some of the best players from across Guyana to form what he hoped to be Guyana’s best footballplaying club.

They (Slingerz) have won every tournament played on the West Side and are yet to taste defeat against a team within the WDFA. The team with the likes of Devon Millington and Vurlon Mills capped their performance by winning the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) 2013/2014 Banks Beer Cup at the National Stadium against Santos.

Behind coach Bill Wilson, Slingerz won their opening game of the Banks Vita Malt and Aqua Mist Water-sponsored tournament with a well-played and tactical 5-0 score over Beavers FC while Pouderoyen had a comfortable 2-0 victory against Stewartville.

Meanwhile, the opening game will be one of profound interest when Uitvlugt and Den Amstel meet.

Historically, the two villages are bitter enemies in sports, especially in football, where over the years, the heated exchange on the pitch oftentimes spill into the crowd as their respective supporters stop at nothing in showing their support.

Den Amstel demolished Wales 15-0 in a show of aggression and their nononsense approach to the tournament and Uitvlugt were made to fight hard against a young Eagles Football Club whom they overcame 4-2.

With $1M up for grabs, tonight’s semi-finals should be fireworks and will certainly give fans their money’s worth of football.

Tyrese Jeffrey gained a walkover from Akili Haynes.

Under-15 Girls Singles Round Robin: Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Abosaide Cadogan: 21-8, 21-3.

Abosaide Cadogan overcame Priyanka Shivnauth: 21-3, 21-1 Siya Persaud crushed Priyanka Shivnauth: 21-6, 21-5.

Priyanna Ramdhani smashed Priyanka Shivnauth: 21-1, 21-0.

Abosaide Cadogan defeated Siya Persaud: 21-9, 21-7.

Priyanna Ramdhani overwhelmed Siya Persud: 21-3, 21-5.

Under-19 Girls Singles Round Robin: Priyanna Ramdhani beat Nyckelle Yearwood: 21-1, 21-1.

Abosaide Cadogan defeated Amanda Daniels 21-1, 21-5.

Under-19 Boys Singles Round Robin: Narayan Ramdhani defeated Ronald Chang Yuen: 21-12, 21-8 Jonathan Mangra got the better of Ronald Chang Yuen: 21-10, 21-11 Open Men’s Singles Round: Narayan Ramdhani defeated Ronald Chang Yuen: 21-8, 21-10 Christopher Persaud overcame Avinash Odit: 21-18, 19-21, 21-14 Jonathan Mangra upstaged Avinash Odit: 21-19, 16-21, 18-21

Bravo, Russell fail to prevent Renegades loss SYDNEY, Australia (CMC) – West Indies all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell produced small cameos with the bat but could do little with the ball, to prevent Melbourne Renegades from slipping to a comprehensive eight-wicket loss to Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League here yesterday.

Sent in, Renegades posted 154 for seven off 20 overs, with top-order batsman Callum Ferguson top-scoring with 40 from 32 balls and opener Matthew Wade getting 35 from 18 deliveries.

Bravo struck 22 from 18 balls with one four and two sixes to provide momentum during the middle overs for Renegades, while Russell arrived at the end to blast a four and a six in an unbeaten 18 off 13 balls.

In their turn at the crease, Sixers were lifted by opener Nic Maddinson’s superb unbeaten 84 off just 54 balls with four fours and six sixes, as they got home with seven balls to spare.

The 22-year-old put on 64 for the first wicket with Englishman Michael Lumb (28) and then a further 90 for the second wicket with captain Moises Henriques who hit 36.

Medium pacer Russell managed just one for 25 from his 2.5 overs while Bravo, also a seamer, went wicket-less but was miserly in his three overs which cost 18 runs.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday December 20, 2014) DEVON MILLINGTON None of the previous meetings between the two sides has ended in a lopsided affair but Slingerz FC always get the better of their rivals.

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALLBourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 2259230) &CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 7 Test hundreds

(2) Roy Fredericks

Today’s Quiz:

(1)Where and when did Robert Christiani make 99 in his first innings in Tests?

(2) Who is the first and only WI to date to crack an ODI hundred on debut?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 20, 2014

Windies battling to avoid defeat after collapse CENTURION, South Africa (CMC) – Embattled West Indies were staring at yet another defeat inside five days, after their chronically weak batting imploded again here yesterday, to leave South Africa in complete command of the first Test.

Replying to the hosts’ imposing 552 for five declared, West Indies collapsed for 201 all out in their first innings on the

Vernon Philander picks up 4 for 29. third day of the contest at SuperSport Park, and were forced to follow-on 351 runs behind.

At the close, they were fighting on 76 for two, still requiring a further 275 to avoid an innings defeat.

There was perhaps no sign of what would unfold with West Indies cruising at 72 without loss and then 162 for three, 45 minutes before tea.

However, seamer Vernon Philander sliced through the in-

nings to finish with four for 29 and fellow fast bowler Morne Morkel claimed three for 55, as the Caribbean side lost their last seven wickets for 39 runs.

Injured fast bowler Kemar Roach was unable to bat.

West Indies batsmen were guilty of getting starts but then failing to carry on. Opener Devon Smith, a late replacement for the injured talisman Chris Gayle, top-scored with 35, his partner Kraigg Brathwaite scored 34, while Marlon Samuels chipped in with 33 and Leon Johnson 31.

Veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul managed only 21.

Smith and Brathwaite gave West Indies a positive start to the day, playing confidently against South Africa’s new-ball attack.

The left-handed Smith was tentative early on but grew in confidence, welcoming the introduction of rookie quick Kyle Abbott with two successive fours on either side of the wicket, in the 11th over of the morning.

Brathwaite, meanwhile, capitalised on his opportunities.

He gathered the first boundary of the morning when he punched fast bowler Dale Steyn through cover off the back foot and followed up with a whip to the square boundary off Philander five overs later.

With West Indies becoming entrenched, Philander struck twice in successive overs to remove both openers. In the fourth over after the first drinks break, Smith was given out caught behind on review, after the decision initially went in his favour.

He appeared to miss a pull at Philander and though replays were inconclusive, the decision was surprising overturned. He faced 74 balls and struck six fours in 98 minutes at the crease.

In Philander’s next over with one run added, Brathwaite followed Smith, caught at first slip by Hashim Amla, after hitting five fours off 61 balls, leaving the Windies to rebuild.

Samuels then underpinned two solid partnerships as West Indies fought back. He added 44 for the third wicket with Johnson, helping to take West Indies to lunch at 110 for two, before putting on a further 45 for the fourth wicket with Chanderpaul.

The left-handed Johnson had batted an hour, faced 42 balls and struck four fours when he drove Abbott airily to cover in the third over after lunch, for substitute Robin Petersen to pouch the gift.

Samuels, who faced 66 deliveries in two hours at the crease and counted five fours then combined with Chanderpaul to push the Windies up to 149 without further loss, at the first drinks break of the session.

Concentration seemed to wane again on resumption and West Indies lost Samuels, cramped for room on the back foot and playing onto Morkel at 169 for four.

Chanderpaul was gone 22 balls later with only seven runs added, squirting Philander to Alviro Petersen at second slip and Jermaine Blackwood hung around three-quarters of an hour over 12, before Petersen snared his second in the same position off the fired-up Philander.

Captain Denesh Ramdin failed to lead by example, producing a loose drive and tapping a tame catch to cover off left-arm spinner Dean Elgar to fall for 14, as West Indies slumped badly.

Asked to follow on, West Indies were in trouble early when Smith was caught in the cordon for five off Philander, with just eight runs on the board in the fourth over of the innings.

Johnson, unbeaten on the close on 33, then put on 44 with Brathwaite (20) to hold up South Africa’s quest for further breakthroughs.

And the pair seemed set to take the Windies to the close without further loss when Brathwaite pushed firmly at a full length delivery from Morkel and edged to second slip where Petersen held a brilliant catch on the second attempt.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 552-5 decl.

WEST INDIES 1stInnings K. Brathwaite c Amla b Philander 34 D. Smith c de Villiers b Philander 35 L. Johnson c sub. (R Peterson) b Abbott 31 M. Samuels b Morkel 33 S. Chanderpaul c Petersen b Philander 21 J. Blackwood c Petersen b Philander 12 D. Ramdin c van Zyl b Elgar 14 J. Taylor c & b Morkel 4 S. Benn not out 6 S. Cottrell b Morkel 2 K. Roach absent hurt Extras: (lb-6, w-3) 9 Total: (all out; 60.2 overs) 201 Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-73, 3-117, 4-162, 5-169, 6-184, 7-193, 8-193,

9-201.

Bowling: Steyn 14-3-53-0, Philander 15-6-29-4, Abbott 143-50-0, Morkel 15.2-4-55-3, Elgar 2-0-8-1.

WEST INDIES 2nd innings (following on) K. Brathwaite c Petersen b Morkel 20 D. Smith c sub (T Bavuma) b Philander 5 L. Johnson not out 33 M. Samuels not out 13 Extras: (lb-2, w-3) 5 Total: (2 wkts, 27 overs) 76 Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-52.

Bowling: Steyn 0.5-0-3-0, Morkel 7.1-1-26-1, Philander 3-3-0-1, Abbott 3-0-11-0, van Zyl 10-2-11-0, Elgar 3-0-12-0.

Position: West Indies trail by 275 runs with eight wickets standing.

Guyana lose final hockey game to T&T GUYANA’S Junior Men’s Hockey team lost their final game against the Trinidad and Tobago U-19 Development Team last Thursday evening - a defeat to end their tour.

Guyana had remained perfect at the National Hockey Centre, Tacarigua with victory in a warm-up match against Paragon Hockey Club and two subsequent wins over the Development ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams earlier in the week.

On Thursday in the final game, Guyana were beaten 4-1.

The Trinidadians started the game at a much faster tempo than they did in the first match and were rewarded with an early goal when star striker Tariq Marcano latched onto a loose ball at the top of the D and unleashed a powerful reverse shot to the bottom left of the goal.

Guyana weathered the early storm well and counterattacked at pace to create several goal-scoring opportunities that went a-begging.

The first quarter ended at 1-0 and Guyana continued to penetrate the Trinidadian scoring area in the second quarter but were not converting their chances.

Trinidad made them pay for their lack of finishing by See page 31

Guyana’s National Junior Men’s Team pose with coaches Dwayne Alleyne and Robert Fernandes at the end of their match against Trinidad.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Cameron see applauds Please story on page 33 GCB on fantastic year

Smartt and Permaul named Senior Cricketers-of-the-Year

Please see story on page 30

… Hetmyer cops Junior Cricketer-of-the-Year title

The Awardees or their representatives strike a pose with members of the Guyana Cricket Board and their feature speaker for the night’s activity, WICB president Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron (sitting at right). (Photo by Cullen Bess-Nelson)

ICC launches ‘Greatest World Cup XI’ D

West Indies-Winners of the first World Cup ever (1975) 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

UBAI, United Arab Emirates - The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 begins on February 14 when New Zealand take on Sri Lanka in the tournament opener in Christ-

church.

With less than two months to go, ICC has launched ‘Your Greatest XI’, which will allow fans a unique chance to pick their Greatest All-Time Cricket World Cup XI from the previous 10 editions of the event.

The ICC database consists of over 100 of the greatest World Cup players of all-time. A photo and a short Pen Profile that describes their World Cup record and their memorable impact at the event is available for each player. The ICC also lists detailed World Cup statistics for each of the players.

The players fall under four different categories batsmen, bowlers, all-rounders, and wicketkeepers. Each XI you choose should feature at least two batsmen, one all-rounder, one wicketkeeper, and two bowlers.

You can pick your Greatest XI here: And if fans share their team on social media, they stand to be in with a chance to win exclusive World Cup merchandise with dozens of exclusive pieces of memorabilia being drawn for those who use the hashtag #CWCGreatestXI on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.

The fans aren’t the only ones who will be participating in this. Several cricketing legends across the world will pick the greats they think should make the Greatest XI, and these will be shared on the ICC website.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2014