Guyana chronicle 21 07 14

GUYANA No. 103895

MONDAY JULY 21, 2014

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

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

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$100M computerised asphalt plant commissioned in Berbice

Page

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––could produce 60 tonnes of asphalt per hour

Another one gone!

Double murder and suicide rock ‘gay’ 2 community Page

–Suspect’s mother unaware son ‘was into boys’ Dead, Samuel Bristol

Even His Excellency, President Donald Ramotar found it difficult to control his joy at the demise of another Jamaica Tallawahs wicket yesterday (Photo by Adrian Narine)

Dead, Carl Sinclair

Dead, Jason John

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 20, 2014

Double murder and suicide rock ‘gay’ community

By Leroy Smith

JASON John, 21, also known as ‘Jada’ of Lamaha Street, Alberttown, Carl Sinclair, also known as ‘Tyra Banks’ of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo and Samuel Bristol, 31, of Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara, all members of the ‘gay’ community, met gruesome deaths yesterday morning in a double

––Suspect’s mother unaware son ‘was into boys’ murder followed by suicide.

Just after midnight on Saturday, John and Sinclair were attacked and stabbed to death two streets from each other by Bristol who had gone into a fit of rage before ending his own life by

drenching himself with acid on Regent Street hours later.

The two were stabbed on Leopold and High Street and Lombard Street respectively.

The Guyana Chronicle, which was the first media

who is also a commercial sex worker and Bristol’s former lover.

According to information received, Bristol had shared a five-year relationship with a male commercial

Meanwhile, not giving up on his love for his male intimate partner, Bristol would usually visit the North Road location in the vicinity of St George’s Cathedral to

Dead, Samuel Bristol

Dead, Carl Sinclair

Dead, Jason John

house on the scene, was told by female sex workers and colleagues of the dead young men that Bristol had committed the act after he failed to get to another homosexual

sex worker named Mario but that relationship was ended after Bristol was deemed an abuser.

look for Mario after hearing that the man was engaged in commercial sexual activities, against Bristol’s wishes.

On Sunday morning when Bristol showed up at the location he spotted Mario and attempted to advance towards him. However, he desisted as Mario was in the company of about 12 members of the gay community.

Bristol then remarked: “You see you, I catch you this time for myself, I see you with my own eyes,” as he spoke of catching Mario red handed dressed in female attire and reportedly soliciting sex. The man then attacked two of the commercial sex workers further up the road by throwing a corrosive substance at them.

But he missed the target and the commercial sex workers rushed behind the man who was rescued by security personnel in an MMC Security Patrol vehicle and was whisked away.

Shortly after he arrived at the Leopold Street location where he was seen inflicting stab wounds to John after apparently approaching the young man under the pretext that he wanted to have sexual favours. However, John is not known to be a commercial sex worker among the gay community but would occasionally have sex with strange men.

It was during a brief conversation that Bristol whipped out a sharp-edged tool and inflected several stab wounds to the chest and region of John’s heart.

He then fled to Lombard Street where Sinclair would usually be available for commercial sex.

This publication was informed that like John, Bristol approached Sinclair and inflected the stab wounds to his chest and region of the heart. However one man who claimed to witness the incident said that unlike John, Sinclair put up a fight but was overpowered by the man who is physically sturdier than both of his victims.

After being stabbed John attempted to rush back to Leopold Street where his friends were but collapsed and died while Sinclair, who had no idea of what had transpired a corner away, collapsed See page 12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 20, 2014

The Haags Bosch experiment...

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Improving solid waste management, health; creating jobs

By Derwayne Wills LOCAL Government and Regional Development (LGRD) Minister, Norman Whittaker, has disclosed that the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill project is to be replicated in other regions.

This announcement comes on the heels of Guyana acquiring a loan of US$18.02M from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to implement the Solid Waste Management programme.

Speaking at the official launching Ceremony of the Guyana Total Recyclers Co-operative Society Limited on Wednesday, Whittaker acknowledged the efforts of the GT Recyclers and noted that although they faced negative stigma in their fight for recognition from ‘Waste pickers’ status to Recyclers, they “make an honest living.”

Whittaker announced that the LGRD Ministry, supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry, continues to work to “(identify) landfills in each of the other nine regions.”

“We have been advertising [and] seeking expressions of interest from

persons interested in solid waste management,” Whittaker disclosed, as he added that Puran Brothers Disposal Incorporated has given word of its willingness to receive solid waste from Region 2 (Pomeroon-Supenaam), which would be taken to a landfill that is approved by the EPA.

[will] deter people” from littering. The bill, the Local Government Minister said, will “redefine the way we deal with solid waste in this country.”

With a comparative advantage in the health sector, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), through Country

Dos Santos recalled that one of his most memorable experiences was being interviewed by a Brazilian reporter who questioned him on his experiences working with trash, to which he responded, “The greatest challenge was not working with trash, [it was] not letting society turn me into trash.”

The Minister explained that in other regions the initiative is a work in progress.

HEALTH Whittaker recently alluded to the Solid Waste Management Bill, soon to be tabled before the National Assembly, and the Solid Waste Management Authority, which will “make provision, among other things, for the increase in fines, and

Representative Mr. William Adu Krow, commended the initiative, saying: “Recycling allows for reduction in the breeding of mosquitoes”, besides preventing the spread of dengue and other communicable diseases, such as Chikungunya that continues to spread throughout the Americas.

“We all know the implications of waste for health…[and] improper disposal of waste can have health implications,

most of which lead to infections,” Mr Adu Krow said.

JOB CREATION Underscoring the social and economic benefits of effective solid waste management, Whittaker stressed that organised groups such as the GT Recyclers become empowered through legal recognition, and enter a position where they can bargain as a unified body.

He expressed hope that the vision of the GT Recyclers would be pursued in other regions.

Also speaking at the ceremony was Inter-American Development Bank Country Representative Ms. Sophie Mackonnen, who in her remarks noted the positive relationship between recycling and Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy

(LCDS).

She said that recycled items reduce the need for excess raw materials, which in turn would increase the profits of micro and small business enterprises.

Mackonnen also lauded the efforts of the Government for investing in the social component of the programme, which changed the image and lifestyle of the Recyclers.

President of the Association of Collectors of the Metropolitan Landfill of Jardim Gramacho, Brazil (ACAMRJG), Mr. Sebastião dos Santos, delivered a heart-warming message to the gathering on how sanitary landfills continue to change the lives of Brazilians.

Mr. Dos Santos, who spoke in Portuguese aided by a translator, recalled his first lesson working along

with the English-speaking recyclers and opined that “language cannot be a barrier between recyclers in Guyana and recyclers in Brazil.”

The ACAMRJG President, who appeared in the 2010 film “Waste Land”, nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, recognised the similarity in waste management challenges faced by both nations. In 2008, the Brazilian authorities scheduled the closing of 2,800 dumps, placing some 1.2M recyclers -well over the population of Guyana -- out of work.

But in 2002, the Recyclers in Brazil were granted access to the Government, which ushered in the Brazilian Government’s Solid Waste policy, catering for inclusion of the once marginalised and stigmatised Recyclers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 21, 2014

U.S. presses case against Russia on downed jet as horror deepens

By Anton Zverev and Matt Spetalnick HRABOVE Ukraine/ WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry laid out what he called overwhelming evidence of Russian complicity in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 as international horror deepened over the fate of the victims’ remains.

Kerry demanded that Moscow take responsibility for actions of pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine whom Washington suspects of downing the jet with a missile, and expressed disgust at their “grotesque” mishandling of the bodies.

Television images of the rebel-held crash sites, where the remains of victims had lain decomposing in fields among their personal belongings, have turned initial shock and sorrow after Thursday’s disaster into anger.

Emotions ran high in the Netherlands, the home country of about two thirds of

Flowers and mementos left by local residents at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 are pictured near the settlement of Rozspyne in the Donetsk region the 298 people who died in the Boeing 777. The Dutch foreign minister has said the nation is “furious” to hear bodies were being “dragged around,” while relatives and church leaders demanded they be rapidly returned home.

However, the departure of dozens of corpses loaded into refrigerated railway wagons was delayed on Sunday as Ukrainian officials and rebels traded blame over why the train had not yet left the war zone, and where or when international investigators would be able to check it.

In Washington, Kerry criticized Russian Presi-

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dent Vladimir Putin and threatened “additional steps” against Moscow.

“Drunken separatists have been piling bodies into trucks and removing them from the site,” he said on NBC television on Sunday.

“What’s happening is really grotesque and it is contrary to everything President Putin and Russia said they would do.”

Moscow denies any involvement in the disaster and has blamed the Ukrainian military. While stopping short of direct blame on Moscow, Kerry put forward the most detailed U.S. accusations so far that Russia

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provided the insurgents with the sophisticated anti-aircraft systems used to down the aircraft.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond echoed the criticism, urging Moscow to ensure international investigators had access to the crash sites. “Russia risks becoming a pariah state if it does not behave properly,” he told Sky television.

After lying for two days in the summer heat, the bodies had been removed from much of the crash site by Sunday, leaving only bloodstained military stretchers along the side of the road.

Emergency workers, who have to navigate reporting both to the authorities in Kiev and the rebels who control the crash site and other areas in the Donetsk region, will now need to pick through the debris spread across the Ukrainian steppe.

As Ukraine accused the rebels of hiding evidence relating to the loss of the airliner, a separatist leader said items thought to be the stricken jet’s “black boxes” were now in rebel hands.

U.S. CASE Kerry said the United States had seen supplies moving into Ukraine from Russia

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in the last month, including a 150-vehicle convoy of armored personnel carriers, tanks and rocket launchers given to the separatists.

It had also intercepted conversations about the transfer to separatists of the Russian radar-guided SA-11 missile system which it blames for the Boeing 777’s destruction.

“It’s pretty clear that this is a system that was transferred from Russia,” Kerry said in an interview on CNN. “ T h e r e ’s e n o r m o u s amount of evidence, even more evidence that I just documented, that points to the involvement of Russia in providing these systems, training the people on them,” he said on CBS. The disaster has sharply deepened the Ukrainian crisis in which the separatists in the Russian-speaking east have been fighting government forces since protesters in Kiev forced out a pro-Moscow president and Russia annexed Crimea in March.

The United States has already imposed sanctions on individuals and businesses close to Putin but Kerry indicated that President Barack Obama might go further.

“The president is prepared to take additional steps,” he told Fox News, although he

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ruled out sending in U.S. troops.

European Union ministers should be ready to announce a fresh round of sanctions at a meeting of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council this week, said a statement from British Prime Minister David Cameron’s office, issued after telephone calls with French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“They ... agreed that the EU must reconsider its approach to Russia and that foreign ministers should be ready to impose further sanctions on Russia when they meet on Tuesday,” it said.

The leaders also agreed to press Putin to ensure investigators had free access to the crash site.

IDENTIFICATION SPECIALISTS Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said all efforts were focusing on getting the train loaded with bodies to territory controlled by the Ukrainian authorities.

The European security organization, the OSCE, was negotiating with the separatists, he said, adding that a team of victim identification specialists was likely to enter the crash site on Monday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 21, 2014

Mexico home: Authorities begin transfer of children THE authorities in the Mexican state of Michoacan say they have begun to transfer groups of children out of a children's home in the city of Zamora.

The home where more than 450 children lived was raided on Tuesday after parents said their children were living in appalling conditions.

The governor of Michoacan said 167 children had been transferred to homes in other states.

Families complained children were being held against their will and abused.

'CLEAN UP OPERATION' Police said they rescued 278 boys, 174 girls and six infants under the age of three from the House of the Big Family on Tuesday.

Some are being trans-

and new clothing donated by well-wishers and never used.

Instead, children had slept in crowded rubbishstrewn rooms with no toilet facilities on steel cots with no mattresses. Some said they had been fed "rotten fruit, mouldy bread and food infested with cockroaches" from filthy kitchens.

Children cry as they are transferred out of the "Great Family Home"

ferred to homes elsewhere in the country, in Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Mexico states.

Officers said 138 adults aged up to 40 were also living at the facility .

Michoacan Governor Sal-

vador Jara said they were investigating five allegations of unlawful imprisonment. He said he had visited the home along with local officials to see how a clean-up operation had been progressing.

Local newspaper reports said numerous trucks were seen leaving the home loaded with stinking rubbish.

Reporters described whole rooms inside the home filled with brand-new equipment

GraceKennedy buys US company KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC)-GRACEKENNEDY has acquired the assets of USA food business, La Fe Foods Inc, through its wholly owned subsidiary, GraceKennedy Foods (USA) LLC for US$26 million.

Making the announcement Friday, GraceKennedy CEO, Don Wehby, stated, "This acquisition represents a major step for us, and will be the platform for the growth of GraceKennedy’s North Amer-

ican business going forward."

La Fe Foods, a largely Hispanic food manufacturing and distributing company, was established in 1968, and currently has revenues of approximately US$80 million. It has operations in Moonachie, New Jersey; Miami, Florida and Raleigh, North Carolina, with brand and distribution presence in the New York/ Tri-state area, Florida, Georgia and the East Coast.

"I am very excited to enter

this new phase in GraceKennedy’s history, and ask for your support as we continue to execute on achieving our vision."

"While we work to grow the business abroad, please know that our domestic market remains the fortress of our operations. We remain more focused than ever on strengthening this critical market, through increased investments and well-devised strategies to ensure growth in market share

here." Wehby stated.

There were management changes at Jamaican conglomerate owing to the new acquisition.

Wehby revealed premiere among the changes, "Michael Ranglin has been appointed President and CEO of GraceKennedy Foods (USA) LLC, while retaining his substantive position as the CEO of the GK Foods Division. He will be based in New Jersey".

'COMPLAINTS' The home's founder, Rosa del Carmen Verduzco, also known as Mama Rosa, raised thousands of children in the home.

She cultivated patrons among Mexico's political and intellectual elites, and

was visited by presidents and renowned writers.

Last year, parents began complaining to authorities that they couldn't visit their children at the home. Residents told investigators of rapes, beatings and children held against their will for years.

Ms Verduzco, who is 80, is being treated in a hospital for blood pressure and diabetes problems.

She denies any wrongdoing and the local prosecutor says she will be free to go and no arrest warrant has been served against her (BBC News).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 21, 2014

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

Where’s the justice?

THE general public has, time and again, expressed disgust at rulings by officers of the court, where, in most instances, the punishment is either too severe for a mere misdemeanor, or too lenient, especially in instances of armed robbery, home invasions, rapes and sexual misconduct, domestic abuse, and even murder in some instances.

On July 17, this newspaper reported that a mason was sentenced to three years for two gunpoint carjackings. Quoting the Chronicle’s report, “Convicted gunpoint carjacker Akeiron Cummings was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment on two robbery under arms charges, after changing his plea. The sentences will now run concurrently after

the twenty-four-year-old mason accepted the facts against him.

On March 10 he approached taxi driver Colin Williams at the Stabroek Market bus park and requested to be taken to Guyhoc Park.

“Cummings, upon arrival at his destination, brandished a gun and demanded the man’s valuables. He managed to relieve Williams of $3.1M in items, including his $2M car.

“And on March 5, at Diamond Housing Scheme, taxi driver Lionel Seenarine was approached by Cummings for a lift to Durban Backlands in the city. The taxi driver accepted, but upon arrival at the destination, the accused pointed a gun at (the driver’s) head and escaped with the man’s car.

“Before handing down the sentence, the Chief Magistrate took into consideration the seriousness of the offence, the convict’s plea, the saving of the court’s time, and the other pending matters of a similar nature.

“The two-year imprisonment will run concurrently with the other jail term.”

Other pending matters of a similar nature? Is this for real? Newspaper archives are replete with horror stories of carjackings and tragic aftermaths, where bodies of owners/ drivers were found subsequent to the theft of their vehicles, or disappeared altogether if they were not lucky enough to escape from the carjacker; while the vehicles vanished as though by magic, right into the maws of unscrupulous

mechanic shop owners.

The carjackers –- and I daresay potential murderers, if they have not as yet committed the ultimate crime -- then enjoy, along with their relatives and friends, a short time of living well, even luxuriously, off their spoils, before they embark on another foray to wrest someone’s property -- and probably their life -- away from them.

When caught, they are given a rap on the knuckles by some sympathetic judge or magistrate, then let loose to prey on society and innocent and hard-working citizens once more. The criminals are full of glee, because they are licensed to commit as many crimes as they want by these officers

of the court. After all, no matter how many crimes of a similar nature (with the consequential destruction of lives and livelihoods of their victims and their families), their sentences will be reduced to serving minimal time for only one crime, with sentences running concurrently.

As for the dealers who purchase the stolen vehicles, they get off without any sanction whatsoever, because they are given ‘deals’ and not prosecuted at all. As per the Chronicle report: “Before hand-

ing down the sentence, the Chief Magistrate took into consideration the seriousness of the offence, the convict’s plea, the saving of the court’s time, and the other pending matters of a similar nature”.

Other pending matters of a similar nature! The Chief Magistrate did not take into consideration the lives this criminal had shattered nor the fact that he is a threat to other potential victims as soon as he is released, less than three years from this date.

Where is the justice?

Compelling reasons for not wanting An Open Letter to the Business & Professional to attend the US Embassy’s Iftar Community AS part of its anti-suicide campaign, The Caribbean Voice, through its social activism programme Arise, has identified billboards as a vehicle to get the message out there.

Guyana has 65 Local Government districts, and we strongly believe that placing a minimum of one billboard per district would be a very significant anti-suicide strategy.

Now, everyone knows that Government probably does not have the money to construct billboards, but every local government district has a number of small businesses and professionals; so if these individuals can come together and donate a few dollars, the cost of the billboards would be easily covered.

Every district also has carpenters and painters, and those individuals can be approached to donate their services to construct and paint the billboards. In fact, perhaps even the lumber may be obtained as donations from sawmills and lumber dealers, or at conces-

sions that would significantly reduce cost per billboard.

Finally, every community most likely has artists who can be approached to place the messages on the billboard.

In this respect, The Caribbean Voice suggests maximal use of billboards with anti-suicide messages on one side and anti-abuse (domestic, sexual and alcohol) messages on the other.

In effect, each billboard can be a community effort, and perhaps the community can come out when the billboard is erected, and the occasion can be used to inform and educate the citizens on approaches to dealing with these issues.

The Caribbean Voice appeals to the various business and professional alliances – chambers of commerce and industry, manufacturing associations, lawyers’ and doctors’ associations, and so on -- to spearhead efforts to create and erect billboards. We believe that, in many cases, a single business, family or pro-

fessional may be able to cover the cost of a billboard. And the messages can be crafted

by NGOs and individuals operating in suicide and abuse prevention – Help and Shelter, Red Thread, The Guyana Foundation, social workers, psychologists.

The Caribbean Voice is also willing to craft and provide messages if necessary, but that is rather unlikely.

Finally, in the event that certain districts cannot cover the cost of billboards or banners – more than one – cheaper alternatives can be arrived at.

NORKAH CARTER DEVV-RAMDAS DANIEL JUDY DEVEAUX ANNAN BOODRAM BIBI AHAMAD COLLIS NICHOLSON ANNA ADDIE ODYSSEY DONNA JENNIFER ROSS PANDIT SHARMA DANESHWAR

ON Tuesday, July 22, prominent Muslims will be hosted by the US Embassy in Guyana for Iftar; that is, the meal/dinner for the breaking of the Fast of Ramadan.

I was invited, but will not attend for several compelling reasons, including US complicity in the current atrocity being perpetuated by the Israeli occupation forces against the besieged civilians in Gaza.

In the past, I attended many functions hosted by the US Embassy, but this time I will not, as a silent protest. Of course, my protest can in no way be compared to that of the American peace activist Rachel Corrie, who was brutally martyred while protesting the destruction of Palestinian homes in the occupied territories, or that of the countless Palestinian children who have been martyred while protesting occupation and apartheid by casting stones at Israeli war tanks; but at least I can live with a clear conscience.

This Iftar function cannot be organized at a ‘worse’ time than now, when the Government of the United States of America unreservedly demonstrates its full support for the

Israeli invasion of Gaza, which results on a daily basis in the slaughter of innocent Palestinians, including helpless women, children, weak and old people who are totally unable to protect themselves against the might of the Israeli Military.

In fact, the US Senate recently voted in full support for the Israeli Offensive in Gaza, and has committed an additional one hundred billion dollars to the Israeli Government. Therefore, it begs the question as to the real objective of hosting Iftar for Muslims by US Missions around the world. Is it diplomacy or hypocrisy? Is this meant to convince Muslims that the US foreign policies are not aimed against Muslims and Islam? Is this some kind of disguise to justify and appease Muslims regarding the stand of the US Administration on several matters which have negatively impacted on the lives of Muslims around the world? (Space does not allow me to elaborate) Moreover, it is a great paradox for us to be hosted at a meal for the breaking of the fast when the very host is complicit in disrupting the lives

of innocent Palestinians who are supposed to be enjoying the peace of Ramadan in the comfort of their homes while breaking the fast with their families.

The Iftar is not a mere cultural event, but has deep spiritual significance to the person who has been observing a full day’s fast. Iftar is the time for deep spiritual reflection and supplication, including praying for the weak and oppressed.

How can we, with a clear conscience, eat the Iftar provided by the US Embassy when we know for a fact that the very hand that is giving us this Iftar meal is tainted with the blood of the besieged people of Palestine?

Furthermore, what justification would we provide before our Lord when wideeyed Palestinian children will be asked for what crimes they were killed?

For these and many more reasons, my conscience and moral sense of responsibility will militate against me attending this Iftar function, and I hope the same will be the case of the other invitees.

MOHAMED HASEEB

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 21, 2014

My children are qualified, and the positions they hold are through open competition PERMIT me space in your newspaper to respond to a front page article entitled “Family Affair exists at GRA… Sattaur employs two sons, daughter, nephew niece”, published in the July 20 edition of the Kaieteur News.

At first reading of this article, I was most appalled at the level of the depraved mind that would choose to expose my children’s personal details in the public domain, with today’s high crime rate that exists in our beleaguered society.

It’s easy work to establish that they are, on an annual basis, millionaires many times over.

I have given the benefit of the doubt to the owner of the newspaper, as I would not want to associate this cowardly act to a person who is supposedly an upright, principled, and most decent individual; and who, from time to time, would beg for my assistance to employ family members, friends and associates of his at my agency; and who would often request my assistance to expedite matters and I would even go so far as to give him tax breaks on goods and supplies he imports for his business, all within the ambit of the law.

I felt very saddened, too, over the fact that the information could perhaps have emanated from one of my trusted employees at the GRA. I do not, for a moment, want to believe that this act represents tit for tat.

I was reliably informed by a confidential source that a customs staff might have been responsible. I have withheld this individual’s name for obvious reasons, as I don’t know to what extent this individual would go to have overturned the decision to

have this individual audited through the GRA’s risk management system. This decision has not been influenced by the instrumentality of my son, the audit manager.

This flaw of having a junior manager such as my son sign the initial engagement letter only came to my attention recently after this same Customs officer was overheard making threats and, I was informed, even wrote the chairman of the governing board concerning exposure of my family working at GRA. In my time, when I was a manager of audit many moons ago, it was always the practice that such letters be signed by the Head of the division or its senior manager. Incidentally, those individuals, whose salaries tower astronomically and make my children’s combined salary pale into insignificance, are paid adequately to take such risks of retribution as would appear to be the case.

GRA has a policy of seriously reprimanding such persons for exposing private and confidential information; and if only for the purpose of protecting other employees from similar exposure in the media, I want to assure this customs officer, who appears to have sterling principles, high ethical standards, and moral rectitude; and who has all the details accurate, even up to the last dollar, that he/she has not heard the last from me in this response.

It should be noted that the GRA has a professional mechanism to investigate and address these unauthorized disclosures. The public should note with consternation the possibility of disclosure of their confidential information

by such an individual; and, as such, the GRA would be compelled to act to protect the interest of the public.

For the benefit of Mr. Harmon, I would like to point out that my children were not in any way given any special or peculiar treatment; not in terms of position, salary or status.

Both of my sons referred to in the article have worked in junior level positions for several years before being promoted to their current positions, not unlike all other employees of the GRA, and perhaps to their detriment. They are not paid any special salary, as all persons in similar positions are paid exactly the same.

They were subjected to competitive interviews before being employed, and are eminently qualified for the positions for which they were employed and currently hold.

Those interviews are conducted by an independent panel and are given a score rating based on numerous criteria, including education/qualifications, experience, communication skills etc. Appointments to the positions they now hold have to be sanctioned and approved by the Governing Board of the Guyana Revenue Authority, and are not appointments that can be made by me unilaterally or at all.

Furthermore, these promotions have to be recommended by the functional heads of their respective departments, persons who are professionals and are highly competent in their respective fields.

It should be noted that the GRA, and indeed Guyana, has found it difficult to attract and retain these skills. And despite having other opportunities, my children were encour-

aged to stay and serve their country, our beloved country.

For the benefit of Mr. Harmon, I should indicate that Imran is one of a few Chartered Certified Accountants the GRA has been able to attract, and he is the only person with ACCA qualifications who holds such a junior management position at the GRA. Riyad has been employed with the GRA for in excess of six years, and is adequately qualified and experienced for the position he now holds. Notwithstanding, he continues to upgrade his qualifications by pursuing further studies in his field.

It should therefore become apparent and evident that there has been no conflict of interest, no peculiar treatment offered to my children, and no impropriety involved, as is insinuated by the article.

Despite the foregoing, further care was taken to ensure there is neither actual nor apparent conflict of interest existing. Special care was exercised to ensure that none of my children has to report to my office; that I am not their supervisory officer; that I am in no way involved in reviewing their work output; that I am not in a position to review their work; that I do not evaluate their work or performance, and that I do not direct their workflow or assignments.

Additionally, there is no conflict of interest, since I am a salaried employee whose only fiduciary or pecuniary interest is in my salary. Similarly, my children referred to in the article are salaried employees serving in positions for which they are adequately or excessively qualified, and they earn salaries that

are consistent with those earned by other persons at similar or comparable levels.

Therefore, the suggestions and insinuations by Mr. Harmon, as expressed in the article, are not only baseless, unfounded and spurious, but are offending, and call into question the integrity and professionalism of not only myself, but the senior functional heads of the GRA, the members of the Governing Board, and my children.

Mr. Harmon obviously has his work to do, and if he chooses to gain political mileage at the expense of exposing my children’s life to danger, then I can only be consoled by the thought that if anything detrimental befalls my children, and may God forbid; Mr. Harmon, a lawyer, and here I would not want to reveal anything I know of this honourable person’s worth, but I would imagine that, like the rest of the legal fraternity, Mr. Harmon can pay any damage the court will be asked to award.

I would, however, want to assure Mr. Harmon that I do not intend to publish alongside any advertisement placed in the media in the future that the children and relatives of Mr. Sattaur should not apply. They are all protected by the Constitution of this country, which allows for equal treatment under the law and equal opportunities for employment. I would, however, hope that the article catches the attention of the heads of the international organisations in Guyana, such as Caricom and the European Union, IADB etc, so that my children can be quickly absorbed in their employ, as I would rather suspect that were they to seek employment in the private sector; and further,

if they were to be paid out of the public treasury, even more vociferous calls of conflict of interest would be heard.

I collect the revenues from the private sector and pay these revenues into the public treasury. So, in principle, according to Mr. Harmon’s argument, they must not benefit from such monies. Would it not represent a conflict of interest if my children were to be employed by private businesses that are required to pay taxes to the GRA, or have to be audited by the GRA, or if they were to establish private tax consultancy services that represent taxpayers against the GRA? By this reasoning, my children should not be permitted to work! So in the interest of landing my children well paid jobs in these international organisations, let me inform the public that my son who is in the audit department of GRA has the ACCA like his father does, and will presently complete a Masters in Business Administration; and my other son who works in the Information Technology Department of the GRA holds a degree from a prestigious university in India.

I trust that this satisfies Mr. Harmon, and God bless Mr. Customs Officer for helping to secure for my children proper paying jobs with international organisations in Guyana.

Incidentally, my third child, who was a top graduating student in Information Technology at UG, works at the Office of the Auditor General, and he also would like to be considered for a top paying job with an international organisation.

KHURSHID SATTAUR Commissioner–General, GRA

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 20, 2014

Old Kai: Chronicles of Guyana…

Those who misguidedly attacked the Chronicle Editorial ––conveniently ignored these facts

OLD KAI read the Chronicle editorial which APNU spokesperson Joseph Harmon recently condemned for being r a c i s t i n n a t u re , and for which similar condemnation was subsequently observed from the Guyana Bar Associ-

ation, which also included Harmon’s signature among others.

It is nice that the Bar Association seems to have come out from its state of dormancy. It has been silent on several issues, but Old Kai will deal with that in another article.

The gist of the editori-

al at issue is the historical aspect of political indoctrination of criminals by opposition elements, and this is what has ruffled the feathers of those who would like to conveniently sweep this reality under the carpet.

Notice how those attacking the editorial have not made an effort

to point out what aspects were not factual, but have rushed to attack it along some racist line. They even went so far as to point out aspects of the Racial Hostility Act; and I am glad they did, because I will now research all those racially inciting statements which were made by opposition politicians and some in the trade unions over the past few years, particularly in the lead-up to the Linden violence, and I hope the Bar Association will take action, since some of those individuals are from its own membership.

Where was the Bar Association when the PNC/R-APNU circulated a flier during and after the last elections in which they encouraged their supporters to boycott certain businesses, the majority of which were owned by persons of a certain ethnicity?

What message were they sending to their support base by such an action?

Was it not that these businesses were the enemy? The opposition leader and Mr. Harmon should tell the nation if they still have in place such a boycott against certain sections of the business community.

Now, thankfully, a significant portion of their support base refused to fall for this sinister plan, and these businesses went by largely unscathed; but this cannot extricate the APNU from its actions, as Joseph Harmon and the Bar Association are seeking to do now.

Did they not think what kind of message they were sending to

impressionable and misguided youths?

This is further aggravated by the fact that the opposition has always used a kid glove when addressing certain dimensions of crime, especially robbery under arms. Take, for instance, the recent incident where Kevin Fields was killed as he tried to escape after a robbery. He might have lived, had he not opened fire on the unnamed businessman, who was apparently forced to respond, based on media reports. The gun he had in his possession was similar to one of those he had posted on his Facebook page over the past few years.

I had cause to point out recently that, in all of his worrying posts, only two persons condemned his actions: His uncle and apparently his step-father, who came in for attack from other sections of the family for warning him of the consequences of the life he lived. Amazingly, there were those who encouraged him to keep a low profile, lest he attract unwanted attention.

But what about the opposition? What was their response?

Referring to the incident, based on media reports, the opposition leader’s only concern was apparently the need to tighten border security to prevent the smuggling of firearms.

This position is highly absurd, when one considers that we have thousands upon thousands of miles of open borders with the countries that surround us. During his time in the hinterland, Old Kai has personally walked across several locations along the Takutu and Ireng Rivers,

which we share with Brazil. We will need quite a few million security personnel to patrol our borders, if we are to go with Mr. Granger’s plan; but that also is for another article.

There was something missing in Granger ’s reference to the incident; something that is usually missing whenever opposition leaders refer to such incidents. No, I was not looking for him to condemn the actions of the youth, even though there was no condemnation from the opposition. Old Kai simply wanted him to encourage the youths to stay away from a life of crime; put down the guns and pick up the books.

They could not pass off the actions of the youth on economic circumstances, which they have attempted to do in the past, as, apart from all the wads of cash he was observed posing with on Facebook, Fields’ mother has told the media that they were well off economically, with her thriving catering business; while she had given Fields a small shop for him to operate within the community of Agricola, where they lived.

In the meantime, bearing in mind the opposition’s influence in the community of Agricola, did anyone not wonder why the opposition leader, in referring to the Fields incident, not use the opportunity and his See page 9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 20, 2014

Ministry mulling professional teacher standards document

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––countrywide public consultations underway

THE Ministry of Education (MOE) is hosting a series of public consultations countrywide with a number of key stakeholders in a coordinated effort to craft a model professional standards policy document for teachers.

This process is designed to gain feedback on ways to improve the standards and to invite engagement from the profession.

The Ministry strongly believes the teaching profession will be significantly strengthened, further recognised and aptly placed among the other leading professions in Guyana, through the establishment of professional teacher standards.

The Ministry also said that professional standards for teachers would set expectations for achieving desired educational outcomes.

PROFESSIONAL CONSENSUS These standards are not intended as a tool for punitive action. Rather they reflect professional consensus of what is desirable in the supervision, leadership and delivery of education. They also provide a framework that permits professionals to engage in self-assessment. These standards are aligned to the Organization of American States

(OAS), CARICOM and other international standards.

Professional standards offer the professional community specifications against which teachers are able to set goals for personal development and progress in the profession. The standards are multi-dimensional and give awareness to the key props for learning to take place, namely: a motivated

‘These standards are not intended as a tool for punitive action. Rather they reflect professional consensus of what is desirable in the supervision, leadership and delivery of education…

These standards are aligned to the Organization of American States (OAS), CARICOM and other international standards.’

Old Kai: Chronicles of Guyana…

Those who misguidedly attacked ...

From page 10 influence to encourage the youths to stay away from the guns and crime?

Mr. Granger constantly reminds us that one of the pillars of his focus is on youths, yet we have not heard of a single initiative by the opposition whereby they encourage youths to get involved in the many education and youth employment programmes being run by the Government, either through the Ministries of Labour; Youth, Sport and Culture; Amerindian Affairs; Education; and even at the level of the Office of the President. We have seen absolutely no attempt by them to collaborate with these programmes.

What they have done, instead, is use their combined one-seat majority in the National Assembly with the AFC to cut funding for some of these very initiatives.

They have even attacked a revolutionary initiative by the Guyana Police Force to enhance

its relationship with communities where traditionally there has been tension; one area being Agricola.

This is what the Chronicle editorial seeks to highlight -what seems to be a deliberate intransigence on the part of opposition leaders to

shield their support bases from accessing opportunities, and then turn this around, when it is politically convenient, and lay the blame elsewhere, as was so aptly illustrated in the above telephone conversation.

To be continued...

and willing learner; effective teaching and learning and an enabling environment.

Minister of Education Copies of the draft Priya Manickchand professional standards for teachers were made available to teachers in printed form for their perusal and comments.

COMMENTS INVITED The Ministry has also placed the document on its website, www.education.gov.gy to allow for additional comments to be made and to facilitate those who would like to contribute but are unable to be physically present at consultations. In addition, members of the public were invited to submit their comments on the document via email toeducationministry@gmail. com.

Sixty-one consultations on the Professional Standards for Teachers have been held across the country and the last public consultation meeting is scheduled for Paramakatoi Secondary School on July 29, 2014.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 20, 2014

Tourism Minister...

CJIA expansion critical to tourism, aviation sectors

––It’s a non-political issue

By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally MINISTER of Tourism (ag) Irfaan Ali says that the development and expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) are critical to the tourism and aviation sector.

“We are going to stagnate the sector and all those who oppose the development and expansion of the airport

infrastructure now.”

are actually stagnating the tourism sector and the aviation sector,” the Minister asserted during a recent interview on his reaction to the expansion of the CJIA. During the interview, Minister Ali reiterated that from the inception one of the critical infrastructural developments for the tourism sector was the expansion of the CJIA. Minister Ali said, “In Minister of Tourism (ag), Irfaan Ali terms of airlift capacity we have grown, as well as our travelling public have grown… Copa has only recently started to ply the Guyana route and they are landing at CJIA with full passenger capacity and so is Insel Air. The aviation sector requires an infrastructure to accommodate the growth of its development.”

Ali emphasised that airlines are changing and upgrading their fleet to larger, more efficient aircraft and these require longer runways and better infrastructure. “So if we are to have the facilities to meet where the industry is going, then it is very critical for us to develop that

CATEGORY ONE STATUS He also indicated that for Guyana to attain Category One status does not only require the country having good security systems, but the infrastructure and the airport must be up to a certain international standard. Achieving Category One status would see an ease of travel and operational efficiency, while attracting international carriers to Guyana.

He added that this project is no longer a matter to be discussed, but it is one that is essential and will bring great benefits to the country.

“The expansion of the airport is no longer a question as to whether it should be done, it is definitely essential… it is one of the most important projects for us as country.”

Ali recapped that during the 2013 Christmas season, passengers had to stand outside on the apron of the airport for close to 35-40 minutes, because there was no room inside the airport for these passengers. He also noted that when it is raining passengers would have to wait in the aircraft until it stops before disembarking. He said further that there is not enough aircraft parking at

the airport and as a result would have to wait on the ‘taxi areas’.

Ali opined that the Opposition and the people of Guyana should see the CJIA expansion as a non-political issue. “These are issues that we cannot afford to play politics with; issues that affect the development of our country are at stake.

We need to develop that type of paradigm where we block major developmental projects from the political harshness, because it will also send a positive signal to investors who are thinking about making investments into Guyana,” the Tourism Minister stated.

Ali also sternly emphasised: “I would say as Minister of Tourism, I would go beyond every boundary to ensure that this project is completed. It is far too important in our national interest for the tourism sector and the aviation sector to be left as a shadow issue.”

The US$150M project is funded by the Government of China through the Chinese Exim Bank. The expansion will cater for a new terminal building with eight boarding bridges, elevators and CCTV. The runway will be extended by 3,500 feet, and there will be eight international parking positions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 20, 2014

$500,000 reward on offer for recovery of boat engines seized by pirates

By Michel Outridge

OWNERS of the fishing boats that were robbed on July 5, 2014 by two masked gunmen in the Waini area are offering a cash reward for the recovery, or information leading to the recovery, of their stolen 48 horsepower engines.

The pirates had carted off their engines, Global Positioning System (GPS) units and cell phones.

Speaking to this publication on condition of anonymity, the woman said that contact can be made with the owners on telephone number 220-9969 and a reward of $500,000 will be paid.

The woman stated that it is very difficult to replace the stolen engines, since the fishermen who depend on fishing for their livelihood find it difficult to acquire money to buy new engines.

She said that any information received will be treated

with the strictest confidence and they are also working in collaboration with the police.

On July 5, 2014 a group of fishermen from the East Coast Demerara were attacked and robbed of their

engines in the Atlantic Ocean, in the vicinity of the Waini area, while they were fishing.

Three fishing boats were in Region 1 (Barima/Waini) area closest to the Pomeroon River when a small red boat equipped with an engine with two masked gunmen came up alongside the fishing boats and demanded the crew take off their engines and GPS units and other valuables and

hand it over to them.

Although the fishermen were not hurt the incident has left them ‘shaken’ but since fishing is their livelihood they will return to fish as soon as they can replace their

engines which cost $960,000 each and the GPS is valued at $23,000 each.

After the incident, the boats were left to drift but they were rescued by passing fishing boats and were taken to Charity Police Station, where a report was lodged.

The pirates who were not interested in their catch demanded the boat engines before speeding away.

Eyewitnesses unable to link taxi driver to hairdresser’s execution

By Asif Hakim POLICE sources working on the investigation into the execution two Thursdays ago of the Lusignan hairdresser

said that the taxi driver who was detained for questioning is no longer in custody.

Guyana Chronicle was told that when the man was placed on an identification parade by the police, persons who claimed to have witnessed the incident at some stage did not identify him as the driver nor the shooter.

OTHER LEADS Meanwhile, the police have indicated that they will be working on other leads since 19-ear-old Ashminee Harryram more informaof Lusignan who was shot in her tion has been head while on her way home coming to hand

in relation to the shooting and this is being investigated.

Tw o w e e k s a g o , Ashminee Harryram, a Lusignan hairdresser, was gunned down when a car drove up and waited until she and another relative had passed before a gun-toting occupant disembarked and discharged a fatal shot to the woman’s head.

The shooter then rejoined the car and escaped from the scene before the police arrived.

Last week, a Beterverwagting taxi driver was arrested and detained after persons suspected that he was involved in the crime. They told investigators that the vehicle the man was driving matched the description of the one that was used in the crime.

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Double murder and suicide ...

From page 2

died on the pavement on Lombard Street.

B o t h b o d i e s w e re sprawled.

The police reportedly responded quickly to the scene. This reporter who was not far away from the area, before word of the incident got out, saw an unmarked police vehicle racing in the direction after they got news of the incidents.

Other police patrols then began searching for the suspect after getting a description of him from commercial sex workers at both murder scenes. It was evident that the police, who in the past were very hostile to mem-

bers of the gay community, showed more tolerance in dealing with them yesterday morning and so they received the cooperation of members of the gay community.

However, the police were unable to locate the suspect. It was not until later yesterday morning that the police were called to the scene of a man who had doused himself with a corrosive substance. He was rushed t o t h e G e o rg e t o w n Public Hospital where he died from suspected first degree burns.

One section of the media reported that while on the way to the hospital the man was asking health workers

not to allow him to live.

Meanwhile speaking with June Bristol, the mother of Samuel Bristol yesterday afternoon, the woman could hardly find words to describe the actions of her son and the fact that she was confronted with the reality that he was into intimate relationships with boys, as he never displayed such a tendency.

She said that she could not sleep Saturday night going into Sunday morning because her son was not at home. She said that it was only when she was awakened on Sunday just after 6.00am that she was confronted with the news via

the internet and several calls she got.

According to Mrs Bristol, her son never displayed any signs that something was bothering him until Saturday morning when she saw him looking depressed and asked him. The woman told the Chronicle that her son responded: “A lot of things, a lot of things� at which point she advised him to seek someone he trusted and confide in them.

Bristol said that her son was a man of many girls and she is still unaware of what could have caused him to be influenced by members of the gay community.

Yesterday morning several colleagues of the commercial sex workers and other members of the gay community converged on the scene.

And many of them burst into tears as they viewed the sprawled bodies of the two men in the two locations with their fatal injuries.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 20, 2014

Early Childhood Education awareness sessions continue countrywide

By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally EDUCATION Minister Priya Manickchand recently met with parents and teachers of the Smyth Street Nursery School to enlighten the former on the numerous ways in which they can prepare their children for entry into nursery school.

A child at play at Smyth Street Nursery

During this initiative, which is gaining considerable momentum countrywide, Minister Manickchand highlighted a number of important developmental See page 13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 20, 2014

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Early Childhood Education awareness ...

From page 12

issues that are of interest to children entering nursery school in September 2014.

She said, “The child being able to use the toilet, and (to) eat independently, knowing their correct name and each of their parents’ names is very important and necessary.”

She also noted that it is important that parents teach their children the correct names for their body parts, the alphabet, letter sounds, and alphabet recognition.

Other skills parents can teach their children in speech, for the first year of nursery includes the development of small muscles and acquisition of social skills and manners.

Manickchand encouraged parents to be their children’s first teachers; and she complimented the parents present for showing up at this meeting, as it indicated their seriousness about their children’s development.

The Minister said this group of pupils is coming into the school system at the

best time of the history of our country, when every single nursery school child will be benefiting from a snack every day, provided by the Government, and children would have readers and workbooks, and the highest number of trained teachers to attend to their needs; not to mention that each child is now entitled to receiving $10,000 year year from the education grant.

In 2013, the Ministry changed its nursery school admission policy to allow younger children to enroll into nursery this year. Minister Manickchand noted that it would have been impossible last year for more than 3000 children to enter nursery school. The new policy states that a child must be three years old on or before June 30 of the year their parents wish to enroll them in a public nursery school.

Similar meetings are to be held across the country over the next few days, at which the Ministry of Education will be meeting mainly with parents of all the first-year nursery school students with the view to inspire parents to play their part in starting the education process at home.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand speaking with Smyth Street Nursery’s Year One parents (Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Education)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 21, 2014

$100M computerised asphalt plant commissioned in Berbice

–could produce 60 tonnes of asphalt per hour

The multi-million-dollar asphalt plant at Tarlogie Village

By Michael Khan ROAD builders in Berbice now have an alternative in their field with the commissioning of a $100M asphalt plant at Tarlogie Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

The multi-million-dollar computerised facility is owned by Peter Lewis of

the Associated Construction Services (ACS), and has the potential to produce 60 tonnes of asphalt per hour.

Employees of ACS have received technical training from Indian engineers to operate the VINAYAK equipment which was made in India and to date 800 tonnes of asphalt have already been processed.

A section of the gathering at the commissioning ceremony

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Saturday evening, Minister within the Ministry of Finance Juan Edghill stated that such an investment makes the entire nation proud.

“When we look at a venture like this, it fits within the context of Guyana’s developmental plan,” he said.

“This signals that the

Lewis family consists of visionaries who are seeing where the government is taking Guyana.”

Minister Edghill highlighted the importance of such a facility in Berbice and commended the entrepreneur for making that type of investment.

“On behalf of the People’s Progressive Party/

Reteeka Lewis performs the symbolic cutting of the ribbon in the presence of her father, Peter Lewis (extreme right) and Ministers Benn and Edghill, among other PPP/C officials

Civic administration, I want to extend congratulations to the Associated Construction Services for embarking on this venture,” he said.

ASPHALT PLANT IN BERBICE Minister of Public Works and Transport Robeson Benn also graced the occasion and echoed the sentiments of his cabinet colleague when he described the initiative as a bold step towards progress.

“Having finished the (resurfacing of) road from New Amsterdam to Moleson Creek, we have to do maintenance and, we recognise the need for an asphalt plant in Berbice,” he informed.

Minister Benn said that the investment is a timely one and added: “We all know that asphaltic roads are more durable .... we (the government) welcome this venture and wish Mr. Lewis all the best as he continues to expand his business.”

Meanwhile Vice-chairman of East Berbice/Corentyne (Region 6) Bhupaul Jhangroo in his address noted that the cost of bitumin and acquisition of stone are major setbacks in road construction across the region.

“The absence of such a facility was hindering our

road building project .... this investment is a timely one and we at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) will (now) pursue to construct asphaltic roads (in East Berbice),” he said.

INVESTOR CLIMATE Over the years, the Government of Guyana has been moving in the direction of improving the quality of roads and with the introduction of the asphalt plant, entrepreneurs are encouraged to embark on new projects.

Joseph Lewis, brother of Peter Lewis, told the gathering: “Irrespective of what is being pedaled by the naysayers and doomsayers, the PPP/C is doing a lot for the business sector by providing a conducive environment for investors.”

He also made a pledge on behalf of ACS to provide quality products and service to contractors and the wider community, while promising to increase their production to 120 tonnes of asphalt per hour.

Among those in attendance at the commissioning ceremony were PPP/C Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha, Member of Parliament (MP) Faizal Jaffarally; PPP/C activists, contractors and special invitees.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 21, 2014

South Cummings Lodge residents appeal for better bridges, roads

By Michel Outridge RESIDENTS of South Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara are pleading with the relevant authorities to construct two bridges to replace the two delapidated ones which at present jeopardise their safety because of their hazardous state of disrepair.

When this publication visited the area yesterday, several villagers voiced their concerns, and said that the “short-cut” bridge, as it is called, which joins Second Street, South Cummings Lodge to the other side of

that village via the sideline dam, is a makeshift bridge which is being used by almost all on foot.

“That bridge is a death trap,” one female resident told this publication yesterday. She said it is even more dangerous to cross the bridge at night, since animals also traverse the bridge, leaving huge holes along the way.

And this is compounded by the fact that some of the wood is rotten.

This reporter observed yesterday that traversing the bridge takes some negotiating, and would be a very difficult task to accomplish in the

dark of night, since the street where the bridge is located is without street lighting.

The main access bridge, which is located at the head of Cummings Lodge from Crown Dam, Industry, is a large wooden bridge that is in dire need of repair; and drivers say that on many occasions they get stuck along that bridge, especially at night.

Some vehicles have even been known to go overboard.

The approach to the bridge is, moreover, punctuated with huge potholes, making it quite unsafe to traverse after onset of darkness.

A close-up of the 'short-cut' bridge

The main access bridge linking Crown Dam, Industry to Cummings Lodge, ECD (Photos

by Michel Outridge)

The ‘short-cut’ bridge in its present state

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 21, 2014

Zeelugt group seeks corporate help

By Michel Outridge

THE Zeelugt Breakthrough Prophetic Apostolic/Centre

is seeking the assistance of corporate Guyana for the completion of its new church and support centre.

Monday, July 21, 2014 - 13:30 Tuesday, July 22, 2014 - 14:30 Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - 14:30

Construction of the 54ft x 44ft 3-storey concrete building is underway and will house not only the church, but a facility to assist the less fortunate in the Zeelugt community.

Pastor of the Zeelugt Breakthrough Prophetic Apostolic/Centre, Mohan Parsan, speaking about the services of the facility said, “We have been here for the past 10 years as a church reaching out to the community, not only in the spiritual aspect, but also in terms of people’s welfare and social lives. We have been assisting victims of abuse and those facing other challenges in their social life.”

The Pastor said in those instances, victims were placed in the home of church members for a short period. “Now we are embarking on a project to build a 3-storey building so that we can use the second and third floors to facilitate those in the community in need of help.”

Coordinator of the building

–to complete church, support centre

Treasurer, Ravindra Parsan; Pastor Mohan Parsan; and church member Deodat Indar in front of the building under construction

project and Treasurer Ravindra Parsan said the church is confident that it can do much more to assist the vulnerable members of the community.

“In our effort, we have so far from our church membership raised over eight million dollars which already has been spent on setting up foundation columns, floors and other work for two storeys. One businessman from the church has already given over five

million dollars. We are in the process of casting the third floor. The structure will house, among other things, a rehab and training centre and temporary accommodations for those seeking assistance,” the Treasurer said.

Deodat Indar, church member and business executive assisting with the construction efforts said the budget for the remaining work exceeds $1,500,000. He said

the church is inviting corporate entities to come onboard and support what is a very worthy cause.

The Zeelugt Breakthrough Prophetic Centre is located at 352 Zeelugt Building Dam, East Bank Essequibo. Those wishing to contribute to the construction efforts are asked to make contact with Mr. Indar on telephone number 663-6343.

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Walton and Voges shine as ...

From Backpage

aggressive, pulling Hafeez for four while Voges also got boundaries off Neesham and Veerasammy Permaul, before seeing Walton post his 50 from 37 balls, one that was decorated with six fours and a six.

He failed to carry on when well set, as he picked out the waiting hands of Simmons at long on off Narine, after contributing 53 to the Tallawahs total from 42 balls, counting the same number of boundaries he struck to get his 50.

Most importantly for the Tallawahs, is the third wicket partnership between Walton and Voges which brought in 55 runs from eight overs, with the team’s 100 being posted one over before Walton was dismissed, with Voges on 26 and Walton 52.

Voges would continue to take the assault to the opposition bowling, hitting Santokie for 6 while Andre Russell pulled Santokie for four, before hitting the first delivery of the final over from Neesham for 6, before both himself and Voges were dismissed by Neesham, who also ran out Carlton Baugh for 3.

In their reply, the Amazon Warriors saw Neesham and Simmons posting 41 for the first wicket from 5.4 overs, with a rampant looking Neesham driving Jerome Taylor all along the ground for four, twice in the second over.

At the other end, Simmons welcomed Nikita Miller into the attack with a six over wide long on, followed by a four back over the bowler’s head and when he punched off the back foot through extra cover for another four, the score raced to 36 without loss off four overs.

Neesham was first to go,

Jamaica Tallawahs Innings

caught by Russell at mid-on off Theron for 16, followed by Hafeez (09), who was bowled

by Miller 13 runs later, before Gayle offered Ramdin a chance running back from mid-off, when the wicketkeeper/batsman looked to hit Miller over that area.

Ramdin grew in confidence after the chance and together with Simmons, set about repairing their team’s innings with Simmons welcoming Russell into the attack with another six over extra cover, even as Ramdin struck Voges for 6.

Simmons posted his half century and the second of the match from 45 balls, counting two fours and the same number of sixes, while the team’s 100 was realised from 14.4 overs and with 23 to win from 9 balls, Simmons cut loose with a four over point off Taylor.

Disaster struck for the Amazon Warriors who were hunting their fourth successive victory, when a well set Ramdin was struck on the grill from an attempted slower delivery from Taylor at 132 for 2, forcing him to retire hurt on 32 (28 balls, 1x4, 1x6).

Christopher Barnwell entered the scene to a standing ovation and loud round of applause and he did not disappoint the fans, hitting his first delivery from Taylor, over midwicket for 6, bringing the equation down to 12 from the final over.

Try as they may, Barnwell 10 (5balls, 1x6) and Simmons only managed 7 of those runs from the final over that was bowled by Russell, as the Tallawahs eased away with their third win, while handing the Amazon Warriors their first loss in four matches.

C Walton c Simmons b Narine 53 C Gayle c Johnson b Beaton 11 O Shah b Beaton 00 A Voges c Johnson b Neesham 48 A Russell b Neesham 15 J Blackwood not out 00 C Baugh run out (Neesham) 03 Extras (w8, lb6, b4) 18 Total (for 6 wickets off 20 overs) 148 Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-50, 3-105, 4-145, 5-145, 6-148 Did not bat: D. Vettori, J Taylor N Miller R Theron Bowling: Santokie 4-0-38-0(w3) Hafeez 2-0-19-0 (w1) Beaton 4-027-2 (w2) Narine4-0-15-1 (w1) Neesham 3-0-21-2 (w1) Permaul 3-0-19-0

Amazon Warriors Innings L Simmons not out 68 J Neesham c Russell b Theron 16 M Hafeez b Miller 09 D Ramdin retire hurt 32 C Barnwell not out 10 Extras (w5, lb3, nb1) 09 Total (for 2 wickets off 20 overs) 144 Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-54 Did not bat: M Guptil L Johnson V Permaul S Narine K Santokie R Beaton Bowling Vettori 4-0-15-0, Taylor 4-0-42-0 (nb1) Theron 4-0-24-1(w2) Miller 4-0-27-1 (w2) Voges 2-0-16-0 Russell 2-0-17-0

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 21, 2014

England slump to 105 for four in chase for 319

By Josh Reich LONDON, (Reuters) - England face an uphill battle to save the second Test at Lord’s after slumping to 105 for four at the close of yesterday’s fourth day in pursuit of 319 to beat India.

England, chasing a first test win in 10 matches after series defeats by Australia and Sri Lanka, lost three wickets in 20 balls to leave them teetering at 72 for four.

Joe Root (14) and Moeen Ali (15) ensured there was no further damage, and will resume on Monday needing a further 214 runs for victory as England eye their second-highest successful fourth-innings chase and biggest at Lord’s.

Their target is at least 50 runs more that they would have liked, but a thrilling 99-run, eighth-wicket stand between Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar took India’s lead past the 300 mark, raising hopes of a first test win away from home since 2011.

“The point is you’ve got to turn up expecting your

“Unfortunately the penultimate ball finished the game but it was a magnificent fight.

“Yes, there is no question today that Jadeja’s innings has given them a big advantage, but it’s up to us to show the fight tomorrow that we did at Headingley.”

Ravindra Jadeja celebrated his maiden Test fifty in style at Lord’s on the fourth day. batsmen to get through and score the runs,” England assistant coach Paul Farbrace told reporters.

“We’ve got somebody at the crease (Moeen) who batted all day at Headingley two test matches ago (against Sri Lanka), got a hundred against all the odds and they’d have been a lot of people on that day not expecting us to still be at the crease at 7pm and fighting for our lives.

TRICKY PERIOD Having lost Sam Robson for seven in a tricky period before tea, Alastair Cook and Gary Ballance set about building a platform after the break.

They put on 58 for the second wicket before Ballance (27), who hit 110 in the first innings, was caught by Mahendra Singh Dhoni from the first ball of Mohammed Shami’s second spell, a hint of away movement taking an edge.

In the next over, Ian Bell (1) missed a straight ball from Ishant Sharma to leave his side struggling at 71 for three, and shortly afterwards the willowy right-armer also got rid of the out-of-form Cook for 22, caught again by Dhoni behind the stumps.

E n g l a n d ’s c a p t a i n , without a test century in

over a year, has now scored 115 runs in his last seven innings, the pressure on the 29-year-old likely to increase further after this latest failure.

“Nothing has changed, absolutely nothing has changed,” Farbrace said of Cook.

“We all want him to score runs and I think we saw today everyone in the ground wants him to score runs. We’re very much behind him, the team is very much behind him, he’s practised really well for the last few days... he is feeling that a score is close.”

With Matt Prior and Ben Stokes both struggling for form, much rests on the shoulders of Root and Moeen should England have any hope of avoiding defeat on the final day.

ALL CORNERS Earlier Jadeja and Kumar put on 99 runs in 100 balls as they hit the England attack to all corners of the ground.

J a d e j a , f re q u e n t l y booed by the Lord’s crowd over a clash with England paceman James Anderson during the drawn first match at Trent Bridge, brought up his maiden test half-century off 42 balls

before falling for 68.

Number nine Kumar continued his fine start to the series, passing 50 for the third time in four innings, having taken career best bowling figures of 6-82 in England’s first innings.

He was last man out as India were dismissed for 342.

Opener Murali Vijay top-scored, falling five runs short of a ton when caught by Prior off Anderson shortly after the new ball was taken after spending over six hours in the middle.

INDIA first innings 295 all out England first innings 319 all out India second innings (overnight 169-4) M. Vijay c Prior b Anderson 95 S. Dhawan c Root b Stokes 31 C. Pujara c Prior b Plunkett 43 V. Kohli b Plunkett 0 A. Rahane c Prior b Broad 5 MS Dhoni c Bell b Prior 19 S. Binny c Cook b Moeen 0 R. Jadeja c Cook b Stokes 68 B. Kumar c Bell b Stokes 52 M. Shami c Prior b Moeen 0 I. Sharma not out 0 Extras (w-1, b-19, lb-9) 29 Total (for 10 wickets 103.1 overs) 342 Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-118, 3-118, 4-123, 5-202, 6-203, 7-235, 8-334, 9-338, 10-342 Bowling: Anderson 29-11-77-1,

“It was disappointing but I’ll take it any day if we pull off a win tomorrow,” Vijay said of missing out on his fifth test century.

“The game is really well placed. We’ve got four wickets and they’ve got 100. Ravindra is spinning the ball well and hopefully he can get us an early breakthrough tomorrow.

The pitch is doing a lot for the spinner because of the footmarks, and they have six left-handers so it’s going to be tough for them.”

Broad, 23-6-93-1 (w-1), Stokes 18.1-2-51-3, Plunkett 22-6-65-3, Moeen 11-3-28-2 ENGLAND second innings S. Robson lbw Jadeja 7 A. Cook c Dhoni b Sharma 22 G. Ballance c Dhoni b Shami 27 I. Bell b Sharma 1 J. Root not out 14 Moeen Ali not out 15 Extras: (w-1 b-5 lb-13) 19 Total: (for four wickets, 46 overs) 105 To bat: M. Prior, B. Stokes, S. Broad, L. Plunkett, J. Anderson Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-70, 3-71, 4-72 Bowling: Kumar 8-4-10-0, Shami 7-1-20-1, Sharma 10-5-13-2, Jadeja 16-4-32-1, Vijay 4-1-11-0 (w1), Dhawan 1-0-1-0

Rosberg wins in Germany for Mercedes

By Alan Baldwin HOCKENHEIM, German(Reuters) - Nico Rosberg gave Germany another win to celebrate after their World Cup success with a home grand prix triumph for Mercedes yesterday that stretched his overall lead in the Formula One championship to 14 points.

Untroubled from pole position to chequered flag, the newly-married German’s commanding victory added another highlight to a week that had begun with the signing of a multi-year contract extension.

Lewis Hamilton, his team mate and only real title rival, finished third after starting in 20th place and then making 15 overtaking manoeuvres as he charged back through the field in one of the more determined drives of his career.

Finland’s Valtteri Bottas took second place for Williams, his third podium

finish in a row and a hefty 20.7 seconds behind Rosberg, after Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa crashed at the start in a collision that brought out the safety car.

Rosberg was the first to win for a works Mercedes team in Germany since Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio in 1954 and first German home winner for a German team since the championship started in 1950.

“What a great day after so many great events for me this week,” he said. “I came here hoping for a win and it worked out perfectly.”

If it did not quite compare to getting married as the best feeling of all, it was still pretty good.

“That was the best feeling,” he said of his Monaco wedding last week. “But of course everything has been special...many positive things happening in the two weeks, or week and a half.

It’s been really enjoyable, and also this weekend with

pole and the win.

“Just awesome. A very, very special day today.”

Rosberg now has 190 points to Hamilton’s 176 with Australian Daniel Ricciardo third on 106.

The German’s fourth victory of the season had looked inevitable from the moment a brake disc failed on Hamilton’s car in the first phase of qualifying on Saturday, sending the Briton spinning hard into the barriers.

Between them, the Mercedes drivers have won nine out of 10 races so far in 2014 and in normal circumstances would have been celebrating another one-two on an overcast afternoon that only turned to rain after the finish.

The 50,000 spectators, a disappointing attendance in a season dominated by Mercedes, were treated instead to the sight of Hamilton on a charge to limit the damage and a series of other thrilling duels further down the field.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 21, 2014

25

Quicks bowl South Africa to rare Test win in Sri Lanka GALLE Sri Lanka,(Reuters) - South African fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel ripped through the Sri Lanka batting lineup to seal a 153-run win in the first Test yesterday as Hashim Amla started his captaincy in fine style.

Steyn took four for 45 and Morkel finished with four for 29 to dismiss the hosts for 216 shortly before the tea break and seal a first win in Sri Lanka for 14 years.

Sri Lanka had started the final day on 110 for one, optimistic of chasing down the 370 victory target after Amla had declared on 2066, but collapsed under the pressure of the two quicks to lose nine wickets for 106 runs.

Steyn ended with match figures of nine for 99 to take the man of the match award after the best bowling figures by a quick at Galle.

“His figures speak for themselves, he bowled excellently,” Amla said of Steyn.

“The lengths he bowled, the pace, the aggression - a great performance from a great bowler.

“I could look in the dictionary for a million adjectives to describe him, but I think it suffices to say that it was a great performance by

Hunting in pairs: Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel took 16 wickets in the first Test in Galle. though, with Sangakkara down.

Lahiru Thirimanne holding firm against the a great bowler.” was the next to go, falling barrage before the former Steyn started South Africa’s victory push by grab- skipper fell to one of the in similar circumstances to the first innings as he bing an early breakthrough worst balls of the day. edged a ball from Steyn on Sunday when he had outside his stumps to AB CRESTFALLEN Kaushal Silva edge to wickde Villiers in the slips SANGAKKARA et-keeper Quinton De Kock The left-hander pulling for 12. to end his innings on 38 and Dinesh Chandimal the second wicket stand of a woeful long hop delivery 104 with Kumar Sangakkara. from JP Duminy straight to then completed the miserMorkel then struck with Amla at mid-wicket to depart able session by departing the first ball after the drinks for 76 and leave the hosts in for one as he gloved an attempted pull off Morkel breaks when Mahela Jay- big trouble on 149-4.

Sangakkara could not to de Kock to leave the awardene edged behind for 10 to leave Sri Lanka on believe what he had done, hosts six down at lunch.

Steyn returned in the staring at the pitch before 138-3.

The hosts still held hope, walking off with his head second session to take

his fourth wicket when he had Dilruwan Perera caught by de Kock for his second duck of the match. It was the fourth wicket to go down for only 12 runs as the hosts fell to 161-7.

Duminy then ended Rangana Herath’s 18-ball cameo for 20 when he top edged a sweep and was caught by a darting De Villiers, who ran from slip to short fine leg to take the catch.

Morkel wrapped up the victory by claiming the final two wickets in two balls, dismissing Suranga Lakmal at long leg for 12 and then Shaminda Eranga fending a short ball to short leg to leave Angelo Mathews unbeaten at the crease on 27.

“The bowlers were really hungry – Dale and

SOUTH AFRICA first innings 455-9 declared Sri Lanka first innings 292 South Africa second innings 206 for six (declared) Sri Lanka second innings o/n 110 for one U Tharanga c de Kock b Steyn 14 K Silva c de Kock b Steyn 38 K Sangakkara c Amla b Duminy 76 M. Jayawardene c de Kock b Morkel 10 L. Thirimanne c de Villiers b Steyn 12 A. Mathews not out 27 D. Chandimal c de Kock

Morne asked for the ball regularly, which was brilliant,” said Amla.

“We picked up a few early wickets which made it a lot easier to maintain the pressure.”

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews blamed his middle- order batting for the defeat.

“Where we lost the test was the failure of our batsmen to score runs on the first innings,” said Mathews, who reckoned Sri Lanka were at least 100 runs short in their first innings when they folded for 292.

“When we started the day at 110 for one, our plan was to go after the target but like in the first innings we didn’t bat well enough.”

The second Test starts in Colombo on July 24.

b Morkel 1 K. Perera c de Kock b Steyn 0 H. Herath c de Villiers b Duminy 20 R. Lakmal c Tahir b Morkel 12 R. Eranga c Elgar b Morkel 0 Extras (lb 5, nb1) 6 Total (all out; 71.3 overs) 216 Extras (b-1) 1 Total (one wicket, 32 overs) 110 Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-118, 3-138, 4-149, 5-153, 6-158, 7-161, 8-190, 9-216, 10-216 Bowling: Steyn 17-4-45-4, Philander 11-4-34-0, (1nb) Morkel 1 3 . 3 - 6 - 2 9 - 4 , Ta h i r 1 9 - 3 - 6 4 - 0 , Duminy 10-4-38-2, Elgar 1-0-1-0.

Kristoff wins again as Bauer suffers heartbreak on stage 15

By Julien Pretot NIMES, (Reuters) - Nor-

way’s Alexander Kristoff claimed his second Tour de France victory when he won a bunch sprint to take yesterday’s 15th stage after the peloton reined in the day’s breakaway in the final straight.

New Zealand’s Jack Bauer, who broke clear with Swiss Martin Elminger, was caught by the chasing pack less than 100 metres from the line.

Bauer, who finished 10th after seeing the sprinters whizz past him, was in tears after his 222-km effort came to nothing in the final metres.

Katusha rider Kristoff, who won the 12th stage on Thursday, won the race to the line as he edged out Australian Heinrich Haussler and Slovakian Peter Sagan, second and third respectively.

Italian Vincenzo Nibali stayed safe in a bunched

Norway’s Alexander Kristoff claimed his second Tour de France victory when he won a bunch sprint to take yesterday’s 15th stage after the peloton reined in the day’s breakaway in the final straight. finish and retained the could take the win today. overall leader’s yellow jer- Maybe they had heavier legs sey in an unchanged top 10. than me after the Alps.”

“I thought it was a little After two tough stages bit too late, I thought I’d in the Alps, there was no have to go for second but I respite for the peloton, was relieved that we caught who rode through storms them,” said Kristoff. and heavy rain in dim and “I was a bit surprised I dusky conditions.

With swirling winds that sometimes threatened to split the peloton, it made for a nervy day as the Tour prepares to enter its final week.

With a series of roundabouts making it hard for the sprinters’ teams to organise themselves in the finale, Bauer and Elmiger believed they could hold off the chasing pack.

But their hopes were dashed when the Giant-Shimano team, looking to set up Marcel Kittel, took control and upped the pace.

The German, who has won three stages in this year’s Tour, had nothing left in the tank after struggling in the Alps and took 11th place while his compatriot Andre Greipel was fourth.

Greipel and Kittel are slightly heavier than Kristoff and therefore struggled more with the long, demanding climbs of the Tour’s 13th and 14th stages.

Another German, time

trial specialist Tony Martin, tried his luck some two kilometres from the finish, but his effort lacked conviction.

Kristoff, who won the Milan-San Remo classic this year, is now eyeing a win on the Champs Elysees on the

final day of the Tour next Sunday.

“It would be hard to compete but it would be great to win in Paris, but I have to beat extremely strong riders,” he said.

Today is the second rest day of the Tour.

Raza century helps Zimbabwe to big win over Afghanistan

BULAWAYO, (Reuters) - Opener Sikandar Raza blasted his first one-day international century as Zimbabwe trounced Afghanistan by eight wickets in the second ODI at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo yesterday.

Pakistan-born Raza smashed 141 from 133 balls and put on an opening stand of 224, the highest partnership in Zimbabwean limited overs cricket, alongside Hamilton Masakadza (93).

Having been put in to bat, Afghanistan ended their 50 overs on 256 for seven, with 17-year-old Usman Ghani scoring his first ODI century as he struck 118 from 143 balls.

But Zimbabwe lost two wickets as they reached their target with 39 balls to spare to take a 2-0 lead in the four match series after Friday’s six-wicket victory.

The third one-day international will be played at the same venue tomorrow.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 21, 2014

McIlroy wins third major golf title at 2014 Open Championship

Rory McIlroy clinched his first Open Championship and third major golf title with a two-shot victory over Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler on a thrilling final day at Hoylake.

The Northern Irishman joined Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the only players to win three of golf’s modern majors by the age of 25.

McIlroy, 25, now just has the Masters left to complete a career Grand Slam.

Starting six clear, McIlroy fired a final-round 71 to finish 17 under as Garcia, who three times got to within two strokes, shot 66 and US Open runner-up Fowler 67.

American Jim Furyk, 44, matched his fourth place in 2006 with a 65 to end 13 under.

McIlroy added the Claret Jug - and a cheque for £975,000 - to the 2011 US Open and 2012 US PGA titles and became the second Northern Irishman to win

Rory McIlroy joined Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the only players to win three of golf’s modern majors by the age of 25.

the Open in four years after Darren Clarke’s victory at Royal St George’s in 2011.

Only five players have won all four majors in their career - Nicklaus, Woods, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.

“It feels incredible,” McIlroy said. “It wasn’t easy there were a few guys making runs at me and I just needed to stay focused. To win three legs of the Grand Slam at 25 is a pretty big achievement.”

Going into yesterday’s final round, many observers suggested the tournament was McIlroy’s to lose after three days of majestic golf over the links of Royal Liverpool.

Two stunning rounds of 66 gave him a four-shot lead at halfway and banished talk of “freaky Fridays” after his recent trend of spoiling a low opening round with a bad second one. A spectacular finish to his third round, with two eagles in his last three holes, took McIlroy six clear of Fowler, with Garcia seven

back, going into the final day.

Urged on by a vocal crowd, McIlroy made a birdie at the first to reach 17 under and extend his lead to seven - an ominous sign for his rivals.

But if there was a feeling that the final day would become a procession, Garcia, bidding for a first major title

at the 61st attempt, had other ideas.

The 34-year-old, who played in the final group with Woods when the Open was last played at Hoylake in 2006, picked up two shots in his first three holes to join Fowler at 11 under after the American had birdied the second.

CRICKETQUIZ CORNER

(Monday July 21, 2014) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to Tuesday’s quiz: (1)Krishmar Santokie (16 wickets) (2) Kieron Pollard Today’s Quiz: The Guyana Amazon Warriors played nine matches in LCPL 2013. How many were won?

Which franchise former England Int’l player Kevin Pietersen is representing in LCPL 2014?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Title-holders Jamaica face Barbados in revamped Regional Under-19 tournament GEORGETOWN, Guyana, (CMC) – Jamaica will open the defence of their Regional Under-19 three-day title against archrivals Barbados at Everest, in the re-jigged competition which bowls off here tomorrow.

Normally a round-robin tournament with all sides playing each other, this year will see only three rounds being played, with the team with the most points emerging as champions.

As a result, Jamaica will not face T&T in the tournament and neither will hosts Guyana take on traditional rivals Barbados.

Jamaica captured the three-day title last year in St. Kitts, finishing on 47.9 points to top the table ahead of the Trinidadians. They also went on to win the one-day title, finishing ahead of Windward Islands.

The other opening round three-day fixtures will see Guyana clashing with Leeward Islands at the Guyana National Stadium and Windward Islands coming up against Trinidad & Tobago at Enmore.

Meanwhile, the clash between T&T and Barbados will headline the second round which bowls off July 26th.

The one-day competition, however, will go the distance with seven rounds having been scheduled. A composite ICC Americas side, comprising the best players from the from ICC Associate and Affiliate members from the Caribbean, North, Central and South America, will join the six territorial teams for the tournament.

The two top teams will meet each other in the final.

THREE-DAY TOURNAMENT (July 22-24) Barbados vs Jamaica – Everest Windwards vs Trinidad & Tobago – Enmore Guyana vs Leeward Islands – National Stadium

(July 26-28) Trinidad & Tobago vs Barbados – National Stadium Jamaica vs Leeward Islands – Demerara Cricket Club Guyana vs Windward Islands – Everest

(July 30-August 1) Barbados vs Leeward Islands – Enmore Trinidad & Tobago vs Guyana – Bourda Oval Jamaica vs Windward Islands – National Stadium

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 21, 2014

27

O’Brien stars as Red Steel sends Hawksbills to fourth loss NORTH SOUND, Antigua, (CMC) – Kevin O’Brien narrowly missed out on a century as Red Steel sent Antigua Hawksbills crashing to their fourth straight loss of the Caribbean Premier League, with a nine-wicket defeat here yesterday.

Opting to bowl first, the Red Steel restricted Hawksbills to 151 for eight off their 20 overs, and then marched to their target with 17 balls remaining, thanks to O’Brien’s stroke-filled, unbeaten 90 off a mere 49 balls.

New Zealander Ross Taylor weighed in with a patient, unbeaten 51, as Red Steel compensated for the heartbreak of their Super Over loss to Guyana Amazon Warriors in their last outing.

They lost Trinidadian Kennar Lewis for two with the score on seven in the

Kevin O’Brien fights off a short ball during his unbeaten 90 at the North Sound ground.

second over but O’Brien and Taylor hardly put a foot wrong as they posted 145 for the second wicket, to see Red Steel to their second victory in three games.

Hawksbills, who had a similar poor season last year, are still without a point with half of their complement of games already completed.

They got a run-a-ball 38 from wicketkeeper Devon Thomas, 30 off 28 balls from Australian David Hussey and 26 from opener Ben Dunk, also Australian, but they simply failed to find the firepower to post a competitive score.

Dunk and Danza Hyatt (8) posted 30 off 22 balls for the first wicket before speedster Fidel Edwards struck, getting Hyatt to glove a pull at a short one through to wicketkeeper

Nicholas Pooran.

Hawksbills then suffered two further blows, losing captain Marlon Samuels for 13 in the sixth over and Dunk, run out in the seventh over in a mix-up over a single with Thomas, at 48 for three.

Thomas and Hussey buckled down to stabilise the innings in a fourth wicket stand worth 66. The right-handed Thomas struck four fours and a six – a hefty blow over square leg off leftarm spinner Sulieman Benn – while Hussey counted a four and six but failed to find the acceleration required.

Needing to push on, Hussey picked out O’Brien at long-off off Benn in the 17th over and Thomas followed in the next, edging a cut behind off medium pacer Kevon Cooper.

Sheldon Cottrell then

smashed two sixes in 16 to add precious runs to Hawksbills’ total.

Cooper picked up three for 34 while captain Dwayne Bravo finished with two for 29.

O’Brien then dominated Red Steel’s reply, smashing five fours and seven sixes in a whirlwind innings.

He was severe on all bowlers, hammering a four and a six off seamer Ben Laughlin in the 12th over, to move to 49 before completing his half-century off 29 balls, with a single off the next delivery.

Taylor announced his intentions by smashing three boundaries off Rahkeem Cornwall’s second over, the fourth of the innings, but settled down to play a measured innings and reach his fifty from 44 balls.

Lowe wins at Pan Am Sports Festival but Guyana fails to place in team’s event

GUYANA’S Trenace Lowe recorded Guyana’s only winning match as Guyana finished third, on Thursday last, in group 4 during the qualifying round of the women’s team table tennis competition at the inaugural Pan American Sports Festival which concluded in Mexico, yesterday.

Represented by Lowe, Chelsea Edghill and Natalia Cummings, Guyana was placed alongside Colombia and Mexico, both of which teams went on to share the third place position.

Against Colombia and Mexico the Guyana girls lost 0 – 3 and 1 -3, respectively, after hard fought fights from all three players.

Guyana opened play against Colombia with Edghill taking on Cory Tellez; driving the match to an intense five set bat-

Trenace Lowe tle ending in favour of the Colombian.

The competition saw Tellez taking the first set 11-6, before Edghill evened when she took the next set 11- 8. It was back to Tellez in the third set as she took another 11 – 6 triumph.

With both girls, no doubt trying to up the ante, the fourth set was

hard fought, but Edghill exercising the skills from her recent training stint in China downed Tellez 14 – 12. However, the ultimate victory would be for Tellez when she captured the crucial fifth set 11 – 2.

Tellez’s win was followed by another from Angie Umbacia when she took on Lowe and took her out 3 – 0 (11 – 5, 11 – 3, 14 – 12). Next up was the doubles competition where Umbacia paired with Paloma Sarmiento to take on Edghill and Cuimmings for another 3 – 0 win.

Against Mexico, which later came up against the competition powerhouse Brazil in the semi-finals, Guyana opened with a win after Lowe turned back the challenge of Monica Serrano. Lowe, who was also part of the China training camp, managed to hold back the Mexican in five sets ending 5-11,

11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6.

Yadira Silva redeemed her teams’ lost when she came up against, and defeated, Cummings 11-4, 11- 3, 11- 7. Silva and Mercedes Madrid put together a 3-0 win against Lowe and Edghill to give Mexico the advantage.

A five set win for Madrid over Cummings (8-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8, and 11-8) solidified the victory for Mexico. The overall women’s team competition at the Festival was won by Brazil whose team was made up entirely of teenagers.

The team’s event of the competition was followed by the doubles and individual rounds of competition.

The Pan American Sports Festival is a multisport initiative of the Pan American Sports Organisation (PASO), organisers of

Guyana down Antigua and Barbuda 3 – 2 in CFU U-17 tournament

G U YA N A’ S J u n i o r Jaguars defeated Antigua and Barbuda 3 – 2 to secure an all-important win at this year’s Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Boys Under-17 tournament in the Dominican Republic.

K e n o Wa s h i n g t o n ,

Keno Washington

who scored the lone goal for Guyana in their 1 – 1 draw with Barbados on the opening day of the tournament, once again found the back of the net while Grove Hi-Tech sensational striker Joel Dick scored a double to guide the Guyanese to victory.

Meanwhile, Barbados also picked up their first win when they defeated the Dominican Republic 2 – 0. Guyana will not take on the Dominican Republic tomorrow and with a win, the Junior Jaguars advance to the next stage of the competition.

the quadrennial Pan American Games. The event was aimed as a preparatory prelude to the Pan American Games, which next hosting is scheduled to take place next year in Ontario, Canada.

The ladies participation at the Sports Festival was also part of their preparation leading up to their participa-

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tion at the Commonwealth Games which is set to begin this coming Wednesday in Glasgow, Scotland.

They are expected to travel to Glasgow from Mexico, to meet up with the rest of the Guyanese contingent that will be participating at the Commonwealth Games which starts on Wednesday.

South Africa Fairview 08:20 hrs Letas Bonnet 08:55 hrs Black Balladeer 09:35 hrs Indian Hawk 10:10 hrs Ado Annie 10:45 hrs Cool For Cats French Racing Tips Vichy 08:20 hrs Mintaka 08:50 hrs Narrow Hill 09:20 hrs Spanish Fallon 09:50 hrs Early Emperor 10:25 hrs Mont Athos 11:00 hrs Allez Rocket 11:40 hrs Gaelique Show American Racing Tips Philadelphia Park Race 1 Hebbronville Race 2 Chubby Charlie Race 3 Jar of Hearts Race 4 Barbacutie Race 5 Rincon Sur Race 6 Boogie Too Race 7 warning Trackpower Race 8 Yougotthatgoingforu Race 9 Dream Totem

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Guyana down Antigua and Barbuda 3 – 2 in CFU U-17 tournament See Story on Page 27

Walton and Voges shine as Tallawahs stop Amazon Warriors

By Calvin Roberts

Guyana Amazon Warriors Jimmy Neesham bowls Jamaica Tallawahs’ Andre Russell in the final over. (Photo by Adrian Narine)

IT ALL started right for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, whose skipper Denesh Ramdin called right at the toss for the fourth successive match and asked the defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs to take first strike in hazy conditions and on a slow track at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence yesterday afternoon.

The Guyana franchise team, who lost to the same opponents in last year’s final, saw Chadwick Walton (53) and Adam Voges (48) piloting Jamaica Tallawahs to 148 for 6 off their 20 overs, in the face of some penetrative bowling from Jimmy Neesham and Ronsford Beaton who ended with 2 for 21 and 27 respectively.

Despite an unbeaten 6 8 from opener Lendl Simmons and a quick-fire 32 from Ramdin who was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the grill from an attempted slower delivery from Jerome Taylor, the Guyana Amazon

Warriors fell short by four runs, finishing on 144 for 2.

Walton and his skipper Christopher Gayle added 49 for the first wicket, with the former displaying an attacking attitude when he struck the first two deliveries of the second over from Mohammed Hafeez for 6 and 4, followed by another four off Krishmar Santokie.

Gayle got into the act with a four of his own off Santokie, but before he could tear into the home team’s bowling attack and execute the threat of hitting mystery spinner Sunil Narine for a quartet of sixes, Gayle picked out Leon Johnson at deep mid-wicket off Beaton, after posting 11 of the 49 runs between himself and Walton.

Owais Shah followed Gayle two balls later, when he was bowled by Beaton, leaving the Tallawahs on 50 for 2 in the 8th over of their innings.

Despite the two quick losses, Walton continued to be

See Page 23

We got him guys! Guyana Amazon Warriors’ fast bowler Ronsford Beaton (#14 airborne) offers congratulations to Leon Johnson, who held the catch to dismiss Jamaica Tallawahs Chris Gayle, while from left Martin Guptil, Denesh Ramdin (80) and Christopher Barnwell (90) rushes in to offer theirs. (An Adrian Narine photo) 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

MONDAY, JULY 21, 2014