GUYANA No. 103806 WEDNESDAY APRIL 23, 2014
The Chronicle is at http://www.guyanachronicle.com
GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER
PRICE: $60
INCLUDING VAT
unrelenting PPP roasts AFC - incampaign of for deliberately smudge, deception targeting Region 8 Page 3
Following experts’ report…
Rohee blames GT&T for problem with emergency 911 response 8 Page
FORGING CLOSER TIES
On eight anniversary of his assassination…
Gov’t pays 12 tribute to late Minister Sawh Page
Police actively following lead in ‘DJ Casual’ shooting
- Crime Chief Crew members of ‘The Bocaina’, one of two visiting vessesls of the Brazilian Navy, position themselves to accord visitors to the vessel a warm Brazilian welcome
Kaneville man slaughters brother in heated midnight argument Page 11
Page 8
Vandals deprive Page 11 East Georgetown residents of landline phone service
2
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Brazilian Naval vessels arrive for training exercise with GDF Coast Guard
A close-up of ‘The Bocaina’
From left to right are: Gary Beaton, Commander of the GDF Coast Guard; Captain Jackson Sales da Silva, Northern Naval Group’s War and Sea Commander; and Colonel Ronaldo Pacheo of the Brazilian Navy (Photos by Adrian Narine)
By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally THE BRAZILIAN Naval Task Group, comprising two patrol vessels, namely the Bocaina and the Grauna, under the command of the Northern Naval Group’s War and Sea Captain, Jackson Sales da Silva, arrived at Port Georgetown on Monday as part of a naval exercise called “Operation CARIBEX-2014”. And yesterday, at a brief
press conference, the media was afforded the opportunity of going abroad ‘The Bocaina’, docked at the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard (GCGS HINDS) port. The vessels are part of the Northern Naval Group which was originally the Amazon Flotilla (FLOTAM), founded in April 1974. Captain Jackson Sales da Silva told reporters: “We are here in Guyana to strengthen
our friendship and to help the Coast Guard with training.” Captain da Silva also explained that the Brazilian Navy has an unblemished history of cooperation with the Guyana Defence Force’s Coast Guard, and over the years, many Guyanese Naval Officers have been trained at the Admiral GracaAranha Instruction Centre (CIAGA) in Rio de Janeiro. Captain da Silva also indicated that when the vessels have completed their training assignment in Guyana, they will move to Suriname, and then to French Guiana, where the French Navy is constructing four submarines for the Brazilian Navy. Commander Gary Beaton of the Guyana Defence Force
(GDF) Coast Guard had this to say: “Last year, we sent eight persons to Brazil for training, and this year, we are expecting to have training done at GDF Essequibo, which is the flagship of Guyana. That training will entail ‘man overboard’ drills (and) damage control, to name a few.” At the end of the training, the Brazilian Naval Task Group would assess the state of GDF Essequibo on the skills levels, readiness of the crew, and integrity of its machinery. Asked why the Coast Guard was using the Brazilian Navy for training, Commander Beaton explained: “Brazil has the expertise on these vessels, since the Bocaina is a sister ship to our flagship in Essequibo, and (is) also as a part of Operation CARIBEX-2014. It is our agreement”. The Fourth Naval District has as its mission statement: “The safeguarding of human life and the Brazilian Navy material in the sea and the navigable interior waters; the defence and safety of the hydrous traffic of national interest; the prevention of the environmental pollution by vessels, platforms, and their support facilities; the warranty of the facilities and of the maritime terminals of strategic value to the country; and the control of the fluvial and maritime areas.” The mission of the Northern Naval Group is to perform help and rescue; river operations, mining operations, naval inspections and fluvial patrol in order to contribute in the area under the jurisdiction of the Fourth Naval District.
3
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
PPP roasts AFC for deliberately - in unrelenting campaign targeting Region 8 of smudge, deception By Vanessa Narine
THE RULING Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) yesterday blasted the Alliance For Change (AFC) for its “constant unabated attack on the Region Eight” administration, and its attempt to “deceive” the residents of that region over current developments. PPP General Secretary Mr Clement Rohee, at the party’s weekly press conference held at Freedom House, said: “The AFC, in their usual rhetoric and constant unabated attack on the Region Eight Administration, has once again sought to deceive the residents of that region and to demean the hardworking staff of the Regional General Secretary Health Services. Mr Clement Rohee “No mention is ever made of the achievements and success stories of the region. On the contrary, only isolated negative issues are highlighted.” Rohee said residents of the region have grown weary of the AFC’s practise of peering into the administration’s work programme and then engaging in propaganda and a smear campaign aimed at taking credit for works that are already listed on that administration’s work programme when those works would have commenced and been completed. Rohee said, “In other words, the AFC would then have the public believe that the projects materialized only because they highlighted them. What an act of deception! “The same councillors who create a hullabaloo must be cognisant of the fact that resources are always finite, and hence the need to prioritise needs and to appreciate that Government cannot satisfy all the needs of the people at the same time.” He made it clear that honest and civil-minded councillors would have no difficulty in reminding their constituents of the limitation on resources. Rohee’s comments followed media reports that quoted Region Eight Chairman, Mark Crawford, as calling on the Government to make public the full details of the procurement of a “ramshackle ambulance” that the region is refusing to take possession of. He said, “The said councillor sat at Budget meeting in 2012, and was part of a discussion to have an ambulance procured in 2013. The award for the ambulance was made by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board in the second half of 2013. It was procured in late 2013 and delivered in March 2014. The ambulance is an off-road vehicle suitable for the terrain. This vehicle has already transported
three patients to Georgetown since its acquisition.” Rohee underscored several other developments in the region that were aimed at advancing the quality of the regional delivery of healthcare services. He said, “The Chenapau Health Centre was slated for rehabilitation in 2012. Mobilization was paid, and the contractor did not commence the project. This is reflected in the Auditor General's Report. The rehabilitation to the Health Centre fence is part of the region's health recurrent programme for 2014. “Chenapau has benefited, inter alia, from treated bed nets; (receipt of) a boat and engine; outreaches by GMOs, and the placement of malaria personnel. “The region continues to airlift patients and mothers that require services at the Mahdia District Hospital... “Notable mention must be made of the following facts: the placement of four doctors at Mahdia; significant increases in the number of registered nurses, midwives, nursing assistants, laboratory technicians, rehabilitation assistants, environmental health officer etc. The procurement of vehicles and ATVs to aid in the work of the Health Department; the construction of new health centres and the rehabilitation of dozens of health buildings must also be added to the list. “The delivery of drugs and medical supplies has been done on request to all facilities, including Chenapau. Furthermore, the region has recommended scores of young people for training in the fields of Medex, Professional Nursing,
Midwifery, CHWs, Dentex, etc.” Rohee also cited the solar electrification of health centres in Kato, Kopinang, Paramakatoi, Kurukubaru and Monkey Mountain, which were competed in 2013; as well as the construction of new health posts at Princeville and Maikwak in 2012 and 2013. Rohee stressed that the PPP/Civic Government has allocated a significant amount of financial and other resources, over the past decade and more, to provide additional health services and to improve significantly the quality of those services in Region Eight. “There is yet much to be done in the area of healthcare services; that is, in terms of extending the range of services Government provides, the quality of those services, and timely accessibility to those services. But honesty and fairness demand that we give due recognition to the tremendous achievements in health care in Region Eight under the PPP/C Government,” he declared. The region’s 2014 Capital Budget Programme has an allocation of $21M, under its Health Programme, for the construction of health posts in Kaibarupai and Itabac to benefit 1000 residents. A further $4.6M have been earmarked for procurement of ATVs for the health centres, and $1.920M for furniture for staff quarters. An additional $14.8M were also earmarked for the procurement of furniture and equipment for hospitals and health centres and huts.
Rodney COI hearings to begin Monday THE hearings of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) are slated to begin Monday (April 28) at the Supreme Court Law Library, where testimony and evidence will be received from interested parties to enable the commissioners to investigate the death of the late founder of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) party, which occurred on June 13, 1980. According to a release from the Walter Rodney Secretariat, the Commission, headed by Sir Richard Cheltenham, K.A, Q.C, Ph.D, and comprising Mrs. Jaqueline Samuels-Brown, Q.C., and Mr. Seenath Jairam, S.C.,will examine the facts and circumstances immediately prior, at the time of, and subsequent to the death of Dr. Rodney, in order to determine, as far as possible, who or what was responsible for the explosion resulting in the late historian’s death. It will also inquire into the cause of the fatal explosion, and seek to determine whether it was an act of terrorism, and if so, would enquire who had been the perpetrators of the deed. Further, the Commission will examine the role, if any,
which the late GDF Sergeant Gregory Smith played in the death of Dr Rodney, as well as inquire into who may have counselled, procured, aided and/or abetted Smith to carry out the act, including facilitating his departure from Guyana after Dr. Rodney’s death. The CoI is also tasked with examining and reporting on the actions and activities of the State, such as the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana National Service, the Guyana People’s Militia, and those who were in command and superintendence of these agencies, in order to determine whether they were tasked with the surveillance of, and authority to carry out those actions; and whether they did execute those tasks and carry out those actions against the political opposition for the period January 1, 1978 to December 31, 1980. The Commissioners will, in addition, examine, review and report on earlier investigations and inquiries done on and into the death of Dr. Rodney. The Commission will be accepting original and follow-up statements from interested parties during its life, and will be setting subsequent hearing dates to facilitate
Please turn to page 6
4
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Ukraine president calls for new anti-rebel offensive as crisis deal falters By Alastair Macdonald and Darya Korsunskaya
effective anti-terrorist measures, with the aim of protecting Ukrainian citizens living in eastern Ukraine from terrorists.” Police said the body of a man who had suffered a violent death had been found in a river. It resembled Rybak, a local councilor in the town of Horlivka, near the regional capital of Donetsk, but formal identification would need further work, they added. Batkivshchyna is led by Yulia Tymoshenko, a former prime minister who is running in a presidential election scheduled for May 25. Ukraine’s poorly resourced forces had previously shown little sign of taking on the gunmen who started
(Reuters) - Ukraine’s acting president Oleksander Turchinov called yesterday for government forces to relaunch an offensive against pro-Russian rebels after a local politician from his own party was found dead with signs of torture. Kiev’s first push failed last week to retake one of the towns in the mainly Russian-speaking east occupied by the separatists, and its military has largely suspended operations since the United States, Russia, Ukraine and European Union signed a deal in Geneva last week intended to calm the crisis. But the agreement is already in trouble, with Washington and Moscow putting the onus on each other on Tuesday to ensure that it is implemented, including a stipulation that the rebels must disarm and leave the government buildings they have occupied. In an appeal that may complicate European efforts to mediate the crisis, Turchinov said two “brutally tortured” bodies had been found near Slaviansk, the objective of the failed Ukrainian army offensive. One was that of Volodymyr Rybak, a member of Turchinov’s Batkivshchyna party, who had recently been abducted by “terrorists”, he U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk attend a media briefing in Kiev, yesterday. (Credit: said in a statement. “These crimes are being Reuters/Valentyn Ogirenko) carried out with the full support and indulgence of the Russian Federation,” he said. occupying towns and public buildings two weeks ago. “I call on the security agencies to relaunch and carry out Turchinov’s call may not lead to much more action but could fuel recriminations between Moscow and Kiev about who is failing to honor the deal. TIME IS SHORT U.S. Vice President Joe Biden told Russia on Tuesday that “time is short” for action on defusing the crisis, but Moscow refused to be rushed, saying it could handle any tougher economic sanctions the West might impose. Speaking on a visit to Kiev, Biden called on Moscow to pull back troops built up on Ukraine’s borders and persuade the separatists to disarm. “We’ve heard a lot from Russian officials in the past few days. But now it’s time for Russia to stop talking and start acting,” he told a news conference. “We will not allow this to become an open-ended process. Time is short in which to make progress.” The United States has repeatedly warned Russia it faces “mounting costs” if it fails to ensure full implementation of the Geneva agreement. But the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, ruled out rapid progress. “Of course, it would be naive to suppose that all this could happen quickly,”
DATE: 19/04/2014 K 02 15 19 21 18 20 11
Churkin said in an interview on Rossiya-24 television. Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and the eastern rebellion have deepened the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War, and Biden demanded the removal of Russian forces near Ukraine’s frontier which Moscow insists are merely on exercises. “No nation should threaten its neighbors by amassing troops along the border. We call on Russia to pull these forces,” Biden said after meeting Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov responded by telling U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone call that Ukraine itself should take urgent steps to implement the Geneva accord, his ministry said in Moscow. The United States and NATO have made clear they will not intervene militarily in Ukraine, which is not a NATO member. However, the Pentagon said on Tuesday that it was sending about 600 soldiers to Poland and the three Baltic states for infantry exercises, to reassure NATO allies about U.S. commitments to them following events in Ukraine. HOSTAGES TO POLITICAL GAMES Moscow denies it is orchestrating the militants, who say they want the chance to join Crimea in becoming part of Russia following the overthrow of Moscow-backed president Viktor Yanukovich after months of street protests in Kiev. But Washington has said it would decide “in days” on additional sanctions if Russia does not take steps to implement the agreement. In Moscow, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev promised the country could deal with tougher measures if necessary. “We shan’t give up on cooperation with foreign companies, including from Western countries, but we will be ready for unfriendly steps,” he told parliament. “I am sure we can minimize their impact,” he said. “We will not allow our citizens to become hostages of political games.” So far the United States and EU have imposed visa bans and asset freezes on only a limited number of Russians over the annexation of Crimea last month. The chief mediator for Europe’s OSCE security body in eastern Ukraine met separatist leaders occupying buildings in Donetsk on Tuesday. He called their talks “constructive” but gave no indication they would leave. LESS DEPENDENCY In Brussels, EU diplomats said the bloc was holding off from imposing further sanctions until it sees whether the Geneva deal works. The EU has been more cautious than the United States in imposing sanctions on Russia, with some member states worried about antagonizing a country that supplies a third of Europe’s gas. Both sides stressed on Tuesday they wanted to depend less on the other over energy. Medvedev said Russia was more interested than ever in diversifying its gas exports and described talk of Europe importing U.S. gas as a substitute as “a bluff”.
19/04/2014
01
02
06
13
14
19/04/2014
3
8
8
19/04/2014
02 03 04 07 17 18 21
22/04/2014
04
20
08
12
19
22/04/2014
5
5
8
22/04/2014
12 02 19 08 21 07 11
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
5
Colombia pays tribute to author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez COLOMBIA has paid tribute to its most celebrated author, Nobel laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who died last Thursday aged 87. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos led a ceremony in Bogota’s cathedral, which was also attended by the author’s
Family members have not yet revealed what they intend to do with his ashes. There have been suggestions that they may be divided between his birth country and Mexico, his home for several decades. Ahead of the event in Bogota’s cathedral, organisers said it would not
and the Saint Cecilia Choral Society then played Mozart’s Requiem. Afterwards, President Santos addressed the audience and called Gabo, as Garcia Marquez was affectionately known, a “giant man”. “Gabo was committed to the fate of his country
Fans of Garcia Marquez queued to pay their last respects to the author at the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City sisters. On Monday, a formal commemoration in honour of Garcia Marquez was held in Mexico City, where the author lived. He was cremated in Mexico in a private family ceremony last week.
be of a religious nature, but it began with prayers led by Ruben Salazar Gomez, the Archbishop of Bogota. Committed to peace Colombia’s National Symphonic Orchestra
and Latin America. (...) He was especially concerned about achieving peace (in Colombia),” the president said. The Colombian government and the largest rebel group, the Farc, have been in negotiations since
AG dismisses call for his resignation over Flying Squad report PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has dismissed a call for his resignation from the civil rights group, Fixin’ T&T, as the controversy over the leak of a confidential report into the New Flying Squad Investigative Unit (NFSIU) that a retired senior police officer said he had been asked to establish by a former senior government minister. Ramlogan in a statement responding to the call accused the leader of civil society group, Kirk Waithe of being “obsessed” with him since he was appointed the government’s chief legal advisor in 2010. At the center of the war of words is Ramlogan’s questioning how investigative journalist Anika Gumbs and the public relations officer of the main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) Faris Al-Rawi had been able to obtain the confidential reports on the alleged new flying squad ahead of the government.
The reports were the results of investigations carried out by the police and the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) into the flying squad that the former senior police officer said he had been asked to re-establish by the then minister of national security, Austin “Jack’ Warner. The report formed the basis of a front page story by the Sunday Express newspaper written by Gumbs earlier this month. The non-governmental organisation (NGO) also called on Al-Rawi’s resignation from the Senate, saying his misrepresentation of the key findings of the report, under the cloak of parliamentary privilege, was irresponsible. Fixin’ T&T said Ramlogan reference to sections of the legislation PCA Act, lead the public to believe the independent PCA was mandated to submit the report to the Minister of National Security and that he neglected to say the minister referred to in the act is the Minister of Legal Affairs.
November 2012 to end a 50-year civil conflict which has killed an estimated 220,000 people and displaced more than five million others. The ceremony was broadcast live on state television and radio, as well as on giant screens outside the cathedral. On Wednesday - to coincide with World Book Day - Colombians will further remember Garcia Marquez by organising readings of his novella No One Writes to the Colonel at more than 1,000 libraries, parks, universities and school
Twelve thousand copies of the novella have already been handed out for the reading. President Juan Manuel Santos also attended the event at Mexico City’s Palace of Fine Arts on Monday. He told the BBC: “The world knows about Colombia through Gabriel Garcia Marquez. He represented what Colombia is in many ways. His magic realism is - and he said it - is not an invention. It’s a description of what Colombia is.” Thousands of fans filed past the urn containing his ashes. Joseline Lopez, a
Venezuelan medical student, said she had come because she wanted “to thank him for the pleasure he gave me in reading books”. Referring to his bestknown novel she said: “One Hundred Years of Solitude will survive 100 more years in our hearts.” Nelly Hernandez, a teacher, said that the author was “a watershed in my life”. “He taught me to relish life through literature.” The cause of his death has not been disclosed, but he had been treated for pneumonia shortly before he died. (BBC News)
6
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Guyana
Editorial
Is the USA/UK interference in local politics a repeat of 1964?
IN Ukraine, the CIA has forged flyers stamped with President Putin’s seal instructing all Jews in eastern Ukraine to report to their pro-Russia local office, ROOM 514, to pay a £30 fee, and to register all their assets, but Russia is insisting that these documents are fake. CIA-financed snipers, under orders from the coup leaders in Kiev, have shot and killed three pro-Russia separatist guards on duty. When Russia complained about this break in the current ceasefire agreement, the coup leaders in Kiev pleaded innocence, lying that Russia had shot their own sympathisers to blame Kiev. The moral of this story is that if President Donald Ramotar allows the CIA further traction in Guyana, all the PPP/C Government’s progress in Guyana would be derailed, and Guyana would be returned to the days of a PNC dictatorship and destruction in the land in America’s fight to get back at Venezuela. The egoistic, vindictive, bitter, vengeful anti-nationalistic, unpatriotic duo, Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo, and all the AFC’s financial backers are enabling this
eventuality. The USA’s envoy in Guyana, Brent Hardt, has challenged the sovereignty of this country by disregarding the government’s objections and implementing an ostensible local “democracy” project here, which is, in reality, providing funding for the joint Opposition in early electioneering, and empowering opposition entities in their anti-Government activities. This nefarious programme has been sustained even after the US Ambassador has been officially advised of the government’s decision to suspend its continuation, pending further clarification to determine future modus operandi. At his weekly media briefing after a three-month hiatus while he was on sick leave, political veteran Dr Roger Luncheon -- serving as Cabinet Secretary since the inception of the PPP/C Governance Post-1992 -dubbed Hardt’s actions as “provocative”, and unambiguously denounced the latter’s intractable interference in the local political dynamics in very strong language. The bilateral relations between Washington and Georgetown are being
threatened as a consequence of Hardt’s intransigence, because it is hardly likely that the US Ambassador is acting without the blessing and approval of the White House. The LEAD (Leadership and Democracy) project is funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The Guyana Government had initially fully committed to the LEAD project in its original format; but the interference of Hardt, who is openly displaying partisanship in local politics, has caused the government much alarm at the nature of the project’s implementation. Hence the administration’s request for a cessation until the conclusion of a satisfactory resolution. However, Hardt has openly disregarded Government’s formal and informal requests for a discontinuation of the project until after engagements that would lead to a satisfactory menu of measures for the continued implementation of the project that would not threaten the sovereignty of this nation. The government has much disquietude and concerns about the LEAD project taking a different direction to the one originally agreed to by Georgetown and Washington, and the insistence of Hardt in disregarding its concerns over the current focus on empowering the joint Opposition in its anti-developmental thrust. Hardt would depart Guyana in June, but successive US ambassadors have openly displayed their support of
Guyana’s destructive Opposition, with the worst of them being Roland Bullen, and a female ambassador who reputedly shared an intimate relationship with the Editor of one of the local media houses. The U.S. funded the PNC’s ‘X-13 Plan’ in the 1960s; and again they are believed to be funding the PNC to destablilise another PPP-led government. And when one reads about their actions in the Ukraine, the recent Linden uprising where three men were killed under questionable and unfathomable circumstances, as well as other such Opposition-driven situations readily come to mind. The PPP support base, the perennial victims of these joint USA/UK/PNC activities, is fearful that the government would not take pro-active steps to ensure their security from the consequences of this new wave of treacherous actions of this traditional combination that has historically resulted in 28 years of destructive dictatorial governance in Guyana, and its tragic aftermath of a devastated country and a divided nation. During the days of earlier struggle, Dr. Cheddi Jagan trusted John F. Kennedy. American State documents have revealed that US and UK Heads knew Forbes Burnham was an evil conniver -- his own sister said so -- and they stated their opinion that Dr. Jagan was a principled leader committed to his people; yet they fuelled Burnham’s ambi-
Rodney COI hearings... the commission and attendance of witnesses. All persons wishing to testify on these and subsequent hearing dates are asked to submit statements of their intended testimony in writing to the Commission. Persons who wish to testify but may need assistance in composing their witness statements will be assisted by the commission’s secretariat, and are invited to contact the Secretariat at the Supreme
Court Library Building, or emailwalterrodneysecretariat@gmail.com As has been reported, the CoI has held meetings with the Commissioner of Police, Army Chief, political parties, Speaker of the National Assembly, Private Sector Commission, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and trade unions and other stakeholders. Lawyers attached to the Commission include Mr.
Glen Hanoman, Ms. Latchmie Rahamat and Ms. Nicola Pierre. They are currently helping witnesses to put their statements together in an orderly and relevant fashion. President Donald Ramotar had agreed, in June 2013, to establish the CoI following a request from the Rodney family, after a previous inquiry ordered by former President Desmond Hoyte in 1988 found that the historian/politician’s
tion and funded the ‘X-13 Plan’ to create havoc in this country. Their own country is falling apart, but they are all over the world creating mischief. They may very well be behind all the mayhem being created by the Opposition, including Linden, to destabilise another PPPled Government. There are persons in the local media who are informed about US funding and support of some hate-mongers and insurrectionists who are propagating racism and divisiveness, and encouraging Opposition elements toward taking violent measures to achieve ‘solutions’ in the country. There was an incident where Opposition parties were encouraging Venezuelan opposition to openly declare Essequibo as part of their territory, in efforts to cause problems for a Jagdeo-led Government. That was during the onset of Chavez’ illness; but Chavez has always been respectful to former President Jagdeo. Actually, Guyanese would never realise the plethora of achievements of Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who, as President, for the first time in Guyana’s history forged friendly bilateral ties between Guyana and its territorial protagonists, and settled some border disputes, which the joint Opposition, to further own agendas, had no qualms about attempting to derail. So, the PNC’s history of destroying Guyana and peace in this land for personal gains is a historical fact. The signs have been
pointing, for quite a while, to a resurgence of interference by these two superpowers in this country’s political affairs, where their support is overtly skewed in the direction of the Opposition, as in the case of the British High Commissioner joining the PNC in the streets to force the PPP to call off their request for a recount when they realised they were being cheated during the last elections, consequencing the joint Opposition’s parliamentary power with which the combo is creating gridlocks and impasse in Government’s transformational macro and micro developmental programmes. Even the UN has been doing its bit of agitating against the PPP/C Government by commissioning and putting its imprimatur behind the infamous Gay McDougal report, funding of anti-governmental NGOs such as the Guyana Transparency International; the WPA/APNU’s women’s arm, Red Thread; and the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), which always supports criminals against their victims, and has played a real role in advancing criminality in Guyana, creating an adjunctive arm supporting the several incidences of insurrection driven by the joint Opposition. The Guyana Government needs to recognise and take strong measures against the very real threat of the superpowers collaborating with the joint Opposition to return Guyana to the local political dynamics of the 1960s.
From page 3
demise was caused by an ‘accident or misadventure’, and that was met with grave disbelief. Rodney was killed when a bomb exploded in the car in which he was travelling. He was 38 years old at the time. Nine years ago, Parliament unanimously approved a motion to establish a commission to enquire into the circumstances surrounding his death. The Parliamentary Motion that spawned the decision to
establish the Commission of Inquiry stated thus: “On the 13th June, 1980, Dr. Walter Rodney, a distinguished Guyanese scholar, was assassinated by an explosion which occurred in his car at John and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown. Dr. Rodney was, at the time of his death, an eminent political leader engaged in democracy and social justice in a struggle against authoritarian rule. There have been
calls for a full investigation into the assassination of Dr. Walter Rodney, which have received broad support. “The National Assembly, in paying tribute to the memory of this illustrious son of Guyana, and on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his untimely and tragic death, supports an I enquiry being conducted into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr. Rodney.”
7
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Agriculture Minister roasts Opposition for letting greed get the better of them By Vanessa Narine
AGRICULTURE Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has flayed the parliamentary opposition parties for allowing their “hunger for power” to blind them when it comes to acting in the national interest. In a statement issued last Friday, Dr Ramsammy said: “In their hunger for power, APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) and the AFC (Alliance For Change) do not respect anyone, and they do not care who or how many
other initiatives; $10M for the Office of the First Lady; $73.5M for the Guyana Energy Agency; $119M for the Guyana Office for Investment (GoInvest); $122M for the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST); $17M for the Integrity Commission, and $28.5M for the Office of the Commissioner of Information. There were other cuts made last Wednesday and Friday. Wednesday night’s cuts included: $18.5B for the LCDS initiatives; $450M for loans for University of
‘They merely want power; and the more they create chaos and under-development, the more they take delight in the misery that they cause. I call on my Guyanese brothers and sisters to stand in solidarity to condemn the reprehensible actions of APNU and AFC’ people they hurt. “They merely want power, and the more they create chaos and under-development, the more they take delight in the misery that they cause. I call on my Guyanese brothers and sisters to stand in solidarity to condemn the reprehensible actions of APNU and AFC.” Last Tuesday, under the allocation for the Office of the President, the parliamentary opposition parties made cuts that include: $245M for the Presidential Guard services; $95M for the provision of developmental and humanitarian aid, among
Guyana students; $725M for the Poverty Alleviation programme; $7M for the different rights commissions; $795M for the Basic Needs Trust Fund, and $4M for support to non-governmental organisations and the private sector. Friday night’s cuts included: The Specialty Hospital ($910M); upgrading of Regional and District Hospitals, including Port Kaituma, Kwakwani, Linden, Bartica, Eye Surgery Operating Room at Linden etc ($360M); ambulances, ATVs and Boats ($42M); surgical equipment and instruments ($32M); the
Amerindian Development Fund ($1.1B); other Amerindian programmes, such as ATVs, tractors etc. ($40M); the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Modernization project ($6.6B); Civil Aviation ($50M); and hinterland airstrips ($185M).
DESIGNED TO HURT Dr Ramsammy contends that the cuts were “designed to hurt the Guyanese people, and reflected a betrayal of the people.” He said, “They intend to suffocate Guyana’s development as much as they can, and they intend to do so by directly affecting the lives of people. But I believe they disgraced themselves as representatives of the people. “Quite simply, they took great delight in voting against the interest of the people, and against our country. “…the AFC and APNU disapproved and cut out from the National Budget allocations for some very significant development in our country, development that would benefit citizens everywhere in Guyana. The cuts targeted Guyanese in very sensitive areas, areas that would contribute to better lives for all.” The Agriculture Minister made it clear that the current administration will maintain its firm stance on the side of the people. “We stand for development,” he said, “and we will continue to invest in people and in the projects that make their lives better. We will seek to find ways to ensure that these programmes are
According to Dr Ramsammy, in voting against development, the combined Opposition “abdicated” their responsibility to act in the interest of the people of Guyana. “Cutting the budget, particularly programmes like hospitals and the Amerindian Fund, is not only morally wrong, but it exposes them as power-hungry politicians who do not care for the people and for our country,” he said.
Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
implemented. We will not abandon our people. “While the cuts represent a major barrier in our efforts to improve the lives of our people and the development of our country, the PPP/C will not be deterred in our pursuit of a better Guyana and better
HOLDING THE COUNTRY TO RANSOM The minister contends that the budget cuts are a clear indication of levels the Opposition is willing to go in order to hold the country to ransom. He said, “APNU, in its 2011 manifesto, spoke of hinterland development being
‘They intend to suffocate Guyana’s development as much as they can, and they intend to do so by directly affecting the lives of people. But I believe they disgraced themselves as representatives of the people’ lives for all of our people. “I am particularly angry at both the AFC and APNU for trying to suffocate the development of our country by abusing the mandate of Parliamentarians. They demonstrated in no uncertain terms that they do not deserve the title of Parliamentarian. “Parliamentarians must work for people, not against people.”
a top priority to the party, and they claimed that ‘indigenous communities remain a disadvantaged zone’. The Amerindian Fund is a budgetary fund that responded to the recommendations of over 200 Amerindian leaders, who identified these activities at the 2013 National Toshaos’ Council meeting as important and necessary for the development of Amerindian
communities and Amerindian people. “But given a chance to demonstrate their commitment to Amerindian People’s interest, APNU and AFC chose to betray them. “…APNU also, in its Manifesto, spoke of its commitment to support a development strategy towards indigenous development and inhabitants. I ask today: where is that commitment and generosity? “But the people will be the judge. “…this is barefaced and shameless pretense of caring, while ghoulishly brandishing the dreaded scissors… “I say shame on you AFC and APNU!” “The answers are clear for all to see: that the PPP/C has always kept the advancement of Amerindians on the front burner, not just at elections’ time. We have demonstrated our commitment throughout the years, every time and anytime, once it is in the interest of our people,” Ramsammy said. The minister underscored the fact that cuts seen in the considerations of the 2014 Budget are “cruel and inhumane”, and exposes the AFC and APNU as “not interested” in the development of the Guyanese people, and by extension the country. “The APNU and AFC displayed arrogance and an overt effort to derail Guyana’s development,” he said. He stressed that the people of the nation will be the judge when the question is posed: “Was the interest of Guyana’s first people only a top priority during elections?”
Government MPs were brilliant in Parliament By David DeGroot THE debates on the 2014 National Budget offered an opportunity for Members of Parliament across the divides to display their capacity for significantly advancing the fortunes of the country, and at the same time demonstrating their personal ability of making a meaningful contribution toward catalyzing the development process currently taking place all over the country. Ministers were at their knowledgeable best on the
direction in which their respective sectors will be expanding, and spoke eloquently on the plans that will assist in pushing the advancement currently, shortly and beyond as it affects the various ministries. Reviews were provided by Government MPs on the major developmental activities during the course of 2013. The manner in which an account was given of their respective stewardship was most welcome and educative. It was all very revealing, and should have benefitted the members of
David DeGroot the opposition, if they were zealous about moving the
country forward, and had the willingness to cooperate in ensuring success in reaching the myriad goals outlined by the subject ministers. I really believe much can be achieved if this sort of unionism is pursued, but if you were to judge from the performance in Parliament, the opposition cannot be depended upon for much meaningful cooperation with the PPP/C Government. Their seeming preference is to always adopt a disruptive course of action in pursuance of making it
difficult for effective and productive management of the country under a PPP/C administration. It is a wonder that the government has been able not only to put in place the necessary fundamentals for advancing the country, but to actually achieve much in completing the various infrastructure -- physical as well as on the economic front -- with the continuous anti-nationalistic positions adopted by the anti-Government protagonists. Confronting an opposition that is prepared to
deliberately embark upon open maliciousness in feigned attempts at consultations or cooperation is simply to indulge in self-deception and a waste of energy. The PPP/C will have to manage alone to achieve their transformative developmental goals. Let progress prevail! Because the people will not accept excuses, despite the unending problems created by opposition, who are bent on ensuring the failure of the PPP/C Government!
8
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Following experts’ report…
Rohee blames GT&T for problem with emergency 911 response By Vanessa Narine HOME Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, has laid blame for technical difficulties in the country’s emergency response hotlines with Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T). “This is clearly a technical problem,” he said, adding that GT&T, which has the monopoly for provision of landline services locally, has refused to accept responsibility for it. Speaking at the usual weekly press conference in Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown, the Minister said the complaint from persons using the emergency hotlines is that, when they call, there is no answer, but those manning the system claim the phones do not ring. “GT&T must explain this,” Rohee insisted. His remarks followed the report of American experts who reviewed the network, after spending five days here in March, visiting Police stations and meeting with various stakeholders.
NECESSARY INTERVENTION Rohee said that was a necessary intervention, given the lack of “internal capacity” to address the deficiencies. He told the media that he has completed his review of the “complex document” and local technical officers are being engaged to address the implementation of the recommendations in it. Rohee said that among three of the recommended actions are a proposal to consolidate the crime, fire and medical emergency numbers – 911, 912 and 913 and completely revise Home Affairs Minister the countrywide scheme. Clement Rohee
According to him, the proposals have a tidy cost attached to them, hence the engagement of local technical officers to ensure that the price settled on is justified. Last December, Rohee admitted the poor performance of the 911 service, acknowledging that the aired criticisms of it are genuine. “I am fed up with this whole situation of poor performance of the 911 system,” he declared, referring to the fact that the problem of the service’s efficiency has been raised time and time again. He proffered the opinion that it could not be with staffing, as the Police have sufficient “general duties” staff to man the 911 line. “This issue has come up at several meetings….I don’t know if it is a technological problem,” Rohee said. In addition to the recruitment of the foreign experts, the Minister also promised a meeting with GT&T, the Police, Home Affairs officials and other stakeholders to address the issue.
State agencies addressing non-legislative - Finance Minister CFATF recommendations By Vanessa Narine THE Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and other State agencies, which are part of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) architecture, have been diligently addressing the non-legislative recommendations of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh made the disclosure last Wednesday, when fielding questions in the National Assembly on the functioning of the FIU. Members of Parliament (MPs), that day, approved $73.7M, an increase over $51M in the previous year, for the FIU to continue its work. The Minister explained that, while Guyana has achieved successes with the non-legislative recommendations, the non-enactment of the AML/CFT Bill leaves much to be desired by CFATF. “To say nothing is done is wrong. We have made successes here (with the non-legislative recommendations), what is left is the enactment of the legislation, the legislative recommendations of CFAFT,” he acknowledged. Guyana missed the February 28 date, when this country
was required to submit a report to CFATF, which was expected to include a copy of the enacted Bill, that would, after analysis, be correlated to the deficiencies identified by the body at its November 2013 plenary meeting, before a report is made in May 2014. Guyana, unfortunately, was only able to report on the non-legislative recommendations by CFATF. MAY PLENARY If the May plenary is dissatisfied with Guyana’s progress, CFATF’s November 2013 statement has already made clear the decision for the country to be referred to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the international body, which meets, again, in June 2014.
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh
The AML/CFT Bill is still with the Parliamentary Special Select Committee, which is reviewing it and is, currently, waiting on Chief Parliamentary Counsel Cecil Dhurjon, to complete a new draft that includes more amendments to the initial ones proposed by A Partnership for Unity (APNU). APNU’s original three proffer a change to the entire governing apparatus of the FIU: removal of the Attorney General wherever that name appears and replacement of it with the FIU; and vesting a Police or Customs officer with the power to seize currency from any person, anywhere in Guyana, if those officers have reason to believe that it is the proceeds of crime or will be used to fund criminal activities. In addition to their proposed changes, APNU is also calling for the Head of State to assent to several Bills he returned to the National Assembly with the explanation that they were unconstitutional. Meanwhile, the Alliance for Change (AFC), which supports APNU’s position, is demanding the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), that Government has agreed to, providing that Cabinet retains its no-objection role in the process but the latter has been rejected by the AFC.
Police actively following lead in ‘DJ Casual’ shooting - Crime Chief
CRIME Chief Leslie James said, yesterday, that while no arrests have yet been made, Police have a description of the suspect in the Monday morning shooting of radio announcer/disc jockey Curtis Armstrong and Sean Hinds. The men were shot and injured at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara. James said the vehicle in which the shooter fled the scene has also been described and detectives are actively pursuing that lead. Armstrong, popularly called ‘DJ Casual’, remains a pa-
tient at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where he is recuperating following a surgical operation on Easter Monday. Hinds is also a patient at that institution. Police said, about 04:10 hrs on April 21, Armstrong, 34, of Guyhoc Park, was involved in an argument and subsequent scuffle with two men in the car park at the Providence Stadium where the Easter Fest concert, featuring international artistes Jah Cure and Sean Paul, was staged. However, Hinds, 30, of North Ruimveldt, in the
Curtis ‘Casual’ Armstrong
city, too, intervened and one of two other men pulled a firearm and shot the duo, Armstrong to his abdomen and left hand and Hinds to his left foot. It was reported that there was a row, involving Armstrong and other patrons, over ice in the VIP Lounge at the Stadium and, after he left there and went to the parking lot for his car, a man confronted him a second time and during a heated row, he was shot and wounded.
9
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Old Kai: Chronicles of Guyana...
It wasn’t a resurrection; ‘Hammie’ was just daydreaming - of his ‘thug-in-chief’ days under Burnham
OLD Kai had to read twice an article appearing on the social media which indicated that former ‘strongman’ under the Burnham dictatorship was now trying to relive his glory-days in a new era, and a reality far different from that time when Hamilton Green moved around our country with a small army of personal bodyguards, with a mandate to intimidate and preserve the status quo of oppression. So as to establish our point about the goodly Mayor of Georgetown, let us quote from the PNC’s ‘X13’ terrorist plan, which was uncovered from Congress Place and which was published extensively in the newspapers in May 1963: “One day during the month of May, 1963, a meeting was held at Congress Place between 11.00am and 2.00pm by the L.F.S. Burnham, Claude Graham and Hamilton Green. “At the meeting, it was decided to use explosives on all Government buildings, the latter being the Government Ferry Stelling and the Government Produce Depot, Lombard Street. This decision was taken in order to: Put all the Ministries out of compliance; to prevent the sale of foreign goods at the Government Produce Depot, which would bring revenue to the country; to forestall the plans of the Hon. E.M.G. Wilson, who caused the Ferry Boat to operate; to destroy the premises of the Rice Marketing Board, and the entire stock of rice equipment, in order to stall the progress of the rice industry.” As can be observed today, APNU (the mask of the
PNC) is being aided by the AFC to use their combined one-seat majority over the PPP/C in the National Assembly to continue their plan of ‘making Guyana ungovernable.’ They do not need to covertly sabotage our crucial industries and destroy our infrastructure; they can now do so overtly, using the National Assembly to deny all sectors development funds, including Amerindians. Now we can see why they were so critical of funds for the sugar and rice sectors, with threats to cut it, and it was only after hundreds of sugar workers came out to picket that they were forced to backtrack. It is now clear why both the AFC and APNU are so eager, and have publicly articulated plans to close the sugar industry. You can bet your last dollar that they will come up with an excuse to repeat history and try to ‘stall the progress of the rice industry’ also. But it does not end there. The report continues, “At 6.30pm on the 8th June, 1963, Hamilton Green and Claude Graham gave Hunte explosives in a handag from the stock they had at Clarke & Martin to carry out the mission of destroying the Rice Marketing Board...” The name that is popping up constantly in this PNC terrorist plan is that of our current Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, and mention is also made of the deadly ‘chain-gang’ to which we will deal with in another edition. After all this evidence of the role Hamilton Green and company played to destroy this country, it comes as no surprise that Georgetown has been allowed to deteriorate
Opposition politics of blackmail and bullyism THE abuses being hurled at the peaceful Amerindians standing up for their right to survive in the country where their rights should supersede those of all other Guyanese races, given that they first inhabited this slice of earth, bespeak the heartless lack of humanity, and the complete absence of conscience in the leadership of the joint opposition and their motley crew of supporters, obvious rejects from unciavilized society. The joint opposition’s behaviour in Parliament was replicated on the streets outside the Public Buildings when their supporters launched a vitriolic and scurrilous attack at the hapless Amerindians and NCN/GINA staffers, ordinary Guyanese, some of them supporters of the very opposition parties that were intent on downgrading them into servile status. Opposition leader David Granger’s denials that the violent and lawless brigade was his Party’s supporters is such a blatant untruth that it speaks to the morality, or lack thereof, of someone who has a similar track record of defending perpetrators of violent acts, even murder, committed against ordinary Guyanese citizens in the op-
position’s long history of violent politically-driven frays against the Guyanese nation; and reference is made here to Granger’s defence of the GDF ranks who murdered the Ballot Box Martyrs. Proof that Granger is once again defending the indefensible is apparent in comparisons of archival photographs that show PNC/APNU activists Kenneth (Six-Head) Chance, and Wayne Maison in earlier violent ‘protests’ directing the mob hurling invectives and threats at the peaceful Amerindian and GINA/NCN protesters outside Parliament earlier this week. When one takes into account the fact that the entire Amerindian Development Budget that was sheared away was less than half the amount earmarked for free electricity for Lindeners, which was passed without any problem by the joint opposition parliamentary parties, then one realises the absolute vindictive nature of the parliamentary beast. That is why they can jeer at the poor peaceful Amerindians, because their bully tactics really work, and the government always bends over backwards to please
to such levels under his watch as Mayor. This is a man who became an International Ambassador of Peace some 13 years ago, and travelled to several countries preaching the virtues of peace and love. Now we are informed by Internet news site, iNews, that Mayor Hamilton Green allegedly turned up with his ‘armed bodyguards’ and forcefully took away the ‘keys’ to an M&CC vehicle on the seawalls which was transporting staff of the Council as they were collecting fees for vending at that location. These are funds which the City badly needs; these are funds which will be ploughed back into ridding the very location of all its refuse after the Easter festivities. Hammie needs a serious wakeup call; he is clearly daydreaming that it is the 60s to the 80s when he was popularly referred to as the ‘thug-in-chief’ of the dictator, Forbes Burnham. This is a different era, and those strong-arm tactics have no place in a democracy! The Guyana Police Force will ultimately decide whether any criminal charges will be pursued against Hammy, but this is not about that. Hamilton Green and his conspirators should have been placed before the International Criminal Court many years ago; he should have been tried for crimes against humanity, based on the evidence of the ‘X13’ files, and historical experiences of victims. It is no wonder the PNC has refused to participate in the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry. (To be continued) PNC/APNU/AFC at the cost of their own supporters and other citizens. The in excess of $3B they get for free electricity, so that they do everything, including cooking, is only a small part of what they are getting in terms of their Region; and in a plethora of other wealth-creational opportunities, they are intent on denying other Guyanese, who take care of their infrastructure, unlike opposition supporters who destroy private and public property, including schools that their children have to attend, as well as roads and bridges; and every time they do these destructive things, the government moves immediately to spend more taxpayers' money to rebuild. It is time the Government says “Enough is enough!” and stop rebuilding infrastructure that opposition protesters destroy, as they have done from time immemorial during their never-ending protests that are really bullyism and blackmail tactics meant to hold the nation to ransom until they get what they want, no matter how it affects the rest of Guyanese communities. The Linden protest should make the government aware of the dangers inherent in not diverting from their plans to run the IT cable and the road from Brazil through Linden. They need to take into consideration how many more opportunities would be provided to the criminals in the opposition leadership for inveigling their supporters into blackmailing the government through blocking and/or destroying that vital road link, or destruction of the cable. The PNC/APNU/AFC protester is right. Her placard read, "APNU run things". Yes, they indeed do! Through their perennial politics of bullyism and blackmail! The X-13 Plan is always re-formulated: In the ‘Buxton uprising’, the ‘slow fiah, mo’ fiah’ and other strategies. But the PNC/APNU/AFC politics of intimidation and violence is ever-extant in Guyana’s volatile socio-political demographics.
10
SOCIAL FACTS By Hydar Ally
SOCIAL facts are facts that exist in the minds and consciousness of people, regardless of how others may try to ignore them. These need not be facts that could be tested empirically, but to the extent that people believe that they exist, to that extent they are 'factual'. A good example of a social fact is the belief in the supernatural. There are so many people who would laugh at you if you deny the existence of evil spirits. Almost everyone could recount some experience in life which is so bizarre that it often defies rational or scientific explanation. The same can be said for religious beliefs. No one can prove scientifically the existence of a Heavenly Father, or of some Divine Being. Yet, millions of people believe in the existence of a Supreme Being, and billions of dollars are spent to construct places of worship, and to pay the salaries of those engaged in spiritual and religious work. This is why it is important to separate Religion from the State. Our Constitution allows for full separation between the State and Religion. The State in Guyana is secular, which means that there is no State-sponsored religion. People are free to believe or not to believe in religion, and no one is discriminated on the grounds of religion or ethnicity. This puts our country on par with the more advanced democracies of the world, where there is political and cultural pluralism. Our religious festivals have become widely embraced by peoples of all religious and ideological persuasions. We all take our children and grandchildren to fly kites at the seawall and other open spaces, even though the religious significance of the festival may not be known or
embraced by everyone. The same is true of other religious festivals such as Christmas, Phagwah, Diwali, Eid-ul-Fitr and Youman Nabi, which are observed by Christians, Hindus and Muslims respectively. We are a tolerant society. The same cannot be said of many other countries where there is great hostility against people who do not share the same religious beliefs, or who are perceived to be culturally different. We all remember what took place in Germany under Adolf Hitler. It remains, until this day, the greatest Man-made tragedy that ever took place in the annals of recorded history, in terms of the magnitude of the genocide that took place in the name of preserving the so-called 'master race'. Millions of Jews and other Slavic populations were wiped out by the Hitler killing machines, not to mention the tens of thousands more who were tortured and killed in gas chambers because they did not belong to the 'master race'. The truth is that there is no such thing as a 'master race’ or a 'master religion’. Anyone who advocates such thinking is either mentally deranged or outright xenophobic. Such people are dangerous, and ought to be placed behind bars for their entire life. History is replete with examples where innocent people were made to suffer at the hands of evil men, who, under the guise of religion or race, have committed some of the most heinous crimes against their fellow men. The Rwanda Massacre, which took the lives of close to a million people, is still fresh in the minds of people worldwide. The same is true of the mass genocide that took place in Bosnia in the name of 'ethnic cleansing’. And more recently, there is the ongoing conflict in Nigeria and the Central
UN panel reports…
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014 African Republic, where religious and tribal differences turned deadly. In the case of Nigeria, a Muslim extremist group that styled itself ‘Boko Haram’ has launched an attack on all western norms and values, including the teaching of the English Language, and western education as a whole. And we must not forget the bombing of the World Trade Centre in New York, allegedly by muslim extremists, which claimed the lives of over 2,000 persons, among them a few Guyanese. This is why we have to be on guard against elements in our society who seek to divide us along ethnic lines. The PPP/C administration has established the Ethnic Relations Commission to address issues of ethnic insecurity in our society, but the work of that Commission is being stymied by the parliamentary opposition which refused to vote money for its proper functioning. Hydar Ally The PPPC administration must be commended for putting in place measures, at both the legislative and administrative levels, to address the issue of ethnic insecurity and racial hostility. Under the Racial Hostility Act, anyone found guilty of inciting racial hostility is liable to severe fines and imprisonment if convicted by the courts. There is a saying that says, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” There is no shortage of good men and women in Guyana and the world at large. Let us all take a stand against religious and ethnic intolerance.
Clean energy eminently affordable without sacrificing living standards THE United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in its fifth assessment report completed April 12, has concluded that catastrophic climate change can be averted without sacrificing living standards. The compilation, captioned ‘Mitigation of Climate Change’, concludes that the transformation required to a world of clean energy is eminently affordable. It is the basis for a renewed push for countries to take this route, particularly since the UN document makes it clear the cheapest and least risky route to dealing with global warming is to abandon all dirty fossil fuels in coming decades, the compendium said. The documentation was disclosed before the combined Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC), slashed funding for one of Guyana’s flagship transformational projects in the area of renewable energy, the Amaila Falls Hydro-power Project (AFHP). In the 2014 Budget estimates, both parties supported the allocation of $1.3B for the provision of the Amaila access road and related structures, under the Ministry of Public Works budgetary allocation. However, the $16.8B for the actual project, which was listed under the Ministry of Finance’s 2014 allocation, was disapproved by the parties. HYDROPOWER PLANT The undertaking involves the construction of a hydropower plant in the area of west-central Guyana, where the Amaila and Kuribrong rivers meet and electricity produced there will be delivered to Guyana’s capital, Georgetown and its second largest town, Linden.
The AFHP is expected to result in substantial savings to the nation’s coffers, particularly in terms of foreign exchange and the purchase of heavy fuel oil. The potential benefits of a more stable and reliable source of energy, through the advance of hydroelectricity, was also spotlighted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), last December, as an area for continued focus. On July 18, last year, the combined Opposition defeated the Hydro Electric Power (Amendment) Bill and last August, the Government took the issue back to the National Assembly and, while it received the support of the AFC, APNU voted down both bill and motion. President Donald Ramotar’s position is that economies must serve the people, not vice versa, and with an anticipated saving of $9B in electricity subsidies, as well as $40B on the fuel bill, enormous contributions can be made to the infrastructural development, particularly needed in Guyana’s hinterland, to aid and accelerate economic progress. Professor The economist, Professor Ottmar Edenhofer Ottmar Edenhofer, who led the IPCC team, said: “It doesn’t cost the world to save the planet.” He contends that the renewed call for a focus on renew-
able energy is supported by science. According to the IPCC report, diverting hundreds of billions of dollars from fossil fuels into renewable energy and cutting energy waste would shave just 0.06 percent off expectant annual economic growth rates of 1.3 percent to three percent. CARBON EMISSIONS The new IPCC proposition warns that carbon emissions have soared in the last decade and are now growing at almost double the previous rate. But its comprehensive analysis found rapid action can still limit global warming to the internationally agreed safe limit, if low carbon energy triples or quadruples by 2050. The authoritative documentation also dismisses fears that cutting carbon emissions would wreck the world economy. Concluding four years of intense scientific collaboration by hundreds of authors from around the world, this document responds to the request of the world’s governments for a comprehensive, objective and policy neutral assessment of the current scientific knowledge on mitigating climate change. It was adopted on April 12 in Berlin after intense debates with governments and consists of 16 chapters with more than 2,000 pages. Written by 235 authors from 58 countries and reviewed externally by 900 experts, most prominent is the 33-page Summary for Policymakers (SPM) that was approved by all 193 countries. At a first glance, the summation does not sound spectacular but more like a truism often heard over the years, although it, indeed, has something new to offer. The Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) provides a clear and up to date view of the current state of scientific knowledge relevant to climate change.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Vandals deprive East Georgetown residents of landline phone service
THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) has, in a release, apologised to the residents of Sophia, Prashad Nagar, Blygezight, Bel Air, Bel Voir Court and parts of Cummings Lodge, whose services have been put down as a result of vandalism. The company has said that approximately 2400 pairs of feeder cables have been severely damaged and would necessitate major repair, which would last for approximately five to seven days before service can be restored to the affected areas, while 15 metres have been stolen over the Easter Holidays. According to GT&T, “These acts of vandalism continue to affect the roll-out of services nationally, since resources have to be diverted from scheduled works. Community welfare and security are also affected.” The company has said: “GT&T expresses its regret for the inconvenience caused, and reiterates its call for communities to be vigilant for persons who set out to destroy such vital communication infrastructure, and to report such acts to the police and to GT&T’s vandalism hotline, 0908.”
Kaneville man slaughters brother in heated midnight argument By Asif Hakim THIRTY–six–year-old Rohan ‘Janko’ Teekaram of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara allegedly chopped his brother, thirty-year-old Jairam ‘Nasho’ Teekaram, to death after a heated argument at their home late Easter Monday morning. The incident allegedly stemmed from ‘Nasho’ allowing his friend, ‘Buck Boy’, to stay by the two unemployed brothers. Janko has been arrested, and is in police custody assisting with investigations. One neighbour, Hamewattie Latchmandin, told this publication that the two brothers would usually fight when intoxicated. She said that ‘Nasho’ had arrived home at about 11.00pm on Sunday night, and was apparently already in bed when ‘Janko’ arrived home at about 1:00hr on Monday morning and started hitting the door in a very aggressive manner, waking up the neighbourhood. When ‘Nasho’ opened the door for Janko, Janko began to beat ‘Buck Boy’ who was at their home at the time, screaming as he did: “Y’all come out this f***ng house! Y’all don’t have f***ing money!” Buck Boy then ran out the house limping, leaving the two brothers arguing. “A few minutes after, we heard things ‘brucking up’ and the two brothers started to fight, as they usually do; so we didn’t pay them (any) attention, because every
Please turn to page 15
11
12
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
On eight anniversary of his assassination…
Gov’t pays tribute to late Minister Sawh GUYANA remembered the late former Agriculture Minister Satyadeow Sawh, fondly called Sash Sawh, yesterday, on the eighth anniversary of his brutal assassination; and incumbent Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, in an invited comment, told the Guyana Chronicle that Sawh will always be remembered as a patriot who struggled for the freedom of his country. “As we reflect on Sash’s death, our struggles to strengthen our democracy and freedom must continue. It is the only meaningful tribute we can continue to pay to a Guyanese patriot,” Minister Ramsammy stressed. On April 22, 2006, the late former Agriculture Minister Satyadeow ‘Sash’ Sawh and his siblings, Rajpat Rai and Phulmatttie Persaud, as well as security guard Kurtis Robertson, were brutally gunned down at the Sawhs’ La Bonnne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara (ECD) home. Ramsammy said, “His death shortened a career that significantly contrib-
Ramsammy concluded. Sawh was born on June 13, 1955 in Central Mahaicony, ECD; but he and his family migrated to Canada in the 1970s, where he studied Economics and
Late Satyadeow ‘Sash’ Sawh Business at York University, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1982. He had previously earned a certificate in Accounting and Business from the Ryerson Polytechnic Institute in 1978. Between 1975 and 1992, he served as a mem-
Eight years ago, on April 22, 2006, the late former Agriculture Minister Satyadeow ‘Sash’ Sawh and his siblings, Rajpat Rai and Phulmatttie Persaud, as well as security guard Kurtis Robertson, were brutally gunned down at the Sawhs’ La Bonnne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara home. uted to our development; but as we remember Sash and his optimism for Guyana, we must be reminded that evil forces that ensured dictatorship in Guyana after independence are still active in Guyana. “Sash’s death was a consequence of a centrally directed violent movement intended to overthrow the Government. While that effort failed, it ended with too many (dead) and maimed people. “Unfortunately, the forces behind the violence in that period are still present in Guyana, and we must be ever vigilant,”
ber and President respectively of the Association of Concerned Guyanese, and was the political representative of the People’s Progressive Party in Canada. From 1993 to 1996, he served as Guyana’s Ambassador to Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. For his diplomatic service, he was awarded the Order of Francisco Miranda by the Venezuelan Government and received several community awards in Venezuela and Canada. In 1996, Sawh was appointed Minister of Fisheries, Crops and Live-
stock, and later was given the additional portfolio of Minister of Agriculture. Sash Sawh was the second cabinet member to be assassinated. In the 1960s, the then Home Affairs Minister Claude Christian was shot during riots in Georgetown. He had functioned in that capacity under the then Premier, the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan. After Christian’s death, the later former President Janet Jagan replaced him as Home Affairs Minister.
WARNINGS Additionally, Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, in a column published earlier this month, stated that he had warned the party to undertake a serious analysis of the then crime situation to determine whether the party or individuals were at risk. According to him, the plea was made in March of 2006 when he addressed a meeting of the Central Committee of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP). In recalling his presentation, Ramkarran said he told the meeting: “The security situation is uppermost in people’s minds… Everyone is terrified out of his/her wits because of the gruesome violence in Agricola, the massive theft of arms from the army, regular killings allegedly by the Buxton terrorists, and weekly wanton killings by armed robbers.” He added that he had told the meeting: “Our Party and its leaders need to know the real situation, so that we can assess if the Party or individuals are in danger, so that contingency plans can be made, if possible, or comrades warned or reassured”. Ramkarran said: “Had there been a serious discussion and assessment based on information, and all leaders alerted to the dangers and steps taken to enhance security”, the assassination of Sawh might have been avoided. The former Speaker of the National Assembly recalled that Minister Sash Sawh was present See page 21
13
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
At the Demerara Assizes…
Two on trial for rape, murder of schoolgirl, nine By George Barclay NINE-YEAR-OLD ‘Sade’ left her parents’ home at Mocha/Arcadia on Friday November 2, 2007 for primary school, but never returned. Three days later, a search party found her partly nude body in a drain and a subsequent post mortem revealed that she was raped and murdered in furtherance of a felony. Two youths from the village of 10 Field, Barnwell North, Mocha/Arcadia, Jevon Wharton, then 14 and now 21, and Charles Cush, then 16 and presently 23, have been indicted with the murder. They have pleaded not guilty and are being represented by attorneys-at-law, Mr. Raymond Ali and Mr. George Thomas at the Demerara Assizes. Senior State Counsel, Mrs. Judith Mursalin in association with Mr. Mark Con-
Judge grants seven bail ACTING Chief Justice Ian Chang, last Thursday, granted bail to seven petitioners in the total sum of $1,584,000, pending their trials. The offences and alleged offenders are: * trafficking in narcotics Clive David ($200,000), Andre Christian $250, 000 and Marvin James ($309, 000): * manslaughter Rocky Cumberbatch ($300,000); * simple larceny Jason Hunte ($100, 000); Leslie Nedd ($350, 000) and Nkosi Clarke ( $75, 000).
way, both from the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), are appearing for the Prosecution. Justice Navindra Singh is presiding over the trial. Mursalin told the jury, in her opening address, that the girl’s father, Eric Stoby joined in the search for his daughter but she was nowhere to be found. RESUMED SEARCHING On Sunday, around 05:00 hrs, Stoby and his eldest son, Cavlan, resumed searching and, as the former reached the bridge at Sixth Field, he began smelling something. He followed the scent and
that led him to a drain which was about four feet wide. There were flies in the area and it was there, in that drain, Eric Stoby came upon the body of his daughter in the water. She was still wearing her school uniform but it was pulled up to her waist and she was naked from there down, her legs sprawled apart and her vagina exposed. Her schoolbag, her tights and underwear were about two feet away from her in the water and a pair of black shoes were about 20 feet away from her body. All that Eric Stoby and his son Cavlan could do
was holler. Eric Stoby lifted Sade out and Police arrived and took her body away in a hearse, the Prosecutor narrated. T h e f o l l o w i n g d a y, Government Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh performed the autopsy and found the bloated body had bleeding to the front of her head, the muscles at the back of her neck and to the muscle at the middle of her chest between the fifth and sixth ribs. Thick black mud was in her trachea and bronchhoi and her stomach was filled with black mud. There was blood in her vagina and her hymen was recently rup-
tured. Her intestines were protruding through her anus and Mursalin said Dr.Singh formed the opinion that there was evidence of blunt trauma to Sade’s head, bruising to the vagina indicating sexual activity just before death. She said the doctor had given the cause of death as
asphyxiation due to submersion compounded by blunt trauma and the case for the Prosecution is that the nine-year- old Sade had been raped and murdered in furtherance of the felony rape, a crime of violence. The case is continuing today, and a mixed jury sitting with the judge.
14
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Deputy CEO Calvin Benn opts not to renew contract with GECOM DEPUTY Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Mr Calvin Benn, has not resigned, contrary to some media reports circulated yesterday. A reliable source within
GECOM told the Guyana Chronicle that Benn’s contract will expire on July 31, 2014, and he has opted not to renew it; thus severing his engagement with GECOM. “The end of a contract is not akin to resignation…. I be-
lieve his decision might have something to do with health reasons,” the source said. Benn was one of the applicants for the post of CEO, but he withdrew his application. The Commissioners at GECOM have since support-
ed the appointment of Keith Lowenfield as the new Chief Elections Officer (CEO). In February this year, Benn was hauled over the proverbial coals when he appeared before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Auditor General Deodat Sharma stuck to his 2011 report on the financial management at the Guyana Elections Commission, citing several areas that have raised red flags for the PAC. Benn was questioned on several areas of concern, including the loss of some $500,000 from GECOM,
Calvin Benn which the Commission is asking to be written off; the claim for over $10M in outstanding payments, a debt the Commission is asking to be written off; the write-
off of inventory which was not labelled and, as such, is presenting a challenge for the Ministry of Finance to acquiesce to a request for a write off; missing vouchers valued at $2.32M; and the theft of 11 Canon digital cameras. APNU’s Shadow Finance Minister Carl Greenidge requested that Benn submit the documents and other necessary accompanying reports to the Committee by the end of the week, so the PAC can seek to resolve the issue, and Benn committed to have same done.(Vanessa Narine)
15
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Kaneville man slaughters brother ... From page 11
time they fight they always make up back. “After we heard things ease down, we went and sleep. So, in the morning
when I woke up, I saw “Janko” walking around and doing his daily routine. He was cooking, and then he went to work,” the neighbour said.
“As the day continued, we didn’t see ‘Nasho’, so we were thinking that the lashes he received Monday morning he might have
The house in which the incident occurred
moved out. “Tuesday morning, when my husband woke up, he was at the back, at the guava tree to pick some. As he turned, he saw someone’s foot was showing in the grass wrapped in a vinolay. He then alerted the rest of (the) neighbours to come across to
see if it was ‘Nasho’, but we didn’t touch (the body). “He then went to ‘Nasho’ son’s home to see if ‘Nas ho’ was there, but the son say he wasn’t there; so when we return, we were able to identify ‘Nasho’. His body was chopped up, and we called the police,” Latchmandin said. The yard where the incident occurred is said to
belong to Rudolph Chan, who is now in prison. When the police arrived on the scene, the entire community of Kaneville was shocked and surprised at ‘Nasho’s’ death, since he used to help out everyone a lot. ‘Nasho’ has left to mourn his only son, who lives with the wife Nasho had divorced.
16
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Finance Minister promises release of Census data by June 2014 By Vanessa Narine FINANCE Minister Dr. Ashni Singh has assured Members of Parliament that the data from the 2012 Census will be released by June. “A final preliminary report will be available by June,” he disclosed last Wednesday in the National Assembly, as he explained that extraction of data from the “comprehensive” questionnaires is currently being done, along with tabulation and analysis. The National Census has been hailed as important not only to the nation, but to the Caribbean region as well. Member countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are participating in the World Population and Housing Census programme, and data therefrom is being collected by the CARICOM Secretariat to compile statistics in regional databases for regional and international consumption. The Secretariat would partner with international agencies such as the European Union (EU) and the Inter-American Development Bank, among others, to seek to build capacity in member countries to produce statistics required for policy formulation and to strengthen the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Because of the scale of the census and the demanding and costly nature of the exercise, most countries engage in this activity just once per decade. Guyana has traditionally organised its censuses with the rest of the CARICOM group of countries, and under the coordination of the Statistics Division of the CARICOM Secretariat. Additionally, Guyana’s census is part of the global round of Population and Housing Censuses for 2010, whereby almost all countries which are Members of the United Nations have conducted and completed their national censuses during the demarcated period for the 2010 Round of Censuses, which commenced in 2005 and concludes in 2014. The Census is the only national exercise in which every building is counted and every economic activity within each household is enumerated and/or recorded at the same time. The census is, and has always been, much more than a headcount. The plethora of information that will be collected is also expected to assist policy makers to determine whether Guyana is on track to achieve several of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In his 2012 budget speech, the Finance Minister said, “This Government has long recognised the critical importance of every country executing a census of its population and housing facilities every ten years, as is the global standard; and in keeping with this cycle, censuses were conducted in 2002 and previously in 1991.” Another decade has now passed, and the 2010 Round of Global Censuses, which runs until 2014, is now in its final stages. Guyana continues to be a part of the regional approach to census-taking coordinated by the CARICOM Secretariat. “The size, composition and dispersion of our population are also a matter of national security, and it is for these reasons and more that all countries -- and Guyana is no exception - recognise the critical importance of the Census exercise to human and economic development, evidence-based policy making, and ensuring the security of their citizenry. Government now intends for the next national census to be executed in the second half of 2012…” Minister Singh told the House Wednesday. On signing the Census Order and Regulations, Dr Singh said, “Census 2012 represents our latest efforts to update the vast array of data we compile on national life to inform policy-making by Government and decision-making by other stakeholders, such as the business community. I have no doubt that the 2012 census will prove equally valuable in this regard, and I wish the Bureau of Statistics every success in executing this important national activity.” In Census 2002, the last census in Guyana, the nation’s resident population was pegged at 751,000. A total of $327M allocated to the Statistical Bureau in the National Budget was approved by the National Assembly last week, exceeding that bureau’s allocation of $246M in 2013.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Sooba: ‘Legal actions will be taken against Green’s bullyism’ By Ravin Singh ACTING Town Clerk Carol Sooba has revealed that charges are in the process of being filed against Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green for his extreme acts of bullyism displayed towards revenue collectors who were executing their duties last Monday on the seawalls, and for his unlawful removal of a vehicle key. At a press conference held in the Chambers of City Hall yesterday, Sooba sequenced the events which reflected the mayor’s acts of bullyism towards her staff. “The subsequent result of his actions has left my staff traumatized,” she said. This was evidently proven on Monday when the Guyana Chronicle visited the Alberttown Police Station and found staff members of the Georgetown City Council (M&CC) who had suffered at the hands of the mayor giving statements to the police. Sooba explained that Julian Orgista, who was responsible for collecting the revenue from vendors for spots on the seawalls, was targeted by the mayor, who demanded that vendors must not issue monies to Orgista. The mayor then proceeded to verbally abuse Orgista and to tarnish his character as a prominent minister in his local church by labelling him as a “thief” in the presence of onlookers. Orgista, who was also present at the press conference, told reporters that the repercussions of the mayor’s actions are not favourable to him, as people will now question the sincerity of his post as a preacher when all he was executing was his legal obligation as a revenue collector. Sooba reiterated that selling spots for vending has been an ongoing activity of the M&CC for over twenty years, and that contrary to reports from other news media, the power
of selling spots for vending is vested in her entirely, as the administrative body is responsible for this activity. Sooba debunked as inaccurate reports of her not obtaining permission to sell spots for vending from the Ministry of Public Works. She said permission was granted last year and this year under her stewardship. “We do not do anything illegal,” she said. According to her, “the mayor and Council has the responsibility of making policies; the power is in the administrative arm to execute those policies, and that is what we have done.” Moreover, she noted that a financial report is usually presented at the end of such initiatives, so as to account for the revenue accumulated by the City Council. Collecting revenue for vending is an administrative duty rather than a political duty, hence it did not find favour with the Mayor or Deputy Mayor, and they were both eliminated from the exercise. Sooba posited that their actions are a manifestation of retaliation towards her. She said that, in previous years, there has been “miniscule accumulation” of funds from vending activities, and no significant amount of funds could have been generated from this activity under the deputy mayor’s stewardship. In a twist of events, Sooba was keen to reveal that the keys to the vehicle PLL 7605 which the mayor had unlawfully extracted, leaving monies and the vehicle in a vulnerable position, was returned by one of the mayor’s drivers, who boldly told her that the mayor had sent them. Such actions manifest the dishonesty of the mayor, who refuted claims by members of the Guyana Police Force on Monday that he had the keys. Sooba also revealed that monies would now have to be
17 spent to repair the vehicle of the damages it sustained while being towed to a safer location. Though Sooba was disappointed in ASP Gordon Langevine for not arresting Green and allowing him to “bully” and “abuse” her staff, Langevine explained that Mayor Green proceeded to a vendor’s stand and demanded them not to pay the revenue to Orgista while also demanding him (Langevine) not to collect any money. This, he claims, would have constituted a confrontation between constables and citizens who stood in support of Green, and as such, he sought to do the responsible thing by protecting Orgista, who had cash on him at the time, by ushering him away. The acting Town Clerk is of the opinion that the mayor and deputy mayor would stop at no level in their efforts to tarnish Town Clerk (ag) her post. On that note, she posCarol Sooba ited that the deputy mayor is given to outbursts of intemperance. “I am also of the opinion that both Hamilton Green and Patricia Chase-Green have lost it. I am no medical expert, but I am of that belief, which has convinced me that something is wrong with their mental state; or, if not, they are evil,” she said. She also refuted the inaccurate claims of other media entities and the mayor that families who occupied spots for recreational purposes were subjected to pay revenues. To this extent, she noted that only those who sought to occupy spots for commercial purpose were required to pay the obligatory revenue. Sooba was convinced that the solid waste restoration process ongoing at the seawall areas would have been completed by 3.00pm yesterday. The contract for this undertaking was awarded to Puran Bros. Disposal Service.
18
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Easter 2014: Nostalgic for some; ecstatic for others ––the Man in the Street has the last word By Ravin Singh THE vibrant Easter celebrations Guyanese-style on Monday saw thousands
from all walks of life engaging in family-oriented activities, which included kite flying and picnicking. This newspaper spoke at various
TERRENCE VALLADARES: “I haven’t been home for Easter in 34 years, and it’s lovely for me; I like it. These are my family (members), and we are having a great time!”
YASHPAUL SEWNARINE: “I have noticed that we are having a lot more turnouts than last year; the only problem is that the parking facility is limited. However, the weather is good, the atmosphere is nice, the place is safe, and everything…but just better provision for parking is needed. But, generally, I am enjoying the day with my family and this little bundle of joy!”
SHERLANDA GAYRAL: “Well, my day is going good so far. I am enjoying it with my family and friends. Compared to last year, I think this year is better, because more families came out and they’re just enjoying themselves. “Everybody is picnicking and flying their kites and so. I don’t think there (are as many) kites as last year though, probably because of the weather.
ELISSA RYCE: “This year is kind of more boring than last year, although I am having fun. There are not (as many) people as (there were) last year, but I am enjoying myself with my family and friends!”
kite flying venues with persons who were delighted to share how they were spending their day, and how this year’s celebrations differed from the celebrations of last year.
JEHANNE ANDERSON: “I am 20 years old, and I flew a kite for the first time in my life; so it was pretty exciting. But then, my kite landed in a tree. The atmosphere is good though, and I think I’m getting fat today. The road is busy too. So it is generally a good Easter.”
VANESSA GRIFFITH: “So far, the day is going OK. I’m here with my family, friends and the kids, and they’re just flying their kites. To me though, last year was better than this year in terms of having more kites and people. I don’t know if, as the day progresses, we are going to see more families turning out and more kites. But it is generally a good Easter, and I am having fun!”
JOYCE KING: “This is my third visit for Easter to Guyana, and I love Easter! I will always come back because Easter is just how I remember when I was small, and I am the only person here that bought a kite to fly. So I am having a great day; I am looking forward to coming again next year.”
ROCQUELLE RAYMON: “So far, I am having a lovely day. The weather is not too hot; it is cool, and there is a great turnout of families. I think we have a lot more kites than last year, and it is very good. “ It is a great turnout because I am seeing a lot of families; and it is good seeing families turning out to events like these. So yes, it is a better year to me.”
SHANIE DENNY: “Easter Day has been good so far. I spent the day with my family. But I think last year was better, because there were more kites and more people. But the day is not too bad.”
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
19
Digicel continues support for sport fishing in Guyana
–sponsors first ever ‘Big Fish’ competition DIGICEL Guyana on Thursday continued their support for fishing as a recreational sport by sponsoring the first ever ‘Big fish’ competition. Organised by the Bass Tracker Fishing Club which was formed in 2011 under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and a regular winner of the ministry’s annual Fish Festival held at Rockstone, the ‘Big Fish’ competition will give individuals an opportunity to show their fishing skills by catching the biggest fish of the day. Gavin Hope, Sponsorship and Events Manager of Digicel said: “We have been supporting the Bass Tracker Fishing Club’s participation in the annual Rockstone Fish Festival for several years, so it was with no hesitation that we took the opportunity to continue to support their efforts to raise awareness for fishing as a recreational sport in Guyana.” Speaking at the handing over of the cheque, Captain of the Bass Tracker Fishing Club and organiser of the event, Scheral Sugrim said: “The club’s objective from this event is to further raise awareness of fishing as a recreational sport and in the absence of the annual Easter weekend fishing competition, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, we decided to organise this competition.” He said further: “We are encouraging persons to sign up and be a part of the competition. The winners of the competition will receive trophies and prizes for placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd.” The ‘Big Fish’ competition will be held on May 1, 2014 at Rockstone, Linden. Persons interested in entering the competition can register for the event at the club’s office located on Sheriff Street between Duncan and William Streets. (Michel Outridge)
Junior Marketing Manager, Tandeika Johnson hands over the cheque to Captain of the Brass Tracker Fishing Club, Scheral Sugrim, while others look on
Courts Guyana makes donation to Buxton Developers organisation By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally
Buxton Youth Developers founder, Mr Robin Phillips (left) receiving the donated items from Courts Guyana’s Pernell Cummings
THE Buxton Youth Developers organisation was on Friday the recipient of a donation of four gas stoves and footballs from Courts (Guyana) Limited at that megastore’s Main Street office in Georgetown. Pernell Cummings, Marketing Manager of Courts Guyana, explained that the gas stoves are intended to be used for cooking classes in the Home Economics Department of the Buxton organisation, to assist the students to develop a trade; and the footballs are to be used to contribute greatly towards the Buxton organisation’s female football team. Cummings said, “Courts believes in the importance of education and sport in our society, and commends the Buxton Youth Developers in their efforts to provide these services to their community.” Courts, he said, is greatly honoured to be able to provide items to assist the Buxton Developers organisation to continue its goal of providing educational and sporting activities for Buxton, and Courts Guyana is also happy to discharge its corporate social responsibility. Mr. Robin Phillips, founder of the Buxton Youth Developers organisation, expressed gratitude to Courts Guyana, and assured the company that the donations would be utilised to enhance students’ education and sporting skills. Courts Guyana became a household name in Guyana some 20 years ago, and continues to assist the development of education and sports.
20
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Minibus touts continue to harass city commuters TOUTS who solicit passengers continue to plague the various minibus parks in the city much to the distaste of the travelling public. These unkempt and unmannerly people would assist bus operators to fill their vehicles for the different routes including 44, 30 and 32. Often they hassle persons, taking away their bags or holding on to and placing them in buses of their choice for a small fee of $100 per bus. Their presence at the parks creates confusion in an already congested area and they, often, harass commuters, including children and the elderly. the touts were encouraged by the minibus drivers to increase the fare to $200 for route 44 buses. The regular charge from the city to Victoria, East Coast Demerara is $120 but now residents have to pay $80 more to get home in the afternoon from 15:00 hrs.
The touts, numbering about seven are regulars at the bus parks and they announce, loudly, that $200 is the charge and one cannot enter the minibus without agreeing to pay it. Some bus drivers do not operate with conductors and it is the touts who help them to fill their buses with passengers for which they would be paid a little more. The situation with touts at the bus parks, particularly at the route 44 one, has become very bothersome and passengers want the authorities to get rid of those unwanted characters. However, despite numerous telephone calls to the relevant minibus organisations, no one was available to comment on the matter yesterday. Since the last story regarding the rise in bus fares for route 44 was published, some minibuses are charging $160, an increase of $40 while others are still demanding $200 per person.
CLARIFICATION IN an article published on April 17, 2014 under the headline ‘GECOM gets $3.3B approved in National Budget’, the Guyana Chronicle inadvertently stated that the Guyana Elec-
tions Commission (GECOM) would need six months’ notice to operationalise its work-plan to facilitate hosting of local government elections. The article should have read that the workplan to facilitate the host-
ing of local government elections spans a timeframe of six months. The Guyana Chronicle accordingly apologises for any misconception its report may have caused.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
21
Gov’t pays tribute ... From page 12 at that meeting. As of 2009, the two persons accused of Sawh’s murder -- David ‘Biscuit’ Leander and Jermaine ‘Skinny’ Charles -- are deceased. COMMISSION OF INQUIRY In March this year, Opposition Leader David Granger proffered the opinion that a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) is what is needed to not only bring closure for relatives of the late Minister Sawh, but
to provide answers to the many lingering questions before the trail gets colder. His comments followed a motion that was tabled in the National Assembly pushing for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the incidence of criminal violence that occurred in Guyana from 2004 to 2010. The motion addresses, among other related issues, the “unlawful killing of undetermined numbers of persons – including assassinations; executions; murders; extra-judicial killings by members of the Guyana Police Force Target Special Squad” and other forms of criminal violence in Guyana.
The motion is premised on Article 138(1) of the Constitution, which prescribes that no person shall be deprived of his life intentionally, save in the execution of the sentence of a court in respect of an offence under the Laws of Guyana of which he has been convicted. It also cites the Commission of Inquiry Act, Chapter 19:03, which says thus: “The President may issue a commission, appointing one or more commissioners, and authorizing such commissioner or commissioners to inquire into any matter in which an inquiry would, in the opinion of the President, be for the public welfare.” That motion is scheduled to be addressed by the National Assembly.
22
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
23
24
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
25
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Aries March 21 - April 19 Comfortable? Good. Because you’ll be interviewing potential partners for the next few days, and you’ll need to give that tender task your full attention. Yes, it’s a tough job. But heaven knows if anyone is up for tough jobs, it’s you. Now settle down, pull out your yellow legal pad and your special pen, and get to work. Only so many hours are in a day. Taurus April 20 - May 20 This could be tricky -- the whole day, that is. The good news is you’re entirely familiar with the concept of doing battle, so if someone tries to put one over on you, no matter who they happen to be, you absolutely won’t stand for it. That goes double for anyone who thinks higher of their own authority than they really should. It might be time to take them down a peg or two. Gemini May 21 - June 21 Most of the planet doesn’t deal well with change. Fortunately, you just love it. You’re a living example of how great the ebb and flow of the universe can be. Keep those facts in mind today when you’re trying to deal with others who aren’t quite so open to last-minute modifications in their carefully planned schedules. They may not be kindred spirits, but they’re fellow humans. Convince them to loosen up. Cancer June 22 - July 22 Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to navigate a very delicate situation: Tending to your family duties and satisfying your urge to climb the career ladder. Well, if anyone can do it, you can. Tenacity, after all, is your specialty -- even so, staying diligent may be trickier than usual. Not to worry: If you work your magic the way you always have, you’ll pull it off. Leo July 23 - August 22 You’ve done everything you possibly could to avoid having this conversation, but you’re not on the planet alone. So while you won’t relish having to say certain things, you can at least stop blaming yourself. Remember, you’re only half responsible. It definitely takes two to tango, and today’s dance is no exception. So say what you have to say, then move on with your life. The weekend looks great, by the way, so get over this rough spot and you’ll have it made. Virgo August 23 - September 22 Don’t take any guff from someone who thinks they have you over a barrel because they know your secrets -- and how badly you want to protect them. You happen to know something just as potentially volatile about your tormentor. Not that you’d really ever choose to say anything about it. But do make it clear you know what they’re up to and you’re not going to play their game. Not for a second. Libra September 23 - October 22 Bet you’re feeling a bit tired right about now, hmm? Especially if you were out and about last night, playing with your friends or perhaps your main squeeze. Well, grab yourself a power nap, because last-minute changes in your plans for the evening could mean you’ll be up late once again. And if you can’t fit in a nap? Oh, well. As the saying goes, ‘You can sleep when you’re dead.’ But don’t worry, a good night’s rest is right around the corner. Scorpio October 23 - November 21 It’s an instant replay of yesterday, complete with every last stumbling block, barrier and impediment you could possibly have imagined -- as well as a couple you hadn’t. You being you, however, these challenges will only sweeten the pot. You’ll gladly jump through every hoop, navigate every obstacle on the course and do whatever it takes to get where you want to be. At that point, feel free to sit, relax and gloat.
Miner refused bail on five charges PAUL Branson, a 29-yearold miner of Lot 28 Railway Embankment Road, Kitty, Georgetown, was refused bail yesterday on five different charges. Before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, he pleaded not guilty to two of the offences, particulars which said, on Thursday, April 17, at Charlestown, he had in his possession one ‘Colitis’ pistol with five live rounds of ammunition,
without being a holder of a firearm licence. Branson was not required to plead to two of the other charges, that said, the same day, at Charlestown, with intent to commit murder he discharged a loaded firearm at two persons, Dean Gibson and Allrick Edwards. Another indictable charge said, that day, too, he attempted to rob Rafeek Singh while armed with a gun.
Vendor accused of goldchain robberies remanded THIRTY-TWO-YEAROLD vendor, Sean Davis, of Lot 164 Charlotte Street, Georgetown, was remanded to prison yesterday by Magistrate Ann McLennan. He was refused bail on larceny from the person and robbery charges after he pleaded not guilty to both. One charge said that on
April 16, in Croal Street, he stole one gold chain, valued $150,000, from Annalisa Ross. Particulars of the other offence said, the same day, being in company of persons unknown, he robbed Roopchand Naraj of a $300,000 gold chain. Police Corporal Dinero Jones, prosecuting, said the
Aquarius January 20 - February 18 You’ve put everything you possibly could into making this thing work, but relationships can certainly develop minds of their own once they get going. Basically, for the past few weeks, you’ve been taking one step forward and two steps back. If you’re not quite ready to end it, don’t worry. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a friendship, a romance or a business connection, this partnership will wait until all conditions are absolutely right. Pisces February 19 - March 20 They can certainly try to put one over on you, but it’s not going to work. You’ve come up with a brand-new approach to life -- ‘just the facts, ma’am’ -- and you’re eager to try it out. So when someone comes to you for your opinion, you’ll be happy to share it. Just try to be gentle. Today’s buffet of astrological energies could leave you looking a bit more stern and uncompromising than you really are.
defendant has a similar robbery case in another Court. However, the unrepresented defendant denied ever being charged and put before any Court prior to this occasion. His pre-trial liberty was refused after the Prosecutor cited the nature and gravity of the crimes, and the case was put off to May 8.
Fish vendor charged with stealing from cousin FISH vendor Bruce Sudin, of Lot 32 Agricola Public Road, East Bank Demerara, accused of stealing electronics from his cous-
in, was ordered to post $100,000 bail yesterday. That was after he pleaded not guilty to the offence before Chief Magistrate Priya
Sagittarius November 22 - December 21 As optimistic as you ordinarily are, there’s one particular person out there who can bring you down, make you doubt yourself and others and set you to wondering if it’s really at all worth the effort you’ve invested. Your mission, right now, is to avoid that person for at least the next 48 hours. It’s not that you’ll never see them again. But you need all the positive energy you can muster. Capricorn December 22 - January 19 It might not be fun, and it probably won’t go down in your mental scrapbook as the best on record, but once you’ve made it through this day, you’ll feel really good about yourself -- as if you’ve accomplished something. So when it seems as if the universe is throwing everything but the kitchen sink between you and where you need to be, don’t give up. Ever heard about testing what you’re made of? That’s what’s going on -- and this is one test you’re guaranteed to pass.
Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, did not relate any circumstances under which the crimes were allegedly committed but, successfully, objected to pre-trial liberty for Branson, citing nature and gravity of the offences and the fact that a weapon was used. The file will be sent for advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Branson has to be back in Court on May 9.
Wednesday April 23, 2014 - 12:00 Thursday April 24, 2014 - 13:30
Sewnarine-Beharry. Particulars of the offence said, between April 16 and 18, on Agricola Public Road, he stole one pioneer CD deck and one DVD set, together worth $151,000, property of Laikhram Sankar. Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, said the defendant and virtual complainant are cousins and reside at the same address. The Prosecutor said Sankar, an electrician left the articles mentioned in the charge intact at his home on April 16 and went to conduct business. On his April 18 return, he made checks and discovered that the things were missing. He made a report to the Police and, after an investigation was carried out, the defendant was arrested and charged. The Prosecutor did not raise any objection to the grant of pre-trial freedom and the case was postponed to May 16.
26
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
27
28
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
29
30
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
3131
GUYANACHRONICLE CHRONICLE Wednesday 23, 2014 GUYANA Wednesday April April 23, 2014
St Kitts to host next year’s CARIFTA games, Grenada in 2016 FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique (CMC) – St Kitts and Nevis have been chosen to host next year’s CARIFTA Games after Turks and Caicos Islands withdrew their bid, organisers have announced. The 2015 edition of the region’s premier track and field event will be staged in Sugar City, St Kitts, while the 2016 edition will be held in Grenada, officials also announced. The country’s Minister of Sports, Glen Phillip, says the Silver Jubilee Stadium will be upgraded later this year. St Kitts and Nevis last hosted CARIFTA Games in 2008. Grenada was chosen as host venue for the 2016 games - an interest which had also been expressed by Turks and Caicos Islands, St Lucia and The Bahamas who submitted Letters of Intent. However St Lucia pulled out to support Grenada while Bahamas backed down in support of Turks and Caicos Islands. Grenada last hosted in 2000, but hurricane Ivan destroyed their stadium in 2004 and a brand new Chinese government-funded athletics and football stadium under construction is scheduled for completion in August of next year. Meanwhile, Bermuda is suggesting that a CARIFTA Games template be established to assist future CARIFTA Games hosts. “Excellent idea, “declared St Kitts and Nevis Track and Field on its facebook page. “It’s about time and in that way the same mistakes will not be made, especially as it relates to transportation, accommodation and media relations.” Jamaica ended the 43rd CARIFTA games with a record 88 medals - 42 gold, 34 silver and 12 bronze, while Trinidad & Tobago finished second with 6 gold, 7 silver and 12 bronze and Barbados finished third with 5 gold, 5 silver and 6 bronze.
Racing Tips English Epsom 08:45 hrs Elusivity 09:20 hrs Semeen 09:50 hrs Marzocco 10:25 hrs Rock Choir 11:00 hrs D’Avignon 11:35 hrs Killing Time Perth 09:10 hrs Another Mattie 09:40 hrs In The Midnight 10:15 hrs Tonvadosa 10:50 hrs Too Cool To Fool 11:25 hrs Minella Reception 12:00 hrs Pigeon Island 12:35 hrs Ryton Runner South Africa Racing Tips Scottsville 08:40 hrs War Requiem 09:10 hrs Trendy Guy
09:40 hrs German Lady 10:15 hrs Ball Dancer 10:50 hrs Fire The Rocket French Racing Tips Auteuil 08:35 hrs Energica 09:05 hrs Ozamo 09:40 hrs Fabeleux Farceur 10:10 hrs Upepito American Racing Tips Aqueduct Race 1 Denzel Race 2 Guyana Race 3 Street Thug Race 4 Dapper Draper Race 5 Sinatra Race 6 Political Farce Race 7 Joy Seeker Race 8 Very Accomplished Race 9 Baby B
32
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Moyes axed by Man United Registration closes after season of failure tomorrow for GSCL Inc
By Mitch Phillips
LONDON, England (Reuters) - Manchester United’s succession planning for life after Alex Ferguson was left in tatters yesterday as manager David Moyes was sacked after 10 troubled months that brought failure and frustration to a club grown used to seamless success. Moyes, appointed with a six-year contract on the direction of retiring fellowScot Ferguson last July after 11 years at Everton, did not even get to complete his first season as the club’s American owners, the Glazer family, ran out of patience. Announcing his departure in a terse, two-line statement, United thanked Moyes for “the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role” at Old Trafford but his spell in charge will be remembered more for dire performances, humiliating defeats and a failure to qualify for the all-important Champions League for the first time since 1995/96. United have lost six home league games, won only one match in 12 against the Premier League’s top six and will finish outside the top four for the first time since 1991. Veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs, 40, was appointed to take interim charge of the team for the final four games of the season with United mired in seventh place, 23 points behind league leaders Liverpool. Speculation immediately turned to who might take over at Old Trafford, with Dutchman Louis van Gaal installed as the bookmakers’ favourite. The former Barcelona, Ajax Amsterdam and Bayern Munich boss is coach of the Netherlands but has already said he will stand down after the World Cup in Brazil and has talked of a move to the Premier League. Other leading coaches distanced themselves from the role, with Juergen Klopp saying he was happy to stay with Borussia Dortmund and Pep Guardiola also indicating he had no desire
to walk away from a Bayern Munich side he has forged into probably the best in world football. That is the level United fans and owners expect to be operating at but, a year to the day after securing their 20th English league title, they are instead scrambling to try to qualify for the “also-rans” Europa League. Yesterday’s announcement was widely expected after being leaked to British media on Monday - a day after United’s meek 2-0 defeat at Moyes’ former club Everton. The manner of the defeat, and of many of the other 14 under Moyes’ troubled 51game stewardship, would have been unthinkable under Ferguson, as newspaper stories that many of the current squad had no faith in their manager seemed to be borne out by their lacklustre displays in recent weeks. The sacking of Moyes, less than a year into a contract of a reported four-million pounds per year, is an indication of the profit-focused approach of the Glazer family. While able to accept the $50M shortfall caused by missing the Champions League partly due to a huge new shirt sponsorship deal with General Motors - the prospect of giving Moyes a close-season transfer money pot in a market where the best players might not want to come, proved an unpalatable one. Former United stalwart Gary Neville suggested Moyes should have been given more time to make his mark and said the fault was not his alone. “The idea of giving people three- and four- and six-year contracts and then getting rid of them after 10 months is something that is foreign to me,” he told Sky Sports. “However, there is no disguising that the football this season has been poor, the results have been poor. As a fan, I’ve not enjoyed watching it. I’m sure David Moyes himself hasn’t enjoyed watching it. “I’ve played with a lot of those players, they love the club and are desperate to do well for the club but they’ve just completely lost
confidence and belief. That’s ultimately what’s cost David Moyes.”
BUSBY MEMORIES Moyes’ sudden departure mirrored the traumatic spell the Old Trafford club suffered between 1969 and 1971 when Matt Busby retired after 24 years as boss. His hand-picked successor Wilf McGuinness only lasted 18 months before Busby took over the reins again.
David Moyes
Ferguson, who has sat in the stands silently watching his empire crumble, will not be returning to the dugout, but the comparisons between his time and Moyes’ brief stint did not help the new man. Moyes built his reputation during 11 seasons at Everton where, despite not winning a trophy and operating on a relatively shoestring budget, he routinely guided the club into the top 10. However, moulding a welldrilled hard-to-beat unit proved to be a different managerial task than getting the best out of a team expected to win trophies, even if the squad he inherited did appear short of quality in key areas. Eyebrows were lifted before the season had even begun when Moyes raised concerns about the champions’ tough fixture list in the opening weeks. A crushing 4-1 by Manchester City on September 22 and defeat in their next home game to West Bromwich Albion, who had not won at Old Trafford since 1978, left
them 12th in the table after their worst start to a league season for a quarter-of-acentury. Everton also won at Old Trafford for the first time in 21 years, Newcastle United won there for the first time in 41 years and Swansea for the first time ever, when they triumphed in the third round of the FA Cup. Moyes’s first major signing, Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who followed the manager from Everton, looked ponderous and out of his depth as United failed to show attacking spark while his January purchase of Juan Mata for a club record £37.1M, even though the former Chelsea midfielder was ineligible for the Champions League, looked like a desperate move. Rumours emerged of player dissatisfaction with Moyes’ training regime, while his virtual ignoring of Giggs, worshipped at Old Trafford, further alienated the new manager. The few bright sparks came in the Champions League but they were extinguished when United were knocked out by holders Bayern Munich with the minimum of fuss. The knives had been out before then, with disgruntled fans paying for a plane trailing a banner over Old Trafford reading ‘Wrong One - Moyes Out’ in a game against Aston Villa in March - which United won 4-1. Fans of rival sides started to chant ‘David Moyes, we want you to stay’, stewards stood guard to keep home supporters away from the prominent banner inside Old Trafford declaring the manager to be ‘The Chosen One’ while at Everton last weekend Moyes was taunted by one fan posing as the Grim Reaper, complete with inflatable scythe. When Ferguson left Old Trafford after 26 years, he told the fans in a farewell speech “Your job now is to get behind our new manager”. As 70 000 roared their approval, the last thing he would have expected would have been to be repeating the plea 12 months later.
Independence Cup
… female teams admitted free TEAMS desirous of competing in the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL Inc) inaugural Independence Cup are asked to note carefully that registration will close off tomorrow, with the launching and drawing on Thursday from 17:00hrs at GNIC Sports Club. The tournament, which will see teams battle in three categories, namely Masters, Open and Female, is set for May 3, 4 and 5, at various venues in the city, culminating with the finals at the Everest Cricket Club, with female teams doing battle for the $50 000 first prize. The first six female teams to register will be allowed to play and to date, Regal Champs, Trophy Stall Angels, Mike’s Wellwoman and Lady Jags have all made their intentions clear to participate in this tournament, for which the runners-up will pocket $25 000. The female sides will be doing battle for 10 overs with the small ball, which, like the Open category, will see only round-hand bowling being entertained by the match officials. In the Open category, the Competitions Committee of the GSCL Inc. is looking to accommodate 12 teams for which a prize money of $800 000 and trophy would be paid to the victors while the losers will pocket $200 000 and a trophy. However, if there are only eight teams registered at tomorrow’s closing date, then the prize money would be $500 000 and trophy to the winners and $200 000 and trophy to the second-placed team.
The entrance fee for this category is $110 000. Teams who have signalled their intentions to compete in the Open category which will be a T20 affair and will have round-hand bowling only, to date are: Regal XI, Wolf Warriors, Karibee Boys, Trophy Stall and Memorex and the final of this category will be broadcast live on NCN Radio. The admission fee for the Masters category, which will be played using the big ball and will see both round hand and flick bowling encouraged, is $100 000 with the winners pocketing $500 000 and a trophy and the second-placed team $200 000 and trophy. Teams are asked to note carefully, that the GSCL Inc. will provide the Supreme balls to be used in the Open and Female categories, while for the Masters category the big ball will be used, even as round-hand and wristbowling will be tolerated, with added information being provided at the team briefing. Some of the grounds identified for this tournament, which promises to be an annual affair, are: Demerara Cricket Club, Ministry of Education, Carifesta Sports Complex, Muslim Youth Organisation, Guyana National Industrial Corporation, St Stanislaus and Everest. Registration can be done by contacting Assistant secretary/ treasurer of the GSCL Inc. Russell Jadbeer on 225-4802, 2264205 or 626-8228 or at Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Seaforth Street, Campbellville. (Calvin Roberts)
33
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Champions League semi-final first leg …
Mourinho’s cautious Chelsea frustrate Atletico By Iain Rogers MADRID, Spain (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho returned to Spain to frustrate surprise semi-finalists Atletico Madrid as his ultra-cautious Chelsea secured a 0-0 draw in a dreary Champions League first leg at the Vicente Calderon yesterday. Atletico, through to the last four of Europe’s elite club competition for the first time in 40 years, dominated the defence-minded 2012 winners and pushed hard for a goal but failed to carve out an advantage ahead of next week’s return leg at Stamford Bridge. Back in the Spanish capital for the first time since quitting Atletico’s city rivals Real at the end of last season, coach Mourinho set out to thwart the home team rather than attack them and the result means his side will be slight favourites to advance to next month’s final in Lisbon. The Londoners lost goalkeeper Petr Cech when he fell heavily and hurt his right elbow in the 15th minute but neither his replacement
Mark Schwarzer nor Atletico keeper Thibaut Courtois, on loan from Chelsea, was genuinely tested in a drab affair. Home captain Gabi, who was booked and will be suspended for the return leg along with Chelsea midfielders Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel, said he and his team mates were unhappy with the result. “Atletico wanted to win the match at any cost but they defended very well,” midfielder Gabi told TVE. “We knew they wouldn’t want to concede a goal and I think Atletico played a much more attacking game. “It leaves a bad taste in the mouth but the tie is still very open and we will go to Chelsea and try to win.” There was another cracking atmosphere before kickoff at the 55 000-capacity stadium next to the Manzanares river where the fans have been flocking to enjoy what is easily the Madrid club’s best season in almost 20 years. Diego Simeone, coach of La Liga leaders Atletico, deployed an attacking formation with Diego Costa leading the line supported by
Chelsea’s coach Jose Mourinho (R) reacts during their Champions League semi-final first-leg soccer match against Atletico Madrid at Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, yesterday. (Credit: REUTERS/Paul Hanna)
Raul Garcia, with Diego and Koke providing the creative impetus just behind. Mourinho, by contrast, had containment in mind, with former Atletico captain Fernando Torres alone up front and defender David Luiz in a holding role in a five-man midfield. EARLY CHANGE The Portuguese had instructed his players to sit back and try to catch Atletico
on the break and they were happy to let the home side have the ball in a first half, short on entertainment. Chelsea were forced to make an early change when Cech was knocked to the ground by a tumbling Raul Garcia at a corner and he was helped off clutching his right arm, an injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season. Australian Schwarzer, 41, making only his second Champions League
appearance, became the oldest player to feature in the knockout phase. With almost the entire Chelsea team behind the ball, the hosts managed only one shot on target before the break, a weak Diego effort, and the visitors none. Midfielder Mario Suarez flashed a long-range drive narrowly wide in the 34th minute and Costa had a volley well blocked by Cesar Azpilicueta but otherwise
there was little goalmouth action. The second half was a similarly cagey affair and there was more bad news for Chelsea in the 73rd minute when captain John Terry limped off after turning his ankle at a corner. Gabi forced a decent save from Schwarzer in the 76th minute and Costa had a chance with a header late on as Atletico pressed for a goal. Chelsea, though, held out reasonably comfortable and their players looked much the happier at the final whistle. “It’s a positive result,” said their Spain full back Azpilicueta. “We knew it would be a difficult atmosphere. “We fought hard and tried to keep the ball but the important thing is that we have the second leg at home. The players we will be missing are very important but we will fight to win.” Real Madrid entertain defending champions Bayern Munich in the other semi-final first leg today.
Farbrace resigns as Sri Lanka Thomas steers Regal Masters to commanding coach, set for England role victory over Success Masters COLOMBO, Sri Lanka Reuters) Sri Lanka head coach Paul Farbrace has resigned and is set to take up the position of assistant coach of England, Sri Lanka Cricket said yesterday. Farbrace made it known to Sri Lanka Cricket that he no longer wanted to continue with his present position after being offered the chance to become an assistant to England’s newly-appointed coach Peter Moores. He had served only four months of his two-year contract with Sri Lanka Cricket during which time he led them to the World Twenty20 title in Bangladesh. “We had talks with Paul and tried to convince him to stay because of the valuable contribution he has made to Sri Lanka cricket during his short tenure,” Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said. “Paul wanted time till today to reach a final decision and he has tendered his resignation.” Farbrace’s name was linked to Moores when the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) began interviewing a list of candidates to succeed Andy Flower.
Paul Farbrace He had returned to England for the Easter weekend after Sri Lanka’s success in the World T20 and, although not among the candidates, was subsequently interviewed by ECB. “The (executive committee) will have to sit down and discuss how best we can find a suitable replacement for Farbrace for the tour to England which starts on the first week of May,” said Ranatunga. Current batting coach Marvan Atapattu, who applied for the head coach’s job with Farbrace, seems the likely choice.
ERIC Thomas stroked a fine unbeaten 46 to lead Regal Masters to a commanding seven-wicket victory over Success Masters last Sunday in a 20-overs softball fixture, organised by the Everest Cricket Club ground as part of their centenary anniversary celebrations, at their Camp Roadbased ground. Thomas, who was later declared the man-of-the-match, slammed five fours as Regal reached their winning target of 98 for the loss of three wickets in 15 overs, after scuttling out Success Masters for 97 in 19.4 overs, in which only Kishore Mohabir showed fight with 28 as Troy Kippins captured 3-10 and Mahendra Hardyal 3-15. Farm overcame Frontline by five wickets in the Open category which followed after the Masters’ clash, with the victors managing 106 all out in 15 overs, taking first strike and led by Mohamed Rafeek 38 which included three fours.
ERIC Thomas Patrick Khan snared 3-16 and Junior Reddy 2-20 for Farm, who were indebted to man-of-the-match Rawle Reid’s unbeaten 58 which included six fours to reach 108-5 in 10 overs in reply. Later in the day at the Guyana National Industrial Corporation ground, Memorex of Berbice overcame a Regal team to win the Trophy Stall-sponsored 15-over softball match which was organised
by Samuel Kingston. Regal posted 177-6 in 15 overs after taking first strike, with Avinash Sookdeo hitting a top score of 68, while Richard Latiff scored 52 and Lennon Marks 32 while Vivian DaSilva snared 3-30. Memorex replied with 177-7 in 15 overs, thanks to Balram Samaroo’s 56, 32 from skipper Roy Jaferally and 31 from David Lukenauth, who added 56 for the third wicket with Samaroo after Memorex lost wickets early in their reply. When Lukenauth was dismissed, Samaroo and Jafferally entertained the small but vocal crowd with a wide array of shots as they put together a further 46 for the fourthwicket stand, but with two runs needed from the final ball, they only got one as Samaroo was run-out, forcing the game into a super over. Safraz Esau picked up 2-30 for Regal, who in the super over saw Memorex post 15 for 1 to which they replied with 8 for 2.
34
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Cricket Vibes magazine honours late Under-19 cricketer By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada – Cricket Vibes, a magazine dedicated to the memory of the late Guyana Under-19 batsman Shivanandan Madholall, had its launching at an impressive ceremony held at the Twilight Restaurant and Bar here last Saturday with his brother Ravendra promising further editions. The 28-page glossy magazine, a brainchild of Ravendra and his brother Rovendra, also a former Guyana Under-19 player who hails from Essequibo, is intended as a fund-raising effort for the immediate family of the late 30-yearold brother who passed away from a bout of malaria on September 6, 2013. He leaves to mourn his wife and two small children. Among the features is a tribute to Shivanandan from his former Essequibo Under-19 teammate Clain Williams who was shockingly left out from the Guyana Under-19 side
in 1999, the same year his countryman made his debut in Barbados. Clain now resides in New York and has represented the USA in several International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments. Williams recalled featuring in an Under-19 trial game with Madholall and smashing 138 while also scoring a few other halfcenturies but failed to make the Guyana squad. So impressed was Williams’ partner, he presented his countryman with a bat after the game. Giving brief remarks at Saturday’s function, president of the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) Albert Ramcharran lauded the efforts of the Madholall brothers in making the publication a reality. Ramcharran, whose business places were among the many advertisers in the magazine, disclosed that he was happy to be part of the inaugural publication and pledged his continued support.
ATTENDEES at Saturday’s launching pose with copies of the magazine. (Picture courtesy Bobby Ramlagan)
Another advertiser, Kim Sue, who is also treasurer of the OSCL also showered praises on the Madholalls while recalling her initial involvement in the sunshine game through her late father Norman Sue, an ardent sponsor of sports in Toronto. Sue pointed out that she is extremely proud to continue the tradition of her late father. The elder Sue of Norman Sue Bakery fame, passed away last year. Ravendra Madholall, a former Guyana Chronicle and Guyana Times sports journalist, and who was also editor of the magazine,
pointed out in the editorial that he had mixed emotions when he started the project as he never envisaged doing something of the nature for one of his brothers. “I was very excited to make a tangible contribution to the game of cricket in which I am always passionate about.” Madholall also paid glowing tributes to the advertisers and writers which included former Guyana Chronicle Senior Sports journalist and current freelancer Frederick Halley, former Essequibo Inter-county batsman Raul Khan, ardent West Indies cricket fan Roger Sawh,
former Essequibo senior Inter-county batsman Elroy Stephney and former player and administrator Roger Persaud. Guyana’s Honorary Consul General to Toronto, Sattie Sawh, who was unavoidably absent, pointed out in her message that the consulate always encourages diverse and energetic ways of promoting Guyana and all things Guyanese “and this professionally produced magazine will no doubt help to spread the good name of Guyana in its own way.” The Consul General extended wishes to the
organisers and contributors whose primary motivation was to pay tribute to the late cricketer. According to the top official, “while his loss is saddening, it is important to shed light on a feature of his life and the lives of so many, that was truly important – the wonderful game of cricket.” Sawh reminisced that “cricket is Guyana’s most popular and passionately followed sport and our nation and the West Indies at large enjoy a proud and rich history of performances on the pitch. This magazine is both a tribute piece and a source of information, and perspectives on the gentleman’s game are timely and will no doubt be well received by fans in Guyana, Canada and elsewhere.” OSCL secretary Sheri Mohammed and East End Coordinator Vish Jadunauth and secretary/ treasurer Bobby Ramlagan were among others present at Saturday’s launching which also included a few of the advertisers.
10TH LINDEN SECONDARY SCHOOLS U-19 BASKETBALL
Semifinals on today at MSC hard court … MACKENZIE FACE NEW SILVERCITY, ‘MULTI’ OPPOSE LINDEN FOUNDATION By Joe Chapman DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Christianburg/Wismar Secondary known as ‘Multi’ and last year’s losing finalists Mackenzie High will face separate opponents this afternoon, when the semifinals of the 10th Linden Secondary Schools Under-19
basketball championship bounce off at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court. Set to begin at 14.30hrs will be the first semi-final where Mackenzie High take on New Silvercity, whom they defeated 33-25 in the round-robin format of the preliminary round of the championship, while from
16:30hrs, ‘Multi’ will be up against Linden Foundation, whom they disposed of 4219 in the earlier rounds. This time around, the teams who lost are confident of changing their fortunes, with Mackenzie High, who ended the round-robin stage with an unblemished record - winning all five of their
games - placing such on the line today. One of those victories, however, came at the overturning of a win by Linden Technical Institute who lost three games by forfeiture, after being found guilty of playing overage players. This year’s tournament has
Chanderpaul’s 82 helps Derbyshire to first innings lead DERBY, England (CMC) - West Indies middle order batsman Shiv Chanderpaul scored his fourth halfcentury of the season to help inspire Derbyshire to first-innings lead over Hampshire on the third day of their County Championship game here yesterday. Chanderpaul compiled 82 runs as Derbyshire, replying to Hampshire’s first innings 328, amassed 399 runs in a rainaffected third day at their County Ground. At stumps Hampshire was 20 without
loss, still trailing Derbyshire by 51 runs. The veteran West Indies batsman, 35 overnight, faced 141 balls, hit 11 fours and played a crucial role in reviving his team’s innings after a slump of 273 for 2 to 312 for 7. The hosts had hoped to establish a commanding position as they resumed following a morning wash-out at 203 for 2. Once play finally got under way, Chanderpaul’s overnight partner Stephen Moore added a further 22
before falling to Sean Ervine. South Africa international Kyle Abbott picked up 4 for 84 as Hampshire frustrated Derbyshire’s attempts to build a sizeable first-innings advantage. Chanderpaul departed three overs after Moore, caught by Ervine off James Tomlinson for his 82. Hampshire responded by making a solid start to their second innings, Michael Carberry and Jimmy Adams making it to the close unbeaten.
seen local sponsors come on board and among them are Banks DIH who has been supporting the tournament from its inaugural year, while joining the list of sponsors this year are Nigel Hinds Financial Services, Mackenzie Sports Club and 104.3 Power FM Radio of
Linden. The tournament’s United States-based sponsors, including the founder of the tournament Linden Alphonso, are expected this week in the country and should be on hand to witness the final which is set for next Monday at the MSC court.
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday April 23, 2014)
Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz:
(1) PragyanOjha (21 wickets) (2) SohailTanvir (RR) 4-0-14-6 (vs CSK) Today’s Quiz:
(1) Who is the first wicketkeeper to effect a ‘stumping’ in an IPL game?
(2) When were the Deccan Chargers declared IPL Champions?
Answers in tomorrow’s issue
35
GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday April 23, 2014
Jamaicans overcome Stoute burst to reach 4-Day final BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Jamaica withstood an inspired spell from medium pacer Kevin Stoute to clinch a one-wicket victory over Barbados yesterday and advance to the Final of the Regional Four-Day Tournament. Stoute captured 5-29 from 16 overs and left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn ended with 3-78 from 26 overs, as the Jamaicans successfully chased 167 for victory on the final day of the semi-final at Kensington Oval. Jermaine Blackwood hit four boundaries in the top score of 64 from 98 balls in two hours and Andre McCarthy made 43, but no other batsman reached 20, as the visitors almost blew their chance to win. Nikita Miller formalised the result about 15 minutes past the scheduled lunch interval, when he steered a delivery from Benn into square cover for a single to allow Jamaica to breathe a huge sigh of relief – but left the home team, the newly-crowned regional champions crestfallen. The Jamaicans will now make the short hop to St Lucia, where they will face Windward Islands in the Final, starting on Saturday at the Beausejour Cricket Ground. Jamaica started the day needing 61 more runs to win with eight wickets standing but their approach was in stark contrast to the previous evening when they played aggressively to reach 106 for two. Andre McCarthy, whose positive stroke-play helped to put the Jamaicans within sight of victory yesterday, was caught at extra cover off Benn from a leading edge, seven runs short of his half-century. He struck four boundaries from 43 balls in just over an hour and put on 91 with Blackwood for the third wicket. It was at this stage that Stoute made his intervention into the match, bowling unchanged from start to finish, to send shivers down the spines of Jamaica. He had Blackwood caught behind in his fourth over before Carlton Baugh Jr was run-out for the second time in the match for one, attempting a single. Stoute then had Jamaica captain Tamar Lambert, a century-maker in the first innings, caught at slip for 10 in his ninth over, Sheldon Cotterell, strangely promoted to eight, bowled for six in his following over and Damion Jacobs caught at gully for a duck two balls later, leaving Jamaica 139 for eight. Jerome Taylor hit a four and a six in 12 to ease the tension but was caught at slip off Stoute for a duck with 12 required for victory. Stoute and Benn bowled steadily to make the lastwicket pair of Miller and Dave Bernard Jr work for the remaining runs – but the Jamaican pair inched them over the finish line.
SCOREBOARD BARBADOS 1st innings 245 Jamaica 1st innings 302 Barbados 2nd innings 223 JAMAICA 2nd innings (target: 167) N. Bonner c Carter b Benn 0 J. Campbell c C. Brathwaite b Benn 10 J. Blackwood c wkp. Dowrich b Stoute 64 A. McCarthy c K. Brathwaite b Benn 43 T. Lambert c Benn b Stoute 10 C. Baugh run-out (K. Brathwaite/Benn) 1 D. Bernard not out 14 S. Cotterell b Stoute 6 D. Jacobs c Nurse b Stoute 0 J. Taylor c Benn b Stoute 12 N. Miller not out 3 Extras: (nb-4) 4 Total: (9 wkts, 57 overs) 167 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-20, 3-111, 4-124, 5-129, 6-133, 7-139, 8-139, 9-155. Bowling: F. Edwards 3-1-9-0; Benn 26-4-78-3; Nurse 5-0-29-0; C. Brathwaite 2-0-3-0; Carter 2-09-0; Cummins 2-0-9-0 (nb-2); K. Brathwaite 1-0-1-0; Stoute 16-3-29-5 (nb-2).
No stopping Maxwell and Kings XI LAST season, Glenn Maxwell was the punchline to tons of millionaire jokes. He warmed the Mumbai Indians bench for much of the campaign, and was a peripheral figure in the three matches he did play. This time, the season is only a week old, and he’s not just played three matches, he’s been the man-of-the-match in each. The people laughing now will be Kings XI Punjab’s owners who will view the million dollars they sank on Maxwell as a bargain given the three impressive wins he has orchestrated at the start of the season. If the previous two victories had been thrilling encounters in which Kings XI hunted down massive scores, this was a forgettable one-sided affair after Maxwell put on a show again to lead the side to 193. Especially after L Balaji removed David Warner and Aaron Finch in the fifth over (Scores: Kings XI Punjab 193 for 6 (Maxwell 95, Bhuvneshwar 3-19) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 121 (Balaji 4-13) by 72 runs). Sunrisers Hyderabad have
Man-of-the-match Glenn Maxwell clubs five fours and nine sixes during his 43-ball 95.
a dangerous top order any of Shikhar Dhawan, Warner or Finch can single-handedly transform a match - but they also have a dangerously unbalanced batting line-up. After the big three, the batting is alarmingly thin KL Rahul is still finding his way at this level, Venugopal Rao isn’t someone teams are going to worry about too
much, Irfan Pathan is a spot too high at No. 6 and Darren Sammy is great at providing the finishing touches but less proficient at building the base. Once Mitchell Johnson accounted for Dhawan and Balaji made his double breakthrough, it was a hourlong dirge for Sunrisers’ fans before it ended in a crushing 72-run defeat, leaving them with plenty of questions over the composition of the team. Warner won’t just be disappointed with his low score, but also with his botched catch that reprieved Maxwell on 11. With Wriddhiman Saha slotted for No. 6, Kings XI don’t have too much depth in their batting, something Sunrisers could have capitalised on had Warner held on to a fairly straightforward chance at long-off in the 10th over. Instead, the chance went down and Maxwell went on to pillage 95 off 43, including nine sixes. The highlight of the onslaught was the 13th over when Maxwell effortlessly cleared midwicket off the
first three deliveries before launching one towards the sightscreen to take 25 runs off Amit Mishra. This innings had fewer of the switch-hits and reversesweeps and was more about clean hitting down the ground and, especially, over midwicket. It was the prefect setting for Maxwell as the openers Cheteshwar Pujara and Virender Sehwag had provided a fast start from which he could build. He had plenty of luck as well besides the Warner reprieve, he was caught off a no-ball a skier was in the air for ages but evaded everyone when it landed at midwicket. Sunrisers also didn’t bring on their main weapon, Dale Steyn, when Maxwell was in the midst of his carnage. Till he was 72 off 29, Maxwell faced neither Steyn nor Bhuvneshwar Kumar - both of whom combined to limit the damage at the end of the innings. Still, though Kings XI didn’t reach the 200 that they looked set for, they reached a total which proved far too much for Sunrisers. (ESPN Cricinfo)
Blairmont Settlement Girls too good for Ithaca FOR THE past four years, Attorney-at-Law and former Magistrate at the Blairmont Magistrate Court, Tagenarine Ramroop, has been organising several softball matches for male and female teams within the Blairmont Community. And so last Monday, Ramroop organised matches in this year’s edition, where the Blairmont Settlement female team came out on top over their Ithaca counterparts, while Number Four Settlement and Ithaca defeated Number One Settlement and Number Two Settlement respectively in the male category. Number Four Settlement won the toss and invited Number One Settlement to take first strike, limiting them to 59 for 5 off their 10 overs, with Karamdat Bissoondial topscoring with 14, as L. Tajeram took 2 for 12 for Number Four Settlement, who in reply reached 60 for 1 in six overs, thanks to V. Farad’s
The Blairmont Settlement (red top) and Ithaca Girls lineup, strike a pose after their enthralling encounter.
unbeaten 30 and 15 from G. Maloo. Following that clash was the fixture between Number Two Settlement and Ithaca Village in another male matchup at the same venue. Number Two Settlement, who won the toss and chose to bat first, scored 94 for 9 from their 10 overs, led by 48 from L. Singh and 15 from R. Ramcharran. F. Anthony and Leslie Amsterdam took 2 wickets each for 10 and 15 runs respectively for Ithaca, who in reply scored 99 for 6 from 9.2 overs, led by 33 from R.
Amsterdam and 14 from R. Edwards, handing their team the victory by six wickets. Up next was the clash between Blairmont Settlement Girls and their counterparts from Ithaca Village, with the latter winning the toss and asking the former to take first strike. Blairmont Settlement Girls obliged and chalked up 74 for 9 from their 10 overs, led by 12 each from L. Haniff and S. Kudrattullah, even as T. Weekes, L. Amsterdam and J. Wood took two wickets each for 5, 10 and 12 runs respectively for Ithaca
Girls. Despite a herculean effort from Weekes who returned with the bat to hit a top score of 39, supported by O. Felix’s 10, Ithaca Girls fell five short of the target, ending on 74 for 2 when their 10 overs expired, as Blairmont Settlement Girls fielded well to come away with the win. Trophies and cash prizes were distributed to the various winners by Ramroop, who promised to make next year’s tournament much bigger and better.
Sport CHRONICLE
The Chronicle is at http://www.guyanachronicle.com
Sao Paulo stadium not ready for World Cup test event By Andrew Downie
after the Cup.” Valcke admitted he had not seen the area, even though he and Campeao both guaranteed that all the works around the stadium would be completed by May. “I have not been walking around the stadium, I got an update from my team who come quite often to Sao Paulo to make sure that all is done,” he said. “I can tell you it will be a very tight schedule over
SAO PAULO, Brazil - (Reuters) - The stadium that will host the opening match of the 2014 World Cup will not stage a test match in front of a full house before the tournament kicks off on June 12 because of building work being carried out in the arena. The Arena Corinthians was built to hold 48 000 and another 20 000 temporary seats are being added for the World Cup. But with work in and around the ground still ongoing, 18 000 seats will be left empty for the test event featuring Corinthians and Figueirense on either May 17 or 18. “The crowd (for the test match), under an agreement between Corinthians and LOC (Local Organising Committee) and FIFA, will be 50 000 people,” Sao Paulo’s deputy mayor Nadia Campeao told reporters. There were contradictory statements from FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke about the issue yesterday. “Next important event for us will be on May 17 or 18 when the first official test with full capacity will take Popping in for a look: Brazilian legend Ronaldo (left) and FIFA secreplace at Arena de Sao Pau- tary general Jerome Valcke in Sao Paulo. lo,” Valcke said on Twitter. But when challenged about the capacity for the next few weeks. It will be ready but it’s a tight the test event, he admitted there would not be a problem we have in front of us.” full house and highlighted that South Africa also The tournament has been beset by problems and staged events before the 2010 tournament in front delays. Although Brazil had almost seven years to of reduced crowds. get ready, with just 51 days to go before the opening “It is not a big deal,” Valcke told Reuters. “Two-thirds match three stadiums are still unfinished and much of the capacity is good.” of the promised infrastructure improvements have The Arena Corinthians will stage the opening Cup not happened. match between hosts Brazil and Croatia. The tournament will take place in 12 cities beValcke, however, has constantly fretted over the late tween June 12 and July 13. delivery of stadiums and facilities and insisted the delays Valcke will also visit Curitiba, Cuiaba and Formake it tough to properly test everything. talez. “Sao Paulo will be ready for the opening game,” Valcke said on the first day of a fourday trip to Brazil. “That doesn’t mean Sao Paulo will be ready in time. As you know, the delivery date for the stadium was January 15, 2014.” Huge areas surrounding the ground are still covered in dust and rubble, mechanical diggers and manual labourers. A bus terminal under construction between the stadium and the nearest train station will be not be completed and a walkway from the metro is also in danger of not being ready, said Julio Semeghini, the Sao Paulo state secretary of planning and development. “The access from the metro has to be ready. The bus terminal that will be a legacy for after the World Cup won’t be ready,” he told Reuters. “We’ll stop that work during the Cup and finish it
St Kitts to host next year’s CARIFTA games, Grenada in 2016
(PLEASE SEE STORY ON PAGE 31)
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
Early morning meeting: United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward (left) delivered the news face-to-face.
Sir Alex Ferguson will have NO say over new United boss SIR Alex Ferguson is expected to have little or no say in who will be the next manager of Manchester United. The 72-year-old former United boss, who won 38 trophies in 26 seasons at Old Trafford, was effectively handed full authority to choose his successor after announcing his own retirement last season. His choice, David Moyes, was fired yesterday after an early morning meeting with United chief executive at United’s Carrington training HQ. The United hierarchy’s explanation for allowing Ferguson to effectively select his successor was that it made sense to trust the judgement of someone with so much success and who was still on the payroll as a £2-million-a-year ambassador. United’s board clearly remain keen to maintain links with the Ferguson era, however, as they have appointed Ryan Giggs as interim manager, with Nicky Butt his assistant. Sportsmail understands that Phil Neville remains part of the back-room set up despite Moyes’ departure. The club officials are also intent on luring Paul Scholes back in to the Old Trafford fold after the departure of Moyes, as revealed by Sportsmail earlier today. Scholes has hardly been seen at the club since doing some work with Under-19s manager Nicky Butt earlier this season after becoming disillusioned with what he felt were half-hearted attempts by Moyes to find him a role. Now that Moyes has been sacked as United manager, the club will do everything they can to fit their former midfield player in to their coaching set-up as they look to retain a connection with the club’s glorious past behind the scenes. With United set to appoint a foreign manager to replace Moyes the club are concerned that ties with the past could be cut. Ryan Giggs is now the club interim manager and will be retained whatever happens this summer but Phil Neville could follow Moyes out of the club after serving as a coach under the Scot while brother Gary and David Beckham are pursuing other careers. United had no plans in place to reintroduce Scholes to the coaching staff while Moyes was in charge and a source close to the club revealed to Sportsmail last month that the situation was unlikely to change. (Sportsmail.com) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014