Guyana chronicle 23 08 14

guyana No. 103928 saturday august 23, 2014

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

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Bynoe emphatically dismisses Kaieteur News allegation of bribery of loggers Page

Mr. Phillip Bynoe

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Guyana has done an ‘excellent job’ recapturing rice markets Page

-Ramsammy

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- exports to reach 300,000-tonne mark by month end

CANU destroys 730 kg cocaine, 1,970 kg marijuana Page 8

Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Compliance with obligations under the Guyana/Norway agreement remains paramount Page 15 -Dr. Luncheon

The drugs alight yesterday (Sonell Nelson photo)

Linden IMC adjusts tolls on the Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge by some 25% effective from Page 10 September 1

An unmasked Stabroek news shows its political hands; no more pretence at independence!

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guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

Guyana has done an ‘excellent job’ recapturing rice markets

-Ramsammy

- exports to reach 300,000-tonne mark by month end

By Vanessa Narine GUYANA’s production of rice for 2014 will surpass 600,000 tonnes, according to Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who added that by the end of this month the industry’s exports would amount to some 300,000 tonnes.

“By the end of this month we would have exported close to 300,000 tonnes and since heavy export occurs in September, October and November our target of

Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

461,000 tonnes for 2104 will be met,” he said in an invited comment.

According to him, Guyana’s rice exports have grown phenomenally, but good governance of the industry, as currently practiced, demands that the balance between production and sourcing of new markets be maintained.

“People say that the production has increased and we haven’t found market for it, well it’s a chicken and egg situation, when you go find market and then you don’t have production, you will lose that market,” he said.

He added: “We have to balance our production with finding markets because the easier thing is to reach your production

target first because if you reach market targets first and you cannot supply those, you will lose those for a long time, there has to be a balance, which is what we are doing; it is good governance.”

Dr. Ramsammy noted that in 2010, Guyana shifted its focus to Venezuela and neglected markets in the Caribbean, because of limited supply. “ We d i d n ’t h a v e enough to supply Ven-

ezuela, Europe and the Caribbean, so we had to make a choice and the choice was that we are going to take the Venezuelan, market and then the last two years we had to work diligently so we capture the European and Caribbean market.

“So it’s a dangerous thing to go and find market and don’t have production because when you reach production it will be years

rice being loaded for export

before people trust you again,” Ramsammy explained.

RECAPTURING MARKETS The Agriculture Minister was emphatic in stressing that Guyana has done an “excellent job” in recapturing the markets.

He stated that currently, in addition to see page 8

guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

Bynoe emphatically dismisses Kaieteur News allegation of bribery of loggers

REGION 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Bebrice) Agriculture and Forestry Producers Association consultant, Mr. Phillip Bynoe yesterday emphatically dismissed the allegation that loggers were paid $10,000 each to support Chinese investor Bai Shan Lin which was reported in the Kaieteur News.

An article headlined ‘Logging scandal…Kwakwani residents claim loggers paid to back Bai Shan Lin’ claimed that: “Reports are that money was also paid for the persons to attend the press conference.”

Bynoe, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, challenged the newspaper to present “only one” person who received any money from the Chinese company.

“Let Kaieteur News bring one, only one, person to say that they received money and who they received the money from,” he said.

The consultant explained that the only cost that was footed on behalf of the persons at the Umana Yana was the transportation costs, which was covered in part by himself, the Linden Association of Loggers, contributions from the Aroraima and Kwakwani communities.

“We did not ask the Chinese for anything...there was no bribery because there was no need for it,” he said.

Bynoe made it clear that the forestry sector stakeholders gathered on Tuesday at the Umana Yana under one voice in their numbers to defend their position and express their concerns with the anti-investment stance taken by the local daily.

“We do not have to bribe people. People in the logging industry have struggled for many years and they know how to represent their interests.” The people who were at that session are serious people who know what they are about,” he said.

Tuesday’s session was a public meeting of loggers drawn from ten major organisations in Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Upper Berbice), among them the Maria Elizabeth Three Friends Small Loggers Association; the Coomacka Forest Producers and Agricultural Association; the Linden Agriculture & Forest Producers Association; the Blueberry Hill Small Loggers Association; the Ituni Natural Resources Organisation; the Kwakwani Natural Resources Organisation; the Rockstone Small Loggers Association; the Region No. 10 AFPA; the Upper Berbice Forest Producers Association; MAC Enterprise;

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and the Araima Natural Resource Organisation.

SHIFTED FOCUS According to Bynoe, the Kaieteur News seems to have shifted its focus from the “timber industry and the so called wrong doings of the Guyana Forestry Commission” to shallow and baseless assertions.

He surmised too that Kaieteur News seem to be of the opinion that “Phillip Bynoe sells newspapers” and have decided that their shifted focus should include putting the spotlight on him.

“Phillip Bynoe, former treason accused, sells newspapers, it would seem,” he said, referring to the Kaieteur News’ persistent reference to his past involvement with the law on a treason charge.

The consultant highlighted the fact that the local daily

‘Let Kaieteur News bring one, only one, person to say that they received money and who they received the money from.

We did not ask the Chinese for anything...there was no bribery because there was no need for it,’ Bynoe continues to ignore the facts as they are presented, exhibiting a preference for falsehoods.

He said: “After the lies that were printed by the Kaieteur News were exposed by Mr. James Singh, at that now famous two hour press conference, the newspaper seems not to know how to counter what are clear facts.”

Bynoe added that, instead, the local daily has changed its story because its “lies are being confronted and refuted”

by Government agencies, as well as the men and women on the ground.

“The Kaieteur News is telling lie after lie, which they cannot substantiate. They are digging a deeper hole…if they truly are a patriotic newspaper and their mission is truly an

Mr. Phillip Bynoe altruistic one, in the interest of Guyana and Guyanese, they will stop telling lies that damage the lives of the small man on the ground,” he said.

Bynoe made it clear that the people of Region 10 who are involved in the industry are vigilant and will remain so.

“The people are vigilant and as beneficiaries of a major investment by the Chinese, they will continue to advance their interest and maximise on the opportunities stemming from that investment…Kaieteur News should desist from focusing on lies and use their newspaper to foster development,” he said.

The operations of Chinese logging company, Bai Shan Lin (BSL), has been targeted by Kaieteur News for the past week now; however, while aspersions continue to be hurled about, Commissioner of the Guyana Forest Commission (GFC), James Singh has since outlined the conditions under which BSL received joint ventures for 274,000 hectares of forest and refuted claims of wrong-doings by the GFC, as the forestry sector’s oversight body.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

Shi’ite militia kill dozens of Iraqi Sunnis in mosque shooting

By Raheem Salman and Alexander Dziadosz (Reuters) - IRAQI Shi’ite militiamen machine gunned minority Sunni Muslims in a village mosque on Friday, killing dozens just as Baghdad was trying to build a cross-community government to fight Sunni militants whose rise has alarmed Western powers.

A morgue official in Diyala province north of Baghdad said 68 people had been killed in the sectarian attack staged on the Muslim day of prayer. Ambulances took the bodies 60 km (40 miles) to the provincial capital of Baquba, where Iranian-trained Shi’ite militias are powerful and act with impunity.

Attacks on mosques are acutely sensitive and have in the past unleashed a deadly series of revenge killings and counter attacks in Iraq, where violence has returned to the levels of 2006-2007, the peak of a sectarian civil war.

Two influential Sunni politicians, Deputy Prime

(BBC photo) Diyala province has been heavy fighting in recent weeks between government troops and IS alliance to form a new govParliament Speaker Salim ed participation in talks with ernment.

Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq and al-Jibouri, quickly suspend- the main Shi’ite political

Lawmaker Nahida alDayani, who is from Diyala, said about 150 worshippers were at Imam Wais mosque when the militiamen arrived following a roadside bombing which had targeted a security vehicle. “It is a new massacre,” said Dayani, a Sunni originally from the village where the attack happened.

“Sectarian militias entered and opened fire at worshippers. Most mosques have no security,” she told Reuters. “Some of the victims were from one family.

Some women who rushed to see the fate of their relatives at the mosque were killed.”

The bloodbath marks a setback for Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi, from the majority Shi’ite community, who is seeking support from Sunnis and ethnic Kurds to take on the Islamic State insurgency threatening to tear Iraq apart.

Gaza gunmen execute ‘collaborators’; mortar kills Israeli boy

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Allyn Fisher-Ilan

gunmen in Gaza executed 18 Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel on Friday, accelerating a crackdown on suspected informers after Israeli forces tracked down and killed three senior Hamas commanders.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to escalate the fight against Hamas, vowing the

(Reuters) - Hamas-led

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group would “pay a heavy price” after a four-year-old Israeli boy was killed by a mortar attack from Gaza, the first Israeli child to die in the six-week conflict.

Shortly after his remarks, Palestinian officials said Israel had flattened a house in a Gaza City air strike, wounding at least 40 people.

With protesters from

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rocket-hit southern Israeli communities gathered outside his residence in Jerusalem after the boy’s killing, Netanyahu was under pressure to take tougher steps to end the rocket fire.

Israel’s military spokesman said another ground war was possible if necessary to stop the rocket fire.

Earlier in Gaza, masked militants dressed

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in black executed seven suspected collaborators, shooting the hooded and bound victims in a busy square outside a mosque after Friday prayers.

Te l e v i s i o n f o o t a g e showed a crowd of young boys gathered where the executions took place moments afterwards, blood still running on the street and bullet casings scattered around.

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Colombia army, rebels meet face-to-face at peace talks

By Nelson Acosta

(Reuters) - COLOMBIAN military officers and leftist guerrillas met face-to-face on Friday for the first time in their 50-year war, starting talks on a ceasefire that would take hold should the government and the rebels reach a comprehensive peace agreement.

The Government of Pres-

ident Juan Manuel Santos and the Marxist-inspired Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have been engaged in peace talks in Cuba for nearly two years, reaching three partial agreements on their five-point agenda.

The two sides recently opened talks on another key point, that of reparations for war victims, and began hear-

ing testimony from those who have lost loved ones or been displaced by Latin America’s longest-running conflict, which has killed more than 200,000 people since 1964.

But peace negotiators decided to get a head start on what is expected to be the most difficult agreement: how to end the conflict and enact a definitive, bilateral ceasefire.

NY judge scolds Argentina, but no contempt order

By LARRY NEUMEISTER NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge in Manhattan on Thursday said Argentina’s plans to evade his orders by failing to make required payments to U.S. bondholders is illegal and cannot be carried out, but he stopped short of finding the South American nation in contempt of court.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Griesa called Argentina’s actions toward U.S. bondholders “lawless.” However, he rejected requests by lawyers for U.S. hedge funds to make a contempt finding, saying he wanted everyone to concentrate on an eventual settlement.

“That is the path that should be taken,” Griesa said. “In my judgment, it does not add anything to the scales of settlement to make a finding of contempt.”

At an Aug. 8 hearing, Griesa had threatened Argentina with contempt, saying the nation’s leaders were making “false and misleading” statements as they ignored obligations to pay the hedge funds.

Since then, Argentina’s public statements have grown more defiant. President Cristina Fernandez this week announced plans to make interest payments to other bondholders through her nation’s central bank rather than U.S. banks that are subject to Griesa’s orders.

Carmine Boccuzzi, centre, a lawyer representing Argentina, leaves Federal court after a hearing, in New York, Thursday

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) lead negotiator Ivan Marquez (L) reads from a document next to fellow negotiator Jesus Santrich (C) during a conference in Havana August 22, 2014 Credit: REUTERS

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

EDITORIAL

GUYANA

Peace in the global village of mankind MOST of those who initiate and perpetuate war do so based on the premise that they are championing and promoting the edicts of God. But how is this so? There is still to be seen a comprehensive analysis of any religious text that justifies killing the innocent, and causing unimaginable grief to their loved ones.

Whether it is an Israeli or a Palestinian child, a Hindustani or a Pakistani child, an African or a European child, the shedding of innocent blood can be nothing else but an abomination in the sight of the Lord.

Evil will always find instruments and fanatics are spreading further hopelessness about the likelihood of the survival of mankind.

A nuclear holocaust is an impending threat looming over the globe, because

these sophisticated instruments of destruction are within the immediate reach of inhuman, power-drunk beasts, many of whom are on a perpetual high of hashish, opium, or whatever their drug of choice is, leaving them with scant margin for reasonable dissimulation and consideration.

Despotic leaders sow the seeds of insurrection in the hearts of their subjects, creating spawning grounds for violence to take root.

Innocent people are being kidnapped and murdered, entire planeloads of people are blasted into smithereens – and here one needs to recall the horrifying tragedy of the twin towers; as well as other man-driven carnages in the world where there have been and continues to be instances of wanton destruction to lives, personal

and national properties of limitless proportions, the latter compromising budgetary allocations for social programmes, while the list of atrocities continues to grow on a daily basis.

The arms sale is exploitation by rich, scientifically-advanced superpowers, which has no compunction in making available to dictators and war-mongers weaponry used to suppress and oppress their own people, instead of advancing their social development.

I n 1 9 1 3 Wo o d r o w Wilson became the 28th President of the USA. The following year World War 1 broke out, with all the ensuing destruction to lives and nations that have been chronicled by various authors.

Recognising the need for global peace, Wilson established the League of

Nations – a body conceived to promote global democracy and, ultimately, peace in an international context. This was the forerunner to the United Nations and the vision of a great American humanist who left the world a legacy of a global collective of nations that yet has the mandate and the intent to sue global leaders to eschew violence and seek resolution to problems through peaceful initiatives and interventions.

Guyana’s Dr. Cheddi Jagan, recognising the inter-dependency of nation upon nation for the prerequisites of global survival, and the imperative of promoting a holistic approach to the formulation of mechanisms for the survival of mankind on Planet Earth, given the appreciating glob-

al disasters as a result of global warming and other factors, conceived and promoted the unique concept of a reconfigured, reconstructed international construct in his “New Global Human Order,” which has been lauded and accepted by world bodies, including the United Nations.

But the ideas and the voices of the great humanists and thinkers of the ilk of Kofi Annan, Cheddi Jagan, Woodrow Wilson, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King seem to be silenced by the war-drums of the warlords, which could very well precipitate Armageddon.

However, while the war-mongers are beating their drums and firing their missiles every peace-lover

in the global collective of nations could start the processes of world peace by living in grace within families, within communities, and within nations.

Guyana continues to be caught up in the destructive politics of an irresponsible Opposition collective.

Yet if the resolutions espoused and propagated by great thinkers like Kofi Annan, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Mahatma Gandhi, and other leaders of their stature could herald in a new dispensation on individual bases, and in a global context, then maybe this paradigm could provide the catalyst for eventual peace on a global scale, beginning with one nation at a time changing its socio-political paradigm.

Never so many security sector reforms and efforts at modernisation NEVER in the history of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) or for that matter the Security Sector has there been so many reforms and efforts at modernisation and real change.

The facts attest to this reality.

These changes are not imaginary, nor far-fetched.

They can be tested and proven. Neither can the skimpish reporting, rubbishing nor throwing cold water on these reforms and the significance they hold for the security architecture of Guyana can erase nor diminish the truth.

The abandonment of journalistic ethics at fair and balanced reporting which the Kaieteur News and Stabroek

News threw out the window a long time ago only serve to demonstrate that both of newspapers feed at the same through filled with pro-Opposition infested and anti-Government propaganda.

The Editorial policy of these two newspapers is clear for all to see; publish nothing to make the PPP look good, publish everything to make the PPP look bad; publish little to make the Opposition look bad; publish everything to make the Opposition look good. Take the Stabroek News for example; its bottom line is to assert its “independence”. inews is slowly but inexhorably moving in that direction. It is all about gaining “credibility” and in Guy-

ana the way to establish one’s credibility is to be critical of Government and to slant stories in such a way to ensure that it is not favourable to Government nor the PPP and to give a discernable degree of positive prominence to the Opposition. This is the road enabling “media independence” and “credibility” in Guyana.

In sum, to speak well of the Government, its programmes and policies is to be a mouth piece of the Government or a soup-drinker to the PPP. The intellectual skunks want no part in this.

This is the extent to which our journalism standards have fallen in Guyana.

The Stabroek News rel-

ishes writing about the “lack of democracy” at the Local Government level in the same way the Kaieteur News has fun writing about “accountability and transparency”.

But to whom are they themselves accountable? Do they practice internal democracy and good governance in their respective Editorial Board Rooms?

Mr. Granger would be lying between his teeth were he to deny that the on-going reforms in the Security Sector have had and will continue to have far-reaching effects throughout the Law Enforcement Agencies.

This is probably what he fears most and that is why he

wants to torpedo the reform and modernization process, currently underway.

Or is it the eventual withering away of the “kith and kin” syndrome that he morbidly fears?

Granger can only feign ignorance about these reforms in exchange for political expediency, but in the final analysis, facts and the truth are there for all those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

He who is politically deaf and blind in the realm of Guyana’s politics are bound to end up in Jurassic Park.

Vibrant, open and healthy political competition is a sine-qua-non for a thriving democracy especially for a

new democracy that is less than twenty-give years old.

The re-invention of Government and its established institutions to facilitate good governance in the interest of the populace is a vital and compelling necessity for the PPP, as a ruling Party.

I have always maintained that security, call it national security or public safety and security; is a work in progress; anyone who argues that a state of perfection and or sustainable comfort zone is attainable once an abundance of human resources, technological applications, adequate remuneration and incentives, recruitment and training of law enforcement officers are Turn to page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

Never so many security sector...

From page 6

available is living in a fool’s paradise. Ferguson, Missouri is a case in point. This is not to say that we must not strive to attain such levels so long as we can afford them.

Mr. Granger must say publicly whether during his tenure as Commander of the GDF under Burnham and later, as National Security Adviser to Hoyte, the security situation in Guyana was better than it is today and whether the Police and Defence Force had everything they wanted. Further, he must do the comparative analysis to show what were the budgetary allocations for the GDF and the GPF then and what it is now.

Granger must give concrete details to show whether the GDF and the GPF were better out-fitted under his command compared to how they are outfitted now.

The reality is that the current reforms and changes are manifested in the following: 1. Establishment of a state of the art Forensic Laboratory; 2. Establishment of a Police Officers Training College; 3. Rehabilitation/Remodelling of eighteen (18) Police Stations; 4. Establishment of seventeen (17) Police Outposts; 5. Computerization of Guyana Police Force Headquarters, Traffic Headquarters and CID Headquarters, Central Passport & Immigration Office and forty-four (44) other Police Stations; 6. Establishment of Computer Centres at all Police Divisions and at Force Headquarters; 7. Establishment of CCTV Cameras throughout the City; 8. Establishment of a National Intelligence Centre; 9. Introduction of the new Machine Readable Passport; 10. Procurement of hundreds of vehicles for the GPF; 11. Establishment of the Integrated Crime Information System; 12. Establishment of a Crime and Social Observatory;

13. Establishment of a Holding Centre for Juvenilles; 14. Establishment of the Electronic Crime Reporting System; 15. Establishment of Civilian Staffed Strategic Management Departments at the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Prison Service and Ministry of Home Affairs to assist in implementation of their respective Strategic Plans; 16. Establishment of a Serious Organised Crime Unit (SOCU); 17. Establishment of the Guyana National Computer Incident Response Team (to address Cyber Crimes); 18. Passage of the Interception of Communication Act; 19. Passage of fifty (50) laws in the National Assembly to strengthen Law Enforcement; 20. Establishment of a several Civilian Composed Boards to institute internal administrative reforms within the Guyana Prison Service and Guyana Fire Service; 21. Establishment of an investigating arm of the Police Complaints Authority; 23. Increase in the fixed establishment of the Guyana Police Force from 3,410 to 4,956; 24. Strengthening and expanding the Middle Management of the Guyana Police Force by increasing the number of Police Cadets from ten (10) to fifty (50); 25. Strengthening the Marine Wing of the Guyana Police Force through capacity building, procurement of a Floating Base, a Work Boat and a number of additional patrol boats as well as provision of specialized training for Police Ranks; 26. Establishment of a SWAT Team at the Guyana Police Force; 27. Expansion and improved equipping of the Community Policing Organization; 28. Establishment of Traffic Wardens; 29. Expansion of Neighbourhood Police; 30. Expansion of Station

Management Committees; 31. Establishment of Houses of Justice; 32. Successful implementation of Citizen Security Programme; 33. Modernisation of the Ministry of Home Affairs; Mr. Granger and company must be grinding their teeth with envy at the scale and magnitude of these reforms and changes at the Security Sector initiated by the PPP/C Administration since its assumption to Office.

His unwillingness to support the establishment of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee of the Security Sector is a glaring indictment of his tongue in cheek, twofaced approach to security matters and by extension the security of the Nation.

The deeper these reforms go vertically and horizontally, the more irreversible they will become with the inexorable march of history.

CLEMENT J. ROHEE Minister

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guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

CANU destroys 730 kg cocaine, 1,970 kg marijuana

By Michel Outridge

THE Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) yesterday destroyed over 730 kilogrammes of cocaine (street value US$29M) and 1,970 kilogrammes of marijuana.

The illegal drugs, which were destroyed by burning on Homestretch Avenue, were acquired following several drug busts. Speaking to the media yesterday morning, Head of CANU, James Singh said that the exercise was necessary because they did not wish to encounter a stockpile and for other security reasons.

He added that the marijuana being destroyed was seized during last year and this year in numerous exercises aboard vessels and also search operations.

Singh stated that the cocaine was found at various airports and other locations.

He reported that the pricing (street estimates) as it relates to that in the United States and Europe- is €45,000 per kilogramme of cocaine and in the US based on purity it is about US$40,000.

Singh told reporters that the drugs seized were destined for Europe, the Caribbean, US and Canada and there has been an

Head of CANU, James Singh as he briefed the media yesterday morning following the destruction exercise of a quantity of drugs which were seized. increase in seizures both

by CANU and the police this year since drug traffickers are still trying their best to move drugs out of

the country.

He explained that Guyana is a lucrative country and they will continue to try to take the illicit drugs

out.

Singh said with close collaboration with other agencies there have been a significant increase in

seizures of illicit drugs.

He noted too that there has also been an increase in the number of prosecutions and from a law

enforcement standpoint the fact is that this country is not deemed a narcotics state but “we are making seizures whether it is coming in or going out and it shows that the Government of Guyana is supporting law enforcement in carrying out its mandate.”

The CANU boss vowed that “we will find the drugs through our operations regardless of where it is in this country and will not focus on where it is coming in or going out and we have had seizures countrywide.”

When questioned yesterday Singh said that it is unfair to say what we are doing nothing about drugs coming into Guyana since seizures occur in various parts of Guyana and not only in one area.

The destruction exercise yesterday saw the presence of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) where a senior officer backed up by fire fighters supervised the igniting of the drugs which was heaped after being offloaded from a truck.

The event was witnessed by media personnel drawn from all media houses both private and state and were also given the opportunity to test the purity of cocaine before it was destroyed yesterday.

Guyana has done an ‘excellent job’ recapturing rice ... from page 2

Venezuela, Guyana is making greater headway into the Haitian market, which was lost after the 2010 earthquake; Jamaica is increasing its rice imports; countries across the Caribbean and Europe are doing well; and Guyana is entering markets in Central America.

“We have signed the deal with Panama for export of rice and are engaged in negotiations with Cuba and Guatemala and other countries, whose names I cannot reveal because of the sensitive status of the negotiations,” he said.

Dr. Ramsammy highlighted that talks are also ongoing with Ghana.

“Right now these are price preferred markets…I think we can say safely in 2014, that the European and Caribbean market has been reestablished and in fact we have solidified those markets. I think that is an important point people have to bear in mind, and that comes from hard work by the supplier, the millers and the traders in Guyana,” he said.

The minister stressed that at no time in Guyana’s history, has the rice industry had the export markets

it currently has.

He said: “If all our markets come into place, 500,000 tonnes export becomes easy. Indeed 10 years ago people thought that 300,000 tonnes being exported was a utopian dream for Guyana, and I know politicians that have said so. We have changed that.”

NECESSARY CARRY OVER Ramsammy also addressed the concern expressed earlier this year over the fact that 100,000 tonnes was brought forward from the 2013 second crop and made it clear that this was necessary.

“We have to meet our market demand 365 days a year. We sell rice for people to eat every day. We only harvest twice a year so our exports span the entire 12 months. The carry over is necessary and is the responsible thing to do,” he said.

The minister explained that Guyana not only produces rice for export, but also for local consumption.

He reasoned that of the 600,000 tonnes expected to be produced this year, Guyana will need at least 120,000 tonnes for its own local consumption, which means the non-export of a percentage of the total production is a non-issue.

“Five years ago when we were talking about 500,000 tonnes by 2020, people said it is impossible and we achieved that last year. We adjusted that 500,000 tonnes last year to 600,000 tonnes in 2020, but that will be achieved this year… even so we still cannot export all our rice,” he said.

He dismissed the view expressed by some that Guyana should reduce its production on these grounds.

The first rice crop this year brought in a record-breaking 315,000 tonnes, which is not only the largest single crop, but also surpassed the annual targets made by the industry prior to 2000. For the second crop, some 225,000 acres of rice was cultivated, with a production target of 310,000 tonnes.

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guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

‘Clean-Up My Country’ Programme Implementation Committee intensifies monitoring activities

OVER the last few days, several complaints were made in respect of the piles of debris being left on parapets as a result of the cleanup exercises.

The Monitoring Unit yesterday conducted inspections in the areas where work is in progress. In Albouystown, the contractor stated that the piles of debris which were placed on the Independence Boulevard’s parapet are from the market. He stated that it was difficult to clean the market during the day since vendors carry out their trade at that time; as a result, work was carried out during the nights and in many cases until 03:00hrs.

Moreover, silt and debris were transported to the Boulevard for temporary holding. He also pointed out that some residents have requested the use of some of the silt to landscape their yards.

As of August 17, the piles of debris were removed from Independence Boulevard. Currently, work

is ongoing and there is some mess since there has been days of heavy rain fall.

In West Ruimveldt, work is ongoing and the contractor has been remov-

ing debris from the areas and transporting them to Haags Boosh landfill in Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

The contractors also elaborated on a few uncontrollable challenges which

they have been encountering during the cleanup exercise. One being very limited holding areas, if any at all, in the city, hence this is a major inconvenience to both residents

and contractors. Two, the difficulty they will encounter if they try to remove the silt immediately after it is excavated from the drains because of the excess water it carries. And three, the im-

pact of the high tide which goes back further each day.

Once the tide is high, the drains cannot be de-silted; consequently, the workers will programme some of their activities according to the tide schedule. It therefore means that work will extend into the nights and the Haags Boosh solid waste disposal site closes at 16:00hrs.

The Programme Implementation Committee is working with the community contractors to maneuver around the uncontrollable elements in order to remove the remaining debris as quickly as possible. The committee apologises to the residents within the affected areas for the inconvenience the activities are causing, and assures the members that the team is working assiduously with the community contractors to remove the debris. (Programme Implementation Committee Clean-Up My Country release)

PPP the only party with concerns about PLE – DCEO Vishnu Persaud

By Vanessa Narine DEPUTY Chief Elections Officer (DECO) Mr. Vishnu Persaud, responding to a query from the Guyana Chronicle, has confirmed that of the three parliamentary political parties, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is the only party that has raised concerns with the Preliminary List of Electors.

“As at this time, I am not aware of other parties expressing concerns about the PLE,” he said.

The ruling party wrote the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) last Thursday, August 14, highlighting some of the concerns it has with the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE).

One of those concerns has to do with the steep surge in names, amounting to over 78,000 new registrants on the PLE when, traditionally, new registrants between elections amount to approximately 11,000.

In a statement issued on Monday, the PPP said, “The letter was sent to GECOM last Thursday, August 14, after one of our field operatives found eighteen (18) persons on the PLE with the same Georgetown address. At the said address, they found one of the eighteen people with a prepared list of the eighteen that were listed.”

Noting that it found this development very unusual, the PPP added: “While it may be possible that these eighteen persons are living at that address, we call on GECOM to physically verify these persons’ existence and their place of residence.

The PPP has been submitting irregularities to GECOM on an ongoing basis, rather than wait until the Claims and Objections

period concludes, since this period lasts for only 28 days, and we are only ten (10) days away from its conclusion.”

The DCEO noted that it is within the right of any political party to express concerns pertaining to any aspect of GECOM’s work, and that, correspondingly, it is GECOM’s responsibility to respond appropriately.

Notwithstanding this position, he stressed that GECOM stands by the accuracy of the PLE, considering the names on the PLE were extracted from the accurate National Register of Registrants (NRR).

“The Guyana Elections Commission is convinced that every person on the National Register of Registrants, from which the names for the PLE are taken, is a bona fide registrant. Accordingly, we stand by the accuracy of the PLE,” Persaud said.

Persaud pointed out that in the 2008 house-to-house registration, persons were registered at their homes with the participation of scrutineers from the governing and joint opposition political parties in Parliament. Thereafter, scrutineers were involved in the registration of persons in each consecutive cycle of Continuous Registration.

Further, he pointed out that each registration transaction goes through a series of checks before being accepted and committed to the National Register of Registrants.

Persaud said that if any political party is dissatisfied with the Official List of Electors to be produced after the Claims and Objections period is over, GECOM would be more than willing to address those concerns to the satisfaction of all concerned.

Region 2 administration commended for taking measures to avoid mud getting onto E/bo roadway APNU’s Councillor on the Region 2 Democratic Council, (RDC) Mr. Prince Shepherd, at a recent special meeting of the RDC, commended the Region 2 Administration and Regional Chairman Mr. Parmanand Persaud for putting sand and loam on several access dams in the rice growing areas along the Essequibo Coast, to prevent mud from getting onto the surface of the public road.

Mr. Shepherd said the Sparta dam was one area where tractors were always dumping mud on the road after coming out from the back dam, and intervention of the Regional Chairman to do that part of the surfacing of the dam with sand and loam has changed that situation.

Responding to Councillor Shepherd, the Chairman said more dams would be done with sand and loam during the year, once funds are available; and several cross dams would also be done so as to avoid mud from being dumped on the public road by tractors coming out from the backdam.

Rajendra Prabhulall in Essequibo.

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guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

Linden IMC adjusts tolls on the Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge by some 25% effective from September 1

By Asif Hakim THE Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge which links the two Linden communities occupying opposite banks of the Demerara River, and facilitates travel to the furthest reaches of Guyana’s southern border, including to Rockstone, Lethem and to the Takutu Bridge that links Guyana to Brazil, has had its toll raised by some 25%, to take effect from Monday, September 1.

This new fare represents the first increase in the bridge’s toll since 1994 (20 years ago). The 50-year-old structure had undergone tremendous repairs costing some $30M by Linmine in 1994 after it had been damaged, and that entity had indicated an intention to recoup its expenditure.

This was done without increasing the toll to cross the bridge.

IMC Chairman of Linden The bridge had again Town Council, Mr. Orin undergone major repairs Gordon in 2009, but this time, the

Government under former President Bharrat Jagdeo had pumped over $100M into the repairs done.

Chairman of the Interim Management Committee of the Linden Town Council (IMC), Mr. Orin Gordon, told the

The Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge Chronicle that the bridge committee had agreed that toll to cross the bridge should be increased, since 25% of revenue garnered therefrom would go to maintaining the bridge, while the other 75% would be received as revenue for the

municipality.

The new rates applicable to crossing the bridge are as follows: Articulate trucks: The rate has moved from $3000 to $4000 Heavy earth moving equipment: The rate has moved from $1500 to $2000 Three axle trucks: The rate has moved from 1500 to $2000 Heavy duty vehicles: The rate has moved from $1000 to $1200 Bosai vehicles will continue to pay $1200 Goods vehicles of three to four tons’ capacity will move from paying $700 to paying $840 Goods vehicles of two to three tons’ capacity will move from paying $500 to paying $600 Tractor/Trailers will move from paying $400 to paying $500 Goods vehicles of one to two tons’ capacity will move from paying $400 to paying $500 Goods vehicles of less than 1 ton capacity will move from paying $200 to paying $240 Greater 15-seat minbuses will move from paying $100 to paying $120 4x4 Vehicles will move from paying $60 to paying $80 Minibuses will cease paying $60 and will start paying $80 The toll for Cars will remain at $40 Bosai vehicles and car prices remain unchanged because Bosai repairs the bridge whenever the need arises and they cater for over 600 jobs in Linden. Cars represent 60% of vehicles in Guyana, according to Mr. Orin Gordon.

Twelve narcotics offenders among 15 persons granted $6.095M bail yesterday ACTING Chief Justice Mr. Ian Chang, SC, yesterday granted 15 petitioners bail amounting to $6,095,000 pending determination of their cases.

Particulars follow: For possession of narcotics for the

purpose of trafficking, Kestor Campbell was put on $200,000 bail; Orette Hope was put on $300,000 bail; Patricia Collins, $350,000 bail; Rodwell Collins, $350,000 bail; Marvin Fraser, $75,000 bail; Kiana Garnett, $75,000 bail; Dun-

can Mc Gregor, $75,000 bail; Ganesh Lall, $250,000 bail; Ian Smith, $850,000 bail; Orin Bodie, $1.5M bail; Lloyd Brown, $300,000 bail; and Christopher Jupiter, $300,000 bail.

For possession of firearms & am-

munition, Jason Augustine was put on $400,000 bail.

For causing death by dangerous driving, Seebarran Ninval was put on $750,000 bail, and Jermain Carrol was put on $320,000 bail.

Police nab man just after committing a robbery at knife point

By Leroy Smith

KEVIN Innis might not have had his luck with him yesterday since police ranks in ‘C’‘ Division caught up with him seconds after he held a Canje Berbice resident at knife point and robbed him of the latest iPhone on the market.

The Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that Innis saw his victim, Michael Gopta standing at the bus shed at the University of Guyana access road and walked up to him, placed a knife to his throat and relieved him of his phone worth $185,000.

Arrested: Kevin Innis

While the victim was still in shock the police who had moments before wrapped up a roadblock at Sparendaam were heading to conduct another roadblock in the Sophia when they encountered the victim who related to them what happened.

By that time Innis had already walked a few feet away and the police trailed the man to the head of B Field Sophia where they arrested him. When questioned he told investigators that he lived at Ramsingh Street B Field Sophia. Gopta who hails from Berbice is employed in Georgetown.

guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

Turkeyen decomposed remains…

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TT lab assures police of timely return of results

By Leroy Smith THE Guyana Police Force has been assured by a laboratory in Trinidad and Tobago that the test results on the samples of a decomposed female which was sent to them on Thursday will be returned in a timely manner. This is according to Commissioner of Police (acting), Seelall Persaud during an invited comment by this publication.

The samples which are being talked of are that of the decomposed remains of a female which were discovered in a clump of bushes in Turkeyen in July and which are suspected to be that of a missing school teacher, Nyozi Goodman who was missing since June of this year.

Persaud said that the Force decided to send the samples to Trinidad based on technical discussions and the fact that there have been some improvements and investments in

the laboratory in that country.

The police stayed clear from sending the samples to the same country they had sent the samples of bank employee, Sheema Mangar which to date have not returned to these shores.

The Top Cop related that personnel from the recently commissioned laboratory here and their counterparts in Trinidad and Tobago had their own discussions on various aspects of the testing.

With that aside, Guyana would usually use Brazil for the testing of samples but that country was overlooked this time around in this case. Other countries the police force used in the past were Jamaica, Barbados and in some cases the United States of America whenever the United States had an interest in the case.

This is the first time that the lab in Trinidad will be used to test samples coming from Guyana and if all goes as according

The remains of the female can be spotted among the clump of bushes the day after it was discovered

Ex- soldier charged for attempted murder, attempted felony, setting fire on house

By Leroy Smith FORMER Guyana Defence Force Soldier Sergeant Rawle Glasgow, 49, of 8 Enterprise Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara who up to two weeks ago was employed as a security guard appeared in the Vigilance Magistrate Court on Friday charged with attempted murder, attempt to commit a felony and setting fire to a dwelling house.

The man pleaded not guilty to the charges but was remanded to prison and will return on September 12.

Glasgow was accused two weeks ago of setting fire on the home in which his family resides. The man then went into hiding and consumed a poisonous substance and was later caught and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was immediately placed under guard.

Prior to setting the home ablaze the man had threatened his family that he would kill them all but no one took him seriously and no one knew what caused him to attempt the act which

would have confirmed his threat to them.

There were reports that the man became enraged when he returned home and saw his wife with a doll with needles

sticking out of it, something that is widely considered by many as a witchcraft and voodoo practice.

He lived at the home with his wife, three children and mother.

for saturday august 23, 2014 – 14:30hrs for sunday august 24, 2014 – 14:30hrs

to plan with respect to the timely returning of the samples it is likely or possible that much consideration would be given for the continued use of the lab in that country for sample testing.

Persaud said that the Guyana Police Force rank who accompanied the sample to Trinidad is not staying in that country until the tests are completed. He said that assignment was just for the rank to escort the samples to the country and return.

Following the discovery of the remains the government pathologist was forced to conduct the post-mortem at the location where the remains were found because of the state

of decomposition. Family members were convinced that the remains are that of the missing school teacher.

Her mother later identified a belt and underwear that were found close to the remains as that of her daughter’s but the police are still to carry out their tests to be certain. DNA samples were taken from family members to be tested against the samples of the remains to ascertain if the decomposed body which was found is indeed that of Goodman.

The teacher was last seen after she accompanied her students to a game of football under floodlights at one of Guyana sporting facilities in Georgetown.

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Torginol Paints seeks interim injunction against lorries parking nuisance - also seeking in excess of $10M as damages

guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

By George Barclay CORPORATE Secretary, Percival Boyce, Jr., of Torginol Paints, Guyana, Inc. on Thursday made an ex parte application for an interim injunction to prohibit lorries laden with sand to park on land owned by the plaintiff’s company, and is also seeking in excess of $10M as damages.

The plaintiff is alleging that the sand from the lorries is contaminating the plaintiff’s manufacturing process of paint and paint products. And the ex parte application which is accompanied by a writ of summons is returnable for August 28 when the defendant, Minister of Works, will most likely be granted leave to file an affidavit in answer.

Corporate Secretary Boyce is also seeking a sum in excess of $10M as damages and consequential loss sustained by the plaintiff, resulting from the negligence and nuisance caused since the month of July, 2014, and continuing.

The plaintiff is alleging that the second defendant by unlawfully permitting lorry drivers to park their lorries with sand for sale, on land owned and occupied by the plaintiff on the western side of the Mandela Avenue Roadway, East Bank Demerara

and east of the plaintiff’s manufacturing plant, is resulting in sand from the lorries contaminating the plaintiff’s manufacturing process of paint and paint products; That the plaintiff has been in occupation and possession of Plot 9 Industrial Site, Ruimveldt as a leasee for over 54 years; That the proprietors of Lot 8 of the Ruimveldt Industrial Site occupies similar land adjacent to the said plot, Plot 8 within the northern and southern boundaries of the said plot, but the lorries have not been mandated by the second defendant to park and vend sand on the portion of land immediately east of Plot 8. Continuing his affidavit in support of his ex parte application for interim injunction, Corporate Secretary Boyce added that since the said lorries commenced parking on the plaintiff’s said land, the plaintiff has discovered particles of sand in its freshly produced paint products.

The ex parte application and writ of summons have been issued by Senior Counsel Mr. Rex Mc Kay, Mr. Edward A. Luckhoo, S.C., Mr. Neil A. Boston and Mrs. Bettina Glasford.

The matter is returnable before Justice Sandra Kurtzious on August 28, 2014.

guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

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$31M earmarked for Parika Stelling repairs

Parika Stelling

By Telesha Ramnarine CABINET last Tuesday granted its no-objection to a contract worth more than $31M that would see the rehabilitation of the Parika Stelling, East Bank Essequibo.

This was announced on Thursday by Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon at his post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President in Georgetown.

The facilities at Parika, Leguan and Fort Island were among stellings that were rehabilitated last year under the Transport and Harbours Department’s (T&HD) 2013 capital allottment of $393M.

According to T&HD G e n e r a l M a n a g e r, M s .

Marcelene Merchant, earlier this year, besides stelling repairs, the money was also used to dry-dock two vessels, as well as acquiring spares.

Wo r k o n t h e P a r i k a Stelling cost around $5M, and included the construction of additional lavatory facilities for passengers among other repairs that were effected.

Repairs undertaken at the Leguan Stelling cost in the vicinity of $4.7M, while Fort Island’s was to the tune of $3M. Some work was also done at the Bartica Stelling at a cost of $11.9M, Merchant had said.

Other interventions had also included the lifting and re-fencing of the scale at the Parika Stelling; the modification of the one at the Supenaam Stelling; and the effecting of repairs to the speedboat steps at Parika, Vreed-en-Hoop, and Georgetown Stellings; the installation of collapsible steel rails at the Georgetown and Vreed-en-Hoop Stellings to facilitate the extended night operation of speedboats; and upgrading the close-circuit network at the THD Goods Wharf on upper Water Street, Kingston.

On this year’s agenda, she said, will be the acquisition of even more spares, and the modification and repair of the Supenaam and Parika Stellings and the Mazaruni dockage. Also on the agenda, she said, is the acquisition of a generator for use at Parika during ‘blackouts’.

T&HD is also mulling the acquisition of a number of fuel meters for its fleet, an investment of some $42M in order to stem the reported pilfering of fuel and also to keep tabs on the actual fuel received from the fuel trucks, among other functions, Merchant said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

Eccles/Ramsburg NDC exemplifies goal of local democracy-Whittaker

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker (right) with Eccles/Ramsburg NDC Chairman, Mr. Saed A. Khan along with the acquired machinery

By Derwayne Wills THE Eccles/Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) on Thursday received equipment totalling $13M which was purchased by revenue accumulated in the previous financial years.

Chairman of the NDC, Mr. Saed A. Khan confirmed the figure used for purchase of the machines which include one John Deere tractor and trailer and one Bobcat Skid-Steer Loader from MACORP Guyana, and General Equipment Guyana Ltd. Present at the handing over ceremony was Minister of Local Government and Regional Development,

Mr. Norman Whittaker who declared that the activity provides an opportunity for Guyanese to see the efforts of NDCs and the Government of Guyana.

“Here’s an NDC that has been able to manage its resources in such a way that they have been able to acquire from their own resources, some necessary pieces of machinery,” Whittaker said.

He highlighted that the equipment will be used for facilitating the work of the NDC in maintaining a clean and liveable environment.

The Bobcat, he stated, will first and foremost be used for works on the shoulders of drains and in the road cor-

ners to remove debris from the sides of the road. The other pieces of equipment will complement this by assisting with transportation and possibly the movement of solid waste.

Outlining the possibility for increased revenue to the NDC, Whittaker said that when the equipment is not being used for those purposes, they could be rented out to interested residents to bring in an added source of revenue to the NDC. The Minister commended the NDC for its efforts and noted the need to maintain what they have acquired in order to ensure that the community’s resources are preserved.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

Compliance with obligations under the Guyana/Norway agreement remains paramount –Dr. Luncheon ByTelesha Ramnarine

UNDER the Guyana/ Norway agreement, the Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) story has been deemed a success and having completed all the necessary requirements, Guyana expects to be shortly advised on the fourth payment.

In November 2009, Guyana and Norway signed an agreement that would see Norway handing over up to USD $250 million over five years to finance the national plan to reorient Guyana’s economy to a low–carbon path, the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

The REDD+ finance is currently being used, inter alia, to foster local development of low-carbon industries.

“And again, we anticipate further successes arising from the payments we would be receiving from this fourth payment,” Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon said on Thursday during his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing.

The aforementioned MRV has been a success at a national level and sub-nationally, its successes have been such that in hinterland communities, MRVs are being resorted to as a sub-national model for what Guyana conceived and agreed with the Norwegians as a national model, Luncheon explained.

“Our partnership with Norway should not be considered to be all hanky dory and everything is going nice bless you Jesus. That would

be an overestimation and there are some areas that we are on record as raising with Norway and in the context of an extension of the Guyana/Norway partnership beyond 2015 which brings an end to the first phase.

“We have raised concerns that point to a need for reform…addressing this extension and addressing smoother, more predictable and faster financing under this initiative and the second concern is dealing with the impact of sustainable mining on Guyana’s reference levels. It is apparent that the mining sector and its operations is impactful when it comes to Guyana and its reference levels,” he said.

According to Luncheon, Guyana’s efforts in maintaining compliance with its obligations under the partnership agreement remains paramount. “But we have made pledges to a very important sector of our national economy mining, to wit, LCDS and its implementation would not be to the disadvantage to the mining sector.”

Luncheon said Guyana has undertaken not to issue new leases in forestry and to maintain a certain range in its deforestation rate.

M e a n w h i l e , s t a ff members of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) have received specialised training which enables them to ensure that Guyana will continue to receive financial rewards for maintaining a low rate of deforestation and forest degradation through its Low Carbon

Development Strategy (LCDS).

The GFC reported last month that its staffers had successfully completed a twoyear programme, entitled “Strengthening of Guyana’s Technical Capacity to Implement a Monitoring Reporting and Verification System (MRVS)”, and other Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) activities.

The Commission said the programme, funded by the European Union and the Government of the Netherlands through the Guyana Shield Facility, aimed at establishing, inter alia, the historic reference level in Guyana on REDD+ and developing the future projected approach for REDD+.

The programme had also aimed at building a two-way communication process to channel information to stakeholders on REDD + implementation; explore possible co-benefits to be incorporated into the national MRVS; and

develop a set of national REDD+ Strategy options that would contribute towards maintenance of Guyana’s already low rate of de-

forestation and forest degradation.

The REDD+ initiative is a framework through which developing countries are

rewarded financially for any emission reductions associated with a decrease in the conversion of forests to alternate land uses.

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guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

guyana CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

A no-confidence motion leads ‘inexorably’ to general and regional elections –Dr. Luncheon

By Telesha Ramnarine A SUCCESSFUL No-Confidence Motion leads “inexorably” to general and regional elections and both the Government and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) are ready for such, Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr. Roger Luncheon reiterated on Thursday at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President, in Georgetown.

Though Cabinet this week reminded itself of various aspects of the motion, a dedicated discussion of it was not entertained, Dr. Luncheon disclosed At his previous press briefing, he had said that based on recent developments, he is not sure that there is a “consolidated view” of what this Alliance For Change’s (AFC) ‘No-Confidence’ motion is all about.

The motion was formally handed

over to Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs by AFC’s General Secretary, David Patterson. It was proposed by Vice-Chairman Moses Nagamootoo and seconded by Executive Member Cathy Hughes.

“Be it resolved that this National Assembly has no confidence in the Government,” reads the document.

“One that started out as a no-confidence motion has morphed into a number of different possibilities and I’m not even certain in my mind, listening to what is being said in the media, what is being attributed to Nagamootoo, what’s being attributed to Granger, that indeed, there is some consolidated view of what this no confidence motion is all about.

“So it’s kind of difficult to sit down and have a full discussion when for all intents and purposes…every day we are getting a different interpretation,” Lun-

Dr. Roger Luncheon

cheon remarked.

Meanwhile, the notion of a no-confi-

dence motion was first voiced by Nagamootoo in mid-June, when he indicated that the AFC was taking that course of action. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) subsequently endorsed this proposal for serious consideration.

Opposition Leader Brigadier (rtd) David Granger confirmed APNU’s support for the AFC’s no-confidence motion against the Government, and together the combined Opposition is expected to address the motion in October, when the National Assembly comes out of recess.

Luncheon had also said a call for snap elections from the Head of State during the two-month recess, before the motion is tabled, is not impossible. “Nothing is impossible; nothing is impossible…I don’t believe it is a question of strategy that determines the response to a no-confidence motion,” he had said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

GNBS holds consultation on draft standards for transportation of petroleum products

By Michel Outridge THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) on Thursday held the National Consultation on Draft Standards for the Transportation of Petroleum and Petroleum Products at the Regency Hotel, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

Director of GNBS, Evadnie Enniss told the gathering that the first in a series of consultations would seek

to develop a national standard for the transportation of petroleum and petroleum products.

She said: “We are aware it has serious implications for safety and when we look around our country today we see so many malpractices with respect to how fuel is transported. What it is transported in and the kinds of things people do in order to have fuel taken to locations such as the interior.”

Man remanded over killing stepfather - deceased was stabbed 18 times

By Jeune Bailey Van Keric T W E N T Y- Y E A R - O L D Inderjeet Sewdan, who was charged with the brutal murder of his stepfather, was remanded to the New Amsterdam Prison

by Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh following his appearance at the Whim Magistrate’s Court.

The accused was not required to plead to the charge which alleged that on August 13 at Free Yard, Port Mourant, Corentyne, he unlawfully killed his stepfather, Deochand Singh.

The charges were filed after a post-mortem report prepared by Dr. Vivikanand Brijmohan revealed that Singh died as a result of multiple stab wounds.

The autopsy report confirmed that Singh succumbed after 18 stab wounds were inflicted to his body. Fourteen of those wounds were inflicted to his neck.

On the horrific night, Deochand Singh, the defendant’s stepfather, had left home to attend a wake in the village. The accused is said to have known that the older man would have consumed alcohol, making him an easy prey.

Shortly before 20:30hrs,

Inderjeet Sewdan

the defendant allegedly lay in wait and ambushed the unsuspecting Singh at the front gate. Being armed with a piece of wood, he inflicted a lash on the man’s head resulting in the 200 pounder falling to the ground. Then the accused allegedly used a knife to inflict 18 stab wounds to Singh’s body.

Fourteen of those wounds were inflicted to the neck before it was slashed.

Thereafter, the body was thrown into a pond in the family yard.

However, an eyewitness telephoned the police after efforts were made to conceal the body.

The case is fixed for hearing on September 15.

Enniss stated that the session looked at the type and

kind of containers fuel should be stored in and the height in which the fuel should be stored if it is going to be placed in a truck and the area it is placed.

She said: “We had lively discussions on carrying capacity on containers where persons were insisting that if a drum marked 45 gallons it should carry more, but we learnt that it is only applicable

to plastic containers where they try to stretch the plastic using some methods to carry extra fuel. But that is dangerous because the materials that are contained can ignite and that is why it is not recommended that these containers be used.”

Enniss said that they also had discussions about fire safety, spillages among other topics such as bulk transpor-

tation carriers and road tanker wagons. Among the participants were several employees of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA).

And also making a presentation on the subject was Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Mahender Sharma and he was available to answer questions posed by the invitees.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

Jam Zone Regional Night…

Bunji, Alkaline promises an unforgettable night

By Rawle Toney UNQUESTIONABLY two of the biggest stars in the Caribbean for their respective genres, and some might even want to say they’re on top of their game across the globe and thanks to Hits and Jams Entertainment, Guyanese will have a chance to be thrilled by the two musical giants tonight at the Guyana National Stadium.

Earlan Bartley popularly known as ‘Alkaline’ and Ian Alvarez aka ‘Bunji Garlin’ will be the main acts at the Regional Night for this year’s Jam Zone Summer Break, along with some of Guyana’s leading artistes.

Both performers expressed their pleasure and happiness with regards to being in Guyana, especially for ‘Alkaline’ who is making his first visit while for ‘Bunji’ it’s a return for Viking of Soca since his performance at the Ansa McAl

Soca Star Bunji Garlin (left) and Jamaican Dancehall sensation Alkaline

2013 STAGE event.

Along with his wife FayAnn Lyons and their Vikings band, Bunji Garlin is one of Soca’s brightest stars over the last year. He has single handedly taken the music to places where it has never gone before.

His recent Album, ‘Differentology’, was featured in the famed Rolling Stone Magazine; something the Trinidadian said “all West Indians should be proud,” adding “this is not just an accomplishment for me, but for the entire West Indies.

This is something positive coming out of the region because we are always considered as Third World”.

Music pundits hail Bunji as a lyrical genius whose freestyle is unmatched by many from different genres and according to the Viking, Guyanese could expect a show which will leave them in ‘awe’ and wanting more of ‘Bunji’.

Meanwhile, the newest

Dancehall sensation who seems to be creating waves where ever he performs, said that while he will cater for all tomorrow, he has something “special for the ladies”.

The 21-year-old Jamaican is a witty, educated Dancehall artiste with a relatively unique style which makes him an interesting character and a certain crowd pleaser.

A University of the West Indies student who took a break to pursue his music career, Alkaline stated he intends to leave a lasting impression on Guyanese, some of whom he said are among some of his biggest fans on his various social media accounts.

Alkaline’s personal life gives him attention off the stage, as much as his music does, given the fact the Jamaican is among the few people around the world to have tattooed their eyeball.

His dark gothic eyes are

a catch and coupled with his fresh, sometimes extremely vulgar lyrics, Alkaline has grown to become a major hit.

Hits and Jams co-director Kerwin Bollers takes credit for his company being the first promoters to bring the new found super star to Guyana, stating it’s a promised kept in bringing some of the biggest names in music to Guyanese.

It is not clear which of the two powerhouses will close the show, with the promoters pointing out “that will be decided on the night”.

By all indications, the 2014 Jam Zone Summer Break Regional Night is promising to be an unforgettable event.

Tickets are going fast and can be purchased at Nigel Super Market and Electronic City. Patrons desirous of purchasing VIP tickets are asked to do so at Electronic City.

MDG Countdown UN Press Release

‘500 DAYS OF ACTION TO BUILD A BETTER WORLD’ 18 August 2014 August 18, 2014 marked the commencement of the 500 days countdown to the conclusion of the Millennium Development Goals.

To mark this occasion, the United Nations Secretary General issued the following statement:

By UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon There are many fires raging around the world today -- political turmoil, bloodshed, public health emergencies and human rights abuses. But there also burns a flame of hope – encouraging progress in the global drive to improve the lives of the world’s poorest through the Millennium Development Goals.

Adopted by world leaders in the year 2000, the MDGs are an ambitious 15-year roadmap to fight poverty, hunger and disease, protect the environment and expand education, basic health and women’s empowerment.

This week marks a milestone on the journey: we are now 500 days from the conclusion of the MDGs. Quietly yet cumulatively, against the predictions of cynics, the MDGs have helped unite, inspire and transform.

Global poverty has been cut in half. More girls are in school. More families have better access to improved water sources. More mothers are surviving child birth and more children are living healthier lives. We are making huge

inroads in fighting malaria, tuberculosis and other killer diseases.

I have met many individuals who owe their survival to this campaign. Yet millions still struggle against extreme poverty and inequality. Too many communities have no proper sanitation. Too many families are still being left behind. And our world faces the clear and present danger of climate change.

Now is the time for MDG Momentum.

The ideas and inspiration of young people will be especially critical in this effort and their role must grow even more. That is why I will mark the 500-day MDG moment at United Nations Headquarters with education advocate Ma-

lala Yousafzai and 500 young people.

Action in four areas can help fuel progress: First: making strategic investments in health, education, energy and sanitation, with a special focus on empowering women and girls, which boosts results across the board.

Second: focusing on the poorest and most vulnerable countries, communities and social groups that have the toughest road to progress despite their best efforts.

Third: keeping our financial promises. These are difficult budgetary times.

But budgets should never be balanced on the backs of society’s weakest individuals.

Fourth: deepening coop-

UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon

eration among governments, civil society, the private sector and other networks around the world that have helped make the MDGs the most successful global anti-poverty push in history.

The challenges are daunting. Yet we have many more tools at our disposal than at the turn of the millennium -- from the expanding reach

of technology to the growing understanding of what works and what does not.

Action now will save lives, build a solid foundation for sustainable development far beyond 2015 and help lay the groundwork for lasting peace and human dignity.

We have 500 days to accelerate MDG action. Let’s make every day count.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

GECOM considering PPP request to extend claims and objections period

By Vanessa Narine

THE ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has written to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) requesting a one-week extension of the ongoing Claims and Objections period, which started on August 4 and ends next week.

And Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Mr. Vishnu Persaud, confirmed that the Commission is aware of the party’s request and it is engaging its attention.

In a statement, released yesterday, the PPP said that an extension, at this “critical” time, is necessary to ensure most, if not all eligible, Guyanese are on the list of electors and not disenfranchised whenever elections are called.

“Already we have seen the AFC submission of a “No Confidence Motion” on the Government coupled with the APNU public support and only recently the Speaker of the National Assembly has thrown his weight behind them with justification that

the Government is undermining the work of Parliament,” the party said.

The PPP added that it has received “valuable information” from its extensive field work countrywide, which indicated that there are many persons who are still to effect the transfer of their particulars from one list to another, especially in new housing schemes.

The party said, “Time and again the Party had engaged GECOM to conduct mobile registration in these schemes as well as hinterland and riverine communities; even though some amount of work was done to this effect.”

The ruling party maintains its contention, expressed some weeks ago, that it is dissatisfied with GECOM’s public relations work, selection of convenient days and times to residents and “meagre” amount of time spent in hinterland and riverine communities.

“It is to be reminded that it was the PPP who made representation for the over 8,000 persons that were still to take transfers at the end of the

Businessman’s body found dead on Black Water trail in Konawaruk

–suspected stabbed and left to bleed to death T W E N T Y- Y E A R - O L D businessman Nickel Leacock of 111 Miles, Mahdia was discovered dead early Tuesday morning on a trail at Black Water, Konawaruk in Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni).

Relatives said Leacock’s body bore one severe stab wound to the lower back, and that he must have bled to death on the trail.

Sources said the deceased had been engaged in an argument with another man prior to his being found dead, and they ventured that the man may have secured himself in hiding and pounced on him as he was walking from Black Water to his White Water location.

This publication was informed that Leacock had visited Black Water last Tuesday morning to check on items that were supposed to be transported to the shop he operates with his father at

The deceased Nickel Leacock

White Water. He was reportedly returning to the ‘backdam’ some time later when he was attacked and stabbed.

Police investigations are in progress.

last continuous registration period. And our groundwork has shown there is still a significant amount of persons that are still to do so,” the party said.

The PPP has also called on major stakeholders to support its call for an extension so that every eligible Guyanese can get on the list, paving the way for transpar-

ent, free and fair elections whenever they are called.

The Claims exercise end on Sunday, August 24, and the Objections period end on Thursday, August 28.

Objections can be made for persons who died, or for people who do not meet the eligibility requirements for inclusion on the Official List of Electors. The Claims

period will allow persons to do the following business, if needed: Register as a New Registrant, if he/she would be 18 years old or older and if his/her name is not on any of the GECOM’s Preliminary Voters’ Lists; make changes and corrections to the information which is on the list for him/her; move his/ her particulars from one list

to the list for the area where he/she is now living; apply for a new ID card to replace the one which was lost or misplaced; and collect one’s National Identification Card if this has not been done as yet from the nearest GECOM office.

GECOM’s hotline numbers are 225-0278-9, 2266557 or 223-9650.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

Bangladesh crash to 70 all out as ...

From Backpage

telephone number.

Bangladesh’s nightmare of an innings got worse when they lost five wickets for ten runs in just a few overs amid a carnival atmosphere at the national stadium.

The final seven wickets fell for just 13 runs, with West Indies claiming victory just minutes after Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell arrived at the National Stadium perhaps hoping for a full afternoon of cricket.

Narine and Roach ran through the middle order with the spinner capturing three for 13 and the pacer three for 19.

Narine produced a delivery that beat Mushfiqur Rahim on extra bounce and followed up with a ball that kept slightly low, beating Mahmudullah’s bat and hitting the off stump.

Roach’s three-wicket haul included the important wicket of Iqbal who was unable to keep down a ball that bounced and gave Chris Gayle a simple catch at midwicket.

The visitors lost wickets quickly moving from 57 for 3 to 57 for 6 and 66 for 8.

Ravi Rampaul had two wickets while Jason Holder, who was given the new ball, had one.

Earlier, Bangladesh spinners bowled with a tight line to contain West Indies at less than five runs an over.

Chris Gayle and Dar-

ren Bravo scored half-centuries and, with Denesh Ramdin and Lendl Simmons, shaped the innings which spluttered significantly at the death overs with the homeside failing to exploit and losing a couple of quick wickets.

Gayle and Bravo added 88 runs for the second wicket with the former dominating the partnership after a quiet start.

In his first ODI fifty in more than a year the Jamaican batsman hit three fours and five sixes to lead with a top score of 58.

Bravo scored a solid knock of 53 and shared another important partnership, 51 runs for the third wicket with Denesh Ramdin who survived a stumping chance to contribute 34.

WEST INDIES innings C. Gayle c Sohag Gazi b Mahmudullah 58 K. Edwards b Al-Amin Hossain 0 DM Bravo lbw b Sohag Gazi 53 D. Ramdin c Mushfiqur Rahim b Al-Amin Hossain 34 L. Simmons c Mahmudullah b Mashrafe Mortaza 40 K. Pollard b Mashrafe Mortaza 26 DJ Bravo c Mushfiqur Rahim b Mashrafe Mortaza 6 J. Holder not out 8 S. Narine not out 7 Extras: (b-1, lb-2, w-12) 15 Total: (7 wickets; 50 overs) 247 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-93, 3-144, 4-171, 5-222, 6-231, 7-231.

Bowling: Mortaza 10-1-393, Al-Amin Hossain 10-1-60-2, Mahmudullah 10-0-47-1, Sohag Gazi 9-1-47-1, Nasir Hossain 1-0-80, Razzak 10-0-43-0.

Lendl Simmons, who was dropped down the order, laboured to 40 and was bogged down for most of his innings.

However, he managed to ride the frustration as Bangladesh bowlers kept the pressure up, to scrape up a fourth-wicket stand of 53 with Kieron Pollard who made a colourful 26, highlighted by two fours and a six.

Mortaza was the most successful bowler for Bangladesh with three wickets for 39 runs.

The victory over Bangladesh ensures West Indies complete their first ODI series win since February 2013.

The third and final game in the series will be played at Warner Park in St Kitts on Monday.

BANGLADESH innings Tamim Iqbal c Gayle b Roach 37 Anamul Haque c Ramdin b Holder 7 Imrul Kayes c Simmons b Rampaul 1 Shamsur Rahman b Roach 4 Mushfiqur Rahim c Ramdin b Narine 6 Mahmudullah b Narine 0 Nasir Hossain c Pollard b Roach 6 Sohag Gazi c Edwards b Narine 2 Mashrafe Mortaza lbw b Rampaul 2 Abdur Razzak not out 0 Al-Amin Hossain run-out 0 Extras: (w-5) 5 Total: (all out; 24.4 overs) 70 Fall of wickets 1-12, 2-27, 3-42, 4-57, 5-57, 6-57, 7-60, 8-66, 9-70.

Bowling: Holder 6-0-17-1, Rampaul 5.41-21-2, Roach 6-2-19-3, Narine 7-0-13-3.

Clarke in doubt for ODI opener

AUSTRALIA are likely to be without captain Michael Clarke for their first ODI against Zimbabwe after he suffered a hamstring injury at training in Harare yesterday.

Clarke experienced pain in his left hamstring while warming up for the team’s first practice session ahead of the tri-series and after having treatment in the dressing room, he took no further part in training.

Australia’s first match is against Zimbabwe on Monday, leaving Clarke little time to recover if he was to take his place in the side. Vice-captain George Bailey will lead the side if

Clarke is ruled out.

“We will monitor his condition closely over the next 24 hours to see how he responds to further treatment before making a decision on his management,” David Beakley, the team physiotherapist, said.

A u s t r a l i a ’s h e a v y schedule over the next few months means they would appear unlikely to take any risks with Clarke. It could also guarantee a place in the side for Phillip Hughes, who was a late inclusion in the squad as a replacement for the injured Shane Watson.

Hughes enters the series in remarkable form after

scoring a pair of double-centuries against South Africa A, but coach Darren Lehmann said before the team departed that he was no certainty to be part of the XI for the first match.

However, if Clarke misses out, Australia’s selectors would have to bring in Hughes due to the dearth of batsmen in the squad. Without Clarke, Australia’s batting line-up in Zimbabwe comprises Hughes, Aaron Finch, Bailey, Steven Smith, wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin and allrounders Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh. (ESPN Cricinfo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

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Pragmatic Platini unlikely to enter FIFA race

By Mike Collett LONDON, England (Reuters) - They play for high stakes in the casinos of Monte Carlo, but in the latest round of football politics UEFA president Michel Platini looks increasingly likely to stay away from the tables preferring instead to bide his time before showing his hand.

The Frenchman is to make a much-anticipated announcement on Thursday after deciding whether or not to stand against long-term incumbent Sepp Blatter in an election to become president of world football’s governing body FIFA. But as it is clear this is a race he is unlikely to win; every indication now is that the 59-year-old will take the pragmatic option and keep his chips in his pocket.

Senior sources who know Platini well have told Reuters they cannot see him running, even though he was once seen as the natural successor to the current long-term FIFA president.

One, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “The key point is, he is doing a good job as president of (European football’s governing body) UEFA and the European associations want him to remain as president.

“He may have distanced himself from Blatter recently, but he is unlikely to beat Blatter in a vote. I don’t see any sign he is prepared to gamble what he has. If he wants to become FIFA president he will stand a better chance in five years’ time.

You cannot be certain, but I would be surprised if he ran now.”

The main obstacle barring Platini’s way, of course, is Blatter. The 78-year-old Swiss has been president of FIFA since 1998 and has given countless hints this year that he will stand again for a fifth term at the FIFA Congress in Zurich next June.

If Blatter stood, won and saw out his mandate, he would be 83 when the next election is due in 2019, a year older than his predecessor Joao Havelange was when he gave up the post 16 years ago.

Speaking in March after the UEFA Congress in Kazakhstan, Platini told Reuters: “There is only one person who can beat Blatter -- me.

“But I have not yet decided to run. I am happy being UEFA president and I still have to decide about FIFA, I have to consult many people but it will be

my personal decision in the end.”

At the time he also said he had plenty of support from outside his European constituency. But Blatter appears to have more.

Just before the World Cup started in June, FIFA’s six confederations held congresses or meetings and Blatter addressed all of them. All of them, besides UEFA, pledged their support to him.

FIRST CANDIDATE So far only one man has

Sepp Blatter has been FIFA’s president since 1998. declared his candidacy: FIFA’s former deputy chief executive Jerome Champagne, who announced in London in January his intention to run but said at the news conference when he launched his bid he did not think he could beat Blatter if Blatter decided to stand for re-election.

The 56-year-old Champagne stunned reporters when he said: “No I don’t think I can beat him, he’s someone of relevance.

“I don’t know whether Mr Blatter will run or not.

Of course as a matter of politeness I informed him what I was planning to do.”

Whether Platini will inform Blatter of what he intends to do before his media announcement on Thursday is another matter entirely.

The two men, once close, have become estranged over the last few years and on the day the World Cup started in Brazil Platini publicly withdrew his support for Blatter.

Speaking in Sao Paulo he said: “I am supporting him no longer. I have known him for a long time, I like him, but I am not favourable to him having another term.

“I think FIFA needs a breath of fresh air. I share the European position. A new mandate for him would not be good for football.”

That is a long way from declaring his own candidacy, though, and while Platini, like Champagne, would like to see change at FIFA, it is hard to see either man gaining a straight majority of votes from FIFA’s 209 member associations when the ballot papers are cast.

MEETING DELEGATES Platini is meeting delegates from UEFA’s 54 member associations on Thursday and those delegates left Blatter in no doubt how they felt about him when he addressed them in Sao Paulo in June.

Blatter endured a tense and frosty reception from UEFA which stood alone from other confederations in not backing his probable intention to run for the presidency again.

Michael van Praag, the president of the Dutch FA and Greg Dyke, the chairman of

UEFA president Michel Platini the English FA, openly challenged Blatter with van Praag telling the Swiss: “Mr Blatter, this is nothing personal but if

you look at FIFA’s reputation over the last seven or eight years, it is being linked to all kinds of corruption and all kinds of old boys’ networks things.

“You are not making things easy for yourself and I do not think you are the man for the job any longer.”

Blatter stood unopposed in 2011 when Mohamed bin Hammam was forced to pull out of the contest following bribery allegations, and according to sources, UEFA, the richest and most powerful FIFA confederation, does not want Blatter to have another shoe-in.

van Praag has been identified as a possible “protest” candidate while Jeffrey Webb, the president of CONCACAF, the confederation representing North and Central America and the Caribbean islands, and a FIFA vice-president is another credible candidate but one who has so far ruled himself out of contention.

Platini, a winner as one of the game’s greatest ever players, has been a pragmatic president of UEFA and while he wants changes in FIFA, he might well decide the clever thing for him to do now is bide his time for a little while longer.

36

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

George Linton lived for cricket THE following is a tribute

by Keith Holder on the passing of former Spartan and Barbados cricketer George Linton, who also served as a Barbados junior and senior selector.

It was first carried in Holder’s weekly column, Hitting Out, in the online newspaper Barbados Today on Friday, August 15.

It was with great sadness that while battling with my own grief of losing my dear beloved wife Dianne to illness just over three weeks ago, I was informed early yesterday morning of the passing of George Linton, the former Spartan First division captain and Barbados leg-spinning all-rounder, who gave his all to cricket in so many different areas.

As tributes poured in for the 58-year-old Linton, I knew it would be a day or rather a long night of special homework for me from a local domestic perspective to research

his statistics.

That entailed digging into some old, tattered “exercise” books with endless “dog-ears” as well as some hardback books containing endless scorecards of BCA First division matches and team averages, which I have proudly kept throughout my three-and-a-half decades as a sports journalist.

One must understand that Linton was not only a cricketer who came through the national Under-19 ranks with a base in community competitions for the Friendship Youth Group, which took part in the popular but now defunct Barbados Youth Council tournaments, but also the role he later played as a cricket coach at the National Sports Council (NSC) for over 25 years and his service as a Barbados junior and senior selector, rising to the post of chairman.

As a selector and true cricket man, he journeyed virtually all over the island to scout talent and follow

I have gone from ‘king of Manchester’ to ‘devil’ - van Gaal LONDON, England (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has poured scorn on critics who he says have made a “devil” of him after one defeat in his new job.

United’s 2-1 home defeat

by Swansea City was the shock result on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season. They face a tricky game at Sunderland tomorrow and van Gaal is appealing for patience.

“Two weeks ago I was the king of Manchester and now I am the devil of Manchester,” he told a news conference yesterday.

“It’s the football world and it is especially the media in this football world.

“I think the fans of Manchester are intelligent. I’ve already said that it shall be difficult in the first three months, for the players and also for the fans.”

Former United hero Paul Scholes said in a newspaper column this week that he was “scared” for United’s immediate future, to which van Gaal responded: “I can imagine the fans are scared. They have to believe. Paul Scholes has to believe.

“The club have hired me

Louis van Gaal because of my philosophy, not because I am nice. Although I am. I am not hired to be fired.

I am hired to build up a team.

That process needs time.”

Supporters had been expecting a better start, however, after a hugely disappointing season in which United finished seventh in the table.

It was their lowest final position since 1990 and the Swansea defeat was their first loss in an opening home game for 42 years.

They have won their last three league games at Sunderland but were beaten 2-1 in last season’s League Cup semi-finals.

Striker Robin van Persie, who was captain of the Netherlands World Cup team under van Gaal, is fit to return after missing the Swansea game but new signing Ander Herrera is out injured, leaving United short of midfield players.

matches. And as far as the NSC was concerned, he cherished the annual Primary Schools’ competition.

Whether you care to call him George or Georgie, he was an unmistakable figure with his portly size and features in particular resembling the great Jamaican actor and comedian Oliver Samuels. In fact, in typical Bajan parlance, it was suggested in some quarters that “someone stepped out” in relation to the features of George and Oliver.

Georgie also did radio commentaries on local domestic cricket and had a taste at the first-class level as well. His style was almost unique, twirling his tongue to pronounce some words and even at times sounding as though he was crying. It was just his way.

In 26 first-class matches following his debut in 1982 against the Windward Islands at Kensington Oval in the-then Shell Shield championship, he sent down 764.4 overs (4 588 balls) including 145 maidens and took 78 wickets for 2 321 runs at 29.75 runs apiece with five five-wicket hauls and a best of five for 35.

And in 38 innings, nine of which were not-outs, he scored 734 runs with a highest of 83 including five half-centuries at an average of 25.31.

George Lester Lincoln Linton was born November 12, 1955 at Waverley Cot, St George and, according to his brother Louis, died in his sleep at his home in Friendship Gap, Hothersal Turning, St Michael, hours after watching the first day of the BCA LIME Under-15 semi-final match between Queen’s College and Lodge on Wednesday, ironically at the Friendship ground, home of his old club, Yorkshire. The family had moved to ‘The Turning” when George was about aged five.

I was aware of his most recent illness by way of Louis and the fact that he was hospitalised for three weeks from July 20. When I last saw Louis on August 5 - the eve of my wife’s funeral - when Louis attended the viewing of her body, he indicated that George was “coming around” and would soon leave hospital.

He was released from hospital last Saturday.

Therefore, it was with shock when I heard of his passing.

As host of Mid Wicket, The Real Cricket Show, which is aired on the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation radio station 100.7 FM on Tuesday nights, I can state that

George was by far the easiest person I could approach even at the last minute to be a guest and he would readily accept.

He loved to talk and discuss cricket.

In fact, when I was first asked to host the programme in early 2011, George was the very first guest as chairman of the Barbados senior selection panel.

As fate would have it, his last appearance on Mid Wicket was just under a couple months ago on June 24.

Ironically, as soon as I introduced him on the programme, he expressed condolences to the family of Ronald ‘Duke Tank Lynch’ Bradshaw, a former Primary and Secondary schoolmate of mine, who had recently passed and suddenly, too, like George. ‘Duke’ was aged 56.

In his usual witty way, George told listeners that he and ‘Duke’ had a couple things in common. Both were “sizeable” and ‘dark’ in complexion. ‘Duke’ was also a cricketer, an attacking batsman I dare say.

There have been and will be many tributes and stories in relation to Georgie. One of the most fitting has come from the BCA (check www.bcacricket. org) who I recall also played a major role in helping to organise a successful benefit for George in 2002.

Linton represented the Barbados and West Indies Under-19 teams as well as Yorkshire in the BCA Intermediate division championship before making his Division 1 debut for Spartan in the mid 1970s.

As I meticulously delved through my treasured BCA records, one of the first things which struck me was the pattern of George’s Division 1 statistics during the decade of the 1980s when there were 12 teams in the competition until 1989 when the number increased to 14 with the Combined Schools being split into North and South and Cable & Wireless (now LIME) being promoted from the Intermediate division.

In 1980 and 1981, he played full seasons, which amounted to 11 matches in each season, but for the next six seasons he was limited to only 24 matches all told because of professional contracts in Britain. In sequence, they were: 1982 (four), 1983 (five), 1984 (three), 1985 (four), 1986 (four) and 1987 (four) before playing 11 matches in 1988 and 13 in 1989.

What intrigued me about the 1980s and the decade of the 1990s as well was that

George Linton

gradually, perhaps suddenly, after being one of the top, genuine all-rounders, George then paid little attention to his batting, slipping further down the order but he never stopped being one of the top bowlers.

It would take more than one column to do full justice to George from a statistical perspective but I must highlight some of his outstanding feats in the BCA First division championship. For example, in 1980, he scored 459 runs including three half-centuries and took 54 wickets at 13.88 runs each, having sent down 301.3 overs including 73 maidens.

Linton was one of the BCA Cave Shepherd Five Cricketers-of-the-Year in 1981 when he was the Spartan captain. He scored 556 runs from 17 innings, one not out, for an average of 34.75 and was one of only five batsmen to score 500 runs (including one century and four half-centuries) that season. His highest score was 104 against the BCL at Blenheim ‘A’ in the fourth series.

He took 51 wickets (only one of two bowlers with over 50 scalps) at 14.82 runs each from 276.5 overs including 55 maidens with a best of six for 37 against Combined Schools at Lodge ‘A’, Society in the ninth series.

The following season, Linton also had the honour of scoring a century (106 not out) against Empire in the derby at Bank Hall in the eleventh round. In his four matches, he scored 161 runs (ave: 32.20) and took 31 wickets at the miserly average of 9.70.

Perhaps by sheer co-incidence, he had the identical bowling average of 9.70 in 1983 when he took 37 wickets in the five matches referred to earlier but it was from that season that his batting took a nosedive and to such an extent that he only passed 100 in the season once thereafter – 103 in 1987 - before his First division

career ended ten years later.

Apart from 1981, Linton was also the Spartan captain in 1988, 1989 and 1990 (for the first three matches). Spartan, with their base in Queen’s Park, won the Division 1 and Barbados Fire Cup (now Sagicor General Super Cup) titles in 1990.

Between 1980 and 1997, Linton took 606 First division wickets (including 361 between 1988 and 1994) – he missed only the 1995 season – at the outstanding average of 11.56. His best figures were nine for 65 in the first innings against St Catherine at Bayfield in 1989 in the sixth series.

His most productive season with the ball was in 1994 when he grabbed 72 wickets (ave: 10.17) from 306 overs including 78 maidens.

More has to be written about George Linton. Trust me.

To his sorrowing relatives including brothers Louis and Desmond, sisters Judy and Cecelia – all of whom were from the combination of his late father Beresford and mother Eudora Linton, who lives in New York, along with two other siblings, Peter and Margaret Maynard (as they say from his father’s side), I extend deepest sympathy.

(Keith Holder is a veteran, award-winning freelance sports journalist, who has been covering local, regional and international cricket since 1980 as a writer and commentator. He has compiled statistics on the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Division 1 (now Elite) championship for over three decades and is responsible for editing the BCA website (www.bcacricket.org).

Holder is also the host of the cricket Talk Show, Mid Wicket, on the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation 100.7 FM on Tuesday nights). (First Published On bcacricket.org)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

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Williams looking to wave American flag again

By Steve Keating (REUTERS) - Serena Williams will once again be counted on to wave the Stars and Stripes at the U.S. Open as she takes centre stage at New York’s Flushing Meadows with the next generation of American tennis hopefuls waiting in the wings.

The world number one has always made a point of how special it is to play at home and there is no bigger stage than centre court at the U.S. National Tennis Center during the year’s final grand slam.

Expectations weigh on Williams but it is a burden she has capably carried on her muscular shoulders since claiming her maiden grand slam on the New York hard courts in 1999 and 14 years later continues to do the heavy-lifting for U.S. tennis.

“I love playing in the USA,” said Williams after winning the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati on Sunday. “Just feels so good to be an American and play in America.

“I love holding up the trophy. For me, there is no better feeling.”

Williams has reached the U.S. Open winners’ circle five times, including the last two years, and is favoured to add a sixth to

her collection when the gates swing open on Monday at Flushing Meadows.

She arrives in New York proclaiming to be at the top of her game, riding the momentum from hard court titles in Stanford and Cincinnati that book-ended a semi-final appearance in Montreal where she lost to her resurgent sister Venus.

Serena Williams Adding to Williams’ confidence, the path to the September 7 women’s final has been cleared of at least one major obstacle with another limping.

The last two years Williams has needed three sets to tame Victoria Azarenka and lift the crown but the Belarusian has missed a large chunk of the current campaign with a foot injury and is a big question mark.

Another potential threat, world number three and Australian Open

Berbice call up 37 for three Senior One-day Inter-county trial matches.

THE Berbice Cricket Board will begin preparations for the county’s participation in the upcoming senior oneday inter-county cricket competition which is scheduled for next month. To this end, 37 cricketers have been called up to vie for selection by participating in three 50-Over trial matches scheduled for next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Albion Community Centre ground.

Those called up are: Anthony D’Andrade, Devon Clements, Seon Hetmyer, Jonathan Foo, Raphael Estriado, Kevin Ramdeen, Jason Sinclair, Gudakesh Motie, Brendon Bess, Romario Shepherd, Raun Johnson, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Assad Fudadin, Eugene La Fleur, Rajiv Ivan, Anthony Bramble, Krishnadat Ramoo, Devendra Bishoo, Keon Joseph, Kevon Jawahir, Shawn Pereira, Eon Hooper, Dominique Rikhi, Joemal La Fleur, Clinton Pestano, Keyron Fraser, Royston Crandon, Narsingh Deonarine, Veerasammy Permaul, Joshua Ramsammy, Arif Chan, David Latchaya, Stephen Latcha, Suresh Dhanai, Arthley Bailey, Deveshwari Prashad and Sewnarine Chattergoon.

The above-named players are required to report to the main pavilion not later than 08.30hrs on Tuesday with their coloured clothes for a 09:30hrs start.

champion Li Na, will not play in New York due to a knee injury.

“It (Cincinnati) was definitely the best performance of the (summer) hopefully not the last,” said Williams.

“My first day of practice (at Cincinnati) something just clicked.

“I don’t know, I think all the hard work was just paying off.

“This is definitely a level that could take me to the title.”

LAST OPPORTUNITY If there is one cloud hanging over Williams’ U.S. Open buildup it has been her less than stellar play in the three grand slams where she has failed to reach the quarter-finals.

A fourth round loss at the Australian Open followed by a second round exit at the French and a third round upset at Wimbledon has left the U.S. Open as Williams’ last opportunity this season to

add to her haul of 17 grand slam singles titles.

“To me, Serena’s still at her best, better than everyone else,” U.S Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez told Reuters. “Having said that, we’ve seen her falter at the majors and not be at her best.

“So I think that gives hope to everybody else, that she isn’t invincible.”

While the New York fans have provided Williams with a lift, Fernandez says history has laid heavily on her.

A victory at Flushing Meadows would move Williams level with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on the all-time list with 18 titles behind only Australian Margaret Court (24) and Steffi Graf (22).

“She’s playing for history now and she gets uptight,” said Fernandez. “She’s the first person to admit it.

“She knows the importance of this. She’s going to be 33 years old.

“The window is closing, even though she’ll play,

hopefully, a few more years.

So each major is precious.”

Williams, who will turn 33 on September 26 has dutifully held the fort in recent years, waiting for reinforcements from the next generation of American tennis to arrive.

Help may finally be on the way.

After much despair about the dire state of U.S. tennis eight American women featured in the top 50 of the world rankings going into the year’s final grand slam, but there is still unlikely to be any passing of the torch this year.

Williams’ big sister Venus is 34 yet remains the second ranked American at number 20. Sloane Stephens is the next best-placed American at 22 followed by Madison Keys at 28.

Even with Li out and Azarenka’s status uncertain there is plenty of danger lurking up and down the draw.

Maria Sharapova, the

2006 U.S. Open champion, has had a steady if unspectacular buildup to Flushing Meadows while Agnieszka Radwanska will fancy her chances at a maiden grand slam.

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki will also be eyeing her grand slam breakthrough, the Dane hitting her hard court stride with a title in Istanbul, followed by making the quarter-final in Montreal and semi-final in Cincinnati.

“It’s pretty wide open (after Williams),” said Fernandez. “You have to give next nod to Sharapova because she’s been there before, she’s won five majors, and she’s mentally so tough.

“We saw (Dominika) Cibulkova get to the final of Australia, (Eugenie) Bouchard get to the final of Wimbledon. Li Na’s not around, so that’s one less top player.

“If Serena loses, then look out. It’s wide open.”

Zimbabwe’s Utseya latest to have action reported Fourth spinner to be reported by ICC in recent months

By Sudipto Ganguly MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - Zimbabwe all-rounder Prosper Utseya has become the fourth off-spinner to be reported for an illegal bowling action by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in recent months as the governing body continued their crackdown on the issue.

The off-spinner’s action raised concerns during Zimbabwe’s seven-wicket loss in the third and final one-day international against South Africa in Bulawayo on Thursday, the ICC said in a statement yesterday.

“The match officials’ report cited concerns regarding Utseya’s arm ball and fast delivery, and concluded that the bowler’s action needed to be tested,” the governing body said.

Utseya made his international debut in 2004 and has since taken 10 wickets in four Tests and 123 wickets in 156 ODIs. The right-handed batsman also has 24 wickets in Twenty20 internationals.

The 29-year-old has to undergo testing within 21 days as per the ICC regulations but can continue bowling in the triangular one-day international series against Australia and South Africa, which starts on Monday, until the results are known.

The governing body allows a 15-degree limit for all bowlers to flex their elbows but the ICC cricket committee, at its meeting in Bangalore during the first week of June, noted that there were a number of current bowlers bending that rule.

While the ICC has not

given any new directive to match officials to be more vigilant about chucking, the renewed vigour in identifying bowlers with illegal actions has been evident.

“It is something they are expected to do as part of their job,” Geoff Allardice, ICC general manager for cricket, told Reuters recently.

“Although the concern about suspect actions expressed after the recent ICC cricket committee and chief executives meetings may have given the umpires greater confidence to report.”

Just after the June meeting, Sri Lanka’s Sachithra Senanayake and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson were reported and then later banned from bowling by the ICC after the off-spinners were found to have illegal

actions.

Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was also reported earlier this month after the team’s defeat to Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle.

It was the second time Pakistan’s leading spinner, who has taken 178 wickets in 35 Tests, has faced question marks about his bowling after being reported and later cleared for a suspect action in 2009.

Ajmal will fly to Brisbane to undergo tests on his bowling action at an ICC accredited biomechanics lab.

Top off-spinners Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka, the highest wicket-taker in Tests with 800, and India’s Harbhajan Singh have also been reported for illegal actions in the past but were later cleared by the ICC.

ECCC hosting several teams tomorrow THE Enmore Community Centre Council (ECCC) will be hosting several cricket teams in a fund-raising event tomorrow at the Enmore Community Centre

ground, commencing at 10:00hrs.

THE ECCC team will take on teams from Floodlights 11, Mike’s Wellman and Sundeen Masters at softball, while ECCC will

oppose Bush Lot Sports Club in a T20 hardball grudge match. Music, drinks and food will be available.

All funds go towards the improvement of the club’s facilities.

Tr o p h i e s f o r t h i s event are sponsored by Rajin Auto Paint and ECCC. There is no entrance fee to the venue.

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

West Indians urged to apply for Windies head coach PARAMARIBO, Suriname (CMC) - West Indians are being encouraged to apply for the vacant position of head coach of the West Indies Cricket team, Chief Executive Officer of the West Indies Cricket Board Michael Muirhead has announced.

However, Muirhead revealed that the WICB has begun a global search to find a replacement for Ottis Gibson who ended his tenure as head coach of the regional side this week before the contract expired in 2016.

Media reports in Trinidad and Tobago are suggesting that Gibson’s replacement is likely to be the former South Africa and Australia coach Mickey Arthur, who recently finished his duties with the Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League.

“We would talk to everybody. We are going on a

WICB chief executive officer Michael Muirhead we have to evaluate them worldwide hunt. We would and put out our criteria. like to put it out there,” said We would encourage West Muirhead in an exclusive Indians. I can’t put a time interview with the Caribbean table until we see what the Media Corporation (CMC). pool of coaches is.”

“We always would enA WICB statement earlicourage West Indians but er this week said Gibson and

WICB ‘mutually agreed’ to terminate their association with immediate effect.

Te a m M a n a g e r, S i r Richie Richardson, has been asked to take charge of the team on an interim basis for the series against Bangladesh which started in Grenada on Wednesday with victory for West Indies.

“We are quite capable of functioning so as to carry the team through the Bangladesh series,” said Muirhead, speaking to CMC in Suriname while attending the 46th meeting of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU).

“Ritchie has the experience to keep players together. He is someone to maintain the cohesiveness.”

Gibson and WICB Cricket operations director Richard Pybus did not see eye to eye during a meeting which discussed a string of poor performances from the regional side, the Trinidad guardian reported.

WICB directors, who held a teleconference last weekend and were informed of the views of both Pybus and Gibson, decided to terminate Gibson’s services, the Guardian also reported.

“At some point we needed to reevaluate our position.

We did and he did. This was the point where we reevaluated,” Muirhead told CMC. “It was not a situation where we woke up and said time to go. It is a process. It

evolved. It was not a single event that precipitated this.

We have a director Mr Pybus, I am accountable to a board.”

West Indies have shown improvements under Gibson by winning the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka but the poor performances that have followed including losing the recent series in the Caribbean to New Zealand have triggered calls in many quarters for him to be sacked.

“From our side having offered his resignation we accepted,” said the CEO. “It is no secret the team has not performed. He did take us to the T20. But we have a goal to be the number one side in the world.”

Atletico’s Mandzukic strikes early to India beat Middlesex clinch Super Cup

by 95 runs at Lord’s

INDIA eased to a 95-run victory over Middlesex at Lord’s ahead of the oneday series against England next week.

Captain for the day Virat Kohli scored his first half-century of the summer with 71 as the tourists made 230 all out after 44.2 overs.

Kohli shared a fourth-wicket stand of 104 with Ambati Rayudu (72)

CRICKETQUIZ CORNER

(Saturday August 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) Ravi Rampaul 18; KrishmarSantokie 17; Rusty Theron 14; Kevin Cooper 12 (2) Mohammed Hafeez-35 (vs Hawksbills, Grenada, July 11) Today’s Quiz: (1)How many players won the Man of the Match Award twice in LCPL 2014?

(2) Who are the LCPL 2014 centurions?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Virat Kohli scored 71 - his first halfcentury of the summer.

despite off-spinner Ollie Rayner taking 4-32.

Middlesex had their hopes of victory dashed as they collapsed to 135 all out from 40 overs as Karn Sharma took 3-14.

It was a morale-boosting win for India still smarting from a 3-1 Test defeat to England.

But their only warm-up one-day match before the One Day International series against England starts on Monday will not count as a List A win because India were given permission to use their whole squad in the field.

The first of five ODIs takes place at Bristol on August 25. (BBC Sport)

(REUTERS) - Atletico Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic’s early goal secured a 1-0 win over Real Madrid and a 2-1 aggregate success to clinch the Spanish Super Cup and gain some revenge for last season’s Champions League final defeat.

Croatia striker Mandzukic, who joined Atletico in the close season from Bayern Munich, fired into the corner of the net from the edge of the area after two minutes and Atletico then played the best football, although there

were chances at both ends.

It was a fiery game at the Calderon in which Atletico coach Diego Simeone was sent off in the first half for protesting and Real’s Luka Modric was dismissed in added time for a second yellow card.

Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo started on the bench after suffering a hamstring strain this week and failed to make much impact when he came on at the start of the second half.

The defeat ended Real’s hopes of winning all six

trophies this season at the second hurdle after they lifted the European Super Cup last week by beating Sevilla.

It was an indication that Atletico have lost none of their desire ahead of the La Liga kick off this weekend.

Despite fielding several new players, Atletico have started as they finished off last term with the same tenacity that saw them win La Liga and reach the European Cup final where Real got the better of them with a 4-1 win after extra time.

Atletico Madrid’s Mario Mandzukic celebrates with the trophy after they won the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid. (Credit: Reuters/Juan Medina)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday August 23, 2014

39

Over 100 swimmers complete MCYS/NSC Swimming Programme

By Tamica Garnett SOME 140 young swimmers completed the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport/ National Sports Commission’s annual August Vacation Swimming Programme which concluded yesterday at the Colgrain Swimming Pool, Camp Street.

At a well-attended closing ceremony, at the venue, the swimmers were awarded MCYS certificates confirming their participation at the programme; which began July 14 and was held in collaboration with the national federation, the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA).

Yesterday’s closing ceremony was chaired by NSC Administrative Officer, Gervy Harry, and remarks were made by Director of Sport Neil Kumar, GASA president, Ivan Persaud, as well as MCYS Permanent

Some swimmers show off their swimming skills at the closing ceremony of the MCYS/NSC August Vacation Swimming Programme. (Sonell Nelson photo) Addressing the auSecretary Alfred King, who Frank Anthony, who was dience of excited swimstood in for Minister Dr unavoidably absent. mers, parents and coach-

es, King noted that the swimming programme, which has been the starting point for many national swimmers over the years, was only the beginning for the swimmers.

“This is part of a wider strategy. We are already seeing talent; we are already seeing young people from this programme graduating not only to the National Aquatic Centre, but moving straight on to wearing the national colours where your parents can be proud.” King said Kumar, in his remarks mirrored those of King, while also extending congratulatory words to not only the participants but also the coaches and parents as well. Kumar emphasised to the parents that should they want to continue their child’s development in the sport, the Ministry will do whatever

they can to assist in making that possible.

“I want to congratulate all of the participants. I want to say to the parents if you want to get your children trained and continue swimming here then you can work out (something) with us. We are prepared to find some time during the week so that your children can continue training, so that before the year is out they can graduate to go and swim at the Aquatic Centre. This challenge is for you parents. Remember the kids depend on what you the parents do. Take the opportunity, make full use of it.” Kumar said.

The programme was held daily at the pool and catered to the desires of youngsters between the ages of 6 and 16 years old, teaching them the fundamentals they needed to learn how to swim.

Banks DIH still on board Guyana Cup horse race meet BEVERAGE giant Banks DIH Limited yesterday continued its sponsorship for the Annual Guyana Cup Horse Race meet which will be held at the Port Mourant Turf Club, Corentyne, Berbice, tomorrow.

Yesterday, the beverage company handed over a cheque for an undisclosed sum to the assistant coordinator of the Guyana Cup, Irshad Mohamed, at the company’s Thirst Park headquarters.

Prior to the handing-over

ceremony, Banks DIH Communications manager Troy Peters said his company is always happy to be of assistance to horse racer meets and being associated with the Guyana Cup is no exception.

Peters said this eighth annual Guyana Cup has become a feature and Banks DIH has been supporting it for a number of years.

He used the opportunity to encourage horse racing fans to come out in their numbers tomorrow and witness one of the richest race meets in the country.

Bears, Hampshire, Lancashire and Surrey seek T20 Blast trophy BIRMINGHAM Bears will have home advantage when T20 Blast Finals Day takes place at Edgbaston today.

The Bears, who opted not to use Warwickshire as their name for this season’s competition, have not reached the final since 2003.

On that occasion they lost to Surrey, who will again be their opponents in the first semi-final and with former England batsman Kevin Pietersen in their ranks.

Hampshire, winners in 2010 and 2012, take on Lancashire, who have yet to win the trophy, in the second semi-final before the final at 18:45 BST. The Red Rose county provided the main talking point of this year’s competition, with the return of Andrew Flintoff after four years out of the game.

And the former England all-rounder, who only played twice before suffering a calf strain, has been named in the Lancashire squad. (BBC Sport)

In this Cullen Bess-Nelson photo, Guyana Cup assistant organiser Irshad Mohamed (centre) accepts the sponsorship cheque from Banks DIH Outdoor Manager Mortimer Stewart, while the beverage giant’s Communication Manager Troy Peters (left) looks on approvingly.

Mohamed, in accepting the sponsorship cheque, thanked the long-time sponsor stating that the Guyana Cup’s organising committee truly welcomes Banks DIH’s continued sponsorship of the event.

Meanwhile, all the top horses have been entered for the feature event which is for horses classified C1 and Low-

er and which has a first prize of $4M and bragging rights.

Two-time defending champion Elle’s Vision of the Jagdeo stable heads the list of entrants.

The Jagdeo stable will also be represented by Perfect Wind Storm which won the D Class event a few weeks ago at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club meet.

The Simply Royal stable will also be represented by two horses, Run Nana Run and Church House. Both of these animals have been galloping with Guyana’s only A class horse Score’s Even and seem to be in good nick.

Fresh from a hard win one week ago, Treacke is also among the starters for the feature event.

The Jumbo Jet’s entries for the event are Grand Roja and Jack is my Style.

CP Got Even has also been entered and is listed as one of the favourites for the race.

The Sheriff stable has entered Swing Easy and Red and Lovely, two animals that are known to create upsets.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Over 100 swimmers complete MCYS/NSC Swimming Programme (See Story on page 39)

Bangladesh crash to 70 all out as Windies take ODI series ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) –Mystery spinner Sunil Narine triggered an avalanche of batsmen as Bangladesh crashed to a 177-run defeat allowing West Indies to take an unassailable two-nil lead in their three-match One-Day International (ODI) series at the National Stadium here yesterday.

Narine struck twice in two balls to spark a procession of batsmen as Bangladesh, precariously placed on 57 for three, were shot out for a disappointing 70 in 24.4 overs, their third lowest

Man-of-the-Match Sunil Narine claims 3 for 13 in seven overs.

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total in ODI. West Indies, sent in

by Bangladesh, were restricted to a respectable 247 for seven on account of tight bowling mainly from new-ball bowlers, Mashrafe Mortaza and Al-Amin Hossain.

Only opener Tamim Iqbal with 37 provided any semblance of resistance to the Windies attack with no other batsmen getting into double figures in a Bangladesh innings that resembled a

See Page 34

Chris Gayle hits five sixes in his brisk 58.

(WICB Media/Randy Brooks photos) SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2014