Guyana chronicle 25 06 14

GUYANA No. 103869 WEDNESDAY JUNE 25, 2014

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

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

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Guyana’s ‘blacklist’ fate still hangs in the balance Page

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––FATF ‘likely to make a decision’ today or tomorrow

COI hears ...

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McLean and Lewis instructed Smith Page

Former Commissioner of Police Laurie Lewis

to kill Rodney

FATF 4 addresses targetted financial sanctions

10 Major General (ret’d) Norman McLean

Finance Ministry puts 11 Unidentified man 2 media-fed Contingencies found dead in Fund speculation to rest Le Repentir Cemetery Page

Page

––gives detailed account on its use, purpose, management

- Police working on suicide theory

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

Unidentified man found dead in Le Repentir Cemetery - Police working on suicide theory By Leroy Smith

DOZENS gathered at Le

Repentir Cemetery yesterday afternoon as word spread that the body of an

unidentified male was lying between a clump of bushes. Up to late yesterday afternoon, the police had not been able to identity the man who is of African descent. The Guyana Chronicle was told that the police were alerted to the presSee page 8 Police investigators gathered yesterday in Le Repentir Cemetery. In the foreground is the body of the unidentified man

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

Guyana’s ‘blacklist’ fate still hangs in the balance ––FATF ‘likely to make a decision’ today or tomorrow By Vanessa Narine PRESIDENTIAL Adviser on Governance, Gail Teixeira, yesterday told the Guyana Chronicle that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)’s International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) has completed a preliminary review of Guyana’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework. She said the international watchdog is expected to make a pronouncement either today or tomorrow. “Right now we are learning as we go… FATF is likely to make a decision, based on ICRG’s first review,” she told the Chronicle by phone from Paris. Teixeira is currently in the French capital representing Guyana, following the nation’s referral to FATF by the FATF-Style Regional Body (FSRB), the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) on May 29. Guyana was also regionally blacklisted in November by CFATF, and after its May 29 recommendation, the body called on its member countries to implement counter-measures to be taken against Guyana. The range of onerous measures include: Enhancing due diligence measures in their dealings with Guyana; introducing enhanced reporting mechanisms, or systematic reporting of financial transactions; refusing to establish subsidiaries or branches or representative offices in Guyana; and taking into account the fact that financial institutions from Guyana do not have adequate AML/CFT systems, and thus limit the business relationships or financial transactions with this country. The enactment of the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill before CFATF’s meet in May, by all accounts, could have averted Guyana’s referral to CFATF, particularly since the body had noted that 90 per cent of the deficiencies identified are legislative in nature. The Bill, to meet CFATF’s requirements, was tabled

in the National Assembly in April 2013, but referred to a Parliamentary Special Select Committee and eventually voted down by the combined Opposition in November 2013. The Bill was re-tabled in December 2013, and again referred to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee, chaired by Ms. Teixeira, where it has been since. Government has repeated its willingness to have the Bill passed, and has demonstrated its commitment to same, but has been locked in political gridlock with the combined Parliamentary Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance for Change (AFC). Both Parties have linked conditionalities to their support for passage of the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill. APNU proposed three amendments, which were included in Presidential Adviser the Party’s draft amendon Governance, ments to the Principal Gail Teixeira AML/CFT Act, which President Donald Ramotar said would be supported by his Government if the Party would agree to pass the AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill. This was rejected. APNU’s position is an ‘all-or-nothing’ one, as the Party maintains its demands not only for their Bill, but

also restated its call on the President to give his assent to several Bills passed in the National Assembly, including the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2013, which states that elections must be held on or before August 1, 2014. The Head of State has already forwarded his explanation for his-non assent to the National Assembly. On the other hand, the AFC, which is fully behind APNU’s position, is demanding the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), which the Government has agreed to, providing that Cabinet retains its no-objection role in the process; but the latter position has been rejected by the AFC. However, on May 29, after the announcement by CFATF, the AFC, in a statement, noted that it is now willing to budge on its position, and support Cabinet’s retention of its no-objection role. Additionally, FATF’s new Methodology for assessing technical compliance with the FATF Recommendations and the Effectiveness of AML/CFT systems sets out how the FATF will determine whether a country is sufficiently compliant with the 2012 FATF Standards, and whether its AML/CFT system is working effectively. FATF is the global standard-setter in the fight against money laundering, and the financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and over the past 20 years, the organisation has developed, used, and refined rigorous compliance mechanisms to help ensure global compliance with its Standards. FATF sets standards and promotes effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. The international body is expected to publish a summary of the outcomes at the end of it ongoing plenary meeting, which started on Monday. (Please see additional story on Page 4)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

FATF addresses targetted financial sanctions THE Financial Action Task Force (FATF), on Monday, in coordination with relevant bodies from the United Nations, organised an Experts’ Meeting on Targeted Financial Sanctions. FATF President Vladimir Nechaev chaired the meeting, during which the United Nations, Australia, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and the FATF Secretariat made presentations. Representatives from 51 countries and 16 organisations attended the meeting. The objective of the

meeting was to bring together targeted financial sanction experts at the global level, to: ● Increase collaboration, coordination and sharing of information between relevant bodies, ● Discuss possible reasons for low level of compliance with targeted financial sanctions, ● Hear success stories and challenges from countries, ● Better understand the commonalities between relevant FATF Recommendations in this area, and ● Discuss awareness raising on the importance of the next

round of mutual evaluations. If implemented effectively and with respect for applicable human rights provisions by countries and the private sector, targeted financial sanctions are an important means to deprive terrorist and proliferation financiers of their funds, thereby protecting citizens from the threats of crime, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. The following topics were discussed: ● Overall, deficiencies with the implementation of targeted financial sanction requirements during the previous round of assessments have not necessarily been addressed sufficiently. Compliance with these requirements will need to show significant improvement during the next round of assessments. ● Despite important technical differences between relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, the commonalities between the targeted financial sanctions provisions would allow countries to implement FATF

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Recommendations 6 and 7 using umbrella legislation applicable to the different sets of targeted financial sanctions. ● When assessing compliance with the targeted financial sanctions provisions of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, publicly available information from FATF/FSRBs, IMF and World Bank assessment reports should be used as source information. Also, experts indicated a need to improve global compliance with the preventive measures contained in two of FATF’s recommendations, including by: ● Increasing the resources devoted to establishing targeted financial sanctions regimes ● Strengthening political will ● Ensuring that measures to implement targeted financial sanction requirements are based on evidentiary standards of reasonable grounds/ basis, and are not reliant on a criminal standard ● Establishing domestic

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procedures to allow for the review of classified information by appropriate arbiters, and ● When designating domestically, or requesting other countries to take freezing action pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolution 1373, provide sufficient, high-quality information explaining the grounds and basis for the designation. ● Countries shared good practices on how to implement the general United Nations and FATF framework for targeted financial sanctions to ensure its compatibility with domestic due process, human rights, or other important fundamental domestic legal provisions, which is a necessary condition for an effective targeted financial sanctions system. ● When implementing targeted financial sanctions requirements, countries need to focus on the aims and objectives of the requirements to ensure a designated person/entity does not abuse the international financial system

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for illicit purposes. Participants acknowledged the need to continue cooperation to support the effective implementation of targeted financial sanctions: ● Participants agreed on the need to continue the close practical cooperation between the FATF/FSRBs and United Nations. The active guidance of the relevant UN bodies in FATF is essential to ensure a consistent implementation of targeted financial sanctions across different bodies. ● The United Nations and the FATF will continue to hold annual meetings, the next one being in New York in December 2014 with a visit of the FATF President to the relevant United Nations bodies. * Where this is feasible, the FATF and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (UNCTED) will continue considering joining in each other’s assessments. FATF’s ongoing plenary meeting ends on Friday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday June 24, 2014

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Disastrous nursing exam results cause consternation

THE professionalism of healthcare providers under colonial, and even PNC rule, was incomparable. The British always had an unparalleled standard of professionalism in its public sector and the unions had no say during Forbes Burnham’s rule; which adjured “Produce (perform) or perish,” and although the remuneration was severely minimal and the conditions atrocious, with little or no benefits; and also workers at every level were given, in local parlance ‘baskets to fetch water’; and because resources and funding were extremely scant – at critical times even non-existent - the Guyanese workforce proved their mettle and delivered to the optimum of their capabilities and capacities. Entered the Cheddi Jagan Government in 1992, with the Jagan administration reversing Desmond Hoyte’s freeze of Public Servants’ wages and giving back the trade unions their teeth; and boy, did the once toothless poodles under PNC start to bite the hand that freed and fed them. Nurses began to be led by their trade unions and driven by their Opposition political leaders more and more and more, although those were the very political leaders that had given them less and less and less. To bolster their demands, they went on constant strikes and street protests – displaying the lewdest behaviour and language in the process with violent demonstrations, and most often vented their displeasure – and they seemed to be displeased with everything Government did for them, and on their patients. They were on perennial go-slow at public health institutions, many times exacerbating situations and conditions that caused unnecessary deaths, because their productive hours were spent working at private institutions while using public health institutions for rest between jobs and partying. And all the while they kept increasing their demands

for more and more and more from the Government, which they – including their union leaders - would have risked at peril of their lives under the PNC regime. Their constant ‘mores’ comes from taxpayers money, but one only has to ask public opinion of healthcare meted out to them in public institutions, to get a measure of the level of care, with some exceptions, that health workers deliver to the public - especially to those hospitalised; with untrained relatives having to perform duties of ablutions and bed-making, among others, even to fragile patients who need specialised handling. And in an atmosphere where depression is endemic due to poor health and other factors, nurses’ unpleasant demeanors, utterances and actions, can only serve to exacerbate patients’ ill-health. A recent report that almost an entire nursing class failed their exams came as no surprise, because the ‘Florence Nightingale’ syndrome, where the commitment to serve is paramount to self, is non-existent. Studies take second place to parties and having a good time ‘hanging out’ with friends; or jiving to the beat at the many concerts proliferating the local landscape of recent times, as Government-driven fiscal and social initiatives incrementally free up wages and salaries, and enhance the range of disposable income. It was reported that: “a nurse fell ill and was hospitalsed after she got a failing grade in the latest nurses’ examination. Reports (also) stated that the nurse was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the New Amsterdam Hospital. Another was speechless and a few others were contemplating suicide after they received the dreadful news that they were not successful at their latest nursing examinations.” While the Ministry of Health continues to invest in improvement in the Health Sector in Guyana, including the human capital, there is scant reciprocity from its human resources – certainly not in equal measure, nor in anything remotely close to equal measure.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

GUYANA

EDITORIAL According to one news source, “It is understood that the situation is dire at the New Amsterdam School of Nursing, with a large percentage of failure. Most affected was the Professional Nursing Programme where a mere fraction was successful. It is understood that the nurses in training should be exposed to at least four sessions of practical on a particular subject before they are required to practise themselves, but this has not been done. Another concern is the massive intake of nursing students, no tutors, and limited class room spaces. Another concern is the arrangement in place with classes being held at different locations. Many of the students’ concerns were raised with the relevant officials, including the Minister of Health himself, but on many occasions the student nurses were threatened with disciplinary action. Persons applying for the nursing programme should have a Science background, but there have been a number of cases where persons were accepted with little or no qualifications at all. Most of the nurses are now contemplating their next move since a number of them have only one more chance to pass the examination and become eligible to become professional nurses. A senior nursing official said that the situation does not augur well for the nursing programme in general and for the Ministry of Health as a whole. After so many years of prior sessions have been funded by taxpayers’ dollars and the nurses cannot pass, something must be terribly wrong, she added. Certainly something is wrong – with the sector in general: and what is wrong is the lack of commitment and dedication across the board; and unless everyone takes personal responsibility, instead of apportioning blame to all and sundry for their failures, and apply themselves to their studies and their profession, their prospects in sync with their performance and that of the health sector in general, will continue to remain abysmal.

GPOC hopes for a resurgence in philately ––with release of new ‘Wildlife of Guyana’ stamps

THE Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) has released new and picturesque stamps capturing Guyana’s diverse fauna. Available in $80, $130, $150, $160 and $200 denominations, these stamps will be sold at GPOC’s Headquarters from June 23, 2014, and at all post offices countrywide from July 1, 2014. Non-member philatelists and members of the public who are desirous of obtaining First Day Covers of this rare issue of stamps should contact GPOC’s Philatelic Services Department at North Road, Georgetown, or call telephone number 225-9002. Philatelists who are registered with the Corporation will receive an updated programme.

Moreover, GPOC wishes to endorse the stamp collection hobby, and remind persons of the fortune that is likely to follow an avid philatelist. In 1856, British Guyana Postmaster E.T.E. Dalton needed stamps in a hurry. As such, he asked the publishers of the Official Gazette in Georgetown to print emergency issues. Consequently, one-cent and fourcent black-inked stamps were printed on magenta paper. Also printed on those stamps was the Latin motto of the colony, “Damus Petimus que Vicissim,” which translates as, “We give and we seek in return.” This emergency issue, well known as the ‘Black on Magenta’, became a treasure for the avid philatelists. In 1873, an octagon shaped one cent ‘Black

on Magenta’ was discovered by a 12-year-old Scottish schoolboy (Vernon Vaughan) among his family’s documents in Georgetown, Demerara. This lone stamp was sold for six shillings, and became a treasure for its many owners. In 1980, John E. du Pont bought the one cent ‘Black on Magenta’ for US$935,000., and added it to his private collection. There it remained until his death in 2010. Fortune is expensive. On June 17, 2014, the treasured one cent ‘Black on Magenta’ was successfully auctioned in New York for US$9.48 million as part of John E. du Pont’s estate.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

Police reviewing Dynamic Airways selectees to begin security flight attendant training Friday arrangements for large cash transport By Leroy Smith THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) is looking at several new methods of transporting, or escorting persons transporting, large sums of cash from one location to another. While the details of the new plan have not been made clear, the business community of Georgetown and its environs has been informed of this by ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken at a follow-up meeting to several other meetings he had had with them in the past. That meeting was held at the ‘A’ Division Headquarters in Georgetown on Monday. The members of the business community were reminded that it is advisable for them to inform the police in advance whenever they intend to have transactions with large sums of cash, so that protection can be provided. They were reminded that many business persons and ordinary civilians had lost millions of dollars because they had carried large sums on their persons, believing that no one was aware, but the reality proved otherwise. As recently as yesterday, the police were called

to respond to another case in which gunmen walked up to a vehicle in the city, snatched a bag of money, and made good their escape unchallenged. Persons were reminded that distance is time; and when money bags are snatched, it is very important for the police to be immediately informed, since every elapsing second allows the perpetrators to travel further away from the scene. Hicken also informed the gathering that a meeting is being convened with private security service providers to address the whole issue of better protection for the transfers of large sums, and the need for collaboration between the police, security service providers, and the business community. He called on members of the business community to improve their relationships with each other despite the competition, and to understand the need to communicate and share information which would prevent everyone from falling prey to bandit attacks. The ‘A’ Division Commander and his team were also invited to visit the premises of several business persons to inspect and make recommendations in regard to strengthening the physical infrastructure, and to review the present security arrangements and make suggestions for improvement.

DYNAMIC Airways, which is set to launch its services here tomorrow, plans hiring 50 local flight attendants. Accordingly, it hosted a job fair on June 11 at the Duke Lodge in Kingston, and some 300 persons presented themselves to be interviewed. This newspaper invited Roraima Airways, Dynamic’s ground handling agents in Guyana, to comment, and received the following explanation: “Out of the 300 persons that attended the job fair, 50 persons were selected. Currently, the company is performing background checks on the selected persons, and training in Guyana is slated to start on June 27”. Roraima Airways explained that the selected individuals would be issued their training manuals on Friday, June 27, and would commence training for the next three weeks. “Once the selected persons have passed this phase, the training will continue in New York, and that training will last for two weeks”, Roraima Airways further

explained. Dynamic Airways’ partnership with Guyana has started to see a complete

It was announced at the airline’s launch on June 7 that flights between New York and Guyana would

Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Dynamic Airways operates to provide its custom-

Some of the persons who attended the Dynamic Airways Job Fair business structure, wherein specific logos and websites would be specially designed to reflect the Guyana partnership. At the job fair, the airline unveiled the new Guyana flight attendant’s uniform, and explained that this uniform will be worn only by the Guyanese crew, as part of the structure.

begin at an introductory cost of US$499, but that persons flying from Guyana to New York would pay US$575. Persons travelling would be allowed two pieces of luggage at 55 pounds each, plus one hand luggage at 25 pounds. There will be four scheduled flights per week: On

ers with a world-class air charter experience through superior service and industry-leading safety practices. Founded in 2010, the company has continued to build its business through dedication to these principles, and from the recommendations of its satisfied customers.

Inclement weather affecting activation of rehabilitated sewer mains - rainfall also affecting pace of road repairs By Sandy Agasen GUYANA Water Incorporated (GWI) road repairs related to the Georgetown Sanitation Improvement Programme (GSIP) are being carried out at reduced pace due to heavy and prolonged showers. GWI Public Relations Officer, Mr. Timothy Austin said that the inclement weather has affected the planned activation of the newly-rehabilitated force and delivery mains under the Government of Guyana (GOG) and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) US$ 10M Georgetown Sanitation Improvement Programme (GSIP). GWI was the executing agency for the GSIP. An agreement was signed between the GOG and the IDB for the sum of US$10M for the improvement of the Georgetown Sewerage System’s operational performance. This contract was signed on December 8, 2010, based on the agreement that the GOG and the IDB will cooperate in the execution of the programme. Components of the programme included the complete replacement of the 5.5 KM Sewerage Ring Main in Georgetown; replace-

ment of all delivery mains; purchase and installation of additional pumps for 24 pumping stations to ensure adequate pressure; operational reliability and the improvement of electrical connections. It also included an assessment and emergency rehabilitation of street sewers in selected areas and the purchase of maintenance and operating equipment. According to GWI Programme Manager, Mr. Orin Browne, “the consistent rainfall and flooding has caused delays in the activation of the new sewer infrastructure.” He stated that private contractors, S. Jagmohan/Nabi Consortium, were forced to halt works related to the activation because of flooding at several work sites. He also said that the contractors have pointed out to GWI that the execution of road repairs during the current weather would affect the quality of the work tremendously. Work is to be resumed at the required rate as soon as the weather and site condition improves. GWI assured this publication that in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works, it will continue to consistently monitor all road repairs being executed by private contractors to ensure high quality.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

Gov’t, Ruling Party join in condemning imprisonment of Al Jazeera staff

BOTH the Guyana Government and the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) have joined other countries the world over in condemning the sentencing in Egypt Monday of three Al Jazeera journalists to a total of 17 years imprisonment. Two of the men, Peter Greste, Al Jazeera’s East Africa correspondent, and Mohamed Fahmy, were each sentenced to seven years in prison, while a third, Baher Mohamed, was sentenced to an additional three years for possession of ammunition. Mohamed was reportedly in possession of a spent bullet casing he had found on the ground during a protest. Among those tried in absentia were Sue Turton and Dominic Kane, who were each sentenced to 10 years in prison. According to a statement issued via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government said: “The Government of Guyana wishes to express its

Unidentified man found dead ... From page 2 ence of the body by way of information from a member of the public. When the police arrived at the scene the man was clad in a green vest and black long pants while his hat lay next to the body. There was also a bottle which contained a small amount of water, suggesting that the contents may have been consumed by the deceased. The police are working on several theories with respect to the discovery. This newspaper was reliably informed that the man had not one dollar nor a wallet on his person at the time the police arrived at the scene. His left side pocket was turned out which caused investigators to believe that he may have been robbed after he died, or he might have reached into his pocket to retrieve something before he died. Investigators are of the view that after the man was discovered by the person who informed them about his presence, that person may have searched the man’s pocket and relieved him of any valuables or cash. The other view of investigators is that the death might have been a suicide, considering that after sitting in the position in which he was discovered, the man reached into his pocket and consumed rat bait or some other poisonous object before drinking water with it. The police are awaiting a post-mortem examination which is expected to be performed on the body this morning. Yesterday the police removed the man’s pants, footwear and hat and placed them into evidence bags and undertakers subsequently removed the body to Lyken Funeral Parlour. Meanwhile, persons who converged at the scene blasted the police for not allowing residents who had gathered to view the corpse to determine if any of them could have identified him. Just two months ago ranks in the Police ‘C’ Division were seconds away from placing a dead man into a hearse and labelling him as unidentified after he was found in a trench. This was despite the presence of several persons who had gathered at the scene. However, when one resident suggested to the police that persons get a glimpse at the body to see if he was identifiable, it was discovered that several persons in the crowd recognised the man as a resident from three villages away. Often the police arrive at locations where bodies have been found and would keep persons at bay during their investigation and even afterwards, and then they would place the bodies into a hearse without seeking the assistance of persons in a crowd who may be able to identify the deceased.

deep concern over the sentencing, by an Egyptian Court, of three Al Jazeera journalists to seven years in prison. “This act by the Egyptian authorities is an affront to the principles which govern press freedom the world over. The Government of Guyana believes that freedom of the press is essential for the full and effective exercise of freedom of expression, and an indispensable instrument for the functioning of representative democracy, through which individuals exercise their right to receive, impart and seek information. In this regard, the Government of Guyana joins calls by the international community for their immediate release.” The PPP, meanwhile, said in its statement: “The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) vehemently condemns the sentencing of three Al Jazeera journalists by the Egyptian regime. The three journalists -Australian Peter Greste, Canadian-Egyptian national, Mohamed Fahmy, and Cairo Bureau Chief -- were all detained and charged since December last with helping a “terrorist group” , a clear reference to the Muslim Brotherhood which was overthrown and subsequently banned by the military junta headed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. “The PPP is convinced that the decision to jail the journalists is political in nature and not the result of any wrongdoing on the part of the journalists. “The PPP also wishes to voice its condemnation over the impending execution of the Spiritual Leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and over 180 others. The Muslim Brotherhood is led by Mohamed Mursi who is currently behind bars despite the fact that he won Egypt’s first ever democratic elections and should therefore be the le-

gitimate and democratically elected President of Egypt. “The PPP is of the view that the recently held election which installed Abdel Fattah Sisi as President is nothing but a farce intended to whitewash his image and that of the military junta and deserves the full condemnation of the free and democratic world. “These two latest actions by the military- led government (now in civilian clothing) of military strong man Sisi is consistent with a long list of human rights abuses by the military which is using its military muscle to stifle and suppress the democratic aspirations of the Egyptian people. “The PPP joins the call by the United Nations and other concerned individuals and parties for the unconditional release of the jailed journalists and the immediate release of all political prisoners. In this regard, the PPP fully endorses the position taken by the United Nations Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay that there is a risk that miscarriage of justice is becoming a norm in Egypt. “The PPP also calls on the United States and other western powers to condemn this most recent act of political barbarism against the journalists and leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. It is significant that the ruling to jail the journalists came just one day after US Secretary of State John Kerry met with the newly elected Egyptian President which must be an affront and source of much embarrassment to both the United States and Kerry who described the move as “chilling and draconian.” “The right to freedom of expression and to participate in the political life of any society is fundamental to civilization and must be condemned when such freedoms are under threat as in the case of Egypt today.”

Former President Jagdeo elected Chair of FAO Committee on Forestry FORMER President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo was on Monday elected Chairman of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation)’s 22nd Session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO) for the period 2014-2016. COFO is one of the FAO’s governing bodies, with over 130 member countries, which deliberates on global forestry issues. This 22nd Session of COFO is being convened in Rome, Italy from June 23 – 27, 2014, and among the critical issues for discussion are a Report on the State of the World’s Forest 2014; Payment for ecosystem services and forest financing; Forests and the Sustainable Development Goals and REDD+ and the UN Climate Summit 2014. In his remarks upon taking up the Chair, Dr. Jagdeo emphasised the need to advance the global forests agenda, in light of the role forests play as an important mitigation option for addressing climate change. Besides pointing to the need for an enabling policy environment at the national level, and access to and the scaling up of financing as two priority areas, he also underscored the important role COFO and the FAO play in pushing for a globally supportive environment for action on forests. While in Rome, Dr. Jagdeo also met with FAO Director-General, Mr. Jose Graziano Da Silva. Among issues discussed between the two were expanding the FAO’s work in the Caribbean, and the need for the organisation to play a more pivotal role on the issue of forests and climate change.

FAO Director-General, Mr. Jose Graziano Da Silva and Guyana’s Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo during their meeting in Rome

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

Old Kai: Chronicles of Guyana…

A dubious relationship still exists between the PNC/R and Mayor Green OLD Kai finds it strange that the PNC/R was allowed to rack up close to 100 million dollars in taxes owed to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council over a period of 15 years and it was apparently not a concern to those in charge of the management of our Capital City. Rather, when this reality was exposed, no less than Mayor Hamilton Green attacked Central Government by stating that he believed “there was a sustained campaign by the present administration to destabilise the management of the city.” Any why was the PPP/C Government accused of attempting to destabilise the management of the City? Simply because after being made aware that the cash strapped Council had debtors such as the PNC/R owing hundreds of millions of dollars, it requested that they make a concerted effort to collect outstanding sums owed as it was impossible and unfair to rely on Government subventions solely for the management of the City. A Kaieteur News article in January 2010 had quoted a statement issued by the Local Government Ministry which noted that “the records show that the City did not collect rates and taxes for the Sophia property, where the PNCR headquarters is located, for over a decade.” It also added that, “The PNCR has several other properties in the City for which no rates and taxes have been collected for more than 15 years. The partial records available to the Ministry show outstanding amounts totaling some $100 million.” The ministry had also contended that “the main Opposition party has so far shown an unwillingness to meet its obligation in spite of the amnesty being granted on interest on debts owed to the Council.” The most stunning piece of revelation followed, “Now that Mayor Green has been embraced once again by the PNCR and now sits on the Executive Committee of that party, the non-collection of rates and taxes must be seen as a conflict of interest on his part.”

The Kaieteur News article had reported on the fact that the PNC/R had finally honored their decade long obligation by paying their taxes in 2010. Just recently, citizens had learnt that Mayor Green and his wife had owed substantial sums in taxes on a property for several years and after this was revealed by Town Clerk Carol Sooba, barring the excuses proffered, the monies were eventually paid over to the Council. Now let us examine this a bit closer, the PNC with Mayor Green which is now the APNU, have always had a majority in the Georgetown City Council and now wants to convince citizens that they are capable and can do a better job than the PPP/C in managing the affairs of our Capital City. However, it is reasonable to assume that the large sum of money they neglected to pay over to the Council for the management of the City for Mayor Hamilton Green over a decade was partly responsible for the deterioration in service of the M&CC. Citizens suffered and continue to suffer because they apparently abandoned their elected responsibilities. So why should they be given another opportunity now? Barring the new name and change in colours, do they deserve to be placed in charge of the Capital City for another period? Make no mistake about it, they will certainly begin to pander to the sensitivities of citizens, hoping their traditional support base will buy into their ‘us versus them’ messages and forget how they have suffered

from clogged drains, garbage piles, unmaintained roads, mosquito infestations, etc, all because of their inept management. They will try to escape blame by putting up new faces but it is the same ole mentality and we must ask, why after the admission from PNC/R General Secretary Oscar Clarke since 2003 that Mayor Green was ‘inefficient’ did they maintain with him at the helm of the Council, rather than have internal elections for a new mayor and even more so, brought him back again into their party and placed him in the Executive Committee? Let us reflect once again on the Stabroek News article of March 2003, which quoted no less than PNC/R General Secretary Oscar Clarke as accusing Mayor Green of hindering the effective management of the M&CC. “The decisions made,” he said, “are never kept because the top managers, including the Mayor himself, tend to make on the spur of the moment decisions and changes which tend to have implications because they were never taken into account in the first place.” Let us also recall his description of Mayor Green leadership abilities, “I don’t think Green’s leadership on the council has been exemplary…if you are the leader and you have such a terrible relationship with the top administrators how could you get their support? It can’t be that all of them are bad. Something got to be wrong with you.” Yet, the PNC/R despite this damning admission on the leadership ability of Mayor Green and their very own refusal to pay over taxes which are in turn used to manage the responsibilities of the Council, would have us the Citizens of Georgetown believe that they are in no way responsible for the state of our Capital City. Tomorrow, we will show how the current attacks against Town Clerk Carol Sooba are no different from what has occurred to several females, including a very famous lady, once the Deputy Mayor back in 1996.

GFS commended for sterling performance over past few days By Michel Outridge THE Guyana Fire Service (GFS) came in for praise when firemen, responding to a call, saved a dwelling house at Lot 213 ‘B’ Camp Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown from being consumed by flames on Monday afternoon. The fire could have done only minimal damage before it was extinguished. Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle told this publication that the Service received the call at approximately 15:00hr, and its prompt response enabled timely dousing of the blaze, which started when an electrical fan malfunctioned whilst the lone home occupant, Loaknauth Singh, had reportedly fallen asleep as he was watching television in the upper flat of the building. Gentle said the neighbours observed smoke billowing from the edifice and summoned the GFS; and fire fighters gained entry to the burning building by breaking a wall. He said that only the flat screen television, flooring and inner walls of the building were damaged by the fire, which had been electrical in origin, FURNITURE FACTORY FIRE Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a small furniture busi-

ness at Lusignan West, East Coast Demerara was destroyed by fire on Monday night. Businessman Hemchandra Ragubir of Lot 323 Lusignan West told the GFS that he ceased operation and locked up the business on Saturday last, but was later alerted to a fire of unknown origin which quickly devoured the building. Gentle said the two-storey building housed the furniture operation in the lower flat, and no one was at home at the time of the fire. MINIBUS DRIVER RESCUED In yet another incident, the Fire Chief said the GFS participated in a rescue operation on Monday when a route 42 minibus crashed into a utility pole at the junction of Princes and High Streets, Georgetown. He said the GFS ranks were able to extricate the bus driver from the vehicle after about 20 minutes of using specialised cutting equipment. Bus driver Orwin Segon had reportedly swerved from a pick-up vehicle and slammed head-on into the utility pole on Monday at about 14:00 hours. He was promptly rushed to the GPHC for medical attention.

Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

RODNEY’S DEATH: AN ENIGMA BEING ANSWERED Special Report on the Rodney Commission of Inquiry by Shaun Michael Samaroo

McLean and Lewis instructed Smith to kill Rodney – Says Gates DEEPER, darker details of why Guyana’s development nosedived under the Government of the People’s National Congress (PNC) emerged yesterday at the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry. The Inquiry heard of sinister plans of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) to execute a coup against the dictatorship Government of the PNC, and the draconian response of the authoritarian State to assassinate the leaders of the WPA. Deep, dark undercurrents of political intrigue, deception and lies, betrayals and double agent espionage unfolded as controversial witness, Robert Allan Gates, wrapped up four days of testimony before the Commission. Even as the country struggles today to overcome those decades of political strangulation of its development, Gates told the Commission how Guyana was caught in a vicious political drama back then, when leaders of the Opposition party, the WPA, mobilised arms and ammunition, and planned to topple the dictatorship PNC Government through an armed political coup, and arrest Head of State Forbes Burnham. Gates told the Commission that co-leader of the WPA, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, spoke to him of the WPA’s plan to seize Army headquarters at Camp Ayangana in Georgetown, commandeer all communication centres in the country, and arrest then Prime Minister Burnham. The WPA,with Dr. Walter Rodney, Eusi Kwayana and Roopnarine as leaders, planned to topple the PNC Government, which had rigged national elections since 1964, through the political coup, for which the WPA was accumulating arms and ammunition, Gates said. In earlier testimony, Kwayana denied personal knowledge of plans for violence within the WPA. The Commission is probing why Dr Walter Rodney was assassinated in Georgetown on June 13, 1980, which event ranks as the worst political assassination in the history of the English-speaking

Caribbean. The world-famous scholar died when a bomb exploded in his lap as he sat in his car. Under hostile cross-examination from Counsel for the PNC, Basil Williams, Gates detailed how the WPA and Roopnarine were training and planning to topple the PNC dictatorship. Gates told Williams that he trained Roopnarine to use a sub-machine gun, firing live rounds at training sessions on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean in Corentyne, Berbice. Gates said he and Roopnarine travelled to the house of Arnold Rampersaud in Berbice when those training sessions happened. He also accompanied Roopnarine to “several” places in Georgetown to collect ammunition, Gates said, noting that the source of arms and ammunition was the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). Gates said the dictatorship PNC Government was wary and scared of the WPA and Dr Rodney, because of Rodney’s immense national popularity, and because the WPA had infiltrated and recruited sympathisers and members among top Army and Police ranks. The sympathising soldiers supplied the WPA with guns and ammunition, Gates said. Under cross-examination from Williams, Gates said the State “had a right” to defend itself, after the burning of a key PNC building and the Ministry of National Development. WPA leaders, including Rodney and Roopnarine, were charged with arson for those acts, but the case was dismissed for lack of evidence, Gates said.

In response to the grave WPA threat, Gates said the State of the PNC dictatorship conspired with the top brass of the Guyana Police Force, through Cecil ‘Skip’ Roberts and Laurie Lewis, and the Army through Major General (ret’d) Norman McLean, to assassinate the WPA leaders. “Dr Rodney was the prime target,” Gates said. The target list also included Roopnarine. Gates detailed how McLean and Roberts spearheaded an Intelligence team that recruited himself and his “countryman”, Gregory Smith, a notorious Army officer, to assassinate Dr Rodney and Dr Roopnarine. Smith and Gates grew up together in the idyllic Sand Hills community along the Berbice River, and agreed to exchange intelligence, once they recognised that they were working on the WPA project as undercover double agents for the PNC dictatorship Government. Gates told the Commission how he himself worked as Police intelligence, and infiltrated the WPA as bodyguard and spy for Dr Roopnarine. He spied on Roopnarine, supplying information to his handler at Police headquarters and Laurie Lewis, who was head of a Joint Forces Intelligence secret unit that gathered information for the PNC dictatorship. The Intelligence Unit gathered information on perceived enemies of the State. On the other hand, Smith worked as double agent for the Army, tasked with shadowing Dr Rodney, and also as undercover double agent for Rodney, trading information

back and forth between the Army, reporting to McLean, and Rodney. Gates said, “Smith told me that McLean instructed him to kill Rodney.” He said the KGB agent supplied him and Smith with electronic communication devices packed with explosives. Upon the devices exploding, the targets would be instantly killed. Both he and Smith were promised they would be paid $1 million, and be assured safe passage for themselves and family out of the country. Gates said he refused to execute orders from his Police handler to assassinate Roopnarine, and instead escaped to his home village, Sand Hills. However, Smith carried out his mission, resulting in the brutal death of Dr Rodney. The Commission, comprising Barbadian Sir Richard Cheltenham as Chairman, and Trinidadian Seenath Jairam and Jamaican Jacqueline Samuel-Brown, yesterday engaged in verbal exchanges with Counsel Williams, who, in his cross-examination of Gates, sought to show that Gates lacks credibility. Williams suggested to Gates that “someone” had cajoled and enticed him to testify at the Commission, and put to him that his testimony amounted to lies and untruths. But Gates stood his ground and denied Williams’ suggestion. At one point, Commissioner Samuel-Brown had to interject over Williams’ harsh tone to state that the Commission is professional and credible, and would not entertain the cajoling or enticing of

‘In its effort to stop the WPA from executing its own dark political coup to rid Guyana of the PNC dictatorship, the State used the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Defence Force, Gates, Smith and even a mystery foreign espionage agent from the Russian KGB secret service, to plan and assassinate Dr Rodney. Guyana’s development suffered grave damage as this political drama played out, and Guyanese suffer from the impact to this day, with Gates noting that he is in poverty and destitution, even after operating two businesses and playing a key top role in security and law enforcement in this country’

The late Head of State, Forbes Burnham

witnesses. He made it clear that the Commission’s integrity should not be in question. Williams said to Gates that he was set up to testify at the Commission to “finger” current Opposition leaders in a political plot to discredit those leaders. Williams was referring to the fact that many of the names that come up before the Commission are members of the Opposition in Parliament, including Opposition Leader David Granger and Members of Parliament Winston Felix, a former Police Commissioner, and Dr Roopnarine. Williams himself heard his name mentioned in Gates’ testimony, and he referred to this yesterday, suggesting to Gates that he just wanted to discredit these members of the Parliamentary Opposition. Gates denied this. The PNC has distanced itself from the work of the Commission, alleging that it’s a political ploy to discredit PNC Opposition leaders. But President Donald Ramotar convened the Commission as a Presidential Commission to probe into the cause of Dr Rodney’s death. The Commission results from a process that took 34 years to come to fruition. Dr Rodney’s widow, Patricia, and his three children, have welcomed the Commission’s probe. Aca-

demics and scholars around the world also welcomed the convening of the Commission. Williams acts as Counsel for the PNC, and serves as Opposition Member of Parliament alongside WPA co-leader, Dr Roopnarine, and former Army Chief, Brigadier David Granger. Gates named these personalities in his testimony at the Commission, painting a picture of Guyana during the period under probe, 1978 – 1980, as a place of dictatorial disregard for due process and law and order, including the State. Williams noted that the Guyana Police Force had to set up the Special Branch to handle an escalation in crime then, “including kick-downthe-door bandits” who ravaged the homes of Guyanese citizens. Gates had said that the Special Branch operated an Execution Branch that assassinated “25 to 30 citizens”. Commissioner Jairam, who asked Gates if “Guyana had no law and order in those days,” noted that Gates’ details of the period in his testimony showed a disregard for judicial process. But Gates said the dictatorship PNC Government deeply feared the WPA and Dr Rodney, and so Police and Army intelTurn to page 11

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

Finance Ministry puts media-fed Contingencies Fund speculation to rest

– gives detailed account on its use, purpose, management THE Ministry of Finance has registered its concern over inaccuracies in media reports about the purpose and use of the Contingencies Fund, and in an effort to set the record straight, has issued a statement to that effect. The following is the full text of that statement: “The Ministry of Finance notes with concern the misinformation circulating in the media regarding the purpose and use of the Con-

tingencies Fund which is a sub-fund of the Consolidated Fund. “The Ministry wishes to set the record straight by providing the necessary information related to the use and purpose of the Contingencies Fund. “The Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA) of 2003, outlines the legally binding requirements governing the use of the Contingencies Fund. Part VI, Section 41, subsections (1) through (7), of

the FMAA 2003 addresses the issue with explicit clarity. “The following excerpts explain the control and management of the Contingencies Fund and under which circumstances the Fund can be used: (2) The Minister shall have sole authority for the release of moneys from the Contingencies Fund, which authority shall not be delegated. (3) The Minister, when satisfied that an urgent, un-

avoidable and unforeseen need for expenditure has arisen: (a) for which no moneys have been appropriated or for which the sum appropriated is insufficient; (b) for which moneys cannot be reallocated as provided for under this Act; or (c) which cannot be deferred without injury to the public interest, may approve a Contingencies Fund advance as an expenditure out of the Consolidated Fund by the issuance of a drawing right.

Further, (5) The Minister shall report at the next sitting of the National Assembly on all advances made out of the Contingencies Fund…. which report shall specify (a) the amounts advanced (b) to whom the amounts were paid; and (c) the purpose of the advances. It is clear that the Minister of Finance is required to report to the Parliament on what has been spent from the Contingencies Fund. To date, the current, 10th Parliament of the National

McLean and Lewis instructed Smith...

Dr. Walter Rodney

ligence revealed the WPA leaders had to be assassinated. “It was kill or be killed,” Gates said. Currently serving a fouryear jail term at the Camp Street jail for financial crimes which he has appealed at the High Court, Gates denied that he “cut a deal” with the Commission to testify, noting that he goes straight to his jail cell after his testimony, and denying Williams’ suggestion that he was released from jail surreptitiously because he came forward as a witness. The Commission has so far heard of the dark era of

Assembly has considered six Financial Papers related to the use of the Contingencies Fund collectively valued at approximately $9.358B. The Assembly, comprised of the Opposition, has approved 92.6% of those Financial Papers valued at approximately $8.7B clearly demonstrating agreement with the use of the Contingencies Fund in most cases. “A seventh Financial Paper, No 1/2014 was tabled in the National Assembly last Thursday and will be considered by the House at the following sitting.”

From page 10

Major General (ret’d) Norman McLean

Guyana’s history, comprising rigged elections, political harassment and assassinations, banned food and clandestine PNC Government liaison with a notorious religious cult. Gates’ testimony painted a vivid, clear picture of why the Guyana national economy, along with the democratic organs and State institutions collapsed under the weight of the PNC’s autocratic Government. In its effort to stop the WPA from executing its own dark political coup to rid Guyana of the PNC dicta-

torship, the State used the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Defence Force, Gates, Smith and even a mystery foreign espionage agent from the Russian KGB secret service to plan and assassinate Dr Rodney. Guyana’s development suffered grave damage as this political drama played out, and Guyanese suffer from the impact to this day, with Gates noting that he is in poverty and destitution, even after operating two businesses and playing a key top role in security and law enforcement in this country.

‘Even as the country struggles today to overcome those decades of political strangulation of its development, Gates told the Commission how Guyana was caught in a vicious political drama then, when leaders of the Opposition party, the WPA, mobilised arms and ammunition and planned to topple the dictatorship PNC Government through the armed political coup, and arrest Head of State Forbes Burnham’ Gates told Williams during cross-examination that he now lives “as a Christian” and wants to cleanse his soul and be free. “The truth shall set you free,” he said.

Through the Commission’s probe of why this country suffered so much that its citizens, including brilliant scholar and historian Dr Rodney, were

assassinated by the dictatorship PNC State, Guyana hopes its own soul would be cleansed, and the truth of its sordid history would set it free to build its future.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

Health Ministry to collaborate with stakeholders on solid waste dilemma By Shivanie Sugrim HEALTH Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran says that the Ministry of Health will be collaborating with stakeholders and other Ministries in Guyana to combat the dilemma of solid waste management since it requires more than one agency’s involvement. “This is a multi-stakeholder activity and not one agency can do it alone,” Dr. Ramsaran said at a panel discussion hosted at the Sophia Exhibition Centre last Saturday. Several parties were there to discuss how to disburse the $1B budgeted to deal with solid waste disposal. Meanwhile, he said that this is more of an environmental issue than a health issue which would encourage the spread of the chikungunya virus in Guyana. He further stated that “we have degraded our environment” by not disposing of solid waste in the appropriate manner. Citing landlords in particular, Dr. Ramsaran referred to persons who have not caring for their environment, hence the reason for a lot of bush which would definitely attract mosquitoes. Therefore, he urged the parties at the discussion to give up a portion of their personal carbon footprint since it will promote a positive impact on society. Also, he stated that the public should demand the foods that they buy to be always packaged in environmentally-friendly containers since Styrofoam boxes are soon to be banned in Guyana. Meanwhile, in his remarks he pointed out that in an “unfortunate article in a certain newspaper” it was stated that the Ministry needs to “opt/intensify” the chikungunya activities. However, the Minister lamented that this has been active since last December and certain things should not be “politicalized”. In concluding, he urged all parties in the discussion to contemplate how they can be good ambassadors for solid waste management.

Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran delivering his address at the panel discussion on solid waste management last Saturday at the Amerindian Village at the Sophia Exhibition Centre

Driver in Patentia pedestrian fatality placed on $100,000 bail By Michel Outridge FOLLOWING the fatal accident which claimed the life of pedestrian, Jude Joseph on Patentia Public Road, West Bank Demerara, on Sunday morning, Commander of ‘D’ Division Ian Amsterdam said that the driver of the accident vehicle has been placed on $100,000 bail, pending a probe and a post-mortem examination. The Senior Superintendent told this publication yesterday that the post-mortem examination is expected to take place today. Jude Joseph, 28, of Public Road Patentia, West Bank Demerara, was struck down and killed by car, that was said to be speeding, a short distance from his home Sunday morning as he was on his way to purchase eggs and bread for his family.

The man’s wife, Natasha Vandeyar told this publication that she was at home when her husband left walking to make a purchase of eggs and bread for their breakfast and within a few minutes she heard a loud impact and looked through the window and saw a man being tossed in the air. At that time, she said she did not know it was her husband but subsequently saw the bloodied and lifeless body of the father of two lying on the roadway. The grieving woman added that from eyewitnesses report she learnt that Joseph, a miner, was walking at the side of the road when, a speeding and out of control, blue Toyota Spacio struck him from the rear, pitching him in the air and when he landed he was bleeding through the ears, mouth and nose. He was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

Guyana Forensic Science Lab at Turkeyen to be operational in first week of July By Michel Outridge

HOME Affairs Minister Clement Rohee last Friday told reporters that the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) is expected to be opened in the first week of July this year. He told the media after the GFSL logo design competition presentation ceremony that completion of the GFSL logo design is an indication that things are a step closer to commissioning of the GFSL. He added that things are in the final stages of completion, but there is a slight delay as the authorities await the arrival of experts from Trinidad and Tobago to install specialised equipment. Those experts were to arrive in Guyana on Monday last. He said the GFSL is expected to be fully equipped and functional before its opening in the first week of July, and that staff have already been selected and are just waiting to assume duty whenever the GFSL commences operating. Minister Rohee said many entries had been received in the GFSL Logo Design Competition but the one submitted by Keith Bernard was approved since its design was adjudged most appropriate and fitting by a panel of judges. Rohee congratulated Keith Bernard for the effort,

and presented him with the first prize. With regard to DNA testing at the facility, Minister Rohee said, “we have been asked by the Office of the President to work towards building capacity

what it has started out to do, and on completion of this project, and with the staff in place, will move to the next stage of looking at ways and means of incorporating DNA testing in the functioning of the lab.

Keith Bernard is a graphic artist who owns a company called Pixel Plus Creations. The logo design competition was advertised in the local media for three weeks, after which entries were

Guyana. Director of the GFSL, Delon France, expressed gratitude to the winner of the competition, and to Minister Rohee and others who supported the initiative. He noted that

In April 2011, Government signed a contract valued at $450M with Courtney Benn Contracting Services for construction of the lab. The project was funded by the Inter-American De-

the opening of the GFSL will certainly boost the crime-solving capacity of the security sector, and he also talked of forensic science and its importance in any society.

velopment Bank (IDB), in partnership with the Guyana Government, and is expected to greatly enhance the investigative capabilities of the Guyana Police Force.

The Forensic Lab at Turkeyen in the lab to facilitate DNA testing, so we have been given that directive. What we have decided is to complete what we have set out to do in accordance with the plan for the completion of the lab, because we do not want to delay further the commissioning of the laboratory.� He said the Home Affairs Ministry will achieve

Responding, Keith Bernard said the concept of his submission is very simple, and that he conceptualised the idea after doing much research. He said the logo design comprises a magnifying glass a DNA strain, and a fingerprint, which he deemed most fitting, since its all about forensic science.

received by MOHA, and the winner was selected by a panel of judges from the private sector, Guyana National Bureau of Standards, Environmental Protection Agency and University of

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

Commander Hicken engages Agricola schoolchildren, teachers in conversation

At Monday’s meeting at St. Anne’s Primary in Agricola. Seated, from left, are: Commander Hicken; Traffic Chief Brutus; DSP DeHearte; DSP Pareshrsam;HM Isaacs; and the school’s DHM

Commander Hicken has the undivided attention of some St. Anne’s Primary pupils during his visit Monday (Photos by Asif Hakim) By Asif Hakim ‘A’ DIVISION Commander, Senior Superintendent Clifton Hicken on Monday met with pupils and staff of the St. Anne’s Primary School in Agricola to discuss several important issues. He was accompanied by Traffic Chief, Superintendent Calvin Brutus, Impact Base Head, Deputy Superintendent Wayne DeHearte and OC of Ruimveldt Police Station, Deputy Superintendent Khali Pareshrsam. The meeting was one of several that the Commander has arranged since he took over the ‘A’ Division, which starts at Conversation Tree, East Coast Demerara and ends at Dora on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. Hicken urged the students to take their education seriously since it is the only way for them to be successful in the future. He told the students that if they don’t read they cannot learn, adding that they are the backbone of the upcoming society. Meanwhile, Hicken plans to start weekend skills training and a meals service every Friday, besides forming a scout group and conducting outings to the Botanical Gardens, Fun City and Buddy’s Children Play Park. However, the outings are only for the students who take part in the weekend skills training. A donation of a printer, photocopy machine and a television set will be donated to the school in three weeks time. SECURITY Hicken stressed the need for tight security at the school, noting the value of the articles that will be donated. Moreover, he said that while Agricola is a place where many people get robbed, he committed to work towards ending that situation. He also referred to gunshots being heard every night in various parts of the community and assured that this will have to stop. Headmistress of the school, Ms. Melissa Isaacs thanked the Commander for the visit and said that she will be looking forward for continuing engagements and help towards developing the school. The HM further noted that retired ‘A’ Division Commander Assistant Commissioner George Vyphuis had visited from time to time and she knows that the current Commander, Hicken, will do the same because he is a man that likes things to be done on the spot.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

UNDP-funded youth empowerment project on target for September completion By Telesha Ramnarine PARTICIPANTS from six of Guyana’s ten administrative regions are currently working towards completing several community projects which fall under the Youth Empowerment, Inclusion and Reconciliation Project. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Collin Croal, updated the press recently on the overall project, which is being funded by the United Nations Development Pro-

gramme (UNDP). He said the overall project began in April 2012, and all of the regional projects are expected to be completed shortly, so as to coincide with the September 2014 completion date. A maximum of $1M has been allocated for each of those projects, Croal reminded. And the UNDP has said that this project has addressed, and will continue to address, the challenges of inadequate youth participation in governance, and the persistent social challenges which deprive youths of ful-

fillment of their rights. This project would also improve the capacity of youths at the community level to become protagonists for good social and governance practices, and would allow them to participate in local governance. Further, the project will increase youth participation in development programmes, and develop a feedback mechanism for youth and policy makers to monitor policy and programme implementation, and support a mechanism for dispute resolution at the local level, the UNDP See page 17

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

CDC takes disaster risk management awareness drive to Bartica

THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC) last Thursday hosted it’s National Public Education and Information campaign on disaster risk management for Region 7 (CuyuniMazaruni) in Bartica, the district’s seat of administration. The exercise was held in the boardroom of the Region’s administrative building on First Avenue under the theme, ‘Guyana: Our Country, Our responsibility’. Among participating stakeholders from within the community were members of the ‘F1’ Division Community Policing Executive Committee. CDC Deputy Director, Colonel Francis Abraham, introduced the programme’s agenda, and declared that the educational event is the exact premises of promoting on disaster risk management by utilis-

At the Bartica disaster awareness campaign are, from left: “F” One Division Community Policing Group’s Chairman, Mr. Edward A Persaud; NCPE Public Relations Officer, Mr Roy Prince; Vice-Chairman, “F” One Division Community Policing; CDC Deputy Director, Colonel Francis Abraham; Officer in Charge of the Bartica Police Station, Sub-Division Number Two; “F” Division ASP, Mr. R . Banwarie; CDC Director-General, Colonel (retired) Chabilall Ramsarup, MSM; and ‘F’ One Division Community Policing’s Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Mr. Rodney Smith

ing proactive disaster risk management tools. He also said that the programme is aimed at reducing vulnerability to risks, and enhancing response mechanisms. He used the 2005 floods as an example to serve as a wake- up call for many of us. Project Coordinator of the Civil Defence Commission,( CDC), Mrs. Michelle Klass, also addressed those in attendance and declared that the object of the 2009-2013 Disaster Risk Management Plan is to support the Government of Guyana through designing and maintaining integrated disaster risk management programmes within the frame work of comprehensive disaster management. She also said that the attained results of this 2009-2013 project are as follows: A draft Disaster See page 18

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

UNDP-funded youth empowerment project on target ... From page 15

has said. Providing an update a few days ago, Croal said that training of the youth leaders was completed, and participants are working on another component of the project -- setting up the ICT (Information Communication Technology) hubs across the regions. Croal said Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam) has undertaken to construct a waiting area at the Supenaam Speedboat Terminal. The evaluation of the award for the contractor has just been completed, and the project is very shortly expected to commence. Its completion date is within one month of its commencement date. The region has identified the President’s Youth Choice Building at Cotton Field, Essequibo Coast for its ICT

hub, and electricity for the area would be installed in the coming month. As for Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), Croal said the young people there have identified as their project the enhancement of the children’s ward at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. The project proposal has been approved, and they are currently collecting quotations for the procurement of materials, etc. The ICT hub will be placed at the Education Building at Plantain Walk, Pouderoyen. Region 4 (Demerara/ Mahaica) has identified the Literacy Enhancement Awareness Project, to be placed on the ground floor of the Triumph Office, which is undergoing rehabilitation works that are to be completed by the end of June. The project is expected to begin immediately after,

and the ICT hub will be placed at this same location. Croal said Region 5 (Mahaica/ Berbice) has identified the Learning Resource Centre as its project, to be placed at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice. The building is nearing completion in terms of rehabilitation, and in the new month, the project is expected to start up. The ICT hub would be placed there. Region 6 (East Berbice/C’tyne) has identified the construction of a Voluntary Counselling and Testing Site as its preferred project. This project would be set up at the New Amsterdam Municipal Market. By July, the location for the ICT hub would be identified and approved. Croal explained that the young people in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice) have iden-

tified rehabilitation of the Kara Kara Playfield in Mackenzie as their project.

This is to help keep some of the young people off the streets, Croal informed,

and the YMCA Building there will house the ICT hub.

18

CDC takes disaster risk management awareness drive ...

From page 16

Risk Management Bill, an integrated disaster management plan strategy, guidelines for agriculture and the environment, flood risk evaluation and care, community-based risk management programmes. Two programmes were already piloted, one in the community of West Watooka in Linden, and the other in Albouystown, Georgetown. A National Public Education Campaign was also held where this event falls under. She then also said that the object of the campaign is to promote understanding in all Guyanese about the evident change in the weather pattern and it’s impact on the environment and how these relate to the international phenomenal of global warming and climate change. CDC Director-General, Colonel (retired) Chabilall Ramsarup, in his presentation, declared that it is always nice to deal with

any community group, because its members are the first to deal with any disaster in the first hour, which he termed “The Golden Hour “. Ramsarup also said that this presentation to Region 7 stakeholders is to basically educate all on disaster awareness, especially during “the golden hour”, when lives can be saved. He also said that disasters cannot be avoided, but their impacts can be reduced by structural means, meaning by keeping and maintaining our environment clean; and by none structural means, which is by engaging disaster reduction means. This programme also embraces the projection plans of the National Community Policing Executives, (NCPE) for the coming year of activities that are already on the NCPE programme agenda for the forthcoming administrative year.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

M&CC miffed over exclusion from talks on use of funds By Telesha Ramnarine THE Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has complained that Minister Norman Whittaker of the Local Government and Regional Development (LGRD) Ministry has not consulted with them on the use of the $500M which the National Assembly recently earmarked for a massive ‘Clean Up’ Exercise in the city. But a few days ago, Minister Whittaker indicated otherwise when he told reporters at the LGRD Ministry’s Fort Street, Kingston boardroom that the City Engineer had already provided that ministry with a list of machinery to be repaired under the project. The Minister said a number of the M&CC’s garbage collection trucks, tractors and excavators are due for repairs, and

––in city clean-up exercise when the project is completed, the M&CC would be in a position to continue maintenance of drains, disposal of solid waste, and the like. “I am advised that he (the City Engineer) has provided the list of machinery to be repaired. We will be helping the City Council to enhance its ability to provide drainage, etc,” Minister Whittaker said. But the M&CC is arguing that the LGRD Ministry has breached all democratic norms and has shown “disrespect” to the people of Georgetown, who elected the Mayor and Councillors (M&CC) as their representatives. “As the Council understands it, the role of the Minister of Local Government is that of a facilitator for local democratic organs. He should not get involved in actu-

ally expending monies allocated for works in the City; this is the statutory responsibility of the duly elected Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown, the people’s representatives. “The Council is not aware of the plan and arrangement to expend what is essentially the people’s money (taxes) in the City. The Council does not know about the processes and approaches used by the Minster to hire men and equipment, to do works in different parts of Georgetown. “In fact, the Council does not even know who are the people carrying out the works, the rates at which they are paid, and what measurements are used to evaluate their work. It is not clear whether the council is getting value See page 19

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M&CC miffed over exclusion from talks ... From page 18

for money,” the M&CC expressed. The ‘Clean up Guyana’ project, for which $1B was provided for in the 2014 annual budget, will be completed by December 31, and is expected to significantly reduce flooding in the city, Whittaker has told reporters. Whittaker has said that while the Georgetown City Council has been unable to desilt drains, the Clean-Up Guyana project will be dealing with those that are heavily silted, and will be removing garbage as well. In fact, attention will be paid to seven main canals, namely the Downer, Young Street, Lamaha Street, Princes Street, Caneview Avenue

(that services South Ruimveldt), Church Street and the Irving Street canals. Focus will also be given to small drains, Whittaker said, adding: “So as soon as the tide falls, you want to be able to get that excess water off.” Key stakeholders identified to move the process forward, apart from the Local Government Ministry, are the Ministries of Natural Resources and the Environment; Public Works; Agriculture; Housing and Water; and Tourism. The private sector and local government bodies are also included, along with City Hall, civil society, community-based organisations and volunteer groups. According to Whittaker, the objective of the

activity is to enhance the physical environment. “At the end of this project”, he said, “the objective is not only to see Guyana looking clean, not only about placing us in a situation where the incidents of flooding are reduced significantly and totally, it is about sustaining it.” The programme of activities comprise desilting drains and main canals; weeding and removing garbage; repairing kokers and sluices; eliminating illegal dumpsites by removing their piles of garbage; clearing cemeteries of bush; and planting trees and removing obstacles from parapets and reserves. The LGRD Ministry would also be focusing, in some instances, on restoring public assets

like kokers, sluices, main canals, roadside drains, parapets and alleyways; cemeteries, monuments, public open spaces, market areas, seawall and beaches; and clearing away garbage wherever it is found.

Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon recently informed that, of the $1B approved in the 2014 annual budget for implementing the ‘Cleanup Guyana’ programme, $500M would be spent in Georgetown, while

the other $500M will be spent in coastal administrative regions. Cabinet has, in principle, given approval for the Local Government Ministry to assume responsibility for expending the sum of money.

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36 graduate with MBAs via Nations University programme By Shivanie Sugrim THIRTY-SIX students graduated last Saturday evening from the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme offered by Nations University in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Business

Nations University’s Director, Dr. Brian O’Toole delivering his address at the MBA graduation ceremony

(AIB). The ceremony was held at the Guyana International Conference Centre at Liliendaal. This second batch of MBA graduating students represents a wide cross-section of the Guyanese business community, including senior personnel from government ministries, GuySuCo, Barama, Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), CARICOM and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The MBA graduate class from Nations University last Saturday at the Guyana International Conference Centre (Photos by Adrian Narine)

Six received graduate certificates in Management, seven collected graduate diplomas in Management and 23 uplifted their MBA certificates. Among the students, according to Dr. Brian O’Toole, Director of Nations University, are entrepreneurs and representatives from a range of private agencies. At present, AIB is considering a number of projects for publication since

the students are not simply ‘passing’ the MBA course but are contributing significantly to current thinking about issues in areas such as Strategic Management, Human Resource Development, Leadership and New Product Management. Dr. O’Toole noted that the AIB has supported, encouraged and guided the process of developing the MBA programme at Nations University since Professor

Rod Oxenberry, Academic Board Chairman of the AIB, came all the way from Australia to grace the occasion. He further noted that this is a clear indication of the commitment that AIB shows for their efforts in Guyana. The graduation provided the opportunity to salute the team of MBA course facilitators at Nations University for their tremendous contributions - namely Celine Davis, Michele Johnson,

Abraham Ogowewo, Ren Gonsalves, Vishnu Doerga, Colin Thompson, Ruth Lee, Ray Suknandan and Shonnet Moore. Additionally, hearty appreciation was expressed for the contributions made by MBA facilitators Sheppard-Bobb, Kamla Rampersaud and Deon Grandison from Trinidad and Tobago. Meanwhile, Mr. Ramesh Persaud, Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Private

Enterprise Development (IPED) , the keynote speaker, focused on business-related hurdles and offered a lot of expert advice to the graduates. Valedictorian Mrs. Lorraine Lord of the MBA class of 2014 spoke about each MBA graduate being an inspiration to others as they make decisions and take actions that will ensure the welfare of themselves and the country.

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‘Small-business’ Trust to release $550M to 700 families this year

This year’s SBDF awardees with Prime Minister, Mr. Samuel Hinds (back row, fourth left); SBDF Chairman and Managing Director, Mr. Sattaur Gafoor and Mrs. Manjula Brijmohan (back row, fifth and sixth left, respectively); and other SBDF Directors

By Derwayne Wills THE Small Business Development Finance Trust Inc. (SBDF) is slated to release some $550M for at least 700 families in 2014, according to the institution’s Chairman, Mr. Sattaur Gafoor. Mr. Gafoor noted that the institution is expected to provide the monies in an attempt to address the still significant level of poverty being faced in the country. Gafoor was speaking on Monday during

SBDF Chairman, Mr. Sattaur Gafoor

the 11th Annual General Meeting of the SBDF at the Regency Suites/Hotel on Hadfield Street, Georgetown. The event was aimed at addressing the role and concerns of the SBDF in delivering its mandate to aid small and medium sectors in creating job opportunities, as well as developing communities and empowering businesses to become integrated in progres-

sive economic activities. According to Mr. Gafoor, the body has, in its 11 years of existence, given loans to over 7,000 families to the total value of $2.5B, and in 2013 had generated in excess of $30M. The Chairman was keen to highlight the need for such funding in light of issues of climate change and unpredictable weather patterns faced by the coastal region and small farmers. He reaffirmed the commitment of the institution to provide substantial financial support to the Small and Micro Enterprise sector, which will improve the quality of life for many. Seated at the head table were President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Chairman of the SBDF, Mr. Sattaur Gafoor, Managing Director of the SBDF, Mrs. Manjula Brijmohan, and Directors Mrs. Yvonne Hinds, Mr. Hemraj Kissoon, Mr. Neil Boston, Mr. Norman Mc Lean, Mr. Mohamed Ali; and Immediate Past President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Mr. Clinton Urling. Speaking at the event was President Donald Ramotar, who addressed the group, noting that new opportunities for development are being introduced daily owing to the high impact of science and technological advancements. President Ramotar underscored the administration’s appreciation of small enterprises in the economy. He also acknowledged that “The contributions of economic growth and development of small and medium scale enterprises have been overlooked or unacknowledged in many places including Guyana”. He said also that not only has job creation been the most signalled contribution of small and medium scale enterprises, but these small businesses form an integral part in economic recovery as seen in countries like the United States.

“This is the vital role small businesses play both in good, as well as, in challenging economic times, ” President Ramotar noted. He also credited sustainability of economic development to these small businesses. In light of the need for big businesses in large investments and transformative projects, the developments are sustained by

SBDF Managing Director, Ms. Manjula Brijmohan

the small enterprises, who “are incubators of entrepreneurial talents, ” President Ramotar added. Addressing the advantages of small business, the President said that on the issues of inclusiveness, small enterprises “ensure that the small man does not become marginalised from the market. “If you examine the loan portfolios of many commercial banking institutions, you will find that there has always been a strong emphasis on lending to corporate and large

scale investors,” the President pointed out. He declared that the Government has long recognised the constraints faced by the small business enterprise and has taken deliberate steps to provide support for boosting small businesses through micro-financing institutions. The President cited the Small Business Act of 2004, and the establishment of the Micro and Small Enterprise Development Project, which is funded under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). These initiatives are “aimed at providing financing and support including grants and support for collateral to micro and small businesses.” Managing Director of the SBDF, Mrs. Manjula Brijmohan, speaking on the Impact of Micro-Financing in reducing poverty, noted that micro-financing speaks to more than the provision of small loans. She underscored that it also includes other services like savings, technology availability, insurance and empowerment of borrowers, especially in rural areas. She asserted that markets cannot be accessed by Governments, businesses and civil societies acting individually, but rather that the fullest potential can only be realised when there is joint effort among key stakeholders in both the private and international realm. “The future growth and development of our economies will depend largely on our own ability to provide key services and more inclusivity,” Mrs. Brijmohan said. AWARDS Acknowledging the stalwart contributions of small business entrepreneurs, awards were granted to Mr. Bisnauth Ramroop for Best Growth Potential, Ms. Vidya Ramkissoon for Best Innovative Female Entrepreneur, Mr. Conrad Charles for Best Innovative Male Entrepreneur and, Ms. Bibi Nandlall for Best Female Entrepreneur.

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AROUND THE COURTS With Geeta Rampersaud

Dad and son face court for cocaine in suitcases at CJIA FORTY-one-year-old Darren Owen Harris and his 19-year-old unemployed son, Darren Harris Jnr, both of Lot 27 D’Urban Street, Lodge, appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates Courts, following their being busted with cocaine at the CJIA whilst they were outgoing passengers on a Caribbean Airways flight to the USA last Friday, June 20. The Harrises were unrepresented by counsel. The elder Harris pleaded guilty to having in his possession 1 kg 454 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. He told court that the junior Harris does not know anything about the illegal substance although

he was arrested, because he, the senior Harris, had put the substance in the handle of the suitcase. The younger Harris was charged with having in his possession 1.176 kg of cocaine. Police Corporal Bharat Mangru, prosecuting, said that on the day in question, the elder Harris was an outgoing passenger on a Caribbean Airlines flight destined for the United States of America when ranks at the airport saw him acting suspiciously and subsequently carried out a search on his person, during which Constable Jeffrey observed Harris’s suitcase handle to be tampered with. A further search unearthed the illegal substance in the said handle, hence the

senior Harris was arrested and charged by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU). The senior Harris, a chef by profession, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and fined $30,000. Before handing down her sentence, the Chief Magistrate took into consideration the following factors: prevalence and seriousness of the offence, quantum of the load, and the fact that the accused pleaded guilty. However, the younger Harris pleaded not guilty to the offence. CANU Prosecutor Mr. Oswald Massiah said that on the day in question, at around 15:00 hrs, the younger Harris was also an outgoing passenger on the said flight and was carrying two suitcases.

He was asked to place both on a scanner, and two ladies handbags with bead handles were revealed in the suitcase. The nutmeg shaped beads contained silver-like paper which wrapped the prohibited substance. Prosecutor Massiah said that during the caution, the defendant said someone had given him the bag to take to

the United States, and on his arrival there, someone else would collect it from him. Police prosecutor Bharat Mangru said the junior Harris gave the investigator conflicting addresses, such as Rosemary Lane, Norton Street and Durban Street, Georgetown. Attorney-at-law George

Thomas represented the junior Harris. He told the court that his client resides with his mother at the Durban Street address, has no pending matter, and is a vendor by trade. He asked for an early date to expedite the trial. The matter was transferred to Providence Court for June 26.

Last Magistrates Courts escapee sentenced to two years for offence KEIRON Cummings, one of four prisoners who escaped from the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts Holding Cell on May 19 last, was on Monday sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on the escaping-from-lawful-custody charge. The 26-year-old convict appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and pleaded guilty to the offence when it was read to him. Details of the charge alleged that on May 19, at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Convict, Keiron Cummings

Courts compound, while being in custody for pending robbery charges, he escaped from said custody. Asked if he had anything to say, Cummings said he saw people going through the hole, and he also went through. However, he was informed by the Chief Magistrate that, in his absence, an ex-parte trial had been conducted and he had been found guilty on three robbery charges. He was sentenced to See page 23

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Last Magistrates Courts escapee ... From page 22

four years on each of those charges. Police Corporal Bharat Mangru, prosecuting, said the facts are as detailed in the charge, and that the prisoner also has three pending robbery matters at the Georgetown Magistrates Courts and six other robbery charges at a court on the East Coast of Demerara. Before handing down the sentence, the Chief Magistrate took into consideration the seriousness of the offence; the convict’s plea; saving the court’s time; and the other pending matters of similar nature. The two-year imprisonment will run concurrently with the other jail term. Along with this Sophia resident, three other prisoners had escaped that day. They are 28-year-old Vickram ‘Lil John’ Persaud, Steve Richard Bacchus, and Randolph Marks. Persaud, of Doctor Dam in La Grange, West Bank Demerara, was shot dead, allegedly during an armed confrontation with the police at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice. Persaud had been charged with the murder of Constable Michael Cumberbatch of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU). Bacchus, 21, was recaptured on May 19 along Brickdam in the vicinity of the court. He was charged with the murder of Police Special Constable Quincy Wright at Guyhoc Park, Georgetown on January 24 last. Twenty–year–old Marks, who was charged with the murder of Patsan Trading employee, Bharrat Ramcharran, was found hiding under a bed in East La Penitence on May 20.

Man allegedly eluding police on car stealing charge remanded TWENTY-three-year Kirtland Scott, a hire-car driver of Lot 48 Friendship, East Coast Demerara, appeared Monday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and pleaded not guilty to the charge of simple larceny. The offence was allegedly committed on June 11 last, when he, along with two others, stole Mazda motor car, PPP 5786, property of Ivor Allicock. Police Corporal Bharat Mangru, prosecuting, said that the victim had parked his car and had retired to bed; but on the following morning, at around 06:00 hrs, he discovered his car missing. Investigations were carried out, and after Scott was arrested, he admitted the offence in a confession statement. According to the Prosecutor, the defendant was arrested in Berbice for a similar offence, and since the commission of this offence, Scott has been evading the police. Mangru successfully objected to bail on grounds of the seriousness and prevalence of the offence, and the punishment it attracts. He also noted that, if granted bail, the defendant would not return for his trial, since he has other pending matters of a similar nature. Scott was represented by Attorney-at-law Ms. Omeyana Hamilton, who said her client was arrested by the police while tending to another matter. She argued that because of the defendant’s job, he has to move from one place to another; and she mentioned that she was instructed that the caution statement had not been given voluntarily. However, the defendant was denied bail, and the matter was put off to July 4. On June 16 last, Mortimer Chand (no address given) was remanded to prison on the same charge when he appeared before the Chief Magistrate. Chand was unrepresented, and denied the charge, which alleged that he stole the said car, valued at over $2.7M. The matter was reported to the police, and based on information, the car was found in Buxton, East Coast Demerara. Chand also admitted to committing the offence under caution, and will also return to Court on July 4 for statements.

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Relatives of duo charged with killing Lusignan teen a ‘no-show’ in court

– accused to return to court in eight weeks By Leroy Smith ONE week after making their appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged with the murder of 17-year-old Dhanraj Latchman of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, the two unrepresented accused yesterday appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the

Leonora Court, and were again unrepresented. When the matter was called, the magistrate informed the two, Asaf Alli and Abdool Shazim Razack, that the matter was being adjourned to August 19, 2014. Yesterday the two accused did not enjoy the support of their relatives and that has been the case since they first appeared

Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - 14:30 Thursday, June 26, 2014 - 14:30 Friday, June 27, 2014 - 14:30

in court. Last week two aunts of the men showed up at the court but informed this newspaper that they were not supportive of the men’s actions and wished that they would feel the full force of the law. Latchman was allegedly murdered by his two friends who were planning his death for two weeks after arranging to sell his car. They reportedly told investigators that they killed the man at the Parika Backdam. The teen’s car was discovered several miles from where the men had murdered him but his body was discovered a day after the car was located. The suspects reportedly confessed to killing the taxi driver and later detailed to the police how the entire plan was crafted. Meanwhile, another person who was listed as an accessory to the crime was later allowed to testify for the state on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions. There has still been no word yet on what the police are doing with the father of one of the teens who reportedly attempted to pervert the course of justice. Another man whom the two accused were planning to sell the deceased’s vehicle to was also arrested in the investigation but the DPP advised that with the evidence provided so far implicating the two in the murder of the teen, the would-be buyer should be used as a state witness. Dhanrag’s mother told this publication that she was not prepared to take any settlement from the relatives of the accused for what they have done to her son. Latchman was murdered on June 11 at the Parika backdam and his body dumped in the canefield. His bloated and discoloured body was discovered by relatives who went in search of him.

Aries - March 21 - April 19 Life is easy today, especially with the universe in such a generous mood. Everything is sweet and goes down smoothly, and you should feel quite fortunate. A few nagging doubts might threaten to ruin your fun, but don’t get all bent out of shape just because things aren’t perfect. Acknowledge your issues, then tell them to get lost, at least for the time being. Once that’s settled, you can get back to the business at hand. Taurus - April 20 - May 20 Stretching out in someone’s doorway and refusing to leave until they agree you’re right is always an option, and so is holding your breath until you turn blue. Another classic is the silent treatment, of course. All of these extreme tactics from your childhood are tempting, but they’re not very effective and are likely to be counterproductive. For now, you need to agree to disagree. Gemini - May 21 - June 21 You may tend toward overconfidence -- or even laziness -- on the job today, but they must be avoided at all costs. Ensure that your colleagues (especially bosses) know all about the schedule, since communication can easily go off the rails today. Once work is over, get some rest and relaxation, because you certainly deserve it! Try to keep your partying low-key, as you still have to tackle work projects for a while yet. Cancer - June 22 - July 22 If you’re feeling somewhat fragile, handle yourself with care -- and let your people know you need some warm fuzzies from them as well. It’s hard for you to say no to those you care about, especially now that they’re begging for advice and telling you that your input is vital, but for now, make yourself top priority. Make time for some kind of pampering today, no matter what. Leo - July 23 - August 22 You need a little sympathy today if you want to soothe your troubled soul. You’ve got people who are great listeners, so give them a shout now that you really need them. They could help you clarify whether you need good advice or just a fresh pair of ears. If socialising feels somewhat beyond you, get some down-time somewhere comfy. The answer ought to show up just when you need it most. Virgo - August 23 - September 22 Watch out for calendar overload today. It can be hard, especially since so many amazing opportunities are flying your way, but remember that they’re all worthless if you’re sluggish thanks to exhaustion or going insane from stress. Pay close attention to all financial issues and work-related changes and you should have a definite idea of how to make the most of this situation. Libra - September 23 - October 22 You’re feeling a little less wild and quite a bit more mild. You’re not ill -- you just need a change of pace. Listen to your heart and give it what it needs -- starting with a day off -- and don’t work yourself to death just because it’s what you think you ought to be doing. Just like any other high-performance equipment, your mind and body need proper maintenance if you want them to keep running smoothly. Scorpio - October 23 - November 21 Cynicism is the easy way out, and it helps no one in the end. It’s way too easy to grouch about how hard life is now, but when was it ever easy? It’s still a deeply interesting world around you, and part of what keeps you interested is solving all those problems. Try a new attitude of amused detachment instead of taking every bump in the road as a comment on you -- and see just how much simpler life can be! Sagittarius - November 22 - December 20 Old memories might be overwhelming today, so beware of any situations that could trigger nostalgia or remind you of past pain. It’s a good time to avoid sad movies and deep conversations with those who always push your buttons. Try not to form -- or continue -- unhealthy attachments with the people you know you’re better off avoiding. Capricorn - December 21 - January 19 Romance can be an awful lot of fun -- unless the rules keep changing. In that case, it’s no fun at all for any of the players. Don’t let yourself get caught up in emotional messes or manipulation by making your moral code clear and sticking to it. This should keep you aimed in the right direction, as it helps you get around some freaky, combative obstacles you don’t have time for. Aquarius - January 20 - February 18 Your life feels like it’s on fast-forward, but your financial issues, primary relationships and home responsibilities all cry out for extra attention. This is actually a good thing -- you should accomplish quite a lot and make great progress in some areas that have been a bit stagnant -- but the risk of burnout is significant! Get plenty of sleep and make your health your top priority. Pisces - February 19 - March 20 It’s not exactly comfortable when someone decides that you’re going to solve all their problems for them. Tell that loved one that they need to find their own solutions -and to give you a little room to breathe. You’re more than willing to help (as usual), but they need to understand what’s appropriate and what’s crossing the line. Be firm, but be as gentle as you can.

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From back page

Suarez faces another World Cup ban By Nick Mulvenney NATAL Brazil (Reuters) - Uruguay striker Luis Suarez looks almost certain to be banned from the World Cup for the second successive tournament after he bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder during his team’s 1-0 win yesterday. FIFA is investigating the incident which has become a worldwide talking point and Suarez, twice previously banned for biting, looks likely to be hit with another lengthy suspension despite escaping punishment during the match. “We are awaiting the official match reports and will gather all the necessary elements in order to evaluate the matter,” a FIFA spokesperson said. Suarez and Chiellini clashed in the Italian penalty area 10 minutes from the end of the match which sealed Uruguay’s progression and Italy’s elimination from the

tournament. Chiellini furiously pulled open his shirt to show the mark to the referee. Reuters photographs show what appeared to be bite marks on his shoulder and pictures also showed Suarez sitting on the ground holding his teeth immediately after the incident. The Italians were still complaining about it when Uruguay’s Diego Godin scored with an 81st-minute header to secure a 1-0 win that sent them into the second round and eliminated Italy. “It was ridiculous not to send Suarez off,” Chiellini told Rai TV. “It is clear, clear-cut and then there was the obvious dive afterwards because he knew very well that he did something that he shouldn’t have done.” Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez did not see the incident. “I’d like to see the images,” he told a news conference. From Page 37

Sonia Rodney... We had overseas players who, when standing next to them, I was literally at their waist. Although I didn’t make the team the knowledge I received made me stronger.” At age 15, Rodney made both the Junior and Senior National Teams, being the main starting point guard, remembering her first major win being against Antigua in 2012 where Guyana dismantled both Antigua and St Kitts, but said the most memorable game however was Linden versus Georgetown when she hit a 3-point shot at the buzzer to give Linden the victory. Asked for some of the players she admires, Rodney said, “Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Tony Parker and locally, Lugard Mohan. Basketball is like a drug it’s medicine to the body, it’s addictive and once you are good at it, it brings you happiness, makes you look young and makes your body healthy. “The key to my success is my parents and family who always support me. My dad would be at every game encouraging me to be the leader and be disciplined. Of course I am grounded in Christ and that’s where I got my talent and excellent health from. Everything I have gotten I dedicated to God because without him we just merely exist.”

“I didn’t see that. And if it happened the referee probably didn’t see it. So no I don’t have any more comments to make. We had more important things than this in a football match.” 10-GAME BAN Liverpool’s Suarez was banned for 10 games last year after biting Chelsea’s

the use of video or “any other evidence” to retrospectively punish players. FIFA’s disciplinary code sets a maximum ban of 24 matches or two years, but the longest suspension FIFA has imposed for an offence in the World Cup was eight games for Italy’s Mauro Tassotti for breaking Spain’s Luis Enrique’s nose in 1994 with

an elbow. Uruguay could potentially play four more games in the tournament and it would be a surprise if Suarez were to be given a ban of a shorter duration. “I have watched the incident several times on television,” FIFA executive committee member Jim Boyce told Reuters. “There is no doubt Luis Suarez is a fantastic footballer but once again his actions have left him open to severe criticism. “FIFA must investigate the incident seriously and take whatever disciplinary action is deemed necessary.

“Another FIFA executive committee member, Michel D’Hooghe of Belgium, who is also the head of FIFA’s medical committee, told reporters he had not seen the incident. “We would await a medical report if it was deemed necessary given the nature of the incident,” he said. “But whatever, it is very, very sad for everybody who loves football.”His latest indiscretion sent the world’s social media into meltdown and within minutes of the match ending, #Suarez was the top trending hash tag on Twitter. A tweet from former Liverpool striker Michael Owen was typical of a wave of reaction from former players and pundits: “Tell me I’m seeing things. Surely Suarez didn’t bite someone again?” he wrote. “I’m genuinely gutted. I love watching him play more than any other player but he obviously can’t control himself.” Suarez, England’s Footballer-of-the-Year, scored both goals in Uruguay’s 2-1 victory over England having missed the opening match against Costa Rica as he recovered from knee surgery and until the incident had kept control of his temper during a bruising game. Italy, who needed only a draw to progress, looked comfortable until they had Claudio Marchisio sent off for a foul on Egidio Arevalo Rios after an hour.

fans worldwide as they experience the Brazil World Cup. The six Guyanese Lawrence and Franklyn Brisport, Jaimattie and Romell Ramlakhan and Doodnauth and Premnauth Prashad will join other winners of the Coca-Cola promotion in Brazil in

an all-inclusive package which includes hotel accommodation, air travel and sightseeing tours. They are accompanied by Banks DIH Limited Sales and Marketing Executive Carlton Joao and CocaCola Brand Manager Jennifer Khan.

Luis Suarez of Uruguay and Giorgio Chiellini of Italy react after a clash during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Italy and Uruguay at Estadio das Dunas yesterday in Natal, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) Branislav Ivanovic in a Premier League match and in 2010 he was suspended for seven games for biting PSV Eindhoven’s Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax Amsterdam. He missed Uruguay’s World Cup semi-final against the Netherlands four years ago after being sent for a handball on the line that denied Ghana what would have been a match-winning goal in the final minute of extra time in a quarter-final match. He was sent off for that incident and although he was not cautioned by the referee yesterday, FIFA’s rules allow From back page

Coca-Cola... Coca Cola, a proud sponsor of the FIFA Would Cup since 1974, launched the campaign ‘Everyone is invited to the World’s Cup’. This campaign is the Coca-Cola way of inviting consumers to participate and celebrate with the

Racing Tips Carlisle 09:00 hrs Twin Turbo 09:30 hrs Fast Act 10:00 hrs Bondi Beach Boy 10:35 hrs Border Bandit 11:10 hrs Balducci 11:45 hrs Dance King 12:15 hrs Real Tigress Salisbury 09:10 hrs One Moment 09:40 hrs Sugar Lump 10:10 hrs Gabrial The Duke 10:45 hrs Venus Grace 11:20 hrs Kinshasa 11:55 hrs Trillian Astra 12:25 hrs Perfect Mission

Worcester 09:20 hrs It’s A Gimme 09:50 hrs Able Deputy 10:20 hrs Lucky Gal 10:55 hrs Discay 11:30 hrs Emerald Rose 12:05 hrs Ilewindeliah 12:35 hrs Dealing River Irish Racing Tips Naas 13:00 hrs Arriana 13:30 hrs Monsieur Power 14:00 hrs Share A Secret 14:30 hrs Palace 15:00 hrs Eloge 15:30 hrs Flic Flac

16:00 hrs Shell House South Africa Racing Tips Scottsville 08:35 hrs Buck Shot 09:10 hrs Summer Sixtynine 09:50 hrs Eco Storm 10:25 hrs. Tycoon Touch American Racing Tips Belmont Race 1 See Ya Race 2 Elroi Race 3 Haverhill Race 4 Macagone Race 5 Accomplish First Race 6 Fancy Boss Race 7 Venetian Mask Race 8 Tokyo Time Race 9 Spun Hard

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

Sri Lanka snatch historic victory against England … Moeen Ali hits valiant maiden century

Sri Lanka celebrate with the series trophy after they beat England by 100 runs, in the 2nd Investec Test, at Headingley, Leeds on the 5th day. By Tom Hayward (REUTERS) - England crashed to their first home Test series defeat by Sri Lanka as the tourists claimed a thrilling victory off the penultimate ball at Headingley, ensuring that a valiant maiden century from Moeen Ali went unrewarded. The England spinner’s rearguard action with the bat had all but saved the final Test of the two-match series, but the equally doughty resistance of lastman James Andersen (0) was finally ended when he spooned a Shaminda Eranga

bouncer to square leg to complete Sri Lanka’s 100run victory. Having resumed yesterday at 57 for five, facing an unlikely victory target of 350, England made a positive start but lost Joe Root (31) and Matt Prior (10) in reaching 173 for seven by the interval. Dhammika Prasad took his fifth wicket of the innings when he removed Prior, leaving left-hander Ali (108 not out) as England’s best hope. Though Ali batted all day, partners Chris Jordan (21) and Stuart Broad (0) were both trapped lbw by

Rangana Herath before Anderson’s hour-long resistance was ended at the death. Earlier, perhaps frustrated by the lack of a breakthrough, Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews exchanged words with Root and umpire Billy Bowden was forced to intervene. As the sledging continued Shaminda Eranga subjected Root to a feisty spell, troubling the 23-year-old with some fiery bouncers. Root’s defiance was finally ended when he edged Nuwan Pradeep to Lahiru Thirimanne in the gully bringing an end to a 67-run partnership with Moeen for the sixth wicket. The first Test at Lord’s ended in a draw after England had failed to take the last Sri Lankan wicket.

Scoreboard

Moeen Ali reaches his maiden Test hundred

SRI LANKA first innings 257 ENGLAND first innings 365 SRI LANKA second innings 457 ENGLAND second innings S. Robson c Jayawardene b Prasad 24 A. Cook b Prasad 16 G. Ballance lbw b Prasad 0 I. Bell b Prasad 8 J. Root c Thirimanne b Pradeep 31 L. Plunkett c Pradeep b Herath 0 M. Ali not out 108 M. Prior c Silva b Prasad 10 C. Jordan lbw b Herath 21 S. Broad lbw b Herath 0 J. Anderson c Herath b Eranga 0 Extras: (w-4, lb-7, nb-9, b-11) 31 Total: (all out, 116.5 overs) 249 Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-39, 3-50, 4-52, 5-57, 6-124, 7-160, 8-212, 9-228. Bowling: Pradeep 13-2-55-1 (nb-5, w-1), Eranga 23.5-1038-1 (nb-4), Herath 42-1659-3, Mathews 10-3-16-0 (w1), Prasad 22-5-50-5 (w-2), Jayawardene 6-2-13-0.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

Nadal survives fright on parade of champions By Martyn Herman LONDON, England (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova led a parade of former champions into the Wimbledon second round yesterday after Marion Bartoli briefly lit up Centre Court without swinging her racquet. An order of play littered with big names began with a tearful Bartoli enjoying a standing ovation from a packed Centre Court as she returned to the scene of her triumph last year.

Serena Williams Having retired a few weeks after her fairytale run at Wimbledon the Frenchwoman no longer has to contend with the stress and strain of the tour but for twice former champion Nadal and 2004 winner Sharapova, there is no respite. Just 16 days after claiming an unprecedented ninth French Open crown, Nadal was forced to fend off big-hitting Slovakian Martin Klizan in a ferocious Centre Court duel. Wary of his hopes withering early again after winning only one match in his previous two visits to the grasscourt citadel in south west London, Nadal initially looked in peril as he lost the first set before winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 to rack up his 700th main tour win. Russian fifth seed Sharapova, like Nadal, is also attempting to complete a daunting Roland GarrosWimbledon double but unlike the Spaniard was able to conserve energy for the battles ahead with a 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of British wildcard Samantha Murray. Seven-time champion Roger Federer, relegated to the Court One for the day, stole the show, however, with a dazzling 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 defeat of Italian journeyman Paolo Lorenzi. Lleyton Hewitt, the 2002 champion, led an impressive Australian charge when the 33-year-old warrior beat Poland’s Michal Przysiezny in four sets to open his 61st grand slam tournament in

typically pugnacious fashion. Serena Williams began her quest for a sixth women’s singles title with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over fellow American Anna Tatishvili on Centre Court after the All England Club gave the honour of opening play on what is known as Ladies Day to last year’s runner-up Sabine Lisicki. In normal circumstances Bartoli would have played Centre Court’s opening match - the honour traditionally bestowed on the defending women’s champion on the first Tuesday of the slam. She still honoured her appointment, albeit clad in a summery cream outfit and platform shoes rather than tennis attire as she milked the applause before play began. Holding her hand was a young player from the tennis academy for disadvantaged children which was set up by British player Elena Baltacha, who recently succumbed to cancer. It was a typically classy piece of organisation by the All England Club and a moving moment for Bartoli. “I’m sorry I got so emotional - I couldn’t hold my tears being on the Centre Court and supporting #Rally4Bally at Wimbledon,” Bartoli said on Twitter. As it turned out Lisicki performed the stand-in role beautifully, easing past Israel’s Julia Glushko 6-2, 6-1. For all the early theatre, it was Nadal who provided the day’s real drama as he flirted with danger. Trailing by a set and staring at two breaks points on his serve early in the second it seemed the 28-year-old’s recent grasscourt gremlins were returning. Defeat by dreadlocked German Dustin Brown in Halle this month had hardly fuelled Nadal’s confidence

Rafael Nadal but he reacted with typical ferocity to win. The world No.1, seeded two at Wimbledon, will now get the chance to gain revenge for his harrowing second round defeat by hard-hitting Czech Lukas Rosol two years ago. “I am excited to be back here, to win a match at Wimbledon on Centre Court,” the 2008 and 2010 champion told reporters. “When you go on court and you lost last year in the first round, the year before in the second round, I’m not going to lie, it stays in your mind.” ‘INSPIRED AND MOTIVATED’ Federer’s staggering Wimbledon record was rudely interrupted in the second round by Sergiy Stakhovsky last year but the 32-year-old Swiss looked in the mood to mount a title challenge as he swept past Lorenzi for his 269th grand slam match victory. “I’m very happy getting through my first round. I thought I played very well,” the 17-time grand slam champion said. “What you want to feel is inspired and motivated. I’m trying to win the tournament, that’s what I’m here for.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

Colombia crush Japan to win group, face Uruguay By Rex Gowar CUIABA, Brazil (Reuters) - Colombia striker Jackson Martinez scored twice as they thrashed Japan 4-1 to maintain their 100 percent record and claim top spot in Group C yesterday, to set up a second round clash with Uruguay. Colombia, who are in the last 16 for the first time since 1990, went ahead through an early Juan Cuadrado penalty before Martinez struck twice in the second half and substitute James Rodriguez wrapped up the win with a delightful fourth goal. Japan equalised just before halftime with Shinji Okazaki’s fine diving header but fell apart near the end of the match. “It was a difficult first half,

we had lots of opportunities to score but found that their strong defence did a lot of damage,” said Martinez. “In the second half, we were a lot better and were able to show the kind of play we had in previous games. “I am really happy,” with the two goals.” Greece beat the Ivory Coast 2-1 in the other game in the section to set up a last 16 clash with Costa Rica while Japan finished bottom of the group with one point. EARLY PENALTY Colombia took the lead after 17 minutes when Martinez was brought down by centre back Yasuyuki Konno as he raced into the box on the left at the Pantanal arena. Cuadrado, one of only three

players retained by coach Jose Pekerman in a team with eight changes from the 2-1 win over Ivory Coast that secured Colombia’s second-round berth, scored to his right with Eiji Kawashima diving the other way. Japan got a brilliant and well-deserved equaliser on the stroke of halftime after enjoying 59 percent of possession in the first half and constantly probing Colombia’s reserve central defensive pairing of Carlos Valdes and Eder Alvarez Balanta. Keisuke Honda sent a low, leftfooted cross in from the right corner of the box and Okazaki got in front of Valdes to steer a diving header past goalkeeper David Ospina just inside the near post. With Colombia’s main

Colombia’s Jackson Martinez celebrates with James Rodriguez after scoring his second goal during the 2014 World Cup Group C soccer match between Japan and Colombia at the Pantanal arena in Cuiaba, yesterday. (Credit: REUTERS/Eric Gaillard) marksman Radamel Falcao missing the tournament through injury and Teofilo Gutierrez rested, Martinez underlined Colombia’s depth of striking talent when he put them ahead again 10 minutes into the second half. Right back Santiago Arias cut inside and passed to substitute midfielder James Rodriguez

Costa Rica draw with FIFA red-faced after suggesting legal Brazil goal was offside England to top Group D By Karolos Grohmann BELO HORIZONTE Brazil - (Reuters) - Costa Rica marched into the second round of the World Cup proudly top of a Group D containing three former winners after a 0-0 draw with already-eliminated England yesterday. The ‘Ticos’, assured of progress before kickoff, comfortably held their own against an England team showing nine changes from the team beaten by Uruguay in a game short on goalmouth action or any real tension. Costa Rica will face the runners-up of Group C likely to be one of Ivory Coast, Japan or Greece - in the last 16. Uruguay finished second on six points with Italy on three and England, in their worst World Cup showing since 1958, on one. “We played a very sure, dynamic game,” Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto, whose team beat former World Cup winners Uruguay and Italy in their other games, said. “I have enjoyed the three games. We’re unbeaten, it’s historic.” “Now we’re going to prepare our best. First, a bit of rest.” The confident Central Americans showed their attacking credentials from the start with forward Joel Campbell seeing his deflected shot sail narrowly wide. England struggled to find

their footing with the Costa Ricans a step quicker to the ball but Jack Wilshere showed some urgency when he burst through the defence to set up Daniel Sturridge but he fired wide after 12 minutes. Their opponents responded with a close call of their own when Celso Borges’s curling freekick was tipped on to the crossbar by keeper Ben Foster. The atmosphere in the 57 000-crowd at the Mineirao was subdued with only the small contingency of Costa Rican fans making some noise and their English counterparts playing with beach balls until they were confiscated. There were also minor scuffles in the stands as frustration among English fans grew but they were quickly dealt with by stadium security. “It’s hollow,” said England coach Roy Hodgson. “We showed today what a good team we can be. I’m so disappointed not to finish with a victory but I don’t think I could have asked for a better performance. “Today I think we were really unlucky not to win this game. I’m pleased we’ve given the fans something to cheer about in terms of our performance.” England improved in the second half with some better passing moves and Sturridge again went close with a low drive.

who laid the ball off to his left from where Martinez shot home across the diving Kawashima. Martinez got his second eight minutes from time on the counterattack as Japan threw bodies forward looking for an equaliser. James Rodriguez then scored with a clever run and chip

Last-gasp Samaras penalty sends Greece through By Gideon Long

Brazil’s Fred (9) heads the ball to score the team’s third goal against Cameroon during their 2014 World Cup Group A soccer match at the Brasilia national stadium in Brasilia, Monday. (Credit: REUTERS/David Gray) By Mike Collett RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - FIFA TV, which provides live World Cup images for the global television audience, displayed the wrong graphic which indicated Brazil’s third goal in their 4-1 win over Cameroon was offside, it said yesterday. Striker Fred headed home after 49 minutes but millions of viewers thought the assistant referee had made the wrong call because during the replay FIFA TV showed the offside line from the position of a Cameroon player and not the Brazil striker. Fred was behind the ball when the ball was crossed by David Luiz and the goal in the Group A match on Monday rightly stood. Niclas Ericson, the Director of FIFA TV, acknowledged

the error and promised that FIFA would do everything to ensure its production team did not make the same mistake again. “We discussed with the production team why the line was placed wrongly,” he told reporters. “The production team have to make a very fast decision and mistakes can happen. “The production director has total freedom to put in the line and correct it, but again we are reviewing this particular incident from yesterday to try to see how we can improve it.” Ericson said broadcasters around the world appreciated the graphics for their own audiences, but, asked if putting the graphic in the wrong place exposed the officials to even more pressure, he said in this case it was TV that was wrong, not the match officials.

over the keeper to complete the rout with his third goal of the tournament in the dying minutes. Asked about facing Uruguay, Martinez said: “It’s going to be a really tough game, a fight, and we just have to maintain our focus and continue to work like we have.”

FORTALEZA, Brazil (Reuters) - A stoppage time penalty from Giorgos Samaras gave Greece a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in their final Group C match yesterday and took the Greeks through to the knock-out stages of the World Cup for the first time. Samaras stroked home a controversial 93rd minute penalty after he was judged to have been tripped in the box by Giovanni Sio as the Greeks poured forward in search of a winner. Their last-gasp victory left them second in the group

on four points, one ahead of Ivory Coast and three clear of Japan. Colombia topped the group with a perfect nine points. The Greeks, who had failed to get past the group stage at their two previous appearances at the World Cup, will face Costa Rica in Recife on Sunday in the last 16. Greece needed to win to stand any chance of going through and took the lead just before halftime, Andreas Samaris pouncing on a mistake by Cheick Ismael Tiote and exchanging a quick one-two with Samaras before firing a low shot past Boubacar Barry.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday June 25, 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 Monday’s quiz: (1) Sherwin Campbell and Darren Powell (2) Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad, 1996 Today’s Quiz: (1) Who top-scored for NZ in the first innings of the first Test of the current WI/NZ series? (2) Clive Lloyd played eight Tests against NZ. What was his top-score? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

Winning the CBC could be Marshall’s biggest challenge By Rawle Toney RAWLE Marshall’s story of reaching the NBA where he played for the Dallas Mavericks and the Indian Pacers is an inspiration for anyone - not just Guyanese having a dream of playing in one of the world’s most marketed sporting leagues. After a stellar college career at Oakland University, Marshall made a bold step of entering the NBA Draft in 2005 which featured the likes of Chris Paul, Derron Williams and Danny Granger but was hit with the harsh reality of making it pro when he wasn’t selected. After going undrafted Marshall, still being highly recruited, and still following his childhood dream, he played for the Memphis Grizzlies in the Southern California Pro League and for the Mavericks at the Rocky Mountain Review. Mark Cuban felt his performance was enough and signed Marshall to Dallas Mavericks. Marshall was eventually

traded to the Indiana Pacers the following year (2006) where he started in more than 40 games. Following the NBA, Marshall called Europe ‘home’, playing for Hemofarm (Serbia), Cibona (Croatia), Lokomative (Russia), Valencia (Spain), Asvel (France), and Paok (Greece), BC Astana (Kazakhstan) and now at the CSU Asesoft Ploiești in Romania. However, upon accepting to represent Guyana at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship in Tortola from July 1 to 5, it could be his biggest challenge in his playing career. As incongruous as it might sound, Guyana’s male basketball team are yet to win the tournament which ironically originated in Guyana (1981) and Marshall is considered as the highest profile player to ever represent the Land of Many Waters. The NBA is seen as the benchmark for professional basketball in the world and though Guyana would have produced players such as Auric Tappin, Leon

Rawle Marshall sizes up Canadian Tyler Persaud during a recent workout at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Christian, Lugard Mohan, Lancelot Loncke, Remington Ram, and Shawn Semple, none has ever reached such heights as Marshall. Guyana’s highest finish at the-then CARICOM Championship was in 1994 when the tournament was hosted at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall - losing to Barbados in the final. Marshall arrived in

Georgetown on June 15 for the first time since leaving when he was just four years old with no recollection of life in Guyana but declared boldly his happiness to represent his country. The CBC, he admits, is no pushover after doing lengthy research, putting his Bachelors of Arts Degree in Communication to good use but added he’s ready for the

challenge. “All my life, a lot was expected of me and I have not failed to deliver. This is something I will take pride in doing because I don’t think I can truly express how happy I am to return and to play for Guyana,” Marshall told Chronicle Sport in a recent interview. After finishing third in Barbados in 2000, lack of

financing kept Guyana out of the CBC tournament until 2007 when an all-overseasbased team journeyed to Puerto Rico but the team finished last in the eightteam tournament. 2011, when the event was held in the Bahamas, Guyana sent an all-local side (with the exception of Keron McKenzie) who finished seventh place. Under the Nigel Hinds-led Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), the 2014 tournament will see a mixture of some of Guyana’s best overseas players and their local talent, led by Marshall going for gold. Marshall could be seen at the team’s practice, drafting plays, making sure that the team is well-oiled and working along with coach Mark Agard and the staff to come up with ways on how well they can utilise Guyana’s strength. It would be no easy task and the CBC tournament can make or break Marshall’s legacy in Guyana since based on his wealth of experience, he will be expected to lead Guyana to victory.

Sonia Rodney, diminutive but with a big heart Lindener ready to lead Guyana at CBC

Sonia Rodney By Rawle Toney TO date, Guyana’s female team still holds the distinction of being the only team to ever win the prestigious Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) tournament when it was then called the CARICOM Championships in 1996.

In those times, Guyana’s female basketball team was one of the most feared in the Caribbean and under coach Linden ‘Sancho’ Alphonso they took Trinidad and Tobago by storm to hoist the trophy. For years, women’s basketball has been dormant in Guyana; but still able to make a name for herself is

a pint-size point guard from Linden – Sonia Rodney. The Republic Bank employee, who also holds a Degree in Public Communication, has made basketball more than just a hobby and is one of the most recognisable female players in Guyana in the maledominated sport. Known as ‘Iverson’, Rodney is often described as the ‘short’ girl with a ‘wicked’ crossover or the player from Linden who refuses to let her size be a factor and would wow spectators with her fearless attack to the basket. Not since Porto Rico in 2007 has a female team represented Guyana, and

under the Nigel Hinds-led Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), a team of local female players will head off to the British province of Tortola where they would compete from July 8 to 12. This is just reward for players like Rodney, who has dedicated her life to basketball in a country where the sport is not friendly to women. “Basketball was always big in my neighbourhood and playing with the boys made me tough and competitive. We were so in love with basketball we use to play in the sun sometimes without shoes, at the end of it our feet

would burn,” Rodney said as she spoke with Chronicle Sport about her journey in the sport. She said that it was the famous women’s coach Linden ‘Sancho’ Alphonso who saw her play and began to teach her the fundamentals of the game. “He focused mostly on my dribbling skills. As I grew under his wings my ball-handling started to attract other people who would enjoy watching me play and even gave me the nickname of Iverson. My first important game was in Form One at Mackenzie High, against St Stanislaus College, a two-game series

in which we lost both; but I could remember scoring 19 points in Linden and 23 at their school in Georgetown. After the competition I was voted MVP for my school and best defensive player,” the pint-size point guard said. In 1999, Rodney was called to represent Guyana at the Junior CARICOM tournament hosted in Guyana for the first time, as she recalled, “It was safe to say I was the shortest, the tiniest and the youngest. At the age of 11 training with the national team was an amazing experience. Turn to page 33

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

SCA Premier League

HACC look set to retain top honours By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada -Despite losing the services of former West Indies Oneday middle-order batsman Royston Crandon and national fast bowler Trevon Garraway, fourtime defending champions Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club (HACC) have made an enterprising start to the 2014 Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) Premier division tournament. HACC, who are seeking an unprecedented fifth consecutive title in the 50over competition, are well on their way to achieving their goal having won six games on a trot, including the last one against Victoria Park, played at L’Amaroeux Park here on Sunday. Crandon, who played several matches for HACC last season, is on contract with Elite Club Vikings while Garaway, who participated in one of the six games, is now with Victoria Park in the Toronto and District League but may still be able to don HACC colours in some games. The predominantly Guyanese club started the 2014 campaign with a 30run victory over Deccan Hawks after being bowled

Zaheer Allard out for 193. Brothers Hemnarine and Harrinarine Chattergoon led the way with 56 and 54 respectively. Deccan Hawks were limited to 163 all out with L. Monasar claiming four for 34 and Zaheer Allard three for 16. Game number two saw HACC skittling out Kokuvil for 82 and hitting off the runs in quick time with Harrinarine Chattergoon again among the runs with an unbeaten half-century. Mahadeo Moonasar was the chief wrecker for HACC with six for 17. An attacking 102 from Azhad Amidon and an unbeaten 82 from Reyaz Prahalad along with 36 from Zaheer piloted HACC to a commanding 303 for six in their allotted 50 overs against EastWest who could only muster 106

all out when they batted. Moonasar was again among the wickets, bagging four for 35 while Zaheer took three for 21. HACC went even better in their next game, slamming 391 for four when their 50 overs expired against Techie XI. Zaheer Allard blasted 122, Harrinarince Chattergoon 55, former national wicketkeeper Azib Ali Haniff 44 and Prahalad 38. Garraway, in his lone match to date, took four for 20 while Chattergoon returned to pick up two for three. In a low-scoring affair, HACC had to pull out all the stops to get past Bawa XI in a nerve-racking encounter played last Saturday at the Ellesemere ground. Set a paltry 111 for victory, HACC were in dire straits

Gentle, Andrews blaze their way into mixed-doubles finals GIRLS’ Under-18 singles champion Afruica Gentle and her partner Jason Andrews blazed their way into the mixed doubles finals after they took down last year’s runners-up Nicola Ramdyhan and Gavin Lewis in a tough tennis battle last Sunday as the GBTI Open continued at the GBTI Recreational Centre. Ramdyhan and Lewis were determined not to go down without a fight and took the first set 7-5. Andrews and Gentle evened the score in the next set to set up a third-set clash. The third set went down to the wire and ended 6-6 (7-4) in favour of Andrews and Gentle. Meanwhile, it was mostly easy matches throughout the day as the tennis competition progressed. In the highprofile men’s singles Jason Glasgow was the latest successor to get past the first round after he defeated Harry

Panday 6-3, 6-2. However, Panday is not done with the tournament just yet, being still to play in the men’s 35 singles where he will take on Chetham Narayan. Narayan was also in the winning circle on Sunday m setting up his match with Panday after having defeated Rudy Grant to an easy 6-1, 6-1 end. Matches were also played over in the men’s doubles division where Godfrey Lowden and Phillip Squires advanced to the next round, as did the team of Krishan and Viraj Jugdeo. Lowden and Squires, who recently returned to the tennis scene, easily made it past Oswin Coggins and Stephen Bailey 6-2, 6-2, while the Jugdeo duo crushed Keimo Benjamin and Benjattan Osbourne in a match also ending 6-2, 6-2.

at 27 for five but rallied to win through an inspirational unbeaten 57 from Rishi Samuel. In the bowling department, there were three wickets each for skipper Hemnarine Chattergoon, Moonasar and Munaf Khan. And in their most recent game, HACC dismissed Victoria Park for 114 before rushing to 118 for three. Prahalad struck 49 and Azhad Amidon 24 while the wickets were shared by captain Chattergoon, Hanif, Shiwram and Zaheer with two each. HACC, however, did not fare so well in their lone T20 game of the season, going down to Bawa in a

high-scoring affair, played at Ellesemere. Taking first strike, HACC reached 178 for four in what seemed a winning score with Matthew Feancis clobbering 53 not out and Iqbal Rahaman 33. Bawa raced to the target in 18 overs, losing six wickets in the process. The club’s reign of successes in finals started in 2010 when they defeated Panoli Cricket Club and this was followed by triumphs over EastWest XI in 2011, Victoria Park in 2012 and Bawa XI in 2013. Long-standing president Archie Mohan is quite confident that HACC will once again be crowned champions pointing out prior to the start of the season that

Azhad Amidon

Mahadeo Moonasar success has been attained through hard work and determination and once the players maintain the same attitude there’s no reason why they should not continue their winning ways. At last year’s SCA presentation ceremony, HACC took the lion’s share of awards which included the Frank Faubert Trophy, sponsored by Shiv Persaud of Primerica, for winning the Premier League and also copped the Speedway Motors-sponsored trophy for being the Conference One champions.

Simpson and VCB to compete in Jamaica trials KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) - Top sprinters Sherone Simpson and Veronica Campbell-Brown are expected to be under close scrutiny when they compete in the Jamaica national trials this weekend. The two former champions have both been out of competition for a while due to suspension and will compete in the 100 metres at the national stadium. It will be the first race of the season for Simpson who could be a bit rusty after not competing for nearly a year. Campbell-Brown is the country’s top athlete in the 100 metres this year following her 10.86 seconds in Florida in early June, just inside the legal Sherone Simpson has not wind limit of 2.0 metres per competed for nearly a year second.

That time also places her as number two in the world, just behind Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye, who clocked 10.85 seconds over the past weekend at her country’s National Championships. Campbell-Brown, the two-time Olympic sprint champion, pulled out of the recent Diamond League meeting in New York because of injury and has not recovered. The athletes are seeking selection to represent Jamaica at next month’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The top-three finish will guarantee the runners a spot for the event in Glasgow.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday June 25, 2014

4TH DIGICEL Schools Football Championships

NATI scrape past BEI under soggy conditions … IBE swamp SBC 25-0

By Calvin Roberts HAVING missed a firsthalf penalty, Anthony Weekes redeemed himself as he played his heart out, to guide his team New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over a purposeful Berbice Educational Institute (BEI), in their fourth annual Digicel InterSecondary School Football Championships encounter at the Skeldon Community Centre ground yesterday. Weekes muffed the chance to put his team ahead in the 23rd minute of play, when he was awarded a penalty kick by referee Colin Bowry, following an infringement that was committed against him in the box, only to see BEI’s custodian Omari Bentham effect the save. At the start of the second stanza, a tame shot from Weekes was saved with ease by an over-confident looking Bentham, while at the other end of the field, Stafford Edwards worked his way down the right side of NATI’s half, but his cross

was intercepted by NATI’s custodian James Isaacs. A corner kick from Weekes eluded the grasp of Bentham on his first post and an unmarked Rayon Emmanuel headed home on the last post, to hand NATI a 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute. Not fazed by the goal, the smaller-sized BEI unit, led by a determined Edwards with support from Gerald Foort who overlapped from his defensive position at will, fought tooth and nail with their much bigger opponents, despite the conditions underfoot. A Troy Munroe free kick from the right hand side of NATI’s goal area eluded the grasp of Isaacs and landed at the feet of Duel Hall, who made no mistake to pat the ball into the open goal in the 58th minute, nullifying Emmanuel’s goal in the process. After the goal, NATI’s defensive wall that consisted of Jeremy Samuels, Clifford Roberts, Jermaine Jones and Randy Robertson, worked feverishly to thwart sporadic efforts of Edwards, Foort and Munroe, who were

Berbice Educational Institute’s Stafford Edwards (white top) with ball goes on the attack against New Amsterdam Technical Institute during their matchup at the Skeldon Community Centre ground yesterday. looking for the go-ahead goal for BEI. After making several saves, some of them tame shots from Weekes and even Nigel King, a low cross from the right beat Bentham, leaving

Indian court issues arrest warrant against Dhoni

MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - An Indian court issued an arrest warrant against national cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni yesterday, for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus, according to local media reports. The case was filed last year against the 32-year-old after the cover of an Indian magazine

carried a picture of him portrayed as a Hindu god. The bailable warrant was issued after Dhoni failed to appear before the court despite three summonses. The next date of hearing has been set for July 16. Dhoni is currently touring with the Indian squad in England, where the team will play five Tests, five oneday internationals and one Twenty20 international.

him spread-eagled on the ground, while a small puddle of water stopped the ball, enabling Weekes to place same into an open goal in the 66th minute to give NATI a 2-1 lead.

Try as they may and despite the hard working efforts of Edwards and Foort, BEI failed to negate that goal and when the final whistle was sounded, NATI who are the defending champions of that

zone, came away with the win. At the Beterverwagting Community Centre ground, the Institute of Business Education (IBE) through a seven-goal haul from Jason Cromwell swamped Shivitas Business College (SBC) 25-0, to advance to the next round. Cromwell found the back of the net in the 11th, 13th, 19th, 35th, 60th, 70th and 71st minutes, backed by a quintet of goals scored in the 1st, 14th, 27th, 28th and 72nd minutes from Shemar Scott and Isaiah Holders helmet trick that was scored in the 12th, 22nd, 24th and 36th minutes of play. Seon Singh also placed his name on the score sheet with a hat-trick of his own, after he found the back of the net in the 62nd, 69th and 73rd minutes of play, complemented by a double from Teshawn Gordon (51st & 67th) and solitary strike from Colin Liverpool (29th), Oder Adams (49th), Shamar Gonsalves (50th) and Deshawn Trotz (75th).

Ansa McAl/Lucozade sponsors CBC team warm-up kit DISTRIBUTING giant Ansa McAl Trading, under their Lucozade energy drink brand, is the official sponsor of the National male and female basketball teams’ warm-up kit for this year’s Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship which bounces off on July 1 in Tortola. President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Nigel Hinds, told Chronicle Sport last evening that the warmup uniforms for both teams were purchased at a cost of US$1 589 (G$317 800). Ansa McAl is known for their more than generous offerings to the sport of basketball, having been the major sponsor of all the tournaments played recently;

so their support for the National team should come at no surprise. The company joins the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and John Fernandes Limited as sponsors of the national team’s apparel for the tournament which will be televised around the world through Carib Vision. Meanwhile, Hinds said that while all is well for the men’s national team, who will wing out the BVI on Sunday, the same cannot be said for the women’s team whose championship journey starts on July 6. Hinds is hoping that corporate Guyana would continue to be generous in their giving to help revive the sport of basketball internationally.

Sport CHRONICLE

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

NATI scrape past BEI under soggy conditions SEE STORY ON PAGE 39

Coca-Cola Promotion winners to witness FIFA World Cup match in Brazil today THE three winners of the ‘Coca-Cola Win Your Trip to Brazil Promotion’ and their guests have left Guyana for neighbouring Brazil to witness the FIFA World Cup match between Ecuador and France today in Rio de Janeiro. Jaimattie Ramlakhan, Lawrence Brisport and Doodmattie Prashad were declared winners following the Promotion drawing on June 6 at Demico House Retail Liquor Store on Brickdam. Ramlakhan resides at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, Brisport is from Amelia’s Ward Linden and Prashad resides at West Coast Berbice. These three names were pulled from a number of entries that were submitted at various Banks DIH outlets and dealers countrywide. Turn to page 33

The Coca-Cola Promotion winners and their guests pose with Banks DIH Limited officials Carlton Joao and Jennifer Khan before departure to Brazil.

Suarez faces another World Cup ban …’bite’ accusation overshadows 2014 tournament

SEE STORY ON PAGE 33

Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini shows his shoulder, claiming he was bitten by Uruguay’s Luis Suarez, during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Dunas arena in Natal yesterday (Credit: Reuters/Tony Gentile)

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WEDNESDAY, June 25, 2014