Guyana chronicle 29 11 14

GUYANA No. 104026 SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2014

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

GUYANA’S MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

PRICE: $60

Nagamootoo pledges to work with APNU against PPP Page

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INCLUDING VAT

No breach of jurisdiction or sub-judice principles – Ombudsman

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Ombudsman says Kaieteur News’ headline was ‘extremely unfair’

TOURISM MINISTRY LIGHTS UP TO USHER IN FESTIVE SEASON

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Should CARICOM Gov’ts reassess their relationship with IACHR? Page 11

President of Guyana Donald Ramotar and Tourism Minister (ag) Irfaan Ali during the Christmas Tree light up at Rahaman’s Park

DVD vendor gets 108-month sentence for multiple offences Page 5

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

CARICOM Secretariat celebrates Staff Talent Week with magnificent fashion extravaganza

CARIBBEAN Community (CARICOM) Staff Talent Week continued with a magnificent fashion extravaganza held at the CARICOM Secretariat at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara on Thursday.

This activity entailed both professional models and members of staff strutting designs from renowned designers Olympia Small-Sonaram, Veronica Longford and Marica de Santos.

The hallway of the Secretariat was transformed into a runway filled with staff members who supported their colleges participating in the fashion show. The evening began with the ‘Stars’, as the staffers mesmerized the audience in their own pieces of evening wear, much to the delight of the gathering.

The room came alive with the highlight of the segment, the walk of Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, who strutted to the loud applause of his

Modelling a Veroké piece

staffers.

The Olympia line offered up denim in “hard Knocks”, and this was embraced by both the crowd and the models.

Olympia’s designs are known for their sex appeal, and she did not disappoint in her collection.

The Veronica Longford Veroké line of handbags greatly illustrated her talent and versatility, and had the audience sitting in admiration of her work.

Marica De Santos showcased her all-ladies’ line of stunning work wear that can double as evening wear.

Featuring bold hues of teal, pinks, and splashes of blues and yellow, her designs were far from the orthodox drab colours and forms of the corporate ‘look’.

Anya Thomas, a CARICOM staffer who, along with others, worked diligently to organize the fashion extravaganza, also served as the Mistress of Ceremonies (MC). She noted that the Traits model Management team, which supplied the models, worked along with and trained the ‘in-house’ models. Professional trainer Mr. Keith Allicock was additionally hired to train the staffers.

The gathering was additionally entertained by dancers from the National School of Dance, who gave a notable performance of the CARCOM song which was well received by the audience. There were also segments of casual outfits provided by Street Styles.

The fashion extravaganza was one segment of a week of activities of the secretariat’s annual Staff Talent Celebration, which commenced on Monday, November 24. The celebration, which aims to share talents and skills now resident within the walls of the CARICOM Secretariat while promoting social cohesion among staff members, is now in its thirteenth year. (Raveena Mangal)

A CARICOM staffer struts the runway showcasing a Veroké handbag

TOURISM MINISTRY LIGHTS UP TO USHER IN FESTIVE SEASON

President Donald Ramotar tries his hand at conducting the Guyana Police Band

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

Nagamootoo pledges to work with APNU against PPP EXECUTIVE Member of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, on Tuesday, made it clear that his party will work with the main parliamentary political Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), against the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.

“We have decided to work with APNU and all other patriotic, political, business, labour, religious, human rights, women, youth…in a broad fight against the PPP minority regime,” Nagamootoo said during a news conference.

Since the 2011 elections campaign, AFC has been working with the APNU when they campaigned in traditional PPP areas to

perceived to be highly supportive of the APNU, but in PPP support areas.

David Granger

take away votes from the ruling party.

However, a Government official, speaking to this newspaper, pointed out that the AFC did not campaign in APNU-supported Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) and other areas

AFC always supported APNU The official added too that AFC’s intention all along seems to have been to support the APNU, as evidenced in their moves since the 2011 general and regional elections.

Cases in point, according to the Government source, include: ● AFC’s support of APNU to slash the national Budget every year since 2012, effectively denying Guyana and Guyanese of further developments; ● AFC’s support of the APNU to vote down the major transformational projects, such as the Cheddi Jagan International Airport

(CJIA) expansion and the Amaila Falls Hydro-power (AFHP) project, the latter being seen as critical to the provision of cheaper energy and the development of a highly productive manufacturing sector;

Moses Nagamootoo

● AFC working with APNU to block funding for a number of Government programmes including the $1B Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) and $450M for loan subventions to University of Guyana students; and ● AFC and APNU working together to vote down critical pieces of legislations that are important to national development.

These legislations include: the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill and the Customs Amendment Act. The latter was voted down by the APNU with the support of the AFC. The Government had re-tabled the Customs (Amendment) Bill which, if passed, would have seen companies both local and foreign paying taxes on non-returnable containers of alcoholic or non-alcoholic items. The defeat of this Act resulted in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) giving a ruling in which Guyana had to repay Suriname-based beverage

company Rudisa, US$6M. The official added that the other examples of the AFC/APNU ‘partnership’ are clearly documented and are matters of public record.

NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION The most recent example of this was the AFC sponsored no-confidence motion against the current Administration.

Nagamootoo, in June, indicated that the party was considering the movement of a no-confidence motion against the Government.

Nagamootoo, in an article in a Wednesday’s edition of the Stabroek News, under the headline ‘AFC considering no-confidence motion against Government’, said such a move is seriously being contemplated by his party. However, he acknowledged that a no-confidence motion would have to be supported by the main Opposition APNU. A few days after, APNU endorsed this possibility as a serious consideration.

Both parties made it clear that they intended to push ahead with the no-confidence motion on the reconvening of the National Assembly.

Section 106 (6) of the Constitution states that: “The Cabinet and President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of the majority of all Members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

However, the following

paragraph, Section 106 (7) makes clear that: “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution,

Khemraj Ramjattan

supported by no less than two-thirds of all elected members of the National Assembly, and shall resign after a new President takes the oath of office following the election.”

“There is no doubt that all along the AFC was colluding with APNU to work against the PPP/C Government,” the Government source concluded.

In addition to the Government official, political pundits have long speculated on a possible alliance between the two parties against the current Administration.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

Courts brings $2M Christmas cheer to another customer COURTS Guyana has surprised a second customer with a $2M cheque and this time it was Maxwell Boyer.

During the season of giving, Courts is rewarding customers with several mind-blowing and exciting promotions for their patronage throughout the year.

Speaking briefly at Courts Guyana Main Street location, Managing Director of Courts Guyana Clyde de Haas on Wednesday congratulated the winners and urged them to continue supporting the number one furniture store. He explained that there are different promotions that are concurrently running, but the biggest is the Courts Big Prize.

Public Relations and Promotional Officer, Roberta Ferguson explained: “At Courts Guyana we always try to reward our customers and thank them for the pa-

tronage throughout the year and we know that without our customers we would not be the mega store we are today.” Ferguson noted that the store had received great responses for each promotion held and the winning entries were drawn under the scrutiny of our external and internal auditors.

Maxwell Boyer, the new millionaire, expressed his delight and disbelief at the same time. He explained when the Courts Team showed up at his home, he was in disbelief saying, “No this is not true.” He noted that he always shops at Courts and he encourages persons to do the same: “When you want quality stuff come here (Courts).”

Also at the event were Mabe winners, who won their purchase free and the Harris paints winners received their official letters.

New Courts millionaire Maxwell Boyer and family receive symbolic cheque from Managing Director of Courts Guyana, Clyde de Haas

Domestic problems drive E’bo farmer to suicide ANOTHER suicide has hit Region 2. According to reports, a 48- year- old cashcrop farmer of Supenaam Creek has ended his life in tragic manner after experiencing domestic problems with his wife.

The farmer, Feroz Ramdimoon, reportedly drank a poisonous substance used for spraying and killing weed and grass after experiencing domestic problems with his wife. Reports said the farmer who could not take the problem anymore drank the poisonous substance to end his life by suicide.

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Reports said the farmer was rushed to the Suddie hospital Tuesday afternoon by relatives and admitted.

He died early Wednesday morning, although doctors tried to save his life.

Only two weeks ago, another man who was a mechanic of Hampton Court Sea Dam ended his life by suicide while in a drunken state. He said he had drunk poison to kill himself, but regretted his actions while in the Suddie hospital. He lived four days but had a chance to repent and ask God’s forgiveness for what he had done. He was very

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sorry for drinking the poison.

Several residents of the region are calling on the Ministry of Social Services and the Religious community to address the problem of suicide. They said suicide is taking the lives of many persons who feel there is no answer to their personal problems. Residents said the free selling of poison on the roadside and in some stores should be stamped out. They said persons who are purchasing poison should be property monitored and investigated before they are sold poison.

The residents said the Poison Board should take a strong stand and enforce laws regarding the selling of poison and advise farmers on how to store poison in a safe and secure place away from their homes and children.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

No breach of jurisdiction or sub-judice principles – Ombudsman THE controversial 25-page report on the criminal charges brought against three former New Building Society (NBS) employees, following a $69M fraud case at in 2006, does not deal with the actions of NBS. This was according to Ombudsman The Honourable Mr. Winston Moore, yesterday, at a news conference held at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street.

“The focus of my report is on the criminal charges brought against the managers…I can confidently state that not one sentence in my report contains any reference to anything

Ombudsman The Honourable Mr. Winston Moore

allegedly done by the NBS Board,” he said.

Moore confidently added that he had jurisdiction to investigate and compile his report.

He also made it clear that contrary to expressed concerns of a breach of the sub-judice principle, his investigation cannot affect the ongoing civil action currently before the High Court, since he dealt with criminal proceedings.

Moore stressed that the limits of his functions are clearly outlined in the Constitution, as well as in the Ombudsman’s Act. His report, which was ini-

tially circulated to the parties involved for comment, was handed to the Clerk of the National Assembly last week for tabling in the House.

He also maintains that he did not circulate the report to sections of the media, given that at least two media houses published articles relative to the contents of the report – an action that has led to concerns being raised by NBS, even as Moore contends that his report in no way “stigmatised” the Society.

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS The $69.9M fraud was

said to have been committed in late 2006.

Arjoon and two former senior m*anagers, Kent Vincent and Kissoon Baldeo were subsequently fired in 2007 after an investigation, which concluded that there was dereliction of duty, negligence and/or serious misconduct.

Following that, charges were laid against them. These charges were subsequently discharged after the virtual complaint failed to re-appear in court for the ongoing preliminary investigation.

Subsequently, the managers challenged the Society’s

decision to terminate their employment, among other things, but this was dismissed.

Arjoon later moved ahead with a civil action against NBS and the matter is currently before the courts.

Following this, he made a complaint to the Ombudsman’s Office and the subsequent Ombudsman’s report on the matter was released several days ago.

The Ombudsman also used the news conference as an opportunity to detail the timeline relative to the investigations into the matter by his office.

DVD vendor gets 108-month sentence for multiple offences RONLEE Rampersaud, 25 (no address given) was yesterday sentenced to 108 months for robbery under arms, discharging a loaded firearm and attempting to commit a felony.

The convict who is a DVD vendor pleaded guilty to five charges, before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Particulars of the first charge said on November 10 at Sheriff Street Campbellville, Georgetown, being armed with a gun he robbed Leon Samoogan of $20,000 cash, property of Wang Chan Ton. The second charge said that on November 11 at King Street, Georgetown, being together with another he attempted to commit a felony, while being armed with a gun he attempted to rob Rakeema Ali. Another charge said on the same day at King Street, Georgetown, being together with another, he discharged a loaded firearm to Inshan Ali, with intent to maim, cause harm and disfigure.

The fourth charge said on October 22 at Robb Street, Georgetown, being armed with a gun he robbed Savitri Harrichan of one handbag; an undisclosed sum of cash; one Samsung cellular phone and documents together valued at $43,000.

On the same day at Robb Street, Georgetown, he dis-

charged a loaded firearm to Savitri Harrichan with intent to maim, cause harm and disfigure.

Police prosecutor Joel Ricknauth said as it relates to Samoogan, he was the cashier on duty on the day in question at Future House Chinese Restaurant on Sheriff Street. The court heard that Rampersaud who was at that time armed with a gun went into the restaurant and demanded that Samoogan hand over the cash.

The prosecutor then narrated the facts for the offenc-

es that were committed on November 11. He said that Inshan and Rakeema operate a store on King Street, and Rampersaud in the company of another entered the store.

Rampersaud jumped on the counter and demanded that Rakeema hand over her valuables. After Rakeema refused to do so, his accomplice shot Inshan and made good his escape.

The prosecution’s facts also stated that October 22 at Robb Street, Rampersaud walked towards Harrichan, brandished a weapon and

fired a shot to the right side of her abdomen. Subsequently, an alarm was raised and he made good his escape. However, investigations were carried out on all the charges and he was arrested and placed before the court.

In a plea for mitigation, the unrepresented man told the court that he is a father of one with no pending matter in any another court. He noted that he was charged with simple larceny before, but the matter was dismissed.

When asked by Magistrate Latchman if he has anything to say, Rampersaud response was, “I’m asking you to be lenient with me.”

Magistrate Latchman before sentencing took into consideration all mitigating factors and the fact that a weapon was used in the commission of the offences.

She also took into consideration the seriousness of the offence and the need to deter others from contemplating committing such offences.

For discharging a loaded firearm and attempting to

commit a felony, he was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment for each charge.

The sentences will run concurrently.

For similar charges committed on October 22 last, he was also sentenced to 36 months imprisonment each, which will run concurrently.

In addition, he was also sentenced to 36 months imprisonment on the robbery under arms charge.

Each of the 36 months jail team will run consecutively, which amount to 108 months imprisonment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

GUYANA

EDITORIAL

The joy of home-grown food AMONG the plethora of rich natural resources found abundantly in Guyana, the most valuable, unarguably, is its rich agricultural potential; and that potential is being exploited in most creative ways by the Government, to the extent where Guyana has achieved the UN Millennium Development Goal (MDG) in food security.

However, with all the fresh produce to be found in the marketplaces Guyanese are obsessed with ‘foreign’ preserved foodstuff.

All of our ancestors based their survival on agriculture and many grew rich off the proceeds, while the education of many outstanding professionals in various fields was funded by their parents toil in farmlands.

‘Grow local, buy local’ has been a recurring refrain of successive PPP Governments because, apart from all the health benefits, it also boosts the local economy.

No-one should starve in Guyana, and many who cry about hun-

ger and poverty have grass instead of vegetables and fruit trees growing in their yards, while others prefer to make of their homes concrete jungles, every square inch of their yards covered with concrete.

Importation of foodstuff has taken chunks out of the GDP of Caribbean states, and the new global environment threatens agriculture in small Caribbean countries.

There exists a threat to traditional main agricultural products such as sugar, rice and bananas and the region has to work to restructure these industries to enhance productivity and value and increase product range.

Agriculture in the region must be ‘strategically repositioned’ and must rest on the twin pillars of global competitiveness of agri-products and balanced development of rural areas and communities.

This was the impetus that drove The Jagdeo Initiative on Agriculture, formulated and launched by former President of Guyana, Dr.

Bharrat Jagdeo in July of 2002.

Almost simultaneously the Government also introduced the ‘Grow More Food’ campaign, encouraging homeowners to start kitchen gardens to reduce their food bill and eat healthier.

However, there are still crowds flocking supermarkets to purchase preserved produce instead of opting for fresh, homegrown fruits and vegetables, to the detriment of their health and the national economy.

Regionally, Caricom heads have expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace at which the Jagdeo Initiative is being implemented within member states, noting that a more welcoming approach would see the region becoming more food rich.

The Jagdeo Initiative identifies and defines the key constraints facing agricultural development in the Caribbean and aims to develop and implement targeted, focused and practical interventions at both the regional and national levels to

overcome these constraints.

In 2013, the Region’s food import bill was a whopping US$5 billion, with some $200 million of the total going towards the importation of flour and another $200 million for corn and soya for the stock feed industry.

Guyana is seeking alternatives and substitutes to certain food commodities, as it seeks to play its part in reducing food import.

Under the Jagdeo Initiative, it is expected that ag-

riculture in the region will have made substantial progress in its contribution to sustainable growth, within a framework of transparent institutions and good governance that enables the transformation of its products and processes.

If the principles of ‘grow local, buy local, eat local’ are applied to everyday existence, the people of this country and the entire region will become healthier in both body and pocket.

Robinson and Antoine of IACHR should be made to answer for their body’s flawed position I WOULD firstly like to commend Attorney-at-Law Mr. Murseline Bacchus for his excellent exposition of the law as it relates to “threats” in respect of the impugned recording that is attributed to the Attorney General (AG).

Mr. Bacchus identified legally and objectively what I have been saying all along, that no threats were made by the AG on the impugned recording. It is my hope that the great work that he did in his letter published in the Chronicle, ‘Kaieteur News report not factual’ (November 26, 2014), would satisfy the public that the AG did not commit any offence.

I must also make mention of letter writer Faruk Mohammed who, like myself, has observed that the conclusions made by the Inter American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) about the AG were made in violation of the rules of natural justice. How could an international body issue a pre-

cautionary measure using only information that the complainant (Mr. Christopher Ram, legal counsel for Kaieteur News) provided without hearing the other side or even using information which is in the public domain such as the AG’s official statement on the impugned recording.

Mr. Bacchus’s legally-informed factual position also flies in the face of what was conveyed by the IACHR, which highlighted among other things that “the Commission considers that the requirement of seriousness is met, in light of the alleged threat expressed against the lives and personal integrity of the Kaieteur News personnel, within the framework of their right to freedom of expression.”

One would have thought that out of the seven commissioners sitting on the IACHR, at least the two, Ms. Tracy Robinson of Jamaica and Ms. Rose-Marie Belle Antoine of Trinidad & Tobago,

both being distinguished attorneys with knowledge of the Caribbean legal system and the legal prescription of due process and natural justice, would know that “threats” were never conveyed by the AG to the staff of Kaieteur News.

Mr. Mohamed in his letter in Chronicle (on November 28) under the caption ‘The IACHR should state what criteria and principles guide them when dealing with a complaint’ made a very important point when he spoke of the seriousness placed on the privacy of one’s communication and the fact that IACHR didn’t find it necessary to address that important issue, even though it was the Kaieteur News that taped, manipulated and made public a private conversation without the consent or permission of the AG. I am reminded of the Edward Snowden of WikiLeaks who because of his actions has become an international criminal seeking asylum in Russia to hide

from his crimes of invasion of privacy in the U.S. Again, the two Caribbean commissioners of the IACHR Ms. Belle and Ms. Antoine who presumably are familiar with the Caribbean domestic laws in addition to foreign laws should have addressed this crucial infringement of one’s privacy, seeing how it is also enshrined in the U.S. constitution, the European Convention on Human Rights and indeed, the OAS charter on Human Rights to which IACHR comes under.

I would also like to ask, which country of law, principle of law or system of law did the IACHR use to make its findings and issue its precautionary measures and incidentally, are they now prepared to make a similar pronouncement on the invasion of privacy by Mr. Leonard Gildarie and Kaieteur news?

Unless they do so, Guyanese and the reading public at large would be forced to lump them in the

category of International organisations that simply issue statements to fabricate the grounds for their existence, following in the footsteps of organisations like Transparency International, the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) and others whose agenda are simply driven by perception indices and whose conclusions are based without any reference, empirical data or indeed, by any scientific methodologies.

In other words they are part of a family of International organizations who derive their sustenance and demonstrate their usefulness by the parasitic exploitation of issues without any regard to principle or objectivity.

It is important at this juncture to note the imperative point made by Mr. Mohamed in his letter when he outlined that the IACHR made an egregious statement prior to the one it is now making about the AG. He was referring to the 2012

Linden shooting when he said “it was the same IACHR that came out with a similar, impulsive and capricious statement holding the Guyana Police Force responsible for the shooting. This premature finding of theirs, which was obviously made without hearing the other side, contrary to the rules of natural Justice, was later debunked by an International Commission of Inquiry that could not connect the shooting to the police after hearing the facts of the case objectively.” History it seems is repeating itself.

These highly decorated academics including Ms. Robinson and Ms. Antoine of the IACHR should answer for the travesty committed against the Attorney General of Guyana and by extension the Government.

It is my contention that the Government of Guyana should petition CARICOM in this matter.

RICHARD MENDOZA

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

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Leon Suseran is wrong A ‘mook’ will run I NOTED a letter in Stabroek News of November 25, 2014 in which Mr. Leon Suseran questioned the validity of UG’s 2014 Convocation.

He posed the question thus: “Is it correct that the university’s Act and Statutes state that it is only the Chancellor or Pro-Chancellor’s duty to confer on the graduands at a convocation ceremony their respective diplomas, certificates, associate degrees and degrees?” (Sic) I am not sure that the Editor of a newspaper or the public at large is the authority to whom such a question should be posed.

Mr. Suseran could have avoided me the task of writing this letter; avoided the public the doubt about the University’s action; and the graduates any uncertainty about their status, had he in fact read the Act and Statutes of the University, or simply called the University to acquaint himself with the facts.

The facts are: (1) “Subject to these Statutes, the Academic Board shall have the following powers:- … (c) to award Degrees (other than Honorary Degrees) Diplomas, Certificates and other distinctions:” (Statute 15(2) (c) University of Guyana Act and Statutes) (2) “(i) The Principal and Vice-Chancellor shall be the academic and executive head of the University… in the absence of the Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor, he shall perform the functions of Chancellor.” (Section 7, University of Guyana (Amendment) Act 1977).

This information is for Mr. Suseran’s edification; as well as the public’s confidence in the University’s conduct of its business.

VINCENT ALEXANDER Registrar of U.G.

Our present actions will determine if we sink or swim PARLIAMENT has been prorogued. Political parties and Politicians alike are stifling Guyana with their mudslinging, stone throwing and accusations of unpatriotic actions and intentions. Notwithstanding all this, the Guyanese people seem little concerned since life is consumed with the efforts of making ends meet amid crime, floods and social decadence.

Our Politicians on all sides are speaking about each other and not to one other. In Guyana we have three Parliamentary Political Parties that do not trust each

other to work together, yet each is asking Guyanese to thrust them individually.

How politically, rationally or logically correct can they be when every word they say or actions done can be misconstrued, misrepresented, misunderstood or deliberately spun out of context. Sometimes by error and sometimes for personal reasons.

We must admit that our actions in the present circumstances will determine if we sink or swim. We need to move forward for the benefit of the citizens of Guyana.

There is only one way out of our present situation. Guy-

ana’s Politics must be lifted to higher consciousness.

On behalf of the Guyana Harijan Sansad I strongly recommend that our politicians stop the blame game and talk to the man in the looking glass. We encourage Guyanese, especially our politicians and civic leaders to begin a process of ‘Right Consideration, Right Thinking and Right Action for Right Living’.

We are always ready and willing to do our part in whatever way possible.

PANDIT CHRISHNA PERSAUD Secretary, Guyana Harijan Sansad

for president next HATS off to some of you guys with guts at the Guyana Chronicle and Guyana Times but the majority of Guyanese know that the mafia head’s money will talk.

It’s all over now. I will go as far and say Khurshid Sattaur pulled out, but who could blame him? The man is not a gutter rat like his protagonist. You will never hear or read of Sattaur shooting and murdering someone in cold blood.

Chalk it up to Mohan Lall being the big winner. K/ News reported: “Lall pleaded not guilty to the allegation, Magistrate Moore smiled and remarked, “Fortune smiles upon your favour”.

The magistrate went on to inform Lall through his Attorney, Khemraj Ramjattan, that a legal repre-

sentative for Sattaur had addressed the court prior to his arrival.

He explained that Sattaur, through his attorney, Joy Persaud, had refused to offer any evidence against Lall. The GRA boss, the Magistrate said, was no longer interested in pursuing the matter and did not plan to appear in court to testify against Lall. The matter was accordingly dismissed.

Is this not the said magistrate that handed a suspended sentence to a well-known alleged drug dealer who was represented

by PNC Parliamentarian, the Lawyer James Bond?

Was it not the said PNC Lawyer James Bond that posted on his Facebook page that what Mohan Lall did in the wiretapping of the AG was wrong but immediately pulled his statements

from Facebook after allegedly talking with Mohan Lall?

I said it before and will say it again; the PPP/C will have a battle and be in for the fight of their political lives if new elections were to be called now.

It would appear the fix is in at GECOM and if it is not fixed and PNC is declared winner and PPP/C takes it to the court, PPP/C will have no chance in hell of winning in court if one takes into consideration the actions and utterances of the Guyana Bar Association on political matters.

For those calling the man ‘Mook’ Lall, well, the man is no mook. He knows how to get rich and how to control people. Soon he may run for president.

TED KING

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

GEA WRAPS UP CARICOM ENERGY WEEK 2014

CARICOM Energy Week 2014 (CEW 2014) which just concluded (Nov 16-22) saw all CARICOM member states simultaneously celebrating CEW2014 under the theme “Achieving Climate, Environmental and Economic Resilience through Sustainable Energy." Guyana was no exception!

T h e G u y a n a E n e rg y Agency (GEA), in keeping with the main thrust of CEW- to build awareness among various segments of the society across the Community about critical energy issues with a key focus on sustainable energy development at the national levelplanned and successfully executed a week of activities to commemorate CEW2014.

GEA kick started their energy week activities ‘at home’ with an in-house quiz on Friday November 14th, 2014 at the Cara Lodge.

Two presentations were delivered to staff members titled ‘Sustainable Energy’ and ‘Energy Conservation and Efficiency Tips’, followed by the viewing of a Documentary on Sustainable Energy.

Things got really exciting during the quiz segment as employees vied for one of the coveted prizes by

Ms Rehana Alli receiving her prize at the ‘In House Quiz’

Secondary School’ were the recipients of the presentation. Delivered in the form of viewing a ten-minute Documentary followed by a power point on Sustainable Energy Initiatives, students were engaged in discussions on energy and energy related issues, while being encouraged to practise energy efficiency and conservation.

Key definitions were highlighted for example ‘Sustainable Energy’, ‘Energy Conservation’ and ‘Energy Efficiency’, among others.

After the delivery of the

Some of the Students during the presentation

answering questions which were based on the presentations made and the content of the Documentary. In the end, the Accounts Division was the overall winner carting off five of the ten prizes that were up for grabs.

The aim of the activity was mainly to involve employees in the Energy Week celebrations as well as disseminate energy related information.

The in-house quiz paved the way for a school presentation on Monday November 17, 2014. Held in Bartica Region 7, the fourth and fifth formers of ‘Three Mile

presentation, students were encouraged to answer questions and tokens (CFLS and T-Shirts) were distributed to those who answered correctly.

School presentations are an ongoing component of GEA’s strategic plan and is aimed towards providing students with a practical understanding of energy and energy related issues, encourage interest, and behavioural changes, in relation to energy efficiency and conservation.

During Energy Week, the Agency seeks to have outlying schools be recipients

of the presentation, hence, Three Mile Secondary was chosen.

On the heels of the proceedings, the Burrowes School of Art came alive with much excitement on Tuesday November 17th, 2014, as fifty-six (56) Primary School students of grades 4-6 expressed their energy during the Poster Board activity.

Aptly titled ‘Express your Energy’, this activity had in attendance fifty-six (56) students between the ages of nine to eleven (9-11) whose enthusiasm could not be contained. Representing St. Margaret’s Primary, Marian Academy, St. Angela’s Primary and Winfer Gardens, the students were encouraged to convey their interpretation of energy efficiency and sustainability through artwork and pictorial illustrations. Ardently encouraged by their fellow team members, students expressed their interpretation of ‘The Power of Sustainable Energy’, ‘Think Act Save’, ‘Protect the Environment’ and ‘How to be an Energy Champion’.

The activity was noncompetitive, therefore, students were not judged or

ranked based on their illustrations. Rather, each school was awarded a ‘Certificate of Participation’, while each student (and teacher) was awarded a token of appreciation as an honorary ‘Energy Champion’.

The posters created during the activity will be displayed at the upcoming National Energy Forum at a date soon to be announced owing to the fact that it was postponed due to inclement weather.

Held on Thursday November 20th, in the Essequibo Room of the Cara Lodge, a seminar titled ‘Taking Account of Energy Efficiency in Procurement’ was the next activity. The seminar was facilitated by Dr. Mahender Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of the GEA. The objective of the seminar was to stimulate dialogue, discuss and bring awareness to benefits of Energy Efficient Procure-

that the annual operating energy costs of electrical appliances must be included as part of the evaluation in the

A pupil of St. Margaret’s Primary receiving her token from Ms. Petal Jettoo of NCERD

procurement process.

Though specifically targeting Government Ministries and Agencies the seminar was also open to the private sector. Present at the Seminar were representatives from the following

Students illustrating their concept of one of the themes

ment and what it entails while highlighting the Procurement Policy statement which states that ‘All public procurement of electrical appliances shall include, as part of the decision-making process, an evaluation of the annual operating energy costs of the various electrical appliances’. Participants were made aware of certain aspects of the Energy policy and encouraged to ensure

Some of the Participants of the Seminar

and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technical Assistance Project (REETA), Ministry of

Ministries: Tourism, Youth Sports and Culture, Human Services, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, Amerindian Affairs and Home affairs.

Other participants included The Guyana Police Force, the Bank of Guyana, the Cyril Potter College of Education, the Guyana Revenue Authority and GUYSUCO among others.

The Agency also launched an Essay and Art competition during Energy Week. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners of both activities will be announced in January 2015, and awarded their prizes.

The successful completion of each activity would not have been possible without the support of several organisations. In this regard GEA extends gratitude to the CARICOM Secretariat

Education, Office of Climate Change, Ms. Petal Jettoo of NCERD and Mr. Ivor Thom of Burrowes School of Art. The Guyana Energy Agency, in the exercise of its mandate, continues to promote energy efficiency, energy conservation and the development and utilisation of alternative sources of energy. Energy Week, consistent with Guyana’s energy trust and Low Carbon Development Strategy, serves as an annual feature in fulfilling part of the mandate of the GEA by disseminating information essential to improving public awareness on sustainable energy, conservation and overall efficiency.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

Forty-year old pleads guilty to break and enter, larceny A FORTY-year-old man yesterday was remanded to prison by Magistrate Ann McLennan, on a break and enter and larceny charge.

Imran Rahaman pleaded guilty to the charge that said between November 24 and 25 at James Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, he broke and entered the storeroom of Amad Rahaman and stole a tool kit, three vehicle

shocks, a socket kit, two racing car tyres, a scale and 14 saw blades, a total value of $517,000.

Police Prosecutor Dinero Jones opposed bail on the ground that the defendant gave the court conflicting addresses telling the police he resides at Lot 7 James Street Albouystown. Jones also objected on the basis of the penalty the offence attracted

and there is a likelihood that the accused would not return to stand trial.

Additionally, he added that the defendant is the nephew of Amad Rahaman and the items have not been recovered.

The prosecutor’s objections were upheld and the matter was transferred to Magistrate Judy Latchman on December 4.

West Ruimveldt teen gets 48 months for simple larceny E I G H T E E N - y e a r- o l d Joshua Joseph, who pleaded guilty to a simple larceny charge on Friday will spend the next 48 months of his life in prison as punishment for the crime.

Joseph, of Lot 28 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Ann McLennan.

According to the charge, on November 18 at Leopold Street, Georgetown, he stole a stereo set valued $100,000, property of Jermaine Peters.

The court also heard that on October 16 at Leopold

Street, Georgetown, he stole a DVD player valued at $20,000, property of Jermaine Peters.

Police Prosecutor Dinero Jones told the court that the defendant lives at Peters’ home at Lot 19 Leopold Street and on the day in question, November 18, the virtual complainant (VC) returned home and discovered his stereo set missing.

Peters confronted Joseph who reportedly denied stealing the set. As a result, the matter was reported to the police and an investigation was launched. Joseph

subsequently confessed to the crime and he was then arrested and charged.

Additionally, as it relates to the stolen DVD player, the defendant confessed to the police that he had removed the said appliance, but told the court that he had taken the DVD player across the street to be fixed and that it was still there to be uplifted.

The magistrate sentenced Joseph to 24 months imprisonment on each of the two charges, and ordered that the sentence run concurrently.

Cabinet gives green light to several infrastructure contracts CABINET has given its no objection to several contracts for infrastructure works.

This includes the rehabilitation of the Moleson Creek acrow panel bridge, Region 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne) at a cost of $84.7M was approved by Cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday.

The disclosure was made by Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, who added that a $23.2M contract for the construction of a new Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) registration office in Anna Regina, Region 2 (Pomer-

oon/Supenaam) was also approved.

Dr. Luncheon stated too that a contract for the installation of new air conditioning units at the National Culture Centre at a cost of $63.2M received Cabinet’s go-ahead.

Two other contracts one for procurement of fuel and lubricants for the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the other for the supply of hardware, transformers and meters, among other items, for the Linden Electricity Company Inc. were also approved.

Contracts above the

$15M mark are taken to Cabinet for its statement of no-objection.

Section 54 of the Constitution deals with Cabinet’s involvement in reviewing the award of procurement contracts, as well as the phasing out of its functions with the establishment of a Public Procurement Commission (PPC), in the interest of decentralising the procurement process.

Currently, the procurement process is decentralised at the level of ministries, regions, district tender boards and the Ministry of Finance tender board.

Insel Air announces direct GT/ Curacao flights at US$ 161.00

CURACAO carrier Insel Air has officially announced direct flights from Georgetown to Curacao and that the airline will now be offering four flights per week to Aruba/Curacao.

Insel Air offers introductory fares from Georgetown to Curaçao starting at US$161 and to St. Maarten starting at US$403.

Insel Air officially began its service to the Guyana market from June 18, 2014.

Roraima Airways serves as the Ground Handling Services Agent and General Sales Agent for Insel and destinations included into the scope of travel are Jamaica, St. Maarten, The Dominican Republic and several South American destinations. Insel Air operates MD-80 aircraft which could accommodate up to 150 passengers and has been servicing the Guyana route to Aruba twice weekly.

The airline has announced that it will start direct flights from Georgetown to Curacao as of December 18, 2014. Passengers from Georgetown now have a

direct and fast connection to Insel Air’s hub, Curacao, which provides them access to a total of 20 destinations.

During a recent press conference at Duke Lodge, Kingston, Managing Director of the Roraima Group of Companies, Captain Gerald Gouveia informed media operatives that currently Insel Air flies out of Guyana twice weekly and they now connect us to other regions in South America, Latin America and also North America.

Gouveia emphasised that nearly all flights are completely booked and as such the airline has decided to add two flights to their already existing ones. “ Insel Air will add two more flights in December which will connect out of Curacao , so we will have two flights from Aruba to Guyana and two from Curacao to Guyana,” he explained.

Another major achievement for the Roraima Group was the collaboration through Insel Air out of Miami, making a link with a major tour company, Gouveia related. He noted that

this collaboration “through Insel Air out of Miami, Roraima was able to link up a major tour operator whom we just signed a contract with.” He further explained that this will now be feeding the Guyana tourism product with 15-20 tourists coming every week, “They will come here for four days and five nights where they will be treated to all facilities by Roraima.” He also explained that this package would cost $US399 all inclusive. “We can do this because we own all the facilities and we provide from the tours, to accommodation and food among others,” he asserted.

InselAir offers its passengers a convenient flight schedule: Economy Class and Comfort Class service and online check-in.

Additionally,frequent flyers are being rewarded on each flight through the InselStarmiles loyalty programme. Tickets can be purchased at any Insel Air ticket office, online via fly-inselair.com and via local and online travel agents.

Ten bail petitioners granted $3.4M pending hearing of cases ACTING Chief Justice Mr. Ian Chang, S.C yesterday granted 10 petitioners bail totalling $3,4M pending the hearing of their cases.

Following are the offences, offenders and the amount of bail granted to

each offender.

Possession of Narcotics for the purpose of trafficking: Rudolph Carrington $200, 000; Quacy Adkek $250,000; Burkley Ross $146,000; Ian Smith $650, 000; Michael Phillips $150, 000; Alvin Solomon - $1,

500, 000: Simple Larceny: Basheer Khan - $100, 000: Assault: Vijay Naipaul - $60,000: Causing death by dangerous driving: Tazim Gafoor - $6, 001; Hafiaz Mogroo - $600, 000.

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DR. BHARRAT JAGDEO

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

Ombudsman says Kaieteur News’ headline was ‘extremely unfair’ THE Ombudsman, Justice Winston Moore yesterday criticised Kaieteur News for its “extremely unfair” headline regarding his controversial 25-page report on the criminal charges brought against three former New Building Society (NBS) employees, following a $69M fraud case at in 2006.

The embattled local daily on November 13 published an article on the report under the headline ‘Explosive Ombudsman report…Jagdeo ordered dismissal of NBS boss... because he refused to lend US$10M for Berbice Bridge’.

“I saw the headline referring to the former President firing someone over the

JUSTICE WINSTON MOORE

Berbice River Bridge and I thought that it was unfair because when you read the report it is what Mr. Arjoon is alleging...in my opinion it was an extremely unfair headline,” Moore said during a press conference held at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street.

He stressed that he made “no such finding” in his report and used the opportunity to stress the

need for media houses to respect the principles of the profession.

“I made no such finding considering the former President…(in) the media there should be rules,” the Ombudsman said.

Justice Moore’s press conference yesterday was intended to offer clarifications publicly on his 25-page report.

Traffic restriction on Vlissengen road bridges at Crown and Lance Gibbs Streets FOLLOWING a recent traffic improvement study, the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Public Works advises that effective December 1, 2014: • The Vlissengen Road Bridge at Crown Street will be ONE WAY EAST BOUND; and

• The Vlissengen Road Bridge at Lance Gibbs Street will be ONE WAY WEST BOUND. As a result, south bound traffic on Vlissengen Road that wish to access Queenstown will no longer be able to do so by turning right on the Bridge at Crown Street

but rather must do so at the next bridge, that is, at Lance Gibbs Street.

Likewise, north bound traffic on Irving Street and east bound traffic on Lance Gibbs Street that wish to access Bel Air will no longer be able to do so at the Bridge at Lance Gibbs Street.

These measures will help to reduce congestion, conflicts and delays at the Crown Street and Lance Gibbs Street bridges and provide for safer road traffic operations.

Motorists are asked to be vigilant and look out for the No Entry and No Right Turn signs.

No Entry sign

No Right Turn sign

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

Should CARICOM Gov’ts reassess their relationship with IACHR? -in light of dubious statements

HOW long are Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Governments going to tolerate organisations they support and fund in the lynching of the same Administrations?

This is the question being asked by several political pundits as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) comes under fire for what is being deemed as “premature pronouncements” being seen as not premised on the principles of law, due process or fairness.

This recent contention was expressed following a statement by the Commission calling for the “adoption of precautionary measures for members of Kaieteur News” given that that the three staff members “received threats against their lives and personal integrity as a consequence of their work” as journalists.

The Commission’s statement followed much hullaballoo over a controversial 19-minute private conversation between a senior reporter at Kaieteur News, Leonard Gildharie, and the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, which was illegally recorded and made public by Kaieteur News publisher, Mr. Mohan Lall, also called Glenn Lall.

The IACHR said: “After analysing the allegations of fact and law, the Commission believes that the information presented demonstrates prima facie (on initial examination) that the members of the Kaieteur News Journal are in a serious and urgent situation, since their lives and personal integrity face an imminent risk of irreparable harm.”

IGNORING OTHER SIDES Notably, another two pivotal questions are: how can an organisation of this type and standing conclude on allegations when only one side is heard; and which jurisdic-

tion’s law was examined to arrive at such ‘prima facie’ position.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that this organisation is headed by two distinguished Caribbean jurists, Tracy Robinson and Rose-Marie Belle Antoine.

Also, the circumstances under which the private conversation was recorded and the invasion of privacy, which extends to the public release of the recording were ignored by the IACHR – an issue addressed clearly in both journalistic principles and several United Nations (UN) policies.

First, the United Nation’s (UN) Universal Declaration Of Human Rights, which is applicable to all member states, makes it clear, in Article 12, that: “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.”

Secondly, the UN’s International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which was ratified by Guyana in 1977, in Article 17, reiterates the same message.

Thirdly, last December, the UN General Assembly, of which Guyana is a party, unanimously voted to adopt a resolution calling for online privacy to be recognised as a human right – ‘The Right to Privacy in the Digital Age’. For the first time, the General Assembly established that human rights should be applicable both offline and online.

The resolution has been introduced by Germany and Brazil after the revelations of the extraterritorial extension of US surveillance in cyberspace. The resolution calls upon the 193 UN member states to “respect and protect the right to privacy, including in the context of digital communication” and “to review

their procedures, practices and legislation on the surveillance of communications, their interception and collection of personal data, including mass surveillance.”

Additionally, Guyana’s Constitution, Article 154 (A), makes it clear that local functionaries in the judicial system, including judges, are required to take into account international law and Guyana’s treaty obligations in their deliberations. Article 154 (A) addresses the protection of human rights.

In some sections of society, concerned Guyanese are calling on the Government of Guyana to take this issue as it relates to invasion of privacy to the UN. NOT THE FIRST TIME IACHR’s comments are seen to have impugned Guyana, a CARICOM member state, on the international scene, and questions are being asked about whether the IACHR will be called to justify their pronouncements.

This is not the first time that the Commission’s actions have attracted negative attention for premature pronouncements and for representing only particular groups.

Additionally, in recognition of its shortcomings, the IACHR itself embarked on a strengthening process, which was started in 2011 and is led by the States belonging to the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas.

In Guyana, the IACHR was last flayed for a press release that condemned the action of security forces at Linden on July 18, 2012, which resulted in the deaths of three citizens and injuries suffered by 20 others.

No less than the Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon, at the time said that the Commission in its release had already deter-

mined that live rounds were fired by Police Officers “whereas this is an allegation for which evidence is yet to be evaluated and an assumption that remains to be factually established.”

Evidence in the matter was eventually provided, debunking IACHR’s criticisms.

An independent investigation was done by a Commission of Inquiry (COI) headed by former Jamaica Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe.

In its report handed over to President Donald Ramotar, in March 2013, the Commissioners said: “There was no evidence given, at the hearings before the Commission, to support the assertion that the minister gave instructions to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in relation to the incident in Linden on July 18, other than testimony from the minister, that he gave a general direction, on July 17, 2012 to the Commissioner, that he should take all lawful steps to maintain law and order in Linden.”

The Commission also found that, from all accounts, the acts of violence and destruction that immediately followed the shootings were committed by unidentified protestors and that, while the police action may be questionable, it was justified.

The Commissioners said, while Lindeners had applied to the appropriate regional police authority for permission to stage a five-day protest against the electricity tariff adjustment, “the evidence revealed that the conditions were breached and therein was the birth of the ensuing problems.”

In recent times, organisations like these have continued to make damning statements against regional Governments based on perception indices, no empirical data and in the absence of affording the said Governments a fair hearing.

You and I Foundation targeting schools –– to raise awareness on social issues in Guyana

THE recently launched ‘You and I Foundation’ intends to spread among all Georgetown schools –- from nursery to secondary -- an awareness on a plethora of social issues surrounding Guyana and the world today, among which are mental health, suicide and bullying.

This new initiative, which has been approved by the Ministry of Education will become effective from December 5, and will continue every school term thereafter.

The foundation is in full preparation mode to provide interactive sessions among the students in order to enhance awareness on the said issues.

Michelle Bristol, President of the ‘You and I Foundation’, has declared that once this project proves to be feasible, plans are in place to expand its reach into the remote areas of Guyana, as well as to make regular visits to the private schools in Georgetown.

She said no school in Guyana would be

bypassed in relation to spreading awareness on social issues, thus she is looking forward for support from other non-profit organisations (NGOs).

The ‘You and I Foundation’ has over 575 volunteers in all regions of Guyana. This privately-funded non-governmental organisation (NGO) was formed in 2007, but became active from 2010, and is mandated by the Laws of Guyana to assist mentally challenged children; children who are victims of domestic abuse, and the less fortunate, with advice and information on prevention of teenage pregnancy; prevention of suicide; and to reach out to children who are infected by HIV/AIDS, etc.

The foundation is affiliated with a Global Movement for Children, an organisation whose members have dedicated themselves to improve the lives of children and, as such, raising awareness on other related social issues in Guyana via workshops and special events.(Shivanie Sugrim)

(Second left) President of the ‘You and I Foundation’, Michelle Bristol, poses with a few members of the organisation yesterday at a small press briefing at the Rahaman’s Park suite

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

Breached Sussex Street koker fixed -Albouystown returning to normalcy

BY mid-afternoon on Wednesday the breached Sussex Street koker which had been responsible for the community of Albouystown being flooded had been fixed.

The koker had suddenly developed problems on Tuesday afternoon, resulting in water from the Demerara River inundating the community in an unfortunate situation that was believed

to have been caused by a person or persons unknown tampering with the koker, according to officials responsible for the administration of the city and its drainage systems.

Flooding of the community had occurred just days after its residents had begun picking up the proverbial pieces and getting their community and homes back to normalcy follow-

ing extensive flooding they had experienced during the recent unprecedented rainfall, which had also flooded several parts of the city and the east and west coasts of Demerara.

Town Clerk Carol Sooba was quoted in sections of the media as blaming the flooding of Albouystown on tampering of the koker, which she said amounted to sabotage. This was substan-

tiated by initial reports from persons immediately after the development.

Contacted on Wednesday, the Town Clerk said works had been carried out on that very koker after the area had been flooded last week and had to be drained when the tide was low. She told this newspaper that the apparent reason for the flooding was a case in which persons unknown to the council had wanted to start a confrontation.

By late Wednesday most of the affected areas in Albouystown had been drained after the koker had been fixed, according to officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The claim that the koker might have been sabotaged is, however, being played down by Albouystown residents, who are claiming that the works carried out on the structure last week following the downpour that flooded most of Region 4 had not been properly done, and the koker had buckled under pressure from the water and the high tide.

Over the years, the Government of Guyana has made several investments to ensure adequate attention and proper facilities are installed to drain water off the land whenever it rains. The period that saw extensive spending by the Government on drainage and the capacity to get water off the land is the post-2005 flood period.

There has since been continuous spending by the administration on drainage,

but these efforts are being hampered by the wanton dumping of garbage and other waste into the main and community drainage canals, and the extent of this problem is always seen whenever it rains heavily.

Most of the items which contribute to the blockage of drainage canals and trenches in communities are of Styrofoam material, and Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker underscored that very point only recently.

There have been numerous calls for the administration to adopt a tougher approach in regard to the issue of Styrofoam use. Government had placed a temporary ban on the importation of this item, but that ban has been lifted.

The issue of additional taxation for those companies and businesses which are responsible for importing Styrofoam items has been floated on several occasions, but such an approach would require broad-based consultation with all stakeholders.

Safety concerns delay outgoing flight of Dynamic Airlines to USA APPROXIMATELY 70 passengers who were scheduled to travel to the United States of America with Dynamic Airlines between Thursday evening and Friday morning were forced to remain on these shores because of safety concerns.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday afternoon, head of the local ground-handling team, Captain Gerry Gouveia, confirmed that the passengers were forced to remain in Guyana on Thursday evening since the airstrips in the United States were covered with ice, which would have rendered landing of the aircraft impossible.

The senior pilot in the local aviation industry related that the Roraima Group of Companies transported the affected passengers to various hotels within Georgetown and along the East Bank of Demerara, where they spent the night, before being transported back to the CJIA along with the crew members.

The other safety issue arose when the maintenance crew conducting routine checks on the aircraft before the passengers boarded observed that an emergency ramp on the aircraft was malfunctioning. This consequently was communicated to the passengers, and steps were immediately taken to have the fault corrected.

Capt Gouveia said the aircraft could not have taken off with its emergency ramp malfunctioning. He said the airline understood the inconvenience the passengers had experienced in being unable to leave the country as scheduled, but he explained that the delay was not the fault of the airline, but was due to unforeseen developments which could not have been avoided by management.

Passengers yesterday began calling media houses to inform them of the delay, even as they claimed they were first told they would be boarding at 11:30 hours, then were later told that the airline needed permission from the Civil Aviation Authority and airport security to depart Guyana.

Captain Gerald Gouveia is nevertheless maintaining that the delays were all solely attributable to safety-related issues. (Leroy Smith)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

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Sixty-three graduate from Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre SOME 63 students graduated from the Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre on Thursday in areas such as furniture making, masonry and agricultural mechanics among others.

“Nothing is as valuable as an education,” Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul said as he urged the graduates to aim for the stars.

The institute seeks to provide technical and vocational education and training for youths, as well as adults, to enable them to contribute to the economic development of their country. Administrator of the institution, Mr Sugrim, related that it presently has a 28-member staff but for the institute to be completely staffed they would have to fill eight vacancies, “which we are hoping to fill early

bling aspects at the Centre presently is the high number of dropouts they are experiencing.

He noted that: “We have 33% of dropouts from the institute,” explaining that some of them are also dropouts

from secondary or even primary schools and this poses a challenge for the teachers because of their poor knowledge base and delinquent behaviour. He however, noted that they will have in the New Year a teacher who can up-

Minister of Labour, Dr Nanda Gopaul, during his address at Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre 2015.”

Sugrim elaborated that the Centre provides training for persons from Orealla and Siparuni villages on the Upper Corentyne River and from as far as Liverpool on the Corentyne Coast, including Black Bush Polder. He explained that one of the most trou-

Dr Gopaul assisting in the distribution of certificates to the graduates

grade the level of acceptance for these individuals.

The administrator made the call for accommodation at the Centre so that they will be able to have more students from Orealla and Siparuni. “The need for accommodation is an urgent matter and if the Centre is able to make this a reality, more persons can have a technical education,” he said.

Minister of Labour, Dr Nanda Gopaul exhorted the graduates that without a proper education they will be left behind. He congratulated the institute for the rapid progress it has been making.

The Labour Minister answered the call for the institute to have accommodation and alluded that the Government will definitely

look at the possibility “and I know it is possible.” He noted that once they have secured the available space “the Government will work to see the best way we can canvass the resources so that in the not too distant future accommodation will no longer be a problem.”

He noted too that the Government has placed a lot of emphasis on education, and events like these ‘make us very proud.’ He explained that the belief is that technical education is only for school dropouts, “but let me tell you that a technical education is very important.”

Explaining also that with the direction of the country’s development, in a few years’ time, you will see the need for technical education “and you, yourself would want to invest in having technical education.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

PSC meets political parties, GECOM THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) being very concerned about the political situation in the country embarked on meeting all of the political parties as well as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The PSC said at the meeting the views and discussions were cordial and “we were impressed with the level of competence of all of our political leaders PSC and representatives of political parties in discussion and what they stood for in their quest to move Guyana forward.”

“We recognise that civil society needs to play a role in getting our political leaders to work together in order to collectively serve the populace,” The PSC noted.

It added: “We will therefore continue in our quest to ensure that this cordiality and honesty displayed at these meetings are adhered to when the parties deal with each other.”

The business umbrella body said it has now em-

barked on meetings with civil society actors in the interest of forming a collective to ensure that Guyana moves forward politically.

It thanked the parties and the leaders and GECOM especially for the frank meetings held.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

International artistes arrive for tonight’s Boombastic Concert

From left to right in photo are international acts ‘Kranium’, Christopher Martin and ‘Shaggy’, followed by Golden Boy’s Geraldo and Lorenzo Alphonso and Stan Gouveia.

- Shaggy, Kranium, Chris Martin promise a concert with a difference

T

HE media and other special invitees were yesterday able to get an ‘up close and personal experience’ with the exceptional international acts tabled for tonight’s ‘Boombastic Concert’, slated for the National Stadium at Providence, EBD. At a press conference held in their honour at the Palm Court Nightclub on Main Street, Georgetown, the media interacted with ‘Shaggy’, ‘Kranium’, and Christopher Martin, who had already arrived in Guyana. Lady ‘O’ and Baby Cham were expected to arrive in the country at about 21:45 hrs last night.

At the press conference, Golden Boy Entertainment’s Representative Stan Gouviea thanked the media for publishing that the show was going to be one of a lifetime. He disclosed that some two hundred and fifty new stage lights would add glitz and glamour to the event, and effects would be further accentuated with towering screens to allow patrons extended views of the artistes as they perform. He also made mention of a VIP Red Carpet experience that would be made available to patrons.

Promoter Geraldo Alphonso, in his presentation, said the fraternity is hyped and ready to deliver a concert like never before hosted on the local shores. He added that the extensive lineup of artistes is the Golden Boy’s Christmas treat for its fans.

Grammy-winning artiste ‘Shaggy’ did a ‘big up Guyana’, raving that he would be bringing the customary energy associated with his performance.

He added that the artistes on the panel are ‘like family’, which is a plus for an even heightened showcase.

This artiste would be the headline act at tonight’s event.

Christopher Martin noted that he was excited to be back in Guyana. He sent out ‘nuff respect’ to his supporters, emphasising that he is definitely looking forward to performing with the live band on stage.

He explained that because each artiste shares no animosity for the other, Guyanese can bet their ‘bottom dollar’ they would be given a show of a lifetime.

Kranium noted that the concert is a ‘family event’, and urged all Guyanese to come out in support of the concert. While he noted that his showcase would ‘be problems tonight’, he disclosed his great pleasure at sampling Guyanese cuisine.

He concluded by applauding the promoters for their intense and versatile promotion of the event. (Alex Wayne)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

WCB man suffers gunshot injury to face – during lone bandit invasion of residence

FORTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD Lester Cummings of No. 8 Village, West Coast Berbice sustained a gunshot injury to his face when a gunman in process of carrying out a robbery opened fire on Cummings at his home on Wednesday night.

Police report that at about 23:00 hours on November 26, 2014, Cummings was

aroused from sleep by a man armed with a handgun, who demanded cash and jewellery. The man discharged a round which hit Cummings to his face before he escaped.

Cummings was admitted to the New Amsterdam Hospital for treatment.

Police investigations into the incident are continuing.

Trio robbed by armed bandits at Pouderoyen residence – on arrival from CJIA

POLICE are probing an incident of armed robbery committed on a trio who had just arrived in Guyana and had travelled from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to their home at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara.

The incident occurred at about 03:10 hours on November 27, 2014 when Rabindranauth Sukha,

58, Balram Singh, 53, and Indira Singh, 58, were attacked and robbed by two men armed with handguns after they had arrived in a car PPP 1862 and were at the gate of their residence. They were held up by the two suspects, who relieved them of the motor car, US$8,000, two cell phones, their suitcases and other documents before escaping with the car.

Man of unsound mind killed by colleague at Camp & Durban Sts UP to late last evening, police were investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal stabbing of an unidentified man by his colleague, at the junction of Durban and Camp Streets, Georgetown at approximately 02:30 hours on November 28, 2014 (yesterday morning).

According to sources, the deceased was not immediately identifiable, even as the name of the suspect was handed over to the police and the suspect was himself in custody of the police.

Persons familiar with both men have said that the two are related and that they are both of unsound mind.

The police issued a press release yesterday to inform that they were investigating the

circumstances surrounding the man’s death.

Initial investigations by the police have found that the victim and his alleged relative had been involved in an argument during which he was stabbed to his abdomen. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

His body was later transported to the Lyken Funeral Parlour, where the police are looking to have a post-mortem conducted on Monday to determine his cause of death.

The deceased is of African descent and appears to be in his early twenties. He is dark in complexion, and is about 5’7” in height, with braided hair, according to the police in their release.

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Coach, Captain optimistic of success as ruggers depart for Mexico “We’re on a mission to redeem ourselves” said Theodore Henry, Coach of the National 7’s team who departed Guyana yesterday, bound for Mexico City where they will compete in the North America Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) 7’s Championship from December 3 – 4.

Speaking to reporters before the team’s departure at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) headquarters in Georgetown, Henry said that the team is more than ready and are raring to go in Mexico as they seek to recapture the NACRA 7’s title.

Guyana held the trophy for six consecutive years (2006 – 2011) before losing to Mexico in the finals in 2012. Lack of funding kept the team out of the tournament last year but this time around, heavy corporate and private support, along with a $4M contribution from the Government of Guyana, ensured that the region’s best Rugby nation is represented in the Spanish speaking country.

Despite the inclement weather experienced across

the country, Henry said that it didn’t damper the team’s preparation, since moving indoors at the National Gymnasium provided them with the conditions they will experience in Mexico.

Ryan Gonsalves, captain of the team said that this is one of the best teams ever assembled by the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) and that the team is aware of what’s at stakes in competing at the Championship, unlike their previous years.

President of the GRFU Peter Green also echoed the sentiments expressed by the coach and team Captain, and said that failure is not an option, as Guyana seeks to play at the 2015 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro.

Full Squad: Vallon Adams, Avery Corbin, Dwayne Schroeder, Richard Staglon, Ryan Gonsalves (Captain), Leon Greaves, Peabo Hamilton, Ronald Mayers, Kevin McKenzie, Claudius Butts, Isiejah Allen and Patrick King.

Coach: Theodore Henry, Colonel John Lewis (Manager) and Phillip Browne (Strength and Conditioning Trainer/Physiotherapist).

Racing Tips South Africa Racing Tips

07:55 hrs Rule The World

Turffontein

08:25 hrs Sitcom

08:30 hrs Percursor

08:55 hrs Sub Lieutenant

09:20 hrs Olma

09:25 hrs Fine Article

10:10 hrs Jayyed

09:55 hrs Mr Diablo

10:50 hrs Louis The King

10:30 hrs Elishpour

11:50 hrs Pine Princess

11:05 hrs Behemoth

12:25 hrs Rodeo Sioux

11:40 hrs Royal Caviar

13:00 hrs Eurakilon

English Racing Tips

13:35 hrs Commodore

Newbury

14:10 hrs Flaming Ace

08:20 hrs Avispa

Irish Racing Tips

08:50 hrs Jumps Road

Fairyhouse

09:20 hrs Dushrembrandt 09:50 hrs Albert Bridge 10:25 hrs More Of That 11:00 hrs Smad Place 11:35 hrs Monetaire Newcastle 08:05 hrs Moyode Wood 08:35 hrs Notonebuttwo 09:05 hrs Definitly Red 09:35 hrs Montoya’s Son 10:05 hrs Artic Fire 10:40 hrs Indian Castle 11:15 hrs Sir Vinski

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

McCullum blazes to 10th ton on sombre day in Sharjah - Spinner Craig takes seven as hosts implode (REUTERS) - Captain Brendon McCullum’s blazing century gave New Zealand a brisk start on the second day of the third and final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah as the death of Australian Phillip Hughes continued to cast a gloomy shadow over the match.

The 33-year-old righthander (153 not out) completed his 10th Test century, which came off 78 balls, as New Zealand reached 249 for one at close, replying to Pakistan’s first-innings total of 351.

In the morning, Pakistan, leading the series 1-0, appeared distracted by the death of Hughes and lost their last seven wickets for 66 runs as off-spinner Mark Craig (7-94) completed his first five-wicket haul in Tests.

The 25-year-old Hughes was struck on the head by a bouncer during a domestic match on Tuesday and passed away after two days in a Sydney hospital from the injury which caused massive bleeding to his brain.

The second day’s play was called off and the

Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson walk back at stumps, match resumed yesterday in a sombre atmosphere with players and officials observing a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for Hughes.

The death was on everyone’s mind as the cricketers seemed to be going through the motions with barely a hint of celebration when wickets fell or when McCullum reached his ton from the last ball before tea.

Both sets of players, all wearing black armbands, placed their bats outside the dressing-rooms with caps resting on the handles to reciprocate a global social media trend ‘#putoutyourbats’ in memory of Hughes.

The New Zealand team were also playing with the initials ‘PH’ written below the silver fern crest on their shirts.

Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez (197), who was unbeaten on 178 overnight, again fell agonisingly short of his maiden double hundred as he holed out in the deep trying to hit spinner Ish Sodhi out of the ground to get past the mark.

The 34-year-old righthander, whose previous highest score in Tests was 196, hit 25 boundaries and three sixes during his 316ball knock.

McCullum, who struck 17 fours and eight sixes, helped lift the mood in the afternoon by smashing the bowlers to all parts of the ground.

He added 51 with opener Tom Latham (13) and 198 in an unbroken second-wicket stand with Kane Williamson who hit seven boundaries and a six in his unbeaten 76.

Scoreboard PAKISTAN 1st innings (Overnight: 281-3) M. Hafeez c Boult b Sodhi 197 S. Masood b Craig 12 Az. Ali c Taylor b Craig 39 Y. Khan lbw b Vettori 5 Misbah-ul-Haq c Watling b Southee 38 A. Shafiq c Sodhi b Craig 11 S. Ahmed c Watling b Craig 15 Y. Shah c Taylor b Craig 25 M. Talha c Latham b Craig 0 R. Ali c Taylor b Craig 0 Z. Babar not out 0 Extras (lb-4 nb-1 w-4) 9 Total (all out, 125.4 overs) 351 Fall of wickets: 1-44 S. Masood,2-131 Az. Ali,3-160 Y. Khan,4-285 Misbah-ul-Haq,5-311 M. Hafeez,6-313 A. Shafiq,7-336 S. Ahmed,8-336 M. Talha,9-346 R.

Ali,10-351 Y. Shah Bowling: T. Boult 21 - 6 - 54 - 0(w1),T. Southee 24 - 4 - 54 – 1, D. Vettori 19 - 5 - 41 – 1, C. Anderson 12 - 4 - 28 - 0(nb-1 w-3), M. Craig 27.4 - 5 - 94 – 7, I. Sodhi 22 - 3 - 76 – 1.

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings T. Latham c S. Ahmed b R. Ali 13 B. McCullum not out 153 K. Williamson not out 76 Extras (lb-2 nb-3 w-2) 7 Total (for 1 wickets, 45 overs) 249 Fall of wickets: 1-51 T. Latham To bat: R. Taylor, C. Anderson, D. Vettori, B. Watling, M. Craig, T. Southee, I. Sodhi, T. Boult Bowling: M. Talha 7 - 0 - 62 - 0(nb-3 w-1),R. Ali 8 - 0 - 24 - 1(w-1), Z. Babar 10 - 1 - 71 – 0, Y. Shah 10 0 - 59 – 0, M. Hafeez 10 - 2 - 31 – 0.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

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Hughes to be given state memorial service * Outpouring of sympathy and grief as safety review to be launched * Test match will be discussed, in time, say Cricket Australia

By Nick Mulvenney SYDNEY, (Reuters) - The Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes, who died on Thursday after being hit in the head by a ball, will be honoured with a state memorial service.

The service will take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground next week, the same stadium where he suffered the horrific injury on Tuesday.

State memorials are normally reserved for political figures but the New South Wales Premier Mike Baird announced yesterdayy that Hughes, whose death has triggered a global outpouring of grief would also be afforded the honour.

“This service has been arranged in consultation with Phillip’s family, and it will be an opportunity for the entire community to pay their respects to a much-loved Australian and New South Welshman,” Baird

said in a statement.

Hughes’ death dominated Australia’s major newspapers yesterday, with sombre eulogies for the boy raised on a banana plantation whose life ended three days before his 26th birthday.

“Nation shares the agony of an innings cut short,” The Australian’s front-page headline read above a picture of Hughes gazing above with an Australian flag in the background.

Sydney’s Daily Telegraph blacked out its entire back page, except for a picture of Hughes, in his honour.

Government flags were at half-mast across the cricket-mad country and floral tributes were placed outside the entrance to the SCG. Local cricket clubs were painting 408 into the turf of their grounds, the number on Hughes’ national ‘baggy green’ cap signifying his status as the

Phillip Hughes country’s 408th test player, while black armbands would be worn and a minute’s silence observed before games on the weekend.

Junior cricketers would also retire their innings at 63, instead of the usual 50, to commemorate Hughes’ final score.

ABBOTT SUPPORT The tragedy touched the country’s other top sports, with the national Wallabies rugby team to wear black armbands in Saturday’s

Notable Dates Lightweight Lennox Beckles lost by a points decision at the end of ten rounds to Trinidadian Johnny DePeiza. The fight was held on November 27, 1964 in Trinidad. Beckles, now aged 72, entered the ring for the last time in May 1979. He lost that fight to compatriot Brian Muller.

One of Guyana’s best `ring sons’, Patrick Ford was taken the full 10 rounds by Trinidadian Harold Bernard on November 27, 1978. The fight produced Ford’s ninth consecutive victory and came one bout after the lanky Guyanese featherweight dropped a bomb on Panamanian Diego Alcala on September 9th of the same year. Ford died in the USA on November 13, 2011 at age 55.

On November 27, 1996 junior middleweight Adrian Dodson kept a clean professional record when he earned his 16th victory and retained the World Boxing Organisation Inter Continental title following a first round knockout of Trinidadian Anthony Joseph.

Although born in Guyana, Dodson fought all but one of his 31 pro bouts in the United Kingdom where he resided. He won the lightly regarded International Boxing Organisation (IBO) world title in March 2001 when he knocked out Paul Jones in the third round.

match against England in London.

A social media tribute with the hashtag #putoutyourbats saw cricketers from around the world post pictures of their bats outside their doors.

Support also rang out for Sean Abbott, the 22-year-old all-rounder whose rising delivery struck Hughes.

Hughes’ family and Australia cricket captain Michael Clarke spent time with Abbott during the week and Cricket Australia (CA) boss James Sutherland said he was “holding up” well.

“I had a chat to him last night and I was incredibly impressed by the way he was holding himself and his maturity,” Sutherland added.

CA will launch an “immediate” review into player safety in the wake of Hughes’ death, while the fate of next week’s first Test against India remained in limbo.

Sutherland said the board

would work with manufacturers and regulators to look into safety standards and seek improvements after Hughes was killed despite wearing a helmet.

“Statistics say it is clearly a freak incident, but one freak incident is one freak incident too many, so that of course puts us in a position of looking into that,” Sutherland said.

Hughes was set to replace the injured Clarke in the Australia team for the first test against India next week, according to selector Mark Waugh, but the debate has turned to whether the match should go ahead at all.

Sutherland declined to confirm the Dec. 4-8 match in Brisbane, saying Hughes’ team mates needed time to grieve.

“I know for many people, seven days doesn’t seem too far away but in other ways it is a million miles away. We will get there when we can,” he said.

Ramchand Auto Spares/Rohan Auto Spares Softball Finals reschedule to Sunday December 7th

One of Guyana’s greatest ever! Lennox Beckles.

THE Ramchand/Rohan Auto spares softball finals have been postponed due to the weather and will now be played on Sunday, December 7th at the DCC ground, Lance Gibbs Street in Queenstown.

If bad weather persists, the finals will then shift to 1st February 2015.

This softball tournament is also sponsored by Mikes Pharmacy, Trophy Stall, Ariel Enterprise, Bel Air Rubis, Motor Trend, Nauth Motor Spares and Romeo’s Oil Seal. The competition started on August 10th and will see seven games played on the same day/night starting 10:00hrs.

Schedule for Sunday December 7th.

10:00hrs-Female 10/10 semi-finals. Pitch 1: Mikes Wellwoman vs Karibee Girls. Pitch 2: Trophy Stall Angels vs Blue Divas.

11:15hrs-Third place Male play-off. Pitch 1: Parika Defenders vs Slingers (15/15). Pitch 2: Farm vs Ariel Uprisers (15/15).

13:30hrs-Female finals (10/10).

14:45hrs-Masters finals (20/20). Floodlights vs Mikes Wellman.

18:00hrs-Open final (20/20). Wolf Warriors vs Regal.

Admission is $200.00.

Parking in ground is provided for $500.00 per vehicle.

The winning prize for both male finals is $100,000 + winning trophy. Runnerup is $50,000 + trophy.

Female is $50,000 + winning trophy. Runner-up is $25,000 + trophy. MVP in finals will receive $10,000 + trophy. There will also be prizes for centuries and 5 wicket haul made in the tournament. The tournament started on Sept. 5th, 2014.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

Bramble saves day for Jaguars with highest first-class score

By Calvin Roberts

INDEBTED to Anthony Bramble’s highest firstclass score and second half century, host Guyana Jaguars were able to free themselves from 174 for 8 to reach 261 all out just before the close of play in their West Indies Cricket Board/Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day third round fixture against Barbados Pride yesterday.

Bramble, known to be a powerful hitter, batted sensibly with the lower order to add 86 for the final two wickets, before being lbw 15 minutes before the close of play to Ryan Hinds (4 for 50), for a top score 73 (122balls, 9x4, 1x6), while Shimron Hetmyer supported with 47.

Playing at the Guyana National stadium and asked to bat first in hazy conditions after both teams observed a minute’s silence for the passing of Australia’s Phillip Hughes, the Jaguars lost Trevon Griffith, who was bowled

by Carlos Brathwaite for 15 at 21 for 1 after 6 overs, before Rajendra Chandrika and Hetmyer pushed the score to 74, adding 53 for the second wicket.

The partnership was

broken by Dwayne Smith who trapped Chandrika lbw for 34 (4x4) and followed with the wicket of the in form Narsingh Deonarine (02) who was caught in between two minds to a short delivery and got a top edge to Omar Philips at short extra cover at 76 for 3.

The home team went to lunch on 83 for 3 with Hetmyer on 28 and newly appointed skipper Vishaul Singh yet to score and after the break, Hetmyer hit Jomel Warrican over midwicket for his sixth four, but was lbw off the final delivery of the over for 47 (93b, 6x4) at 105 for 4.

Barbadian Raymon Reifer joined Singh and after a few defensive pushes, opened his account with boundaries off Ashley Nurse and Warrican respectively, while Singh punched a short ball from Nurse through extra cover for his first boundary.

The introduction of Ryan Hinds brought the downfall of both Singh and Reifer, with Singh going via the lbw route for 22 and Reifer losing his middle stump for 13, leaving the Jaguars on 139 for 6, which later became 167 for 7 at tea, when Christopher Barnwell was caught at the wicket by Shane Dowrich off Warrican.

Anthony Bramble The Jaguars, who started the round with 34 points following two outright victories over Leeward Islands Hurricane and Windward Islands Volcanoes, displayed a lack of concentration during the post lunch session, losing four wickets for 34 runs from the 18 overs sent down by the visitors.

After the break, Barbados Pride removed Veerasammy Permaul (03), but Bramble and Devendra Bishoo staged a recovery of their own, adding 60 for the ninth wicket, with Bramble hitting Miguel Cummins noball graciously through extra cover to post the 200.

Bramble followed it with a six over midwicket off Hinds and ended the over with an authoritative

drive for four, forcing the Barbadians to take the second new ball at 222 for 8 after 80 overs, with his contribution being 41 and Bishoo 12.

Bramble’s patience paid off as he got his half century off 94 balls, with five fours and one six, adding 60 valuable runs for the ninth wicket with Bishoo, who lost his middle stump to Cummins for 15 at 234 for 9, Barbados Pride taking the wicket in the second over with the second new ball.

A hat- trick of fours by Bramble off Hinds in the 87th over, pushed the right handed wicketkeeper/batsman from Scottsburg, Corriverton, past his previous best of 64 not out against the Combined Campuses and Colleges, even as the Jaguars clawed their way past the 250 mark.

However, when many felt he would have carried the Jaguars back to their den without further trouble, he was beaten in flight by Hinds and adjudged lbw, 15 minutes before the close of play, as Smith (2 for 20) and Warrican (2 for 52) supported Hinds in the bowling department for the Pride who reached 4 without loss at the close, with Brathwaite and Kyle Corbin on 2 each.

NBS 40-over cricket competition..

Corriverton and D’Edward clash in final tomorrow THE 2014 New Building Society (NBS) second division 40-over cricket competition, after months of intense battle involving nearly one hundred teams from across the length and breadth of Berbice has now reached its climax with the final between Corriverton and D’Edward scheduled for tomorrow at the No. 69 Vikings Ground on the Upper Corentyne.

With both teams playing unbeaten so far in the competition, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will emerge as this year’s champions.

D’Edward possess a formidable batting line up including four hard hitting batsmen in former Berbice all-rounder Eon Abel, Heeralall

Eon Abel Bridgelall, Lakeraj Sookra and Jaipaul Heeralall who Corriverton will have to rein in early.

They will be backed up by former Berbice Under-19

all-rounder Kevon Jawahir, Devendra Lalsa and Mahadeo Persaud.

Their two opening medium pacers Christian France and Navin Rampersaud have proven to be very difficult to score off and at the same time, wicket takers. Also crucial are right arm leg spinner Kevon Jawahir, off spinners Abel and Sookra.

Devendra Singh and Bridgelall will lend support with their medium pacers.

The Corriverton batting will be spearheaded by opening batsman Jeremy Moore who recently scored a match winning 98 against Cotton Tree Die Hard in their semi-final as well as Claven Beresford, Anthony Seeraj, Errol Byass, Jermaine Reid

and Imran Jabbar.

Their opening pacers Jermaine Reid and Victor Pedro have been consistently lethal in this competition but it was the off spin of Eric Phillips that destroyed many teams so far. Backing up would be left arm spinner Farad Bacchus and medium pacers Beresford, Byass and Amzad Allplesammy.

Representatives from the New Building Society Limited will be there to meet the players and officials before the game.

The umpires nominated are Augustus Outar and Moses Ramphal with Oomadat Samaroo as the standby.

The match is scheduled to start at 11:00 hrs.

Scoreboard

Guyana Jaguars 1st innings T Griffith b C Brathwaite 15 R Chandrika lbw b Smith 34 S Hetmyer lbw b Warrican 47 N Deonarine c Philips b Smith 02 V Singh lbw b Hinds 22 R Reifer b Hinds 13 C Barnwell c wkpr Dowrich b Warrican 24 A Bramble lbw b Hinds 73 V Permaul lbw b Hinds 03 D Bishoo b Cummins 15 R Beaton not out 03 Extras (nb-6, lb-4) 10 Total: (all out off 91 overs) 261 Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Griffith, 6.0), 2-74 (Chandrika 25.5), 3-76 (Deonarine, 27.4), 4-105 (Hetmyer, 37.0), 5-136 (Singh, 48.2), 6-139 (Reifer, 50.4), 7-167 (Barnwell, 63.1), 8-174 (Permaul, 66.3), 9-234 (Bishoo, 82.0), 10-261 (Bramble, 91.0) Bowling: Cummins 12-1-63-1 (nb-6), C. Brathwaite 10-1-29-1 Nurse 10-1-38-0 Warrican 28-6-52-2 Smith 12-5-20-2 Hinds 17-5-50-4 Hope 2-1-5-0 Barbados Pride 1st Innings K Hope not out 02 C Brathwaite not out 02 Total (without loss off 2 overs) 04 To bat: S Hope, J Carter D Smith R Hinds S Dowrich O Philips A Nurse J Warrican M Cummins Bowling: Permaul 1-0-2-0, Barnwell 1-0-2-0

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday November 29, 2014) Compliments of THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market &The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL CO. LTD-83 Garnette Street, Campbellville (Tel: 225-6158; 223-6055) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Joel Garner (2) Vanburn Holder (5/50-WI vs ENG, Birmingham, 1976) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is the only WI to have compiled three centuries in his first three Tests?

(2) Which two never played an ODi game against India?

Roy Fredericks; Larry Gomes; Collis King; Vanburn Holder; Colin Croft Answers in tomorrow’s issue

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday November 29, 2014

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Guyana assured of Women’s Squash Team medal at CAC Games

By Leeron Brumell A second medal in Squash at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Mexico is certain for Guyana Women’s Team.

Medals are assured for any team making it to the semifinal stage. Bronze medals are given to the losing semifinalists.

The ladies – Ashley Klahil, Ashley DeGroot and Mary Fung-AFat made it through to the semifinal stage yesterday and were scheduled to meet Mexico at 20:00hrs (Guyana Time) last night. On Thursday, Guyana beat Jamaica and lost to Colombia.

Colombia and Guatemala were slated for the second semifinal.

The trio at the Racquet Centre was 2-1 winners over Barbados earlier on Friday to book their place in the semifinals.

Khalil lost in four sets to Kar-

SQUASH TEAM - Guyana’s Squash Contingent with coach Ray Chan-A-Sue (second left)

Brazil’s Pele improving, still in intensive care - hospital

SAO PAULO, (Reuters) Brazilian soccer great Pele “is in better condition” though he remains in an intensive care unit being treated for a urinary tract infection, the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo said yesterday.

Pele, 74, is receiving renal support treatment, which helps kidneys to filter waste products from the blood, after surgery to remove kidney stones earlier this month. He is not on vasoactive drugs or other supportive therapies, the hospital said.

Pele, often called the

greatest soccer player in history, has suffered a long list of health problems in the past decade, including emergency eye surgery for a detached retina and a hip replacement.

His manager, Paul Kemsley, said on Thursday he was expected to make a full recovery and that reports of his condition are being “greatly exaggerated.”

Known as “the King of soccer” in Brazil, Pele played in four World Cups and helped Brazil win the global tournament three times, the last in Mexico in 1970.

7. Alexander Arjoon however lost his match to Joseph Chapman 8-11, 9-11, 6-11.

Later in the evening, Guyana took on Jamaica.

Over at the Heriberto Jara Athletic Centre, Guyana’s 4 x 100m relay team of Winston George, Stephan James, Adam Harris and Jeremy Bascom did not make a podium finish.

Cuba won the event in 38.94 seconds. Guyana finished down in fifth, posting a time of 39.74 seconds. That race ended Guyana’s campaign.

George was the only track athlete to make a final – the 400m, but he finished in 5th.

James made it to the semifinal round in the 200m, while Harris and Bascom did not make it past the preliminary stage of the 100m.

Kashif and Shanghai to shift football tourney to Easter

By Rawle Toney

King Pele

en Meakins in the first game. She pulled off victory in the first set 11-6, but the Barbadian rallied and won the final three sets 11-5, 11-6, 11-5.

DeGroot came away with an 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 win over Kaitlin Jordan and Fung-A-Fat defeated Nadia McCarthy 11-4, 11-7, 11-5.

It’s the same four teams that met in the semifinal stage of the doubles competition. Then, Guyana lost to Colombia, and Mexico got past Guatemala.

Guyana and Guatemala were joint third in the Doubles.

Earlier yesterday, the Men’s team opened with victory over the British Virgin Islands in the Pool D of the Men’s Team event.

The margin of victory was 2-1.

Sunil Seth dismantled Joseph Kneipp in the first game 11-0, 11-0, 11-0, while Jason-Ray Khalil beat Michael Adamson 11-2, 11-3, 11-

After being ‘don’t’ by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) with regards to hosting their popular year-end football tournament, the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation has now written to the sports local governing body, seeking permission to play their 25th edition in Easter of 2015.

Earlier in the week, the GFF’s Normalisation Committee had written to the National Award winning Organisation, informing that permission was not granted for them to host their ever popular football tournament at the end of the year and, instead, stated that their affiliates will hold preference over any private entity or promoters. “…The GFF is however aware of, and is most interested in continuing, the well-established relationship between the GFF and the Kashif and Shanghai organisation.

As such, we encourage you to consider hosting your tournament in 2015 during another period. Additionally, we wish to advise you that from 2015, the Guyana Football Federation will be hosting its own end of year tournament, with the involvement of all our members associations, from November to January,” said General Secretary (ag) Mabiloa Howard in a communiqué sent to the

Organisation.

Information reaching Chronicle Sport from a reliable source close to the Organisation, pointed out that tentatively, the 25th Edition of the Kashif and Shanghai football tournament will now start on March 13, 2015 and will conclude on Easter Sunday (April 5, 2015).

Chronicle Sport was also informed of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) intent to host its Banks Beer Cup again this year; so too is the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) and their GT Beer tournament, but, the GFF

wrote a letter to its members, noting that should they intend to host their own tournament, information outlining the competition must be sent to the GFF by December 3.

Among the requirements needed are tournament rules, fixtures, approved venues, allocation of prizes/ prize monies, referees; security and medical arrangements and information on clubs participating in the respective tournaments.

Meanwhile, up to press time, efforts to contact Chairman of the Normalisation Committee, Clinton Urling, proved futile.

WICB Professional Cricket League scores on day one ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Summarised scores on the opening day of the third round of matches in the WICB Professional Cricket League third round here yesterday.

Scores: At Queen’s Park Oval: T&T trail by 114 runs with five wickets intact.

JAMAICA 173 (Tamar Lambert 87, David Bernard Jr 65; Imran Khan 6-52, Marlon Richards 3-31) TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 59 for five (Sheldon Cottrell 4-17) At National Stadium: Windwards lead by 63 runs with seven wickets intact.

LEEWARD ISLANDS 116 (Austin Richards 44; Liam Sebastien 5-39, Alston Bobb 4-31) WINDWARD ISLANDS 179 for three (Devon Smith 83 not out, Sunil Ambris 33; Jeremiah Louis 2-27)

Sport CHRONICLE

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

Guyana assured of Women’s Squash Team medal at CAC Games See story on page 35

2014/2015 WICB/CL Regional 4-Day

Bramble saves day for Jaguars with highest first-class score In memory of Phil Hughes

See story on page 34

To the memory of Phil Hughes, players and officials not only sported black ribbons, but also observed a minute’s silence before the start of play at the Guyana National Stadium, to the memory of Australia’s Phil Hughes . R.I.P. (Photo by Adrian Narine).

Coach, Captain optimistic of success as ruggers depart for Mexico See story on page 31

… GRFU President says failure is not an option Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014