Guyana chronicle e paper 04 10 2018

TUESDAY 10th April, 2018

Jail them!

No.105240

– British envoy urges zero tolerance for corrupt law enforcement agents

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Killer mom

begs forgiveness

– as judge sends her 11 away for 98 years PAGE

Lindeners call 13 for boycott of LTW Pageant PAGE

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn (right) engages Irish Financial Investigations adviser to SOCU, Dr Sam Sittlington (left) as the two British anti-corruption and fraud experts look on (Photo by Delano Williams)

64-year-old remanded to prison – for threatening to kill President

– refuses to negotiate school fee hike, protest or no protest

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 10, 2018

GCCI calling in the experts – to review amended parking meter by-laws

By Telesha Ramnarine THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has already contacted its lawyers in connection with the recently approved parking meter by-laws, so that a review of “troublesome” sections can be done and brought to the attention of authorities.

“We have to get our experts to go through these areas that we believe are not good for the city,” GCCI President Deodat Indar, told a news conference on Monday.

Indar and other members of the GCCI, Executive Director Richard Rambarran and Vice-President Nicholas Boyer, hosted the conference in partnership with members of the Movement against Parking Meters (MAPM) Komal Ramnauth, Don Singh and Marcel Gaskin.

Speaking at GCCI’s office on Waterloo Street,Indar said the team plans to submit those areas that are found to be “troublesome or ticklish” in the amended by-laws to Town Clerk Royston King and the City Council, and to Communities Minister Ron-

ald Bulkan.

Indar said that during a number of walkabouts in the city recently, the GCCI was shocked to learn that business had declined by some 30 to 70 per cent. “So we want to make sure we do as much as we can to serve our members.

There’s a 14-day period for us to respond, and we will do that,” he said.

Gaskin said it seems that

the passing of the new set of by-laws is an attempt by the M&CC to correct flawed procedures.

“We have 14 days to register our objections and to submit these to City Hall, which, in turn will submit these to the minister. The minister may or may not consider our objections favourably, but we will cross that bridge when we get to it.”

meters, and that it will do so come what may, Komal feels that the MAPM has accomplished quite a lot in helping to stall the official implementation.

Boyer said that businesses felt “punished” when the meter system came on the scene. “We at National Hardware saw a significant decline in our customer base, which really makes it hard on us to do what we’re supposed to,” the city businessman said, adding:“There must be

a lack of adherence to public procurement procedures, and the absence of feasibility studies and citizen consultations.

“The M&CC should remember that one of the most important qualities that citizens seek in elected officials is transparency, and any attempts to bulldoze the populace with opaque contracts will not garner support, especially not from the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce,” the GCCI said.

The Chamber said it has

GCCI and MAPM members at Monday’s news conference. Seated from left are: GCCI Executive Director, Richard Rambarran; MAPM’s Don Singh and Marcel Gaskin; GCCI President, Deodat Indar; MAPM’s Komal Ramnauth; and GCCI Vice-President Nicholas Boyer (Photo by Adrian Narine)

Gaskin reiterated that the MAPM is not against installing parking meters in the city, but rather the manner in which it was foisted upon citizens.

Komal recalled that even the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) recorded a decline in revenue when the meters were implemented in Georgetown, and said it was really the country’s core taxpayers who were mostly affected.

While the City Council continues to insist that it has the right to install parking

some other way we can work together, but metered parking seems not to be it.”

Last February, the GCCI joined calls for the revocation of the meter contract, and said it believes that the business community and other stakeholders should maintain their protest efforts until the desired outcome is achieved.

In a statement, the GCCI said it is “irresponsible” for the City Council to continue with the metered system, due to a lack of transparency during the implementation process,

received numerous complaints from its membership regarding the metered system and its negative effect on customer traffic and sales, and was concerned that conditions will worsen if the system remains in operation.

The Chamber also said it supports the M&CC’s efforts to engage in public-private partnerships for the purpose of raising revenue for the city, but will not support the flawed and, in some cases, potentially illegal methods that the City Council has employed.

Chinese supermarket owner on simple larceny charge A CHINESE man who is the owner of a supermarket here, appeared on Monday before a city magistrate on a charge of simply larceny and was released on $250,000 bail.

It is alleged that between July 1, 2017 and April 6, 2018 at Durban Street,

Georgetown, Xiu Lin, 29, stole a quantity of foodstuff worth $8M, the property of Toucan Distributors. He man pleaded not guilty to the charge According to the facts given to the court, police officers, based on information given to them, went to

the place of business of the accused and found the items.

Attorney for the accused, Nekeisha Persaud, asked Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman to be lenient with her client and grant reasonable bail.

The matter was adjourned to April 30, 2018.

Jail them!

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 10, 2018

– British envoy urges zero tolerance for corrupt law enforcement agents

By Ariana Gordon BRITISH High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn on Monday charged investigators to isolate themselves from fraud, bribery and corruption or face the full brunt of the law.

“There is no place for corruption in the security agencies in Guyana. If officials and individuals cannot work with honesty and integrity, then they should be drummed out, prosecuted and imprisoned as necessary,” declared Quinn.

He noted, too, that if investigators are involved in criminal activities, then it would be impossible for the security sector to expect respect, support and cooperation from the public.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a two-week anti-corruption training course facilitated by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) on Monday, the High Commissioner told the 30 participants from SOCU, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Agency (CANU), the State’s Assets Recovery Agency (SARA), the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) they need to take their responsibilities seriously.

“It is therefore incumbent on each member of the security agencies to fulfil their task to the highest of standard,” he said. “Not only is it the right thing to do but as the funders of this and other training, it is what the British Government expects.”

He noted that the training will see local law enforcement officials understanding the intricacies of investigating serious and complex fraud, bribery and corruption cases.

Week one will concentrate on investigation methods for fraud, while week two will focus on methods and offences of bribery and corruption.

As part of the training programme, the participants will examine major fraud and bribery case scenarios designed to have them put into practice that which they have learned.

“All of you here today can and must set the example for everybody else to follow,” said Quinn.

The two-week programme will be run by British experts, Tony Crompton and Mark Dilliway, who both have over 30 years’ experience in serious and organised crime, as well as fraud with the City of London Police.

NEED TO BE ENFORCED Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, SC., who echoed similar sentiments as the British envoy, said that there is a great need to enforce anti-corruption laws as stakeholders work together to find, prosecute and jail offenders.

“This requires cooperation and changed attitudes towards corruption,” the Attorney-General said. “Preventing the damaging effects of corruption should be a priority and responsibility for everyone.

“Therefore, it is incumbent on us to build and maintain strong, independent institutions to guard against corruption, as well as promoting a culture that makes it impossible for corrupt individuals to thrive. This must be founded on a commitment to zero tolerance for corruption and considering the ramifications of corruption; nothing less is acceptable.”

The Minister said his government welcomes the SOCU initiative to host the training programme, which is being held at the Police Training Centre, Camp Road, Georgetown.

He said his administration has a zero-tolerance on corruption in all forms, while noting that financial crimes were added to the remit of SOCU, whose primary responsibility is combating money laundering, terrorist financing and financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Noting that the present administration took steps to have several forensic audits conducted upon taking office in May 2015, Williams said that those audits have led to many criminal investigations and charges of fraud for the stealing of State assets.

“But financial crimes investigatory framework requires greater capacity building; financial, prosecutorial

Ministers of Public Security (second left) and Legal Affairs (third left), Khemraj Ramjattan and Basil Williams, SC. stand with British High Commissioner Greg Quinn (third right), Irish Financial Investigations adviser to SOCU, Dr Sam Sittlington (centre), Police Commissioner (ag) David Ramnarine (left) and two British anti-corruption and fraud experts (extreme right) Monday

and judicial expertise,” he said, adding: “In its most recent report, the Auditor General noted the scale of overpayment by public officials to contractors, which is but one of the nefarious devices deployed to rob the Government of billions of dollars.”

Referencing the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Williams said corruption undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development, and contributes to governmental instability.

He said crimes such as bribery, fraud, misappropriation, embezzlement, and money laundering have dire effects on the economy.

STYMIES ECONOMIC GROWTH “They stymie economic growth and deplete resources, resulting in poverty, poor health care and lack of proper infrastructures,” the minister said. “Corruption tramples upon the socio-economic rights of citizens and ultimately erodes the moral fabric of society. The integrity of the government and national security are also adversely affected by corrupt practices.”

Corruption also weakens good governance, he said, as principles such as accountability and transparency become non-existent. Moreover, corruption deters both foreign and domestic investment, as it fosters an inequitable envi-

ronment for trade. Ultimately, our economic dynamism will be reduced.

“To successfully fight against corruption,” the Attorney-General said, “there needs to be effective detection, investigation, analysis of evidence and prosecution of crime; ultimately leading to convictions. It is for these reasons that this course is important.”

Participants of the programme, he said, will over the next two weeks examine the bribery landscape to understand the scale of corruption and bribery and the harm they entail, and our legislative framework to militate against these offences.

The government, he said, has been doing its part by conducting anti-corruption sensitisation seminars in the various administrative regions of the country, which have had significant impact on cases of misappropriation of state assets. Those seminars, he said, have highlighted the

importance of the States Asset Recovery Act, the Witness Protection and Whistleblower Act. “As we are all aware, witnesses and whistleblowers possess the evidence needed to investigate and prosecute offences such as bribery, fraud and corruption,” he stated, while noting that corruption must be exposed.

TIMELY INTERVENTION Similarly, Dr Sam Sittlington, Irish Financial Investigations adviser to SOCU, said the training being provided the law enforcement officials is not only timely but relevant. Dr Sittlington said it is important for the participants to be able to conduct thorough investigations into fraud, bribery and corruption cases.

He, like the British High Commissioner, noted the vast experience of the two trainers in the fields, and stressed the importance of having practi-

cal experience in this regard.

The programme, Dr Sittlington said, is intense and what is needed for investigators. He noted that oftentimes, investigators are bogged down with looking at PowerPoint presentations or other documents, but through this programme, participants would be tasked with thinking outside of the box and looking at ways in which they can solve fraud, bribery and corruption cases, and ensuring that those found guilty are placed before the courts.

Some 14 SOCU members, nine CID fraud members, two CANU, one FIU and four representatives from SARA are participating in the training programme funded by the British Government.

Also present at the opening of the training programme were Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; Police Commissioner (ag), David Ramnarine; and Head of SOCU, Sydney James.

Participants at the anti-corruption, bribery and fraud training programme Monday (Photos by Delano Williams)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 10, 2018

Jury hears...

Rapping on door brought no response ---as ‘South Central’ murder trial continues

By Michel Outridge SEVERAL witnesses took the stand as the ‘South Central Hotel’ murder trial continued in the Georgetown High Court before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member jury on Monday.

Among those who testified was Inspector Bharat Mangru, who is stationed at Impact Base Brickdam. He told the court on Monday morning that during 2014 he was a Corporal attached to the Court Superintendent Office seconded to DPP as a prosecutor.

In February 2014, he conducted a preliminary inquiry (PI) at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court in the matter of police versus Brian Leitch,

called “Big Foot”, who was charged for the alleged murder of Joseph Jagdeo.

Mangru said that during the PI in Court 1, before the then Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry, he took the evidence of several witnesses and tendered some exhibits.

The police witness related that he took the deposition of Shantel John who stated that she bought a Nokia cell phone from the accused who is known to her by seeing him in Kitty area where she lives.

Mangru added that he also took the deposition of Felicia Williams who in her evidence-in-chief said she used to live in Room 9 at South Central Hotel in 2013 and knew the accused, since they both served time at

the New Opportunity Corp (NOC) in 2009.

She noted that upon her release she met the accused in Kitty and he told her he had nowhere to stay and she took him to her room at the hotel but after she found out he had taken the boss’s cell phone she no longer wanted him to stay with her.

She confronted the accused in front of the boss who felt sorry for the accused since he told them he had nowhere to live and he was relocated to Room 10 and she saw him enter that room after which she left to buy food.

The witness in her deposition which was read in court by Mangru said she was given $500 by Jagdeo to buy a phone card and upon her return to the hotel

she went in search of him to deliver same but could not locate him in his office and went away after rapping at the door and getting no response.

Mangru told the court that he also took the deposition of retired Sergeant Phillip Bowman who visited the crime scene and observed a body was under the bed with a piece of cloth stuffed in his mouth, his hands bound with a pillow case and his head tied with a pillow case.

Bowman’s deposition said blood was oozing from the mouth of the deceased.

He was present at the post mortem and at the cremation service.

Retired Sergeant Bowman held a confrontation

with Shantel John and the accused and she said he sold her a cell phone and he was charged for murder.

Bowman also took a caution statement from the accused in the presence of Detective Corporal Conway where he was elected to pen the statement of the accused who when the allegation of murder was put to him said, “Meh ain’t go fuh kill he”.

The three depositions were tendered and marked since the witnesses could not be located. This was verified by DPP Communications Officer Liz Rahaman who testified in court on Monday morning stating she put out both radio and television advertisements for the witnesses to report to the Georgetown High Court Police Outpost.

The exhibits were tendered by Inspector Mangru which included three pillow cases, one polished brown

wooden key ring with a key attached to it marked “South Central Room 10”, a blue Nokia phone box with markings on it and three Nokia user manuals.

According to the state’s case, between November 13 and 14, 2013 it is alleged that the accused Brian Leitch called “Big Foot” murdered hotelier Joseph Jagdeo called “Joey” at his own place of business, South Central Hotel located on South Road.

In his opening address, state prosecutor Mandel Moore told the court that between 13 and 14 of November 2013 the accused allegedly murdered the deceased and stuffed his body under a bed.

The state is represented

by Mandel Moore and Lisa Cave while the defence attorney are Lawrence Harris and Hewley Griffith.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 10, 2018

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AG Chamber emphasises bias in Solicitor General hearing -cites Nigel Hughes’ ‘attack’ on chamber WHILE refuting the version of events of attorney Nigel Hughes regarding the issues of bias in the Public Service Appellate Tribunal hearing on the dismissal of former Deputy Solicitor, Prithima Kissoon, the Attorney General’s Chamber is emphasising the uncle-niece relation between the appellant and chairman of the panel and trump calls for the latter to recuse himself.

Last week the AG Chamber noted that Justice Nandram Kissoon has acknowledged that he is indeed the uncle of the appellant, but is insisting that the State file an affidavit in answer with

submissions addressing the issue of bias.

On Monday, the chamber in response to a release from Hughes over the weekend, stated that the attorney in his statement “deliberately misrepresented the true facts of the proceedings.” The chamber also noted Hughes’ personal attack on the “professionalism and integrity” of the government agency.

The AG Chamber stated that Justice Kissoon pointed out at the proceedings last week that he was the uncle of the appellant and enquired whether there was any objection from the parties.

It was noted that the Counsel on behalf of the Attorney General’s Chamber immediately stood and raised her objection on the ground of bias. She then requested that the Chairman should immediately recuse himself from the matter, given his family relationship to the appellant.

“The Chairman did not recuse himself or rule on the preliminary objection of bias but proceeded to sit on the tribunal to hear and determine other matters relating to the appellant,” the AG Chamber said.

A second objection in respect to the Chairman was raised by Counsel for the

chamber in the uncle of the appellant hearing and deliberating on issues in relation to the appeal of the appellant, his niece and the agency also cited several authorities in relation to bias.

The Chairman then responded “that he knows all the authorities starting with Pinochet”, the chamber said.” To date the Chairman has not recused himself in the good administration of justice and has instead requested that Counsel make submissions in writing to the Tribunal consisting of himself to hear and determine this issue,” the body noted.

It said that it was un-

fortunate that neither Nigel Hughes, a senior officer of the Court raised the issue of bias or supported the application by the AG Chamber.

“Even more alarming, Mr. Hughes’ statement to the press failed to address the core issue which was raised before the tribunal, that of patent obvious bias before the Tribunal, but noted the apparent personal attack on the Attorney General’s Chamber,” the entity noted.

The chamber cited “the exemplary conduct” of a number of senior judges of the High Court who recently recused themselves from hearing a matter involving Banks DIH because they hold shares in Banks DIH Limited and reassigned the matter.

“It is apposite to note that those senior judges noted the objection and did not continue to deliberate on the issue nor order the parties to make written submissions on the issue,” the entity said.

It was noted that the Counsel for the Attorney General’s Chamber will repeat and rely on their objections on the adjourned date in respect to the Chairman of the Tribunal, uncle of the appellant, sitting and hearing the appeal of his niece--the appellant.

The AG chambers said it will continue to rely on the old adage that “Justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done.”`

Dutch Antilles action groups seek support

--to fight human rights violations

By Lisa Hamilton REPRESENTATIVES from two islands of the Dutch Antilles have travelled to Guyana with a single agenda of drawing attention to situations they refer to as “violations against human rights” occurring on their islands.

Liaising with Red Thread – Guyana for the hosting of a press briefing on Monday were, three individuals from Sint Eustatius which is located in the Lesser Antilles and Bonaire which lies in the southern Caribbean.

The representatives are: President of the We Dare to Care Foundation, Davika Bissessar; Representative of the Brighter Path Foundation, Koert Kerrhoff and President of Nos Ke Boneiru Bek (We

Want Bonaire Back) Foundation, James Finies.

The individuals say that since the dissolving of the Netherlands Antilles on October 10, 2010 after which they became autonomous special municipalities of the Netherlands, life has been challenging.

After the dissolution, the Dutch government assumed the task of public administration of the two countries, an action which the representatives claim was “forced”.

In a statement to the media, they told that since this change there has been a high influx of European Dutch from the Netherlands which significantly limits the job, healthcare and education opportunities for locals.

“In Bonaire, the immigration has come to such a

level that it makes the local people fear for genocide by substitution. The same trend is visible in Sint Eustatius.

“These Dutch immigrants could soon outnumber locals in the electorate and replace them in the representative bodies, making the exclusion of local people complete,” Kerrhoff said.

In addition, they say the education system has been Europeanised following a language change from Papiamento to Dutch and disadvantaging local students; tax pressures are as high as in Europe with an average lower income and the crude death rate has sky rocketed.

Operating on advice received, the groups have taken their concerns to their closest neighbour, the CARICOM member states, and are hop-

ing that the body will condemn the state of affairs on the islands at the United Nation (UN) General Assembly.

“The people of Bonaire and Sint Eustatius reach out to their brothers and sisters in the Caribbean to increase the awareness about the persistent colonial behaviour of the Dutch government towards the islands and help them in their struggle to acquire their measure of self-governance as is stipulated in the resolutions of the United Nations,” Kerrhoff said.

For five years the groups have been working towards the goal and visited islands in the eastern Caribbean and the UN in 2016 and 2017 where they met with the Ambassadors of Caribbean states such as St. Kitts, Grenada, Dominica and St. Lucia.

This year, they raised funds to travel to Guyana be-

cause it is the location of the headquarters of CARICOM and they were advised that the body can assist the two islands.

In Guyana, the representatives profess to have spoken with Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, as well as Assistant Secretary General of Foreign Affairs and Community Relations at CARICOM Secretariat, Collin Granderson.

“CARICOM stands for all those things that have been taken away from us… they’re not going to be intervening but they have the possibility to guide a just process of de-colonisation…they [can] help to disseminate our information in CARICOM,” Finies explained.

It is the goal of the representatives and those who support their cause to have their human rights respected

and to be re-enlisted on the list of non-self-governing countries and territories of the United Nations.

Finies says this is important because the counties’ “democratic voice has been silenced” and the local government have been accused of “corruption, nepotism and fraud” which so far they claim is without proof.

Pleading to the media he said: “We do not have a long time to fight this fight…we cannot stop any law, we cannot vote them out of office, we can do nothing.”

The group will now move on the Suriname on Tuesday (today), as they continue their search for solidarity within the Caribbean.

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 10, 2018

Towards a healthy lifestyle THERE is an aspect to our lifestyles whereby eating and drinking carry a sense of merriment, without much thought given to what is consumed, the quantity, health/ nutritional value, the impact on our bodies and ultimately overall health and longevity. Once it tastes good or makes one feels good, that is all that matters. Physical activity is also not generally seen as important and vital to sustaining healthy lifestyles. Such outlook carries consequences.

In 2015, the World Health Organisation (WHO) sounded a warning about the “health epidemic” facing Caribbean countries and urged governments to take urgent action to meet global targets to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). According to the WHO, NCDs, also known as chronic diseases, are not passed from person to person. NCDs are of long duration and generally slow progression, resulting in 82 percent of premature deaths (i.e. before 70 years) due to four main types: cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructed pulmonary disease and asthma), and diabetes NCDs are prevalent in low and middle- income countries, the category Guyana falls in, and this in part has to do with poverty, lifestyle choices and access to quality health care.

Where people are seen as pivotal to development and development is hinged on the environment (personal and external) within which the people operate, the WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, in launching the “Global status report on non-communicable diseases 2014” called for global efforts to tackle and change the course of NCDs epidemic.

In 2011, Guyana along with 189 countries committed to global mechanisms to reduce the avoidable NCDs burden, including a global action plan for the prevention and control

of NCDs 2013-2020. In 2013, the Ministry of Health prepared Guyana’s Strategic Plan, which is a public document. This document includes areas of Risk factors, NCDs progress indicators; Framework for action; Surveillance; Public policy, advocacy and communication; Project Management and Results log frame.

The responsibility for achieving these goals requires collaborative efforts and commitment. For whereas the WHO 2014 report states premature NCD deaths can be significantly reduced through government policies reducing tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity, and delivering universal health care, such success is reliant on the people’s involvement and support.

It is important to recognise that management of this epidemic requires proper planning that factors in the efficient and effective use of resources.

To this end, fighting NCDs has to be holistic, inclusive of reliance on statistical evidence of pre-disposition to certain diseases among specific demographics (age, race, income, locale, etc). Government and corporate policies can take into consideration establishment of Health and Wellness Centres at the workplace, where in addition to educating the workforce on healthy lifestyle practices, the facilitation of opportunities/ incentives for engaging in physical fitness, screening for NCDs can also be done. If we are talking human wellness as a prerequisite for development, it is cheaper to invest in preventive care (education, changed lifestyles, consult and testing services) rather than on sick care.

Where poverty is prevalent in our society, the State has to invest in healthcare centres, community centres, recreational facilities and so forth. This responsibility can also be shared

through community and corporate citizenship. Healthy dietary practices also go a far way in ensuring preventive care.

This requires education to recognise and appreciate the nutritional value of food (including beverages). For instance, less sodium (salt) intake reduces/prevents high blood pressure, consumption of alcohol to liver disease, fat (oil) for high cholesterol and so forth.

Some societies have laws and policies whereby the restaurant/fast food industry empowers customers on nutritional value as part of the menu card/board. This allows the customer to make informed choices. There are also instances of control (ban, reduction) of ingredients in publicly prepared food. In the instance of tobacco, it has moved from health warnings on the packets, to being banned in certain public spaces, given that users and bystanders are susceptible to lung cancer. Lifestyle changes are not easy.

It requires will, commitment and determination, but ours is the collective duty and responsibility through public awareness, education and other forms of empowerment that would ensure Guyana plays its role in meeting the 2020 goal.

Time for condign action Dear Editor, YET again, there are reports in the media about threats to the life of the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

These are indeed very serious, and must heighten concerns about the safety of President David Granger, and by extension his family members.

Also, this is the third such incident, apart from the assassination plot that attracted a Commission of Inquiry that exposed a shockingly unbelievable approach that can only be described as cavalier, reckless,

Dear Editor,

and wholly unprofessional.

No one should doubt the veracity of these reports, since the investigative authorities have been able to trace the sources, and the persons behind them.

However, they point to a particular trend, in terms of the mindset of the persons identified, inherent of a peculiar ideological behaviour which part of that constituent’s thinking as to who must govern this country.

Editor, I am of the view that had a condign example been made of the first person who had issued such threats, those who followed

subsequently would have thought twice before doing so.

I am not a legally trained person, nor do I pretend to be, but I still cannot fathom the reason for the first such reported case of issuing a threat on the president’s life, in which the person had been charged under the Racial Hostility Act, escaping legal sanction.

It was interesting to note the trial magistrate’s ruling that “the prosecution failed to illustrate how, ...Facebook post breached any section of the Act which was used to institute the charges”.

This conclusion no doubt led to

a dismissal of the charges against the defendant.

It would seem to me, then, that the automatic step was to have charged the accused under the appropriate law, under which I am certain a conviction would have been secured.

I have based this conclusion on the fact that there was existing evidence in the form of a Facebook posting, sufficient enough to substantiate any legal sanction. I do not believe that such an accused would have escaped the law in any other jurisdiction.

Then there was the other case

involving a person already serving a custodial sentence. I am not aware if any further judicial action has been taken in this instance.

It should be clear as to the reasons behind these persons’ dangerous mind set, aided and abetted by an undoubted disrespect to the person of the President.

However long very serious action is not taken against such persons, others will continue. It is time for the law enforcement to act.

Regards, Earl Hamilton

Thank you NY Guyana Chronicle!

THE NY Guyana Chronicle has led the way with original writings from some of the best activists, scholars and writers renowned in the diaspora. And it’s free, available to all, and updated Online!

These scholars share their in-

valuable knowledge, insights and research selflessly for all to benefit from, in addition to regular updates. These columnists have trailblazing track records and undeniable reputations, where they tried to change the status quo and effect political, economic and social change for all.

Some people will always be suppressed by their crab-in-abarrel mentality, and will always criticise, but can they stand up and fight the system, be crucified by the status quo, and continue to fight with dignity and courage? These are born losers, and contribute nothing to society.

Jurists and activists Colin Moore and Albert Baldeo have given valuable insights on the Venezuelan threat and other jurisprudential and international issues, as have Carlyle Harry, Handel Andrews and company.

Edgar Henry’s columns are beneficial to all readers regarding

taxes, real estate etc.

Thank you for making the NY Chronicle a great asset to the USA and Guyana communities. The NY Editor, Mr. Dennis Nelson, has done a marvellous job!

Laurie Ganpat

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 10, 2018

7

Freddie’s duplicity never ceases to amaze Dear Editor, I WRITE to take issue with, and at the same time, expose the primary intention of Freddie Kissoon’s column that was published in the Kaieteur News on Thursday, March 29, 2018 under the caption, ‘Roopnaraine is the most honest activist the WPA produced’.

Editor, there are several things in Kissoon’s column which are of interest to me.

The first is that over the years, the thing which is most glaring and disappointing about him is the level of his inconsistency, opportunism and dishonesty on his advocacy of issues.

My second point is that Kissoon has been known in the past to have struck deals at a price with those he now claims to despise politically. Lest he believes that the nation and I have forgotten, and in order to underscore this point, I refer unapologetically to his vicious attack on Professor Clive Thomas, when the latter announced his intention to write a series of articles on the descent of Guyana into a criminalised state, and his (Kissoon’s) acceptance of a commission from the PPPC government to write a series of articles,

which he titled, “Oceans 13” or some such foolishness, to negate the effects of Thomas’s articles.

Let him deny and stand condemned that he stated he was first approached by Minister Nagamootoo on the assignment, and when an agreement was struck, Minister Robert Persaud was identified as his contact person. Guyana was only made aware of his deceitful and mercenary behaviour when he complained publicly that when the time came for payment, the PPPC refused to pay him.

I recall that during the period of Thomas’ advocacy of the degeneration of Guyana under the PPPC, Kissoon was most hostile to him. Remarkably, this political adventurist, when it was convenient to him, was very high in praise of Thomas as a person of the greatest integrity.

I submit here that his treatment of the Roopnaraine matter is consistent with his handling of the Clive Thomas issue.

I do not need to remind readers of the several occasions Kissoon has attacked and denounced both Rupert Roopnaraine and the WPA as dishonest and degenerated in our politics, and of being the worst things that have ever

happened to Guyana. His sudden change of heart and his new romance with Dr. Roopnaraine points to both the extent of his opportunism, and the dangers that are located in his political analysis.

As a political person, and I daresay political activist, my concerns are with the politics implicit in Kissoon’s column. I consider it to be my duty to unveil for readers Kissoon’s sinister intent, which resides in his column. While it is not my intention to set standards for writers, including Kissoon, it is a well-established convention that readers who are exposed to the writings and thinking of contributors to developments in the political landscape of any country should be treated with respect.

The writer is expected to demonstrate this respect by providing evidence in support of the contention he or she is making, and to maintain consistency of context.

Not surprisingly, Kissoon, being who he is, failed to provide these essential ingredients in his column.

Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, after being out of the public view for a long time, chose to insert himself, as he had a right to do, into the controversy related to the sacking

Wanted....

A mechanism to defuse ticking time bombs Dear Editor, THE Caribbean Voice (TVC) has been in the forefront of calling for mental health training for all police officers which would not only make them better prepared to handle cases involving mental health issues such as child abuse, domestic violence and suicide, but will also make them more aware of mental health issues affecting their colleagues. This issue was also raised during a recent meeting with the personal assistant to Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan.

Also, TCV recalls being contacted by the GDF a few years ago to conduct suicide prevention workshops for members of the GDF. Our

followup attempts to finalise arrangements for the workshops elicited no responses from the source that had made initial contact with us.

However, the issue of mental health workshops for GDF members was also raised with Minister Ramjattan’s Personal Assistant at that recent meeting.

In an article in 2016, the US magazine, ‘Psychology Today’ pointed out that “Almost a quarter of (US) military members have symptoms of at least one mental health condition.” In fact, research indicates that soldiers and police in general are more susceptible to mental health dysfunction than the general population. And Guyana would be no exception to this reality. Thus, whether through The Caribbean

Voice or any other entity or combination of entities, all members of the GPF and the GDF should be provided with urgent mental-health training on the one hand, and enough psychologists (one psychologist, centrally located, would be woefully inadequate) to ensure a proactive approach to diagnosing and addressing mental health issues.

Referencing Captain Orwain Sandy, one letter writer asked whether there are more ‘ticking time bombs’.

The Caribbean Voice urges the establishment of a mechanism, in both the GPF and the GDP, to detect and defuse all such time bombs before further harm can be done.

Sincerely, The Caribbean Voice

of Hinds and Lewis. I am sure that when Kissoon’s article appeared, readers would have had a reasonable expectation that his discussion on Roopnaraine would have referenced the ongoing debate and the position taken by Roopnaraine.

Instead, we were introduced to a book published many years ago, written

by Mr. Clairmont Chung, that quoted Roopnaraine as saying that the WPA was acquiring arms to overthrow the Burnham regime.

The allegations that the WPA had burnt down the Ministry of National Development, which housed the office of the General Secretary of the PNC and the party (WPA) had expropriated the Peoples Temple arms which came from Jonestown, were issues that were discussed for years in Guyana and abroad, and so the relevance to the debate over the Chronicle’s firing of the columnists was entirely out of context.

But it was placed there

by Kissoon for the specific purpose of playing on the emotions of the PNCR leadership, trying to create hysteria within the ranks of that party, widening the rift between the PNCR, President Granger and the WPA and hopefully the eventual disintegration of

the APNU+AFC coalition.

Therein lay the method to Kissoon’s madness. His is a well- thought-out position.

There is an even more sinister motive to the column, and it is this that I find most offensive. He wrote, “...so why should WPA leaders heap scorn upon him.” Kissoon makes this erroneous accusation without providing any evidence that any WPA leader or WPA’s leadership had heaped scorn on Roopnaraine in the present situation or in the past.

Why is he now making this accusation? Here again there is a method to his madness. He is consciously seeking to exploit the Indian community’s racial sensitivity in relation to Rupert Roopnaraine. He wants to convey to that community that the Africans in the WPA, having used Roopnarine to help the PNCR and the African community gain power, is now unceremoniously dumping him at a time when he is ill. This is naked racism on the part of a person who often makes the claim of being nonracial and politically honest.

What is disgusting is that on several occasions, he has interfaced with individual WPA leaders who have spelt out to him the extent

to which we value Rupert Roopnaraine’s years of service in the WPA, in Guyana, and particularly on behalf of the working people in the country and for democratic renewal in the society, and that we intend to stand in solidarity with him at this and at every hour of his illness.

Kissoon is also aware that on the occasions when he has called on the WPA leaders to dump Dr. Roopnaraine, we have made it clear to him that will never happen. Yet he feels compelled to level his wild, asinine allegations against some members of the WPA. The true Freddie Kissoon has once again revealed himself. With friends like Kissoon, who needs enemies? Let me reiterate for the benefit of Freddie Kissoon and for whoever else needs this reassurance: Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine is, and will remain, a member of the WPA for as long as he chooses to do so. End of matter.

Kissoon’s behaviour, while not surprising, has reached a new low, and is unmatched to date by the propaganda of the PPPC and Indian Rights Activists on this burning issue of Rupert Roopnaraine and his relationship with the WPA. Regards, Tacuma Ogunseye

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Combe to return as presidential adviser on security reform BRITISH Security Sector Reform Adviser, Russell Combe will this week return to Guyana to serve as adviser to President David Granger for the Security Sector Reform Programme (SSRP), British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn announced Monday morning.

Quinn was at the time addressing the opening of a two-week anti-corruption training course being facilitated by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and sponsored by the British Government.

“It is my pleasure to confirm that Russell Combe will be returning to Guyana, hopefully later this week for a further one-year appointment as the security sector reform adviser to President Granger,” the British envoy said, adding that the British Government has committed to supporting Guyana on its

Security Sector Reform Programme.

Combe first came to Guyana in 2017, when he also served as President Granger’s adviser on the SSRP. At the time of his arrival, he committed to crafting and implanting a five-year strategic report. That report was, earlier this year, handed over to President Granger for his perusal. The report builds on an interim report which Combe had submitted in June 2017.

The earliest attempts at initiating reforms started back in 1999 when British Regional Adviser, Paul Matthias visited Guyana to discuss security assistance from Britain. This was followed by the Symonds Report, and the establishment of the National Security Strategy Organising Committee in 2000.

In 2002, the Border and National Security Committee, the National Consultation

on Crime, and the National Steering Committee on Crime were established. It will be recalled that in subsequent years, legislation was passed, more crime fighting bodies were established, and the initial version of the SSRP was signed, but was later scrapped by the former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government.

BRING BACK SSRP Since taking office in May 2015, President Granger has indicated that it is his administration’s intention to have the SSRP re-introduced.

The programme, which was begun in 2007 and cost US$4.7B, was scrapped in 2009 after the British Government requested to have oversight of the programme to ensure that there was ‘value for money’. The former PPP administration disagreed with the manner in which the British Government wanted

the programme to be run, and stated that the British had sought to intrude upon Guyana’s sovereignty.

But in its defence, the British Government said the Government of Guyana had submitted a different proposal which had focused on police modernisation rather than a holistic approach to reform, as was originally requested.

The British’s intention was to build a workable basis for improving national security, while reducing crime in Guyana by 2011.

With the implementation of the SSRP, the President believes that Guyana’s security sector will be significantly strengthened. He said that Guyana’s vast and porous borders have allowed for a number of illicit activities to take place, but that once the SSRP is implemented, the country’s security will be significantly strengthened, thereby allowing for

Mae’s sticks to its guns

enhanced crime-fighting capabilities and a safe and secured country.

Combe is from the Olive Group, which was contracted by Engineering, Design, Construction, Management (AECOM), on behalf of the United Kingdom Government. The former British military officer possesses global expeditionary experience, ranging from hands-on tactical level to the strategic political military interface.

He is said to be proficient in the assessment, operational planning and conduct of security operations in complex and multi-agency environments, with host nation police services and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), whilst being mindful of corporate social responsibility and stakeholder engagements.

Additionally, Combe transitioned to risk and security management with

‘UTTERLY RIDICULOUS!’ “But they didn’t; they shut us down! I find this increase to be terribly ridiculous!” the parent said.

“You can’t impose an increase and expect that we will find money to pay just like that. It’s not a whole bunch

Parents on the picket line outside Mae’s Schools on Third Avenue, Subryanville on Monday (Photo by Adrian Narine)

of rich people coming to this school; it’s a wide cross-section, and they know this. They sent a letter! Story done!”

Noting that in as much as running a school is a business Subryan said, it’s also an educational institution.

“If they look at it only as a business then, they are in the wrong industry; they should not be in education,” he said.

Natasha Persaud, a single-parent mom and make-up artist, never expected the school to raise its fees so high, and is hoping that the administrators will change their minds and do something about it.

“This is exploitation,” the young mother said. “Not every day you would get a client, or a face to do, so it’s hard on me. I didn’t expect

this much of an increase, so it’s affecting me terribly.”

She pointed out that although each parent is asked for toilet paper and Lysol, the washrooms are in poor condition.

Another parent who overheard Persaud, chimed in saying that parents still have to participate in fund-raising activities, buy expensive uniforms, books, and a full list of school supplies. “So, what are we really paying for?” the woman pondered aloud.

Shenera Sam, another parent has two children attending the school. “It’s going to be very hard on me to find all this money.”

The administration should’ve at least consulted with us to find out what we can afford. My children are

here since the playgroup, so it’s not a case where you don’t have parents who are loyal to your school. At least give us that courtesy,” she said.

WELL PLANNED Sam believes that the school operated in a rather strategic fashion, in that they carefully chose the time of year to break the news to parents.

“All of the other private schools already have hundreds of applications. So we are now at a disadvantage,” she said.

She also commented on the two-line letter that was sent to parents informing them of the increase. “The tone of the letter we received as parents was not caring and

the associated training and logistical requirements for the oil and gas sector in East Africa, and humanitarian operations with the Ebola Response Consortium in West Africa. He served as a team leader with a private security company in Mozambique, and has considerable experience in austere, expeditionary environments and in the command and control of operational security in the field.

– refuses to negotiate school fee hike, protest or no protest

By Telesha Ramnarine MAE’S schools, which stood by parents and protested with them against the implementation of VAT some time ago, is now demanding that the very parents pay a whopping 42 per cent increase in tuition fees without any explanation.

The school’s administrators have refused to call a meeting, resulting in parents staging a protest outside the school’s Third Street, Subryanville premises on Monday.

“No to 42% increase”, “Highway robbery to the max”, “42% increase is unreasonable! We have bills too”, read some of the placards.

Paul Subryan, the father of a Grade Two pupil attending the school, told the Guyana Chronicle that a group of parents have tried very hard for the school to give the parents a voice, but to no avail.

British Security Adviser, Russell Combe (DPI photo)

compassionate at all, and we’re hoping they can reconsider,” he said, adding:“ This school stood with us when we opposed the 14 per cent VAT. If you read the article that Ms. French wrote, she talked about parents from all different spectrums of life, and now to impose 42 percent?”

According to the notices issued to parents, the fees for children in the playgroup have jumped from $35,000 per term to $50,000 per term, representing a 42 per cent increase. At the nursery level, there has been a 33 per cent increase, with fees moving from $45,000 to $60,000, while at the primary level, from Grades One to Four, the increase stands at 25 per cent, moving from $60,000 to $75,000.

Parents of Grade Five pupils are required to pay $70,000, representing a combination of $60,000 for tuition and $10,000 for lessons fees.

The fees for this level have not been increased. However, Grade Six pupils are now being charged $80,000, which is a combination of $60,000 tuition and $20,000 lessons fees. Initially, that level paid $60,000 tuition and a $10,000 lesson fee.

The school had said that its decision to increase fees was “necessary for a number of reasons, including the fact that our costs to do business have increased, in some cases quite substantially, over the last few years.

“Further, in an environment where hiring teachers who are both motivated and experienced has become a monumental task, we are at a point where we are placing an even greater focus on staff development/empowerment.

Please note that as a part of this endeavour, we are also looking at overall operations and ways to make them more efficient.”

On the issue of VAT remittance, the school’s administrator, Stacey French said the school’s tax records are “not for public consumption.”

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Gov’t forging full steam ahead – AG says come what may, Guyana will have own law school

By Ariana Gordon GOVERNMENT is working assiduously to ensure that a local law school is established here, Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams said Monday.

Speaking on the sidelines of an anti-corruption, fraud and bribery training programme which opened Monday at the Police Training Centre on Camp Road, Williams told reporters that work is still ongoing on the feasibility study for the institution.

“We are working on a shareholders’ agreement, the definitive agreement, and the business plan, which would include the feasibility study, and we hope to have that before the end of this month,” he explained, adding that upon completion, “we will invite the Council of Legal Education (CLE) team to come to us, or if we have to, go to Trinidad to examine it.”

Williams explained that Guyana’s actions with regard to the law school is grounded in a study conducted by a

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, SC. speaking with the media Monday (Photo by Delano Williams)

Canadian-funded programme done through the Impact Justice Programme. The study assessed legal education in the Region, and a report with the findings and recommendations has been circulated to stakeholders.

As part of its finding, the Impact Justice Programme recommended, among other things, that law schools should be established in Antigua, Guyana and Jamaica.

“So, we are bolstered by that; we really need a law school in Guyana,” Minister Williams said, as the tuition fees for Guyanese students

attending the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad have been increased to TT$97,000 or just over G$3M. “That is only for tuition,” he said. “You still have to live and exist in Trinidad. We are working on it, especially at this time how Guyana is poised. We would need lawyers to deal with oil and gas, the ‘Green State and Economy’ so we have a lot of capacity to build.”

Asked whether the report recommended that the CLE be more of a regulatory body as opposed to one that is running the local law school,

IMF concerned about ExxonMobil’s heavy returns in PSA

Williams answered in the affirmative. “We already see them as largely being in the realm of accreditation; not to run law schools in the Region on a day-to- day basis,” he stated, while adding that the recommendations are now being assessed by stakeholders.

Said he, “Well, the report is out; it has been circulated to the various governments and attorneys-general.

I have a copy, and I am going through it. I have to take it to Cabinet.” What he could not say definitively, however, is how soon the recommendations contained in the report are likely to be accepted, but noted that the CLE is a regional body, and certain procedures must be followed before decisions are taken.

FULLY CAPABLE This notwithstanding, the Attorney-General said Guyana has the capacity to run its own law school, and said he is fully in support of the recommendations that the

CLE should be a regulatory body, and not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the law school.

Explaining the situation in which Guyana is in presently, Minister Williams said, “Because of our experiences right now... We have been reduced to 25 students; we used to have Jamaicans, Belizeans, and others studying with us...

“The decisions of the CLE have excluded them, and Trinidad and Jamaica have been churning out lawyers, over 200 a year, while we are limited to 25 and under.”

Describing the cost imposed on the 25 Guyanese students as prohibitive, he said: “We need to ease this hardship on our students and let people have an access.

A country cannot go wrong having people who have been exposed to law. We hope that it can lead to a more orderly and law abiding society.”

Stakeholders of the project have already acquired a building plan and design for the facility, which is proposed to be 50,000 sq. ft with three

Laurel Gittens promoted to Deputy Chief Constable

…but stresses current contract should be honoured THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) said ExxonMobil received such a favourable deal from Guyana that the country should rewrite its tax laws.

This is according to a Bloomberg article which called Guyana the home to the biggest new deepwater oil play. The article said that while Guyana should honour the existing deal, “future contracts should ensure the state gets a higher portion of crude proceeds…”

It said Guyana, “South America’s third poorest with an average per capita income of around $4,000, has little experience of dealing with multinational behemoths such as Exxon.”

In the article, the IMF described the terms of the ExxonMobil contract as relatively favourable to investors by international standards. It also said that the royalty rates included in the contract are well below what is observed internationally.

The article noted that IMF officials have visited Guyana multiple times over the past nine months as they help improve its legal, fiscal and regulatory frameworks before ExxonMobil and its joint venture partners, HESS and CNOOC Nexen.

It said too that Guyana has become one of Exxon’s five key global projects for the next decade “due to the sheer size of its oil endowment.”

The IMF recommends that Guyana employ a more progressive tax regime so that the government receives a higher share of profits as projects earn more; consider eliminating interest expenses from the project’s costs to avoid “abusive use of debt”; introduce tighter ring fences to avoid costs being shared around multiple fields and bulk up its regulatory capability.

Exxon’s total acreage in Guyana’s waters covers 11.5 million acres. ExxonMobil leads a partnership group that includes Hess Corp. and China’s CNOOC Nexen.

Petroleum production is slated to commence in March of 2020.

Student admits to felony charge A 14-YEAR-OLD student of an Essequibo Secondary School was on Monday remanded to the Sophia Holding Centre after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge.

He made an appearance before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Charity Magistrate’s court.

It is alleged that on April 4, last, he broke into the dwelling place of Shanesa Higgins with the intention of committing felony.

The magistrate ordered that a probation report be presented to the court on April 16, before she passes sentence.

floors. The law school will be named the Joseph Oscar Fitzclarence (JOF) Haynes Law School, and will be sited at the University of Guyana.

The project comes after some two decades of lobbying for an alternative to the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica, the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago and the Eugene Dupuch Law School in The Bahamas.

The JOF Haynes Law School is being established through a Public-Private Partnership among the Government of Guyana, the Law School of the Americas (LCA), and the University College of the Caribbean (UCC), and will add to the existing options available to holders of a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree, and who intend to pursue their Legal Education Certificate (LEC).

A timeline of 2018 was set for the establishment of the local institution, and according to the attorney-general, whether or not the timeline is met, a local law school will be established.

Deputy Chief Constable Laurel Gittens

CONSTABULARY Superintendent Laurel Gittens has been promoted to Deputy Chief Constable on the recommendation of the Legal Affairs and Security Committee.

Because the six-month probation period will run into Gittens’ retirement, the majority of City Councillors voted to amend the Committee’s recommendation to take out the probation period.

The precedence of withdrawing the probation period was set in the past when Chief Constable Andrew Foo was not subjected to the six months.

Gittens’ promotion was effective from November 1, 2017.

Lorry driver faces 12 counts of causing death by dangerous driving JUSTICE Brassington Reynolds has commenced hearing preliminary submissions from defence lawyer Mursalene Bacchus into the horrific Berbice accident case, in which truck driver Chaitram Moonsammy faces 12 counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Moonsammy has pleaded not guilty to the indictments which state that on October 29, 2010, he drove motor lorry GLL 8863 in a manner dangerous to the public, resulting in the deaths of : Oudit Narine Babulall, 33 (the driver of the ill-fated minibus), of Number 48 Village; Salmaa Razac, 23 of lot 104 Main Street, Cumberland; Marques Ault, 14, of Rose Hall Town; Cindy Jaggernauth of Nigg Settlement; two-month-old Josiah Khan, and his mother, Talika Mendonca, 21, of Kildonan Village; Patricia Asgarally, 28, of Albion; Sal-

mar Juman, 40, of East Canje; and Orlando De Mattos, called Lando, 32, of Manchester Village, Nazaradin Mahinudin, 19, of Lot 40 Betsy Ground, East Canje; Chetram Ramphal, 30, of Bush Lot, and Janet Baker of Number 19 Village, Corentyne.

Meanwhile, rebuttal arguments by State Prosecutor Ms. Tuanna Hardy in the absence of the selected 12-member jury are expected to be heard prior to the ruling by the presiding judge.

On October 29, 2010, the day commenced no differently than any other day in the lives of the 12 persons who joined the ill-fated minibus. However, by dusk their motionless bodies were being pulled out of the trench at Suzanna Village, Corentyne, having been killed in the worst reported vehicular accident to have occurred on the Berbice roadways.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Region Two RDC unhappy over power outages THE Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Two (Pomeroon-Su-

penaam) has expressed dissatisfaction over the current power outages and

according to head of the RDC Devanand Ramdatt, the region is not being pro-

vided with any information on the situation.

The Chairman recalled that at a July 13 meeting last year, convened in the council’s boardroom with senior officials from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and key stakeholders from the region, it was recommended that GPL provide timely updates and advisories via RCA, the local TV station, and cell phone messages to inform residents on blackouts. Unfortunately the recommendation coming out of the forum was not meaningfully implemented.

Further, Ramdatt said the RDC clearly recalled Minister of Infrastructure David Patterson, expressing in an

email dated July 9, 2017 that he would ask GPL to provide advance notice, in future, on any load-shedding activities.

And as it relates to the long term, the minister had also mentioned that a new set for Anna Regina had been procured and that it was expected to be on site

by October. However the Ministry had to complete the groundwork and other infrastructural issues before the set could have been connected and put in full service mode. The completed was projected for November.

Ramdatt said the RDC took note that the first quarter of 2018 was completed and the region was still adversely affected by frequent

Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt

blackouts. Also, that during those periods the region’s GTT landline, GWI and internet services were all affected.

Consequently, the Chairman is calling on GPL and Minister Patterson to provide answers, as to why the region was experiencing those difficulties and when it would be given its new generator.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Killer mom begs forgiveness – as judge sends her away for 98 years

A CRYING 25-year-old Hofosawa Awena Rutherford was on Monday afternoon sentenced to 98 years’ imprisonment by Justice Navindra Singh in the Demerara High Court.

Last month a 12-member jury found her guilty on both counts of manslaughter for the March 27, 2014 ‘rat poison’ killing of her two small children at Branch Road, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

In handing down his sentence, Justice Singh told the court he could not understand why Rutherford was indicted for manslaughter while the evidence clearly pointed to murder which would have been a double conviction.

He added that in her address to the court before sentence was passed, the accused showed genuine remorse and he was pleased that she had finally accepted

what she had done.

For the first count, Justice Singh started at a base of 30 years to which he added 10 years because the victims were children; five more years were added since the victims were the accused’s own children; five years added for the use of poison in the killing; 10 years added for premeditation; eight years were deducted for the favourable probation report and seven years deducted for remorse shown; bringing the total to 45 years in jail for the first count.

On the second count – the judge sentenced Rutherford to 53 years imprisonment from which time served while on remand will be deducted by the Guyana Prison Service. The 98-year sentence will run consecutively.

In her address to the court, a weeping Rutherford

said she loved her children and was truly saddened by what had happened and the pain she had caused her family. She told the court that she was not perfect since she had a lot of shortcomings. She then broke down in tears and begged Justice Singh to have mercy in his sentencing.

In his plea of mitigation, defence attorney Adrian Thompson told the court that the accused was only 25 years old and asked the court to be cognisant of the probation report which highlighted the hard life of the accused.

He added that at age 16 she dropped out of school pregnant and her mother died after which she grew up with her grandparents and only knew her father when she was of age.

Thompson asked the court to also take into consideration her upbringing

Hofosawa Awena Rutherford as she was being escorted for her sentencing before Justice Navindra Singh in the Demerara High Court on Monday afternoon

which was not ideal and the fact she has some health issues, including mental health and even though justice must be served, he asked for mercy in the sentencing.

In response, state prosecutor Abigail Gibbs told the court that considering the prisoner was still grieving, she hadn’t given her children the luxury of life.

She added that one-year-

old Jabari Cadogan and four-year-old Odasia Cadogan died from pesticide poisoning and she was aware that it was not for human consumption, adding that struggles and hardship in life can never be justification for taking the lives of her own children. Gibbs told the court that her role was to be their mother, to love and care for them but she failed them and asked the court to impose the maximum sentence.

However, the probation report was marked and tendered in the process after it was presented to the court by probation and Social Services Officer Joanne Samuels.

Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh gave the cause of death as pesticide poisoning by carbon tablets (rat poison) also called aluminium sulphate.

The state’s case was led by Prosecutor Tiffini Lyken in association with Shawnette Austin and Abigail Gibbs.

Linden Town Councillors want stricter financial accountability

– for threatening to kill President

LINDEN Municipal Councillors have expressed concern about monies being spent from its coffers without following the proper procedure for doing so.

The issue was raised at the recently held statutory meeting, where a discussion arose over payment of a reimbursement cheque to Councillor Carwyn Holland for expenses incurred on a recent trip to China.

Holland travelled to China along with councillor Lennox Gasper on official business of the council.

The matter was put to a vote and while the majority of the councillors present voted in favour of Holland being reimbursed, treasurer of the municipality Audrey Nelson then advised the council that the cheque Holland presented was paid to the travel agent after he would have left for China.

Councillors then became outraged that they were advised on this after the vote went through hence the concern that the Council’s money is being spent in an

DAYS after a prank call was made to the 911 system at the Brickdam Police Station stating that a bomb was planted at the Ministry of the Presidency to kill the Head of State David Granger, a 64-yearold man was on Monday charged.

Motilall Balkaran of Triumph, East Coast Demerara, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and denied that on March 20, 2018 he made a call to the Brickdam Police Station threatening to kill President Granger by stating that a bomb was placed at his office at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The sexagenarian denied making use of threatening language by calling the emergency line and threatening to place a bomb to kill the Head of State.

Attorney Tiffany Jeffrey during her application for bail, argued that there were several other persons living at Balkaran’s home who also

Councillor Lennox Gasper

Carwyn Holland

haphazard way.

“The vote went ahead and then we are hearing afterward.... I think the Council wasn’t properly advised and I would like to say here and now that in future, especially on matters that are important as these, the council be sufficiently advised because these little things can cause a lot of problems,” councillor Colin Anderson said, after voting for the payment to be made to Holland.

Councillor Lennox Gasper said that he has seen inconsistencies in the documentation relating to the payment Holland submitted

and said that a vote went ahead without the council being properly advised.

He said that the council is often “hasty” in signing things without thoroughly checking, “Because to me it is coming across as though somebody is trying to rip this council off…this council cannot be ripped off. We have to do things transparently…this council needs to be very careful in how it administers and how it deals with the public’s finance and this council can’t be too sympathetic in voting.”

Councillor Keron Williams said that the issue is not about paying Holland

as the council never had an issue with paying anyone, as long as the relevant documentation is provided and the right procedures are followed. With the situation at hand, Williams said that he hopes the administration of the council is not making payments haphazardly without making sure these things are in check. “I am still adamant that the regulatory financial procedure, the legal financial procedure is thoroughly followed before any payment of any finances belonging to this municipality is done.” The councillors then upbraided the Town Clerk (ag) Orleena Obermuller, for not being thorough enough in advising the council on matters relating to financing.

The LMTC is currently cash-strapped and has been in millions of dollars in debt. Former Mayor Holland had made several calls on Central Government to relieve the municipality of the debt , so as to allow it to better meet the needs of the workers and the township of Linden.

64-year-old remanded to prison

Motilall Balkaran

had access to the line. Jeffrey added that the police failed to run a voice recognition check to identify who was the caller.

Police Prosecutor, Gordon Mansfield objected to bail being granted citing the seriousness of the charge.

The Chief Magistrate remanded Balkaran to prison on the grounds of public safety and transferred the matter to the Sparendaam Magistrates' Court for April 16.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Alcohol, substance abuse closely linked to mental health disorders – 35 persons to undergo lengthy training to deal with the scourge ALCOHOL and substance abuse have been closely linked to mental health disorders and diseases that plague the local society, said Director of the Mental Health Unit of the Ministry of Public Heath, Dr. Util Thomas.

Over the years studies locally have discovered that 70 per cent of the patients at the National Psychiatric Hospital have a dual diagnosis of alcoholism and substance abuse.

“Alcohol and substance abuse are interwoven with all the mental health disorders and maladies that plague our society,” said Thomas during the launch of a 19-day drug treatment training programme on Monday.

The programme which is certified by the University of the West Indies (UWI) is being funded by the Organisation of American States (OAS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and designed to improve the

From left: Director of the Mental Health Unit, Dr. Util Thomas; OAS Rep, Jean Ricot Dormeus and PS of the Public Health Ministry, Collette Adams at Monday’s event

training programme to pay keen attention to the teachings they will receive.

The main objectives of the training programme are to train and certify drug prevention specialists and drug treatment providers, and improve the quality of treatment services for those with addiction problems.

OAS Resident Representative, Jean Ricot Dormeus said the training seminar is the framework of the OAS’ training and certification programme that provides a solution to the dependency of

“We recognise that drug control policies and strategies require a holistic approach since law enforcement, although necessary, has not been sufficient,” lamented Dormeus.

Soft approaches such as prevention and treatment are needed but the OAS continues to study and explore other suitable options to control the drug influence.

The OAS representative told participants that the skills they receive will help them to make vital contributions to society in terms of controlling

Some of the participants at the launch of the training programme (Adrian Narine photos)

quality of treatment services available for persons with addiction problems.

Dr. Thomas placed direct emphasis on alcohol and substance abuse, noting that persons who are addicted to the two have more frequent relapses and show resistance to treatment.

She made reference to the known suicide issue in Baramita, Region One (Barima-Waini) where persons usually commit suicide while under the influence of alcohol.

“We have been conducting a self-harm surveillance project and what we are finding is that most of the cases of persons indulging in selfharm come from dysfunctional families where alcohol and substance abuse is very prominent,” the director lamented.

Officials of the unit believe that suicide and other mental health matters cannot be addressed without addressing alcohol and substance abuse issues, so they implored the 35 participants of the

many drug addicts in Guyana.

The 35 participants who met the requirements of the course will function as drug treatment service providers who are equipped to implement programmes.

In 2016, 32 Guyanese had completed a similar training programme and have since impacted the lives of many people, especially vulnerable youth, said Dormeus.

“At a recent forum, the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan had referred to a study that shows the devastating effects of drug use and trafficking on crime and violence,” he said, adding that the study also alluded to the fact that due to those ills, there have been deaths, injuries and life disruptions in Latin America and the Caribbean that surpass those in war zones.

He believes that the alarming trend calls on officials to do better to protect society from the drug scourge.

the influence of drugs on people.

“You will touch the lives of people in desperate need of assistance,” he said, adding that the OAS through the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) remains committed to helping Guyana and the region in their quest for a better life for all.

Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Public Health Ministry, Collette Adams reminded the participants that they also have a guideline to work with--the National Drug Strategy Master Plan 2016-2020, which also includes the vision and intentions of the ministry.

The strategy promotes the implementation of modern measures and mechanisms that promote the efficient functioning of anti-narcotic structures, in particular, the effective coordination and application of national policies on drugs, among other things.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Lindeners call for boycott – in wake of sexual of LTW Pageant misconduct allegations

By Vanessa Braithwaite and Svetlana Marshall POLICE at Linden are investigating an allegation of sexual misconduct on a delegate of the Miss Linden Town Week (LTW) Pageant by a popular community businessman.

And even as residents anxiously await the outcome of that probe, some are calling for the pageant slated for April 21, 2018 to be boycotted given the seriousness of the matter.

On Monday, the victim in question gave a statement to the police, and according to Commander of ‘E’ Division Anthony Vandyhegen, the Mackenzie Police Station is in the process of putting a report together to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice on the way forward.

It has been alleged that a popular Linden businessman made inappropriate sexual advances to one of the contestants seeking his sponsorship to cover her expenses for the pageant, and used coercion and bribery to cover up the issue. The issue was made public Sunday on social media by a popular social media and political commentator.

Minister of Government and Women Rights’ Advocate, Simona Broomes on Monday told the Guyana Chronicle that the police investigation should be allowed to continue unhindered, even as she expressed disappointment at the handling of the matter by local leaders.

Minister Broomes said when the matter was brought to her attention, she advised that a report be immediately made to the police. Since then, the Minister said, she has taken stock of the recent developments, and is urging that the police be given a chance to do their work. “I would urge all the parties to desist and allow for the police to investigate the matter,” Minister Broomes said, adding: “Who is one to pronounce on if the matter is done or the matter is not done… It is with the police; they know what they have to do!” Minister Broomes told this newspaper.

Vladimir Glasgow

It has been alleged that an Alliance for Change (AFC) Executive and the Prime Minister’s Region Ten Representative Vladimir Glasgow coerced the victim into covering up the issue by not making a report. When contacted on Monday, Glasgow said that the allegations are untrue.

Said he: “Propaganda has its work to do, and at this point, I won’t be making any comment on the issue. People have their own ambition and aim...

“As far as I know, two people had an issue and they decided to settle the issue, and it is not my place to comment.”

SETTLE OUT-OF-COURT However, the Guyana Chronicle has been reliably informed that Glasgow was among the two witnesses to an agreement for an outof-court settlement on the matter.

In a statement on Monday, the AFC said that the party is aware of a social media post regarding the incident implicating the member of its Region 10 Regional Management Committee, and will be launching its own investigation into the issue.

“The AFC reiterates its strong revulsion of any mistreatment of females, and will take appropriate action should any misconduct in this or any other regard be proven,” the party said in its statement.

Reached Sunday for a comment, LTW 2018 Coordinator and AFC member, Devin Sears told the Guyana Chronicle that there’s no truth to allegation that he encouraged the young ladies

LTW Coordinator, Devin Sears

embroiled in the matter to solicit funds from the embattled businessman.

“I did not permit those young ladies, whether written or verbally, to go to the individual’s premises. At no point in time did I give any permission to seek sponsorship, “ Sears said, adding: “It would be very irresponsible of me to permit these young girls to do such a thing... I cannot give any such permission.”

He said that upon learning what was alleged to have transpired, he had a serious conversation with the alleged victim and her parents, and encouraged her to report the matter to the police. He said he would subsequently learn that a consensual agreement was reached by both parties to deal with the matter privately.

Sears said that despite learning this, he insisted that a police report was made since the allegations are serious.

The Linden Mayor and Town Council, in a statement issued late Sunday said that from its independent investigation, it has learnt that the incident occurred on March 3, 2018 and was settled between the parties involved on March 6, 2018.

The issue was reportedly brought to the attention of the mayor on March 16 by Sears, and according to the statement, the Mayor was told that the matter was with the police. “Subsequently, on Sunday April 1,” the Council said in the statement, “the issue was brought again to the Mayor’s attention stating that the matter was not settled.

“The Council immediate-

Miss Linden Town Week Pageant Coordinator, Crystal Lam

ly called for an investigation, and visited the Coordinator, Crystal Lam, who provided some information, and a meeting was then scheduled to meet with the victim.

NO FURTHER ACTION “However, the Mayor was later informed by Lam that the young woman does not wish to further the issue. On this premise, the Council subsequently met with the victim on April 5, 2018. The minutes of that meeting were taken.

“The Mayor did not in any way attempt to trivialise the issue or to sweep anything under the carpet.

“The Council stands resolute in its position against any sexual misconduct, sexual abuse or harassment, and will advocate for justice if the individuals involved are found culpable.”

However, Minister Broomes cautioned that leaders should be responsible in their actions especially when dealing with such cases.

The first line of the Coun-

Minister of Government, Simona Broomes

cil’s statement read: “The LMTC is deeply concerned and regrets the occurrence of such incident tarnishing the image and integrity of pageantry and the municipality.”

Minister Broomes said whether the Municipality is the franchise holder of the pageant or not, the matter is a serious one.

“This is a young lady that came forward with an allegation; we have to be careful as leaders in society what kind of message we are sending,” the minister said, adding: “She is coming forward with an allegation. Most times young girls and women don’t come forward, and if somebody is coming forward, we should not, be it you’re a leader or leader not, be coming forward in the press with press releases talking about who talking truth and who matter finish. It should not be.”

Such actions, she warned, could discourage persons even more affected from coming forward.

DO NOT BOYCOTT The pageant coordinator has since said in a Facebook post that the delegates being taken to the home of a potential sponsor constituted a breach of protocol, and she as well as other officials had no knowledge of this. “What transpired that evening is unfortunate and does not represent CLD’s philosophy.

Upon learning of this tragic incident, a report was made to a government official and the issue has and still is being investigated,” Lam stated.

Despite meeting several road blocks and challenges, the local designer decided to continue coordinating the event because she saw a plethora of positives in doing so. “Being a queen should never come at the price of selling yourself.

This is not a true representation of pageantry.”

Relating to the call to boycott the pageant, Lam said, “We have to start somewhere, and the solution cannot be to end all pageants.

We have to come up with more creative ways in finding solutions. In my opinion the pageant should go on. Give these women a chance to be role models in society. Give them a chance to change society’s misconception of pageantry.

Our women must not feel like selling one’s self to potential sponsors is an undeniable part of pageantry.” Seven young beauties are expected to compete for the coveted crown on March 21, if the pageant is held.

Body found floating in trench on Carifesta Avenue

THE body of an unidentified male of African descent was found floating in a trench next to Carifesta Avenue, in the vicinity of Camp Ayanganna, early on Monday.

When the Guyana Chronicle arrived on scene, police had already taken the body out of the trench and it subsequently taken to the Lyken Funeral Home.

Reliable sources from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) said the body was partially decomposed and had marks of violence, especially around the face.

The body was also found shirtless but with a black jeans. Police said the remains appeared to be that of a middle-aged man.

Investigations are ongoing and the body is yet to be identified.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, April 10, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 10, 2018

Kwakwani road repair commences …minibus drivers to consider reducing increased fares

RESIDENTS of the Region 10 communities of Kwakwani and Ituni are elated that repair works have begun on the Linden to Kwakwani roadway which will eliminate several issues that resulted from the road being in a deplorable state.

The road was always a major concern for these residents and more so drivers plying the route and that caused them to increase fares.

Region 10 Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph and who has responsibility for Kwakwani, said that he is extremely happy that the road is being done and the huge pot holes that caused the journey from Linden to Kwakwani to be a rather rough one are being filled and the entire road is being graded with loam.

Adolph said that though the works are far from complete, the trip from Kwakwani to Linden took him about two and a half hours on Sunday evening. This is about one and a half hours less than what it took before the repair works commenced. The project is being executed by the Ministry of Public Infrastruc-

ture and several contractors are on the ground trying to complete the work before the May/June rainy season commences. VC Adolph also said that he is happy that persons from Kwakwani have been employed by the contractors.

In an invited comment, Region 10 Member of Parliament Audwin Rutherford, who also has responsibility for Kwakwani, said on Monday that he and the residents are elated that the work is being done but want stricter monitoring. Rutherford alluded to several times in the past when repair works were started on the road and more monies had to be spent because of the lack of monitoring.

Rutherford described the repair works as timely and said that it will complement the drainage works that were done earlier this year. One of the major issues with the Kwakwani road was the water’s inability to drain off effectively after heavy rainfall.

Now that this will be done, the road is expected to be last longer.

The MP is calling on drivers who will be on the

Luck runs out for Arjune

Andrew Arjune

THE luck of 30-year-old Andrew Arjune finally ran out on Monday after he was sentenced to 18 months in jail by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman for stealing a water pump, even after he was warned during previous court appearances for similar charges to desist from stealing Arjune confessed to the charge which read that on April 5 at Kitty Seawall, he stole a two-inch Honda water pump valued $200,000, property of Deonauth Lall.

The police said that Arjune was caught with the stolen items walking along Vlissingen Road and confessed to the police.

The man also admitted that he was charged and convicted for a similar charge.

However, Magistrate Latchman who remembered Arjune’s face from a previous court appearance, queried of him if he was charged for stealing zinc sheets from the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Sports Complex building. He admitted the offence.

Last month, Arjune was spared from a jail sentence and fined $30,000.

Magistrate Latchman in her sentencing told Arjune: “You were warned before by the court.” She then sentenced him to 18 months’ imprisonment.

road daily to play a role in its monitoring and give feedback to the relevant authorities, when they see unsatisfactory and substandard work being carried out by the contractors.

Meanwhile the VC said that once the repair works are completed, he intends to ask the drivers who would have upped their fares to reduce them since they promised to do so if the road was repaired.

One driver told this publication on Monday that the repair work is something he welcomes as the struggle was ‘very real’ driving on a road in the state it was. “The struggle was real sista and now things looking up I am happy, as for the dropping up the fare, I can’t really say about that myself, I have to speak to my other drivers them but I know we had promised to drop it,” the driver said.

A section of the roadway where repair works have been completed

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 10, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 10, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 10, 2018

T&T‘s Ahye makes history with 100m gold, SA’s Simbine takes Men’s 100 metres … Massive disappointment for Yohan Blake GOLD COAST, Australia (CMC) – Michelle-Lee Ahye handed Trinidad and Tobago its maiden global women’s athletics gold and its first overall in two decades, when she sped to victory in the 100 metres final at the Commonwealth Games here yesterday.

The pre-race favourite was away from the blocks first and led all the way to cross the line in 11.14 secs, with Jamaican Christania Williams clinching silver in 11.21 and countrywoman Gayon Evans securing bronze in 11.22.

However, there was no such glory in the men’s final for hot favourite Yohan Blake who stumbled out of the blocks, failed to significantly recover and could only nick bronze in 10.19 secs.

South African Akani Simbine swept gold in 10.03, dragging teammate Henricho Bruintjies with him for silver in 10.17.

The result was a massive disappointment for Jamaican Blake, widely viewed as the heir apparent to recently retired legend Usain Bolt.

Significantly, his anticipated victory in yesterday’s final was seen as the first step to his future domination of the event but that never materialised, leaving many with doubts over the 28-year-old.

Running out of lane seven, Blake stumbled briefly over his first few steps before regaining his balance but by then, Jason Rogers of St Kitts and Nevis in lane three had grabbed the early lead with Kemar Hyman of Cayman Islands also showing speed.

At 50 metres, Simbine hauled himself into contention before bursting to the lead and though Blake finally found some momentum, it was not enough to see him top the podium.

“I was stumbling all the way and I didn’t recover from it. I’ve been feeling good and it was not to happen today,” a frustrated Blake said afterwards.

“I’m disappointed because I’ve been feeling good. I didn’t get the start and I was all over the place.

I couldn’t recover from it.

“I couldn’t catch the field as I wanted to. I was supposed to take this (race) very easily because I was ready and feeling good.

It was just never meant to be I guess.”

He added: “Maybe I was too confident and over thought it.”

Hyman finished fifth in 10.21 and Rogers sixth in 10.24, as Simbine became the first South African to win a Commonwealth 100m title.

Ahye, however, delivered the Caribbean’s big moment, leading a podium sweep for the region in style.

Sixth at the 2016 Rio Olympics and at last year’s World Championships in London, Ahye made no mistake this time around. Starting from lane four, Ahye was a clear leader after 30 metres with 20-year-old Trinidadian Khalifa St Fort chasing her from lane two.

Williams challenged late from lane five and Evans was flying on the outside but Ahye crossed the line first, pumping her fists in elation.

“I think my family and country will be very proud.

It means a lot to me to represent Trinidad and Tobago,” the 26-year-old beamed afterwards.

T&T’s last individual gold medal came at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur when Ato Boldon captured the 100m in a record 9.88secs which remains intact.

From back page►

Guyanese shooters ...

BOXING Keevin Allicock, the 2017 Junior Commonwealth Games silver medallist, suffered a heart-breaking controversial defeat to 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Reece McFadden.

Much was expected of Allicock ahead of the games, and the 18-year-old from Albouystown lived up to those expectations, only to have his hopes of reaching the quarter-final of the 52kg class snatched by some obvious dubious judging.

Fijian Judge Seru Whippy scored the fight 29-28 for Allicock, giving the Guyanese fighter two of the three rounds, but the other four judges scoring in similar fashion for the Scottish boxer, though he was outpunched.

Allicock’s defeat ended Guyana’s campaign in the ring since the other fighter, Colin Lewis (light welterweight) was knocked out of the competition after winning his opening fight.

ATHLETICS Meanwhile, over on the track, Winston George ram 47.25 secs in his 400

metres semi-final, but his time was not good enough to see him through to the final. George will now shift his attention to the 200 metres today.

Also today, the Hooper sisters, Natrena and Natricia, will go head-to-head when they meet in the women’s triple jump.

Troy Doris will have his first taste of the Commonwealth Games in the men’s triple jump and Emanuel Archibald is aiming to rebound from his unsatisfactory performance in the 100 metres event, where he crashed out at the semi-finals.

Since Wesley Christmas’ bronze medal in boxing at the 1990 Games in Auckland, New Zealand, Guyana’s only medals came from track and field, compliments of Aliann Pompey.

Pompey struck gold in the 400 metres at the 2002 Games in Manchester, England and picked up a silver medal at the 2010 Games in India.

Guyana, so far, has a total of 15 medals at the Commonwealth Games, with boxing and track and field sharing the spoils.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 10, 2018

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65 Days to go …

From Guyana to India:

Claude Bolton’s crossroads in culture

FLYING to India in September 2017, Claude Bolton had responsibilities on his shoulders. Appointed as the Technical Director of India Rush Soccer Club, the Canadian was in charge of long-term development of academies and youth programming. However, things took a turn the following year when the club was offered a place in the final round of Indian Women’s League (IWL).

Mr Dennis Fernandes (CEO, India Rush SC) had not planned to push a women’s team in 2018; he’d thought of doing it in a two-to-three year period. But when the opportunity came, he realised he could combine it with the women’s empowerment programme and push the team forward. However, when approached, I was informed that I would have a short period to work with the team which was absolutely fine with me,’’ Bolton tells Goal.com in an exclusive interview.

Having coached for nearly 20 years now, Bolton earlier plied his trade at Guyana Football Federation as a Technical Director and also took over their women’s football team. Under him, the side moved up 58 places in the world rankings, to be cemented on the 84th spot then.

Finding similarities between the Indian and Guyanese culture, Bolton recalls, ‘’Things are almost identical apart from the size of the population. Guyana’s majority of the population is Indian and the black community.

Also, the one sport there is cricket, so the foundation and cultures were very similar. The one difference though is the population size. Countries like Guyana hope for their Diaspora to come back as they don’t have that kind of (huge) population.’’

With six months of his Indian stint, the India Rush head coach believes that the coaching in India needs a revamp. Often instructed about the drills, the kids aren’t allowed to express themselves in training.

Claude thinks the reason behind this traces back to colonisation, which he believes, hasn’t fully

left the country.

“Our people were always told what to do instead of acting on their own. I think there is still a residue of that left.

In both Guyana and India, I’ve noticed that players aren’t granted freedom. The residues of colonisation are still young in India and also in the Caribbean. We are still getting our way out of that.

“Grassroots football should be about allowing freedom.

Courses shouldn’t be about what to coach; they should be about how to coach. If I only give them (the kids) drills, that

is not going to give them any practice at making decisions,’’ he explains.

In the aim of churning out talent from every nook and corner of the country, several grassroots programmes have been introduced by the Indian FA. However, the lack of communication between the coaches and the youngsters is stunting the growth, reveals Claude.

“It can’t be just participation anymore; the numbers aren’t a proof that the game will grow. You need to find quality in the instructions. Until coaches talk to players as people, and understand the development of the individual is more important than the development of football, we are hitting a stumbling block.’’

When asked how he aims to contribute towards India’s progress in women’s football, Bolton shares his plan. “My attempt is to help influence one at a time, but it’s two-fold.

“Instead of only giving the players plans on paper, I bring them on the field, stand next to them, show them by example and try to get ideas from them.

From a coaching point of view, education is essential but not by sitting in a chair and teaching them,’’ he adds.

However, Indians are afraid to make mistakes and this fear is developed right from the early stages of education, he describes. ‘’People here are not willing to make mistakes. Only those who have experienced things in the past, are open to it. Also, at the education level, the consequences of mistakes are stiff which is why you hear such dire stories of kids being belittled.

That does not make the whole of Indian culture, but the fact that it still exists it is permeating other parts of the society.’’

Engaged in IWL for the first time, Bolton was stunned at the level of competition. The UEFA ‘B’ Licensed holder has faith in the Indian women’s national side to achieve greater heights than their male counterparts.

“I think the hidden secret of Indian football is women’s football. My peers and people from different administrations in CONCACAF and FIFA didn’t expect the competitive nature or the raw talent of the women. For years we have had the men’s game that has potential, and I believe it is true, but the women’s game has greater potential.”

Being the only male and foreign head coach this season, Bolton looks forward to the journey as a learning experience.

“I hope I can step up to the level of the successful female coaches in India and attain their success in getting the messages passed to the players. The pressure isn’t to be a role model, it is instead of being able to do what the great women have done in Indian football,’’ he concludes.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 10, 2018

South Essequibo launches T20 Invitational tournament in Region 2

Captains at the launching of the South Essequibo T20 competitionl; at right is Chairman of the South Essequibo Cricket Committee Andy Ramnarine.

THE South Essequibo Cricket Committee (SECC) last Thursday, launched its inaugural T20 round-robin invitational cricket tournament at the Imam Bacchus ground in Affiance.

Representatives of 20 clubs from North, South and Central Essequibo were present and have since registered to participate in four zones.

At the launching, Chairman of the South Essequibo Cricket Committee Andy Ramnarine commended the teams and expressed his Committee’s support in driving the development of cricket in the Region. He was also pleased that teams

from various districts along the Essequibo Coast are now competing and which he acknowledges will facilitate the exposure of more players to express themselves.

Several top clubs including Bacchus XI, Jaguars, Cotton Field, Young Warriors, Crown XI, Invaders Masters, Charity S.C and Reliance Hustlers have teamed up to do battle with one another.

According to Ramnarine, each club will be allowed to register 20 players at $100 per player while they will subscribe $5 000 as the entrance fee. The tournament will attract prize money in excess of $100 000 and tro-

phies.

Matches will be played at various venues including Imam Bacchus, Affiance No.1, Reliance, Cotton Field, Golden Fleece and the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) ground.

The coordinator is ECB executive member Ramnarine Ragoobar.

The competition has been sanctioned by the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) and will commence shortly. The top two teams from each zone, based on points standings, will qualify for the play-offs following the completion of the preliminary rounds.

DCC complete 3-peat after beating MSC in GCA/New York Tri-State U-19 final AFTER resounding victories in the U-15 and U-17 competitions, the Demerara Cricket Club’s (DCC) U-19 side ensured that their club made a three-peat of titles as Nkosie Beaton’s destructive ton helped his side defeat Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) by a whopping 213 runs in the final of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/New York Tri State 50-over U-19 tournament.

Taking first strike at the DCC ground on Sunday, the home side racked an impressive 363 all out in 46.5 overs with Beaton compiling 120 off 110 balls with 17 fours and three sixes.

Beaton’s teammate Qumar Torrington hit a 54ball 93, missing out on a ton while West Indies U-19 spinner Ashmead Nedd was classy with his knock of 62.

Ashmead had a fine allround performance in DCC’s victory against Malteenoes.

Medium-pacer Ntini Permaul was MSC’s best bowler with 4-59 while Jeremiah Scott grabbed 2-49.

MSC’s response was a complete shambles as they were bowled out for 150 in 32 overs with just Scott

(59), showing some fight and Tuen Hick resisting with five boundaries in his score of 43.

Off-spinner Sagar Hertheramani was the pick of the bowlers for DCC, with figures of 4-19 while Nedd supported with 3-28 and Beaton (man-of-the-match) claimed 2-17 from his offspin.

Earlier Beaton took on the burden of his side’s push for a big total, after he looked increasingly comfortable at the crease, to score his half-century off 70 balls. After reaching that milestone, he upped his game and, along with Nedd, compiled a record lower-order partnership of 122 for the 7th wicket.

After Nedd departed, Torrington joined Beaton and the duo composed another record partnership of 157 for the eighth wicket.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 10, 2018

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Dominant DCC cop GCA/GDA U-17 title WATCHED by a vociferous crowd at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground in Queenstown, the local boys dominated their counterparts from the Transport Sports Club (TSC) to cop the Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA) third annual Guyana Diabetics Association (GDA) Under-17 T20 Cricket tournament on Saturday night.

In less than favourable weather conditions, DCC won the toss and amassed 188-3 (20 overs) off the back of a 37-ball 62 (8x4) and (3x6) from Thameshwar Permaul with his opening partner Brandon Jaikarran contributing 40, along with an unbeaten 41 (4×4, 1×6) from captain Sachin Singh.

In reply, TSC were restricted to 104-7 when their

overs expired with only opening batsman Shivanand Goosain (20) managing to pass 15.

Jaafar Pender (2-14) and Ezekiel Wilson (2-19) were the architects of DCC’s dominant 84-run win.

Man-of-the-match Permaul along with Jaikarran, who matched him shot for shot, added 92 for the first wicket before Jaikarran fell to Jonathan Adams.

Permaul and Singh then put together 42 runs for the second wicket before the former was bowled by Kishore Seepersaud.

Singh then saw DCC to their impregnable total with his quick-fire knock of 41.

TSC received $30 000 and the runner-up trophy while DCC added $50 000 to their coffers in addition to the Championship trophy, with

Mahoning Valley Race 1 Lil Country Grad Race 2 Brass Buckle Race 3 Black Pearl Race 4 World Is My City Race 5 Jazz Session Race 6 Lorettas Song Race 7 Patty’s Mischief Race 8 Al’s Bride South Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:35 hrs Tirzan 09:10 hrs Detonation

The victorious DCC U-17 side pose with their trophy.

Singh acquiring the majority of the batting awards.

Meanwhile, GDA president Glynis Alonzo-Beaton said she was pleased with the

atmosphere created by the lights and by the large crowd that turned out, especially with the parents showing support. Alonzo-Beaton also

congratulated both teams for reaching the final.

Sunrisers dominate as Royals Australia comeback story out of control - Clarke are routed in IPL comeback

Shikhar Dhawan slammed a 33-ball half-century as Sunrisers cruised to a nine-wicket win. (BCCI)

RAJASTAN Royals suffered a heavy defeat on their return to action in the Indian Premier League (IPL), going down by nine wickets in their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Back in the competition after serving a two-year suspension following links to a 2013 corruption scandal, the Royals were only able to post 125-9 after being put in to bat.

Sunrisers had few issues chasing down a below-par total at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, achieving their target with 25 balls to spare.

Shikhar Dhawan led the way with an unbeaten 77 while Kane Williamson contributed 36 not out, the pair putting on an unbroken stand worth 121 to steer the hosts to a comprehensive victory.

American Racing Tips

ROYALS CRUSHED Rajasthan made a strong start in their comeback, reaching 52-1 before the departure of captain Ajinkya Rahane (13) in the seventh over triggered a collapse.

They had lost D’Arcy Short early - the Australian left-hander run-out by Williamson’s direct hit - but opening partner Sanju Samson (49) carried the attack to the Sunrisers.

However, Shakib Al Hasan and Siddarth Kaul claimed two wickets apiece as the Sunrisers methodically worked their way through the batting order.

Rahul Tripathi (17) and Shreyas Gopal (18) did reach double figures, but Rajasthan’s big names failed to fire as they lost eight wi0ckets for 71 runs.

ENGLAND DUO DISMISSED CHEAPLY Ben Stokes contributed just five with the bat on his Royals debut, the all-rounder caught in the deep after coming in at the fall of the second wicket.

His attempt to hit a length ball from seamer Billy Stanlake only presented Williamson with a simple opportunity at long-on, albeit the New Zealander only just held on as he fell forward to the turf.

Stokes’ England team-mate Jos Buttler also fell cheaply, though he was a little unlucky to be bowled by Rashid Khan (1-23).

When the teenage leg-spinner dragged down a delivery, Buttler’s eyes lit up. However, instead of clearing the rope with his attempted pull shot, he only managed a bottom edge back onto his stumps to be bowled for six.

Dhawan dazzled with the bat for Hyderabad - but only after receiving a huge reprieve from fellow India international Rahane.

Seamer Dhawal Kulkarni found the outside edge of the lefthander’s bat with the final ball of the opening over, only to see his skipper spill the straightforward chance in the slips.

Dropped before he had a run to his name, Dhawan went on to hit 13 fours and a solitary six in a 57ball knock that hurried Hyderabad towards their target.

Williamson was happy to play second fiddle in the partnership. He enjoyed a winning start as Sunrisers captain after taking over the role from the suspended David Warner.

FORMER captain Michael Clarke says a story claiming he has offered to make an Australia comeback following the ball-tampering scandal is “out of control”.

An article in t h e A u s t r a l i a n Former Australia captain Michael Clarke media quoted Clarke as saying he “would do anything to help the Australian cricket team” and claimed he plans to get back in the nets while out in India to commentate on the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The former Australia captain confirmed he has been in touch with Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland, but not to put himself forward for an international return three years after his last appearance for his country.

Clarke tweeted: “This article is out of control! Let me make very clear that I have not sent any formal offer to James Sutherland to come back and play cricket.

“I sent him a message as a friend offering to help Australian cricket in ANY way I could (this could mean mentoring the Under-14s).

“I won’t be batting in the nets in India in preparation for a comeback and as I have always said the game owes me nothing, I owe it everything. Have a great Sunday.”

Steve Smith and David Warner were last month banned from international and Australian domestic cricket for a year for their part in Cameron Bancroft’s attempt to alter the condition of the ball during the third Test against South Africa.

Bancroft was suspended for nine months after admitting he used sandpaper to do the deed in Cape Town.

09:50 hrs Wheel Of Time 10:25 hrs The Tin Man 11:00 hrs Buffalo Bill Cody Irish Racing Tips Dundalk 11:30 hrs It’s All A Joke 12:00 hrs Danz Gift 12:30 hrs Hence 13:00 hrs Alghabrah 13:30 hrs Diable D’Or 14:00 hrs Foxy Lass 14:30 hrs Joey Sasa English Racing Tips Hereford 08:40 hrs Mick The Poser 09:10 hrs Shroughmore 09:40 hrs Run Don’t Hide 10:10 hrs Groundunderrepair 10:45 hrs Mr Washington 11:15 hrs Huff And Puff 11:45 hrs Cydercourt Southwell 09:00 hrs Ulis De Vassy 09:30 hrs Riddlestown 10:00 hrs Casa Tall 10:35 hrs Sandhurst Lad 11:05 hrs Angels Antics 11:35 hrs Tickanrun 12:10 hrs Shaughnessy Hexham 09:20 hrs Behindthelines 09:50 hrs Snougar 10:20 hrs Silverton 10:55 hrs Dedigout 11:25 hrs Sounds Of Italy 11:55 hrs Akarita Lights

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 10, 2018

Bounty Paper Towels 2nd Division Hockey League

Fort men continue impressive form, Pizza Hut GCC ladies also victorious THE Old Fort men’s team continued their fine form and extended their winning streak with a 3-2 victory over Bounty GCC, as the Bounty Paper Towels second division league continued on Sunday at the St Stanislaus College ground on Carifesta Avenue.

On the distaff side, favourites Pizza Hut GCC maintained their unbeaten form in the ladies’ competition with a 6-2 victory over the Bingo Spartans.

The Bounty GCC men seemed destined for victory as their match against Old Fort got off to a feisty start, with a cracker from Shaquille Leung in the 6th minute. A penalty stroke conversion eight minutes later by Meshach Sargeant saw the Bourda boys head

into the halftime break with a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Old Fort national striker Jael Gaskin came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, however, and levelled the score within 15 minutes through a pair of goals of his own.

With the match deadlocked at 2-2, the brilliance of Old Fort midfielder Omar Hopkinson was once again the deciding factor for his team. Hopkinson produced a skilful individual run to finish with a goal four minutes from full time that secured the 3-2 victory for Old Fort who now sit at the top of the men’s pool.

The Sequel was forced to work in the early stages of their match against the lively Saints U-19s. With the Sequel goalkeeper still gearing

up on the sideline, crafty Saints midfielder Edmund Chinian sneaked in a goal

things that the former players would say to these current players, WIPA maybe, would object to some of the things.

“But these guys need to be spoken to hard, because they must realise it is not a bed of roses. It is hard work, it is commitment and you have to make sacrifices in order for you to get to the top and stay at the top,” he said.

Sir Andy seems to be aiming his annoyance at WIPA’s former boss Dinanath Ramnarine and less so at the organisation’s current head Wavell Hinds, under whose leadership there have

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday April 10, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Today’s Quiz: (1)

Who are the defending IPL Champions?

(2) 2017?

Who was voted Man of the Series in IPL Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Damon Woodroffe.

Pizza Hut GCC were all smiles as they faced the Bin-

Bingo Spartans midfielder Dominique DeGroot has her shot blocked by Pizza Hut GCC.

in the opening minute to surprise last year’s winners.

Roberts takes aim at WIPA over state of West Indies cricket WHILE many have chided Cricket West Indies and its brash new-thinking boss Dave Cameron for the state of West Indies cricket, former fast bowler Sir Andy Roberts has a few words for the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) as well.

According to Sir Andy, the organisation has hindered West Indies cricket as much as anything else.

“You get some hardnosed (strict) coaches, some of the former players and you get the board out of the way, and also you get WIPA out of the way, because some of the

The Sequel, however, soon took control of the game and emerged 3-1 win-

Sir Andy Roberts

been improved relationships between players and Cricket West Indies.

“WIPA has always been a problem, especially when (Dinanath) Ramnarine was around because you couldn’t talk too hard to the players, you couldn’t say the players were faking injuries or else they would want to take you to court.

“So these are some of the things that need to be done, some hard decisions must be taken in order for these players to realise that they can’t just come and mock around,” the former player said.

Sir Andy played 47 Tests for the West Indies, snaring 202 wickets at an average of 25.61, while he played 56 One Day Internationals, taking 87 wickets at an average of 20.35.

ners with goals from Alan and Philip Fernandes and

go Spartans in their ladies clash. With Pizza Hut taking

the lead in the 10th minute through Vanessa Pires, they never seemed threatened.

Young striker Sarah Klautky extended her team’s lead by one with a breakaway goal in the 13th minute while team captain Carina Moller slammed home a quartet of goals to take the Pizza Hut total to 6. Macaela Harding managed a field goal in the 27th minute and Dominique DeGroot converted a penalty stroke ten minutes later for the Spartans to finish the game 6-2.

The Old Fort Shooting Stars and Woodpecker Hikers played to a nil-all draw despite several chances by both sides.

Action continues on Saturday and Sunday at the St Stanislaus College ground from 15:00hrs.

NESTLÉ & Hero CPL reaffirm their successful partnership for 2018 HERO Caribbean Premier League and NESTLÉ Trinidad & Tobago Limited have reaffirmed their partnership after a successful linkup for the 2017 Twenty20 tournament.

As the premier entertainment brand in the Caribbean and a manufacturer of premium range coffees, the alignment of the two brands worked perfectly last year.

The sixth Hero CPL tournament runs from August 8 through September 16, 2018 and the alliance continues with even more benefits for players and fans.

In addition to barista stations, cricket fans can also expect exciting giveaways, interactive games and innovative executions at each match. Not attending a match? No problem.

Consumers can look out for numerous T20-based promotions at supermarkets and stores throughout the region. And for the players - “It all starts with NESCAFÉ.

“To pay homage to this tagline, cricketers can expect to have their dressing rooms and hotels

Hero CPL COO Pete Russell (left) and Robin Cumberbatch, NESTLÉ Business Executive Officer (right) celebrate the partnership between both brands

well-stocked with NESCAFÉ products for their morning brew or afternoon pick-me-up, courtesy of NESTLÉ.

Business Executive Officer, NESTLÉ Anglo-Dutch/ Caribbean, Robin Cumberbatch, and Hero CPL Chief Operating Officer (COO) Pete Russell represented the brands at the official agreement signing last week.

Cumberbatch described the partnership as a “perfect alignment between a Pre-

mier League and a premium range of coffees.

He expressed how thrilled the Good Food, Good Life company is to be a part of the CPL for a second year, after a successful first year experience in 2017. He also hinted that the NESCAFÉ brand will be “owning moments,” both before and after each game, so fans should “stay tuned”.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday April 10, 2018

23

Persaud emerges as overall winner at GABBFF’s Novices Championships … Dakhil cops Men’s Physique, De Sousa is Ms Bikini

From left: Overall winner Sudarshanand Persaud, Ms Bikini Diciula De Sousa and Men’s Physique winner Tariq Dakhil

By Michelangelo Jacobus WHEN the smoke cleared

at the end of a night of sizzling competition, Sudarshanand Persaud emerged

as the overall winner of the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Feder-

ation’s (GABBFF) Novices Championships, held at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) on Sunday night.

A capacity crowd was not disappointed especially with the fiery opening segment of the Championships, the Ms Bikini category.

Seven graceful, well-proportioned and well-toned beauties took the opening hour of the show to steamy heights as they strode around the stage with various poses much to the delight of the crowd.

In the end Space Gym’s 20-year-old beauty Diciula De Sousa did enough for the judges and the crowd to be crowned GABBFF’s Ms Bikini for the Novices Championships 2018 while her fellow gym partner Angelia Barrones was second.

Over in the Men’s Physique category another Space Gym athlete, Tariq Dakhil, came out on top ahead of six others including his gym partner Renaldo Caldeira who settled for second. Dakhil exhibited a lean, well-chiselled physique with the right balance, symmetry and tone for the judges to hand him the win.

Meanwhile, over in the bantamweight category, the Fitness 53 athlete Persaud eclipsed his four competitors to top the judges’ cards and claim the bantamweight trophy as well as the overall winner title of the competition.

He sported impressive muscle mass with a ripped physique and a good balance to edge second-placed Pierre Wagner.

In the welterweight category GDF’s Odwin Yansen and Donston Richmond were

first and second place in that order while Allan Savory of Flex Gym was the top bodybuilder in the Masters’ category.

Vishaw Rambarran was the best Junior bodybuilder ahead of Lakeram Seewaram.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport, GABBFF president Coel Marks noted that the event was a huge success and a step in the right direction/ He applauded the athletes’ enthusiasm and efforts at the competition, pointing out that the turnout of athletes was tremendous.

He also expressed gratitude to the fans who attended in their numbers to show their support for the athletes and the GABBFF event.

“I think things went smoothly and our athletes and the entertainment on show gave patrons their money’s worth”.

Eastman grabs 7th Baker’s Memorial Colts undefeated at GABF Cycling ahead of ‘Kitchen Cat’ National Club Championships … Wins for Half Mile Bulls, Nets and Pacesetters in night two action DEFENDING champions Bounty Colts got their second straight win on Sunday evening in the National Club Championship, when the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) showpiece continued at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The Colts thumped Ravens 72-59, one night after their blowout victory over Linden’s Half Mile Bulls.

Colts, while they took some time finding their rhythm on offence, the team simply held the Ravens to a poor shooting night from the field.

Shane Webster continued command of the post with a team-high 17 points while Stanton Rose chipped in with 14 points of his own as they picked up the slack for Shelroy Thomas who had a bad shooting night with

eight points. Darcel Harris had a team- and game-high 18 points for the Ravens.

Meanwhile the Bulls rebounded from their opening night loss to the Colts to top 2016 runners-up, the Retrieve Raiders 74-64.

Terron Welch showed why he is one of the lethal scorers in the game with 20 points while Devon Thompson had 17 points. Selwyn Henry was the high-point man for the Raiders with 14 points.

The Pacesetters opened their campaign in the tournament with a 90-79 win over the Amelia Ward Jets.

The Pacesetters might be the biggest threat to the Colts three-peat title with their ability to score from the perimeter as well as to play from the post.

Nathan Saul was hot in

the game with 24 points while Stephon Gillis was a sniper from the three-point land with 17 points. Sherlon Legall also chipped in with 15 points. Dennis Niles had 18 points in the loss for the Jets.

The Republic Bank Nets got their first win of the tournament by defeating the Eagles 68-66 in a physical game that had some questionable calls by the referees.

Nevertheless, Drumson McCullay dropped 22 points to lead his team in the win while Pellam Doris had 13 points. Travis Belgrave continues to put on a scoring show, dropping 30 points in the loss.

The tournament will continue tomorrow evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from 18:00hrs.

IN a close finish, Team Coco’s wheelsman Hamzah Eastman continued his dominant form to cop the seventh edition of the annual Baker’s Memorial Cycling Classic ahead of Deeraj ‘Kitchen Cat’ Garbarran.

Eastman got the better of Garbarran in the final sprint to cross the finish line in a time of two hours 30 minutes 20 seconds to win the 60mile showdown. Such was his dominance that Eastman copped nine sprint prizes.

Eastman’s Team Coco’s teammate Jamual John, along with Paul DeNobrega, Curtis Dey and Walter Grant-Stuart completed the top six places in that order.

Briton John out of the United We Stand Cycle Club took top honours in the junior category ahead of Ajay Gopilall and Adealie Hodge while the Under-45 Veterans category saw Paul Choo-Wee-Nam come in first with Junior Niles and Ralph Williams second and third respectively.

Jonathan Ramsuchit was the winning juvenile fol-

Hamzah Eastman eases across the finish line to cop the 7th annual Baker’s Memorial Cycling Classic.

lowed by Esau Lowden.

Shenika Teixeira and Abigail Jeffrey were the only two female contestants and finished in that order.

The race began from outside the Baker’s residence at the GTT Junction before heading through Linden and returning to the point of origin.

Cash prizes and trophies were presented to the top six seniors and the top three riders in the other categories.

Sponsors of the event were Squadra, Sports Plus, the Baker Family and Friends along with Clear Water Guyana Inc.

T&T‘s Ahye makes history with 100m gold, SA’s Simbine takes Men’s 100 metres

PAGE

18

… Massive disappointment for Yohan Blake

Michelle-Lee Ahye of Trinidad and Tobago wins the women’s 100m at the Commonwealth Games. Ahye gave Trinidad and Tobago its first gold medal in the women’s blue-ribbon event, clocking 11.14 secs.

South Africa’s Akani Simbine celebrates after winning the men’s 100 metres at the Commonwealth Games.

Guyanese shooters within striking distance … Allicock gets disappointing decision

By Rawle Toney GUYANESE shooters, Ransford Goodluck and Lennox Braithwaite are well within striking distance of a medal finish in the Queen's Prize Pairs, ahead of today’s final showdown of the event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

The pair ended the first

day with a score of 29329v and to sit in the 11th position behind Guernsey (294-30v), Canada (29533v), New Zealand (29634v), Jersey (297-23v), Wales (297-34v), Northern Ireland (298-30v), Scotland (298-31v), Australia (299-35v), South Africa (299-37v) and 2014 gold medallist England.

According to reports

from Australia, the Guyanese shooters are optimistic of their chances to land on the podium, bettering their 2014 showing at the Commonwealth Games, when Mahendra Persaud and Lennox Braithwaite shot Guyana to a sixthplace finish with a total of 585-47v.

Turn to page 18 ►

Guyanese shooters Ransford Goodluck (L) and Lennox Braithwaite at the Commonwealth Games

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TUESDAY APRIL 10, 2018