Guyana chronicle e paper 10 13 2017

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Tempers flared No. 105064

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017

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–– as CH&PA forced to halt Sophia demolition exercise

Paying homage

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No quick fix to tax reform Page 8

24 hours of electricity for Mabaruma

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Representatives from the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) pay homage to the spirits of their ancestors who died during the Atlantic Crossing at Kingston Sea Wall, Georgetown, on Thursday (Adrian Narine photo)

US court orders extradition of Marcus Bisram

centre

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Durban St. man killed in suspected robbery Page 15

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

Gov’t banking on mega agro-processing plant –– to cut food import bill

By Navendra Seoraj

WITH a growing food import bill which was last recorded at US$62 billion for 10 commodities in 2016, Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder said government is working to establish a modern agro-processing plant to cut costs.

According to government statistics, the bill for the importation of the commodities which include milk and cream, cheese, spices, potatoes, peas, beans and flour had risen from US$32 billion in 2011 to US$62 billion in 2016.

Holder pointed out government’s intention after vice chairman of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, Ramsay Ali, stressed the need for an agro-processing facility on the second day of the two-day business summit on Thursday, held at the Marriott Hotel.

Stakeholders at the summit stuck to the theme “challenges and opportunities for

business growth and expansion”, pointing to the many challenges they face, particularly in the agriculture sector.

Minister Holder mentioned one of those challenges is the “exorbitant” food important bill, which he said has to be decreased.

According to the breakdown of information in 2016, the bill for dairy products was US$31million, spices US$2 million, potatoes US$120,000 and onions US$1.5 million.

“We need to promote import substitutions if we are going to reduce the bill... farmers need to plant diverse crops such as spices, potatoes and onions,” said the minister.

Government has even given its commitment to building roads and developing the infrastructure in Regions Nine and Region 10 so that investors can establish mega farms like the Santa Fe ranch in Region Nine and NF Agriculture operation in Region 10.

In addition to just produc-

ing the raw product, Minister Holder urged stakeholders to expand commercial agriculture so that they can take advantage of the demand for local products.

After noticing the need for agro-processing facilities, the government has embarked on securing a modern agro-processing plant that will facilitate the processing of fresh milk, butter and other dairy products.

The modern facility will add to some of the smaller facilities such as the Rising Sun Agro-Processing Facility at St. Denny Village, Tapakuma, Region Two, which focuses on the production of garlic-flavoured cassava bread and cassareep, and the recently-commissioned turmeric factory in Region One. Ali, however, challenged the government to construct the modern facility in three

From right: Finance Controller/Company Secretary of Sterling Products Limited, Deodat Indar; Vice Chairman of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, Ramsay Ali and Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin at the Business summit on Wednesday years because it will start the process of diversification which was touted throughout the business summit.

Finance Controller/Company Secretary of Sterling Products Limited, Deodat Indar, had told the summit the

company had attempted to construct an agro-processing plant but during the research stage, it was discovered that there was a high cost burden and logistical guidance from the government was needed.

On the first day of the

summit, former Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Major General (rt’d) Norman McLean pointed out that one of the cost burdens for an agro-processing plant is electricity.

US court orders extradition of Marcus Bisram

MURDER accused Marcus Bisram may be on his way to Guyana after a Brooklyn, New York Judge on Thursday ordered that he be extradited to face murder charges here.

Bisram, 27, is wanted in Guyana for the murder of Berbice carpenter, Faiyaz Narinedatt, whose lifeless body was found on the Number 70 Public Road on November 1, 2016.

Reports from New York are that Judge Peggy Kuo ruled that the evidence presented to her was sufficient for the accused to face trial, had the offence been committed in the US. The judge also made reference to the extradition treaty which exists between Guyana and the US. It is alleged that on the night of the murder, Bisram

Marcus Bisram was hosting an after party for a community policing group during which he reportedly made sexual advances to Narinedatt, who was present at the party, but was rejected.

After a savage beating allegedly at the hands of

Bisram’s conspirators, Narinedatt’s body was placed on the public road and ran over by a car to make his death appear to be a result of an accident. Soon after, seven persons were arrested with two allegedly fingering Bisram as the mastermind behind the act.

Five other men: Orlando Dickie, said to be Bisram’s bodyguard, Niran Yacoob, Radesh Motie, Diodath Datt and Harri Paul Parsram were this year arraigned in connection with the death of the carpenter.

Sharmilla Inderjali, the mother of Marcus Bisram, and another woman, Maryann Lionel are currently before the courts for allegedly attempting to bribe a police officer in connection with the case.

Reports indicate that

Faiyaz Narinedatt after the killing, Bisram returned to the US where he lives in Arverne, and where he created the Marcus Brian Bisram Foundation, which is focused on “making better, brighter futures”.

Tempers flared

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

–– as CH&PA forced to halt Sophia demolition exercise

By Svetlana Marshall

SEVERAL illegal buildings sitting on government’s reserve were demolished on Thursday as the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) with support from the Public Infrastructure Ministry, moved in on squatters residing in South Liliendaal in the vicinity of ‘A’ Field Sophia.

The Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and Lands and Surveys had also lent their support.

The demolition exercise – executed under the watch of armed ranks of the Guyana Police Force – was carried out one week after squatters in the area were served with letters by CH&PA, indicating that they must vacate the area or they will be removed.

According to a CH&PA official on the ground, the exercise targeted buildings which were abandoned or recently erected, and those owned by squatters who have been allocated house lots but have not made any attempt to relocate. A total of 21 structures were demolished, the housing authority reported on Thursday afternoon. The exercise was planned after extensive consultation with sister agencies and community representatives.

Equipped with sledgehammers, CH&PA workers from as early as 08:00 hrs, began to tear down the illegal structures in full view of

Fifty-six-year-old Fitzroy Blair could not hold back the tears as he relate that come Monday he along with his family has nowhere to live (Samuel Maughn photos) residents who had swarmed the street, not only to get a glimpse of the undertaking but to voice their objection.

When the Guyana Chronicle arrived on the scene, 27-year-old Mark Norton, a father of four, was voicing his concern. “They ain’t give me no notice or nothing, they just come and start break down meh shop,” Norton said as he complained bitterly.

According to Norton, he was at work when he got the news that his shop was dismantled. He said that he sold fish and chips along with beverages to supplement the little he earns from his day job. “This is ridiculous!, I have a family to sustain,” the young man vented.

Even as thenGuyana Chronicle spoke to Norton, all eyes were fixed on the shack that 18-year-old Angela Regis lived in, along with nine other occupants, the majority being children.

The demolition team had threatened to rip the house down. For little over a year, the pregnant teen, has been living in the shack along with her 21-year-old reputed husband, her one-year-old baby, and several other relatives.

Regis was among those who claimed that they were never issued with any notice by the housing authority.

“If they break this down, I ain’t get nowhere else to go,” the pregnant teen said.

Issued with a fresh letter, Regis and her family now have up to Monday, October 16, to remove from the government’s reverse.

Regis’ grandmother, Agatha Valentine, said the teen’s mother, who is also a squatter, had applied for a plot of land since 1997 and though she frequented the housing authority, to date she has been unable to secure one. As the family grew, Regis ventured on her own along with her reputed

Robert Chesney ponders his next move. He was at work when his house was demolished

husband.

“Give the people a chance, they are young.

Young people got to get a chance to get place to live.

They are making children, they have to get place to live,” Valentine opined.

Fifty-six-year-old Fitzroy Blair, who lives a stone throw away from Regis, was also given up to Monday, October 16 to relocate. He has been squatting in the area for just over four months. He has been living there with his wife,

son, daughter-in-law and grandchild.

WAS THROWN OUT As he wept bitterly, Blair said he constructed the house on the dam after he was forced to move out of a rented property.

“I ain’t trouble nobody, I come here peacefully because I don’t have nowhere else to go. I use to live in a rent house, the landlord raise the rent 50 per cent, I told her I can’t pay it, but she said well I have to leave

her house,” he explained.

Claiming that he was never issued a letter from the housing authority indicating that he must remove from government’s reserve, Blair said upon hearing the demolition team was in the area, he sought clarification on the squatters being targeted.

“When I see them breaking up buildings there, I went to them, they told me that they are breaking people that they give See page 5

Angela Regis walks across what was left of her makeshift bridge. The house she shares with her reputed husband and other relatives can be seen in the background

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

Youth-friendly court Russian delegation explores for young perpetrators mining opportunities here

By Alexis Rodney

THE United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) is working with government to establish a youth court here to tackle issues of young offenders getting into contact with the law.

UNICEF’s country representative, Sylvie Fouet believes much more can be done to give youths a second shot at life, particularly children who found themselves on the wrong side of the law.

However for this to happen a system will have to be put in place to accommodate it.

“We’re moving forward with the youth court, a critical element as it seeks to facilitate the best interest of children.

It is seeking a justice system

that is helpful for children.

Sometimes you don’t need to go to court; you just need to have lawyers and judges to do the paper work,” Fouet told Guyana Chronicle on Monday.

“We have the willingness, we have the prioritisation, and we have the network, we have the people pushing behind, these are all elements for success,” she said.

are performing well generally, there is still need for them to have particular training in the area.

According to her, a majority of children in conflict with the law are usually accused of very minor or non-crime related offences.

“They don’t have any reasons to be behind bars, but because the system is not always

UNICEF’s country representative, Sylvie Fouet and Child Protection Specialist, Patricia Gittens

According to the UNICEF representative, part of the corporate agreement UNICEF has with government here, is for a justice system that is more youth-friendly, and a mechanism that will allow judges to be equipped with special skills set.

She said while the judges

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easy for the absorption of the cases, they are sometimes in proximity of adults and placed with adults and the consequence of this is that they may be exposed to temptation to other things.”

CHILD PRO JUSTICE She said the aim is really

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to build the system and support child pro justice.

“So partly it is skills protocols, being aware of the child conventions and also guidance.

At the end it has to be the state to take those steps,” Fouet said.

The youth court will be situated at the new aisle being developed next to the family court.

According to Fouet, the facility will be very accommodating.

“It’s like a school, it has shifts. So what’s important is you have a different way of approaching justice for minors,” she said.

Part of the objective behind the establishment of the youth court is to have children out of any inappropriate waiting or detention centre swiftly.

She said the majority of children are placed with adults and this does not help the process, while contending that children under 18 are really victims.

“I think that the youth court will speed up the process of solving cases and will also be a front to providing children with second chances, because those are minor crimes.”

Meanwhile, UNICEF’s Child Protection Specialist,

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A RUSSIAN delegation representing that country’s Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is currently in Guyana to discuss mining opportunities and possible collaboration here.

The Russian team on Wednesday met with officials of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and will continue meetings with stakeholders today.

The two-day meeting is a follow-up from a previous meeting held in Russian sometime in October 2016.

The respective ministries and agencies of the two countries have agreed to meet on a yearly basis to advance areas of cooperation, the Ministry of Natural Resources said in a statement Wednesday.

Patricia Gittens said the youth court is part of the draft Juvenile Justice Bill which is supported by UNICEF. UNICEF is supporting a number of measures to preempt the bill, which includes the Youth Court Access to Justice in the form of the Legal Aid for Children.

It also partners with the Rights of the Commission (ROC) and the Legal Aid Clinic.

It has also been historically involved in specific children legal aid measures.

The partnership for the Youth Court, she said, is currently with the office of the Chancellor of the Judiciary.

UNICEF is also looking to establish a sexual offences court for the protection of children who are seen as actual perpetrators of the crime.

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“Among the issues to be discussed are the provision of assistance in scientific and technical knowledge of drawing up, compiling and analysing Guyana’s baseline geological, topographic and metallogenic maps; assistance in the compiling/analysis and reporting of historical and current geological, topographic and metallogenic data and assistance in delineating lands according to resources for specific types/ sizes of mining,” the ministry said.

Stakeholders will also address the provision of satellite geological surveys and monitoring, the training of mining officers at Russian Geological Institute and enterprises and the development of small hydropower in Guyana.

Guyana’s team includes Clayton Hall, Technical Officer Mines, Ministry of Natural Resources; Euliene Watson, acting Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission; Dianne McDonald; and GGMC’s Manager Geological Services, Gordon Nestor.

The Russian team comprises head of the Federal Agency of Subsoil Management, Sergey Aksenov; Deputy Head of Division of Bilateral Cooperation, Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment of the Russian Federation, Anna Khurshidova; Russian Ambassador to Guyana Nikolay Smirnov; and officials of the Russian Friendship University and Russian Bauxite Company, RUSAL.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

Tempers ...

From page 3

lands to and had notice and don’t want to move. I had to work, I stayed away from work, I does do construction, just to make sure I am here when they reach here,” he explained.

Blair said much to his surprise; workers from CH&PA would minutes later inform him that his house would be dismantled.

“They say I have to move.

So I asked them why me, what have I done. They don’t have an explanation but I have to move. I came over here, and I start, I deh here peacefully, nobody never come and tell me nothing, nobody never come and ask me nothing, I never interfere with nobody, they come here, they start breaking down throwing down all my barrel,” the 56-year-old man said as he wept.

NOWHERE TO GO “They give me up to Monday…. Now where should I

go? What can I do from now to Monday? Where should I go?” he questioned while adding “I have applications in there, two years now and I can’t get nowhere, if they want break me down, send me somewhere.”

But while Regis and Blair were able to get an extension, Robert Chesney, who works at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, was not so lucky. He was at work when he was informed that his house was pulled apart.

Chesney told this newspaper that he has been living in the area long before the Great Flood of 2005. Cognisant that he was illegally occupying the dam, Chesney said that it was under the Bharrat Jagdeo Administration he applied for a plot of land, but his application got lost in the system. Based on documents seen by Guyana Chronicle he reapply for land in July, 2017.

Chesney said Thursday’s action by the housing authority came as a major surprise be-

cause he was never served with any letter, and was waiting to be allocated a plot of land to move. “I don’t know where to turn; I don’t know who to turn to. I have nowhere to go,” he said.

Young Jamal Dennis, fought the tears back as he spoke to this newspaper. Originally from Berbice, Dennis relocated to Sophia a few months ago to care for his father, Cleveland Dennis, a retired soldier, who had undergone a surgery.

“I ain’t studying me, I am studying where my old man will stay because he ain’t get nobody. Is de other day me old man tek surgery, I come fuh look he after, where he gun stay now?”

Jamal questioned. Neither Jamal nor his father was at home when their home was destroyed.

RESISTANCE CH&PA had also targeted illegal structures in “B”

Jamal Dennis walks through the rubbles hours after the house he shared with his father was torn apart

One of the 21 structures demolished on Thursday

The demolition team Field Sophia, but had to abandon the exercise after residents there, who were armed with cutlasses and other weapons, put up a resistance.

Liliendaal Civil Defence Commission (CDC) Chairman, Clayton Hinds, who was present at the time, made it clear that squatting is illegal and it is necessary to remove the squatters.

Hinds posited that the illegal structures erected on the government’s reserve have been negatively affecting the drainage and irrigation network in the area.

“Secondly, there is a plan I understand from the government to improve the living conditions of people in the area,and to be specific I have been advised that they will be spending some US$30M to improve the drainage facility, fix the cross roads, putting lights and other facilities and try to see if they can provide a programme to improve some of the homesteads that are not adequately equipped with sanitary facilities,” Hinds posited.

He stressed that removing the squatters is necessary to facilitate development in the area.

While many of the affected persons argued that they were never issued with notices, Hinds testified that they were, not once but many times.

“The people living on these plots were approached many times by Central Housing and Planning Authority… to dismantle, but they didn’t… some people have developed that kind of attitude, conveying to the general public that they have a right to do what they are doing.”

But while the General Secretary of the Alliance for Chance (AFC), Marlon Williams acknowledged that squatting is illegal, he was the first to admit that the matter could have been dealt with in a better manner.

“When you come on the

ground and you actually see what is really transpiring and you see the human effects – I just witnessed eight or nine children on a bridge defending their home.

“I recognise that we have to address the issues of ineffective regulations, and I recognise that we have to address the issue of people just living on the dam, but we need to be a little bit human,” Williams said.

According to the AFC general secretary, the squatters should have been allotted lands and materials to assist with the construction of their homes ahead of the demolition exercise as was done in the past.

“I believe that in instances like this, we have to come up with a more human methodology of dealing with these issues. We need to aid them.

We are all Guyanese we need to aid them. Even if it is a small 2x2 house… we need to show our humanity a little more,”

Williams stated.

Thursday’s demolition exercise was the second such exercise conducted by the CH&PA within a year. The agency was forced to abandon an exercise on October 28, 2016, after squatters became aggressive towards staff and law enforcement officers.

During that exercise also, the windscreen of a vehicle belonging to the agency was destroyed.

CH&PA in the last five months intensified its Anti-Squatting Campaign, warning persons to desist from this illegal practice.

Persons engaged in this practice and who never applied for Government Housing Solutions were invited to lodge an application with the housing agency. In addition to these initiatives, several billboards warning against squatting were erected in areas where squatting is widespread.

Friday October 13th, - 12:00 hrs Saturday October 14th, - 13:30 hrs Sunday October 15th, 01:00 - 14:30 hrs

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Editorial A blessing or a burden…?

GOLDEN OLDIES is the description that is given to that segment of a nation’s very aged citizens. We accept this category as perhaps beginning in the 60s age range, but becoming established from the biblical three score and ten chronological measure. It is a bar which as humans many of us will cross, providing that we live. Thus age is inevitable, for it is a natural progression of all living things.

But, is it a blessing to be aged, or is it a burden for these very special persons? Are they really appreciated as still an accepted and loved part of the family, or are they treated shabbily, abused and despised because of their infirmities, and can no longer contribute as they used to do?

We are almost at the half way mark of observances for the Month of the Elderly. It is a period during which there is much debate about the status of our aged, and particularly how they are treated as part of our society. It is hoped, too, that relatives who still have the care of their aged seniors, will redouble their efforts to offer better care, comfort, and love for the remaining days of their elders’ lives.

Already, as if to remind the nation about the dangers of elderly persons living alone, two aged citizens, Constance Fraser and Phyllis Caesar, were robbed and brutally murdered in a home that they shared together for a reported 50 years.

The irony is that these two elderly women, who lived a life teaching the young about the virtues of living morally decent lives, were murdered by young men.

This is not the first time that senior citizens, particularly women, have met such a cruel end. For the past decade, there have been at least five cases of women, who apparently chose to live alone, having had their lives ended in such a cruel and unfair manner.

And since it is among the family that most of our seniors do live, we now direct our attention to the families of these venerables.

Are they doing enough for their aged family members? Do

they show the love and humane care that are so vital for their mental and physical survival in their twilight years?

We concede that there are still many families that have senior members, many with either both diminished mental and physical capabilities, or one that gives absolute priority to their loved ones. And this is without prejudice to social class.

It is commendable to observe the many affections shown, such as wheel- chairing that aged family member in the National Park or in the Botanical Gardens; walking them out; and even taking them out to dinner with the household. But, these instances are apparently few or diminishing, based on what are empirically observed and reported in the media.

But there are numerous instances in this nation of families that can do better, abandoning aged family members on pretexts that are as hollow as a pipe. The well-known citations as reasons: “He/she wants to have their own way”; “He/she is too disgusting /troublesome” and many more of this usual refrain.

However, these reasons, even if authentic in some instances, should be understood against the known, proven geriatric landscape of diminished mental capacities cum weakened physical resistance. There are even peaceful and manageable types, for the sake of debate, who are accorded this treatment.

In fact, many a mentally and physically secured senior citizen, who would have once been considered active, are within a short while of retirement. For example, those abused/ coerced into submission by very close relatives, including their children, especially if a property or other valuables are up for grabs. Pensioners often complain of their pensions being forcibly taken from them, and even being locked into their rooms, without meals for the desired end.

Even those aged who are still able-bodied, and going about their daily businesses, are at times discriminated by public transportation owners by being refused entry into vehicles and made to wait longer in stores and other commercial places before being served.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13 2017

But it is commendable, particularly in corporate Guyana, where there are special facilities for the prompt and speedy attention of our senior citizens.

There is no situation as referred to above, as cause that should lead to cruel neglect/abuse of the aged by their natural families, in which unfortunately, most of the cases of abuse of the eldely, do reside. There are too many reports aired in the media, of the old continuing to suffer horrendously at the hands of family members, and even the public. It is an abomination and does reflect mainly a family that has lost its sense of values, in terms of understanding the building blocks of what constitute a strong family –respect, love, care and compassion.

At times, many in this category are heard commending persons who have become centenarians. That the latter had attained such was because of a great sense of duty, care and devotion by such families that assisted this special arrival at such a golden gate.

For those who perpetrate such crimes- and they are many – they are unworthy as humans, since they are sickening examples to the younger family members. Let them be reminded that the clock is also ticking time on their lives, and will eventually march them to the threshold of the aged. Will they remember what they did to their mothers/fathers/aunts/ uncles, etc?

We must love our seniors and be kind to them, because they first loved us.

A convenient human

Dear Editor,

Look who is claiming the high ground, at press conferences, and other public fora – Bharrat Jagdeo!

This leader of the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic(PPP/C, as president of this nation, presided over what is now recorded as the most traumatic of our modern political history: the period 2002-2008,inclusive of his twelve-year rule, will long be remembered as one in which organised crime flourished, aided by a killer squad that systematically murdered Guyanese; of police stations where gates were closed before sundown; of police-

men being shot and killed; of narcotics becoming the symbol of state affluence, but deep in the tentacles of criminality and when most forms of public morality became desecrated on the altar of self- enrichment, where friends, families and cronies benefitted.

It is a period which effects are still being felt by Guyanese in many ways. For example, the advent of young criminals, many of whom would have lost their fathers during that unforgettable period.

But this letter is about jagdeo, who would be amusing if the issues he pronounces and pontificates upon

were not so serious. Jagdeo, attempting to lecture the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU + (AFC) on what it should do, or what should not be done. What is so amusing is that these were very serious issues that arose during his tenure, and by extension that of his surrogate, president Donald Ramotar.

Take for example, the contract for the Marriot Hotel. Despite calls from the then opposition and sections of the public to release details of that contract – he refused, citing confidentiality issues.

I stand to be corrected that recently, when the coalition government spoke about such

contracts and their clauses, he said that it should publicise the very details. What game is he playing? Just who is he trying to fool.

This is an instance, in addition to many, where this discredited leader continues attempts at sanitizing himself and a record of PPP/C governance that was venal in so many ways.

Not so long ago, he sought to criticise the coalition government on the crime situation in Guyana, despite the fact that available stats then pointed to a decrease.

To say that “Crime has never been so bad” was a criminal lie that pandered to similar views from a private sec-

tor that had benefitted in so many ways from tax waivers and tax concessions from his government; just imagine editor, from a poor country as ours.

Anyone matured enough and residing in Guyana at that time would remember the climate of fear, from the nightly staccato of automatic gunfire that left bodies lying in the city suburbs and its environs. It was mayhem, coming from a mix of forces, including the currently incarcerated, Roger Khan, whose gunmen were allowed to ride rough shod over the Guyanese citizenry. As a matter of fact, in a fully paid print ad in the newspapers, he claimed

that he had been assisting the government to combat criminal violence! How could such a notorious personality have been allowed such a portfolio? I look forward to an inquiry into this period of this nation’s history. It will astonish all!

Maybe, Jagdeo was hoping that the same frightening scenario from the jailbreak of 2002, replicate itself. Sorry, the police force rose to the occasion and within a short while recaptured all of the escapees, except one who is reportedly still at large. Our citizens were not in fear as in 2000 and onwards.

That Jagdeo can continue Turm to Page 7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

US$1.5M for completion of Green State Strategy document

THE Ministry of the Presidency has secured US$1.5 Million (GY$300 Million) to finance the development of the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS).

This financing was approved by the Steering Committee of the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund following

the submission of a detailed proposal and work plan.

The financing also provides coverage for the development of the GSDS Coordination Desk.

The coordination desk will be staffed by Guyanese citizens, working in collaboration with the Department

of Environment and United Nations Environment Programme to ensure the timely development of the GSDS. Development of the GSDS will be completed

by June 2018. Nationwide consultations and stakeholders’ feedback will guide the

development of the seven major themes of the strategy: 1) Green inclusive, structural transformation; 2) Sustainable management of natural resources; 3) Energy – transition towards renewable energy; 4)Resilient infrastructure and spatial development; 5)

Human development and wellbeing; 6)Governance and institutional foundations; and, 7) International cooperation, trade and investment.

The Ministry of the Presidency, through the Department of Environment, is presently working with governmental and non-gov-

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ernmental entities on an education and awareness campaign to raise awareness of the framework document. This campaign will ensure that consultations and engagements over the next 12-18 months are informed and constructive.

A blatant case of economic sabotage Dear Editor,

AS Guyanese, we all knew what the absence of local government elections did to the rights of communities and their citizens to determine independently what they wanted as socio – economic development. It was a right that we all knew, irrespective of political affiliations, which had been deliberately suppressed by the PPP/C during their sojourn in government. Not only was it flagrantly anti-democratic in nature, but also a gross violation of the cardinal principle of self -determination, as part of a collective whole. In plain words – we were denied the right to have local government elections for a little over two decades. This has to be a record anywhere within the CARICOM con-

stellation of states.

Editor, this allowed for wholesale political interference in the daily matters of communities, with the primary objective of exerting political control. Whatever development at the local level was done was primarily in areas that favoured the PPP/C. It is a fact that is undeniable.

Two examples will suffice: Within a short while of the PPP/C assuming office, not only did it remove road construction, traditionally a municipal function, from the M&CC, but it ensured that the streets within the Kitty ward, of significant PPP/C support, were repaired. Concomitantly, it took several protests from the residents of Norton Street, Lodge, and a decisive burning of tyres to have that stretch of cratered strewn roadway done.

Examples such as the

above were replicated in many, many locales throughout the coastland – ensuring construction of roads, and other social amenities especially, done in politically friendly areas.

With the staging of local government elections, since March, 2016, a major plank in the national democratic framework has been restored – the empowerment of people to decide on matters that will influence their lives.

For the first time in this country’s modern local government history, local authorities are encouraged to work together with their communities for the common good of their residents.

I perceive this to mean that the era of political interference was over. However, there is a new situation, not altogether unexpected, that has arisen in many of these local authorities. And it is

A convenient...

From Page 6

to rave and rant and survive as a politician in this country, is due to the particular nature of our race-based politics.

For in any other jurisdiction of a homogenous type, he would have been consigned to the dustbin of discredited national leaders who presided over a criminal state. No ambiguities with regards the latter; for the many audits thus far tell a story of wholesale theft of every type, state assets included. A real gangster state where corruption became a way of life, and still poses a major challenge to good governance, despite

the best efforts of the government to rein in this dangerous beast.

Editor, these are matters that ought to be highlighted, if only to remind the Guyanese people to beware of a leader who pretended to be a democrat, but who instead trampled on its great tenets. I believe in freedom of speech, but not when someone like Jagdeo uses its sacred tenets to mock the sensibilities of this nation on almost a daily basis.

He has no morality of whatever kind, to speak.

Another reminder; his idea of democracy, for example, had been to deny very credible media houses and personalities broadcasting licences, but doled out such to very close friends and family in multiples, giving them superior reach to every region in this country.

Recall that during the recent debate on the Broadcast (Amendment) Bill, he stated that freedom of the press had been under threat. What a convenient human!

Regards, Concerned citizen

cause for serious concern, as expressly articulated in a media report a while ago by the Regional Executive Officer, Region Two, Rupert Hopkinson.

In a nutshell, I conclude, from the REO’S complaint – that there is a concerted effort to frustrate economic development in that Region.

He gave the example, in the case of successful contract awardees not being informed immediately so that they can begin work in a timely manner. According to Hopkinson, sometimes, as long as a month elapses, before contractors are notified.

Other aspects of his daily official activities were laid bare, such as intercepting inflated vouchers, and bringing to an end other illegalities that had become cultural. It is not business as usual, anymore, in Region Two. Editor, this is primarily

a case of stymying development of communities, thereby with the aim of creating the impression in the minds of residents that nothing is being done to improve their lives. It is a deliberate and desperate act of creating discord between the coalition government and the people; more so, a blatant case of economic sabotage. What other description is there to highlight such planned strategy that is now a feature of the PPP/C’s daily orchestration against the government in the Municipalities controlled by the PPP/C? In Region Five, this has taken the form of outright refusal of PPP/C councilors working with the government for the betterment of the many communities. Even President Granger has had cause to highlight this anti –national behavior in that particular region, “as resisting the government”.

To those councillors, no doubt aided and abetted by their political party, the PPP/C, I ask the following question: Is this how the newly-found right bestowed by local government elections is being used? Is this what residents, albeit tax payers, expect from such a collective that they elect to represent their communities’ hopes and aspirations? Why continue to sacrifice the rights of residents, on behalf of a political party, whose record of national leadership was entirely geared towards friends and relatives? What did they really do for the poor and oppressed?

How could these people, both male and female, continue to offer themselves as representatives of the people?

Regards, Political observer

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

No quick fix to tax reform

By Navendra Seoraj

THERE is “no quick fix” to taxation reform, said Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia, who contended that the reform process will take at least 10 years.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, local economist from the Inter-American Development Bank, Mark Wenner; Attorney-at-Law Christopher Ram and Statia were engaged in an intense discussion on taxation at the Business Summit on Thursday at the Marriott Hotel.

In 2016, the National Tax Reform Committee (TRC) which both Ram and Statia were a part of had submitted a 133-page

report to Finance Minister, Winston Jordan.

The report had a number of proposals that Ram and other panelists believed should have been implemented.

Though Statia made it clear that he is not in charge of making policy decision, he explained that it would take time for those measures to be implemented.

Prior to the remarks by the GRA Commissioner General, Nandlall said there is need for the revision of taxes, such as 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on utilities and the lowering of corporation tax from 40 per cent.

Statia agreed that VAT on electricity and water should be lowered but said there has been no discussion so far about the

reduction of VAT. “Instead of decreasing those taxes, there should

income increase… there needs to be moderate rates that will improve efficien-

From left: Local economist from the Inter-American Development Bank, Mark Wenner; Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia; former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall and Attorney-at-Law Christopher Ram during the panel discussion at the Business Summit on Thursday

be a decrease in personal tax and let the disposable

cy,” said the Head of GRA who went on to say that

Spiritualist freed of murder charge AFTER a two-month murder trial before Justice James Bovell Drakes and a lengthy voir dire challenging the admissibility of a caution statement attributed to Satrohan Madray called “Bluee”, a mixed Berbice Assizes jury returned a verdict of not guilty in favour of the defence.

On August 8 last, Madray, at his arraignment, had pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder.

State Prosecutrix, Orintha Schimdt had led the evidence of several witnesses in an effort to establish that between February 16 and 17, 2014, Denish Harrylall, aged 20, of Woodley Park, West Coast Berbice,

had gone to the home of Madray, his sleep over friend, where he requested a sum of $200,000 to go and ‘lime’.

But, Madray, a spiritualist of D’ Edward Village, also on the West Coast of Berbice, had believed that the money would have been spent on a female and denied his visitor the request.

Consequently, a heated argument ensued, resulting in Harrylall being inflicted with several wounds to his head and face.

A kitchen knife and a rolling pin were recovered.

Following the incident, the police were alerted and the unconscious Harrylall was taken to the Fort Wellington Cottage Hospital, West Coast Berbice where

Policeman robbed of pistol, valuables

POLICE have launched an investigation into an alleged break and enter and larceny committed on the dwelling house of Superintendent of Police, Linden Isles at 13th Street, Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

Reports indicate that the incident occurred between 08:00hrs on October 8 and 15:00hrs on October 9, 2017 during which a license 9mm pistol and 50 matching rounds of ammunition, along with cash and other valuables were stolen.

According to police, an initial probe revealed that the premises was secured on Sunday about 08:00hrs with the firearm and ammunition in a wardrobe in a bedroom of the policeman’s house.

No relative or family member was reportedly at home at the time of the robbery.

The theft was discovered by the officer when he returned to the premises on October 9 at about 15:00hrs.

higher tax rates will lead to more corruption and collusion for tax evasion.

medical practitioners pronounced him dead.

Subsequently, the body was escorted to the Anthony Funeral Home and Dr Vivikanand Brijmohan, who performed a post-mortem, gave the cause of death as cerebral haemorrhage with lacerations of the brain and fractures to the skull.

In his address to the jury, Defence Counsel Mursalene Bacchus had stated that a motive was not a legal requirement as a person must be judged holistically.

According to him, the State’s case was based on a rolling pin and a knife, while noting that the State’s theory was that the rolling pin was used to inflict the injuries to the head of the deceased.

He supported his claim through the evidence of Government Pathologist, Dr Vivikanand Brijmohan, who stated that the injury was sustained by a heavy instrument.

However, the doctor was never shown the rolling pin, neither was he asked whether the kitchen utensil could have caused the injury, Bacchus argued.

Further, the police analysis Tamika Henry had revealed that there was no evidence of blood, neither was any fingerprint uplifted from the “belna” (rolling pin).

It was noted too that while there was evidence of

human blood on the knife, there was no evidence of blood grouping nor whether the blood was indeed from the deceased body, or the accused clothing.

After the caution statement had been thrown out, Madray in an unsworn statement from the dock said Harrylall had visited his home on February 16, 2014, after 23:00hrs and after the front door was opened, three men pushed Harrylall on the floor.

The men were armed with a big wood, an iron and a knife, he said, and began to beat Harrylall while asking for their drugs money.

“I became afraid and ran into the nearby rice field and coconut estate,” Madray said.

In his summary of the evidence, Justice Bovel Drakes highlighted inconsistencies between the evidence of a taxi driver who is often hired

by Madray and that of the father of the deceased.

The taxi driver had testified that the accused had told him that he [Madray] was engaged in a fight with the now deceased man. But under cross-examination, he denied saying so.

The judge had urged the jury to disregard the opinions of witnesses who were found to be inconsistent with the evidence in the matter.

Nandlall also expressed that increasing existing tax rates will add to a “depressed” economy.

In addition to what was said, when asked about the comparison between taxation and private investment, Wenner said higher tax rates mean there will be less private investments.

Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma during his presentation earlier in

the day said government needs to ensure that the tax system is equipped to maximise revenue collection.

The minister reminded the gathering about the review of the tax system that revealed it was inefficient and inequitable because it was characterised by high tax rates and heavy tax burdens, widespread tax evasion and an abuse of tax exemptions.

“We need to distribute tax returns equitably… all government face challenges when they attempt to make changes to the existing system,” he said, adding that they have been listening to the concerns raised by the Private Sector when crafting fiscal measures.

The government however intends on widening the consultation for 2018 and all the recommendations will be reviewed so that there can be changes where necessary.

Sharma however reminded investors that the government is aspiring for structural transformation to foster inclusive growth.

Private sector investors were assured of the necessary fiscal support they will get to expand their investments.

Suspects in Parika supermarket robbery arrested SWIFT action by the police in ‘D’ Division (West Demerara) has led to the arrest of two men and the recovery of a handgun which was used in the commission of a robbery on a Chinese-run supermarket at Parika Highway, East Bank Essequibo.

Police said the suspects, ages 27 and 17, hail from the Essequibo Coast and East Coast Demerara, respectively. They allegedly robbed the female proprietor Jin Li-Luo, 37, at gunpoint earlier this week.

It was revealed that the men entered the supermarket, made a purchase and subsequently, one of them whipped out what appeared to be a handgun and demanded cash and, after receiving it, made good their

escape on foot.

A roving police patrol responded and confronted a suspect who was shot in the right foot. Based on further information received, the other suspect was arrested on Wednesday night at Parika.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, police acting on information on Wednesday about 08:00hrs, went to a city hotel where they conducted a search on two males and found a .38 Special Revolver with six matching rounds, a handcuff and six cellphones, among other items.

The suspects are in police custody pending the probe.

Police photo saved in a file in document Layout as 38 revolver and other items.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

Another $4.5B to bailout GuySuCo

By Navendra Seoraj

THE ailing sugar industry continues to receive bad projections as Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma, hinted that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) will need an estimated sum of $4.5 billion soon in order to survive.

Sharma made the disclosure in response to Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, who spoke about the sugar industry on behalf of Leader of the Opposition, Bharat Jagdeo, on the final day of the twoday Business Summit on Thursday.

Teixeira spoke in defense of the thousands of sugar workers who are

out of work because of the closure of the Wales Estate and those who will be out of work when Albion and the East Demerara Estates grind to a close at year- end.

In addition, the Skeldon Estate has been at the helm of talks about privatisation for the past few months.

“8,000 private sector workers lost their jobs so far for this year and the closure of the estates will add approximately 10,000 workers to the list of those (who) are unemployed this year,” said the Opposition Chief Whip.

The minister nonetheless said GuySuCo in its current state is posing a number of challenges to the Government. Since the

Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma, addressing the gathering at the business summit APNU+AFC coalition was elected to office in 2015, they have poured some $32 billion into GuySuCo to keep it afloat.

In April 2017, Cabinet had approved $1 billion to bailout the corporation and which recently received $2 billion from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) for the sale of land.

According to Sharma, although GuySuCo received so much revenue, it will be exhausted by the end of October. To avoid constant spending, restructuring of the industry is needed, he said.

“GuySuCo restructuring is based on the sales of land but they owe GRA about $5 billion in tax; so that is another issue they have to deal with because even after they sell the land to CH&PA, they have to pay the tax in order to get the compliance from

GRA,” lamented the minister.

Considering the state of the sugar industry, members of the Private Sector suggested that the industry be privatised.

Head of the Agricultural sub-committee of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Rajindra Persaud called for the industry to be privatised during his presentation on the first day of the summit.

Persaud said the industry, despite being one of the main export earners in the past, has declined over the past decade and once it is privatised, investors will find innovative ways to make it viable.

Many participants were in support of his call.

In May, Minister of

Agriculture, Noel Holder, had said the estates that would remain are Blairmont on the West Bank of Berbice, Albion-Rose Hall in East Berbice and the Uitvlugt-Wales Estate in West Demerara.

The three estates will be complete with factories and will have cane supplied from all five locations. By virtue of the amalgamation, the Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and Rose Hall, Berbice factories will be closed by year-end.

In the case of Enmore, that factory will be closed at the end of the year when all canes would have been harvested and the East Coast estates would be earmarked for diversification.

Global Green Growth Institute officials here THE Department of Environment is facilitating an international mission from the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) from October 9-13 which will be meeting with top officials here.

Guyana was a part of an 18-country team that ratified the establishment agreement in 2012 and officially founded the GGGI. The international mission will be meeting with agencies, inclusive of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Ministry of the Presidency (Office of Climate Change, Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Department of Environment etc.), Ministry of Finance and several other agencies.

The mission team consists of Carol Litwin, Head of Energy, Investment and Policy Solutions Division and Margaret Kim, Head of Strategy and Integration, Green Growth Planning and Implementation Division.

The objectives of this mission are to discuss and agree with the Government of Guyana on the tentative scope for GGGI’s near term (12-18 months) and longer term support in the energy sector; to discuss and agree

on support from GGGI to assist the government on preparing a Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Proposal with a focus on supporting renewable energy work; to discuss possible support from GGGI to assist the government in preparing a funding request from the GCF Project Preparatory Facility (PPF) linked to renewable energy; and, to scope potential areas for GGGI work to assist the government in cooperation on REDD+ and national adaptation implementation.

This mission serves as a follow-up visit by the Director General of GGGI, Dr. Frank Rijsberman in April 2017. During his visit, Dr. Rijsberman met with the Minister of State and other government officials to discuss GGGI’s support to Guyana in its transition to a model of green growth.

GGGI currently has 27 member states and their work focuses mainly on assisting countries to adopt new green models in their development and investment planning, formulation of green growth policies, building capacities for implementation of green growth policies and mobilisation

of finance for green growth investments.

The Department of En-

vironment presently serves as the national focal point for GGGI and will con-

tinue to collaborate with the institute to provide guidance and support Guy-

ana’s transition to a green state utilising a model of green growth.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

Teen confesses ‘ganja’ stash was his AN unemployed 19-yearold was on Thursday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for trafficking cannabis.

Azriah Charles denied that on October 10 at Lot 46, D’Urban Street, Lodge he had eight grams of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

According to the facts, on the day in question, a party of police went to Charles’ home and conducted a search, but apparently came up empty handed. Turns out they found what they were looking for in a yard near where the teen was standing when they apprehended him.

To his credit, according to Police Prosecutor, Arwin Moore, the teen confessed to the police that the drugs belonged to him.

The Magistrate refused the teen bail, and adjourned the matter until November 1.

Man granted bail for ‘ganja’ possession –– lawyer claims he ‘had no knowledge’ A 48-YEAR-OLD Stabroek Market vendor was on Thursday released on $15,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for drug possession.

Shawn Small of Newtown, Kitty denied that on October 11 at the Stabroek Market, he had eight grams of cannabis in his possession.

Small’s attorney, Clyde Forde told the court that his client has no knowledge of the suspected drugs.

The Magistrate released Small on $15,000 bail, and adjourned the matter until November 1.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

24 hours of electricity for Mabaruma

By Alva Solomon

GERMAN firm, MEECO Group, is preparing to assemble a $227M solar farm project at Mabaruma, a project which is expected to provide 24-hour power to the town’s electricity grid.

In March this year, the firm was awarded the contract for the project through the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc (HECI) of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

MEECO was awarded the “sun2live” project, in which it will design, supply and install a 400 kWp (kilowatt power) solar system for the Region One town and nearby communities.

It will be executed along with its local joint venture Oursun Guyana.

According to MEECO, the clean energy project comprises the installation of a

400- kWp ground-mounted solar solution together with batteries offering a storage capacity of 400 kWh. Currently, Mabaruma and surrounding villages receive six to eight hours of electricity daily and breakdowns in the power plant usually result in residents resorting to the use of small electricity generators While it did not provide a timeline, MEECO stated that upon completion of the project, the town can rely on 1,808 kWh of reliable renewable energy per day.

This will minimise the use of diesel generators and avoid the region burning of approximately 21,000 litres of fuel per month.

“Especially for isolated off-grid regions such as Mabaruma, solar energy represents a cost-effective alternative source of power that at the same time contributes

to addressing the rising challenges of climate change,” the firm stated.

It noted that the realisation of the Sun2Live solar project requires an accurate and customised planning, particularly concerning the delivery of the materials.

“Due to the remote location of the site, we will have to overcome some logistical challenges as we will not be able to arrange transport by air or cargo ships as usual, but had to choose smaller containers and boats,” Chief Technical Officer (CTO) Thomas Beindorf said.

In addition to the logistical part, MEECO said the project requires advanced engineering, noting that after the installation of the Sun2Live infrastructure, the system will be connected to the existing distribution grid at Mabaruma.

The firm explained that

A view of the Region One town, Mabaruma the voltage and power of the solar solution and batteries have to be synchronised exactly to the local electricity network.

“We are looking forward to realising this challenging project and thereby contribute to establish a reliable renewable energy supply in Mabaruma,” Beindorf said.

MEECO has already un-

dertaken similar projects in the country. Together with Oursun Guyana, the firm stated that it installed a sun2roof project at State House in the city.

The company is in the process of equipping 57 governmental buildings with sun2roof solar rooftop solutions.

In the process, experienced MEECO staff has trained

local teams of electricians and other workers as part of strategic capacity building.

The company said through the further accomplishment of clean energy solutions and measures of local capacity-building, it is aiming to actively support the country in reaching its green energy goals in a sustainable manner.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

Two transports for the same land

––CoI hears

By Alva Solomon

THE Land Commission of Inquiry (CoI) was this week asked to intervene in several private matters, one in which a pensioner claims land was taken away from him.

In addition, a Georgetown pastor felt cheated regarding a parcel of land at John Street in the city.

Pastor Keith Haynes told the CoI on Wednesday that he has been the owner of a plot of land at Lot 22, John Street by way of a transport which was issued in 1993.

According to him, in 2009, he discovered that one Terrence Bacchus, who resides overseas, also had a transport for the land.

He asked the CoI to resolve the issue and ensure that his transport is proven valid.

Haynes told the commission that he saw an advertisement in July 2009 regarding the land and he contacted his lawyer soon after.

He said his lawyer caused the matter to be “locked” and there was no further advertisement regarding the land.

Haynes noted that several years prior to the 2009

advertisement, he encountered Bacchus who displayed an interest in the land. He brought along a document, an agreement of sale, which he said was compiled in draft between himself and Bacchus after the two discussed the matter. This was prior to 2009.

Haynes said Bacchus, who resides in the United States at the time, had left the country and he did not hear from him again.

Haynes told the CoI that he acquired the property from the previous owner, one Samuel Glasgow, who was his uncle. Glasgow died in the 1960s and Haynes said his father was in charge of the land thereafter.

Haynes said he subsequently acquired the land.

Persons resided on the land and were paying rent at the time, he said.

He added that the land remained vacant after the mid-1980s and in 1993, he was granted a transport to the land.

Haynes maintained that he had no contact with Bacchus since the latter’s initial interest in the land. He noted, however, that he made contact with the man’s power-of-attorney as regards the land, noting that Bacchus never occupied the said land.

Durban St. man killed in suspected robbery

Godfrey Scipio (right) along with his friend in happier times A 59-YEAR-OLD Durban Street, Georgetown man was shot and killed during a suspected robbery at the East Coast Car Park on Thursday evening. The dead man has been identified as Godfrey Scipio, commonly called “Saga”.

According to reports reaching this newspaper, Scipio was at his usual “liming spot” when he was attacked.

The man is known for wearing “big gold chains.”

When Guyana Chronicle visited his Durban Street home, relatives and friends declined to speak on the shooting.

The commission promised to look into the man’s concerns.

Meanwhile, elderly land owner, Zeenadeen Jameer, made known his plight regarding plots of lands which he noted were taken away from him.

The parcels of land are located at Tempe Village on the West Coast of Berbice and at Bartica, Region Seven.

The hearings are expected to continue today.

Senior citizen, Zeenadeen Jameer, makes his case to the Land Commission of Inquiry (Adrian Narine photo)

Serious crimes down nine per cent

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THERE has been a nine per cent decrease in serious crimes for the period January 1 to October 9, 2017 as compared to the same period last year, Police Commissioner (ag), David Ramnarine disclosed Monday.

According to police statistics, there has been a 13 per cent decrease in murders, which stood at 111 in 2016 as compared to 97 this year; robbery under arms, involving the use of firearms has decreased by 15 per cent with the total standing at 487 this year as compared to 572 last year.

In the case of robbery under arms where other instruments were involved, the figures stand at 237 cases in 2016 as against 222 this year, representing a six per cent decrease.

However, there has been an increase in robbery with violence, Ramnarine said, noting that the Force is paying keen attention to the rise in statistics.

There were 76 reports last year as against 101 this year, representing a 33 per cent increase.

This, he said, is the only category of serious crime that has seen an increase.

As it relates to rape, there were 187 reported cases this year, while last year there were 205, representing a reduction of 8.5 per cent, and in the case of break and enter and larceny, the police have reported that there were 813 reports this year as opposed to 985 last year, a decrease of 17 per cent.

Turning his attention to the clear up percentage (the rate with which an ar-

rest and charges are laid), Ramnarine described that process as “very good” and noted it has been good for some time.

“It is very high in terms of other countries,” he said, while disclosing that in the case of murder, the Force effected a 16 per cent clear up rate, robbery under arms 32 per cent, robbery where other instruments are involved 37 per cent, robbery with violence 46 per cent, rape 53 per cent and break and enter a 27 per cent clear up rate.

SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT “This is significant improvement. This is testimony to improved capacity-building and capability-building in the Guyana Police

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

Force, particularly the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and of recent the General Duties Rank, particularly those who are first responders to various scenes of crime,” said the acting top cop.

Ramnarine credited the government and international bodies, including the Justice Education Society of Canada for its assistance in providing training in a number of areas.

He said thus far, some 300 officers primarily from the CID have benefitted from a range of courses. For this year, 156 police officers mostly from CID had benefitted from training programmes, including crime scene investigation, crime scene management, technician, forensic video analysis, major crimes management investigation, interviewing techniques, note-taking, case management, property room management and first responders course.

The acting top cop stressed that it is as a result of the extensive training both local and overseas that has resulted in the Force solving several high profile cases.

“The training and assistance that government and all other bodies [have provided] are paying off,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, in the case of firearms interdiction, police said there has been much improvement this year as compared to last year. In fact, Ramnarine told reporters that so far, there have been 97 firearms interdicted of which 56 are pistols, 16 revolvers, and 9 rifles.

Last year for the same reporting period, a total of 74 firearms were interdicted, 32 pistols, 25 revolvers and 9 rifles.

Additionally, 54 persons have been charged for firearm offences in comparison to 32 persons last year.

Since the launch of “Operation Safeway” last year, the top cop said there has been much im-

provement in the area of traffic.

Last year, there was a 33 per cent increase in fatal accidents and 17 per cent increase in deaths; however, Ramnarine said given the road safety campaigns, and the

Acting Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine boosting of the traffic department by an additional 65 ranks, the purchase of breathalyser equipment and radar guns, the police are getting results.

There has been a 25 per cent decrease in accidents and deaths since last September when Operation Safeway was launched. In 2016, there were 117 accidents with 128 deaths. However, for the comparative period, January 1- October 9, 2017, there have been 71 accidents with 78 deaths compared to 94 accidents and 103 deaths for the same period last year.

“Our prognosis is that with our renewed efforts and all these different activities and enforcement programmes that we are going to do, commencing in November (Road Safety Month) that we will be able to reduce traffic fatality figure for a number of years,” said Ramnarine.

SPEEDING The main contributory factors to fatalities continue to be speeding, which has resulted in 44 deaths, drunk-driving 12 deaths and inattentiveness 10 deaths.

So far, four members

of the Force were caught driving under the influence of alcohol, three are before the courts and the other is expected to make an appearance shortly.

Thereafter, the police commissioner said they are likely to be dismissed.

As it relates to the category of road users killed, pedestrians remain the highest with 24 deaths, motorcyclists 18 deaths, drivers and pedal cyclists 11 deaths each and passengers or occupants 10 deaths.

“We have done a lot of work on speeding and drunk driving; we have some 19,855 cases made this year in terms of speeding of which 40 per cent of those persons paid their fines. Drunk driving, we had 1338 charged this year of which 63 per cent have paid their fines, 229 charges for failing to adhere to sirens of which 47 per cent have paid the fines, tint 1202 of which 25 per cent have paid their fines,” Ramnarine disclosed.

Additionally, tint has been removed from 25 police vehicles so far and 63 private vehicles. Some 934 persons have been charged with breaching traffic light signals while 56 per cent of them have paid their fines.

Some 450 persons have been charged for driving private cars as taxis; 55 per cent of them paid the imposed fines.

In the case of persons being charged for using cell phones while driving, 981 persons have been charged. The number of persons charged with this offence has increased in comparison to last where the figure stood at 560.

Some 62 per cent of those found guilty have paid their fines.

There has also been an increase in the number of unlicensed drivers. So far for the year, 584 persons have been charged and 56 per cent of those charged have paid their fines.

Last year, for the corresponding period, 180 persons were charged.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

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Guyana finishes third --at Miss India Worldwide 2017

Guyana’s Sangeeta Bahadur (left), with Miss India Worldwide 2017, Madhu Valli, and first runner-up Miss India France, Stephanie Madavane (Photo courtesy Miss India Guyana Organisation)

IT’S shaping up to be a good year for Guyanese girls on the pageantry scene, as, just after taking the crown at the Miss Global International Pageant last month, one of our own, Canadian-based Sangeeta Bahadur last Sunday finished third at the Miss India Worldwide Pageant held at the Royal Albert’s Palace Hall in New Jersey.

Bahadur also won the ‘Miss Congeniality’ prize.

After getting past the top-eight round and making it into the Top Five, Bahadur finished second runner-up, with Miss India USA, Madhu Valli, taking the crown, and Miss India France, Stephanie Madavane, finishing as first runner-up.

A return delegate, Madavane had also finished in the Top Five at the Miss India Worldwide Pageant last year.

Madavane had made it into the Top Five last year, despite having been earlier disqualified. She was also not listed among the 2017 delegates on the Miss India Worldwide official page.

Speaking with The Buzz earlier this week, Bahadur said her third-place win was a bittersweet achievement, and that though her hopes were higher, she is excited to have finished in the position she did.

“We all go with the hopes of bringing the crown home, so, in that sense, I am a bit disappointed,” she said, adding:

“However, I am very happy and satisfied being the second runner-up, because there were only three placings out of 17 contestants on the day of the pageant, and Guyana was one of them.

“A lot of people came up to me after the pageant and said that I should have placed higher. Nevertheless, I am extremely happy that I have been able to represent my county on an international stage, and make it known that Guyana made it to the Top Three!”

THE EXPERIENCE Bahadur was also happy for the experience the pageant afforded her.

“The experience was definitely an interesting one, given certain situations and circumstances,” she said.

“I enjoyed meeting all of the young women who represented their respective countries, and believe we’ve formed some great friendships during the week leading up to the grand finale night,” the young beauty added.

She also spoke about a cherished experience she had, when she was congratulated by Bollywood choreographer and actor, Sandip Soparrakar.

“After I had presented my dance piece on Talent Night, celebrity choreographer, Sandip Soparrakar came up to me and said how blown away he was by my talent dance, and that he’d never seen anything done quite like that before,” she said.

“To have this type of feedback from someone as accomplished as himself, who has choreographed for stars such as Brittany Spears and many Bollywood stars, it was so phenomenal for me as a dancer” A versed Bharatanatyam dancer herself, Bahadur did her own choreography and mixed the music for it as well.

Going into the competition, National Director, Uma Bux had declared that she expected to see Bahadur at least place in the Top Five.

But having her finish third, she says, is an added bonus.

“I am extremely contented and proud with Sangeeta’s performance and hard work. I can profoundly say we didn’t fall short in any way. We were fully equipped to make a positive impact, which we did,” a clearly pleased Bux said.

“This year, I had hoped for nothing less than a placement in the Top Five, and we got something better; we made the final top Three.

“It was a very competitive year; the entire group of contestants were gorgeous, intelligent and very talented. The final five was the strongest I’ve ever seen in the history of Miss India Worldwide competition.”

Now, with the pageant demands finally over, Bahadur will continue her reign as the national queen by participating in various charitable events, and using her success to advocate for causes close to her heart.

Beenie’s daughter calls him out (DANCEHALL hiphop) Beenie Man’s daughter, Desha Ravers, has a message for the dancehall legend: Step up yo thing!

Back in August, the only female member of the Ravers Clavers crew took to Instagram to publicly call out Beenie Man on his birthday.

Back then, the Doc’s son Mosiah Davis posted a family photo on IG and tagged her to it.

“Happy birthday daddy,” he wrote.

Desha left a comment under the photo that reads, “I jus can’t be fake sorry bro no comment #nothischild.”

Seems she was hinting that she is not Beenie Man’s biological daughter.

During a recent interview with Loop, Desha Ravers, whose

real name is Deshagaye Davis, speaks on her issues with the dancehall legend for the first time.

“Mi just think him need fi step up him thing,” the dancer said. “Him a mek whole heap a luv moves, suh him just need fi start be a man, a father and everything inna one now. The person weh everybody know out a road a nuh the person weh me know. So everybody out a road can say weh dem waah fi say or criticise or anything weh dem waah do, but yo see because me know weh me know, mi no need fi say nothing to nobody. Him know weh him know to, so all mi a fi say is just step up yo thing.”

Beenie Man has remained silent about his issues with his daughter; perhaps he is trying to keep his family feud private.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

The culture and values that rocked the cradle IT IS obvious that not everyone will fit into their memory with the passionate intention to address the troubling details of six months ago, but would instead only shout aloud publicly if they feel that there will be no challenge of force to be defied.

They wait to exert voice only in support of a popular issue that, logically, everyone should be on board with.

The recent murder of two elderly church women is definitely one such issue. The other is the kidnap, sodomy and murder of another young man less than two weeks ago.

I say another because that young man was not the first; nor are the two elderly women unique tragedies, as similar have occurred before.

Perhaps one should take solace in the fact that enough has tipped the scales, and the social conscience is summoned from the prisons of the custom of ‘look the other safe way’, so long prevalent in the ‘conscience’ of Guyanese.

Vicious, heinous and macabre crimes have been committed by and against both young and elderly citizens with a frequency never before seen in our history over the past 15 years.

Now citizens are willing to storm the bastion of murderous acts which we can only describe as ‘evil’ with petitions to ‘hang’, a sentiment in keeping with the mood to halt this descent.

But wisdom must temper the rush of the mob; the mob must stand before its conscience and intellect, and not miss the mood in the pictures of our young as they imitate North American gang signs in their self portraits, exalting machismo and the façade of the ‘bad boy’ persona.

DEATH SQUADS AND DRIVE-BYS And why not? Most of the lawbreakers are aged 15 to 30, as the world of their childhood was saturated by drive-by killings, police death squads entering their homes at times, killing relatives in their presence, or assaulting anyone around; or dragging off a male relative, never to be seen or heard of again. Wouldn’t it be natural, then, that a generation would evolve outside of the normal that we know. This was the Guyana of a few years ago; of a nation transformed and mutated into a culture of lawlessness, where the principles of decency, law, and respect for human life was aborted.

The perpetrators of these current acts must be brought to justice and punished accordingly, but we must never lose consciousness of the administrative actors who ruled this country yesterday, and created the stage for this grotesque mutation in the national psyche.

Most citizens over 40 can recall shocking events, but never with such frequency or boldness. I was a child in 1969 when fear griped this country, and blame across ethnic lines was thrown because Guyana was experiencing its first and only recorded exploits of a serial killer, that of Harry Nauth Beharry.

He molested seven young boys and murdered them. He was charged for eight murders, but denied the killing of the one female on the list.

It was said that on April 2, 1970, he committed suicide in his cell. But a source denied that, casting the blame for that act instead on a staff member that years later was promoted to administrate the Timehri juvenile centre. That incident was gaff among adults for years after.

NATURE’S DEVIANTS Though nature produces deviants at all seasons, their shocking activities were less frequent in manifestation. One other deviant of that nature can be cited: A remigrant or de-

portee who lived in South in the 90s. To him circumstantial evidence points the disappearance of several young women.

But the political period from 1996 to 2010 requires special attention, as its pale cultural creed is directly relevant to our time.

Human life was cheapened to such a callous level that the highest authority could instruct his phantom death squad thralls “Don’t throw the bodies all over the place like that.”

A portion of a generation grew up in the twisted but evident creed of that period that they need not be schooled in academics or as tradesmen, but instead be prepared to serve in the various morel areas that the politically-connected nouveau riche needed expendable human resources to expedite.

One of the worse errors of the last administration was to destroy the Guyana National Service. That institution was essential to the holistic development of many underprivileged youth who needed self-discipline and life-skills training. We are not a cash-flow wealthy nation, and like all nations, we have to cater for the write-off of genuine mistakes. But calculated damage creation is a factor that must not be allowed to remain unpunished, especially when the damage was inflicted on the human aspect of the nation. Memories with

twisted perspectives must not become fossilised into ‘the philosophy’ of how things are. Those guilty must be made to pay. Ideals are born from references, and the references our youth have of the past 15 to 20 years are criminalised.

Public servants were executed for not compromising their professionalism. Alicia Foster and Trevor Abrams of GGMC are two victims we are aware of to date, the latter through the most significant COI to have ever been held. There’s also the alleged attempt to assassinate the President, which outlines the level to which the Police Force itself was criminalised. Thus, with any misguided youth, an irrational spark of the imagination, of hidden wealth of collective pension payments can lead to what happened recently, especially to youth damaged by the elements referred to above. The mutated culture and value system that rocked the cradle for the past two decades has matured. That the official death squads are quieted is sober evidence of redeeming the national nature. That ‘Smallie’ was arrested and not executed, nor poisoned as ‘Biscuit’ and Death Squad member, ‘Skozorky’ was, is evident of change, but it has to go further. The architects of this disturbing legacy must be held accountable.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13 2017

Hollywood A-listers speak out

--over Harvey Weinstein sex scandal (US Weekly) Kate Winslet, Judi Dench and a slew of Hollywood A-listers are speaking out against film producer Harvey Weinstein in the wake of his sexual harassment scandal.

As previously reported, the studio head, 65, was fired from his own company on Sunday, October 8, a few days after The New York Times published a report detailing decades of sexual harassment allegations.

Claims of his improper behaviour were made by several women, including actress Ashley Judd, and the Times reported that he had reached legal settlements of between $80,000 and $150,000 with at least

eight women, including Rose McGowan.

The Oscar-winning producer announced on Thursday, October 5, that he was taking a leave of absence from The Weinstein Company “to conquer my demons.”

His attorney said that Weinstein was preparing to sue the Times.

“The New York Times published today a story that is saturated with false and defamatory statements about Harvey Weinstein,” Charles Harder told Us Weekly on Thursday. “It relies on mostly hearsay accounts and a faulty report, apparently stolen from an employee’s personnel file, which has been debunked by nine different

eyewitnesses. We sent the Times the facts and evidence, but they ignored it and rushed to publish. We are preparing the lawsuit now.

All proceeds will be donated to women’s organisations.”

But on Sunday, the Weinstein Company board of representatives released a statement announcing that they had “terminated” his employment with the company that he had founded with his brother, Bob Weinstein, in 2005, “effective immediately.”

Just six days after the NYT piece was published, The New Yorker published its own exposé that included several accusations of sexual assault.

Cat fight!

--Melania’s office rips ‘attention seeking’ Ivana

(CNBC) A spokeswoman for First lady Melania Trump on Monday tore into President Donald Trump’s first wife, Ivana Trump, saying she was an “attention seeking” ex who was putting out “self-serving noises” in order to sell books.

The comment, from spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham, came in response to an interview Ivana Trump gave to ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Monday, in which she said, “I’m basically first Trump wife, OK? I’m First Lady, OK?” In her statement Monday afternoon, Grisham said,

“Mrs. Trump has made the White House a home for Barron and The President.

“She loves living in Washington, DC and is honoured by her role as First Lady of the United States.

“She plans to use her title and role to help children, not sell books. There is clearly no substance to this statement from an ex. “Unfortunately only attention seeking and self-serving noise.”

Ivana Trump is on a press tour for her new book, “Raising Trump”, a family memoir about raising her three children, Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric.

The president was mar-

ried to Ivana Trump from 1977 to 1992, when they divorced amid his highly-publicised extramarital affair with Marla Maples, whom he later married.

Melania Trump is the president’s third wife. The couple married in a lavish Palm Beach ceremony in 2005. Their son, Barron, lives with them at the White House.

The prospect of a public feud between the First Lady and the president’s ex-wife quickly drew comparisons with Bravo’s popular reality television franchise, “The Real Housewives”.

Harvey Weinstein

In response to that investigative story, Weinstein’s spokesperson released a statement denying the alle-

gations.

Winslet, who won a Best Actress Academy Award in 2009 for her role in The

Weinstein Company’s ‘The Reader’, condemned the producer in a statement to Variety on Monday, October 9.

“The fact that these women are starting to speak out about the gross misconduct of one of our most important and well regarded film producers is incredibly brave, and has been deeply shocking to hear.

“The way Harvey Weinstein has treated these vulnerable, talented young women is NOT the way women should ever EVER deem to be acceptable or commonplace in ANY workplace,” Winslet said in her statement.

Others issuing statements included Blake Lively, Emma Thompson and Julia Roberts.

Sean Paul visits Buju in jail

(Dancehall HipHop) Sean Paul visited Buju Banton in prison, and returned with a simple message from the Gargamel: Greatness is coming.

Buju Banton has just over a year more to serve his prison term, and will be released at the end of next year.

This week, Sean Paul visited the McRae Correctional Institution in Georgia where Buju is being housed, and sat down for a chat with the Grammy-winning singer.

He said the reggae legend is in great spirits and sends shout outs to all his fans.

“I went to check Buju Banton, the great legend,” Sean Paul said, adding: “He is in great spirits, and him a tell everybody say in 12 months time, and you can expect greatness again. Big up Jamaica! Him say fi hail up everybody. All who doing good and doing bad, big up uno self!

Big up Buju Banton!

Legend!”

Sean Paul has been a close friend of Buju Banton for years, and has visited him in prison more than once since his incarceration in 2011.

The Grammy-winning reggae star was sentenced to 10 years for a drug trafficking conviction in South Florida.

He appealed the conviction several times over the past years, but lost each one of them until he eventually gave up and opted to serve out his sentence.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

Deepika Padukone goes heavy-duty

--for her royal turn

A FEW days ago, Deepika Padukone’s first look as the legendary Mewar queen Padmavati was unveiled. Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, known for his penchant for opulence, ensured that his Padmavati looks every bit the 13th Century royal that she emulates in the period drama, also featuring Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor.

Given the requirements of the role, Deepika’s trousseau was filled with extravagant, hefty traditional outfits, and chunky jewellery.

For almost every day that she shot (approximately 150 days), the actress wore 11 kilos of jewellery, lehengas weighing about 20 kilos, and dupattas adding another 4 kilos to her weight.

Rimple and Harpreet Narula, who put the look of ‘Padmavati’ together, haven’t stopped beaming since the first look was unveiled. However, their happiness hasn’t come in easy.

Earlier this year, the film’s set was vandalised in Rajasthan, followed by a fire on a set in the interiors of Maharashtra, which gutted man outfits. Looking at the scale of production, elaborate detailing and wear-tear during intense sequences, the designer duo had to come up with replicas of almost all the looks.

They had blended antique textiles with newer fabrics, which made creating back-ups an uphill task. The designer duo had conducted extensive research on the period. They referred to travellers’ accounts from the era, and visited museums across the world that house actual samples of textiles and outfits from the period.

The duo also referred to miniature paintings, murals and frescoes to get nuances of the styling right.

Says Rimple, “Before we started work, Mr Bhansali had told us to keep replicas of almost all the costumes ready. Of

Deepika Padukone as Padmavati

course, no one could have thought that we’d face something so drastic.

“The fire and the subsequent damages left us shaken, but we resumed almost immediately. Some of the costumes couldn’t be restored, which was heartbreaking. We couldn’t replicate those costumes, and it was a task managing continuity on some occasions.”

Reportedly, Deepika endured a lot of pain in her neck while shooting, thanks to the weight of her neck pieces.

Says she, “To be honest, the jewellery wasn’t all that heavy. She got into character so beautifully that she didn’t really bring up these issues with us.

“Having said that, we’re not used to so much jewellery today, so I’m sure it must have discomforted Deepika, but she was quite a sport.”

‘Ranchi Diaries’

--A comedy that inspires you to dream big THE first step to success is dreaming big.

This is the message ‘Ranchi Diaries’, writ-

ten and directed by Sattwik Mohanty, aims to

convey.

A comedy, the film revolves around five ambitious youngsters and a bank heist. Along with newcomers Soundarya Sharma, Himansh Kohli, Pradeep Singh, Taaha Shah Badusha and Harry Bala, the film features accomplished actors like Anupam Kher, Jimmy Sheirgill and Satish

Kaushik, who play characters with a strong connect to the heartland.

The film’s lead, Gudiya, believes in a quote from ‘The Secret’, which translates in Hindi as ‘Zindagi mein safal hone ke liye ek sapna hona bahut zaroori hai; bada socho; be positive’.

Says Anupam, “We hope this quote becomes an inspiration to all those with big dreams.” With

the movie’s trailer already grabbing eyeballs, and the film being recommended by the fraternity, the makers are optimistic about its fate at the box office.

‘Ranchi Diaries’, presented by Coconut Motion Pictures in association with Actor Prepares, and produced by Rashmin Majithia and Anupam Kher, releases today.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

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Aussie quick Pat Cummins

SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins has told England batsmen to prepare themselves for the barrage of shortpitched bowling that awaits them when the Ashes series begins next month.

T h e 2 4 - y e a r- o l d w a s brought home early from Australia’s ongoing limited overs tour of India to prepare for the Ashes where he is likely to partner Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in a tall and fiery pace battery.

“Hope you practise your bouncers because we’ll be bowling a lot of them,” Cummins told reporters in Sydney yesterday in a warning to Joe Root’s side.

“No one really likes it if you’ve got real pace and real accuracy,” added the right-armer, who, like Starc, is capable of

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

Cummins tells Rain puts halt on Guyana NRA 150th Shoot England batsmen to get ready for a bouncer barrage

regularly exceeding 150 kph. ”They play on slower wickets, not as much bounce, so over here ... it’s one of our biggest strengths. ”We grow up on these wickets and as bowlers getting bounce has always been really important. ”I think we’re lucky that there are a few of us who are all pretty tall and get a bit of bounce and like to bowl with a bit of pace.

“Hopefully the wickets have a bit of pace and bounce in them, there’s nothing like getting your adrenalin up and then running in trying to bowl short.”

Cummins made a sensational Test debut as an 18-year-old in South Africa six years ago but has since had his career blighted by injury, particularly to his back, and has played just four

further Tests and a smattering of limited overs internationals.

Due to those injuries, the five-Test Ashes series, which starts on November 23 at the Gabba in Brisbane, would be Cummins first Test matches on home soil and he said he was keen to make a similar impression to that which Mitchell Johnson made on the 2013-14 tour.

“To watch ‘Johno’ do what he did, (he) kept the whole morale of the side and Australia up against the Poms almost single-handedly,” Cummins said of the left armer, who took 37 wickets at 13.97 as Australia swept the series 5-0.

“It shows the importance a really quick bowler can have and hopefully one of us three or four guys can do a similar job.”

THREE Guyanese are into the final round of the Guyana National Rifle Association (NRA) 150th Anniversary shoot after yesterday’s rivalry at the Timehri Rifle ranges.

However, rain put a damper on the final two ranges, the 900 and 1000.

At the end of the three ranges, Jack Alexander of Ireland leads with 103 point and 12 V’s, as he beat out Andrew Paul William Daw of England on a countback.

Local rifleman Lennox Brathwaite with 103 points and 7V’s picked up third place after a countback with

the Falkland Islands’ Trevor James Bryan and Alexander Gill of Ireland, both scoring the same.

The other Guyanese in the shoot is Fullbore Captain Mahendra Persaud with 100 and 4V’s and vice-Captain Dylan Fields 99 and 6V’s At the 300 yard ranges, Brathwaithe posted a 34 and 5V’s with Alexander scoring a 35 and 4V’s, with Persaud shooting a 33 and 2 Vs and Fields marking a 33 and 1 V. At the 500 range, it was again Jack with a 35 and 5 V’s with Brathwaithe again hot on his tail with a 35 and 3 V’s. Persaud shot a 34 with

BANKS DIH is official ...

Caribbean.

Newark expressed gratitude to Banks DIH Limited for sponsoring the prestigious tournament - the first of its kind being hosted by the Board.

“Banks DIH has always being a partner of the Board and we appreciate the Company playing a major part in providing beverages and other support for the tournament,” he added.

Peters congratulated the

Board for hosting the tournament and stated that the players and officials will be staying hydrated, thanks to Banks, with the former national hockey player noting, “We extend a warm welcome to the visiting teams and officials, and look forward to a successful tournament with the expectation that the local men’s and women’s teams will emerge victorious” Also present at the handing-over ceremony were

Stokes apologises to Katie Price over video ‘Happiest day of my life’ ...

LONDON (Reuters) - England all-rounder Ben Stokes apologised on Wednesday to TV personality Katie Price and her son Harvey for a video that appeared to show him mocking the disabled boy.

Stokes is suspended by England pending an investigation into an incident outside a Bristol nightclub last month for which he was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm.

England’s Test vice-captain said he had seen a clip of Harvey being asked on television how he responds to “internet trolls”.

“I foolishly attempted to copy the clip after I saw it a few times,” Stokes said on Twitter.

“I should never have done this and I am so sorry,” he added.

Ben Stokes

“It was absolutely not my intention to offend Harvey, Katie or anybody else.”

Price described Stokes’s behaviour as “disgusting”.

“I have written to both

Harvey and Katie to say sorry and prior to this offered to meet in person at the end of last month with a view to also getting behind their petition about online bullying,” Stokes said. “I do hope I can put this right.”

Stokes, 26, had not previously spoken publicly since he was arrested following a night out after England beat West Indies in the third one-day international.

The England and Wales Cricket Board said last week that Stokes would not travel to Australia on Oct. 28 with the Ashes squad but no decision has been taken regarding his participation in the fivetest series which starts on Nov. 23.4

Teams intensify preparations for Guyana Softball Cup ALBION Masters will host a four-team softball tournament on Sunday, as preparations continue for the seventh edition of the Guyana Softball Cup. The tournament also serves as a fundraising event in the form of a grand Bar-BQue (barbecue) and lime for the Jaihind Cricket Club of Albion, Corentyne Berbice.

The four teams are Albion Masters, Floodlights, Wellman and Parika Defenders.

The first match is at 10:00hrs, with Albion Masters taking on Floodlights followed by Wellman and Parika Defenders in action at 12:00hrs. The winning teams will then contest the final which is set for 15:00hrs

at the Jaihind Cricket Club ground which is located behind the Albion Police Station.

B a r- B - Q u e w i l l b e served from 12:00hrs (noon). Admission to the ground is free.

The seventh annual Guyana Softball Cup will be played in Guyana November 3, 4 and 5.

1V with Fields marking a 33 and 3 Vs At the 600, Alexander dropped two points off a possible 35 to post a 33 with 3 V’s with Brathwaithe hitting a 34 and 1 V to close off the day.

Shortly after lunch, the heavens opened up and it was the end of the day’s proceedings.

Today will be the meeting of the West Indies FullBore Council with shooting resuming on Saturday with the Milex Cup. Following the conclusion of that cup, the Guyana NRA 150th Shoot will conclude.

was ‘revenge’ for the country who needed only a draw to qualify for the 1990 World Cup, but was eliminated after a 1-0 loss at home to the United States in 1989.

T h e f o r m e r F I FA vice-president on the other hand also accused the USA of using its political clout to undermine FIFA and found it fitting that they should miss out on world football’s biggest showpiece.

“They have used their Government to help to dismember FIFA in a way that is unimaginable. And last night

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on the field of play Trinidad and Tobago reduced them to their knees,” Warner said.

“And for me personally, it has reduced the U.S. to a laughing stock. Last September 27 when the judge ruled against Jack Warner, there was a party in the US; they were quite happy,” Warner added. ”Knowing that this has happened I wanted to go out and party as they partied last September when a judge ruled against me. I wanted to party.

This was my personal feeling.”

In 2015, 14 FIFA officials were indicted in relation to an Newton Abbot 09:00 hrs Maria’s Bene 09:35 hrs Diego Du Charmil 10:10 hrs Beer Goggles 10:45 hrs Flying Angel 11:20 hrs G For Ginger 11:55 hrs Doitforjoe 12:25 hrs Rooster Cogburn York 09:10 hrs Ginbar 09:45 hrs Zabeel Prince 10:20 hrs Midsummer Knight 10:55 hrs Star Rock 11:30 hrs Atletico 12:05 hrs Qianlong 12:35 hrs Mujassam Irish Racing Tips Dundalk

Continued from back page Brand managers Clive Pellew (Water Beverage), Clayton McKenzie (non-alcoholic malts), Errol Nelson (Powerade) and Outdoor Events manager Mortimer Stewart.

The tournament will open on Monday and will feature male and female national teams from Argentina, Barbados, Canada, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Uruguay and host Guyana.

Continued from back page investigation by the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division into wire fraud, racketeering, and money-laundering.

Warner and another former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb, who is currently under house arrest in the United States, were listed among them.

Warner was banned from football for life in September 2015 after an independent investigation committee launched an inquiry into the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup bidding process.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

GUYANA FOOTBALL FEDERATION INC. (GFF)

Extra Time

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR COACHES CONTINUES - CONCACAF D License Programme On

THE second CONCACAF D License programme is underway as the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) seeks to build capacity among coaches in Guyana. This five-day programme

includes oaches from the Elite Clubs, GFF-Scotiabank Academy Training Centres (ATCs), current and former national players and is being conducted by Anton Corneal and Vincent Earl Ganzberg,

“We’re looking to get as many certified coaches in the country as possible so that next year we’re able to apply for C licenses and B licenses. Look at the course with an open mind, ask questions. A lot of you have coached for a number of years in Guyana but we need to be open to new things and new ideas. Take in as much as possible.

It’s a learning process.” Ian Greenwood, GFF’s Technical Director

CONCACAF Instructors.

The programme, which consists of both theoretical and practical sessions, concludes tomorrow.

“What we have occurring in Guyana’s football is a movement. While a lot of the work we have been doing over the past two years don’t necessarily grab headlines and can sometimes be miscommunicated and misunderstood, it is clear that we are laying a foundation. The level of investment that we have made in referees development, coaching development, the establishment of our Academy Training Centres nationwide... we are trying to produce a production machinery that turns out excellent human beings year after year after year.” Wayne Forde, GFF’s President

PRODUCED BY THE GUYANA FOOTBALL FEDERATION INC. (GFF) AND DESIGNED BY THE GUYANA CHRONICLE

For further Information or should you have questions/comments , please contact: General Secretary Guyana Football Federation (GFF) 17 Dadanawa Street, Section “K” Campbelville, Georgetown TEL: +1 592 227 8758 ext. 102 FAX: +1 592 225 2096

e-mail: gff@networksgy.com WEBSITE: www.gffonline.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/GuyanaFootballFederationInc INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/guyana_football_federation_inc/ SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/guyana-football-federation-inc LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/guyana-football-federation-inc TWITTER: @GFF_Inc_

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Sham Grocery XI cart off Naeem Nasir Memorial Softball title A DETERMINED Sham Grocery XI team won the third edition of the Naeem Nasir Memorial softball cricket tournament, played last Sunday at the Area ‘H’ ground.

Sham Grocery X1 won the toss and invited Spartan to take first strike. Spartan were bowled out for 70 in eight overs. In reply Sham Grocery XI reached 72-5, with two overs to spare.

Troy Mathieson was named man-of-the-finals for his level-headed batting and all-round performance. The winning team took home $100 000, and the winners’ trophy while losing finalists and third-place finisher collected $50 000 and $25 000

respectively.

Ten teams participated in the tournament. In the opening round; Rising Star of Port Mourant defeated Shamie Grocery of Rose Hall Town by nine wickets; M. Ally Super 95 cruised past Son of Pitches of Hampshire by 22 runs; Terry Pike Grocery lost to Fyrish Strikers by eight wickets; Spartan of Canje defeated Tamarind Root by eight wickets while Sham Grocery X1 defeated Hard Knock of Ulverston by ten wickets.

In the second round, Rising Star drew a bye to the semifinals while Spartan defeated Fyrish Strikers by eight wickets in the first match.

Wakenaam beat NOC by 37 runs

Bumeshwar Ramkissoon

The winning Sham Grocery XI team pose with their silverware and Bakewell CEO Rajin Ganga.

In the final match of the second round, Sham Grocery X1 advanced to the next round by defeating M. Ali & Son Super 95 by nine wickets.

In the lone semifinal, Spartan defeated Rising Star by six wickets.

The tournament was organised by the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS, Bakewell Under-17 and second division teams in memory of the late Chief Executive Officer and founder of Bakewell, Naeem Nasir.

Meanwhile, at the conclusion of the tournament, club secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster hailed the tournament as another highly successful project of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, and

disclosed that the tournament was the 555th programme for the club.

Foster stated that it was a privilege to pay tribute to an outstanding Guyanese.

Bakewell has been an official sponsor of the club since 2000.

General Manager of Bakewell, Rajin Ganga, in brief remarks hailed the special bond that exists between the two organisations.

He expressed confidence that the successful relationship would continue well into the future.

The founder of Bakewell, Ganga noted, was a visionary thinker and a strong believer in sports, education and culture.

Swiss open World Cup criminal probe into ex-FIFA official Valcke and Qatar businessman ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Jerome Valcke, the banned former FIFA secretary general, and Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the chief executive of Qatar’s beIN Media, over World Cup broadcasting deals.

The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) said yesterday it suspected Valcke accepted “undue advantages” in connection with the award of media rights for the 2026 and 2030 competitions from Al-Khelaifi.

Valcke was Sepp Blatter’s right-hand man when the latter ran FIFA, the Swiss-based world soccer body. Al-Khelaifi is also president of French club Paris Saint Germain.

Barry Bercke, Valcke’s U.S. lawyer, declined to comment. BeIN Media denied any wrongdoing and said it was cooperating with officials.

“Following a request by the office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG), the beIN SPORTS offices in Boulogne-Billancourt (France) were searched this morning,” read the beIN statement.

“The employees on site

cooperated with the authorities until the end of the search. beIN MEDIA GROUP refutes all accusations made by OAG. The company will fully cooperate with the authorities and is confident as to the future developments of this investigation,” the statement concluded.

and Spain searched properties in various locations, the OAG said.

French prosecutors said they had searched beIN’s offices in Paris yesterday. In Greece, a judicial source said: “Today, prosecutors participated in searches at residences. The operation is led by Swiss authorities.”

Jerome Valcke is serving a 10-year ban from football

The OAG also said it was investigating an unnamed businessman in the sportsrights sector and said it had suspicions about bribery, fraud, criminal mismanagement and forgery among the three.

Prosecutors interviewed Valcke yesterday, while authorities in France, Greece, Italy

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

“It is suspected that Jerome Valcke accepted undue advantages from a businessman in the sports-rights sector in connection with the award of media rights for certain countries at the FIFA World Cups in 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030 and from Nasser Al-Khelaifi in connection with the award of media rights for certain countries at

the FIFA World Cups in 2026 and 2030,” the OAG said.

The OAG had already said last year that Valcke was suspected of criminal mismanagement and other offences. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Valcke is serving a 10year ban from football after he was found guilty by FIFA’s former ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert of misconduct over the sale of World Cup tickets, abuse of travel expenses, attempting to sell TV rights below their market value and destruction of evidence.

After being sacked from his post in January 2016, he was initially banned for 12 years, which was reduced to 10 by FIFA’s own appeal committee last June. He has denied wrongdoing and is now appealing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Al-Khelaifi heads the Qatari ownership of Paris St Germain which in August paid the world record transfer fee of 222 million euros for Brazilian forward Neymar.

FIFA awarded Qatar the hosting of the 2022 World Cup after a vote in 2010.

TWO excellent contributions from Mahase Ramnarine and Bumeshwar Ramkissoon ensured Wakenaam defeated New Opportunity Corps (NOC) Select XI by 37 runs in the second game of the Trophy Stall three-match Under-19 50-over tournament which was contested last Saturday.

Ramnarine struck a fine half-century while off-spinner Ramkissoon grabbed a five-wicket haul.

Ramnarine struck seven fours and three sixes in a top score of 57 and got support

from Beesham Moses 18 and Romario Steven 10 as Wakenaam Under-19 posted 121 all out in 26 overs batting first at NOC ground, Essequibo Coast.

Medium pacer Zarood Allicock grabbed 5-20 while Saeed Hack had 2-20.

NOC Select Under-19 XI in reply were bowled out for 84 in 35 overs.

Ramkissoon claimed 5-14 from six overs while Beesham Moses took 2-12.

The competition will conclude on Saturday at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground.

Mahase Ramnarine

Hamilton Green football quarter-finals set for Sunday

POLICE will face Silver Shattas while Ann’s Grove will oppose Soesdyke Falcons when the quarter-finals of the Hamilton Green Cup Knock-Out Football tournament continues on Sunday at the Victoria ground, East Coast Demerara.

In the opening game from 19:00hrs, Silver Shattas, representing the Upper Demerara Football Association, will depend on custodian Kellon Major, who is expected to be supported by defender Romel Matthews.

Midfielders Michael Wilson and Dexter Garraway are both expected to play pivotal roles in lending support to strikers, Robin Adams and Damion Williams, if the team is to get past the Corona Beer champions.

In the feature game from 21:00hrs, Ann’s Grove will look to striker, Daniel Pellew to lead the way for the team and will be expecting support from midfielders, Phillip Williams, Ryan Sears, Steve Francis and Maxton Adams, while Elton Adams will be on duty between the uprights.

For Soesdyke, their defence will be marshalled by Dorwin Batson, while at midfield will be Marvin Joseph, Kelson Benson and Trayone Khan.

The tournament will continue on Wednesday next with a double- header at the Den Amstel ground and will see Uitvlugt of West Demerara taking on Milerock of Linden from 19:00hrs and home side Den Amstel facing Winners Connection of Linden from 21:00hrs.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

Finalists confirmed for V Net T20 blast THE finalists for the V Net Communications T20 tournament have been confirmed following the respective semifinal games last Sunday at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground.

Nokta Moses

G Square Cavaliers and Sans Souci Jaguars will face each other in the final this Sunday.

G Square Cavaliers defeated defending champions Good Success by 65 runs while Sans Souci Jaguars beat Maria’s Pleasure by

63 runs.

G Square Cavaliers batted first and scored 144-6. Satnarine Sahadeo struck 40 and Satrohan Shiwnandan made 29. Off-spinner Nazeer Mohamed claimed 2-17 bowling for Good Success.

In reply Good Success were bowled out for 79 in 15.4 overs.

Imran Khan made 24. Sahadeo returned with the ball to capture 4-6 while Jaggernauth Manbodh claimed 2-14.

In the second encounter of the day, Sans Souci Jaguars took first strike, and posted 161. Nokta Moses scored 35, his younger brother Beesham Moses got 30, and skipper Siddiq Mohamed made 20.

Pacer Leorayan Ramlakhan picked up 3-31. Maria’s Pleasure were then dismissed for a paltry 98. Alex Clemenston scored 22. Nokta Moses was the chief destroyer, with 4-14.

Sunday’s final will be played at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground.

Mines and Maintenance beat Plant Operations to reach Bosai final

MINES and Maintenance won their semifinal game against Plant Operations with a 57runs victory last Saturday when the BOSAI Inter department cricket continued at the Bayrock Community Centre ground.

Batting first Mines rattled up 109 for three off ten overs with Kevin Jackman and Yannick Henry both top scoring with 23, with the former being not out.

They got support from Marvin Russell with 21 not out.

In reply Plant Operations were 52 for eight from their al-

lotted 10 overs. Omisi Williams made 12 and Eon Alexander 11 as T. Chin and Lynford Datson each took two wickets.

In the third place playoff, General Services won from Plant Operations who made 41 for three off six overs in reply to 92 from six overs made by General Services. Top scoring for the General Services were Clive McCalman with 27 and Eon Alexander 26 not out The final will be played on Saturday at the Bayrock Community Centre between Mines and Plant maintenance.

NAMILCO Under-17 football concludes on Saturday THE final set of matches in the Upper Demerara Football Association-organised NAMILCO Flour Power sponsored Under 17 football championship for Upper Demerara teams is set for Saturday at the Wisburg Secondary school ground.

The matches are Amelia’s Ward versus Botafago at 9.00hrs and at 10.30hrs it is Net Rockers against Eagles united.

Presentation of the winners and other prizes will be done at the end of the championship and all clubs are advised to be early.

GCA cricket continues this weekend PLAY in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) tournaments continue this weekend at various venues across the capital city.

In the Noble House Seafoods competition; Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) will host Sophia Sports Club while Ace Warriors and Police play each other at Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO). Starting-time is 10:30hrs each day.

NEW BUILDING SOCIETY 40-OVER TOURNAMENT Meanwhile, in Saturday’s fixture for the New Building Society 40-over tournament Georgetown Cricket Club will host Malteenoes Sports Club while University of Guyana face Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at Camp Ayanganna On Sunday; GDF play Diplomats at Camp Ayanganna while Malteenoes Sports Club host Third Class.

On the other hand, the final of the Guyana Diabetics Association (GDA) second annual Under-17 T20 tournament between Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) and Transport Sports Club is billed for Sunday at the DCC ground. The game is scheduled to start at 13:00hrs.

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BCB launches U-15 cricket tournament WITH the aim of recapturing its glory days and returning Berbice’s cricket to the upper echelons, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) under its new leadership took another step forward Wednesday to launch the Universal DVD-sponsored 50-over Under-15, round robin knockout tournament.

The tournament is set to commence on October 29. President of the BCB, Dhieranidranauth Somwaru has announced that the board intends to tackle cricket from the grassroots stage, and at the same time create an atmosphere of intense competition.

Somwaru is optimistic that, at the Under-15 level, the board under his leadership, can start to groom youngsters for the future.

The competition will see the junior players in the county separated into four 4 zones; Upper Corentyne, Lower Corentyne, New Am-

sterdam/Canje and Western Berbice.

The competition will seek

competition.

Chairman of Selectors for the junior panel, Leslie

Leslie Solomon of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) collects the cheque from Sean Archer, Marketing Representative of Universal DVD Store.

to identify a 30-man squad for training in preparation for next year’s inter county

Solomon, will soon meet with his panel and announce the requirements for the

competition. Assessment sessions will be done in the respective areas, in order to select the players that will represent their zones in the upcoming games.

Fifteen players will be selected to represent each geographical area, and coaches and managers will also be assigned to each team by the Board. Solomon and his team of selectors will conduct physical and game scenario sessions before shortlisting players for the individual teams.

Meanwhile, Somwaru, on behalf of the Berbice Cricket Board, expressed his gratitude to the Universal DVD store for its continued support of cricket in Berbice.

Further, an Under-17 competition is in the pipelines, according to Somwaru. All Clubs are asked to take note of these competitions, and to keep themselves ready for the trial sessions.

Guyana Jaguars earn Tri-Nation T20 final spot

Sherfane Rutherford

THE Guyana Jaguars have earned a spot in the final of the second annual Antigua Independence Tri-Nation T20 tournament.

The Guyanese won three matches, and will face the winner of yesterday’s match between Antigua and Jamaica.

On Wednesday, Guyana defeated Jamaica by four wickets. Batting first, the Jamaicans were bowled out for 105.

Steven Taylor made 39 and Fabian Allen 18.

Bowling for Guyana, Veerasammy Permaul captured 3-8, Ricardo Adams took 2-7 while Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Sherfane Rutherford and Ramaal Lewis picked up one each.

Guyana responded with 106-4 in 19.2 overs. Rutherford led with 50 while Robin Bacchus made 28.

Permaul was named manof-the-match.

The final is scheduled for Saturday from 19:00hrs at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Veerasammy Permaul

Upper Corentyne reply strongly to Georgetown’s 274 UPPER Corentyne made a strong start with the bat in reply to Georgetown’s first-innings score of 274 at the end of day one in the seventh and final round of the Franchise League threeday tournament at the Port Mourant ground.

The hosts closed the day on 131-1, a first-innings deficit of 143 runs.

Kandasammy Surujnarine and Balchand Baldeo shared that total before Surujnarine was removed within minutes of the day’s play off leg-spinner Steven Sankar for 54, - an innings that spanned 88 balls, inclusive of seven fours and a six.

Baldeo was unbeaten on 73 off 82 balls. He has so far reached the boundary ropes on nine occasions while

Eon Hooper

clearing it once. The other not-out batsman is Joshua Ramsammy, who is yet to score.

Balchan Baldeo

Earlier, off-spinner Eon Hooper claimed 5-58, and was the main destroyer in the City side’s innings.

Travis Mohammed (45), Raymond Perez (41), Shemroy Barrington and Kellon Carmichael (39 runs each), and Paul Wintz (28), were the principal scorers.

Shawn Pereira supported Hopper, with 2-65.

Meanwhile, the other three matches in round seven will bowl off today. West Berbice host Lower Corentyne at Bush Lot; East Bank battle East Coast at Everest ground, and Essequibo oppose West Demerara at Tuschen.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

TO

Anand Sanasie and his cohorts continue to wreak havoc on Guyana’s cricket

THAT Anand Sanasie, Anand Kalladeen, Drubahadur and their other cohorts took over the court-ordered elections of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is another example of the extent to which that group will go to take away cricket from the bona fide stakeholders of Berbice cricket.

Sanasie and his cohorts had no locus standi but through strong-arm tactics and bullyism they threw out several of the constitutional members of the BCB, hijacked the elections and manufactured the results.

This was done despite an order by Justice Navindra Singh outlining the orders for the meeting and the Clubs/ Areas to participate. Sanasie disobeyed all those orders and very vocally and in an intimidating manner imposed his own orders on the elections.

Long-standing constitutional Clubs and Associations were deliberately disenfranchised and all the observers including the media and presidential candidate Hilbert Foster were locked out.

This modus operandi of Sanasie was previously used in several Areas/Boards particularly the Demerara Cricket Board in his quest to take over and dominate the administration of cricket as if our national game were his personal property.

In doing so Sanasie and his group are creating mayhem in Guyana Cricket. They did this over on the West Coast of Demerara to the extent that nine (9) founding clubs of the West Demerara Cricket Association were thrown out of West Demerara cricket. Those clubs do not support Sanasie. Whichever club or association that does not unconditionally give their support and bow to Sanasie, they are removed from office.

In a self-serving manner,

Sanasie took over and ran the elections and installed his cohorts in the Cricket Committees in Essequibo, on the East Bank of Demerara, in West Demerara, on the Demerara Cricket Board and the Guyana Cricket Board.

Even in Upper Demerara (Linden), he established parallel cricket body and refused to recognise the legitimate Upper Demerara Cricket Association. However, his devious tactics were thwarted in Georgetown and on the East Coast of Demerara.

After having installed his own committee on the BCB, Sanasie now boasts that he supports that body when for seven (7) long years he directed the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) not to recognise nor support the legally-appointed BCB Executive.

For those seven (7) years, the BCB did not receive a single cent from the GCB and Sanasie continued to threaten the Berbice players that they would be sanctioned and not be able to represent the West Indies nor Guyana at any level if they supported that BCB. Sanasie even ordered that no player must participate in the 2017 President David Granger Cricket Tournament for teams in Berbice and organised by the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club.

Having attended the meeting and seen first-hand the shenanigans of the Sanasie group, I am pleased to note that the Berbice Cricket Stakeholders are moving to the Courts to have those sham elections annulled and to have Sanasie, Sommaru and their cronies answer to the law, for disrespecting and disobeying the very explicit orders given by the Judge for the holding of elections of the BCB on 8th October, 2017 W. G Boston Cricket Stakeholder

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday October 13, 2017) 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) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Shane Shillingford-19 wickets (2) Ray Price-24 wickets Today’s Quiz: (1) What is the highest individual score made by a WI player in a

Test against ZIM to date?

(2) What is the highest individual score made by a ZIM player

in a Test against the WI to date?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, October 13, 2017

Construction of multipurpose court TDCA Super 9 winners still to be at National Gymnasium commences decided after more than a week

By Frederick Halley

Director of Sport Christopher Jones (second from left) in discussion with the contractors on the site at the National Gymnasium where the multipurpose court will be constructed. (DPI photo) CONSTRUCTION of Randolph Taylor Construc- speaking to the DPI, said that noted, the lights that we would a multipurpose centre at tion will be responsible for the construction of the mul- have erected last year were the National Gymnasium the $12.9M lawn tennis court tipurpose court is part of a done on lamp poles. This time commenced on Wednesday, area, while Simcon Engineer- plan to remodel the National around when they are going which, according to a De- ing Company will construct Gymnasium. to be erected they are going partment of Public Infor- the court which will facilitate It was one of the major to be on a permanent structure mation (DPI) release, will futsal, basketball, and volley- projects for the development because now we know exactly allow for several disciplines ball at a cost of $11.6M, and it of sports, accounted for in the where the courts are being laid including lawn tennis, futsal, was said that both contractors 2017 National Budget. so the permanent structures are basketball, and volleyball to are scheduled to complete conThe multipurpose courts going to see galvanised pipes.” be played. struction within three months. will also facilitate athletes, Additionally, there will The contract for construcT h o u g h t h e N a t i o n a l who want to practise their dis- be a designated area creattion was awarded to Randolph Sports Commission (NSC) cipline at nights, as the Gym- ed for the senior citizens to Taylor Construction Compa- did not issue a release on the nasium is already equipped practise recreational activny and Simcon Engineering important project, Director with lights. ities and a WIFI-friendly Company. of Sport Christopher Jones, Jones stated that “if you environment for the youths.

TORONTO, Canada - History is in the making, or as a matter of fact it has been created. The final of the Toronto District Cricket Association (TDCA) Super 9 (the highest level within the league) took place at the Maple Leaf ground on Sunday, October 1, 2017. More than one week after, there hasn’t been an official winner.

When the umpires pulled the bails at 19.03hrs because of bad light, based on the Duckworth Lewis (DL) system, Vikings should have been declared winners but after Centurion players and officials intervened, confusion reigned.

The umpires thereafter retired to the clubhouse and

Ambris hits 106 on rain-hit second day

Sunil Ambris celebrates his fourth first class hundred on the second day of the opening four-day ‘Test’ against Sri Lanka yesterday. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)

FLORENCE HALL, Jamaica (CMC) – Sunil Ambris increased pressure on West Indies selectors by carving out his fourth first class hundred, but rain allowed just 3-1/4 hours play, on the second day of the opening four-day ‘Test’ against Sri Lanka A here yesterday.

The 24-year-old struck 106 as the hosts, resuming from 236 for four, reached 364 for eight in their first innings before rain arrived 41 minutes after the lunch break to end play prematurely at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium.

Though the rain ceased, conditions kept players off the field and play was eventually called off late in the day.

Ambris was supported by overnight partner Vishaul Singh who hit 81 while all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall chipped in with 25.

Left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara

claimed three for 104 while medium pacer Chamika Karunaratne picked up two for 61.

Right-hander Ambris picked up where he left off on Wednesday’s opening day as he dominated the Sri Lankan bowling yet again.

Resuming on 62, the Vincentian stormed to three figures in an innings which included 12 fours off 156 deliveries in just under 4-1/2 hours, all told.

The innings was a further reminder for the Windies selectors who ignored Ambris for the Pakistan, England and Zimbabwe

series, despite his heaving recent scoring in the domestic competition.

Ambris extended his fifth-wicket partnership with Singh to 136 before adding a further 51 for the sixth wicket with Cornwall.

In contrast, Singh’s innings was a patient one, lasting 219 balls in just under 5-1/4 hours and including four fours.

Windies A were perched on 333 for six at lunch but only 15 overs were possible afterwards before the weather curtailed play.

SCOREBOARD WEST INDIES A 1st innings (o/n 236 for four) M. Hodge stp. Weerakkody b Pushpakumara 13 J. Campbell stp. Weerakkody b Jayasuriya 56 S. Brooks run-out 19 V. Singh lbw b Fernando 81 J. Hamilton lbw b Pushpakumara 6 S. Ambris c Fernando b Karunaratne 106 R. Cornwall c Jayasuriya b Karunaratne 36 D. Jacobs stp. Weerakkody

b Pushpakumara 15 S. Cottrell not out 2 K. Joseph not out 1 Extras: (b-10, lb-3, w-8, nb-8) 29 Total: (8 wkts, 120 overs) 364 Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-76, 3-127, 4-145, 5-281, 6-332, 7-354, 8-363.

Bowling: Fernando 16-3-37-1, Kumara 16-1-63-0, Pushpakumara 36-6-104-3, Karunaratne 21-1-61-2, Jayasuriya 17-3-43-1, Silva 6-1-9-0, Hasaranga 3-0-150, Shanaka 5-2-19-0.

Kamil Pooran after his fine knock of 97 after what seemed liked a mountainous task, allegedly told both teams that they will meet again the following day to further sort out the result. They apparently met but seemed incapable of arriving at a “verdict”.

Reports indicated that the umpires were asked to submit a written report to the TDCA officials for them to rule on the matter and from all indications this report was submitted last Wednesday. In the meantime, Vikings skipper Royston Crandon, his Guyanese teammate Raj Nannan and Trinidadian Kamil Pooran had all departed for their respective destinations the day after the game.

According to a reliable source, the TDCA officials

have acknowledged receipt of the umpires’ report which shows that Vikings are the winners by four runs via the DL system. As the drama continues, the board officials are reportedly now asking for reports from the captains and have disclosed that they have already received one from Centurions skipper.

Among the issues, the board officials reportedly are looking at, include why the game went past the 18:30hrs cut-off time, start time, delays and penalties although these were fully spelt out in the umpires’ report.

A look at the TDCA website will reveal that the last posting on the game read: Centurions are chasing 264.

Currently 191-5 after 41 overs. For whatever reason or reasons there were no further postings to date.

However, the final scores in the 50-over affair were: Vikings 264 for seven in their allotted 50 overs, Centurions 233 for five in 47 overs.

One is left to wonder why the umpires, who were solely in charge of the game, didn’t declare Vikings as winners and if Centurions weren’t happy with their rulings, they had the opportunity of protesting the decision but lo and behold, this wasn’t done.

In the meantime, allegations abound about the behavioural patterns of Centurion players and supporters and many are of the view that this may have prompted the umpires from ruling against them. From all appearances, the TDCA board officials seem to be facing the same dilemma since they are still to make a decision.

It should be noted that this game was replayed from the previous weekend when an incident involving a spectator from Centurions was accused of using pepper spray in the vicinity of two Vikings fielders, causing a stoppage and eventual end to the game. Police were summoned prompting an evacuation of the ground.

Meanwhile, Vikings were indebted to a fine innings of 97 from Pooran and 44 from Crandon, who shared a brilliant sixth-wicket stand of 116 to ensure their team reached the respectable score. S. Kamal was undefeated on 102 when Centurions innings was halted.

IN recognition of its late beloved Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Naeem Nasir, Bakewell yesterday sponsored the Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani (Region 10) Inter-School Championships, which will be run off today at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Rajin Ganga, the company’s CEO said sports was important to the late Nasir who, he said, prided himself in helping Guyana’s sportsmen and women, and, as such, the championships will see Bakewell being the sole sponsor; covering all the medals and trophies.

“This is a part of our one week of sponsorship of sports events around Guyana because Mr Nasir was a big sports fan and Linden happens to be one of his special places as well. So we’re happy to be a part of this championships and I wish all the athletes well,” Ganga said at a simple presentation of the prizes at the company’s East Coast Demerara (ECD) Beterverwagting headquarters.

Carmen Small, chairman of the Upper Demerara/Kwakwani Sports Committee, said Bakewell’s sponsorship is cherished by the organisation since it helps to not only recognise the top performers and schools, but also encourages others to give of their best.

Bakewell, Small men-

tioned, should feel proud of their contribution to the athletes of the Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani area, since the championships will also help to select the athletes who will represent the District at the up-coming National Schools Championships.

The Inter-School Championship will start today with a cycle road race, which will pedal off at 06:00hrs, from Nut Farm at Dalgin on the Linden Highway and end outside the Police Outpost at Amelia’s Ward.

Both primary and secondary school athletes will compete in the field events today. On Tuesday, October 17, the primary school students will take to the track while on Thursday October 19, secondary school athletes will be on show, as they go through the various heats and finals for the track events to be held on Friday October 20.

Mackenzie Primary and Mackenzie High School (MHS) are the defending champions of the Upper Demerara/Kwakwani Inter-school sports.

Upper Demerara/Kwakwani (District 10) are the most successful district in the history of the National Schools Championship, having amassed 15 titles - one more than their closest rivals North Georgetown (District 11).

Bakewell’s Sales Supervisor Roy Van Tull makes his company’s contribution to Upper Demerara/Kwakwani Sports Committee representative yesterday at their ECD Beterverwagting Headquarters.

Bakewell sponsors Region 10 Inter-school championships

‘Happiest day of my life’ – Warner glad to see T&T BANKS DIH is official beverage sponsor of Pan American Indoor Hockey Championships ‘reduce U.S. to laughing stock’ Rain puts halt on Guyana NRA 150 Shoot th

See story on page 26

Alan Newark, Guyana Hockey Board vice-president (third right) receives the sponsorship cheque from Troy Peters, Communications Manager. Looking on are Errol Nelson, Clive Pellew, Clayton McKenzie and Mortimer Stewart.

BANKS DIH Limited was The Guyana Hockey GHB, Alan Newark, received of the tournament which yesterday named the ‘offi- Board (GHB) and the lo- the sponsorship cheque from will attract most of the top cial beverage sponsor’ for cal beverage company for- Banks DIH Limited Com- hockey- playing nations from the Pan American Indoor malised arrangements and munications Manager Troy North America, South AmerHockey Championships announced the partnership Peters, where it noted that ica, Central America and the which will open on Mon- during a presentation cere- Rainforest Waters, Powday at the Cliff Anderson mony at Thirst Park. erade and Malta Supreme Turn to page 26 Sports Hall.

Vice-president of the are the official beverages Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Former CONCACF boss Jack Warner F O R M E R C O N C A C A F of villains as it relates to the boss Jack Warner has ad- handling of football affairs in mitted that the United States the region. shock defeat and subsequent “I have not been in better elimination from the World spirits,” Warner told a local Cup at the hands of Trini- radio station on Wednesday. dad and Tobago on Tuesday “This is the happiest day of was personally satisfying on my life. It (the win) couldn’t many levels. have given me greater joy,” Warner, who is currently he added. fighting extradition to the On one hand, Warner United States where he fac- pointed out that the victory es several charges related to corruption, has often cast the Turn to page 26 global superpower in the role FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017