Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 02 03 2017

Page 12

City Hall cashes in – draws down 20 % on controversial Parking Meter Project

No. 104840

THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

Probe into cocaine ship likely …suspected transfer vessel held by local agents raises concerns Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards

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Acting Chief Justice, Roxanne George-Wiltshire

Women power

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....Justice Cummings-Edwards new acting Chancellor, George-Wiltshire Chief Justice

Most private schools evading taxes

…gov’t still committed to easing Page 5 14% VAT application

CANU Chief Cops nabbed trying sent on leave to steal AK-47 Page 2

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

CANU Chief sent on leave – Atherly takes charge of agency HEAD of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh has been sent on 42 days of accumulated leave, even as government takes steps to beef-up the country’s premier anti-drug agency.

The decision to send Singh on leave, coming two days after news broke of a major drug bust which involved four Guyanese nationals, has generated speculations, but Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said it was in line with government’s policy.

Singh proceeded on leave effective from Wednesday and Major General, Retired, Michael Atherly has taken full command of the operations of CANU. Atherly currently heads the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA), which also has overarching responsibility for CANU. In statement issued by the Ministry of the Presidency (MOTP), Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said that in line with Government’s policy to ensure that officers do not accumulate

annual leave and in turn request pay in lieu of such, Singh has been asked to proceed on leave immediately.

“This is the practice that we have embraced since we came into office and, therefore, Mr. Singh, who had some leave accumulated, has been asked to go on leave with effect from today (Wednesday) and Major General, Michael Atherly will be heading CANU,” Harmon was quoted as saying in the MOTP release.

The MOTP said this decision was communicated to the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, who is the person responsible for CANU. Harmon reminded that public officers have always been encouraged to take their leave, “and we want to discourage this practice of accumulating large amounts of leave and then asking for payment in lieu. So we are trying to ensure that all public officers get their leave during that year,” Minister Harmon said.

Major General (ret’d) Atherly was responsible for leading the review of the Na-

Major General (rtd), Michael Atherly

tional Drug Strategy Master Plan 2014-2018. This review led to the development of the National Drug Strategy Master Plan 2016-2020, which was launched last December.

Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on May 20th 1971, Atherly rose to the rank of Major General in May 2004. He held several appointments including: Officer Commanding Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School; Commanding Officer 3, Special Forces Battalion; Commanding Officer,

Training Corps; Commander 1, Infantry Battalion Group and Colonel General Staff, Defence Headquarters. Major General Atherly also served as Deputy Commander of a multi-national Commonwealth Military Training Team to Uganda. He was appointed Chief of Staff in April 2000.

He was educated at numerous international military institutions, including the Canadian Staff School in Toronto, the Canadian Command and Staff College in Kingston Ontario, the Camberley Command and Staff College in the United Kingdom, the Lester Pearson Peacekeeping College in Nova Scotia Canada and the National Defence University in the United States of America. He has been honoured at the national level with a number of awards that included the Military Service Medal and the Military Service Star.

Meanwhile, he was appointed as head of CANU back in 2008 when, following a series of polygraph tests, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government fired the agency’s head, Orville Nedd.

Singh was recently accused by convicted drug trafficker, Barry Dataram, of being involved in the drug trade.

Dataram had made damning allegations against CANU agents, contending that they are involved in the narco-trade. Dataram made this revelation during an interview on HGPTV Channel 67’s Nightly News: “CANU them is the most corrupted, rogue security force in this country.” He also claimed: “They are the biggest drug dealer this country has. The same drug that they seize, half of it goes back on the street.”

Dataram reportedly said that he decided to go public with this information after CANU officers had conducted a raid on his nephew’s house and removed $13 million, but could account for only $10 million. Singh had rushed to deny the allegations, saying Dataram was trying to distract attention from the proceedings of the court, and bring the operations of the unit and its members into disrepute.

However, the CoI into corruption allegations against CANU made by Dataram had cleared the agency of the

CANU Head, James Singh

allegations.

Following the CoI, government had announced that through establishment of the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA), it was moving to correct deficiencies discovered in the operations of the CANU. Ramjattan had said then that NANA will be implemented as an umbrella agency, under which all agencies in the fight against illicit drugs will operate. He said CANU was found to be deficient in its operations, and its shortcomings are not abnormal, but “can be remedied and should be remedied.

Body found in MMZ trench identified Businessman THE bloated body which was found in a trench at Tarla Dam, Meten-Meer-

Zorg, West Coast Demerara,on Monday has been positively identified.

Commander of ‘D’ Division, Leslie James,on Wednesday told the

Guyana Chronicle that the body is that of Danniram Jaikarran, 35, of MMZ, who was identified by his brother, Kapil Deo Jaikarran. James stated that Jaikarran’s sibling told the police he last saw his loved one alive on February 20 and is unsure of how he met his demise.

When the body was discovered,it was decomposed and was first spotted by school children, who alerted their parents after which the police were summoned. Police are investigating the circumstances under which the man died, since marks of violence were observed on the body.

This newspaper understands that Jaikarran was an alcoholic,and did odd jobs around the neighbourhood.It was also reported that he suffered from epilepsy and may have imbibed before falling into the trench.

charged with multi-million dollar fraud

CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan on Wednesday released a 45-year-old businessman on $100,000 bail after he was charged with three counts of fraudulent conversion.

It is alleged that Myran Maraj of De Abreu Street, Kitty, on August 15, 2016,being solely entrusted by Rorry Forde with $130,000, to spray a super bike, fraudulently converted same to his own use and benefit.

It is further alleged that between February 2 and 15, 2017 at Georgetown, being solely entrusted by Forde with $207,000, to purchase biker gloves, boots and jackets, he fraudulently converted same to his own use and benefit.

Lastly, on February 6 at

Georgetown, Maraj,being solely entrusted by Forde with $7.8M to purchase a Toyota Tacoma, he fraudulently converted the money to his own use and benefit.

He denied the charges.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that the parties are known to each other. Jones said that the virtual complainant gave the money to the defendant to purchase the items. According to Jones, the defendant never bought the items and the complainant made a report to the police.

The Chief Magistrate released the businessman on bail and ordered that he lodge his passport at the courts. He will make another court appearance on March 15 for reports and statements.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

Probe into cocaine ship likely …suspected transfer vessel held by local agents raises concerns PRIOR to the massive high seas drug bust, which ensnared four Guyanese nationals and netted cocaine worth US$71.7M,70 nautical miles north of Suriname in international waters, there was another vessel which was being tracked by Guyana’s drug enforcement authorities.

Top sources told the Guyana Chronicle that the vessel was initially spotted in Guyana’s waters off the Corentyne Coast,moving north and was being tracked by the local authorities and when it was in the vicinity of Shell Beach it was intercepted and brought into the Waini River and searched.

Narcotics were not found but a crew comprising of one Guyanese national and five Spanish speaking foreign nationals were on board and the vessel was subsequently released.

The release of this suspected cocaine ship is now under scrutiny as it is believed that this vessel had transferred the large cocaine shipment to the mother vessel which was subsequently seized by the US authorities and found to be carrying over four tonnes of cocaine with an estimated street value of US$71.7M. Sources said that in spite of efforts by the Guyanese authorities, the cocaine mother ship - Lady Michelle - eluded them but ended up in the US dragnet

The boat carrying the cocaine was stopped and searched by authorities on February 16, during a joint patrol by the crews of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter, Joseph Napier, and the Coast Guard of Trinidad and Tobago

in international waters off Suriname. While it is believed that the Guyanese authorities exercised vigilance after being alerted to the secondary vessel and brought it in, questions are being asked about the larger vessel which seemed to not have been noticed by the local authorities. How this cocaine mothership eluded the Guyanese authorities is the subject of controversy and likely to lead to an investigation. The Head of CANU, James Singh,has been sent on leave pending inquiry. (see other story on page 2) Since assuming office, the Coalition Government

has heightened and intensified efforts to counter narcotics trafficking on land, by air and at sea. Coastal aerial surveillance and mounted branch border patrols have been reactivated and are done on a regular and continuing basis. The MV Tamakay, a floating police station, is now permanently stationed at the mouth of the Waini River. It was in the Waini River some years ago that a suspected cocaine semi-submersible was uncovered. In 2016,an abandoned aircraft suspected of transporting narcotics was uncovered in the Rupununi village of Yupukari.

Meanwhile, Singh,who

was heading the CANU at the time of the bust, told the Guyana Chronicle that no record exists showing that the boat had left Guyana. When questioned about Guyana’s involvement or collaboration in making the bust possible, James revealed that, “there is not official record to show that the boat had been in Guyana since 2015.” He told this newspaper that since four Guyanese are involved, investigations are ongoing internally to see “whether there are further links (in Guyana), if any.”

Singh’s instructions to proceed on annual leave comes just a day after four

Guyanese,now identified as Mark Williams, Neville Jeffrey, Richard La Cruz and the captain Mohammed Nazim Hosein,were intercepted aboard a fishing vessel off the Surinamese coast. They have all been charged.

When a comment was sought from the American Embassy on the collaboration between local agents and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), confirmation was given that the Guyana arm of the agency was actively involved in the investigation. This newspaper was told also that, “The US Government regularly works with all relevant entities within Guyana to

together combat the scourge of narco-trafficking.”

The Embassy said too that no comments could be given about the investigation, but confirmed Guyanese involvement and a large quantity of cocaine being confiscated. The Embassy said that since the DEA opened a Guyana office, “cooperation with the Guyanese authorities has been excellent.”

Singh told this newspaper,however, that from the Guyana end, investigations are continuing to make the local connection. In relation to the exchange of information, he said too that work with the DEA is ongoing. The cocaine was discovered in a 70-foot long fishing vessel that was stopped and searched by authorities during a joint patrol by the crews of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Joseph Napier and the coast guard of Trinidad and Tobago. The crew of the Napier, which is based in Port Canaveral, Florida, towed the detained boat to St. Vincent and the four Guyanese were taken to the U.S. Virgin Islands to face criminal charges, while the cocaine was taken to San Juan in Puerto Rico. Guyanese authorities say that the drug boat is a St Vincent vessel. Authorities say this latest cocaine bust has been the largest since 1999.

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Women power GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

....Justice Cummings new acting Chancellor, George-Wilthsire Chief Justice FOLLOWING consultations with Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, President David Granger on Wednesday appointed Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards as acting Chancellor of the Judiciary and Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire as the new acting Chief Justice.

Prior to her appointment, Justice Cummings-Edwards acted as the Chief Justice.

Former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh,officially demitted office on February 23, 2017, paving the way for the new appointments. According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency (MOTP), the President met with Mr Jagdeo and consulted on the appointments, as is constitutionally required, late Wednesday afternoon.

According to the release, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, and Attorney General, Minister Basil Williams accompanied the President at the meeting. The release noted that Minister Harmon said that the discussions between the Head of State and Mr. Jagdeo were ‘meaningful’ and ‘very frank

and fruitful’.

He added, however, that though the Opposition Leader requested a period of seven days to submit additional names for consideration, there is no requirement for him to agree for appointments of Acting Chancellor and Chief Justice and the President can make such appointments once consultations are held according to the Constitution of Guyana.

For the substantive posts of Acting Chancellor and Chief Justice, Article 127 of the Constitution says, “The Chancellor and the Chief Justice shall each be appointed by the President, acting after obtaining the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition.”

According to MOTP, to ensure that there is an open and transparent process that helps the President and the Leader of the Opposition to reach an agreement, the Government has begun a process of selection, which will include consultations between the two parties.

Both posts were advertised and applications have been received as recommended by

Thursday, March 2, 2017 - 05:00 hrs Friday, March 3, 2017 - 08:30 hrs Saturday, March 4, 2017 - 09:00 hrs

President David Granger greeting the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo on his arrival at State House Wednesday afternoon for their meeting (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

President Granger.

“A panel was put together, which comprised former Justice of Appeal, Ms. Claudette Singh, Mr. James Patterson and Mr. Harold Lutchman.

The panel of course met and we are awaiting the report of that panel. Once that is submitted to His Excellency, the President, he will in due course make his decision on the matter,” Minister Harmon was quoted as saying in the release.

That report and the information derived from the interview process will be submitted to the Leader of the Opposition, according to the Minister of State.

“We will have to have consultations, so at that point the Leader of the Opposition will be invited to consultations...

that process also requires that he be given, in advance, the names of the persons who are proposed, the Curriculum Vitae of those persons and all information, which we will have at our disposal, and that information will come out from the interviewing process, which took place recently.

So we will submit all of that information to the Leader of the Opposition so that he will recognise that the choice which was made was a good one and I’m sure, will find his agreement,” the Minister of State was quoted as saying.

According to MOTP, the Minister of State said that Government believes that this process sends a strong signal to professionals in the conduct of their public life as their record will be scrutinised as they seek

to advance in their careers.

“What we have done is to basically introduce a process, which will add to the entire architecture of the legal system in this country that will see our Judges going through a process before they are actually appointed and, therefore, the things like the quality of the judgement, which they give once they want to move to higher office, all of these are issues which are taken into consideration,” he said.

The Opposition Leader was accompanied by Member of Parliament, Mr. Anil Nandlall.

JUDGES FOR COURT OF APPEAL Meanwhile, a statement from Jagdeo’s office last night noted that he will not insist on the formalities of a letter accompanied by the names of the persons who are the President’s nominees to act in these offices along with their curriculum vitae, as is the practice. The Leader of the Opposition indicated that his reason for dispensing with these formalities is because the filling these vacancies are of national importance and the President’s departure for overseas is imminent.

According to the statement, the Leader of the Opposition then raised the issue of the absence of action in relation to the unanimous recommendations made to the President since February 2016, by the Judicial Service Commission that Justice Rishi Persaud and Justice Dawn Gregory be appointed to the Court of Appeal and Mr. Sandil Kissoon and Ms. Damone Younge, Attorneys-at-Law, be appointed as Puisne Judges.

The statement further noted that Jagdeo reminded the President that he [the President] has no alternative but to act upon recommendations made by the Judicial Service Commission.

“The Leader of the Opposition emphasised that equal urgency attaches to both sets of appointment because there is currently no sitting Judge in the Court of Appeal, a three member Court and certainly, the appointment of a person to act in the position of the Chancellor alone will not fill the critical void which currently exists in that Court,” the statement noted.

It was further noted that the Leader of the Opposition adverted to a public perception that the delay in acting upon the recommendations of the Judicial Service Commission is deliberate and intended to await a differently constituted Judicial Service Commission, which may not have confidence in the recommendations of their predecessors.

“Additionally, he pointed out that the delay in elevating the two Judges to the Court of Appeal as recommended by the JSC for over a year, places them at a comparative disadvantage in respect of seniority.

The Leader of the Opposition also enquired whether the recommendations of the JSC will be implemented at the same time when these acting appointments will take place.”

According to the statement, the President promised that he will address the concerns of the Leader of the Opposition at a meeting which will be held on the March 8, 2017 at 15:00hrs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

Most private schools evading taxes …gov’t still committed to easing 14% VAT application

By Ariana Gordon PRESIDENT David Granger on Wednesday said that the 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private institutions will not be removed. The President was at the time responding to questions posed by journalist, Gordon Moseley following the launch of the Department of Environment.

“As it is now the tax stays…but there is more in the mortar than the pestle,” said President Granger in response to whether Government will heed the petition lodged by parents and several private institutions.

As of February 1, 2017, private education institutions are required to pay a 14 per cent VAT as a result of the removal of zero-rated items in the 2017 budget.

He explained that at a ministerial confab held at State House on Tuesday, Minister of Finance,Winston Jordan,presented a gloomy situation of private schools evading the tax system. He said there are approximately 57 private institutions in the country and of that total there are only eight that are compliant.

‘There are very strong arguments to maintain the tax. Cabinet examined it and I’ll urge the Minister of Fi-

nance to make a statement so Last week,Cabinet Sec- ment of the 14 per cent VAT the issues are very clear and retary and Minister of State,- on education by the Finance understood,” said the Head Joseph Harmon,indicated Minister during his reading of State. that the petition against the of the 2017 budget last year, President Granger noted implementation of VAT on there has been a public outthat private schools are not education was engaging the cry on the implementation of all the same but cautioned attention of Cabinet. Har- same. But Jordan in his arguthat Minister Jordan was in mon noted that many of the ment noted that if parents can a better position to elaborate private schools are operating afford to enroll their children on the matter while empha- as “Charter Schools” and as a at private institutions they sising that can well afit is not There is tremendous sympathy for the families ford to pay 14 his adminand students but as I said…there are grounds for per cent tax istration’s tuition. ensuring there is better compliance by all private on the intention In an into place an operators with the GRA’s regulations…right now terview in anadditional we have a high level of non-compliance by private other section a n d u n - entities” - President Granger of the media necessary recently, the burden on Finance Minparents and students. result do not pay taxes. ister was quoted as saying, “There is tremendous Guyana Chronicle under- “While the earnings from sympathy for the families stands that many of the pri- VAT can be used to address and students but as I said… vate schools, 33 of which op- social ills; it is a fiscal tool. there are grounds for ensur- erate within Georgetown,are Our Education Act says that ing there is better compliance unrecognised. According to we want to make sure people by all private operators with information received, of the are not denied education and the GRA’s regulations… 33 schools in Georgetown,21 educational opportunities right now we have a high are unrecognised while 12 level of non-compliance by are. This represents a major private entities,” he stated. problem for the Ministry of The President was quick Education and by virtue the to point out that government Guyana Revenue Authority. is not at all attempting to The source said, “it is not pressure private entities but the intention of government noted that all Guyanese must to place a burden on the pay their fair share of taxes. parents of children attending “The Finance Minister is these private schools but going to make a statement… the truth is many of these the finance minister will ex- schools are evading the tax plain certain aspects of tax- system… these schools are ation that were not clear to registered as non-profit inthe public before,” President stitutions.”

Granger added.

Following the announce-

“

Major fire averted at home of prominent Berbice lawyer QUICK response by East Canje villagers, who formed a bucket brigade, resulted in a major fire being averted on the home of prominent Berbice Attorney-at-law, Mursaline Bacchus; however a nearby wooden cottage was completely destroyed in the blaze on Wednesday.

Neighbours said that a lone teenager, known only as Cuffy, lived in the cottage.

This newspaper understands that the wooden cottage did not have electricity and according to reports, the lad, who had served a period at the New Opportunity Corps,

would entertain friends who would indulge in unacceptable practices.

Deepa Seedel, a vendor, who was plying her trade a short distance away, observed smoke billowing from the building and alerted the wife of Bacchus. Residents formed a bucket brigade, while the Guyana Fire Service was contacted.

At the scene of the fire, Pamela Bacchus told reporters that she was concluding chores with the housekeeper, when she was alerted by persons screaming her name. As a result, she ventured into the verandah where she observed

smoke emanating from the side of her home.

“I panicked before calling on persons to assist in keeping the fire away from the house. Despite their efforts, the side of the house was scorched and a few window panes were broken. I then called Mr. Bacchus informing him, before grabbing my dog,” Mrs Bacchus said.

Meanwhile, at the scene also was Chief Justice [ag], Madame Yonette Cummings-Edwards, who had earlier presided over the special full court sitting, which paid tribute to four deceased Attorneys.

in Guyana. There is a wide range of education opportunities provided at both the state level and at the private level, the choice is always at the user to determine whether to use public or private.”

Jordan said too that “VAT is not a cure for social ills; it is first and foremost a fiscal tool. I said we are aiming to reduce VAT but in doing so we will seek to broaden the base as wide as possible. There is no VAT on public education; it remains a choice of the parent.

Government is not making that choice for them.”

Meanwhile, Director of School of the Nations, Dr Brian O’Toole, began a petition against the implemen-

tation of the tax. O’Toole,in a letter to the editor, warned that the move by the APNU+AFC administration can cause hardship to those who are already disadvantaged and are attending his institution.

“For those who come to Nations daily in luxury cars,this new additional tax is an annoyance,but to the 16-year-old school leavers who are part of the 800+ ABE cohort, some of whom pay the fees in $100 bills, this new imposition may simply mean they stop the course, stay home and lose hope, and add to the growing numbers of the unemployed and unemployable,” O’Toole said in his missive.

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Editorial

GuySuCo’s future GOVERNMENT is set to make a major announcement on its plans for the sugar industry and the future of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

This announcement will no doubt be anticipated by many- not least the families of those who have benefitted from the industry. The administration so far has shown no inclination in totally closing down the industry and will more than likely announce plans to restructure it and at the same time make it more viable. When Minister of State, Joseph Harmon makes the announcement later this week, we are more than likely to hear of plans to lease sugar lands to cane farmers and other workers of the industry among other initiative. Such a move cannot be downplayed in the context of the struggles of the industry.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan during his budget speech back in November had made it clear that the status quo of the sugar industry can neither be sustained nor maintained. He said then that as currently structured, the industry would require Government’s support to the tune of $18.6 billion and $21.4 billion for the years 2017 and 2018, respectively, he told the House in his budget presentation on Monday.

This, Minister Jordan said is an untenable position, pointing out that it would seriously jeopardise the fiscal stance of the Government, while compromising resource allocation to other critical and important areas. “Radical re-organising of

the sugar industry is required as a matter of urgency, for the continued postponement of the hard decisions on GuySuCo’s future would result in the corporation incurring even more debts (estimated currently at $80 billion) and an escalation of the demands on the Treasury.”

As a national entity, GuySuCo is interwoven into the structural development of Regions Three, Four, Five and Six. Examining the industry’s present status and decision as to its future cannot ignore this framework. Sugar also has its historical development dating back to slavery and indentureship, two systems that have shaped our political behaviour.

The divide and rule policy that characterised the culture of the plantation society and relations among diverse groups must only serve as lessons to avoid, not repeat. Recent debates in the press, on GuySuCo’s future even after several rounds of consultations which the government initiated with stakeholders including the opposition have seen the emergence of sharp views by both the opposition and the sugar unions. It would have been better for this nation’s diversity and simmering divisive political culture had it not happened.

Admittedly, GuySuCo’s financial and economic performance, its structural development, and activities cannot be dealt with separately, given the interlinked relations. In the regions mentioned above, this company has developed and maintained community centres, play grounds, and healthcare infrastructures. These serve not only the workers but the

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

Editorial: 227-5216; 227-5204 guyanachronicle.com wnigel10@hotmail.com gnnleditorial@gmail.com

Editorial

general public within the communities and adjoining areas.

Several canals along the coastland that are managed by the company are interlinked with major canals and rivers managed by central, regional and local governments.

However, over the years Central Government has been giving GuySuCo significant financial assistance (tens of billions) to meet its operational cost. For 2017 the Government allocated $9 billion to support the financing of GuySuCo’s operations, bringing the amount of resources that would have been provided to the corporation since August 2015 to $32 billion.

None can honestly deny the company has made some bad decisions and also the Government (e.g. the Skeldon Factory). The consequences of these continue to see scarce dollars being diverted its way at the expense of pushing other national projects. That being said, it is to Guyana and every Guyanese interest having arrived at where we are today to recognise that finger pointing and emotive arguments will not deliver solutions, which are badly needed.

Media must report responsibly Dear Editor,

PERMIT me to respectfully offer a response to the aforementioned articles featured in a certain section of the print media during the period February 23 - 25, 2017. It is unfortunate that I have to regrettably describe the contents therein, as an irresponsible piece of journalism thereby lacking professional journalistic objectivity which is premised substantially on an assumption basis. Professional journalism ought to be centered upon substantive facts especially those which are investigative in nature.

I cannot agree more with the response published by the Chinese Embassy in their defence that the accusations made are unsubstantiated and that they may pursue legal action. I would say this is the correct and appropriate course of action on this matter by the Chinese Embassy, in fact I would even suggest

they seriously pursue legal action. To this end, I read the articles with interest and could not find any evidence cited and hence, my position on this matter. Guyana & China Diplomatic relations was established since 1972, and the two countries have enjoyed extremely cordial and fruitful friendship.

China has emerged quite rapidly as one of the World’s most powerful countries in which the country has made dramatic advances economically and industrially to have attained its current global dominance and power today.

The country has even come so far to a point where it is viewed as a threat to the United States of America (USA) in terms of superseding that country to become the number one most powerful country in the world. In this regard, many economists across the globe, including the World Economic Forum are suggesting or predicting rather, that in the next decade or so, this may very well be-

come the reality of the world given the pace at which China is advancing. This notion is further heightened against the fact that for the past few years China has been fighting inflexibly and tirelessly to have their currency become a global currency alongside the US dollar.

For many years, Guyana has benefited tremendously from China in more ways than one. China has provided invaluable assistance to Guyana’s health care system including highly skilled specialists in various fields of medicine and dispatching of regular medical brigades (Guyana Chronicle, 2010.12.15). In addition China has also provided assistance to Guyana’s agriculture sector as well as infrastructure such as “Guyana International Conference Centre Liliendaal”. During 2010 Guyana benefited from a US$8M grant for projects in the social sector (Guyana Chronicle, 2010.12.15).

These are just a few examples

cited to substantiate my contention. Overall Guyana has received both technical and financial aids spanning all the various economic sectors.

The highly perceived notion that the world is seemingly heading to be led by China in the future is even more critical at this time for a third world developing country like Guyana to maintain and strengthen our diplomatic relation with China. That being said, dealing with the matter at hand as regards the accusation made towards the Chinese Embassy, and the argument put forward by some that the Chinese businesses are making local businesses less competitive, has absolutely nothing to do with the Chinese much less the Chinese Embassy.

Most obviously the Chinese import their goods directly from China and being a country which is known to be a ‘cheap labour’ country and the largest producer of goods and services in the world, it is therefore quite

logical that goods emanating from this country directly will be far more competitive.

It is noteworthy to mention too that most of the goods branded in the U.S by Multinational U.S companies are in fact manufactured in China for this very reason. Local businesses on the other hand, most of them purchase their goods from the U.S directly which will therefore be less competitive against the Chinese goods.

With respect to the claims of fraud by Customs / GRA, whereby it is claimed that Chinese containers are not checked, an investigation need to be launched within the Customs body and / GRA to ascertain what are the reasons. It could be a matter of procedural loopholes or there could very well be genuine and legitimate reasons. Unless a deeper investigation is launched and concrete evidence emerged, then such an outrageous and baseless allegation should not be made in the public domain against

the Chinese Embassy. As a consequence this could potentially harm the Diplomatic relations between the two countries, a dimension which should be avoided at all cost.

Again, in this regard I will refer to China / United States diplomatic relation as an example. The U.S and China don’t always see ‘eye to eye’ on international trade agreements between the two countries, yet they have to find satisfaction in compromising. Apart from this, the U.S leader needs to be ever so careful in his dealings with the Chinese government because despite they often disagree on trade policies; many multinational U.S companies such as Apple Inc., have large operations in China. Due to this, these companies make substantial profits (measured in Billions of U.S dollars) which are shipped right back into the U.S economy. This in turn, means that these companies are able to inject a portion of these profits Turn to page 7 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

Ogunseye takes on Christopher Ram Dear Editor,

I WRITE in response to Mr. Christopher Ram‘s letter which was published in the Sunday, February 26th, 2017 edition of Stabroek News under the caption, “If the SARA Bill is not radically restructured it will be challenged in the courts”: Ram’s missive speaks volumes. In his letter he has revealed his true self in many respects. I propose to show in the course of this letter why I say this.

In this response to Ram’s diatribe I am deliberately focusing on his personal and political attacks, since, in the context of a comradely debate on the SARA bill his abusive and dishonest approach to the issue was unnecessary and not helpful to constructive debate. Mr. Ram chose in his letter not to confine his critique of the SARA Bill to its legal and technical aspects and its objectives of recovering stolen state assets and to stop or reduce the annual loss of wealth to the nation by corrupt practices. Instead, he made several vicious political statements and in the process directed scurrilous remarks to the person of Distinguished Professor Clive Thomas, as the central theme in his self-serving missive.

Having decided to walk down this road Ram has opened the door for a similar kind of polemics in response.

For the benefit of the pub-

lic I wish to state that I have known Christopher Ram for many years during which time he has been intimately associated with the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), the party of which I am a long serving member. His relationship with the WPA has been more than ordinary.

Given Ram’s present hostility to WPA and particularly to Professor Clive Thomas I believe it is important for his reputation to reveal to the Guyanese public, in the most honest way, what has been the nature of his historic association with the WPA. I don’t think this is asking too much of a person who, when it suits his purpose, raises in public issues of transparency, political and professional accountability. If Mr. Ram fails to do what I am asking him to do then the nation will have good reason to questions his sincerity and credibility. While I am prepared to provide proof of Ram’s profound relationship to the WPA which I am sure he is not prepared to divulge I will await his response before revealing what I know of that relationship.

Overtime many of us in the WPA have individually and collectively, had reasons on many occasions to ponder on the motive behind Ram’s private criticisms (I am using criticism here in a comradely sense given Ram the benefit of the doubt) of Prof. Clive Thomas which invariably, took place behind his back,

rather than in a face to face, man to man, comrade to comrade exchange. The general consensus has been that in spite of the fact that Mr. Ram, a Chartered Accountant who has removed himself from his humble beginnings, becoming very wealthy in the process, he feels diminished by and envies Professor Thomas’ achievements. This attitude of Ram’s is not confined to Professor Thomas but extends also to his colleague, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, another WPA leader. The hostile behavior of Ram to Thomas and Roopnaraine has often surfaced in party political relations and has gotten worst in recent years. His difficulties with these two comrades and in particular, Dr. Thomas, have been in the area of their outstanding academia and political achievements. To the best of my judgement this in part is responsible for Ram’s cowardly attack on Thomas and WPA in his letter.

Let me quote from his letter to substantiate my contention: “While his contribution as an adviser is unclear, his role in the sugar and SARU has done little to match his academic reputation.” He continues, “…. On top of that, he appears not to have advanced a single solution to sugar’s problems leaving it once again to the politicians. Sugar is in the same messy and uncertain state as when he assumed leadership of Guysuco.” Readers

would note that none of the above has anything to do with the rights and wrongs of the SARA Bill, but all to do with Ram’s attempt to throw mud on Dr. Thomas. His position on Professor Thomas’ role and achievements as Chairman of GUYSUCO Board revealed his profound dishonesty, since he is aware that Thomas, the Guysuco Board and the management of the corporation have submitted to the cabinet comprehensive recommendations for the reconstruction/restructuring of the ailing corporation.

Ram is fully aware that Thomas, the Board of GUYSUCO and the management personnel and the other staff members are yet to be informed by government about its preferred line of action.

All of this is in the public domain. It is interesting to note that in his criticisms of Professor Thomas’ tenure at GUYSUCO and the problems it is faced with Ram has said nothing about the years of decline of the Industry under the PPP regime. I wonder why. Mr. Ram cannot deny that as matters stand the future of Guysuco lies in the hands of the government, opposition and the parliament and not with Thomas and the GUYSUCO Board. But in his obsessive hatred and desire to indict Dr. Thomas, he has shown no concern for his own reputation as a Professional Chartered Accountant, an aspiring political leader and

a lawyer.

Unable to contain his chronic envy and dislike of Dr. Thomas, Ram writes, “Still, it is Thomas’s role in SARU that causes the greatest concern. While he has every reason to be concerned about recovering assets of the state, to suggest that the Private Sector Commission (PSC) is not being principled” is uncharacteristically arrogant and deceptive.” Ram’s defense of the PSC in not surprising since many of its members is his clients. Ram continues, “In defending the SARA bill, all Thomas seems willing to cite is a single article of the UN Convention against corruption. He knows that there are other articles, such as article 7 which deals with the funding of political parties and their candidates, which bears heavily on corruption in Guyana”. This is Christopher Ram the politician and hopefully the leader of the new ‘third force’ he is attempting to establish. I say no more.

I now cite more evidence of Ram’s envious rage against Thomas, “Prof. Thomas, putting himself at the center of the debate…It is not surprising that neither he nor any of his colleagues has so far been able to defend the bill or his fanciful economics.

Now desperately hoping that he will be named Director of SARA,” I emphasise his remark, “fanciful economics”.

In concluding I wish

say two things. The first is that in as much as he pretends that his views on the matter of the SARA Bill are unblemished, Ram is fully aware that a number of the senior legal minds in the country do not support the position he holds. My second point is that Ram in addressing a demand to Thomas, demonstrated what his intention really is. He wrote, “Dr. Thomas claims that he has all this information about hundreds of Billions being lost to the state annually,” he then requested that Thomas and SARU hand over to the police details of this critical and important information.

He did this fully aware that the GPF has been compromised by the criminalisation of the state during the PPP’s 23 years rule. Ram is aware that even up to today the police force is still trying to extract form its ranks those with association with the criminal underworld, and more, importantly the business/political criminal cabal. Editor and readers I contend that Mr. Ram is fully aware of the implications of what he is requesting of Dr. Clive Thomas and SARU. It seems to me that he intends to access this vital information from his “friends” in the criminal cabal in the force.

Regards Tacuma Ogunseye

We may still find our Guyanese one man army Dear Editor, I was saddened by Freddie Kissoon’s column in KN (27/2/17) titled “Please Mr Thompson, I’m not a one

man army” in which he comes across as being on the verge of giving up his popular, brave, scholarly and thought-provoking analyses/observations of

the ills and irrationalities in Guyana.

I can certainly appreciate the natural ‘tiredness’ and disappointments which come from what must often appear

Groiup seeks reparations Dear Editor, We did write a letter to President Granger dated 1st February, 2016 requesting reparations for slavery. Mr. Granger did reply stating that he has referred our letter to Mr. Basil Williams, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs for his advice. To this date Mr. Williams has procrastinated and has either refused or otherwise failed to address this matter.

We write to register the dissatisfaction of the Council of Chiefs of the Descends of Enslaved and Manumitted Africans Reparation Trust with the procrastination of Mr. Basil Williams, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs in addressing this matter. This is a simple administrative matter which should have been addressed since early 2016, given the fact that Mr. Williams has several Attorneys-at-law in his Chambers, to one of whom

he could have assigned this matter for resolution, but he has dragged it out for over one year and there seems to be no resolution in sight.

Seems like poor administration or animosity with the Descendants of Enslaves and Manumitted Africans Reparation Trust. Please intervene to help us and to save this man from further incompetency.

Regards H.M. Noah Yahshuarun

like hitting one’s head against the proverbial brick-wall of stubbornness, ignorance and backwardness. Changing human behaviour at both the individual and collective levels is a long term, even unending challenge for which only few, the likes of Kissoon, seem willing and able to attempt.

I believe I reflect the

wishes of many of our compatriots when I ask you, Kissoon, to please continue your unique efforts in the media, on the streets, elsewhere and otherwise in what must often seem a long, lonely road towards a better Guyana. The world has produced several ‘one man armies’, the likes of

Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela…we may still find our unique and successful Guyanese ‘one man army’ some day; in this regard I again ask Kissoon not to exclude himself.

Regards Nowrang Persaud

Media must report... in their domestic economy which then contributes to the annual GDP of that country.

It is for this principal reason all the past U.S presidents and the current and future presidents need to be especially careful in their dealings with China. Of note too, China even funds a large chunk of the U.S government spending.

Within these respects, much similarities can be found as regards Guyana / China diplomatic relations which I outlined earlier in some amount of detail.

Thus in my closing remarks I would like to reiterate that it is paramount that media operatives be extremely cautious when dealing with matters of this nature to

From page 6

avoid any profound damage between Guyana and its international alliances as well as foreign investors.

Such an outcome could have severe adverse consequences in relation to our country’s economic progress and goodwill.

Regards, Concerned Citizen

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

No ‘divide and rule’ tactic – Broomes sweeps aside GGDMA’s claims on syndicates

By Ariana Gordon The Natural Resources Ministry on Wednesday said Government is committed to supporting the work of miners as it dismissed claims by the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) of attempting to ‘divide and rule’ them.

The GGDMA in a statement to the media accused the Ministry of Natural Resources of attempting to fragment the sector by its push for the establishment of syndicates across the country.

But Minister within that Ministry,Simona Broomes, made it clear that the formation of syndicates by small miners is geared at empowering small-scale miners who were placed at a disadvantage due to lack of resources.

Broomes said the Natural Resources Ministry is not-partisan to any category of miners and noted that there is a dire need for social cohesion among them.

“We inherited a divided mining sector… since I joined the Ministry of Natural Resources in 2016, I have called on miners to work together… so as to break the division. It is not this Government’s intention to divide its people and it is not the intention of the Ministry of Natural Resources to do so either.”

The minister, who was once a miner,explained that the formation of syndicates and the ability of small miners to access lands to mine unhindered is being done in a transparent manner.

“Everything is being done transparently, we are not hiding anything… we are rolling out the good life and miners are coming together through syndicates… it is overwhelming,” Broomes said, while noting that the APNU+AFC Government is responding to the plight of the people.

Over the years, small miners have complained about their inability to access lands to mine and many have thus far lauded the efforts of the Natural Resources Ministry to assist them through syndicates.

Landlordism has been a major issue for miners and the matter was engaging the Special Land Use Committee,once chaired by former Public Works Minister Robeson Benn.

The GGDMA on Tuesday questioned the agenda of Minister Broomes for her push for the establishment of syndicates.

“While the Jnr. minister has been in her post for approximately one year, it is interesting to note that before now she had not attempted to establish these syndicates.”

The mining body labelled the actions of the minister

Junior Natural Resources Minister, Simona Broomes

as a tactic to ‘divide and rule’ miners to detract their attention from immediate threats to the survival of the industry.

“This move by the Jnr minister is directly geared at fracturing the small and medium-scale mining industry by taking advantage of the “crab in a barrel” mentality that unfortunately exists in the industry, and thereby gaining control over a chunk of a certain scale of miners to support current and future agendas. This type of rhetoric will only do long-term damage to the industry and the relationship between the various scales of miners.”

NOT NEW But Minister Broomes

told Guyana Chronicle that the provision of lands to miners who are part of syndicates is not new and noted that same has been happening since 1994.

“There are those who have benefited from syndicates in the past and continue to benefit…. This is not new… we as a Government promised to make lands available to miners and we are fulfilling our promise. We are not trying to detract from issues facing miners…we are not under pressure from the GGDMA or the GWMO.” Recently, Finance Minister Winston Jordan and Guyana Revenue Authority Commissioner General,Godfrey Statia,met with miners to discuss tax measures. Many miners believe that the implementation of the tax measures as stipulated by law and implemented by the GRA will prove arduous on them.

But Minister Broomes made it clear that “miners are strong people who are never afraid of speaking out when they have problems”.

She noted that the move to have syndicates formed across the country is not about ruling but about “empowering the people”.

“Since 1994 syndicates were established at Puruni,” said Broomes, who

noted that miners have complained bitterly about the unfairness of the lottery system used to obtain lands.

COMPLAINTS “They complained about the lack of guidance, maps, being given swamps and mines being worked out… as a Government, we believe that the syndicates are fair… like the lottery, syndicates will follow the same process and have to go through the Closed Area Commission… this is a very transparent process.”

The minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources noted that it is not her Ministry that is responsible for the formation of the syndicates, but the miners themselves.

“We are just providing the opportunity,” she added, while stressing that it is not a “crab in a barrel” situation.

Broomes said she has noted the many attacks being thrown at her by the GGDMA but said those attacks will not deter her from her duties.

She made it clear that she intends to work with all categories of miners so that all can benefit from the opportunities which exist within the sector.

“I will call on the Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton,to meet with all stakeholders in the industry,” she stated.

Meanwhile, the Natural

Resources Ministry in a statement on Wednesday said the Government recognises all categories of miners- small, medium and industrial scale (large) and noted that given the plethora of applications received from small miners who complained of not having available lands to mine, the Ministry decided to address the need through syndicates.

“The Government of Guyana is as pleased to be associated with syndicates initiative as it is to support the work of the GGDMA and is prepared to meet with all miners to explain its intentions and mediate any tensions that may have arisen by the mistaken interpretation of the role and purpose of its initiatives.”

The Ministry said it is committed to working with all miners with the “singular objective being to maximise the recovery and declaration of gold and other mineral resources in an environmentally responsible and safe manner”.

“The Ministry of Natural Resources iterates that it is absolutely not its, nor the Government of Guyana’s intention to put miners against each other or to ‘divide and rule’ in any way,” the statement added.

During 2016, over 235 blocks of mining lands were distributed to small miners; a process which will continue through the Closed Area Committee.

Plan to tackle cyanide spill needed – Aurora Gold Mine emergency response seminar hears

By Svetlana Marshall The need for a coordinated approach to respond in the event of a cyanide spill in Guyana was underscored when Aurora Gold Mine (AGM) hosted an emergency response seminar on Wednesday.

The seminar, which brought together representatives from Government and non-government organisations such as the Guyana Police Force, Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Guyana Fire Service and the Woodlands Hospital, was facilitated by Cyanco’s Director of Environment, Health, Safety and Security, Max Jones and Roy Norcross, Cyanco’s Director of Applied Technology and Quality Programmes.

Cyanco International produces liquid sodium cyanide for the extraction of gold from its ore but in do-

ing so it is big on safety, reliability and efficiency. AGM is among mining companies it supplies with sodium.

During the initial stage of the seminar, Jones explained in depth the Incident Command System which was developed in the United States. It is a standardised on-scene incident management concept designed specifically to allow responders to adopt an integrated organisational structure equal to the complexity and demands of any single incident or multiple incidents without being hindered by jurisdictional boundaries.

Subsequent to his presentation on the Incident Command System, Jones engaged the representatives, including CDC Director General, Colonel (ret’d) Chabilall Ramsarup and Divisional Commander in Charge of Operations at the Guyana Fire Service,Comp-

Cyanco’s Environment, Health, Safety and Security Director Max Jones explaining the Incident Command System

ton Sparman,on an emergency response exercise.

It was while conducting that exercise that it was realised that there is no standard operating procedure to follow in response to a cyanide spill or an accident involving cyanide.

Jones said there is an obvious need for “pre-planning”.

“It is to come up with what if this happens, what if that happens and how do we react to that and how do we protect the public, how do we protect the environment

and how do we recover what has been spilled so that it doesn’t have any further impact,” he said.

AGM Health Safety and Environment Officer Clyde Gillespie told Guyana Chronicle that the seminar was very informative, noting that the mining company now has a better understanding of the way in which the communication should flow in the event of an accident involving cyanide.

Gillespie said AGM has safety mechanisms in place to guard against cyanide spills, noting that the company has learnt from the mistakes made by Omai – the mining company responsible for the August 1995 cyanide spill in the Essequibo River.

“We have learnt from the past, so what we do at AGM at the end of the process where we utilise the cyanide to extract the gold, we have two very large tanks and in those tanks we add chemicals that detoxify the cya-

nide, destroying the cyanide before it goes out to the tail end facility.”

Additionally, there are established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in the event of a cyanide spill.

Sparman, who is knowledgable in the area of cyanide and cyanide spills, said there is need for a national coordinated response system to be in place.

“This session is very important and we need to have more coordination on this as to who have the lead role or responsibility whenever you are dealing with this kind of spill,” he said.

Based on the discussions during the seminar, it was agreed that there is need for another forum involving a wider scope of stakeholders. It was recommended too that the next seminar be conducted on site and allow for greater understanding of what needs to be done in the event of an accident.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

Govt’s Green Development Strategy to be launched soon

…as Department of Environment commissioned

By Alva Solomon THE government’s Green State Development Strategy is expected to be launched soon and nationwide consultations are carded for the effective development and implementation of the policy.

This was noted on Wednesday afternoon when the Ministry of the Presidency officially commissioned the Department of the Environment, which falls under the umbrella of the Ministry of the Presidency. The department is located at Lot 86 High Street, Kingston, next door to Red House and will be coordinating the work of six public agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Protected

Areas Commission, The National Parks Commission, the Wildlife Division, as well as the Offices of Climate Change and Project Management.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Director of the unit, Ndibi Schwiers told an audience, which included President David Granger, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon that last year-end, the department piloted wide stakeholder participation in developmental framework of the green state development strategy. She said that this was done in collaboration with UN systems led by the UN Environment.

Schweirs elaborated that the green state development

President David Granger interacts with Ndibi Schwiers, Director of the Department of Environment, during a tour of the department after it was officially commissioned on Wednesday

A section of the gathering at the event

strategy will lay the foundation for inclusive, green economic growth that will lead to the achievement of sustainable development targets and for outlining a vision for a prosperous and equitable Guyana.

“At this stage we are almost ready to release the final document for the green state development strategy,” she added.

Schweirs said that the coordination and integration of the department with the six identified agencies will “catalyze” actions which would improve the country’s national capacity for sustainable management and development of

Cops nabbed trying to steal AK-47 FOUR ranks attached to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) was placed under close arrest after an intelligence-led investigation found they were instrumental in facilitating the smuggling of an AK-47 assault rifle out of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, on Tuesday.

An official statement from the Guyana Police Force on Wednesday noted

that on February 28, ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters conducted an operation, during which a motor car was intercepted and one AK 47 rifle was discovered in the said vehicle. The driver was promptly arrested.

According to the statement, detectives acting on further information, contacted four ranks from the Tactical Services Unit and placed them under close arrest. “Earnest efforts are underway to trace the origin

of the high-powered rifle.

The probe is ongoing,” the police statement noted.

However, this newspaper was reliably informed that a private vehicle drove into the CID compound on Tuesday evening and stayed there overnight. This was observed by ranks in the compound and they decided to place the vehicle and its occupants under surveillance.

When the vehicle attempted to drive out the CID head office compound,

a search was carried out and a force issued AK-47 was found. This newspaper understands that a Police Corporal was immediately placed under close arrest while his civilian friend was detained for questioning.

In addition, several other ranks, including a senior officer,are being grilled by their colleagues as the probe widens. Senior officers of the GPF,including the Public Relations Officer,were tight-lipped about the incident yesterday.

the environment.

The department’s work will include working along with the private sector, non-governmental organisations and civil society among others and according to Schwiers, it will ensure the provision of environmental services in each region of the country, beginning with far flung areas.

President Granger noted that the transition to the green state requires the collective actions of all agencies, authorities, boards, department and ministries of the government.

“This department is expected to play a pivotal role in national development,” he said of the newly commission state entity. According to the President, the unit “must coordinate the work of all those agencies,” relative to the environment and sustainable energy generation.

The President noted too that the department will be required to work with other agencies to ensure that the green agenda remains on course.

“The department of the environment has work to do,” the President told the gathering, noting that the environment is under stress and threat.

“We need a strong permanent institution to conserve and protect and sustainably manage our biodiversity, our patrimony,” the Head of State noted.

In brief remarks, Minister Harmon urged staff of the department to establish a high standard of efficiency, which he noted is expected of the department.

He said he had no doubt that the newly established department will live up to its high expectations.

Robbery charge dismissed against repeat offender

Jason Adam

REPEAT armed robbery offender, Jason Adam,is now counting his lucky stars after he was freed of another robbery charge after the victim refused to offer evidence against him.

Adams appeared before City Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Wednesday charged with robbing a secondary school student with the use of violence of a Samsung cellphone valued $60,000,on February 25, 2017 at Cornhill Street, Georgetown.

He had denied that charge and told the magistrate “My worship,it won’t happen again… I ain’t want get lock-up again.”

However, the teen’s mother explained that her son does not want to pursue the matter and only wants the accused to return the phone.

The Magistrate dismissed that matter and ordered that the teen’s phone be returned to him.

Meanwhile, following a request by Adam’s relative,the Magistrate ordered that a psychiatric evaluation be done on the accused.

Adam was recently freed of another robbery under-arms charge in the Night Court. He was out on $20,000 bail and bonded on good behavior.

In 2014, he was charged with a series of robberies and assaults. However, Adams’ lawyer had claimed that he suffers from a nervous disorder and asked for him to be seen by a psychiatrist.

Adams was also charged with stealing plucked chickens from a Chinese Restaurant at Bourda, Georgetown in 2010.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

Due spotlight on Guyana Girls in ICT 2017 A HASHTAG social media competition, tech day camps and public relations campaigns are among a series of activities planned by the National Frequency Management Unit (NMFU), in observance of Guyana Girls in ICT 2017.

The occasion will be observed on April 27, under the theme “Expanding horizons, changing minds”, National Frequency Management Unit (NMFU) Chief Executive Officer, Valmikki Singh told reporters on Wednesday.

“We are looking to have features on radio, TV and the print media and hoping to have an e-magazine to feature events and role models,” he said, pointing out that on April 27, International Girls in ICT Day, a symposium and several tech day camps will be held.

At these camps, female technicians will interact with

NMFU CEO, Valmikki Singh, meeting with stakeholders to discuss the calendar of events for Guyana Girls in ICT 2017 on Wednesday

school children on opportunities in the Information and Communication Technology sector and to encourage them

to consider careers in this field.

He pointed out that booths will also be set up to

create awareness on computer repairs, coding, computer graphics and cyber security.

‘Girls in ICT’ is a global

initiative spearheaded by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to raise awareness of the need

for more women to become involved in the ICT sector worldwide.

It provides an opportunity to inspire girls and young women to get involved in the sector by listening to women role models.

The NFMU Facebook page “Guyana Girls in ICT” aims to improve digital literacy and promote the sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics and ICT careers as tools for development and empowerment of women and girls in Guyana.

The NMFU has met with representatives of Digicel Guyana, UG Computer Science Department, the E-Government Unit, Ministry of Public Telecommunications, and the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority to discuss upcoming activities in celebration of Guyana Girls in ICT 2017.

Carter Centre country rep updates President on EITI, Constitutional Reform projects PRESIDENT David Granger on Wednesday met with the Carter Centre’s Country Representative, Mr. Jason Calder, who updated him on the status of the US$297,000 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) project, which is being spearheaded by the Centre.

EITI is a global standard to promote the open and ac-

countable management of oil, gas and mineral resources.

The standard seeks to address the key governance issues of the oil, gas and mining sectors. According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Calder informed that a multi-stakeholder committee has been established consisting of representatives from the Government, civil society bodies and the ex-

tractive industry.

It was noted that the committee is responsible for supporting the preparation of a candidacy application and detailed work programme for submission to the EITI Secretariat to ensure Guyana’s membership in the body.

“This basically says that here are some of the things we have to change in order to facilitate the kind of report-

ing that the EITI envisages for the various sectors,” Mr. Calder was quoted as saying in the release.

Once Guyana’s candidacy is approved, the country will have a period of 18 months to present its first EITI report. The overall objective is to improve transparency, accountability and good governance, in relation to the extractive industry.

The Country Representa-

tive also informed the Head of State of a Constitutional Reform project that is in the works for Guyana and which will be rolled out during the course of this month. In this regard, he said that they have been working closely with Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, under whose purview constitutional reform falls.

Under the project, the Centre will be embarking on a series of events to engage the public, as well as private stakeholders, on the process of constitutional

reform. President Granger emphasised that this process shouldn’t be about cherry-picking constitutional provisions, but rather it must be done in a holistic manner and must deal explicitly, with the issues and rights of women, children and other vulnerable groups.

“Guyana needs a simple and readable Constitution…This is an important process for us and I have insisted at the level of Cabinet that the process be done thoroughly,” the Head of State said.

President David Granger and the Carter Centre’s Country Representative, Mr. Jason Calder at State House

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

treated to breakfast Some 450 street Elderly while waiting for pension vendors registered

By Navendra Seoraj OVER 450 vendors have been registered by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and are now able to legally ply their trade at various spaces around Georgetown.

The initiative is part of an effort by the M&CC to regulate and bring order to the vending system in the City.

M&CC’s Public Relations Officer,Debra Lewis,confirmed that vendors have been cooperative and are ensuring that they get registered.

“Persons were given the chance to be registered by the Guyana Revenue Authority and us… upon registering, they received badges that will indicate that they are temporary street vendors, the location they are selling at and what they are selling,” said Lewis.

The arrangement will be applied to all vendors within

M&CC Public Relations Officer, Debra Lewis

Georgetown, from Agricola to Cumming’s Lodge, and it will only apply to street vendors and not stallholders.

In recent times, there was ambiguity in the system, allowing everyone to do what they wanted but, the new intervention will ensure that there is order, Lewis said.

Speaking to Guyana Chronicle on Monday, vendors indicated that they welcome the system and do not mind paying a minimal fee

every year.

“This will allow us to do our thing without any hassle and help we to identify who selling what and where they selling their stuff,” said one of the vendors who got registered at City Hall.

Although many have been responsive, the M&CC is still calling on others to come out and get registered so that the full effect of the initiative can be felt as soon as possible.

Georgetown’s Mayor Patricia Chase-Green said late last year that “we will take it step by step as we go forward in registering those vendors and have them comply with their medical certificates, with registration, with having their TIN numbers”.

“That is the only way we can bring about some order,” the mayor said, while affirming that “All street vendors must be registered according to the law”.

Duo accused of stealing toilet bowls, carpets from GTT TWO men were released on $75,000 bail by City Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Wednesday after they were accused of breaking into the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) building and stealing a quantity of items.

Ricardo Fernandes, 43 of East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme and Prakash Ally, 28 of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara,pleaded not guilty

to the joint charge. It is alleged that between February 12 and February 24, 2017 at Croal Street, Georgetown, the duo broke into the GTT building and stole two toilet bowls, three security lights, two toilet tanks, two carpets and other items to the value of $276,020.

The unrepresented Ally told the court, “Your Worship, I does thief but only lil alcohol and fruits,

I don’t trouble nobody thing.” Meanwhile,Fernandes explained that the building was already broken into before. The court heard that the duo was arrested after the carpets were found in their possession. Police prosecutor Simone Payne did not object to bail; bail was granted and the matter was adjourned to March 15, 2017.

THE Ministry of Social Protection has supported the initiative of the National Commission for the Elderly in the distribution of breakfast to elderly persons who came out to collect their pension at the Bourda Post office and the Central Post office,in Georgetown on Wednesday.

Members of the Commission, staff of the Ministry of Social Protection and volunteers assisted in the distribution of the breakfast which was available from 7:00hrs.

According to a release from the Ministry, Ms. Everette DeLeon, Chairperson of the National Commission for the elderly, stated that the project is the first of many more to come.

She said it is very necessary to have such projects for senior citizens who come out and line up as early at 6:00hrs to collect their pension every month.

The project was undertaken after talks with the Guyana Post Office Commission indicated that such programs are necessary. The release further noted that Clifton Farley, Area Manager for the post office,said,”you can’t go wrong with such projects.” adding that what is most important is sustainability.

Mr. Ricardo Banwarie, Assistant Chief Probation and Social Services officer,said

Elderly persons were treated to breakfast while, waiting for their pension yesterday

that the Commission is very helpful in bringing suggestions to the Ministry and in turn the Ministry is happy to assist them in whatever way possible.

He stated, “after the research indicated the necessity of the project, the Commission and the MOSP collaborated with the GPOC to bring the project to fruition.”

Research shows that the Central Post Office and the Bourda Post Office are the two post offices which see the most pensioners. According to the release, the pensioners were overjoyed and thanked those present,indicating they are hopeful that this would be an every-month activity .

The Commission would like to make special mention of Lloyd Austin from Austin Bookstore, Claude Raphael of Raphael’s Real Estate, Charles Vandyke of Eye Care, and Sharon Green of ACDA,without whom the project would not have been a success.

It is the hope of the Commission that the project continues every month at different post offices around the country. Interested persons wishing to lend support to this initiative are welcomed to get in contact with the Ministry of Social Protection or Ms. DeLeon of the National Commission for the Elderly.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

City Hall cashes in – draws down 20 % on controversial Parking Meter Project THE Mayor and City Council has announced on Wednesday that it has received its 20 per cent takings from Smart City Solutions under the Parking Meter Project.

This money is taken from the gross earnings of the initiative, the M&CC said, adding that the Council has no responsibility for expenses related to this project and all expenses are managed by Smart City Solutions.

The money from the

parking meter initiative has been earmarked to do certain civil works in the City, including upgrading existing Council roads, constructing new ones, developing sidewalks and pavements for pedestrians, clean and sustain drains and canals, build bridges and foot paths and implement a City transport system, particularly for children and senior citizens.

“The money is needed to enhance the Council’s very narrow revenue base to

provide a wide range of vital municipal services to local communities and the city as a whole. These include public and environmental health services, street lighting, maternal and child welfare services, maintenance of cemeteries, enforcement of the city building codes and by-laws and open spaces, parks and recreational facilities,” the city council said in a release.

The Council said too that it is also happy to report that more motorists are

using the parking meters, particularly, in very busy areas of the central business district of the city.

The Council, through a special technology, can see, in real time, the performance of the parking meters, on a daily basis.

The Georgetown municipality remains committed to deliver to all citizens a clean, safe, healthy city and to transform Georgetown to a 21st century modern capital, the release said.

The Mayor and City Council says it has received its 20 per cent takings from Smart City Solutions under the Parking Meter Project

5 years jail for cop who killed teen in accident er Pond Public Road,MacKenzie, Linden,while being the driver of motor car PRR 6502, Washington drove dangerously thereby causing the death of the teenager.

He was fined$25,000 each on the charges of failing to stop after the accident and failing to render assistance.

DEAD : Denelsion Rose called ‘Nello’ According to reports, Rose,POLICE Lance Corporal, Marlon Washington,was called ‘Nello’ of Noitgeon Wednesday sentenced dacht, Linden, was on his to five years imprison- way home when he met his ment for causing the death demise; his body was found of 16-year-old Denelsion by passersby. He was a Rose, who was struck sixth form student of MacKdown and killed in 2015 enzie High School.

Special Lance Corporal on the Washer Pond Road Washington was reportedly in Linden.

Washington, 49 of Wis- intoxicated while behind roc Housing Scheme, was the wheel at the time of the found guilty of the charges accident.He then fled the of causing death by dan- scene and failed to pay the gerous driving, failing to toll to cross the bridge to get render assistance and not to his Wisroc, Linden home.

The police,after restopping after the accident.

The trial was held before viewing surveillance footMagistrate Clive Nurse at age,were able to confirm the Linden Magistrate’s the identity of the drivCourt and was prosecuted er of the getaway car. A

by Inspector, Vanetta Pin- breathalyzer test allegedly indicated that he had douder.

Particulars of the first ble the prescribed limit of charge stated that on Oc- 35% micrograms of alcotober 24, 2015 at Wash- hol in his system.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

Guyana and China to strengthen ties PRESIDENT David Granger on Wednesday met with China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Cui Jianchun at State House to discuss the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries. The Ambassador was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. Yang Chenqi and Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy, Mr. Shen Huiyong. Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Patrick West was also present.

According to a release

from the Ministry of the Presidency, during the meeting, President Granger explained that poor infrastructure, particularly in the hinterland, has impeded the development of tourism, agriculture, and the extractive sectors and has been a deterrent to foreign investors. Noting that there is an existing cooperation agreement between the GDF and the Chinese military, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the Head of State said that Guyana could benefit tremendously from infrastructural development training

for GDF officers.

“We want to develop a strong engineering corps at the GDF so that they can make a bigger contribution to infrastructural development in this country,” the Head of State was quoted as saying in the release.

The Ambassador informed the President of his plan to convene a forum to further engage the Government of Guyana in discussions so as to identify priority areas in which the two countries can collaborate.

From left: Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. Yang Chenqi, China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Cui Jianchun, President David Granger and Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Mr. Patrick West

Upholsterer on bail for possession of ganja CITY Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Wednesday released a Princes Street upholsterer on $50,000 bail for the possession of seven grams of cannabis.

Ryan Edenborough, 28, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on February 25, 2017, he had the narcotic in his possession at Thomas Road, Georgetown.

A Roman Catholic priest places ash on the forehead of a young member of the congregation at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Brickdam during Ash Wednesday mass yesterday. (Samuel Maughn photo)

Edenborough had initially pleaded guilty to the charge,however,he entered a not guilty plea after the Magistrate informed him that the offence attracts a minimal jail sentence of three years. In his address to the court, the unrepresented defendant told the court that he was a patron at the Sizzla Kalonji show which was being held at the

National Park, when police searched him and found the drug.

Police Prosecutor Simone Payne did not oppose bail but indicated that an analyst certificate is still outstanding from the case file along with a statement.

Edenborough was ordered to return to court on March 29, for reports and fixtures.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

Linden Town Clerk back on the job …CoI recommends that she be transferred FIVE months after being sent on administrative leave by the Linden Town Council, Town Clerk, Jonellor Bowen returned to work on Wednesday.

The decision was made by the Ministry of Communities to have Bowen reinstated, after the Commission of Inquiry (CoI), which was established to investigate the circumstances surround-

ing the ‘no confidence’ motion against the Town Clerk in July by the Council, submitted its findings.

The CoI recommended Bowen’s reinstatement since the motion cannot be endorsed as a result of procedural irregularities. The findings of the CoI, which was chaired by Former Regional Chairman, Mortimor Mingo, pointed out that

proper and legal procedure was not utilised in moving the motion against Bowen.

“The motion was never given to the Town Clerk in writing and within the statutory period of 96 hours, as stipulated by the law,” the CoI found.

However, it further revealed that out of the ten issues raised by the Council, which resulted in them hav-

ing ‘no confidence’ in Bowen, several of these showed that the current temperament and attitude of Bowen in carrying out her functions as Chief Administrator and Advisor of the Council is not working in a positive way for the Council.

The CoI expressed concern on the way Bowen dealt with an EU grant, which resulted in the loss to the Council of over $115M, the manner in which Bowen handled the gratuity, pensions and NIS remittances for the Council’s employees, the accuracy and presentation of minutes for the statutory meeting and the alleged leaking of the Council’s confidential information to the public.

“It does appear that the Town Clerk’s current attitude and deportment towards the Mayor and Councillors does not auger well for progress of the Council and if this is allowed to continue there is no doubt that the work of the Council will be further stymied.”

The CoI then recommended that the Town Clerk be transferred to another post within the Ministry, where she can use her many

Linden Town Clerk, Jonellor Bowen

skills and better apply her qualification.

Permanent Secretary, McGarrel, also advised the Council to move another no confidence motion against Bowen if there is a continued lack of confidence in her performance; but they should do so in future, following the proper procedures.

When asked to comment on the findings of the CoI, Bowen said, “It was what I was saying all the time, that the ‘no confidence’ motion was un-procedural, however it was pursued…

The report has found that… the ‘no confidence’ motion was illegal, ultra vires and un-procedural. Hence, me being sent on administrative leave was wrong. The report clearly would have indicated and the Committee would have found that there were

procedural irregularities, it was ultra vires.”

She added that while she experienced emotional and psychological agony awaiting the findings, she was eager to return to work.

She also posited that she has no issue with Mayor of Linden, Carywn Holland and is willing to work along with Holland and the Council for the greater good of the town.

Mayor Holland on Tuesday told the media that the Town Clerk would have been found guilty in the majority of the issues put forward by the council and the only infraction of the Council is the way in which the motion was moved.

“We must acknowledge that it is the wrong way in which the motion was moved, but not for the wrong reasons, though they were procedural missteps in the execution of the motion against the Town Clerk, there were sufficient grounds justifying the motion as corroborated by the commission,” Holland said.

He added that it is time for the Council to move forward for the progression of Linden and there should not be any further stymieing of the town’s business.

Lelon Saul is new CH&PA CEO MINISTER of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, has confirmed that Lelon Saul will replace Myrna Pitt, who had stepped down as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), in June 2016.

Minister Bulkan told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that Saul is well qualified for the position, and brings with him vast experience. Saul, who is a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Guyana Defence Force, also worked with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Saul’s identification and appointment to the position arose out of a process that was fully coordinated by the out-going board of the CH&PA, where following advertisements and receipt of applications, a commit-

Lelon Saul

tee shortlisted the most appropriate candidates and conducted interviews, the minister explained.

Saul was selected from a field of 20-plus persons interviewed for the position. Minister Bulkan explained that Saul made the cut after the CH&PA could not meet the remuneration package being sought by the two candidates who had secured more points than him.

These two candidates are not resident in Guyana and the reimbursement package for moving to Guyana that they sought was beyond the means of the CH&PA, the minister said.

The CH&PA has been operating without a CEO for a few months now, and “it has been a less than desirable situation,” Minister Bulkan noted.

Saul is expected to take-up his appointment within a day or two, in time for the implementation of the key CH&PA 2017 housing project, including the delivery and construction of 758 housing units in the form of either town houses or duplexes in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven and 10, particularly targeting public sector employees, youths and low-income earners. (GINA)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 2, 2017

THURSDAY MARCH 2, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

Banking on cherries

River ’s View hopeful agro-processing project will bear fruit

RESIDENTS of the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) community of River’s View are optimistic that the cherry orchard agricultural project they have embarked upon will see the commencement of a small-scale agro-processing factory in the community.

The residents, with the help of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), have planted 100 cherry trees and are watching them blossom every day.

NAREI’s role in the project, which owes its genesis to President Granger’s ‘plant-a-tree’ concept, is to provide the necessary assistance to have the fruit orchard up and running.

“This project was for all

the communities around the area, but to date, River’s View is the only community that came on board. The community provides the land and labour, and NAREI provides the plants along with the technical advice, staff and whatever chemical that will be needed in terms of pest management and so,” NAREI’s Crop Extension Officer Trisha Williams told this publication.

Friday is the day designated for the community to work on the orchard. Work involves nurturing the seedlings and keeping them free of weed.

The youths involved in the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS) also work on the orchard, in that they contribute to the practical agricultural aspect of the programme.

The cherry orchard at River’s View

FRESH CHERRY JUICE The cherries that will be reaped from the orchard were initially intended to support the community’s school-feeding programme by providing a cup of fresh cherry juice daily for children attending primary and nursery school.

“Once the trees would have reached a bearing stage and we have excess, we plan to start focusing on processing,” Williams said.

“We are looking at it as a way to also provide employment within the community, and in a way starting food security at some point as regards improving the nutrition of the residents,” she added.

But, one of the major challenges bedevilling the project, Williams said, is

the daily battle between farmers and acoushi ants which would often devour the crops.

Thanks to NAREI, however, the ants are kept in check with a regular dose of pesticide, which is provided not only to the cherry orchard project, but all the farmers who practise subsistence and small-scale farming in the community.

“NAREI would provide the chemicals, in terms of spraying, and would also be there to give directions of how to use it,” Williams said, adding: “NAREI also provides training to the persons working on the orchard, in terms of how to control different pests and good agricultural practises in general.”

But, according to Wil-

NAREI Crop Extension Officer, Trisha Williams

liams, acoushi ants are but the least of the farmers’ problems, as they also have to contend with wild animals that often reap their crops even before they can.

And with the run-around they’re getting to acquire a firearm licence, it’s only adding to their frustration.

Then there’s the age-old problem of water shortages.

“We have the Essequibo River, but the farming lands are way down to the back, where there is no water source,” Williams said.

“So, one of the things we would like to see eventually is intervention from the authorities to see canals and so on being accessed to the farm lands which will support irrigation and also a mode of transport.”

GREAT PROMISE But in spite of the foregoing setbacks, she is optimistic that agriculture has great promise for River’s View, since there’s not just plenty of land there, but a willing labour force

as well.

With the agricultural projects, the farmers are being encouraged to return to the fields, and with the introduction of farming technologies within the community, the youths can also get involved.

“Farmers are also looking for funding, which is not readily available,” Williams said. “Remember, in these communities, we don’t really have transport for lands that we can actually take to financial institutions to get a loan; these are communal lands, and so there is no land title that a farmer can actually take to an organisation to say you can get a loan.”

As a NAREIE extension officer for a number of years, Trisha Williams vows to continue working with the farmers and residents of her community to see the real potential of agriculture for the development of River’s View.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

Lindeners champion cause for the differently-abled --call for establishment of user-friendly spaces LINDENERS are calling on the relevant authorities to make learning and socialising easier for the differently-abled, especially those who are visually impaired.

They say the problem is particularly acute for those trying to get an education, or the hang of a particular sport, as currently, none of the schools and sporting facilities in Linden cater to their needs.

Currently, there are approximately 30 visually impaired students attending most of the schools in Linden. This is in addition to the several students with physical disabilities also attending regular schools, as students with mental disabilities attend the Special Needs School.

For these children attending the regular schools, especially secondary schools, the challenges are so great, most of them eventually decide

to drop out of school rather than stay the course.

Special-needs teacher, Shellon Swaving is attached to the Wismar Hill Visually Impaired Unit. She says there’s lots to be done for the differently-abled students, especially those who are visually impaired or wheel-chair bound.

According to Swaving, none of the school’s facilities are disability-friendly. “The children in the wheelchair, as soon as they meet a certain age in secondary school, because there is no one to fetch them around, they have to drop out of school,” she said, adding: “We have so many of them at home; children with physical disabilities are not getting it easy.”

LIMITED SUPPORT She also bemoaned the limited support received from the relevant authorities in this regard,

Special-needs Teacher, Shellon Swaving

as the regional education authorities give as much support as they can, but there is only so much they can do. Similar sentiments were expressed by special needs teacher, Jenelle Williams, who said the situation can be sometimes frustrating.

“You need more support from the outsiders; we need to teach them life skills, and we don’t even have a kitchen here,” she revealed.

Mackenzie High’s Relon Sumner, who is visually impaired, said that at one point, he wanted to drop out of school because of the various challenges he was facing, from neglect to bullying.

He said that while he has now become a seasoned campaigner, since it’s going on four years he’s been in school, he worries about his younger brother, Roell, who is also visually impaired and is in Form One. “I went through it! But is he I studying, because he now start,” Relon said.

Because of the limited systems in place for the students to participate in class activities and grading activities, it is as if they are just passing through school.

Their mother, Ronella Jarvis told this publication that she visited several regional officials, ministers and Members of Parliament about the situation but nothing has changed. To her, the children’s future is at stake, as they are just passing through the education system.

“I got a recorder for my son, and is like a waste of time, as he is just going with the recorder and coming home back with it,” Mrs Jarvis said, adding: “A few teachers might ask for the recorder; numerous times I go to the school and see my son sitting at the back of the class, and the teacher would say, ‘Oh, he is not doing this subject.’ And I would say, ‘Nothing is wrong with his ears! He

can learn!”

Their father, Ryan Waldron said that the children and naturally intelligent, and their future may go to waste as nothing is in place for the children.

“It really tough; it really hard! We need for something to be done to assist the children, because it is unfair to them,” Mr Waldron said.

The few students who make it through high school are now required to travel to Georgetown daily if they want to write the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

DAILY STRUGGLE Former student, Teshawn Rodney spoke of the daily struggle of travelling back and forth to attend classes at the Visually Impaired Unit in Georgetown to prepare for the examinations.

“I had to travel to town every single day because Georgetown have the JAWS (Job Access With Speech software); so if you want to do it, you have to find the passage every day,” Teshawn said.

And while the schools are not disability friendly, the sporting facilities are also an issue, because they, too, are not accessible to the students who are differently-abled and may want to pursue a sport or even attend a school event.

The Mackenzie Sports Club Ground has been criticised for its short-sightedness in this regard as the main sporting facility in Linden. “Not because you have a disability means you can’t go to a Sports Club,” Teacher Shellon said.

RECOMMENDATIONS Both teachers with whom the Guyana Chronicle spoke are calling for a medium that specifically deals with disabilities.

“We need a channel

Advocate for the differently abled, Setra Oselmo

through the Ministry,” they said. “If we have a differently-abled child, we need somebody at the Ministry who deals with disabilities; we need a special-needs officer, just as there is a primary and a secondary officer.”

There’s also a cry ing need, they said, for a nexus between the medical and the educational departments to effectively meet the educational needs of the entire differently-abled community.

The struggles of accessing public buildings in Linden, they say, are not only experienced by students but everyone who is differently-abled in some regard.

The plight of the differently-abled was also highlighted by designer and make-up artist, Setra Oselmo, who is herself bound to a wheelchair after losing mobility in her legs following a vehicular accident.

Setra, who is a staunch advocate for equality in this regard, in a previous interview with the Guyana Chronicle made a call for all public buildings to become more accessible, as she has to be lifted into buildings whenever the need arises.

Currently, there are only two buildings that

have been made accessible for persons who are differently abled.

“With the exception of the Linden Hospital Complex and the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre, nowhere has provisions for persons in my condition,” Petra said, adding: “The Banks, the Regional Democratic Council, the Sports Club are all difficult to traverse, and I have to be lifted 15 to 20 steps by my brothers when I have to go to those places.

“And I’m no feather!

So you can well imagine the strain I put them under!”

This situation has deterred her from attending several events and transacting her own business at the bank and other institutions.

“I love to shop, and I miss that above everything else,” she said, “as no shopping centre allows me to shop with my wheelchair.”

Setra is calling upon business owners, governmental organizations and other stakeholders to have their businesses accessible to those who are differently abled, as they are a part of society as well.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

The indefatigable Shantoba Bright Beauty of the Week...

--A star athlete in the making JUST recently, she was honoured with the youth female athlete of the year award at the National Sports Commission’s Sports Awards Ceremony.

This award, however, was nothing surprising for this 16-year-old Linden athlete who has received many accolades, medals and trophies since the commencement of her athletic career in 2013.

Shantoba Bright, the little slim, shy-faced, pretty-looking Mackenzie High School student started making headlines, and was the centre of conversation in the sports arena in Linden four years ago, and with so much youth, vigour and motivation left in her, she will continue to make headlines in the sports arena.

In fact, her noticeable humility explains that being the topic for conversation is not her main aim, but making her mother and family proud, and achieving her goal of making it to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Shantoba’s athletic potential was recognised in 2013 by her Physical Education teacher, Mr Kevin Bonnet who encouraged her to start jumping, as she has the built of a jumper.

Said Shantoba: “I took his advice and competed in the long and triple jump for inter-school sports, and qualified immediately for Nationals.

“There I won two gold medals as the Under 14 ath-

Shantoba Bright in action

lete.”

And that’s when she started taking sports seriously, Shantoba said. She would later join the Upper Demerara Students Athletics Club, where she received maximum support from her coach, Mr Johnny Gravesande.

“In 2014, I went to the CUT (Caribbean Union of Teachers) Games in Trinidad & Tobago and took part in a few field events,” Shantoba said, adding: “That was the first time I travelled overseas to represent Guyana; I placed fourth.

I then went to the CARIFTA Games in 2016 in Grenada,

and I won two silver medals for both long and triple jump. I went to Argentina for the South American Youth Games, and I won a bronze; and I am now preparing to go to my second CARIFTA games in Curacao in April.”

BOOKS AND TRACKS With such a rigorous training schedule and the several competitions, this Fifth Former has managed to perfectly balance both academics and sport so as to succeed in both.

Preparing to sit 10 CSEC subjects in May, Shantoba is confident that she will be

extremely successful. “I have always been a bright girl,” she said.

“I balance it pretty well, and I have a supportive mom and coach; I have always maintained good grades, and went to all of the prize-giving exercises and received prizes for both academic and sports performance. I have never failed any subject.”

Shantoba aspires to become a lawyer and a professional athlete, and is determined to remain focussed and not get distracted, so as to achieve these goals.

In addition to it’s being for her own satisfaction, she also prioritises making her mother proud, as she is a single-parent and has always supported her, despite financial constraints.

“I was raised by my grandmother who died when I was eight,” she said. “Then I went to live with my mother, who is a single-parent.

And she is very supportive of me, because she was a long-distance runner herself, but couldn’t pursue sports because she did not get any support. But she supports me, and gives me the necessary stuff that I need.”

She also spoke of her strict Christian upbringing, which has resulted in her being the chaste and respectable young lady she is today.

Shantoba also praised her very dedicated coach, Johnny, who is one of her main cheerleaders, but bemoaned the condition of the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, which, if upgraded, athletics in Linden would go a far way.

‘AFC Cares’ treats Linden pensioners to breakfast

THE Alliance For Change Region 10 Regional Management Committee (RMC) on Wednesday morning treated pensioners to breakfast at the Mackenzie Post Office.

As has been their wont over the years, the mining town’s pensioners had assembled at the post office from early in the morning to collect old age pension, which is distributed on the first day of every month.

The ‘AFC Cares’ Linden initiative was led by Region 10 RMC Chairman, Ms Tracy Johnson and the RMC executives, and also included Member of Parliament, Mr. Audwin Rutherford, and the Prime Minister’s Region

Treating the elderly at Linden

10 Representative, Mr. Vladimir Glasgow.

The community initiative is part of the AFC Cares and

AFC Outreach programmes which are being executed nationwide by AFC’s RMCs, Women For Change (WFC),

Youth For Change (YFC), and party activists.

The WFC held several children’s parties last Christ-

The ravishing Asake Lee

LINDEN beauty Asake Lee has been turning heads for years, and is now turning minds as she upgrades her beauty with class, qualifications and a sassy personality.

The 23-year-old is a University of Guyana graduate who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations.

This accomplishment was not a difficult task for the former Mackenzie High student who placed third in Region 10 when she sat the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

She is currently the proud owner of an Online Boutique named “Little Black Dress”, and continues to rank high on the social ladder with her tantalising wardrobe and swagger.

Despite being popular and outgoing, there is a quiet side to this “only-child”.

She summed up her personality thus: “I enjoy reading, socialising, travelling and from time to time watching movies alone. I would describe myself as confident, determined and selfless. My most dominant attribute is being able to overcome life’s challenges, and with that, I gain tremendous strength.

“One might wonder why I decided to have my own boutique, but I believe that we should follow our passions, and this is one of my greatest passions. Not only do I love being well dressed, but to be able to help others look that way brings me joy.”

Her favourite quote is: “You can never be overdressed or over-educated.” mas, while the Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) RMC held Mother’s Day, Christmas, and other Thanksgiving events last year.

The grouping also held feeding programmes, and handed out food hampers to persons in need in January of this year.

An AFC team, led by Member of Parliament, Mr. Michael Carrington, and comprising Messrs

Raymond Hall and Dennis Atwell also visited the Moruca sub-region in Region One (Barima-Waini) and distributed food hampers and gifts to children in Santa Rosa during the Christmas season.

The foregoing initiatives form part of the AFC’s ongoing work in the communities to offer assistance and support to our more vulnerable brothers and sisters.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

The Soesdyke-Linden Highway --Both a blessing and a curse SINCE the completion of its construction in 1969, the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, a 45- mile uninterrupted stretch of bituminous road which connects Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) to Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) was a blessing to many, especially residents of Linden, formerly known as Mackenzie.

The days of having to take a long and tiring journey on the waves of the Demerara River in a vessel was over, and with ready transportation, one can now journey to Linden is a mere 1½ hours, or even less, depending on the traffic, and the speed at which the driver chose to travel.

Linden, as a town, benefitted tremendously economically, and by extension the entire country, as the ‘Highway’ allowed better access to interior locations through the mining town.

In time, several villages were developed along the highway, and while the inhabitants were predominantly Amerindian, these villages expanded and now there are several schools, churches, businesses and even a vocational college at Kuru Kuru.

HIGH PRAISE The plethora of benefits to be derived from the construction of the highway some 47 years ago was nothing short of a blessing, and the Government of Guyana came in for high praise for undertaking this great project.

Only five years before the highway was completed, over 40 Lindeners lost their lives while travelling from Georgetown to Linden on the MV Son Chapman; the memory of that fateful day was still fresh in the minds of Lindeners, and fear still lingered in their hearts every time there was a need to sail to Georgetown.

With the construction of the highway, boat captains and owners were now looking for a new way to earn a living, while private buses began plying the route.

But while the road was seen as a convenience in some aspects, that feeling quickly turned into fear, as vehicular accidents began to spiral. Since then, several Lindeners and persons from elsewhere have lost their lives in vehicular accidents

on the Linden Highway.

Some of these accidents saw as many as six persons dying on the spot.

While most of those accidents were caused by speeding, resulting in head-on collisions, others were caused by blow-outs, hit-and-runs, and in one particular case, a bus bursting into flames, killing four young schoolchildren on the spot.

NO LONGER A BLESSING The highway was now seen not as a blessing, but as a deadly roadway, as, every year, many lives continue to be lost as persons commute from Georgetown to Linden.

As a resident of Linden, one is often cautioned: “Be careful on that highway!”

“Don’t travel late on that highway!”

“This hour you travelling on the highway!!” “Don’t let dark catch you on that highway!” For those students and workers having to travel to and from Linden every day, prayers are a must, as one does not know if he or she will make it off of the highway safely. These concerns have grown lately, as the accident toll on the highway continues to spiral, with six persons having lost their lives in 2016. These exclude the scores of accidents that were not fatal.

The road having been rehabilitated during 19971999, no other major repairs have been done since then.

STRUCTURAL FAULTS Drivers and regional authorities have all described the current state of the highway as deplorable, and in dire need of repairs. Several structural faults, indentations and eroded sections can be seen on the highway, and drivers doing over 100km who are not au fait with these faults can run into problems.

In the absence of vehicles on the Linden Park in Georgetown, residents would prefer to wait until a known and experienced driver turns up on the park rather than take a gamble and travel with someone who is not from Linden and is not a regular driver on the highway.

Said one regular traveller: “Me! I does travel every day to go UG! It could be after nine in the night, and some Timehri bus or car pull up, I prefer to stand up till

eleven rather than to go with a strange driver; because, if they don’t know the highway, especially at nights, it can be very detrimental.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by a minibus driver, who posited that the shift in the foundation of the highway has resulted in several bumps and holes along the way, and only someone familiar with these faults can drive smoothly on the highway.

“If you ain’t know them bad spots,” he said, “you would bump up all the time, and it is impossible to drive straight through on your lane, because of the state of the road.

“And that is what does cause accidents, because sometimes you trying to avoid a bad spot, and crash into something, especially in the nights.”

According to Mark, a conductor: “The highway weary, man! It tired! It need a complete do-over, or we will continue to get accidents all the time.”

One of the indentations at reference that was recently recapped, caused three accidents on the same spot in the vicinity of Bamia last year.

NO LIGHTING Another major concern for road users and drivers is the absence of lights and reflectors on the road. With a driver having to exclusively depend on their vehicle’s head lamps for visibility, the reality of this is very frightening.

Several calls have been made for the placement of lights along the highway, as it is almost impossible to see your way through, especially during heavy fogging.

For an experienced driver, the ordeal might be less frightening, but for someone unaware of the curves and bends of the highway, driving off of the road is an almost reality.

Councillor Charles Sampson calls it a veritable death trap. Said he: “If it’s raining and you coming through that highway in the night, it’s just God’s mercy that does bring you through...

“Apparently, dem ‘bigboys’ gotta come and drive li’l bit more in the night!

It’s a nightmare if you coming through! When you hit Moblissa Road, you don’t know whether you in the corner or you in the middle!

“And if a light coming against you, you in trouble!

It’s just by the grace of God you hold yuh wheel straight, and you sail pass the vehicle!”

Peter Alleyne, of Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) was driving his minibus on the evening of October 29 when he crashed into a parked truck, killing his wife, Bridget, and Royston Holder, a passenger, instantly.

Peter believes that if

there were lights on the road to help with visibility, the accident would not have happened. “I was driving at a pace of 60 kilometres per hour when I collided with the truck,” he said.

“There were no reflector lights or anything to enhance by visuals, and the truck was not visible to my naked eyes...

“It was not until I had almost collided with the truck that I realised that a lumber truck was parked in front

of me.”

Also absent on the thoroughfare is road markings and signage, which can also aid drivers and other road users.

Four lives have already been lost since the break of 2017 on the highway, and if these issues are not corrected by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, there is the belief that the highway will continue to be a death trap, snatching young lives.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 2, 2017

THURSDAY MARCH 2, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 2, 2017

THURSDAY MARCH 2, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 2, 2017

THURSDAY MARCH 2, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

National Beach Soccer team... Western Tigers’ From back page

GUYANA Football Federation (GFF) president Wayne Forde and executive committee member Dion Inniss congratulated the Guyana men’s national beach soccer team for their historic performances at the

2017 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship, as they greeted the players at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Tuesday evening.

The team made history by winning Guyana’s first matches at a CONCACAF beach soccer tournament, including victories against Belize and Antigua & Barbuda in the Bahamas.

“You have done Guyana exceptionally proud,” GFF president Forde told the players and technical staff at the airport. “You exceeded every expectation that we could have had as a federation and as a country. The attention that beach soccer has received over the last couple of weeks should materialise with more players showing

an interest in the game; so thank you on behalf of the Executive Committee and the Guyana football fraternity.”

In an invited comment, head coach Abdullah Hamid said he welcomed the experience gained for the young team. “We played among a lot of big-playing teams in CONCACAF and it was a great experience for every one of the players.

“We could only go forward by promoting sports more in this country, start spreading sports around the country so we can have more youths involved, creating easy access so Guyana can make it to the World Cup at this level.”

The GFF believes Guy-

ana has great potential in small-sided brands of football such as beach soccer, and expects the eye-catching performances of the national team to generate a new level of interest in the sport.

A series of spectacular performances by 21-yearold Jamal Haynes, including one of the goals of the tournament, earned the Linden-based forward the Scotiabank Young Player Award.

“The feeling when I scored that goal; it was awesome,” Haynes said. “I was feeling like I was up on a higher level, knowing that it was my first time and I did such a thing at one of the biggest tournaments of my life.”

Ming among frontrunners...

From back page GUYANESE motor racer Calvin Ming was among some drivers as the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship, powered by Mazda, wrapped up two days of testing at the Homestead-Miami Speedway South Florida Racecourse, yesterday.

At the end of yesterday’s session, Ming’s best time was 1:25.006 seconds, just 0.44 seconds off the session’s fastest time around the 2.21mile facility, 1:24.562 by Oliver Askew in the Cape Motorsports car.

Rinus Veekay (Newman Wachs Racing) was second with a time of 1:24.61, followed by the team Pelfry duo of Robert Megennis (1:24.67) and Kaylen Frederick (1:24.71) and then Calvin.

On day two, Veekay posted the fastest time, 1:24.99 with Askew 0.1 second off the pace, Victor Franzoni (ArmsUp Motorsports), Andre Castro (Newman Wachs Racing), Kory Enders (Force Racing) and then Ming. The gap to Veekay and Ming was

.4 seconds.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport, the driver said, “It was a good two-day test. I got some more practice with the car and I’m happy with the progress we’ve made so far.

Rounds one and two take place from March 10-12 in St Petersburg Florida at the Streets of St Petersburg Circuit, a 1.8-mile course encompassing 14 corners of varying degrees Twenty-one cars are expected to take the grid.

(Stephan Sookram)

Kohli, Ashwin win top BCCI awards VIRAT Kohli will become the first player to receive the Polly Umrigar Award - given to the International Cricketer-of-the-Year - for the third time, at the BCCI Annual Awards in Bangalore on March 8.

Kohli first received the award in 2011-12 and in 2014-15.

R Ashwin, the No.1 ranked bowler and all-rounder by the ICC in Tests, will become the first player to receive the Dilip Sardesai Award twice. Ashwin first won the award, instituted to honour the best performance in the bilateral series

between India and West Indies, after he was named the Man-of-the-Series in the three-Test series in 2011.

Last year, Ashwin was again named the Man-of-theSeries in the four-Test series in West Indies after he struck two centuries and finished with 17 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls.

The Mumbai Cricket Association was chosen as the State Association of the 2015-16 season for winning the Ranji Trophy, the CK Nayudu Trophy and the Women’s Plate League Group. They were runners-up in the Cooch Behar

Trophy, the Vijay Merchant Trophy and the Women’s One-Day Elite Group.

The BCCI Annual Awards Committee, consisting of N Ram, Ramachandra Guha and Diana Edulji, had nominated former left-arm spinners Rajinder Goel and Padmakar Shivalkar for the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award and also instituted the Lifetime Achievement Award for Women starting this season, which will be given to India’s first Test captain Shanta Rangaswamy.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

morale...

From back page

THE Western Tigers are in top shape ahead of their clash with the Guyana Police Force this Saturday in the final of the Limacol roundrobin knockout football tournament.

The team, who completed a 3-2 win over Santos last Sunday at the GFC ground, will face the boys in blue after they beat Winners Connection 2-1.

Head coach Calvin Allen, however, believes that his side will be the triumphant side ,come Saturday.

“Preparation has being going on smoothly, the guys are coming out in their numbers. Everyone is committed to working hard so definitely preparation been coming along nicely and we have got a few niggles here and there that we are trying to be careful with.

“Outside of that, everyone is okay and in good health and (with) the chemistry in the camp we are in a good position and good place right now and we are waiting on game day, “ coach Allen said.

Meanwhile, the Western side are wary of their

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opponents with coach Allen saying, “We’ve had a chance to sit down and look at them the other night and all through the tournament.

I can see they still playing the aggressive and physical nature of football but we got a plan which we can’t disclose.

“But I can tell you that we have a plan for the way we are going to combat it and hopefully we implement the plan correctly and stick to the basics,” he contended.

His lineup will feature stars like Devon Millington and Hubert Pedro, both of whom played an integral part in his side’s triumph over Santos - Millington finding the back of the net thrice and Pedro with one assist.

The winners of the tournament which started with 16 teams will cart off $500 000 and trophy with the second-place team will take $250 000 and trophies.

Third and fourth, a battle between Santos FC and Winners Connection earlier in the evening will receive $125 000 and $75 000 respectively.

Match time is 18:30hrs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

Guptill’s blistering unbeaten 180 levels ODI series

(REUTERS) - Martin Guptill underlined his importance to the New Zealand one-day side with a blistering matchwinning century as he guided his side to a sevenwicket victory over South Africa in their fourth one-day international in Hamilton yesterday.

Guptill, who had suffered two separate hamstring strains and not played for a month, scored 180 not out and combined with Ross Taylor (66) in a 180-run partnership to take New Zealand to 280-3 in 45 overs.

The 30-year-old blasted 11 sixes and 15 boundaries in his swashbuckling 138-ball knock to secure a win which locked the five-match series at 2-2 with the decider at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.

“It was just one of those innings that went to plan,” Guptill said. “It’s about keeping it as simple as possible; watch the ball and react; it does make it a bit easier.

“I had a couple of good nets the last few days but it was nice to go out there and hit it out of the screws.”

South Africa’s 279-8 had been anchored by captain AB de Villiers, who flayed New Zealand bowlers all around Seddon Park in the final few ‘death’ overs to finish on 72 not out.

The total had looked to be a difficult one to achieve on the slow-paced pitch but Guptill seized control of the chase with arguably the best innings of his career.

He brought up his half-century off 38 balls and then had a leg-before decision to Dwaine Pretorius on 62 overturned on review before he reached his 12th ODI century from 82 balls, which included 12 boundaries and four sixes.

“Guppy was unbelievable. Probably the best knock I’ve ever seen,” New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said.

“At the halfway stage we certainly would have

liked to have restricted them to a total a lot less than what they got.

“For Martin to come out and play a hand like that it was a special knock.”

South Africa again paced the start and end of their innings almost to perfection with Hashim Amla (40) and Faf du Plessis (67) giving them a solid foundation. de Villiers then combined with the bowlers to

finish off the innings as they scored 104 runs in the final 10 overs, with 72 coming in the final five.

“I was pretty confident with the 280 target we set,” de Villiers said.

“I thought we had a good chance but we ... needed to get Martin out. He is one of those players who can take the game away from you.”

Martin Guptill celebrates his century against Africa in Hamilton, yesterday.

South

SCOREBOARD SOUTH AFRICA innings H. Amla b Patel 40 Q. de Kock c Ronchi b Patel 0 F. du Plessis c Santner b Neesham 67 J. Duminy b Southee 25 A. de Villiers not out 72 D. Miller c Brownlie b Santner 1 D. Pretorius run-out (Taylor, Patel) 10 C. Morris b Boult 28 W. Parnell run-out 29 Extras: (w-7) 7 Total: (for 8 wickets, 50 overs) 279 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-66, 3-128, 4-140, 5-143, 6-158, 7-216, 8-279.

Bowling: J. Patel 10-0-57-2 (w-2), M. Santner 10-0-401, T. Boult 10-0-70-1 (w-2),

T. Southee 10-0-70-1 (w-2), C. de Grandhomme 2-0-100, K. Williamson 3-0-17-0, J. Neesham 5-0-15-1 (w-1).

NEW ZEALAND innings M. Guptill not out 180 D. Brownlie c de Kock b Rabada 4 K. Williamson lbw b Tahir 21 R. Taylor c Amla b Tahir 66 L. Ronchi not out 1 Extras: (lb-4, w-4) 8 Total: (for 3 wickets, 45 overs)280 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-77, 3-257.

Bowling: K. Rabada 8-041-1 (w-3), W. Parnell 7-1-44-0, C. Morris 9-054-0 (w-1), J. Duminy 3-0-26-0, D. Pretorius 8-055-0, I. Tahir 10-2-56-2.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

Home loss to Proteas galvanises Australia, says Warner

BENGALURU, India (Reuters) - Australia’s defeat in the home series against South Africa helped them galvanise, opening batsman David Warner said yesterday ahead of the second Test against India.

Australian cricket plunged into a crisis after a 3-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka was followed by successive home defeats to South Africa.

After a national outcry forced wholesale changes, Steve Smith’s men recovered by winning the final Test against South Africa in Adelaide before beating Pakistan 3-0.

In Pune, they took just two-and-a-half days to secure a first Test triumph in India since 2004, handing out a 333-run thumping to a side that had gone 20 Tests without tasting defeat on home soil.

“It was obviously quite painful, that loss at home.

South Africa outplayed us, but we’ve moved on from that and Smudge (Smith) got us all together and we galvanised well,” Warner told reporters ahead of Saturday’s second Test.

“I think it takes a loss like that at home sometimes to really get guys going. It’s not that we needed that, it’s just the fact it’s a bit of a reality check that you can have one bad session, and it can be taken away from you even on home soil.”

Warner made 38 and 10 in Pune but opening partner Matt Renshaw made an eventful India debut as Australia went 1-0 up in the four-match series.

The 20-year-old battled a stomach bug and raced off the ground while batting to take a toilet break. He

Australia opening batsman David Warner

returned to hit 68 and then another 31 in the second on a difficult pitch for batting.

“He played fantastic,” Warner said. “It could have been a different story if he stayed out there or he didn’t come off but the way he played and the way

he adapted from coming off, being sick and going back out there was credit to him.

“We’ve never seen him play in these conditions as well, so we know how he can play and that’s the good thing about this game.”

Karachi Kings advance despite Gayle, Pollard failures

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates (CMC) – Neither Chris Gayle nor Kieron Pollard fired, but Karachi Kings still managed to stay alive in the Pakistan Super League with a convincing 44-run victory over Dwayne Smith’s Islamabad United in the first

qualifier here yesterday.

Playing at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Kings were restricted to 126 all out off 19.4 overs, with Gayle getting 17 and Pollard scoring just five.

Opener Babar Azam and veteran Shoaib Malik both scored 25.

Left-seamer Rumman Raees claimed four for 25

while pacers Mohammed Sami (2-19) Shane Watson (2-29) were the other wicket-takers.

In reply, Islamabad slid to 82 all out off 15.2 overs, with Smith perishing for eight, leaving opening partner Asif Ali to carry the burden with a top score of 39 off 36 deliveries.

Ali was just one of two players in double figures. However, Islamabad crashed from 47 for two in the ninth over, losing their last eight wickets for 35 runs.

Pacer Mohammad Amir (3-7), left-arm spinner Imad Wasim (3-14) and leg-spinner Usama Mir (3-24) all fin-

Charles to lead Essequibo in Under-15 Inter-county tournament NATIONAL Under-15 batsman Sheldon Charles will lead Essequibo in this year’s Inter-County tournament scheduled to be held in Georgetown from March 14.

The squad was selected after the Essequibo Cricket Board held two trial matches at the Imam Bacchus Sports Complex ground in Affiance.

In the first match, Charles’ XI defeated Ronaldo Scouten’s XI by 64 runs.

Batting first, Charles’ XI amassed 180-8 in 50 overs as Charles enhanced his growing reputation with a commanding and unbeaten 102 (14x4, 3x6). Off-Spinner Devindra Ramdahin captured 3-21 from 5 overs while Imzamam Bacchus had 2-5 from 3 overs bowling for Scouten’s XI. In reply, Scouten’s XI was all out for 116 in 45 overs with Scouten top-scoring with 22. Impressive figures of 4-12 from nine overs from Manoj Dasrat ensured his team’s ascendancy.

Meanwhile, another mas-

terful innings of 149 decorated with 23 fours by Charles proved the main highlight in the second trial match.

His fluent composed innings was followed by Wazim Mohamed’s 34 and Mark Mohabir’s 32 in the total of 286 in 50 overs.

In reply, Scouten’s XI was demolished for 86 after a hostile spell of fast bowling from Raphael David who claimed 4-14 from 5 overs.

He also received clinical support from Manoj Dasrat with 3-18 from 7 overs.

The Essequibo Under-15 squad reads:- Sheldon Charles (captain), Devindra Ramdahin, Oren Gibson, Ronaldo Scouten, Raphael David, Manoj Dasrat, Chaitram Seurattan, Wazim Mohamed, Ardesh Ramdial, Mark Mohabir, Sunil Persaud, Inzamam Bacchus, Shawn Munroe and Tyron Brandon. The manager is Vickram Ramnarine with Forbes Daniels serving as coach. (Elroy Stephney)

ished with three wickets each.

Sent in earlier, Kings received an explosive start from Gayle who put on 42 for the first wicket with Babar.

The left-handed West Indies batsman stroked two fours and a six in his 15-ball stay at the crease before missing a heave at

Raees and dragging on in the sixth over.

Pollard also fell to Raees, drilling a full delivery down to long off in the penultimate over.

Kings will now clash with Darren Sammy’s Peshawar Zalmi in today’s second qualifier, for a place in Sunday’s final.

Former WI World Cup stalwarts reunite TORONTO, Canada -It was a reunion of some sorts when Canadabased Guyanese Damodar Daesrath and Sewnarine Chattergoon met at the Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club (HACC) annual presentation, dinner and dance held here recently. Chattergoon, who still resides in Guyana, was enjoying a well-earned vacation with his family.

The two stalwarts from neighbouring villages in Corentyne, Berbice were part of the West Indies Under-15 World Cup side in England some 21 years ago.

That 1996 team, who reached the semi-finals of the Costcutter tournament, was skippered by Trinidadian Zaheer Ally and also included Jamaican Marlon Samuels, Barbadian Ryan Hinds and Trinidadian Sherwin

Ganga.

Chattergoon, who hails from Fyrish and Daesrath from Cumberland also went on to represent Guyana at the Under-19 and senior levels while the former went a step further, donning West Indies colours in four Test matches and 18 One-day Internationals.

Daesrath also led Guyana at the senior level before migrating to Canada and in 2012

Sewnarine Chattergoon (left) and Damodar Daesrath

he made his Canadian debut versus Scotland in Glasgow.

He was also a prominent member of the Brampton Masters Cricket Club in the Toronto & District League and up until last season represented Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club (HACC) in the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) Elite League tournament. (Frederick Halley)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

New sports body aims to give Linden youths the `right start’

By Joe Chapman TWO former leading football officials in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice) have initiated a sports programme, aimed at fostering the development of youths in the area of sports in the mining town of Linden.

Former president of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) Collis Gifth and past secretary of the UDFA, Jermaine Figueira (MP) are the main movers, as executive directors, behind the Right Start Foundation, a non-profit organisation which intends to push for the empowering of young men and women in sports, armed with the fundamentals which will enable them to have better values and understanding of the importance of education in pursuing sports.

MP Figueira, who is responsible for Marketing and Accounting, stated: “The programme is strategically designed to eloquent-

Collis Gifth, former president of the UDFA

ly amalgamate sports and academic values in an effort to give our young aspirants a sense of understanding that enables them to encapsulate the importance of having a sound academic background in order to become a successful sportsman or woman.”

The Member of Parliament and secondary school teacher noted that “it is no

secret that most, if not all our young athletes dream of one day becoming like one of the great sports superstars they admire.

“However, although they may have the physical aptitude and passion to become as great as their icons, many of them fail to even consider that apart from being physically fortified, there is a much greater part to becoming a successful athlete, which is to be academically sound.”

According to Figueira ”many of them see the success but don’t see the sacrifice”.

Gifth, who has responsibility for Administration and Finance explained that “in the much developed nations, once a certain level of talent is discovered within a child, he or she is admitted into an academy where their talents are nurtured in an embryonic environment, and into college where he or she is given an opportunity to pursue an academic career apart from playing sports, which can certainly guarantee them the solid

foundation they truly need to achieve the level of success they envisage, and more importantly have a sound career out of sports.”

Relating the importance of academics for youths involved in sport: “By the time that player reaches a professional level, he or she will at least possess a Bachelor’s Degree in an academic field which makes him/her well-rounded athletes with a sound academic background to corroborate their physical capabilities. This therefore will nullify any chances of career setbacks or failures even if he/she does not make it to stardom status,” Figueira argued.

Looking at the advantage of academics Figueira opined “In simpler terms, educated players are easier to be coached and respond better to what they are taught.”

The first venture by this new group will be an innovation, Formula/Twenty (F/20) Community Cup Skills Football tournament during the Linden Town

GAWA names team for Cuban Championships THE Guyana Amateur Weightlifting Association (GAWA) has shortlisted a five-member team to represent Guyana at the Manual Suarez weightlifting tournament in Havana Cuba, scheduled for March 20-26.

The team includes GAWA secretary and team manager Seon Erskine, as well as coach Seon Cozier along

with athletes Matthew Assing, Jonathan Forde and Krystal Chandraban.

According to the body, however, their participation at the competition hinges on the funding garnered by the body, and athletes will go in the order above should part funding be obtained.

The team was selected following trials last Sunday.

Week in April where many youths will be involved in football competitions with a difference that should engage their interests somewhat.

With this in mind, Gifth

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(1)246 (ENG) (2)177 (WI) Today’s Quiz: (1)How many captains have been used by England in ODIs to date?

(2) How many have been used by the West Indies?

Athletes from last Sunday’s trials

remarked that through this initiative by his foundation they are bringing to Linden the quest for young athletes having an academic career that will be enhanced once they are given the ‘Right Start’.

Romain suffers loss in handicap, wins ‘B’ Class

NATIONAL Under-15 champion Nicholas Romain went under against Nigel Bryan in the handicap final, but remained unfazed and bounced back to dominate the ‘B’ Class division of the Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham GTTA Memorial Mash Table Tennis Classic which took place last weekend at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.

COMPLIMENTS OF: THE TROPHY STALL Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE 176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Jermaine Figueira

It was a suspenseful battle between Romain and Bryan that saw the latter clinch the 3-1 win. But it was not an easy time for Bryan, who picked up the first set 11-8, but bowed out as Romain pulled off the 12-10 second set win.

However, Romain’s short-lived success, only made Bryan more determined and he came back

firing to take the third set 11-5 and finish the job with the decisive 11-6 fourth set. Romain had made it into the final after his 3-1 victory over Caribbean Pre Cadet 11 Years-and-Under champion Kaysan Ninvalle.

The day was not done for Romain after his loss to Bryan, as he still had a place in the ‘B’ Class final against Kevon Corbin. He went on to fashion a straight-sets win, dominating 11-8, 11-6, 11-7.

Over in in the ‘C’ class final, young Danesh Persaud overwhelmed Karl Nedd for another match won 3-1. Nedd got the ball rolling by outdoing Persaud in the first set 4-11, but was unable to convert his early lead to a win as a relentless Persaud sealed the next sets 11-9, 13-11, 14-12.

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

Record number of stars for 2017 Hero CPL Draft 2016 T20 WORLD Cup hero Marlon Samuels heads a record number of local and international stars who have been officially registered for the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Player Draft which takes place on Friday, March 10, in Barbados.

In all, 258 players from across the Caribbean and most of the leading cricketing nations are in the frame to secure a coveted place in the tournament, which is this year scheduled to take place between August 1 and September 9.

“T20 is capturing the world of cricket by storm, and with the huge numbers of talented players from across the cricketing world eager to sign up to

the biggest party in sport, I’ve no doubt that the 2017 season will be our best yet,” said Director of International Cricket for CPL, Tom Moody.

“In attracting the cream of international talent from a healthy blend of established and fast-developing nations, it extends the growing international appeal of the sport and of the Hero CPL itself, and I have no doubt that we are going to see a hugely contested Player Draft in Barbados on March 10.”

There’s a strong list of talented West Indies players who were both drafted and undrafted in 2016, including former Antigua Hawksbills and St Kitts & Nevis Patriots star all-rounder Marlon

FLASHBACK: Jamaica Tallawahs champions of 2016 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in the final played l at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts. (CPL/Sportsfile)

Samuels, who was the man-of-the-match for the West Indies in their ICC World T20 final victory over England last year.

There will be 28 players from Australia in the draft,

an increase of six from the 2016 campaign, including a blend of experience in Brad Haddin, Ben Hilfenhaus and Brad Hogg allied to a crop of up-and-coming talent which includes leg-spinner

Adam Zampa who was a star for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the 2016 season.

A further 17 New Zealanders, including the likes of Corey Anderson, Grant Elliott and Jimmy Neesham, are also in the mix.

England have four players and included is T20 specialist fast bowler Tymal Mills, who made his T20 international debut for England against Sri Lanka last summer and is an eye-catching addition amongst the contenders, who will be aiming to secure a place in the Hero CPL for the first time. Ireland will have three representatives in the Draft.

Pakistan will have the highest representation in

the Draft after increasing last year’s tally from 38 players to 46. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s rise in the shortest format of the game sees Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi named in a fivestrong contingent who will also be hoping to make their tournament bows.

With the high-profile transfers of Chris Gayle (Jamaica Tallawahs to St Kitts & Nevis Patriots) and Dwayne Smith (Guyana Amazon Warriors to Barbados Tridents) already confirmed, the list does not include those players who have been retained by their franchises. They, like the marquee players, will be announced at the Player Draft on March 10.

Third Faye Joseph International dominoes competition set for April THE third edition of the Faye Joseph International Dominoes competition will officially take place April 14-17, at the National Gymnasium as was announced yesterday during a launching ceremony.

Joseph, in whose honour the tournament is being played, is also the president of the GDA. She will host the ceremony at her 1222 Gaulding Place home, speaking to her love for the sport.

The GDA president also extended an invitation to the public and private sectors and other interested groups to come out and participate in the tournament, adding that there are incentives up for grabs.

President of the GDA Faye Joseph (3rd left) and Digicel’s Events & Sponsorship executive Louanna Abrams (2nd left), pose with dominoes officials yesterday.

The best of the locals will be up against teams from Barbados, USA, Puerto Rico, Antigua and the Dominican

Republic, while other countries have also been invited, but their confirmation has not been received as yet.

Among those in attendance were representative of Digicel, Events & Sponsorship executive Louanna Abrams, who

contended that the company is pleased to be on board for another year.

“We at Digicel try to make every effort to diversify our resources to support every discipline in sport,” she said, wishing the organisers well in the hosting of the international tournament.

GDA vice-president Rodwell Phillips remarked that the sport has developed from a pastime to one where there is competitive action, underscoring that the tournament only enhances this dream further.

Secretary Barbara Marshall in her remarks gave a brief outline of the tournament which will see the winning team receive $1M. The 2nd-,

3rd- and 4th-placed teams will collect $500 000, $300 000 and $200 000 respectively along with trophies.

Entrance fee is US$220 or G$44 000.

Meanwhile, over $2M in prize money will be up for grabs while there will be a number of incentives for outstanding individual performances throughout the four-day event.

The ‘pullorama’ will be conducted on opening day at the same venue. The defending champions are Phantom.

Also in attendance at the press conference were official members, Orin Boston, Kevin Boston and Jane Chase.

CONCACAF opens new office in Jamaica KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – CONCACAF has opened an office in the country’s capital Kingston in a move the confederation says will help enhance governance for all their members.

The continental governing body for football in North, Central America and the Caribbean, CONCACAF said it had identified Jamaica as a “strategic location” which would help to “streamline the operations of regional competitions, while facilitating engage-

ment with key stakeholders; including federations, partners, government and fans.”

“Opening the new office in the Caribbean represents a major step towards our ONE CONCACAF Vision. It reaffirms our focus on serving all 41 member-associations, while investing in football,” said president Victor Montagliani.

“This new location strengthens our Confederation’s ability to operate efficiently and in a fully integrated way, in order to

continue driving long-term growth across the region.”

The office, which will be headed by CONCACAF Caribbean football director, Jamaican Horace Reid, will be the second to be opened outside of the confederation’s headquarters in Miami, Florida, with one already established in Guatemala.

CONCACAF said it planned to “triple its investment” in Caribbean competitions throughout the coming year and the Kingston office would help

CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani

administratively in this regard.

“Additionally, in order to boost development efforts in this zone, nearly 80 percent of the ONE CONCACAF financial assistance programme is allocated to member associations from the Caribbean,” the confederation noted.

“Through this new office, the Confederation aims at ensuring that the investment is effective, efficient and focused.”

The office will be up and running from March.

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 2, 2017

Record number of stars for 2017 Hero CPL P.27 Draft

National Beach Soccer team given warm welcome home by GFF ‌ congratulated for their historic performances

A happy National Beach Soccer team is greeted

by GFF executives at the Airport on Tuesday night. President Wayne Forde shares the Young player award

See Page 23

Western Tigers’ morale Ming among frontrunners high ahead of Limacol final in USF2000 official test

See Page 23 Can Western Tigers go all the way to be crowned champions of the 2017 edition of the Petra/Limacol round-robin/knockout football tournament?

See Page 23 Calvin Ming in the Pabst Racing USF 2000 car during the two days of testing at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, South Florida for the 2017 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda

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THURSDAY, MARCH, 2 , 2017