Guyana chronicle e paper 02 11 2017

Granger to push economic development Page 11

–– during tenure as CARICOM Chair

No. 104820 SATURDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2017

Price: $80

SCS clamped (VAT Inclusive)

–– punitive measures governing paid parking suspended

… company roasts Cush over ‘disgraceful’ statement

Page 3

Fire destroys three buildings including a liquor store Thursday night at Sandy Babb and Railway Streets, Kitty, Georgetown, leaving over a dozen homeless. (Stephan Sookram photo)

One dozen homeless – after arsonist set Kitty house ablaze

No blood diamonds Page 17

Kaneville man charged for killing baby Page 9

Page 12

Guyana opens mission in T&T Page 2

2

Guyana opens mission in T&T

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

… appoints Cammie Ramsaroop as High Commissioner

THE Government of Guyana recently opened its first ever diplomatic mission in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, under the leadership of His Excellency, Mr Bishwaishwar “Cammie” Ramsaroop-Maraj, Guyana’s High Commissioner to the twin- island republic.

Delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony last Wednesday, February 8, Carl Greenidge, Second Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that the establishment of the High Commission marked a “critical step forward for Guyana’s bilateral relations with its sister CARICOM State.”

Furthermore, he emphasised that, “As a developing small State, our focus is on economic diplomacy, particularly as it relates to expanded trade and investment.

Guyana’s energy industry, fuelled by the Exxon Mobil oil finds, will no doubt open greater business opportunities for both countries and increased prosperity for our citizens.”

Noting that the two States shared a rich history spanning several decades and that formal diplomatic relations were established on May 26, 1966, VP Greenidge said, “Our objectives as a diplomatic mission are the strengthening and deepening of our bilateral relationship with Trinidad and Tobago, as well as furthering our bilateral ties with the other island states of the Caribbean Community.

“Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago have worked closely

Guyana’s High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago and the Eastern Caribbean, Cammie Ramsaroop

and diligently together with other partners to tackle pressing issues. Negotiations for an International Criminal Court, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, which is aimed at regulating international trade in conventional arms are just a few examples of our successful collaboration which has resulted in the adoption of international legal instruments,” he underscored.

The mandate of the newly opened High Commission is in line with the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and will strengthen ties, boost trade and investment between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, and protect the interests of Guyanese on the island.

The High Commission replaces Guyana’s Honorary Consulate in the twin-island State.

Among those present at the opening ceremony were Allan Chastanet, Prime Minister of St. Lucia; Dennis Moses, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, and other Government officials; members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Trinidad and Tobago; key figures from the business and energy sectors in Trinidad and Tobago, including the President and CEO of Massy Company, Gervase Warner; Chairman of the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr Vincent Pereira; President of the National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr Vernon Paltoo, and members of the Guyanese diaspora.

Umbrella child rights organisation launched

By Shauna Jemmott THE Child Rights Alliance (CRA) was been launched on Wednesday as an agency which brings together several child rights organisations to achieve the common goal of protecting Guyana’s children against all forms of violence and abuse.

The organisation seeks to create an enabling environment for the holistic development of children and to empower them through awareness of their rights, Childlink Inc. Programme Manager, Kean Chase said.

The CRA was launched at a simple ceremony at the National Library Wednesday and was hosted by Queens College students Joshanna Hopkinson and Suprya Bishnauth, who themselves have been peer educators on the CRA project, which started its work since 2014.

The groups which formed CRA include the Rights of The Child Commission, ChildLink Inc. and the Child Care and Protection Agency.

It is strongly supported by the European Union, the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO), the Child Advocacy Centre and Guyana Association of Women Lawyers.

Rights of the Child Commission Chairman, Aleema Nasir said the CRA is the culmination of much deliberation among the divergent groups, and a recognition that more coordination is needed to successfully push for children’s rights.

It represents “a tangible conviction that the time is now for all stakeholders to combine and coordinate their efforts in a consultative way aimed at ensuring that the protective rights of our nation’s children are

safeguarded”.

She anticipates an expansion of the group to include partners from all regions and sub-regions.

The United Nations

cles result in the holistic development of the child, and added that protection rights should be non-negotiable.

ChildLink Patron, Ameena Gafoor said all

Chairman of the Rights of the Child Commission, Aleema Nasir, speaking at the launching of the Child Rights Alliance Declaration of the Rights of the Child signed in 1959 consists of declarations which contribute to the holistic growth of children, classified under categories of survival, development, protection and participation of children.

Nasir said campaigns advancing harmonisation of all four categories of arti-

should work towards fostering a more wholesome environment since the lives of children are precious, fragile and are at stake.

WHOLESOME ENVIRONMENT “We are all working towards fostering a more wholesome environment.

We want to help children to reach their full potential that is their God-given right,” she said.

Urging parents to take all efforts necessary “to give children the attention they deserve, to help them find themselves, to take their rightful place in this society,” Gafoor said parents and others responsible for children must “do our jobs aggressively without threatening anyone”.

Protection of children must span 24-hours every day and love, guidance and honesty must be given in order for them to grow into functional and healthy adults.

ChildCare and Protection Agency Deputy Director, Leota Langford said she is hoping to see all regions, communities, religious organisations, security forces and other groups come together and spread awareness to families about the rights of the child.

In the United Nations Declaration on the Convention of the Rights of the Child, the child “is recognised, universally, as a human being who must be able to develop physically, mentally, socially, morally,

and spiritually, with freedom and dignity”.

The declaration identifies the need of children for special care and protection, including appropriate legal protection before and after birth.

The 10 principles include the right to equality, without distinction on account of race, religion or national origin; the right to special protection for the child’s physical, mental and social development; the right to a name and a nationality; the right to adequate nutrition, housing and medical services; the right to special education and treatment when a child is physically or mentally handicapped; the right to understanding and love by parents and society; the right to recreational activities and free education; the right to be among the first to receive relief in all circumstances; the right to protection against all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation; and the right to be brought up in a spirit of understanding, tolerance, friendship among peoples, and universal brotherhood.

CLAMPED

3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

–– punitive measures governing paid parking suspended

By Ravin Singh

PUNITIVE measures instituted to govern paid parking in the city have been suspended until the end of an ongoing round of consultations being spearheaded by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

This was first announced

by Minister of State Joseph Harmon and subsequently confirmed by city Mayor Patricia Chase-Green on Friday.

Harmon, at a post-Cabinet press briefing, said one of the steps the City Council will take at this time, in response to the widespread rejection of paid parking in the city, is to suspend punitive aspects of the parking meter project, which involves booting.

Vehicles are booted if the driver fails to pay for parking while utilising a parking spot, or if a vehicle remains on a parking spot after the time paid for has expired.

“I believe they have indicated that it will be suspended and that they will engage stakeholders to see how best the project can be adjusted,” Harmon told reporters.

This was subsequently

confirmed by Mayor ChaseGreen, who said that the suspension of this penalty will be upheld until the end of an ongoing round of consultations.

President David Granger “Booting will be suspended until we do some more consultation with the general public. We are not applying sanctions for non-compliance, which essentially is booting.

This started since yesterday [Thursday],” the mayor said.

To arrive at a workable solution to deal with the current rejection of the project,

she noted that consultations are being held, pointing to several meetings between the Council and other stakeholders, including the Bank of Guyana and some religious organisations.

Another meeting between the Council and all commercial banks is expected today.

The mayor noted too that the anti-parking meter group, ‘Movement Against Parking Meters’ (MAPM), has also been invited to a meeting on Monday and will be able to examine the contract for the parking meter project and the by-laws.

The contract to manage and operate the metered parking system in the city was awarded to Smart City Solutions (SCS) by the M&CC. COMMON GROUND “They [MAPM] can hear all of our proposals that we have put forward to the agencies we’ve met with, so that we can move forward.

I hope that at the end of the day, we can all bind hands together and move this project and this city forward,” Mayor Chase-Green stated.

MAPM has been able to

mobilise thousands of Guyanese to protest what they described as an “imposition” on the Guyanese people.

The group is calling for the contract to be revoked, since

Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green it did not go to tender which translates to a breach in procurement laws.

MAPM’s latest public demonstration was on Thursday, when more than 1000 persons, armed with their placards, gathered on Regent Street to express their objections to the project.

While the movement has

been calling for a revocation of the contract, some activists have been calling for a reduction in the rates being charged. The current rate is $58 (VAT inclusive) for 15 minutes of parking.

Agreeing that this cost is too “burdensome” was President David Granger, who also expressed this view on Friday during his weekly television show, ‘The Public Interest.’

“We do believe that [the cost] is burdensome… we believe the rates are high [and] we believe certain categories of workers should have been exempt,” the President said.

NOT SATISFIED Not limited to just rates, he added that the Government is not satisfied with the general provisions of the project.

As a result, he noted that when the Government engaged the municipality earlier this week, it requested the local government body to have another look at the project and to engage civil society and the business community in another round of consultations.

Defending the need for this revenue stream, as was articulated by the M&CC, President Granger said that it is indeed a fact that the city is in need of revenue; revenue which the paid parking system could provide.

M&CC will receive 20 per cent of all revenues generated from paid-parking in the city, while SCS will receive the other 80 per cent.

“The city, unfortunately, is short of revenue. The city boundaries were extended a few years ago and there is not enough money to run the affairs of the city. So the Council needs to get money through taxation. So Government regards parking meters as a legitimate means of raising revenue to run the affairs of the city,” the President reasoned.

He also supported the second point of justification, made by the Council, which is that there is some degree of congestion in the city due as it is the country’s capital. Having the meters, the President said, would help to reduce the congestion and provide for a more organised parking system.

He was keen to note also, that the Government is not against the notion of a parking meter project, but that it felt that there was need for more consultations, more communication and arrival at a more consensual solution.

To this end, he said central Government will not direct the affairs of the duly elected Council, or recommend which direction it should go in relation to the project.

He offered rather, that a solution should be arrived at by the M&CC after they would have fully consulted with all stakeholders and arrived at a consensual solution.

“Government will not impose a solution. That solution will come out of engagement between civil society and the municipality,” the President said.

SCS condemns statement by Ifa Cush HOURS after Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Parking Systems, Ifa Kamau Cush, made derogatory statements about anti-parking meter protestors on social media, the parking meters company, Smart City Solutions (SCS) Managing- Director of Business Development, Amir Oren, and Managing- Director of Operations, Simon Moshelle, condemned Cush’s statements.

On Thursday, Cush in response to a request for a copy of the parking meters contract, said, “You’re not progressives. You are freeloaders. You lack the intestinal fortitude to control your own destiny. You

all possess the mentality of slaves, indentured servants, incapable of generating wealth and building capacity.”

Cush was at the forefront of the controversial parking meters, but was subsequently placed on the back burner late last year, when a Mexican company took control of SCS. However, SCS distanced itself from the statement, saying it condemned the statement “in the strongest possible terms” and described it as an “obscene and despicable statement issued by Mr Ifa Kamau Cush.”

“This statement was issued without knowledge and authority of Smart City Solutions. Mr Cush neither

speaks for nor represents Smart City Solutions,” the statement issued by SCS on Friday afternoon said.

Since the implementation of parking meters at several locations in central Georgetown, citizens and businesses have objected to its implementation, the charge and what they deem to be a shady agreement between the Georgetown City Council and SCS. But notwithstanding the protests, SCS said it recognises fully the democratic right of all persons and organisations to express their views, disagreement as well as protests. “Smart City Solutions is entirely permitted [sic] to freedom of speech and assembly.

Smart City Solutions

Ifa Cush wishes to disassociate itself completely with this disgraceful statement issued by Mr Cush,” the statement added.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 11, 2017

White House weighs new travel ban, top court appeal

U.S. President Donald Trump said late on Friday aboard Air Force One that he is considering issuing a new travel ban Executive Order, while White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said the administration could still escalate a legal dispute over Trump’s original travel ban to the Supreme Court.

In a step that triggered the most serious legal confrontation yet for the new Republican administration, Trump two weeks ago issued an Executive Order banning entry into the United States to refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, triggering nationwide protests and legal challenges.

The fallout from the order exposed divisions within the White House and showed a young Republican adminis-

tration still struggling to find its bearings after less than a month in power.

A federal judge in Seattle last week issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) putting the President’s travel ban on hold, eliciting a barrage of angry Twitter messages from Trump. The 9th Circuit court judge’s suspension was upheld by an appeals court in San Francisco on Thursday, raising questions about Trump’s next step.

In a surprise visit with reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Florida from Washington, Trump said he was considering “a brand new order” that could be issued as soon as Monday or Tuesday if he decides to move in that direction.

Aboard the flight with Trump were his wife Melania,

daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie. The Trumps landed in the evening and went to their Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach.

Earlier, a White House official had said that the administration was not planning to escalate the legal dispute to the Supreme Court, but Priebus later on Friday told reporters that such a move remained a possibility.

“Every single court option is on the table, including an appeal of the Ninth Circuit decision on the TRO to the Supreme Court, including fighting out this case on the merits,” Priebus said.

“And, in addition to that, we’re pursuing Executive Orders right now that we expect

Shanez Tabarsi (right) is greeted by her daughter Negin after traveling to the US from Iran following a federal court’s temporary stay of US President Donald Trump’s Executive Order travel ban at Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, US February 6, 2017. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

to be enacted soon that will further protect Americans

Saturday February 11th, 05:30 hrs Sunday February 12th, 05 :30 hrs Monday February 13th, 05:00 hrs

from terrorism.”

Trump’s order, which he called a national security measure meant to head off attacks

by Islamist militants, barred people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days, except refugees from Syria, who are banned indefinitely.

Trump could rewrite the order to explicitly exclude green card holders, or permanent residents, said a congressional aide familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified. Doing that could alleviate some concerns with the original order expressed by judges in the 9th Circuit court.

A new order, however, could allow Trump’s critics to declare victory by arguing that it would the first time he was forced to change course.

On Air Force One, Trump said regarding the San Francisco court fight: “We will win that battle. The unfortunate part is that it takes time

statutorily... We need speed for reasons of security.”

An official familiar with Trump’s plans said if the order is rewritten, among those involved would likely be White House aide Stephen Miller, who was involved in drafting the original order, as well as officials of the National Security Council, Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security.

Independently of the Trump administration, an unidentified judge on the 9th Circuit requested that the court’s 25 full time judges vote on whether the temporary block of Trump’s travel ban should be reheard before an 11 judge panel, known as en banc review, according to a court order. The 9th Circuit asked both sides to file briefs by Thursday.

Should Trump issue a new order, he is still likely to face legal challenges, as opponents could ask the court to let them amend their complaints, said Alexander Reinert, a professor at Yeshiva University’s Cardozo School of Law in New York.

A new order from Trump could immediately put a travel ban back in place, but those who have filed lawsuits, including the state of Washington, could return to the same judge to ask for another hold.

In a separate case on Friday, Justice Department lawyers argued in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia against a preliminary injunction that would put a longer hold on Trump’s Executive Order than the Seattle court ruling, but focused solely on visa holders.

Judge Leonie Brinkema asked the administration for more evidence of the threat posed by citizens of the seven countries. (Reuters)

DATE: 08/02/2017 10/02/2017

G 04 11 15 18 22 28 21

03

05

08

09

26

10/02/2017

03

09

08

10/02/2017

05

00

01

10/02/2017 03 04

05 09 12 16 18

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

Young mother needs help to save her sight

By Clestine Juan

TWEN TY -S I X -Y EA R OLD Shondell Williamson who is a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital needs corrective treatment overseas to save her sight after being doused with acid by the father of her two sons less than a month ago.

Her jilted child-father, Alfred De Jonge, at the time had screamed, “If I can’t have you, no one else can.”

The burns cover her entire face, and due to lack of technical expertise, she cannot be treated here if she is to make a recovery.

The SHEA Charity had accepted Shondell’s case and is working to help raise US$ 10,000 for Williamson to travel abroad and receive treatment.

It is appealing to members of the public to support the worthy cause.

Speaking to Guyana Chronicle, Williamson’s elder sister, Latoya, said it would mean a lot to her if her sister receives treatment.

“I just want her to be normal again,” the elder sister said, noting that this would be her present when she celebrates her birthday on February 22.

Williamson resides in New Amsterdam and residents there are holding several fun-raising events to help cover the costs for the treatment she requires.

There is a takeaway lunch today at the corner of Main Street and Shoe Lane, New Amsterdam. Next Saturday (February 18) there will be a hotdog sale hosted by workers at the New Amsterdam Hospital in front of the New Amsterdam Market.

Williamson is said to be in a stable but critical condition, after suffering first degree burns to her face, hands and abdomen following the acid attack. She is reportedly still unable to open her left eye.

According to reports on

Shondell Williamson before and after the attack January 18, the woman’s ex-partner, Alfred De Jonge, dressed as a female to disguise himself when he reportedly committed the act.

An eyewitness told Guyana Chronicle that the man had visited Williamson’s residence twice on one night inquiring about her whereabouts. Subsequent to his visits to the house, the person who was clad in female clothing and is believed to be the

suspect was seen sitting on the culvert.

His appearance caused some concern among residents of the area, this publication understands. He entered Williamson’s yard and sat on the back stairs of the house which leads to the upper-flat of the two-storey building.

At approximately 20:00hrs, a male occupant of the upper-flat observed the person attired in the female

clothing sitting on the stairs and inquired the purpose of the visit and got no satisfactory response.

Half an hour later, Williamson was seen returning to her apartment when the person believed to be the father of her children threw the acid on her, then said, “If I can’t get you, then no one can’t”.

An eyewitness told Guyana Chronicle that the woman’s attacker broke the bottle which contained the substance, walked towards Republic Road, New Amsterdam, entered a vehicle and drove away.

On Tuesday, January 25, De Jonge appeared before Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer at the Albion Magistrate’s Court charged with attempted murder of Williamson. He was remanded until February 20. Persons willing to help Williamson can do so at: https://www.gofundme. com/SaveShondell

City Hall apologises for ripping down Giftland road signs … agreement reached on the use of access road GIFTLAND Mall and the Mayor and City Council on Friday reached an agreement over the use of the access road, which has been a scene of much controversy in recent weeks.

In a statement Giftland said that at 3PM Friday there was a meeting between the Town Clerk, Royston King & the Chief Engineer, Colvern Venture, for the M&CC and Peter Abdool, Roy Beepat and Dale Beresford of Optimum Safety for the Giftland Mall.

At the heart of the matter was the safety concern for the Mall clients and the reckless manner in which the residents of the Boyer Development were using the roads. Giftland said Mr. Abdool explained that due to the fact that the road was not gazetted that the Mall was responsible for the insurance, street marking, paving, parapets, street lighting and maintenance of the access roadways, and that presently the City would not be able to assume the

additional responsibility of up-keeping the roads. He said too that Giftland would continue to maintain, monitor and control traffic to ensure that a free flow of traffic is maintained, as was being done before last week’s intervention by the City.

According to Giftland it was resolved that the action by the Town Clerk in removing the signs were hasty and an apology was extended for not being able to contact Mr Beepat to sort this matter out prior to the action being taken of the forceful removal of the Mall property, which the Chief Engineer has promised to return.

Mr. Beepat stated that it is always his intention to work peacefully with the City and regretted that Mr King, whom he has a long and cordial relationship with, and Mr Venture had not been able to resolve this issue prior to the actions last week and hoped that in the future a closer working relationship would develop for any other issue.

Demico cook, lover to stand trial ALEXIS Tappin and her lover, Stephon Barlow, were on Friday committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of Tappin’s reputed husband, Sherwin Johnson.

Tappin of Lot 3, Campbell Street, Georgetown, a former cook attached to Demico Restaurant, and 28-year-old Barlow, who dealt a sound thrashing on Tappin’s reputed husband, were jointly charged for the murder of Johnson.

It is alleged that on July 2, at Georgetown, Tappin and Barlow murdered Johnson.

Tappin and Johnson reportedly lived together with their child and on the Alexis Tappin day in question Johnson returned to their home and found Tappin in bed with Barlow.

It is alleged that Tappin and Barlow then dealt Johnson several lashes about his body after which Tappin armed herself with a crowbar and stabbed Johnson several times.

The duo appeared before City Magistrate Reneta Singh and was committed at the conclusion of the Preliminary Inquiry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The matter was prosecuted by Police Prosecutor Adduni Innis. The duo is to stand trial in the next session of the Demerara High Court Assizes.

gnnleditorial@gmail.com 6

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 11, 2017

Editorial

President's meeting with city Mayor THE meeting between the Georgetown Mayor and City Council and President David Granger and members of his Cabinet, on Wednesday, 8th February could not be timelier. With central Government taking a decision to have an input into the conflict surrounding the parking meter system, which has been escalating since last year, ought to bring about the needed calm in the society and hopefully a resolution to the mutual satisfaction of those involved and affected.

There is nothing that is wrong with Guyana that cannot be made right by Guyanese, and this is not being idealistic, but pragmatic. This land belongs to all of us and every Guyanese should have an interest in its prosperity and the people’s peaceful co-existence,

irrespective of which party is in government--- central, regional and local.

Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen, after leaving the meeting on Wednesday evening, said that within 72-hours, i.e. by Saturday evening, consultation on a way forward would begin. This progressive step -- though some may be skeptical or ask, “why wasn’t this done in the first place”-must be given a chance to bear positive results. In our contentious politics, there is more than enough blame to go around, but finger-pointing does not bring solutions, it exacerbates conflicts.

Guyanese are capable of rising to the occasion of achieving solutions.

Though it is not lost on those following this issue that there exists overt opposition political undercurrent

in the daily protests, it should not be allowed to consume or torpedo genuine concerns about the meter system. Placards such as “kick them out” and “welcome to 1968 and 1973,” should be recognised in the context as persons enjoying the right to freedom of expression, and a positive development in the society.

The politically astute should see such placards as opportunity presented to promote an agenda and not the rationale to not engage with those who seek engagement.

The meter conflict is another lesson for this nation and how it is resolved will be another defining moment for the City Council. The Council should also be mindful that the less than respectful approach it has taken in dealing with the vendors, it has earned the ire of the citizenry, and clearly from the

daily protests, has lost their confidence and respect. At the same time, it cannot be lost sight of that the vendors’ issues which are yet to be settled in an atmosphere of mutual respect, observers, including the vendors, will be watching on as to how the meter conflict will be handled.

Thus far, the Council has treated stakeholders in both groups, may it be said of different classes, the same way. Now that it is moving to engage stakeholders on the parking meters, it should recognise that vendors will be expecting similar treatment. Irrespective of class or other diversity, no group in Guyana must take away the feeling of inequity in treatment. In seeking to build this nation that belongs to all of us equality, justice, and fair play must be the ever-guid-

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

ing convictions.

This state-owned newspaper is rooting for the success of the society as the City Council proceeds to have consultation with stakeholders. Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkhan, who has responsibility for local government,

on Tuesday said his ministry is open to dialogue on the parking meters. The President’s meeting with the City Council and the statement of the mayor on leaving that meeting confirm the seriousness of Minister Bulkan’s statement.

Police Force fact-checks Clinton Conway Dear Editor

THE Guyana Police Force is responding to an article in yesterday’s Stabroek News newspaper under the caption, “The possibility of ‘ghosting’ Police Stats exist.”

The force feels obligated to respond to the article for two reasons. One is that members of the public are more likely to believe information provided by a former senior member of the force than by an average member of the public and secondly, Mr Conway, even though he has access to members of the force, through which he can receive factual information, chose not to do so but instead, chose to be highly speculative in his cut-andpaste articles that are frequently published by editors.

The force wishes to address the inaccuracies in Mr Conway’s letter as follows: 1. Mr Conway indicated that the force is short of over 1000 ranks in accordance with a 1976 authorised strength. The current situation is: a. The authorised strength of the force was reviewed in 2014, when it received an increase of 1,546 members. b. In 2012, Mr Conway’s last year of service, the force was in deficit of 15% of

its established strength. At that time, Mr Conway was responsible for recruitment and training.

The current strength of the force is 4199, which represents a deficit of 757 and not 1000, according to Mr Conway. In addition, the force has already processed 120 applicants to fill vacancies of recruits who will be graduating in March. There are also 467 applicants who are on the waiting list.

The reason the force is not at full strength is that the recruits’ course is a residential course, so the number that can be trained per year is limited to available accommodation.

Mr Conway indicated that the Guyana Police Force has serious communication issues and concerns at the apex of management. The fact is that the force in contemporary times underwent a lot of reforms in its management that makes it completely different from when Mr Conway served. In that, the commissioner currently chairs a Performance Group Meeting that meets fortnightly with all the Senior Officers at Headquarters, Divisional and Branch Commanders. The agenda, which includes routine and non-routine matters as well as any other business any of the Performance Group members

desires to discuss, is set by the Assistant Commissioner ‘Administration,’ in consultation with the Commissioner of Police. Commanders are required to submit written performance reports which are also discussed at the meeting. Mr Conway may therefore need to explain his perceived communication issues.

Mr Conway indicated that the Police Force has training instructors who do not understand and appreciate the basic concept of andragogy and have a phobia for an eclectic approach towards training; The fact is that ranks who would have had experience managing police stations go through a selection process, after which those selected benefited from Train-the Trainer Training before they are appointed instructors of the Recruit Courses.

The Train-the-Trainer courses have facilitators from the Cyril Potter College of Education. This proactive approach certainly differs from when Mr Conway was heading training in the force, when many six-month recruit courses took 14 months to complete.

During the year 2016, one hundred and eighty-six (186) members of the force received training overseas, another four hundred and five

(405) benefited from international training conducted locally; and two thousand two hundred and seventy-two (2272) received training at the Felix Austin Police Colleges.

1. Mr Conway indicated that since Senior Superintendent Stephen Mansell proceeded on extended vacation leave, very little or nothing has been done in relation to Community Intervention in the division he commanded.

The force acknowledges that Senior Superintendent Stephen Mansell indeed had an active Social Crime Prevention Programme and worked well with community leaders in the division. Assistant Commissioner Leslie James who took over from Mansell continued those projects.

1. Mr Conway indicated that since Senior Superintendent Stephen Mansell proceeded on leave, the crime rate in the division has increased. The facts are that when Mr Mansell proceeded on leave on September 1, 2016, serious crime rates were up by 11% relative to 2015; however, at the end of the year, it was down by 6% relative to 2015. Mr Conway’s speculation is very distasteful to the ranks that have worked very hard to achieve that.

2. While the force cannot dispute Mr Conway’s experience while he was serving, to say that “ghosting” was done in a large division when Mr Greene was Commissioner of Police, is actually lying on the dead. Had that occurred, certainly there would have been investigations by the Office of Professional Responsibility and the Police Complaints Authority. Of the in excess of 800 complaints made to the Police Complaints Authority for 2016, those relating to reported crimes not being recorded were non-existent or negligible.

3. Mr Conway indicated that the current Mission Statement of the Guyana Police Force was designed and implemented by the Strategic Management Department. The fact is, the Mission Statement was crafted by consultants from the United Kingdom who were contracted to prepare the Guyana Police Force Strategic Plan 2011-2015, long before the existence of the Strategic Management Department, which was formed in 2013.

Additionally, the Strategic Management Department (SMD) had zero line command and therefore could not have implemented anything in the force. The function of the SMD was to facili-

tate implementation of the reforms in the Strategic Plan and not to implement them.

4. Mr Conway indicated that Wayne Bennett and Karen Hess (2004) posited that one way to access citizen-approval or disapproval is through citizens’ surveys, which can measure trends and provide positive and negative feedback on the public’s impression of law enforcement. The force agrees with Mr Conway that community surveys can help to determine citizens’ approval or disapproval of the force and wishes to suggest to Mr Conway that instead of deliberately attempting to mislead members of the public on activities of and issues within the Guyana Police Force, he can positively expend his energies in conducting some of those surveys.

Mr Conway can also tell members of the public to what extent studies of crimes in developed countries that he quoted in his article, are relevant to Guyana and to what extent the culture of people in those countries are common and different from the culture of Guyanese.

Jairam Ramlakhan Superintendent Public Relations and Press Officer

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 11, 2017

There must be paid parking Rohee says place in commercial Georgetown at PPP’s table for Dear Editor

I AM old enough to remember when there was a decision in the late 1940s or early 1950s to make a number of streets in the city of Georgetown oneway streets. There was a great uproar and opposition by citizens to this move by the powers that be. An order was made to rescind the decision in part. All the two-way streets identified were eventually redesignated one-way streets.

They remain so to this day.

I also recall when the GTT head office was being built in upper Brickdam to replace the aging edifice of Mc Inroy Building. Dr Cheddi Jagan in a critique described the new structure as “Cadillac styled.”

Today the decision to install parking meters has in the main engendered mostly illogical bias against it. It is being opposed with the normal bias and preference, which attend a number of issues to bring discipline and regulation in Guyana.

Citizens were preoccupied with other priorities and failed to assimilate the information disseminated in various forms, media or otherwise, about the advent of the parking meter system.

They took it into their stride without seriously addressing or questioning the areas where the meters were to be installed or the exorbitant fee charged.

Mr Editor, over the last

two decades tens of thousands of cars have been imported into Guyana and these have thousands of owners countrywide. Apart from the hinterland tracks available to all-terrain vehicles, there has been no increase of paved roadways and parking space in the country and cities, including the capital, Georgetown. There is no car-pooling of passenger space in cars coming into the city.

The cessation of the railway service has removed the single largest mass-transit capability which previously existed.

Everyone wants a vehicle, which is easily sourced both for convenience and as a signal of upward mobility.

The minibus passenger load is limited and their ever-increasing numbers occupy large spaces on the limited hard-surface roadway routes.

The surfeit of the vehicles vying for this limited space is fastly, creating gridlock.

It also extends the time of travel for a commute.

The traffic woes which necessitated the widening of the East Bank Demerara corridor from Houston to the staduim and are now being extended to Diamond, will be realised further up the road in the not-too-distant future.

The parking meters issue has arisen because there is a sharp demand for access to a minimum of parking and travel space by a variety of vehicles. There are the owners who are prepared

to park for as long as they desire, either because “they got there first,” or that there is no cost attached as to how long they are parked.

Mr Editor, serious thought must be given as to how and where those vehicle owners who have boycotted the parking meter positions are finding alternative parking and are getting about.

Where are they parking? Are they using public transport?

How urgently do we need a larger mass-transit bus capability system in the city and suburbs with a revised route and scheduling network.

There must be a paying parking meter in the business sections of the city at a nominal rate for vehicles to share the limited parking space available. New businesses will have to make provision for customer parking to preclude the need for them to pay for parking in public spaces, except when absolutely necessary.

Finally, Mr Editor, with the continued rate of added vehicles on the roads, the possibility of road rage erupting because of the paucity of public parking space is sure to raise its ugly head. It is imperative that tenders be invited to provide for larger mass road transit comfortable and passenger-friendly transport medium. The minibus transport is not cast in stone.

Regards Aubrey Alexander

tricksters, hipsters Dear Editor,

I OFFER a brief comment on Mr Clement Rohee’s letter that was published in the Stabroek News edition of Tuesday, 7th Feb 2017, captioned: “There is a place for everyone in the PPP.” The former PPP General-Secretary (GS) in his letter defended the party against criticisms made by Dr Henry Jeffrey in his Stabroek News column, “Future Notes,” which appeared on February 1st, 2017.

Rohee’s response to Dr Jeffrey contained many issues that are worthy of public polemics, which I am sure will be addressed when Dr Jeffrey gives his much- anticipated reply. Notwithstanding the fact that I am not one of the two

key persons who will engage in what I believe, will be a most interesting debate, I am tempted to challenge Mr Rohee on two issues that he raised. The first is his position that Jeffrey, by throwing up marginal results in previous elections, was being “anti–dialectic” on the question of future elections.

The second issue has to do with his contention of a PPP landslide victory in elections.

As much as I want to I have refrained from offering comments on those two matters at this stage.

The issue that prompted this letter is located in the last paragraph of Rohee’s letter, which in part stated, “Indeed, in keeping with the long-held tradition in the party, there must be a place at the table for the tradi-

tionalists, the hipsters as well as the tricksters, whoever they might be…”I am extremely happy that the former GS was bold in acknowledging something, which I had suspected for a long time, i.e. the PPP’s history of consciously recruiting into its ranks, “tricksters.”

This admission in part explains why the PPP, a Marxist-Leninist party, after the passing of its Founder-Leader, the late President Cheddi Jagan, facilitated unprecedented criminality in the government and society, which resulted in the criminalisation of the state.

I conclude by saying “mouth open, story jump out.”

Regards Tacuma Ogunseye

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 11, 2017

Children's Mash

Calypso and Dramatic Poetry competitions conclude with stunning performances

THE second day of the National Children’s Mashramani Competition concluded on Friday with stunning, creative performances from the country’s children.

The calypso and dramatic poetry competitions which were held at the National Cultural Centre saw children from the 10 administrative regions leaving lasting impressions. The dramatic poetry competition was highly competitive with several remarkable performances.

In the 14 – 17 years category there were a total of 9 entries from the 11 educational districts. These included moving performances by Region 10’s Tischika Bobb and Georgetown’s Aaliya Moore, with both pieces car-

rying comparable “victim of circumstances” themes.

Bobb played a victim of teenage pregnancy and her emotional poem spoke of being raped by a family member, after being orphaned at a young age. Her mother murdered by her own spouse, a tragedy she was left to carry all her life.

Giving the final performance of the day, a fervid Moore produced a fitting close for the day’s activities.

Her piece “My Bed of Affliction” talked of a character who was constantly told he/ she was worth “nothing”, and carried these feelings throughout life. The character also looked for love in the wrong places and became the victim of abuse.

Meanwhile, Region Eight’s Elania Ramos from Mahdia Secondary School did well in her piece “Emotional Earth”, while Novar Secondary School’s Joel Griffith garnered more than just a few laughs in his satir-

ical performance of a homeless mad man in “Insane Ranting”.

Region Three’s Selena Sheram, “Product of Society,” definitely deserves mentioning, as her piece was well done.

North Ruimveldt Secondary’s Aaliya Moore brought the curtain down on yesterday’s competition with a riveting performance in her piece “My Bed of Affliction”

It was very emotional to watch MacKenzie High’s Tischika Bobb in her performance of “Why Me”, in which she portrayed a downtrodden pregnant teenager, who was a victim of circumstance

Region 10 won both the calypso and dramatic poetry categories in the 11 – 13 years age group.

New Silver City Secondary School’s Aketia Handy won

the calypso with “Celebration in Unity” and Wismar Hill Primary’s Jadia Fiedtkou won the dramatic poetry with “Abuse”.

(Tamica Garnett)

“Emotional Earth” by Mahdia Secondary School’s Elania Ramos

Region Five’s Joel Griffith of Novar Secondary, performing as a homeless man in “Insane Rant”

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

Agricola fire caused by child playing with matches

INVESTIGATORS are of the opinion that the fire which completely destroyed a two-storey house in Cato Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and left a family of five homeless was caused by a child playing with matches.

The fire, which started at approximately 16:50hrs, reportedly began in the lower-flat of the house and quickly spread to the upper-flat, completely destroying the property.

The occupants of the house, Mickesha Marcus,

23, and her reputed husband Sherwin Alstrom, along with their three children: aged five, three and one were not at home when the fire started.

A distraught Marcus told Guyana Chronicle that she was at a nearby house when she was informed that the house was on fire. The woman said she has been living at the location for quite some time and never experienced any electrical problems there. She said the only appliance that was plugged in when she

left her home earlier in the day was the refrigerator.

Meanwhile, Sherwin Alstrom, 38, who also lived at 151 Cato Street, Agricola told reporters that he is a horse cart operator and was in the village gathering feed for his horse when he was told that his house was on fire.

The distraught man, who also rears poultry for a living, said no one was at home at the time of the fire and could not explain what would have caused the fire.

Fourth person charged with Laing Avenue execution-style murder JERMAINE Jeffer, the fourth suspect to be charged and placed before the court in connection with the shooting to death of Orin David, called “Malik,” at Laing Avenue, was on Friday charged with murder and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Jeffer was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on August 1, 2016, at Laing Avenue, Georgetown, he murdered David. The unrepresented man was remanded until February 15.

Negus Lamaizon, of 51 D’Urban Street and Samuel McIntyre are also jointly charged for the same offence.

Dead: Orin David called ‘Malik’ The preliminary inquiry for the duo is being held before Magistrate Dylon Bess.

Howard Rambarose was nabbed last Christmas Eve by

police in Agricola, East Bank Demerara, after returning from Suriname; he was the third person charged for the offence.

In May, Rambarose was freed of a drug-trafficking charge by Magistrate Judy Latchman and in 2015, he was freed of two multi-million dollar armed robbery charges by Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

David was gunned down in front of his Lot 89 Laing Avenue, Georgetown home around 15:00 hrs, in the presence of his reputed wife and other relatives.

The 33-year-old man was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Kaneville man charged for murder of toddler in suspected arson case A TWENTY-ONE- year-old man was on Friday charged for the murder of an eightmonth old child in January. The man, Nigel Dodson, of Fourth Field, Kanewille, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was not required to plead to the capital offence when he made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

According to the charge, on January 23, 2017, while in the company of others, Dodson in the process of, during or after an arson, murdered eight-month old Romain Seth. Dodson was represented by Attorneys Trenton Lake and Darren Wade.

Lake told the court that his client was arrested on February 2 and was held at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Sparendaam Police Station until the case

was called before the court. He argued that the holding of Dodson at the two locations was a violation of his rights.

Additionally, Lake said his client was forced to sign documents, though he advised him against so doing because he is illiterate.

Meanwhile, Michelle Menezes, grandmother of Seth, said her family had been threatened by persons within the neighbourhood. She was accused of “snitching” on Dodson and his gang to the police, which resulted in frequent raids of the neighbourhood for guns and drugs.

The woman had reported to the police that she found a gun stashed in a tree in her backyard, allegedly by Dodson; her yard was used as a shortcut to another street.

The matter has been adjourned to February 17.

Firefighters at the scene of the destroyed building on Thursday

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

PPC not yet operational –– but commissioners are paid full salaries

By Fareeza Haniff IT is almost four months since members of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) were sworn in by President David Granger, but to date, the Commission is still not functioning.

However, the five members, which include Emily Dodson, Carol Corbin (Chairperson), Sukrishnalall Pasha, Ivor Burnette English and former Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul are being paid their full salaries.

This was confirmed by Cabinet Secretary and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at a post-Cabinet media briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency Friday.

“Yes, the Commissioners have to be paid, I believe they are being paid, I haven’t seen a

When questioned, he could not give a specific timeline as to when the PPC will be fully functional.

“But certainly once the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) says to us that ‘we are ready to function’ then Cabinet will cease doing anything in that regard. But in the meantime, since these are public infrastructure projects that have to be executed, we cannot basically just sit and wait. Our 2017 budget was passed in 2016 and therefore the intention is to ensure that these public infrastructure projects can be off and running very early,” Harmon said.

BID PROTEST COMMITTEE Meanwhile, Cabinet has approved the request by Minister of Finance, Winston

Flashback: President David Granger (centre), with members of the Public Procurement Commission, who were sworn in, in October 2016 payslip from anybody but clearly from the time they were appointed, they are entitled to those salaries.”

Reports in the media had revealed that Corbin’s salary as chairperson is approximately $1.3M plus security, while Dr Gopaul as the vice chair, receives about $1.1 M plus telephone allowances. The other commissioners earn at least $900,000 per month.

The report also noted that the commissioners are entitled to duty-free concessions, entertainment allowances and a telephone allowance of about $10,000 each.

According to the Cabinet Secretary, the PPC is not functioning due to the lack of staff, which means that Cabinet still has the authority to grant its ‘no objection’ to contracts.

“I think it is public knowledge now that they’ve been looking, they’ve been advertising for staff for the Commission, I think a CEO and some other auxiliary staff,” Minister Harmon said.

Jordan, to remunerate the members of the Bid Protest Committee.

This committee was established to facilitate appeals for the review of contracts awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board.

According to Harmon, Cabinet has approved that each request for review of a contract attracts a non-refundable fee of $50,000 plus one per cent of the complainant’s bid price.

Cabinet also approved the payment of fees in the sum $80,000 for the chairperson and $60,000 for the members of this committee; these payments are paid per case reviewed by the committee.

The four-member committee comprises: Attorney Joann Bond, who is the chairperson; Archibald Clifton; Ewart Adams and Colin Sawh.

In June 2016, Cabinet gave its approval for this body to be established to hear complaints from aggrieved bidders and other stakeholders.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

Granger to push economic development

By Ravin Singh

AS Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), President David Granger has said that economic development will feature prominently on his agenda.

The President’s announcement was made on Friday – just one week before the the 28th Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM is expected to be held in Guyana.

On Friday, it was also announced by Cabinet Secretary and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, that Cabinet has approved a budget of $39.5M submitted by the Foreign Affairs Ministry for the hosting of the two-day event, which concludes on February 17.

The President earlier this year assumed responsibility as chairman of the Community in accordance with the rotation schedule approved by the Conference of Heads of Government.

And having designed an agenda to focus on economic development and integration in the Region, the chairman said that he is confident that decisions which will be made at the conference will allow the 15 member states to move along the road to a single market and economy much more quickly.

He also noted that the focus on economic development is very important.

“We [CARICOM] have a large import bill, particularly with food.

The level of manufacturing is very low and we feel that a combination of the expertise and the capital that is available in the island states, particularly tourism combined with the resources of the larger mainland states, could have faster economic growth; and the people of the Community could enjoy a higher standard of living,” the chairman said.

Mr Granger explained that the question has to do with combining the resources of all 15 member states to ensure that CARICOM has the fullest benefits of the single market.

The President was also of the view that the Region does not benefit fully from the single market and economy.

EXTERNAL MANUFACTURERS “At present, I don’t think we have benefited fully from the single market. There is still heavy penetration from major external manufacturers and this penetration is undermining local manufacturing capabilities and the very purpose for which the market was established,” President Granger said.

And with CARICOM founded largely as an economic grouping, the chair of the regional body said that it is time for the spotlight to be placed on economic integration.

Last year, Guyana co-hosted the 37th regular meeting of the Heads of Government of CARICOM after Dominica, which was supposed to have hosted the meeting, was unable to do so.

Dominica was severely battered by tropical storm Erika, which resulted in massive losses in that country.

This prompted Guyana to step in for its regional partner, by hosting the meeting held from July 4-6.

Meanwhile, the regional bloc, through its chairman has expressed how “deeply distressed” it is about violence which broke out in Dominica following a public meeting on Tuesday,February 7.

Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit had told Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the leadership of two opposition parties in that country planned to storm

–– during tenure as CARICOM Chair

his office and “seize the seat of power.”

According to CMC, this would have occurred during Tuesday night’s disturbances that led to demonstrators setting fire to buildings and looting several businesses.

In a radio and televi-

sion address on Wednesday night, Skerrit said the demonstrators who had been calling for his resignation and that of his Government were being pushed by the ‘militant, irresponsible behaviour of the leadership’ of the main Opposition United Work-

ers Party (UWP) and the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), CMC reported.

CARICOM is contending that while it recognises the right of citizens to engage in peaceful protest, the Community condemns the “vandalism” which resulted in the destruction

of private property and businesses.

The Community is urging citizens of that country to act with restraint and maintain the orderly and peaceful society to which Dominicans and the wider Community are accustomed.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 11, 2017

Arsonist leaves over a dozen homeless

-- police hunt suspect in Kitty fire

By Rabindra Rooplall OVER a dozen people are now homeless as three buildings, including a liquor store, went up in flames Thursday night at Sandy Babb and Railway Street, Kitty, Georgetown.

A vehicle parked in front of one of the buildings was also totally destroyed, leaving only the shell behind. The owner was identified as a miner, Paul Chow. The house he lived in was also scorched, but he was not around at the time of the fire.

Hours after the fire, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle told the Guyana Chronicle that investigations revealed that the fire was as an act of arson and police are hunting for the suspect who committed the act.

He explained that the perpetrator and his brother were previously engaged in a dispute and a failed attempt was made to torch the building some time ago.

But on this occasion, he succeeded.

“My men held the line and put their life on the line, they stood there and fought the fire and managed to contain it from spreading further,” he said.

distressed newspaper vendor said she lived in the front section of the structure with many other tenants in the yard.

“When I run out I leave behind everything that I had, the clothes that I have on is what people give me to cover up myself, I lived there for over four years. I have big children but none of them in town, and I will have to find somewhere to sleep tonight,” she said.

Another occupant of the building said that the fire started at the rear of the building.

“Is one of them that does

my pet poodle, the smoke was too much, so she perished,” Sarwan said.

The man said he will be staying with relatives “until things are sorted out.” Another resident said before realising that there was a fire, he heard a loud explosion and thought it was a gunshot.

“I heard boom! And by the time I get up from the hammock, I see a big flame, I ran out barefoot and realise there was a fire, but the breeze was so much that less than half an hour none of the buildings could have been saved,” the

businesswoman who owns the property was speaking to her insurance company.

He said millions of dollars in stocks went up in flames, while noting that the family recently installed a new kitchen that also cost millions.

Before the arrival of the fire tenders, neighbours said they heard loud explosions and initially thought they were gunshots.

Guyana Power Light officials were on the scene Thursday trying to remove a dangerously dangling utility pole that powered the entire block.

Desire Primo who lived in the building where the fire occurred

Desire Primo, 64, who lived in the house where the fire started on Railway Street, Kitty, said that her apartment was one of two on the lower-flat of the wooden building.

“I was in my bed sleeping between 9-10 and a heat wake

me up and I hear somebody from upstairs hollering fire, by the time I jump off the bed and look, I see the fire already deh by the wall coming through,” the pensioner said.

Noting that the building was a wooden structure, the

The aftermath of the fire that destroyed three buildings on the corner of Sandy Babb and Railway Streets, Kitty, Georgetown. (Adrian Narine Photo)

The car that was destroyed in the blaze (Adrian Narine Photo)

smoke and suh that light a mattress in his mother’s apartment, she was not at home,” the occupant said.

Navin Sarwan , of Lot 10, Railway Street , Kitty, said he was napping on his sofa when he realised smoke was filling his apartment at a rapid pace.

RUN “The smoke seeped through the ventilation blocks and when I wake up with the smoke, I just grabbed my two kids and jumped into the car and reversed out. I could not have saved anything, not even

man living in Railway Street said.

He explained that many people were living in the apartment building where the fire occurred.

One resident from Sandy Babb Street said he experienced a power outage and later realised that there was a major fire in the area.

One of the occupants of the liquor shop (Sundeen Beer Garden) which has an upper-flat where the owner and family reside, said the entire ordeal was devastating and the

There were two trucks with many workers reconnecting burnt power lines attached to homes in the area.

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle said two firefighters sustained injuries during the operation.

Numerous fire tenders from stations across Georgetown visited the scene, but due to an absence of fire hydrants in that area, firefighters resorted to using water from the Vlissengen Road Canal.

He said the closeness of the buildings also fuelled the fire.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

CARICOM condemns violence in Dominica

THE Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Friday condemned acts of violence and vandalism which led to the destruction of several properties, including businesses, in Dominica on Tuesday.

Chairman of CARICOM, President David Granger, in a statement said while CARICOM recognises the right of citizens to engage in peaceful protest, acts of vandalism and violence will not be condoned.

“The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is deeply distressed at the violence which broke out in Dominica following a public meeting on Tuesday, 7 February,” the statement said.

CARICOM’s Chairman also urged all citizens to act with “restraint and maintain the orderly and peaceful society to which Dominicans and the wider Community are accustomed.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Roosevelt Sker-

rit has accused the two main opposition parties on the island of attempting to overthrow his administration. On Wednesday, he was quoted as saying that his party, the Dominica Labour Party (DLP), will not be removed from office unless by elections.

Opposition supporters have called for Prime Minister Skerrit to resign, but Skerrit maintains that he will only be removed by an election.

“I am saying to peo-

School of the Nations launches petition against VAT on education IN complete condemnation of the imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) on education, the management of the School of the Nations has launched a petition, with the hope of having enough signatories to effect a change in the decision.

The school’s director, Brian O’Toole during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle recently, indicated that the school received a letter from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) stating that 14 percent VAT will now be charged on tuition fees for private institutions.

O’Toole believes the move by the government to impose VAT on education is an unjust one as many students are finding it difficult to pay the existing tuition fees. The addition of VAT, he believes, will prove detrimental to private institutions and those who benefit from education privately.

“There are more than 2,300 students from preschool to Sixth Form and others pursuing international diplomas, degrees and MBA from centres of excellence such as University of Cambridge, University of London, ABE and the Australian Institute of Business.

“Some of those students arrived

at Nations in the latest RAV4s or BMWs. But others arrive on foot.

Some represent some of the most affluent sectors of the Guyanese society,” said O’Toole.

And out of those, over 40 children at Nations are on full or partial scholarships or the 100 children from neighbouring Tiger Bay who, for the past five years, attend the school three afternoons per week for free classes in literacy, numeracy, the arts and music.

School of the Nations also offers a number of courses from the Association of Business Executives (ABE) from the United Kingdom.

“But to the 16-year-old school leavers who are part of the 800+ ABE cohort, some of whom pay the fees in GY$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,” bemoaned the School’s director.

As a result of the hardships he believes will befall students of private institutions, O’Toole is calling on the government to find alternative ways to raise revenue, noting that “a tax on education is surely not the path to take in 2017.”

ple in Dominica, that nobody or groups of individuals are going to get [me] out or my government out without going through the ballots. Never take my silence for weakness. I am measured with my approach with life …as the leader of the country, let it be known that there should be no actions on the part of individuals of Dominica to overthrow this government.

“So if that’s what is their intention, I am

sending a message to them: they better rethink their plans. But this action last night was planned, it was calculated and it was executed,” the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) quoted Skerrit as saying at the 24th annual general meeting of the Agricultural Industrial and Development (AIDB) Bank.

Opposition , Lennox Linton, had also condemned the “violence and vandalism” in the

13

President David Granger Dominican capital on Tuesday night and denied that his party had a role in getting protestors to set fires and loot several buildings.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

Cheap high wine, marijuana destroying Baramita

By Shauna Jemmott

THOUGH a child may not understand the deadly effects of consuming bottles of rum, a report of a 10-year-old boy dying from alcohol consumption in Baramita, points to one of several worrying situations in that community.

This case was one of many highlighted in a report -- ‘Impact of Mining: Survival Strategies for Interior Communities in Guyana’ -- published by the Guyana Human Rights Association last November.

According to the report, substance abuse in Baramita has become somewhat of slow-motion genocide among the once proud Carib tribe there.

“It is like a slow-motion genocide. A genocide of the Carib people in slow

motion, so much that we believe that by the turn of the next century, we may not have the Carib people here if it’s not arrested soon,” one resident was quoted as saying in the Human Rights report.

While it was highlighted that women in Baramita are heavier drinkers than men, the Guyana Chronicle understands that it is in this state of drunkenness that women become victims of sexual abuse and some remain unaware that they were abused.

A large number of citizens, burdened with troubles, turn to rum before counselling, and by the time they are ready to receive counselling, they are too drunk to communicate.

Counselling then becomes difficult, “because between all the uses of all

these addictive substances to get a person to sit down to take counselling is a near impossibility,” one counsellor said.

The GHRA said over the past two centuries, “alcohol is the single most important cause of the disappearance of indigenous people….In Latin America alone, hundreds of tribal communities have disappeared due to alcohol,” and mining has been the major stimulus to alcohol consumption in hinterland regions.

Baramita came to popularity in 2015 for being the community with the single highest rate of suicide in Guyana, and according to the GHRA, a great number of suicides in the community are committed under the influence of alcohol.

DEEPLY TROUBLING “… people are under the influence at all hours of the day and night.

Even children 10 and 11 years old have been seen drunk. Girls of this age and younger are forced to prostitute. Young boys smoke and drink, an extreme case being that of a 10-year-old who drank himself to death.”

Cheap high wine is most commonly used, and marijuana smoking is widespread, even as mining has increased around the indigenous settlement and more strangers enter into the once private residential place.

“Mining brings money and the evils attached to it… the liquor and the alcohol in the highest concentration in which humans are capable of consuming alcohol,

namely, high wine. This has been accompanied by the evil that go with it,” one resident said in the report.

That resident added that the situation of alcoholism is similar to some in coastland communities, where many individuals abuse cocaine and other harmful drugs.

“So I can say like in the coastlands we have ‘junkies’, but in Baramita the equivalent is ‘drunkies’ … especially the women when they are under the influence of alcohol, they don’t know what’s going on with them unless they are observed by someone, who actually see what is happening and then report it back to us.”

Others who observe what transpired in camps with women and girls who are victims of substance abuse, say they are given alcohol laced with narcotics, and this makes them easy

victims of sexual and physical abuse by ruthless men.

Alcoholism also leads to domestic and other forms of abuse and sexual exploitation with persons chopping their spouses, and parents giving their children as sex slaves to mature persons, “just for them to get a bottle of high wine or so.”

Government stepped in in 2016 and closed down a few illegal shops in the settlements, in an effort to curb the problem of alcoholism in the settlement.

GHRA in 1992 had collaborated with the Mazaruni Christian Council to combat the widespread problems created by alcohol intolerance, which include domestic violence, men falling out of canoes and drowning and early deaths among citizens of Baramita.

One other appellant had his appeal against his sentence and conviction allowed in part in relation to his 10-year prison sentence, which was substituted with a six-year sentence.

Further, the DPP Chambers revealed that in the Demerara Full Court, 10 matters were heard during 2016 before Justice Dawn Gregory, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, Justice Roxane George, Justice Margaret Kurtzious, Justice BS Roy and Justice James Bovell-Drakes.

Of these 10 matters,

one was referred to the Court of Appeal , since the Full Court ruled it had no jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Two other matters were struck out. In three other matters, the appellants made applications to withdraw their matters. There were two applications for extension of time to appeal and both applications were dismissed.

In one case, the appellant had his custodial sentence set aside and substituted with a fine in the sum of $100,000. One matter was dismissed for

want of prosecution.

During 2016, the Berbice Full Court heard 19 matters before Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Justice Roxane George, Justice Franklyn Holder, Justice William Ramlal and Justice Navindra Singh.

In six of these 19 matters, the court ruled it had no jurisdiction and these matters were referred to the Court of Appeal. Another six appellants had their applications to appeal allowed. Seven matters were adjourned.

DPP Chambers appeared in 33 cases –– in Appeal Court last year

THE Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in 2016 appeared in 33 matters in the Court of Appeal of which six appellants were granted leave for extension of time to file and serve notices of appeal.

According to the DPP Chambers, five other appellants withdrew their applications for bail pending appeal, while four others had their applications for

bail pending appeal dismissed.

Two other appellants were granted their applications for bail and one had his petition granted to have the registrar of the Supreme Court return his passport, allowing him to be out of the jurisdiction on condition that he is present at the hearing of his appeal.

The chambers also indicated that five appellants had their appeals allowed

and their matters to be done De Novo (starting from the beginning).

One application to appeal the sentence and conviction was withdrawn by both the State and the appellant, while four appellants withdrew their applications for extension of time to appeal.

Another four appellants had their appeals dismissed and sentences and convictions affirmed by the Court of Appeal.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

Continuous registration opens Monday

THE ninth Cycle of Continuous Registration commences on Monday, the Guyana Elections Commission has said.

Persons can register for the first time, once they will be 14 years old by June 30th, 2017. Citizens can also use the period to make changes to the particulars on their Identification Card and do transfers, GECOM said, adding that persons who are already registered can do photo retakes if the quality of the current ID photo is unacceptable.

“The Guyana Elections Commission advises that persons interested in doing any of the registration transactions must have their original birth certificate or a valid passport.

In the case of name change by marriage original marriage certificate and original birth certificate are required. In the case of name change by deed poll- an original naturalisation certificate issued by the Home Affairs

Ministry and original birth certificate/valid passport are required. If you are a citizen by naturalisation, you must bring along your original Naturalisation Certificate or Citizenship Certificate. In other words, no copied documents will be accepted.”

GECOM reminded that baptismal certificates, expired passports, letters from priests, elders, Headmasters, Village Captains/Toshaos and Justices of the Peace or existing ID cards will not be accepted as source documents for registration. All of the commission’s 28 Registration Offices and Sub- Offices across Guyana will be opened for transactions.

Opening hours are: Monday to Friday 09:00hrs to 13:00hrs and 14:30hrs to 18:00hrs. Saturday10:00hrs to 14:00hrs.

The Offices/Sub Offices will not be open on Sundays and Holidays.

Jagdeo ups call for scrapping of parking meter project OPPOSITION Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday reiterated his call for the Georgetown Mayor and City Council to abandon the controversial parking meter project.

In a statement, the Opposition Leader said he stands in support of those protesting the parking meters and said the project “lacks transparency and brings additional burden to people.”

Jagdeo said that “A reduction of rates will be merely palliative and does not in any way address the transparency issue or ease

the burden on our citizens, who are already overwhelmed with excessive increases in almost 200 new taxes, fees and “vattable” items in less than two (2) years of the APNU+AFC government.’’

He accused the government of being two-faced on the matter, noting that the APNU+AFC administration disowned the project by pointing to local government autonomy.

“The government sought to mislead and deceive Guyanese by claiming Cabinet and the Attorney-General

had not approved the bylaws. If that is true, then the President should sanction Minister Bulkan. However, there is grave suspicion about this being a concoction to obfuscate the matter.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that the parking meter project could not have been implemented without the signing of those bylaws,’’ said Jagdeo.

The Opposition Leader says he remains supportive of the civil society protest and that nothing short of scrapping the parking meter project will suffice.

15

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

CANI hosts development workshop for young Guyanese women

FORTY young Guyanese women on Thursday participated in a Come Alive Network Incorporated (CANI) workshop aimed at enhancing the role women play in development.

The event themed “Influencing Change: Women Contributing to development” was facilitated

by Trinidadian activist, Teocah Ariel Dove, who specialises in Gender and Youth Development.

A release from CANI said the session focused on ways in which young Guyanese, particularly women can tap into re-

Trinidadian activist, Teocah Dove, conducts a session with participants

sources around them to be effective and active agents of change and progress.

“Much focus was given to the need for women to constantly engage in self-evaluation as a means of starting the process of creating and maintaining self-value,” the statement said.

The workshop which ran for three hours was facilitated at the St. Joseph’s High School auditorium and according to Managing Director, Kadeem Gordon, it “comes at a time when young Guyanese women need to better understand and appreciate their worth

as gifted individuals and not as mere consequences of their circumstances.”

Meanwhile, CANI through its continued commitment to youth development across the country invites interested sponsors to make contact with its representatives to aid in the furtherance of development here.

CANI representatives can be contacted on Facebook at COME ALIVE NETWORK INC., via E-mail at comealivenetwork@gmail. com or call us on mobile numbers 645-0657/ 6863831.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

No blood diamonds … Gov’t hiring legal consultant to strengthen KPCS

GUYANA will soon engage a legal consultant to review the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), which will ensure that the country’s diamonds are not infiltrated.

The KPCS was launched in 2003 in a bid to clean up the diamond trade after it was recognised that the precious stone was used to finance wars and terrorism. It requires member states to set up an import/ export system for rough diamonds. Over 75 per cent of the world’s diamond-producing, trading and manufacturing countries participate in the scheme.

The KPCS is administered in Guyana by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) with cooperation

from the Customs Trade Administration and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Cabinet Secretary and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said that the last report of Guyana’s KPCS was submitted in 2014.

“It’s not just about the diamond production in Guyana. The fact that you can have infiltrated into the Guyana diamond productions, diamonds that are from what you call “blood diamonds” source. What it does in fact is clean up the “blood diamonds” by infiltrating the local market and then it actually goes to sale on the international market,” Minister Harmon said.

He explained that this process is to ensure that Guyana’s international buyers do not question the credibility of the dia-

monds produced.

“So this process is really meant to ferret out that type of diamonds, because there are some special techniques which they employ for determining which are these diamonds and show that they do not contaminate the local diamond production,” the Cabinet Secretary said.

The KPCS was established in 2003 to prevent “conflict diamonds” from entering the mainstream rough diamond market

by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56 following recommendations in the Fowler Report.

In December 2016, the GGMC revealed that diamond production has been on the increase for the past five years, with some 99,000 carats being the latest production

figure up to the end of November, 2016.

With The Netherlands, Belgium and the Arabian countries remaining big buyers of Guyana’s diamonds; and with the country maintaining a clean slate in the industry, it is expected that more miners will develop an interest in diamond production, even as Government moves to push production levels higher.

17

Teachers receive duty-free concession THE Government of Guyana on Friday announced that teachers who are entitled to duty-free concession have begun benefitting from same despite several administrative issues.

Cabinet Secretary and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, told reporters that favourable consideration has been given to teachers who experienced difficulties with their application for duty-free concession.

“It went to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) where a favourable consideration was given to teachers affected due to administration issues in the past,” Harmon told reporters. For years eligible teachers have been waiting to access duty-free concession for vehicles, but due to many hurdles were unable to receive same.

Recently, President of the Guyana Teachers Union, Mark Lyte, said by law teachers who have only three years remaining in the profession qualify for duty-free concession.

“We made a very strong case with the administration to say to them we would like for our teachers to still enjoy that benefit,” he said, noting that the list of teachers who qualify has moved between the Ministry of Education and GTU. But Harmon in acknowledging the difficulties experienced said, “GRA looked favourably on the teachers’ application for concessions and ensured that teachers were and continue to be granted concession.”

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

Forensic lab not fully functional … gov’t owes Barbadian firm

By Fareeza Haniff

THE Government of Guyana has to honour its outstanding payment of US$32,524 to Barbados firm, IED Security, before works on the billion-dollar forensic science laboratory is fully functional.

Cabinet Secretary and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, told a post cabinet media briefing Friday that cabinet has approved the payment and within a month’s time, it is expected that the lab will be fully functional.

Minister Harmon admitted that “the lab is not functioning” and that the technical and electrical issues will be

fixed by the company once they are paid.

“Therefore we have to pay them that money and then they come and do what they have to do and complete the training, and complete the electrical installation and things like that. So this is the step where we are at and we believe that once this payment is made, within a month or so, this is the impression I got from the Minister of Public Security, that the lab should be up and running and there are several things which the lab has to do; it has to look at DNA… the analysis of evidence collected from crime scenes and so on. So this is very important in our

fight against crime,” Minister Harmon told reporters.

The Barbados firm is responsible for installing security systems at the lab, by way of a contract signed in 2012, and providing additional consultation in 2013 during phase one of the project.

Once the money is paid by the Guyana government, the firm will complete its work on the lab along with completing the training of persons who are going to operate it. At this point in time however, Minister Harmon could not say whether any tests are being carried out at the lab, which is located at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara.

The Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory In April 2011, the former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government signed a contract valued $450M with Courtney Benn Contracting Services for the construction of the lab. The project is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank, in

partnership with the Guyana Government, and is expected to greatly enhance the investigative capabilities of the Guyana Police Force.

The Ministry of Public Security is building the capacity of the forensic laboratory so that in the

long run, the facility can provide DNA and gun residue testing, which are internationally recognised.

This capacity training is being developed through the Ministry’s Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP).

Former U.S. Secretary of State lauds Guyana’s ‘green’ agenda

–– says Guyana has potential to emerge as example of economic transformation FORMER United States (U.S.) Secretary of State, John F Kerry, has lauded Guyana’s efforts to transition into a ‘green’ economy, adding that the country has the potential to emerge as an example of successful economic transformation for countries throughout the world.

Kerry in a letter to Pres-

ident Granger dated January 19, 2017, said “Your commitment to protecting one of the world’s largest tracts of underdeveloped tropical rain forest is equally laudable. Under your leadership, Guyana has the potential to emerge as an example of successful economic transformation for countries throughout the world to follow.”

The former U.S. Secretary of State, who served with former President Barack Obama, said President Granger’s efforts in conservation and protection of its ecological and biological systems must be appreciated and recognised, a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency said on Friday.

According to the mis-

sive, Kerry said he has left office heartened by the fact that Guyana and the U.S.’s partnership in advancing the Energy, Governance and Capacity Initiative; an initiative aimed at helping Guyana to build institutional capacity and human capital to manage its newly found oil reserves for the long-term benefit of its people.

“It has been an honour and pleasure working with you during my tenure as Secretary of State. I am confident that the strong bonds forged by our cooperation will endure into the future. I am happy to have been able to work with Guyana for the betterment of our two peoples,” he said.

Former U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry

Guyana Goldfields/AGM Inc contributes $20M to various organisations

GUYANA Goldfields/AGM Inc., on Wednesday hosted its annual Children’s Need & Development Initiative (CNDI) and CSR Support Programme presentation and contributed approximately $20M to several organisations and communities.

The company continued its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme with the aim of contributing to the sustainable development of Guyana. In a statement to the media, Guyana Gold Fields/ AGM said that its CNDI and CSR Support Programme were initiatives created to provide monetary assistance to various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and communities that engage

in projects that promote sustainable development.

“In order to apply for funding from the company for these initiatives, the various entities are encouraged to fill out the “Inquiry Form”, from which the CSR team investigates the organisations and communities of interest throughout the year,” the statement said.

Among those institutions and communities that have benefited from the programme are the Step by Step Foundation Autistic School, Joshua House, Help & Shelter, the Red Cross Convalescent Home, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha Bal Nivas Orphanage, Epilepsy Foundation of Guyana, Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre, FACT, Artistes in Direct Support, Sidya Vidya

Niketan School, Ogle Old & Needy Folk, St Cuthbert’s Village Council, Great Troolie CDC, Volunteer Youth Corps, Ptolemy Reid Centre, and Guyana Society for the Blind.

Meanwhile, chairperson of the programme, CSR Manager Ayaana Jean-Baptiste encouraged the various representatives of the aforementioned organisations and communities to disclose some of the challenges facing them as a means of promoting collaboration.

General Operations Manager, Vic Rozon, commended the organisations and communities on their work thus far through the programmes and their continued dedication to enhancing sustainable development.

Beneficiaries of the Guyana Goldfileds/ AGM Inc annual Children’s Need and Development Initiative and CSR programme share a light moment with officials of the mining company.

19

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

Improved living quarters for Mazaruni prison officers

CONSTRUCTION of six living quarters for prison officers will soon commence at the Mazaruni Prison in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region as Government gave its no objection to the $41M contract awarded to N&A Construction for Lot 1 of the project, while $35M was awarded to AAV Ragobeer General Construction for Lot 2 of the project.

In March 2016, President David Granger and a ministerial team visited the prison and found the living quarters of the prison officers to be in a deplorable state. Cabinet Secretary and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at a post cabinet press briefing on Friday said that the two lots will include nine residences and a third lot is being considered.

“But the important thing is to ensure that we create the condition in that facility where the prison officers feel comfortable, they can work in a certain level of comfort and that they don’t have to think about running home every weekend so that we will have a better level of supervision of the inmates at the prison,” Minister Harmon said.

Due to the terrible condition of the living quarters, most prison officers would go home as soon as they are off duty, which proves to be very costly.

“So what we find was that as soon as the prison officers were off of duty, they were finding their way if they live on West Berbice or whatever it is, they’re going home and it cost them about $10,000 every time they have

Motorists in default after 2016 licence fee increases –– to pay balance at next renewal

THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Friday said that motorists who may have been baffled or perturbed by the requirement to pay additional fees when renewing motor vehicle licences should take note that the 2016 Budget provided for an increase in motor vehicle licences and other fees effective March 14, 2016, under the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act Cap: 51:02.

The additional fees are related to motor vehicle licences and other fees, including Registration, Transfers, Certificate of Fitness, Driver’s Test of Competence, and General Dealers Licence etc. In a statement posted on its website, the Revenue Authority made it clear that prior to the passage of the 2016 National Budget, it had suspended the processing of transactions for Drivers’ licence, Transfer of Registration, Certificate of Fitness, Driver’s Test of Competence and General Dealer Licence, with the exception of the Sale of Motor Vehicle Licences.

“This exception was necessary since consideration was given to the difficulties that the Guyana Police Force would have encountered in taking enforcement action on delinquent motorists after the grace period of the Sale of Motor Vehicle Licences, given the fact that Motor Vehicle Licences now expire on the anniversary date of the motor vehicle registration and not on December 31, 2016,” the statement said.

Additionally, GRA said that as a result of the 2016 Budget, the increase in Motor Vehicle Licence fees were being charged effective from January 1, 2016 instead of March 14, 2016 when the bill was assented by the President; this has since been corrected.

“GRA wishes to advise that motorists with renewal dates between January 1 and March 13, 2016 were required to pay the old fee and any additional fees paid when the licences were renewed will be off-set on their next renewal date in 2018.”

Moreover, motorists with renewal dates between March 14 and December 31, 2016 were subject to the new / increase fees and any renewal done using the old fee would require paying the difference of the increase fee at the next renewal date in 2018.

to travel.

“So if you look at the salary of a prison officer and the fact that he needs to go home, we needed to do something to ensure that the conditions under which these officers live and work at the facility is improved,” Harmon reiterated.

The prison houses approximately 289 inmates, 24 of whom are high-profile criminals. On the other hand, the required staff complement is 95, but the facility only has 54 on staff.

One of the inmate blocks at the 173 year old Mazaruni Penal Settlement

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

Guyana pushes for regional mechanisms that prevent conflict and promote peace at CELAC meeting GUYANA is a developing state on the cusp of significant economic growth, as it stands poised to become a petroleum producing country. It also holds prospects for the development of its vast biodiversity potential and its commitment to a low-carbon, low-emission trajectory to economic growth. But, as a small state, Guyana remains vulnerable to external threats and global economic shocks, and President David Granger believes that it is strong bilateral and multilateral relations, which can aid in helping small states like Guyana to build resilience against these threats.

Guyana has maintained its position with regard to the strengthening of bilateral and multilateral ties, and this has remained a core part of President Granger’s message on various platforms. Moreover, the Head of State believes that regional bodies such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) can serve as a vehicle deepening regional integration, multilateral cooperation and bi-regional relations. President Granger recently returned from the Fifth Summit of State and Government of CELAC,

which was held in Punta, Cana, Dominican Republic, on January 25.

CELAC was formed at the Unity Summit, which consisted of the 21st Summit of the Rio Group and the Second Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development (CALC), in the Mayan Riviera, Mexico, on February 23, 2010 and integrated in December 2011, with the signing of the Caracas Declaration in Venezuela. The organisation consists of 33 countries and aims to unite all of the Latin American and Caribbean states in order to strengthen the political, social and cultural integration of the region, improve its quality of life, stimulate its economic growth, and advance the well being of all its people.

During his address at the Fifth Summit of State and Government of CELAC, President Granger, said that the small states of the Caribbean have been involved in a historical process to deepen, widen and President David Granger with Ambassador Colin Granderson, Assistant Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Director General at the Ministry of Foreign strengthen their integration movement Affairs, Ambassador Audrey Waddell at the Fifth Summit of Heads of State and Government through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Having assumed Chairmanship of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017 The controversy was, last December, set on a path, which could see its final resolution, after former United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, gave the two countries one more year to resolve their border controversy. If the two countries cannot come to an agreement, then the 51-yearold claim by Venezuela will go to the world court at the end of 2017.

At the Fourth Summit of State and Government of CELAC in Quito, Ecuador, last year, President Granger also highlighted a clause in the Caracas Declaration, which formed CELAC on December 3, 2011, that obligates the member states to take account of “respect for President David Granger and El Salvador Foreign Minister Hugo Martinez in discussion during a break in the Fifth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community International Law, the peaceful settlement of disputes and of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) the prohibition of the use of of CARICOM this year, President Granger said that the and threat of use of force, the Community looks to CELAC to complement the integrative respect for self- determination, respect for sovereignty and process especially in light of varied economic, environmen- territorial integrity…” The President reminded that CELAC tal and security threats that the member states face. During pledged to “promote the development of instruments to an interview on the sidelines of his visit at the CELAC Summit, the President said that his main concerns are that the issues affecting Small Island Developing States (SIDs) are addressed and ensuring that the relations between the large and small states within CELAC are strengthened. “I would like to think that [CELAC] is an opportunity for the region to move ahead… I have very great hopes that CARICOM and CELAC, together could make this hemisphere a zone of peace and could ensure a good life for all of its citizens,” the President said.

“CELAC must go beyond merely generating declarations. It must create mechanisms, which will advance, in practical and tangible ways, the aims of our Community.

CELAC must build doors not walls; gates not fences; bridges not blockades,” President Granger said during his address.

TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY Respect for territorial integrity among countries, and peaceful and cordial bilateral relations are some of the main pillars of regional cooperation and President Granger pointed out that within CELAC’s framework, there are provisions for the body to ensure that these aims are maintained. The Proclamation of Latin America and Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, issued in Havana in 2014, affirmed CELAC’s “permanent commitment to solve disputes through peaceful means with the aim of uprooting forever [the] threat or use of force in our region…” as stated in the Proclamation itself.

The Political Declaration of Quito of January 26, 2016, also reaffirms the commitment of CELAC member states to consolidating Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace by condemning all attempts to violate the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of the member states of the Community. “CARICOM calls on CELAC to guarantee the practical implementation of this Proclamation and Declaration by establishing an architecture of peace. CELAC must erect institutions and agencies, which possess the capability of preventing conflict, promoting peace and of pursuing peace-making initiatives in order to give meaning to the Region’s quest to be a Zone of Peace,” President Granger said during the Fifth Summit.

Such mechanisms would prove useful, especially in light of the ongoing border controversy between CELAC member states Guyana and Venezuela over Guyana’s Essequibo River.

In 1899, an Arbitral Tribunal representing both British Guiana and Venezuela described clearly the boundary between the two countries, resulting in an agreement, which presumably put the issue to rest. Though Venezuela honoured this agreement for at least half a century, in 1962, the Spanish state announced that she regarded the 1899 Award as being null and void. In 1966, the two countries signed the Geneva Agreement in which the steps for resolution of the border controversy were detailed and sought to establish a "Mixed Commission" of Guyanese and Venezuelan representatives would be established to seeking "satisfactory solutions for the practical settlement of the controversy.

ensure compliance with those values and principles.”

“This commitment envisages an end to provocations and use of force. It precludes gunboat diplomacy. Any violation of this commitment by members of CELAC to resolve territorial conflicts in a peaceful manner can throw our hemispheric solidarity into jeopardy. The 21st century must be a century of peace for the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States,” President Granger said at the Fifth Summit.

MULTILATERAL RELATIONS Since its establishment it has been said that the formation of CELAC is a means of reducing influence of the United States on the politics and economics of the region. President Granger believes that it is important to have stronger Latin American cooperation, but also views the maintenance of strong ties with international allies, including the United States as important to the economic development and security of the Region. CARICOM and the United States have maintained strong relations through successive administrations, particularly in the area of trade and this can be seen in the signing of the 2013 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, which seeks to promote international trade and strengthen economic relations between the parties.

“We are part of the American neighbourhood, over the decades… we had very good relations with President Clinton… we have had good relations with President Bush and good relations with President Obama. Now the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative is the important platform, which the Turn to page 22

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

President David Granger at the 5th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of CELAC

Guyana pushes for regional mechanisms that prevent conflict ... ◄◄◄ From page 21

two (USA and CARICOM) really interface. Right now my own country has a continuous programme of engagement with the United States, Southern Command… and I would say we expect good relations to continue… We are important to the US… We are good partners,” the President said during an interview with Bloomberg News Reporter, Ezra Fieser while in the Dominican Republic.

Guyana has remained committed to strengthening its diplomatic relations with countries worldwide, as it is these relations, which seek to ensure that the interests of smaller states are protected.

Guyana itself has continued to improve its image by extending its international

reach through continued engagements with diplomatic appointments from various countries.

These engagements have placed focus on Guyana’s potential as an emerging state and have augured well for the creation of discourse for the advancement of Guyana’s ‘Green’ Agenda and other areas of development.

Within these engagements, the concept of respect; mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-interference in internal affairs, cooperation for mutual benefit, respect for treaties and international law and the maintenance of international peace and security continue to be iterated as grounds for cooperation.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

23

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

25

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

27

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

29

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

31

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

33

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 11, 2017

GMR&SC Annual General Meeting & Elections

New man Mohammed promises inclusivity

By Stephan Sookram

AN inclusive administration that will listen to the views of its membership is what the new president of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) Rameez Mohammed has promised.

Speaking after his election last night, the president said, “We, myself and the new administration of the club, will look to have the input of all the people from various parts.

The drag racing people, the circuit people, the endurance people and all.”

“What we want is to grow the sport, and include each of the various sections because

they all make motor racing, and I hope that I get the support of the other stakeholders in this venture,” Mohammed added.

The new GMR&SC president indicated that his first order of business is to begin planning for the first drag racing event of the year, billed for March 5.

Mohammed obtained 30 votes to beat out former presidents Mahendra Boodhoo and Mohamad Roshandin. The duo claimed 27 and 18 votes respectively.

Meanwhile, the club’s new vice-president is Hansraj Singh. Azim Jaffar will take over the role as secretary, while Noel Shewjattan is the

treasurer.

John Bennett will assume the role of assistant secretary/ treasurer. Sunil Persaud is the new club captain, with Brian Ten Pow as the technical director The committee members are Kamal Seebarran, Wayne Vieira, Paul Jiwanram, Azaad Hassan and Diana D’Ornellas.

Other agenda items ratified at the AGM were the adoption of the 2015 and 2016 financial reports as well as the replacement of the gold, silver and bronze membership packages, and the implementation of a standard package, a volunteer package and a junior package.

SA top ODI world rankings after 5-0 whitewash

(SKYSPORTS) South Africa went top of the ODI world rankings after their 88-run win over Sri Lanka in the fifth one-day international in Centurion, securing a 5-0 series whitewash.

Hashim Amla hit a superb 154, sharing in a 187-run record opening partnership with Quinton de Kock (109) - who also smacked a century - as South Africa amassed 384-6 batting first.

Sri Lanka never came close in reply, especially after being reduced to 82-5 inside the opening 14 overs.

And despite an enterprising unbeaten 114 by Asela Gunaratne lower down the order, the visitors fell well short, finishing on 296-8, though they did bat out their full 50 overs for the first time in the series.

Sri Lanka elected to field first after winning the toss, but swiftly regretted that decision as South Africa’s openers put on 187 together in 26.3 overs, de Kock racing through to an 80-ball ton.

Amla was slightly more circumspect in reaching three figures, bringing up his hundred - off 112 balls - in the 40th over, but swiftly added a further 50 to his score in the closing overs.

Suranga Lakmal (3-71) and Lahiru Madushanka (2-70) had halted the hosts’ run-scoring somewhat with regular wickets before Amla and Farhaam Behardien (32 off 20 balls) took apart the Sri Lankan attack late on.

Sri Lanka suffered an early blow in their run-chase as Upul Tharanga - who scored a century in the fourth ODI defeat - fell to Chris Morris (4-31) for seven.

Morris soon had a second when Kusal Mendis (1) offered up some catching practice to AB de Villiers at mid-off.

Niroshan Dickwella (39 off 19), who again provided a spark at the top of the order, was next to go, as Sri Lanka’s top order fell apart.

Some respectability was added to their score thanks to a 93-run stand for the sixth wicket between Gunaratne and Sachith Pathirana (56), but the pair failed to score at such a rate to keep Sri Lanka in with a chance of victory.

Despite some big-hitting late on by Gunaratne - including four consecutive boundaries off one Behardien over - to take him through to a maiden ODI hundred,

South Africa Racing Tips Kenilworth 08:20 hrs Lauren Of Rochelle 08:55 hrs Sabina’s Dynasty 09:35 hrs Colonel Bluff 10:10 hrs Mtoroshanga 10:45 hrs Candid 11:20 hrs Gyre 11:50 hrs Silver Willow Turffontein 08:35 hrs Bay Style 09:10 hrs High Drama 09:45 hrs Champagne Haze 10:20 hrs Doosra 10:55 hrs Last Chirp 11:30 hrs Parisienne Chic English Racing Tips Newbury 09:15 hrs High Bridge 09:50 hrs Scotchtown 11:00 hrs Altior 11:35 hrs Movewiththetimes 12:10 hrs Final Nudge 12:45 hrs Daphne Du Clos Lingfield 09:25 hrs Simply Me 10:00 hrs Marquee Club 10:35 hrs Berryessa 11:10 hrs My Target 11:45 hrs Royalistic 12:20 hrs Born To Finish 12:50 hrs Afonso De Sousa Warwick

Sri Lanka slipped to another heavy defeat on their tour, while South Africa claimed to the top spot in the world.

Hashim Amla hits 154 for South Africa as they amass 384-6 from their 50 overs.

09:30 hrs Aintree My Dream 10:05 hrs Surtee Du Berlais 10:40 hrs Overtown Express11:15 hrs Vibrato Valtat 11:50 hrs Super Sam 12:25 hrs Belami Des Pictons 12:55 hrs Celestial Magic Irish Racing Tips Naas 09:35 hrs Outspoken 10:10 hrs Bobabout 10:45 hrs Toucannotbeserious 11:20 hrs Listen Dear 11:55 hrs Heron Heights 12:30 hrs Get Up And Go Arab Emirates Racing Tips Meydan 10:30 hrs Jaaref 11:05 hrs Acolyte 11:40 hrs Heavy Metal 12:15 hrs Final Venture 12:50 hrs Thunder Snow 13:25 hrs Suyoof 14:00 hrs Los Barbados American Racing Tips Aqueduct Race 1 zonic Race 2 Going Strong Race 3 Send It In Race 4 Mineralogy Race 5 Final Chapter Race 6 Police Escort Race 7 Big Guy Ian Race 8 Bond Vigilante

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 11, 2017

Virat Kohli hits record double-hundred on day two (SKYSPORTS) - Virat Kohli struck his fourth Te s t d o u b l e - h u n d re d in as many series as India took full control on day two of their o n e - o f f Te s t a g a i n s t Bangladesh in Hyderabad.

K o h l i ’s s u p e r b i n nings of 204 set a new Te s t r e c o r d , w i t h t h e Indian skipper - who has now notched double-tons against the West Indies, New Zealand, England and Bangladesh in the past seven months - surpassing Don Bradman and Rahul Dravid, who got beyond 200 in three

successive series.

Wr i d d h i m a n S a h a also cracked an unbeaten 106 as India eventually declared on 687-6 in their first innings, before reducing Bangladesh to 41-1 by stumps.

Resuming the day on 111, with India 356-3, Kohli wasted little time in extending the hosts’ stranglehold on the game, adding a further 121 runs with Ajinkya Rahane (82) in the morning session.

The pair ultimately extended their fourth-wicket partnership to 222 runs before Rahane was caught bril-

Ravichandran Ashwin added a brisk 34, before Ravindra Jadeja smashed an unbeaten 60 and Saha brought up his hundred.

The declaration came soon after, and a demoralised Bangladesh were forced to bat out the fi-

Virat Kohli celebrates scoring his record-breaking double-century (Credit: AFP) liantly at cover by a diving Mehedi Hasan off the bowling of left-arm s p i n n e r, Ta i j u l I s l a m (3-156).

Kohli kept his cool and kicked on through to his double-hundred, although he was given out lbw to Mehedi on 180 but successfully

LABA U-23 season opens tonight TOP-RANKED Half Mile Bulls are set to open their campaign in the Linden Amateur Basketball Association’s (LABA) Under-23 basketball championship tonight when they take on Block 22 Flames in the opening game at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court from 18:30hrs.

That game will be followed by the second game of the night at 20.30hrs when

third-ranked Amelia’s Ward Jets oppose Bankers Trust Falcons in a clash of the ward teams.

Eight clubs affiliated to the association will participate in the championship for several trophies over a onemonth period.

Tomorrow’s fixture is another double-header as Kwakwani will enter the fray when they face second-ranked Victory Valley

Royals at 18:30hrs. The other match-up of the night is one between the fourth- seeded Retrieve Raiders, who will take on the-now Christianburg Pistons, previously known as the Wismar Pistons, at 20.30hrs.

The competition continues next Friday with another double-header. Bulls will face the Pistons in game one and Jets will clash with the Royals.

Tiger drops out of two PGA Tour events due to back spasms (REUTERS) Tiger Woods will not compete in two scheduled upcoming PGA Tour events due to nagging back spasms that forced him to pull out of an event in Dubai last week, the former world number one said yesterday.

Woods, who has struggled mightily in his much-anticipated comeback this year following back surgery, said on his website he will be unable to compete in the February 16-19 Genesis Open in California and the following week’s Honda Classic in Florida.

“My doctors have ad-

vised me not to play the next two weeks, to continue my treatment and to let my back calm down,” said Woods.

“This is not what I was hoping for or expecting.”

Woods’ possible playing schedule will be determined at a later date after his back is reassessed, according to his website.

Wo o d s , n o w r a n k e d 674th in the world after a long injury layoff due to a series of back issues, pulled out of the Dubai Desert Classic ahead of his second round because of back spasms a day after shooting a miserable five-over 77.

A week earlier, in his return to the PGA Tour after an absence of 17 months, he missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open outside San Diego.

Tiger Woods

reviewed the decision.

Saha too was fortunate to survive a missed stumping chance when o n o n l y f o u r, b e f o r e Bangladesh finally claimed a fifth wicket, Kohli’s stunning knock coming to a close as he was trapped in front of his stumps by Taijul.

nal 14 overs of the day.

Having seen out the o p e n i n g 11 o f t h o s e , Soumya Sarkar (15) was then dismissed by Umesh Yadav - given out caught behind after a review - to leave the visitors 41-1 at the close.

SCOREBOARD India 1st innings K Rahul b Ahmed 2 M Vijay b Islam 108 C Pujara c †ahim b Hasan Miraz 83 V Kohli* lbw b Islam 204 A Rahane c Miraz b Islam 82 W Saha† not out 106 R Ashwin c Sarkar b Miraz 34 R Jadeja not out 60 Extras: (lb 5, w 1, nb 2) 8 Total: (6 wickets dec; 166 overs) 687 Did not bat: B Kumar, UT Yadav, I Sharma Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-180, 3-234, 4-456, 5-495, 6-569 Bowling: Ahmed 25- 2-127-1,

Rabbi 19-1-100-0, Sarkar 1-04-0, Miraz 42-0-165-2, Al Hasan 24-4-104-0, Islam 47-6-156-3, Rahman 3-0-10-0, Mahmudullah 5-0-16-0

Bangladesh 1st innings T Iqbal not out 24 S Sarkarc †Saha b Yadav 15 M Haque not out 1 Extras: (lb 1) 1

Total: (1 wicket; 14 overs) 41 Fall of wickets: 1-38 Bowling: Kumar 5-2-7-0, I Sharma 5-0-30-0, R Ashwin 2-1-1-0, U Yadav 2-1-2-1

36

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 11, 2017

‘For me, karate has become like a lifestyle’ says 18-year-old Kemo Cornelius

By Tamica Garnett CHARMED by the skills of martial arts movie legends like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan while growing up, 18-year-old Kemo Cornelius is definitely willing to emulate those two idols.

At eight years old he started training in the combative sport of karate, now ten years later he’s quickly progressing in the sport.

The youngster has been winning locally, regionally, and internationally since 2009, and has already advanced to being a 2nd Dan black belt.

Cornelius is a student of the Association Do Shotokan Karate, and trains under sensei Amir Khouri.

“It’s been awesome. I

conventional look of a karateka, but the Caribbean champion sees this as more of an asset than a liability.

“Most persons when they hear karate and fighting, they think big and strong guys, so I stand out mostly with my size, which I use to my advantage where I’m really quick and agile and consistently training to improve my level,” said the former St Rose’s High student.

He added, “At first it was mostly the fighting, but as I learnt more and more especially reading up a lot on Bruce Lee’s perspective of martial arts, and how it makes us better as individuals it captivated me. So for me karate has become like a lifestyle, but the competition is still really awesome.”

His performances overtime have not gone unnoticed, and the Government

Technical Institute student was last year honoured as a Banks DIH brand ambassador for his stellar performances.

And with karate finally getting a nod from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Cornelius is more determined than ever to develop his career, and perhaps make history as being among the first to participate in the sport at the Olympics. (tgarnett_sports@yahoo. com)

Kemo Cornelius advanced through my belts quickly, reaching black belt, and then two years

later I got promoted to 2nd Dan black belt, which I am currently. I’ve been more focused on tournaments though, so I haven’t been up for exams since.” Cornelius said when we caught up with him.

At the last Caribbean Karate Championships in Jamaica, the 18-year-old won silver in the Boys’ 1719 individual kata.

This follows a string of medals over the years, both in the individual and team divisions.

At the International Karate Daigaku (IKD) World Cup in Canada, in 2015, he won four gold medals: three from team events, and one for the Boys’ 17-19 individual kata.

He won another four gold medals in 2014 at the Caribbean Karate Championships, in Trinidad and Tobago, while he won three team gold medals for the Boys’ 14-16 team kata, team bunkai, and team enbu.

Because of his size, it could easily be argued that Cornelius does not fit the

Karateka Kemo Cornelius (right) with his sensei Amir Khouri

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 11, 2017

37

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 11, 2017

NAGICO Super50

Scorpions inflict first defeat on mighty Pride BRIDGETOWN, Barbados CMC – A charged-up Jamaica Scorpions dealt the seemingly invincible Barbados Pride their first loss of the Regional Super50, when they inflicted a sobering 74-run defeat on the tournament favourites at Kensington Oval here Thursday.

Scorpions were sliding towards defeat when Pride cruised to 118 for one at the half-way stage in pursuit of 256 for victory, but they rebounded spectacularly to claim the last nine wickets for 63 runs and send the hosts tumbling to 181 all out in the 41st over.

Once again, off-spinner John Campbell was at the heart of the Scorpions fightback, claiming four for 43 from his 10 overs, to follow up a similar four-wicket haul against Guyana Jaguars three days ago.

Damani Sewell, also an off-spinner, supported with three for 46 while captain and left-arm spinner Nikita Miller cleaned up the tail to finish with two for 36.

Shai Hope top-scored with 56 – his second straight

Chadwick Walton pulls en route to his half-century against Barbados Pride on Thursday. half-century – while Kraigg Brathwaite got 52 but they were two of only four to make it into double figures as Pride suffered a shocking collapse.

Scorpions had earlier benefited from Devon Thomas’s 65 and Chadwick Walton’s 58, as they got up to 255 for eight off their 50 overs, after choosing to bat first in the day/night affair.

Left-handed opener Steven Taylor chipped in with 45, Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood got 32 while all-rounder Rovan Powell struck 23 down the order.

Off-spinner Ashley Nurse (3-38) and fast bowler Miguel Cummins (3-29) picked up three wickets apiece.

Already qualified for the final four but seeking to avenge their defeat to the hosts 10 days ago, Scorpions were given a superb start when Walton and Taylor put on 99 off 102 deliveries for the first wicket.

While the right-handed Walton struck six fours and a six off 68 balls, Taylor counted four fours and two sixes in an attractive 52-ball knock.

The stand ended in the 17th over when Taylor cut Nurse to Jomel Warrican at backward point but Walton put on a further 28 for the second wicket before he too departed, bowled by Nurse after coming down and missing a heave in the 23rd.

Blackwood, who struck a four and two sixes off 47 balls, was one of four wickets to fall for 51 runs as Scorpions declined to 178 for five in

Savinova stripped of London Games 800m gold for doping ( R E U T E R S ) R u s s i a ’s Mariya Savinova-Farnosova has been stripped of her 800m London 2012 Olympic Games gold medal after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) yesterday imposed a fouryear ban saying there was “clear evidence” she used performance-enhancing drugs.

She is the latest in a growing list of Russian athletes, to have past Olympic medals taken away over doping, as the nation struggles to overcome its most widespread doping scandal ever.

The retroactive four-year penalty starts from August 24, 2015, but CAS also disqualified all Savinova’s results from July 26, 2010, to August 19, 2013, thereby stripping her of her 2011 world championships gold, 2013 world silver and 2010 European gold.

South Africa’s double silver medallist Caster Semenya is now in line to be promoted to gold in both the 2012 Olympics and 2011 world championships.

The 31-year-old former 800 metres world and Olympic champion was among the

Russia’s Mariya Savinova athletes that a commission set up by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recommended be banned for life in 2015.

“On the basis of clear evidence, including the evidence derived from her biological passport, Mari-

ya Savinova-Farnosova is found to have been engaged in using doping from July 26 2010 through to August 19 2013,” CAS said.

It took the action as the decision-making authority while Russia’s athletics federation remains banned over the country’s state-backed doping scandal.

Almost the entire track and field team of Russia were banned from competing at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

More than 100 athletes have so far tested positive in re-tests of samples taken during the London and Beijing 2008 Olympics, conducted by the International Olympic Committee.

Russia has the most positive re-tests per nation.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday February 11, 2017)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & the City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Ronsford Beaton - 4-28 (vs ICC Americas, Jan 30) Nigel Duguid (Guyana) & Leslie Reifer (Barbados) Today’s Quiz: How many preliminary games each of the ten teams is scheduled to play in CWI Nagicor Super 50 2017?

What is the maximum amount of games a single team can play?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

the 35th over.

However, Thomas stepped up, striking four boundaries in a controlled 73-ball knock that was the foundation of a 64-run, sixth-wicket stand with Powell, that ensured Scorpions rallied late.

Pride then found themselves under pressure early when makeshift opener Kevin Stoute perished for one in the fourth over with the score on three, picking out Campbell at third man with an upper cut off left-arm pacer Gavin Brown.

Hope and Brathwaite, both right-handers, brought Pride back into the game with a 115-run, second-wicket partnership. They were forced to weather a fiery spell from rookie speedster Renard Leveridge but blossomed thereafter.

Hope, dropped on 49 at the wicket off Miller with the score on 99 for one in the 23rd over, struck eight fours in a 70-ball innings while Brathwaite faced 83 balls and counted two fours.

With the pressure piling on Scorpions, Hope drove an innocuous delivery from

Campbell to Powell at midoff in the 26th over and his dismissal triggered a dramatic collapse where six wickets tumbled for 28 runs in the space of 52 deliveries.

Jonathan Carter (3), trying to cut one too close to him, was bowled by Sewell at 121 for three in the 27th over and Test star Roston Chase was lbw without scoring to a full-length ball from Campbell in the 28th over with a

single run added.

Scorpions then struck the killer blow in the 30th over when Campbell had Brathwaite bowled playing on, trying to steer a delivery late.

Rocking at 129 for five, there was to be no recovery despite Nurse’s cameo 26 and captain Jason Holder’s 20, as Scorpions clinically scythed through the lower order.

SCOREBOARD SCORPIONS +C Walton b Nurse 58 S Taylor c Warrican b Nurse 45 J Blackwood b Holder 32 A McCarthy c and b Warrican 8 D Thomas c (sub) Brooks b Cummins 65 J Campbell c Brathwaite b Nurse 3 R Powell c (sub) Brooks b Cummins 23 D Sewell lbw b Cummins 1 *N Miller not out 1 G Brown not out 0 Extras: (b4, lb7, w6, nb2) 19 TOTAL: (8 wkts, 50 overs) 255 Did not bat: R Leveridge.

Fall of wickets: 1-99, 2-127, 3-140, 4-172, 5-178, 6-242, 7-252, 8-253.

Bowling: Cummins 5-1-39-3 (w3, nb2), Holder 10-0-47-1 (w1), K Brathwaite 9-0-54-0, C Brathwaite 5-0-27-0 (w1), Nurse 10-0-38-3 (w1), Warrican 10-131-1, Chase 1-0-8-0.

PRIDE K Brathwaite b Campbell 52 K Stoute c Campbell b Brown 1 +Shai Hope c Powell b Campbell 56 J Carter b D Sewell 3 R Chase lbw b Campbell 0 S Dowrich c Powell b Sewell 7 *J Holder c wkp Walton b Campbell 20 C Brathwaite c Miller b Sewell 1 A Nurse c Sewell b Miller 26 J Warrican c Sewell b Miller 0 M Cummins not out 0 Extras: (b4, w10, nb1) 15 TOTAL: (all out, 40.2 overs) 181 Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-118, 3-121, 4-122, 5-129, 6-137, 7-146, 8-171, 9-179, 10-181.

Bowling: Leveridge 5-0-19-0 (w7), Brown 5-1-21-2 (w2), Miller 9.2-0-36-2, Powell 1-0-12-0, Sewell 10-0-46-3 (w1), Campbell 10-0-43-4.

Result: Scorpions won by 74 runs.

Argentine striker Lucas Pratto joins Sao Paulo (REUTERS) - Sao Paulo have signed Argentine international striker Lucas Pratto from Brazilian rivals Atletico Mineiro, the club said yesterday.

The 28-year-old centre forward signed a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Sao Paulo will be his ninth club in 10 years.

“We are bringing one of the best strikers on the continent, a starter with Argentina and possibly one of the stars of the next World Cup,” Sao Paulo’s president Carlos Augusto de Barros e Silva said.

Pratto’s defection to a club who acknowledged their need for a regular goalscorer came just hours after their city rivals Palmeiras signed Miguel Borja from Colombia’s Atletico Nacional on a five-year deal.

Borja, 24, was one of the outstanding players in a season in which Atletico reached the final of both the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana.

Both players are ex-

pected to make their debuts in the Sao Paulo state

championship that got underway last week.

Red Force beat Under-19s by 182

TRINIDAD and Tobago Red Force defeated West Indies Under-19s by 182 runs, in their Group A game of the Regional Super50 at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium yesterday.

SCOREBOARD RED FORCE innings K. Hope c Springer b Bishop 70 K. Ottley b Bishop 27 N. Alexis c Royal b Kallicharan 14 J. Mohammed c Paul b Spencer 84 D. Ramdin not out 60 R. Primus run-out 13 R. Emrit not out 4 Extras: (b-4, lb-3, w-10, nb-1) 18 Total: (4 wkts, 50 overs) 290 Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-97, 3-171, 4-263, 5-285.

Bowling: McCoy 5-0-31-0 (w-3), Spencer 6-0-55-1 (w-5), Paul 101-47-0 (w-1), Bishop 10-1-41-2 (w-1), Royal 8-0-37-0, Kallicharan 5-0-36-1 (w-1, nb-1), Patrick 6-0-36-0.

UNDER-19s innings S. Brathwaite lbw b Cottrell

17

B. Yadram c Hope b Primus 3 E. Stewart c wkp. Ramdin b Pierre 20 K Paul b Cottrell 5 S. Springer b Pierre 7 K. Kallicharan c Mohammed b Pierre 16 J. Bishop c Imran Khan b Jaggesar 2 J. Royal c Alexis b Imran Khan 12 O. McCoy c Imran Kahn b Jaggesar 14 J. Spencer not out 1 M. Patrick injured out Extras: (lb-2, w-9) 11 Total: (all out, 29.2 overs) 108 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-40, 3-51, 4-59, 5-76, 6-79, 7-79, 8-98, 9-108.

Bowling: Cottrell 6-0-28-2 (w-4), Primus 6-0-31-1 (w-5), Pierre 7-4-6-3, Jaggesar 8.2-0-32-2, Imran Khan 2-1-9-1.

Result: Red Force won by 182 runs.

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 11, 2017

GASA launches Goodwill Swim Meet

By Tamica Garnett

THE Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) last Wednesday evening officially launched the XXIII Goodwill Swim Meet, which will be held from August 18 to 21, at the National Aquatic Centre in Liliendaal.

Dubbed the biggest participation to date, over 200 swimmers from six other countries are expected to arrive in Guyana to participate in the flagship annual short course meet.

The swimmers will come from the meet’s core countries - Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Barbados, and St Lucia - while Bahamas and Grenada will be participating based on invitations extended by Guyana.

Wednesday night’s ceremony, held at the Pegasus Hotel, featured the unveiling of the logo for Goodwill 2017, which was done by Guyana’s top performers at last year’s Goodwill Swim Meet, Danielle and Jadyn George. All those who participated in the logo competition were presented with participation certificates.

There was also the presentation of an honorary plaque to former GASA ex-

GASA president Ivan Persaud makes an address at the launch of Goodwill 2017. Sitting at the head table are Alex Graham, Director of Youth Trevor Williams and Director of Sport Christopher Jones. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

ecutive Charles Corbin, who was hailed as one of the pioneers of Goodwill, and his dedication to swimming in Guyana over the years.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones was on hand to pledge the National Sports Commission’s support for the Goodwill Swim Meet.

“As GASA prepares to host the Goodwill Meet in August 2017, the National Sports Commission is here

to say to you, and the executives that we stand ready and willing to support and to ensure the successful hosting of these Goodwill Games,” Jones said.

Jones mentioned that the NSC is always open towards sports development.

“With this new administration there is no need to beg,” Jones declared, as his statement was met with resounding applause from the

audience.

National coach Sean Baksh said that swimmers representing Guyana will soon be a part of a training programme.

Baksh is confident that Guyana will be able to field a full team at this year’s event, with the aim to improve on their records.

Over the years Guyana has failed to shine at the regional meet, in most cases

because of the unavailability to field a full team.

The Rules allow for each participating country to enter a maximum of 40 swimmers.

Guyana, on the other hand, usually struggles with

the quota, notwithstanding the fact that the numbers have been increasing over the years.

In several cases funding is a highly restrictive factor, while at other times Guyana does not have a sufficient supply of swimmers.

However, GASA president Ivan Persaud during his address on Wednesday indicated Guyana has seen immense improvements over the past few years.

“When I first started in 2013 we had 56 competitive swimmers, now we have almost 300 competitive swimmers. We now have to think about increasing the length of the swimming championships from three and four days to five days, because of the amount of swimmers we have. We have included all of our regions in swimming,” Persaud informed.

Director of Youth, Trevor Williams, spoke on behalf of Minister for the Department of Culture, Youth and Sports Nicolette Henry who unfortunately could not attend.

Windies to win big in newly revised Guyana to attend Islamic ICC financial model Solidarity Games in May

By Tamica Garnett

THE Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) will be sending a team in excess of 20 athletes from six different sporting disciplines to participate in this year’s Islamic Solidarity Games, which will be held from May 12 to 22 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Currently the GOA is looking at 24 athletes from the sporting disciplines of taekwondo, judo, swimming, athletics, table tennis and boxing.

“We’re hoping to send a team of about 24 persons, overall. We are getting some tickets from them (organisers of the games), and then we have to look after the rest,” GOA president K. A Juman-Yassin disclosed earlier this week.

Chef-de-Mission for the contingent will be Guyana

GOA president K. A. Juman-Yassin Taekwondo Association (GTA) president Ramjeet Ramphal.

The athletes will be ultimately selected by the associations of the respective disciplines. The respective associations have already submitted their long list of potential athletes.

Athletes do not have to qualify to participate at the

quadrennial event. The associations will later in the year be contacted to submit their shortlisted athletes when the final number of athletes for each discipline is ironed out.

However, Yassin indicated that he is already in the process at looking at athletes’ allocation for the respective disciplines.

“We can’t take up all the spaces, for example boxing has ten divisions, but we can’t send all ten, most likely two or three. Table tennis, we might probably send a female team of three; ideally it is supposed to be four.

Taekwondo may be one; judo may be one, track and field - we’re still working that out. We’re hoping Troy Doris will be there, most likely Winston George will go, (but) the AAG will have to decide,” Yassin pointed out.

At this time Guyana

has two silver medals and a bronze from the Games. This year’s hosting will mark the third successful convening of the Games.

At the last hosting in 2013 in Indonesia, the two silver medals were won by Winston George in the men’s 200m and 400m. In 2005, at the inaugural games held in Saudi Arabia, national record holder Onan Thom won bronze for his performance in the men’s 50m backstroke.

Events from 18 respective sport disciplines are contested at the international event.

The elite athletes of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, which has 57 member states, participate in the Games. The Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) is the organisation that is responsible for the direction and control of the Games.

(SPORTSMAX) C r i c k e t We s t I n d i e s could be among the biggest beneficiaries of the newly revised International Cricket Council (ICC) financial model.

Under the previous model which was implemented in 2014 and prioritised cricket’s big three (India, England and Australia) in terms of revenue share percentage the West Indies would have received 3 . 1 8 % o f t h e I C C ’s revenue.

Wi t h e a r n i n g e s t i mated to be somewhere between US$2.5 billion to US$3 billion for the next eight years that figure would have amounted to around US$81 million.

The new model floated by ICC chief Shashank Manohar and already voted on by

the ICC Board members at a recent meeting would see the share of West Indies and other member nations like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa and New Zealand move to approximately US$100M to US$115M. The move was vehemently opposed by the Board of Cricket Control India (BCCI), who will turn out to be the biggest losers in the affair, despite still earning the most.

The restructured revenue share would see the BBCI’s share fall from 22.9% to somewhere around 10 to 10.2%. The decrease could represent losses of around US$180-US$190 million. The ICC is expected to pass the resolution during its April Board meeting.

Guyana to attend Islamic See story on Page 39 Solidarity Games in May

New man Mohammed promises inclusivity

See story on Page 34

L-R: Committee member Paul Jiwanram, assistant secretary/treasurer John Bennett, GMR&SC office executive Desiree Lee, secretary Azim Jaffar, treasurer Noel Shewjattan, Committee members Kamal Seebarran and Diana D’Ornellas, president Rameez Mohammed, vice-president Hansraj Singh, committee member Azaad Hassan, technical adviser Brian Ten Pow, club captain Sunil Persaud and office executive Cheryl Gonzales.

Cameron, Nanthan only nominees

MOPH/Petra/Milo U-18 tournament

Milo Under-18 action commences today, with four games at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue in Georgetown.

Defending champions Chase in action on opening day

FOUR matches are set to mark the opening of this year’s Petra Organisation’s Milo-sponsored Under-18 schools football tournament today, at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue in Georgetown.

The Bishops’ High School will open this y e a r ’s c h a m p i o n s h i p against St Winefride’s

Secondary at 11:00hrs.

Game two will be contested between St Rose’s High and Houston Secondary from 12:30hrs, while North Ruimveldt Secondary and St Joseph High School clash in game three. The day’s final game pits defending champions Chase Academy against Freeburg Secondary.

The 32-team competition will see the winners cart off $500 000, second-placers $300 000, third-placers $200 000 and fourth-placers $100 000 in projects for their respective schools as well as individual prizes.

The six-week tournament will hold matches on Saturdays and Sundays.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Current President and Vice President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Dave Cameron and Emmanuel Nanthan will be the only candidates for the election, due on Saturday, March 4.

The Corporate Secretary Verlyn Faustin, confirmed that Cameron and Nanthan were the only two nominees received for the posts of president and vice-president respectively.

Both Cameron and Nanthan have already served two-year terms in the respective positions.

The posts will be ratified at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) also due on the same day. The elections and AGM are scheduled for Antigua.

The President’s Report and the Audit Risk and Compliance Report (ARCC) will be received at the one-day meeting. The ARCC Report will be an update on the risk and compliance environment of the WICB. The full meeting will consist of territorial board stakeholders and special members. The Directors of the Board have been invit-

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

ed to attend the AGM. The special members are the West Indies Umpires Association, West Indies Players Association, CARICOM, Association of Colleges and Tertiary Institutions, Association of Caribbean Media Workers and the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce.

The meeting will be streamed

live on www.windiescricket.com and is scheduled for a 09:00hrs start.

The meeting falls on the day between the first two one-day-internationals (ODI) between the West Indies and England, March 3 & 5 in Antigua. The third ODI is scheduled for Barbados March 9.

Dave Cameron and Emmanuel Nanthan poised for third terms.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2017