Guyana chronicle e paper 02 15 2017

No. 104824 WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2017

Price: $80

US$31M to stop blackouts (VAT Inclusive)

…GPL announces plans to build four new substations

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Region needs bigger terminals Page 4

––Pres Granger tells opening of St Vincent US$259M airport President of Guyana and Chairman of Caricom, David Granger is being escorted by St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves, moments after landing at the spanking new Argyle International Airport terminal. Also in photo are: Caricom Secretary General, Irwin LaRocque and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge

‘You’re out Term limit ruling Banks DIH hikes of place’ pushed back prices for beverages -AFC flays Mayor for Page 8

Page 13

attacking Duncan

Page 3

… AG maintains Chang’s decision flawed

… as environmental tax on non-returnable bottles takes effect

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US$31M to stop blackouts

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

… GPL announces plans to build four new substations

FOLLOWING the recent spate of unscheduled blackouts, the Guyana Power and Light Company Inc (GPL) said it will be expending US$31M for the construction of four new substations Chief Executive Officer (ag), Renford Homer, made this disclosure during a site visit at the junction of Lamaha Avenue and Vlissingen Road, where the feeder supplying electricity to Queenstown and environs kissed Sunday last causing a massive malfunction in the system. Maintenance was done and a high voltage line was dropped to prevent any reoccurrence.

As such customers can expect less power outages. Homer said a second transmission line will be built linking Kingston

substation to the Sophia substation for redundant purposes and additional loads that may occur within the system.

At the site Tuesday also was Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson and GPL officials.

Homer said the new sub stations will be located at Wales, West Bank Demerara, Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, Williamsburg, Corentyne and Hydronie, East Bank Essequibo.

He explained that the six substations already within the system will be expanded to produce better voltage stability and reduce technical loses because power would be travelling across shorter distances.

Ministers David Patterson and Annette Ferguson inspecting the high voltage power lines that kissed at the junction of Lamaha Avenue and Vlissingen Road, causing a massive malfunction in the GPL system “This is a continuation of what was started under the Chinese infrastructure programme which was a US$40M programme

that concluded in 2014 and now we will be entering phase two,” the state owned Power Company CEO said.

In explaining what occurred Sunday last that resulted in load shedding, the CEO said the Interconnected System experienced a shutdown following a system overload that started at the junction of Lamaha Avenue and Vlissingen Road which affected the power supply to Queenstown, Alberttown and environs.

Following the shutdown, restoration efforts commenced and given the reoccurrence, and potential damage to the network, a comprehensive examination of the high voltage corridor was conducted.

This examination, he said revealed a fault in the 69kv transmission line linking Sophia to Kingston. Consequently, a load shedding exercise was necessary as a result of the de-energizing of the affected 13.8kv feeder and the 69kv transmission line. Customers along the East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara, West Bank Demerara and Georgetown were affected by this exercise.

Minister Patterson said tenders will be opened to construct an alternative line so that in the future if the main line that feeds the Sophia substation goes down then there can be a backup. “This is what we inherited and what we are addressing…the system is made to protect itself so if there is a problem it shuts down. The crew was dispatched on Sunday night literally with torchlights starting from Kingston walking the entire stretch looking for the problem which was quite difficult,” the Minister said.

He said that the issue is not one of generation but one of a systematic upgrade.

Term limit ruling pushed back

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

… AG maintains Chang’s decision flawed

CHANCELLOR of the Judiciary, Carl Singh, has pushed back his ruling on an appeal against a decision by former Chief Justice, Ian Chang back in 2015 to scrap presidential term limit here.

His ruling was initially scheduled for today, but the acting chancellor has indicated that he will now hand down his decision next Tuesday. Justice Singh is due to retire around the same time.

Chang’s ruling was appealed by then Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman and current Attorney General, Basil Williams.

The case has generated wide interest since if the Court of Appeal upholds Chang’s ruling it can pave the way for Bharrat Jagdeo- whom many believe was behind the initial motion to challenge the constitutionality of presidential term limit-something which he had signed into law-to run for a third term.

Williams who made submissions in the case recently is maintaining that the ruling by Chang was flawed and should be struck out. Last month, Justice Singh began hearing the appeal against the decision of Justice Chang that scrapped the presidential term-limits and granted leave to the appellants: Williams and Trotman to submit their submissions in writing.

Just before the 2015 General and Regional Elections, Cedric Richardson, a resident of Georgetown had challenged the Amendments to Article 90 of the Constitution that were enacted in 2001 af-

ter the bipartisan Constitution reform process; that amendment placed term limits on presidents.

Justice Chang subsequently ruled that the presidential term limit was unconstitutional without the approval of the people through a referendum. He also ruled that persons who have become Guyanese citizens by virtue of registration can run for president.

Article 90 of the Constitution states: “A person elected as President after the year 2000 is eligible for re-election only once,” and clause (3), which states, “A person who acceded to the presidency after the year 2000 and served therein on a single occasion for not less than such period as may be determined by the National Assembly, is eligible for election as President only once.”

VOID AB INITIO However, Williams in his submission made earlier this month contends that the application made by Richardson is void ab initio as the applicant through his attorneys Shaun Allicock and Senior Counsel, Douglas Mendes has based his application on Act No.17 of 2001.

“However, the firstnamed appellant/ defendant notes that there is no Act No.17 of 2001 and will therefore contend that the application is void ab initio. The first-named appellant/ defen-

dant will further contend that this is a fatal flaw in the originating summons and should have resulted in its dismissal at first instance.”

Williams also argued that the alteration of Article 90 by the provisions of Act No. 17 of 2000 was not unconstitutional as Article 90 deals with the qualifications of a presidential candidate both

Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh before and after the alteration.

Act No. 17 of 2000 also altered article 90 by the correct procedure under Article 164 (2) (b) of the Constitution, he submitted.

“The aforesaid article was altered in accordance with article 164 of the constitution which provides that a Bill for an Act of Parliament to alter this constitution shall not be passed by the National Assembly unless it is supported at the final voting in

the Assembly by the votes of a majority of all the elected members of the Assembly.”

As such Williams argued that based on the provisions of Article 164 (2) (b) of the constitution permits alterations to Article 90 of the Constitution once it is done in line with the prescribed procedure. “This procedure requires that it be passed in Parliament with a two-third majority and referred to the electorate for a referendum vote. However, the proviso further states that the use of the referendum vote is not required if the alteration does not affect Articles referred to in Article 164 (2) (a).”

Williams who is also the first named appellant in the case contends that Article 90 encompasses limitations or restrictions on who can qualify to be a candidate for president.

Williams as a result contends that the qualifications of a presidential candidate is not “part of the basic structure of our Constitution and in fact forms part of the section of Article 164 (2) which can be amended without resorting to a referendum vote once it does not alter articles referred to in Article 164 (2) (a).”

Additionally, the Attorney General in his submission said that the electorate is required to select the list which has been presented to them and it is for the political party and not the voter to select who the presidential candidate will be. “The voter is obliged to vote for the party list which is deemed to be a

vote for the identified presidential candidate. It is not for them to choose who is to be placed on the list.”

As such he argues that the electorate has “no democratic right to choose who will become the presidential candidate their right is to vote for the party list of their choice” while noting that the former acting Chief Justice failed to address the electoral system of Guyana in his decision. He also submitted that Act No.17 of 2000 is not ultra vires the Constitution as the alteration referred to above was done in compliance with Article 164 (2) (b) of the Constitution.

The Act he argued did not alter or change any of the provisions of Article 164 (2) (a) of the Constitution as is alleged by the plaintiff.

Meanwhile, Senior Counsel Williams argued that Richardson through his attorneys also failed to show how his democratic rights or his right to exercise his democratic rights have been affected by the alteration to Article 90.

“The appellant/ defendant will therefore contend that the respondent/ plaintiff has not established that he has an interest or right which is affected nor has he established that he is acting on behalf of parties who have an interest or right which is affected. In the circumstances, the appellant/ defendant will contend that the respondent/plaintiff has no locus standi to bring this action.”

Addressing whether an

originating summons is the appropriate process for instituting these procedures the Attorney General contends that the respondent/ plaintiff chose to invoke the Constitutional jurisdiction of the court by way of an originating summons and believes that the respondent/plaintiff has to establish that there is a statute or rule of court which permits him to bring the application by way of originating summons.

“It is therefore respectfully submitted that the respondent/plaintiff has not established the legal requirements to bring this application by way of Originating Summons and in fact ought to have approached the High Court for Constitutional relief by way of Writ of Summons since it is not an allegation of a breach of a fundamental right.”

Dead: Fred Egerton

Shimoon Khan

Attorney General, Basil Williams

Guyanese killed in NJ smash-up A GUYANESE man and woman were killed Sunday night in an accident on the New Jersey Turnpike, authorities said.

Fred Egerton, 64, was driving northbound in a

2012 Nissan Altima, when it struck the guard rail, and spun into the path of a tractor-trailer, New Jersey State Police said.

Both Egerton and his passenger, Shimoon Khan,

52, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the 2016 tractor trailer was uninjured in the crash, which occurred around 6 p.m. near mile post 119. The incident

caused the northbound lanes of the Turnpike to be closed.

The accident is still under investigation, State Trooper Lawrence Peele said. (NJ.Com)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Region needs bigger terminals --President says at opening of US$259M airport in St Vincent

CHAIRMAN of Caricom, President David Granger, said it was time regional governments invest in bigger aerodromes and terminals as this would not only give Caribbean countries a competitive edge in the international aviation sector, but will also bring its citizens closer.

President Granger made the remarks while delivering an address at the opening of the Argyle International Airport, St Vincent and the Grenadines in his capacity as Chairman of Caricom on Tuesday.

The US$259 million airport has a runway that is 9,000 feet long and 150 feet wide.

The terminal building has been designed to process 1.5 million passengers annually and 800 people an hour at peak.

President Granger said St Vincent and the Grenadines, like most Caribbean countries, is classified as a small-island developing state. He said smallness, in the international community, has come to be considered, conventionally, but not necessarily correctly, as a constraining factor to development. Small states have been

President of Guyana and Chairman of Caricom, David Granger is being escorted by St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, after landing at the spanking new Argyle International Airport terminal

associated with limitations on: attractiveness for investment in physical infrastructure; and competitiveness, owing to the diseconomies of scale.

He said investments in infrastructure in small states, however, are vital to increasing the competitiveness of their goods and services and reducing

production and transport costs.

“We belong to the Caribbean – a unique zone on earth. Our Region comprises, mainly, of a chain of 7,000 cays, islands, islets and reefs in 2,640,000 km² of sea. We are small and scattered. Our geographical size, however, must not limit our national economic ambitions and our citizens’ personal quality

of life,” the President declared.

He said small can be beautiful, bountiful and, of course, delightful. “Small states can overcome constraints to their development by leveraging their natural assets through capital investment and physical infrastructure.”

The Guyanese leader quoted the St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Tourism Authority report

that almost three out of every five stay-over arrivals were from North America and Western Europe. “Most of the ‘pre-Argyle,’ stay-over arrivals did not enjoy direct flights to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. They would have had to transit through other countries, adding to their travelling costs and increasing their inconvenience,” President noted.

He said the international tourism industry is very competitive, noting that small states must take steps to reduce the cost and inconvenience of airline travel if they are to retain the comparative advantage of their tourism product and remain globally competitive.

“Investments in infrastructure help small states to improve the competitiveness of their services. Investments in longer aerodromes and larger terminals capable of facilitating more frequent flights with bigger aircraft can boost the competitiveness of their tourism products. The Caribbean welcomes the construction of the Argyle International Airport. It is expected to enhance the Vincentian ‘brand’ and add significantly to Vincentian infrastructural stock. It is expected to make travel from this country’s major tourism markets easier, cheaper and faster,” Granger who is also chairman of Caricom said.

Fragmented region President Granger said European colonial rivalry created a fragmented Region of sovereign small-island and mainland states.

He said the sea that separates the islands and washes the shores of the mainland states must become, increasingly, a source of convergence rather than collision and confrontation. “We have forged a community of small, sovereign states from this legacy of fragmentation and physical separation over the past forty-four years. Caribbean integration is actively being achieved by: constructing institutions to improve cooperation and coordination; facilitating the freer movement of capital goods, people and services; widening contacts among our academics, artistes, investors, sportsmen, students and tourists; and, spanning the sea that, historically, has separated us.”

According to President Granger infrastructure, particularly transportation infrastructure can help to reduce our physical separation and bring the small states of our community closer together. Infrastructure is the means through which we can intensify the contacts among our people, increase intra-regional trade and help us to integrate our economies.

He congratulated the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the completion of the Argyle International Airport and said that Guyana and Caricom look forward to this international airport’s boosting the development prospects of St Vincent and the Grenadines and deepening the integration of the Caribbean Region.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Crime costs region US$261B annually-IDB study A study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) estimates the direct annual cost of crime and violence in Latin America and the Caribbean at US$261 billion or 3.55 percent of GDP – roughly what the region invests on infrastructure and double the average cost for developed countries.

It is also the equivalent income for 30 percent of the poorest population, underscoring the grave development impact violence has on the region. The Costs of Crime and Violence: New Evidence, New Revelations in Latin America and the Caribbean is a landmark effort to provide comparable crime costs numbers for 17 countries in the region, benchmarking them against 6 developed countries.

Crime and violence are at near crisis levels in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The region accounts for 9 percent of the world’s population but contributes nearly one-third of its homicide victims, making it the most violent region outside of war zones. Six out of ten robberies in the region involve violence and 90 percent of murders go unresolved. Its prisons are the most overcrowded in the world.

“Crime has reached

alarming levels in many countries,” said Ana María Rodríguez, the manager of the IDB’s Institutions for Development Department.

“By providing estimates of the costs of violence at the regional, sub-regional, and national levels, the study will help governments and international cooperation agencies better allocate resources, as well as design better policies to control and prevent crime.”

Crime-related costs are on average 3.55 percent of GDP in Latin America, compared with 2.75 percent in the US, 2.55 percent in the UK and 1.34 percent in Germany. If the region brings its crime costs down to the level of developed nations, it could increase its infrastructure investment by 50 percent.

The study breaks down the costs of crime into three parts.

• The social costs include lethal and non-lethal victimization and foregone income of prison populations: 0.64 percent of GDP • Private spending on security by business and households: 1.37 percent of GDP • Public spending, including the costs to the justice system, spending on police services and spending on prisons: 1.51 percent of GDP

According to the report, the estimates are conservative as they include mainly direct costs of crime: public and private spending on security and the social costs.

They do not include indirect costs such as changes in behavior due to fear of crime, or the impacts of crime on the health of persons. As a percentage of GDP, public spending on crime-related areas in Latin America and the Caribbean is similar to the level in developed economies such as the U.S. and the United Kingdom. However, spending is a much bigger portion of public budgets, and private spending on crime prevention is vastly superior to that in more developed nations, the study shows.

The study provides a greater level of detail on how uneven the crime phenomenon is in the region – and within countries. High-crime states in Brazil such as Alagoas y Ceará have costs and rates that mirror more those of Northern Triangle countries (Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras). Safer areas such as Bello Horizonte and Sao Paolo have numbers closer to Chile and Uruguay. The study has chapters that analyse crime costs in Brazil, the Northern Triangle and the Caribbean and breaks new

ground in calculating the direct costs of homicides as well as the foregone income of the victims of homicides (0.36 percent of GDP, or an annual average of $10.5 billion for the 2014-2015 period).

It also points out the steep costs of Latin America’s high incarceration rates. For the 2010-2014 period, the region spent $6.5 billion per year to maintain and build prisons.

On top of this, imprisoned

individuals forgo an additional $7.3 billion annually in income. The two numbers together amount to 0.39 percent of GDP, more than the conditional cash transfers for the region’s poor. The study also notes that countries that spend more on prisons do not necessarily reap the benefits of less violence. The Bahamas and El Salvador, for instance, spend large sums (in terms of GDP) on their penitentiary systems but suffer

from high crime rates. Argentina and Uruguay, on the other hand, have much lower incarceration costs and lower crime rates.

Costs of violence against women in Latin America and the Caribbean double the world average, and the study points to future avenues for more research on gender violence. The book includes chapters on cybercrime and organised crime.

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Editorial

THE CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) is an important element of the Region’s integration process, coming on stream after the establishment of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) in 1972 that harnesses the cultural resources. The main objective of the CSME is to establish a regional economy to produce goods and services for the marketplace, internal and external.

It is important to note that the CSME (established in 1990) has its genesis in the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) of 1965-1972, which in itself was established to facilitate trade among countries in the Caribbean. The Founding Leaders (Forbes Burnham of Guyana, Vere Bird Snr of Antigua, and Errol Barrow of Barbados) ought to be commended for such a vi-

The CSME

sion, even more so that within this period the countries were still colonies.

The CSME, while built on two major pillars, trade and economy, has seen constant progress being made by putting regimes and protocols in place to realise a single marketplace, in the absence of preparing the ground work for a single economy.

CARICOM (Caribbean Community) comprises of small countries, with the majority depending on tourism as the major economic activity; while a few, such as Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Suriname and Belize, depend largely on their natural resources as their economic base. A single economy requires the sharing and partnership in the development of each sector. For this sharing and partnership to be successful it needs a comprehensive regional plan to harness the potentials that the

region offers in every sector of development.

Early in the integration process ideas such as using the energy resources of Trinidad and Tobago and the bauxite from Jamaica and Guyana to be smelted and converted into aluminum has not evolved beyond an idea, depriving the region of the benefit of producing value-added to bauxite, which is one of the region’s primary natural resources.

Guyana and Suriname produce gold. Both countries, in addition to its local miners exploiting the resources, also have multinational companies operating in the sector. Beyond paying small royalties to the state and creating some employment and economic activities, much is left to be desired to convert the mineral to a level where the countries and region can benefit from value-added products. In fact, there is an absence of a jewellery industry, with the majori-

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams ty of gold being exported raw.

As the world marketplace impacts negatively on the price of sugar, one of the region’s oldest industries has suffered at the hands of developed countries and multinationals dictating what ought to happen. In the presence of foreign directive, the region, as a single unit, has not responded with a coherent plan that would address the industry in a holistic manner. Instead, regional leaders, even in the presence of CSME, which speaks to a single economy, has opted to address sugar as individual country rather than a collective. Arguably, there would be more to be derived through a single plan, involving collective action, which could have led to exploration among others, of a major confectionery industry indigenous to Caribbean foods, for regional and local consumption.

Each Head of Government has responsibility for a

Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

specific area in CARICOM. Guyana has responsibility for agriculture. For some time now the country has being touted as having the potential of being the breadbasket of the region. CARICOM was established with the best of intent to aid the development of the region’s peoples through the exploitation of the region’s resources. The Founding Fathers of CARICOM-Burnham, Barrow, Eric Williams (Trinidad and Tobago), and Michael Manley (Jamaica)- have provided the region with a vision, conceptualised a plan, laid the foundation through institu-

tions, and floated ideas as to how the region’s resources can be exploited in various forms.

With the departure of the founders, given results seen and perceptions- real or contrived- of the region’s peoples, it would not be an unfair assumption that some who have followed are yet to grapple with the importance of operating as a collective in the world, given our smallstate status, and develop an economic programme indigenous to the Caribbean to ensure realisation of the CSME.

President must do justice to Guyana’s Vendors’ union top judicial appointments must stand strong

Dear Editor

GUYANA’S top judicial positions-the offices of the Chief Justice and Chancellor are up for substantive appointments. Now that this unique opportunity has precipitately been presented to the present powers to make changes and usher in a new beginning in the administration of justice in our sovereign nation, the Judicial Service Commission, the President and Leader of the opposition must put petty differences aside, and grasp this opportunity.

Many expatriate Guyanese, especially judicial luminaries, who migrated to the Caribbean and have enriched the jurisprudential mosaic of these countries, should be recruited, encouraged and screened for these positions. A wide ranging notice of vacancies and public search must be

objectively implemented across the Commonwealth and Caribbean.

More importantly, bias, favoritism, pressure or the mere appearance of these disqualifying malaises, must be eradicated. Neither the Chief Justice or the Chancellor can have a spouse or other sibling who can be, or may appear to be, a conduit of undue influence, coercion or inducement that can disrupt the flow of the pure, untethered stream of justice, nor one that can superimpose his or her opinions on the thoughts, research and decisions of these seminal officers of the Court.

The case of Attorney-at-law Maxwell Edwards and Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards (Ag.), come to mind.

With the greatest respect for these individuals, I cite this example, not because of any perceived corrupt or improper acts or influence, but to mitigate the appearance

thereof. In any event, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards’ appointment to act as Chief Justice after Justice Ian Chang proceeded on preretirement leave was premature and contrary to the provisions in the Guyana Constitution, Article 127 (2) of the Constitution, and this unholy haste and constitutional flaw imperils any substantive appointment.

Indeed, the President must be reminded of the predecessors of these prestigious offices, and resolve to select, nominate and appoint jurists of the ilk of Sir Joseph Luckhoo, Sir Kenneth Stoby, J.O.F. Haynes, Keith Massiah, Victor Crane, and Chief Justice Kenneth George and others, and R v Sussex Justices, Ex parte McCarthy ([1924] 1 KB 256, [1923] All ER Rep 233.)

It is a leading case on the impartiality and recusal of judges. It is famous for its precedence in estab-

lishing the principle that the mere appearance of bias is sufficient to overturn a judicial decision. It also brought into common parlance the oft-quoted aphorism “Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done.” Our jurisprudence is rooted in the maxim, “Let justice be done, though the sky may fall,” and what Immanuel Kant said: “Let justice reign even if all the rascals in the world should perish from it.”

The days where a Judge can merely “concur,” without writing a respectable, independent decision, or proscrastinate for years to write an opinion of the most mundane of legal issues, or where a sauve, manipulative counsel or politician writes a Judge’s opinion, must be decidedly put behind us.

Regards Ganpat Singh

Dear Editor I HAVE been following the Georgetown City Council / vendors imbroglio over the past couple of months and the fearless defense of their right to survive in the land of their birth, by Eon Andrews- the President of their union.

I know that man as being one of Guyana’s Basketball Superstars in the 1970s and 1980s and as the person who was seen around Georgetown a few years ago, with a set of blackboards on which was posted pictures of more than four hundred young Guyanese of all races who were murdered or disappeared during the Jagdeo Presidency.

The Boards of Horrors demanding an enquiry into those atrocities.

It was during Andrews struggles for the hapless vendors that caused me to

remember who this man is and that City Hall was up against a very strong person. Andrews and his executives have their job cut out for them, but being Burnham-trained he obviously understands the challenges poor people face and by extension, poor party supporters than most of our modern day party leaders.

I am also sure that he understands that he is representing vendors who are afraid; gullible; selfish – with no care for others, as long as they feel that they are not affected; those desperately in need; and the switches who are allowed special privileges.

With all the adversities and obstacles the vendors Union obviously faces, stand firm and do not give up on them.

Regards Joel Alexander

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 15, 2017

City Constabulary needs to refocus Dear Editor, SOMETHING does not seem to make sense about the Georgetown City Constabulary. After years now we have heard them cry out that they are extremely short of staff, and that they are constrained in carrying out their duties as a result of this, and that they are unable to attract new recruits etc.

However, just like that, all of a sudden, they are quite comfortably able to reassign fifty constables, armed to the teeth, far more than one third of their staff

strength if we are to be guided by the numbers they put out, to be the enforcers of this parking meter project.

Maybe these are the house slaves Ifa Cush is talking about, trying to control the motorists who they see as the field slaves.

Do they consider this parking meter project to be of higher priority than the municipal markets where shoppers and vendors conduct business each day? Do they consider it a higher priority than their municipal locations where large sums of monies are col-

lected? Do they consider it a higher priority that the enforcement of the city’s bylaws? Or do they consider it a higher priority than stopping persons from being mugged on the streets?

I believe the City Constabulary needs to create a list of its priorities and then number them, as I doubt whether there has been a surge in recruitment leading to full staff strength. They are there to protect and to serve not to be henchmen to contractors and enforcers of special interests.

People are molested and robbed in and around our

Someone must be held accountable for Skeldon cogeneration plant woes Dear Editor GUYSUCO dropped another bombshell on the nation. It announced that that the 1st crop for 2017, at Skeldon Estate, will be suspended. The reason given by GuySuCo’s management is that Skeldon Energy Inc. (SEI) “informed” the corporation that the cogeneration plant is unsafe to operate. This reasoning sounds good. At face value, anyone would agree that it is a solid decision. In reality, GuySuCo has embarked upon a grand scheme to deceive this nation and justify its “close-down & sell-out” vision.

Editor, I will present some details to substantiate my claim and at the same time allow my fellow Guyanese to formulate their own conclusions being more informed. Firstly, SEI is not a foreign company. Like GuySuCo, it is owned by Government of Guyana, so SEI & GuySuCo have the same owner. Secondly, Skeldon ended operations in December 2016 and programmed its start-up for March 18th, 2017 giving the boilers and sugar factory 12-13 weeks of maintenance time.

Instead of capitalising on this time, SEI continued to operate the “unsafe” boilers in a poor manner with less

than competent staff after sugar operations ended. Why continue to operate the “unsafe” boilers? Why repairs were not planned to maximize on available 3 months or is such period too short?

We also recall that GuySuCo ceased operations in first week of December 2016 and incurred production losses to facilitate boilers inspection by “international experts”.

This confirms that GuySuCo & SEI knew about the magnitude of work since December 2016. GuySuCo’s CEO, Chairman & Management gloated about those findings in the press.

Thirdly, GuySuCo must have discussed its production schedule with SEI before February 2017, which would reason that SEI knew about GuySuCo’s intentions to start operations on March 18th, 2017. Why a sudden advisory from SEI about boilers being unsafe? Is it that these two companies are not communicating with each other or the two CEOs have been warming seats for the past weeks? Fourthly, Skeldon is projected to produce a meagre 8,871t sugar in 1st crop 2017. With crop suspension, production will now be zero; therefore, the industry’s target is now at 65,301t. This is the lowest ever in recent memory and must be an embarrassment

to Gov’t.

GuySuCo will cleverly argue that canes will be carried over to 2nd crop 2017 and sugar will still be made. While, it is true that canes can be carried over, it is also true that, as much 60% of sugar will be lost and this is being very conservative. A 60% sugar loss equates to 5,323t sugar or G$381,896,550 (using US$350/t sugar and US$-G$ at 205). Who will be held responsible for this loss of revenue to Guyana’s already sluggish economy? Can we afford this loss at this time?

If Government will not hold anyone accountable from SEI or GuySuCo for such spectacular failure in basic planning, costing the nation hundreds of millions, it confirms that SEI or GuySuCo, or both companies have a deliberate plan to drive Skeldon further into indebtedness to strengthen further a case for “sell-out” and at the same time reduce the Estate’s value to enable prospective buyers to pay few dollars for assets. My fellow taxpayers, this is our returns for paying the millstone management team at GuySuCo G$14.1M/ month.

Regards Sookram Persaud

markets on a daily basis and there is hardly ever a constable in sight, yet when the many booting exercises are being effected they are right there menacing and even arresting motorists as though they are criminals.

So will they use this as

an excuse once again to reengage without bidding, the private guard service that is affiliated to a serving Councillor from their municipality? Or will they use their notorious senior officer to fill the void left by these reassigned con-

stables giving him greater opportunity to terrorise vendors, persecute business persons and shake down citizens for the smallest of infractions.

Regards Anu Bihari

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

Banks DIH hikes prices for beverages … as environmental tax on non-returnable bottles takes effect

By Svetlana Marshall

WATER, carbonated beverages and all rums and liqueurs produced

by Banks DIH in non-returnable bottles have been increased by 10% to cushion the cost of

an Environmental Levy imposed by the Government.

The environmental levy of $10 per unit for non-returnable bottles took effect from February 1, 2017. However, products in returnable

bottles are not attracting the environmental levy but a bottle refund value.

These include the Banks Beer, GT Beer, Guinness, Vitamalt, Shandy, R1 Ice and Malta.

The implementation of this environmental

levy comes following the passage of the Customs (Amendment) Bill which paved the way for importers and local manufacturers of products using non-returnable metal, plastic or glass container to package any alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage to pay $10 per unit.

The amendment to the Customs Act was a result of a 2014 ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which resulted in Guyana refunding Rudisa Beverages and Juices N.V a total of $1.2B for environmental taxes collected from that company.

Rudisa had contended, and the court ruled, that the tax violated the rules of trading in the regional trade and integration bloc, CARICOM,

of which both Guyana and Suriname are members.

As such, it was viewed that collection of the Environmental Tax from CARICOM importers and not local manufacturers was a violation of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which guarantees the free movement of goods and prohibits import duties on CARICOM goods.

In defending the bill, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said it allows for the imposition of a broadbased, non-discriminatory environmental tax that will prevent a re-occurrence.

During that debate, the Finance Minister had argued that the environmental levy will not be passed down to consumers. “No one will be bearing this

cost if the particular container is returned, reused, recycled or re-exported.

They will get back their money,” Minister Jordan told the House.

He had said too that the measure forms part of the Government’s green agenda, and as such, seeks to protect the environment.

“One just have to look at the unsightly evidence of plastic, glass and other containers being disposed of in a haphazard and dangerous manner in Guyana, leading to clogged drains, canals, rivers.

These remind us of the damage and danger posed by this indiscriminate disposal,” he said.

He added: “when we protect the environment, we are protecting ourselves and the future.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

Why we should not be colour-blind

By Akola Thompson LAST week, I was once again reminded about why we need continuous conversations about race. I sat in a bus and listened as some women muttered under their breath that ‘everything is always race with those people,’ when they chose to go into a fuller bus rather than the one the tout was trying to put them in. Apparently, the tout felt slighted and had some words to say about how race influenced their decision.

It was an interesting conversation to listen to because it showed how the women were embracing “colour-blindness” philosophy while simultaneously laying bare their internal biases about other races and the stereotypes attributed to them.

I have always found the philosophy of colour-blindness to be much like the philosophy of communism. At heart, I want to be a colour-blind

socialist, but realism gets in the way of that. These two things are both rooted in ideological beliefs that too often do not take human agency into consideration.

In theory and at face value, colour-blindness is great. It posits that persons, regardless of race,should be treated equally but how exactly do we begin to do that without first dismantling the systems of oppression the coloured are subjected to? It is this ‘ideological-ness’ of colour-blind philosophy that is dangerous as it fails to take the reality of the world into consideration. Race, I know is too often something we brush off. It is something we are afraid to speak about in polite company because it might just offend someone. I grew up being acutely aware of race although it was not talked about.

I would listen and live through the experiences of cousins from other ethnicities because they gave me an understanding

of race relations and what it meant in our social context.

Colour-blindness I believe is a half-measure which is largely insufficient to heal racial wounds. It is akin to throwing a wet blanket over racism and pretending it does not exist. This in turn tends to encourage internalised racism and also discourages the learning of race issues and how we may be a part of the problem. While it is all well and good to tout race-neutral solutions to some of our problems, too often we fail to realise that what we in some instances need are race-specific remedies.

We don’t need to stop talking about race, we need to be more conscious of it and examine our privilege or lack thereof and how we are stymieing the conversation on it.

Colour-blindness can fall victim to rejecting and invalidating cultural heritages and unique experiences as race affects not only the perceptions one

has when they look at you but also the opportunities that may be available to one throughout their lives. The approach tends to individualize conflicts pertaining to race rather than addressing the systemic problem.

We can’t put a muzzle on race conversations because it is uncomfortable, we need to create an environment where these stories are heard and addressed. If you can’t find such an environment then create it and encourage others to create it too.

While it is good to strive for ideals, it is not always the best strategy even if you feel that you are not contributing to the inequality. Refusing to talk

about a powerful social reality does not make it disappear and I may be wrong but whenever I hear the narrative that race no longer matters, I automatically think they are saying that minorities now have equal rights, treatment and opportunities when that is not the case.

We need to get pass this belief that seeing race is a problem because it isn’t. What is the problem is when one makes decisions and assumptions based solely on one’s ethnicity or shade of colour.

I would like to think that I myself am not racist. I recognise that it exists and it is wrong but often I wonder and I try

to combat years of socialization by talking about it. Whenever my daughter asks about something pertaining to race, I talk about it and the facts surrounding it because that matters. She needs to know that seeing one’s race or culture is not bad, but judging them solely on that is.

She needs to know that it is perfectly okay to ask questions about it because not addressing the elephant in the room can see it subtly continuing to divide us.

As Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun famously wrote, “To overcome racism, one must first take race into account.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

City Hall, SCS engage business community on parking meter project

SEVERAL business owners within the city on Tuesday afternoon met with officials from the Georgetown Municipality and Smart City Solutions (SCS) to discuss the controversial parking meter project as many bemoaned the rates and the manner in which the project was implemented.

The meeting which lasted for close to two hours saw business owners calling on the council and SCS to improve the conditions under which the project has been implemented. In addition, business owners noted that the rates were their greatest concern. One Regent Street business owner noted that the clamping of car wheels

was one of several issues which the businesses were concerned about, noting that the move would deter shoppers from venturing into the city to shop.

Another business operator noted that the project should have been implemented via a less stringent process. SCS Director of Business, Amir Oren told

the business persons that the entity is examining several ways in which to amend the project. While noting that the project “is not here to make it difficult for business”, he

Councilor Oscar Clarke (standing ) makes a point during the meeting as Mayor Patricia Chase-Green (centre) and other officials look on. said that the company can propose a 50% reduction on the new rates to be announced shortly for business owners who wish to park

all day while the normal rate will apply for vehicles parked for short periods.

He said that another avenue which can be worked out is one in which businesses can apply for customer parking at a special rate. Amir said that over the past several weeks, staff of SCS have been facing “hostility” from the public as regards the project and according to him, the employees have been trained in how to undertake their jobs. He said that contrary to reports on social media, staffs do not receive incentives for the number of vehicles they clamp.

Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen expressed appreciation to the business owners, who number approximately a dozen, for their participation in the meeting. On Monday Chase-Green announced that by Friday, City Hall is likely to announce officially that the rates for use of the parking meters have been

slashed by half. This means that citizens will now pay $100 plus VAT per hour. As it stands before the official announcement, Chase-Green clarified that motorists are still required to pay for the spaces, but will not be booted if they overstay their time.

The Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM), has been consistent in its call for a revocation of the contract between the M&CC and Smart City Solutions, the company contracted to manage and operate the meters.

MAPM is protesting the lack of transparency with regard to the contract, the fact that there was no bidding process and the exorbitant fees attached to parking. The MAPM plans to continue its protest action against the project with another silent protest planned for Thursday, February 16, outside City Hall.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

Cummingsburg Accord laid foundation for national unity–Nagamootoo

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo has congratulated the APNU+AFC Coalition on the 2nd Anniversary of the signing of the Cummingsburg Accord, saying that the political pact between the two parties has laid the foundation for national unity.

In a statement on Tuesday,the Prime Minister said

parties and the Alliance for Change, is founded on the ideals of shared governance, inclusivity, partnership and mutual respect,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo said. Following the signing of the Cummingsburg Accord, the APNU+AFC Coalition was formed and it successfully ousted the PPP/C regime in the May 11, 2015 General

– the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

“The efforts that we have made over the last 18 months have been phenomenal, in terms of trying to make Guyana a law-governed country and to introduce due regularity into government’s business,” President Granger said, while speaking on his weekly televised programme

President David Granger and Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo that the historic Cummingsburg Accord, signed at the Georgetown Club on February 14th, 2015, has “laid the foundation for enduring national and political unity in Guyana.”

“On this second anniversary of the signing of the Cummingsburg Accord, we recommit to the fundamentals of the accord, specifically accountability, transparency and good governance.

The Cummingsburg Accord, signed between A Partnership for National Unity, comprising five political

and Regional Elections.

President Granger who is leader of APNU,also recently committed his party to the coalition between itself and the AFC. Last week while suggesting that the coalition government will have a second term in office, the President said Guyanese can expect greater progress in the coming years. He said since entering office in May, 2015, the coalition Government had been making significant strides in cleaning up the mess that was left by its predecessor

– In the Public Interest.

He said his Administration has the Herculean task of cleaning up the “mess” left by the PPP Administration, alluding to the controversial fibre-optic cable project and the ailing sugar factory.

The bungled Brazil-Guyana Fibre-Optic cable project, which started in 2011 under the PPP, was designed to improve internet access in the country and for the setting up a database hub for all government agencies.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

Anti-parking meter group wants project scrapped

By Telesha Ramnarine

MEMBERS of the Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM) have said that a mere reduction in the cost to park via the highly

controversial parking meter system in Georgetown will not suffice to solve the issues that have arisen.

The MAPM was formed

by Guyanese who share the same convictions regarding

the new system that has been implemented by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and Smart City Solutions (SCS).

“We are Guyanese united against parking meters! A

project forced upon us without consultation, due process of competitive bidding and evaluation,” explained the mostly social media group.

Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, on Monday announced that by Friday, City Hall is likely to announce officially that the rates for use of the parking meters have been slashed by half. This means that citizens will now pay $100 plus VAT per hour. As it stands before the official announcement, Chase-Green clarified that motorists are still required to pay for the spaces, but will not be booted if they overstay their time.

One member, Christopher Chapwanya, told this newspaper on Thursday that a mere reduction in fees and fines cannot effectively address the fact that the tender and procurement process was breached.

He pointed out that government did a review of the project and concluded that there are “serious” flaws within the contract.

“So there’s a high degree of lack of transparency of the contract, as the government review cited numerous flaws,” noted Chapwanya.

He said the Movement’s call for a complete revoca-

tion of the project, as opposed to just a reduction, is not only in keeping with the government’s findings but with those sentiments that have been expressed by the Alliance for Change (AFC) and other responsible members of the government.

Chapwanya said in his view, it is only the M&CC which seems to be pushing for the implementation of the project. “The Movement is not against parking meters but against the way this project was conceived and is riddled with corruption.”

Another MAPM Member, Marcel Gaskin, expressed concern about those employees who may be working in the city and must pay to park. He reasoned that if an employee should pay for nine hours of parking each day, this would amount to roughly $20,000 a month, and about 18 percent of an average employee’s salary.

“This is still extremely high as compared with the developed world. The reduction is not good enough; it’s just an attempt to appease people,” said Gaskin in an invited comment to this publication last evening.

He observed, too, that something seems wrong with the way business is being

done by SCS. “If the company had done its feasibility study, it would have been aware of the market and set its prices accordingly. But I can’t see how you can come down from $500 initially for an hour, to $200, then to $100.”

“So the Movement is not inclined to accept the reduction as a solution to the problem. There are still issues with the contract, lack of public consultation and a feasibility study, etc.” continued Gaskin.

In an earlier interview, he had told Chronicle: “We’re not accepting a reduction.

What we want to see is the feasibility study, the impact study, the due diligence of SCS and the evidence of the tender process that was done to select SCS. If they can’t produce these things, then we’re asking that the contract be revoked.”

He said the issue is not about fees alone, but deals with transparency and accountability.

The Movement will continue its protest in front of City Hall on Thursday at noon, and the mayor has been invited to answer questions from the public at St. Stanislaus College on Saturday at 3 pm.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

‘You’re out of place’ –AFC flays Mayor for attacking Duncan

–says secrecy has dogged “sordid” parking meter contract THE Alliance For Change has condemned Mayor Patricia Chase-Green’s upbraiding of her deputy, Sherod Duncan, saying that they have taken a dim view of the situation and noted that any attack on Duncan constitutes an attack on that party.

At a Monday statutory meeting at the Mayor and City Council, Chase-Green cited Duncan for creating civil unrest and also accused him of peddling misinformation to the public. “If it’s not your way, it’s no way. Let us be honest and fair Mr Deputy Mayor,” she said. The deputy mayor stood up to defend himself, but was interrupted frequently on points of order from the mayor. Duncan has been one of the first persons to oppose the parking meter deal brokered between the M&CC and Smart City Solutions.

In a strongly worded release, the AFC said it is both alarmed and disturbed by reports that the Mayor has sought to blame Duncan for “taking misinformation to the public on the parking meter contract, and causing ‘civil unrest.” “The party condemns, in the strongest possible terms, this unwarranted attack on Mr. Duncan.

The Party wishes to remind the Mayor that since August 15, 2016, it has been a matter of public record that on the issue of paid metered parking in Georgetown, Mr. Duncan is the party’s spokesperson and is fully endorsed by the party on this matter.”

According to the AFC, then party Leader Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, was reported

in the August 15, 2016 edition of the Stabroek News as stating, “Sherod is dealing with that (paid metered parking contract), he speaks for the party on that matter.”

Mr. Duncan continues to be the party’s spokesperson on this issue. Therefore, an attack on Mr. Duncan is, invariably, an attack on the AFC and the party takes a dim view of this and calls on the mayor to immediately withdraw her accusations, offer an unqualified apology, and take a more conciliatory approach towards resolving the issue of the widespread rejection of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC)/ National Parking Systems (NPS)/Smart City Solutions (SCS) indecent and oppressive contract.”

The AFC said it is unquestionably the initial and continued secrecy, lack of transparency surrounding the contract, the bad negotiating, lack of consultation with the people and poor implementation which are among the main reasons for the widespread rejection of the paid metered parking initiative.

It is the view of the party that it is in fact the Mayor, along with the Town Clerk and those who were secretly involved in negotiating and signing off on this sordid contract who must take responsibility rather than seek to cast blame elsewhere.

“On this the 2nd anniversary of the signing of the Cummingsburg Accord, the AFC reaffirms its commitment to the APNU+AFC Coalition and working towards achieving the good life for all Guyanese. The party howev-

affairs of the city.

However, the party called for the local government body to reconsider pertinent aspects of the Ministry of Finance’s review of the project and seek a second independent review of its contract with National Parking Systems (NPS)/

Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan er will not take lightly, disrespect and attacks such as that essayed by Mayor Green on its councillors, leaders or members. The AFC re-commits to continuing its work in the M&CC through its duly elected councillors and with all parties to ensure that the citizens of our capital city are afforded the best representation and services.”

Meanwhile, only recently the AFC called for the implementation of the project to be suspended until pertinent issues are addressed. “… with regard to the publicly expressed concerns, the party strongly implores the M&CC [Mayor and City Council] to suspend the implementation of this project…” the statement read. AFC said that it recognises the autonomy of the M&CC as the duly elected representatives of Georgetown and the M&CC’s legal right to regularise parking in Georgetown and raise revenue to better manage the

Fire stations for some hinterland communities RESIDENTS of three hinterland communities will soon begin benefitting from the services of fire stations. The Ministry of Public Security has begun the procurement process by inviting interested and eligible bidders to construct the fire stations.

The communities scheduled for the fire stations are Mabaruma, Region One; Mahdia, Region Eight and Lethem, Region Nine. The construction of the fire station in Mabaruma is estimated to cost $15M for the first phase.

Mahdia’s is slated to cost $35M and phase two for the Lethem fire station is estimated

to cost $19M. The construction of the fire stations in communities is a realisation of what is set out in the 2017 National Budget. This is the government’s way of ensuring that all Guyanese enjoy the good life by safeguarding their own lives and is part of the Guyana Fire Services’ Strategic Plan which seeks to modernise the fire service in its entirety.

In Mabaruma and Mahdia currently, there is an auxiliary fire service which kicks into action when the need arises.

(GINA)

Smart City Solutions (SCS) – the companies contracted to manage and operate the parking meters. On Monday Chase-Green announced that

by Friday, City Hall is likely to announce officially that the rates for use of the parking meters have been slashed by half.

This means that citizens will now pay $100 plus VAT per hour. As it stands before the official announcement, ChaseGreen clarified that motorists are still required to pay for the spaces, but will not be booted if they overstay their time.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

‘Put down the guns’

– says wife of Bartica Massacre victim NINE years after the Bartica Massacre, Debra Gilkes is calling on young people who are involved in criminal activities to lay down their guns.

“Put down the guns, turn to Christ, educate yourself and get a job,” was the simple advice offered by Gilkes. Gilkes’ husband was among the 12 persons who were gunned down on the night of February 17, 2008 – when a criminal gang led by the now deceased Rondel “Fineman” Rawlins, launched a vicious attack on the mining town. Edwin Gilkes was a security guard working at Banks DIH when his life was cut short.

Nine years after the horrendous act was committed, Gilkes said she is satisfied that justice has been served. “If you do the crime, then you must do the time,” she posited.

Earlier this month, Justice Roxanne George SC, sentenced Mark Royden Williams and Dennis Williams to death by hanging following two months of trial.

Mark Royden Williams called “Smallie” was sentenced to death for eight counts of murder while Dennis “Anaconda” Williams received the death sentence after the jury found him guilty of seven counts of murder. However, Roger Simon called “Goat Man” has been freed of involvement in the Bartica Massacre. More than 30 witnesses’ testified at the trial.

On Friday, a memorial ceremony will be held at First Avenue Bartica in memory of the nine civilians and three police officers who were gunned down by the heavily armed men. Those who lost their lives were Bartica residents Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian and Irving Ferreira; policemen stationed at the Bartica Police Station, Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne; Deonarine Singh of Wakenaam; Ronald Gomes of Kuru Kururu; Ashraf Khan of Middlesex, Essequibo; Abdool Yasseen, Errol Thomas of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and Baldeo Singh of Montrose, East Coast Demerara.

During the ceremony remarks will be delivered by Region Seven Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford, the Mayor Gifford Marshall and Commander ‘F’ Division, Senior Superintendent Ravindradat Budram, in addition to the relatives of the deceased.

Head of Friday’s ceremony, the Mayor told this newspaper that while the “trauma, emotions and pain are still alive nine years after, residents are comforted by the fact that justice has been served.

“While it remains a sad day in our history, we now have peace of mind, knowing that justice has been served,” Marshall posited. The Town Clerk, Phebe Wallerson, said “those bandits didn’t just take lives; they took our peace of mind, and though it took nine years, we are happy that justice has been served.”

The memorial ceremony is expected to be attended by local officials, school children and the relatives of the deceased.

Rawlins, according to the police, led the gang on the rampage in Bartica as well as the one that converged on Lusignan on January 26, 2008. Rawlins was killed during a joint services operation on August 28, 2008.

With his death and the arrest and prosecution of the five suspects, it appeared as though the police had closed their investigation.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

Body of estate worker pulled from Berbice River

THE body of Ramesh Seegolam, known as ‘Mickey’ was pulled from the Berbice River Tuesday morn-

ing after he reportedly drowned while swimming with friends on Monday.

This newspaper under-

stands that Seegolam, 30, of Pepper Street, Glasgow Village, East Bank Berbice, was employed by the Guyana

Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo,) and on Monday, he and three friends consumed alcohol before deciding to go for a swim.

However after the swim, the men claimed that they thought Seegolam had left the water, unknowing to them even though his clothing was left behind. His

mother, Usha Seegobin, said that villagers formed a search party last night in the hope of finding her son, but it was futile. The search party then placed a seine overnight in the water and this morning, the body was caught in the net.

The three friends remain in police custody as

Dead: Ramesh Seegolam investigations continue into the man’s death.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

Strategic plan to push Indigenous Peoples’ development

VICE President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs,Sydney Allicock,says his ministry is poised to achieve greater successes in 2017 as it gears up to roll out its Sustainable Development Framework Agreement (SDAF).

The framework agreement will serve as a roadmap over the next five years to assist the Ministry in enhancing the development of the nation’s Indigenous Peoples’ social, economic and environmental well-being.

According to Minister Allicock,this road map “will look at the areas that need strengthening which includes looking to acquire new staff. We have already secured positions for more CDO’s and Social Workers to help with things like support in the registration of Births and to help in identifying the communities’ concepts for sustainable

economic projects”.

This road map also takes into consideration Government’s manifesto and a10point Hinterland Development Plan which focuses on key areas for transformation.

Among them: improving the services to the Indigenous People, financial and other benefits, capacity building and establishing the infrastructure to support key activities.

The minister also cited the need for collaboration on several fronts,making reference to support from sister Ministries. “The need for better water supply, better agriculture needs and the type of technical persons from the various ministries that are needed,giving them that information so that collective planning could be done between the various ministries and communities”, he posited.

The Ministry’s Senior Statesman alluded to the fact

that the completion of the SDAF has had its fair share of challenges,noting “the situation is that we have staff that were from the previous administration and does things in a certain way that is not really compatible to Hinterland development that is the type of remote area operations. For the hinterland to develop we need to have persons on the ground who know the needs of the people and can bring that representation for inclusion in the planning to central”.

The plan,however, will soon be unveiled.

Meanwhile, as part of capacity building, thirteen Community Development Officers (CDO’s) participated in a three day training exercise on the proper use of the Global Positioning System (GPS). CDO’s are tasked with monitoring all village activities and projects, provide technical and other support as well as

address certain issues within their jurisdiction.

They were trained to document information accurately as well as the types of data that can be collected.

Additionally, in continuing to carry out its mandate to the indigenous people, the Ministry presented each CDO with state of the art technology including Lenovo Notepad, a mouse and a printer which will ensure reporting is done in a professional manner.

This is the first time the CDO’s have received a notepad and printer to effectively execute their duties. It must be noted that tremendous effort is being made by the incumbent administration to bridge

the gap between the Hinterland and Coastland. The Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister,who is also a conservationist,has on several platforms accentuated the vast potential that exists in the Hinterland.

“Now we need to see that potential evolve into the things that we believe in to make Guyana a better place… We have seen a number of NGO’s, a number of Governments the interest of giving us support that is so badly needed.We can only move the country forward when everyone has a clear idea of the direction that we would like to take”.

The Minister cited the timely dissemination of information which he noted is critical for the successful implementation of the SDFA. “It’s critical for unifying this country and to have a green econo-

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Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock my or strong economy we must have easy access to information that will help us to be able to plan better, represent better, implement better so that our economies can be strengthened.”

Some two hundred and fifteen villages and communities fall under the ambit of the MoIPA.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

Henry warns against porn sharing in schools … ministry to roll out response programme to tackle issue

MINISTER within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry, on Tuesday warned city students against engaging in sexual activities in

school and also chided those who shared pornographic materials of their colleagues on social media.

Prior to the launch of a

stakeholders’ response to addressing pornography and sexual activity in schools, Henry and a team of education officials on Tuesday

visited several city schools.

The schools visited were North Georgetown Secondary, St. Josephs High and Brickdam Secondary School.

Speaking to the students, the Minister said the intervention will be aimed at encouraging teachers and students to curb school-aged engagement in sexual activity and promote positive, responsible choices. Aside from encouraging them to avoid engagement

you are in school I am making it categorically clear that it is unacceptable for the person posting the video as well as the person taping and sharing the video. If you are sharing them; you are also doing something that is wrong… it is a misdemeanour and disciplinary action will have to be taken,” Minister Henry explained.

Noting the realities the minister further explained

ister was also very clear as she had done at the other two institutions, reminding the students of their responsibility to work towards positive personal and general development. “You are old enough to understand right from wrong and you are here to learn… most of you are good students and you don’t want to be painted with the same brush of negativity; understand that you have to inculcate positive

Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry, and other officials during the school visits in and sharing of materials containing such negative activity, the Minister advised that there are personal and broader consequences. “The Education Ministry will not tolerate this type of behaviour in schools…perpetrators will be dealt with firmly and will suffer the consequences,” Minister Henry warned.

“I want to see you make videos to help improve your school’s image towards excellence and not videos to put your school and uniform in disrepute as this will impact on the morale of all students attending your school,” the Minister declared.

At St. Josephs’ High the Minister implored the packed auditorium to understand that there are certain behaviours that are not acceptable. “If

that the Ministry of Education has to take action against those who took the pictures/ video and even those who shared them. The students were told that they must have boundaries and be guided by principles and Minister Henry encouraged them to question themselves when faced with negatives such as pornographic videos and photographs.

“Before you share anything on social media you must ask yourself a few questions–is it good? Is it necessary? Is it kind? And do I want to be involved? Importantly, such behaviour is covered in the school rules of which all the students were apprised of.”

At the Brickdam Secondary School now located in East La Penitence, the Min-

choices and actions that will impact upon your future… videos must go viral of you are breaking records and engaging in progressive actions not pornographic videos,” Minister Henry stressed.

In her stern warning the Minister noted, “Be informed, if you were part of the act, either as someone who shared the videos, you are just as guilty and will be dealt with through appropriate action to be taken by the Education Ministry shortly. Be responsible and stop sharing those videos! The Ministry of Education does not encourage nor will it ever tolerate such activities at any of our learning institutions nationwide.

We will be taking appropriate action against all involved,” the Minister said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

Around the Court

By Clestine Juan and Sherah Alleyne

Laing Avenue man remanded for drug possession A LAING Avenue man was remanded to prison on Tuesday by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, when he appeared before her charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and attempting to bribe a police officer.

The allegation stated that on February 9, 2017, Curtis Tom, 48, had in his possession 251 gramms of cannabis. It is also alleged that Tom, on February 9, at the Ruimveldt Police Station, corruptly offered to a police officer $300,000 to forgo the narcotics charge against him.

Police Prosecutor, Deniro Jones, objected to bail citing the gravity of the charges and the fact that no special reason was proffered. According to Jones the facts stated that the police conducted a search on the defendant’s house with a search warrant and found the illegal drugs in his room in the presence of his wife.

Jones added that Tom took responsibility for the drugs and a sting operation was set up where his wife brought the money for him.

The matter was adjourned until February 28.

Queenstown resident charged with obtaining money by false pretense A BUSINESSMAN was on Tuesday placed on $200,000 bail after he was charged with obtaining money by false pretense when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Sixty- two-year-old Harry Baptiste of Queenstown, Georgetown, denied the allegation which stated that between December 5, 2016 and January 11, 2017, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud Audrey Mootoosamy, he obtained $2,000,500, by falsely pretending that he was in a position to sell her land and property.

It was reported that Baptiste had indicated to the virtual complaint that he wanted to settle the matter, but Mootoosamy informed the court that the defendant had not come up with the money. Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones objected to bail. However Magistrate McLennan granted him bail in the sum of $200,000.

The matter was adjourned until February 27.

Haslington man on fraud charge A NORTH Haslington, East Coast Demerara, man was on Tuesday placed on $300,000 bail when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged with fraudulent conversion.

He was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. Twenty-six-year-old, Gerald Brown denied the allegation which stated that on February 8, 2017, at Lethem, Central Rupununi, being entrusted with 141 pennyweight of raw gold worth $ 1.6M, which he was to deliver to Roxanne Ramberson, he converted same to his own use and benefit. The facts of the matter were not stated, however, police prosecutor Deniro Jones did not object to bail.

Brown’s matter was transferred to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court for March 7.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Trump knew for weeks aide was misleading over Russia

U.S. President Donald Trump knew for weeks that national security adviser Michael Flynn had misled the White House about his contacts with Russia but did not immediately force him out, an administration spokesman said on Tuesday.

Trump was informed in late January that Flynn had not told Vice President Mike Pence the whole truth about conversations he had before Trump took office with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.

Pence learned of the “incomplete information” that he received from Flynn when news reports surfaced late last week, spokesman Mark Lotter said on Tuesday. Flynn quit on Monday after Trump asked for his resignation, and the president hopes to pick a new national security adviser by the end of the week, Spicer said.

The departure was another disruption for an administration already repeatedly distracted by miscues and internal dramas since the Republican businessman assumed the presidency on Jan. 20. U.S. lawmakers, including some leading Republicans, called for a deeper inquiry into not just Flynn’s actions but broader White House ties to Russia.

Trump has long said that he would like improved relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, said Trump only moved against Flynn because of news media attention, not concern about any wrongdoing. “The reason they lost faith or trust in General Flynn only last night when they knew for weeks that he had been lying was that it became public,” Schiff told MSNBC. A timeline of events outlined by Spicer and a U.S. official showed that Trump had known for weeks about Flynn misleading the vice president. Trump, a former reality TV star whose catchphrase was “You’re fired!” has often boasted of his eagerness to get rid of subordinates. He was not quick to fire Flynn, a strong advocate of a better relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) sits next to retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn (L) as they attend an exhibition marking the 10th anniversary of RT (Russia Today) television news channel in Moscow, Russia, December 10, 2015

with Russia and a hard line against Islamist militants.

The Justice Department warned the White House in late January that Flynn had misled Pence by denying to him that he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, a potentially illegal act, a U.S. official said. Flynn did talk about sanctions with the diplomat, whose calls were recorded by U.S. intelligence officials, the official said.

But Pence went on television in mid-January and denied that Flynn had discussed sanctions.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation interviewed Flynn in his early days as Trump’s national security adviser regarding his conversations with the Russian ambassador, a White House official confirmed. Spicer stressed that the administration believed there was no legal problem with Flynn’s conversations with Kislyak, but rather an issue over the president’s trust in his adviser.

The turning point, Spicer

said, was a Washington Post story published on Thursday in which Flynn, through a spokesman, said for the first time he could not say with 100 percent certainty that he had not discussed sanctions with Kislyak.

Spicer said the Justice Department sought to notify the White House counsel on Jan. 26 about the discrepancies in Flynn’s accounts.

“The White House counsel informed the president immediately. The president asked them to commit a review of whether there was a legal situation there,” Spicer told reporters, saying it was a “trust issue.”

Flynn’s conversations with the ambassador took place around the time that then-President Barack Obama imposed sanctions on Russia, charging that Moscow had used cyber attacks to try to influence the 2016 presidential election in Trump’s favour.

A U.S. official familiar with the transcripts of the calls with the ambassador said Flynn indicated that if

Russia did not retaliate in kind for Obama’s Dec. 29 order expelling 35 Russian suspected spies and sanctioning Russian spy agencies, that could smooth the way toward a broader discussion of improving U.S.-Russian relations once Trump took power.

LEGAL FALLOUT? Flynn’s discussions with the Russian diplomat could potentially have been in violation of a law known as the Logan Act, which bans private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments about disputes or controversies with the United States. There have been no modern prosecutions using the 1799 law.

“The Logan Act is a red herring. The better question is whether he made any false statements to the FBI at any point, which would be a much bigger deal,” said University of Texas law professor Stephen Vladeck, adding the fallout would likely be “political” in nature. Flynn could also face legal trouble

if it emerges that he violated other federal laws in his communications with the Russians, said Andrew Kent, a professor at Fordham University School of Law in New York. The Espionage Act criminalizes sharing information with foreign governments.

Democrats, who do not have control of Congress, clamored for probes into Flynn, and asked how much Trump knew about his connections to Russia.

U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for an investigation of potential criminal violations surrounding the resignation of Flynn. “What I am calling for is an independent investigation with executive authority to pursue potential criminal actions,” Schumer told reporters, saying such a probe could not be led by newly installed U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions or White House lawyers.

Two leading Senate Republicans, Bob Corker and John Cornyn, said the Intelligence Committee should

investigate Flynn’s contacts with Russia. But the highest-ranking Republican in Congress, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, sidestepped questions about whether lawmakers should look into Flynn’s Russia ties, saying he would leave it to the Trump administration to explain the circumstances behind Flynn’s departure.

A broader investigation of the White House and its ties to Russia is not possible without the cooperation either of the Justice Department or the Republican-led Congress. Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and Syria and Republican congressional opposition to removing sanctions on Russia make any White House attempt to embrace Putin problematic. Senator John McCain, a leading Republican voice on foreign relations, said Flynn’s resignation raised questions about the administration’s intentions toward Putin’s Russia.

(Reuters)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Couples in ‘Break the Silence Challenge’ awarded

The lucky couples before going on their Valentine’s date

THE Ministry of Social Protection on Tuesday held an award ceremony for winners of the Break the Silence Challenge.

The top three competitors won prizes for a valentine’s night dinner, each at one of Guyana’s leading dining establishments, the ministry said in a release.

The dinners are inclusive of a $5000 spending limit for drinks. The top three winners are all married couples.

In addition there were 10 consolation prizes.

The competition encouraged participants to make

a pledge to their partners not to abuse each other.

It is one of the Ministry’s more social attempts in the fight against gender-based violence.

In her introduction, Ms. Akilah Dorris, Head of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Unit, congratulated the couples and encouraged others to keep an eye out for more activities from the Ministry in an effort to raise awareness on the issue of domestic violence. Ms. Dorris posited “We know there are no perfect relationships and

every couple experiences challenges along the way, howeve, we know there are couples that would have overcome their challenges while maintaining healthy and happy relationships”.

According to the ministry,the competition saw a large amount of likes and shares, with competitors even tagging friends within the comments section of the various posts to gain more likes.

When asked what prompted her to enter the competition, Mrs. Husbands said that although she is

not a person who is very inclined to a lot of social media activity ,she thought it is a really good activity that the Ministry was promoting and she was convinced that she too needed to be an advocate. Mr. Husbands encouraged men to listen to, love and respect their spouse. Mrs. Johnson who copped second place, when asked about her message to couples, said that “your partner should be a part of you and hurting that person is just like hurting yourself”, she further stated “if you’re seeing red flags,

you should not stay in that relationship”. Mr. Johnson urged couples to be mature and said that arguments are healthy once dealt with in a mature and correct way.

First place winner,Mrs. Onwuzirike said that she entered the competition to assist in sending out a message against domestic violence. She encouraged couples to put God at the centre of their relationship and respect each other. Mr. Onwuzirike echoed the sentiments of his wife and said that it is important to communicate the message

of non-violence at all levels. Mr. and Mrs. Onwuzirike have been married for over 16 years.

In his closing remarks,Mr. Whentworth Tanner, Director of Social Services, chronicled the story of St. Valentine and said that it is an important example in showing that when you love someone you go out of your way to protect that person and not to harm them. He said that that is the message the Ministry has been trying to achieve.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

Digicel rewards customers in 10th Anniversary celebrations

DIGICEL Guyana on Tuesday,at its Kingston headquarters,rewarded 10 longstanding customers with cell phones, and 10 of their social media fans with their wishes in their “Name Your Wish” promotion.

Gifts for winners of the “Name Your Wish” promotions ranged from a laptop and washing machine to a “staycation”, and smart tv, while the most memorable of them all was a 53’ teddy bear.

The “Name Your Wish” was promoted exclusively on the Digicel’s Facebook page where fans had to download the application form, write their wish and submit pictures of them displaying their wish. Thousands entered, but only the lucky 10 made it.

The 10 loyal customers were selected by Digicel, based on persons who

The winners posing with the gifts at Digicel’s Kingston HQ yesterday would have been a customer with the company from its inception in 2007.

Yesterday’s activities culminated Digicel’s 10th

Anniversary celebrations that have been going on since the starting of the month beginning with donations to ten charities that

catered to the needs of the differently-abled. Digicel began operations here on February 14, 2007.

Meanwhile, Digicel

Marketing Manager, Jacqueline James, says the journey has been “phenomenal”.

“Oh Lord it’s phenomenal, it’s great, it’s wonder-

ful. I’ve been here since the first day, so it’s great to be here at ten [years later].

We’ve been here since 2007 and every year has been great, and this year it’s been even greater.” James said at yesterday’s presentation ceremony.

Aside from yesterday’s presentation, Digicel also held its annual anniversary sale which went on last Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, and saw customers flocking to selected Digicel locations as late as 3am.Customers were treated to gifts and slices of Digicel’s delicious anniversary cake.

In another across-theboard promotion,customers got 10 free minutes for every one minute that they talked on a call yesterday, the free minutes were valid for talk from 8pm last night to 6am this morning.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

Around the Court

By Clestine Juan and Sherah Alleyne

Potaro man remanded on attempted murder charge A MAN was on Tuesday remanded by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, when he appeared before her charged with attempted murder.

Forty- three-year-old Shawn Filiicenc, was not allowed to plead to the allegation that on February 11, 2017, at Ewang, Potaro River, with intent to commit murder he injured Manuel De Santos.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones objected to bail on the grounds that the virtual complainant is still hospitalised and is in a critical condition.

The prosecutor added that De Santos was stabbed to the neck several times. The prosecutor also stated that Filiicenc was once charged with murder, but the case was dismissed.

The matter was transferred to Mahdia Magistrate’s Court for April 18.

Nandlall challenges new VAT regime FORMER Attorney General and Executive Member of People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Anil Nandlall, has launched a legal challenge against the VAT Amendment Act which permits the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), to prohibit persons from leaving Guyana if they would have failed to pay their Value Added Tax (VAT).

In the legal matter brought against Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, Nandlall in his Affidavit is contending that the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act 2017, which was duly assented to by President David Granger, is contrary to and inconsistent with Articles 40 and 148 of the Constitution.

It was pointed out that Article 8 of the Constitution declares that the said Constitution is the supreme law of Guyana and, if any other law is inconsistent with it, that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.

“Articles 40 and 148 of the said Constitution guarantee to every individual subject, as a fundamental right and freedom, protection of freedom of movement, that is to say, the right to move freely throughout Guyana, the right to reside in any part of Guyana, the right to enter Guyana, the right to leave Guyana and immunity from expulsion from Guyana, inter alia,” Nandlall stated while quoting the constitution.

He maintains that contrary to the Constitution, the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act 2017, empowers and authorises the Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority, an agency of the State, to prohibit a person from leaving Guyana, whom the Commissioner-General has reasonable grounds to believe may leave Guyana without paying all taxes due under the said VAT Act. This can be done by the issuing of a certificate to the Chief Immigration Officer containing particulars of the Tax due, and request that the Chief Immigration Officer take the necessary steps to prevent the person from leaving Guyana until the person makes a payment in full or put alternative arrangements in place.

The former Attorney General is hoping to have Section 45(1) of the Value Added Tax Act, Chapter 81:05 as amended by Section 2 of Act No. 3 of 2017, Value Tax (Amendment) Act 2017 struck out.

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Driver accused of killing traffic cop to know fate on Friday GEORGETOWN Magistrate Leron Daly, is expected to rule on Friday on a no-case submission made on behalf of Ron Cole, the driver who is accused of causing the death of traffic cop, Nakosi ‘Kelvin’ La Fleur.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Bharat Mangru at the last court hearing had replied to the no-case submission

made by Cole’s attorney, in relation to the causing death by dangerous driving charge against the defendant.

It is alleged that Cole of Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden, on April 11, 2016, at Eccles Public Road, East Bank Demerara, drove motor pick-up GRR9355 in a manner dangerous to the public and caused the death of LaFleur. According to reports,

LaFleur who was stationed at the Providence Police Station, was directing traffic at Eccles when he stepped back to allow a vehicle to pass in front of him. That was when the pick-up hit him from behind.

The 25-year-old policeman died three days later at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

He was initially treated

Ron Cole and sent away, but was rushed back to the hospital after complaining of severe pain.

Court hears of cutlass attack at football game A 29-year-old man was Tuesday released on $50,000 bail by City Magistrate Dylon Bess, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for wounding another man during a feud at a football

game.

It’s alleged that Rolex Adams, on February 1, at West Ruimveldt, unlawfully and maliciously wounded Dwayne Scott with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous

bodily harm to him.

Adams pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on $50,000. The matter is adjourned until March 6. According to reports both parties are known to each other and

would often play football together in West Ruimveldt.

However, there was a misunderstanding on the day in question and Adams armed himself with a cutlass and attacked Scott.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

Mahdia students talk out against sexual harassment RESIDENTS of Mahdia have conflicting views on the prevalence of sexual harassment in the area, with some stating that rape does not constitute harassment.

Some believe however, that the sexual molestation of children under the age of consent is a major problem

that needs to be addressed.

In a report compiled by the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), 75

per cent of children living in the mining community of Mahdia are victims of sexual harassment. The report

“I can’t talk how, when I walk in my school clothes these people say ‘sexy’, O gosh.”

noted that the existing state of affairs in the community that relies heavily on mining is serious, but is not unique to that location. Several secondary school girls during an interview done by the GHRA have called on authorities to hear their cries.

One student said, “I can’t talk how, when I walk in my

school clothes these people say ‘sexy’, O gosh.” The same child related that sexual harassment is prevalent in schools and said, “They need to look into these matters, bigger ones,” the child stated.

Another student said, “I notice with all these big men out there… when ya passing round deh is like them get mouse in dem mouth or something.”

The consistency with which men sexually harass young schoolgirls in the mining community has been described as “dog season” and according to a student, men are in the habit of smacking schoolgirls on their buttocks. “… and sometime ya walking on the road and somebody just smack [lash] ya and they would be just like, ‘I just kidding’! That’s not kidding, all of that comes under sexual harassment.”

“Sexual harassment is prevalent in Mahdia. But come to think of it, what has been done with sexual harassment here? Even the police are involved with the young girls. What else can be done? I really hope it do change though,” another child stated.

Meanwhile, policemen have also been accused of sexually abusing and harassing young girls in several mining and hinterland communities according to the report, with girls of Baramita, an Amerindian mining community, reportedly being raped and sexually abused by the lawmen. “… They need to look into these matters… I hope that this new government put in some strategies… policies and so forth. I really hope it do change,” another girl said.

Contrarily however, some residents believe that there needs to be stricter monitoring of young girls in Mahdia, as they behave out of character. A male resident reportedly called on the government to institute laws that would see the youth of the community, primarily girls, acting differently.

Mahdia, a developing community in the Potaro-Siparuni Region, is one which was built on gold and diamond –mining and its economy is centred on mining.

Mining in the community attracts both local and foreign immigrants seeking wealth.

Given the prevalence of prostitution, Trafficking In Persons (TIP), alcoholism and other social ills in such

communities, the male resident suggested that special attention be paid to and regulations designed for the situations that are unique to mining communities.

“It’s just that because of the culture of mining and I indicated to you that there is need to have stronger laws governing youth in the mining community and in the absence of that, the youths do whatever the youths want… so in a mining community, there is need for stricter laws governing these youths, but we don’t have,” the resident was quoted as saying in the GHRA report.

While he opined that sexual harassment is not “any big thing” in Mahdia, the man said sexual molestation is prevalent with primary school students being popular victims.

He said records show that “Mahdia don’t have no big rape case,” but said many young girls willingly participate in sexual intercourse and prostitution spreads.

When asked by the GHRA interviewer, “Do you think sexual harassment is a big issue here?” he replied, “The definition of sexual harassment is unwanted, there is no such thing as unwanted here, it’s welcome, so no, it’s not.”

Based on the survey done by the GHRA, it is clear that persons still do not know what constitutes sexual harassment.

The man was reminded of the age of consent by the interviewer, but said, “… If you were to check the level of sexual activity right at the primary school -- not the secondary -- at the primary school, you may find it – 75% of the girls there are sexually active. So I ask the question, are 75% of the girls being molested?”

A number of girls attend secondary schools even after giving birth to their first child, he said, and added, “Every year in this community, some of these 14, 15 (year-old) making babies.

I’m saying to you it’s a culture, right, where one child, girl child go and, let’s say she was molested and now she’s getting cash from it.”

Friends then begin to inquire after seeing the girl now receiving a lot of money, and become influenced easily or pressured into prostitution from a tender age.

“So I’m saying to you that the whole percentage is not molestation, it begun so,” the man told the GHRA.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday February 15, 2017

Thieves return Charmaine Blackman’s laptop

MEMBERS of the community of Agricola have been cooperating with music and movie producers, Charmaine Blackman and husband Bonny Alves in ensuring the return of one of their laptop computers, which was stolen between Saturday night and Sunday morning, at their home at the East Bank Demerara village.

He is still calling for the return of the other computer, since it stores five of their original movies, including one not yet released.

“It can compromise the plans and marketing that we have,” he told this publication.

At the time of the incident Alves and Blackman were in Linden attending the Mashramani Calypso Semi-finals, but

Charmaine Blackman and Bonny Alves Police are investigating the robbery in which the home of the two was broken into and two laptop computers, containing music and movies, with a lot of work the couple has done recently and over the years, some of which have not yet been released, are on the stolen computers.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday, Bonny Alves disclosed, “We’ve gotten one laptop back at 1 o’ clock this morning (Tuesday).”

While the computer which was recovered is the one which contained more of the data, Alves said efforts are also being made to retrieve the other one.

He said however, 90% of the information was stored on flash drives for backup.

he received a telephone call from a relative who informed him that his home had been violated by bandits.

The thieves broke open a window in the vicinity of a bathroom to gain entry into the home, and evidence showed that they were also searching the home further.

Alves said that for over 80 years his family lived in the community and the house was never broken into.

“This is the first time it ever happened in fourscore years,” he said, and added, “It looked like they (thieves) were not seasoned… they wanted to be in quickly and out quickly before anybody might come (back home).”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Bolt, Biles win Laureus athletes-of-the-year awards

Steven Smith and Darren Lehmann address the media after arriving in Mumbai, India, yesterday.

Smith foresees golden future if Australia win in India

By Sudipto Ganguly |

MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - Australia skipper Steve Smith believes a Test series victory over an all-conquering India side on their home soil could provide the kind of memories that would inspire the country’s cricketers for generations to come.

Top-ranked India are on a brilliant run, unbeaten in 19 Tests over a 16-month period with South Africa, New Zealand, England and Bangladesh all vanquished at home, while trips to Sri Lanka and West Indies also culminated in victories.

By contrast, Smith’s side were thrashed 3-0 in Sri Lanka and lost the first two Tests of a three-match home series against South Africa before wholesale changes led to a consolation win in Adelaide and the new charges went on to sweep aside Pakistan.

Smith believes Australia have learnt from those defeats and are now a much improved side.

“You probably learn more from losing games than you do from winning, so I guess the last year has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride in regards to results,” Smith told reporters in Mumbai yesterday, a week ahead of the first Test.

“I think this team has come a long way,” he added as he looked forward to the four-match series.

“Obviously, this is going to be a very difficult tour and I am excited by that challenge. All of the guys are really excited about what’s to come in the next six weeks.

It’s a great challenge to play here in India.

“We know that if we can pull something off and win a series here, we will look back in 10-20 years and it will be some of the best times of our lives. It’s a

great occasion to play here in India.”

REVERSE SWING The Australia captain was confident he had the attack to trouble an Indian batting lineup spearheaded by an in-form home skipper Virat Kohli and his bowlers had worked on game plans to succeed on slow, turning wickets.

“I am confident, I think we have got a good mix of bowlers,” Smith said. “It’s important here to make sure you are bowling in consistent areas and letting the wicket do the work, and getting the natural variation out of the wickets.

“I think reverse-swing is going to be incredibly important in this series as well. Our two big quicks -- Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc -- are very good reverse-swing bowlers.

“They relish the challenge of playing against

the best players in the world, and India have some incredibly good batters. So they are excited by the challenges of playing here as well.”

T h e w o r l d ’s s e c ond-ranked team have had a training camp in Dubai to prepare for the tour and Australia will also play a three-day practice match against an India A side from tomorrow, before they head to Pune for the opening Test from February 23.

Smith said he also needed to maintain a fine balance between attack and defence to find success in India.

“It’s about knowing the right periods and timing the periods right when to sort of take the foot off the pedal and to really go hard,” the 27-year-old said.

“I think I have learnt a little bit of that in Sri Lanka.”

India unchanged for first two Australia Tests (REUTERS) - India have kept faith with the 16man squad that cruised to victory in the one-off Test against Bangladesh for the first two matches of the home series against Australia starting next week.

The world’s top-ranked Test side are unbeaten in their last 19 contests and completed a comprehensive 208-run win against their South Asian neighbours on Monday in an ideal warmup for the four matches to come against Australia.

Fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who missed the last two Tests of the recent five-match series against England with a leg injury, was not considered fit enough for selection to the side named yesterday.

Batsman Rohit Sharma, who injured his thigh during the one-day international series against New Zealand in October, only recently resumed training after undergoing surgery in England and was also deemed short of match fitness.

Uncapped left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav replaced injured leg-spinner Amit Mishra in the squad for the Bangladesh Test and he retained his place for the first two Tests against the second-ranked Australians.

Mishra hurt his knee while fielding during India’s Twenty20 win over England in Bengaluru on February 1.

Pune will make its debut as a Test venue for the series-opener from Feb. 23,

before the sides move on to Bengaluru and two more new Test venues in Ranchi and Dharamsala.

Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun N a i r, J a y a n t Ya d a v, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund, Hardik Pandya.

USAIN Bolt and Simone Biles claimed the top accolades at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco.

Eight-time Olympic sprint champion Bolt and four-time Olympic gold gymnast Biles were named sportsman- and sportswoman-of-the-year for their 2016 achievements.

Britain’s Rachel Atherton won the action sportsperson-of-the-year award for her downhill mountain biking feats.

Leicester City won the spirit of sport award for winning the Premier League.

Atherton, 29, became the first rider in history to complete a perfect downhill World Cup season and then won a fourth World Championship title a week later.

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri and captain Wes Morgan were in Monaco to collect the spirit-of-sport prize, awarded after the Foxes, 5,000-1 outsiders, won the Premier League by 10 points last season.

Bolt won three gold medals at Rio 2016 in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.

That took his all-time Olympic medal tally to nine but last month he was asked to hand one back after Jamaican team-mate Nesta Carter tested positive for a

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banned substance.

Carter was part of the Jamaican quartet that won the 4x100m in Beijing in 2008.

Biles’ four gold medals at Rio were in the team, all-around, vault and floor exercise events.

Nico Rosberg, who quit Formula 1 in December five days after being crowned world champion, received the breakthrough-of-theyear prize.

OTHER AWARD WINNERS Te a m - o f - t h e - Ye a r : Chicago Cubs, who ended a 108-year wait to win Major League Baseball’s World Series.

Comeback-of-theYear: American swimmer Michael Phelps, who won his 23rd Olympic gold in his final Games in Rio. Sportsperson-of-theYear with a disability: Beatrice Vio, Italian wheelchair fencer who won gold at the 2016 Paralympics.

Sport for Good Award: for Sporting Inspiration: The Refugee Olympic Team, who competed at the Rio Olympics.

Best Sporting Moment: Barcelona Under-12 team whose players consoled their distraught Japanese opponents at the end of the Junior Soccer World Challenge in a touching show of sportsmanship. (BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 15, 2017

UK arrests two over Pakistan Super League spot-fixing … Khan, Latif, Jamshed banned for violating anti-corruption code

TWO men have been arrested by a UK law enforcement agency as part of an investigation into spot-fixing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Investigations are being made by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

As part of the PCB’s probe, three players who have all represented Pakistan internationally - Shar-

Nasir Jamshed is one of the three players suspended by the PCB.

(REUTERS) - Australia’s Adam Voges has retired from international cricket, signing off with a Test batting average second only to the great Don Bradman.

Voges became the oldest player to score a century on his Test debut when he made an unbeaten 130 against West Indies two years ago, aged 35.

The right-handed batsman scored 1 485 runs at an average of 61.87, ranking him second on the all-time list behind Bradman’s incredible 99.94.

Voges lost his place in the Test team after the second of two defeats to South Africa in November and was treated for concussion after being hit

by a bouncer when batting for Western Australia in a Sheffield Shield match the same month.

Voges, 37, will lead the Prime Minister’s XI against the touring Sri Lankan team in Canberra today and has said it will be his last match against an international side.

“This will be it for me,” Voges told reporters.

“I’m certainly looking forward to getting out there and playing this game. I’ve had an amazing couple of years with Australia with the Test team and I’ve loved every minute of it.

Australia have made wholesale changes to their team after a thrashing in

jeel Khan, Khalid Latif and Nasir Jamshed - have been banned for violating its anti-corruption code.

Latif has protested his innocence, while the father of Khan says his son “did nothing wrong”.

The PCB has previously referred to “an ongoing investigation into an international syndicate which is believed to be attempting to corrupt the Pakistan Super League.”

A National Crime Agency (NCA) spokesperson said: “Two men

Aussie Voges signs off with a Test average second only to Bradman Sri Lanka and home series defeat to South Africa.

The Steve Smith-led team have since revived their fortunes by defeating South Africa in a dead rubber at Adelaide and went on to beat Pakistan 3-0 at home.

Adam Voges celebrates a double-century against New Zealand on February 15, 2016.

Finn replaces David Willey for ODIs in Caribbean DAVID Willey has been ruled out of England’s tour of the West Indies and will be replaced by

Steven Finn Steven Finn.

Yorkshire all-rounder Willey, 26, will be out until April after having surgery on a partially torn shoulder tendon, an injury suffered in India last month.

England will play two one-day matches in Antigua in March, with a third in Barbados, before the teams face each other again in England in the summer.

The West Indies are ninth in the ODI standings, four places below England.

Middlesex seamer Finn, 27, is currently playing for Islamabad United in the T20 Pakistan Super League in the United Arab Emirates.

Willey managed just two overs in England’s one-day international win over India on January 22 before a problem with his left shoulder forced him off. The

injury also ruled him out of the subsequent Twenty20 series.

England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, captain), Moeen A l i ( Wo rc e s t e r s h i re ) , Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).

(BBC Sport)

in their thirties have been arrested by National Crime Agency officers in connection with bribery offences as part of an ongoing investigation into international cricket match spot-fixing.

“The men were arrested on Monday February 13 and have been released

on bail until April 2017 pending further enquiries.

“As part of the ongoing investigation we are working closely with the Pakistan Cricket Board and International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption units. The Pakistan Cricket Board has launched its own investigation which

has resulted in the suspension of three players.”

UK police were also involved in the conviction of three Pakistan international players, Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, for spot-fixing in a 2010 Test match against England at Lord’s.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 15, 2017

SA, England players likely to leave IPL early SOUTH African players are likely to leave IPL 2017 after May 7 while the England players are scheduled to depart the tournament in two batches - a few after May 1 and the rest after May 14.

Making players available and ready for the bilateral series - South Africa’s tour of England begins in midMay - and the Champions Trophy, which starts June 1 in England, is the chief reason why both boards want to pull out their players early.

ESPNcricinfo understands that the IPL had informed the franchises about this in an email this week along with the final updated player roster for the auction on February 20.

The franchises were also told that the BCCI is trying to discuss the issue with the

While AB de Villiers has been retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore, Wayne Parnell is one of 13 South African players enlisted in the auction.

Cricket South Africa to see if the South African players’ stay can be extended.

It is not known whether either board will release players in the event their franchise makes it to the final on May 21.

AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Faf du Plessis (Rising Pune Supergiants), JP Duminy, Quinton de Kock and Chris Morris (Delhi Daredevils), David Miller and Hashim

Amla (Kings XI Punjab) have been retained by their respective franchises, along with England’s Jos Buttler (Mumbai Indians) and Sam Billings (Daredevils).

A total of 351 players, including 122 capped internationals, will feature in the auction, which will be held in Bangalore on February 20.

Although franchise officials had earlier indicated that this season’s auction could be a short event, with teams trying to plug a few gaps, the likely early departure of South Africa and England players could impact the teams’ auction strategies.

Of the 13 South African players who have entered the auction, CSA is interested specifically in the release of Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Farhaan Behardien, Wayne Parnell, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius.

Except for Ngidi, who is recovering from a hip injury, the other six players are part of the limited-overs squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand.

An official privy to the discussions between the BCCI and CSA said that it was a one-off situation which could not be avoided.

South Africa’s tour of England will begin with two

practice matches followed by the three-ODI series scheduled between May 24 and 29.

The three T20Is and the four Tests will be played after the Champions Trophy. The official said that CSA is keen on getting the best possible preparation for the Champions Trophy, given the team’s record in ICC tournaments, and had thus sought an early release of its main players from the IPL. As for the England players, a few may leave for the two ODIs against Ireland on May 5 and 7. An official with one of the franchises said that prominent players like Buttler and some of the players who have entered the auction, like Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes, could leave after May 14 to prepare for the ODIs against South Africa.

Morgan, Stokes and fast bowler Chris Woakes are part of the list of marquee players who have listed the maximum base price of INR 2 crore (approx US $298 000) for the auction.

The other England players in the auction are wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow (INR 1.5 crore), opening batsmen Alex Hales and Jason Roy (INR 1 crore), and fast bowlers Chris Jordan and Tymal Mills (INR 50 lakh).

Half-century for Rawlins as England Under-19s romp to 501 for five

NAGPUR, India (CMC) – In-form Bermudian all-rounder Delray Rawlins struck an unbeaten 70 as England Under-19s rattled up 501 for five declared on the second day of their opening four-day Youth Test at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium here yesterday.

In reply, India closed on 156 for two with Rawlins conceding 14 runs from four overs of left-arm spin.

Rawlins, due in at number four, spent most of Monday’s opening day with his pads on as the visitors recovered from losing opener Harry Brook for 21 with the total on 57, to close on 311 for one thanks to centuries from captain Max Holden and number three George Bartlett.

Bartlett was the first to go yesterday as he was dismissed for 179 after a second-wicket stand of 321 with Holden, who was fourth out for 170

Bermudian all-rounder Delray Rawlins at 418.

But there was no respite for the Indian bowlers as Rawlins – one of six Youth Test newcomers in the England team – weighed in with his unbeaten 70 from 94 balls, including four sixes and five fours before the declaration came after 131.1 overs.

Rawlins went into the two-match Test series on the back of some sparkling one-day international form, making 107 not out on

debut and also scoring 96 during the five-match series which India won 3-1 after the final game was tied.

Rawlins, who is on the books of English county side Sussex, is hoping his form in India will help him break into the first team this summer.

His performances in India have not gone unnoticed by his county, who are represented on the tour by assistant coach Jon Lewis, the former England medium pacer, who is the bowling coach for the youngster. “ Ye a h , I ’ m l u c k y enough to have the assistant coach out here as the bowling coach for us, so he’s seeing my performances first hand,” Rawlins said earlier this week.

“So I don’t think I’ve done myself any harm in pushing to try and get in the first team this summer.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Birthday boy Di Maria celebrates as

PSG thrash Barca 4-0

By Julien Pretot

PARIS, France (Reuters) Paris St Germain’s Angel Di Maria was at his vintage best as he scored twice on his birthday in a 4-0 first-leg demolition of a ragged Barcelona side who now have a mountain to climb in their Champions League last-16 clash.

alans in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2013 and 2015, were the more aggressive side at the Parc des Princes and have put themselves in a commanding position ahead of the March 8 second leg at the Camp Nou. Five-time European champions Barca, with their trident of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar subdued, have not exited in the last 16 since going

back to his best since Draxler joined from Vfl Wolfsburg last month.

Stunned Barca coach Luis Enrique said of the PSG side: “They are world class players with a lot of quality. Di Maria in particular was very, very good.

They have a big attacking potential, are hard in defence and incredible on the ball.

The only concern for home

Paris Saint-Germain’s Angel Di Maria celebrates scoring their first goal.

(Reuters/Christian Hartmann Livepic) The Argentina winger, 29, out to Liverpool in the 2006/07 coach Unai Emery was the loss scored in each half with PSG’s season and the score equalled of the impressive Marco VerratGermany midfielder Julian their worst Champions League ti to a leg injury in the second Draxler and Uruguay striker loss. half after the Italy international Edinson Cavani also finding “It’s impossible to have a had put on a world-class display the net as the French champions better performance and birth- with fellow midfielder Adrien tore apart a disorganised Barca day. I’m very happy with how Rabiot. side who have it all to do in the the team played. It was a wonPSG were dangerous on the return. derful display, fully deserved,” break from the start and came PSG, eliminated by the Cat- said Di Maria, who is getting close to scoring in the 11th

Becker believes Sharapova deserves a second chance

By Claire Bloomfield |

MONACO, (Reuters) - Boris Becker believes Maria Sharapova has paid her dues and deserves a second chance when she returns to tennis in April at the end of her 15-month doping ban.

Sharapova, a five-time grand slam champion, failed a dope test for the drug meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open and was suspended for two years by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

The Russian’s ban was then cut by nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last October, meaning the Russian is free to return from April 26.

Becker, a three-time Wimbledon champion, said it was right that Sharapova was allowed to return to the sport and hopes her comeback will not cause problems in the locker room.

“In principle I am all for a second chance,” Becker told Reuters at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco.

“She (Sharapova) paid her

dues; she was suspended for quite a long time. I don’t know about the reaction of the other players, it’s up to them.

“Everyone has their own choice. Hopefully the atmosphere (inside the locker room) will be good. We can move on and have good women’s champions.”

Sharapova, 29, had called the ITF’s original ruling “unfairly harsh” because she had not intentionally violated anti-doping rules.

Meldonium was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency list of banned substances only at the start of 2016 after mounting evidence it boosted blood flow and enhanced performance.

CAS cut Sharapova’s suspension but said she “bore some degree of fault” by relying on agent Max Eisenbud to check the banned list for changes and failing to ensure he had done so.

Despite Sharapova’s suspension, Becker feels tennis is a clean sport and that the testing system works.

“I think most tennis players

Maria Sharapova are responsible. If you see in the men’s side there is no one inside the top 100 (that isn’t clean) and in the women’s side -- I think Maria is the exception -- all of the other tennis players are clean,” he said.

“Tennis is an Olympic sport so the tests are very severe and strong and the penalties are strong. I think the system works.

Maybe it speaks volumes of the system because a high-profile player like Sharapova was caught.”

German Becker coached current world number two Novak Djokovic for three years until the pair split in December.

minute when captain Blaise Matuidi’s rasping shot was brilliantly parried by keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen after a perfect through ball from Rabiot.

CAVANI STRIKES The home side were rewarded seven minutes later, though, when Di Maria whipped a free kick over the wall into the net.

Barcelona continued to play their patient possession game but failed to threaten and their apparent complacency was punished again five minutes before the break.

Messi lost the ball in mid-

field and Verratti slid a perfectly weighted ball to the right for Draxler, who fired a low shot into the far bottom corner of the net.

PSG started the second half strongly and went further ahead in the 55th minute when Di Maria danced around Andres Iniesta before curling a 25-metre shot past Ter Stegen.

Verratti limped off the pitch in some discomfort after 71 minutes and was replaced by Chris Nkunku.

It did not stop PSG from continuing to push forward, though, and a minute later Cavani, who was celebrating his 30th birthday, rifled a low shot

past Ter Stegen for his seventh goal in seven games in the competition this season.

The hosts also defended perfectly, with centre back Presnel Kimpembe deputising superbly on his Champions League debut for injured captain Thiago Silva, as PSG claimed a deserved victory.

Barca had a chance to get an away goal seven minutes from time but Samuel Umtiti’s header hit Kevin Trapp’s righthand post, and Luis Enrique’s side now face a huge challenge.

No team ever overturned a deficit of four or more goals to progress in the Champions League knockout stages.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Bolt has no regrets about his decision to retire from athletics

By Claire Bloomfield

MONACO, (Reuters) - Jamaican sprint great Usain Bolt says he has no regrets about his decision to retire from athletics in 2017 as he has accomplished everything he wants to in the sport.

Bolt will hang up his spikes following the world championships in London in August, bringing the curtain down on a career that has delivered eight Olympic gold medals.

“I’ve just done everything I wanted to do in the sport,” Bolt told Reuters on

the red carpet at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco.

“I asked (former U.S. sprinter) Michael Johnson the same question, ‘Why did you retire when you were on top?’. He said the same -- he had done everything he had wanted to do in athletics so

Usain Bolt of Jamaica smiles as he looks back at his competition, whilst winning the 100-metre semi-final sprint, at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach) there was no reason to stay in the sport. Now I understand what he means.”

Bolt completed a ‘treble treble’ of 100m, 200m and 4x100m Olympic titles at the 2016 Rio Games, but had his 2008 relay gold stripped last month after teammate Nesta Carter’s re-tested sample showed traces of a banned substance.

Carter has said he will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The 30-year-old Bolt fired his team of international ‘All Stars’ to victory in the inaugural Nitro Athletics Series in Melbourne last week.

He ran his first individual race of the year, burning away from a modest field for an easy win in the 150m sprint.

“I just wanted to run and to be part of it,” he said. “I had to take it easy because I wasn’t at the level I would usually be.

GCB/DMLAS/MoE/NSSCL

Nedd, Singh and Dick spur Chase Academy to victory over Tutorial High

LAST year’s GCB/National Secondary Schools Cricket League Under-17 champions Chase Academy sent a strong message to their competitors yesterday, after recording an opening victory in the first round of the Winner of Winners Inter-Zone phase of the 2016/2017 NSSCL, defeating East Georgetown Zone champions Tutorial High by 73 runs.

Tutorial, who won the toss and elected to bowl first, appeared to have made the correct decision, as their bowlers made Chase Academy batsmen work diligently for their runs, restricting the star-studded Chase Academy line-up, which featured prominent national youth players Sachin Singh, Ashmead Nedd, for a lowly149 off 29 of their allotted 30 overs.

Sachin Singh continued his good form hitting 52, while Ashmead Nedd made 35, Garrick Persaud 17 and Tyrese Crawford 11.

Bowling for Tutorial, off-spinners Joel Spooner and Devon Allen were the main penetrators, combining to take five valuable wickets, with Spooner ending with 3 for 12 from six overs, and Allen 2 for 15 from 4 overs. Fast bowler Osapha

Greene, Omiha Liverpool, Zion Gray and Dewan Skeete each took a wicket apiece.

Set 150 for victory, Tutorial batsmen could muster only 76 off just 14.3 overs, giving Chase Academy an easy 73-run victory. Batting for Tutorial, Osapha Greene made 15, Dewan Skeete 14 and Raphael Edingboro 15 not out.

Bowling for Chase Academy, Ashmead Nedd grabbed 4 for 4 from 4.4 extraordinary overs, Dwayne Dick clutched 4 for 18 from 6 impressive overs and Sachin Singh claimed 2 for 13 from his 3 overs.

Tomorrow, Charlestown Secondary will take on Tutorial at the DCC ground from

It was the first time I had competed at this time of the year.”

Bolt is nominated for the Laureus World Sportsmanof-the-Year award along with back-to-back Olympic 5 000 and 10 000 metres gold medal winner Mo Farah and double Olympic tennis champion Andy Murray.

Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo and basketball duo Stephen Curry and LeBron James are also shortlisted.

11:00hrs, as these two schools and Chase Academy compete for the Georgetown District Trophy.

On Friday, Parika-Salem Secondary will oppose Leguan Secondary in Leguan, and the New Amsterdam/Canje Zone champions Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) will meet Corentyne Zone winners at the Albion Community Centre.

The Corentyne Zone final is scheduled for tomorrow at the Albion Community Centre ground.

Sachin Singh

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday February 15, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPAMY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) T&T Red Force; Jamaica Scorpions; Barbados Pride; Leeward Hurricanes (2) Ashley Nurse-22 wickets (Barbados) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who scored most runs in the preliminary round of CWI/Nagicor Super 50, 2017?

(2) Who made the highest individual score?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

43

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Red Force, Scorpions clash in first Super50 semi-final today

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Two-time reigning champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force will try to stave off an anticipated strong challenge from dangerous Jamaica Scorpions when they clash in the first semi-final of the Regional Super50 here today.

Red Force, who will be aiming for their fourth straight final, will enter the day/night affair at Coolidge Cricket Ground as heavy favourites but head coach Gus Logie said they would not be complacent and underestimate Scorpions.

He pointed out that the Red Force squad was laced with experienced players who were familiar with championship games and much would rest on these personnel.

“The build-up has been pretty good for the players.

In the squad, we do have some experienced players who know what it’s about.

(They’ve) been there, done that, led by the captain (Denesh Ramdin),” Logie said.

“He’s really and truly steered the ship to where ‘we are at this point in time and the players have responded very well to his

Jason Mohammed is expected to be key to Red Force’s batting.

leadership and his leadership has been both on and off the field, and I think it augurs well for Trinidad and Tobago cricket.

“We know how competitive and how dangerous the Jamaicans can be and we are prepared in every way possible for that. The players are all comfortable with their own games and we look forward to the challenge against the Jamaicans.”

Red Force finished top of Group A on 31 points after losing just one of their eight games played here

in Antigua. That defeat came at the hands of English County Kent in their second game but they then sparked a six-game winning streak to dominate the group.

However, Logie said Red Force had started the campaign full of self-belief and the Kent loss had done nothing to diminish that.

“I think the confidence level has always been high.

Not taking anything away from Kent, I think they played a good game … and the Kent bowlers exploited the conditions,” he explained.

“It looked a little bit more like English conditions … and our application was not 100 per cent and at the end of the day we paid the price.

“But the guys sat down (afterwards) and realised we did not perform to the best of their ability and we had to really and truly pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off.”

Red Force will look to Jason Mohammed who has been their only batsman to pass 300 runs with 313 while their attack has been spearheaded by seamer Ravi Rampaul with 17 wickets.

Scorpions, meanwhile,

have trained their sights on their first final in five years, after a lean run in recent times.

They were second to hosts Barbados Pride in Group B but ended the preliminary campaign on a high, following their morale-boosting 74-run victory over the previously unbeaten Pride, in their penultimate outing Head coach Robert Samuels said, however, he was still waiting on Scorpions to execute the perfect game and believes the semi-final was the ideal opportunity.

“I think the players haven’t really put it together as I would like a 100 per cent but they are sparks,” he noted.

“We have won some Man-of-the-Match (awards), we’ve been doing well with the ball, we’ve been doing ok with the bat but I would like to see the bat do a bit more and then the ball will hold its own. We grew from strength to strength in Barbados and this is now Antigua.”

Having grown accustomed to the conditions in Barbados – especially those at Kensington Oval – Samuels warned that Scorpions would need to make some

Fast bowler Jerome Taylor will lead the Jamaica Scorpions bowling attack. subtle adjustments for the new venue.

“Looking at the television, looking at the surface, this is a different surface from what we are used to. I must admit Kensington Oval was excellent in terms of ground, the pitch, the bounce, the carry – everything was excellent there and it suited our play,” he pointed out.

“Coming here now, the pitch still looks to be a good batting track but I’m thinking it’s void of grass … you have to show a little

more patience on pitches like those. So we have to change our game plan just a little bit, not too much … but once our game comes together we are going to be a formidable opponent.”

Scorpions will look to former Test seamer Jerome Taylor who has taken 16 wickets, to lead their attack while they will use a team effort in the batting to build a competitive total.

The game bowls off at 13:30hrs (Eastern Caribbean time).

SQUADS: RED FORCE – Denesh Ramdin (captain), Nicholas Alexis, Sheldon Cottrell, Rayad Emrit, Shannon Gabriel, Kyle Hope, Jon-Russ Jagessar, Imran Khan, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Kjorn Ottley, Khary Pierre, Roshon Primus, Ravi Rampaul.

SCORPIONS – Nikita Miller (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Gavon Brown, John Campbell, Andre McCarthy, Damion Jacobs, Brandon King, Reynard Leveridge, Rovman Powell, Damani Sewell, Jerome Taylor, Steven Taylor, Devon Thomas, Chadwick Walton.

ECPFA to commence Grassroots Lawrence to name training squad, happy with backroom staff Festival on Saturday THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) launched its Grassroots Festival last Thursday at Umana Yana in Georgetown. The initiative is to nurture and develop young players ranging from ages 5 to 17 and will involve all nine associations that are affiliated to the GFF. Meanwhile, president of the Essequibo Coast/ Pomeroon Football Association (ECPFA) Ms Maxine Stewart disclosed to Chronicle Sport that her association will commence the programme this Saturday at the Queenstown Community ground.

She further stated that the players will be chosen from the various clubs along the Essequibo

ECPFA president Ms. Maxine Stewart

Coast and Pomeroon as they will undergo the basic training and appreciate the love for the game.

Following the exercise, the outstanding Under-13, U-15 and U-17 players will be selected to be placed into the Association’s Academy which will form

part of the ECPFA calendar of activities for 2017.

The two contracted coaches attached to the association, Travis Bowen and Ranzolin Durga will conduct the sessions commencing at 09:00hrs.

Officials from GFF and ECPFA are expected to grace the exercise.

This is the second such programme for young f o o t b a l l e r s f ro m t h e Region after the first was held in January.

According to Ms Stewart the plan is to s p re a d t h e g o s p e l o f football to every village, especially within the remote areas i n c l u d i n g Wa k a p o a , which is an Amerindian village. (Elroy Stephney)

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Newly appointed Trinidad and Tobago men’s head coach, Dennis Lawrence, says he will shortly name a training squad to begin preparation for next month’s crucial 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

The former national defender said he had spent the last few weeks in communication with players and was now hoping to kick off training next Monday – immediately after the domestic season wraps up.

I’m going to have access to the players from February 20. We’re going to start (training) on February 20,” he said via the Football Association Twitter page.

“I’m going to try and select the squad, hopefully, within the next couple days.”

He added: “I’ve spent the time communicating, not only with the staff members but with some of the players (locally and foreign- based)

just to introduce myself and get them to understand the way I want to work and how I’d like things to happen.”

The 42-year-old Lawrence was installed as head coach last month, filling the post left vacant by the shock resignation of unknown Belgian Tom Saintfiet who spent just five weeks in charge.

His main focus will be T&T’s qualifiers against Panama on March 24 and against CONCACAF giants Mexico four days later, with both games scheduled for the Hasely Crawford Stadium here.

T&T are one from bottom of the CONCACAF final round without a point after losing their opening games to Honduras and Costa Rica last November.

Lawrence put the finishing touches on his backroom staff last weekend with an announcement of personnel and believes they will be key to the national

side’s success.

“I’ve come up with a staff that I think can help us achieve the things that I want us to achieve,” he explained.

“I think I’ve put together a very ambitious, innovative and hard-working staff and I’ve got a lot of trust in the people that I’ve selected.

“I know them very well.

I’ve worked with them in the past and I’m quite confident and happy that I’ve finally put together a staff that I think would help us to achieve our goals.”

New Trinidad and Tobago coach, Dennis Lawrence.

Red Force, Scorpions clash in first Super50 semi-final today See Page 43

Bolt, Biles win Laureus athletes-of-the-year awards See Page 38

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt poses with the Laureus Sportsman-of-the-Year award at the Laureus Sport Awards in Monaco, yesterday.

Region Two gets new Sports Officer AFTER more than a decade without a Sports Officer in Region Two, the Ministry of Education Department of Culture, Youth and Sport has employed Herald Aldes in the position and his first aim is to regularise sports in the region.

According to Aldes, there is dire need for sports in the area to be organised into regulated groups, which will enable the athletes and organisations to participate in events - a lack that is currently affecting the progress of sports in the area.

“We need to have a working group so that the youths can participate in regional matches, since the National Sports Commission does not allow unregulated groups to play in the organised games,” Aldes explained, in an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Aldes is already looking at putting on activities that

will help the development of sports in the region. Through the collaboration with several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) a sports day is scheduled for March 12, to be held in observance of International Women’s Day. Aldes is also looking towards the establishment of a database which will help to keep track of talented athletes in the various sport disciplines.

Moreover, a youth forum in April is also on the cards.

At the youth forum there will be a particular focus on mental health and ways of reducing the suicide rate that has plagued that region.

Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopkinson is particularly pleased with the initiative to invest in the resuscitation of sports in the region.

“It is hoped therefore that the public will make full use of the sports department and engage in collaborative ventures that can benefit

clubs, communities and the region as a whole,” Hopkinson told GINA. Region Two’s Information Development Officer Elroy Stephney stated that the youth officer assigned to the region continues to aid several villages including the hinterland areas through youth camps and training in educational disciplines, according to the GINA report. Projects organised by the President’s Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG) are included.

Stephney noted that the youth officer has also undertaken to form youth groups in several communities so that “they will flourish and maintain their cultures, and showcase their talent in different fields.

“The initiative will also serve to provide exposure to young people attached to the groups to develop into leaders,” Stephney added.

U.S. gymnast Simone Biles poses with the Laureus Sportswoman-of-the-Year award at the Laureus Sport Awards in Monaco, yesterday.

Colors/Guinness West Demerara Street football

Part of the action on night four of the Colors/Guinness Greatest of the Streets football tournament.

Final round-robin session, quarter-finals on tonight WEST Side Ballers and De Kinderen Ballers will open tonight’s proceedings in the final round-robin session of the Colors/Guinness Greatest of the Streets football tournament.

Set for the Pouderoyen tarmac from 19:00hrs, Guinness action is expected to be exciting as the teams vie for a spot in the quarter-finals

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which will be played following the final round of group games on the same night.

In game two, Golden Warriors go up against Patentia Street Ballers while ESPN take on Goal Getters in game three.

Good Intent All Stars play game four against The Money Team while Agricola Champion Boys have the

task of playing Hustlers and Tajoe’s Admiral United challenge Brothers United.

In the final group stage game Pouderoyen Showstoppers, who have dished out sound thrashings so far, will come up against Jetty.

Following the completion of that game, the tournament will move into the quarter-final round.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017