Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 03 04 2017

App to give Linden global platform Page 8

No. 104872

MONDAY APRIL 3, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

Align investment with –– President tells employment Chinese investors

Page 3

President David Granger and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun, unveil the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Guyana 2017 Business Magazine on Saturday (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

Fire leaves elderly couple homeless Page 2

Former drop-in centre to be used as a bond Page 13

Hydraulic leak grounds Dynamic aircraft

Page 12

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La Penitence fire leaves elderly couple homeless

By Navendra Seoraj

TRAGEDY struck around noon on Sunday, when fire of yet unknown origin razed the Middle Road, La Penitence home of an elderly couple, leaving them homeless.

“Some things in there meant more to me than life,” said 67-year-old Mr Colin Clarke, who esti-

mates that his losses could run into millions of dollars.

When the Guyana Chronicle arrived on scene, members of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) were battling to extinguish the fire, which had already taken its toll on most of the two-storey building.

Clarke was also seen braving the fire in an effort to save what he could, but

Mr Colin Clarke speaking to members of the media (Photos by Cullen Bess-Nelson)

it was to no avail; almost everything in the house had already been reduced to ash.

Besides electrical and other household appliances, the retired draughtsman bemoaned losing all the tools of his trade, some hunting gear, and other things he said he holds very dear.

As the fire blazed, one spunky woman could be seen trying for all she’s worth to save a television set, an act of bravery that was replicated by a number of spectators gathered along the sides of the street as they went to the aid of those living close by.

With the blaze spreading rapidly, many of Clarke’s immediate neighbours could be seen trying to save whatever household appliances, furniture and other pricey items they could, just in case things got out of hand.

However, firemen were able to prevent the fire from further spreading, for which a distraught Mr Clarke is very grateful. He told the Guyana Chronicle that in all the years he has been living there, he’s never had such a harrowing experience.

Recalling events leading up to the fire, Clarke See page 9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 3, 2017

The raging fire consuming the Middle Road home

Firemen, with the help of public-spirited spectators, battling the blaze

The scene around midday Sunday on Middle Road, La Penitence, where the fire occurred

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 3, 2017

Align investment with –– President tells employment Chinese investors

PRESIDENT David Granger has welcomed Chinese investments here, but called for it to be more closely aligned to local employment and national development.

According to the President, deepened integration between Guyana and China should also see increased partnerships between Chinese and Guyanese businesses, thereby spurring employment opportunities.

The Head of State made these remarks at the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Guyana’s (ACEG) annual dinner and launch of its 2017 business magazine, held at New Thriving Restaurant on Main Street, Georgetown.

Over the years, Guyana has been seeing an increase in Chinese investments, including restaurants, retail stores, and construction, bauxite and timber companies.

And the President assured the ACEG that his Administration remains committed to supporting foreign direct investment.

“We are committed to the protection of foreign citizens, visitors and investment through improved public security and

human safety measures.

We will continue to provide a business climate that is favourable and friendly to all investors. We assure you of the Government’s support for investment, which can advance our economic development,” he said.

President Granger made reference to a meeting he had with Chinese Ambassador, Cui Jianchun, who proposed a fivepoint agenda that focuses on infrastructure, Information Communication Technology (ICT), investment, industry and integration.

This plan, which he fondly referred to as the ‘Jianchun Initiative’, is consistent with Guyana’s ‘green’ agenda, as well as its overall development policy and can form the basis for increased investment and trade between Guyana and China.

The President noted that while Guyana has an abundance of natural resources, it needs capital.

“Guyana is becoming a ‘green state’ and the development of a renewable energy sector is a central pillar of our ‘green’ development agenda. Guyana is excited by the interest, which

has been shown, so far, in the development of our sustainable energy sector, including hydro-electric, solar, wind and biomass sources of energy development… The Government of Guyana remains open to working with the association to our mutual benefit and profit,” President Granger said.

GRATITUDE The Head of State also took the opportunity to place on record, his Government’s appreciation and gratitude to former Chinese Ambassador, Zhang Limin, whose support for the ‘One Laptop per Teacher’ initiative last year did much to advance information technology in the education system.

According to a Ministry of the Presidency release, Mr Granger said that investments in ICT will not only transform the way education is delivered in classrooms, but it will also increase the speed and scale of business transactions.

ACEG President Kevin Liu, who also spoke at the event, said that even though the members of

Members of the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Guyana (ACEG) at the annual dinner

Association of Chinese Enterprises in Guyana President Kevin Liu addressing the gathering on Saturday the organisation have been experiencing difficult economic times over the past three years, they have not swayed from their objectives.

“Guyana continues to attract an increasing number of Chinese enterprises

to invest in the economic development of Guyana, resulting in strengthened relationship between Guyana and China…. We at the ACEG consider ourselves very fortunate and privileged to be operating our businesses here in

Guyana,” he said.

Liu noted the association’s commitment to fulfilling its social obligations and informed the gathering that they have conducted medical outreaches and made several donations

President David Granger addressing the gathering at the ACEG’s annual dinner at the New Thriving Restaurant on Main Street

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 3, 2017

Trump pressures China on North Korea before Xi talks U.S. President Donald Trump held out the possibility on Sunday of using trade as a lever to secure Chinese cooperation against North Korea and said Washington might deal with Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programmes on its own if need be.

The comments, in an interview published on Sunday by the Financial Times, appeared

designed to pressure Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of his visit to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida this week.

“China has great influence over North Korea. And China will either decide to help us with North Korea, or they won’t. And if they do that will be very good for China, and if they don’t it won’t be good for anyone,” Trump was quoted as saying, according to an edited tran-

script published by the newspaper.

Asked what incentive the United States had to offer China, Trump replied: “Trade is the incentive. It is all about trade.”

Asked if he would consider a “grand bargain” in which China pressured Pyongyang in return for a guarantee the United States would later remove troops from the Korean peninsula, the newspaper quoted Trump as saying: “Well if China is not going to solve North Korea, we will. That is all I am telling you.”

It is not clear whether Trump’s comments will move China, which has taken steps to increase economic pressure on Pyongyang but has long been unwilling to do anything that may destabilise the North and

send millions of refugees across their border.

It is also unclear what the United States might do on its own to deflect North Korea from the expansion of its nuclear capabilities and from the development of missiles with ever-longer ranges and the capacity to deliver atomic warheads.

NORTH KOREA REVIEW COMPLETED Trump’s national security aides have completed a review of U.S. options to try to curb North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes that includes economic and military measures but leans more toward new sanctions and increased pressure on Beijing to rein in its reclusive neighbour, a

U.S. official said on Sunday.

The official said it was not immediately known whether the recommendations put together

by Trump’s National Security Council had yet made their way to the president.

The White House declined comment on the NSC recommendations.

Trump and Xi are also expected to discuss Chinese ambitions in the South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in shipborne trade passes every year, when they meet on Thursday and Friday. China claims most of the resource-rich South China Sea, while Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims on the strategic waterway.

Trump’s deputy national security adviser, K.T. McFarland, said there was a “real possibility” North Korea could be capable of hitting the United States with a nuclear-armed missile by the end of Trump’s four-year term, the Financial Times reported.

McFarland’s estimate appeared more pessimistic than those of many experts, who say North Korea’s ability to launch a nuclear missile at the U.S. mainland is at least years away.

“The typical estimates are that it will take five years or so,” said Siegfried Hecker, a former director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the United States and a leading expert on North Korea’s nuclear programme. (Reuters)

Monday April 3rd, 2017 -09:30 hrs Tuesday April 4th, 2017 - 11:00 hrs Wednesday April 5th, 2017 - 12:30 hrs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 3, 2017

Death toll from Colombia landslide passes 200 Dozens of children are among those killed in devastating mudslides in south-west Colombia, according to President Juan Manuel Santos.

The total death toll has surpassed 200, with hundreds also injured.

Heavy rain flooded the town of Mocoa in the country’s south-west, with mud and rocks burying whole neighbourhoods and forcing residents to flee their homes.

More than 1,000 soldiers and police are involved in the relief effort in Putumayo province.

“Until we have the last person identified we are not going to stop,” said President Santos, who flew to the area on Saturday after the landslide struck.

The relief efforts continued throughout the weekend.

He said the current death toll was 207, out of which 170 had been identified, including 44 children.

The army had previously reported 200 people missing, but the president tweeted on Sunday afternoon that there were officially no disappeared persons.

Earlier in the day, video footage from Mocoa showed residents crying over a list of missing children, with their

names and aged pinned to a board.

“We have lost a baby, who has gone missing,” one resident told reporters. “A little baby, we can’t find him anywhere.”

Another woman told reporters she was desperately seeking her two daughters and one young granddaughter.

“Whether they are dead or alive, I just want to see them,” she said through tears.

The exact death toll is hard to confirm with the rescue operation still under way.

Some local media estimate up to 300 people have been killed, while the Colombian Red Cross has a total hovering above 200.

The Red Cross said it was working to help family members contact each other, and the Colombian Air Force has brought supplies.

President Santos has vowed investment will be made to make Mocoa better than it was before.

His critics said more should have been done to protect the area from such disasters.

The landslide struck in the early hours of Saturday morning, when many people were asleep in bed.

Colombia’s director of the National Disaster Risk Management Unit told the AFP news agency that a third of the region’s expected monthly rain fell during one night.

Although rainfall is abundant in the area, this downpour was unusually heavy and caused rivers to burst their banks.

The overflow then picked up mud and debris, creating a cascade.

Video footage of the aftermath showed currents so strong that abandoned lorries were propelled through the flooded streets.

A senior UN official in Colombia, Martin Santiago, blamed climate change, saying it had caused “tremendous results in terms of intensity, frequency and magnitude of these natural effects” in the region.

Others said deforestation has also played a role. “When the basins are deforested, they break down. It is as if we remove the protection for avoiding landslides,” said Adriana Soto, a Colombian conservationist and former environment minister.

With no running water in Mocoa, one resident told El Tiempo newspaper that they had been collecting rainwa-

ter. Power lines are also out across the area.

Photos posted to social media by the air force showed some patients being

evacuated by air Landslides have struck the region several times in recent months.

In November, nine peo-

ple died in the town of El Tambo, about 140km (90 miles) from Mocoa, during a landslide that followed heavy rain. (BBC)

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 3, 2017

Clico’s future in Guyana LAST week, news broke that Mr Lawrence Duprey, of the Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO), which folded during the global economic recession, is interested in returning to Guyana.

This news has been greeted with mixed reactions and the fact that citizens, home and abroad, have perked up and are weighing in on the matter bodes well for healthy and constructive discourse. CLICO was the insurance company that went belly-up eight years ago and resulted in policyholders and investors losing billions. Insurance, including life, pension, accident, fire and illness was wiped out. The insured lost their investments, employees lost their jobs and individuals and businesses lost their shares. One of the biggest single casualties was the National Insurance Scheme, through an investment made of $5 billion, which poses threat to its viability and longevity. Looking at this situation at face level, where there is angst towards the company, such is understandable.

Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram, was quoted in the Kaieteur News as saying that the only meaningful apology would be to repay Guyanese. He also spoke of Guyana being able to recover the economic loss, not only the financial loss. To do so, Ram said Guyana can apply “a proper rate of exchange and a proper rate of interest and on that basis, we will determine what it is we have lost…”

According to Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, Mr Duprey said that CLICO’s parent company, CL Financial Limited (CLFL), is desirous of returning to do business in Guyana, is prepared to apologise to Guyanese, and refund NIS its investment. CLFL has its eye set on our financial and housing markets, proposing to aid poverty alleviation, improve savings and build the solar energy and claybrick industries. Acknowledgement or rejection of the proposals

should not be made in the absence of critical examination of other factors.

During 2007-2011, when businesses around the world were failing, such was happening in an environment of liberalisation of economies by governments that saw the relaxing of regulations and oversight responsibilities. This created the space for vulture capitalism to rise, where rogues and the unscrupulous were given free rein to do as they pleased.

Businesses gambled with investors’ money, unperturbed about the absence of iron-clad guarantees for the protection of the funds and realising of appropriate returns.

In the wider world, for instance, Wall Street in the United States, not only saw significant falls in stock prices -- people’s investments were wiped out -- but some financial institutions went out of business and others that survived had to rely on bailouts from the Federal Government. The Trinidad and Tobago Government intervened to keep CLICO alive.

There were cases like Bernie Madoff, who recklessly speculated on people’s money that robbed them out of their life savings, now serving a 150-year sentence for his Ponzi schemes. In the Caribbean, there was Robert Allen Stanford who was considered king of Antigua, sustaining its economy, and who became famous for founding and financing the 20/20 Cricket Series. In the case of CLICO (Guyana), it needs not be forgotten that the PPP Government erred in not carrying out its fiduciary and oversight responsibility, which allowed this company and Globe Trust to fall into non-compliance. The absence of enforcing the Laws of Guyana not only created space to ‘do as you please,’ but without technical support to offer advice and direct operation things were bound to fall apart. Saying this does not free CLICO of culpability, but at the same time it does not absolve the PPP Government’s act of failing to shoulder and carry out

its responsibility.

History in business has shown companies can rise and fall and rise again. Some after going into bankruptcy have re-emerged independently or as subsidiaries and at times even stronger. This is true for businesses around the world, inclusive of those within the most developed societies. The proposed investment of CLFL, which is an indigenous company to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), needs to be analysed within the context of the environment when it folded, the factors involved, and what it means to the Region in pursuing economic integration.

Lawrence Duprey remains a significant financial player in the Region and elsewhere and with a new approach to investment and private partnership in Guyana, it is possible that we could recover some of our losses for past imprudent deals, and move forward. Perhaps, in ituations such as ours, when we are still reeling from the gamble with Treasury funds, half a loaf would be better than none. An open door would therefore not be an unnecessary risk, though the approach of analysts such as Mr Ram should be considered.

Your lead story should have been the swearing-in of the mayors and deputy mayors Dear Editor, ON 2017.03.30, the mayors and deputy mayors of the nine municipalities were sworn in at State House

by President Granger. In his address to the gathering immediately after this event, the President concisely presented the role of local government organs and that it is an integral part of the “tripartite system of Government.”

His Excellency stated that all three levels of Government must collaborate, “in order to ensure that citizens, wherever they are,

enjoy a high quality of life.”

He elaborated on the Government’s intention that every region will have “at its heart”, a capital town which will be “a centre of public services, public health, public education, communications, justice, social protection, security and sport.”

In your issue of 2017.03.31, you reported on the above activity, but relegated it to page eight.

Your front page is dominated by the headline: “More Oil” and was followed by a full-page story on page three.

I wish to suggest that your emphasis and message are totally misplaced. The subliminal message seems to be that oil will be our saviour, solve our woes, take us to the promised land and such like. Perhaps I am exaggerating.

Oil or the revenues to be derived from it will by itself, achieve nothing of the sort.

In fact, the lesson is there to be learnt from many other countries that abundant natural resources can even be a curse, in the absence of good governance and strong national insti-

tutions.

I suggest, therefore, that your public duty would have been better served by switching the aforementioned articles. The President has already cautioned that we should not become intoxicated by the prospects of oil. Already, we can see the flies hovering over the honey pot.

Our priorities should continue to be trying to achieve national unity, social cohesion, good governance and creating stronger and more effective national institutions. Together, these will assist in the task of de-

livery of good health care, education, social services, justice, public infrastructure and the like.

In this regard, effective local democracy and a functioning local gov-

ernment system is one of the best vehicles to take us there.

Regards, Ronald Bulkan Minister of Communities

Editor’s Note Thank you for your letter Minister Bulkan. Both the new oil find and the swearing-in of municipal leaders were good stories, but we exercised editorial judgement in highlighting the former as the first lead.

The latter was a secondary lead also appearing on our front page. We may not be right every time, but we do so in the interest of capturing the best news story without diminishing the importance of any other.

We have published Minister Bulkan’s letter in full, because we remain open to constructive opinions, which can only help us to carry out our mission.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 3, 2017

The AG is not guilty of contempt Dear Editor, ANIL Nandlall in some indecent mischievous mach ination to bring the learned Attorney General in to public odium and ridicule, has arrogated onto him self the role of spokesman for the judiciary and hel d an inflammatory press conference at the PPP’s hea dquarters (Freedom House) on March 25, where he again accused the AG of threatening the judge, having previous ly done so on his Facebook page on the afternoon of Marc h 23 (SN March 26, captioned “Nandlall maintains that t he Judge was threatened”). And yet, at no point in the v erbal exchanges between the judge and the AG (whether y ou believe the AG”s, the judge’s or even Mr Nandlall’s ve rsion of events) did the Judge use the words: “Are you th reatening me Mr Williams”? or, any words to some such s imilar effect. Nor did the Judge say: “Mr Williams, you a re insulting me” or use words to some such similar effect . And the judge must be taken to know a threat, or insul t, when he sees or hears one. So in this matter on the jud ge’s or the AG’s version of events, there was no threat; no insult. But were there words uttered that amounted to contempt of court? In the adversarial setting of a court, the law in its wisdom, recognises that tempers are boun d to flare - as between lawyers and lawyers, and occasion ally, as between the lawyer and the judge or magistrate.

This goes with the territory. Yet, the judge must not only be impartial, he must appear manifestly and undoubtedly to be impartial. So,did the judge take any issue or umbrage wit h Mr Nandlall’s irksome interruptions or disruptions of w hich the AG has told us? Interruptions being a very diff erent thing all together in the forensic process, from legiti mate objections ruled upon by the judge upholding or ov er- ruling them as the case may be. What are the statistics: how many of Mr Nandlall’s objections/interruptions were overruled, upheld, not ruled upon at all? There appears to me to be a somewhat Orwellian treatment meted out to Mr Nandlall in this matter. That Orwellian approach has made Mr Nandlall “more equal than” the AG in Justice Holder’s “my court.” So the junior counsel with accustomed intransigence could feel bold enough at his Freedom House press conference to say in absolute terms “… this is what I will continue to do.”

And yet by his mischief of sensationalising, and politicis ation by his insidious allegations of threat to the judge’s life, the wound has already been inflicted on the hapless AG; add to this comments made by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Jagdeo, the Indians are circling the wagon - to use an American hist orical metaphor (see “PPP expresses concern over AG’s alleged utterances to High Court judge” KN, Thursday, March 28). Mr. Nandlall has transformed a first-aid matter, into one now (to use a medical analogy) requiring intensive care treatment and major surgery. Had the matter remained one of perceived “disrespectful” conduct (the judge’s version) or, anecdotal assertiveness (the AG’s version) John Public would at worst, have been mildly indifferent to this matter. But Mr Nandlall must not be allowed to succee d in his machinations and contrivance. And he would succeed if, what the Honourable Judge has complained of as “egregio us statement”(but, is, upon sober, detached reflection at its hi ghest, arguably an unfortunate tactless discourtesy by the lear ned AG), becomes elevated into a really serious allegation o f a contempt of court; coupled with a demand for an apology by the AG. And I dare say that the Hon Judge must be, respect fully, reminded that a discourtesy,or disrespect (perceived or ac tual) even one perceived to be offensive, is not, and has nev er been decided to be contempt of court by the highest court s for settling these Common Law matters (i.e the House of L ords, of England; and the Privy Council). That is the position at law (the learned reader is referred to the well-known West Indian case of Maharaj V AG (No1) and the cases cited therein).

And, was it right, or dignified, or respectful for the judge, upo n being asked by the Attorney General of this country, and a Senior Counsel and the head of the Bar, a forensically permi tted question as to whether he (the judge) had recorded the witness’s evidence, to demur to the AG that it was “…. my c ourt.” With the utmost of respect, such a retort to a legitimat e enquiry was tactless and disrespectful of Guyana’s Attorney General. In my outspoken comment: that was plainly wrong. Was it that tactlessness that precipitated the “egregious statement” Just spare a thought for the hapless AG. As I analyze the sequence or timelines of events that caused the Judge to “immediately” rise from the bench, two things are manifest (i) the judge had unjudicially excised (“crossed out”) evidence elicited in cross-examination by the AG that was favourable to the AG’s case (ii) the judge had, prior to the so-called “egregious statement” (which we are made to believe was the proximate reason for his rising from the bench), already decided to adjourn the hearing of the matter. It is a matter of some considerable

curiosity that during the entire business session from 9 am to 12 pm, amidst all the agonies of the moment, considering particularly Mr Nandlall’s “interruptions” (Mr Nandlall calls them objections, perhaps some were) no complaint whatsoever was made orally to the AG as regards anything said or done by him, nor, I presume, nothing was recorded pointing to or suggesting any misconduct or disrespect by the AG. So, I for one is not persuaded that it was the AG’s so called “egregious statement” that caused that abnormal rising from the bench.

Coincidentally, it may have just been the proverbial last straw.

For legal reasons, (explanations of which a letter of this type is an inappropriate place to adumbrate), I would in a nutshell say that the judge’s explanations for his excising that evidence are indefensible (re-examination should have been invited to clarify any uncertainty) and if such excising, as it appears, is what precipitated the so-called “egregious statement” then, with respect, this is a case of contributory indiscretions of which a major proportion is to be borne by, or attributed to, the Hon Judge. Suffice it to say that every cross-examiner knows that follow-up questions are based on the answer elicited and assumed recorded by the court,where the answer (in this matter the “yes” from the witness, crossed out by the judge) is relevant to the point of fact the cross examiner (that is the AG) was seeking to establish as part of his case. The more I read the newspaper extracts of the judge’s conduct, his dereliction in recording the evidence elicited by the AG’s cross-examination, the more I am convinced that the beleaguered judge’s explanation as to crossing out the witness evidence, is indefensible. It is not that the judge thought that the evidence was hearsay or somehow otherwise plainly inadmissible.

I have the benefit of having presided as a magistrate for some 12 years. So, in this matter, I can write both theoretically and experientially. A lawyer (now recently deceased) after I had ruled against him, I recall, as he was leaving the court, quite audibly blurted out “I gon mek he he wuk.” And that was a mild case of disrespect compared with what I endured (for political reasons and otherwise) when I was the resident magistrate on the Essequibo coast – 2005 to 2008). I never asked for any apology.

I never sought self-vindication.

We all have different levels of judicial restraint and tolerance.

We all have different idiosyncrasies. But if I had allowed those irksome moments to cause me to respond idiosyncratically, then, perhaps I was not temperamentally suited for judicial office.

The AG’s constitutional status and leadership or head of the Bar carries not only high responsibilities; it carries concomitantly, the right, and entitlement, to be respected by both Bench and Bar alike. That is the unwritten rule. And that is why in spite of all the centuries of advocacy by Attorneys General throughout the Commonwealth Common Law jurisdictions there is no case (reported or unreported as far as I am aware) of an AG being charged with contempt; nor being compelled to issue some apology to a judge. No precedent exists anywhere. So, there must be some good character disposition that operates in the Attorney General’s favour when allegations of “disrespectful” conduct are made against him, even if made by a judge. The AG had maintained that he had no intention of disrespecting the judge. Those of us before whom he has appeared frequently enough know of his assertiveness, even (as he was then) as a junior counsel. Assertiveness in our courts is not some vice; it is a virtue. A fortiori, as an Attorney General. It is plainly wrong for any punishment to be contemplated, much less meted out to him for any such assertiveness as a method of suppressing the method or conduct of his advocacy.

It is a matter of some considerable curiosity that at no time in the agony of the moments during the verbal exchanges between the AG and the judge did the word “contempt” or “out of order” emanate from the judge’s mouth. Every judge immediately discerns contempt in the face of the court when he hears one. It is almost self-evident. It requires no ex-post facto cogitation or consideration. The subsequent contention of a contempt seems more an afterthought, than a conviction of a view of such an occurrence. I must emphasise here the point of there being no prior reprimand or rebuke of the AG during the business session.

The Guyana Chronicle report under the caption , “Judge wants AG to apologise” (Wednesday, March 29, 2017), also KN captioned, “Judge says AG disrespectful to him in Court” 201703-30, contains extracts from the judge’s letter of complaint to the chancellor, (ag) that in my considered view do not even tend to show a prima facie case of contempt, much less to be evidence from which the judge can feel sure that the AG was guilty of the criminal offence of contempt in the face of the court, of which the particulars that would have to be supplied to the AG, must and could only be the words: “I could say what I want to say and when I want to say it, I have always been like that”; the socalled“egregious statement.”

The first and most crucial aspect of this is the consideration that the AG is stating or intending to state a description or

characteristic of himself. By what logic, or principle, can a description in ordinary English Language of one’s self be contempt of court, even more so, it is non-responsive. I have always thought that the law of criminal contempt (which in my tenure on the Bench I had studiously researched), requires that something be said or done in relation to the judge suggesting corruption, dishonesty or lack of integrity on the part of the judge. Are those words constituting the “egregious statement” reasonably capable of any such suggestion? Not at all.

Editor, permit me to return to Mr Nandlall’s scandal about the threat to the judge’s life, which but for the public outcry which his scandal has engendered, would be simply laughable. Are we to believe that the learned AG suddenly went berserk and threatened the High Court Judge with death, not in some private telephone conversation, but in open court in full view and hearing of others?

And how? By simply recalling and recounting a similar experience with a magistrate, now dead, about the accuracy of the recorded evidence? How is death to be? By voodoo? In my by-stander’s view, a tangled web of deceit is being weaved. Mr Nandlall’s consistent, vulgar abuse (in both print and electronic media) of this AG is a notorious fact. This is just another episode in Mr Nandlall’s playbook as he practises to deceive. Besides, how curious that Mr Duncan’s counsel (Mr Nandlall) has a fetish with threats. Readers must recall the infamous tape recording of Mr Nandlall (AG at that time) in a telephone conversation with a Kaieteur News reporter, Leonard Gildharie, issuing gun threats against KN. Casualty (that is the AG) apart, the irony of the matter should not be lost sight of: it is the AG who would constitutionally have the burden of representing any judge against whom (it is not inconceivable or far-fetched) legal proceedings may be taken, ex officio. And what if in such an event the presiding judge in that case appears to be lax in recording vital evidence elicited by the AG (in cross-examination as appears to be the situation in the instant matter) on behalf of the judge he is representing. A case can be lost by such laxity. Discrepancies (and inconsistencies) in a witness’s evidence affects its weight and value. I suspect and would suggest that the learned AG is demonstrating the type of zeal in his advocacy in this matter, as is commensurate with the gravity and seriousness of it; involving as it does, not only the probity of the official constitutional act of the Honourable Prime Minister, but also that of His Excellency the President, coupled with the political opprobrium loss of his case portends. Unwittingly, the judge by the unusual course he has taken in this matter, would be suppressing a method of advocacy which he considers rightly, or wrongly, disrespectful, which involves both the Prime Minister and the President. Surely, such exceptional circumstance cannot be lost on the judge. And he appears now to have mistakenly persuaded himself, that a criminal contempt has occurred.I am reminded that just some such mistaken persuasion occurred in the Maharaj case supra, when the lawyer had accused the presiding judge of “unjudicial conduct”; the judge had charged and tried the lawyer and committed him to prison for contempt for such utterance, and that the Privy Council in spite of their Lordships being of the view that the lawyer had acted “discourteously”towards the judge, ruled in favour of the lawyer and awarded him damages (i.e. money). And just consider that in this Justice Franklin Holder matter the “egregious statement” is not even (as I have pointed out above) any accusation made against the judge. As devil’s advocate, I would say this: I have written with the benefit of the AG (then a junior counsel) being a frequent appearer in the courts in which I presided.

He can be as assertive in the pursuit of his client’s cause, (the common lawyer’s characteristic) as he can be conversational in his disarming humour(a rare virtue).

And finally, about an apology and the intimation of the judge that in the absence of such (as reported) “he will not sit to hear him as an Attorney-at-Law in any matter whatsoever.” I dare say that such a course portends a constitutional crisis between the judicial and the executive branches of government. The AG has a constitutional right and duty to appear and be heard on behalf of the state, and its officers. That right is grounded in the constitutional doctrine of public interest. That constitutional right cannot lightly be denied him. I wonder whether by the events which has happened in this matter the judge has not unwittingly disqualified himself from any further hearing of this matter.

But the laws of contempt of court (Cap 5:05 – as an existing law) which one day may require serious consideration as to its constitutionality (unless interpreted with necessary modifications, adaptations etc) in terms of article (144) (1) and (2) of our Constitution as to “fair hearing,” cannot be used to suppress a method of advocacy which the judge considers “disrespectful.” And no worthy AG can be expected to compromise his well settled Common Law right against self-incrimination, if the effect of an apology would be to lead to a perception that he is guilty of some serious wrong. He is not.

Yours truly, Maxwell E. Edwards

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 3, 2017

App to give Linden global platform

By Vanessa Braithwaite

LINDEN’S tourism and agriculture potential, investment opportunities, local production and services, among others will be available at the palm of one’s hand as the town gears up to launch its own mobile application.

The app that is now ready for installation on Apple and Android devices provides insight into the mining town and what it has to offer for business,

accommodation, recreation, agriculture and tourism.

Its official launch is slated for the upcoming Linden Town Week celebrations.

Photos of the beautiful town can be viewed, while app users browse the several options. The ‘About’ option catch line is ‘Linden’, the place where love meets gratitude’, has information on the town’s regional officials and a detailed history of its establishment.

Other options include hotels, restaurants, upcom-

ing events, shopping plazas, non-governmental organisations, religious organisations, banking institutions and local news.

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland, who was instrumental in the development of the mobile application, said it aims to expose Linden’s wealth, both locally, regionally and farther afield.

The app will receive continuous updating and will also feature local producers and agro-processors,

as well as advertise job opportunities.

“This app has the potential to tap into over 200 or more jobs. Our elderly need better home care. Our tourism is ready for takeoff. Our farm products can be made ready for overseas shelves and it’s time Linden retake its rightful place as the standard bearer of Guyana’s economy,” Holland said.

The Linden Mayor said the town is pregnant with opportunities, and the app, which also promotes green initiatives, is a huge step in marketing the town to the world.

The app can be downloaded at both Apple ITunes and Google Play Stores.

Align investment ...

From page 3

to orphanages and senior citizens’ homes.

The ACEG was established in April 2013 with 11 Chinese companies. Today that number has grown to 19.

Its members include: China Harbour Engineering Company, China Trading, Baishanlin, China Railway First Group, Standard Agroforestry Incorporated, Bosai Minerals, Rong-an Incorporated, Huawei Technologies, Lonh Hi Centre, Guyana Green Farm Incorporated,

Guyana Hansom International, Sunset Lakes, China Dalian International Cooperation, Hi-Tech Construction, Power China International, Nuctech Company and China Railway 17 Bureau Group.

The annual dinner and launch of the ACEG 2017 business magazine also had in attendance First Lady Sandra Granger, Attorney General, Basil Williams and Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder.

This pretty young lady entertaining the audience with a traditional Chinese musical instrument

AG zeroes in on Kaieteur News

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 3, 2017

–– says newspaper must compensate him for ‘libellous statement’

PUBLISHER of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall, has been asked to satisfactorily compensate Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams SC, for a “libellous statement” published in the newspaper recently, or face legal actions.

Lall was written to by Williams’ SC attorneys, Hewley Griffith and Lawrence Harris last Friday.

The matter has to do with recent utterances in a courtroom, between Williams SC and High Court Judge, Justice Franklin Holder, in which the newspaper accused the AG of issuing “threats” to the judge in its Friday, March 24, 2017 publication.

The article appeared under the headline: “AG threatens High Court Judge”.

The newspaper reported that Williams SC, in addressing the judge, blurted out loudly in the courtroom that, “the last magistrate who did that to me was later found dead”.

These comments were taken directly from the Facebook page of former AG Anil Nandlall, who was the first to write about the matter the evening it reportedly transpired.

The AG has since warned that legal action will also be taken against Nandlall and the Guyana Times newspaper, which published similar content.

Williams’ attorneys in their letter to Lall said that the words used in the article are clear imputation and reference that the AG engaged in criminal activity and conduct and that he is a person without character and integrity and is unfit to hold public office.

Williams is also a Member of Parliament and Chairman of the People National Congress, the largest party in the APNU+AFC coalition.

The lawyers notified Lall that as a result of this libellous statement, their client has suffered “great hurt, shame and humiliation” and has been held up to public odium and ridicule.

In the circumstance, the attorneys made an offer for the publisher to compensate the AG by paying for damages to be donated to a named charity and for a public apology to be made in the newspaper. “…unless you do pay damages to a named charity of our client’s choice for the aforesaid libel and issue an unqualified apology prominently displayed in your newspaper, we shall have no alterna-

tive but to institute legal proceedings against you without further notice, in order to vindicate the good name of our client,” Lall was warned.

The publisher has seven days to respond to these requests, failure of which will result in legal actions being brought against him.

Meanwhile, the AG has since committed to resolving the issue with

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams

High Court Judge, Justice Franklin Holder

Publisher of Kaieteur News Glenn Lall

Justice Holder, who has asked for an apology from Williams.

In a letter to acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yvonne Cummings-Edwards, Justice Holder said he left the bench of the courtroom on Thursday March 23, 2017 because of a statement allegedly made by Williams, which is: “I

could say what I want to say and however I want to say it, I have always been like that.” The judge said he found the statement to be egregious.

“Immediately after hearing these words, I rose from the bench and went into my chambers.

I did not adjourn the matter, nor did I give any instructions to the parties,” Justice Holder mentioned in his letter of complaint.

Justice Holder said he felt disrespected by Williams, and is not prepared to listen to him (Williams) as an attorney in any court unless an apology is made.

La Penitence fire leaves ...

From page 2 said he and his wife, Marilyn, left home early that morning without cooking or doing any of their daily routines.

“We left, but I returned,” Mr Clarke said, adding: “I was hungry, so I went eating a mango by the tree outside of the yard.

And as I turned around, I saw black smoke coming out from the house…

“I rush to see where it was coming from, but when I open the door, the

What’s left of the two-storey house in which the Clarkes lived

blaze was too much, so I had to leave it.”

Many of his neighbours, he said, tried to help put the blaze out, but had to give up in the end.

The Guyana Chronicle has learnt that only the refrigerator was on when

the couple left home, so the origin of the fire is still “a mystery”.

However, residents complained that they have been experiencing low voltage for quite some time, but no one confirmed whether a for-

mal complaint was ever lodged with the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL).

Members of the Fire Service are still investigating the matter, and are yet to pronounce on the origin of the fire.

One of Clarke’s immediate neighbours tries to save a few pieces of furniture

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 3, 2017

Boy Protection THERE are mainly good people in the world with the best of intentions, but unfortunately, there are also those who want to harm children and take advantage

of their innocence. Children are vulnerable to sexual abuse from Men or Women, whether they are boy or girl. Many people believe that sexual abuse of a boy

is rare and that girl victims suffer more consequences than boy victims, but neither of these myths is true.

Some experts estimate that one in four girls and

one in six boys are sexually abused before the age of 18, but not all cases are reported to authorities, so there are never as many numbers or prosecutions to reflect this.

In our society, discussing the sexual abuse of boys is somewhat ‘taboo’, but the truth is --- it happens. Maybe if parents were to talk openly about it and devise more ways to protect their boys, more cases could be prevented.

An adult woman can sexually abuse a boy by showing him inappropriate pictures, videos or other sexual paraphernalia and by fondling, caressing or engaging with the boy in a sexual nature.

Although this type of abuse (between a boy and a woman) is rare, it does exist and adolescent boys can easily fall prey, believing in the notion that they are being catapulted into manhood.

Any inappropriate touching or photo-taking and/or the sharing of naked pictures of children or their genitals is sexual abuse. An adult man can sexually abuse a boy by doing any of the aforementioned things and by engaging in homosexual activity with the boy.

Adult perpetrators have a way of befriending a child and gaining their trust before beguiling them into inappro-

priate sexual activity --- this is called ‘grooming.’ Once a child has built a trusting bond with the perpetrator, they will believe literally whatever they are told by him/her and reporting the sexual abuse will become less of an option.

Abused boys can suffer a range of psychological after-effects as a result of the trauma and without appropriate counselling, guidance and support, boy victims could develop some disturbing or disruptive behaviours that could shape their adolescent years and affect them well into adulthood. On the other hand, they could just become a silent victim afraid to speak out about their abuse for fear of stigma from their friends and family. There is a myth that boys who are sexually abused will one day become abusers themselves; this is another reason why boys and men do not identify themselves as victims of abuse, they just suffer the mental torment in silence. Here are some tips on protecting boys (and girls) 1) Teach them that no one should touch their ‘private areas’ for any purpose. Talk through defence tactics with your child, (e.g. what to do if someone was getting too close).

2) Teach them the dif-

ference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour and conversation and how to make a discreet exit if they are feeling uncomfortable.

3) Teach them that if they’re feeling uneasy about anyone’s behaviour towards them, they should come and tell: as a parent you need to know.

4) Check out the people who spend time with your children, those in authority who coach, teach or train them. Meet them; show your face, so you have an idea ‘who’ is around (and making an impression on) your child.

Make sure you have phone numbers and details where appropriate.

Even though we may not want to think about it, at any given time there could be a perpetrator (paedophile) in our midst. As adults who realise the dangers that lurk in society, we must remain alert and vigilant with regard to the people around our children.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, call the Childcare and Protection Hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@ gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION

Dead Brazilian miner identified THE Brazilian miner who was killed on Friday after a pit at Micobie, Region Eight caved in on him has been identified as Sebastian Faries, 57, of Mahdia, also in Region Eight.

According to reports, Faries and others were working in the pit when it suddenly gave way.

His colleagues were reportedly able to run to safety, but unfortunately, he couldn’t.

His motionless body was later pulled from the pit and taken to the Mahdia Hospital, where doctors confirmed he was dead.

Faries was allegedly working on a dredge that had not been cleared by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to mine in the area.

According to investigations, permission had been granted by the Micobie Village Council without informing or consulting the GGMC prior to doing so.

The death is being investigated by the police, the GGMC and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Region Eight has over the years experienced a number of deadly mining accidents,

one notable incident was back in May 2015 when a pit collapsed at Mowasi Backdam, claiming the lives of 10 miners.

Following that mishap, President David Granger immediately established a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to probe the spate of accidents in the gold and diamond-mining industries.

According to the findings of the investigation, which was released in that very year, the sector recorded some 28 deaths over a 15-month period, most of them as a result of pit cave-ins.

The probe also revealed that between 2012 and 2015, 62 miners, mostly young men, lost their lives while on the job.

And one of the main reasons being given for the occurrence of those accidents, it was found, was negligence on the part of some workers themselves to adhere to safe mining practices, many times at the risk of their very own lives.

The CoI found that there was a pervading culture of laxness towards safety, and that clear rules must be applied and enforced.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 3, 2017

Veterans celebrate anniversary with church service

PRESIDENT David Granger on Sunday attended the third Anniversary Church Service of the Guyana Veterans’ Legion (GVL) at the St. Sidwell’s Anglican Church.

The service was also attended by members of the Legion, as well as Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Patrick West, other senior GDF officers and the Director of Prisons, Carl Graham.

general membership and our well-wishers in the wider community God’s blessings and we call on all old soldiers, who are not members of the Legion to come join us. In unity there is strength,” he said.

Gomes said the GVL inherited 20 World War II Veterans from the former Guyana Legion and 85 GDF veteran ‘shut ins’ from the former Ex-GDF Association and is working with the Government

ing veterans of the GDF, the Guyana People’s Militia and the Guyana National Service (GNS); and to look into the living conditions of veterans and make recommendations for improvements.

In 2013, a motion for the creation of the Commission was approved in the National Assembly under the previous Administration, but did not materialise until President Granger took office. The final report of the CoI was handed

Attendees greet President Granger after the service The GVL was established in April 2014 as a result of the amalgamation of the Guyana Legion and the Ex-GDF Association of Guyana.

President of the GVL, Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) George Gomes, in an invited comment after the service, said that since the merging of the organisations, the GVL has aimed to host a church service every year.

“We need as much of God’s blessings as possible so we always ensure we have a church service. I wish the

to ensure that the needs of these persons are met.

“We are eagerly awaiting the report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) that was headed by Colonel Desmond Roberts. We know it includes good things for us and we are waiting for the results to be published and for the implementation of what would be beneficial to us,” he said.

The CoI was the initiative of President Granger, who called for its establishment in order to examine the conditions and circumstances fac-

to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon by Colonel Roberts on March 3, 2017.

President David Granger has, since taking up office, pledged to ensure that the needs of Guyana’s veterans are better served in return for their service to country.

At a Remembrance Day reception held on November 2015, the President donated $1 million to the GVL and announced that the Legion would benefit from an annual state subvention.

The President also an-

President Granger with members of the Guyana Veterans’ Legion (GVL) after the service. Seated on either side of him are Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Patrick West (immediate left); GVL President, Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d), George Gomes (right); and Reverend Randolph Reynolds (Chaplain of the GVL). To the far right, sits former Chief of Staff, Brigadier George Lewis

nounced the establishment of a National Veteran’s Commission, a Veterans’ Trust and a Veterans’ Department, the latter of which is located at

Base Camp Ayanganna.

“The State acknowledges and accepts its obligation to assist our veterans to ensure that they too can enjoy

a good life. The State will help to open opportunities for veterans when they leave active military service,” the President said at that event.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 3, 2017

Suspect in gruesome Rupununi murder arrested

POLICE with help from public-spirited citizens Sunday evening apprehended the prime suspect wanted for the murder of Arnold Gordon in Central Rupununi ‘F’ Division (interior locations) just over two weeks ago.

It is alleged that the 28-year-old suspect allegedly clubbed and shot his cousin with an arrow on March 17, 2017 before

burying the body in a shallow grave.

The body of Gordon, 24, a labourer of Crapaud Pond, Kumu Village, Central Rupununi, was found in a grave in an area known as Tiger Plate, Central Rupununi.

The victim was shot with an arrow under his right arm pit. An iron rod was also found near the murder scene.

The sole eyewitness to the killing is said to be a six-year-old boy, who is the slain man’s cousin.

According to reports, Gordon and his six-yearold cousin left home on March 16 to go fish at a pond next to the Tiger Plate area. While in the area, Gordon encountered his 28-year-old cousin, who is unemployed, and an argument ensued.

It is alleged that the suspect picked up a piece of wood and a metal rod and struck Gordon. The six-year-old, who was with Gordon, ran back home and told his grandmother.

When Gordon failed to return home the following day, Gordon’s mother

reported the matter to a toshao, who informed the police.

The toshao and a team conducted a search for Gordon and eventually located what appeared to be a shallow grave in some bushes about 20 feet from the suspect’s camp.

After a few minutes of digging, they saw a hand protruding from the grave. They notified police, who dug up the grave, which was about two feet deep, and found Gordon’s corpse. The body was taken to the Lethem Hospital.

Hydraulic leak grounds Dynamic aircraft

A DYNAMIC Airways flight bound for JFK International Airport, New York,was cancelled Sunday afternoon due to a hydraulic leak on its 767 aircraft.

In a release, Dynamic International Airways said it regretted to announce the cancellation of flight 2D 402 out of Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

“Dynamic maintenance engineers worked diligently in an effort to correct the problem but were unable to complete their task before nightfall, forcing the cancellation of the flight,” the release stated.

It added that the 150 passengers are being offered transportation vouchers to get home and return to the airport.

Passengers from far-flung areas are being offered hotel accommodation and meals.

According to the release, another Dynamic aircraft will arrive in Guyana this morning and will facilitate the departure of affected passengers in the afternoon.

“Dynamic regrets any inconvenience which this

24-hour delay in departure causes to its passengers,”the release added.

It further stated that this is the first cancellation for 2017 of a Dynamic International Airways flight serving the

Guyana route.

“Safety is Dynamic’s number one priority and thanks to the affected passengers for their understanding and cooperation,” the release ended.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday April 3, 2017

Former drop-in centre to be used as a bond Guyana Chronicle has since learnt that the renovation of the building is almost done. The minister had announced in February that a new Drop-in Centre will be constructed at Sophia at a cost of $20M. The new facility, it is said, will be able to accommodate children and up to three families, and will have all the necessary conveniences and safety features.

Ongoing renovations at the former Drop-in Centre on Hadfield Street, Wortmanville (Photo by Adrian Narine) AFTER being ravaged by fire, what’s left of the former Drop-in Centre on Hadfield Street is being renovated and converted to a storage bond.

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally has explained that after two children

lost their lives in the fire last July, the building was deemed unsafe to house vulnerable children as it lacked the required facilities and space.

The children who perished in the fire were sixyear-old Joshua George and his two-year-old brother, An-

tonio.

Minister Ally said the mere idea that children died in the fire, the building will no longer be used as a drop-in centre; that rather, the newly renovated structure will now be used as a bond to store some of the Ministry’s assets.

Economic outlook for Caribbean, Latin America improving –– IDB report finds THE economic outlook for the Caribbean and Latin America is improving, driven by a stronger global economy, improved fiscal positions, lower inflationary pressures, and better prospects, according to the Inter-American Development Bank’s 2017 Macroeconomic Report.

According to the IDB, the first part of the report Routes to Growth in a New Trade World was released on the side of the IDB’s Annual Meeting in Asunción, Paraguay. The second part, on regional integration was unveiled on Sunday.

“Since our report last year there have been several positive developments as the region shifts to a pattern of better policies,” said IDB Chief Economist José Juan Ruiz.

He added: “Tax reform efforts in some countries have been successful in achieving more equity while improving efficiency. Monetary policies in larger economies have kept inflation in check and we estimate the external adjustment process is close to completion in most countries.”

However, the combination of potential negative U.S. trade and financial shocks, even with the U.S. economy growing, could trim a full 0.4 per cent from the region’s projected two per cent annual growth rate for the 20172019 period.

The report uses the IMF’s

three-year projections as a baseline and then estimates how external impacts could add or subtract to the region’s growth.

The shock from the U.S. economy is not evenly distributed. Mexico could see its three-year potential growth rate cut by 0.8 per cent, reducing its annual

rate from 2.2 per cent to 1.4 per cent. The Southern Cone and the Andean region would each see their GDP annual growth rate reduced by 0.4 per cent. The shocks would be transmitted through a combination of interest rate hikes, global trade frictions and impacts on commodity prices.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 3, 2017

Pakistan pummel West Indies ...

Walton’s dismissal triggered a now familiar middle order slide as West Indies lost a flurry of wickets — six falling for 31 runs in the space of 43 deliveries — as Ali and Shadab wrecked the innings.

Tottering on 83 for seven in the 16th over, West Indies were rescued by Brathwaite’s career-best knock which included two fours and two sixes.

More importantly, he put on an important 38 for

the eighth wicket with Sunil Narine (9) which helped West Indies past the 100-run mark.

On 121 for eight at the start of the final over, West Indies’ hopes of a competitive total were scuppered by the excellent Ali who tied down Brathwaite and Samuel Badree and conceded just three runs.

Shezad then got Pakistan away safely in their run chase, anchoring two key partnerships up front to erase any

lingering Windies hopes of a victory.

The right-hander punched six fours and a six, putting on 40 for the first wicket with Kamran Akmal (20) and 70 for the second wicket with Babar.

Shezad startedly slowly but picked up with two back-to-back boundaries off seamer Jason Holder in the sixth over, and paced his innings nicely to raise his sixth T20I half-century with a cover-driven four off Williams in

the 16th over.

Akmal fell in the seventh over, tapping off-spinner Samuels to Williams at mid-wicket but Babar helped steady the innings, stroking a four and a six while surviving a chance on 30 in the 14 th over off leg-spinner Badree.

He and Shezad fell in the space of seven balls — in successive overs from Williams — to leave Pakistan on 115 for three in the 18th over but by that time, the result had been virtually decided.

From back page

SCORECARD

WEST INDIES E Lewis c Hasan Alib Imad Wasim 7 +C Walton c Shoaib Malik b Shadab Khan 40 M Samuels b Hasan Ali 22 J Mohammed b Hasan Ali 1 L Simmons run out 1 K Pollard b Rumman Raees 3 *C Brathwaite not out 37 J Holder c sub (Mohammad Nawaz b Shadab Khan 0 S Narine b Wahab Riaz 9 S Badree not out 1 Extras: (lb2, w1) 3 TOTAL: (8 wkts, 20 overs) 124 Did not bat: K Williams Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-52, 3-59, 4-73, 5-73, 6-82, 7-83, 8-121.

Bowling: Imad Wasim 4-0-25-1, Hasan Ali 4-2-12-2 (w1), Rumman Raees 4-1-25-1, Wahab Riaz

4-0-44-1, Shadab Khan 4-0-16-2.

PAKISTAN Ahmed Shehzad b Williams 53 Kamran Akmal c Williams b Samuels 20 Babar Azam c sub (R Powell) b Williams 38 Shoaib Malik not out 9 *+Sarfraz Ahmed not out 3 Extras: (lb1, w3) 4 TOTAL: (3 wkts, 19 overs) 127 Did not bat: Imad Wasim, Fakhar Zaman, Rumman Raees, Wahab Riaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali. Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-110, 3-115.

Bowling:Badree 4-0-38-0, Holder 3-0-24-0, Williams 3-0-16-2 (w1), Narine 4-0-19-0, Brathwaite 2-013-0 (w2), Mohammed 1-0-5-0.

Milo Schools football

Defending champions Chase Academy set semi-final date with Sir Leon Lessons

By Rawle Toney

A 7 – 0 win over Pure Masters solidified defending Milo Schools football champions Chase Academy place in the finals of this year’s competition, when they will play against Sir Leon Lessons on Wednesday at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.

It was a one-sided contest between the two sides, as the two-time defending champs, despite battling for 24 minutes before finding the net, raced to a 4 – 0 score-line at the interval.

A header from Reshawn Ritch got things on the way for the ‘champs’ while senior national Job Caesar made it 2 – 0 before Nicholas McAr-

thur’s 30th minute goal made it 3 – 0 for Chase.

National U-17 skipper Jeremy Garrett scored Chase’s final goal before half time, as the writing began to show on the wall for Pure Masters.

Malachi Adonis netted in the 67th minute to make it 5 – 0, while Ryan Hackett scored a brace in the 70th and 90th minute to secure a dominant win for Chase.

Sir Leon Lessons

grabbed a 2 – 1 win over Buxton Youth Developers with goals from Calvin Peters and Akeem Giddings (45th and 67th minutes respectively),to book their semi-final berth and a mouth-watering clash against Chase Academy.

Ablamy Robertson (29th) scored the Buxton side’s lone goal.

The semifinal round will be o​ n Wednesday at the same venue, with Morgan Learning

Center battling at 16:00hrs and Sir Leon Lessons opposing Chase Academy at 18:00hrs.

The winner of the tournament will receive $500,000,which will go towards a school project,and the championship trophy while the second, third and fourth placed sides will pocket $300,000,$200,000 and $100,000 respectively towards a school initiative,and a trophy.

Oxford’s men win the 163rd boat race, Cambridge win women’s (REUTERS)-Oxford won the 163rd University boat race on Sunday, beating Cambridge by more than a length in one of the longest running competitions in world sport.

The Oxford crew were favourites going into the race, first rowed in 1829, and secured the favoured Surrey side of the Thames where the long bend after Hammersmith Bridge worked in their favour.

There had been fears that the race could be called off because of the discovery of a World War II bomb in the river near the start at South Africa Racing Tips Flamingo Park 08:25 hrs Red Special 08:50 hrs Red Star 10:20 hrs Excalivar 10:50 hrs Morrie 11:20 hrs Green Boegatti English Racing Tips Ludlow 09:00 hrs Atirelarigo 09:30 hrs Capard King 10:00 hrs Avispa 10:30 hrs Ifandbutwhynot 11:00 hrs Hestina 11:30 hrs Canoodle

Putney Bridge on Saturday. But specialists safely removed the shell early on Sunday and both the men and women rowed in calm, sunny conditions.

By halfway down the 6.8km course between Putney and Mortlake in southwest London, the Oxford men’s crew, 26 kg lighter than Cambridge, had opened clear water.

Cambridge made a last push after Barnes Bridge but could not catch their rivals who finished in 17 minutes.

Oxford’s jubilant James Cook clambered down the

boat after they crossed the line to embrace his brother Oliver, rowing further back.

It’s extremely special, there’s a special bond rowing with your brother,” James Cook told the BBC. “We did the job, we were clinical.”

Cambridge won the earlier women’s race in a record time of 18 minutes 34 seconds, dominating from the start after Oxford’s Rebecca Esselstein committed an elementary mistake known as catching a crab and her crew could not make up the deficit.

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21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 3, 2017

Arsenal held 2-2 by Man City as Wenger’s troubles persist (REUTERS)-Arsenal twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Manchester City in a tense Premier League encounter on Sunday and stay seven points behind the fourth-placed visitors.

Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero twice fired City into the lead in the first half, but Arsenal equalised through Theo Walcott before Shkodran Mustafi’s header after the break ensured the points were shared.

Against a background of fan discontent over the form of Arsene Wenger’s side as he decides his future, Arsenal were nervy from the start.

They fell behind in the fifth minute when Sane

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger looks on Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley Livepic rounded keeper David Ospina and finished elegantly after Arsenal’s defence was dissected by a sublime throughball from the excellent Kevin

De Bruyne for his 13th assist of the season.

City lost impetus after the goal and Walcott levelled from close range in

the 40th minute after being played onside by Arsenal old boy Gael Clichy, who tried desperately to make amends after his former team mate was played in by Mustafi.

“We didn’t play in the first half, after the goal we forgot to play,” Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports. “The desire went.

“In the second half we played more. We suffered a lot in the first half because we didn’t make those passes together.”

While the defensive frailties of both sides were regularly exposed, they also demonstrated their attacking brilliance in spells.

Aguero restored City’s

lead two minutes later after being picked out by David Silva before finishing with aplomb.

Arsenal defender Mustafi again restored parity eight minutes after the break when he rose above Nicolas Otamendi to head Mesut Ozil’s corner past keeper Willy Caballero with City’s defence static.

“The test was mental,” Wenger told Sky Sports.

“We had to come back after half time and we got a point after a time that has been so stressful for us.”

The draw takes City, who visit Chelsea on Wednesday, on to 58 points, five clear of fifth-placed Manchester United, who have a game

in hand, and a point behind Liverpool, who have played a game more than Pep Guardiola’s side.

Arsenal, in sixth, now have 51 points and are in danger of missing out on a top-four finish for the first time since 1996. They will bid to end a three-game winless streak in the Premier League when they host West Ham United on Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola’s first season in England has not been an unqualified success, but he has succeeded in giving City one of the Premier League’s sleekest attacks, and Arsenal’s equaliser spurred the visitors back to life.

Real consolidate first place with 3-0 Alaves win

By Richard Martin | BARCELONA, (Reuters)-Real Madrid tightened their grip on top spot by beating Alaves 3-0 at home in La Liga on Sunday to provisionally move five points ahead of nearest challengers Barcelona despite coach Zinedine Zidane being forced to make changes in defence.

Karim Benzema put Real ahead in the 31st minute while appearing to be offside in the build-up but Alaves still caused the leaders a few headaches before goals from Isco and Nacho in the 85th and 88th minutes sealed the points.

Zidane told reporters he was happy with a clean sheet even if the final result somewhat flattered his side.

Real lead the standings on 68 points although second-placed champions Barcelona, who have 63 also from 28 games, can peg them back when they visit Granada later on Sunday.

Sevilla slipped out of the top three after being held 0-0 at home by struggling Sporting Gijon in the early game.

Real were dealt an early blow when Raphael Varane had to go off with a hamstring problem in the 11th minute which forced Zidane to rejig his defence, moving Nacho to centre back and switching Danilo from right back to left back to accommodate substitute Dani Carvajal, who set up the breakthrough goal.

Carvajal received a pass from Benzema on the right

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and Alaves’ Theo Hernandez in action. REUTERS/Sergio Perez and cut inside to send the ball bouncing back to the Frenchman who lashed it into the net.

Zidane had rested goalkeeper Keylor Navas, captain Sergio Ramos and Marcelo, and was missing Casemiro

through suspension, but opted for a highly attacking formation.

He started playmaker Isco in the midfield three behind his first choice attacking trio of Gareth Bale, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Alaves spurned two clear chances to level in the second half before Isco killed them off by smashing home a perfectly weighted pass from Ronaldo on the counter, while Nacho bundled in the third goal moments later, pouncing after Bale had smacked the crossbar from a free-kick.

Zidane said that while his team underperformed in the second half their gruelling fixture list - they face eight more games in April - affected their ability to play well in

Anderson hopes for injury-free summer ahead of Ashes tour (REUTERS)-England pace spearhead James Anderson is hoping his body can withstand the rigours of the English test summer before he shifts his focus to the side’s defence of the Ashes in Australia later this year.

Anderson, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, is currently preparing for the county season with

Lancashire and will not play an international until the first of four tests against South Africa starting July 6 at Lord’s.

England then host West Indies in a threematch series to wrap the test summer in September.

“The tests are a long way away,” Anderson, who is England’s all-time leading test wicket taker with

467 victims, told reporters.

“I’ll manage the first part of the season with Lancashire to see how my shoulder pulls up and how my fitness goes, and if I’m fit then I definitely will try to play all seven (tests).

“I’ll manage the first bit, so I get enough cricket in so I am ready for that test series but not so much that I turn up tired.”

James Anderson

every match.

“We know we can always improve but when you play every three days you can’t always play 90 perfect minutes. We need to remember that being consistent will lead us to doing great things,” he told reporters.

“We were the much better team in the first half, we made a great start but the second period was worse, we lost the ball a lot which we don’t usually do and you could say the scoreline is harsh on Alaves but it was vital we kept a clean sheet.”

Sevilla dropped out of the top three for the first time since November after being held goalless by relegation-threatened Sporting Gijon, with the hosts dropping points for the fourth consecutive league game.

Anderson, who turns 35 in July, is determined to be a part of England’s tour of Australia in November but has refused to look too far into the future.

“The Ashes is a very important part of this year for the English cricket team and I’ll have to focus on that closer to the time,” he added.

“I’m focussed on staying fit... and I need to show the selectors that I’m still eager and hungry.”

Anderson is set to feature in Lancashire’s season opener against Essex on April 7.

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 3, 2017

Federer beats Nadal in straight sets to win Miami Open final (REUTERS)-Roger Federer clinched his 91st career title when he beat rival Rafa Nadal 6-3 6-4 in the Miami Open final on Sunday.

Federer, peerless this year after returning from a sixmonth injury absence, broke once in each set for his fourth consecutive victory over Nadal, though the Spaniard still leads their career head-tohead record at 23-14, due entirely to his superiority on clay.

Federer, now a threetime Miami winner, leads 10-9 on hardcourt.

The 35-year-old Swiss, showing no sign of losing his edge, improved to 19-1 this

year, winning the Australian Open in five sets over Nadal, and BNP Paribas Open in straight sets over fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka.

His only loss was at the hands of Russian Evgeny Donskoy in the second round in Dubai.

“What a start to the year. I can’t believe it. For me the dream continues,” said Federer, who still has a ways to go to match his career-best 35-1 start in 2005.

The result left Nadal a five-times Miami runner-up, after previous final defeats in 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2014.

“Every three years I am here in this position

but always with the smaller trophy,” he observed.

“Hopefully I will not have to wait three more years to be in that position fighting again for a title.

“I have to say congratulations to Roger. Amazing start of the season, one of the best comebacks on the tour ever after a long injury.”

Fourth seed Federer, in his 24th career final against Nadal, started slowly, struggling to hold serve in the very first game, but he staved off two break points and settled into a good serving rhythm.

Fifth seed Nadal had his moments but had far greater

trouble holding serve than Federer, who would have won more easily had he converted more than two of the nine break point opportunities.

“It was a very intense first set,” Federer said.

“It could have gone either way really and then the second set started slow from both sides. Eventually I got a few important (points) and played the right way like I have so many times this year,” the Swiss said.

“We’ve had some epic matches over the years,” Federer said to Nadal at the victory presentation.

“In 2005 when I beat you very lucky here in the

Roger Federer of Switzerland kisses the Butch Buchholz trophy after his match against Rafael Nadal of Spain (not pictured) in the men’s singles championship of the 2017 Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports final I told you you were going to win this tournament and I truly believe you are

still going to win this tournament. You’re too good not to.”

Racquet Centre Squash courts get overhaul Suarez inspires Barca 4-1o win at Granada

By Richard Martin

Squash Courts at the National Racquet Centre THE squash courts at the National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue are undergoing major repairs as the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) prepares for the hosting of this year’s Digicel Junior Caribbean Area Squash Associations (CASA) Championships set for July.

The repairs on the two courts started a few weeks ago, and are expected to be completed within another month or so. The renovations at the facility will see the complete overhaul of the courts’ floors, and a few additions.

“We’re replacing the floors, putting in new plastic seating like at the Stadium and enclosing the back, putting in a whole back wall,” GSA vice-president David Fernandes explained.

The works are being undertaken by the government through the National Sports Commission and Department of Culture, Youth and Sports, According to Fernandes,the three courts at the Georgetown Club is also expected to see some revamping, though not as extensive as what is ongoing at the Racquet Centre.

“If you’re having a big

tournament here you have to clean up, make sure you do a good job. We have to ensure that when persons come here that they never forget this experience,” Fernandes said.

The hosting will mark a return of the annual tournament to Guyana’s shores after it was last held here in 2011. Over 100 players are expected to descend on Guyana for the tournament. A squad for the Guyana side is already in training. A known powerhouse in junior squash in the Caribbean,the Guyana team is looking for favourable performances.

BARCELONA,(Reuters)-Luis Suarez rose to the challenge that Lionel Messi’s absence provided by powering Barcelona to a hard-fought 4-1 win at struggling Granada on Sunday to keep up the champions’ pursuit of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

The Uruguay striker scored Barca’s opener with a classy lob in the 44th minute and provided assists for Paco Alcacer and Ivan Rakitic to seal the points after the home side surprisingly drew level early in the second half through Jeremie Boga.

Neymar added extra shine to the victory with his 100th goal for Barca by knocking in a cross from Alcacer in added time.

Barca are second on 66 points, two behind Real Madrid who beat Alaves 3-0 earlier on Sunday and have a game in hand.

La Liga top scorer Messi was suspended for Barca’s trip to the picturesque Andalusian city, where they clinched the title last season, and coach Luis Enrique took a risk by resting regulars Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta and Samuel Umtiti

Barcelona’s Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring a goal. REUTERS/Pepe Marin before losing Rafinha to injury in the 17th minute.

The visitors dominated but took 44 minutes to open the scoring when Suarez calmly chipped Jordi Alba’s sumptuous through ball over goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa to finally get the better of the Mexican.

Boga grabbed an equaliser five minutes after the break for second-bottom Granada and Luis Enrique’s

rotations suddenly looked misguided before Suarez got them out of jail.

He teed up Alcacer in the 64th and then provided a pass to Rakitic which was deflected in off Matthieu Saunier just after Granada’s Uche Agbo was sent off for a second booking.

Neymar rounded off the victory with his milestone goal.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday April 03, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 17 (2) 8 Today’s Quiz: (1) How many players have led the WI in T20 Internationals to date?

(2) How many Pakistanis have done so to date?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, April 3, 2017

GNIC GNIC claims claims Noble Noble House House Seafoods Seafoods second second division division title title - Rafael Singh had match haul of 13-87

By Rajiv Bisnauth

AFTER two days of intense battle, GNIC claimed the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) sponsored Noble House Seafoods second division title after Transport Sports Club (TSC) surrendered first innings points in the two-day encounter which ended in a draw yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground.

TSC were set 183 for victory off seven overs when both captains agreed to call off the game.

GNIC, after securing

a first innings lead of 44, were bowled out for 138 off 58.2 overs in their second innings.

O ff - s p i n n e r R a f a e l Singh again hugged the limelight on the final day.

Riding high on an extraordinary bowling performance in the first innings, Singh was again in supreme form, claiming 7-58 off 20.2 overs,for a match haul of 13-87.

Apart from Kurt Lovell (40), Marc Nicholson (35), Clyde Butts (24) and Renole Bourne (13), the remaining GNIC batsmen did not have any answer to the magical

Rafael Singh received the man-of-the-match trophy from a representative of the sponsor.

The victorious GNIC team with executives of the GCA and representatives of the sponsors after the presentation ceremony. spell of Singh.

Earlier, TSC surrendered their last four wickets for 55 runs to be dismissed for 123 in 52.2 overs.

Off-spinners Gajanan Suknanan, who finished with 4-29 and Clyde Butts (3-8), claimed the final four wickets. Deswin Butts, who had 2-24 at the end of day one, was the other successful bowler for GNIC. Resuming on 68-6, TSC lost Azeem Azeez, leg-before to Suknanan (8), after he had added four to his overnight score.

Fellow overnight batsman Shaun Massiah, who was dropped on three oc-

Scorpions need ‘favour’ from other teams, says hopeful Miller KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) — Inspired by a comprehensive victory over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force last weekend, Jamaica Scorpions are now banking on other teams to do them a “favour”, if they are to have any hope of winning the Regional four-day championship.

Scorpions led the standings at the mid-season break but slipped off the top on the backs of two defeats, following the restart of the competition earlier this month.

Victory by 87 runs inside three days at Queen’s Park Oval, however, has reinvigorated the side and though the odds are heavily stacked in leaders Guyana Jaguars’ favour, Miller still seemed to hold out hope of a dramatic turnaround in the last two rounds.

“I think Guyana are now 14 points ahead of us with two

games to play at home, and they are really good at home,” Miller told the Gleaner newspaper here.

“We will need the other teams to do us a favour [and beat Guyana] and we continue to do what we need to do, which is win our final two games.”

Scorpions, who lie third on 95.2 points, face a tricky test in the ninth round against Windward Islands Volcanoes at Arnos Vale in Kingstown before wrapping up their campaign with a difficult assignment against second placed Barbados Pride at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.

Volcanoes are fourth on 74.2 points while Pride have 99.2.

M i l l e r, w h o s e M a n of-the-Match nine-wicket match-haul propelled Scorpions to victory against Red Force, said it was had been important to end the losing

slide.

“It’s a bit refreshing that we could break the losing spell that we had,” the left-arm spinner said.

“I thought we showed a good level of fight as there were parts in the game that we were down in both innings, and individuals stood up and came up with big innings for the team.

“This includes Fabian Allen in the second innings and Derval Green in the first.

(Devon) Thomas as well should be congratulated as himself and Allen put on a 50-odd runs partnership that helped set up the game for us.”

Allen, in only his second first class game, slammed a maiden first class half-century — an attacking 60 in the second innings — to bail Scorpions out of trouble.

The tournament undergoes a week-long break before resuming on April 7.

casions and Akeem Redman then took the score to 104 before Butts removed Massiah (26).

Thereafter the spin duo claimed the final two wickets in quick succession.

GNIC then reached lunch at 29-1, losing the wicket of Stephen Campbell (2), but Singh began to trouble the GNIC batsmen soon after the interval.Fellow off-spinners Azeez and Joshua Wilson also com-

plimented Singh well, with 2-26 and 1-15 respectively.

At the conclusion of the final, a number of awards were presented: Javed Rasheed (Everest) received the award for the best bowling figures in the tournament,(8-46). He also received the trophy for the most wickets (26), and was voted Most Valuable Player in Zone D. Sherefane Rutherford (DCC) received awards

for the batsman with the highest individual score (169), and Most Valuable Player in Zone C. Leon Andrews (GDF) had the most runs in the tournament (309), and was also voted Most Valuable Player in Zone B. Akeem Redman (TSC) won the best fielder award, while Stephon Harris (Police) was voted Most Valuable Player in Zone A.

CARIFTA team encampment starts Friday

THE encampment and collective training of Guyana’s 12-man athletics team to the Flow CARIFTA Games is set to begin from this Friday and run up to April 10, as the team finalise preparations for the international meet in Curacao.

The athletes will be housed at the National Gymnasium and are expected to benefit from the expertise of several of Guyana’s top coaches,including Johnny Gravesande and Moses Pantlitz,who will be travelling alongside the team for the April 15 – 18 meet.

Speaking with Chronicle Sport,Gravesande explained that apart from breeding a sense of togetherness with the team, the encampment is also to provide a chance for the athletes from other clubs to familiarise themselves with the travelling coaches.

“We want to get the athletes together working as one, for the athletes who wouldn’t have their coaches there [in Curacao],we want to get them to respect us as coaches, and for us to all respect each other and work as one,” Gravesande said.

During the encampment the athletes will be training at the National Track and Field Centre, in Leonora

from 8.00hrs – 14.00hrsdaily.

Athletes from across four different clubs make up this year’s CARIFTA team.

Just over 40% of the team’s athletes are from Linden.

Studying in the U.S. Natricia Hooper is the only overseas based athlete on the team; the remainder of athletes are from Georgetown clubs.

Head coach for the Upper Demerara Schools Track Club,Mr Gravesande has two athletes on this year’s team: jumper Chantoba Bright and sprinter Daniel Williams.

Pantlitz has four athletes from his Christianburg Wismar Secondary School Clubs.

His athletes are Compton Caesar, Tremaine Brown and Onasha Rogers. The other athletes are Kenisha Phillips, Anfernee Headecker and Tarique Boyle from the Guyana Defence Force club,and Claudrice McKoy, Samuel Lynch and Matthew McKenzie from the Running Braves Athletics Club.(Tamica Garnett) The team is set to depart Guyana on April 13 and return on April 20.

Johnny Gravesande

GNIC claims Noble House Seafoods second division See Page 23 title

West Indies, Pakistan teams arrive today for ODI series

The Pakistan cricketers celebrate their Twenty20 series win over West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday.

Photos by WICB Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Photography

Pakistan pummel West Indies to seal T20 series

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) — Saturday’s convincing victory proved only a false dawn as West Indies quickly returned to their unpleasant old habits, plunging to a seven-wicket defeat to Pakistan here Sunday, to concede the four-match series 3-1.

Chasing what would have been a series-tying victory at Queen’s Park Oval, West Indies struggled from the outset when they were restricted to a

modest 124 for eight off their 20 overs.

Opener Chadwick Walton top-scored with 40 from 31 deliveries while captain Carlos Brathwaite chipped in with an unbeaten 37 off 24 balls down the order.

New ball seamer Hasan Ali was brilliant, snaring two for 12 from his four overs to clinch Man-of-the-Match honours while 18-year-old leg-spinner Shadab Khan once again played a key role, taking

two for 16, to be adjudged Man-of-the-Series.

In reply, Pakistan were propelled by opener Ahmed Shezad who lashed 53 from 45 balls, as they marched to their target with an over to spare.

The consistent Babar Azam chimed in with 38 from 36 balls, while rookie seamer Kesrick Williams finished with two for 26 to be the best bowler for West Indies.

The disappointing se-

Defending champions Chase Academy set semi-final date with Sir Leon Lessons

Part of the action in the Milo Secondary Schools Football action at the Ministry of Education ground.

ries defeat was the second straight one for the reigning T20 World champions, following their 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates last September.

Hoping to captalise on Saturday’s win which hauled them back into the series following losses in their opening two games, West Indies started strongly with Walton and Evin Lewis (7) posting 27 off 17 balls for the first wicket. off Shadab at long on in the ninth over by Shoaib Malik who had earlier put down the

The left-handed Lewis, who top-scored with 91 on Saturday, looked to be extending that form when he swatted Ali over the ropes at long off in the day’s second over but perished in the next over when he picked out Ali at square leg with left-arm spinner Imad Wasim.

Walton, who slammed two fours and four sixes, put on a further 25 for the second wicket with Marlon Samuels before he too departed, caught Jamaican on 18.

Turn to page 20

THE West Indies and Pakistan teams are scheduled to arrive in Guyana at the Cheddie Jagan International Airport,Timehri today. . The highly competitive Pakistan side, who won the Twenty20 series yesterday at the Queen’s Park Oval, will arrive with their West Indian competitors on the Caribbean Airline chartered Flight BW 8000 at 1355 hours. That will leave Pakistan with just three days of preparation before their first One Day 50 Overs International match against the West Indies at The Providence Stadium on Friday 7 April, 2017 The other two matches in Guyana will be played at the same venue, on Sunday 9 April, 2017 and Tuesday 11 April, 2017.

All matches in Guyana are scheduled to commence at 09:30hrs, and prospective spectators are asked to uplift their tickets before the match days, so as to reduce the congestion at the frequently stringent Providence ground entrances.

Marlon Samuels is clean bowled by Hasan Ali for 22.

See story on page 20

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MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2017