Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 03 12 2016

Guyana gets 24 US$9M IDB loan

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2016

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Prince Henry of Wales, KCVO, familiarly known as Prince Harry, interacts with Veterans at the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Camp Ayanganna on Friday.

(Delano Williams photos)

Prince Harry in Town Pages

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

Prince Harry impressed with Guyana’s commitment to conservation, sustainable development

PRESIDENT David Granger on Friday welcomed His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales, familiarly known as Prince Harry, at the Ministry of the Presidency. The Prince is representing his grandmother, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on a Royal Tour of the Caribbean, which kicked off two weeks ago in Antigua and Barbuda.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Carl Greenidge; Minister of Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan; Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon; Minister of Social Cohesion, Ms. Amna Ally; and Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Volda

President David Granger shows Prince Henry of Wales an image of his cousin Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, who presented the instruments of Guyana’s independence to former Head of State and then Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham.

Lawrence were also present during the meeting.

The Prince’s entourage was led by British High Commissioner, Mr. Greg Quinn.

During their discussions, President Granger expressed the nation’s appreciation to the Prince for his visit and explained that his presence will shine the spotlight on all that the country has to offer, particularly its green and pristine forests and what it has to offer the world in the fight against climate change.

Tomorrow, His Royal Highness is scheduled to visit the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, of which, his father, HRH Charles, Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cornwall is patron.

President Granger explained that Iwokrama is considered

Guyana’s ‘green heart’ and is at the centre of the country’s policy to establish a green state.

He informed the Prince that 85 percent of Guyana’s land mass is covered by forests and said the country is positioning itself to take full advantage of this asset in terms of earning carbon credits, boosting its eco-tourism product and overall environmental management. “We are completely committed to combating climate change.

We are completely committed to preserving our biodiversity, which is one of the riches in the world.

Years ago, when Prince Charles accepted patronage of Iwokrama, it led to a lot See page 8

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

Red carpet welcome for Prince Harry

By Svetlana Marshall

ARRIVING in a Trans-Guyana Beechcraft jet sporting Guyana’s Jubilee Logo, His Royal Highness Prince Harry of Wales stepped out to a red carpet welcome amidst heightened security upon his arrival for his first visit to Guyana at precisely 12:57h at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle, East

and international journalists and photographers jostled among themselves to capture the historic moment through their digital phones and cameras.

In Georgetown, Prince Harry and his entourage met with President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, the Foreign Affairs Minister and other members of Cabinet at the Ministry of the Presidency in

dren, flocked the area as they patiently awaited Prince Harry’s arrival. But for the security personnel, both local and foreign, the onlookers were infringing on the area designated for Prince Harry, and as such, several instructions were handed down to have the road cleared for the arrival of His Royal Highness. For some, this was too much to ask.

“Yuh know how long we

the arch. In the midst of the silence, a woman, who was previously heard speaking creolese, shouted in a British accent: “Somebody is pushing beyond the line!

Somebody is pushing me!

Security!”

Some media operatives, particularly the locals, left the Independence Arch enraged, claiming that sufficient provision was not made for them to capture the mo-

serving officers, and veterans. For a brief period, he socialized with the military men and women to the sounds of steel band music playing in the background.

While there, he was presented with several tokens of appreciation, including a book and a painting.

At the Commonwealth War Graves, situated at Eve Leary, Prince Harry laid another wreath in honour of those who had lost their lives during the two World Wars and the pre-Independence period, and interacted with High Commissioner Quinn as he inspected the headstones.

A short distance from where he laid the wreath in Eve Leary, a small group picketed his visit to Guyana.

Prince Harry is here on a three-day visit, after participating in the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations in Barbados.

This is the first visit to Guyana by a member of the Royal Family since 2004, and comes in the year of Guyana’s 50th Anniversary of Independence. His Royal Highness is on an official visit to the Caribbean in the late autumn, on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen.

President David Granger shares a light moment with Prince Harry on friday Coast Demerara.

In the blistering Friday sun, he was welcomed to the ‘Land of Many Waters’

by Guyana’s Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, and British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, before being led to a Guard of Honour as the flags of the Commonwealth swayed in the Atlantic winds.

Seconds after inspecting the Guard of Honour, Prince Harry was whisked away in a Range Rover SUV from the airside of the airport as a pool of local, regional

a closed-door meeting.

Over at the Independence Arch, Coast Guards, decked in their white military uniforms, lined the entrance of Brickdam, while British security personnel inspected the area to ensure that all of the required security logistics were in place before the arrival of the Prince. One of his bodyguards was even seen smelling the wreath made of artificial flowers that was set aside to be laid by him at the Independence Arch.

A small group of Guyanese, including more than a dozen primary schoolchil-

out hey? Since 10 a clock,” one woman exclaimed as her friend nodded and another questioned: “But is how all these people reach in front of we?”

Their hopes of seeing the Prince of Wales soon materialised when he arrived at the Independence Arch in the company of the British High Commissioner, at approximately 14:00h, in keeping with his itinerary for the day.

In the absence of barricades, the security team attempted to keep the crowd in check as the Prince laid the wreath at the base of

ment through their lenses. In fact, many parts of the areas surrounding the arch which media operatives thought were good vantage points were off limits, and as such some of them were unable to get good visibility.

Minutes after paying respects to Guyana at the Independence Arch, His Royal Highness visited Base Camp Ayanganna, headquarters of the Guyana Defence Force, where he met Chief of Staff, Brigadier George Allan Lewis, and Major General (Rtd) Joseph Singh, along with groups of officer cadets,

HRH Prince Harry laying a wreath at the Independence Arch

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

Caribbean Business & Travel promotes investment opportunities in the Region

FORMER head of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), Sandra Ann Baptiste, has produced Caribbean Business & Travel, a new publication that promotes investment opportunities in all sectors of the economy in the region and showcases several tourism destinations.

“We are delighted to note that Caribbean Business & Travel, the region’s newest, full-colour publication, provides an excellent overview of business developments and investment opportunities, including in the Caribbean’s vibrant tourism industry,” said Secretary-General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Hugh Riley, who officially launched the new magazine at the organization’s annual press conference in Toronto. It was distributed at the CTO’s Caribbean tourism industry awards luncheon.

“Caribbean Business & Travel is an attractive and well-written outlet for our member countries and hotels to present themselves to a discerning readership in the major markets where we prospect for business.

We anticipate that this premiere issue will evolve into a highly sought-after, annual publication,” Riley said.

Baptiste, a communications, investment promotion and Caribbean Affairs Specialist for over 30 years, said the publication has identified investment opportunities across the region in several sectors including tourism, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, technology, port development, airport management and the creative industry.

Caribbean Business & Travel is a publication of Florida-based Carigold Signature, a marketing, communications and training group

headed by Baptiste, who is also editor of the Caribbean Tourism and Hospitality Investment Guide, a publication of the CTO and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA).

“Our target markets are business executives and companies, travel agents and diaspora leaders in Toronto, New York and Florida. Since tourism is the lifeblood of many of our tourism destinations, we believe that potential investors should also be informed about the fabulous and unique tourism offerings throughout the region,” Baptiste said in the magazine’s editorial.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, is the main Signature Interview in the inaugural edition. Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett and former Guyana Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes, provide in-depth

information on plans to develop the tourism industry in their respective countries.

Hughes is among the Caribbean personalities featured on the cover of the magazine.

The inaugural edition also features the President of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) Ramesh Dookhoo, the President of CHTA Karolin Troubetzkoy, WestJet Vice President Tim Croyle, Sandals CEO Adam Stewart and the President of the St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) Savonik Destang.

A copy of Caribbean Business & Travel was presented at the CTO event to WestJet’s Vice-President, Sales and Business Development, Lyell Farquharson.

Vice President of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Network and Membership Relations, Tracy Hanson, received copies of the new

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Sandra Baptiste and Lyell Farquharson, West Jet Vice-President. publication, which will be distributed to Canadian companies interested in business opportunities in the Caribbean.

Among the special events promoted in the publication are the Caribbean Central America Action (CCAA) 2016 Miami Conference on the Caribbean and Central America, the 2017 CTO Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Conference in the Turks & Caicos, Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2017 in the Bahamas and the Barbados Food and Rum Festival. There is also a Destination Weddings and Honeymoon section.

Baptiste, who established

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and was the first head of GO-Invest, also served as a Consultant on Investment and Private Sector Development in the Guyana Ministry of Finance in the 1990’s. She has an MA in International Journalism and Diplomas in International Trade, Business Management and International Relations.

Baptiste, who also specializes in Business Skills Training in Management and Leadership, has provided training to companies in Guyana for over 15 years, including through the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

GPHC gets cardiac Intensive Care Unit

A CARDIAC Intensive Care Unit (CICU) has been installed at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), as that health-care institution seeks to improve its delivery of service to what is being offered by private healthcare institutions.

Having recently expended more than US$500,000 to send cardiac patients abroad for treatment, GPHC, the Ministry of Public Health and the University of Calgary saw the need to develop a CICU at the nation’s premier public healthcare institution.

In launching the Unit at the GPHC on Friday, head of the hospital’s Cardiology Department, Dr. Mahendra Carpen, highlighted that the facility would be able to cut back on costs, given that 100 patients can now be treated at home.

“We want to be the leader in tertiary cardiac healthcare and bridge the gap between private and public healthcare… Thus, thanks to the University of Calgary, the Caribbean Heart Institute and the International Children’s Heart Foundation, we are one step closer to doing that,” Dr. Carpen said.

This new intervention will not only boost the hospital’s capacity, but would also afford persons the chance to access affordable healthcare and make economic limitations less of a problem.

In welcoming the new unit, Public Health Min-

ister Dr. George Norton pointed out that cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death in Guyana, and the Government is cognisant of the importance of providing the best quality cardiac care to change this.

However, it was advised that the Ministry cannot boost the quality of cardiac care on its own, and that is why it has been working along with the University of Calgary to implement the Guyana Programme to Advance Cardiac Care (GPACC).

The GPACC Project aims to significantly improve provision of patient care and enhance academic medical activity in Guyana through education, research, and clinical initiatives.

As a result of this collaboration, “we are here today to open this CICU, which is well equipped with eight monitored patient beds and five ‘stepdown’ beds”, it was declared.

Among the other equipment are eight new bedside monitors for rhythm, blood pressure, two saturations, and with the capacity for invasive arterial and pulmonary artery monitoring, said Minister Norton.

The CICU functions as a closed medical unit, in that all orders and patient care decisions are made by the cardiology medical team under the direction of the medical director or his replacement.

A vast number of pa-

Health Minister Dr. George Norton (centre) along with Dr. Mahendra Carpen (left) and Dr. Wayne Warnica (right), doing a tour of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit tients suffering from cardiac-related conditions will now have a facility where their medical needs can be better catered to, allowing cardiac care in Guyana to be taken to a higher level.

The GPACC has contributed to the development of the CICU on two fronts: structure/function and education.

A l s o , G PA C C h a s provided approximately US$200,000 for the Echocardiography Laboratory and Echo programme, and US$50,000 for the ECG/ Stress Laboratory. “ G PA C C h a s b e e n working to boost human

capacity to handle cardiac-related conditions through ward work, teaching rounds, sponsorship of medical residents for clinical rotations at the University of Calgary, and advanced training for other medical staff, among other things,” stressed Dr. Norton.

The educational component of GPACC is es-

sential for the establishment of a sustainable cardiac programme, since there must be ongoing education for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and technologists.

Meanwhile, Co-Director of GPACC, Dr. Wayne Warnica, said the CICU is just an extension to the CHI, and will be a key contributor to the devel-

opment of the GPHC’s capacity.

However, he pointed out that there is need to improve cardiac care, hence the university has sponsored a physician from Guyana, who is completing a programme at the University of Calgary, while additional training is ongoing for local doctors and nurses.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

TWENTY-EIGHT years ago, the United Nations started marking December 1st as World AIDS Day: to unite people around the world in the fight against HIV; show support for people living with HIV; and to commemorate people who have died with HIV/AIDS. This year’s theme is “Hands up for HIV Prevention.”

When HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) became public knowledge in the early 1980s, it was surrounded by myths, which included how it is being contracted; how spread; its origin was ascribed to a race; vulnerability was based on sexual orientation and moral values; and its domain was confined to those of the lower socio-economic bracket.

These myths resulted in various behavioural attitudes.

Ignorance made spread of the disease more likely, in that some felt immune to its contraction, given that they were not in the ‘category’ of its domain and thus had no need to engage in precautions. Those who contracted HIV were invariably ashamed to seek help, kept silent, or continued to spread the disease based on the stereotype attached to the use of condoms. There were those who, based on lifestyle choices, exposed their partners to contracting the disease, but for fear of their lifestyles being exposed, continued to engage in unsafe practices with their mates. And persons who contracted HIV, fearing ostracism from loved ones and society, opted to keep their status private. The above stated situations have been prevalent in our society.

Though within the last 28 years much work has been done to clear up misunderstandings regarding this disease, the myths and stigmatization persist, and persons are consequently still at risk of contracting this disease and being deprived of the care needed.

As the world community works to combat the virus, which includes the race for a medical cure, prevention is, at this stage, still the best option. Prevention not only requires education -- different applications, mediums and tools -- but also helps to shatter myths and stigmatisation that still cause some persons to live with this disease in silence, spreading it and not getting the care they need. Where it is recognised that there is statistical extrapolation of the infected population based on reported cases, we cannot lose sight of the unreported.

Culturally, Guyana is somewhat a reclusive society.

Issues such as sex and its practices, including choices, are not spoken about openly; stigma is attached to some practices, and criminality is attached to others. The influence this cultural phenomenon has on the facility with which conversations about sexually transmitted diseases -- in this instance HIV -- should be discussed can therefore not be ignored. Societies that are more open about sexual interactions, including accepting and legitimizing lifestyle

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 3, 2016

Sase Singh’s take on the budget Dear Editor, THIS 2017 Budget has caused me to reflect on a question I have always toyed with all my adult life: Why can truth and politics not go together?

I have just read an excellent academic piece called “The Political Economy of Public Policy in contemporary India”, which strengthens my belief that the two can actually be brought together. Only politicians who have a shallow commitment to politics need to resort to falsehood, subterfuge and deception. If your commitment to people and politics is deep, the truth is your best armour.

What has happened this week in Guyana? Where should the people stand on this “SCUD-GET 2017” (yes a scud missile aimed at the poor and the working class)?

What is the medium-range projection for the poor and the working class? What impact will this have on the 2020 elections?

I apologise if I may not answer all these questions today because of space constraints, but I will follow up with a subsequent dispatch to the media.

What has happened this week in Guyana?

Winston Jordan has unveiled a G$250 billion budget aimed at “building a diversified green economy.”

But what he has really forgotten is how to protect the existing economy to generate the resources that can feed and fund the diversification process. Instead, he is using the model of taxing and borrowing more to spend more.

But the operative question is who is being taxed more, and why? The answer remains the poor and the working class; and the business class is being asked to pay more into the treasury by way of these VAT charges on electricity so that the political fat cats in the Granger Administration can spend more. This entire game plan is all about the bigger pensions, bigger perks and the future man-

sions for the new political fat cats. Ask Hammie, he is the latest beneficiary of this scheme.

One of the principal documents within any budget is the Statement on the Central Government Financial Operations. This statement confirms how the Government intends to fulfil its mandate over a year through its financial activities. It basically gives you a summary of the total expected cash inflow into the Treasury vs. total expected cash outflow. Any householder can connect with this document, since it reconciles to the same realities of every family –what they earn vs. what they spend.

If it is in deficit, it basically means that the Government is spending more than it earns, and irrespective of how respective ministers attempt to window-dress this number, a deficit is a deficit.

When there is a deficit, it clearly means that the Government would be borrowing more money in the name of the newborn children of Guyana, or taxing the people more in order to satisfy this increased spending. This is exactly what Jordan has done in 2017. Irrespective of how we twist it and turn it, the people are being taxed more, so that the Granger Administration can spend more.

So let us peel this Statement on the Central Government Financial Operations to expose the “nitty gritty” of the three-card con game being played by Guyana’s newly moulded executive BS artist. In 2017, the non-financial public sector is expected to record a deficit of $42.6 billion (5.6 per cent of GDP) vs. $30.4 billion (4.3 per cent of GDP) in 2016. This translates into a new need for cash of some $12.2 billion in 2017.

So while there will be a decrease in some taxes -such as income tax, because of the increase in the tax threshold -- there is a rapid expansion in VAT by almost G$10 billion because of the new, punitive tax on electric-

choices, have a greater advantage in addressing complexities surrounding HIV prevention. Moreover, some famous personalities in those societies have put a face to the disease by sharing their stories and leading the fight against it through various supportive measures.

The work done by the Ministry of Health/Public Health and other civil society institutions should however be noted, especially the work done by Artistes in Direct Support (AIDS), which has had a significant impact in the fight against this disease. As a nation, we must continue to push the limits not only to ensure that every person is aware of the dangers attached to contracting this disease, but to ensure that everyone is taking measures to prevent contracting it, seeking the care needed should they contract the virus, and ending discrimination against those who have contracted it.

Even though HIV remains a challenge, significant strides have been made in combating it. The healthcare industry has moved from not knowing what to do to developing medicines found to be effective in managing the virus. Persons living

ity and water, which will affect the poor and the working class the most and will also make many Guyanese businesses more uncompetitive.

Then there will be an expansion of the so-called fuel tax (excise tax) by another G$5 billion. The Environmental Levy is back, and is expected to rake in another G$1 billion, and the taxes on the small man in the form of miscellaneous taxes such as penalties on the “horse-cart man” and such people are expected to rake in an additional G$300 million.

So this budget is nothing else but “financial murderation” of the small man. He gets hit on the light bills, the water bills, the minibus fares, the licences on all the small shops and draycarts and so on and so on.

Why all this financial pressure? So that the new political fat cats can spend US$500 a night at boutique hotels when they visit overseas, as if they are some African dictator from Zimbabwe? Check the 2017 Budget carefully, there is enough evidence to expose an executive travel budget of some G$1 billion for 2017.

It is clear that these greedy politicians do not care if they have to borrow more to feed their gluttonous desires, because the minister clearly outlined that he is prepared to pay some G$1.5 billion more in interest payments for the national debts in 2017 compared to 2016.

There is no end to this financial insanity. The growth rate is plummeting, but we are paying more interest on the debt, and we continue to borrow more and more.

To what end? Economic bankruptcy?

But I question the depth of economic knowledge of President Granger, since even Burnham would not have allowed such a budget to fly. Why is he not seeking more advice from his economic advisor Dr. Clive Thomas?

Look, I have challenged Clive on his work on GuySuCo because clearly he is

not a businessman or a business strategist, but if there was any job Clive was born for, it is to be an economic presidential advisor. He is a very talented economist who is a million times more skilled than the minister in structuring an economy. So why is his mind not being tapped more on the economic front by the President?

It was Christopher Ram who skilfully advised us that Dr. Ashni Singh should seriously structure a budget of about G$175 billion in 2013.

Ram was correct then. Since then, nothing significant has happened in the Guyanese economy to cause any Minister of Finance to want to bolt on G$75 billion in additional expenditure without a clear roadmap of how we can create rapid economic growth. So it is either the minister is playing politics with the economy, or he is guessing his way through this entire process. Both of these options would result in Guyana rapidly advancing to a state of economic bankruptcy.

Some commentators will say to me “same old PNC”, but I continue to reject that comment. I still think that Carl Greenidge would have been a greater asset to the Granger Administration as the Minister of Finance.

He has the experience at conceiving pro-growth economic models, as we saw in 1990-1992. So the PNC does have talent in its ranks, just like the PPP. But this PNC talent is being stifled because of human insecurities and petty small men with small minds who continue to put themselves first, instead of Guyana.

Unless we change course and personnel at the very top in the Ministry of Finance, the small man must batten down himself for tough times ahead, as the clueless continue to be given the baton to lead on the economic front.

Regards, SASENARINE SINGH

with HIV are today experiencing quality holistic lives once they adhere to the medication regimen and appropriate health and wellness choices; and medicine has advanced to the level where, if persons suspect they have been exposed to the virus, should they seek help within 72 hours of exposure, they can benefit from post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) drugs -- antiretroviral medicines (ART) which can prevent them from becoming infected. There is also the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for persons who don’t have HIV but are at very high risk of getting it; to prevent being infected, simply take a pill daily. These drugs are, however, not for everyone, and they should not be prescribed on a willy-nilly basis; candidates for administration of the drug have to meet specific guidelines.

HIV prevention still largely remains reliant on education and safe sex. This includes having access to accurate information and having a mature outlook on sexual relations, as in having monogamous relations and using a condom, which remains the most important tool in preventing contraction and spread of the virus.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 3, 2016

Salaries of GuySuCo executives too high Dear Editor,

READING the disclosure

by Sookram Persaud, in your November 30 edition, on the estimated salaries of nine of GuySuCo’s executive management personnel/consultants has left me speechless, especially when I ponder about the growing level of poverty of the ordinary sugar workers who toil in the fields and factories day in day out.

I just couldn’t believe the figures regarding the salaries on my first reading. I had to wait sometime to comment on this matter, just in case the corporation had wanted to refute Persaud’s figures; but since they haven’t done so, then it implies that Persaud’s figures are indeed correct.

But Persaud, knowing that much about the salaries

of these high-paying officers, ought to have known that an additional sum of $1.2 million is paid to the CEO to take care of his income tax liability. His gross salary is therefore $5.2 million monthly; and that apart, he is also provided four (4) first class airline tickets to the United Kingdom per year.

On becoming a member of the Interim Management Committee, he was given the option of selecting from two choices: either to occupy the company house designated for the CEO, or to draw down a further 10 per cent of his salary as housing allowance for occupying his own house.

He grabbed the latter. He also enjoys 26 days paid leave and payment of significant premiums for UK-based medical coverage for himself and spouse.

In the circumstances, whereby GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer and the Finance Director are earning astronomically high salaries, then something is terribly wrong with the Government, GuySuCo Board, and the CEO to assert that “things are really bad” at GuySuCo, so much so that it could not afford even an increase in pay or any day pay for bonus to the poor sugar workers.

The CEO is quoted in another section of the media -- on November 30 -- that sugar workers would not be receiving any production bonus or increase in their wages and salaries this year because the company is “facing a financial crisis, or what he describes as the “deterring factor”.

So how come, in the face of this “crisis and deterring

SASOD offers clarity Dear Editor,

ON BEHALF of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), we wish to offer some clarification to the article titled “We need to include men”, published in the Guyana Chronicle of Wednesday, November 30, 2016.

SASOD hosted its third Women’s Health & Empowerment Session on Saturday, November 26, 2016. In keeping with the 16 Days of Activism campaign, the session focused on discussing gender-based violence and rape culture. The session was led by an external facilitator from an organization which special-

izes in addressing domestic violence. When the facilitator commented “…some of them [men] like it [being raped]” as noted in the article, representatives from SASOD used the opportunity to counter the inference and offer some inputs around the difference between being raped versus preferring women taking on

Senior cop trained to tackle corrupt procurement SENIOR Police Superintendent Edmond Cooper recently represented Guyana at the 19th United Nations’ Asia and Far East Institute and United Nations’ Convention Against Corruption training programme, held from October 12th to November 16, 2016 at the Japan International Co-operation Agency in Tokyo, Japan.

The programme saw involvement of 27 countries, and among the participants were judges, lawyers, prosecutors, investigators, and senior police officers.

According to the Guyana Police Force, with the global fight against corruption in the criminal justice system, such a course has been very instrumental in the prosecution of corruption in public procurement.

“This course aimed to enhance the participants’ knowledge of measures to improve the current corruption situation in each country through lectures, best practices and discussions,” the GPF said in a release.

The areas that were an-

Senior Police Superintendent Edmond Cooper displaying his certificates

alysed include the current situation and issues in the participating countries’ current anti-corruption enforcement; sharing recent international trends in Japan’s experiences with anti-corruption enforcement; discussion of effective counter-measures to address issues in the respective countries concerning anti-corruption enforcement; and sharing recommendations for anti-corruption enforcement and establishing a global network.

It was established that

corruption is a major problem in all countries, whether developed or developing, and must be tackled holistically and expeditiously with the power of those in authority.

The knowledge gained at this engagement would help investigators and prosecutors to better handle cases of corruption in public procurement.

Senior Superintendent Cooper returned from this engagement with two certificates, earned in the process of participation.

factor”, the same company could afford this level of salary for the CEO and eight others? How could a country as poor as Guyana and a company as financially beleaguered as GuySuCo afford to pay this level of salary -- that excludes the many other benefits and allowances, as Persaud pointed out?

Even a well-managed and profitable large company doesn’t pay its executive as much as US$300,000 per year, which is a little less than what the CEO earns.

The Finance Minister, in his budget presentation, stated that “the radical re-organisation of the sugar industry is a matter of urgency”. Will this “radical re-organisation” include revisiting the super salaries of these executives and consultants, since, as the Honourable Minister fur-

ther added, “the economy continues to feel the drag of the dismal output” from this company? Or will it be business as usual?

Editor, it is but a shameful dispensation for the Government and/or the Board to sustain this astronomical salary level to these executives and consultants, especially when this corporation’s operating expenses are highly subsidized by the taxpayers of the country; who in the wake of this week’s national budget will have to “fork out” 14% VAT on their electricity and water bills, not to mention the imposition of VAT on several basic food items that were previously VAT exempted.

One would have thought that paying $12,900,000 per month to nine persons would have resulted in a noticeably

positive turnaround of the sugar industry, but what is obvious is that the anticipated sugar production this year will be the lowest in 25 years.

The production this year is a reflection of the current management input for last year. Last year’s production, which was gloated about, was not of their input where cane production was concerned, so their self-commendation was highly misplaced.

So what are these people being paid so handsomely for? To collapse sugar production to such a low level that it justifies closing down the industry or privatising it at any cost? If that’s the objective, then they are doing a darn good job!

a dominant role in consensual sexual intimacy.

There was mutual learning, as the conversation following the comment really served to dissect the serious-

ness of rape and how it affects both men and women.

The comments made by the external facilitator do not, in any way, reflect SASOD’s position on issues of

sexual violence against men.

Yours sincerely, JOHN WILLIAMS

Regards, SCHEMEL PATRICK Advocacy and Communications Officer

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

Extractive industries being streamlined ––Trotman

GUYANA’s extractive industries sector is expected to have added transparency measures, as the Ministry of Natural Resources streamlines the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

This was disclosed on Friday by Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman during his address to Members of Parliament (MPs) and a visiting team from the Parliamentary Centre, a Canadian not-forprofit non-partisan organization that is dedicated to strengthening parliaments around the world.

He disclosed that the

of Natural Resources as the lead body responsible for implementing the Guyana-EITI (G-EITI), a multi-stakeholder group consisting of four representatives each from the Government, industry and civil society, and the National Secretariat for the group would be managed by the Natural Resources Ministry (MNRE).

According to him, responsibilities of the MNRE encompass conceptual and organizational support for the group, to ensure successful implementation of all EITI requirements.

Trotman said the Secretariat, which would be managed by a national coordinator, would serve a

upon in its initial years of reporting -- will be made within the tripartite MSG”, Trotman noted.

He lauded the value of the initiative thus far, positing that it has “demonstrated the value of this initiative in pulling sectors and seemingly disparate parts and persons together,” and he lauded the power of collaboration.

The minister said the task ahead is challenging, and hinges on limitations in current data collection systems. He said the goal is the submission of an application for candidacy to the international EITI body before the end of 2016.

“Support to enable the

Several Government officials were present at the forum EITI Standard contains a set of requirements that countries need to meet in order to be recognised as firstly an EITI Candidate, and ultimately as one of the 51 EITI countries that are compliant with the body’s requirements.

He said that Cabinet has identified the Ministry

public relations’ function, encouraging contact with the EITI International Secretariat in Oslo, Norway, as well as fellow EITI Secretariats.

“It is worthy to note that many of the critical decisions that are to be made -- such as which extractive sector Guyana will focus

success of the process is being received through capacity-building support from the Carter Center and the EITI Secretariat”, he said as he noted that Trinidad and Tobago has thus far played a supportive role to Guyana’s efforts in establishing an EITI.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman (second left), sits alongside Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Pierre Giroux; officials of the Parliamentary Centre -- Dr. Oscar Schiappa-Pietra and Jean-Paul Ruszkowski, President and CEO of the centre respectively

Few members of the Opposition attended the forum Meanwhile, Dr. Oscar Schiappa-Pietra, Extractive Sector Governance Advisor at the Parliamentary Centre, said the involvement of the wider population in managing the sector is important. “We have to look at people’s participation”, he said, while noting that there are many issues at the level of parliament regard-

ing the management of the extractive sector in some jurisdictions.

According to him, this is directly related to the technically complex nature of the sector. He noted that the governance of the sector is a huge problem of most democracies across the world.

This seminar was attended by several par-

liamentarians as well as Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland. The forum focused on several topics, including the importance of good governance of the extractive sector, the role of Parliament in the management of the sector, and Peru’s past experiences in the sector.

Prince Harry impressed with Guyana’s commitment ...

From page 2

of prestige for our thrust,” President Granger said.

The President clarified, however, that while Guyana is on the verge of transitioning into a green state, it still values the traditional economic sectors such as mining and timber, but his administration is working to ensure that this is done in an environmentally sustainable way. “We still produce gold, rice, timber, bauxite and sugar, they still hold up our economy, but we have learnt to balance extraction with environmental preservation” he said.

Prince Henry said that he was impressed at how

passionate the Government and people of Guyana are with regard to conservation.

He noted that Guyana’s commitment to conservation and environmental protection shows that it is prepared to lead by example.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nagamootoo reiterated Guyana’s warm welcome to the Prince and his delegation to Guyana and said that he is pleased that he (Prince Harry) will have an opportunity to visit the hinterland and experience Guyana’s rich diversity.

Minister Greenidge told the Prince that while Guyana is well-endowed in terms of

natural resources, its human resources have also proven to be quite exceptional.

“Development prospects lie in the careful management of our resources. The plan is to try and enhance our economic prospects in a manner that is consistent with environmental sustainability,” he said.

The minister said that in addition to mineral resources, the country is looking at areas such as agro-processing and generation of alternative forms of energy such as sun, wind and solar.

He said, “We want to ensure that the rural areas in particular can enjoy a higher

standard of living.”

Minister Lawrence, who will be having further engagements with the Prince on Sunday, spoke of the opportunities that Guyanese parliamentarians have benefited from as a result of collaboration between the Parliament of Guyana and the United Kingdom’s (UK) Parliament. “The Public Accounts Committee on which I have served for many years, we have had the opportunity to visit with your Parliament and to interact with persons, who have much experience with public accounts and transparency and I can assure

[you] that those interactions have borne fruit in Guyana, because we have been able to keep our Public Accounts Committee at a very high level,” she said.

His Royal Highness welcomed that news and said he is glad Guyana was able to benefit from that initiative and added that “The tide has turned. The future prospects of Guyana are absolutely fantastic.”

Minister Harmon told the Prince that he brings with him the kind of energy and youthfulness that makes it easy for young people to recognise that there is a role for them in

the political administration of a country. The Prince gave the assurance that he will do his best, notwithstanding time constraints to meet and interact with as many young people as possible over the next two days.

Minister Ramjattan used the opportunity to express Guyana’s appreciation for the support the country has been receiving with regard to security, while Minister Ally expressed the hope for continued friendly relations between Guyana and the UK. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

GuySuCo to capitalise on GI branding –– says Chief Executive Officer

THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) will be aiming for product development through proper branding using Geographical Indication (GI), says

GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer Errol Hanoman addressing the conclusion of the two-day conference Chief Executive Officer Errol Hanoman.

He was at the time speak-

ing at the conclusion of a two-day conference on Friday, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the theme: “Enhancing market access and promoting certification for quality origin products in Guyana.”

“With the registration of Demerara Molasses name, the nature of molasses sales should change, since a brand is now created and a positive perception will soon be developed….The market has been tested and we see the potential and opportunities that remained untapped, any effort at registration of Demerara Sugar as a GI must augment these gains and charter [sic] a new highway for the corporation to carve a greater niche in the international scene for products,” Hanoman said.

He explained that the workshop and project will build on GuySuCo’s work to formulate an effective

strategy to realise the gains from the GI registration of “Demerara”.

DDL Master Distiller, Shaun Caleb Managing-Director of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), Komal Samaroo, said the company will also benefit from the GI registration as Demerara rums have a

different quality, recognition and heritage attributable to its geographic origin.

He explained that DDL has a premium rum collection because of its profile, which is acknowledged through blind-tasting of the rum.

“The aging process is the key to the premiumisation of the rum category and that is why we have created a portfolio of aged rum,” the DDL chief said.

He said DDL has actually trade-marked “Demerara” in several countries, but there are markets where the name Demerara was being used for “all sorts of rum.”

“So I believe the abuse of the name and the practice of some producers to ride on the reputation of others will not be tolerated under the GI registration, which offers the protection against that sort of malpractice,” the managing-director said.

According to the Master Distiller, Shaun Caleb, DDL is not only known as producer of the finest rums, but also

DDL Managing-Director, Komal Samaroo as a preserver of Guyana’s history and heritage.

He said that rum, much like sugar, is central to the origin of Guyanese as a people.

Caleb, who attended Princeton University as a DDL Cadet and apprentice to the late Master Distiller, George Robinson, told the gathering that during the 1670s to the 1780s, every sugar plantation in Guyana had at its disposal, a small dis-

tillery which consumed the molasses by-product from the sugarcane and converted it into alcohol/ rum.

The Commercial Registry has received three applications for the registration of the name Demerara as a Geographical Indication (GI).

The three applications are for Demerara Sugar, Demerara Molasses and Demerara Rum. GIs are names and other designations associated with quality products coming from specific places, where the geographical origin of the products give them specific qualities, characteristics and reputations.

Unlike trademarks, a producer cannot take the name, if production is no longer done in the country.

The conference sought to raise awareness among key stakeholders and establish the foundation for the development of legal protection of geographical traditional names for quality products from Guyana.

2017 budget

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–– miners oppose budget measures, call on government to rethink proposals

THE Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and the Guyana Women Miners Association (GWMO) have called on the APNU+AFC administration to rethink the 2017 budget with specific emphasis on the mining sector, as in its current form it “spells doom.”

In a statement to the media on Friday, the GGDMA and the GWMO said that the government’s failure to restore concessions, will result in the gold-mining sector experiencing a decline rather than growth.

“If the concessions are not restored, there will be a definite contraction of production. We will find it difficult to replace aging vehicles (an excavator has a life of 3-5 years in the interior). The sector will see additional downtime due to additional costs for quality equipment and fuel. The sector will see higher costs for start-up and upkeep due to additional VAT on items previously acquired at concessionary rates. This downturn will see a significant spill-over effect that will affect every sector of the Guyanese economy. There

will be a fall in production and spending all around,” the bodies said, while stressing that 2017 will be a “very dismal year.”

The GGDMA and the GWMO called on the government to re-examine the measures placed in the budget, which is to be debated next week so as to ensure that the gold and diamond mining industries do not collapse.

“The 2017 budget along with the previously proposed 3% reduction in the Gold Board price for gold and the removal of concessions to the sector, can only lead to lower declarations and a decline in the sector that would take the economy into a negative spiral. There will be no growth in 2017 without mining.”

The mining organisations made it clear that small and medium-scale miners are without a doubt hardworking and noted that without their efforts the country would have “undoubtedly recorded negative growth.”

“Despite the removal of our concessions, gold kept Guyana moving when all other sectors have slowed down,” the statement said, while indicating that the sec-

tor is saddened that “the 2017 Budget has no good news for miners.

“Despite championing the valiant efforts of miners, the Minister of Finance in the 2017 Budget has brought proposed measures that will hasten the sector’s decline.”

According to the miners’ representatives, there are clear signs of a decline in declaration figures, noting that the declarations this year were propped up by the two international mining companies which contributed to one-third of the gold won.

“Our figures indicate that local mining was down. The minister himself has recognised that there has been a significant slowdown in investment in the mining sector.” It was noted that in his budget speech, Finance Minister Winston Jordan acknowledged the threats the industry will face next year and noted that declining oil prices, coupled with rising oil prices and global issues such as de-risking and climate change, will pose a major risk to the local economy.

“We are shocked that despite this statement, no measures have been placed

to help the industry regain its footing,” the miners’ representatives stated.

Accordingly, the bodies said the 2017 Budget affects the sector in several ways and pointed to the punitive measures to be enforced against those who fail to maintain records. “For about 30 years, miners have paid their taxes at the source; there was no need to file additional taxes, now we are given the few remaining days of 2016 to completely realign the sector.”

The associations said that by nature, the mining sector has a “cash culture,” while noting that the sector is dominated by non-accountants and people who are “more familiar with machines than books.”

“We cannot see how the Government of Guyana expects compliance in such a short time. The cultural norms of the sector prevent us from adjusting to this new measure overnight. We cannot be placed on the same level of compliance with coastal-based businesses, which have ready access to non-cash financial instruments,” the mining bodies argued.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016 It is believed that the move will target compliant larger miners and force small miners who contribute to the bulk of the country’s gold production to go underground.

“Guyana will lose in the long term and our associations will be powerless to convince them to become compliant outside of their capacity. We urge the minister to rethink this strategy.

We remind the minister of his statement “one, one dutty build dam.” The men who are supplying the one, one dutty cannot, overnight, comply with your requirements,” the associations stated.

Additionally, the removal of concessions from the sector is of major concern to miners who operate in the small and medium-scale operations.

“The sector in 2015 did not have to pay VAT on heavy-duty equipment, matting, spares and other material used directly in the gold-mining sector. In 2016, VAT was required on heavy-duty vehicles and a phased removal of all other concessions was implemented. We cannot do more with less,” the statement said.

Access to fuel concessions was unrealistic as miners were faced with several hurdles which prevented them from benefitting from the fuel concessions. According to the associations, the Guyana Energy Agency made the agreement impossible to be realised.

“This offer was subsequently taken away from miners. We currently have no fuel concessions. The 2017 budget offers us no hope for

any either.”

Moreover, the increase in tributors’ tax from 10 per cent to 20 per cent is of major concern to the sector, as operators are faced with strong objections from miners and in some cases personal violence and harassment from employees who do not wish to have deductions made from their salaries.

“To ask for double is exposing operators to even more aggression. We do not welcome the burden of collecting tax for Guyana Revenue authority (GRA),” the two bodies stated, while calling on the GRA to mount a public awareness campaign to ensure that workers understand that the increase is a GRA requirement. “This would prevent many of the altercations in the interior over this matter. It would also help legitimate miners to convince staff not to leave and work with companies who prefer to pay off the books.”

Additionally, the mining bodies believe that Minister Jordan is ill-advised about the sector and as such, extended an invitation to him along with GRA’s head Godfrey Statia to accompany them on a familiarisation visit to mining areas.

“We are calling on our sector Minister, The Hon. Raphael Trotman to make urgent and strong representation for the sector and to vehemently object to any measure that would lead to contraction of the sector.

This is the opportunity for the minister to demonstrate that he truly understands mining and the culture and pressures miners face.”

Republic Bank’s trade mission deemed successful REPUBLIC Bank’s first trade mission in Guyana has been hailed a success by participants who were provided an opportunity to explore corporate relationships and regional markets.

The mission was aimed at facilitating the meeting of the bank’s corporate and commercial customers from all jurisdictions, so as to establish relationships and foster trade, while opening new markets with the aim of increasing revenue.

“I think it is a very good idea, because I think it gives people the opportunity to see what is possible in Guyana.

We go back with much more information than we came with, and in our opinion that is the most important (success), because (as a business) if you want to come here, you need to know something; and that was the goal we had, and that goal was achieved,” said Anthousa Lim A Po of Alupro, a Kiesel Company in Suriname.

Lim A Po was one of the 14 exhibitors and more than 200 delegates who participated in the two-day trade mission to Guyana -- No-

vember 28-29, 2016. Themed “Building Strong & Sustainable Business Relationships across Borders”, the trade mission, organised by the Republic Group, was centred in Georgetown -- at the Marriott Hotel, and focused primarily on synchronizing cross-border relationships among Guyana, Suriname, Barbados and Trinidad.

Managing Director of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Richard Sammy, expressed appreciation to the participants of the forum, and noted their keenness to explore “Guyana’s rich possibilities”.

“It is this spirit of regional togetherness that brings us together even now, combining our unique talents for mutual benefit,” he declared.

Republic Bank’s Executive Director, Roopnarine Oumade Singh, spoke of the Bank’s focus. “Our vision at Republic Bank is to build successful societies. One of the means of accomplishing this is to leverage our significant customer base across the region and put customers in touch with each other, to form stable relationships within the

commercial and corporate sectors. Our goal is to provide a seamless experience throughout the jurisdictions in which we operate. We assist and support our customers, doing business in their home territories, transacting across borders, and leveraging our far-reaching expertise to bring about results,” Singh explained.

The participants interacted with Guyana’s Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, who likened the need for partnership between private and public sectors and banks to marriage vows, stating that in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, they must stick together in longterm partnership.

And sharing deep perspectives on doing business in Suriname were the Managing Director of the Bank’s Suriname subsidiary, Gloria Anthony; and Managing Director/ Owner of FiscLe Consultancy N.V., Anouschka Nabibaks.

Taking a Guyanese market focus were Vishnu Doerga, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce (GCCI); Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran; and

Rakesh Latchana, Partner at Ram and Mc Rae, Chartered Accountants, all of whom gave eye-opening, honest and current information to the delegates on doing business in Guyana from general, legal and accounting perspectives.

Patrick Healy, CEO of VSH United, also presented a strong case for a synchronised customs environment. He also initiated the discussion on the Guyana/Suriname Common Market.

Spurred on by both the days’ presentations and Guyana’s budget announcements, delegates posed many questions, particularly during the panel discussions, which were led by Ernst and Young’s Gregory Hannays (day one) and Maria Daniel (day two).

The panellists included Richard Sammy, Managing Director of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited; Bryan Renten, Director/CEO of Fernandes Bottling Company N.V., & Chairman of the Association of Business in Suriname; Owen Verwey, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment; Stephen Grell, Manager of Corporate and Investment

Banking at Republic Bank Limited; Jeff Simons, Country Manager (Guyana) of Esso Exploration & Production Guyana Limited; Nigel Hughes, partner in the law firm of Hughes, Fields & Stoby, Attorneys-at-Law, and Director of the Guyana Oil & Gas Association (GOGA); Shaun Rampersad, Chief Operations Officer of the Ramps Logistics in Trinidad; Derek Chin, CEO of Movietowne Limited in Trinidad, whose Guyana branch of Movietowne is expected to soon be completed; and Joseph Cox, Assistant Secretary General of Trade and Economic Integration at the CARICOM Secretariat.

Cox’s feature address on doing business in CARICOM followed an enlightening presentation by Guyana’s Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, while delegates gained succinct and worthwhile advice on the role of finance in cross-border transactions from another of Republic Bank’s Corporate and Investment Banking Managers -- Ray Klein.

As the curtains came down on the two-day forum,

Karen Yip Chuck, Republic Bank’s General Manager of Corporate and Investment Banking, reiterated the Bank’s purpose for hosting the event.

“Our primary objective of this trade mission was to bring different business communities closer together, provide insight on the differing nuances; and, most of all, facilitate stronger networking ties with the intention of increasing trade amongst our customers, starting with those represented here.”

Chuck noted that while the event has been deemed a success by many, based on the high level of interest and participation from clients across the region, the Bank’s measurement of success results from the number of new cross-border relationships that were facilitated during the period.

“I think (that) based on the number of one-on-one meetings that I have observed, it is safe to say that this inaugural trade mission was a success,” she said, noting that it is the Bank’s intention to host more trade missions in other territories in the future.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

Education minister stable, conscious after fainting EDUCATION Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine experienced a brief episode of syncope, or fainting spell, on Friday night while attending a reception in honour of Prince Henry of Wales, KCVO, familiarly known

as Prince Harry, who is on his first visit to Guyana.

The incident occurred at the residence of British High Commissioner Gregg Quinn, and Dr. Roopnaraine was one of a number of government ministers and invitees at the function.

A statement from the Department of Public Information detailed that “the conditions were hot, and Dr. Roopnaraine was at the time also dehydrated.�

Dr. Roopnaraine was immediately rendered med-

ical attention, and was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where he remains warded in stable, conscious and alert condition, and is receiving treatment for dehydration.

He is expected to be discharged soon.

Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

Prince Harry in Town (Delano Williams & Fareeza Haniff photos)

HRH Prince Harry exiting the Trans-Guyana Airways Beechcraft as Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, and the British High Commissioner Greg Quinn look on

Prince Harry observing the Guard of Honour in the presence of Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, and the British High Commissioner Greg Quinn

The Guard of Honour at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport upon the arrival of HRH Prince Harry

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

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President David Granger signs the Book which was opened for invitees at the British High Commissioner’s residence at a Reception held in honour of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales, KCVO, familiarly known as Prince Harry.

(Ministry of the Presidency photo)

His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales, KCVO, familiarly known as Prince Harry signs a Book, which was opened for invitees at the British High Commissioner’s residence at a reception held in his honour, to mark his visit to Guyana.

(Ministry of the Presidency photo)

Prince Harry greets First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger upon his arrival at the reception as President David Granger looks on. (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales, KCVO, called Prince Harry, shares a moment with some of the Ministers of the Government. (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

Prince Harry meets members of Guyana’s Cabinet led by President David Granger. Also in photo are Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo , Minister of State Joseph Harmon, Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence, the British High Commissioner Greg Quinn and two members of the Royal Team

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

Duncan ready to run for mayoral office ‘- I feel beyond humbled’

IN a quest to climb the mountain of politics and secure the seat of Mayor of Georgetown, Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan has begun his campaign to garner much-needed support to run the city and make it the country’s engine of economic development.

In a post on social media on Friday, titled “GEORGETOWN MEANS BUSINESS,” Duncan said he was honoured to have been given full support of the APNU+AFC and residents within his constituency, who have rallied around him from the inception of the Local government elections held months ago.

Duncan, who many say possesses qualities of a natural leader, said he shares President David Granger’s vision for the greening and economic development of the capital city, and is ready to run for the mayoral office, even as internal mayoral elections have begun at municipalities countrywide.

“I’m in - I feel beyond humbled that I have the full support of my party and constituency as I pursue the leadership of the municipality of Georgetown, realising the democratic process of local government,” Duncan stated.

Ever since he took office as deputy mayor, Duncan has been unreserved in voicing his concerns over matters and decisions which seemed to have a negative and massive impact on business and

life in the Garden City.

Matters of accountability, transparency and inclusive decision-making have come between him and Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, who is from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) side of the coalition. Duncan is from the Alliance For Change (AFC) component.

Duncan and ChaseGreen had contested Local Government Elections on a joint APNU+AFC ticket in March this year, and he said his decision was influenced by his desire for building ‘a better city’ for future generations.

“When I contended in LGE last March, it was because I wanted a better city for my boys, Jon and Ethan, the next generation represented in them and I got involved for all the residents of Georgetown,” Duncan said.

However, he pointed out that disappointments and wrong decisions have for the last few months taken the municipality “in the wrong direction as a city.”

Duncan said he stands firmly upon the vision of the APNU+AFC government for massive economic development in the city.

“President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, David Granger, has set his government’s vision for capital towns as engines for economic development of the regions of which they are the nucleus. I am of the view that Georgetown as our national capital city of Guyana needs, more than any

Bandits rob Cummings Lodge family THE police are hunting a gunman and his accomplice following an armed robbery at Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, on Thursday night.

The men relieved a mother and her daughter of their handbags which contained cash and other valuables.

The robbery took place around 20:30hrs when Sawarie Harolall and Canisa Bownauth of Crown Dam, Industry, East Coast Demerara, were visiting a relative.

As they arrived at their location, a silver-coloured 212 Toyota motor car pulled up and a suspect exited brandishing a firearm and proceeded to relieve them of the said articles.

The relative, who witnessed the incident on his close circuit television (CCTV), armed himself with his licensed firearm and fired six shots at the bandits, all of which missed them as they made good their escape in a waiting motor vehicle.

Sleuths are in the process of reviewing the CCTV footage in an effort to identify the suspect.

No arrest has been made.

other municipality, to realign itself away from what President Granger calls the “compound mentality” towards a “capital mentality” and economic mentality,” the deputy mayor stated.

Moving away means refusing to display “control rather than consultation and collaboration with residents” and “moving beyond providing traditional municipal services,” Duncan explained, and added “The new emphasis should be on promoting business, driving economic development and giving leadership to our

Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan prepares for higher leadership regions.”

He said in adopting

the commercial mentality, infrastructure, investment, innovation, information and communication technology are central in fostering stronger and more balanced economies necessary for economic growth within the framework of a green economy.

“In aligning ourselves strategically within the framework of central government’s view of capital towns as growth drivers within a green economy, City Hall must pursue several core initiatives which, over the next year, will see us more fiscally responsible, streamline our services offered for efficiency, retool

our workers for greater productivity and engage civil society and the private sector towards partnerships; synergies for success,” Duncan said.

He said he looks forward to developing mutual understanding with residents of Georgetown and businesses to arrive at a common understanding of ways to move Georgetown forward.

“I believe that greater things are still to be done in this city, so I look forward to continue engaging city residents and businesses in the coming hours and days on these ideas and how together we can move Georgetown forward,” Sherod Duncan said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

Robbery suspect shot at Meadow Bank wharf TWO of the three suspects who perpetrated an early-morning robbery on Friday at Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara, were apprehended minutes after the commission of the crime, with an unlicensed firearm and eight live rounds.

One of the duo was shot by the police and is under guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Some of the stolen articles have been recovered.

Police in a press release said three males, one armed with a handgun, stormed the Wild Caught Fresh Fish Depot at the Meadow Bank wharf, Ruimveldt, held the supervisor Shane Robin at gunpoint and stole a camera, a digital video recorder

(DVR), a radio set and other articles.

During the process, the 29-year-old supervisor was struck on his head by the armed bandit, causing him to suffer a cut.

A public-spirited citizen who witnessed the robbery summoned the police who responded within minutes and confronted the men in front of the depot.

During the confrontation, one of the unarmed suspects was shot to both legs and the other with the firearm ran into the depot and concealed himself in the ceiling, but was extracted shortly after

The unlicensed gun and ammunition recovered by the police after the armed robbery at Wild Caught Fresh Fish Depot.

with an unlicensed 9MM pistol with eight live rounds.

The other suspect managed to escape and efforts are being made to arrest him.

The shot suspect who is 40 years old and is of Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo, was rushed to the GPHC where he underwent surgery and was admitted under police guard.

The suspect with the firearm is 25 years old and resides at Fifth Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D. The victim was escorted to the GPHC where he was treated and sent away.

Bandits rob, shoot minibus driver

Malvin Hooper’s bus in the trench shortly after the armed robbery on Thursday night THE police are hunting three bandits who robbed and shot a route 47 (East/West) minibus driver on Thursday night at Liliendaal Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

The driver is a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) and is expected to undergo a surgical operation to remove a bullet lodged in his left upper back.

The man has been identified as Malvin Hooper of Lot 35 Shirley Field-Ridley Square, Georgetown. He refused to exit his bus on Thursday night after he was robbed of $20,000 in cash and his cellphone.

The incident occurred when Hooper was at the Shell Service Station at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, making a purchase of fuel.

He was approached by three men who requested to be taken farther up the East Coast.

The 39-year-old man complied and while in the vicinity of the Ocean View Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, the robbers whipped out their guns and demanded that he hand over all his valuables.

Hooper handed over his cellphone and a sum of cash and was instructed to exit his vehicle, but he refused and was shot in the back.

The bandits made good their escape after he drove the bus into a trench.

Hooper was rushed to the GPHC by public-spirited citizens and is reportedly in a stable condition.

The bus has since been removed from the trench.

Relatives of Hooper said he is in hospital and nothing more when this newspaper visited his home on Friday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

Guyana commits to an AIDS-free society

THE framework for ending AIDS in children, adolescents, and young women by 2020 was the topic of discussion on Friday, when Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton met with representatives of UNAIDS and PEPFAR. According to a release from the Ministry of Public Health, UNAIDS Country Director Dr. Martin Oditt

and PEPFAR Coordinator of the Caribbean Regional Programme, Dr. Jennifer Walsh, met the minister in his Brickdam office to discuss the framework, referred to as “Start Free. Stay Free. AIDS Free.�

The framework sets ambitious targets that are critical to reaching the 9090-90 targets, and supports countries in controlling

and ultimately ending their AIDS epidemics. The 9090-90 targets include reaching 95 per cent of pregnant women living with HIV, and sustaining them with lifelong HIV treatment by 2018; and reducing the number of new HIV infections among adolescents and young women to less See page 18

17

From left to right: UNAIDS Country Director Dr. Martin Oditt, PEPFAR Coordinator of the Caribbean Regional Programme, Dr. Jennifer Walsh; and Public Health Minister Dr George Norton before they met on Friday

18

Murder accused loses no-case submission

MURDER accused Mark Thompson who was not ready to begin his defence for the murder of Jose Rodrigues De Oliviera on August 7, 2010, will begin his defence on Tuesday, December 6.

Following the closure of the prosecution’s case

by Miss Tamieka Clarke and Miss Tuanna Hardy, defence counsel Mr. Peter Hugh and Miss Latchmi Rahamat did not lead a defence, but made a nocase submission in the absence of the jury on behalf of their client.

Presiding judge, Mr. James Bovell-Drakes,

who heard the submissions in the absence of the jury, delivered his ruling yesterday by over-ruling the no-case motion.

The statement by the accused in the first voir dire was found to be freely and voluntarily given to the police The alleged killing is

said to have taken place at Meladinko, Aranka Backdam, Cuyuni River, Essequibo.

The prosecution is contending that Thompson murdered Jose Rodrigues De Oliviera on the 7th day of August, 2010 in the county of Demerara.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

Guyana commits ...

From page 17

than 100,000 by 2020.

Adaptation of the framework to the national context with a focus on key actions needed in Guyana was also discussed. This was done in order to help the framework partners ensure that their actions and investments are aligned with the country’s needs and priorities, in order to accelerate action and achieve results.

Minister Norton has said he is in full agreement with the framework, since it has been proven to be effective.

He pointed out that the Ministry of Public Health would support implementation of the framework so that every child starts life HIV-free; adolescent girls and young women remain HIV-free; and every child, adolescent and adult is given treatment when diagnosed with HIV. Acknowledging that the framework is going to cost the Government more, the Public Health Minister said there is no intention of shying away from the responsibility of ensuring that the 90-90-90 target is achieved.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

Roraima Airways answers a mother’s plea

RORAIMA Airways has responded to a public plea from Casandra Persaud for assistance for her son Omkar Persaud to receive medical treatment for eye cancer in Cuba.

According to a release from Roraima, the cost of facilitating the necessary surgery inclusive of air transport to and from Cuba is estimated at US$20,000.

Roraima’s CEO, Capt.

Gerry Gouveia met with Ms. Persaud and her son at his office, December 2, 2016 and offered return flights to Cuba on behalf of the company.

Omkar Persaud, now two years old, was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, an eye cancer which commonly affects children.

The toddler’s left eye was removed as a result of the

infection and the right eye was diagnosed with the rare cancer thereby necessitating urgent treatment.

On making the announcement to the mother and son, Capt. Gouveia said, “I was made aware of the situation only recently and am pleased to contribute to the recovery and improvement of the child’s eyesight and overall good health.

“It is amazing to know how many Guyanese

Captain Gerry Gouveia shares a moment with Casandra Persaud and her son.

reached out to help in whatever way they could.” He added that the offer to Ms. Persaud and her son was an extension of Roraima’s continued commitment to the Medical Evacuation Service operated by Roraima.

Further, Capt. Gouveia expressed best wishes for successful treatment and recovery of the child on behalf of his family and company.

Ms. Persaud accepted

the offer and expressed her appreciation to Roraima Airways and said she was pleased with the public’s response and generous assistance for her son.

Roraima Airways since its establishment in 1992 has led the way in its Medical Evacuation Service, operating a 24-hour Air Ambulance Evacuation Service in Guyana, providing a domestic and regional reliable response evacuation service.

Too complicated

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

… PSC says greater clarity needed on measures in budget

By Ariana Gordon

THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) while congratulating the government for the early presentation of the 2017 national budget, has dubbed the $250B budget as “complicated.”

Chairman of the PSC, Edward Boyer, told reporters at a press conference on Thursday that budgets are designed to raise revenue and ensure that the populace and citizens are better off, but next year’s budget is far from simple. “We looked at this budget and …it is very difficult to analyse, it is not a simplified budget…it is not clear and precise ; we keep going back and wondering what is meant, and some of

the areas are not clear,” he said, while stressing that the ordinary man cannot comprehend the budgetary measures.

“The introduction of tax and penalties in the budget left a bitter taste in the private sector,” Boyer said referencing “stiff penalties” and the “garnishing of persons and companies’ funds,” leaving ordinary citizens at the mercy of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The PSC Chair said in assessing the 2017 budget, he had expected that the APNU+AFC coalition government would have arrested the downward trend of the economy. “I didn’t see that in the budget. We would have liked to see something done as it relates to sugar,

Members of the Private Sector Commission present at Monday’s press conference: (left to right) Hemchand Jaichand, President of the Corriverton Chamber of Commerce; Justin Nedd, GTT’s CEO; Ramesh Dookhoo, Secretary of the PSC; Eddie Boyer, Chairman of the PSC; Ramesh Persaud, Chairman, PSC’s Economic and Finance sub-Committee; Desmond Sears, Chairman of the Guyana National Shipping Corporation; Fitzroy Mc Leod, Finance Manager NAMILCO, and GCCI Chairman, Vishnu Doerga. some diversification in the economy, more investors’ confidence,” said Boyer, who

was supported by Ramesh Persaud, Chairperson of the PSC’s Finance and Economic sub-committee.

Persaud said the PSC for the most part is seeking clarity on many of the budgetary measures and noted that the lack of clarity could be a result of the budget being prepared with a “level of haste.” He however made it clear that all is not negative in the budget. Notwithstanding

the positive aspects, Persaud said, “In summary I would like to say the budget give and it take it away a lot. It took away more than it actually gave.”

The PSC’s Economic and Finance sub-Committee chairman said some of the proposed initiatives lend to hardship on citizens. In his presentation on Monday, Finance Minister Winston Jordan announced that there

would be an increase in the current threshold of $660,000 per annum to $720,000 per annum or one-third of the employee’s salary.

He also proposed to introduce what he called “an element of progressiveness” in the tax system that would see a new rate of 40 per cent being applied to the incomes of individuals earning in excess of $2,160,000 See page 21

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Too complicated...

From page 20

per annum. Based on this proposed implementation, the PSC has called on Minister Jordan to explain the application of the measure.

“Is it a tier system? It is progressive as explained?

What are the implications for allowances and benefits in kind, produced to most of the executives across the country?” asked Persaud.

That aside, he praised the raising of the threshold though not high enough, noting that it is a step in the right direction. The PSC he said, was “heavily involved” in the Value Added Tax (VAT) process when it began a few years ago and is advising against the proposed changes by the Minister of Finance.

He outlined the categories of VAT; Taxable and Non-taxable and sought to explain that non-taxable VAT refers to all goods and services that have been exempted from the tax system, while taxable supplies are zero rated and standard rated.

Standard rated currently stands at 16 per cent, but the minister has proposed a 2 per cent reduction. “Input VAT cannot be reclaimed from exempted supplies. If you were a provider of a totally zero rated product (education or health care) all of your input VAT you would have been able to reclaim from the government.

If you were a mixed supplier, therefore you were supplying some items that were zero rated, standard rated, or exemptthose items would have been prorated --- input VAT would not be able to be reclaimed.”

Using the National Milling Company (NAMILCO) as an example, he noted that all products used by that company are zero rated and as such, that company would not be able to claim almost $200M in VAT refund. “The other concerns we have in regard to the exempt list is that we have seen the disappearance from the list of things like education services, health care services that no longer exist as exempt or zero rated- mobile data were all zero rated. Right now it is not zero rated, not in exempt- therefore you have

to pay VAT when you are on FB now,” said Persaud, who called on the government to reverse its policy on moving items away from the zero rated lists to exempt as it will contribute to inflation. “…inflation means people would have to pay higher prices and it inhibits growth in the economy ---it is amazing that the government’s policy is the promotion of ICT and technology and so forth and internet services will now take on VAT,” Persaud added. Briefly addressing the government’s proposition to have consumers pay the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) a VAT of 14 per cent on electricity consumption in excess of $10,000 per month, the Sub-Committee’s chair said that the new system would be a “big blow to small businesses.”

Meanwhile, turning his attention to tax administration mechanisms, Persaud said it is unfathomable why as an administration it is believed that punitive measures would enhance the tax net and bring more people into conformity with the system. “I don’t see it being practical, sensible or wise for us to increase these,” he said, while noting that there is currently a penalty to maintain records and that penalty doesn’t only relate to corporations, but [to] every business owner. Failure to maintain records could see persons paying a fine of $200,000 or spending six months in prison.

Is this practical? I don’t understand it - we agree every business must maintain records but what about the micro businesses, small businesses? Vendors in the market? Are we going to force all of them to hire accountants?”

On the issue of the GRA being able to garnish funds from the accounts of delinquent persons, the PSC believes that the move contradicts with the principles of natural justice and ought to be corrected. Section 102 of the Income Tax Act Chapter 81:01 will be revised to provide authority to the GRA to garnish funds from bank accounts held by taxpayers who

have outstanding tax arrears.

However, the PSC is of the opinion that such an amendment will empower the GRA to “do the work of the judiciary.”

“Right now the GRA has the right to garnish funds from your account, but through a court proceeding but the minister is proposing to remove the court from the aspect- This is dangerous if a

court order is not being used.

The minister needs to clarify why the GRA is dodging the court… if the court is slow don’t get a short- cut mechanism.”

Meanwhile, Persaud said the move by the government to impose a charge on Tax Payers Identification Number (TIN) certificate is ludicrous. “Why would you want to put a barrier to entry

if somebody wants a tin? You should freely give it to them so they could register on your net of doing things.

Why pay $1000 for it? We could understand if you lose it and want to get back a copy,” he stated.

All in all, the PSC maintains that the 2017 budget has confirmed their expectation that the country’s economy was “sluggish,” while noting that the budget “did very little to help us.”

“A lot more could have been done and we do look forward to further consultations and clarification,”

said Persaud, who reminded that all relevant data was not available to the PSC at the time of the press conference. Also present at the press conference were Secretary of the PSC Ramesh Dookhoo, GTT’s CEO Justin Nedd, Desmond Sears, Chairman of the Guyana National Shipping Corporation, Fitzroy Mc Leod Finance Manager NAMILCO, GCCI Chairman, Vishnu Doerga and President of the Corriverton Chamber of Commerce, Hemchand Jaichand.

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Guyana gets US$9M IDB loan

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

––for diversification, trade, public infrastructure

GUYANA will improve its public infrastructure and promote economic di-

versification and foreign trade with a US$9 million Inter-American Develop-

ment Bank loan that will help strengthen the economy and stimulate exports Guyana will improve its public infrastructure and promote economic diversification and foreign trade with a US$9 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank and investments.

With a small domestic market, Guyana depends on exports for economic growth.

Eighty-two per cent of its shipments consist of fewer than 10 products, mostly from the mining and agricultural sectors.

The limited size of its non-traditional exports provides an opportunity for diversification. This project is expected to help reduce market-access costs for non-traditional exporters and increase their shipments.

Non-traditional exporters face major challenges concerning quality measurement and control, including difficulties with certification.

There are only two accredited laboratories in Guyana, none of which has non-traditional exports certification capabilities. For this reason, the programme proposes a series of moves to accredit labs and train their personnel.

There is also a need to design and implement quality regulations to help access international markets. Consequently, a trade and investment framework will be created and courses will be launched to train small and mid-sized enterprises on quality and regulation issues.

Exports diversification, as well as attaining competitiveness in new markets require the adoption of adequate quality standards.

Wi t h t h i s g o a l i n

mind, the programme will strengthen quality-related infrastructure and improve the system’s capabilities.

The Business Ministry, in its capacity as executing agency, will prepare an initial report that includes an updated multi-year implementing plan, the first annual operating plan, and financial and procurement plans.

The project is in line with Guyana’s need to diversify its economy as laid out in the National Competitiveness Strategy aimed at accessing new markets.

The project’s total cost is US$9 million, of which US$4.5 million comes from the bank’s ordinary capital and the remaining US$4.5 million from its Fund for Special Operations (FOE).

The ordinary capital tranche is for a 30-year term, with six years of grace. The FOE’s component is for a 40-year period, with 40 years of grace and a 0.25 per cent fixed interest rate.

The Inter-American Development Bank is devoted to improving lives.

Established in 1959, it is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research and provides policy advice, technical assistance and training to public and private sector clients throughout the region.

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Triple-header U-19 football today at Tucville THREE matches are scheduled for today at the Tucville Community ground in the Fruta Conquerors U-19 Academy Football League.

Today’s opening match of the triple-header is set for noon when Order and Discipline meet Black Pearl FC in a Group ‘B’ match-up. At 14:00hrs it will be Botofago FC against Eastville FC and in the final game at 16:00hrs, home side Conquerors entertain Uitvlugt Warriors.

ENGLISH RACING TIPS Aintree 08:00 hrs Evening Hush 08:30 hrs Oldgrangewood 09:00 hrs Charlemar 09:35 hrs Vieux Lion Rouge 10:10 hrs Byron Flyer 10:40 hrs Irish Cavalier 11:10 hrs Valadom WETHERBY 08:10 hrs Kafella 08:40 hrs Its’Afreebee 09:10 hrs Lough Salt 09:45 hrs I Just Know 10:20 hrs Sakhee’s Secret 10:50 hrs Apterix 11:25 hrs Shearling SANDOWN 08:20 hrs Cruiseaweigh 08:50 hrs Midnight Sapphire 09:20 hrs Blue Rambler 10:25 hrs Brain Power 11:00 hrs Ar Mad 11:30 hrs Court

By Surprise IRISH RACING TIPS Fairyhouse 08:25 hrs Who’s That 08:55 hrs Dandridge 09:25 hrs Effernock 10:00 hrs Gunnery Sergeant 10:30 hrs Bilko 11:05 hrs Theo 11:40 hrs Bon Papa SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Kenilworth 08:05 hrs Katie Dubois 08:45 hrs Pete’s Girl 09:25 hrs Never Settle 10:00 hrs Secret Seven 10:35 hrs Legal Eagle 11:10 hrs Querari Falcon 11:45 hrs Red Ray 12:20 hrs Tiger Tops AMERICAN RACING TIPS Aqueduct Race 1 Consumerconfidence Race 2 Alasaal Race 3 Splendid Gold Race 4 Momentiempo Race 5 Afleet Martini Race 6 Summer Revolution Race 7 Tricked Up Race 8 Bar of Gold Race 9 Cha Cha Heels

Two more games are fixed for next Monday, with Santos and Tavelle’s colliding in the first game at 17:00hrs, while at 19:00hrs it will be Pele FC versus Western Tigers.

The latest winners in the 12-team League are Western Tigers who secured their first win after putting away Order and Discipline 3-1 last Thursday in Group ‘B’ action.

TTFA chief says Hart replacement to be named soon PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago FA president, David John Williams, says there has been an overwhelming response to the national head coach position, made vacant by the recent sacking of Stephen Hart, and expects the replacement to be named by next week.

Williams said among those applying were several top coaches and that fact the response had been so encouraging, showed the calibre of the country’s football.

“If the application of 26 coaches is any indication of the interest in Trinidad and Tobago football by these coaches [then interest is high],” Williams told C Sports here.

“We’ve had up to 26 applications for the job and that tells it all.”

Canadian Hart, a former T&T national player, was relieved of his duties after the country lost the two opening games of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying final round.

They went down 2-0 to Costa Rica at the Hasely Crawford Stadium here last month and then lost 3-1 to Honduras away at the Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula.

Though T&T’s next scheduled World Cup qualifier is not until March next year, Williams said his association expected to settle on a candidate shortly.

“We are very close to appointing a national coach. The process is being followed as we speak,” Williams confirmed.

“The technical committee is meeting regularly … they will meet again [this week]. Hopefully we’ll have the recommendation then. Thereafter when we get the recommendation it will go to the board for approval and hopefully within the next 72 to 96 hours, we will have an announcement on who’s the new national coach.”

Hart led the national side for 3-1/2 years, twice leading them to the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Nine-man Newcastle lose extraordinary game at Forest (REUTERS)-Jamaal Lascelles’ late own goal gave Nottingham Forest a 2-1 win over Championship leaders Newcastle United who had two players sent off and conceded two penalties in an extraordinary first half yesterday.

Forest missed both spot kicks while Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett were dismissed for the visitors who took the lead through Matt Ritchie’s opener in first-half stoppage time.

The home team fought back to level through Nicklas Bendtner after the break before Lascelles turned a corner into his own net with four minutes remaining to give Forest a third straight win that moved them up to 13th in the table.

Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle, top with 40 points from 19 matches, two clear of Brighton and Hove Albion, have now lost two games in a row.

The match burst into life in the 32nd

minute when Newcastle midfielder Shelvey was sent off for kicking out at Henri Lansbury and conceded a penalty.

Bendtner stepped up but could not beat Newcastle keeper Karl Darlow who was back at the City Ground having left Forest two years ago.

Despite being a man down, Newcastle opened the scoring when Isaac Hayden’s cross found its way through to Ritchie who lashed the ball first time into the net.

There was still time for more firsthalf drama as Dummett was dismissed for bundling into Lansbury who dusted himself off to take Forest’s second penalty, only to draw another excellent save from Darlow.

Bendtner made amends for his penalty miss when he dragged Forest level in the 52nd minute, poking the ball home from close range after his first effort was saved, before Lascelles’ own goal decided an entertaining encounter.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 3, 2016

Horse racing on the downward curve … Lack of adequate legislation responsible

By Rajiv Bisnauth

THE lack of adequate legislation is definitely responsible for the sport of horse racing not being a bigger

horse owners, trainers and jockeys in line, since currently the majority of the power as it relates to specific regulations falls within the purview of individual racetracks.”

by the previous administration, with regard to the implementation of the legislation.

However, the present Government cannot escape their fair share of criticism

“We need this legislation, without this (legislation) we, as horse owners, will continue to suffer,” a horse owner said.

The draft for the Guyana

race dates for race meetings in the event that a club is unable to run off a race meeting.

Another issue of contention is the manner in which jockeys go to work. There

practice could be difficult to detect and confirm.

Perhaps, the biggest problem of all is the continued violation on the track by punters and spectators.

Horse racing meet in Guyana

success story in Guyana.

However, there is no doubt that horse racing has become one of the major sport industries locally.

To this end, there are some major areas that require attention and should be addressed before the start of the new season in order to raise the standard of the sport.

One such area is the legislation that governs the sport.

According to one horse owner, ‘Once the legislation is in place, it will produce a more streamlined sport, bringing

Dubbed the ‘Sport of Kings’, horse racing, since its resuscitation almost a decade now, has been operating under a legal document that was registered under the Miscellaneous Deeds Act. In 2014, a key step to regularise the sport was taken when the-then Legal Adviser to the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA), Rajendra Poonai, handed over a draft legislation on the sport to then Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony.

Nothing much was done

since a copy of a horse-racing legislation has been with the government for some time now.

In fact, an official from the GHRA has confirmed that the copy was handed over to the National Sports Commission late last year but remained sceptical about the status of the document.

Assistant Director of Sport, Brian Smith, confirmed that the NSC had indeed received the document, which was sent to the Attorney General Chambers.

Horse Racing Authority Act, which will allow the sport to run more effectively and to deal with violators, includes elevating the number of the Racing Authority’s members from nine to fifteen, including the Bush Lot United Turf Club as a member of the GHRA and implementing a term (two years) for the members of the Authority.

The legislation which was championed by former GHRA president Cecil Kennard, will also give the GHRA the power to schedule

should be a set of rules, if there isn’t already, to govern the way jockeys dress when going to ride.

Just like every other sport, a code of dress is a standard requirement so the authorities must enforce the rules for jockeys and public safety.

There has also been talk of owners and handlers using performance-enhancing substances on their horses, but with the sport still unregulated due to the lack of legislation, this particular

This dilemma is a real one that many of the track authorities are either afraid to address or have no answers.

However, until someone gets injured then and only then solutions will be found.

Though local owners are now more readily prepared and equipped to import horses from Trinidad and Tobago and beyond, the quality of the horses and the breeding stock should be of a higher pedigree to really lift the standard of racing in Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 3, 2016

Guyanese amateur boxers make clean sweep of Suriname in Int’l Friendly Air disasters involving football teams THE recent air crash that resulted in an almost annihilation of a Brazilian football club team travelling to Colombia for a South American Club championship final is the latest of air disasters that have taken the lives of talented players of the ‘Beautiful Game’.

However, this latest tragedy associated with airplanes is one of many that has plagued the ‘Beautiful Game over many decades since the 1940s.

1949: The plane carrying Italian club side Torino back from a match against Benfica in Lisbon crashed into the Superga hill during its approach to Turin airport. All 31 on board were killed including the 18-strong squad - devastating the finest team

in the club’s history.

Shortly afterwards, Torino went on to win a fifth Serie A title in a row, although they have only won it once since then, in 1975/1976.

1958: Eight Manchester United players were among 23 people killed when their plane crashed on a 3rd attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway at Munich Riem Airport in Munich, West Germany following a technical stop.

The flight was taking them back to Manchester from a European Cup match in Belgrade. The 21 survivors included Bobby Charlton who was 20 at the time and he went on to become one of England’s finest players, winning the World Cup in 1966.

1960: Eight Danish footballers, on their way to a trial to select the Denmark team for the Rome Olympic Games soccer tournament, were killed when their plane crashed into the Oresund Strait after takeoff from Copenhagen. Denmark went on to win the silver medal.

1969: Players from the Bolivian team ‘The Strongest’ were among 78 people killed when the flight carrying them from the lowland city of Santa Cruz crashed at Viloco, near La Paz. 1979: Seventeen players and coaching officials from Pakhtakor Tashkent were among 178 killed when the flight taking them to a Soviet league match at Dinamo

Turn to Pg. 38

By Mike Da Silva

GUYANA Defence Force’s (GDF) Markember Pierre registered a first-round knockout victory over his Surinamese counterpart, while five other locals recorded technical knockout (TKO) wins when Guyana and Suriname engaged each other in an international friendly boxing tournament last Saturday evening in the Dutch Republic.

According to reports, Pierre, fighting in the light h e a v y w e i g h t c a t e g o r y, stopped his Dutch opponent, Alvin van der Leeuw, in the first round, while

compatriots Kevin Allicock, Christopher Moore, Desmond Amsterdam, Renee Lewis and Floyd Cato all won by the TKO route.

News reports from Suriname stated that Guyana’s national welterweight champion, Colin Lewis, was sublime as he defeated Biondi Pikinton on points.

Other points-winners were Anil Chaitraj, Joel Williamson and Rondel Douglas.

The competition was arranged following a meeting of the Guyana Boxing Association president Steve Ninvalle and his Surinamese counterpart Remie Burke.

The two administrators held a meeting here in Guy-

ana last October where the development of the sport in the Guianas was discussed.

Suriname thereafter pledged to send a team to the Caribbean School Boys and Juniors tournament scheduled for April 2017. In addition, the Dutch-speaking neighbours will be a part of the Inter-Guianas boxing tournament scheduled for next October (2017).

The Guyana team for the friendly against Suriname was managed by Clifton Moore and included assistant coach Steel Crawford as well as referee/judges Ramona Agard and Lawrence Assanah.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 3, 2016

Meet the undefeated Pee Wee football coach

By Ras Wadada

IN JUST over one year as the coach, Oscar Orrin Payne has racked up 14 wins from as many matches, while conceding just a solitary goal and more rewardingly, has won two Championships in the Pee Wee Under-11 Schools Football.

Coach Payne began his successful union with the St Angela’s Primary School Under-11 football team last year September after being entrusted by the school’s headmistress, since the team was without a coach and the 8th place finish in the last Pee Wee competition was of concern to her.

“I got involved because a niece of mine who had two sons attending the school recommended me at a parent-teacher meeting. So, one day while conducting some business in GRA I got a phone call from the headmistress who invited me to the school as she wanted to speak to me. When I got there within minutes of the call she

actually told me that I had to take over the school’s football team since there was no coach and that it was my niece who gave her my phone number.

“I accepted the offer and promised to return in the afternoon for my first session, but I got the feeling she did not believe me.

“When I returned I was greeted by 17 boys and I immediately tested their technical abilities on controlling and passing the ball, so as to arrive at the 11 players who were needed to make up the squad. Of course this was on the concrete in the schoolyard as we had no option,” the coach explained how it all began.

Payne, who is the uncle of national coach Wayne Dover and national forward Anthony Abrams, added that the squad continued to have daily practice sessions but players who did not complete their daily school work were not allowed to train.

“I made it my personal duty to examine their books and once they were not com-

pleted, it was no football.

What I was most impressed about was their willingness to come together and work as instructed, though this journey has been one of collectiveness. The support of the teachers and parents must also be praised in this success story,” the 56-year-old Pele Masters defender said.

“These are a special set of naturally gifted young footballers as I also get them involved with the selection of the team and what system they wish to play. Over the last year, I have been blessed to have real natural football talent at my disposal and that has helped to make my work easier.

“They are a bunch that would brag and boast and compete fiercely among each other, nothing personal because they love and respect one another. Our two main defenders and captains this year, Antoine Vincent and Antonio McArthur always appear to be going at each other, but it is just their way of motivating each other be-

cause on the field they both know and play their roles effectively and this helps to inspire the team.

given to soils when preparing the pitch. The use of the right soil is, however, most important for the production of fast pitches.

“By changing the foundation of the pitch it will assist the faster bowlers. We have a history of low and slow pitches, so definitely I feel the pitches will be better for the next season,” Habib said.

He explained that roughly five inches of sand from under the original pitches were replaced with ‘crush

higher clay content from Enterprise on the East Coast Demerara.

Oscar Orrin Payne “I think Seon Cato is the most serious footballer of them all. I remember last year when he ended the competition with about six goals he boldly predicted to all that next year he will be collecting the top goalscorer award and he fulfilled his prediction like a seasoned campaigner

with 11 goals.”

“There is need for more competitions like this for these kids and it must be done all over the country, not Georgetown alone, so then we can have a big national championship with the different champions.

“This Pee Wee football needs to spread all over Guyana and we need to provide all-year football for these kids and there must be improved refreshments for the youngsters as well,” the Aquarius-born Payne recommended.

The undefeated Payne is already looking ahead to next year’s championship as he reflected on the ‘back-to-back’ triumphs, “This year’s win was easier than last year as we had several players from last year’s winning team and we were confident throughout the competition.

“It was a victory full of joy as we defeated our neighbour and biggest rival St Agnes Primary School.

Next year I think we will be even better since I heard the

headmistress stressing the importance of immediately starting preparations for the ‘3-peat’. This is the kind of support that inspires you to work.”

Payne who was named Coach-of-the Tournament’ last year was strangely overlooked for the title again this year, but said he is more satisfied with winning the Championship.

“Winning the Championship is more rewarding than being named Coachof-the-Tournament, though I must admit that I was a bit disappointed at not being named‘back-to-back Coachof-the-Tournament/” Coach Payne’s winning and unchanged combination for this year’s final reads: Antoine Vincent (Capt. and MVP), Shuwabe Hutson (Best GK), Antonio McArthur, Kentroy Cadogan, Omari Nelson, Dexter Farrell and Seon Cato (Top Goalscorer). Substitutes: Cruan O’Neil, Joshua James, Kenroy Cadogan and Jaheim Cox.

no different and have come under immense scrutiny.

West Indies, and among those voicing their opinions was the Region’s Test captain Jason Holder, who declared that ‘the standard of pitches in the Caribbean needs to improve if teams are to produce more attractive cricket’.

Former Test fast bowler Tino Best after the launch of his autobiography, ‘Mind the Windows’ in May, says that cricket in the Caribbean can be improved if the quality of pitches changes.

Neither way can West Indies cricket return to anything near its best. Other Test-playing nations have succeeded in making their pitches much quicker and bouncier than they used to be, stimulating “fast bowlers and stroke play” and contributing to “much better cricket”.

The same should not be beyond the capacity of West Indies.

New pitches at Guyana National Stadium will benefit fast bowlers, says Wasim Habib THE four international pitches at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, were recently re-laid, and the chief curator is confident that the new pitches will be of the highest standard.

By Rajiv Bisnauth

A GOOD pitch is one which is dry, firm, well rolled and watered, and one which p ro v i d e s e v e n b o u n c e throughout a match.

It is also one that has an even growth of grass to give sufficient bounce, and at the same time spinners are able to get some help as early as on the second day of a match, be it a three-day, four- or five-day game.

However, soil forms the most important ingredient in the preparation of the pitch.

Due to climate variations it would be impossible to standardise on the treatment to be

Head curator Wasim Habib puts in final touches to the re-laid pitches.

Colin Stuart To this end, the management of the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, recently completed a massive overhaul to the four international pitches, and according to head curator Habib, fast bowlers can expect a livelier track when it is ready for play.

Jason Holder

Tino Best and run’, the same material which is used to build roads.

Habib further disclosed that the old soil was replaced with eight inches of soil with

The most pressing cricketing issue among a host of others in the Caribbean is pitches, both at regional and international levels.

For several years, pitches in the West Indies have aided spinners to an unfair and damaging extent, and since its establishment in 2007, the Providence pitches are

Former West Indies fast bowler Colin Stuart in a recent interview revealed that the re-laying of the four international pitches is more than welcome news, not only locally but regionally as well.

He also pointed out that any effort to enhance pitches in the Caribbean to be more consistent with the needs for Regional and International cricket is also welcome news.

Only recently concerns have been raised from several quarters about the steady decline of the once mighty

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Terron Welch, a basketball star on the horizon

By Daniel Haynes

WHEN conversations for best shooter in Guyana roll around (as they always do), a name that warrants its place is definitely Terron Welch.

Despite being just 20 years old, the youngster from Linden has proved in both local and international play that he can compete with the best of them.

Born on June 12, 1996, in the mining town of Linden, Welch is as prolific a shooter as they come. Having a quiet demeanour and clinical approach to the game, he is not the first person you’d immediately figure out to be a threat. To date the 20-yearold has represented Guyana on more than one occasion at both Junior and Senior National levels, playing both locally and internationally.

Welch’s most recent

outing was as part of the new-look Guyana team that travelled to Jamaica for the recently concluded inaugural tri-nation tournament where he posted high scores for Guyana with 17, 15, 20 and 6 points to finish with a tournament average of 14.5 ahead of his teammates.

However, being a prolific shooter and scorer is nothing new for Welch, who in his schooldays at Linden Technical Institute (LTI) was a constant source of headache for defences and is also as lights out as they are.

In one game he dumped 41 points and outscored the entire opposition while having 10 steals and 9 rebounds in a solid all-round performance. In other games he dominated with scores of 38, 35 and 25 points. It’s as if double-digit point games are routine.

‘Terry’ as he is called by

friends and teammates, is not just a shooter, he also has the ability to get anywhere on the floor since he has a handle (a fact fellow teammates Nathan Saul and Patrice Agrippa know all too well with the latter being dropped to the floor in an All Star game). His basketball IQ is also above average since the youngster can read the game and adapt to any situation.

Welch has taken his school performances into the club arena for his Linden’s Half-Mile Bulls side, leading them on many nights. The 6’ 1” shooting guard is also the reigning National ThreePoint Champion after hitting 19 out of 25 in the shooting competition held during this year’s Road to Mecca Championships.

In an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport, the youngster touched on how he keeps consistent with his

shots, “I’ve always tried to be the earliest person in the gym because I want to always get up my shots and get comfortable; it’s something I’ve always done”.

It was his consistency and work ethic that led him to be one of the ‘1-2 punch’ threepoint combo for the Junior National side in 2014 when Guyana finished second.

According to Welch, there still are deficiencies in his game, “I need to work on my defence to become an elite level defender. I also don’t just want to impact the game in shooting I want to all-round impact a basketball game.”

With his three-point shot and work ethic, the youngster who believes he can help bring success for Guyana on the international stage is well on course to shooting his way into Guyanese basketball history.

Terron Welch

Linden’s Topp XX coming hard for home game

By Vanessa Braithwaite

THE pride of Linden’s football, Topp XX, despite their poor start in the GFFSTAG Elite League, will not allow the two losses to dampen their winning spirit, but are confident that they will emerge winners in the remaining 3 games, starting with the upcoming one to be played at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground on Sunday.

The team have been very successful in the Upper-Demerara and National arenas and for the first time will compete in Guyana’s top flight football, the ‘Elite League’. They have been experiencing several challenges that may have been respon-

sible for the first two games ending in defeat.

Reycia Nedd, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the club revealed that ‘Topp XX is the only Linden team that has been added to the league and this was only done after the completion of the transfer window. It was only a limited time left for preparation, but the team still took the invitation and decided to compete.”

This was not met with much appreciation as the other clubs, the PRO claimed, did not deem the team worthy of competing. In addition, the players had to adjust to training with a new coach as the official coach Collie Hercules is currently out of the country.

“They had to adjust to a whole new coaching style

and strategies so it was very different for them,” Nedd revealed. She also added that the team was forced to practise on an open field rather than on a football ground as no proper facility was available at the said time.

“One of the biggest challenges was that the team did not have a practice venue.

They previously used the Mackenzie Sports Club ground and after that was not available they had to practise on the open field where there were no lights so practice had to be completed before dark which was not adequate time, as most of the players are working players and they come off work at 17:00hrs.”

“In addition to this, football became stagnated in Linden and the team did not have the opportunity for regular competitions.”

Similar sentiments were echoed by stand-in coach Ruel Williams who bemoaned the situation of the unavailability of a training ground in the initial stages. It was only less than two weeks before the competition started that they were allowed to use the MSC ground which also attracted a cost. Despite these setbacks, the team’s coach said that ‘backing down is not an option but winning is a necessity’.

“Our practice sessions have intensified because the players have realised the need to up their fitness

level so we will be putting in our all to win this Sunday,” coach Williams promised.

Over the past few years, Topp XX have not been re-

ceiving the support from both Lindeners and outsiders and according to Williams this may be because of the past successes.

“Persons felt that we were favoured but when we

play, we play to represent the entire community so we are asking everyone to come out and support the team on Sunday as it will be our first home game; so we are looking for the support because we are definitely coming out to win,” Williams stated.

This Sunday Topp XX will be coming up against the might of the League leaders, Guyana Defence Force, in the second of two games in the STAG Elite League. The remaining two games will be against Victoria Kings on December 10 at Monedderlust ground and two days later they play the final game of round one against hosts Buxton United.

Elite League’s elder statesman… Shawn Samuels

By Ras Wadada

IT IS very rare to find a player at the age of 43 competing in the ‘Beautiful Game’ at the highest level, although there have been exceptional cases. Cameroon’s Roger Milla and Italy’s Paolo Maldini are two who have defied the odds and with success as well.

Here in Guyana, the holder of such longevity that immediately comes to mind is the late Clive ‘Breezer’ Nedd, formerly of Santos FC, and who also has a distinction that might very well be unmatched. Globally – win-

ning a major national football

Shawn Samuels Championship alongside two of his sons.

The name Shawn Samuels

might not be well known in the wider football circles of the country but on the East Coast of Demerara and more so in his hometown Victoria village, he is well respected as a footballer for more than 3 decades. And now that he is the confirmed oldest player in Guyana’s top flight football, the Elite League, his name is already being recognised.

The very reserved and committed family man who is the father of eight says he enjoys every moment of playing the ‘Beautiful Game’ and hopes to play at the top level for at least another year.

The self-employed contractor

claims his life has been one of football and work, so fitness is never a problem.

“I do not lose fitness that easy. Fitness has never been a problem for me as I am a disciplined man. Once you are fit you can compete at any level so fitness has always been my guide. I do not consume alcohol, but occasionally I would use Guinness combined with egg and milk as a tonic. I think wisely on how to take care of my physical and the passion I have for the game, as well as God’s richest blessings that have caused me to be still playing. I really love football,” the Kings central

defender claimed.

The Virgo-born Samuels came on as a substitute 25 minutes into the 2nd half of the 7-1 drubbing that the Army handed the Kings which he rates as his worst football experience.

“It was the most hurtful thing to happen to me as a player, losing 7-1 to the Army, but we were determined to do better and we did in the next game where we did not concede a goal against one of the top teams - Conquerors - and earned our first Elite League point. It could only get better.”

Another player over 40

years old in the Kings line-up is the ‘dreadlocked’ Winston Pompey who at 42 still possesses the appetite for scoring goals.

The elder statesman of the Elite League says it is a very special accomplishment to be competing at 43 years, “I feel honoured to be part of the League and do not feel it to be any more demanding. Commitment is the key and that’s my message to the young and upcoming players. Take care of your physical and be committed and you will reap the rewards,” the hard-tackling defender advises.

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 3, 2016

Air disasters involving football ...

Minsk was involved in a mid-air collision over what is now Ukraine.

Pakhtakor were the only team from present day Uzbekistan to play in the top flight of the Soviet league.

1987: Sixteen players from Peruvian league leaders Alianza Lima, plus officials and coaching staff, were among 43 killed when a flight bringing them back from a championship match in Pucallpa crashed on approach to Lima airport.

Only the captain survived.

1989: Fourteen Dutch footballers of Surinamese heritage were among 176 people killed when Surinam Airways flight 764 crashed on its approach to Paramaribo after a flight from Amsterdam. The footballers played for different professional teams in the Netherlands and had formed a

team called ‘The Colourful 11’ to play exhibition matches against local sides in the South American country.

1993: All 30 people on board a chartered Zambian Air Force flight, including 18 players from the country’s national team, were killed when it crashed into the sea off the coast of Gabon shortly after taking off following a refuelling stop. The team was on its way to Senegal for a World Cup qualifier.

Kalusha Bwalya, the team captain and now president of the Zambia football federation, was not on board as he was travelling to the game separately.

In 2012, Zambia won the African Nations Cup for the only time, beating Ivory Coast on penalties in a final played at Libreville just a few kilometres from the crash site.

Continue. from Pg. 35

Brazillian football club in happier times

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 3, 2016

Rosberg stuns F1 with retirement bombshell

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Nico Rosberg stunned Formula One yesterday with the shock announcement that he was retiring only days after achieving a lifetime ambition by winning his first world championship with Mercedes.

"From the moment when the destiny of the title was in my own hands, the big pressure started and I began to think about ending my racing career if I became world champion," the German said in a statement.

"On Sunday morning in Abu Dhabi, I knew that it could be my last race and that feeling cleared my head before the start. I wanted to enjoy every part of the experience, knowing it might be the last time," the 31-year-old added.

The driver, who had given no previous indication of his intentions, said he had

made the decision the day after the title race.

Rosberg, who was due to attend the governing FIA's

Nico Rosberg

gala prize-giving in Vienna later yesterday along with teammate and triple world champion Lewis Hamilton, did not say what he planned to do next.

He will leave with a record of 23 wins in 206 races putting him equal 12th on the all-time lists with Brazilian triple champion Nelson Piquet - and as only the second son of a champion to take

the title.

His Finnish father Keke was champion with Williams in 1982.

Nico Rosberg was also the first German driver to win the Formula One title with a German car and team, and now becomes the first champion to walk away without defending the title since Frenchman Alain Prost in 1993.

"Since 25 years in racing, it has been my dream, my ‘one thing’ to become Formula One World Champion. Through the hard work, the pain, the sacrifices, this has been my target. And now I’ve made it," he said.

"I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak, so this feels right. My strongest emotion right now is deep gratitude to everybody who supported me to make that dream happen."

HAMILTON RIVALRY Rosberg's battles with Hamilton, his boyhood friend

and rival in karting, have lit up the last couple of seasons - and provided plenty of headlines - and he said that too had taken its toll.

"This season, I tell you, it was so damn tough," said the man who also partnered seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, and beat him, in his early career at Mercedes.

"I pushed like crazy in every area after the disappointments of the last two

years; they fuelled my motivation to levels I had never experienced before. And of course that had an impact on the ones I love too."

The Monaco-based German married his childhood sweetheart Vivian in 2014 and they had a daughter last year. A devoted family man, Rosberg said his wife was the first person to know his decision.

He acknowledged that his

retirement had put his "racing family" in a difficult position, although Hamilton will now be an even stronger favourite to win his fourth title next season.

Rivals also will see a dream vacancy that every driver on the starting grid would jump at if given the chance, Mercedes being the most dominant team in the sport with 19 wins in 21 races this season.

40

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 3, 2016

GUYANA FOOTBALL FEDERATION INC. (GFF)

Extra Time

Scenes from GFF National GrassRoots Festival East Coast Demerara Football Association

WHAT IS THE ENTRY COST FOR THE STAG ELITE LEAGUE?: • ADULTS: $500 • CHILDREN (12yrs – 17yrs): $300

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES: Saturday, 3rd December, 2016 10:00hrs - 14:00hrs ► GFF GrassRoots Festival continues • West Demerara Football Association (National Track & Field Facility, Leonora) • Berbice Football Association (Scottsburg Community Centre Ground) • Upper Demerara Football Association (Wisburg Secondary School Ground) ADMISSION: FREE

Sunday, 4th December, 2016

► Stag Elite League (Season 2) Continues Game 1: Buxton United FC vs Fruta Conquerors FC (16:00hrs at MSC) Game 2: ToppXX FC vs GDF FC (18:00hrs at MSC)

East Bank Demerara Football Association Essequibo Football Association

► Start

of National Under-15 Encampment

- 26 persons shortlisted to participate in International Under-15 Tournament; 16 to travel ► Schedule

of National Grass Roots Festival

Saturday, 12th December, 2016 • Georgetown Football Association (Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary) • Bartica Football Association (Bartica Community Centre Ground) Saturday, 17th December, 2016 • Rupununi Football Association (St. Ignatius)

NEXT EDITION:

• Saturday, 10th December, 2016

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

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

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

41

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday December 3, 2016

Stanton Rose carving a name for himself in the basketball arena

By Tamica Garnett AS the Guyana Jaguars went down 82-67 against Jamaica in the final of the JamRockerz Classic basketball last Saturday in Jamaica, there were some Guyanese players who stood out. Topping the list of those standouts was Bounty Colts forward Stanton Rose.

Rose has been outstanding for quite some time now, on a steady climb of progress ever since he first started out in the sport back in 2010, and this week we celebrate him as Noble House Seafoods Ltd ‘Sports Personality-of-the-Week.

To date he has won four Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, four ‘Most Assist’ awards, and one ‘Best Defence Player’ award at the national level more than meriting his selection by the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) for the national team, the Guyana Jaguars, and representing Guyana in Jamaica.

Earlier this year he was selected to be a part of the Guyana team who represented at the regional Inter-Guiana Games, while last year his performance stood out so much that he was recruited by the Colts. He played a crucial role in the team’s lead-up to the defence of the Road to Mecca III National Club Basketball Championship tournament - the team’s third straight victory.

For his part Rose ended as the MVP, what he describes as one of the crowning moment of his thus-far career as a player. Stanton has taken

away a lot from being in the sport.

Stanton speaks of how much the sport has helped him to connect with friends and many interesting persons, and even jokes about how being in the sport made him popular with the ladies.

What impresses many over the years is just how skilful Rose is at such a young age, an indication of what he would be capable of in time to come.

“I think the best part of his game is his decision-making. He knows when to attack and when to pass. He is also good at setting up the offence and can operate out of any set whether it’s pick and roll, one-on-one situations or whatever system the team is running.

In addition he is a hustle type of player and that’s what you always want,” said ardent basketball fan, and sports reporter, Treiston Joseph.

It all started for the 5” 11’ versatile player in the basketball-loving community of Kwakwani, under the tutelage of his dad.

“Basketball is the number one sport in the community that I’m from and really brings the people together in my community. I started going out with my father and he taught me a few things,” Stanton explained.

Later when he started out at the Kwakwani Secondary School he became a part of the school’s basketball team and coaches Ann Gordon and Dave Causeway took over the training reins.

Like many players, Rose is dreaming big of perhaps one day making it as an accomplished National Basketball Association (NBA) player.

Stanton Rose (left) receives NSBF MVP trophy from Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation president Nigel Hinds.

Root backs Cook to continue as England captain (REUTERS)-Joe Root expects Alastair Cook to continue to lead England for “a few years to come” amid rising speculation on the future of the 31-year-old as test captain.

The left-handed opening batsman triggered doubts about his captaincy when he told the Cricketer magazine that he did not know “how much longer I am going to carry on. It could be two months, it could be a year”.

He was forced to clarify his comments on the eve of the opening test of the

five-match series against India at Rajkot and said he was doing the job on a series-by-series basis.

But with England trailing 2-0 after three tests, Cook’s future has come under renewed speculation.

The 25-year-old Root is England’s best batsman, vice-captain and seen as a natural successor to Cook, who had to leave his newborn daughter and family behind in October for a test series in Bangladesh.

Root said he had seen no indication from his captain

ALASTAIR COOK to suggest he was contemplating giving up the job and said the team’s batsmen had let their skipper

down.

“I think he is coping all right,” Root said of Cook.

“He’s very professional and you don’t really get much from him in that respect.

I imagine it must be quite tough being away from a new child and family and everything.

“You could put a lot of blame on Cooky but actually it is the responsibility of the batters to make those big scores. You can blame whoever you want, but we have to take responsibility for our own game.”

Cook, who surpassed Michael Atherton’s England record of 54 matches as test captain after the first test in Rajkot, replaced Andrew Strauss as skipper in 2012.

He has led England to 24 victories, including a 2-1 series win over India the last time they toured the South Asian country in 2012.

“I think he is pretty set on captaining for a few years to come and I hope he does because I think he is a brilliant leader and I’ve really

enjoyed playing under him,” Root said.

I’m quite happy with the role I’m playing at the moment and genuinely, honestly I think he is the right man.

“I hope we get these results we want in the last two games, and we can put right what has been quite a frustrating last couple of weeks.”

Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium will host the penultimate test of the series from Thursday, while the final test will be played in Chennai from Dec. 16.

42

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 3, 2016

Ex-Peruvian soccer body head pleads not guilty in U.S. bribe case

By Nate Raymond and Brendan McDermid NEW YORK,(Reuters)-A former head of the Peruvian soccer federation pleaded not guilty on Friday to U.S. charges stemming from a wide-ranging bribery investigation involving FIFA, the sport's world governing body.

Manuel Burga, who led the Peruvian Football Federation from 2002 to 2014, entered his plea to racketeering conspiracy and other charges in federal court in Brooklyn after

Former Peruvian soccer federation president Manuel Burga is escorted by police at Peru's judicial office, following his arrest in Lima, December 7, 2015. REUTERS/Janine Costa

being extradited from Peru.

Burga, who at the time

of his indictment in December 2015 was also a

member of a FIFA standing committee focused on soccer training and technical development, was ordered detained by U.S. Magistrate Judge James Orenstein.

Burga's extradition came after it was approved last week by Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, five months after a Peruvian court found that the U.S. request was substantiated.

Burga, 59, is one of 42 people and entities charged as part of a U.S. investigation that upended Zurich-based FIFA and the soccer world. To date, 19

people and two companies have pleaded guilty in connection with the probe.

Prosecutors said the defendants engaged in more than $200 million in bribes and kickbacks that were sought and received by soccer officials for marketing and broadcasting rights to tournaments and matches.

According to the indictment, Burga and five other presidents of traditionally less-powerful member associations of South American confederation CONMEBOL in 2009 began demanding bribes from an affiliate of an Argentine sports media company.

The bribes were in exchange for supporting the affiliate of Torneos y Competencias SA as holding the broadcasting rights to CONMEBOL's premier club team tournament, Copa Libertadores, among other tournaments, the indictment said It said Burga and other officials also solicited bribes from an entity co-established by Torneos y Competencias in connection with a 2013 contract for the rights to the 2015, 2019 and 2023 Copa America tournaments and the 2016 Copa America Centenario.

Eight teams win in Two matches fixed for Guinness Greatest of the tomorrow as EDFA Senior league continues Streets action on night two MAHAICA Determinators will face BV/Triumph while Golden Stars square off with Ann’s Grove tomorrow, when the East Demerara Football Association’s (EDFA) Senior league continues at the Golden Grove ground.

From 13:30hrs, Mahaica Determinators, who are currently placed second in the points standings of the EDFA STAG Senior League with 23 points at the end of the first round of the league,

will be going all out for a win to improve their standing in the league during this second round.

BV/Triumph, on the other hand, are fourth in the points standings with 15 points and will surely be looking to improve on that.

The feature game which is scheduled for a 15:30hrs start should also provide excitement as fifth-placers Golden Stars on 13 points will be looking for a win against Ann’s Grove, who

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

COMPLIMENTS OF: THE TROPHY STALL Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE 176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Sri Lanka (2) Kusal Mendis (SL) Today’s Quiz: (1) Which team is at the top of the points table after third round matches of the WICB PCL? (2) Which team is in second position?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

are placed seventh in the standings with a mere eight points.

When the league continued last Sunday, Mahaica Determinators and Ann’s Grove played to a 1-1 draw at the same venue.

Samuel Vandyke had sent the Mahaica side into the lead with a penalty during the second period after a goalless first half, but Kevin Barry netted the equaliser in the 74th minute from the run of play.

The winners of the league will receive $200 000 and a trophy, while the second-, third- and fourth-placers will earn $100 000, $75 000 and $50 000 respectively.

The highest goalscorer in the competition will receive $25 000 and a pair of football boots, compliments of the EDFA’s president, while the best goalkeeper will be rewarded with a pair of gloves and a football.

NIGHT two of the Guinness Greatest of the Streets came to a close on Thursday night with eight teams emerging victorious from their matchups.

In the first game, Up Like 7 defeated Alexander Village 3-2 in a game that finished with sudden-death kicks. In regular time the score read 2-2 with Mark Carrega and Dwayne Lowe scoring in the 7th and 18th minutes for the UP Like 7 side. For Alexander Village Gerald King and Kevin Gordon scored in the 3rd and 20th minutes.

In Game Two, North Ruimveldt edged Jamoon Drive by one goal through Nkosie Barker in minute 26, being the separator between the two sides. Albouystown-A team won on penalty kicks. They beat Upsetters 2-0 after the game finished 0-0 in

regulation.

Game Four saw Broad Street Bullies definitely bully their Howes Street opponents. Lennox Cort, Rocky Gravesande and Devon Johnson all scored for the Bullies in the 6th, 7th, and 17th minutes of the one-sided match.

Also winning on penalty kicks and sudden-death kicks were the North East La Penitence side who knocked off Island AllStars-B 2-0 on penalties and Alboustown-B who defeated West Back Road 2-1.

In the final games of the night, Stevedore and Back Circle emerged victorious after defeating opponents West Front Road and East Front Road respectively.

For Stevedore it was a well-deserved win. Dorwin Filter found the net for them in the 17th minute and when Michael Pedro

equalised for West Front Road in the 28th minute, Keifer Brandt nudged the team in front seconds later in the same minute to give Stevedore the win.

Meanwhile Back Circle finished 1-0 courtesy of Jermin Beckles.

Eight matches will continue today from 19:00hrs at the Burnham Court with Camp Street All-Stars taking on Stevedore, Festival City matching up against Up Like 7, North Ruimveldt facing West Back Road and Leopold Street squaring off against North East La Penitence.

After the break, matches will resume at 21:00hrs with Back Circle versus Tucville, Bent Street against Broad Street Ballers, Sparta Boss facing Channel 9 and Queen Street Tiger Bay challenging Albouystown A at 22:30hrs.

43

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 3, 2016

Young Windies to begin Super50, World Cup preparation ST JOHN’S, Antigua ( C M C ) – We s t I n d i e s Under-19s will gather in Grenada next week to begin preparation for the Regional Super50 which bowls off next January.

A 20-member preliminary squad will undergo training from December 9 to 20, and will also receive physical assessment along with life-skill sessions and mental preparation.

A management team, led by head coach Graeme We s t a n d c o m p r i s i n g Dwain Gill, Anthony Gray, Khevyn Williams and Zephyrinus Nicholas,

will oversee the camp.

This initial camp is to prepare a team for the Regional Super50 as was done the last two years and we will also have a pre-tournament camp for the final team January 17-21,” said West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) p r o j e c t o f f i c e r, R a w l Lewis.

The Under-19s will do battle in Group A of the Super50 which runs from January 24 to February 18 in Antigua and Barbados.

Title-holders Trinidad & To b a g o R e d F o rc e , Leeward Islands Hurri-

The impasse between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Darren Bravo could be at an end after it seemed headed for court before that.

The problems began after Bravo was offered a ‘C’ contract by the WICB, the lowest attainable central retainer, which the West Indies number-three refused.

In explaining the decision, WICB president, Dave Cameron spoke on SportsMax’s SportsMax Zone, about the batsman’s falling average, saying he couldn’t be kept on an ‘A’ contract with poor perfor-

mances.

That fuelled an angry response from Bravo, who called Cameron a ‘big idiot’. He was subsequently sent home from a tour of Zimbabwe, and asked to delete the tweet and apologise.

There was no apology and the Tweet remained.

To add fuel to flames, Bravo sent a pre-action p ro t o c o l l e t t e r t o t h e WICB, informing the body of his intention to sue for unlawful dismissal.

The WICB, however, have taken a different tac, in the situation, offering to help Bravo to handle some

canes, Windward Islands Volcanoes and visiting E n g l i s h C o u n t y, K e n t Spitfires, have also been installed in Group A. Group B, meanwhile, comprises last year’s losing finalists Barbados Pride, Guyana Jaguars, Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners, Jamaica Scorpions and ICC Americas.

The tournament will serve as a part of the buildup for the Under-19s as they ready themselves for the defence of their ICC Youth World Cup title, captured earlier this year

in Bangladesh.

However, Lewis said the Super50 was only a small part of the intended preparation for the squad.

“A comprehensive programme has been developed for the 2018 World Cup preparation which started with the regional Under-17 and U-19 tournaments over the summer,” the former West Indies player said.

“The 23-month programme will include a mini-series with New Zealand (three-match series) in January 2017, just be-

fore the World Cup.” SQUAD – Keagan Simmonds, Kirstan Kallicharan, Cephas Cooper, Navin Bidaisee, Matthew Patrick, Te-Shawn Alleyne, Johann Jeremi-

ah, Emmanuel Stewart, Johnnel Eugene, Daneal Dupigny, Alick Athanaze, Jerellius Louis, Javier Spence, Kian Pemberton, Joshua Persaud, Bhaskar Yadram, Jeavor Royal.

a source of the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.

According to the WICB source, the cricket oversight body in the Caribbean is

willing to provide counselling though his Queen’s Park CC. “He is too much of a talent to be lost to West

Indies cricket and the board is not saying that they are done with him,” said the source.(Sportsmax.com)

West Indies Under-19s captured the ICC Youth World Cup in Bangladesh earlier this year.

WICB reach out to errant Bravo Darren Bravo of the pressures they believe he may be facing.

“The board has recognised that Bravo is a young man with immense cricketing talent but it believes he’s not dealing with issues in the right way at the moment,” said

Smalta Girls 11 and Under football continues today THE Smalta Girls 11 and Under football competition continues today with matches 9 through 16 being played at the Ministry of Education Ground.

The first games of the day will see St. Stephen’s Primary take on St Margaret’s Primary at 10:00hrs while Tucville Primary will face off

against Redeemer Primary at the same time.

In the third and fourth matches of the day West Ruimvedlt Primary will match up against Smith Memorial while North Georgetown Primary will face off against Winfer Gardens at 10:45hrs.

From 11:30hrs St Ga-

briel’s will face off against St Agnes while F.E Pollard will take on Enterprise Primary at the same time.

In the final line up of the day Stella Marris Primary and St Pius Primary will take on St Angela’s and South Ruimveldt Primary at 12:15hrs respectively.

Basketball headed to Berbice FOR fans of basketball in Berbice, the New Amsterdam Basketball Court will be the place to be as two teams from Georgetown play two teams from Berbice.

In the first game of the night, the Plaisance Guard-

ians will match up against the Rose Hall Jammers where stars from the East Coast side will be looking to establish dominance on the road.

In the second game, the National Champions in the Bounty Colts will look to

prove why they are number one while the New Amsterdam Warriors will be looking to defend their home court.

Games will start at 18:00hrs with an easy admission fee and music will be provided by Rockafella Sounds.

Triple-header U-19 football today story 33 at Tucville onSeepage

Bolt and Ayana cop IAAF awards

By Mitch Phillips MONACO, (Reuters) - Jamaica’s Usain Bolt and Ethiopian distance runner Almaz Ayana were crowned as the IAAF’s athletes of the year yesterday.

Bolt completed his amazing Olympic ‘triple triple’ of 100 metres, 200 metres and 4x100m relay gold medals at the Rio Games in August despite missing much of the season through injury and took the award for the sixth time.

He clocked season’s bests of 9.81 and 19.78 to win the 100m and 200m in Rio and then anchored the Jamaican team to a world-leading 37.27 when winning the 4x100m.

He also went undefeated throughout the whole season at all distances, including heats.

Bolt, 30, plans to run the 100m at next year’s world championships in London, seeking to add to his haul of 11 world titles.

Ayana produced a stunning run on the first day of athletics in Rio when she shattered the 10 000-metres world record that had stood for 23 years.

Her time of 29 minutes 17.45 seconds smashed the mark of 29:31.78 that was set by Wang Junxia of China in 1993.

Ayana also took bronze in the Rio 5 000m, her only loss of the year over the distance. She ended the year as the Diamond Race winner for that discipline.

Victoria Kings win East Coast derby 2-1

VICTORIA Kings secured their first maximum points in the GFF-Stag Elite League when they edged bitter rivals Buxton United 2-1 in the East Coast derby played at the Tucville Community ground last night.

In the first game of a double-header, Seon Robinson netted in an open goal after the United keeper, Darren Marks left his line in the 8th minute of the game watched by several fans. Captain Calvin De Souza doubled the score for the Kings in the 79th minute when

he tamely but timely volleyed home from inside the area off of an Aubrey Gibson right side corner kick.

His opposite Devor Dennis pulled one back for Buxton just before full time when he capitalised on a defensive blunder by Shawn Samuels in the box. It was the second loss for Buxton as they remain on 3 points from as many games while the Kings moved to four points after 3 outings. (Ras Wadada).

Usain Bolt of Jamaica (R) and Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia pose with their awards after being elected male and female World Athlete-of-the-Year 2016 in Monaco, yesterday. (REUTERS/Eric Gaillard)

GBA team starts 100 mile walk

Here the GBA president (second from left) pose with a part of his team which includes Ursula Parris, wife of Guyana’s only Olympic medallist Michael Parris.

Defender Sherlock Dowden in control for Victoria Kings in last night’s East Coast derby in the GFF-Stag Elite League which the Kings edged Buxton United 2-1

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) yesterday commenced a 100-mile walk in order to raise finds to send a team to the Caribbean Development

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Tournament.

Up to last evening Ninvalle and his group were closing in on New Amsterdam, having started at Number 43 Village, Corentyne.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2016