Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 04 08 2016

Shariff’s ‘exorbitant’ wealth THURSDAY AUGUST 4, 2016

No. 104633

Price: $80

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- Harmon says PS did not raise concerns about fraud,sent on leave to allow police investigation

Page 3

Amended Amerindian

Act could give communities say over large-scale 2 mining Page

8 Gov’t considering work permits for int’l students Page

‘Boys used to come and fight for me’

Page

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- says ‘Granny Clarke,’ who turns 100 today

Resumption of scrap-metal 8 trade possible

by November

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-traders call for gov’t to curb increase in illegal trade

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

Amended Amerindian Act could give communities say over large-scale mining

By Ariana Gordon AMENDMENTS to the Amerindian Act could give indigenous peoples veto powers over large-scale mining projects, attorney David James said Wednesday.

“There have been concerted requests that certain provisions related to mining, such as, Section 50, which deals with large-scale mining should…be reviewed and revised to ensure that the full consent of indigenous peoples is obtained before large-scale mining can proceed,” James told the Parliamentary Natural Resources Committee.

James is attached to the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs. Minister Sydney Allicock and James faced tough questions from the committee over the need to amend the 2006 Amerindian Act. James said that the communities of Kamarang and Jawalla are calling for the law to provide for “full consent” by Amerindian villages, which is the case for small and medium-scale mining.

He noted that Section 50 of the Legislation provides for the Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs or the Min-

ister of Mining to consent to large-scale mining in an indigenous community if that community withholds its consent.

The indigenous community if not satisfied with the decisions made, can take the matter to the courts.

James and Minister Allicock told the Committee that the National Toshaos Council (NTC) along with other groups and stakeholders have called for the Amerindian Act to be reviewed and as such, it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs to have consultations in that regard.

“What are the specific clauses or issues that the clamour for review is going to engage?” asked Pauline Sukhai, former Minister of Amerindian Affairs.

“Based on my interaction, the villages have not submitted anything in writing to the minister as yet…

I visited all in the last year,” she said.

“Is this review being fuelled by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), is it being fuelled by the NTC, the legal and legitimate representative of the indigenous people who were elected?

Or is it being fuelled by an election campaign to satisfy

friends who have grouses [sic] since the inception of the new Act in 2006… who or which body of indigenous representative or people have actually led this matter to be on the review desk of the minister?

The attorney sought to give an answer.

“There has been a call by indigenous villages across the country in our outreaches over the past year. In almost every village that we have visited there have been calls for revision, if not to the entire Act, to certain aspects,” James said.

Both Minister Allicock and attorney James said that concerns have been raised on the issue of consent being granted to large-scale miners

within Amerindian communities.

As a result of that, Chairman of the Committee, Odinga Lumumba, questioned the need to change the legislation on that ground, since there are no large-scale, gold-mining operations being conducted on lands belonging to indigenous peoples.

James said the law currently allows for the communities to have a say in the granting of small and medium-scale mining licences, but not for large-scale mining.

But he said the issue of consent relative to large-scale mining was not the only issue up for discussion.

“We have engaged the NTC in consultation and

Please see page 3

Former Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai during Wednesday’s meeting of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Natural Resources

Attorney David James, left, and Minister Sydney Allicock during Wednesday’s meeting of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Natural Resources

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

Shariff’s ‘exorbitant’ wealth

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- Harmon says PS did not raise concerns about fraud,sent on leave to allow police investigation

MINISTER of State Joseph Harmon Wednesday said that the large accumulation of wealth and properties by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the Presidency cannot be justified.

Minister Harmon’s comments followed a Stabroek News report which quoted a source as saying that Shariff believed he was sent on leave and the financial crimes probe initiated, because he had raised an alarm over the alleged misuse of international donor funds.

While Harmon would not comment on media reports of the wealth and properties Shariff accumulated, he said what Shariff amassed wealth was “exorbitant” and could not be “justified by income, by any public servant, regardless of their position in the administration. He said that any such accumulation of wealth would “raise questions.”

Regarding claims of the misuse of donor funds, Harmon said no such report or discovery was brought to his attention by the permanent secretary at any time and even if this were the case, it was his “duty” to make a police report.

“I can categorically state that Mr Shariff never reported to me any matter involving any sums of money that were the subject of a fraud investigation. In any event, if that were so, then it is his responsibility, even if he had informed me, it is his responsibility as the accounting officer of the ministry to report that matter to the police,” the Minister of State was quoted as saying.

Minister Harmon reiterated that Shariff was sent on leave to facilitate the ongoing police investigation into the acquisition of his personal assets and accounts.

“The fact that Mr. Shariff has been sent on leave is because of an investigation by the SOCU (Special Organised Crime Unit) and he was sent on leave after he advised me that he was being investigated and that the police ranks from the SOCU were at his office and that they were taking him down for an

investigation into what he said to me were matters of a private nature and involving tax liabilities.

“So it would not have been proper practice for him to remain on the job while he was being the subject of such an important investigation,” Minister Harmon said.

He noted that even though Shariff was an executive of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), he was given the opportunity to continue to serve in his professional capacity when the new administration took office.

“When we took office, it was clear that Mr. Shariff had been a member of the PYO (Progressive Youth Organisation).

He was a very senior person in the PPP and in spite of all of that, when we took office, we said that we were going to rely on his professionalism to conduct what he had to do. There was clearly an opportunity at that time for him to make a separation between his service to his party and service to the government.

“We gave Mr. Shariff the benefit of the doubt and requested that he remain professional in the work that he was doing,” Harmon stated.

Shariff remains on leave as SOCU continues its investigation.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency, Omar Sharif

Amended Amerindian Act could give ...

From page 2 we also engaged a consultant and legal expert who has provided some advice on how we can proceed with some of the amendments we are proposing,” James added.

Lumumba questioned whether the position spoken of

by James is one that represents the views of the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry or that of the Toshaos in the various indigenous villages. Minister Allicock, in response, said the matter is being discussed at every level and it follows from “a request made by the villages.” He said eventually the best way forward will be decided upon.

Allicock said his ministry is working closely with the NTC and he expects that at their upcoming conference, there will be continued deliberations on the matter. He explained that the

issue was raised last year at the NTC and a commitment was given to have it deliberated upon further this year.

Sukhai maintained that consultations have not begun on the issue based on her groundwork and suggested that “the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) seem to be taking the lead and not the NTC.” Sukhai and the APA had a testy relationship when she was minister.

“I don’t believe that there is tremendous large- scale mining in any Amerindian community with the exception of other types of mining,” she continued. The minister was then asked to state one large-scale mining company that is currently mining on Amerindian lands and which breaches the Act.The answer he could not provide.

“I would prefer to give a breakdown and give you a better report,” replied the hesitant minister, who referred Sukhai to

James.

“With respect to the first question, on whether there is any Amerindian village that is affected by large- scale mining, or is being in any way violated as a result of large-scale mining, the answer is none,” responded the attorney.

Notwithstanding the back and forth, the chairman of the committee called for “serious consultations.”

The minister was then asked whether he, as an indigenous person, has any grave concerns about the Amerindian Act. He said that he was not comfortable where the Act speaks to “the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) satisfying itself with land that might be up for mining.”

It was then that the chairman questioned whether the minister felt that GGMC has too much authority in this area.

“I am not saying that….I have heard that and seen that and that is the area of concern. We need to address that together. [We have to] take into consideration, the environment, the livelihoods of the people who live there and the benefits- that is one critical area,” said Minister Allicock.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

Trump campaign in turmoil (Reuters) Donald Trump’s White House campaign was in turmoil on Wednesday after he angered senior Republican Party leaders by criticizing a dead soldier’s family and refusing to back the re-election campaign of House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan.

On Tuesday, Trump denied support to both Ryan and Senator John McCain in their coming primary contests, hitting back at critics in the Republican leadership who have taken him to task for his insistent public dispute with the parents of the soldier, a Muslim U.S. Army captain killed in the Iraq war.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus was furious over the failure to endorse Ryan, who is the most senior elected Republican, and over Trump’s feud with the Khan family, two Republican sources said.

“He feels like a fool,” a Republican source familiar with

the situation said of Priebus.

The RNC did not respond to a request for comment about Priebus.

Another Republican source said Trump’s family members, who have played an influential role in his campaign, were aware that an intervention was needed to get Trump back on track. One idea being floated was to have a senior adviser travel with Trump to help him stay on message.

More than any other major figure in the Republican establishment, Priebus worked to bring Trump into the party’s fold despite the New York businessman’s status as an outsider. Trump, who had never previously run for public office, beat 16 rivals to become the Republican presidential nominee for the Nov. 8 election.

Ahead of last month’s Republican Party Convention, the RNC chairman sought to rally the fractured party behind Trump. Priebus feels burned

by Trump’s string of self-inflicted wounds and his refusal to observe basic decorum by giving Ryan his support.

But in what appeared to be an effort to soothe ruffled feelings, Trump’s vice presidential running mate, Mike Pence, said on Wednesday he endorsed Ryan as “a strong conservative leader” and was doing so with Trump’s blessing.

The Indiana governor told Fox News that it takes time to build relationships in politics and that was exactly what Trump and Ryan were doing.

Trump has had a running dispute with the parents of Army Captain Humayun Khan since they took the stage at last week’s Democratic National Convention. Khizr Khan, with his wife, Ghazala, standing by his side, cited the sacrifice of their son, who was killed by a car bomb in 2004, and criticized Trump’s proposal to combat terrorism by temporarily banning Muslims from entering the United States.

Many Republican leaders, including Ryan and McCain, have criticized Trump’s subsequent attacks on the parents. Even longtime ally Chris Christie, the Republican New

Jersey governor, said it was inappropriate to attack the Khans.

Trump’s feud with the Khans was the final straw for Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, a former Air Force pilot and Iraq war veteran. Kinzinger, who had held off supporting Trump, told CNN on Wednesday: “I just don’t see how I get to Donald Trump anymore.”

Trump, who made his comments about Ryan and McCain in an interview with The Washington Post, shrugged off the backlash.

“There is great unity in my campaign, perhaps greater than ever before. I want to thank everyone for your tremendous support. Beat Crooked H!” he wrote on Twitter early on Wednesday, referring to his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

Campaign manager Paul Manafort told Fox News the campaign was moving in a positive direction, with Trump himself in control. “The campaign is in very good shape.

We are organized. We are moving forward,” Manafort said.

In Daytona, Florida, Trump said the news media’s

Thursday, August 4, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Friday, August 5, 2016 - 05:00 hrs Saturday, August 6, 2016 - 05:30 hrs

coverage of him was dishonest.

“We’re doing quite well despite the fact that we get a totally false narrative,” he told supporters at a rally.

At another campaign event in Florida, in Jacksonville, Trump pointed out a group of families, known as Gold Star families, who have lost loved ones in war, calling them “incredible people.” He didn’t mention the spat with the Khans.

RECENT TURMOIL Trump’s always unruly campaign has been mired in disorder in recent days. On Monday, Trump fired Ed Brookover, a senior adviser hired as a liaison between the campaign and the RNC. Ryan, who is favored to win next week in his race against primary challenger Paul Nehlen, appeared to be trying to ignore the snub from Trump. An aide to the speaker said he would not have time to meet Trump later this week, when Trump is expected to be campaigning in Wisconsin, Ryan’s home state.

The aide did not indicate whether anyone had requested a get-together of Trump and Ryan, but when asked whether they might meet to patch things up, the aide told Reuters, “The speaker has a full schedule – can’t back out of previous commitments in the (congressional) district.”

A Republican congressional aide said there was deep frustration on Capitol Hill that Trump keeps engaging in “petty spats.” The aide said congressional offices that support Trump got two sets of talking points on Monday

from the campaign about the Khan situation but have not heard anything from the campaign about Trump’s Ryan comments.

The dissent over the Trump campaign also took other turns.

Late on Tuesday, Meg Whitman, a prominent Republican fundraiser and chief executive of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, endorsed Clinton’s White House bid, calling Trump an “authoritarian character” and a threat to democracy.

In better news for Trump, his campaign and the RNC jointly raised $80 million for his White House bid in July, the campaign said on Wednesday. That was less than the $90 million Clinton raised along with the national Democratic Party the same month, but it was a substantial bump from past months.

A former reality TV star, Trump has won support particularly from white blue-collar workers who feel neglected by the political establishment.

Along with his proposed ban on Muslims, his plans have included building a wall along the Mexican border to keep out illegal immigrants and renegotiating trade agreements.

Opinion polls have shown Clinton benefiting from a boost after her party’s convention last week. The RealClearPolitics average of recent national polls put her 4.5 percentage points ahead of Trump, at 46.5 percent to 42 percent.

The Detroit Economic Club, where candidates usually appear to give major economic addresses, said Trump would speak at the club on Monday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

Brazil impeachment trial closer to sealing Rousseff’s fate (Reuters) A Senate report found on Tuesday that Brazil’s suspended President Dilma Rousseff violated the constitution by manipulating government accounts, moving her drawn-out impeachment trial closer to deciding her fate.

The report is expected to be approved by the impeachment committee on Friday and by the full Senate next Tuesday, leading to the final trial phase in which the 81 Senators must reach a verdict at the end of August or first days of September.

The impeachment of the unpopular leftist leader has paralyzed Brazilian politics for seven months and held interim President Michel Temer in a legal limbo that has hindered his efforts to pull Brazil from fiscal crisis and severe recession.

Rousseff is accused of altering official budget figures and using funds from state-run banks to cover up the real state of Brazil’s faltering economy as she ran

for re-election in 2014.

Her impeachment would mark the end of 13 years of rule by the left-of-center Workers Party and leave Latin America’s largest economy in the hands of the Temer, Rousseff’s conservative vice president.

Brazil’s stock market and currency have strengthened since Rousseff was suspended by the Senate on May 12 as investors bet on her removal and replacement

by Temer, who has outlined policies favoring private business.

But Temer has avoided unpopular austerity measures needed to balance Brazil’s overdrawn accounts until he is definitely confirmed in the job to serve out Rousseff’s mandate to 2018.

While 54 votes are needed to convict Rousseff, or two-thirds of the Senate, Brasilia-based political consultancy ARKO Advice says between 56 and 60 Senators today favor removing her, a narrow margin that is un-

Brazil’s suspended President Dilma Rousseff rides her bicycle near the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, August 3, 2016. REUTERS/Adriano Machado

likely to be reversed because Temer is seen delivering political and economic stability.

“The majority sentiment in the Senate is that market expectations regarding the economy are improving significantly and that the return of the suspended president

would put the country in a difficult situation again,” ARKO said in its monthly analysis for clients.

Efforts to defend Rousseff by her Workers Party and its founder, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who faces corruption charges, have not been

enough to save her, Arko said.

The Senate impeachment committee listened to the author of the report, Senator Antonio Anastasia, read out from its 440 pages detailing the alleged illegalities of the accounting methods that Rousseff used to augment her government’s spending power in the run-up to the 2014 election.

Anastasia, a member of the PSDB, the main opposition party to Rousseff’s administration, said there was enough evidence for the impeachment trial to proceed.

“What we found was an expansive spending policy that was not fiscally sustainable and lacked transparency with operations that bypassed Congress and did not follow good practices of budget management,” Anastasia said in his report.

Rousseff has denied she broke budget laws and maintains she is the victim of a right-wing conspiracy to

overthrow her government that advanced the interests of Brazil’s poor. In her written defense last month Rousseff said Brazilians knew an honest woman was being put on trial and she called the impeachment a “farce” and her alleged crimes no more than “routine acts of budgetary management.”

The trial phase in the Senate will be presided over

by Brazil’s Chief Justice Ricardo Lewandowski.

According to the Supreme Court, if the Senate approves Anastasia’s report next Tuesday - only a simple majority is needed - the final trial session would begin on Aug. 26 and last about a week, with a final vote on Sept 2.

Temer aides hope the trial will end sooner so he can attend the summit of G20 nations in China at the beginning of September without any doubts about his legitimacy. Temer has said he will not go to the meeting otherwise.

Mexican auto parts sector sees record $86 billion in sales this year (Reuters) Mexico’s auto parts industry expects record sales this year, reaching $86 billion, as a depreciating peso has made exports in the local currency more competitive in the United States.

Oscar Albin, president of the National Auto Parts Industry (INA), said on Wednesday that the record sales for 2016 would represent as much as 4 percent growth compared to last year. However, he said the rate of expansion could shrink in subsequent years due to cooler demand from buyers in the United States.

“We are hitting the ceiling and while the United States has been buying cars, there’s a limit,” said Albin.

“Going forward, we are looking to maintain these numbers and maybe one or two (percentage) points of growth,” he said.

Mexico, the world’s fifth biggest auto parts producer, exports more than 70

percent of its output, mostly to the United States.

The Mexican peso has weakened about 10 percent so far this year against the

U.S. dollar, on top of a depreciation of nearly 17 percent in 2015.

“But you have to look for other markets,” said

Albin.

“Brazil was a good market for us, but we’re only selling a third of what we used to sell to Brazil,” he

said.

In Albin parts reach

the medium-term, said the local auto sector expects to sales of more than

$100 billion by 2020, which would push Mexico into fourth place among the world’s top producers, on par with Germany.

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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

Listening to the people

GUYANESE are known to be an opinionated people.

It is difficult to find any without a point of view to any given topical issue:domestic or foreign. Some publicly expressed their views, while others do so in the confine of their homes or in the confidence of trusted loved ones.

As mainstream media allow the public’s expression of their views via talk shows, call-in programmes, letter to the editors, newspapers’ blogs, opinion columns, etc. Guyanese are utilising the opportunities to be heard and have input in matters of import to them. Where social media in its liberating and uninhibited format facilitates similar expressions, this forum too impact recipients, near and far.

It is hoped that as Guyanese continue utilising their freedom in this regard, the issues they speak passionately to are not only capturing the attention of their peers but also the various leadership in the society. Those paying attention, more particularly government, at every tier and branch, including the opposition, would note that expressions are growing in intensity on matters considered important by the people.

If per chance it may have escaped attention of the influential, the last two General and Regional Elections saw the populace, resident and diaspora, converting their social pages to campaign sites for the candidate(s) or party(ies) of choice. The new form of activism is signally a shift by the masses from dis-interest or apathy to interest in politics and things considered political. The vocal among us are not to be underestimated or taken for granted, given that their pointsof-view, supported or not, undeniably carry an intensity and conviction akin to platform politics.

It is not unusual to find among this group, persons taking strong views against their elected officials on any given matter where it is felt such was handled badly, of poor taste or timing, or without due regard for the people. Whereas this may flummoxed government, party or individual aware of the person’s support, in the evolving landscape this should come as no surprise.

Having access to other societies, Guyanese are observing persons, though supporting a group, party or individual, being unafraid to publicly question or disagree with a particular point of view. And though this is not an unusual occurrence of human nature, in our society where such is seen as heresy, the recognition that it can indeed happen is liberating and empowering. Where such feelings encamp-once taken hold of-they cannot easily be undone.

Outside of the few known members of civil society who are unafraid to speak their minds, the international exposure

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

The Issue of Termination and Dismissal from Employment Dear Editor,

I would be grateful for the publication of this letter on the issue of termination and dismissal from employment, both in the private and public sectors.

It is hoped that this would stimulate a debate on this matter.

The right to work and to continue working are guided by national and international laws, the application of which demands principled and fair treatment without discrimination and with due process and natural justice.

The system of industrial relations is informed, influenced and functions within the norms of national legislation, international labour standards, and regional labour policy of CARICOM. The Constitution of Guyana, the Labour Laws, and International Labour Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), ratified by Guyana as treaty obligations and as international law, provide the legal basis, foundation and framework for the conduct of labour relations by the Government, its agencies, and social partners, represented by trade unions and employers and their organizations. Together, these instruments constitute the Labour Code of Guyana.

The general declaratory principles of Chapter two of the Constitution of Guyana include the right to work, the right to equality of opportunity and treatment in all aspects of employment, and impose a duty on the state to protect the just rights and interests of citizens.

Chapter III of the Constitution affirms the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual and entitle every citizen, basic rights without distinction and discrimination,including the right, regardless of his/her race, origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, subject to the rights and freedoms of others and the public interest, to freedom of conscience, of expression, assembly,

and association.

The Prevention of Discrimination Act No. 26 of 1997 protects against unlawful discrimination. Under Part II, Section 4 of the Act prohibits discrimination on the grounds of: race, sex, religion, colour, ethnic origin, indigenous population, national extraction, social origin, economic status, political opinion, disability, family responsibilities, pregnancy, marital status, or age except for the purposes of retirement and restriction on work and employment of minors. The Act also prohibits discrimination against a person by distinction, exclusion or preference, the intent of which is to deny equality of opportunity or treatment in any employment or occupation.

Part III, Section 5 of this Act protects against discrimination in employment; for it is unlawful for any employer or his/her agent to discriminate in relation to recruitment, selection, or employment on any grounds, except where genuine occupational qualifications exist, in keeping with this Act. These are clear lawful obligations, but there are some serious concerns about the actions of employers or their agents on the application of fairness in bringing an employment relationship to an end by termination, dismissal or constructive dismissal. The application of fairness relates to i) procedural fairness requiring that an end of employment should be in accordance with a fair procedure; and ii) substantive fairness which requires that there should be a fair reason for ending an employment contract..

The usual valid grounds for termination by employers or their agents, must: i) relate to work performance issues, i.e. incapacity; ii) a series of work related infractions not so serious as to warrant summary dismissal; iii) by mutual consent; iv) by required notice; v) for reasons of redundancy relating to

being gained are adding fillip to the outspoken and the masses’ consciousness. Prudence requires acknowledgement of this reality. Additionally to this, at the grass roots level,the masses are cultivating a code of ethics, wherein, things they condemned in others they are less likely to support, even if coming from their camp, lest they be exposed and condemned by their peers.

This evolving trend points to three factors:-i) demanding accountability of leadership, ii) demanding accountability of one’s peers, and iii) delivering accountability of self. Were the leadership of society- political, civil and otherwise- to pay heed to this, time would be expended tounderstand this phenomenon and responding to it accordingly.

And this does not mean shutting expression down or ignoring it, given that smart management requires acknowledgment of changing trends, putting systems in place to be

the operational requirements of the enterprise; and vi) end of contract without the option for renewal. Where there is an option for the renewal of an employment contract at the end of the current contract, there must be valid reasons based on the six grounds listed above,for the non-renewal. End of an optional renewal of a contract must not be used as pretext, excuse, or reason for preferential replacements.

The valid grounds for summary dismissal under the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act No 19 of 1997 must relate to the capacity and conduct of the employee at work for good and sufficient cause relating to serious misconduct on the job.

Section 4 of this Act states clearly the several reasons which are not valid or constitute good or sufficient cause for dismissal or for disciplinary action against an employee,including race, sex, religion, colour, ethnic origin, national extraction, social origin, political opinion, family responsibility or marital status. A dismissal on any of the several grounds listed under section 4 of this Act would constitute unfair dismissal.

On terminations and dismissals on the initiative of the employer, the burden of valid proof rests with the employer.

The issue of constructive dismissal flows from actions or the conduct of the employer, his agent, or manager making it difficult or untenable for the employee to continue working and may be forced to resign or leave the job on own initiative. An employee in such a situation can be deemed to have been unfairly dismissed, and can challenge the employer in a court of law. The burden of proof to establish “constructive dismissal” rests with the concerned employee.

Yours faithfully, Samuel J. Goolsarran

a partner, not suppressor of it. Invariably too, the pool of expression, taken in good vein, offers insight on and feedback of the masses’ view to given issues.

The people are a critical and important constituent in the nation’s welfare. To retain their respect and support require being discerning to their expressed views and where necessary, act accordingly. It should be said too that not everything an opponent, perceived or real, says is wrong, likewise not everything a supporter, perceived or real, says is right. Identifying this requires shrewd thinking, marshalling of the facts, understanding the issues, the stern belief in right and wrong, and the impact decision will have on the people. More importantly, the people must never ever feel they are not being listened to,and are being excluded from input in matters affecting their well-being.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

PPP engages Ramson on possible resignation THE OPPOSITION People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is currently in talks with Member of Parliament Charles Ramson Jr, who is set to accept a Chevening Scholarship to pursue graduate studies in the United Kingdom.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo demurred Wednesday on confirming Ramson’s possible resignation when asked by this newspaper.

Mr Jagdeo said Ramson is currently engaging with the party on this issue.

The son of former Attorney General and now Commissioner of Information Charles Ramson, Ramson Jr first appeared in the National Assembly for this 11th Parliament.

Ramson, an attorney-at-law, was admitted to the Bar in 2010.

From the onset of the PPP’s participation in the 11th Parliament, Ramson had asserted himself as the unofficial voice on youth issues for the Opposition.

Ramson, in his inaugural address to the National Assembly last August, criticized the David Granger administration for its low youth participation in both the National Assembly and the executive government.

Opposition MP Charles Ramson Jr

He had also challenged the structural shift of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport into the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, now accommodated under the Education Ministry.

Ramson’s remarks at the time incurred the wrath of Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings, who countered that in 23 years of the PPP/C Government, there was an increase in youth unemployment by some 40 percent.

Cummings cited a Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) report titled “Youth are our future: The Imperative of Youth Employment for Sustainable Development,” which placed Guy-

ana’s youth unemployment around 40 percent.

The CDB’s definition of “youth”, however, were persons aged 15 years to 24 years. While the international youth definition is 15 years to 35 years.

Ramson’s legacy in Parliament took an embarrassing dip when he mispronounced the word “battalions” in quoting Shakespeare, instead bellowing “bantylions.”

The young parliamentarian was also tripped by Presidential Advisor on Youth, Aubrey Norton, who challenged the young politician on his comments about the National Youth Policy which was announced in Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s last budget speech.

“Were Mr. Ramson Jr a serious young politician who pays attention to current affairs, he would have noted that the media houses, including all newspapers and the Guyanese public were informed that the Draft National Youth Policy has been completed and therefore, he would not have arrived at the erroneous conclusion that they are “unable to come up with the national youth policy,” Norton wrote in a letter to the press.

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$1M bail for businessman charged with causing road death A THIRTY-ONE-YEAROLD businessman of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara was granted $1M bail by Magistrate Judy Latchman for the offence of causing death by dangerous driving and refusing to take a breathalyzer test by the police.

Mohammed Rahaman of Lot 10 Small Street, Pouderoyen, pleaded not guilty to the charges on Wednesday.

It is alleged that on July 28 he drove motorcar PSS 4430 in a dangerous manner on the Houston, East Bank Demerara public road, causing the death of 21-year-old Lisa Khan.

Rahaman was also charged with refusing to subject himself to a breathalyzer test while being fully aware that he had alcohol in his system. He was represented by attorney Satesh Kissoon, who told the court that his client was driving on the eastern carriage way along the Houston Public Road, which was filled with heavy traffic at the time.

According to Kissoon, Khan was crossing the road when she was hit by another

Mohammed Rahaman

car and landed on the bonnet of his client’s car. The lawyer said that Rahaman assisted the dead woman’s family with the hospital and funeral expenses.

Magistrate Latchman granted the businessman $1M bail for the offence of dangerous driving and $20,000 bail for the offence of refusing to take a breathalyzer test. He is expected

to return to court on August 17.

According to reports, on the day in question Khan was walking along the road around 20:00hrs when a heavily tinted motor car struck her down.

She was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where she was pronounced dead.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

Gov’t considering work permits for int’l students MINISTER within the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibility for Citizenship, Winston Felix, said he is willing to consider the possibility of having international students granted work permits.

At the time, he was responding to People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) Chief Whip Gail Teixeira during a parliamentary sub-committee meeting on Wednesday at the Public Buildings.

Teixeira, who chaired the meeting which brought into focus the roles and responsibilities of the Department of Citizenship, asked the subject minister whether the administration would consider the possibility of granting international students work permits.

She said a number of foreign students here have been complaining about the length of time it takes to process their extensions. According to her, this has been a concern particularly for the large batch of Nigerian students studying at the Texila American University.

In response, Minister Felix said he is willing to consider the proposal put by the students, however, he refuted the claims made that the process of accessing an extension is usually a lengthy one.

“I do not have any application for student visa…or extension on my desk for any prolonged period, any delay,” Minister Felix said.

It was explained that international students from Texila American University do not apply for their extensions individually, but through the school’s administration.

“If there is a delay there, I cannot account for that. What I do know is that within a relatively short period, less than a month, we would process them and get them off quickly,” he told the committee.

It was also disclosed that the Department of Citizenship usually takes approximately two weeks to process visas under the five categories: business, employment, courtesy, student and visitor. Delays, however, may occur as a result of the lack of pertinent documents or information.

The fee for a visitor visa has been long set at US$25. The other visas, however, attract a fee of US$140.

The maximum stay for someone with an employment visa is three years; business visas are granted for up to five years and a visitor’s visa for up to three months, Minister Felix further explained.

Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency with responsibility for citizenship,Winston Felix In 2014, 1473 visa applications under the five categories were approved with business representing the largest block – 790.

However, in 2015 the number of visas approved by Guyana dropped to 1171 but the number of employment visas remained relatively high – 569. Already for this year, 880 visa applications have been approved.

Additionally, 1,117 work permits and extensions of stay were granted for 2014, 1525 for 2015 and at the end of June this year, 194 work permits had been granted.

LBI workers picket GuySuCo over transfer to Enmore TO register their disagreement with moves by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to have sugar workers attached to the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Estate transferred to Enmore Estate, workers picketed outside the corporation’s headquarters on Tuesday.

The workers’ union, GAWU, in statement noted that GuySuCo at a meeting with GAWU on July 26, 2016, advised that the transfer would be imminent.

This announcement, the union said, came as a “complete surprise”

to the union’s delegation, which included officials and shop stewards.

Further, GAWU pointed out that the announcement was not in accordance with what GuySuCo communicated to GAWU and National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) on April 12, 2016, about its intention to close several departments at the LBI Estate.

“Then, the corporation unequivocally said that the cane-cutters would not be transferred to Enmore Estate in response to a question from the unions,” the statement said.

In light of these developments, GAWU noted that both the workers and the union see the corporation’s newest position as a “betrayal,” which can contribute to eroding trust between the parties.

GAWU stated that the latest move comes on the heels of no wage increases for 2015, a minimized Annual Production Incentive last year, and the decision to close Wales Estate.

“Certainly, this is adding to growing discontent and lending to rising tensions in the industry,” GAWU stated.

Resumption of scrap-metal trade possible

by November -traders call for gov’t to curb increase in illegal trade THE Ministry of Business has indicated that they are working towards a November, 2016 target for the completion of comprehensive reforms and resumption of the scrap-metal trade.

In a letter to the Guyana Metal Recyclers Association (GMRA), Minister Dominic Gaskin said that following the audit report on the scrap metal industry in December last year, it was realised that reforms, which include legislative amendments, new regulations and the application of smart solutions in monitoring the trade, are needed.

Hence, in their attempt to expedite re-opening of the trade earlier this year, the ministry developed a proposal in consultation with the Guyana Metal Recyclers Association (GMRA). However, after being taken to cabinet for approval on April 5, 2016, it was deferred to accommodate wider consultations.

Gaskin said another proposal will be made to Cabinet within two weeks, and until then they cannot commit to an exact date for the resumption of trading.

Since last year September, the association has been engaging the ministry on the resumption of exports. A representation to Cabinet in December 2015 resulted in the exportation of all containers of scrap metal, packed prior to the suspension, which had been waiting to be shipped.

“I do understand the hardships that metal dealers are facing and my earlier commitment to resolve the matter still stands. However, we cannot resume under the same terms and conditions which previously prevailed and expect to achieve a different result,” Gaskin stated.

Further, he asked the GMRA for their patience and understanding as they conclude their work on the reforms.

Meanwhile, in response to the ministry’s letter, the GMRA noted that the scrap-metal trade was closed on June 15, 2015, to accommodate the forensic audit which was completed December, 2015.

It stated that before the closure of the trade in June 2015, the management of the scrap-metal trade in Guyana was second to none in the world, but since the closure “total lawlessness” has taken over.

The association alleged that the trading in non-ferrous scrap metal has continued 100 percent since the closure and all such metals are collected and smuggled out through the country’s ports or to Suriname.

It was further hinted that there was no need for the government to continue suspension of the trade after the audit was completed.

“The trade could have been re-opened, while government would have been [sic] working to make new legislation.

The hardships and suffering to thousands of our citizens who depend on this trade for a living could have been avoided, as well as the lawlessness that the closure has created.”

The GMRA has blamed the ministry for closing the legal trade, while allegedly allowing the illegal trade to flourish.

Hence, they called on the minister to curb the illegal trade as soon as possible.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

urviving cancer and other

potholes in Guyana

“Better the devil you know, than the devil you don’t” - Jack Heath ( The Lab)

One week had passed since my fifth (yay!) chemotherapy session and some of the side effects seemed to have increased rather than dissipate by the second week, as I had become accustomed to with the previous drug.

I was thankful that I wasn’t throwing up or rejecting the smells around me, but the Taxol (Paclitaxel) was no walk in the park either.

Just a few minutes after the drug had entered my bloodstream, my throat had begun to feel weird. I kept trying to clear what I presumed was phlegm; a week later and the uncomfortable feeling still existed. I was ecstatic that food smells were once again pleasant and I could pig out as much as I wanted without being worried about stomach cramps, nausea or vomiting; what I did had to worry about were the hives.

The Hives: It was like the new addition in my horror

series. The worse side effect of my new drug was a ‘hypersensitivity reaction’ ( fever, chills, facial flushing ,hives).

I experienced the facial flushing a few times, it felt like my face was on fire and pasty to the touch. The hives themselves were the killer. They came unexpectedly at any time and random parts of my body were affected. Limacol or anything alcohol based helped to quell the itching for a bit, but then it would return in another area. Even my bare scalp itched. It really was driving me crazy.

I experienced swollen hands and fingers ( more intensely than before) to the point where it was uncomfortable to type on the keyboard; I resorted to sending voice messages instead of texting because of how cumbersome it was to use my fingers. There was also the peripheral neuropathy (numbness and tingling of the hands and feet) that

Director of Youth appointed AFTER a protracted delay, Melissa Carmichael, a woman who has been involved in youth work for the past nine years, has been appointed the country’s Director of Youth.

She took up office at the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport on Main Street, Georgetown, last month.

A formal announcement of the appointment has not yet been made, but is expected shortly.

Carmichael holds a degree in Behavioural Science and has been involved in peer-education work for many years. She also worked as a teacher for seven years.

Carmichael’s confirmation followed a series of interviews conducted by a panel put together by the Public Service Commission (PSC), which included the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

A source at the PSC said Carmichael was among three persons who were shortlisted for the post.

Carmichael assumed office mid-July, according to a source from the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, and she has already begun interaction with the ministry’s staff.

The Georgetown-based Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC), in an offi-

cial comment to this newspaper, said the body welcomes the confirmation of the appointment of a Youth Director, but expressed concern that no official announcement was made by the ministry.

The GNYC, which is an umbrella organisation comprising 84 youth-oriented groups, said it hopes the Director’s “approach is transparent, inclusive” and that she engages with youth leaders, young people, and youth activists in a manner that is in the interest of youth and national development.

The Council, started in 2013, said it looks forward to engaging the Youth Director.

“We look forward to engaging her officially, and will be requesting a meeting soon.”

The GNYC-led two youth-oriented voter campaigns for Guyana’s 2015 general elections, and for the recently held local government elections. GNYC is a member of the Caribbean Regional Youth Council (CRYC), and the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC).

The Director of Youth position had long been one of controversy.

In 2015, following the change of administration, Mr Trevor Williams, a former parliamentarian with the Alliance For Change (AFC), was chosen for the post, but the

Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael position was later rescinded by then Chief Justice Ian Chang, after a court action filed by the PYO, the youth arm of the opposition PPP. The PYO motion was filed by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall. Chang had allowed the motion since the position of Director of Youth was one that had to be advertised by and deliberated on by the constitutionally provided Public Service Commission.

Just a few days after the confusion about Williams’s appointment to the post, the Public Service Commission

advertised the position.

Youth make up a significant portion of Guyana’s population of 746,000. The recently released national census indicates some 253,240 persons make up the youth population. Youth is defined as persons between ages 15 and 35.

Meanwhile, a report from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) places Guyana’s youth unemployment at around 40% of the youth population. In their analysis, the CDB’s definition of youth were persons aged 15- 24 years.

would attack suddenly, the worse episode I experienced were my hands literally cramping up and not being able to straighten my fingers completely for about two minutes.

On my worst days I suffered through severe joint pain, a type of myalgia that I could feel literally down to my bones; this intensified with bad weather,the same as arthritic conditions and on my best days, pretty much the same. I couldn’t wait to complete my last three treatments. Essentially, getting over being poisoned fortnightly to get better, just to do it all over again was emotionally draining. I didn’t know if it was the drug that made me feel down in spirit or just the repetition of this procedure, but I was reaching my mental tolerance level and the persistent hives were doing nothing to help the situation.

Remigration issues to be handled

by Felix THE responsibility for remigration matters will soon be re-assigned to the Department of Citizenship, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge said on Wednesday as he appeared before a parliamentary sub-committee.

According to the Vice-President, Cabinet will soon take a decision to effect the necessary charges.

He said the Foreign Affairs Ministry had made the recommendation following a series of consultations with the relevant ministries. This change, he said, was also being considered by the previsions administration long before the May 2015 elections.

“Cabinet will announce in due course a decision to formally move the responsibility and the Government will bring to the House a legislation to give effect to that change,” Minister Greenidge assured the sub-committee headed by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Chief Whip Gail Teixeira.

He said the issue of classifying a migrant is among key issues to be addressed, in addition to the inconsistencies between migrants and settlers.

In recent months, the administration has been making some structural changes in its quest to streamline responsibilities.

Only last week, President Granger announced that a new department of the environment will be created.

This newspaper was reliably informed that Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman, will remain responsible for the mining, oil and gas sectors, while the Climate Change sector along with related sectors will now fall under the newly established department.

However, President Granger said he will not be persuaded to create more ministries.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

No solid leads in murder at Eteringbang THE police now have no solid leads in the murder of William Douglas, a miner who was found dead at Eteringbang, on the Guyana/Venezuela border last month.

He is believed to have been killed sometime between July 16 -20, 2016.

Rabindradat Budhram, the police commander who oversees the area, said that the two persons who had been held for questioning have been released. The two men reportedly knew

Douglas, known as Gary, as they were known for visiting the shop.

Budhram said that other persons were questioned but to no avail.

The commander told this newspaper that sleuths visited the area and found that the shop operated by Douglas had not been disturbed, and hence investigators don’t suspect robbery as a possible motive for the murder.

Budhram added that Douglas’s shop is miles

away from the nearest camp manned by other miners, all of whom claimed they did not see nor hear anything.

A p o s t - m o r t e m r evealed that Douglas, 55, died as a result of a single stab wound to the chest, Budhram said.

Douglas had left his Lot 10 Section ‘B’ Sophia, Turkeyen home seeking employment in the interior 11 years ago.

His mother, Waveny Douglas, told the Guyana

Chronicle that after all those years, she would then see her son’s lifeless body on July 21, 2016.

Over time, Mrs Douglas said that her son would telephone her and she had last heard from him on July 16, 2016, but she had a problem with her cell phone and the call was disconnected.

The grieving woman added that she had tried to return the call, but she was unsuccessful and it was the last time she heard his voice.

Mrs Douglas would like to see justice for her son, whom she described as a dedicated individual who worked hard to set up his business.

Relatives including his sister, Marilyn “Shelly” Douglas, are clueless as to what may have led to his murder. The body bore multiple stab and chop wounds to the face, tongue, neck, face, and back.

They displayed photos of the body before the post-mortem was conducted and the body had visible, gaping wounds.

Douglas’s shop was frequented by miners in that area and he also had a speedboat business as well.

His mutilated body was transported from Eteringbang, Region Seven, by the police and placed at Crematorium Gardens, Le Repentir, following a post-mortem on July 22,

2016.

Douglas was last seen alive around 5am on July 19, 2016, when he returned to his camp.

Miners from a neighbouring camp reported that they had spotted Douglas on the morning of July 19, when he came to his camp to put on his generator and did not see any lights in the place although the generator was running.

They later made a check in the camp and found the body in a pool of blood. He had been brutally murdered and his body bore several chop/stab wounds and his tongue was severed.

Douglas was buried on July 27, 2016.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

PM did not urge sugar workers to picket GAWU THE Office of the Prime Minister has refuted allegations by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had encouraged sugar workers to organise picketing exercises against the union and the High Court of Guyana.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday noted that Nagamootoo merely reached out to

suffering Wales sugar workers and it is “disappointed” that the Prime Minister is being dragged into a GuySuCo/ workers’ union dispute over the Wales factory operations merger and the delay in payment of severance benefits.

According to the statement, diverting attention from the plight of the workers to the Prime Minister appears politically motivated, petty, unhelpful and disingenuous.

The statement clarified

Body of man found in Paradise trench identified THE body found in a trench on July 26, 2016 at Grant Street, Paradise, East Coast Demerara has been identified as Deonarine Harris, called “Ronald” of Enterprise Gardens, also on the East Coast of Demerara.

Relatives of the 47-year-old man said he was a habitual drinker and had often suffered from epilepsy and had wandered off.

Sleuths surmised that the man’s death may have been accidental and may have resulted from an epileptic attack while he under the influence of alcohol fell into the trench and drowned.

The body was spotted by residents and the police were summoned.

Commander of the Police ‘C’ Division, Marlon Chapman, had reported that the case was being treated as a suspected drowning as no marks of violence were seen on the body.

that on July 27, a delegation of 11 Wales sugar workers visited the Ministry of the Presidency unannounced and requested a meeting with President David Granger, but were instead received by Prime Minister Nagamootoo.

The workers explained that during a meeting with GuySuCo’s management, the plan to merge the Wales and Uitvlugt factory operations was explained. They were offered continued employment at the Uitvlugt estate.

The workers further disclosed that 99 of them voluntarily opted not to take up the offer to work at Uitvlugt and accepted severance packages instead and Prime Minister Nagamootoo respected their decision. The workers explained that an agreement was made to commence payment of the severance packages starting in May last (not April). It was noted that prior to the commencement date for the payment of severance

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo packages, the workers were advised by GuySuCo that GAWU and NAACIE sought and were granted an order of the court which blocked GuySuCo from making the payments.

“The Prime Minister expressed sympathy with the workers, but explained that he was not familiar with the payment issue and enquired whether the

workers would wish to meet with the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder. They requested his presence and Minister Holder was invited to the meeting. Minister Holder then assured the workers that he had confirmed with the GuySuCo board that the money to make the payments was available and that the payments would be made once the injunction is discharged,” the statement noted.

According to the statement, the Prime Minister was provided with a copy of the order of the court and he explained that the injunction in effect blocks the possibility of them receiving their severance as GuySuCo could not disobey the order.

“The Prime Minister advised the workers that they should approach their union to lift the injunction in order for them to receive their severance pay. Prime Minister

Nagamootoo provided practical and logical advice to the workers who were seeking redress for the hardships they are facing and encouraged them to make their voices heard,” the statement noted.

It was further noted that the “Prime Minister was and remains in sympathy with the workers and sought to assist them as best he could and implores GAWU and NAACIE to put the interests of the workers first and to resist engaging in petty politicking and publicity gimmickry.

“The Office of the Prime Minister remains of the view that if the unions are genuinely concerned with the suffering of the workers, they would cause the injunction to be discharged.

OPM calls on GAWU and NAACIE to act in the best interest of the workers who are suffering hardships from not having received payments due to them since May of this year.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

Several in custody for Emancipation Day execution

SEVERAL persons are now in police custody as investigations continue into the Emancipation Day execution of Laing Avenue resident, Orin David.

‘A’ Division Commander, Clifton Hicken told the Guyana Chronicle that the police conducted several raids in the city and its environs and that exercise netted several persons of interest, including some known suspects.

An identification parade was held on Wednesday, but the outcome was not disclosed.

David, called “Plait Hair,” was riddled with bullets by a group of men on Monday afternoon outside his Lot 89 Laing Avenue,

Georgetown home after a row with a friend, who reportedly owed him some money.

On Tuesday, the police arrested a suspect and impounded his car.

The police reported that David was killed at about 15:55 hrs on Monday by four identifiable men.

Investigations revealed that David, 32, had an argument with one of the suspects earlier over bail money and the suspect left and returned with the others. As the victim was approaching a vehicle in which the suspects were , several shots were fired.

David was taken to the GPHC where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Dead: Orin David One empty 12-gauge shotgun cartridge and a .32 spent shell were found at the scene.

In February 2015, David was freed after being imprisoned for five years for the alleged 2010 murder of

Mahaica farmer Lakhram Bishundial.

Bishundial was fatally shot during a robbery at Hope Turn, East Coast Demerara.

He was on his way home from a city bank after he had withdrawn money for his younger siblings’ wedding, when he was robbed and killed by two men.

Subsequently, David and another person identified as Shawn Thom, were charged for the murder. Thom was freed a week before David.

David was well known to the police, because he had had several brushes with the law, including a charge for possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Homeless man remanded after allegedly damaging car windows A HOMELESS man was remanded to prison on Wednesday by city Magistrate Judy Latchman for the offence of damage to property.

Randolph Dean Mendonza, 42, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on July 29 at Alexander Village, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously damaged Ganesh Rampersaud’s car rearview windows valued $15,000.

Randolph Dean Mendonza told the Mendonza court that he was homeless and does odd jobs around the La Penitence market to earn a living. The man further explained that his life was stress-free, since he earned a daily income of $1,000 on the streets.

Surprisingly, the accused started dancing in the prisoner’s dock, even though his feet were shackled.

He was ordered by the magistrate to compose himself.

Mendonza was unpresented and was remanded to prison until September 10.

12 months jail for man who broke into shop A TWENTY-YEAR-OLD Sand Creek village, West Rupununi resident was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment on Wednesday by Magistrate Judy Latchman after he pleaded guilty to the charge of break and enter and larceny.

Tiberius Spencer confessed to breaking into the shop of Sharon-Ann Fredricks between July 5 and July 6 at Saint Ignatius Village, Central Rupununi and stealing two boxes of chicken, 23 pounds of pork, 30 pounds of fish and other items totalling $166,060.

According to police prosecutor Corporal Kerry Boswick, on July 6 around 07:00hrs, the woman observed that the eastern wooden door of the shop was open and the items missing.

The matter was reported to the police and on August 2, Spencer was arrested while attempting to cross over to Brazil. A police officer grilled him about the break and enter allegation and he confessed to committing the crime with another individual.

Tiberius Spencer

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

‘Boys used to come and fight for me’ - says ‘Granny Clarke’, who turns 100 today

By Vishani Ragobeer

‘Granny Agnes’ being shown affection by her great grandchildren Joshua Ogele [left] and Denzel Clarke [right]

GROWING up, she never had much time for boys. “I was quiet,” she said. “Boys used to come and fight for me.”

In the end, she sort of settled for Patrick Lawrence, a schoolteacher and the father of her three children; but only after he’d pursued her relentlessly.

She never married him, however, as he’d already

had two wives. He was also in the habit of “making children all about.”

She’s never known another man either, as she was too busy raising her children.

Born in Den Amstel in West Demerara, but raised here in Georgetown, Agnes Iris Clarke, who turns 100 today, remembers living in suburban Wortmanville at

Please turn to page 14

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

‘Boys used to come and fight for me’ From page 13

UPS AND DOWNS

first, before moving to Alberttown.

The eldest and lone survivor of her parents’ 10 children, ‘Granny Clarke’, or ‘Cousin Iris’ as she’s sometimes called, remembers attending the St. Stephen’s Primary School as a child, and much later the now defunct Collegiate High School, which was then located somewhere in Alberttown.

Back then, she said, “I was big and fat,” but that didn’t stop her from doing well at school. So well, that the class “dunce”, who had a penchant for “cogging” and happened to be sitting right next to her during exams once, was able to come out with flying colours.

But, jokes aside, those were rough times, she said.

“I never had an easy time in life,” ‘Granny Clarke’ said, as on top of her heavy workload at school, she also had her household chores to contend with, being the eldest.

“Me ain’t had time fuh games,” she said, as not only did she have to help her mother bake cassava bread, which she did daily, but she also had to chop and fetch the wood they used to cook with.

She recalls fetching wood on her head, until at one point she thought her neck would give out.

Those were the days, she said, when going to the doctor was unheard of in their family, as her mother could not have afforded such luxury; there simply

Agnes Iris Clarke wasn’t any money to do that.

Often, her mother had to resort to unorthodox measures of taking care of her children whenever they fell ill, like wrapping her neck up in oodles of “old bedding” whenever it hurt after fetching the wood and just hoping for the best.

She vividly remembers almost cutting her foot in half once, and never having gone to have it sutured, much less dressed. To this day, she still has the mark on the sole of her foot to remind her of it.

BRIGHT SIDE But life was not all gloom and doom, as it did have its moments, one of which, no doubt, was raising her children, never mind she had to hold down several jobs, many of them menial, to make ends meet.

But despite all that, she’s proud to have been able to live to a ripe old age, with very few ailments to talk about.

And, thank God! She’s still able to do things around in the house, as she doesn’t like to be idle.

A staunch Adventist, she prays every day; all she asks God for, she said jocularly, is to help her climb the stairs.

Her favourite saying is, “Nobody knows the trouble I see; nobody knows but Jesus.”

Today, ‘Granny Clarke’ lives in Lodge, where she’d moved to since 1956. And from the three children she gave birth to (Patricia, Pamela and Donald), she now has 14 grandchildren, 33 ‘great-grands’, and nine ‘greatgreat-grands’.

For her birthday today, there will be a Thanksgiving Service at 17:00 hrs in her honour, where many of her relatives, church members, and representatives of the Ministry of the Presidency among other well-wishers will be present.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

Fixing Kato school could –cost $140M audit company

REMEDIAL works to the Kato Secondary School in Region Eight could cost more than $140M, according to representatives of the auditing company, Rodrigues Architects Limited.

Kares Enginneering was contracted to build the school at a cost of $728 million, but according to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, it is estimated that 60 per cent of the school has defects.

“To the naked eye, you can tell that something is wrong.

You don’t need any level of expertise to see that,” said Davendra Doodnauth, an architect attached to Rodrigues Architecets, as he pointed to a huge hole along one of the corridors during a visit to the school Wednesday.

The auditing firm, along with representatives from the Ministries of Public Infrastructure and Education, was on a site visit.

According to Managing-Director of Rodrigues Architects Ltd., Albert Rodrigues, the school has “countless” structural defects. These flaws were highlighted in both the draft and final report of the project submitted to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure by the company.

In the report, a number of issues were highlighted, ranging from the prioritising of cost effectiveness over professional competence to the use of inadequately qualified consultants for the project.

Additionally, countless flaws on the physical structure of the school were pointed out by architect Davendra Doodnauth of Rodrigues Architects. Amongst the areas highlighted were bad timbers, exposed electrical outlets, cracking stairways and exposed steel.

"How could any self-respecting contractor accept work like this?" Rodrigues questioned, while pointing to another defect.

Both Doodnauth and Rodrigues further said that the project was flawed from its design phase, a fact that was evident in the incorrect orientation of the facility.

According to Doodnauth, the classrooms were incorrectly placed away from the windward side and would ultimately lead to hot, uncomfortable classrooms. Additionally, it was highlighted that the dining room and kitchen could not accommodate the school’s projected number of students. Safety concerns were also noted since the school lacked fencing. This was especially concerning due to the fact that the school would be housing at least 250 students in its dormitories.

These issues were brought to the attention of the contractor and consultants for the project; however, their responses were lacking.

During the visit, residents of the village complained bitterly about the situation. According to them, during the

15

Architect Davendra Doodnauth of Rodrigues Architects Ltd. points out a structural defect during a tour of the Kato Secondary School construction project conceptualization stage of the project, it was agreed that local workers and local mateials would have been utilized, but the contractor reneged on the agreement at the commencement of the project.

While the community was initially hired to cut the timber at the start of the project at $80 BM, this contract was taken away from them and given to someone else at the rate of $30 BM. Additionally, the initial wage of $7,000 per day that was promised to workers was never paid. Rather, workers were paid $2,500 per day, $1,200 of which was deducted each day

A gaping hole along the second-floor corridor of the Kato Secondary School

for meals.

The Village’s Toshao said residents were anxious for the school's opening but soon became disappointed upon learning of all the defects. He said that the situation at the Paramakatoi Secondary School has become untenable due to overcrowding.

As a result, students are forced to attend schools as far away as Sand Creek, Region Nine, due to the lack of available facilities.

"The current situation has certainly put a strain on us.

Right now, everyone is just waiting to see what happens, from the teachers to the parents to the students," he said.

Already, the stairways have begun to crumble despite a lack of activities at the school

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

100 years more for bauxite mining in Linden AS REGION 10 commemorates 100 years since the commencement of bauxite mining, research has confirmed that there is an average of 100 more years left in the region’s reserves.

According to chairman of the centenary committee Horace James, a survey discovered that there is 200 million tonnes of bauxite located at block 37, 18 million tonnes at Bamia, 40 million tonnes at East Montgommery and an unproven amount at Tiger Jump. But the amount averages at 40 million.

James said that with the current production of less than one million tonnes per year, the calculation with the above mentioned tonnes in the reserves makes a remaining 100 years of mining accurate.

This calculation can be deemed hopeful to the residents of Region 10 and Guyanese in extension as it has been known that the production of bauxite was on a rapid decline. A well-placed source of Bosai Mineral’s Incorporated revealed to this publication that the decline in bauxite production was not as a result of limited bauxite ore but the aggressive competition in the aluminum market around the world. In addition, the revolution in the

from Bosai Minerals whether in sport or infrastructural development.

As the town, and in extension the region, celebrates 100 years of bauxite mining the centenary committee has scheduled several activities that will climax in October to edify Lindeners on the history of bauxite mining and the benefits being derived.

manufacturing arena with the preference leaning toward synthetic material, the need for bauxite had dwindled.

Though these and more challenges are being faced, the Bosai Mineral Group has publicly assured the Linden populace of battling with the hurdles rather than ending production. This has brought hope to the close to 500 employees of the bauxite company and to the many youths who hope to one day be employed. With the town’s unemployment rate at 70%, many Lindeners look to the bauxite company for employment as it eliminates challenges such as working away from home.

Bosai Mineral Incorporated is also seeking ways to efficiently execute the manufacturing of refactory calcined bauxite as it is no longer accessible just a foot below the surface of the soil but some 300 feett below. This involves the purchasing of costly heavy duty equipment to access this mineral and to process it.

The company recently spent millions of dollars on a dust collector to eliminate the environmental and health hazards that resulted from the bauxite dust being filtered into the atmosphere. In addition the Linden community has benefited tremendously from the generous donations

HISTORY OF BAUXITE MINING Bauxite mining started in 1916 when a Scot, George Bain Mackenzie, a Scotsman arrived in Linden and observed bauxite in the soil. He fooled the residents, giving them the impression that he wanted to plant oranges. After his death, other expatriates came and commenced bauxite mining in the community of 3 Friends. At that time manual methods were used to access the bauxite in the soil such as the pick axe and spade. As the bauxite went deeper in the soil the companies began using heavy-duty machineries such as excavators and walking draglines.

The first company to commence bauxite mining was Demba (Demerara Bauxite Company) which was an offshoot of the Canadian Aluminum Company Alcan.

This was followed by Guymine, Linmine, Linpa, Omai and presently Bosai.

The bauxite company was nationalized in 1971 and after operating at a loss, the then Government was on the verge of closing operations as the consolidated

fund was forced to fetch the financial burden of the company with US $15 M per year. The high competition in the alumina market was deemed responsible for this. Many private companies showed interest in the company but the one who was willing to invest in the ailing company was Chinese company Bosai Inc. who commenced operations in 2007 and is still in operation.

Mr. Horace James posited at the launch of the 100-year observances that the main aim was to educate the students of Linden of the significance of bauxite mining and the role it played in the development of the town and the country. “It is important that people know that bauxite mining started in October 1916 and the history and the role that bauxite played in the development of Linden, of Guyana and the World War 1 and 2,” he said.

James said that bauxite mining could be deemed responsible for Linden being developed into a community and later a town, if not it would not have even been occupied. “This area would have been like other settlements along the Demerara River… but this town was established as a company town,” revealed Mr. James.

The bauxite centennial committee plans to construct an Industrial museum, a commemorative arch and a statue relevant to bauxite. It will also host a bauxite symposium and produce a centennial magazine.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

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Flames ofkeeping theAfrican Heart tradition alive in Linden THE LONE African culture group in Linden Flames of the Heart - is encouraging fellow Lindeners to use the month of August to reminisce on the struggles of their African ancestors which would motivate them to be more culturally inclined. The group that was formerly known as the Palm Tree Culture Group was renamed Flames of the Heart in remembrance of the founder Mr. Burnell Thomas aka Aku. The 22 members have since then been on a mission to unite Lindeners through cultural events and community service especially during the month of August when our nation would celebrate the liberation of our African ancestors who were enslaved.

“Every year we would normally do soirees, seeding of children, drumming, feed the elderly, give out food to persons of all ethnicity,” revealed Flame of the Heart

President Lavern Fraser.

She said that the group was an arm of the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA) based in Georgetown and though religion was a part of what was practiced the group was more culturally inclined. “We would do drumming, dancing, dramatic poetry……we currently have a drumming school open to every ethnicity,” Fraser said.

The Flame of the Heart drumming school currently has 16 youths enrolled, both male and female between the ages of 7 and 16. The youths participated in this year’s soirees celebration which followed the candle light march that occurred on Emancipation eve on the Wismar shore. “The soirees happened when the slaves got their freedom in 1838.

They just started celebrating and we continue that celebration every year,” Lavern pointed out.

Though they may be the yearning to do more during the month of August, Miss Fraser said that the limited resources could be deemed a deterrent as the funds were taken from their own pockets. In addition, the support from the residents of Linden “was very slim.”

“You see people, especially Christian people have this idea that the African religion is about iniquity and obeah. African religion doesn’t have anything to do with obeah or no generation curse, we serve one God, Jehovah God,” she affirmed.

The African religion remembers its ancestors in worship while petitioning guidance in their daily lives. Flames of the Heart is especially cognizant of this while pushing for unity in the mining town through cultural inclination.

SASOD holds smashing pride bacchanal THE SOCIETY Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) has captivated the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community in Linden and in extension Region 10 with a concept party that was held on Sunday at the Watooka Guest House.

The party was a curtain-raiser for the commencement of the Region 10’s LGBT sexual health training project that is set to commence in the upcoming week.

According to of SASOD’s Social Change Coordinator Jairo Rodrigues the party was a success and the attendees did enjoy themselves despite the location was not very accessible. “The party was a celebration of pride specifically for Linden and the environs…we wanted to reach out and introduce ourselves to the community,” he said. In addition there was free HIV counselling and testing available.

SASOD will be partnering with local NGOs such as Linden Care Foundation (LCF), For the Children Sake Foundation (FCSF) and Peace Corps for the successful execution of the programme which is geared towards a twofold initiative.

The aim is to create empowerment for the community while simultaneously promoting positive mental and sexual health practices. The populace is also expected to benefit

from this initiative was said to be and the facilitators more pronounced will push for the in Linden when gradual reduction of compared to othgeneral discriminaer towns across tion and even interthe country. nal stigma within the “The reasons LGBT community. for the findings The SASOD may be limited officials have conaccess to broadsulted the Caribbean cast information, Vulnerable Comhigh levels of munities Coalition unemployment, (CVC)/Pan Cariblimited access to bean Partnership tertiary education against HIV (PANand a direct link CAP) workshop between poverty manual, entitled and discrimina“Sex positive model tion, Sampson for HIV prevention suggested. In adand promotion of dition the local sexual health” which LGBT commuwill be imparted via nity feels freer SASOD's Managing Director Joel Simpson a 16-night sex posto express their itive HIV prevention sexual preference is working in harmony with their training. The students will also in Georgetown. This has resulted 2020 vision to be established across get an opportunity to be tested in a in persons committing suicide the length and breadth of Guyana confidential environment free from because of being discriminated within the next four years. stigma and discrimination. against.

This he said was stymied as a “There’s a direct relationship SASOD Managing Director result of limited resources and the between levels of education, povJoel Simpson articulated that the focus to have Parliament to pass the erty, homophobia and discrimiidea to decentralize SASOD was bill on legalizing cross dressing. nation, because of the socio- ecobirthed about a year ago after realHowever, the need to expedite the nomic circumstances of Linden izing that members of the commucommencement of the programme that we find homophobia is more nity were residing all across Guyin Region 10 was necessary as pronounced…. With that said, we ana and were in need of empowerresearch from the Caribbean Devel- recognize the dire need to work in ment too while advocating for safe opment Research Services (CAD- Linden.” health practices. The organization RES), revealed that homophobia “Often times, the approach

to sexual health tends to be just about giving people information… without looking at some of the underlying issues that prevent the vulnerable population, vulnerable groups in particular, from attaining a higher level of sexual health. One of the issues that prevent those groups from attaining the best sexual health is the discrimination they face,” Simpson affirmed.

Prevention Coordinator for Linden Care Foundation Yanick Copeland expressed appreciation for SASOD’s establishment in Linden as the LGBT community was in dire need of support.

Similar sentiments were echoed

by Vernon Todd, Executive Director of For The Children’s Sake Foundation. He revealed that the SASOD programme would boost the “Youths seeking answers programme” piloted by his organzition.

The SASOD sexual health training programme is aiming to identify a support network of LGBT and ally persons to establish a sustainable and ongoing linkage of local support at its conclusion. The LGBT population in Linden is not known as many persons as a resulted of being affected by stigma and discrimination prefers to keep their sexual identity private.

SASOD’s aim is to change this fear that permeates the LGBT community in Linden.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

Kwakwani loggers continue to battle THE KWAKWANI Natural Resources Organization (KNRO), one of two logging associations based in Kwakwani (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice) does not plan to stop giving needed assistance to the community despite undergoing various challenges in the logging industry.

The association that was established in 2012 has already spent a total of $30 million on community projects according the Secretary Kelvin Daly. The last community project undertaken by the association was the constructing of a guard hut for a school in the community located at the bank of the Berbice River.

Other community projects undertaken by the association was the granting of

scholarships to students, the remunerating of part-time teachers, hosting Christmas parties, purchasing of equipment for schools and an ambulance for the hospital.

The logging association has a membership of 50 loggers who are all residents of Kwakwani but practice their livelihood in various logging districts. They willingly donate a percentage of their profit to the association for the execution of these community projects.

According to Daly, logging is currently on a low scale but the loggers continue to contribute. He revealed that the deplorable state of the roads especially the one connecting Linden to Kwakwani was a deter-

rent to the timely provision of the logs to the market. “If you travel one day on the trail, you will see two to three trucks broken down on the road…..it is in a terrible state,” he bemoaned. In addition Kelvin said that market sourcing is very difficult and loggers were forced to sell their product at an inexpensive cost hence the profit margin was very low.

GIVE US MORE LAND The loggers are calling on the Government of Guyana to provide not only their association but others with more land rather than to give these to foreign investors. “If you give us more land, not only to KNRO, but to all the associations we will be able to provide logs to these

big companies….the opportunity should be given to the small loggers and they can supply the big companies,” Daly argued.

He posited that they had not been receiving much assistance from the Government but continued to make the best of what was available.

VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS President Granger on his last visit to Linden encouraged Kwakwani loggers to add value to the wood rather than to export the raw material. He revealed that the shift in economic activities in these communities could be a pillar for value added production. “This region is rich in

potential but the wealth is leaving the country because we are exporting raw materials instead of processing those materials here.

Think about furniture factories rather than exporting raw wood you can export furniture,” he exclaimed.

Mr. Daly commenting on this suggestion said that while value added production was good, the furniture would not reach its destination undamaged. In addition to the road issue, he stressed that marketing would be another issue as the buyers would

demand high quality production and Kwakwani was not equipped with a furniture or any other wood factory. ‘If the Government provides a factory it would be good but when we talk about value- added the loggers would only go as far as dress lumber for flooring, said Daly.

Though the various challenges are faced by the loggers and the industry may be suffering, the association is nowhere close to giving up as it is the main source of income for many households.

Dalawala farmer fighting against the odds to survive SHE OPERATES her boat against the calm currents of the Demerara River every morning on her journey to Linden in anticipation of a profitable market day. With a steady grip on the steering mechanism, she exudes the amazing strength left in her from tending to her crops in the farm and getting the children ready for school.

A raindrop on her palm is not the only reminder that she needs to go faster but also that it may be another bad day for the crops that are barely surviving the present rainy seasons.

As she eyes the bank of the river at Mackenzie, her anticipation heightens; “What will this day bring?” she asked herself.

Those are some of the daily challenges of Nanda, a farmer of the little riverine village of Dalawala, located six miles up the Demerara River from Linden. Nanda sits patiently in her boat loaded with the produce that was cultivated by her superb efforts. As the only means of income for her family of five, she greets everyone with a smile and tries to sell at a ‘good price’ being cognizant of her many competitors. “Aunty just $100 for a bag of cocorite,” she tries to persuade a prospective customer who showed interest in the bags hung up on the boat. Her other produce includes cucumbers, bush fruits, pumpkin, citrus

Nanda (right) selling produce on her boat

fruits, green leafy vegetables and ground provisions.

Like many farmers in Dalawala, Nanda has been farming since she was a little girl growing up in the little rural community and continued even as she ventured of into marriage.

Currently she owns a farm a little distance from her home in addition to a subsistence garden in her yard with some livestock that is reared. All things are not bright and beautiful according to Nanda as the current rains are destroying the little produce left from the ever pestering insects. “Right now how the weather deh, we ain’t get nothing really right now because the rain just destroying the little we farm,”she explained.

In addition to the rains and pests, the regular oil spills in the river have not only been a threat to the crops but her family’s life as well. “We does use the water to wash and cook and everything and the oil is very

fatiguing. We does gah get nuff soap powder to get rid of that oil,” exclaimed Nanda. Several other farmers had made complaints of the regular oil spills that have affected them drastically.

Nanda makes her way to Mackenzie, docks her boat at a central area and solicits patronage for her produce.

In her assessment, the business of farming “only keeps your head above water,” as sometimes the challenges outweigh the benefits.

Sometimes she wonders whether her daily one- hour trip down the river suffices for the little that is made throughout the day.

“I does wonder but at least I does get to bring out my children to school in the morning and provide for them,” reasoned Nanda. Despite these various challenges, Nanda is of the opinion that farming was cut out for her as she was doing it all her life. She affirmed, “I don’t see myself doing anything else.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

As Rio Games approach, 1.3 million tickets left unsold (REUTERS) - Two days ahead of the opening ceremony at the Olympics, organisers say that 1.3 million tickets remained unsold, an indication that spectator demand for Rio has lagged behind previous summer Games.

As of Friday, 4.8 million tickets for the Games had been sold, out of around 6.1 million tickets on offer, the Rio Organising Committee told Reuters yesterday. Demand has been strong for

sports such as basketball and swimming, the committee said.

Some 500 000 of the unsold tickets are for soccer matches. Many of those matches are scheduled to be played in stadiums in other Brazilian cities far from Rio. Tickets for the Rio Games have been available since early 2015, but factors including a sluggish Brazilian economy and concerns about the presence of Zika virus in Brazil may have had

an impact on both domestic and international demand.

A month before the London Games in 2012, 7 million tickets had already been sold, or more than 80 percent. Ultimately, more than 8 million were sold there.

Ahead of the Beijing Games in 2008, some 6.8 million tickets were put on sale and more than 95 percent were sold, according to an Olympic Committee report.

Rio organisers had ini-

Chase joins elite... of why he kept his place in the team despite a pair in the first Test.

He smashed two sixes and nine fours in a 54-ball knock as he dominated a brisk fifth-wicket stand of 93 with Chase until he was superbly caught by a diving Cheteshwar Pujara, via batpad, off the spin bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin.

Chase then shared in a sixth-wicket partnership of 144 with Dowrich, who departed with the result still very much in the balance.

Captain Jason Holder, the fast-bowling all-rounder who knows how to wield a bat coming in at number eight, teamed up with Chase to assure the draw.

The pair put on 103, Holder bringing up his 50 in style by hoisting Ashwin over long-off for six. He was 64 not out at the close.

tially planned to sell up to 7.5 million event tickets, but later pared back their estimate to closer to 6 million, citing factors including space limitations at event venues.

Ticket sales are an important generator of revenue for a city where around $12 billion has been spent preparing for the Games. Remaining tickets are still available to fans through the committee's website, Rio2016.com.

From back page

The rearguard action had statisticians searching through the record books, revealing it to be the first time ever that West Indies batsmen at five, six, seven and eight had each scored a half-century in the same innings.

West Indies' crushing defeat in the series-opener

in Antigua, by an innings and 92 runs, meant the hosts had lost seven out of eight Tests while drawing the other game.

But the series suddenly has new life going into the third Test to be played at Gros Islet on the island of Saint Lucia from August 9 to 13.

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES1st innings 196 (J. Blackwood 62; R. Ashwin 5-52) INDIA 1st innings 500 for 9 decl. (L. Rahul 158, A. Rahane 108 n.o.; R. Chase 5-121) WEST INDIES 2nd innings (Overnight 48-4) K. Brathwaite c Rahul b Mishra R. Chandrika b I. Sharma Da. Bravo c Rahul b Shami M. Samuels b Shami J. Blackwood c Pujara b R. Ashwin

23 1 20 0 63

R. Chase not out S. Dowrich lbw b Mishra J. Holder not out

137 74 64

Extras: (lb-2, nb-3, w-1) 6 Total: (for 6 wickets, 104 overs) 388 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-41, 3-41, 4-48, 5-141, 6-285.

Bowling: I. Sharma 18-3-56-1 (nb-2), M. Shami 19-3-82-2, A. Mishra 25-6-90-2 (nb1), U. Yadav 12-2-44-0 (w-1), R. Ashwin 30-4-114–1.

English Racing Tips Haydock 08:50 hrs Henpecked 09:20 hrs Town Charter 09:50 hrs Tanaasub 10:20 hrs Bop It 10:50 hrs Maoi Chinn Tire 11:20 hrs Zaria 11:50 hrs Navajo War Dance

South Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:40 hrs The Elmo Effect 09:15 hrs Green Crest 09:55 hrs General Misty 10:30 hrs Speedy Gonvarlez 11:05 hrs Edgbaston Brighton 09:00 hrs Newton’s Law American Racing Tips 09:30 hrs Miss Inga Sock Saratoga 10:00 hrs Count Calabash Race 1 Bob Le Beau 10:30 hrs William Hunter Race 2 Cocked and Loaded 11:00 hrs Trainnah Race 3 Murrell’s Belle 11:30 hrs No No Cardinal Race 4 Indulgent 12:00 hrs Rightway Race 5 Tizanillusion Race 6 About That Base Newcastle Race 7 Downside Scenario 12:50 hrs Reckless Wave Race 8 Songoficeandfire 13:20 hrs Intrigue 13:55 hrs Miss Sugars

14:30 hrs Lucky Mistake 15:05 hrs Mister Royal 15:40 hrs Euxton 16:10 hrs Hilary J Irish Racing Tips Leopardstown 12:15 hrs Blairmayne 12:45 hrs True Value 13:15 hrs Laoch Mi 13:50 hrs Romanesque 14:25 hrs Almela 15:00 hrs Lightening Striks 15:35 hrs A Shin Kildare Sligo 12:30 hrs Baltimore Buzz 13:00 hrs Desoto County 13:35 hrs Who’s Cross 14:10 hrs Blue Empyrean 14:45 hrs Msmilan 15:20 hrs Bakougan 15:55 hrs Barra Hooley

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

Third Test at Edgbaston ‌

Khan stars for Pakistan as England bowled out for 297 SOHAIL Khan was the star of the show for Pakistan on day one of the third Test match against England at Edgbaston yesterday as they bowled the hosts out for 297.

The 32-year-old seamer, who replaced Wahab Riaz in the Pakistan team, took

5-96 on a lively pitch and under grey skies in Birmingham.

Khan was a surprise selection before the game started, but dismissed Alex Hales (17), Joe Root (3), James Vince (39), Jonny Bairstow (12) and Jimmy Anderson (5) to justify his

selection in the side.

The right-arm fast bowler was, admittedly, helped by conditions that were conducive to swing and seam bowling.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and, to the surprise of many onlook-

Sohail Khan completes his maiden five-wicket haul as James Anderson unsuccessfully reviews his lbw appeal.

ers, opted to bowl first.

Yet his bowlers supported that decision with a largely disciplined and skilful performance, which never allowed England's batsman to get away from them.

Khan struck the first blow of the morning session when he had the under-pressure Hales caught behind by wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed. That strike was quickly followed by the all-important wicket of Joe Root, who slashed at a ball outside off-stump, but could only find Mohammad Hafeez at first slip.

With the score on 75, the Three Lions lost the second of their two worldclass batsman, when captain Alastair Cook was out lbw to Rahat Ali. However, subsequent failures from the likes of Bairstow, Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad were largely masked by improved showings from Gary Ballance and Moeen Ali, who played contrasting innings to help England edge towards a competitive total.

Ballance played a typically measured innings to grind his way to 70 before he was strangled down the

leg-side by Yasir Shah.

Ali, on the other hand, was noticeably more fluent than his fellow lefthander and he played some eye-catching strokes on his way to 63, before losing his wicket in the pursuit of quick runs.

England will have been disappointed to have been dismissed for less than 300 on day one, but with Anderson and Broad in their bowling line-up, will be confident of putting the tourists under pressure in their first innings.

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1st innings

S. Broad c Az. Ali b Amir

13

S. Finn not out

15

A. Cook lbw b R. Ali

45

J. Anderson lbw b So. Khan

5

A. Hales c S. Ahmed b So. Khan

17

Extras: (lb-1 nb-4 w-1)

6

3

Total: (all out, 86 overs)

J. Root c Hafeez b So. Khan

297

J. Vince c Y. Khan b So. Khan

39

Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-48, 3-75, 4-144,

G. Balance c S. Ahmed b Shah

70

5-158, 6-224, 7-244, 8-276, 9-278.

J. Bairstow c S. Ahmed b So. Khan

12

Bowling: M. Amir 16-3-53-2, Sohail Khan

M. Ali c S. Ahmed b Amir

63

23-3-96-5 (nb-4), R. Ali 20-4-83-2 (w-1), Y.

C. Woakes c S. Ahmed b R. Ali

9

Shah 27-3-64-1

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

Torch alights on Rio shore ahead of Games opening

By Pedro Fonseca

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazilian sailors delivered the Olympic torch to Rio de Janeiro's mayor yesterday, two days before South America's first Olympic Games opens under tight security.

After a 20 000-km (12,400-mile) journey through one of the world's largest and most diverse nations, the torch crossed Guanabara Bay in a boat, piloted by former medallists, in a nod to a competition where the host country has claimed Olympic glory.

The flame landed on terra firma at 09:15hrs (1315 London time) while just kilometres away 450 heavily armed police battled drug traffickers to carry out dozens of arrest orders in the Alemao slum, an area near the international airport and close to the main road to Olympic venues.

Armed soldiers stood patrol on highways and on many corners throughout the iconic beach city in Brazil's largest security operation ever. Some 85 000 police, soldiers and security personnel will be deployed in Rio, more than double the amount in London in 2012, to deter both violent street crime and the threat of attacks by extremists.

The world's largest sporting event comes to Brazil at a challenging time, in the midst of the country's worst recession in at least a quarter-century and an impeachment trial of a suspended president. Many residents struggling with

Mayor Eduardo Paes (C) carries the Olympic torch just after it was transported across Guanabara Bay from Niteroi to Rio de Janeiro, three days before the official start of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday.

the dire economy question the wisdom of hosting the Olympics, a bid Brazil won in 2009 while the economy was booming.

"The Olympics is a waste of time. The Games did not bring any benefits to Rio de Janeiro," said waiter Adriano Souza, 25, lamenting the lack of public transportation to get around the sprawling, mountainous city.

Residents have faced hours of traffic jams in recent days as new express bus lanes ferrying athletes and visitors to sport venues take up highway space, leading Mayor Eduardo Paes to declare today the fourth city holiday of the Games.

After picking up the torch at a local naval academy, a grinning Paes took it on its first laps through the streets of downtown Rio, known locally as "the marvellous city". A few protesters cropped up in the mostly celebratory crowd, which cheered to the pulse of drums and samba music.

In addition to baulking at the $12 billion (£9 billion) price tag, largely unorganised protesters are calling for more accountability from elected officials after a massive corruption scandal focused on the state oil company ensnared dozens of high-level politicians.

The economic malaise might have contributed to a larger excess supply of tickets before the Games' start than in London. The Rio Organising Committee said 1.3 million tickets remained unsold yesterday, though nearly half of those tickets are for football matches held in other cities.

EARLY TEST AT FOOTBALL MATCH The symbol of the Olympic Games will visit surrounding towns and return to the city centre today, ahead of tomorrow’s opening ceremony in the famed Maracanã stadium, site of the World Cup final in 2014.

Some cariocas, as resi-

dents of Rio are known, said they were eager to show the world their city is ready for the international spotlight and pleased they had largely delivered venues on time.

"It was easy to get here and there are plenty of police," said architect Sergio Lima e Silva, who was attending the first sporting event of the Games - a women's football match between South Africa and Sweden in a new stadium.

While the torch's tour through 300 cities has generally been smooth, it did spur an international outcry when authorities had to shoot a jaguar after the animal escaped from its handlers at a ceremony in the Amazon city of Manaus.

The name of the final torch-bearer is a closely guarded secret, but football legend Pele said on Tuesday he had been invited to light the Olympic cauldron tomorrow and was checking availability with his sponsors.

Double-header to bounce off 3rd Rock basketball tourney tomorrow KWAKWANI will return to competitive basketball on Saturday when they face fourth seed Amelia’s Ward Jets and third-ranked Victory Valley Royals take on the challenge of fifth-rated Block 22 Flames.

The opening games of this year’s 3rd Rock Entertainment Open basketball championship, sanctioned by the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA), bounces off at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.

Tomorrow afternoon at16:00hrs the tournament

outline will be given when the tournament is launched at the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) building on Republic Avenue, with the organisers along with representatives from the LABA. The first game of this tournament, which has at stake $100 000 for the champions, on Saturday, is between Flames and Royals at 19:00hrs. The second at 21:00hrs pits Kwakwani against the Jets.

The clubs have been invited to send their representatives and three players in

uniform to this launching and they are reminded that they must complete the registration of their players with the association. The second day will see another double-header on Sunday at the same venue.

According to LABA the clubs were seeded and Raiders are the number one seeds, followed by Half Mile Bulls, Royals, Jets, Block 22 Flames and Bankers Trust Falcons with Kwakwani being the outsider-side.

In Group A are Kwakwani, Falcons and Jets who

are battling for the lone semifinal slot where they will face top-ranked Raiders, who gained a bye to the final four. In the Group B are Royals, Bulls and Flames where two of these three clubs will advance to the final four.

The tournament, after this weekend, continues next Saturday with the final set of preliminary matches, before the semifinals are played next Sunday and the final the following Saturday, August 20.

Perkins suspended for remainder of 2016 CPL THE Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have announced the immediate suspension of Trinbago Knight Riders batsman William Perkins for the remainder of this year’s CPL after breaching the Tournament Playing Conditions, through the ICC’s Minimum Standards for Players, as well as clauses 10.1.1 and 10.1.2 of the player contract.

The sanctions relate to a serious breach which happened in Lauderhill on Sunday where members of the CPL Security team, in collaboration with the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Manager Richard Reynolds, obtained Mr Perkins’ Players/Match Official Access pass which had been handed to an external party.

Perkins, 29, who featured in four games in this year’s campaign, accepted the charges and admitted his fault.

Trinbago Knight Rid-

Trinbago Knight Riders batsman William Perkins

ers face St Lucia Zouks in tonight’s Hero CPL Finals clash at Warner Park (19:00hrs).

Neither the Hero CPL nor Trinbago Knight Riders will have any further comment to make on this matter. (CPL T20)

GHB Lucozade Indoor hockey

Stallions beat off Vintage; Saints ease past Knockers OLD Fort Stallions and St Stanislaus were victorious as action in the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB)-sanctioned Lucozade Indoor hockey league continued on Tuesday.

In the first match the Old Fort Stallions out-classed their GCC Vintage counterparts 5-2.

Omar Hopkinson in the 2nd minute opened the scoring for the Stallions with Vintage responding just six minutes later via the same field goal method, this time from the stick of Alan Fernandes.

The half ended 1-1 and it looked either side’s game.

On the return, Eric Hing gifted the Vintage side the lead in the 24th minute after which Jason De Santos brought the game level in the 25th minute through his penalty corner.

However, Hopkinson

(28th) and two successive strikes on the 39th and 40th

by De Santos ensured that Old Fort maintained victory by a large margin.

In game two of the evening, Saints overcame their Old Fort Knockers 4-2.

Dehron Wilkinson’s 9th minute field goal opened the scoring for the Old Fort side before Hilton Chester tied it up with a successful penalty corner in the 10th.

The half ended 1-1 with both teams trying to end the deadlock. However, it was Ato Greene’s 26th minute strike that finally did it.

But that lead was shortlived as Jael Gaskin tied it up again in the 30th minute.

Greene then returned to the rescue three minutes later and Robert Fernandes sealed the deal in the 40th minute Matches continue tomorrow.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

Guyana Cup registration Seven Seas 11-race cycle programme set for Saturday closes on Sunday … No late entry accepted, says Ramnauth

Score’s Even will return to competitive racing on August 14.

By Rajiv Bisnauth REGISTRATION for the 10th annual Guyana Cup closes on Sunday and, according to Secretary of the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC), Chattergoon Ramnauth, no late entries will be accepted.

The mega event, which is being staged in observance of Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary, is billed for August 14 at the Port Mourant Turf Club, Corentyne, Berbice.

“I want to make it clear

that no late entries will be accepted this time. We (organisers) will stick to the original date, so I am urging all horse owners to adhere to the date set out,” Ramnauth told the Chronicle Sport yesterday.

The mega event is organised by the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing Stables, in collaboration with the Port Mourant Turf Club, and is arguably one of the biggest sporting events in Guyana.

The Guyana Cup by far attracts the largest cash prizes for any sport in the country, with over $30M in cash and

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Tuesday November 03, 2015) 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) Shane Watson (Zouks) (2) Tridents & Patriots

Today’s Quiz: (1) Who scored most runs in the preliminary stage of Hero CPL 2016?

(2) Who made the highest individual score in the preliminary round of Hero CPL 2016?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

trophies up for grabs this year.

Ramnauth confirmed that the event has already attracted all of the country’s top thoroughbreds, including King’s Knight, Score’s Even and 2014/2015 winner of the Guyana Cup, CP Got Even.

He also disclosed that champion race horses from Canada, Trinidad, Jamaica and neighbouring Suriname will also form part of the day’s activity.

The feature event, which will see the return of Score’s Even, is for horses classified `A’ and Lower, battling over 1600 metres with the winner pocketing $4.5M. The co-feature event is open to three-year-old Guyana and West Indies-bred horses and they will contest a 1600 metres race as well with the winner receiving $2.4M. Admission to the venue is $2 000 for adult while children will pay an entrance fee of $1 000.

The day’s activity will be conducted under the Rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA).

Race-time is 12:00hrs.

KEEN rivalry is anticipated on Saturday when cycle race coordinator Hassan Mohamed runs off the 13th annual Seven Seas 11-race cycle programme in the National Park beginning at 09:00hrs.

Races will be staged for a number of age groups and will include Beginners who will complete the `Teach Them Young’ cycle programme tomorrow, but the feature event will be for Schoolboys, Novices and Invitational riders over 35 laps.

The feature event will be a thrilling one as all of the country’s top cyclists are expected to be part of the lineup. Andrew Hicks, Raphael Leung, Jornel Yearwood and Christopher Cornelius who all participated in the just concluded Junior Caribbean championships as well as the bigger `gunners’ in the likes

Raphael Leung

of Marlon `Fishy’ Williams, Raynauth Jeffrey, Geron Williams, Raul Leal and Orville Hinds will be present, among others.

Last year’s feature 35lap event was won by the young Alonzo Ambrose, who clocked a record one

hour 18 minutes 49 seconds.

Orville Hinds (Team Evolution) was second Jamal John (Team Coco’s) third while Akeem Wilkinson (Team Evolution), and Ambrose’s club mates, Paul Choo-WeeNam and Christopher Griffith rounded out the top six positions.

The five-lap race for Veterans Under-45 years of age will be a battle between Kennard Lovell and Junior Niles, while Linden Blackman is expected to make light work of his opponents in the fivelap race for Veterans Over45 years.

There will also be a 10lap race for Juvenile riders as well as three-lap races for BMX Boys 9-12 years old and a two-lap race for BMX Boys 6-9 years old.

A three-lap race for BMX Boys and Girls 12-14 years is also on the cards.

World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury faces UK Anti-Doping charge BRITISH substance." world heavyFury anweight champinounced on June on Tyson Fury 24 that he was is to face a UK pulling out of a Anti-Doping planned Klitsc(Ukad) charge hko rematch, alleging the scheduled for presence of a July 9, saying he banned subhad injured his stance. ankle in training.

Fury was The charges provisionally will be considsuspended in ered at a hearing June, though of the indepenthat has been dent National lifted pending Anti-Doping a hearing, Ukad Panel on a date has revealed. to be confirmed.

Tyson Fury won the WBA and WBO heavyweight T h e On Tuesday, titles in November.

27-year-old had Fury's legal team said on Tuesday said proceedings of tests from March and May he would sue the organisation 2015 were contradictory. had been issued in the High over claims he used a perforFury beat Ukrainian Court. mance-enhancing substance. Wladimir Klitschko to win "The two boxers strenuFury's cousin and fellow the WBA and WBO heavy- ously deny taking any perboxer Hughie has also been weight titles in November. formance-enhancing drugs," charged.

Ukad said its statement said lawyer Lewis Power.

The Sunday Mirror re- was in response to comments "However, during ported on June 26 that traces from Tyson Fury and his the last five weeks leaks of banned substance nan- team. about these charges have drolone were found in a urine A spokeswoman said: appeared in the press and sample taken from Fury in "UK Anti-Doping can con- both boxers have been the February 2015. firm that both boxers were targets of continual abuHe denied the claim and charged on June 24, 2016 sive language on Twitter." his legal team says the result with presence of a prohibited (BBC Sport)

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, August 4, 2016

Volleyball teams depart for Border Games in Brazil

By Tamica Garnett

DESPITE a less than satisfactory time for preparatory training, spirits were high as the two male and one female volleyball teams departed Guyana yesterday afternoon for Boa Vista, Brazil to take part in the annual Border Games, scheduled to be held from August 5 - 7.

President of the Demerara Volleyball Association, Trevor Williams, who travelled with the team, explained that due to unavoidable circumstances surrounding the use of the practice facility – the National Gymnasium - the teams could not have been given as much training time as we would have hoped for.

The Gymnasium is one of two primary indoor facilities, in Georgetown, being utilised by most sporting disciplines, the other being the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

However, due to the CASH being occupied for some time with the hosting of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Under-16 Championships, several sporting disciplines were moved to the Gymnasium, limiting the amount of time any particular sport could have been allotted use of the facility.

This left the volleyball teams at a disadvantage.

“They are prepared, but we could have done better with more practice time.

Given that we had to share space with other sporting disciplines in the gymnasium we didn’t get all the training we needed. But the teams have been playing at very good standard, especially the male team,” Williams explained.

The departing teams are the Guyana Defence Force and Young Achievers on the male side, and Vanguard, the lone female team. Each team comprises 12 players and a coach.

More is expected from the male teams. For the female team the focus is more on using the opportunity to give the team some exposure.

“The female team have not been tested enough locally but they’ve been the champions and they’ve played well over the last season or so.

However, they need a higher level of competition at this point so it’s going to be interesting for them out there.”

Williams explained.

GDF team captain Dester Hoppie, is expecting tough competition from the country which won the volleyball women’s gold and men’s silver at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Some of the players before they departed for Brazil yesterday

“Brazil is a tough team at any level, and we’re going to reach teams from three states, Roraima, Amapa and Minas, which are going to be really good teams.” Hoppie said.

He added that “What we’re working on is that we have guys who are familiar with our particular rotation.

We try to be innovative in our rotation, so this is our plan against them. You find more of the club teams positioning their players in a particular way; we’ve altered our rotation to suit our strengths so that’s what we’re going for.”

Outside of dealing with the challenges of training, the contingent also faced its own share of financial woes in getting the necessary funds to get the team to the location a norm for most sports teams leaving Guyana.

Nonetheless, Williams extended heartfelt appreciation to those who did come on board to support, including the National Sports Commission, the Guyana Volleyball Federation, and the players who organised fundraising activities.

Williams, however, re-

mains hopeful that next time around there will be more support from the private sector.

The complete teams are as follows: GUYANA DEFENCE FORCE: Dester Hoppie (team captain), Jared Douglas, Leslain Baird, Travis Stanley, Abel Moses, Tiffon Douglas, George Adolph, Juan Velazquez, Devon Bowman, Quacy Matherson, Trevon McRae. Coach – Jadeshwar Doolchand YOUNG ACHIEVERS: Kapil Dev Samaroo, Creston

Rodney, Klondyke Rodney, Germain George, Geno Ford, Cleveland Peters, Corwin Richards, Ryan Munroe, Rick Ritchie, Ryan Mangroo, Satrohan Ramnarine, Javid Persaud.. Coach – Dharampall Etwaroo VANGAURD: Danielle Nikita Samaroo, Leanna Gilkes, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Keisha Bacchus, Teniesha Cort, Kimesha Wallace, Odile Broomes, Soniya, Krysta Amy Yan, Jana Edghill, Subrina Munroe, Mercedes Ford. Coach – Trevor Smith.

BCCI against two-tier Test system - Thakur BCCI president Anurag Thakur has said his board will oppose the proposed two-tier Test system to "protect the interests" of smaller member nations.

As the head of the powerful BCCI, Thakur's statement lends heft to the criticism of the proposal by Sri Lanka Cricket and the Bangladesh Cricket Board, even as the boards of Australia and New Zealand have welcomed the move.

"The BCCI is against the two-tier Test system because the smaller countries

will lose out and the BCCI wants to take care of them," Thakur told the New Indian Express. "It is necessary to protect their interests."

The proposal to split Test cricket into two tiers - with seven nations in tier one, and five, including two new Test nations, in the second tier - was mooted at the ICC's annual conference, in Edinburgh, where ICC chief executive David Richardson advocated a "proper competition structure", with promotion and relegation, for Test cricket to have greater

Anurag Thakur: Smaller countries will lose out and the BCCI wants to take care of them. (IDI/Getty Images)

context.

"Unless we can give some meaning to these series beyond the rankings and a trophy, then interest in Test cricket will continue to waver," Richardson said.

"The same applies if we allow uncompetitive Test cricket to take place too often."

While SLC voiced skepticism about the financial model of the two-tier system, the BCB felt Bangladesh's growth would be affected should they be divorced from the top teams.

"We believe that more we play against competitive sides, the better we will get," BCB vice-president Mahbubul Anam said. "If we didn't play against better-standard sides in ODIs, we wouldn't have come this far. We were given a reality check when we were promoted to the highest level. I feel that if we go backwards, our cricket will regress."

Thakur's comments seemed to address both concerns as he spelt out the drawbacks of the two-tier

system. "In the two-tier system, they will lose out on a lot, including revenue and the opportunity to play against top teams," he said.

"We don't want that to happen. We want to work in the best interests of world cricket and that is why our team plays against all the countries".

In Galle, meanwhile, Cricket Australia chairman David Peever urged nations to embrace change and balance notions of tradition with progress.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

Volleyball 27 teams depart for Border Games in Brazil P.

Chase joins elite company as Windies escape with unlikely draw ‌ becomes first Windies player in 50 years to score a century and take five wickets in the same Test (REUTERS) - Roston Chase joined elite company as West Indies escaped with an unlikely draw against India after the second Test concluded in Jamaica yesterday.

Chase scored 137 not out to lead West Indies to safety, with the home team losing only two wickets on the fifth and final day at Sabina Park in Kingston.

West Indies had reached 388 for six in their second innings when India captain Virat Kohli conceded a draw with a few overs still remaining.

If not quite qualifying as a miracle, the result was certainly unexpected after the Windies began the final day staring down the barrel of defeat, precariously placed on 48 for four and still needing another 256 to make India bat again.

Even though rain washed out most of day four, it seemed a formality for India to quickly wrap up victory and take a 2-0 lead in the four-Test series, but West Indies batsmen dominated from the very first over as Chase and his fellow middle-order batsman displayed assurance and more than a touch of class.

Their performance will give Caribbean cricket fans hope that their team has a future in the five-day format.

Chase, in just his second Test, took 5-121 with his

off-spin in the India innings, before showing his class with the bat.

He became just the fourth West Indies player to score a century and take five wickets in the same Test, and the first to do so in 50 years.

Gary Sobers, the only player to accomplish the feat twice, last achieved that double in 1966.

RAPTUROUS APPLAUSE The small crowd erupted in rapturous applause when Chase completed his century and raised his bat in celebration, with nobody clapping louder than Viv Richards.

Chase received excellent support from fellow 24-year-old Jermaine Blackwood (63) and Shane Dowrich (74), who was unfortunate to be given out lbw to Amit Mishra, with replays showing he appeared to get a thick inside.

Blackwood displayed excellent technique with a series of classic straight drives that offered evidence

Roston Chase basks in his maiden Test century in the second Test at Sabina Park, Jamaica yesterday. (WICB Media Photo/Athelstan Bellamy)

Turn to page 23 â–ş

Pele asked to light Rio pyre, checks with sponsors Brazilian soccer legend Pele poses for picture after receiving an Olympic necklace from President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach at the Pele Museum in Santos, Brazil June 16, 2016.

(Reuters/Paulo Whitaker)

(REUTERS) - Pele has been invited to light the Olympic pyre for the Rio Games tomorrow but the Brazilian soccer great is checking with his sponsors to see if he is free to lead the torch ceremony in the Maracana stadium.

"I have a contract that I am bound to fulfil," Pele told Globo TV late on Tuesday, adding that he was consulting the U.S. company that holds the rights to his brand name whether he can take up the

invitation from the Olympic organising committee.

"As a Brazilian, I'd love to do it," said the 75-year-old, who helped his country win the World Cup three times and would be launching the Games in the stadium where he scored his 1 000th goal in 1969.

Pele later told reporters that International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach and the head of the Brazilian committee

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Carlos Arthur Nuzman had personally asked him to light the pyre and that he would have an answer today.

He said he would have to cancel a trip organised by his sponsors.

Pele, regarded as the greatest player of all-time, played in four World Cups and is the only player to have won it three times: in 1958 in Sweden, when he was just 17, in 1962 in Chile and in 1970 in Mexico.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2016