Guyana chronicle e paper 04 09 2017

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Essequibo ready No. 104878

SUNDAY APRIL 9, 2017

Price: $140

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–– President sees region as food bowl

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Envoys zero in on trade

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Three-year-old electrocuted in bedroom

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Businesses face heavy ‘cleaning’ fine

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President David Granger and Essequibo Chamber of Commerce President Deleep Singh, discuss rice at the Essequibo Expo. Looking on are Mrs Waveney Singh and (left) Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 9, 2017

Region Two is country’s food bowl –– President Granger By Vanessa Braithwaite

PRESIDENT David Granger has expressed optimism that with added production, coupled with its already immense agricultural production, Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam), has the potential to feed the entire country and the Caribbean. The region, he said, has been punching above its weight with agriculture and production and believes that the 2017 Essequibo Agro and Trade Exposition, at which he was at the time giving the feature address at its opening ceremony, will create avenues for the unleashing of these under-exploited and hidden potentials. On Friday evening at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground, addressing a packed audience, President Granger congratulated the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce for pulling off the exposition and making a national statement that it was ready for business, since it was one of the most productive and leading agricultural regions in Guyana. “Last year, Region Two produced 85,000 metric tonnes of rice, 810 metric tonnes of fish and shrimp, 270 000 metric tonnes of agricultural produce and 44.4 M coconuts, so Region Two is not a poor region. It has potential,” Granger revealed, adding

that there was a lot that the region could build upon. STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES Alluding to the region’s agricultural strengths, such as the availability of land, experience and expertise, Granger said that those should be exploited. “We are quite aware of the potential and talent of your population, we are quite aware too that you have challenges, but we have to work together to overcome those challenges,” Granger affirmed. Highlighting these, the Head of State said that there was the challenge of political collaboration, social cohesion and geographical differences, but he believed that those challenges were not difficult to overcome if the residents worked together to unleash the region’s potential. One solution he put forward was networking between the three tiers of government in the region and Anna Regina as the capital town, playing an integral role in its development. “What we see here in Anna Regina is a hub, but it should not be a hub attracting poor people, it should be a hub of prosperity. It should be a hub of social cohesion.” PILLARS OF DEVELOPMENT The President encouraged the regional administration and the Essequibo

Chamber of Commerce to utilise the four pillars of development, so that its agricultural sector would expand into an agro-processing sector, thus rooting out the culture of exporting raw materials and in essence, eliminating poverty. He encouraged the regional authorities to implement a plan of action for regional development and pledged that such a plan, when it materialises, would receive support from central gov-

port of his ministry for development of the region’s agricultural and production sector, since it was what the government wanted to promote. He also congratulated the ECC for organising the event since it provides networking between the public and private sectors and bring businesses into contact with the people. Gaskin said that such expositions would encourage the Ministry of Business to organise a national ag-

reau of Standards is here, the Competition and Consumer Affairs is here and the Small Business Bureau is here….. we are not sitting back in Georgetown and waiting, you are telling us that you mean business and we are telling you that we mean business as well,” Gaskin said. The Minister of Business said that there was need for diversification in production, as the region could no longer depend solely on rice

Some Agricultural produce on exhibit at the Region Two Shade House Association Booth ernment. The pillars of this plan, he said, were institutions, investments, infrastructure and information technology. These pillars would attract investors and seek out avenues for exportation of the value-added products. Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, in his short address also pledged the sup-

ricultural and trade fair where local producers would get in touch with the overseas exporters and foreign markets. Gaskin revealed that his contribution to the Essequibo exposition was having all the relevant agencies present to help share information on the various aspects of business in Guyana. “Go- Invest is here, the Guyana National Bu-

production. He encouraged the Essequibians to seek out crops that were in demand and encouraged consumers to support local farmers by consuming foods produced in Guyana. Regional Chairman, Mr Devanand Ramdatt, reiterated that Region Two means business not only in the agricultural sector, but the tourism sector also, since its potential was under-exploited. He highlighted the struggles of the region’s economy, but urged the authorities to collectively work with the government to aid the struggling rice industry. He revealed that there was currently a high level of unemployment within the Pomeroon district which needed urgent attention. The regional chairman’s sentiments were echoed by Regional Executive Officer Rupert Hopkinson, who said that the exposition comes on the heels of a successful year in which the RDC had executed many successful developmental projects. He also gave commendation to the ECC for pulling off the expo as it would allow for the chain of spending; therefore, various entrepreneurs would benefit and by extension the economy of Region Two. Hopkinson affirmed that the region was in capable hands and development

would come. The 2017 Essequibo Agricultural and Trade Expo has been described as a distinguished and historic occasion, being the first of its kind. President of the ECC, Mr Deleep Singh, revealed that it has been one year since the event was resuscitated and therefore to pull off such an exposition was indeed heartwarming. He said the region was once the food basket of the Caribbean and the ECC was determined to reach that status again. “Over the next year, we will set the task of creating a better business environment, breaking down barriers and making it easier to do business,” he said. He encouraged Essequibians to be more aggressive in consultation with stakeholders. “This laid-back approach should cease and a more participating and positive approach should be adopted. Party politics have [sic] no place in development ; too long have I noticed our people being divided along political lines. Unity is the most essential ingredient for development,” he said. Hundreds of visitors journeyed to the Cinderella County to be a part of the fair which will conclude today. The Community Centre ground came alive with scores of booths with exhibits ranging from agricultural produce and agro-processing, craft items, food and beverage items, cattle-rearing, value-added wood products and local services. While the local entrepreneurs were the highlights, several businesses, government institutions and entrepreneurs from out of town also took the opportunity to showcase their products and services. The opening ceremony attracted a large crowd and in addition to the speeches, there were several cultural performances followed by a stage show, after it was officially declared open by President Granger. One Essequibian, Jenny Craig, who journeyed from the Pomeroon, expressed appreciation for what the ECC had done and believes that the exposition would indeed boost the county’s economy. “I am very happy about what I’m seeing here tonight, our businesses needed this boost and I believe that it will be beneficial. “Big up” to the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce for a job well done.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 9, 2017

Heads of Missions confab

Ambassadors zero in on trade, economic matters By Zena Henry

MATTERS of trade and economic diplomacy dominated the agenda of the five-day heads of missions (HoM) conference which concluded at the Pegasus Hotel on Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge said. He also disclosed that if the territorial controversy between Guyana and Venezuela was not resolved by year-end, the matter could go to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Greenidge made those remarks during the closing press conference for the confab. The media was told that Ambassador Dag Nylander, the Personal Representative appointed by United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, HE Antonio Guterres, would be in Guyana on April 12 to meet with President David Granger and the Foreign Affairs Minister to begin his mandate pertaining to the border controversy involving the two countries. It was noted that Ambassador Nylander’s mandate was within the final year of the “Good Offices” process with a “strengthened mandate of mediation.” According to the decision outlined by the secretary-general, “‘If by the end of 2017 the secretary-general concludes that significant progress has not been made toward arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy, he would choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement,’ unless Guyana and Venezuela

‘jointly request that he refrain from doing so.’” The minister said that the UN Secretary-General can go as far as choosing an option for the resolution of the controversy. The Foreign Affairs Minister reiterated Guyana’s commitment to approach the

Guyana’s ambassador to Geneva last October. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to United Nations Organisations in Geneva and to the Government of Switzerland, Dr Ford had held several senior positions at the United

ister, includes the 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific states (ACP). This Agreement with other linkages speak directly to soft loans by the European Union. However, Greenidge said that the future of this source of revenue has been a subject

of sensitization and raising awareness and knowledge of Guyana - were also very important matters raised at the conference. During the opening of the conference, Greenidge had spoken at length on “economic diplomacy,” which

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge addressing media operatives during the head of mission press confernce at the pegasus hotel in the presence ambassadors and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ensuing process in good faith. Minister Greenidge noted however that the HoM conference was mostly dominated by economic matters. He said discussions were had on economic diplomacy and other trade matters. These discussions also led to talks relating to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which sets the rules and regulations pertaining to international trade. Guyana’s Ambassador to Geneva, Dr J. R. Deep Ford, is expected to carry out the bulk of the work relating to the WTO, the minister pointed out, as he has already been participating in WTO meetings. Ford was accredited

Nations for 16 years and more recently as the Director of Caribbean Operations for the Food and Agriculture Organisation. Dr Ford started his professional career as a lecturer at the University of Guyana and also earlier worked for the Commonwealth Secretariat. In the coming weeks, the Ambassador of Guyana will present credentials to the Government of Switzerland, which will provide support for the establishment and operations of the Guyana Embassy in Geneva. Meanwhile, Greenidge said in the same vein, Brussels would also be dealing with the Georgetown Agreement, which, according to the min-

of discussion within CARICOM, the ACP states and several other bodies. Guyana is integrally involved in this matter, which may have an effect on the country which is now regarded as an upper middle-income country. Guyana’s Ambassador to Brussels is David Hales. Minister Greenidge pointed out however that the lighter sides of economic trade discussions included the enhancement, capacity-building, and cooperation in order to attract investments. Public diplomacy - fashioning and dealing with the image of the country in the context of foreign policy and the importance of that, the issues

was an important part of the Government’s wider development agenda. “It [economic diplomacy] goes beyond trade and investment to the resolution of multiple causes of international conflicts. The agenda of economic diplomacy is comprehensive and includes amongst other issues pertaining to foreign trade and import-export relations, promotion of national economic interests in other countries, informing and updating potential foreign investors on investment opportunities, negotiating economic and trade agreements on economic and trade co-operation, as well as co-operating with a view to eliminating problematic

divergences and harmonising standards in various sectors,” he said. Greenidge noted that the HoM conference was successful and it was something that had to be continued. He noted that one of the key reasons for the conference was to ensure that the relevant authorities become acquainted. Greenidge explained that while the foreign mission team may be academically charged, with a wealth of experience, the majority are new to the foreign affairs ministry and under these circumstances, “it is very important to provide the opportunity for members to think and reflect on issues together, so that you actually build a team,” the minister said. Minister Greenidge said the team’s members come from different walks of life and it was important to keep that in mind.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 9, 2017

North Korea calls U.S. strikes ‘unforgivable’ North Korea said on Saturday U.S. missile strikes against a Syrian airfield on Friday were “an unforgivable act of aggression” that showed its decision to develop nuclear weapons was “the right choice a million times over”. The response by North Korea’s foreign ministry, carried by the official KCNA news agency, was the first since U.S. warships in the Mediterranean Sea launched dozens of missiles at a Syrian air base which the Pentagon says was involved in a chemical weapons attack earlier in the week. “The U.S. missile attack against Syria is a clear and unforgivable act of aggression against a sovereign state and we

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un gives field guidance to the Pyongyang mushroom factory in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on April 8, 2017. KCNA/via REUTERS strongly condemn this,” Korean foreign ministry proves our decision to KCNA quoted an unnamed as saying. strengthen our military spokesman for the North “The reality of today power to stand against

force with force was the right choice a million times over,” KCNA said. Diplomatically isolated North Korea considers Syria a key ally. KCNA said its leader Kim Jong Un and Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad exchanged messages of warm wishes and pledges of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Al-Assad thanked Kim for recognising the Syrian struggle to “meet such challenges as sinister actions of the world’s terrorists and encouraged Syria to successfully weather the crisis without fail,” KCNA said. The exchange of messages came before the U.S. airstrikes, which were U.S. President Donald Trump’s biggest foreign policy

move since taking office in January in reaction to what Washington says was a gas attack by al-Assad’s government that killed at least 70 people in a rebel-held territory. The U.S. strikes came as Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Florida to press the leader of North Korea’s sole diplomatic ally to do more to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions. North Korea is believed to be developing missiles capable of hitting the United States and a nuclear arsenal in defiance of U.N. sanctions. It has conducted five nuclear tests -- two since the beginning of last year -- and scores of missile tests. Syria denies it carried out the attack. (Reuters)

don’t pan out, then it’s generally the military that gets asked to do something.” Howard declined to give any details about the flight path of the missiles, or the U.S. military assessment of the damage caused, but said she was confident the strikes had hit their intended target. “The intention was to take out the airfield and to remove the means of the delivery of chemical weapons. I feel that was accomplished,” she said. The cruise missiles were launched by two ships in the

European region, the USS Porter and the USS Ross, in close coordination with U.S. Central Command, which is responsible for the Middle East. Howard lauded the quick action taken by the commanders and crews of the two ships in response to the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime. Howard said the integration of the strikes was “flawless” and showed the ability of the U.S. Navy to project power around the world. (Reuters)

U.S. strikes destroyed Syrian means to deliver chemical weapons - says admiral

U.S. Navy Admiral Michelle Howard said on Saturday U.S. cruise missile strikes on an air base in Syria had

destroyed the means to deliver chemical weapons from that base, and the U.S. military remained ready to carry out further strikes if needed. Howard, the four-star officer who leads U.S. Naval Forces in Europe and Africa, told Reuters the United States had decided to launch

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the strikes after the United Nations failed to pass a resolution condemning a deadly chemical weapons attack that killed scores of people in rebel-held Khan Sheikhoun. Washington has blamed the Syrian government for the attack on Tuesday. The Syrian government has strongly denied responsibility and blamed the deaths on leaks from a rebel chemical arms store it says was hit by a Syrian air strike. “We conducted strikes against an air field which was the means by which the

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chemicals were launched into the air. Those means don’t exist now,” Howard said in an interview during a missile defense event in Cologne. “We saw the misuse of chemical weapons and said, ‘OK, we need to send a very clear message’”. Asked about the U.S. military’s plan for how to deal with any potential further attacks, Howard said the military was ready to respond if other civilian options failed. “As the civilian leadership works through what their options are, if other options

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 9, 2017

Venezuela opposition march over Capriles ban Thousands of Venezuelans have marched in protest against the banning from politics of opposition leader Henrique Capriles for 15 years. In Caracas, police used tear gas to prevent demonstrators reaching the offices of the national ombudsman. Saturday’s protest came

after a week of anti-government demonstrations. They were initially sparked by a Supreme Court ruling to curb the powers of the National Assembly, a move which was later overturned. Security police fired tear gas on one major avenue in Caracas while in the city of San Cristobal they

shot rubber bullets towards protestors. Many people carried signs reading “No to dictatorship!” and “Capriles for President”. In the Caracas protest there was a moment of silence in memory of a young man shot dead on Thursday by police during demonstrations.

The protests on Saturday were the fourth this week to bring Caracas to a standstill Capriles has been at the forefront of demands for a recall referendum on President Nicolas Maduro. A former presidential candidate who has run twice, he is seen as the opposition’s best hope of de-

“No more repression” reads the sign at the opposition rally in Caracas

feating Maduro in elections scheduled for next year. The ruling by the Venezuelan comptroller said the ban on Capriles was due to “administrative irregularities” in his role as governor. Henrique Capriles is the latest in a series of prominent opposition politicians to be put out of action.

inent opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, was sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison on charges of inciting violence during anti-government protests in 2014. Venezuelans are dealing with the effects of a harsh economic crisis that has millions skipping meals, unable to afford soaring

prices for basic goods and facing long lines for scarce products. Mr Maduro’s socialist government have said that a US-backed business elite is responsible for Venezuela’s economic downturn and that it is trying to organise a coup to impose right-wing rule. (BBC News)

In Caracas, riot police threw tear gas to try to prevent them reaching the offices of the national ombudsman Two years ago, Maria Corina Machado, a former congresswoman was banned from office as was a former mayor, Daniel Ceballos. In 2015 another prom-

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Editorial

THE images are stark and troubling: hundreds of people lying around on the ground, flailing and panting for breath like beached amphibians. But the one that perhaps struck a chord the most is the one with the half-naked little boy of no more than three or five, chest heaving, as he fought for his dear life. The scene is the aftermath of last Tuesday’s deadly air strike on Khan Sheikhoun in north-western Syria, which left at least 84 civilians dead, among them 27 children and 19 women, and another 546 injured. As UN humanitarian adviser, Mr Jan Egeland told reporters in Geneva on

Thursday, it’s a sight that he and his colleagues have had to live with every day, and that he hopes world leaders will finally see it as a wakeup call to action. “I hope that this is a watershed moment,” he said, adding: “With all of these world leaders again saying they have woken up to the suffering of civilians that we see every day, I hope it is a re-birth of diplomacy, and of humanitarian and political efforts.” The United States responded on Thursday, firing at least 59 cruise missiles, targeting an airfield, which many believe was the launching base of the Syrian army for its chemical weapons last week. From all accounts, as

confirmed by the medical charity, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), each of the casualties to date showed signs of having been exposed to the deadly nerve gas, Sarin, used in chemical warfare and widely considered to be a weapon of mass destruction. According to medical sources, Sarin can be lethal, even at very low concentrations, with death occurring within one to 10 minutes of direct inhalation. And even with immediate medical attention, the prognosis is not heartening, as chances are, they may have already suffered permanent neurological damage. Some here may very well say, “But that’s in Syria, thousands of miles away!

What on earth does it have to do with us here in Guyana?” Good question. But again to quote Egeland, it’s the price we pay for war, if something is not done to arrive at a speedy political solution. Which brings us to the situation here in Guyana, where for centuries we’ve been grappling with two border controversies, one to our left and the other to our right; and where, in spite of every effort to arrive at an amicable solution for the past 25-odd years, they still won’t go away. Add to this the steady rise of despots to political office these days, there’s no telling what can happen. What with the prospect of “liquid gold” on

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 9, 2017

the horizon and the chain of events, born of greed, that can occasion. Again, who would have thought that relatively safe Guyana would have fallen prey to climate change, as happened back in 2005, when almost the entire East Coast was so inundated by unprecedented levels of floodwater that for weeks, residents had to get around by boat, and leptospirosis became the new buzzword due to stagnation. Again, who would have thought also that relatively safe Trinidad & Tobago would have had known links to the terrorist organisation, ISIS; as many as 150 or thereabout, according to recent media

reports. And the short answer is: times are changing; what once was no longer is, and the things one once took for granted are no longer certain. But as Nelson Mandela and his African National Congress (ANC) colleagues of old, and even the great Mahatma have taught us, there’s no better way of resolving conflict than through peace and dialogue. And a peace born of meaningful dialogue is just what Guyana needs at this point in time when there’s so much at stake. We’ve seen what war can do; there’s no point in fanning the flames.

Mining properties exist in Parish Peak Dear Editor THE National Mining Syndicate has noted the statement issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources on April 4, 2017, which suggests that the Parish Peak area located in the Upper Berbice area is restricted to mining. We wish to make it unequivocally clear that the information stated in the press statement issued by the ministry is inaccurate.

The Ministry of Natural Resources said in its statement that during a meeting held on March 29, 2017, Minister Raphael Trotman informed the head of the Berbice Mining Syndicate that there are environmental and forest certification considerations that have to be assessed before any decision can be made about accessing the area for mining purposes. “The minister informed that in the interim, the area

will remain off-limits,” the statement issued by the ministry stated. However, The National Mining Syndicate has information that completely contradicts that which has been issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources. In fact, there are over 90 active mining properties operating in the Parish Peak area and moreover, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has full oversight

of these operations. We find it disheartening to say the least that the Ministry of Natural Resources would in one breath say to the public that the area is “off-limits” knowing fully well that mining continues to occur in the area. The past five years (perhaps longer), has seen active and unrestricted mining in the Parish Peak area. The National Mining Syndicate has a deep ap-

preciation for the efforts being made by the administration to preserve the country’s biodiversity, but believes that a principled and fair decision must be taken to ensure that those who seek mining opportunities are treated equally. We find it unfair that the ministry would use the reasoning that the area is a GGMC Reserved Area, one that was held by Goldstone Resources Limited in

1999 and is important for biodiversity, given that the Upper Berbice River comprises “pristine lowland forests containing diverse and abundant wildlife” but yet allow persons to acquire land to mine in the area. Regards RENWICK SOLOMON For The National Mining Syndicate

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 9, 2017

He is the most dangerous advocate of ethnic incitement Dear Editor;

IT is literal ignorance for someone to claim that because a person is an ordained religious human whether Swami, Archbishop etc, they are not capable of vicious and deeply troubling actions. You have a virtual ocean of examples the past 2000 years of such people. For anyone to brush aside these examples, they are just downright ignorant in the morbid sense of the word. Some examples should suffice. The Boston Globe exposed a paedophiliac ring in the Catholic Church. The story was made in an Oscar-awarded film, “SPOTLIGHT. The Archbishop of Rwanda was charged for genocide.

He lured fleeing Tutsis into his church then called in the murderous band that chopped them to death. During the anti-Muslin riots in Gujarat, Hindu priests urged their followers to kill Muslims and that is what they did. The Chief Minister of the state at the time is the current Prime Minister of India, who because of that semi-genocide incident was denied an American visa. There are Evangelical priests in the U.S. that are the worst advocates of racist domination. In Guyana, during a speech to his congregation, the late Hindu priest, Reepu Daman Persaud, had advocated a third term for President Bharrat Jagdeo, the most depraved head of a Caribbean country in the history of the West Indies.

We come now to Hindu priest, Aksharananda. There are Africans and East Indians in this country that prefer to see their particular ethnic community in charge of Guyana. Tom Dalgetty once wrote that Walter Rodney should never have attempted to remove a Blackman (Burnham) from power. Ravi Dev is Guyana’s most devout preacher of ethnic hegemony. But Aksharananda is far more dangerous than any of them. Here is why. Dalgetty seldom is heard or seen. Ravi Dev is a stuck record that has become a jaded and faded mandarin. Ryhaan Shah is a 10th rate writer of fiction that has no intellectual prowess. These people cannot influence young minds. But Aksharanda can. He owns a school where the students

numbering in the hundreds are all East Indians. Can one imagine what he hints to those students? Aksharananda has a Hindu church where he preaches. Can one imagine what he sermonises his devotees with? I did a column whereby I pointed out to readers that Aksharananda got a taste of his own medicine when he revolted against a Christian preacher who was allowed into a public school to lecture children in a hate-filled speech. I did not, could not and will never accept what that Christian preacher spoke. He should not have been given such a permit. The point of the column was to prove to Aksharanada, how it feels when the shoe is on the other foot. Aksharananda had three

UN’s advice must be heeded Dear Editor:

THE United Nations’ (UN) delegation that was here in February at the Government’s requested support, in the effort to proceed with constitutional reform, has submitted its report to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. It is hoped the sobering input of the world’s second oldest body is heeded. It is being advised, via the media, the UN recommends: i) the importance of not rushing the process of constitutional reform; ii) the process can create an opportunity for social cohesion and nation-building; iii) it must be characterised by meaningful dialogue, negotiation and compromise by the government, opposition and citizens; iv) the Constitutional Reform Commission be independent, inclusive, and representative of civil society; and v) major attention be paid to public education and effective participation. What the UN has advised us in proceeding on this matter of national import, is what the Guyana Constitution requires of us. The environment as outlined in Article 13 expressly states, “The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of

the citizens, and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being.” That this international institution whose existence is premised on the equality of man and treating each other with dignity and respect, from whence its declarations are framed, has spoken, it is time to cease treating the Constitution with contempt and disdain. Reducing this supreme instrument to satire and ridicule, which frankly is informed by acceptance of propaganda and absence of understanding of its spirit and intent, along with not taking the needed effort to become acquainted, is hurting the nation and its people’s growth and development. I recently attended an internationally hosted panel review of the Constitution and a panellist, who is charged the responsibility for helping the process, admitted to not having read this instrument. In the first instance, you cannot have an informed and educated conversation on something you know not of and expect to be able to give of your best in accomplishing the task required of you. This deficiency is not singular to this panellist but pervasive in the adminis-

tration of governance across the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The UN’s recommendation that attention be paid to public education and effective participation requires Government providing the needed leadership. Government has overarching responsibility for the nation’s education and must see it incumbent on its part to provide the requisite resources that society, through education (formal and informal), can know what’s ensconced in the Constitution, its requirements, and the citizens’ roles and responsibilities, which would bring about effective participation. For it is only through knowledge effective participation can happen, and this is a foremost prerequisite to the starting point of any process. Further, to ask people to participate in changing an instrument that they are ignorant of is to torpedo the intent of the objective the process claims it sets out to achieve. The desire for constitutional amendment/reform/ alteration is permitted in the constitution and in order to proceed with same, one has to follow the rules to change the rules. Article 119A (1) expressly states, “The National Assembly shall establish a Parliamentary Standing Committee for Constitutional Reform for the purpose [of]

continually reviewing the effectiveness of the working of the Constitution and making periodic reports therein to the Assembly, with proposals for reform as necessary.” Subparagraph (2) goes on to state, “To assist in its work, the committee shall have power to co-opt experts or enlist the aid of other persons of appropriate expertise, whether or not such experts or other persons are members of the Assembly.” The UN has pointed us in a direction which has been right in front of our eyes all these years and that is not dissimilar to a call being made by some in the society. The Prime Minister, who is charged the responsibility for the constitutional reform

supporters who rallied to his defence in letters to this newspaper. All in rather unthinking manner were quite pleased to let me know that they are devout Hindus, so they are defending a Hindu. Not one of them wrote as a person who believes in a philosophical way of looking at things. They said they were Hindus defending Aksharananda. I guess it would be good for the credibility of Aksharananda to get non-Hindus to defend him. Not one of them even dwelt for a moment on all the evidence I provided of Aksharananda openly engaging in race domination, support for the PPP and condemnation of PNC leaders during the 2015 election campaign. In that column, I omitted an egregious, published

letter of Aksharananda, in which he condemned Moses Nagamootoo and Nigel Hughes for incitement of African youths to beat Indian people during a violent protest at Agricola in October 2012. Nothing of the sort happened. We would have had it on the historical record if Nagamootoo and Hughes had replied, so in any debate on the credibility of Aksharananda it could have been cited. Finally, I don’t care a damn who wears rubber slippers and lives modestly. I am concerned at about what is inside their minds. It is laughable to judge a person by the type of clothes they wear.

consultation, has advised that his office submitted an $80 million budget for the programme. Let this money now be accordingly disbursed after a programme has been conceptualised and developed based on the

UN’s recommendations. The Guyana Trades Congress participated in the UN’s engagement and awaits its copy of the report.

Regards FREDERICK KISSOON

Regards LINCOLN LEWIS

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 9, 2017

A clear case for review or reversal

ON Friday, an open consultation on whether the 14% value added tax (VAT) on private tuition fees should be re-considered turned into a debate on public versus private education. In Guyana, both private and public tuition constitute the formal education system and complement, rather than rival, each other. There is however, a stark difference in the form each takes: education in private schools is a fee-paying enterprise; education in public schools is free! I have benefitted from both public and private education. Whilst my primary school education, which included gardening, wood-working and pupil teacher’s tuition was free, I had to work as a part-time fish vendor to pay fees at a private high school. I gathered, penny by penny, the princely sum of $18 to pay the first term’s fees. Private school education opened the avenues for my future career, the early part of which was in teaching. This would be 50 years since I co-founded two high schools in West Berbice, which shows that I am not uninitiated in the operation of private educational institutions, for fees, though my motive in doing so was not for profit. UNPOPULAR At that time, I considered all sources of education, whether public or private, to be a social value. And not having to look then at government’s bigger picture to finance social services, I would have rebelled if I were required to pay a tax on tuition fees which working-class parents could hardly pay, in the first place. So, with the introduction of a value added tax on private tuition, I could relate to the sentiments being voiced against it. It is clear that VAT on private tuition fees is unpopular. It has caused not only unease in the society, as Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine stated. It has also burdened parents who choose to send their children to privately owned schools and now have to pay more, as a result of the tax which took effect from January 1, 2017. There have been protests over the VAT and Friday’s consultation between a ministerial team and operators/parents/students probably allowed interested parties to articulate as best as they could, their position on the tax.. Before this consultation, Cabinet, on at least three separate occasions, discussed a possible review of the measure.

Though there have been mixed views, no one has ever justified any measure that could constitute an oppression on parents. AGITATION The VAT was introduced in 2007 by the Jagdeo Government, with wide application at the rate of 16%. Whilst the minimum wage was frozen and increases were contained to an average 5% annually, there was justifiable agitation for reduction of VAT to bring down the cost of goods and services. But the Government held on to the 16%, and refused to compromise. It had argued that for every one percentage point that VAT was reduced, the Government would have lost $2.5 Billion in revenues. When I met President Ramotar on the issue as part of a delegation from the Alliance For Change (AFC), he wanted to make a deal to reduce VAT in return for our agreement for his government to withdraw subsidies on electricity for the Linden bauxite community. We rejected Ramotar’s diabolical plot to bring oppression on the people of Linden. It took a new government, our Coalition Government, to reduce VAT to 14% within two years of coming into office. Simultaneously, we increased the threshold from $10 million to $15 million in order for a business to become a registrant, so that the number of registrants would be reduced from its original level of 3,750 registrants. SWEEPING CHANGES As part of sweeping tax changes advised by a Tax Reform Committee, the income tax threshold was raised to $60,000, which removed several thousands of wage earners from the tax net; and the rate of income tax deduction was reduced to 28% for persons earning up to $100,000 and one-third for persons earning more than that. Besides, the minimum wage and old age pensions were increased, and public service wages went up by 38%. The State gave up some $10 Billion in revenues from the general package of tax relief and concessions, even though the current budget was in deficit to the tune of some $38 Billion. The way out was to increase borrowing, cut expenditures or widen the tax base, or all three. To avoid cutting social sector spending, the Government introduced some new tax

measures, among which was a 14% VAT on tuition fees charged by privately-owned schools. This tax was expected to bring in some $360 million, which is hardly enough to impact on spending, but was worth pursuing on the ground that most of the private schools were not paying taxes on their profits. That argument for VAT on private tuition fees has spawned big contention, but in the exchange of views, some revelations about private education operations have reached the public domain. According to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, it is estimated that there are some 86 private schools operating in Guyana, many of them making huge revenues. Fees range from between $144,000 and $300,000 annually, which do not include extra lessons, uniforms, books, coaching fees, etc. The top eight among these private schools rake in fees estimated at over $2 Billion annually. It might be revealing if the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) could indicate how many of these private schools pay taxes. In spite of the spirited agitation for withdrawal of the 14% tax, only about one-quarter of the private schools are registered for and are VAT-compliant, and prior to 2017, some of these entities were refunded some $150 million in VAT. It was expected that the refunds would have been ploughed back into the school system, and resulted in reduced tuition fees. FRINGE ARGUMENT While the case in favour of review or reversal of the VAT on private tuition fees was well made, a less than meritorious fringe argument was advanced to suggest that the Government had callously and oppressively taxed “education.” That slogan “tax on education” became a misguided but bitter refrain, to which I responded assertively: “It could not be an oppression when this Government allocates $43.1 Billion or 17% of its budget on public education this year and during 2015/2016 it spent some $70 Billion.” In answer to one attendee who emotionally stated that this Government was “starving us,” I pointed out that this year $1.9 billion was allocated for the school feeding programme, and previously, during 2015-2016, some $2 Billion went to provide hot meals for schoolchildren. I also referred to the unprecedented record of this Government through an initiative by President Granger to provide students countrywide with buses, boats, bicycles, books and even

breakfasts. A lap-top for each teacher has been initiated. There were a few persons who painted a picture of unavailability of access to university education, hence the reliance on private schooling. It is admitted that while there are insufficient places for all students, university education is still accessible and Guyana graduates some 1,000 such students every year. Besides, all students at the University of Guyana could access the Student Loan Fund, which has been in existence for many years. This Government is engaged in replenishing the Revolving Fund, which was placed in reverse gear as defaulters owed an estimated $9 Billion. And teacher-training remains tuition-free. ENTREPRENEURSHIP No one faults those who are introducing entrepreneurship in education and for making a few bucks. But they do not have to justify this by pulling down the efforts of the State in the public education sector. It is true that private tuition is in demand and is flourishing, due to the declining quality of public education. A Commission of Inquiry has been appointed to look at the reasons for this, and an emergency programme for upgrading teaching of mathematics has been introduced. But much more has to be done. However, it should be accepted that public education is competing with other social sectors for scarce revenues. For example, in the 2017 Budget, $31 Billion was allocated for public health and $29.1 Billion for public security, both sectors being vitally important for our people’s care and safety. In addition, there has been a drain on limited public funds to finance the sugar industry. The Coalition Government has diverted $32 Billion since it took office two years ago, to save the jobs of sugar workers who have been trapped in an industry that has been bankrupted under the former government. In this context, the effort to squeeze a little juice from private schools to help salvage the demand for public funds was well-intentioned. At the time of its introduction, it was not anticipated that VAT on private tuition fees would have triggered a social response that would render this measure to be unfeasible, and make a review or reversal of it unavoidable. This is the decision that Cabinet has to make.

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Articulating a Vision and Consulting with People are Urgently Needed THERE are two necessary ingredients in any recipe for good, effective and democratic governance. First, there needs to be an overall vision of where the government proposes to take the country and the short and long-term objectives therein. Second, the government should consult with citizens through their elected officials and more importantly through direct conversations with people in their communities. If a government does everything right, but omits those two ingredients, it would finally find itself in conflict with the very citizenry it hopes to help. I am contending that this is partly the problem with the current government. This is nothing new—all our governments have suffered from this ailment. Our two previous governments resorted to force and repression when confronted with mass protests born of an absence of progressive vision and lack of consultation. In the current dispensation, this government does not have the latitude to resort to force and, to my mind, does not have the appetite or incli-

nation to go down that road. It means, therefore, that it must acknowledge and address the consequences of its failure to properly strategize and consult with the citizens. Let’s take the case of the parking meters. It is clear that there was no coordination between the city government and the central government. The parking meter project was not part of a larger government developmental package. The city, it seems, went off on its own and did its own thing. It is quite troubling to see the APNU City councillors at odds with their counterparts in central government. Clearly there was no strategizing within the APNU and worse within the APNU+AFC Coalition. The AFC, through Duncan, is clearly at odds with the APNU on this matter. So, there is no larger package. But, there is no consultation within the Coalition. This is not good enough. One imperative of coalitions is persistent consultations. Failure to do so defeats the logic of a coalition. I recently re-read the Coalition’s manifesto and tried to line its contents up with the performance of the government. I am afraid

that there is not much coordination. Then there is the matter of public consultation; there was absolutely none. This has landed the government in very hot water. They now must try to walk back the project, but because governments don’t admit mistakes and because the project is not part of a larger vision, they are trying a new thing every day and hoping one would stick. First, they reduced the price, then they urge the city to review the contract, then they suspended the project for three months, then the Public Infrastructure Ministry ordered the city not to clamp vehicles on certain streets and finally the Public Security Ministry is urged to protect citizens from having their vehicles clamped. This is a clear case of lack of an overall plan. But this is what happens when you don’t have a larger vision and when you don’t consult. Policies that don’t flow from vision and that are crafted in isolation from the citizens are bound to eventually implode. The government is now confronted with the problem on the issue of the VAT on private education. I am in

sympathy with the government trying to get these rich private schools to pay their way, to contribute to the national coffers and to be patriots. Rich people tend to want to make money and not pay their fair share of taxes. But I have no sympathy for the government when it comes to the lack of vision and its failure to consult on this matter. First, the burden to pay should not be on the parents. I hear the argument that VAT is a consumption tax, so it must be levied on consumers and not on the schools. There are some parents who can afford the VAT, but a lot of poor people send their children to private school and can barely afford the school fees. My point is there having to be a distinction between private schools that cater to mostly poor people and those that cater to rich people. Even if you are going to tax, there should not be a flat tax across the board. If you are going after those who can pay and don’t pay, you should not punish those who can pay. Further, if the VAT would force poor people to take their children out of private

school, you must have an adequate alternative in the public schools. With all due respect to the government, there has not been any marked improvement in the condition of public education. So, you cannot by your policy frustrate people from sending their children to private school and not concomitantly improve the conditions of public schools. The same logic applies to the UG tuition hike—if you are raising tuition, it must me linked to some clear and present improvement of services. The recent attempt at consultation with the stakeholders come after the fact. The government is in effect saying that they hear the people, but they can’t do anything right now. Well, this is what happens when you don’t talk to people before you act Finally, to situation with the sugar industry. I think there is a vision for sugar, but the consultation has been poor. Only recently we saw a delegation from the Cabinet visit Wales. You do not do something as far-reaching as closing estates and not be in constant conversation with those who would be affected.

By the time you get around to talking to them, the PPP has already poisoned their minds with erroneous information and ethnic conspiracy theories. It is time this government wake up to the fact that an adhoc economic program is not working and that its failure to consult is hurting its efforts. You do not have economists of the caliber of Winston Jordan, Clive Thomas, Carl Greenidge, Gem Fletcher and Maurice Odle available to you and not have a coherent economic vision and program. Further, I know of many astute political people who are available to this government that can speak to people and explain a vision if one is available. The government does not need PR, it needs political explanation of its vision and program. But it first must have a vision. More of Dr. Hinds ‘writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www. guyanacaribbeanpolitics. com. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

Child electrocuted in bedroom A three-year- old baby boy was recently electrocuted in Paradise Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, after coming into contact with a live extension cord inside his house. Dead is Stephan Clinton Glen of Seventh Street, Paradise Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara. He was a student of Nabaclis Nursery School.

According to the toddler’s grandmother, Beverly Glen, she was in the kitchen preparing dinner when her grandchildren were playing hide and seek inside the house. Glen explained that she immediately sensed something was amiss when the toddler’s sister said “run na, Stephan like yo dead.” Immediately, she dashed to the room where she noticed

her grandson in a motionless position. She explained that he had crawled under the bed to hide from his other siblings when he was shocked by a live extension cord. The toddler was breathing at the time he was found and they decided to rush him to the Georgetown Public Hospital, but he succumbed. Relatives complained

that they tried to call an ambulance, but none was available in their district. “If this place had more facilities, the baby would have survived. We need an ambulance for this and surrounding villages. If he had met the hospital earlier, he could have been saved,” one relative lamented. The police and the fire service are investigating the matter.

Stephan Clinton Glen

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 9, 2017

The power-grabbing effort to control Linden Television

LET me from the outset make it very clear, there is no controversy in Linden with regard to the issuance of the television licence for the station that belongs to the people; it is an orchestrated power grab being carried out to deprive the people of what’s rightly theirs. There are some who hold public offices in Region 10 that are collaborating with a group in Georgetown to hold the people hostage. I am referring to the aborted meetings of the TV Trust held two Fridays ago, which was supposed to have seen the election of the chairman, vice-chairman and secretary. For years, the PPP/C government used the television station as a whip in its effort to subjugate and marginalise the people. That government misinterpreted the quiet and different resistances as acceptance that the people were prepared to live on their knees rather than die on their feet with their dignity intact. In 2012 when they rose up as a single formidable force against the proposed imposition of increased electricity charges without the required constitutional consultation (Article 13), it sent ripple ef-

fects throughout the country and afar. All of the operatives who are today engaging in this power grab are personally known. Nearly all of them were physically involved in undermining the struggle. This struggle, which was drenched in the people’s sweat, blood and tears, achieved for them an agreement with central Government in August of that year. This agreement commits to return within 14 days of signing, the television station the PPP/C took away from the community. Let me pause to say, notice has been taken of Sam Hinds’ letter on the television matter in response to an Imran Khan article. There is no interest in attending to the propaganda of their exchange, but I shall deal with Hinds’ vacuous and reckless statements about the issue later. Sam is once again being put on notice that once I am alive he will not be allowed to misrepresent the history of bauxite, where both him and I worked, and the issues surrounding the agreement. If it were not for the administration he was part of that trampled the people’s rights, lives would not have been

lost on 12th July, 2012. The 2012 Agreement includes the establishment of a committee to prepare an Economic Plan. Rather than seeking to bring realisation to this committee that would put bread and butter on the people’s tables, these persons are more interested in fighting to control the television in a manner reminiscent of the PPP/C government. Such pursuit can only be to continue the dastardly conduct the people fought against. Lindeners must not accept Member of Parliament (MP) Jermaine Figueira’s insulting their intelligence in his claim that the meeting was aborted because the board members were not in receipt of the Trust’s Articles of Association. His story has no bearing on their walk-out from proceeding with an election consistent with the democratic process of secret balloting from which will flow the will of the group. Balloting is secret in any part of the world. When Fegueira, Regional Chairman Renis Morian, Mayor Carwyn Holland, and CDC Deputy Director Sandra Adams walked out from that meeting because they did not get their way to hold an open vote,

is not only clear contempt for the process, but advises that they would undermine anything if they don’t get their way. The named individuals sat with the Prime Minister to reconfigure the board, so they can sit on it. Now today they are saying that they are unaware of what’s ensconced in the Articles of Association. Clearly, these persons have an obsession with power and titles. Further, the notion of seeking to say who must be elected to what position in the Trust, which is not a state entity, goes against established principles. That determination must be solely made by the board members. The new machination of determining who must be elected to what position is another attempt to deprive the community of their television. Let’s not forget the first complaint to delay issuance of the licence was that of the then composition of the board. The establishment of the Trust commenced without one cent from the regional Government, PNC/R, APNU, AFC or the then PPP/C government. It was the donations of kindred persons and a lawyer, who on recognising

the circumstances offered to do the paperwork and filing pro bono. The team that did the rehabilitative work at the site of the dish at Richmond Hill was led by Pastor Sills, included members from his church, and supported by Gordon “Badheart” Callender, and others. This was a self-help effort where direct costs were only borne for the purchasing of materials. There were two regional MPs at the time -- Vanessa Kissoon and Renis Morian. Kissoon was the one who made her presence felt during this process. Nowhere during the challenging efforts of putting systems in place to get the station and licence going was the presence or contribution of Morian, Adams, Holland and Fegueira felt or seen. In fact, it was the trade union community that was tasked the responsibility of sourcing financing to get the project off the ground. The history behind the community’s ownership of this television station began in a room in the United States with two trade union representatives, Morris Drakes (GB&GWU) and Linden

Smith (GMWU), and the Green Construction Company. Haslyn Parris, then Chief Executive Officer of GuyMine, consented to make representation to the Forbes Burnham government for the television to be established in Linden. The trade union retains abiding interest in having the television serve its purpose and not used as an instrument against the people. The people’s struggle of 2012 was given leadership by then Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon, supported by some sections of the religious community, trade union, business, and national and geographic political leadership. This new attempt now to deny the people what’s rightly theirs by a few self-serving persons in Linden and Georgetown must stop. You were lukewarm, absent, or non-supportive of the struggle; you cannot come now and deny those who worked for its achievement. On matters of rights and the rule of law, I am very uncompromising in my articulation and position. People don’t negotiate their rights; they demand what’s rightly theirs.

Unidentified body found on Camp Street THE body of an unidentified East Indian male was found lying face up and motionless at the corner of Camp Street and North Road, Georgetown,on Friday in the wee hours of the morning.

The body was found on the eastern side of Camp Street. The man was clad in a blue jeans, burgundy jersey and black cap. Reports indicate that his head was pointing south and feet in the opposite direction.

The body was discovered by an MMC security guard who was on patrol duty when he saw the body lying motionless. He promptly called in the police. The body was checked for marks of

violence and a cut was seen at the back of his head after the cap was removed. Police said no foul play was suspected. The body is at the Lyken Funeral home awaiting a post- mortem.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 9, 2017

Make your own kites next year … Minister Broomes urges community leaders

MINISTER within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, on Friday distributed kites to children of Alpha Children’s home, located in Stanleytown, Berbice; the Fyrish Primary School and the Gibraltar- Courtland Primary School located on the Corentyne. The distribution of kites, which started at the Fyrish school and ended at the Alpha Children’s Home, is in preparation for the upcoming Easter holiday which will be observed at the end of the week. Minister Broomes spoke of the significance of Easter and urged the children to be careful when flying their kites. “It is Easter, and we believe that as a government we need to spread good cheer to the nation’s children. I have brought you many kites and President David Granger will be travelling across the country to distribute kites to other children.” Broomes continued: “When flying your kites, please be careful and stay away from all electrical poles. I wish you a happy Easter.” The Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources also wished those students about to write the National Grade Six Assessment Examinations next week good luck and urged them to continue

working hard. “As you prepare to work hard, I wish you all the best. You should know that nothing good comes easy and with hard work your dreams will become a success,” said the minister amid applause from the students and teachers of the Fyrish and Gibraltar-Courtland Primary Schools. Minister Broomes also called on the community leaders to utilise local skills to make kites for next year’s Easter activities. “I hope that next year

we would see people making kites here, so we can come here and support,” she said. Meanwhile, Regional Education Officer (REO) Volika Jaikaishun expressed gratitude to Minister Broomes for distributing the kites to the children who were quite eager to receive them. “I am very happy… on behalf of the department of education (Region Six), I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Minister Broomes and team for their kind gesture,” said

This lad living at the Alpha Children’s Home showcases his kite, made from ‘pointa’

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, shares a light moment with two little girls on Friday during her kite-distribution exercise on the Corentyne. Jaikaishun. Similarly, Head Teacher of the Gibraltar-Courtland Primary School, Neville Bourne, expressed thanks to Minister Broomes for her gesture. “You are aware that school is being closed for Easter, as is customary, children fly kites and so we could consider ourselves very fortunate today to have Minister Broomes to distribute kites. We wish to thank you minister for taking time out of your busy schedules to visit us and distribute kites to these children,” said Bourne. The dozens of children who benefited from the kites flocked Minister Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Broomes and thanked her Simona Broomes, distributes kites to children of the for bringing kites to their Fyrish Primary School on Friday

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, (centre) with regional education officials and teachers of the Gibraltar- Courtland Primary School on Friday.

schools, while many began flying theirs. “Thank you Minister Broomes,” the children screamed as they received their kites on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, at the Alpha Children’s Home, Minister Broomes was greeted by some energetic lads who jumped for joy when they were told they would be receiving kites for Easter. But even as they were excited, one child brought to the minister’s attention the fact that he was in the process of making his own kite. The frame of his kite was made from ‘pointa’ and he demonstrated how he would place paper over the frame. “I am happy to see his kite, it is neatly made and

I am proud of his initiative,” said Broomes. The minister was also given a tour of the facility by the founder of the home, Esther Bruyning. She told Minister Broomes that she currently has 10 children at the home, but noted that approximately 150 children had passed through her hands over the years. Minister Broomes thanked Bruyning for her dedication in giving children in need a safe and comfortable environment to grow up. “You have done a great job here for these children and I thank you,” said Broomes, who noted that each child was deserving of equal opportunities despite their circumstances.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 9, 2017

Minister Norton reaches out to remote Upper Mazaruni villages – first Government official to meet with residents

MINISTER of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton and a team from the Ministry of Public Health, today, visited the villages of Phillipai and Ammokokopai, located in the Upper Mazaruni, CuyuniMazaruni (Region Seven), to meet with and listen to the concerns of residents. Minister Norton is the first Government Minister to have visited the village of Ammokokopai. Addressing the residents who gathered at the Ammokokopai village, the home of the Alleluia Church, Dr. Norton said that the visit was two-fold. The primary reason, he said, was to meet with the residents to assure them that their religion is respected and supported by the Ministry of Social Cohesion, as they had previously voiced concerns that it had not been recognised by the Ministry.

However, after hearing about several health related concerns in the area, the Minister opted to liaise with the Ministry of Public Health and a joint team travelled to the village to meet with and conduct a medical outreach exercise. In addressing the residents, Minister Norton said that the Government recognises the rights of every Guyanese, among which, are the rights to healthcare and the freedom to practice their religious beliefs. “Ammokokopai is the centre of the Alleluia church that the Akawaio people consider as being given to them by the Almighty. The tradition is here just as it was before. They have begun to realise that this is something that belongs to them and they are prepared to guard it as their prized possession and they can be assured of the Government’s and the

Ministry’s support, respect and regard. This is the Ministry of Social Cohesion and it is what we want to promote. Guyana is a diverse society and there is strength in diversity,” he said. Further, the Minister noted that while the community might be located in a remote part of the country, the Government is cognisant of its responsibility to every citizen and will ensure that their concerns and needs are addressed. “It is important that the people in this area be represented, whether Middle Mazaruni or Upper Mazaruni and be provided with what they need and this Government will ensure that you are taken care of,” he said. Minister Norton also committed to having the group partake in the activities planned by the Ministry of Social Cohesion

Dr. Norton greets some of the students who turned up at the Phillipai Airstrip to welcome him.

Dr. Onika Scott from the Ministry of Public Health engaging mothers and children from the villages on their health concerns

The sight that greeted Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton, upon his arrival at the Phillipai Village, Upper Mazaruni, earlier today. as well as the activities for the Indigenous Heritage Month. Dr. Onika Scott, Head of the Maternal and Childcare Unit at the Ministry of Public Health, in her remarks, said that the Ministry was particularly concerned about the healthcare needs of the children and mothers in the area and as such, the visit organised by the Ministry of Social Cohesion, provided the opportunity to reach out to these vulnerable groups. “We know that there are challenges and the Ministry will work assiduously to address these challenges and we have advanced. The progress might be slow but it is sure. We are going to improve health systems and the delivery of health care in all areas. So as we received the concerns and issues, it is not if we can, it is that we must,” she said. In the coming week, the

Ministry will be delivering a vaccine refrigerator to the village so that vaccines for the children especially, can be administered as is required. Additionally, the Ministry will now work closer with the regional health authorities to ensure that pharmaceuticals reach the villages in a more timely manner. Toshao of the villages, Mr. Yarell Austin, in an invited comment, said that the residents were pleased that the Government has taken the initiative to reach out to the communities, after it has been neglected for such a long period. “I do appreciate his [Minister Norton’s] visit and as other speakers were saying, there were no other persons from the previous government to speak to us and so we thank this Government for remembering us and visiting us. We are in a

far village and we never get a chance to talk to the Minister like this. We look forward to him working with us to address any concerns we may have,” he said. Mr. Humphrey Joseph, a villager, expressed similar sentiments to the Minister noting that “there is no other person who visited us here and we are so happy to see you … that you have come here to see us.” Ms. Yvonne Thomas, another villager, said that she is cognisant of the fact that the Government is inclusive and promoting social cohesion and it is therefore their wish that the Alleluia Church be included in its activities. “We are asking that this Church and this religion be respected and regarded by your Ministry. At no time, we don’t want to be put out of our mission,” she said.

Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton is welcomed to the Amokokopai Village by Senior Council, Ms. Lorette Williams

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 9, 2017

Businesses must clean drains every day –– or pay $10,000 fine, says Solid Waste Management director By Telesha Ramnarine

BUSINESS owners were on Friday morning reminded that it is not only the Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) job to keep drains clean in the city, but that they also have a duty to clear those in front of their premises. Head of Solid Waste Management, Mr Walter Narine, said that according to the Municipal District and Councils Act, business owners are required to clean their drains by 08:00 hrs each day. According to the law, if an environmental officer turns up and finds the drains unclean by that time, a fine of $10,000 could be imposed on the business, he noted. Narine was speaking at the third consultation meeting on Friday that the M&CC had organised to “rap” with business owners from Stabroek, Werken-Rust, Newburg, Charlestown, Albouystown and Middle Road on the way forward regarding garbage collection. The business community is so far supportive of the move by the City Council to implement a separate fee for the collection of commercial waste, especially since many of them have to pay private contractors for the removal of such waste. The M&CC said it wants to consult with all business owners in the city first before calling them for a meeting to announce the figures, which will represent three classes of businesses namely small, medium and large. Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikarran offered that the fee was divided into three categories so that the smaller businesses, obviously generating a small amount of waste, would not have to pay the same amount as those businesses putting out a lot more. Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen, who chaired the meeting, heard different proposals from the businesspeople regarding what the fees should be, including $100, $300, and $500 per barrel. One businesswoman of K. Rahaman and Sons, suggested a monthly fee of $5000. GOOD INITIATIVE Jermaine Langevine, owner of White Castle Fish

Shop on Hadfield Street, said he pays $20,000 per month to private garbage contractors. He is supportive of the M&CC’s initiative to introduce the new fee. The Council’s first meeting last Monday was with business owners from Lacytown, Bourda, North and South Cummingsburg, Robbstown and Kingston. Although Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikarran alluded to the low turn-out at that meeting, they had no idea that their second meeting with businesses from Queenstown and Alberttown, would see only two business representatives turning up. The fourth consultation will be on Tuesday, April 11, with business operators from Wortmanville, Lodge, Lodge Housing Scheme, and Durban Backlands. Meanwhile, the mayor, at a previous meeting, lamented that City Hall cannot afford to keep up with the weekly amount of $1.8M that has to be spent to clear commercial waste only. She pointed out that the refusal of some businesses not to show up for the consultation constitutes gross disrespect for the Council. When decisions are made, she observed that it is the same individuals who complain that they were never consulted. “They’re too disrespectful to the Council! They’re accustomed to the lawlessness over the years and they want to remain like that,” she charged. “Businesses want to use every little space in front of them, but doesn’t [sic] want to pay the Council anything,” Chase-Green said. At that meeting, Narine had referred to the practice of businesspeople to sweep dust into the drains, which he noted results in a host of problems that have to be cared for by City Hall. This, he noted, is notwithstanding the fact that many businesses do not remit their rates and taxes to the council in a timely fashion. Meanwhile, the Solid Waste Department has recently recognised the efforts of some of its employees including Seeram Sukraj, Norbert Edwards, Rhonda Porter, Brian Freeman, Clive Singh and

Nazim Gafoor. The employees were said to have been performing well in their duties and Mayor Chase-Green even visited them at their Princes Street location to hand out certificates and offer words of encouragement to them for their hard work.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 9, 2017

Largest motorcade for 2017 Pakaraima Safari

THE 15th edition of the Pakaraima Mountain Safari has created history by attracting the participation of 30 vehicles and 40 motorcycles – the largest motorcade ever to traverse the Pakaraima terrain. Of the 40 riders, 20 are from the Sonic Hunter’s Club in Georgetown and the other 20 from the Rupununi Riders. The Rupununi Riders include riders from Brazil while the Georgetown team comprises riders from Suriname and one participant from the United States. The team was scheduled to leave Georgetown last evening. From Georgetown, they will head to the village of Karasabai, then to Orinduik and back to Georgetown. This excludes an expanded trip to Lethem for the highly-anticipated Rodeo this weekend. The trip entails travelling across Regions Four, Eight, Nine and 10, starting below sea level and reaching approximately 3,800 feet above sea level. The journey takes approximately four to five days through unfriendly terrain, passing more than 25 indigenous villages before reaching the final destination, Orinduik Falls.

Three bikers out of Georgetown who are ready to showcase their skills during the trip The safari offers some of the most beautiful geological features to be experienced in the Guianas. According to Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh, the 1000-mile return trip provides an opportunity for participants, which include foreigners, to see and discover Guyana’s beauty. “Guyana’s key product and attractions are nature and community-based tourism. The safari is one of the greatest ways to explore and discover more of what Guyana has to offer,” the GTA Director said. He was speaking at the GUYOIL Service Station on Regent Street last evening where the team was finalising arrangements for the trip. Haralsingh, optimistic in his reasoning, explained that this safari has the potential to grow as an international event and help to position Guyana as a top adventure and outdoor destination. To support his contention, the director referenced a recent safari trip to Moraikobai, the lone indigenous village in Region Five. EXPANDING “The safari product is expanding. There was a safari to Moraikobai, the only indigenous village in Region Five, and that village went from having no visitors to over 100 visitors in just two months. So this is an indication of the potential which these safaris hold in its contribution to Guyana’s development,” he said. With a demand for fuel and lubricants during the trip, the Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL) has made a donation of more than $670,000 to the Pakaraima Safari, in the form of gasoline, gas oil and lubricants. Marketing and sales manager of GUYOIL, Eric Whaul, explained that the fuel was sent to the village of Karasabai where the drivers will make their first fuel stop. He said the fuel received at Karasabai should take the drivers to the end of the journey. Meanwhile, third-time safari participant, Ralph Hemsingh, was at a loss for words to describe the experience. “I went on three safaris and since I did the first one, I come back every year. It’s something amazing. It’s something you cannot explain or describe. You just have to go to experience it. I would recommend this to every Guyanese,” he said. Other major sponsors include Rainforest Tours, which is the lead coordinator and Mekdeci Machinery and Construction, among others.

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Rupununi students visit Iwokrama for research project

Students observing one of the plants in its natural habitat during their trip to the Iwokrama rainforest last week NINETY-ONE students from St Ignatius Secondary School in Central Rupununi visited the Iwokrama rainforest on Wednesday as part of a Grade Nine Integrated Science research project. According to a release from the Iwokrama research centre, the students’ science project focuses on the symbiotic relationships among plants, namely commensalism, parasitism, and mutualism. The task of the students during the visit was to identify, by name, the plants that share these relationships and to explain how plants affect and are affected by each other and other organisms in their environments. Another objective of the students’ assignment was to observe, describe and classify plants by their colours, sizes, shape of leaves and their habitats. The research centre explained that the visit afforded the students the opportunity to see those relationships at

work in the Iwokrama forest and to collect samples for preservation. Botanical surveys of the Iwokrama forest have found over 1, 250 species of plants, but could well exceed 2, 000 species if those in the highland areas are taken into consideration, the centre said. The students were accompanied by Francine Gomes, head of the Science Department at the St Ignatius Secondary School. She noted that science teachers at the school felt that even though plants around St Ignatius and surrounding communities could have been used for the research, it was better for the students to visit Iwokrama, where “everything is in one place.” Gomes said that even though the students would have read about Iwokrama and the plants it harbours, they were extremely excited to actually see the plants in their natural habitat. “They gained a lot of knowledge about what it means to conserve the rainforest and were able to understand why conservation is so important, not only for plants and animals to survive, but for us humans too,” she said. In addition, the students

and teachers were able to observe the rainforest from the canopy walkway, after which they visited the Iwokrama River Lodge and Research Station at Kurupukari. The exercise was led by rangers and tour guides at Iwokrama River Lodge and Atta Lodge (Canopy Walkway Site). Meanwhile, Raquel Thomas, a forest ecologist and Director of Resource Management and Training at Iwokrama, explained that the centre has had ongoing outreach activities to schools, universities and the general public. “We are ecstatic to be getting more community schools coming to visit,” Thomas said, adding that more schools from Georgetown have been visiting as well. “It is very important for children to learn about conservation and sustainable use of forests and for them to really see the natural beauty of Guyana,” the director shared. She noted too that one of Iwokrama’s core values is a people-centred approach to conservation and wise use of the rainforest, and as a result, the Iwokrama International Centre will continue its outreach activities, focusing on all stakeholders in society.

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Magistrate Bess to appear before Judicial Service Commission

MAGISTRATE Dylon Bess has been asked by acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette

Cummings-Edwards, to appear before the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) following a com-

plaint by Guyana Trans United. A complaint of alleged denial of justice was

lodged on March 20, 2017 against Magistrate Bess by Director of Guyana Trans United, Quincy McEwan.

McEwan’s complaint was referenced as “Magistrate Dylon Bess denial of access to justice for transgender Guyanese.” In response to the matter raised, Justice Cummings-Edwards in a letter seen by this publication stated that a decision has been taken to have the magistrate appear before the JSC in relation to the complaint. Meanwhile, it was reported by the BBC that Petronella Trotman has complained about the struggles of seeking justice as a transgender woman. In the report, she stated that it is not easy in Guyana due to a colonial-era law, now 124 years old that criminalises cross-dressing. On her first day in the courtroom, Petronella Trotman was told by the presiding magistrate to “dress like a man” at her next court date. The BBC stated that when she returned to court on March 2 to hear the final verdict, she defiantly wore a blue top and a long, patterned skirt.

This time, Magistrate Bess refused her entry, citing “inappropriate dress.” “I felt really bad because the magistrate ordered me out of the court and he literally tried the case without me,” Trotman told the BBC. The case was dismissed and, with Trotman not allowed inside the court, she learned of the decision only when her alleged attacker shared the news upon leaving the courtroom. In another instance, members of the transgender community and human rights activists had staged a protest action in front of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court after one of their own was put out of the court room for cross-dressing. The Guyana Chronicle had reported that David Bissoon, who is identified as a woman and is known as “Twinkle,” was charged with the offence of larceny and re-appeared before Magistrate Bess, but was instructed to leave the courtroom because she was wearing a dress.

Beware of bogus oil and gas institutions THE Natural Resources Ministry on Saturday cautioned Guyanese to be mindful of the authenticity of academic institutions when they are signing up to pursue studies in the oil and gas sector. The ministry in a statement said it “does not endorse any oil and gas learning programmes” and persons are encouraged to do their own due diligence before signing up to pursue studies in these areas. “The Ministry of Natural Resources is urging the public to be careful when signing up for online courses in oil and gas and to ensure that any programme being embarked upon is accredited,” the statement read. It was pointed out that there has been a noticeable increase in institutions of learning offering courses in oil and gas education. And according to the ministry, this is understandable and expected, since the country is preparing itself for the emerging oil and gas industry. ExxonMobil, the company currently drilling for oil off Guyana’s shores, has made a discovery of oil reservoirs which could contain between 800 million and 1.6 billion barrels of high-quality oil. Further, the Natural Resources Ministry stated that if the occasion arises, it will indicate publicly, which institution, training programme or course for oil and gas related education it recommends or endorses. “We strongly urge persons to engage in their own due diligence checks before investing in any oil and gas-related educational pursuit,” the statement said. Just recently, one institution which bears the name, ‘The Oil and Gas Academy’ surfaced online and prompted concerns about its authenticity. That academy describes itself as “an e-Learning content developer and professional training broker for the international oil and gas industry.” However, there is no information on the website (http://www.oilandgas.academy) which points to accreditation of the institution.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE April 9, 2017

Sunday, April 9, 2017 – 14:30 - 4:00 hrs Monday, April 10, 2017 – 14:30 - 4:30 hrs Tuesday, Aprilr 11, 2017 – 05:30 hrs

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Don’t get complacent, Powell warns as spirited West Indies eye rare series win By Rajiv Bisnauth WEST INDIES batsman Kieran Powell warned his teammates not to become complacent after their exciting four-wicket win against Pakistan in the first One Day Internation-

Kieran Powell al (ODI) on Friday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. Following Friday’s win the Caribbean side will be heavy favourites for the remainder of the three-match series, but Powell has cautioned his teammates not to let complacency creep into their ranks when they go at it again in the second game today. “It is very important we don’t squander the lead. We have a win, we savour it, we celebrate it but we don’t want to get complacent, thinking that we have a win and end up losing the series 2-1,” said Powell, who scored 61, his first half century since his return to the West Indies line up. West Indies recorded their highest successful oneday international run chase with six balls to spare. Pakistan, heavily favoured after winning the Twenty20 series 3-1, was made to bat first by the heavily depleted West Indies and put up a comfortable 308-5. The home side made a steady and safe start, but the required run rate climbed to nearly 10 an over entering the last 10 overs. But despite losing three partners, Jason Mohammed took on the Pakistan attack and smashed it for a career-best 91 not out off 58 balls to lead the side to 309-6 in 49 overs and an unexpected triumph. Powell, 61, and opener Evin Lewis, 47, steered

the West Indies cautiously through the early and middle innings. The required run rate was high but wickets were in hand, and Mohammed, who came to the crease in the 33rd over, suddenly exploded from the 38th, just as the West Indies reached 200. He was careful against teenage Pakistan debutant spinner Shadab Khan, but was merciless against Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, and Hasan Ali. He struck 11 boundaries and three sixes, and profit in an unbeaten 50-run partnership with Ashley Nurse, who finished 34 not out off 15 balls. “Personally I was pretty calm. We had a plan when I was batting. We had to get around the 200 mark by the time we got to 40 overs, so even though I started slow I knew that I could always make it up in the end,” Powell said. “Obviously, I would have liked to have batted a little bit deeper but Jason Mohammed played a fantastic innings there at

the back end and so did Ashley Nurse to get us over the line. We knew that once we needed 10 an over in the last 10 overs we should be alright with wickets in hand,” said Powell. Meanwhile, when asked for an assessment of the newly re-laid Providence pitch, the 27-year-old Powell indicated that the surface is much better than the traditional surfaces Guyana has been accustom to. “The ball seems to be coming on a bit better and the bounce a bit more consistent as well,which aids in you playing your shots,” Powell said. Another win today will further enhance the hosts’ position ahead of the automatic qualification for the ICC World Cup 2019. Currently ranked No. 9 by the ICC, West Indies have to improve their position by at least one spot before the September 30 deadline. The top eight ODI sides, including hosts England, on the cut-off date gain automatic entry into the showpiece event while the bottom four will have to go through the rigours of a qualifying competition, where ten contenders fight for only two spots. If the West Indies win all three ODIs, they will leapfrog their visitors to eighth position.

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West Indies were brave New champion to be crowned for Bakers in chase - Arthur Memorial 60-mile cycling classic today PAKISTAN coach Mickey Arthur said West Indies’ come-from-behind win in a record chase of 309 was very brave but conceded his team should have been able to defend their total. “I think we should probably have got 20 more, with the bat,” Arthur said. “But, saying that, we should be defending 308 or whatever it was. But, you know, credit to West Indies; I thought they played really well. They took their time and they chased beautifully, they put us under pressure at the back end and then got over the line. “I think from about 35 overs - that’s when West Indies put us under serious

Mickey Arthur pressure. I thought they were brave: they took the game on and hit the ball extremely well, put us under pressure in the field,took the game away from us. It was disappointing that we couldn’t close it out.

Really disappointed we couldn’t execute properly there. Some of our main bowlers fell short of the mark today, and that’s the disappointing thing.” (ESPNCricinfo)

A new champion will be crowned today when the Linden bauxite Flyers Cycle Club stages the 6th Annual Bakers’ Memorial Cycling Classic along the Linden Highway, beginning at 10:00hrs. Defending champion and current national road race champion Geron Williams who recorded two hours 25 minutes and seven seconds in winning the event last year will

not be a part of this year’s event as he has returned to his base in the United States, where he is training and competing. Williams’ absence paves the way for a new champion to be crowned. Among those with a very good chance of winning this year’s activity that carries a first prize of $50,000 and a trophy are the inform Jamal John, Paul DeNobrega, Shaquel

Agard, Alonzo Ambrose and Raynauth `Obeahman’ Jeffrey. Not to be left out are Team Evolution’s Orville Hinds and Michael Anthony who both hails from the mining Town of Linden and are both familiar with the terrain and course, which includes 15 hills. Eight prime prizes will be up for grabs and the first six finishers will be rewarded for their efforts.

Job not done yet - Ashley Nurse

Liam Smith beats Liam Williams after the Welshman’s corner pull him out

Ashley Nurse, after his 4-62 and unbeaten 34 helped the West Indies to a 1-0 lead in their Brighto Paints presents the Q Mobile Cup Series against Pakistan, has warned his teammates that the job is not over. “We have to come back even stronger on Sunday. We can’t rest on this victory,” said Nurse, whose 34 runs came from just 15 deliveries. The innings helped the West Indies to, for the first time in 32 attempts, successfully chase down a score of more than 300, Pakistan scoring 308-5 in their 50-over allotment. “We haven’t won in a long time and yes it feels good but the other part is to come and back up this performance with an even more fantastic performance on Sunday and close out the series,” Nurse reminded the young side which he has only recently become a part of. The off break bowler is already looking at places he can improve tomorrow, saying that while his four wickets were satisfying, there were things he still wanted to improve on. “My job first and foremost is to bowl and get people out so I was very happy with the wickets, I wouldn’t say I was very happy with the bowling,” he said. “I bowled some bad

Liam Smith beats domestic rival Liam Williams in controversial fashion at the Manchester Arena. Welshman Williams, 24, was withdrawn from the fight by his corner at the start of the 10th round with blood pouring from a severe cut to his eye. Williams had seemed in control of the contest and was one point ahead on all of the judges’ scorecards.

“He said he couldn’t see. I can’t let him fight with that. It was only going to get worse. He couldn’t see out of it.” It later emerged that Williams had suffered a severe double laceration to his right eyelid and was immediately sent to see a plastic surgeon. Smith believes it was a fist, not a head, that did the damage, and both he and promoter Frank Warren made

Ashley Nurse balls in between but it was nice to get some wickets and pull back the Pakistan innings. We were really going helter skelter at the back end and it was nice to come back, even in the last 10 and get some wickets.” Nurse’s innings with the bat began in the nets, where the bowler says he was hitting the ball well. The innings was also made easier by the batsman at the other end. “Jason was hitting the ball really nicely and I just tried to rotate the strike, give him as much of the strike as possible. I was hitting the ball nicely from in the nets so I know my form was good so I

just tried to keep hitting the ball nice and straight and back myself to get the ball to the boundary, other than giving him the strike,” said Nurse. Nurse also praised the team for its mentality and for the way the earlier batsmen, who were having a tough time, stayed with the game. “The team morale is really really good. The boys believe in sticking together, we believe in being one big family and as you see, the guys really stayed in the game,” said Nurse. Nurse was speaking about Evin Lewis’ 47 and Kieran Powell’s 61 at the top of the order, that though

not blistering quick, were enough to set a platform for Jason Mohammed, who slammed 91 to anchor the West Indies innings to their first successful chase of over 300. “Some great knocks from Evin Lewis and Kieran Powell leading up to Jason’s knock. The partnership between him and Jonathan Carter was a really good partnership after losing two quick wickets. I keep saying once we stay in the game and put the bowling under some pressure, with the hitting power we have at the bottom, I really think we will win more games. (Sports Max)

Liam Smith extends his record to 25-1-1, with Williams suffering his first defeat of an 18-fight career. It was unclear whether the cut occurred because of a clash of heads or following a punch. Liverpudlian Smith, however, was declared the winner and spoke of his disappointment after the fight following his failure to make the weight before the bout. It means the 28-year-old was not able to be crowned as the WBO’s interim world light-middleweight champion. Gary Lockett, who trains Williams, told BBC Wales Sport he felt he had “no option” other than to pull his fighter out. “The eye was damaged, it was a decision that had to be made,” he explained.

clear a rematch could well be set. “It’s a shame the winner is not coming away with a title. We’ll try and do it again for a title,” Warren said. Smith added: “I am the most genuine fighter you’ll come across, if Frank (Warren) offers the money I would do that again.” Williams made a tremendous start to the contest, culminating in a vicious right hand that cut Smith above the right eye. However, the Liverpool fighter was getting back into things in a tremendously entertaining fight before the decision at the start of round number 10. (BBC Sport)

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End of an era, end of a subculture

PAKISTAN will lose a whole lot of runs and experience when Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan retire. Their biggest contribution, though, was the example they set, showing young players what it meant to be professional sportsmen in Pakistan Shan Masood was sitting next to Misbah-ul-Haq in the dressing room at the P Sara Oval. It was the third day of the second Test and out in the middle,Ahmed Shehzad and Azhar Ali were battling to salvage the mess they had contributed to in the first innings, one that would eventually cost Pakistan the Test. Masood was caressing the bruises that so many young Pakistan batsmen suffer early in their careers. He was out of the Test XI, having been dropped three Tests after making 75 on debut against South Africa. But he had worked his way closer, scoring runs in Sri Lanka on an A tour just before this series and then in the warm-up game before the Tests. He had changed his game, become more expansive, and felt he was hitting the ball better than ever. And now here he was, on the inside but still far enough outside to require looking in. Two Tests were gone and this could easily become another series he missed altogether, and what was worse was that he wasn’t actually playing at all, and thus not cashing in on some good form. And next to him was sitting the man who would’ve played a big part in the decision that was eating away at him. Misbah asked him how old he was. Twenty-five. “You know what I was doing when I was 25?” Masood recalls Misbah saying. “I was graduating out of college and I hadn’t played first-class cricket. I started playing for Pakistan when I was 27. I played in Sharjah, got out on a flat wicket to Brett Lee and Andy Bichel. You’ve already started your career, have 4000 runs at first-class level, made your debut against the world number one side, you scored 75 there, what are you worrying about? You have your best years ahead of you, what are you worried about?” “Maybe he’s right,”

Masood thought. Masood was picked for the next Test in Pallekele. Younis Khan - of whom Masood is fan, pupil, mentee and friend - made sure that Masood’s spot in the dressing room would be right next to his own. Masood was leg-before in the first innings for 13, a call that could have gone either way and made none the easier by the fact that he felt he was batting well. Later in that innings, Younis called Masood over. A year earlier, Masood had widened his stance, on Younis’ advice. Younis felt that Masood’s height necessitated a broader base. Now in Pallekele, he reassured Masood that it was still a good idea but he had maybe gone a little too wide. And stressed that he could see Masood was hitting the ball really well, and that he only

Pakistan side. That time is over. Or it will be about a month from now, when Pakistan play the last of their three Tests against West Indies. Sometimes, they say, when you’re having a panic attack, writing down your thoughts is a handy way of riding it out. But no matter how many times you write this out in full - the third Test in Dominica in May 2017 will be the last Test Misbah and Younis play for Pakistan - the anxiety is not going to go away. It has little to do with the number of runs they’ve made, or the Tests they’ve played. Combined, after all, they have played fewer Tests than Sachin Tendulkar and only 20 or so more than Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh or Jacques Kallis. Together they are still around a thousand runs short of Tendulkar

down and up. Acknowledging the value of their numbers is like acknowledging that bricks have something to do with houses being built. One falls, another rises. But turning them into homes, that is the magic. And so, what really goes with the pair is a subculture within the side. If Pakistan has been cursed in never quite having a proper finishing school to help ease a fledgling cricketer’s transition from domestic to international cricket, then Pakistan has also been blessed to have this pair performing that service within the team. Sure, they helped players score runs, take catches and win matches, but of much greater value was what they showed them about being professional sportsmen in Pakistan; how much of their souls will go

everything to do with it. They have not rebooted the broader culture of Pakistan cricket because two old men can only do so much. That culture is a product of the country it has grown in. But what they did do was alleviate it and temporarily short-circuit it by creating this space, which is as best as anyone could have hoped for. Not for nothing was Younis referred to as an institute within the side. How much could you learn? Some, like Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, bought in. Others like Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad didn’t, or - optimistically haven’t yet. The real lesson is in their pairing, that two entities as contrasting as this pair can and did come together as coherently as this. Misbah and Younis are at worst different species and at best personality types

Pakistan were blessed that two men as contrasting as Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq combined as coherently as peanut butter and jelly © AFP really needed to make minor adjustments, to stand a little more upright, be more open-chested, and it would be okay. In the second innings, Masood scored his first and so far only - Test hundred, setting up Pakistan’s highest-ever successful runchase. He made 125 out of 382 and 242 runs of the target were made in company with Younis. Masood’s out of the side again currently. He may never have another Pallekele again, or become the Test opener Pakistan have craved for so long, but what a time to have been young and batting in the

and have made less than 2000 more than Ponting. Okay, it does have something to do with that - that kind of experience out in the middle of a Test that has to be won, drawn or lost is priceless. But these are not the massive numbers we have become used to dealing in these days. And those runs, good as they were, have come and gone. And, unlikely as it sounds, especially right now, those runs will come again in the future. It doesn’t even have to do with the wins they wrought, the 15 century stands, or Pakistan’s brief ascent to number one. Wins come and go, rankings go

and the scars it will leave; the sacrifices that have to be made and the people they will please and the people they will piss off; the blood and sweat they will have to cede but also that they will have to preserve to keep on keeping on; the compromises they can afford and those they cannot; which distractions are important and which aren’t; living with the injustices they will face and carry out; the real limits of their own ambition; the importance of purpose and will, but also that of fate; and so much more that has little to do with scoring runs at the crease and also

bound to rub each other up all wrong. Yet what this union has felt like is what it must have done that moment when somebody first spread peanut butter on one slice, jelly on the other, put the two slices together and created the greatest sandwich known. Except you will still be able to have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich long after May. Younis and Misbah are as good as gone and already the hardships loom. It starts with a tour of Bangladesh in July, a Bangladesh that are no longer that Bangladesh, least of all at home, and who’s to say that tour itself

will not serve as the most intrusive wake-up call? And then, the future. Could either have gone on, you might naturally wonder? Probably not Misbah. Younis? Perhaps. Though he had begun to look more and more vulnerable at the start of each innings over the last year, in which period he still produced three hundreds, including a double in England and an unbeaten 175 in Sydney. More to the point, he could have stayed on to try as best as possible to ease transitions; in a batting line-up where Azhar and Shafiq now assume greater responsibility while also trying to instill it into newcomers; for the new captain, because when he has to make that first tricky on-field call, who will he turn to? Not the guy who isn’t there in the slip cordon anymore, that’s who. If there is any solace at all - and right now it feels thin - here it is. It’s disorienting enough to see one Pakistani great walking off, and not being pushed, into retirement. But two in a couple of days? In a country where culling senior players is a revered old blood sport, that’s enough to knock you back into your senses and start smelling a purge. Except, even if Inzamam-ulHaq has wanted them to go, this doesn’t feel like one. With Misbah there was no real need for a push. One foot he had already taken out the door and deep down, the combination of his poor form and position as a captain losing Tests must have told him the other needed to follow. And who has ever bullied Younis into making a decision he didn’t want to make? If it came to it, would Inzamam really have been able to push him out? No: if Younis Khan is retiring, it is because Younis Khan thinks it is time to retire. Which means, for now, disorientation is the normal. Not only are they leaving when they wanted, they are doing it - just about - having not exhausted supplies of goodwill or patience, their grips being prised off, one fingernail at a time. One final example left behind, then, in two careers full of them. (ESPNCricinfo)

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France and Serbia set up Davis Cup semi-final clash (REUTERS) France will meet Serbia in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup after both finished off their last-eight ties inside two days on Saturday but Australia and Belgium were made to sweat. Serbia, who had been given a flying start by 12-times grand slam champion Novak Djokovic on Friday on his comeback from an elbow injury, completed a 3-0 victory over Spain in Belgrade. A weakened France also proved too strong for a British team without Andy Murray in Rouen as they too moved into

an unassailable position at 3-0. The U.S. pair of Jack Sock and Steve Johnson kept their country’s hopes alive as they beat Australia’s Sam Groth and John Peers 3-6 6-3 6-2 2-6 6-3 in Brisbane. Australia had taken a 2-0 lead on Friday when Jordan Thompson stunned Sock and Nick Kyrgios eased past John Isner. Belgium were also leading 2-0 after the first day of their tie against Italy in Charleroi but were pegged back as Simone Bolelli and Andreas Seppi clawed out a

Novak Djokovic five-set win against home duo Rubens Bemelmans and Joris de Loore. Bemelmans and de

Loore had a match point to win the tie in the fifth set tiebreak but the Italians nicked it 8-6.

France are in the semi-finals for the fifth time in eight years after Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut beat British duo Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot 7-6(7) 5-7 7-5 7-5. It was revenge for France’s defeat by Britain in 2015 when Andy Murray inspired his nation to the title. Serbia’s Viktor Troicki and captain Nenad Zimonjic combined to beat Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta and Marc Lopez 4-6 7-6(4) 6-0 4-6 6-2. It was veteran Zimonjic’s 30th Davis Cup doubles win.

“I’m proud of them all. They were amazing the whole week. We had a great atmosphere and worked really hard,” Zimonjic said. France and Serbia faced each other in the 2010 final when Djokovic led his nation to a first title. Kyrgios has the chance to clinch Australia’s place in the semis on Sunday in the opening rubber against Sock, while in Belgium David Goffin can wrap it up for the hosts when he takes on Paolo Lorenzi in the first reverse singles.

Williams hoping discipline, dedication propels him to stardom CMC – Emerging Twenty20 star Kesrick Williams is hoping that his recent impressive showing with the ball against Pakistan will propel him in his bid to be one of the world’s best limited-overs bowlers. The live-wire seam bowler came away as one of the main performers as the home side under-performed in the four-match T20 series, losing 3-1. He had returns of four wickets for 78 runs off 13 overs in the four matches. He was also effervescent in the outfield. “It was a pretty good series for me. It was a blessing for me to be given another opportunity to represent the West Indies and I tried to give it my all,” the Vincentian said. “I made my debut against Pakistan overseas (in United Arab Emirates) last year, so this was my first time wearing the maroon at home. “I’m all about energy. I’m a very energetic person on and off the field and I just carry that sort of spirit with me everywhere I go. Playing for West Indies was always my dream and I’m thrilled to get the opportunity to wear the maroon. “There were times during the series where I did well, but there is room for improvement.”

Williams is a member of the Coast Guard in St Vincent and credits the training there with work ethic and attention to detail. He also wants to continue the legacy of fast bowling from the territory. “St Vincent has produced some very good fast bowlers for the West Indies, going back to the days of the great man,Mr Winston Davis,” he pointed out. “We also had Cameron

Twenty20 seamer Kestrick Williams hoping for a major breakthrough in international cricket.

The 27-year-old played in every game of the recent series, bowling with great skill and proving economical, to emerge as one of the Windies leading seamers. He said though the playing surfaces were difficult for faster bowlers, his positive approach had earned him success. “The series was a test for me, the pitches weren’t always conducive to fast bowling, but I gave it my best shot and I enjoyed it,” he explained. “When I enjoy the game I do a lot better. A lot of people don’t traditionally see fast bowlers as top-class fielders but I try to give it my all

and maximize my time on the field. My ambition is to become an all-round good cricketer and contribute in every department.” Williams has determinedly battled his way onto the international stage. He represented St Vincent and the Grenadines and Windward Islands at age group levels and briefly made appearances at the senior level. He switched to Combined Campuses and Colleges in the regional competitions and made a big breakthrough for Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League T20 tournament. “I was in and out of cricket at the regional level and

then I got a call from Floyd Reifer to come and try out for the CCC team,” he recalled. “That was really a big opportunity for me and I want to thank Floyd for giving me that chance to prove myself and helping to revive my cricket. He instilled in me the belief that I could do great things in the game.” He continued: “Then I was involved with the Tallawahs in the CPL and I got a lot of opportunities there as well. I was eager to prove my worth and I did really well in last year’s CPL, which helped the team to win. That meant a lot to me and from there I got my big break into the West Indies team.”

Cuffy, Nixon McLean and others who played at the international level … it’s part of a tradition. I was a net bowler in St Vincent when the West Indies team visited my country and I always looked to see how the senior players were operating so I could get tips on how to go about my work. “I always had that dream in my head that one day I could do great things for West Indies.”

Scorpions 249-8 batting a second time

CMC — Jamaica Scorpions, trailing Windward Islands Volcanoes by 167 runs on first innings, were 249 for for eight in their second innings at the close on the second day of their ninth round match in the Regional four-day championship at the Arnos Vale Stadium here Saturday. SCORES: SCORPIONS 56 (Kyle Mayers 6-29, Delorn Johnson 4-26) and 249 for eight (Fabian Allen 72 not out, Paul Palmer 46, Devon Thomas 42; Shane Shillingford 5-83, Kyle Mayers 2-36). VOLCANOES 223 for nine decl. (Devon Smith 100 not out, Andre Fletcher 57; Nikita Miller 5-58, Derval Green 2-35).

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Jadhav, Negi exploits help RCB beat DD by 15 runs Kedar Jadhav’s fiery half-century helped Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) beat Delhi Daredevils (DD) by 15 runs in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here yesterday. The Maharashtra batsman not only blasted a quick-fire 37-ball 69, but more importantly shared a 66-run partnership for the fourth-wicket with Stuart Binny (16) to help the hosts post a fighting total of 157-7. Delhi fumbled in the chase, being restricted to 142-9 as they lost by 15 runs. Young left-handed batsman Rishabh Pant, whose father died on

Wednesday, showed a lot of composure as he waged a lone battle for Delhi with a cracking 57 off 36 deliveries. Sam Billings (25) was Delhi’s second highest scorer. RCB, who lost the opening match to defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad, were under pressure from the beginning. Delhi pacers — Zaheer Khan (2-31), Chris Morris (3-21) and Pat Cummins (1-29) — kept it tight at the beginning, keeping the runs in check. Morris accounted for the explosive Jamaican Chris Gayle (6), with the left-handed batsman mistiming a full toss delivery and was caught by Sanju

Samson at mid-wicket. Their problems increased as stand-in captain Shane Watson (24) missed the line of a delivery from left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem and was stumped by wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant in the ninth over. At 55-3, Jadhav and Binny joined hands and they resurrected the RCB innings before Zaheer broke the partnership when Binny carted one to the hands of Sam Billings at deep mid-wicket. Jadhav’s knock was laced with five fours and as many sixes and reached his fifty in 26 deliveries. Jadhav also chipped in with 21 runs for the fifth-wicket with rook-

Rishabh Pant blitzed a 36-ball 57, but it wasn’t enough © BCCI ie Vishnu Vinod (9) before Delhi skipper Zaheer Khan put the brakes on the scoring rate with two quick wickets.

Delhi, too had their story of struggle in their innings. Aditya Tare (18) and Sam Billings (25) gave them a quickfire 33-run opening

stand until the former was removed by Tymal Mills. Delhi continued to lose more wickets as all-rounders Chris Morris (4) and Carlos Brathwaite (1) found it tough under pressure with the required run rate mounting to more than nine per over. But 19-year-old Pant put Delhi in contention with his elegant stroke-making, which fetched him three fours and four sixes. But with no support from the other end, it was tough for him. He fell in the 20th over, from which 19 runs were required for Delhi. Pawan Negi had his stumps dismantled, ending the hopes of Delhi. (Gulf Times)

Bowlers’ strangle, Maxwell flash gives Kings XI success

Glenn Maxwell nailed 44 unbeaten runs off 20 balls and made sure his senior-team captaincy debut would forever be a happy memory. Kings XI Punjab owed their six-wicket win to their bowlers though. They were so good that an outstanding fifth-wicket partnership between Ben Stokes and Manoj Tiwary 61 runs off 37 balls with only two dots - ended up in vain. It was the eighth consecutive defeat after batting first for Rising Pune Supergiant in the IPL. Eight out of the 20 overs Kings XI bowled yielded five runs or less. It began with Sandeep Sharma bowling Mayank Agarwal for

Glenn Maxwell plays a pull in his blistering 44 not out © AFP a duck in the first over Agarwal’s 28th dismissal in the Powerplay in 39 IPL

innings. That forced Ajinkya Rahane and Steven Smith into

rebuild mode - Rising Pune had been 7 for 1 after three overs - on a two-paced pitch where the new ball seemed to skid and bounce and the old one stopped on the batsman. Smith, the current captain, was dismissed with a strike-rate below 100 to one that jumped up at him. MS Dhoni, the former captain, was dismissed with a strikerate below 50, to one that came off the pitch slower than he expected. In an innings 32 deliveries long, Stokes let only four become dots. Power-hitters can sometimes get caught up in just hitting the ball hard, but Stokes understood the risk of Rising Pune losing

Chase hunt for special 3 The Champions of this year Petra organised Milo sponsored Schools Football tournament will be decided this evening when Chase Academic Foundation plays Morgan Learning Center at the Ministry of Education ground. Chase are the defending champions and are favourites to lift the title once again.

A host of players with a wealth of knowledge of the game also gives them a sizable edge over their opponents. Players such as: Reshawn Ritch, Job Caesar, Nicholas McArthur-Jeremy Garrett, Malachi Adonis, Rondell Peters and Ryan Hackett will be the key in the Chase’s lineup.

On the converse side, Morgan’s has players like - David Coates, Osafo Matheson, Chris Macey, Adrian Adolph, Daniel Clarke and Orin Moore, who have all proven that they too can get the job done. Meanwhile, the third place playoff between Sir Leon’s Lesson and Master’s

Academy will kicks off from 17:00 hrs. Winner of the tournament will collect $500,000 towards a school project and the championship trophy, while the second, third and fourth placed sides will receive $300,000,$200,000 and $100,000 respectively towards a similar endeavor and trophies.

him too with a majority of the overs still left. He played the percentages well, feeding his knock with 22 singles and picked the leftarm spinners to hit. Stokes bashed 25 runs off 14 balls off Axar Patel and Swapnil Singh. In an innings 23 deliveries long, Tiwary let only two become dots. His strike-rate of 173.91 was his best (in innings where he faced more than 15 balls). There were gorgeous inside-out shots over cover and point, highlighting a still base, and a straight six in the 19th over, when Stokes had fallen, highlighting his ability for the crunch moments. The fact that Imran Tahir has great accuracy, and a googly not too many people pick, is apparent from the fact he has bowled batsmen, or pinned them lbw, to get

63 of his 178 T20 wickets. He was Rising Pune’s biggest threat with the ball and he showed it for three overs, picking up two wickets and conceding only 14 runs. Saha’s stumps were broken and pinch-hitter,Axar Patel,was caught and bowled. Ta h i r ’s f i n a l o v e r, saved for the end, was smashed for 14 runs as Maxwell sent a couple of short balls soaring over the rope. Maxwell had begun the charge to victory in the previous over off Stokes. The equation had been 48 off 36 balls when the England allrounder came on. A short delivery was belted wide of the sweeper cover with great power and a full delivery was launched over mid-off for six, establishing Maxwell’s game awareness. (ESPNCricinfo)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday April 09, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to Thursday’s quiz: (1) Sunrisers Hyderbad (2) 60 matches Today’s Quiz: Which team won the first game of IPL 2017 Who was declared Man of the Match in the first game of IPL 2017? ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

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Hamilton pips Vettel to Chinese GP pole (REUTERS) Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton stormed to pole position for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix after clocking the fastest-ever lap of the Shanghai circuit in the dying seconds of a hardfought qualifying session on Saturday. The triple world champion lapped the 5.4-kilometer long circuit in one minute, 31.678 seconds in his Mercedes, edging Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel

all record of 68 poles. It was also the 58th time in 61 races that a Mercedes will start at the front. The German outfit was hotly pursued by Ferrari though. Vettel set a scorching pace to top the final practice session earlier on Saturday. The German and teammate Kimi Raikkonen, who was fourth, also topped the timesheets at the end of the first two

impressively hustled his McLaren Honda into the second part of qualifying, will start 13th. S a u b e r ’s A n t o n i o Giovinazzi, who got impressively up to speed on his debut in Australia as a stand-in for Pascal Wehrlein, caused the biggest drama of the day when he ricocheted off the barrier lining the start-finish straight after losing control of his car in the final corner.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton (C) of Britain reacts after setting pole position in qualifying alongside teammate Valtteri Bottas (R) of Finland and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel of Germany at the Shanghai International Circuit. (REUTERS/Aly Song) by 0.186 seconds. Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas was third, just one-thousandth of a second further adrift. “I didn’t know whether we would be ahead or behind,” Hamilton told reporters. “All I knew I could do is to just do the best lap I could possibly do and each time I went out I eked out a little bit more time.” Hamilton’s fastest lap in Shanghai bettered Michael Schumacher’s 2004 timing by over half a second. It also gave Hamilton his 63rd pole and a record sixth in China, making him only the third driver after Schumacher and Ayrton Senna to secure six poles at the same grand prix. The Briton is now five behind Schumacher’s over-

parts of qualifying. Ferrari appeared to be on course to seize pole, with even Mercedes boss Niki Lauda betting against his own team. But in the end Vettel missed out. “Maybe I ‘chickened’ on to the brakes a bit too soon,” said the 29-yearold Vettel. “Obviously it was very close with Valtteri;good job we got just enough margin to make it to the front row.” Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo set the fifth-fastest time ahead of Williams driver Felipe Massa. Nico Hulkenberg went seventh-quickest for Renault ahead of Force India’s Sergio Perez. Russian Daniil Kvyat in the Toro Rosso was ninth with 18-year-old Williams rookie Lance Stroll rounding out the top 10. Fernando Alonso, who

M a x Ve r s t a p p e n , nursing an engine problem with his Red Bull, was unable to progress past the first part of qualifying after being forced to abort his lap. He ended up 19th on the timesheets. Sunday’s race will see Vettel going all out to cement Ferrari’s credentials as genuine title contenders with a second successive win, after his triumph in the season-opening race in Australia. Hamilton, however, is the most successful driver at the Shanghai circuit with four victories to his name. However, with rain forecast for Sunday, teams could be heading into the unknown, especially after the weather all but wiped out the first two practice sessions on Friday.

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Barbadian Primus hurts Pride with all-round burst

CMC — Roshon Primus’s excellent all-round performance derailed Barbados Pride and put Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in a strong position on the opening day of the day/night ninth round Regional four-day contest here late Friday. The 21-year-old Barbadian struck an entertaining top score of 60 as bottom placed Red Force, opting to bat first at Kensington Oval, rattled up 196 all out in their first innings. In reply, Pride were tottering on 27 for five at the close after their innings was ruined by Primus who snatched three wickets for three runs with his rightarm pace.

Right-arm seamer Roshon Primus. Left-handed opener Anthony Alleyne fell cheaply for four in the third over to leave Pride on nine for one, but the hosts appeared to be making their way safely to the close when they reached 21 without

further loss. However, Primus intervened, removing Kyle Corbin (5) and Test batsman Roston Chase (0) in successive deliveries — both caught at short mid-wicket by Isaiah Rajah

— to find himself on a hattrick at one stage. And when debutant s e a m e r Ti o n We b s t e r claimed Test star Kraigg Brathwaite lbw for 14, Pride were in further strife. Earlier, Primus had rallied the Red Force innings after it collapsed to 122 for five, just before the tea inveral. The right-hander, in his first first-class game since last December, struck eight fours and two sixes in an 80-ball knock before he was last out, bowled by seamer Justin Greaves an hour before tea. Isaiah Rajah chipped in with 38 and opener Amir Jangoo, 32;the two lefthanders posting 53 for the

Younis Khan to retire after West Indies series

Long-serving Pakistan batsman and former captain Younis Khan on Saturday announced he will retire from international cricket after the upcoming Test series in the West Indies. “I will be retiring... with my head held high,” the 39-year-old said at a press conference. “I think this is the right time as every sportsman has to take this decision in his career,” he added, bringing an end to a 17-year Test career. Younis, who has led Pakistan in all three formats and guided them to their only World Twenty20 title in England in 2009, needs only 23 runs to reach 10,000 Test runs.Younis thus joins teammate Misbah-ul-Haq in retiring from international cricket at the end of the tour of the West Indies in April and May. Younis has so far scored

34 Test centuries in 115 matches -- the most by any batsman from the country -and is set to become the first Pakistani and 13th batsman in the world to score 10,000 or more runs in tests.

but now is the time,” Younis said. He added, “A time comes in every player’s life when he has to decide and I always tried my best to serve my country with my

Younis Khan He has so far accumulated 9977 runs at an average of 53.06. India’s Sachin Tendulkar currently tops the charts with 15,921 runs in 200 matches. “People are calling me and asking me not to make any announcement to leave

head high. “No player always remains fit, the motivation never remains the same, so this is the time when Younis should leave the field after the upcoming series in West Indies.” His best Test score -

313 against Sri Lanka in 2009 - is the third highest for Pakistan, after Hanif Mohammad’s 337 and Inzamam-ul-Haq’s 329. He was recently named one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year, following his contribution in Pakistan’s 2-2 drawn series in England last summer. Younis hit a hundred in his first Test against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi in 2000, kicking off a glorious career during which he also scored a double hundred in Pakistan’s series-levelling win against India at Bangalore in 2005. “I was planning this for a few months,” he said of his decision to quit, adding, “I always tried to play for my team and for my country.” The West Indies test series starts in Jamaica from April 21,followed by Tests in Barbados and Dominica. (NDTV SPORTS)

second wicket. Medium pacer Kevin Stoute was Pride’s best

bowler with four for 51 while Greaves finished with three for 29.

SCOREBOARD

RED FORCE 1st innings K. Ottley c wkp Dowrich b Greaves 9 +A. Jangoo c Brathwaite b Stoute 32 I. Rajah b Greaves 38 T. Webster c Alleyne b Stoute 7 Y. Cariah b Warrican 8 A. Cooper c wkp Dowrich b O’Neale 21 R. Primus b Greaves 60 I. Khan c Warrican b Williams 2 *M. Richards c wkp Dowrich b Stoute 0 B. Charles b Stoute 0 S. Cottrell not out 4 Extras: (b10, lb3, w1, nb1) 15 TOTAL: (all out, 68.1 overs) 196 Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-72, 3-90, 4-92, 5-122, 6-138, 7-158, 8-168, 9-168, 10-196. Bowling: Greaves 15.1-6-293, O’Neale 11-2-40-1 (w1),

McSween 6-1-25-0 (nb1), Chase 7-2-16-0, Stoute 18-851-4, Warrican 6-3-7-1, Williams 5-0-15-1. PRIDE 1st innings *K. Brathwaite lbw b Webster 14 A. Alleyne c wk Jangoo b Cottrell 4 K. Corbin c Rajah b Primus 5 R. Chase c Rajah b Primus 0 +S. Dowrich c Rajah b Primus 4 J. Warrican not out 0 TOTAL: (5 wkts, 16.2 overs) 27 Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-21, 3-21, 4-25, 5-27. To bat: K. Stoute, K. Williams, J. Greaves, P. McSween, R. O’Neale. Bowling: Cottrell 5-3-11-1, Richards 6-3-10-0, Primus 3.21-3-3, Webster 2-0-3-1.

GSA Junior skill level tournament sees major upsets THE Guyana Squash Association (GSA) sponsored Toucan Distributors Junior skill level tournament continues Friday evening with matches in all eight categories at the Georgetown Club Inc. courts. In category A, Shomari Wiltshire,playing in his first match of the tournament,was up against Alex Cheeks.Wiltshire easily won the first game 11-4 and took the second game 11-6. The third game was closer but Wiltshire closed out the match with an 11-7 win. In Category B, Samuel Ince-Carvalhal had an easy straight set win against Maya Collins with the scores being 11-3, 11-1, 11–2, while Rebecca Low defeated Sarah Lewis 11-8, 11-9, 11-5. In category C, Abosaide Cadogan defeated her training partner,Madison Fernandes in straight games 11 - 7, 13 - 11, 11 – 4, while Kirsten Gomes easily defeated her cousin Jason Gomes 11 - 7, 11 - 3, 11 - 3. Lucas Jonas had his first win in the category when he

overcame Aliyah Persaud 12 - 10, 12- 10, 11 - 6. Results in the other categories were as follows: CATEGORY D Zachary Persaud defeated Louis Da Silva 11 - 4, 11 - 7, 11 – 7. CATEGORY E Nicholas Verwey defeated Liam Carpenter 11 - 4, 11 – 9. Chad De Abreu defeated Shiloh Asregado 7 - 11, 11 8, 11 – 6. CATEGORY F Beau Fernandes beat Isabella Ramjohn 11 - 9, 11 – 8. Osmond Mack defeated Teija Edwards 11 - 4, 11 – 9. CATEGORY G Dhiren Persaud beat Lucas Persaud 11 - 6, 11 – 2. Aishani Persaud beat Angel Rahim 11 - 5, 11 – 7. CATEGORY H Christiana Fernandes beat Grant Fernandes 9 - 11, 11 - 7, 11 – 8

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Jeffrey runs unchallenged in second up c y s a e s e t a n i m Georgetown GP ... Seebarran do By Stephan Sookram Kristian Jeffrey ran untroubled in the shifter-kart class, while Raymond Seebarran picked up two champion driver awards during the second installment of the GT motorsports Grand Prix on Friday evening. Jeffey had no troubles in holding off his cousin Stefan Jeffrey,and Matthew Phang in Race one and put on an enterprising show in the second race when he outsmarted former coach Darryl Timmers and Stefan in races two and three. His aggressive style meant that there was little competition on the night that was able to withstand the Jeffrey force and it forms the perfect tune-up

Raymond Seebarran collects one of his many trophies on the night. (GT Motorsports Photo)

I know my game a little better now - Mohammed A BETTER understanding of his own game and knowledge of coping with specific match situations has helped Jason Mohammed transform his game over the last year, leading to a knock like the unbeaten 91 off 58 balls in the first ODI against Pakistan on Friday. Mohammed’s half-century, his third of the year, was the bedrock of West Indies’ record chase of 309, as they rallied from 158 for 4 in the 34th over to complete a four-wicket win with an over to spare. “Starting from CPL [2016] with Guyana Amazon Warriors, my whole game has changed a lot,” Mohammed said after the match. “I have really gained a lot of confidence and momentum and I did well with the A team as well. I think I just know my game a little better now, in terms of maturity, and knowing how to play(in) certain situations has definitely brought me a long way.” With 287 runs in 12 matches, Mohammed was the second-highest run-getter for Amazon Warriors after Chris Lynn, and played a few key knocks in the side’s successful chases during the tournament. Last month, in the home series against England, he played his first ODI in a year and a half, and was one of the few bright spots in West Indies’ 3-0 defeat, scoring fifties in the first two matches. On Friday, West Indies needed 128 off 13 overs with Mohammed batting on 15. He quickly switched gears, bringing up his fifty off 31 balls, and dominated the 70run fifth-wicket partnership with Jonathan Carter, which revived the chase. That was followed by an unbroken 50-run partnership with Ashley Nurse for the seventh wicket. Nurse, who took 4 for 62 in Pakistan’s innings, slammed 34 off 15 balls, while Mohammed ended the match with 11 fours and three sixes. Mohammed said he was a momen-

tum player, who needed to settle in before going for the big shots. “It was a very good innings. Coming in to bat early, there was a little bit of pressure in terms of strike rate and stuff but I knew that I had to play myself in and rotate the strike and gain momentum, and take it down to the end as much as possible. That’s exactly what we did as a team. “As I always say, I tend to start off a little bit slower. I am a momentum player and I know that so long as I get my game right, it’s going to come off. Try and work the ball around till I get a start and then I can hit the ball when I get in. That was my plan today and everything worked out excellently.” Nurse was pleased that three of his four wickets came in the last 15 overs of Pakistan’s chase, with the opposition looking for big overs. “My job first and foremost is to bowl and get people out so I was very happy with the wickets,” Nurse said. “I won’t say I was happy with the bowling because I bowled some bad balls in between but it was nice to get the Pakistan wickets when they were really going helter skelter at the back end, and it was nice to come back even in the last 10 overs and get some wickets.” Coming in to bat with West Indies needing 50 off 33 balls, Nurse went after Pakistan’s quick bowlers in the end overs, buoyed by the fact that he had been striking the ball well in the nets. “Jason was hitting the ball really nicely and he came out to rotate the strike,” Nurse said. “I was hitting the ball well in the nets so I knew my form was good and I just kept trying to hit the ball nice and straight and I backed myself to get the ball past the boundary and also give him the strike.” The second ODI will be played at Providence today. (Cricinfo)

before he departs for England later this month to compete in the Radical series. Meanwhile, Seebarran picked up two champion driver awards on the night, one each in the Easy Cup Light and the Easy Cup Heavy classes. In the Easy Cup Light class, he finished the first race in second behind Haniff Mohammed and ahead of Stephen Vieira before taking two chequered flags ahead of Ravi Singh on the final two occasions. In the Easy Cup Heavy category, Seebarran picked up the first race ahead of Shan Seejattan, but finished third in race two behind Seejattan and Marcel Proffit,respectively. He,however, recovered well to take the final chequered flag in the last race

ahead of Seejattan. In the Easy Cup Rookie, Ralph Persaud showed his driving prowess to take the Champion Driver award. Race one was won by Raymond Baksh, with Dani Narine and Mark Morgan finishing second and third,but Persaud beat off Baksh and Mahendra Boodhoo in race two before returning to stake his claim in race three head of Narine and Baksh. In other races, Jeremy Ten Pow was able to defend his 60 CC Sunburst Kids cup title after close battles with Jeremy Ten Pow, Nathan Rahman and Paige Mendonca. He won the first race ahead of Mendonca and Rahaman and then took the second in front of Justin and Mendonca, with

Nathan turning the tables on him and Justin in the final race. In the 125CC junior class, it was a Mikhail Persaud-show as he made a clean sweep of the category,forcing Elan Rahaman into second on all three occasions and John Phang third on two occasions, with Rayden Persaud taking third in the last race. On the senior end of things, two wins and a third place finish for Bridget Singh meant that she picked up the champion driver trophy. Singh brought third in race one behind Matthew Phang and race winner Denzel Hopkinson but joined Emma Vieira to turn the tables on the boys, winning the next two races ahead of Vieira and Hopkinson.

Registration date extended for Guyana Cup Fever horse race meet

By Rajiv Bisnauth

WITH a large number of horse racing stables confirming their participation for the Guyana Cup Fever horse race meet, organisers have extended the registration process until Tuesday. This is according to Chandu Ramkissoon, who indicated that no late entries will be accepted after the extended time is expired. The race meet, which is dubbed Guyana’s largest horse-racing event, is billed for April 16 at the Port Mourant Turf Club, Corentyne,Berbice. Organ-

ised by the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing Stables in collaboration with the Port Mourant Turf Club, eight races are on the cards with over $8M in cash,along with trophies and other incentives up for grabs. The feature race is for animals classified b1 and Lower, and will run over 1900 metres for a cash prize of $1million and a trophy. Other races billed for the day are: the E1 and Lower West Indies bred non earners for 2016 and 2017 and E3 US and Canadian bred non earners for 2016 and 2017;the four-

year-old West Indies bred and G3 and Lower;H3 and Lower, three-year-old Guyana bred horses and those classified I1 and Lower, Guyana bred three-yearold maiden, while there are races for animals classified J2 and K and L and Lower. Further,the organising committee reserves the right to cancel/reframe any race mentioned above. In the event that less than five (5) horses are entered for any event the committee reserves the right to cancel or reframe the said event or reduce the prize money after notifying the

horse owners. Seven horses must start or no fourth prize will be paid. Interested persons can contact Chandu Ramkissoon (624-9063 or 608-9063, 2320633), Jingo Jagdeo on 6187278, Ramnauth on 697-1979 or 333-5311 or Amernauth on 649-8231 for any information. Nazrudeen ‘Jumbo Jet’ Mohammed Jr. is the coordinator, and race time is 12:30hrs. The Guyana Cup Fever is the brainchild of Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, and has become the largest horse-racing event in Guyana.

IPL 2017 SCHEDULE

Sunrisers v Guj Lions at Hyderabad (Deccan) Today, Apr 9, 2017 6th match Match scheduled to begin at 16:00 local | 10:30 GMT Mum Indians v KKR at Mumbai, Today, Apr 9, 2017 7th match Match scheduled to begin at 20:00 local | 14:30 GMT

Don’t get complacent; Powell warns as spirited West Indies eye rare series win See story on page 25

Kieran Powell Another win today will further enhance the West Indies’ position ahead of the automatic qualification for the ICC World Cup 2019. (WICB Media Photo/Randy Brooks/Randy)

Kristian Jeffrey was untouched in the Shifter Class

See story on page 31

Registration date extended for Guyana Cup Fever horse race meet See story on page 31

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

The Guyana Cup Fever always attract the country’s best horses as well as thousands of racing fans. SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 2017