Guyana chronicle e paper 05 02 2018

Copeland cops inaugural Junior Soca Monarch 13 PAGE

No. 105176

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2018

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

Goldfields unmoved

– says not bothered by Venezuela’s claim to Cuyuni region O3 PAGE

Workers are busy constructing a reinforced concrete drain at the Better Hope, East Coast Demerara end of the East Coast Demerara Road Widening and Improvement Project on Sunday. The project is expected to be completed in August 2019 (Samuel Maughn photo)

Money changer shot dead

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Guyana Goldfields Sergeant, others to invest US$120M under close arrest for in Aurora mine 09 missing weapon 13 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

UG says increase in fees duly approved -- student body differs

AMID concerns over the implementation of new administrative rates at the University of Guyana (UG), its administration on Sunday disclosed that the rates were approved close to a year ago by the University’s Finance and General Purposes Committee (F&GPC).

The administrative rates are for the provision of services for prospective and current students and graduates of the University of Guyana (UG).

In a statement, the university’s administration stated that the new rates were approved during a specially convened meeting of the F&GPC on June 1, 2017.

The F&GPC is a statutory arm of the university council. It was noted that the Council includes representatives from the University

of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS), the ministries of education and finance, the private sector, the trades union congress, civic bodies, the campus unions, and the administration.

According to the administration, the UGSS immediate past president participated in the meeting that approved the new fees.

“Apart from tuition and facilities fees, there are other expenses associated with studying at the university.

These are commonly called administrative fees, and they cover a wide range of services, including fees for processing applications for degree, diploma and certificate programmes (adjusted from $500 to $1000), and late applications (adjusted from $2,000 to $3,000), late registration (adjusted from $10,000 to $12,000),

supplemental examinations (adjusted from $1,500 to $5,000). The cost of personal transcripts will move from $3,000 to $5, 000,” the UG administration explained.

It was noted too that some services were entirely free; however, they will soon attract a fee. A student requesting to re-sit an examination will have to pay $6,000, while letters for students that are used for visa applications and other purposes now will attract a charge of $5,000.

The UG administration said it was important to note that the fees are only payable if use is made of the services to which they relate.

“The new administrative fees do not affect all students. Indeed, some fees do not affect current students; they affect graduates seeking transcripts and other services. A significant proportion of the request for transcripts comes from grad-

UGSS President, Norwell Hinds (second left) and Vice-Chancellor of UG, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, in conversation last year

uates residing abroad, and dispatching those transcripts carries additional costs,” the administration explained in the statement.

The administrative fees were last adjusted by the university about a decade ago.

According to the university, a comparative analysis of administrative fees being paid at other local tertiary institutions reveals that the new UG fees are far from exorbitant.

The new rates initially were to take effect from January 1, 2018, but were deferred to be effective from March 1, 2018, after formal and extensive engagements with the current UGSS president and executive members, the UG administration stated.

IMPROPER Current UGSS President Norwell Hinds said the move

by UG to increase students’ administrative fees while introducing several others is improper.

Hinds said while he is not disputing that approval was granted in 2017, it is “improper” to implement those fees in 2018.

“UGSS feels that imposition of fees in this financial year is improper without the installation of a Council and UGSS will take all actions necessary to raise its non-support for implementation [of] these fees,” Hinds told the Guyana Chronicle.

He reasoned that the 2017 budget – of which the increases are part – has a “finite life” which ended December 31, 2017. This means that the budget year for 2017 would have expired, and any increase to fees which were not implemented would have to be brought back to Council.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, was quoted as saying, “While none of us wish to add to the costs of our students’ educational experiences, the practical reality is that running the university costs, and the government subvention does not and cannot be expected to cover all the costs.”

He added: “For instance, when the new Students Social Complex is opened later this year, the university will have to bear additional costs of utilities for the facility.

Moreover, that is not the only new or renovated facility for which we have to cater.”

It was pointed out that adjustments to service fees are being done at a time when the university has been undergoing major transformational changes.

“It must be underscored that over the past two years, students at the university have been witnessing numerous improvements that directly enhance their learning environment and educational

experience. These include, construction of a modern Student Social Complex that would be commissioned by the start of the 2018- 2019 academic year; air conditioning of the George Walcott Lecture Theatre (GWLT) and the Small Lecture Theatre (SLT) and the installation of new bathrooms in the GWLT; improved Wi-Fi access at Turkeyen, Tain, and the Dennis Irvine Hall, new PA systems in the lecture halls, and placement of fans in classrooms; extended service hours of the Registry and the Bursary, including opening on Saturdays, and partnering with GTT to offer Mobile Money to enhance services to students; provided G$100,000 each to 13 students (and three staffers) who were fire victims in Cummings Lodge and in Berbice,” the UG administration pointed out.

The administration boasted of initiating the Etiquette Training Programme for Student Leaders – an initiative funded from the Vice-Chancellor’s Fund.

Some 56 student leaders were the first beneficiaries.

The launching of the Undergraduate Research Programme, the inaugural student research conferences at Turkeyen and Tain were among the other initiatives undertaken by the administration.

Goldfields unmoved

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

– says not bothered by Venezuela’s claim to Cuyuni region

By Svetlana Marshall GUYANA Goldfields Inc is monitoring the Guyana-Venezuela territorial controversy, its President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Scott Caldwell said, but made it clear that it is currently a “non-issue” for investors operating here.

The Guyana Goldfields’ operation is situated in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni district – an area which is also being claimed by Venezuela.

In fact, in October 2015, Venezuela’s Ambassador to Canada issued a warning letter to the company, claiming that its operations were “infringing on the territorial sovereignty of Venezuela”.

Approximately two years after, the CEO said

the mining company remains unmoved by the threats issued by Venezuela, stating that it does not “respond to frivolous rules”.

At the end of January, the United Nations announced that the age-old Guyana-Venezuela border controversy will be referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for final settlement. Venezuela has been claiming that the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award is null and void, but the claim was made more than 50 years after the Spanish-speaking country had accepted the decision.

On Sunday, while engaging media operatives during a working brunch at the Guyana Marriott, the Guyana Goldfields CEO, when questioned, said the

mining company is monitoring the situation and has been in frequent contact with the U.S. Embassy, the Canadian High Commission and the Government of Guyana on the matter, in addition to other investors such as U.S.oil-producing giant, ExxonMobil. However, he reiterated that it is a non-issue here for investors.

“Frankly, in the investment community, because of all the World Court action historically supporting the existing border, we don’t see it as a risk… nor does Exxon… I’ve spoken with people at Exxon, not the Chairman of Exxon but Exxon themselves don’t see it as a risk,” Caldwell said.

The ICJ will make a final ruling in keeping with the tenets of the 1966 Gene-

All must know IN the coming days, the Foreign Affairs Ministry is expected to highlight the significance of the decision made by United Nations (UN) to send the Guyana/ Venezuela border controversy to the World Court as part of a nationwide civic education, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has said.

“Every child needs to know that the only just and lasting settlement of the controversy must flow from legal processes and that the World Court is the guarantor of these processes,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo said in his weekly column on Sunday.

He said Guyana has fought a long, hard and costly battle for a juridical resolution of the controversy, and the UN decision came as a vindication of the consistent and strenuous national efforts, particularly since the APNU+AFC Coalition came to office.

“We stood within the law,

even when we took blows from the bigger, more powerful and aggressive neighbour.

We suffered enormous damage to our economy and loss of investment opportunities.

But the law has been and remains Guyana’s sword and shield!,” the prime minister said.

Mr Nagamootoo also took note of the statements expressed by seasoned diplomats who have hailed the decision as the best forward move, in what has been a stale and stagnated row that has troubled relations between two peaceful peoples on the shoulder of South America.

“The world is watching and it knows that in spite of the expected political bombast and braggadocio, the present Venezuelan regime, or a future government cannot wish away the jurisdiction of the ICJ, nor can it trifle with its persuasive and authoritative rulings — whether as opinions or advi-

Guyana Goldfields Inc CEO Scott Caldwell

va Agreement.

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Mr. Antonio Guterres, in keeping with the 1966 agreement, agreed to refer the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy to the ICJ if

significant progress was not made in arriving at a full agreement for settlement of the controversy at the level of the Good Offices process in December 2017.

At the end of December 2017, no significant prog-

ress was made and the UN Secretary-General upheld the commitment that was made to the countries in December, 2016, and as such, the matter was referred to the ICJ. Venezuela is claiming that the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award, which had given more than 90 per cent of an area to then British Guiana (now Guyana), is null and void.

Approximately 118 years after that award was issued, the Guyana Government holds strongly to the view that a juridical course of action is the only means through which this matter can be permanently resolved. For more than two years, the government had been seeking to reach a peaceful resolution to the border controversy.

– Gov’t to embark on nationwide civic education on Guyana-Venezuela border controversy

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran

sories,” he said.

Meanwhile, in his online column “Conversation Tree”, Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran pointed out that by Article IV(1) of the 1966 Geneva Agreement the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela committed to choosing one of the means of peaceful settlement provided for by Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations (UN), if

the Mixed Commission did not arrive at a full agreement for the settlement of the controversy within four years.

Since the decision of the UNSG to refer the matter to the ICJ, Venezuela has spoken out in objection.

But Ramkarran reminded that judicial settlement was one of those means under Article 33.

Ramkarran noted that

after the conclusion of the mandate of the Mixed Commission, the Governments of Guyana, Venezuela and the United Kingdom entered into an agreement known as the Port of Spain Protocol in June, 1970, which suspended the operation of Article IV of the Geneva Agreement for 12 years.

“This meant effectively that the formal search under Article IV for a resolution of the controversy was suspended for the period. Guyana and Venezuela undertook to ‘explore all possibilities of better understanding between them’,” he explained.

The Protocol of Port of Spain came to an end in 1982 and was not renewed, he recalled.

It was then that the parties agreed to refer the matter to the UNSG who selected the Good Officer process under Article 33 of the United Nations Charter.

“It eventually became clear to Guyana after 50

years of effort that the controversy could not be resolved by discussion and negotiation. A reference of the matter to the International Commission of Jurists, the World Court, appeared to be the only solution. Guyana prevailed upon the UN Secretary-General to do so, as Venezuela would never have agreed. The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, agreed, but with a proviso that an enhanced Good Officer Process should continue for another year and that he would only refer the matter if there was no significant progress. The Good Officer Process did not produce significant progress and so the UN Secretary-General referred the matter to the ICJ or World Court,” the Senior Counsel explained.

It was noted that the ICJ in its ruling will determine the validity of the Arbitral Award of 1899 but will not directly involve ownership of the territory.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

Florida ready to take in New Yorkers seeking tax shelter NEW YORK POST Florida is ready to take a deeper bite out of the Big Apple.

The new federal tax structures signed into law

by President Trump is hurting New York by limiting state and local tax deductions for its high income earners and widens the cost disparity with Florida — which has no state income tax.

Florida, already a magnet for New York retirees, is aggressively wooing businesses and wealthy residents here to relocate to the Sunshine State and benefit rather than get punished by the new law.

The fear of a stampede of well-to-do New York taxpayers to Florida and other lower tax states is real, said a rep from the city’s top business advocacy group.

“Yes they are actively poaching and yes change of residence is easy,” Kathryn Wylde, president of the New York City Partnership, said of her Florida counterparts.

Many affluent New Yorkers already have second homes in Florida — so much so that New York hospitals such as NYU Langone and Mt. Sinai have opened up medical clinics there to tend to them.

Even the loss of a few hundred millionaires could wreak havoc on city and state budgets. The top one per cent of earners account for nearly half of all Big Apple income tax revenue that help fund services for the government, the Partnership said in an analysis of the impact of the new federal tax law.

A Florida single resident making $10 million gets

$227,619 in tax relief, while the same earner in NY gets socked with $257,177 tax hike because of the loss of SALT, under the new law.

Economic development officials in Palm Beach County — home to Trump’s Mar-A-Lago estate — are salivating.

“The new Trump tax law is helping with our recruiting. New York is taxing the rich. Palm Beach is rolling out the red carpet,” said Kelly Smallridge, head of the Palm Beach County’s Business Board.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott told The Post he’s urging New Yorkers fed up with high taxes to come on down.“I want to personally welcome anyone escaping high tax states to join the hundreds of thousands of their former neighbours who have already moved to

Florida,” Scott said.

Florida Chamber of Commerce Mark Wilson said the new federal tax law that curbs state and local deductions, exposes New York’s “Robin Hood” system of taxation as a “fraud.”

New York Gov. Cuomo complained last week that the $10,000 limit of deductibility of state and local taxes — including property taxes — “will undo all the good work we’ve done and it’ll make us much less competitive” He’s proposed shifting the state’s revenue collections from the income tax to a payroll tax or charitable donation — both of which are deductible — to shield wealthier residents from a tax hike. It’s unclear whether such a radical change would pass muster.

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South Korean appeals court to rule on Samsung scion Lee’s conviction and jail term

Samsung Group scion, Jay Y. Lee (Reuters photo)

A South Korean appeals court will rule on Monday on Samsung Group scion Jay Y. Lee’s conviction and jail term for corruption in a case that led to the ouster of the nation’s president last year.

Seoul High Court is due to decide the fate of the 49-year-old Samsung Electronics vice chairman, who has been detained for a year on charges arising from a scandal that shone a light on cozy ties between family-run conglomerates and political powers, as well as bringing down President Park Geunhye.

It is a scandal South Korea would like to put behind it days before it hosts the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

A lower court in August convicted Lee and jailed him for five years for bribing Park for help in strengthening his control of Samsung Electronics, the crown jewel of the country’s largest conglomerate and one of the world’s biggest technology companies, as well as embezzlement and other charges.

The court said Samsung’s financial support for entities backed by a friend of

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Park‘s, Choi Soon-sil, constituted bribery, including 7.2 billion won ($6.4 million) to sponsor the equestrian career of Choi’s daughter.

In return for the contributions, prosecutors say, Samsung sought government support for a controversial 2015 merger of two of its affiliates, which helped Lee tighten his control of the conglomerate. Lee’s lawyers had argued that the merger was carried out on merit but the lower court did not accept that.

If the appeals court sentences Lee to a jail term longer than three years, his detention will continue as he awaits a final appeal to the Supreme Court, legal experts said.

Whatever the decision, the case is expected to go to the Supreme Court, as prosecutors in December called for a 12-year jail term after Lee appealed.

Former President Park, who denies wrongdoing, is standing trial accused of bribery, abuse of power and coercion, having been forced to step down in March after parliament voted to impeach her at the end of 2016.

She has been held in detention since March.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

Tillerson raises spectre of U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan oil BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - The United States is considering restricting imports of Venezuelan crude oil and exports of U.S. refined products to Venezuela, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Sunday, to put pressure on socialist President Nicolas Maduro to “return to the constitution.”

“One of the aspects of considering sanctioning oil

is what effect would it have on the Venezuelan people?

Is it a step that might bring this to an end more rapidly?” Tillerson said at a news conference in Buenos Aires, referring to Venezuela’s economic and political crisis.

Tillerson, on a Latin America trip that also includes visits to Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Jamaica, raised eyebrows on Fri-

day after he suggested that Maduro could be toppled by his own military.

Restrictions on Venezuela’s all-important oil industry would represent an escalation of financial pressure on the OPEC member, which is gripped by severe shortages of food and medicine. Sanctions have so far focused on individual members of Maduro’s government and a ban on buying

new Venezuelan debt.

“We are looking at options and we are looking at how to mitigate the impacts on U.S. business interests” and on other countries in the region, Tillerson said.

Standing next to Tillerson at the news conference, Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie said his country would “closely follow” the possibility of oil and fuel sale restrictions, but said

sanctions “must never harm the Venezuelan people.”

Other Latin American governments have said they were unwilling to take steps that would worsen the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. “Not doing anything to bring this (crisis) to an end is also asking the Venezuelan people to suffer,” Tillerson said.

Venezuela’s crude oil sales to the United States in

2017 were the lowest since 1991, according to Thomson Reuters trade flows data, hurt by sanctions on the OPEC nation.

Citing sources, Reuters reported last June that the Trump administration was considering sanctions on Venezuela’s energy sector, including state oil company PDVSA [PDVSA.UL], responsible for most of the country’s exports.

Costa Rica votes for new president amid gay rights controversy SAN JOSE (Reuters) - Costa Ricans went to the polls on Sunday to choose a new president in a race upended by a debate over same-sex marriage, as leading candidates in the crowded field fiercely opposed gay rights that have recently gained ground in Latin America.

Conservative Christian singer and TV anchor Fabricio Alvarado skyrocketed to the top of the 13-person field, after denouncing a January ruling by the region’s top human rights court that called on Costa Rica to give equal civil marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples.

If no candidate wins at least 40 percent of Sunday’s vote, a run-off election with the top two finishers is set for early April. Initial results are expected by 8 p.m. local time (2100 ET/0200 GMT Monday).

Hundreds of Costa Ricans, many waving party flags of red, yellow, green, white and blue, set up stalls in front of polling stations early on Sunday, hoping to win over any remaining undecided voters.

The 43-year-old Alvarado, a congressman with the National Restoration Party, has called last month’s ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights a violation of Costa Rica’s sovereignty and an affront to traditional values.

Rival Antonio Alvarez, a banana entrepreneur and candidate of the National Liberation Party, has said that

while he personally opposes the court’s decision, he would respect it if he wins.

Among the few candidates who embraced the court’s resolution is Carlos Alvarado, a former labour minister in the outgoing government of President Luis Guillermo Solis.

Elsewhere in the region, gay and lesbian couples can marry in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and in parts of Mexico.

“The next president has to get into the difficult issues in the country and not be in fights over religion,” said

Ronald Pina, a 45-year-old government worker in the upper middle class Escazu neighbourhood of San Jose.

Running a close second in one recent opinion poll, conservative Juan Diego Castro, a former justice minister, is aiming to lure voters with an anti-crime platform as well as pushing for less restrictions on miners and oil companies.

A high-end coffee exporter, Costa Rica is well-known for its environmental stewardship and thriving eco-tourism sector.

The candidates, dressed

in their party colours, went to vote early on Sunday, with some attending religious services afterward.

Solis, a former diplomat and history professor, won in a landslide four years ago but has seen his popularity slide as an investigation into an influence peddling scandal has unfolded.

He is barred by law from seeking a second term.

Solis gained international attention when he hoisted a rainbow flag along with the Costa Rican flag atop his office just a week after he took office as a statement against homophobia.

Costa Rica’s 3.3 million voters are predominantly Roman Catholic and most describe themselves as conservative.

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

Bel Air Park and Farnum Playgrounds IN recent weeks, the issue of the importance and desirability of having open green spaces in the city of Georgetown has been much discussed. The catalyst which occasioned such discussions was the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown attempting to change the status of the Bel Air Park Playground and the Farnum Playground. The latter was gifted by the Farnum family to provide recreational facilities for the people, and particularly the children, of Subryanville, Kitty and Campbellville.

In the case of the Bel Air Park Playground, the City Council wished to hand over the ground to a private developer to construct houses, thus obliterating that open green space and congesting the area; and in the case of the Farnum Playground, a large part of it was being handed over to a commercial venture for their exclusive use. These activities of the Council are reminiscent of the Chief Co-operative

Officer’s attempt to sell the Lamaha Gardens Playground. This illegality was uncovered just in time, the sale was prevented and the co-operative official was dismissed from his post for this blatant illegality.

Older cities which grew up without the guidance of the concepts of modern city planning became congested and the few large open spaces which managed to survive in these cities became as well-known as the cities themselves. This is the case of Hyde Park in London and Central Park in New York. These parks will be preserved as long as these cities exist.

The physical, aesthetic, social, environmental, ecological, and health benefits which open green spaces bring to cities are well known and we are confident that the professional staff of the Georgetown City Council are well acquainted with them. The existence of open green spaces within the city creates links to physical activity, especially for young people and provides places

where the elderly could relax and children, mothers and babies could have their recreation. Open green spaces are linked to physical and mental health benefits and reduce health care costs to the State. They encourage and provide space for community projects.

They also help to beautify cities, as many cities worldwide would attest.

Those who are responsible for the management of cities in the modern world, enthusiastically maintain and expand open spaces in the city. It was therefore with much disappointment and disbelief that we learnt of the Georgetown City Council’s desire and activity to reduce the public open spaces in Georgetown.

Fortunately, the Government of Guyana, through its Minister of Communities as well as citizens from all walks of life, expressed their strong disapproval of the City Council’s attempt to eliminate green spaces in the city.

The Minister of Communities, writing on his

I smell a rat

Dear Editor

BY now it must be pellucid to the youngest child why the City Council is always broke and in fact totally bankrupt and that is because of the reckless behaviour and irresponsible actions of the administrative leadership at City Hall.

How can the Town Clerk explain maintaining a staff strength of nearly 1,000 employees with a monthly pay-

roll of $130 million, whilst contracting out almost all of its services from refuse collection to brush cutting for hundreds of millions of dollars.

This is just not sustainable and benefits only the senior administrators at the Council.

But quite disconcerting is the propensity of the administration of the City Council to boast and pat itself on the back when it finally does something that it should have been doing all along. Examples of this

would be the de-bushing of the Le Repentir Cemetery and the repair of the Kitty Market, where they criticise the previous central government for not maintaining these facilities. News flash, these facilities belong to the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown and therefore it is the duty and responsibility of the City Council to maintain them as was done in years gone by. But this current Council has become so accus-

own behalf and on behalf of the Cabinet, to the Mayor and City Council, laid out the procedure the M&CC and the NDCs must follow in respect of green spaces in cities and towns. Though the minister was referring to the Bel Air Park and Farnum playgrounds in particular, his statement captures the essence of city planning and is apposite to all local authorities. We quote excerpts from the minister’s letter to the Mayor and City Council; -- “I inform you further that the undertaking by the Council to convert green spaces in residential areas into housing and other commercial ventures does not find favour with the Central Government.

Instead, it is the desire and expectation of the administration that local democratic organs undertake to maintain and improve such areas for the benefit of all residents and citizens within the confines of their intended purposes. “...That it is the view of the Central Government that in the light of the fore-

going, it is expected that any undertaking by any Council must have the support of the relevant Constituency Councillor. In fact, before an undertaking is placed on the agenda of a meeting of the Council, the relevant Constituency Councillor must so agree...I further apprise you that I am in favour of the exercise of a moratorium on the conversion or use of green spaces for any purpose, apart from that which such spaces were intended, and based on discussion in Cabinet. My colleagues share that view.

“I advise you of this fact for your consideration for the implementation of such within the municipality.”

There could be no clearer statement that the Mayor and City Council should forthwith desist from attempting to change the status of the green spaces in

tomed to bailouts from Central Government that they think it is an obligation. It is not.

Quite dishonestly they continuously announce that property rates have not been increased for more than 20 years. Just two years ago property rates were increased by a whopping 10 per cent. For such treachery the senior administrator of Council should be sanctioned.

But very alarming is the cavalier approach the administration has taken to its indebtedness to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and the utility compa-

nies, stating that they are not the only entity that has outstanding payment to entities.

These entities should take them to court to receive their monies. It is illegal and it is not that the Council does not have the money; it is that they spend it recklessly on foreign travel and contractors who do not have to subscribe to tender board procedures.

And about the holding of Mayoral elections until March 15, I must say that I smell a rat. Why did all the other municipalities except Georgetown have theirs in December? Why did the Georgetown municipality

the city and in particular the Bel Air Park and Farnum playgrounds.

The residents of both Bel Air Park and Subryanville contemplate taking further legal action to compel the City Council to conform to the law and desist from handing over the open green spaces in Bel Air Park and Subryanville to commercial interests, thus depriving these communities of their rights and ability to enjoy the facilities of these green spaces. The Mayor and City Council is urged to let good sense prevail and drop legal action, accede to the demands of citizens, leave the status of green open spaces undisturbed, conform to the dictates of modern city planning and take serious cognisance of the expressed guidance of the Cabinet.

have theirs the last time in December? I believe that there is some jiggery pokery afoot.

Bearing in mind that the next Mayor would only have at best a term of nine months, it would make perfect sense for that individual to know three months in advance that they have been elected so that they could plan their programmes and policies.

Benjamin Franklin once said: Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don’t have brains enough to be honest.

Sincerely, SHANTA SINGH

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

Juvenile Justice Bill being fine-tuned

By Vishani Ragobeer

THE modernisation of Guyana’s juvenile justice system could not be far away as a Juvenile Justice Bill is expected to get Cabinet’s blessing this week, according to Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday, the minister said, “I indicated to [the] attorney-general that I wanted [the juvenile justice bill] as early as possible.”

This bill, he explained, has been completed, but was under-

going “fine-tuning” for the past few weeks by parliamentary draftspersons before it is tabled in the House. Fine-tuning included perusing and modifying (if necessary) the “wording” of the bill.

Ramjattan was supposed to receive the bill last Friday from Chief Parliamentary Counsel Charles Fung-A-Fat. Since he did not receive it then, he is expecting it this week, when he will take it to Cabinet for perusal and blessing before laying it in Parliament.

As soon as Cabinet grants its approval for this critical piece of leg-

islation, its passage in Parliament should be smooth sailing.

Ramjattan explained that he worked closely with Opposition member and former Minister

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan

of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, since Dr Anthony had spearheaded work on the bill during the 10th Parliament of Guyana.

Due to Dr Anthony’s involvement, the minister assured, “They [the Opposition] like the modernisation of the bill,” and added, “Almost all the minor fine-tuning was agreed to… and a majority of the bill was agreed to.”

Speaking at the University of Guyana (UG)’s eighth Turkeyen and Tain talks on the topic of “Youth, Crime and Violence” in July last year, Ramjattan had

noted that the bill seeks to abolish truancy and wandering, among other crimes deemed “economic.”

According to the 2016 United Nation (UN)’s Situation Analysis for Guyana, wandering accounted for 64 per cent of the main alleged crimes committed by girls during the years 2011-2014. It was 17 per cent for boys during the same period. The bill will seek to decriminalise this.

Raising the age of criminal responsibility is another component of the bill that adds to its modernity. Currently, a

child as young as age 10 could be charged and placed before the court.

In addition to the content of this bill, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) had indicated that it would assist in conducting a cost analysis for the bill.

Ramjattan noted that he has not received this as yet, but is also expecting it soon, as it was promised for “early 2018”.

As reported in another local news agency, the minister said he is cognisant that there will be huge expenditures associated with passage of the bill.

Senior municipal officials do not own city reserves Dear Editor,

CLEARLY there is a complete lack of understanding by the administrative and political heads of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown as to the role and responsibilities of the Georgetown Municipality, particularly as it relates to their legal obligations and duties to the citizens of our capital city.

It is extremely discon-

certing to know that senior municipal officials do not realise that they are not the owners of city reserves, of green spaces, of playfields and other open spaces in Georgetown, but rather are merely custodians of reserves and open spaces in our capital. The covenants on the deeds of these open spaces, and reserves are very clear in their delineation of what they are to be used for.

The filing of an appeal by the Town Clerk against

the recent ruling by a judge on the controversial Bel Air Park Playground which blocks the municipality from selling or leasing the reserved community lands to a private developer, shows the level of arrogance and lack of knowledge by the Council on these matters.

But what is just as distressing is the flagrant disregard and disrespect by officials of the Council for their subject Minister and Ministry and central

government. Examples of this include their disregard for the Minister’s instructions with regard to the prescribed parking meter fiasco when the Minister ordered the suspension of the Georgetown parking meter bylaws for three months and was forced to obtain the assistance of the Public Security Minister, who had to advise the Commissioner of Police to ensure that citizens and their vehicles would receive the protection of

the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to prevent them and/or their vehicles from being unduly hindered or restrained in any way, whatsoever, by the City Council and/or its agents.

In the Bel Air Park area despite the residents appealing to the Minister of Communities for his intervention to stop the City Council from continuing land clearing works on their playground, they continue around the clock, which

can only be considered a violation of a recent court ruling. The Council through its two favourite contractors who did not have to bid for this project, continue to destroy that playground, bulldozing trees which nests endangered species and killing wildlife under the guise of playground maintenance.

Sincerely, JERMAIN JOHNSON

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

Money changer shot dead Story and photos by Leroy Smith

FORTY-SEVEN-YEAROLD foreign currency trader, Sean Nurse was on Sunday morning shot and killed around 09:00 hrs on America Street, Georgetown where he plied his trade.

Detectives are treating the matter as a robbery.

The father of three has been a foreign currency trader for more than two decades, according to persons close to him.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that a lone gunman walked up to Nurse and demanded cash but he hesitated in complying and was shot to the head.

After the shooting, the gunman escaped north along the Avenue of the Republic.

It is unclear if he has an accomplice or if he had a vehicle parked a distance away from the crime scene.

At the location where

The crowd that gathered close to the scene where Nurse was shot dead

the incident occurred, there are CCTV cameras but based upon an examination of these devices, it appeared that the cameras were pointed in a different direction from where the crime occurred.

At the scene on Sunday morning, many persons were heard lamenting the apparent ease at which criminal elements are roaming the City of Georgetown and called for the police to step up their anti-crime operations.

This is even as they stood behind police caution tapes and observed the police mop the area for clues

and provide comfort to the relatives of the dead man.

The mother of the dead man recalled that she last saw her son on Saturday night as she would normally cook his meals due to an illness he has.

She described her son as a loving and caring individual, who has no enemies based on her knowledge.

According to her, she was in the shower when her reputed daughter-in-law told her to get dressed and it was when she enquired about the reason, she received the dreaded news.

The mother related that her son was robbed close

to $300,000 last December and was able to point out two accomplices who had robbed him. A woman who was robbed also pointed out the very robbers in an Identification (ID) Parade.

Following their identification, the mother of the robbers had reportedly come forward and indicated to Nurse that she wanted no police matter and opted to pay back the money reportedly stolen from him, an offer he accepted.

At the crime scene on Sunday, Nurse’s mother said she was not sure if the same robbers returned to take her son’s life.

Currency traders along America Street, who knew Nurse, had varying views on him.

“If he do five transactions, two ah dem straight and when the people come back to he, is normally a big story,” one money changer said.

Another claimed that the issue which led to the mother of the suspects, who were identified in the December incident, repaying Nurse $300, 000 was another sour point.

According to that individual, a very close associate of Nurse had confided in him that Nurse never had

The grief-stricken mother of the dead man at the scene of the shooting

that amount of money on him and he may have taken advantage of the situation by claiming he lost that sum during the robbery then.

Others described the now dead, Sean Nurse, as a hustler who worked honestly for a living.

No one has been arrested as police continue their investigations.

HPV vaccination programme targets young girls – women urged to get screened

By Navendra Seoraj AS recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) will be targeting girls aged 9-16 years during a nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme.

The ministry’s intent was highlighted by Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings at Parade Ground on Sunday, when Guyana joined the rest of the world to observe World Cancer Day 2018.

Dr. Cummings said the aim of the ministry is to achieve a minimum of 95 per cent coverage of the target population.

“We must encourage mothers to follow through, so that we can achieve full coverage, thus potentially reducing cervical cancer in the at-risk age group,” she said.

According to the WHO, HPV causes cervical cancer which is the second most common cancer in women worldwide.

In 2014, MoPH assessed cancers that occurred in Guyana over a 10-year period.

The data obtained demonstrated results similar to the statistics presented by the WHO; that is, in Guyana,

cervical cancer was the second most common cause of cancer among women.

According to data obtained, the average incidence rate of cervical cancer in Guyana was 46.9 per 100,000. The highest incidence and prevalence rates were found among Afro-Guyanese women.

“Unfortunately, the data demonstrated that approximately two-thirds of all of the cases of cervical cancer occurred among women below age 60 years, and the highest percentage occurred in the 15-39 age group,” said the minister.

The data demonstrated that four per cent of the cervical cancers that occurred among Guyanese women over the 10-year period was diagnosed at stage one, whereas the majority of patients were diagnosed at stage four, which contributed to an average annual mortality of 27 per 100,000.

In an effort to reduce that mortality rate, Minister Cummings said Guyana was one of the first countries in the Caribbean to pilot the HPV Vaccination Programme in the coastland region.

The vaccination was administered to girls aged 1113. She said an evaluation of the pilot demonstrated high

uptake for the first dose of the HPV vaccine and very low uptake for the second and third doses of the vaccine.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN “The administration of the HPV vaccine to girls is part of a comprehensive plan developed by the Ministry of Public Health to reduce the mortality [rate] due to cervical cancer,” the minister said.

She added that her ministry is committed to the preventative initiative against the development of cervical cancer, as was demonstrated by the provision of funds required for the purchase of the vaccines and the other preparations needed for a successful HPV vaccination campaign.

Dr. Cummings pointed out that it is also imperative to note that during the campaign, the HPV vaccine does not replace screening for cervical cancer.

She said adolescents should also be educated on safe sexual practices and other risk factors for cervical cancer.

WHO had reported that HPV remains the most commonly sexually transmitted infection in both males and females in the world.

The global health body said it is essential for work to continue in the area of awareness and knowledge about HPV and the HPV vaccine.

Dr. Cummings said the

Representatives of the MoPH and other persons marched the streets of Georgetown to raise awareness about HPV and cervical cancer on Sunday (MoPH photo)

ministry has recognized that there are inadequate local awareness programmes about HPV and the HPV vaccine, and as such, education interventions have been designed to improve knowledge levels.

She believes that such interventions may also influence individuals’ beliefs and attitudes about HPV vaccination, such as the acceptability of school-based HPV vaccination programmes.

“It is really important for women to understand the importance of attending cer-

vical screening when they receive a letter from their physicians, as it can detect pre-cancer abnormalities, which, if left untreated, may develop into life-threatening cancer. Screening is for people without symptoms as a preventative measure,” she emphasised.

The minister stressed that it is important to heighten awareness about cervical cancer caused by the HPV, so that women can get their pap smear tests done to detect pre-cancerous changes and

early-stage cervical cancers.

Prior to what was said by the minister, representatives of the ministry and other advocates marched the streets of Georgetown to raise awareness about HPV and cervical cancer.

“It is not just a walk, we walk in honour of those who are fighting cervical cancer and [in] remembrance of those who lost the fight to the disease,” said one of the participants, adding that raising awareness is indeed important.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

Guyana Goldfields to invest US$120M to develop underground mine

By Svetlana Marshall CANADA-based gold-mining company, Guyana Goldfields Inc., will be investing an initial sum of US$120M to develop an underground mine at its Aurora Gold Mine (AGM) in coming years, company President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Scott Caldwell disclosed on Sunday.

Caldwell and the Country Manager Violet Smith were among a team of officials from Guyana Goldfields who gave the media an overview of the company’s operations during a working brunch at the Guyana Marriott on Sunday.

While addressing reporters, the CEO disclosed the company’s intention to develop an underground mine at Rory’s Knoll, situated at the Aurora Gold Mine.

Currently, Rory’s Knoll is an open mining pit that is being utilised by the Canada-based company.

The move is expected to smooth the life-of-mine production and cost profiles, allowing for consistent operating and financial results, while reducing overall capital, operating costs and

The Guyana Goldfields mine at its Aurora site (Samuel Maughn photo)

further improving cash flows.

“Our future is going to be an underground mine here,” said an optimistic Caldwell.

He said a feasibility study which was conducted is currently being revised to reflect an earlier commencement date. The revised feasibility study is expected to be completed and made public by the end of this month.

SOONER START “Our current study indicated that we would have started underground mining in about four years. We are thinking we would like to start that sooner, in other words, move it forward by a couple of years, gives us a longer time to train, a longer time to get our workforce up to speed with under-

ground mining,” the Guyana Goldfields CEO explained.

The initial feasibility study had put the commencement year as 2022, but the company, in its quest to smooth the forecast production and cost profiles, is hoping to optimise its operation by fast-tracking its plan to launch an underground mine.

“It is very safe and very

Spread the awareness on diabetes THE Guyana Diabetic Association (GDA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health’s (MoPH) Chronic Disease Unit recently hosted a two-day training workshop for non-medical personnel.

The training sessions were aimed at educating and equipping those persons to disseminate diabetic-related information in order to raise awareness on the prevention and control of the disease.

The small group of participants, representing various branches of society, were afforded the opportunity to interface with medical personnel and fellow counterparts to learn more and share what they have learnt about diabetes.

More specifically, non-medical personnel, who are members of the National Commission for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, were also engaged.

President of the GDA, Glynis Alonzo-Beaton indicated that after this exer-

cise, the participants (who are not employed in the medical field) will be able to educate their social circles on how diabetes is prevented and controlled.

“We want you to have the basic knowledge, to tell the people at your work, your churches, even in your families how to treat with diabetes,” Alonzo-Beaton explained Basic information, which was provided to the

non-medical personnel, included how the chronic disease is diagnosed, the different types and how it works, complications and medication needed to treat the disease.

In addition, trainees were provided with solutions for living with the chronic disease such as meal planning and calculating and counting carbohydrate intake.

These can be accompa-

nied by adequate physical activity and regular doctor check-ups to be aware of their health status. Participants opined that they can be a part of the solution to combat Non-Communicable Diseases with programmes such as these.

Training of this nature will allow for these persons to be well rounded and more effective in sharing health information in their social circles. (DPI)

efficient,” he posited.

“The risk analysis is done, now [it] is just the question of when we will start and we will know the answer to that in about a month,” the CEO added. Already, the company has completed four studies on the project totalling approximately US$4M, and according to Caldwell, the results have all been promising.

Though an underground mine would be a first not only for Guyana, but the company as well, Caldwell said he and his colleagues bring to Guyana a wealth of experience in that method of mining. Their experience and expertise will be complemented by expatriates who would assist with training when the time comes.

“We will have to do quite a bit of training to get our workforce up to speed on that… typically what you would do, you bring in contract miners and they would help you with the training programme,” he explained.

BIG PLAN The CEO said Guyana Goldfields wants to become the premier underground miner in Guyana and hopefully all of South America.

Guyana Goldfields currently has approximately 665 employees working at the Aurora Gold Mine – 96 per cent of whom are Guyanese.

However, with the establishment of the underground gold mine, the workforce could increase by 100.

“When you see the workforce increase is when we transition from opened pit to underground mining,”

Caldwell said. He explained that between 75 and 100 additional employees would be needed for the period of time when the company would be operating the open mining pit and the underground mine simultaneously.

Meanwhile, the CEO said though the company’s financial report for 2017 has not been completed as yet, in addition to its budgetary plans for 2018, it produced approximately 160,000 ounces of gold last year.

“We haven’t completed our budget yet, but it will be more than 160, 000 ounces for 2018. Those numbers are going to be released at the end of this month. We are still fine-tuning our budgets for 2018,” he told media operatives.

In has paid a total of US$31M in royalties to the Government of Guyana, while contributing financially and socially to other sectors.

Guyana Goldfields believes that it is well financially positioned to grow near-term production and significantly increase exploration efforts with an unaudited cash balance of approximately US$75 million at the end of the year, versus a total debt balance of US$60 million.

It is a mid-tier gold producer that primarily focuses on the exploration, development and operation of gold deposits in Guyana.

The 100 per cent -owned Aurora Gold Mine achieved commercial production January 1, 2016 and has a total gold resource of 6.25 million ounces.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

Do you have a young baby or toddler?

IF you have a baby or toddler at home then don’t miss out on this great opportunity of a lifetime. If you make up your mind to be part of this venture you’ll be starting the year in the right way and you and your child will benefit in the long run. It is still very early in the New Year so you can even make a commitment (or resolution) and see it through.

Are you are interested?

Do you want to give your youngster the best possible start? Would you like your child to have a good education and a sense of well-being? If so, then read on.

It doesn’t matter how young your child is you can

still participate in this ‘new’ venture. All you need to do is find a quiet comfortable space and a little time each day to be thoroughly committed. If a mere few minutes is all you can spare then that will do to begin with. Next you have to be sincere in your approach.

The best way to do this is to be fully aware of the reason behind what you are doing and knowledgeable about the importance and the eventual outcome. Are you ready to learn more? Do you want to sign up for this venture?

It does not require money but it does take up a little more of your time the older your child gets, that is, until he/she is no longer reliant on

your participation. Do you want to see your child blossom as he/she grows due to your input? Then take heed.

This simple but very effective venture is no more than ‘reading’ to your child.

All it takes is for you to just sit down comfortably in a quiet (it could even be a designated) area of your home, while the world passes by outside and spend some quality time to introduce books into your child’s life.

If you make this a routine your child will develop good reading skills which will help build his/her confidence and assist him/her academically.

The positive impact that early reading has made on

children has been so successful worldwide that the Ministry of Social Protection, Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, Maternal and Child Health Unit and the National Library, is launching a National Reading Programme for children from birth to three years old.

The launch will take place on Tuesday 6th February at the East La Penitence Health Centre.

It is hoped that by targeting mothers who routinely visit the many health centres across Guyana that an interest in reading to babies and toddlers will be cultivated and maintained. Some par-

ents need to be made aware that reading is not only a fun and valuable past time, but by reading to their child they are sharing positive quality time that will in turn enhance their child’s development.

A national book drive is also underway in order to provide every child with at least one book. Book donations can be handed into any CPA office across the country or to the CPA main building on the corner of Charles and Broad Street Charlestown. During the coming months, bookshelves and mobile bookstands will be placed at health care facilities. There will also be a series of

events that promote early reading with children, demonstrating strategies and know-how and the sharing of information. Here’s hoping that having read this article that YOU have come on board and will stay on board: Because if you remain dedicated to the cause it is guaranteed that by yearend you will begin to see the results of your efforts.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child ring the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to childcaregy@gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION, CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

At home in the Amazon – protecting biodiversity and livelihoods together FOR many centuries, the Amazon has been home to millions of people who live in harmony with nature.

These communities have developed ways of living and methods of farming that safeguard the land and its resources.

Climate change threatens not only the Amazon’s natural resources, it threatens the lives and livelihoods of the people who call it their home.

Jorge Job Trigoso is a community member from Villa Florida and belongs to one of the 10 communities and approximately 306 families that work in Brazilian nut management within the Manuripi National Wildlife Reserve in Bolivia. A few kilometres away, Omar Masx, lives in the community of Curichón, and has also benefitted from producing açaí and Brazilian nuts sustainably. Both have one quality in common: they are guardians of the forest.

“Here we do not knock down plants; this is a protected area where we should not cut down trees or log; we understand where we are living,” says Jorge Trigoso, gesturing to the vast forests that surround his house.

On the border of Bolivia, Brazil and Peru, the Manuripi reserve extends 747 000 hectares and it is one of the areas with the highest wildlife diversity in Bolivia. It also holds the Madre de Dios and the Manuripi rivers, two of the most important in the

FAO safeguards sustainable livelihoods while conserving the Amazon

Amazon basin.

Protected Areas, like Manuripi, are considered one of the best way to conserve biodiversity and to help naturally tackle climate change, as forests reduce greenhouse gases. Protected Areas conserve ecosystems while maintaining the cultural values of their inhabitants and promoting their traditional ways of managing natural resources.

A VISION FOR PRESERVING THE AMAZON With RedParques as the main implementing partner, FAO together with IUCN, UNEP, WWF and the European Union have developed the Integration of Amazon Protected Areas (IAPA) project. This project involves the 8 countries (Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela) plus the French Guiana territory that make up the Amazon

biome.

The IAPA project fosters the effective and collaborative oversight of the Amazon’s protected areas.

This helps to minimize the impacts of climate change on the Amazon biome and to increase the resilience of peoples’ livelihoods to these environmental changes. By ensuring a regional, cross-border approach to the Amazon, the project better protects its biodiversity and safeguards the communities and local economies that depend on the Amazon for food and livelihoods.

“We are the ones who must take care of the forest.

For example, we used to cut down the açaí tree to get its fruits. We do not do that anymore; we climb the tree to pick them. We have to take care of the trees because we live off of them,” explains Omar.

In Manuripi, the economy has mainly depended on resources from the forest,

especially açaí and Brazilian nuts. Nowadays the people of Manuripi are also venturing into the sustainable production of açaí. The sustainable management of açaí and Brazilian nuts has become a role model for the Amazon communities. Brazilian nuts, for example, has even been internationally certified as a quality product.

The Southern Landscape (El Paisaje Sur) is one of two priority action area s for the IAPA project. It is comprised of the Manuripi National Wildlife Reserve (Bolivia), the Chandless State Park and the Cazumbá-Iracema Extractive Reserve (Brazil), the Alto Purús Natural Park and the Purús Communal Reserve (Peru).

WHAT WE ARE PROTECTING For Jorge, Omar and the communities of the Am-

azon, making livelihoods sustainable and protecting the resources of the Amazon are crucial for survival.

But no matter where we live on this planet, the Amazon benefits us in ways we do not even recognize.

It pulls carbon dioxide out of the air and purifies our water; these are actions that we take for granted but without which our world would change. What happens to the Amazon happens to all of us.

“The Amazon is the lung of the world; it is such an important part because of all the services that it offers the different countries of the world,” emphasizes Andrea Barrero, Officer of the National Parks of Colombia.

COORDINATED PROTECTION Communities like Jorge’s and Omar’s are learning about the responsible use of the Amazon’s resources. By working with institutions from around Brazil and Peru’s Protected

Areas, these communities are learning from each other and adopting best practices for the preservation of the area. This learning and interchange of ideas and experiences has enriched the IAPA project.

Through joint trainings and workshops that help coordinate the action plans and experiences of the various countries in the Amazon biome, this project provides a larger perspective for Amazonian countries to work together and think beyond borders.

Between 2011 and 2015, the region has set aside 44 new protected areas. The IAPA project is seeing to it that these areas are properly coordinated and managed with a regional approach. To date, more than 170 million hectares in the Amazon region are protected areas and the vision seeks to explore further conservation priorities in order to benefit local populations. (FAO)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

23 excel at UK music exam

By Lisa Hamilton

TWENTY-THREE students from Music Unlimited and the National School of Music on Sunday received certificates for their successful completion of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) Theory Exam.

At the ceremony, founders of Music Unlimited, Jeremy and Christian Sobers, commended the students for their 99 per cent pass-rate which the ABRSM examinations board and charity--based in the United Kingdom--singled out for recognition.

The exams, sat locally last year, saw 19 students receiving distinctions while three received merits for their stellar performances.

Mark Shortt, 26, a pianist who gained a distinction, told Guyana Chronicle that although it was tough juggling work and studying, he did his best to achieve his goal.

“It took quite a lot of preparations and I’m somebody who is working, so I spent a whole lot of late nights preparing,” he said, adding: “I think I’ve developed a great deal because I came here with very little knowledge of music and now I’m at a stage where I can perform at concerts and I even play at my local church.”

Shortt’s success was proudly acknowledged by

Christian, who said that since the Government began to understand the role of the music industry, Guyana has experienced development over the past two years.

“I remember when President Granger made his first address to the nation. He said that music and the arts are a part of our culture and

experienced growth has done so partially through the creative industry and this growth is necessary for the creation of new jobs for young people.

In addition, funding and training were highlighted as two essentials which needed to be addressed by the Government.

musical instrument easily.

“Through examinations that have standards like ABRSM, students are able to explore their musical appetite,” Christian explained.

He noted: “We have lots of students that might start on piano and then take the exam and when they’re done they want to move on to

the school, Jeremy’s primary instrument is the keyboard while Christian’s is the guitar and apart from these, they each play about six instruments.

Last year, the school expanded to another high risk community--Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara--and has plans in the coming years

Twelve of the certified Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM) students stand along with their Vocal teacher Ellenelle Gilliam (first left); Primary Guitar instructor and co-founder of Music Unlimited, Christian Sobers (second left); and Primary Keyboard instructor and co-founder of Music Unlimited, Jeremy Sobers (centre in second row)

it’s something that we, as a people, need to work on and push forward because that’s how we’re going to grow,” Christian said.

The young man added that every nation that has

For the young people who took the ABRSM Theory Exam, it enables them not only to understand an instrument or discipline but, having formed the foundation, to branch off to another

guitar, voice, drums or violin and the examination helps with that because they have that foundation now… and [now] it’s just about learning the technique.”

As music instructors at

to expand to other locations such as Region One (Barima-Waini) and Lethem.

As most start-up tales go, however, Music Unlimited was not spared its fair share of challenges.

During the school’s earlier years, it faced trouble in locating a suitable space to operate and, at one point, taught at shack on a rooftop.

Nonetheless, with the support of parents, students and family, the Sobers persevered through their trials and throughout the years have been proud to celebrate their accomplishments.

As a result of the classes, several of the students have been able to perform at events featuring local and international artistes and are participating in the ongoing Carib Soca and Calypso Monarch competitions.

“Everything is about consistency, making sure that you imagine that dream that you have. Once you can see it in your mind, you can make it a reality; connect yourself with the right people, with the right places, like Music Unlimited, and stop dreaming about it and start living it,” Christian remarked.

Music Unlimited began in 2010 as a tutoring project with the aim of providing music tutoring to lower income individuals and families. In 2012, it was officially launched as a music school and offers courses in guitar, piano, bass, drums, violin and vocals.

In 2014, the school began training students for ABRSM certification which are graded in London and written in over 156 countries around the world.

Pressure grows on Zuma to stand down SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma is under growing pressure to step down following talks with senior members of his ANC party on Sunday.

Details of the talks were not revealed but party leaders are to hold an emergency meeting on Monday.

Mr Zuma, who faces corruption allegations, was replaced as ANC leader by Cyril Ramaphosa in December.

Analysts say party chiefs want to avoid a power struggle that could split the ANC before elections next year.

They are expected to begin the process to remove

President Jacob Zuma

President Zuma through a formal recall or by introducing a motion in parliament.

The six most senior figures of the governing ANC party arrived one by one on

Sunday at President Zuma’s residence in Pretoria.

They remained tightlipped as the talks ended but have called a meeting of the party’s national working

Cyril Ramaphosa says the ANC has become divided through factionalism and corruption

committee for Monday.

Julius Malema, an opposition leader and former ANC member, said on Twitter that

Mr Zuma had refused to stand down.

Mr Zuma is not due to leave office until the 2019

elections. However, the ANC has seen its popularity fall during his second term amid a weakening economy and claims of corruption.

The president has been beset by a series of corruption allegations but denies any wrongdoing.

Mr Ramaphosa, who as the ANC’s new leader is in a strong position to win the 2019 elections, has called for party unity.

But correspondents say fears are growing that he and his allies in the ANC may move against Mr Zuma if he refuses to stand aside. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

Regional integration ‘too slow, weak’ – EU official

INTEGRATION of the Caribbean into a single market and economy – one of the pillars of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) – is too slow and weak, a top European Union (EU) official has said.

Stefano Manservisi, director-general of the European Commission’s Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development, made this conclusion two days ago during a guest lecture.

The lecture was held at the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Regional Headquarters at Mona, Jamaica.

“Your process of integration has been too slow, too weak,” Manservisi said.

As recent as last year,

CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque said he believes that regional integration is strong and that it provides a solid platform upon which the regional bloc can build its resilience.

However, the EU official, who was confident of what he was saying, went on to add that: “I know what I am talking about; because if there is a region in the world that is able to set up a single market -- the biggest in the world -- with compromises, with rules, with the participation of everybody, it’s the European Union.”

He went on to explain that the fragmentation in the Region could pose challenges in the context of expanding trade between the Caribbean and the EU. Concerns have already been raised by governments

Stefano Manservisi, director-general of the European Commission’s Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development, speaking at the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Regional Headquarters, Mona

in the Region about the fate of the Region’s relationship with the EU, given Britain’s exit (BREXIT) from the latter in 2016.

But while the director-general expressed a willingness for the EU to be a strong trading partner with the Caribbean, he maintained that integration of this Region is a crucial component in deepening the relationship between the two regional blocs.

Highlighting the relatively small size of regional economies, Manservisi added that: “ [The]single market has been the most powerful way to be protected from the most negative effects of globalisation”.

But the Caribbean has been on the receiving end of tough moves made by the EU in relation to preferential trade agreements.

The EU official acknowledged at the same event that

the discontinuation of preferential trading agreements with the Region for products such as sugar and banana has hurt the Caribbean.

In 2005, the EU slashed sugar prices, which essentially crippled the industry in the Region, including Guyana, which was heavily dependent on sugar. That trend continued with several tough positions taken on other products originating from the Caribbean.

And Manservisi agrees that it was “painful” for the Region to have endured it.

“Of course, it has been painful, it is still painful by the way, and probably we [the EU] could have done things in a different way... in a way more forward-looking. I also think that something better could have been done here in the Caribbean,” he said.

Copeland cops inaugural Junior Soca Monarch title

By Naomi Marshall COMING out of Linden, Guyana’s first-ever Junior Soca Monarch, Dexter Copeland said he has been humbled by winning the Junior Soca Monarch Competition.

Last Saturday, Copeland performed his winning song “Feel the Vibes” which captured the hearts of the audience and judges at Square Park Fun City, Mahaicony.

He stated that the message of his winning piece is “that music is for everyone, and anyone can feel the vibes, don’t matter what ethnicity you come from. Music brings people together and that’s what I intended for the track, to embrace unity through music.”

The 19-year-old told this newspaper that he was confident of copping a position in the competition, excluding the first position, however, “the

judges’ decision was great and accepted by the public”.

“I was in disbelief, I know I did my best, so when I heard my name Dexter Copeland, excitement hit me because me, and my team of dancers and backup singers worked hard so it payed off, what you sow you shall reap,” Copeland explained.

The Lindener’s entry into the competition was inspired by his challenges of being a rapper all his life and was

Sergeant, others under close arrest for missing weapon POLICE detectives on Saturday night into Sunday morning locked down the Brickdam Police Station and used sniffer dogs to locate a police service weapon which mysteriously disappeared, seconds after a constable reportedly placed it on a desk in the station.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the police constable, who is stationed at the Impact Base, claimed that he uplifted the weapon and went to retrieve a key for a police patrol vehicle but when he turned around the loaded .38 revolver had vanished.

Detectives, however, took his story with a pinch of salt as they were of the view that his explanation was not adding up.

Based on what was told to the

Guyana Chronicle, five police constables, including the one who uplifted the firearm and a female police sergeant were all placed under close arrest.

“We were informed that as soon as word got around that a gun which was moments earlier booked out had gone missing, the female sergeant packed her belongings, clapped her hands and head home in an effort not to have to face the music. For that though, she was placed under close arrest as she is being regarded as running from her responsibilities,” a source said.

Sources close to the investigations told the Guyana Chronicle that the correct procedures were followed in the booking-out of the firearm.

Reports had indicated that

all the ranks, the constable claimed saw him with the weapon, have all denied even seeing him with the weapon in the area he lost it.

Investigators have been able to confirm the booking-out of the weapon, but the difficulty was to retrace the steps of the constable around the compound to see where exactly he last left the weapon.

The constable reportedly said he cannot remember some of the places in the station compound he visited before the weapon was misplaced.

A senior officer in the division said the disappearance of the weapon is an embarrassment to the division and by extension the force, and exposes the poor supervision which is given to ranks.

Guyana’s first-ever Junior Soca Monarch, Dexter Copeland

motivated by his family and friends.

“I was inspired by the challenges with me being a rapper all my life, I had to come out of my comfort zone to prove that Dexter Copeland aka `3D’ is versatile in all genres as an artiste,” he said.

Copeland told the Guyana Chronicle that preparation for the competition was great as it pertains to his band, but “was kinda rushed with my dancers because of the time span but they pulled it off very well”.

Nevertheless, he enjoyed

socialising with some of the artiste in the competition “and learning about them”. “They are all very talented,” he said.

Copeland, who got engaged with music at only 10-years-old, said that his favourite soca artiste is Machel Montano because of “his energy and way of making people feel his music without even singing, only using instruments”.

Copeland said he has been humbled by winning the competition and is grateful for the win.

“I’m humbled by it, the other competitors brought their ‘A’ game but I’m grateful for the win, we all had fun and that’s what matters,” he expressed.

What is next for Copeland? Well his future consists of many more energetic performances that he is excited and ready for.

Coming in second was Jovinski Thorne; Towana Scott gained third place, while Roderick Allicock, who is also a Lindener, secured the fourth spot.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

Bones clue to ‘lost’ Viking army A LOST Viking army which was a “key part” of the creation of England may have been identified by archaeologists.

More than 250 skeletons found at St Wystan’s church, Repton, Derbyshire, have been dated to the 9th Century.

Chronicles state a “large heathen army” began to hack its way across England in AD866, toppling Anglo-Saxon kings until being halted by Alfred the Great.

Cat Jarman from the University of Bristol said: “This army had left almost no trace, but maybe here it is.”

In AD866 the Vikings went from ferocious raiders to an invading force - the Viking Great Army had arrived.

Ms Jarman, from the department of Anthropology and Archaeology, said: “This was a key part in the story of how England was made.

“The defeat of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, the creation of a Viking state and Alfred’s reaction to it were all major parts of this. Its echoes are still felt today.

“But because of the lack of physical evidence it has not been given the attention

it deserves.”

The Viking army was believed to have wintered at Repton in AD873 but the evidence did not add up.

A mysterious mound in St Wystan’s church yard excavated in the 1970s and 80s contained the remains of at least 264 people.

But nearly 20% were women and there were few signs of battle injuries.

Carbon dating showed bones dating from the 200 years previous to the Viking invasion.

Ms Jarman said: “We found the carbon dating had been thrown out by those individuals having a diet high in seafood.

“Once adjusted, the dates matched the records.

“And a new analysis of the bones... showed traumatic injury, while the role of women in Viking armies is better understood.”

Other graves with probable Viking links were investigated, and one may contain sacrificial victims.

Four children, aged eight to 18, were buried near the mass grave and at least two have signs of traumatic injury.

Ms Jarman said it “parallels accounts of sacrificial killings to accompany Viking dead”. (BBC)

The mass grave was first excavated in the 1970s and 80s (BBC photo)

A burial of four children may have been a sacrificial ritual to mark the mass grave (BBC photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

Athletes looking good so far- Coach Gravesande

By Michelangelo Jacobus

W I T H t h e C A R I F TA Games looming ever closer, Guyana’s athletes have begun preparation with an Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) organised camp over the weekend.

Just about 21 athletes participated in the two- day camp which concluded just around midday yesterday.

And among those athletes were World U-18 400m silver medalist, Daniel Williams, and South American U-20 Triple Jump gold medalist, Chantoba Bright.

In an interview with Chronicle Sport, AAG’s 2017 Coach of the Year, Johnny Gravesande revealed that the athletes are “looking good so far; not to the best of their form but they will get there”.

Bright and Williams are just two of Gravesande’s charges from the mining town of Linden.

While they are the standout athletes with the spotlight firmly fixed on them, their counterparts are all putting in hard work and will be competing for their respective spots on the Guyanese Track and Field Team.

The athletes training routine in Linden spans six days a week with a break on Saturdays. However, as the CARIFTA Games and the AAG’s trials get closer, Gravesande explained that

he’ll up the ante for their training to every day of the week.

Touching on Daniel’s form ahead of the March 30-April 2 Games in the Bahamas, Gravesande explained that while his star athlete has already met the qualifying standard (21.80s) for the 200m at the Games--running 21.50s just last weekend--Williams is still approaching top form.

He is constantly improving in the 400m and will definitely be a top contender for gold in both the 200m and 400m events in the Bahamas.

He also believes that since the 17-year-old’s mishap at the same Games a little over a year ago when he was disqualified for lane infringement after winning silver in the 400m, Williams has grown both in confidence and as an athlete.

“After the last CARIFTA Games, Daniel has been exposed on the international and regional stage; his confidence has grown and, ahead of this year’s games, he is very confident and is in top shape to compete for gold.”

The AAG will host another camp within the next two weeks before the CARIFTA trials to select their final team for the Games set for Nassau, Bahamas from March 30-April 2.

from Boxing could face ...Continued back page 2020,” he told reporters.

Bach added that the IOC would be freezing all contacts with the sport’s governing AIBA “excluding the ones on a working level necessary to implement the respective IOC decisions”.

AIBA said the IOC decision was “extremely disappointing” after the boxing body had submitted a progress report as requested.

Following a two-day Executive Board meeting in Pyeongchang, Bach said the IOC had not been satisfied with the AIBA report and that it would be opening an investigation into the body.

AIBA has been riven with in-fighting for months, with former president and IOC member CK Wu first provisionally suspended and then stepping down last November after a bitter dispute with his executive committee.

AIBA named Uzbek Gafur Rahimov as its new Interim President last Saturday, following the unexpected resignation of Interim President Franco Falcinelli.

The Olympic ruling body had also announced in December it was freez-

ing payments to AIBA until boxing got its house in order.

Previously, the IOC withheld payment of more than $1 million of television rights from the Athens 2004 Olympics after a refereeing scandal at those Games.

AIBA said in a statement that the IOC had demanded a new report on its governance by April 30th and it would comply with that.

“This decision was made despite AIBA’s fulfilment of the IOC’s request to submit a Progress Report outlining all steps AIBA was asked to take and continues to take to improve its governance,” it added.

The statement said AIBA had hoped the IOC would have understood that “the processes necessary to implement even more measures require more time.”

The boxing body added that it had shown already a willingness to reform and would be carrying out a complete organisational review over the next six months leading to a “New Foundation Plan”.

The Winter Olympics runs from Feb. 9-25.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

History for Mominul as Bangladesh earn draw

(REUTERS) - Mominul Haque became the first Bangladesh cricketer to hit a century in each innings of a Test match as he and Liton Das helped the hosts secure a draw in the first Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Beginning the final day 119 runs behind and with seven second winnings wickets in hand after Sri Lanka had declared their first innings on 713 for nine,

Bangladesh needed to bat out three sessions to save the match.

They eventually succeeded in their mission as Mominul followed up his 176 in the first innings with 105 and Liton made 94 after Bangladesh had resumed on 81 for three.

The duo batted through the morning session to frustrate Sri Lanka, their 180-run stand coming to an end when spinner

SCOREBOARD

Mominul Haque became the first Bangladesh player to score centuries in each innings of a Test.

Dhananjaya de Silva had Mominul caught in the slip.

Stand-in skipper Mahmudullah faced 65 balls in his unbeaten 28 as Bangladesh reached 307-5 when players from both sides shook hands with 17 overs remaining in the batsman-dominated contest in which 1533 runs were scored for 24 wickets in five days.

Dhaka hosts the second and final Test from Thursday.

BANGLADESH first innings 513 all out) Sri Lanka 1st innings Dimuth Karunaratne c Imrul Kayes b Mehedi Hasan 0 Kusal Mendis c Mushfiqur Rahim b Taijul Islam

196 Dhananjaya de Silva c Liton Das b Mustafizur Rahman 173 Roshen Silva c Liton Das b Mehedi Hasan

109 Dinesh Chandimal b Taijul Islam

87 Niroshan Dickwella c Liton Das b Mehedi Hasan

62 Dilruwan Perera lbw Sunzamul Islam

32 Rangana Herath lbw Taijul Islam

24 Suranga Lakmal b Taijul Islam

9 Lahiru Kumara Not Out

2 Extras: 11b 6lb 0nb 0pen 2w

19 Total: (199.3 overs)

713 decl Fall of Wickets : 1-0 Karunaratne, 2-308 de Silva, 3-415 Mendis, 4-550 Silva, 5-613 Chandimal, 6-663 Dickwella, 7-687 Perera, 8-706 Lakmal, 9-713 Herath Did Not Bat : Sandakan Bowling: Rahman 32-6-113-1 (2w), Islam 45-2–153-1, I Hasan 494-174-3, Taijul Islam 67.3-13–219-4, Hossain 3-0-24-0, ...................................................................

BANGLADESH 2nd innings Tamim Iqbal c Niroshan Dickwella b Lakshan Sandakan 41 Imrul Kayes c Dinesh Chandimal b Dilruwan Perera ` 19 Mominul Haque c Dimuth Karunaratne b Dhananjaya de Silva 105 Mushfiqur Rahim c Kusal Mendis b Rangana Herath 2 Liton Das c Dilruwan Perera b Rangana Herath 94 Mahmudullah Not Out 28 Mosaddek Hossain Not Out

8 Extras: 3b 2lb 4nb 0pen 1w

10 Total: (100.0 overs)

307-5 Fall of Wickets : 1-52 Kayes, 2-76 Iqbal, 3-81 Rahim, 4-261 Haque, 5-279 Das Did Not Bat : Miraz, Islam, Islam, Rahman Bowling: Herath 28-6-80-2, Lakmal 9-1-25-0, (1nb), Dhananjaya de Silva 12-0-41-1, Perera 26-5-74-1, (2nb), Sandakan 18-2-64-1 ( 1nb), Lahiru Kumara 6-0-16-0-2.67 (1w), Kusal Mendis 1-0-2-0.

Chahal destroys South Africa with career-best five for 22 SCOREBOARD

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal capped off his five-wicket haul with the Player-of-the-Match award.

PRETORIA, (Reuters) Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal took career-best figures as India cruised to a thumping nine-wicket One-Day International victory over a woeful South Africa on Sunday, though their moment of triumph was reduced to a farce by the umpires.

Aleem Dar and Adrian Holdstock stuck to the rules and called for a lunch break with the tourists needing just two runs for victory at Centurion.

That ensured the final act was played out 40 minutes later in front of a sparse crowd,

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SOUTH AFRICA innings Hashim Amla c MS Dhoni b Bhuvneshwar Kumar 23 Quinton de Kock c Hardik Pandya b Yuzvendra Chahal 20 Aiden Markram c Bhuvneshwar Kumar b Kuldeep Yadav 8 JP Duminy lbw Yuzvendra Chahal

25 David Miller c Ajinkya Rahane b Kuldeep Yadav 0 Khaya Zondo c Hardik Pandya b Yuzvendra Chahal 25 Chris Morris c Bhuvneshwar Kumar b Yuzvendra Chahal 14 Kagiso Rabada lbw Kuldeep Yadav

1 Morne Morkel lbw Yuzvendra Chahal

1 Imran Tahir b Jasprit Bumrah

0 Tabraiz Shamsi Not Out

0 Extras: 0b 0lb 0nb 0pen 1w

1 Total: (32.2 overs)

118 all out Fall of Wickets: 1-39 Amla, 2-51 de Kock, 3-51 Markram, 4-51 Miller, 5-99 Zondo, 6-107 Duminy, 7-110 Rabada, 8-117 Morkel, 9-118 Tahir, 10-118 Morris Bowling: Kumar 5-1-19-1, Bumrah 5-1-12-1, Pandya 5-0-34- 0, Chahal8.2-1-22-5, Yadav 6- 0-20-3, (1w), Jadhav 3-0-11-0. .....................................................

INDIA innings Rohit Sharma c Morne Morkel b Kagiso Rabada 15 Shikhar Dhawan Not Out

51 Virat Kohli Not Out

46 Extras: 0b 1lb 0nb 0pen 6w

7 Total: (20.3 overs)

119-1 Fall of Wickets : 1-26 Sharma Did Not Bat : Rahane, Dhoni, Jadhav, Pandya, Kumar, Yadav, Bumrah, Chahal Bowling: Morkel 4- 0- 30-0,(3w), Rabada 5 – 0- 24-1,(1w), Morris 3-0 – 16-0, (1w) Imran Tahir 5.3-0-30-0, (1w) Tabraiz Shamsi 3- 1-18-0.

a decision that left both teams bemused.

Chahal finished with 5-22 in 8.2 overs, ripping through the middle-order as India won the toss and skittled their hosts for 118, South Africa’s lowest total in home ODI matches.

India then knocked off the victory target in 20 overs to humiliate their hosts.

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After victory in the opening match of the six-game series in Durban, India always looked in control of the chase as opener Shikhar Dhawan (51 not out from 56 balls) and captain Virat Kohli (46 not out from 50 balls) made light work of the home attack.

The third match in the series will be played in Cape Town on Wednesday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

Weatherald hundred sets up first BBL title win for Strikers AN astounding Jake Weatherald pyrotechnics show powered Adelaide Strikers to their first Big Bash League (BBL) title with a 25-run victory over Hobart Hurricanes in the final on Sunday.

Smashing a slew of records, Weatherald fell just short of the tournament record in his scorching 70-ball 115 marked by eight eye-catching sixes - the most ever by a batsman in a BBL final. He combined in a match-winning 140-run partnership with captain Travis Head (44 from 29 balls) to propel the Strikers to an imposing 202 for 2.

The Strikers held off a determined chase from the powerful Hurricanes batting order with veteran quick Peter Siddle (3 for 17) starring through an assortment of cunning bowling. The 33-year-old effectively ended the match when he claimed the key scalp of emerging superstar D’Arcy

Short (68 from 44 balls) with his last ball as the Hurricanes still needed a forlorn 58 runs from 18 balls.

Even though their dreams of glory ended in bitter despair, the Hurricanes were bold and overcame the early loss of Tim Paine to confidently charge at the daunting total. Much of the burden was on BBL player-of-the-tournament Short, who had made his international debut last night against New Zealand, and he smoked his second ball to the boundary to signal his intent.

Short was bogged down in the middle overs by accurate Strikers bowling, particularly from Siddle, but rediscovered his belligerent best as he reached his half-century off 36 balls. The Hurricanes looked a chance when Short and captain George Bailey combined in a rapid half-century stand.

Using his feet crisply, Bai-

ley smashed two sixes off Head in the third over as the Hurricanes matched the required run rate after plundering 60 runs in the power play.

delicately poised. But Bailey holed out for a 33-ball 46 as the pressure fell on Short, who was unable to quite replicate his heroics from the previous

Adelaide Strikers celebrate their first Big Bash League title.

Bailey quickly notched his highest score in a sluggish BBL campaign as he combined with Short in a swift 81-run partnership to leave the match

games in the tournament.

Matthew Wade, who topscored in the semifinal as an opener, strangely batted at No.6 and was run out without

facing a ball as the Strikers could sense their first ever title was imminent.

It capped off a well-rounded performance from the hosts after Head won the toss on a flat pitch amid stifling Adelaide conditions. Opener Alex Carey, who like Short made his international debut last night, looked in fine touch before chopping on in the fifth over but the Strikers notched 50 in the power play to underline their rollicking start.

Weatherald pounced on anything short, smashing a couple of innocuous Dan Christian bouncers into the crowd in the eighth over.

Fittingly, he smashed another six off Short to reach an electrifying half-century in 29 balls. In one astounding burst of power hitting, the white hot Weatherald clubbed five sixes in 11 deliveries in the most brutal batting ever seen in a BBL final.

Watching the fireworks from the other end, Head who was also released from international duties by Cricket Australia - made just three out of 50 runs as Weatherald took centrestage. Intent on joining in the carnage, Head lashed out and was dropped twice in the space of six balls as the frazzled Hurricanes were melting under the pressure.

Having notched his third straight fifty, Weatherald’s irresistible batting continued as he flayed the flagging attack all over the Adelaide Oval much to the delight of the 35,000-strong crowd. He notched his scintillating century in the 16th over, off just 58 deliveries.

Deservedly, the emerging batsman celebrated with gusto as the parochial crowd collectively rose to the feet to acknowledge the first ever centurion in a BBL final.

(Crickbuzz)

Berbice, Demerara record wins as GCB/Dave West Indian Imports Under-15 tourney underway THE 2018 GCB/Dave West Indian Imports Under-15 tournament commenced yesterday with wins for the Berbice and Demerara teams.

President X1 won the toss and opted to take first strike.

They were dismissed for a paltry 68 in 20.5 overs. Tulesh Shivrattan with 17 and Alvin Mohabir 15 were their top run

scorers..

The rest of the batting line up were sent back to the pavilion without adding much to the score.

Bowling for Berbice, Jonathon Persaud and Jeremy Sandia took 4 for 21 and 4 for 10 runs respectively. Isiah Thorne picked up 1 for 35 at the end of the innings,.

Berbice, in reply, took control and reached their target of 69; losing only two wickets in the process.

Over at the Lusignan ground, Essequibo batted first and struggled all the way through. They were bowled out for 45 runs in 19.2 overs of their allotted 50 overs.

Chandrapaul Ramraj

Pride’s Roach, Cummins bowl out Volcanoes for 110

DEFENDING Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Super50 Festival champions, the Barbados Pride staged a brilliant recovery with the ball to offset a poor day with the bat to earn a crushing 100-run win over the Windward Islands Volcanoes at Kensington Oval on Saturday.

Choosing to bat, the Pride could only muster 211-9 from their 50 overs but defended the total in impressive fashion courtesy of the bowling performances of Kemar Roach and Miguel Cummins, doing away with the Volcanoes for just 110.

The Pride got off to a horrible start after paceman Delorn Johnson got rid of the two openers, skipper Kraigg Brathwaite for 18 and Kevin Stoute for three.

At 23-2, Windies middle-order batsman, Shai Hope tried to stabilise the innings with 53 from 89 balls, but wickets fell regularly with a number of batsmen getting starts but failing to carry on.

Jonathan Carter, 28, Roston Chase, 27, and Shamarh Brooks, 32, all failed to get the middle of the batting going, while Windies T20I skipper,

Carlos Brathwaite, could only manage 17.

The batting failed against the bowling of Johnson, 3-36, and Kyle Mayers, 3-59.

Shane Shillingford also put the Pride under pressure with his 2-28 from 10 overs.

Obed McCoy was the other

Miguel Cummins

wicket-taker in the innings, ending with figures of 1-28.

In reply, the Volcanoes only lasted 33 overs, as Roach, 4-35, and Cummins, 4-27, ripped through the top order.

Roach struck first, getting the prolific Devon Smith for one, the opener going caught

by Carter.

Johnson Charles, 11, would follow soon after as Cummins came to the party, removing him and then Andre Fletcher for six.

Roach then proved the undoing of Kirk Edwards, bowling the number four batsman for 16 just after delivering the same treatment on Tyrone Theophile for six.

Kavem Hodge tried to stabilise the innings but his unbeaten 36 had little impact as the Roach-Cummins show continued.

Mayers was next to go, the all-rounder falling to Roach for two, before Cummins added two more scalps, Shillingford, five, and Johnson, eight, to his tally.

Larry Edward was bowled by Carlos Brathwaite and to add insult to injury, Cummins ran out McCoy to wrap up the innings.

was the most destructive bowler for Demerara, grabbing 4 for 6, while Taddius Lovell, Alex Ali and Romel Datterdeen took 2 wickets each for 19, 13 and 7 runs respectively.

In Reply, Demerara reached their target in just 6.2 overs; scoring 51 for 1 with Romel Datterdeen hitting a massive six to lead Demerara to victory; being not out on 7 while Captain Mavindra Dindyal top-scored with 14 not out. Demerara won by 9 wickets.

At the end of round one, Jeremy Sandia from Demerara and Chandrapaul Ramraj from Berbice were awarded the Man-of-the- match prizes.

GCB Competitions Committee chairman, Colin Europe (left) presents the man-of-the-match prize to Chandrapaul Hemraj for being Demerara’s best bowler with four for six.

In the second round of matches slated for tomorrow, Berbice will take on Demerara at the Everest ground

and Essequibo will face the President’s X1 at Tuschen.

Matches are scheduled to start from 09:00 hrs.

Neymar to blame for inflated transfer fees - Barcelona vice-president NEYMAR’s behaviour during his switch to Paris St-Germain is the reason for football’s inflated transfer fees, according to Barcelona’s vice-president.

Jordi Mestre said the Brazil forward, 25, played “cat and mouse” with the club before his exit in August.

PSG paid 220m euros (£200m) for Neymar, making him the most expensive player in history.

“We would have saved a lot of money and a lot of media noise,” said Mestre.

“What hurt me the most was the way it happened.”

Neymar signed a new fiveyear deal at Barcelona in July 2016, which included a 8.5m euro renewal bonus.

Mestre said: “If he came to us and said, ‘I want to go’, we would have reached an agreement. What you can’t do is rock the boat.

“He told us nothing. If he had done, PSG would have been able to buy him for less money and it would have cost us less to sign players too.”

Neymar spent four years at Barcelona before moving to Paris St-Germain

Neymar said at the time of his move that he had “followed his heart”.

“The decision was difficult to take,” he said. “I didn’t come for the money. I came for the motivation and the

challenge.”

Since Neymar’s departure, Barcelona have spent £142m on signing Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool, having brought in Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund for an initial £97m, which could rise to £136m.

Premier League clubs spent a record £430m in the January transfer window, which included Virgil van Dijk’s £75m move from Southampton to Liverpool.

Following Neymar’s departure, Barcelona said they would withhold a further 26m euro (£23m) loyalty bonus.

“It arrived at a point where we saw where things were going, so we told him we would not pay his contract renewal loyalty fee,” said Mestre.

FIFA is currently investigating following an official complaint from Neymar. (BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

West Indies name A squad to face England Lions

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Left-handed opener Kieran Powell is among five current Test players named in a strong 13-man West Indies A squad to face England Lions in the three-match four-day “Test” series starting next week Sunday.

The 27-year-old Powell, who has played 31 Tests, will skipper a side that includes batsman Jermaine Blackwood, wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, all-rounder Raymon Reifer and fast bowler Miguel Cummins.

Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, who played the last of his four Tests two years ago, has also been named in the unit for the February 11 to March 1 series, which also includes three one-dayers.

Chief selector Courtney Browne said with the Sri Lanka Test series already on the radar, it was important to afford several players the opportunity to prepare themselves for the upcoming assignment as well as enhance their chances of selection.

“With a strong England Lions team touring the Caribbean, the selection panel felt that it was a good opportunity to strengthen the A team with some of our Test players who will not have the opportunity to play any first-class cricket ahead of the

Sri Lanka series,” Browne said.

“This series also provides some of the incumbent Test players the opportunity to restate a claim for a position in the Test match squad for the what will be two important home series (vs Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in June and July).”

Kieran Powell has been named captain of West Indies A

Powell, despite his experience, only returned to international cricket last year following a three-year self-imposed break, and has yet to really impress with a mere two half-centuries in 19 Test innings.

Likewise, Blackwood, a virtual fixture in the Test side in recent years, has struggled to get among the runs. He has a single hundred in 27 Tests and 15 runs in his last five innings.

Dowrich, too, has failed to tie down his spot and with veteran Denesh Ramdin having scored nearly 800 runs in the recent first class season, the Lions series will hand the Barbadian the opportunity to re-establish himself.

Meanwhile, Shamarh Brooks, who has captained Windies A in recent years but will serve as vice-captain of the side, will look to back up the 632 runs he compiled during the recent first class season.

He struggled for form in a similar three-match series against Sri Lanka A last October with just 93 runs in five innings and at age 29, this year could be vital for the Barbadian righthander.

Brooks, along with the quartet of Vishaul Singh, John Campbell, Jahmar Hamilton and Keon Joseph, all featured against Sri Lanka A last year while Leeward Islands Hurricanes seamer Jeremiah Louis has gained favour with selectors for the first time.

Browne urged these fringe players to use the chance to force themselves into the selection frame for the upcoming Tests.

“The team also includes several players who have been part of the ‘A’ Team

programme before and we believe their focus should be on performances that will elevate them to the senior team,” Browne said.

“We originally included Sherman Lewis, an exciting young fast bowler, but he had to withdraw due to injury. His replacement is Jeremiah Louis, a talented swing bowler, who did really well during the PCL four-day season.

“He is also a capable batsman and will fit well into this set-up.”

The opening Test will be played at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium, with the second game scheduled for Sabina Park starting February 18.

Cricket West Indies also announced Sunday that the third game, beginning February 26 at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, will be played under lights.

The 50-overs squad will be announced at a later date.

SQUAD – Kieran Powell (captain), Shamarh Brooks (vice captain), Jermaine Blackwood, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Jahmar Hamilton, Keon Joseph, Jeremiah Louis, Raymon Reifer, Vishaul Singh, Jomel Warrican.

GUMDAC Open Doubles Tournament -Mangra, Chang Yuen trump field to claim Men’s title

THE Annual GUMDAC Open Doubles Badminton tournament concluded on Saturday night at the National Gymnasium with some highly competitive games.

The events that were played were Open Men & Ladies Doubles and Mix Doubles.

The final evening saw intense and thrilling matches in the final of the Men’s doubles where the youngsters Jonathan Mangra and Ronald Chang Yuen defeated seasoned senior players Marlon Chung and Darrell Carpenay in a thrilling three games play off.

In the first game Mangra and Chang Yuen took the first game at 21-14 while Chung and Carpenay took the second game at 12-21 and in the third the Youngsters took the third game at 21-19 to win the Match.

Meanwhile, third place went to William Holder and Haymant Ramdhani who gained a walkover from Javid Rahaman and Ernesto Choo-A-Fat. In the mixed doubles final, Priyanna Ramdhani and Ronald Chang Yuen defeated Marlon Chung and Shivannie Persaud in straight sets of 21-19 and 21-16.

Third Place went to Darrell Carpenay and Ayanna Wickham-Watson who defeated

youngsters Akili Haynes and Jayde DaSilva by 22-20 and 21-9 O T H E R M AT C H E S PLAYED ON THE FINAL EVENING WERE: MEN DOUBLES SEMI-FINALS:

Marlon Chung & Shivannie Persaud defeated Darrell Carpenay & Ayanna Wickham-Watson: 21-14, 21-13

GUMDAC OPEN 2018 OVERALL RESULTS: MEN DOUBLES 1ST P L A C E : J O N AT H A N

DHANI & SHIVANNIE PERSUD 2ND PLACE: AYANNA WICKHAM-WATSON & EMELIA RAMDHANI 3RD PLACE: JAYDE DASILVA & DEANDREA ASSING MIX DOUBLES 1ST

Overall winners of the GUMDAC Open Doubles tournament

Jonathan Mangra & Ronald Chang Yuen defeated William Holder & Haymant Ramdhani: 21-13, 21-9 MIX DOUBLES SEMI-FINALS 2: Ronald Chang Yuen & Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Akili Haynes & Jayde DaSilva: 21-14, 21-10

MANGRA & RONALD CHANG YUEN 2ND PLACE: DARRELL CARPENAY & MARLON CHUNG 3RD PLACE: WILLIAM HOLDER & HAYMANT RAMDHANI LADIES DOUBLES 1ST PLACE: PRIYANNA RAM-

P L A C E : P R I YA N N A RAMDHANI & RONALD CHANG YUEN 2ND PLACE: MARLON CHUNG & SHIVANNIE PERSAUD 3RD PLACE: DARR E L L C A R P E N AY & AYA N N A W I C K HAM-WATSON.

Scorpions suffer second straight defeat

NORTH SOUND, Antigua, (CMC) – Jamaica Scorpions suffered their second straight defeat of the Regional Super50 here Sunday, when they crashed to a disappointing four-wicket defeat at the hands of English County Kent.

Let down by their powerful batting lineup, Scorpions were dismissed for 156 in the 42nd over, with only Andre McCarthy resisting with a top score of 76 off 86 deliveries.

Joe Denly

Seamer Ivan Thomas (430) and leg-spinner Joe Denly (4-35) claimed four wickets apiece as Scorpions started poorly and never recovered.

In reply, Kent were staring down the barrel at 25 for four in the 10th over before lefthander Alex Blake rescued the run chase with an unbeaten 74, to see them home in the 44th over.

Drama unfolded from the very first delivery of the opening over when left-arm spinner Chris Lamont trapped Daniel Bell-Drummond lbw without a run on the board.

Three balls later, Sean Dickson was run out for one and when pacer Andre Russell bowled opener Zak

Crawley in the next over, also without scoring, Kent were in strife on six runs for three wickets.

Off-spinner Peat Salmon, who made his debut in last Friday’s defeat to Leeward Islands Hurricanes, bowled captain Will Gidman in the 10th over for 11 and fast bowler Oshane Thomas had Denly caught at the wicket for 17, to leave the innings in tatters at 47 for five in the 15th over.

But Blake came to his side’s aid, stroking 10 fours in a fluent innings that lasted 105 balls. More importantly, he anchored a key 72-run, sixth wicket stand with wicketkeeper Adam Rouse, who made 28, to revive Kent and put them on course for victory.

Rouse departed in the 36 th over but Blake kept things steady by adding a further 40 with Callum Haggett (10 not out) in an unbroken seventh wicket partnership.

Earlier electing to bat first at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Scorpions lost a cluster of wickets inside the first 15 overs, to concede the early advantage.

Openers Chadwick Walton (1) and Chris Gayle (3) fell in successive overs to leave Scorpions on seven for two in the fourth over, and another five wickets fell for 57 runs, as last year’s losing finalists collapsed to 86 for seven in the 21st over.

McCarthy, however, stepped up to produce a face-saving knock, striking 13 boundaries as he put on 49 for the eighth wicket with captain Nikita Miller (16).

The right-handed McCarthy was eventually eighth out in the 35th over, bowled by seamer Haggett.

SCORECARD

SCORPIONS +C Walton c Tredwell b Thomas 1 C Gayle c Dickson b Thomas 3 J Blackwood c (n/a) b Thomas 14 A McCarthy b Haggett 76 G Wallace c wkp Rouse b Denly 8 R Powell c Thomas b Denly 0 A Russell b Denly

4 P Salmon b Denly 3 *N Miller c wkp Rouse b Haggett 16 C Lamont not out 14 O Thomas b Thomas 5 Extras: (b2, lb4, w4, nb2) 12 TOTAL: (all out, 41.3 overs) 156 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-7, 3-29, 4-56, 5-56, 6-70, 7-86, 8-135, 9-136, 10-156.

Bowling: Claydon 8-0-35-0, Thomas 9.3-2-30-4, Gidman 2-0-7-0, Haggett 6-0-28-2, Denly 10-2-35-4, Tredwell 6-2-15-0.

KENT D Bell-Drummond lbw b Lamont 0 Z Crawley b Russell 0 S Dickson run out 1 *W Gidman b Salmon 11 J Denly c wkp Walton b Thomas 17 A Blake not out 74 +A Rouse c Blackwood b Russell 28 C Haggett not out 10 Extras: (lb5, w13) 18 TOTAL: (6 wkts, 43.3 overs) 159 Did not bat: M Claydon, J Tredwell, I Thomas.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-1, 3-6, 4-25, 5-47, 6-119.

Bowling: Lamont 7-1-21-1, Russell 8-1-30-2, Salmon 10-2-28-1, Thomas 6-0-25-1, Miller 6-1-22-0, McCarthy 1.3-0-8-0, Powell 2-011-0, Gayle 3-1-9-0.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, February 5, 2018

Futsal stars shine bright on opening night of Legacy ‘Magnum Mash Cup’

THE Legacy ‘Magnum Mash Cup’ Futsal tournament kicked-off on Saturday evening at the National Gymnasium with the likes of Sparta Boss, Gold is Money, Showstoppers and Linden’s Silver Bullets picking up opening wins.

After the ceremonial opening of the tournament by president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde, Technical Director Ian Greenwood, Legacy’s Pastor Ewart Williams and Magnum Brand Coordinator, Edison Jeffords, it was down to business as fans were entertained with ten enthralling matches.

Thirty-two teams will compete in the round robin stage of the eight-day event, and fans saw the opening game between MBA AllStars and Broad Street finishing 1-1.

Adrian Adonis (3rd) and Pernell Schultz (17th) pushed the exciting-looking Team Extreme to a 2 – 1 victory over Sophia.

The next game saw Del-

Officials from the GFF, sponsors and organisers meeting the teams just prior to the start of the tournament at the National Gymnasium.

roy Dean’s double (5th and 15th) being enough to carry Ansa McAl All-Stars to a 2 – 0 win against the usually stubborn Channel-9 Warriors.

Meanwhile, Silver Bullets, one of the teams from Linden, signalled their intentions to cash in on the tournament’s $400,000 first place prize, with their 5 – 0 drubbing of Kingston.

Jermaine Samuels (5 th

and 17 th ), Omar Williams (10 th and 13 th), along with Damion Williams’ goal in the 16th minute, were responsible for the Lindeners’ impressive win.

Showstoppers won their game via walkover. Tiger Bay, led by Orin Moore (3rd and 6th) and Wendell Austin (14th) went home 3 – 1 winners against Hustlers who saw their goal coming from

Stephon Reynolds in the 12th minute.

NK Ballers and California Square settled for a 2 – 2 draw, while the National Rugby Team with the likes of skipper Ryan Gonsalves and Dwayne Schroder, fell 2 – 0 to Gold is Money.

In the evening’s final game, Buxton Diamond pushed tournament favourites Sparta Boss to the limit, who

Part of the opening night’s action in the Legacy ‘Magnum Mash Cup’ at the National Gymnasium.

had to settle for a 1 – 0 win with their goal coming off the shoes of Dennis Edwards in the 10th minute.

The tournament will continue tomorrow, and matches will also be played on February 8th, 10th, 11th

and 12th, with the semi-finals on February 14 and finals on February 18.

The team finishing second will go home with $200,000; third place $100,000 and fourth place $50,000.

Christianburg, Morgan maul opponents in Milo football Guyana Jaguars beat Hurricanes by 18 runs – Group B ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Guyana Jaguars defeated Leeward Islands Hurricanes by 18 runs, in the 12th match of the Regional Super50 at Coolidge Cricket Ground here Sunday.

SCORES: JAGUARS 298 for eight off 50 overs (Leon Johnson 99 not out, Shimron Hetmyer 47, Anthony Bramble 40, Raymon Reifer 36, Sherfane Rutherford 33 not out) HURRICANES 282 off 45.5 overs (Rahkeem Cornwall 119, Montcin Hodge 48, Terrance Warde 42; Keemo Paul 5-76, Sherfane Rutherford 2-34)

All-rounder Rawlins earns MCC call-up in Barbados

Milo Schools Football action continued yesterday at the Ministry of Education ground (Samuel Maughn Photo)

ANNANDALE secondary, Christianburg Secondary and Morgan Learning Centre were victorious yesterday as the Milo Schools football tournament continued in Georgetown.

In the first game of the afternoon, Annandale shot four past Friendship who could only return one as action heated up at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

Marlon Hyman gave Friendship the opening goal in the 3rd minute before Trevor Fiffee drew things level in the 19th minute. Troni Semple would give Annandale the lead for the first time in the fixture in the 27th before Omar Glasgow slotted in his side’s third in the 33rd.

Semple would complete

his brace in the 41st to end the game 4-1.

Game two was a slaughterhouse affair with Christianburg sealing shut Vergenogen’s coffin with 11 nails.

The onslaught started as early as the 3rd minute through Mickel Adams before Brentsley Allicock etched his name on the scorecard in the 9th. Adams completed his double one minute later and Andre Myers joined the party in the 16th followed by Randy Pickening (21st).

Mayers went on to score twice more before the close of the half (27th and 30th) with Allicock completing his brace in the 42nd and Akeem Caesar joining the fun in the 43rd.

Mayers would score his

fourth goal and the team’s tenth in the 50th minute with Hirani Gilkes closing off the proceedings in the 73rd.

Morgan Learning Centre was also on fire against School of the Nations, winning 13-0 with Koby Durant scoring a hat-trick (10th, 26th and 36th) while there were a pair of braces from Dorwin George (3rd & 46th) and Nixion Robertson (55th & 64th).

Wellington DoSantos (12th), Adrian Adelph (13th), Randy Roberts (18th), Rueben Miller (65th), Ryan Dowding (42nd) and an own goal accounted for the 13-0 scoreline.

Matches continue next Saturday at the same venue in the tournament, sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health.

H A M I LT O N , B e r m u d a , (CMC) – Young Bermudian all-rounder Delray Rawlins will be in exalted company when he plays for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) against Essex in next month’s Champion County Match in Barbados.

Left-hander Rawlins, 20, who plays for English county side Sussex, has been chosen alongside two former Test players – West Indies fast bowler Fidel Edwards, 35, and 41-yearold England all-rounder Paul Collingwood – in the floodlit four-day game, the traditional curtain-raiser to the English domestic season, at Kensington Oval between March 27-30.

The MCC team will be captained by Kent’s 24-yearold former England Under-19 player Daniel Bell-Drummond, whose parents are Jamaicans.

“I’m obviously really pleased to be selected in such a good group of players,” Rawlins, who played for England Under-19s last year, told the Royal Gazette newspaper.

“With it being my first time, I’m just going to try and enjoy the occasion and take it all in.

“There are some pretty experienced heads in that team, so I will look to pick their brains while I am there and soak it all in.

“I have played against and with some and also been coached by Collingwood, so I know some of them, which makes me feel more comfortable going into it.”

He added: “It will be nice to play against a good side in Essex and test myself against them.

But, most importantly, I just hope I can learn from the experience.

“My parents will be coming down to watch as well, which is very exciting because they miss a lot of cricket. Knowing that extra support is in the stands is exciting.”

MCC head of cricket John Stephenson said: “This is a young, talented and exciting team which we’re very much looking forward to seeing take on Essex, and giving them exposure to the longer format of

day/night cricket.”

Previous curtain-raisers, which pit the MCC against the previous season’s County Championship winners, have been staged in the United Arab Emirates.

But this year Barbados, which will host a festival of English cricket in the spring, was chosen instead.

Rawlins will already be in Barbados ahead of the MCC match as he has also been picked for the North-South series, which was launched in Dubai and Abu Dhabi last year as part of England’s preparations for hosting the 2019 World Cup. Rawlins and his Sussex team-mate George Garton have been named in a 13-man South squad to be led by Sam Northeast, the Kent captain, and coached by Mark Ramprakash, the former England batsman.

The North-South Series is a three-game contest to be held on March 18, 21 and 23, with the first two matches at Kensington Oval and the third at 3Ws Oval.

Futsal stars shine bright on opening night of Legacy ee ‘Magnum Mash Cup’ PSage 23

Guyana register male and female teams for CBC Caribbean Championships ... GABF picks up CBC Award for Excellence

By Rawle Toney

GABF Award for Excellence

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Nigel Hinds confirmed that Guyana has registered both its male and female national teams for participation at this year’s Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) senior championships in Paramaribo, Suriname.

The women’s competition will be played from June 15 – 22, while the men’s tournament is scheduled for June 22 – July 1.

“We are on track to participate, Noble House Seafoods Limited contributed generously to ensure our fees are paid for participation of Guyana’s Men’s and Women’s teams,” Hinds told Chronicle Sport from Suriname, where he is attending the CBC’s Annual General

Assembly.

The tournament this year, which will serve as a qualifier to FIBA’s AmeriCup, will see Guyana being grouped with long-time rival and host Suriname, along with Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Meanwhile, Group B will bring together Haiti, Bermuda, Montserrat, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda.

Guyana has featured at every tournament under Hinds’ tenure at the helm of the GABF, with their best finish being fifth place in 2015, behind former Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks shooting guard, Rawle Marshall.

“What we will try to do is bring in, as much as possible, players--those born in Guyana and living overseas.

We have some people helping us to identify some players. We know of the James

brothers--there are four of them. They’ve played a lot of basketball in Europe,” Hinds had initially said.

According to the GABF boss, he’s projecting that the teams–both male and female–should start assembling at least by March, adding “Suriname is close by and we would really love to medal at this championship. So, right now, we’re working on identifying Guyanese who would’ve played College and semi-professional.”

Guyana had a horrid showing at the last CBC tournament, held in the British Virgin Islands in 2015, finishing last in the 10-team tournament in which they failed to pickup a win.

While the male team’s highest placing was second (1994 Georgetown), the females in 1996, led Karen Abrams and Head Coach

GABF president, Nigel Hinds

Linden ‘Sancho’ Alphonso, won the coveted female CBC (then known as CARICOM basketball Championship) title, defeating Jamaica 67-55 in the final at the Jean Pierre Sports Complex in Trinidad and Tobago.

That win remains Guyana’s only taste of the sport’s ‘Holy Grail’ for regional basketball.

Meanwhile, the GABF was given an award by the game’s regional governing body, the CBC, in recognition of their outstanding performance and dedicated service in promoting basketball in the Caribbean.

The presentation was done at the two-day CBC Annual General Meeting in Paramaribo.

Boxing could face Athletes looking good so far- Coach Gravesande expulsion from 2020 -First Pre-CARIFTA Games camp completed Games, IOC warns See Page 19

AIBA named Uzbek Gafur Rahimov as its new Interim President on January 27.

By Ossian Shine

Coach Johnny Gravesande addresses his charges during the weekend’s Pre-CARIFTA Games camp 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

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (Reuters) - Boxing could be knocked out of the 2020 Tokyo Games if the International Olympic Committee is not satisfied problems with the sport’s finances and governance are sorted out, IOC President Thomas Bach warned on Sunday.

Speaking in Pyeongc-

hang ahead of next week’s Winter Olympics, Bach said the IOC was “extremely worried” about how the sport was run and said the body was prepared to make bold decisions.

“The IOC reserves the right to review the inclusion of boxing in the programmes of the Youth Olympics 2018 and Tokyo

Turn to page 19 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2018