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President David Granger and acting Chief-of-Staff, Colonel Patrick West, making their way into location Eteringbang for the Annual Christmas Luncheon (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Guyanese man saws through Soesdyke wife’s neck in Queens truck driver placed on $500,000 bail (NY Post) - A GUYANESE man nearly decapitated his wife on a Queens Street corner early Monday — sawing through her neck in front of a witness who mistakenly asked if he needed help before he realized the unfolding horror, authorities and sources said.

The 50-year-old man allegedly confronted the woman — identified as being in her 40s — about a man she supposedly met online at the corner of 124th Street and 103rd

Avenue when they got into a fight shortly after midnight.

He then pulled out a large kitchen knife and stabbed her several times in the chest, shoulder and both hands, cops said. Two witnesses who happened to be walking down the street at the time found Prem Rampersaud, 50, kneeling over her body making what appeared to be sawing motions with a large knife and said it sounded like he was cutting through bone, sources said.

Prem Rampersaud being escorted by the authorities

One of the witnesses then asked Rampersaud, “Do you need help?,” according to sources. Rampersaud then turned around and looked at the pair for a moment before continuing to saw through the victim’s

neck.

Police captured Rampersaud a few blocks away and took him in for questioning. He has been charged with murder and possession of a weapon, police said.

A knife believed to be the murder weapon was recovered at the scene, officials said. The woman was pronounced dead at Jamaica Hospital. Her identity is being withheld pending family notification.

Police said Rampersaud gave his wife approximately $9,000 to move to the US from their native Guyana about a year ago and eventually followed her to Queens, where they moved in together.

FORTY-two-year old Lloyd Gregory Williams of Soesdyke Public Road was on Monday placed on $500,000 bail after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

The allegation stated that on December 2, 2016 at Haag Bosch Access Road at Eccles East Bank Demerara, he drove motor lorry GPP 1637 in a dangerous manner causing the death of Seeta Williams.

Williams, who is a truck driver attached to Chung Enterprise (a construction company), was represented by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes, who described his client as an outstanding member of his community.

No objection to bail was made by Police prosecutor

Neville Jeffers. However he asked that conditions be applied to the granting of bail.

Magistrate McLennan granted Williams bail along with the conditions.

Williams was asked to lodge his passport at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court Registry and he has to report to the Madewini Police Outpost until the outcome of the matter.

Reports indicate that the woman was crushed by a truck that was proceeding along the Haag Bosch Access Road at Eccles. It was reported that the woman was hit by the tray of the truck first before it ran her over.

An eyewitness recounted that the driver of the truck had stopped at a nearby shop to make a purchase before the incident occurred.

Sophia busted with ammo A MALE resident of Sophia was arrested and remains in police custody after a search unearthed five live rounds in his possession on Sunday night.

Police in a press release said an unemployed male of ‘B’ Field, Sophia and Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown was arrested in ‘C’ Field, Sophia for unlawful possession of ammunition.

At about 23:00hrs, ranks on a mobile patrol in Sophia, observed the 28-year-old man acting in a suspicious manner and as such a search was conducted and the five live rounds of .22 ammunition uncovered on his person.

The Sophia resident is being processed for court shortly.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Tackling unemployment …Gov't to expand private enterprise to address unemployment

By Svetlana Marshall THE 2017 Budget debates commenced on Monday with Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin assuring the National Assembly that the issue of unemployment among the youth population will be tackled hands-on by the government come 2017.

Through his Ministry, Government, he said, will pursue the expansion of private enterprise on many fronts in order to increase employment opportunities for young Guyanese. “The Small Business Bureau will be scaling up its activities in 2017 and will actively promote youth entrepreneurship as a means of channeling innovation towards economic activity,” Minister Gaskin explained, while pointing out that 100 students from educational institutions will be exposed to entrepreneurial initiatives.

These initiatives, he further explained will include practicums and competitions aimed at introducing entrepreneurship as a viable career option. Subsequently, a minimum of ten students with innovative business ideas which meet the prescribed criteria for funding will be awarded grants to implement the ventures outlined in their business proposals, he said.

Although they contribute significantly to employment and the national income, Small Businesses, Minister Gaskin said, face many constraints in their growth and development.

In order to provide more formal opportunities, incentives and capacity building within the sector – the Small Business Bureau, in collaboration with the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board will be implementing a Small Business Procurement Programme in 2017.

This procurement programme will enable small businesses to access government procurement under a formal framework allowing them to compete for public contracts.

Additionally, in 2017, the Small Business Bureau, in partnership with

other entities, will offer business incubation services to provide targeted support to small businesses with highgrowth potential, by ensuring that they can access equipment, as well as all the support services required to propel their development. He told the House that such facilities will allow for enhanced competitiveness and provide the boost needed for early growth of small enterprises.

“The Bureau will also continue to offer training in both business management and technical skills, as well as provide access to finance through the Micro and Small Enterprise Development Programme,” the Business Minister added.

Similarly, he said, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards will continue to advance the use of standards by businesses, which will see the Bureau marketing its services in all ten administrative regions of the country. According to him, major emphasis will be placed on educating persons and entities on the benefits of standardisation with the aim of increasing its clientele for the key services it offers to businesses.

“The GNBS will be focusing on the agriculture, agro-processing, energy, mining and services sector of our economy in 2017,” he said while noting that it will require a number of visits and consultation sessions to promote the services of GNBS. Additionally, the Bureau will begin the process of replacing its aging fleet of passenger vehicles since all but one of its vehicles are in excess of ten years old.

“Mr. Speaker, I cannot overemphasise the work of the Bureau of Standards in developing the kinds of industries that Guyana needs if it is to become a more diversified exporter. Industry standards exist for almost everything under the sun and are demanded on the international market. It therefore follows that we in Guyana need to adopt these standards if we wish to do business with the rest

PPP MP Irfaan Ali

of the world,” the Business Minister told the House.

However, he said that without credible certification processes based on analysis and reports from accredited testing facilities, Guyanese businesses will not be able to provide the assurances required to access international supply chains for their products and services.

With the help of a US$9M loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Guyana’s national quality infrastructure will be upgraded to allow for increased testing and certification to be carried out in Guyana, he noted.

This project includes the construction of a new laboratory and upgrades to several laboratories; in addition to the development of a national export promotion strategy and a complimentary national investment promotion strategy.

“This project will place Guyana’s economy on a sustainable development pathway by supporting our value-added exporting industries in a serious way,” he emphasized.

Turning his attention to GO-Invest, the Business Minister argued that the investment office has been

Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin

making invaluable contributions to Guyana’s economic growth by promoting and facilitating local and foreign investments, while also promoting the exports of local products.

“Between January to October of 2016, GO-Invest facilitated approximately 83 projects, including 16 foreign direct investments, across 8 economic sectors, namely, Agriculture, Light Manufacturing, Tourism, Forestry, Information and Communication Technology, Mining, Energy and the Services sector. The potential value of investment facilitated within this period amounted to approximately GY$114.8 Billion with approximately 6,000 jobs estimated to be created as a result,” he pointed out.

This progress will continue in 2017, Minister Gaskin assured noting that GO-Invest is currently developing its own Strategic Plan that will result in the use of policy advocacy and sector profiles to promote investments in strategic sectors.

Minister Gaskin had also used the opportunity to dismiss many of the claims made by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament, Irfaan Ali, who had opened the debates on Monday.

LOW GROWTH Ali had lashed out at Government for the current state of the economy.

He had contended that the “the paltry 2.6 per cent economic growth,” is the lowest recorded over the last eight years.

“It should be noted that when the PPP/C demitted office, the country was deemed one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America and the Caribbean with strong growth prospects,” the PPP MP boasted.

Ali told the House that the explanations given by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan for the sharp decline were unacceptable, as he alluded to the 2007 and 2008 when most of the world was hit by the global economic crisis, yet Guyana was able to experience unprecedented output performance in traditional sector such as mining and rice. He told the House that a once robust economy is now being paralyzed by the poor policies of the APNU-AFC government that generate considerable uncertainty and ultimately discourage investments by the private sector.

However, Minister Gaskin told the House that Ali is “disturbing himself unnecessarily” with his over amplified concerns. He said while his colleague on the opposite side of the House spoke of the growth of the economy under the PPP, he failed to highlight the whole truth. “Mr. Speaker what they did not leave was sustainable growth,” Minister Gaskin told the National Assembly.

Sadly, he said the PPP had failed to diversify the economy and was depending heavily on traditional commodities primarily rice and gold. As the Government moves to diversify the economy, he said over one billion dollar will be invested in 2017 to support green energy in Guyana, in addition to tax concessions and tax holidays.

While the Opposition may criticize Government’s attempt to support the importation of hybrid vehicles, Minister Gaskin said “the green economy has to start somewhere.”

Be watchful always 4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

- President tells servicemen at Annual Christmas Luncheon at Eteringbang

PRESIDENT David Granger has on Monday called on servicemen of the country, particularly those posted at Eteringbang and in other locations in western Guyana, to not only be watchful and on their guard, but to also endeavour, through their actions and encounters, to let the world know that the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy was settled 117 years ago.

The Commander-in-Chief told the gathering of soldiers and policemen at the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Annual Christmas Luncheon at Eteringbang on Monday that they are defending sovereign territory, and as persons responsible for the country’s security and territorial integrity, they must exercise their duties with passion and love of country.

President Granger has been taking Guyana’s fight for a full and final settlement

to the border controversy with Venezuela to every regional and international forum to which he has been invited, including the United Nations

of Government Meeting.

“This Cuyuni River is important to us. It is the definition of our sovereignty; and your duty as soldiers and

ful experiences of our history.

Even as we celebrate our 50th anniversary of Independence, we have had to put up with 50 years of provocation. Some

President David Granger, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, addressing the servicemen and villagers at location Eteringbang

General Assembly, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and the Caribbean Community Heads

policemen is to draw the line, so that the world would know where Venezuela stops and where Guyana begins. This has been one of the most pain-

people don’t understand how we feel about this river and about this territorial controversy.

“The Venezuelans have

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been preventing investors from coming here. It has not been easy, and I tell my colleagues in the other countries that it is like a bone is stuck in our throat: it is causing us pain, it is preventing us from developing this country to benefit the Guyanese people,” the President said.

The Head-of-State noted that, as far as Guyana is concerned, this matter has been settled 117 years ago with the signing of the Geneva Agreement. He noted, too, that Venezuela had, at that time, been awarded land space which had originally been demarcated as part of British Guiana; yet, to this day, Venezuela continues to claim more of Guyana’s territory.

President Granger said Guyana is a peaceful and friendly country, and is open to discussions, but Venezuela must also understand that it is infringing and laying claims to territory which in no way belongs to it.

“We can live in peace.

Guyana and Venezuela can live in peace. We live in peace with Brazil and we can live in peace with Venezuela, but people across the border must understand that this territory is ours. We cannot stop being vigilant, because this land belongs not only to us -- because we are just the trustees –- (but) we have to give [this land to] our children and grandchildren. You [soldiers, policemen and civilians] are the eyes and ears at this western point of Guyana: to keep us informed, to let us know if there is any breach of our territorial integrity.

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“All of them must understand and respect our territorial integrity,” the President affirmed.

President Granger also expressed gratitude to the servicemen for their commitment and dedication during the past year. He offered them Guyana’s gratitude. “I’ve come to thank you for your service to the nation in 2016. I want to urge you to continue to be vigilant. I recognise the work of the GDF, and that is why I had designated November 1 as National Defence Day. “Notwithstanding, the moment we drop our guard or our vigilance, the moment we are slack, we are going to face aggression and provocation.

This is a permanent duty we have to the people and the country.

“While I know you won’t be able to be home for the holidays, you can rest assured that the duty you are performing here is vital to our nation.

I would remind our nation that their peace, comfort and security were bought at a price by the vigilance of the GDF and the Guyana Police Force,” President Granger promised.

After serving lunch to the servicemen, and villagers who were invited to be a part of the festivities on the base, the Head of State visited the Eteringbang Police Station to get a firsthand look at the facilities; and was warmly received by the policemen there, who noted that this is the very first time that a President, sitting or otherwise, had visited that facility.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Engineers deployed to fix Arakaka water woes

THE Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has recently deployed two engineers to Arakaka, in Region One, to address the lack of water supply there, caused by cloud cover over the photovoltaic system in the community.

The photovoltaic system, also known as a solar PV power system, is designed to supply usable solar power, which ensures the functioning of a water system. However, due to a prolonged rainy season in the region, the system, which requires a constant supply of energy from the sun, has not been functioning efficiently.

GWI’s Hinterland Engineer, Cleon French, and Solar Consultant Aubrey Mark, vis-

ited the area to install a control box which would allow for an automatic switch from solar to electric energy when

THE FINAL report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the mining pit collapse and death of Keon Wilson at Rock Creek, Puruni, Region Seven on October 8 was handed over on Monday.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon received the report from Rear Admiral (ret’d) Gary Best at the minister’s office at Ministry of the Presidency and said the report will serve as a guideline and help to identify further steps the Government should take

to ensure that no further lives are lost in this fashion. “[The] Commission of Inquiry is intended to elevate the level of this [investigation] into these matters, so that the world would understand that we put a very high premium on the life of every single Guyanese… I trust that the recommendations that have been made in this report will act as a guide to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Ministry of Natural Resources, in so far as the safety mechanisms are concerned,” he said.

Water flowing from a stand pipe following completion of works

a generator is turned on.

The solar power is expected to last from 9:00hrs to 15:00 hrs, while the electricity is estimated to last for 12 hours during the night, to ensure that the pump functions throughout the night.

The country’s lone water provider is currently exploring the possibility of increasing the water storage capacity and drilling a new well for the residents of Arakaka village next year.

Meanwhile, the company intends to send a contactor to the village of Karrau, in Region Seven, to install a PV system, erect a trestle, and place tanks at strategic locations to connect to the pipes that were recently laid by villagers.

In early November, GWI responded to an outbreak of diarrhoea at Karrau and River’s View villages in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) by dispatching a team of officials to distribute a total of 17 Lifesaver filters to both villages, where reports of the outbreak were more prevalent.

GWI had also undertaken to drill a well, and will be installing a pump and distribution network, to ensure access to water for the benefit of the 323 residents in Karrau.

“These projects form part of GWI’s mandate of ensuring equal access to water for citizens on the coast and in riverine areas,” a statement from GWI said on Monday.

Workers running electrical cables through a conduit for safety before laying it in the ground

The minister said though the Government has come under criticism for setting up several inquiries, but it is the only way facts and evidence can be gathered to ensure that relevant action is taken.

“These Commissions of Inquiry are not done for the sake of mounting Commissions of Inquiry. They become a call to action and, therefore, the recommendations will be carefully studied, in the first instance by the Ministry of the Presidency and the Ministry of Natural Resources. The report will be shared to the Cabinet, and

the Cabinet will also have an input in the matter, particularly as it relates to the executive summary and the recommendations that have been made by the commissioner,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Best explained briefly that three levels of culpability

have been identified.

“I found that they are three levels of culpability; at the personal level, the operational level and the regulator level. The report asked for me to determine, blameworthiness so I had to look into that carefully,” he said.

The Commission was

Culpability at personal, operational and regulatory levels

established on October 18, 2016. A preliminary report was submitted to Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman on November 9, 2016 and the deadline for submission of the final report was extended from November 18, 2016 to Monday.

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial Skeldon’s woes THE Skeldon sugar factory, commissioned in 2010 and considered the country’s largest investment (US$200M), was described as a modern, state-of-theart facility in which the future of the sugar industry was placed. In justifying the need for this factory, the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration informed the nation that Guyana was operating at a competitive level in the international marketplace; and the European Union preferential price, while being reduced overtime, would eventually be eliminated.

The decision to undertake this major investment was made by a few persons. The money invested was at the time bigger than the National Budget, and the investment was done without discussion/consultation with stakeholders, including the Parliament -- the nation’s most representative and highest decision-making forum.

From the onset, including conceptualisation of the idea, the factory was plagued with problems.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), which owns the Skeldon sugar factory, is a state company; which means it belongs to the people of Guyana. Conscious of this ownership and role, it is not unreasonable to have expected that the administration at the time would have sought to have had national discourse and parliamentary consensus on undertaking this investment. Instead, the nation was subjected to a narrative that said non-support for this investment meant being against a specific race.

This tactic effectively prevented sane and constructive discussions surviving in the public sphere.

In effect, what the PPP/C achieved was having a blank cheque to do as it like, without feeling it had to be held accountable by the people and the checks and balances in governance being enforced. In so doing, a few made decisions on the cost of the mill, where it would be sourced, and the contractor assigned to the project. When difficulties arose, these said persons presided over the withdrawal of money from the Consolidated Fund for various reasons.

The capacity of the Skeldon mill, from its inception, has shown the availability of land to produce the required canes to sustain it was not there, which not only pointed to poor decision-making, but lent to the perception of unethical practice. Outside of the PPP/C Administration’s failing to respect the fact that an investment of such magnitude required broadest consultation and support, building a factory for a capacity that could not be met, along with failure to put measures in place to meet that capacity, gave rise to suspicion. The technical problems that have confronted Skeldon resulted in millions of dollars being channelled to correct deficiencies, of which various continue to surface, resulting in under-performance. On one hand, the canes are not there to meet capacity; and on the other, the factory has been plagued with technical difficulties, which in both instances saw money being thrown after what is clearly a bad investment.

The future of this investment, and the sugar industry in general, requires national consensus. This could see our elected leaders putting aside partisan political interest and meeting to work towards a realistic solution. With certainty, as the National Budget is being debated, GuySuCo will come up for discussion. It may be important for our legislature to set aside time, if not during the budget debate,

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

PPP’s strategy is to create hysteria around budget Dear Editor, IN GUYANA during the period of the 60s and 70s, Budget Day was a major event in the lives of the masses. Hundreds of citizen usually gathered around Parliament Building to hear the presentation and, as they waited on the Minister of Finance to deliver his speech they would often discuss possible measures to be included in the budget.

However, in the last four decades, people’s interest on budget day had waned considerably, the reason being that in their opinion the budget did not address measures which advanced their lives. The end result was that on budget days people would generally proceed with their lives and leave the parliamentarians alone.

It is clear that since the advent of the APNU+AFC coalition citizens of Guyana are paying greater attention to budget presentations. If I am asked to say why there has been such a profound negative development in the Guyanese political culture in response to budget presentations I would venture to say that the answer lies in the fact that over the last 40 years many of the budgetary measures have fallen short of the masses expectations, and in many cases have impacted them negatively.

It is in this context that we have to understand the initial/reflex responses of many people to the 2017 budget.

Given the destruction of the economy over the decades it is clear that the days when a Finance Minister in Guyana has much “goodies” to offer the people in terms of financial relief, are long gone. The sit-

uation has been reduced to whether or not the Minister is able to present a budget that, given the available resources at the disposal of the government and, in the present difficult circumstances both international and internal that meets the concerns of all and sundry.

Another relevant question for consideration is how the budget allocates resources, and which classes or groups are the major beneficiaries.

Added to the above we have the problems of a weak Guyana dollar, low wages/salaries, high cost of living, high unemployment and under employment.

And to make matters worse we have to contend with the issue of dirty money from the underground economy, which under the PPPC regime became acceptable injections of funds into the economy, since it inflated the economic growth rate.

All these problems are not new; they were inherited from the PPPC regime.

Since coming to office the present government’s budgetary measures have been directed to the realigning of the economy to have sound and sustainable development. This approach has resulted in the reduction of dirty money in the economy, which has impacted negatively on the economic growth rate - a necessary price we have to pay, in the short term, for getting the economy on a sound economic base.

Over the last two decades, the criminal state with its underground economy has produced an elite with a life style of wealth and prosperity. This small group has become very influential in the society, their way of life base on the get rich fast syndrome, has a pervasive impact on the consciousness of the masses. Thus

after, to address the company as a specific item.

What unites Guyanese on sugar is a common shared history. No demographic can honestly claim that it has singularly built and maintained the industry. It is not to our collective credit as a people to fall prey to thinking that sugar belongs to one group, and making practical decisions about the industry’s future should see only the

they exercise influence far larger than their numbers.

The get rich fast mentality has now become a way of life for many ordinary people, particularly among our youth population. This has created a volatile and dangerous political environment in the country.

Years of austerity have taken its toll on the masses and they are close to breaking point. Fortunately, for Guyana we are now poised to begin the exploitation of our oil reserves. This is the only real short and medium term solution that offer us a meaningful chance to reverse the decades of economic and social stagnation Guyana has experienced.

Objectively, oil production will create some political space for the government, since it opens the door for real transformation of the economy and, if managed properly will significantly improve the lives of the people. Jagdeo and the PPP are well aware of the transformative effects of oil on the economic, social and political situation in the country.

Jagdeo and the other PPP leaders are aware that if this development occurs under the present coalition government it represents a political nightmare for them in the PPP. The opposition strategy on the budget is aimed at creating “hysteria” - shouting doomsday for the country, knowing fully well that this is far from the truth.

What they are trying to do is to exploit the masses feeling of insecurity and at the same time fool the nation that when they left office the country and the economy were buoyant and that the APNU+AFC government is unable to govern and manage the economy.

Jagdeo’s pompous offer

of cooperation on the budget, if the President withdraws it is nothing but political opportunism, showmanship and deception to win political points. The opposition party‘s rhetoric on the economic, financial and social measures in the budget, when analyzed carefully, is in most cases devoid of sound economic reasoning but strong on propaganda.

However, it will not be easy sailing for the opposition, because during the budget debate the government side will strip the opposition naked and expose their anti-people anti-national intentions as they bring clarity on the budgetary measures. Now in opposition the PPP is offering the nations what it failed to deliver in 23 years in office. The opposition is behaving like the, “three cards man” who shows you the wining card, but once you put your money you will never find the correct card. Mr. Edghill and company are playing the role as accomplices in the con game.

In concluding I want to say that I expect the government side in parliament to fire on all cylinders. The government’s public relations departments have their work cut out, since the debate on this budget, as far as the PPP is concerned is not about the soundness of the measures announced in the budget, but has to do with a propaganda war, which they are convinced that they can win.

It is now up the regime’s arguments and its Public Relations professionals to ensure that this does not happen.

Regards Tacuma Ogunseye

involvement of a specific group. Similarly, it is not to our credit to suppress discourse for fear of being accused of being racist. And whereas during the PPP/C Administration, when the decision was taken on Skeldon it succeeded at suppressing constructive discourse by playing the divisive card, the APNU+AFC Administration can accommodate some public discourse on sugar’s future.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

2017 Budget Debate

Opposition wants new budget THE Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) opened the 2017 Budget debates with a call for the proposed budget to be withdrawn because the new taxes being introduced are unconscionable.

PPP frontbencher Irfaan Ali opened the debates by blasting Government for what his party considers to be “anti-people and anti-development” measures and projects. A very dramatic Ali told the National Assembly that while the APNU+AFC Administration is blaming the drop in the economy for many of its actions, it nevertheless went ahead and gave its ministers handsome increases.

“Mr. Speaker, it is public knowledge that the PPP/C Administration bequeathed (to Government) an economy that was not only diversified, but (had) weathered the global economic and financial crises. Indeed, the economy was so strong that the APNU+AFC government was able to award its ministers a 50% increase in salary; finance the D’Urban Park project; pay out billions to several companies (to settle questionable legal claims) (DDL, BK, Rudisa); and rent a bond for storing medical supplies when there was no

need for such a facility,” he told the House.

The PPP MP said that although the economy has thus far contracted for 2016, the APNU+AFC Administration is proposing for former Prime Minister and City Mayor Hamilton Green a hefty pension of more than $20M annually.

“Mr. Speaker, since we have a ‘caring government’, one would not expect it to go on a “spending spree” when the economy is in a weakened state,” he posited.

Ali has said that after carefully reviewing the budget, he has found it challenging to identify measures that would green and diversify the economy, and ultimately deliver the “good life” to the people.

“Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that after expending so much resources and time to developing one of the most comprehensive development (strategies) aimed at placing Guyana on a sustainable and low-carbon pathway, the APNU-AFC government plans to “reinvent the wheel” by crafting a new green strategy,” he argued.

According to him, it is sad that the Government would abandon the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which emerged out

PPP MP Priya Manickchand holds up a box of crayons during her budget presentation (Adrian Narine photo)

of extensive consultations with key stakeholders and obtained approval from Guyana’s international partners.

“And what are we replacing this strategy with? Some new programme that the minister described as a ‘Green State Development Plan,’” he lamented.

Ali said that from all indications, Government is unclear what a “green economy” is. “Greening an economy is not restricted to the elimination of our dependence on fossil fuels, but also involves shifting to economic activities that are environmentally friendly and economically feasible. In the

Residual funds to National Hardware cancelled CABINET has agreed to cancel the residual funds allocated to National Hardware (Guyana) Limited, under the Japanese Non-Project Grant Aid (JNPGA) of 2013 and to reallocate those funds for the procurement of renewable energy and energy efficient street lights on highways, in townships and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).

A statement from the Ministry of the Presidency on Sunday said the move by the Government is in keeping with its thrust to stimulate the

transition to a ‘green’ state.

The grant, to the sum of US $2,938, 871, was made available to National Hardware (Guyana) Limited under the JNPGA in 2013, for the procurement of goods and services to facilitate the company’s contribution to national economic and social development.

The funds were intended to be utilised for the importation of products, such as civil engineering equipment and other machinery that would aid in Government’s development efforts.

However after the first

phase, the company informed the Ministry of Finance that it was no longer interested in participating in the Grant Aid Programme, which resulted in a residual sum of US$1,330,000.

Meanwhile, Cabinet also agreed that the Governments of Guyana and Japan would mutually agree on a list of energy efficient and renewable energy equipment that would be procured by the Japan International Cooperation System (JICS) on behalf of the Government of Guyana.

LCDS that was crafted by the PPP/C Administration, we specifically highlighted all the new growth sectors that are capable of greening the economy while diversifying our economic base. We also identified a project that would help Guyana achieve the target of 100% renewable energy supply in the shortest possible time,” Ali explained.

The PPP frontbencher

then moved on to dismissing the measures outlined to foster the green economy.

“In the 2017 National Budget, there are only measures to green the expenditure of businesses, but nothing to encourage our businesses to green their income.”

In particular, he said, Government is offering tax incentives to businesses to invest in solar energy, electric vehicles, and charging stations.”

However, the incentives may sound appealing on paper, but appear impractical, he said.

Rhetorically, he questioned: “Who would buy electric vehicles when charging stations are absent?

Who will fix these vehicles if they require repair? Do we have mechanics to service these vehicles? How many Guyanese have the financial capacity to purchase these vehicles, when they are struggling to buy new tyres and could hardly afford the relatively cheaper traditional models?

“And how many businesses (would) realistically invest in charging stations when the average Guyanese will most likely continue to use traditional vehicles, which are less expensive to acquire and maintain?” Ali asked.

Turning his attention to the taxes proposed by Government, Ali argued that the 2017 National Budget is saturated with taxes that would suffocate both traditional and non-traditional businesses.

Another PPP MP, Priya Manickchand, said the proposed budget comes as a major shock. Waving a newspaper in the area as she stood to defend her party’s call for a withdrawal of the budget, Manickchand said citizens across Guyana have been expressing their dissatisfaction.

“When we say this budget is useless in terms of our development path, we speak on behalf of the people,” she told the House, even as she was being heckled by the Government members.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Bathroom collapses, Teen gunmen to kills woman know fate next week A 30-YEAR OLD Little Diamond woman met an untimely end on Sunday night after the bathroom wall at her home collapsed on her.

Dead is Shoia Sampson-Europe of Lot 5, Junior Staff Compound, Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

The woman’s uncle told Guyana Chronicle that on Sunday night he left the home around 19:00hrs for another street in the area.

The man was spending a few days at the family since he returned from the interior last week. He said on his return, he called out for his niece several times but received no response.

The uncle noted that

around 22:00 hrs he called his friend and the two entered the house through a zinc wall. The single flat house is being renovated.

The woman’s uncle said after searching the rooms of the house, he received the shock of his life when he saw Shoia’s lifeless body under the concrete wall.

The woman’s body was caught between a bucket and the floor of the bathroom.

Her uncle related that her body was stiff at the time of the discovery, which suggests that she had died hours earlier. Upon the discovery, he immediately summoned neighbours who called the police and paramedics.

“She was a nice girl,” said

Dead: Shoia Sampson Europe

another uncle, who spoke fondly of her character.

Europe’s mother and close relatives reside overseas and her family has already started to make preparations for her funeral.

7 homeless after Sophia fire A SEVEN-MEMBER family of ‘C’ Field, Sophia has been left homeless and displaced after a fire -- which started just after 13:00 hrs on Monday, when a stove was left unattended -- destroyed a modest wooden house measuring about 10 feet in length by 10 feet in width.

Occupants of the dwelling reported that while cooking they stepped outside for a short while, and upon returning inside, they observed the kitchen on fire.

Within minutes, the blaze had engulfed the entire one-flat wooden building, but quick action by firefighters prevented it from spreading to nearby buildings.

TWO Charlestown teens who were found guilty of two counts of robbery, will next week know their fate pending a probation report ordered by the presiding City Magistrate Dylon Bess.

Leroy Forde (18) and a teen (17) were jointly charged with two counts of robbery under arms and found guilty at the conclusion of their trial.

The duo was also found guilty of being armed with a gun on September 26 at Bishop Street, Werk-en-Rust and robbing Kendal Short of his $19,000 Blu cellphone.

The teens were also found guilty of robbing Andrew Nurse of his Toyota Premio motor car valued $2.5M, on the same day and at the same location.

The magistrate based his

ruling on the testimonies given by the two accused and two witnesses who said they saw the teens with guns during the robbery.

He also placed weight on the testimonies of two police witnesses, who tracked drown Nurse’s hijacked car with the two teens inside and who they later arrested after a high speed chase.

The younger of the two had called his mother on his behalf as a witness. However the woman could not provide the court with key evidence about her son’s whereabouts on the day in question.

Meanwhile Forde had called a friend to provide an alibi that he was with her on the day in question. However the witness’ testimony was deemed “inconsistent and incredible” by the magistrate.

Magistrate Bess ordered

a probation report to be done on both teens before he sentenced them on December 13.

According to reports, on September 26, Nurse had just stepped out of his vehicle to visit his mechanic in Bishop Street and as he returned to his car, he felt a gun pressed to his head and he was shoved aside as the two men grabbed his keys and made off with the vehicle.

The next day the police acting on information arrested the two bandits in the East La Penitence area with the stolen car.

The bandits however had changed the number plates of the car but the owner identified his vehicle by the engine and chassis numbers. The men were also pointed out during an identification parade.

Police close case in Kaieteur grenade attack

The Sophia dwelling house on fire (Travis Chase photo)

POLICE Prosecutor Inspector Neville Jeffers on Monday closed his case for the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) against Alfie Garraway, Janiel Howard and Leroy Williams, the three men accused of throwing a grenade outside Kaieteur News building.

The prosecutor wrapped up his evidence-in-chief with the final witness, Somal Sharma, the network administrator for Kaieteur News called to the stand before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Leroy Williams,25, of Durban Backlands, Georgetown; Janeil Howard, 20, of 322 Section ‘C’ Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara; Alfie Garraway, 36, of Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, are accused of conspiring together with other persons to cause an explosion by way of grenade, likely to endanger

lives and cause damage to property.

Garraway is currently out on $300,000 High Court bail, while the other two accused remain on remand.

Howard is unrepresented by an attorney. Alfie Garraway is being represented

by Attorneys Stanley Moore and Glenn Hanoman, while Attorney Neil Bollers is defending Williams.

The matter was adjourned until December 14 for the men’s lawyers to give their submission.

Williams, voiced his frustration in court with a series of expletives and said: “I can’t understand this. I don’t know what yall want see happen to ghetto youths.

This thing getting real frustrating.”

The Magistrate quickly told attorney Bollers to control his client.

According to reports, on

the day in question, a security staffer heard an unusual sound near Publisher of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall’s vehicle, PRR 8398, which was parked on the western side of the newspaper’s Saffon Street, Georgetown office.

On checking the front of the vehicle, the staffer spotted a grenade lying near one of the front tyres. Video footage from the company’s CCTV cameras showed a grey-coloured vehicle, slowing as it approached Lall’s vehicle.

The driver accelerated after the explosive device was thrown.

Shemar Wilson also known as ‘Abdue’ is still wanted by the police for questioning in relation to the grenade attack. He is 20 years of age and his last known addresses have been given as 43 North Sophia and 51 West La Penitence, Georgetown.

Mother of 13 imprisoned for child neglect VENUS Lalloo called “Anita” aged 35 years and a mother of 13 children was found guilty of three counts of child neglect following a trial before Magistrate Alex Moore at the New Amsterdam Court on Monday.

The unrepresented defendant had pleaded not guilty to the separate charges which alleged that on July 19 last at Edinburgh Village, East

Venus Lalloo

Bank Berbice, she willfully contributed to her children, aged five, seven and 10 being in the need of protective intervention.

But following a trial, the court ruled that she was guilty as charged and imposed a $100,000 fine on each charge.

The woman told the court that she was unable to raise Turn to page 9 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Budget measures will transform the hinterland …Min. Garrido-Lowe says VAT reduction an act of compassion

By Svetlana Marshall THE $250-billion-dollar budget for 2017, fulfillment of the coalition’s promise to reduce the rate of Value Added Tax (VAT) from 16 per cent to 14 per cent, is an act of compassion that will revolutionise the hinterland regions, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mrs. Valerie Garrido-Lowe, has said.

Making her contributions to the Budget debate which opened in the National Assembly on Monday, the minister also said the two per cent reduction in VAT would bring greater relief to the ordinary people of this country.

“It is of note that while many of the essential items -- like onion and garlic, soap powder and laundry soap -are zero-rated, one still has to pay VAT for the transportation of these items. Hence with the VAT decreasing to 14 per cent, residents of Paramakatoi, Kato and Kamana in Region 8; Kamarang and Paruima in Region 7; Kokerite and Kariako in Region 1; and Aishalton and Achawib in Region 9; and all other Indigenous communities, will be paying less for much needed basic items, including shoes and clothing,” she pointed out.

The reduction in VAT, Minister Garrido-Lowe argued, is just one of the many measures being put in place by the APNU+AFC Admin-

istration to bring much-needed relief to the people.

She noted that the pursuit of a green economy will transform the economic landscape of the country.

“Our economy is going to transition towards renewable clean and cheaper source of energy. To this effect, (the sum of) $264M is budgeted for the first-ever large-scale solar farm in the hinterland town of Mabaruma, where 3000 residents will benefit from additional 17 hours of electricity,” the minister said, as she spoke of the positives that would be experienced by the residents of Mabaruma and surrounding communities.

Additionally, Lethem, Mahdia and Bartica would respectively benefit from 800 kilowatts, 400 kilowatts and 1.5 megawatts of electricity, she said.

“Mr. Speaker, in pursuit of a green economy, renewable energy along with smart energy efficient interventions in 2017 will see an annual cost savings to the tune of $193M, and avoid carbon dioxide emissions of 1,674 tonnes per year,” she explained.

It was further pointed out that the residents of Lethem would also benefit from the refurbishing of the Moco Moco Hydropower Development Project, which will feed power into the Lethem Power Company grid, thus bringing more reliable electricity

support to the growing town.

Lethem has, for years, been suffering from both shortage and unreliable supply of electricity.

In the area of Information Communication Technology (ICT), the minister told the house that the establishment of the Public Telecommunication Ministry, coupled with the liberalization of the telecommunication sector, means well for the people of the hinterland. She said Government is cognizant of the need to be tech-smart in order to keep abreast with the rest of the world, and Smart Guyana will touch every major sector of our economy.

“Mr. Speaker, this is revolutionary for the hinterland… The Internet will absolutely transform the lives and livelihoods of our Indigenous and hinterland brothers and sisters,” Minister Garrido-Lowe stated as she used the opportunity to express her appreciation to Finance Minister Winston Jordan for catering to the needs of Guyanese living in the hinterland.

In her quest to give back to society, the minister disclosed her intention to offer free tutoring in graphic design and office tools to residents in some of the hinterland villages, in preparation for Government’s certification course.

“The pictures that come to mind are exciting. Just bring to mind Indigenous and hinterland young men

and women in their villages’ computer hubs designing posters, banners, magazines, newspapers and typing manuscripts for businesses overseas; and with a click the beautifully created finished product is off to Germany, London, or in the Caribbean.

Picture them building their own websites to market their products, designing their own labels.

“Mr. Speaker, many, including myself, spoke about this several years ago, and I am excited that at last this is becoming a reality, and I am especially pleased that it is happening under this Government. Needless to say, jobs will be created as never before for hinterland peoples,” she explained.

Additionally, Indigenous and hinterland residents in four other locations will benefit from the provision of four more radio stations, to be established to the tune of $150M. According to Minister Garrido-Lowe, the Government will do what it takes to bridge the information gap between the hinterland and the Coast.

Earlier this year, two radio stations were launched – Radio Lethem and Radio Mabaruma – in the newly established hinterland towns.

Turning her attention to infrastructural development, Minister Garrido-Lowe said residents would again reap tremendous benefits with a number of roads scheduled to

land Scholarship Programme, which has been expanded to provide for 530 students, moving up from the present 510 students. This, she further explained, would allow for more students to progress to tertiary institutions, thus affording more Indigenous and hinterland residents the opportunity to vie for public and private sector jobs.

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mrs. Valerie Garrido-Lowe

be upgraded and rehabilitated in 2017.

“Mr. Speaker, roads are always of great concern to residents of the hinterland, as well as those who do business in the hinterland; and it is music to the ears to hear that (the sum of) $2.3B is earmarked for capital projects in the hinterland, with interventions for the Port Kaituma road from the airstrip to Fitzburg Housing Scheme in Region One; Issano Road and Karrau to Buckhall Roads in Region 7; Karasabai to Monkey Mountain in Region 8; and Aishalton Junction to Shea in Region 9. Very important is a further (sum of) $262.5M which will be allocated for maintenance to the existing road network,” she pointed out with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

These projects, she emphasized, are necessary.

In the area of education, Minister Garrido-Lowe told the House that more students will benefit from the Hinter-

SKILLS TRAINING Additionally, the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service programme in skills training, agriculture, eco-tourism, and hospitality and entrepreneurship will receive $991M come 2017.

“Mr. Speaker, the sundried organic tomato project I spoke about in the 2016 Budget is being implemented. The residents of Paramakatoi, Region 8, will soon be supplying the facility with fresh organic tomatoes, and the solar dryer being built in the community will extract the water from the tomatoes.

Youths, women and men from Paramakatoi and the surrounding villages will be trained by staff of the IAST in food processing in the laboratory, and (will be) be certified,” she further pointed out.

Minister Garrido-Lowe has said that while there are many pessimists attempting to taint the budget, detailed attention would reveal the many positives not only for the Indigenous communities and the people of the hinterland, but for Guyanese all across Guyana.

EU, City Hall sign $64M contract ‒ to facilitate comprehensive restoration plan for City Hall THE European Union (EU) and the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown (M&CC) have signed a contract that

would facilitate a study to devise a comprehensive restoration and sustainable conservation management plan for City Hall.

Mother of 13... the required sum of $300,000 and opted to serve the alternative sentence of six months imprisonment.

According to the defendant, she is employed as a domestic and lived with Marvin Chesney at Sawmill Street, Edingburg Village.

She also told the court that 11 of her 13 children are girls. Four of her children lived with her, including a three-month-old baby.

At the initial court hearing, Police Inspector Phil-

From page 8

lip Sherif, prosecuting, had objected to pre-trial liberty because of the nature and seriousness of the offence.

However, the magistrate had overruled his objection, and noted that he did not find ground for an objection.

The plight of the three children became public interest after they were found neglected at Edingburg Village. They were subsequently taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital for treatment.

The contract, costing 279,196 euros [G$64M], has been awarded to EURONET Consulting GEIE and is expected to be concluded by March/April 2017. The team of consultants will include experts from both Europe and Guyana, and the National Trust of Guyana and City Hall will be actively engaged during the period of consultancy.

The core of the assessment would involve conducting a condition assessment and evaluation of the physical and structural state of City Hall and the City Engineer’s Building; preparing and presenting a comprehensive green restoration plan and a sustainable conservation management plan for

City Hall and the City Engineer’s Building; and facilitating training sessions and strengthening capacity within the relevant stakeholder agencies, a statement from the EU Office in Georgetown said on Monday.

EU Ambassador Jernej Videtic highlighted that “Georgetown’s iconic City Hall and the City Engineer’s Building, built in 1889, are unquestionably among the most outstanding architectural, cultural and historically significant buildings in Guyana.”

Ambassador Videtic added: “The EU was delighted to help by funding this study, which will hopefully lead to a process that will see City Hall returned to its former

The deteriorated City Hall stands at the corner of Regent Street and Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown

glory.”

The City Hall and City Engineer’s Building are a part of Guyana’s tangible heritage, and are considered important to the nation’s historic fabric. In a bid to preserve and pro-

mote the value of its cultural heritage internationally, Guyana in 1977 became a signatory to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage -- the first Caribbean State to do so.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

China eyes Guyana’s energy sector for cooperation CHINA has identified several areas, including the energy sector, which the Asian economic powerhouse says it can prioritise and further strengthen with Guyana.

According to Yang Chenqi, Counselor and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy

in Georgetown, China is ready to work alone or with stakeholders to play a more “active role” in Guyana’s development, including in the areas of infrastructure, Information Communication Technology (ICT) application and capacity building.

He pointed out that Chi-

na holds great value for its economic ties with Guyana, ”not necessarily because of its rich natural resources, even including the lately discovered oil”. He said that this country has an advantage regarding its location for trade and investment.

“So geographically and culturally Guyana plays a

strategic role in bridging South America with (the) Caribbean and further north “, he explained as he stated this country’s neighbours at its borders. Chenqi noted that the location advantage, which he said is becoming more valuable with rising trade protectionism, would be beneficial to this country’s economic development goal.

In back-grounding the history between the two countries, Chenqi said that Guyana’s development potential is boasted frequently, however its economic ties with the Chinese is widely ignored. He said that China’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stock to Guyana at the end of 2014 totaled US$0.24B, less than 0.03% of that country’s global amount that year. He said that in the area of bilateral trade, the statistics of the Guyana National Bureau of Statistics (GNBS) illustrates

that China is not on the list of top ten destinations of imports from these shores, the value of which is tallied among other nations.

“Ironically, some local media still complains that Guyana had sold much volume of commodities to China “, reference made to views in the recent past that various resources, including timber which was shipped to China at reduced rates.

He said that the two countries enjoy deep political trust; they share the same or similar views and share/ support each other on key international issues such as climate change, sustainable development, United Nations reform and regional integration.

Looking ahead , Chenqi said that once infrastructure is improved in the form of land and sea transport here, including the Guyana-Brazil highway and deep water

Yang Chenqi Counselor and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy

project , the two countries can share a vision of large volumes of goods, people and service. He posited that the communications and energy sector needs to be expanded to compliment connectivity here, noting that economic diversification efforts can be catapulted while control of economic growth can rest in the hands of the country.

According to Chenqi, the scenario is a “now or never “opportunity which each country should grasp.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Gold glitters in 2016 ‒ 700,000 ounces target set for 2017

By Shauna Jemmott GOVERNMENT has set the new production target for gold at 700,000 ounces for 2017, encouraged by its record-breaking production of more than 600,000 ounces as at November 30, 2016.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, who addressed the gala awards ceremony and cocktail reception of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), held on Thursday at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown, said: “Next year we hope to edge closer to the 700,000 ounces threshold, and hopefully surpass it.”

Trotman told the gathering of mostly persons in the business community that the projected gold target of 550,000 ounces projected for 2016 has been surpassed since before October; and the minister said he is happy that Guyana’s gold sector has broken its production record

by a significant margin.

“As at November 30, gold declarations have crested the 600,000 mark. In putting this into context, it means that even in the days of higher prices and the presence of Omai, gold never went beyond 465,000 ounces, which was the highest-ever recorded production in 2013,” Trotman said.

Trotman’s revelations have shown that 2016 has been a jubilee year for the mining and quarrying sector, even though price of the precious mineral has dropped significantly on the international market.

Trotman has said that although oil is expected to create a paradigm shift in the country’s economy -with the country entertaining high hopes and preparing for accelerated economic development due to the EXXONMOBIL oil discovery -- there have been recent formal expressions of interest in mining for commercial purposes, and gold mining is

climbing.

“This year, the mining and quarrying sector grew significantly, thanks to a very dominant performance by gold; which, despite a significant drop in gold prices on the world market (today US$1163) and challenges in the mining sector, has seen gold production figures continually rising in 2016,” the minister said.

Small and medium scale miners have been credited for their high level of contribution, producing over twothirds of the historic production. Their performance has been followed by those of the two large companies -Troy Resources and Guyana Goldfields.

According to the minister, Government, in recognising that gold is an important income-earner, will provide operational concessions to miners and lend support through infrastructural works, while putting in place systems to ensure higher declarations.

Diamond production has also surpassed its expected target, being 38 per cent ahead of its 2016 goal of 61,380 carats with declarations of 99,000 carats already at the end of October.

The bauxite industry has had a notable record achievement; as Guyana, in October 2016, celebrated 100 years of bauxite mining on its shores.

“Bauxite production in Guyana is one of the leading mineral sub-sectors, and accounts for a significant part

of the GDP generated from exports of minerals,” Minister Trotman said.

He added that at the end of the third quarter of 2016, on September 30, bauxite production, at 1,138,182.80 tonnes or 80 per cent of the budgeted figure, increased by 38,000 tonnes compared to the same period last year.

Trotman said that despite the joys the mining industry brings, challenges of loss of life and limb, illegal mining, or other activities of grave

disrepute continue to plague the industry, shading its success.

Government is stepping up compliance and safety in the sector in 2017.

“We at the Ministry endeavour to do much more in 2017 to ensure compliance and safe practices for the well-being of the thousands of men and women who depend on mining for the development of themselves and families,” Trotman said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Recommendations accepted ‒ for better animal health, food safety services

By Clifford Stanley

FOOD Industry and food safety officials have validated a report which recommends the need for a national coordinating mechanism for better functioning of the various agencies providing Animal Health and Food Safety (AHFS) services.

They endorsed the report during a recent validation workshop held at the Regency Suites Hotel, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

The workshop was the final step in a consultation process between local officials and experts attached to

the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in execution of one component of an EU funded project aimed at upgrading the AHFS services and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) regimes of CARIFORUM countries so that they can meet the food safety requirements of international trade .

Participants agreed that for Guyana or any other CARIFORUM State to address their food security concerns and increase their earnings from agricultural and fisheries trade, it is critical for them to develop effective national agricultural and fisheries health and food safety systems.

The programme on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) is one component of the 10th EDF Programme titled “Support to the Forum of Caribbean States in the implementation of the commitments undertaken under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)”.

The overall objective of the 10th EDF Programme is to enhance the competitiveness of CARIFORUM states to maintain and/or increase market access by complying with Europe’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures.

The workshop on Tuesday aimed at validation, by local participants of a draft national report on the status of coordinating mechanisms in AHFS services in Guyana; how these measured up to an effective SPS and AHFS regime and how they could be improved and enhanced.

The draft country report was presented by World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) expert, Dr Grigoryan Grigor and Mr Gordon Maddan, a lawyer and expert on British Food laws.

The work of Dr Grigor and Mr Maddan on a national coordinating mechanism for AHFS agencies had been commissioned in Guyana and other CARIFORUM States by IICA as part of a much larger SPS project which includes components to develop legislation, protocols, standards, measures and guidelines, as well as national and regional regulatory and industry capacity among

these States to meet the SPS requirements of international trade.

The regional project is being implemented by IICA in collaboration with the CARICOM Secretariat (CCS), the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and the SPS committee of the Dominican Republic (Comite Nacional para la Aplicacion de Medidas Sanitarias y Fitosanitarias – (CNMSF).

The two experts had visited Guyana in September and had made an assessment of national coordination mechanisms in support of an effective SPS regime and how it could be enhanced.

They had done similar work in the other beneficiary countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago.

Participants at the workshop agreed that an integrated and coordinated AHFS system is vital to protect animal and plant health and ensure high levels of food safety among consumers locally and in food exported to other countries Participants supported a suggestion that rather than developing new institutions, they work to ensure an effective, well co-ordinated and integrated AHFS sector locally, which should be done by task forces with clearly defined terms of references.

These task forces would analyse options, make factbased selections, define action plans and work within a framework which ensures that their recommendations become Government policy.

Following intense discussions with participants, Dr Grigor and Mr Maddan assured the participants that they will use the feedback obtained to produce the final report on their assessments and their recommendations for effective coordinating mechanisms for the local agencies involved in the local AHFS sector.

The final recommendations are to be eventually adopted and implemented

by Guyana and the other CARIFORUM beneficiary countries of the project.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

PPP protests budget outside Parliament

By Svetlana Marshall

SUPPORTERS of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) picketed the National Assembly on Monday, calling on the Government to recall the proposed 2017 National Budget.

Backed by key players in the party, the protesters, many of whom travelled from Parika in Region Three, contended that the proposed budget would

cause Guyanese greater hardships.

Amelia Ali, one of the picketers, told Guyana Chronicle that the 2017 Budget “is not a people’s budget.” She said many of the measures outlined in the $250B Budget pose too many strains on the people of Guyana. “The VAT is just outrageous,” Ali contended.

The APNU+AFC Administration has proposed

that Value Added Tax (VAT) be reduced from 16 per cent to 14 per cent, in keeping with its manifesto promise to the people of Guyana. However, it has also proposed that the 14 per cent VAT be applied to water and electricity consumption in excess of $1,500 and $10,000 respectively.

But although the Government is arguing that many citizens -- particularly the regular man in the street

PPP protesters on the picket line outside Parliament Buildings on Monday

-- would not have to pay VAT on water and electricity, the Opposition and its supporters are not buying into this argument.

Describing the budget as “draconian”, PPP Member of Parliament Dr. Vindhya Persaud contended that the budget would impose greater hardship on Guyanese all across the country. “…because when we think of the taxation that has been levied on the people, it is 57 new taxes,” Dr. Persaud said, while bemoaning Government’s move to apply VAT to the consumption of water and electricity.

“How do you tell the person at home, the pensioner who has only gotten $800 on their pension, that they have to pay 14 per cent on water and light?” she questioned, while pointing out that both water and light are essential commodities used by people every day.

“How do you tell a housewife, who is already struggling to budget, that what was once zero-rated is now tax exempted, and that cost from the manufacturers will now be passed onto her at home; and that cost-ofliving will rise?” she further questioned.

According to the PPP parliamentarian, there is not much in the budget for the social services sector. “It has nothing in there for the single parent, for women; there are a few lines on the Child Protection Agency, and that’s it,” she contended.

Dr. Persaud believes that Government and the

parliamentary Opposition should use the ongoing budget debates to consult and agree upon measures that are workable, and those that are not workable.

She said, however, if Government holds fast to its position, businesses, particularly small businesses, would feel the negative impact.

“There are a lot of measurers in this budget that will effectively shut down businesses and enterprises. You are telling young people ‘We will provide employment for you’, and ‘become entrepreneurs’, but how could you become entrepreneurs when you are going to struggle to pay taxes and live?”

Former President and current Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, has said that although there is not much that can be done by the PPP, given that Government has the majority in the House, that party will continue to voice its concerns and those of the people.

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, and Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, have argued that the naysayers have chosen to focus on only two of the many measures outlined by Finance Minister Winston Jordan in the budget. Like many of their colleagues, the ministers believe that Budget 2017 will put Guyana on a path of major economic transformation for the greater good of the people.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Holland faces virtual confidence vote ‒ Linden councillors express mixed views on mayor’s re-election

By Vanessa Braithwaite IN A MATTER of two days, councillors of the municipality of Linden will participate in a mayoral election which would determine the fate of the Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland, who was elected into office in March 2016.

While no Councillor has publicly indicated an intention to challenge Holland for the position of mayor, mixed views have been expressed as to whether or not he should be re-elected.

According to Chairman of the Communications Committee, Devin Sears, the Council is currently ‘putting things in place’ to guarantee a smooth electoral process. Though no one has announced an intention to run against Holland, this does not mean that Holland will be re-elected unopposed.

“It is possible that on that day nominations will be made, or we will reinforce or reinstate the same Mr. Carwyn Holland as mayor and Waneka Arindell as deputy,” said Sears.

Sears said he believes that, over the last eight months, the Council under the stewardship of Mayor Holland has worked tirelessly to ensure the municipality, though cash-strapped, functions effectively.

He also spoke of the numerous infighting and personality conflicts in the Council, but stressed that there were more positives than negatives.

“Whatever decision the Council makes, it will stand by it in the best interest of moving forward in 2017 and ultimately to the end of the tenure,” he said.

Councillor Deron John told this publication that he is of the belief that Mayor Holland should be re-elected, because he was not given a chance to serve a full term, and should be returned to finish the job.

This was echoed by Councillor Keeran Williams, who also believes that Holland should be given a fair chance, considering that the plethora of challenges that has presented itself would, in some way, have stymied some amount of progress.

“In this context, I think he tried with the available resources, and he has made genuine attempts to really build network and create an atmosphere where the Council can be more progressive and can actually make a

greater impact in Linden.

It takes time to really grow in leadership, and to really demonstrate the impact in leadership and qualities and characteristics; and I don’t think the time would have been enough for us to really see him perform at the optimum,” Williams affirmed.

Several administrative staff members also lauded the mayor for striving to develop a better relationship with the staff, and for making a salary increase possible for them. They unanimously agree that he should be re-elected into office. Staff member Joycelyn Smart said, “He is a very good mayor, who works in the interest of the workers.”

NOT ANOTHER TERM Opposing these views was Councillor Fern McKoy, who is resolute that she would not be voting for the re-election of Mayor Holland, as she believes that he does not deserve another term.

According to Councillor McKoy, Holland’s leadership style is autocratic.

“Definitely, he is a dictator.

Since this man has been placed there, I don’t know where this power came from. He speaks to people in this way: like, ‘Well, I am your father and you have a right to listen to me,’ like he thinks he is mayor and he is the boss of the Council; and he is not, he is not the boss of the Council. So he has not been doing a good job since he has been placed there. If he had a better approach, things would have been different; and in my view, he doesn’t intend to learn, he doesn’t take advice,” she declared.

A similar response was expressed by Councillor Lenox Gasper, who for months has been publicly speaking out against the leadership style of the mayor. Gasper told Guyana Chronicle that he has no interest in contesting for the position of mayor, as he is comfortable representing his constituency as a councillor.

He, however, stressed that it is difficult to effectively represent his constituency, as he and his constituency are being marginalised for speaking out against the abuse of the law and the lawless manner in which the Council is operating.

Gasper categorically said he would not be voting for the re-election of Mayor Holland. He claims that, from the onset, Holland has

been very aggressive in his leadership style, and he noted that the mayor had sent Town Clerk Jonellor Bowen on administrative leave.

“I petitioned the mayor that we should go about (things) by (observing) the law. My thing is (that) we want to see Linden rise. I don’t have a problem with who is PPP, PNC or APNU or AFC; at the local level, we have to work together with Lindeners,” Gasper said.

Gasper also spoke of the unilateral process taken by the mayor concerning the toll booth, and of other matters that were not dealt with

in a democratic manner.

“He is definitely not a good leader. He is not a team person, he does not have a good relationship with the Linden Chamber of Commerce, he does not have a good relationship with the administrative staff within the Council. The mayor is power drunk, his ego is larger than life itself, and that I have a problem with,” said Gasper.

He noted that many promises made by the Council during the local government elections’ campaign period have not been realised because of the mayor’s attitude.

Gasper also revealed that he was deleted by the Mayor from the Council’s Whatsapp group for being vocal, among other things.

And he said that if Mr. Holland is re-elected mayor, he would resign as councillor.

Another councilor, who opted for anonymity, alleges that councillors are being threatened by elements of the PNC to re-elect Holland as mayor.

As a result of this, the councillor said, a motion will be moved for the elections to be done by secret ballot, so as to remove fear and intimidation from the process.

Linden Mayor, Carwyn Holland

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Lethem mayor, deputy mayor unanimously re-elected AS INTERNAL elections for municipalities continue around the country, the mayor and deputy mayor of Lethem, Carlton Beckles and Maxine Welch respectively, have been unanimously re-elected to their positions in elections held on Thursday, December 1, 2016 at the Lethem Town Hall.

Town Clerk Keisha Vin-

ple”, and expressed satisfaction that democracy prevailed.

Jaichand said emphasis would be placed on creating and maintaining a clean environment, and he intends to improve the market facilities in the town in order to improve its revenue-generating capacity.

He also anticipates a closer relationship between

Lethem Mayor Carlton Beckles and Deputy Mayor Maxine Welch were unanimously re-elected

cent said voting commenced at 09:30 hrs and was completed by 10:30 hrs. After the voting, a fitting tribute was held in the Mayor’s honour: in observance of his birthday, which coincided with the elections.

Over at Corriverton, former deputy mayor Krishnand Jaichand defeated incumbent mayor Ganesh Gangadin by a 9/6 voter ratio; while Councillor Jamna Ghamandi was elected as his deputy.

During brief remarks, Jaichand said he felt proud of the people of Corriverton for voting in his favour.

He believes that the outcome of the process was clearly the “will of the peo-

councillors and their constituencies, and he disclosed that house-to-house visits would soon be an added feature.

“My hope is to have them go out and listen to people’s problems, and bring (those problems) to the Council. We will be doing an inventory throughout the town of the needs of residents,” the Mayor-elect stated.

Jaichand said that residents can also look forward to having an audience with the mayor at least twice per week, and being able to air their grievances on a daily basis in the presence of a councillor.

He also revealed that

Council can soon expect its own website and Facebook page.

Elections at Corriverton were initially held on November 24, but ended in a tie between Gangadin and Jaichand.

So far, three of the nine

municipalities have already concluded elections.

Internal elections at the municipality of Anna Regina were held on November 29, with Mayor Rabindranauth Mohan and Deputy Mayor Darshan Persaud being re-elected to their substan-

tive positions.

The Rose Hall Town municipality is expected to hold its internal elections on Wednesday, December 7; with Linden following on Thursday, December 8.

The municipalities of New Amsterdam and Maba-

ruma have scheduled elections for December 14, while Bartica Mayor and Town Council have announced elections for December 15.

All elections are expected to be completed

by December 16, 2016, as stipulated by law.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Chronicle Atlantic reception Saturday

By Michel Outridge

FOUNDER of the Chronicle Atlantic Symphony Steel & Brass Orchestra, Rudy Bishop, will host a reception to present certificates to outstanding members, both past and present – actors, panists and singers at Camptown Youth Centre, Campbellville, Georgetown on December 10, 2016 from 6pm.

He said that the event is to honour its members in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of music and cultural entertainment for those who were unable

to be present for the gala black tie affair in Brooklyn, New York in September this year.

At the gala dinner more than 15 persons including, former Mayor and Prime Minister Hamilton Green, veteran journalist/editor Godfrey Wray, Desiree Edghill, Jasper Adams, Henry Rodney, Andre Wiltshire, Frank Lynch, Desmond Fraser, Calvin White, Roy Geddes among others were awarded.

Bishop said it’s his fifth visit to Guyana and these days he enjoys the time spent in Guyana at his home in the city and since

A replica of the certificates to be presented on Saturday

by Rudy Bishop

Rudy Bishop as he displays one of the certificates which will be presented to awardees on Saturday at the reception

he passed the baton over to his son, Steve Bishop, he has more time for leisure.

At the event in Brooklyn he was gifted the Life Time award for his contribution to music for 50 years, where he was instrumental in nurturing many operating out of the official band room at Camptown Youth Centre in Campbellville.

Bishop, a former Member of Parliament under the Forbes Burnham administration, is a veteran musician, who made an indelible mark in symphony, steel and brass orchestra locally.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Army continue perfect Elite League march

NOT even the soft and partially water-logged MSC ground could stop the perfect Army march, in season two, of the GFF-STAG Elite League as they breezed past Topp XX of Linden 4-1, last Sunday night for a third commanding win from as many games.

In another confident and cohesive performance, the Bilaal Nantambu-coached soldiers had little difficulty in overcoming the home side who had sporadic spurts of brilliance in the second half.

Former national youth player Olvis Mitchell opened the scoring in the 13th minute and Kennard Simon added another in the 27th minute for a first-half dominance by a super-fit-looking Army unit.

A rejuvenated Topp XX, after the interval, gave the

biggest crowd for season two of the Elite League a glimmer of hope for a close contest as they reduced the deficit from the penalty mark just after five minutes of the resumption. Travis Waterton’s low hard shot down the middle had goalkeeper Enoch Carmichael going to his left.

The home side’s joy lasted a mere three minutes as Mitchell completed a brace when he eluded his marker to fire home a low right-booter from just outside the box on the attacking right past goalkeeper Jamal Caster.

Topp XX had another penalty awarded by referee Sherwin Johnson in the 71st minute but this time Waterton’s similar attempt was denied by Carmichael.

The spot kick resulted in Simon being red-carded for

deliberately stopping a clear goal with his hands. It was the second expulsion from a game of the season.

After the penalty miss, Delwin Fraser evaded a tackle at the top of the box before hitting past Caster for a 4-1 score line in the 75th minute and it remained that way until the final whistle. The three points pushed the GDF to a maximum 9 points, one less than leaders Fruta Conquerors, but with a game in hand. Meanwhile Topp XX remain the only side without a point as they continue to prop up the table.

The next round of matches in the GFF-STAG Elite six-team league will be played this coming Friday at the Monedderlust ground in West Berbice.

FIFA loses the man...

rity programmes to combat the threat of match-fixing.

For its own competitions, he said that FIFA monitored betting patterns, placed integrity managers in stadiums and briefed teams and officials on the threat.

Match-fixing is usually instigated by criminal gangs who bribe players or referees to manipulate a game and make thousands or millions of dollars by betting on the outcome.

From back page

Dozens of players have been banned around the world over the last few years, but criminal convictions for those who set up the fixes have been rare.

Last year, Interpol called off an agreement with FIFA after the worst corruption scandal in the global football body's history in which 42 people, including ex-FIFA executive committee members, and entities were indicted in the United States.

GBA to be represented...

Early last month, the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) had donated $500 000 towards the GBA’s cause and since then, other sports enthusiasts and private individuals came on board, but the sums pledged did not reach the required amount. This caused the president of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle, to undertake a 100-mile walkathon in an effort to garner the required amount.

The walk started last Friday from #43 Village, Corentyne, Berbice at 08:30hrs and concluded at 11:30hrs on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Ninvalle, along with Guyana’s only Olympic medallist Michael Anthony Parris and his wife Ursula, boxing coaches Adrian Thomas (Republican), Sebert Blake (Forgotten Youth Foundation) Clifton Moore (Essequibo), Orlon Rogers (Pocket Rocket), GBA’s Technical Director Terrence Poole, FYF boxer and national flyweight champion Richard Subratee

and host of Maximum Sport Max Massiah, started the walk which saw the team stopover in New Amsterdam on Friday evening, then continued the trek the following day, stopping briefly at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, before journeying to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall for the finish.

During the course of the walk, it was reported that the GBA president’s efforts netted a much needed $600 000 and after the walk, this amount was bolstered by pledges of financial support from a number of boxing enthusiasts, including former national welterweight champion Michael Benjamin, former world champion Gary St Clair, former professional boxer Max Massiah, Director of Tang Soo-Do International, Kyosanien Roland Eudoxie and LIAT airlines who promised to give the group concessionary fares in the interest of the development of the sport.

11:00 hrs Return Flight 11:30 hrs Neon Wolf English Racing Tips Southwell 08:20 hrs Oeil De Tigre 08:50 hrs Syndicate 09:20 hrs High Command 09:50 hrs Capolavoro 10:20 hrs Stun Gun 10:50 hrs Royal Hol;iday 11:20 hrs Lady Joanna Vassa Uttoxeter 08:30 hrs Theatre Territory 09:00 hrs Peruvien Bleu 10:00 hrs Florrie Boy 10:30 hrs Mrs Burbidge

Fontwell 08:40 hrs 09:10 hrs 09:40 hrs 10:10 hrs 11:10 hrs 11:40 hrs

From back page

Hermosa Vaquera Remember Forever Rainbow Dreamer Leo Luna Midnight Folie Whatthebutlersaw

South Africa Racing Tips Kenilworth 08:35 hrs Tin Soldier 09:15 hrs Epona 09:55 hrs William Longsword 10:30 hrs Moulina 11:05 hrs Copper Force

Turffontein 11:30 hrs Fish River 12:05 hrs Payne’s Grey 12:45 hrs Glowing Vision 13:20 hrs South Atlantic 13:50 hrs Nikki 14:20 hrs Jo Mambo 14:50 hrs Rafeef 15:20 hrs Spring Steel American Racing Tips Philadelphia Park Race 1 Speightscity Race 2 Dariel Race 3 Invocation Race 4 Son of a General Race 5 Trusty Roll Race 6 Able Baker Charlie Race 7 Elnath Race 8 Syrisong

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Superstars rewards players for outstanding 2016 season

By Frederick Halley

singled out for her role as captain, player, manager and coach by Guyaneseborn coach Frank Persaud who in turn conferred the Lifetime Achievement award on her, declaring that she has played a pivotal role in the introduction and development of women’s cricket in the club.

Several Under-17 players were also given

TORONTO, Canada -- It was a night of nostalgia as one of the oldest clubs in Toronto held its presentation, dinner and dance last Saturday night at the East Coasters Restaurant, North York here.

Established in the 70s, and still going strong,

Part of Superstars women’s squad at Saturday night’s presentation

MVP Trushil Patel receives one of his several awards from female player Megan Yougnauth.

Superstars Sports Club, the only one which features both men and women in its lineups, rewarded its players and administrators for a satisfying 2016

season in the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) tournaments.

Both the Boys’ Under-17 and Women’s teams finished second in their respective final playoff encounters while the men’s second division side ended a creditable third in Conference B, despite failing to make the playoffs.

Among the outstanding players were Trushil Patel, Jordan Perali and Towfeeq Ahmed who starred in both the second and Under-17 divisions while

wicketkeeper and star batter Nicole Samuel and leftarm swing bowler Lorraine Kenton shone on the distaff side.

Apart from ensuring that their team reached the Under-17 final, where they suffered a loss to Action Zone, Patel, Perali and Ahmed played major roles in the SCA’s lopsided victory over Ottawa Valley Cricket Council in the final of the Ontario Cricket Association (OCA) Under-19 tournament, played here in August.

Patel captured the Most

Valuable Player (MVP) award with a brilliant all-round performance, slamming a fine 74 and claiming five for 11 while Ahmed scored 58 and Pirali, the victorious skipper supported with 41.

In addition, to being declared the best allrounder in the Under-17 category, Patel also scored the most runs in the second division with Perali as the runner-up.

Ahmed, on the other hand, was adjudged the best Under-17 batsman and he also copped a trophy for

scoring a century.

In the women’s division, Samuel registered the most runs while Kenton ended with the most wickets. Both players were selected to represent the SCA women’s team against the touring MCC women’s side but the game was unfortunately called off.

Other women players who were recognised were sisters Mishuneet and Ishuneet Sagoo, Amanjit Virk, Dency Anto, Megan Yougnauth, and Alisha Sarkar (player/scorer).

Abigail Rajkumar was

Lorraine Kenton collects her prize for being the best bowler during the 2016 season.

kudos for their improved play during the season while Adam Ramcharran copped a prize as the club ‘overseas player’ for 201516.

Everest, TSC, Police and GNIC through to Noble House Seafoods semi-finals

AfTER two days of intense battle in the Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA) Noble House Seafoods second division two-day cricket, Everest, TSC, Police and GNIC have all qualified for the semi-final stage of the tournament.

At Camp Ayanganna, opener Ovid Richardson scored back-to-back hundreds to propel GNIC to the next round.

Richardson followed up his first-innings top score of 121, with an even 100 before he retired hurt.

Batting first, GNIC made 325-9 declared in their first innings before they skittled out GDF for

71. Off-spinner Gajanand Suknanan spearheaded GNIC’s attack with 5-28.

GNIC did not enforce the follow-on, and reached 2238 declared.

Richardson was supported

by Premchand Sookdeo, who made 61. Spinners Randy Lindore and Dennis Legay were the pick of GDF’s bowlers with three and two victims respectively.

At Everest, the hosts made 387, with Khemraj Ramdeen hitting a top score of 98. Linden Lyght and Dennis Squires snared three wickets each, while Sherfane Rutherford took two wickets.

DCC in reply reached

213-9. Sachin Singh made 48, while West Indies U-19 player Tevin Imlach scored 39 and Raymond Perez 38. Saheed Mohamed and Dwayne Adams collected four wickets each for Everest.

At MYO, Transport Sports Club (TSC) completed an outright victory over Muslim Youth Organistion (MYO).

Batting first TSC made 266.

The hosts were then bowled out for 51.

However, with a firstinnings lead of 215, TSC enforced the follow-on, and MYO batting failed again, as they were skittled out for 107 in 15.4 overs. Offspinner Joshua Wilson took 7-24.

Ovid Richardson

Across at Eve Leary, the lawmen arrested Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) after a brilliant century (146) by all-rounder Steven Harris.

Resuming on 68-1 the hosts rallied to 360 all out.

Apart from Harris’ century, Paul Tyndall and Jason McCalmont chipped in with 44 each.

Shaquille Moseley (3-65) and Kellon Carmichael (264) were the most successful bowlers for MSC. Batting a second time MSC reached 43-3.

GNIC will clash with Everest in semifinal one, while Police and TSC will do battle in the other semifinal clash.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Blatter FIFA ban remains as the former president loses appeal

By Brian Homewood LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has lost his appeal against a six-year ban for ethics violations, imposed amid the biggest corruption scandal to shake the world soccer body, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said yesterday.

CAS ruled that Blatter had authorised payments to former European football boss Michel Platini worth over $2 million (£1.57 million) that amounted to “undue gifts” and therefore violated FIFA’s code of ethics.

Blatter led FIFA for 17

with Blatter’s approval, for work done a decade earlier.

The bans were reduced to six years by FIFA’s appeals committee in February.

Both men denied wrongdoing and Blatter said the payment related to a verbal agreement between them.

CAS said in a statement that its three-man panel had determined that Blatter “breached the FIFA code of ethics since the payment amounted to an undue gift as it had no contractual basis”.

“The Panel further found that Mr Blatter unlawfully awarded contributions to Mr Platini under the FIFA Exec-

Blatter’s watch to help Russia and Qatar secure the right to host FIFA’s showpiece event, the four-yearly World Cup, awarded by the FIFA Executive Committee.

Blatter, who must also pay a fine of 50 000 Swiss francs, said in a statement that he was not surprised by the CAS ruling.

“The way the case progressed, no other verdict could be expected,” he said.

“What I find incomprehensible is that the existence of the oral agreement between FIFA and Michel Platini is still steadfastly negated, in spite of my testimony to the contrary.”

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter

years, resigning in June last year after several dozen football officials, including FIFA executive committee members and former members, had been indicted in the United States on graft charges, along with two sports marketing firms.

The 80-year-old Swiss was not among those indicted, but became embroiled in scandal when he was banned from all football-related activity the following December by FIFA’s Ethics Committee along with Platini, then president of the European soccer body UEFA. The men were banned, initially for eight years, over a payment of 2 million Swiss francs ($1.98 million) that FIFA made to Platini in 2011,

utive Committee retirement scheme which also amounted to an undue gifts,” said CAS. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION Swiss prosecutors have also begun investigating Blatter on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and misappropriation of funds over the payment, which they describe as “disloyal”, though he has not been charged.

And in September, FIFA’s Ethics Committee said it was investigating Blatter and two other former leading FIFA officials over the salaries and bonuses they had received while in office.

At the same time, Swiss authorities are investigating whether bribes were paid on

“I have experienced much in my 41 years in FIFA,” said Blatter, who joined FIFA as a development officer in 1975 and was initially stationed in Ethiopia.

“I mostly learnt that you can win in sport, but you can also lose. In this sense, I have to accept this decision, although it is difficult to follow it.”

CAS cut Platini’s ban to four years in May but said that Blatter had not requested a reduction.

“Mr Blatter requested the annulment of the ban but did not request a reduced penalty,” it said.

“In any event, the panel determined that the sanction imposed was not disproportionate.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

BCCI-Lodha hearing rescheduled for December 9 THE hearing of the matter regarding the BCCI not implementing the Lodha Committee’s recommendations in total, as directed by the Supreme Court, has been rescheduled from December 5 to December 9. It was reported that the Chief Justice of India, TS Thakur, who is part of the bench hearing the issue, was unavailable.

The Supreme Court had last heard the case on October 21, when it passed an interim order asking the BCCI to stop disbursing funds to state associations until the association gave a written resolution that it would adopt the Lodha Committee’s recommendations.

BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay

Shirke were also required to submit an affidavit of compliance in the court by December 3, elaborating

BCCI president Anurag Thakur

on the recommendations already implemented by the board and the steps taken to persuade the state associations to adopt the recommendations in total.

Since the previous hearing, the Lodha Committee submitted its third status

report in the Supreme Court and once again recommended that the BCCI and state office-bearers who did not meet the eligibility criteria laid out in the recommendations be removed immediately.

It also recommended that GK Pillai, the former home secretary in the federal government, be appointed an “observer” of the BCCI and that he oversee the board’s financial transactions.

The BCCI, however, remained firm in its stance that it could not force the Lodha Committee’s recommendations on its state associations, and that a majority vote was needed to pass them.

At several board meetings, the states had voiced opposition to most of the

Man City, Chelsea charged with failing to control players (REUTERS) - Manchester City and Chelsea have been charged with failing to control their players during their Premier League match on Saturday, the FA said yesterday.

City striker Sergio Aguero committed a reckless tackle on Chelsea defender David Luiz during stoppage time, sparking a melee at the Etihad Stadium with players and coaching staff from both teams involved in ugly scenes.

“Both Manchester City and Chelsea have been charged for failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative behaviour,” the FA said in a statement.

Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero is shown a red card by referee Anthony Taylor. (Reuters/Phil Noble Livepic)

“Both clubs have until 18:00hrs on December 8 2016 to respond to the charge.”

Aguero and City midfielder Fernandinho were sent off

and will serve four- and threegame bans respectively.

Leaders Chelsea won the match 3-1 to move four points clear of fourthplaced City in the table.

Formula One returns to France after 10-year absence (REUTERS) - The French Formula One Grand Prix will return in 2018 after a 10-year absence with the race scheduled to take place at the Circuit Paul Ricard in southern France, regional politician Christian Estrosi said yesterday.

“We and those who are with me are very proud ... it’s a great victory,” Estrosi told reporters.

Named after the local pastis alcohol magnate who financed it, and also known as Le Castellet, the track last hosted a grand prix in 1990.

The country’s most recent Formula One race was at Magny-Cours, in central France, in 2008.

France hosted the first recognised grand prix near Le Mans in 1906, and was also part of the first world championship season in 1950 with a race at Reims.

The five-year deal was agreed with the ProvenceAlpes-Cote d’Azur (PACA)

region in association with the city of Toulon, department of Var and the French motorsport association (FFSA).

PACA president Estrosi, an ex-mayor of Nice and a former car and motorcycle racer who finished fourth in the 1978 French 500cc Grand Prix at Nogaro, said the event was likely to happen in the European summer.

He declined to say how much it had cost to bring back motor racing’s elite competition, but said the contract was in the normal price range for a grand prix in Europe.

“Losing the grand prix left a real scar on the country,” Estrosi said.

Germany has been axed from the 2017 calendar for financial reasons, despite the country having world champions in dominant Mercedes, but Hockenheim still has a contract

to host the loss-making race in 2018.

Le Castellet, which features the long Mistral straight, has been fully renovated and is now owned

by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s family trust.

The Briton told Reuters last week that the trust was not involved in the race and would be leasing the facility to “the people that are going to be the promoters”.

France currently has two drivers on the starting grid, Romain Grosjean and Esteban Ocon, while French manufacturer Renault has its own team and provides engines to former champions Red Bull and Toro Rosso.

The showcase Monaco Grand Prix, a few hours’ drive from Le Castellet, has been a fixture on the calendar since 1950 and the closest thing to a home race for French drivers in recent years.

Lodha Committee’s recommendations: in particular, the one-state-one-vote policy, the age cap for office-bearers, and the limits on tenure.

The Lodha Committee - comprising former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha and retired Supreme Court judges Ashok Bhan and R. Raveendran - was formed in January 2015 to determine appropriate punishments

for some of the officials involved in the 2013 IPL corruption scandal, and also to propose changes to streamline the BCCI, reform its functioning, prevent sporting fraud and conflict of interest.

In January 2016, the committee released its report, which recommended an exhaustive overhaul of the BCCI’s governance and administrative structures.

On July 18, the Su-

preme Court approved the majority of the recommendations and directed the Lodha Committee to supervise the BCCI’s implementations of the same. However, despite the Lodha Committee laying out timelines and other directives, the board has not cooperated because its state associations objected to the recommendations.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Holders United host Reading, City visit West Ham in FA Cup (REUTERS)-Manchester United will begin their FA Cup defence at home to a Reading side managed by their former defender Jaap Stam, while their local rivals Manchester City visit West Ham United in the third round after the draw was made yesterday.

Premier League leaders

Chelsea will host Notts County or Peterborough, English champions Leicester City will visit fellow top-flight side Everton, while Liverpool welcome Newport County or Plymouth Argyle in ties to be played between Jan. 6-9.

Arsenal, who like Manchester United have won the famous old trophy a record

12 times, travel to Preston North End, while north London rivals and eight-times winners Tottenham Hotspur entertain Aston Villa, who won the FA Cup on seven occasions.

Seventh-tier Stourbridge United, the lowest ranked team left in the competition, face a rearranged second-round tie at

Former Man. United defender Jaap Stam will manage the Reading side.

home to Northampton Town on Dec. 13 before they can contemplate a visit to league Two (fourth-tier) Wycombe Wanderers.

There are four all-Premier League ties, including Hull City at home to Swansea City and Burnley away to Sunderland.

Second-tier Reading’s boss Stam was a favourite during three years at United, where the Netherlands international was part of the famous 199899 treble-winning side under Alex Ferguson. He also won league titles either side of that historic season.

Stam’s ex-United team

mate Andy Cole expects the Dutchman to get a good reception on his return to Old Trafford.

“I look forward to that,” he told the BBC. “He’s done very well at Reading. I’m really pleased for him.”

Stam took over at Reading in the close season and has guided them to third place in the Championship.

United are sixth in the Premier League under their new manager Jose Mourinho.

WBCA practice game set for Saturday Middlesbrough edge Hull THE West Berbice Cricket Association (WBCA) will commence its preparation for the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) 50over franchise league on Saturday, at the Bush Lot ground from 09:00hrs.

The association has put together two 14-man squads for the practice game. The teams will be captained by Krishandat Ramoo and Sherwyn McPherson respectively.

The teams are as follows: Krishandat Ramoo team reads: Leon Andrews, Andrew Dutchin, Steffon Adams, Asgar Matabeek, Kris Ramnarine, Parmanan Ramdhan, Brian Nurse, Kevin Jawahir, Glenroy Fraser,

thanks to Ramirez header

Collis Butts Javid Karim, Akeem Miller, Keyron Fraser and Jauid Saywack.

Sherwyn McPherson team reads: Avishkar Sewkarran, Raffel Estraido, Keith Fraser, Brandon Bess, Renision Mitchell,

(REUTERS)-Middlesbrough moved away from the relegation zone with a 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Hull City thanks to a second-half header from midfielder Gaston Ramirez in the Premier League yesterday.

Uruguay international Ramirez, who was an influKrishandat Ramoo Quacey McPherson, Arthley Bailey, Brentnol Woodford, Rendell Bobb, Wendell Fordyce, Collis Butts, Wakar Hassan and Cladius Fraser.

Garrett to know fate today TODAY is the day that former Chase Academy and current Fruta Conquerors 16-year-old

star, Jeremy Garrett, finds out if he is accepted into Sporting Lisbon’s academy.

Jeremy Garrett at a Sporting Lisbon game.

The youngster who left Guyana shores for Portugal last Monday has now completed one week at the youth academy. According to his mentor Alex Bunbury, Jeremy has been garnering attention due to his class on and off the football pitch.

“From all accounts Jeremy is doing very well, all practices are private and photos are not allowed to be taken but he has been pure class on and off the field according to one of their top scouts,” said Bunbury.

It hasn’t been all work and no play for Jeremy who has also gone to games the club has played. According to Jeremy the experience so far has been a great one.

“Training and so was great, we’ve been doing a lot of game situations,” said Jeremy.

It is hoped that Jeremy has impressed the club enough to be given an opportunity to stay on at the prestigious academy. (Daniel Haynes)

ential figure throughout the match, broke the deadlock on the hour with a firm downward header at the back post from a Viktor Fischer corner.

Ramirez, who had a loan spell at Hull from Southampton in the 2014/15 season, thought he had helped set up the

opener for Fischer after 33 minutes but it was disallowed for offside.

The win takes the hosts up three places to 13th on 15 points from 14 games before they visit Southampton on Sunday with Hull second-bottom on 11 points as they next host Crystal Palace.

Sunderland striker Watmore out for season - reports (REUTERS)-Sunderland’s in-form forward Duncan Watmore will miss the rest of the season after a scan showed he has damaged cruciate knee ligaments, British media reported yesterday.

The 22-year-old was carried off in the 83rd minute of Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League win over Leicester City after colliding with full back Christian Fuchs.

The club has yet to officially confirm the scan results.Sunderland manager David Moyes has already lost Paddy McNair and Lynden Gooch to longterm injuries but while the former has also been ruled out for the season, the latter does not require surgery on his torn ankle ligaments.

“The team is getting better but, unfortunately, we’ve picked up another injury with

Duncan,” Moyes was quoted as saying on the club website (www.safc.com) earlier on Monday. “It doesn’t look great. Duncan has been playing well.”

Moyes added that Gooch’s ankle would heal over time.

“But it’s still going to be an injury that keeps him out (for) somewhere between eight and 12 weeks,” the Scott added.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday December 06, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & the City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Rahkeem Cornwall-19 wickets (Leeward Islands Hurricanes) (2) 23.68 runs per wicket Today’s Quiz: (1) Who has made the highest individual in the current WICB PCL to date?

(2) Who has taken the best innings bowling figures in the current WICB PCL to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, December 6, 2016

It’s important that Jaguars exploit the home advantage - coach Crandon

… to stretch lead against Barbados Pride

By Rajiv Bisnauth

FRONTRUNNERS Guyana Jaguars will aim to stretch their lead when they play the visiting Barbados Pride in round four of the West Indies Cricket Board’s Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional Four-Day Competition from Friday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The game is a day/ night encounter and starts at 15:00hrs daily.

The Jaguars are leading the points table, despite a below par performance so far.

They currently sit on 33.6 points, .2 more than second-place Barbados Pride. Leeward Islands Hurricanes have emerged

as a strong force and are in third place with 29.4 points after hugging the bottom of the table for many years.

Still, it is a very close race,

Kraigg Brathwaite with six points separating first to fifth.

Jamaica Scorpions (28.6), Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (27), while Windward Islands Volcanoes are at the

bottom with 17.6 points.

Meanwhile, head coach Esaun Crandon in an exclusive interview yesterday underlined the importance of home advantage, adding that the team will have to come out and play good cricket in order to be victorious.

“It is important that we press home any advantage we have. We know that Barbados are very fierce opponents over the years, but obviously we know the conditions better than they,” Crandon pointed out.

The former Guyana fast bowler added, “We had the opportunity to play a day/ night game in St Lucia, so we know what to expect during the day and what to expect during the night, but overall

UDFA GT Beer football kicks off tonight at MSC ground

we need to play better cricket than Barbados.”

The 34-year-old Crandon, who took 90 wickets from 38 First-Class games, also highlighted the importance of the fourth round encounter, adding that a win will further strengthen the Jaguars’ position.

“Obviously the game is very important for us taking into consideration we are just .2 points ahead.

So we need to play good cricket over those four days and once we execute well, we can comes out on top,” Crandon said.

Unlike the previous two years, the back-to-back champions have not clicked as a unit so far this season, and Crandon is well aware that there are some

Esaun Crandon

concerns, which need to be addressed ahead of Friday’s encounter.

“Our batting and fielding are the areas we need to improve on. We need our batsmen to start con-

verting to three figures.

Also our shot-selection is something we need to look at,” Crandon said.

On the other hand, Barbados Pride have been significantly strengthened, with five West Indies players returning to the 13-man squad.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite, left-hander Jonathan Carter, wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, batsman Shai Hope and off-spinning all-rounder Ashley Nurse, replaced the injured Kenroy Williams, wicketkeeper Mario Rampersaud, leg-spinner Nikolai Charles, batsman Aaron Jones and fast bowler Kevin McLean.

All five players were members of the West Indies side who last week returned from the Tri-Nations Series in Zimbabwe.

The Jaguars are yet to confirm their squad.

Digicel-sponsored Special Olympics 5K a success

THREE consecutive nights of football action will begin at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground tonight, as play in this year’s 4th annual Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) GT Beer Christmas football championship commences in earnest, when three-time champions Federal Winners Connection take on Blueberry Hill in the second game of a double-header feature.

The first game will bring together Kwawkani Strikers and Silver Shattas at 19:00hrs, after the official march past at 18:00hrs, involving the ten participating clubs.

President of the UDFA,

Sharma Solomon, is expected to be among the speakers along with Geoff Clement, the GT Beer Brand Manager of sponsor Banks DIH, who, once again, is on board using its GT Beer brand.

The ten participating clubs are tournament favourites Federal Winners Connection, who have won from its inception, Blueberry Hill, Kwawkani Strikers, Silver Shattas, Amelia’s Ward Panthers, Eagles United, Botofago, Milerock, Hi Stars and Net Rockers.

Once again the football fans in Linden are in for a treat as they look towards another year-end championship which has become a staple

for football lovers here in Linden, and, with $1M up for grabs, one is certain to see a very competitive tournament which concludes after eleven nights of football.

The first-place finishers will collect $1M and a huge trophy along with replicas, second-placers $600 000 and a trophy, third-placers $300 000 and fourth-placers $200 000.

The second day of play tomorrow and Thursday will also be interesting as the teams try to jostle for positions to cart off the incentives at stake and bragging rights which have been in the Winners Connection camp for the past three years. (Joe Chapman)

THE Special Olympics Guyana 5K run-walk-wheel marathon was held on Sunday at the National Park.

The event saw a total of 30 differently-abled athletes compete in five categories.

In the ‘Persons with Intellectual Disabilities’ category, nine athletes competed and finishing in the top three were Niomi Hicks, Ruth-Ann Collins and Carolyn Matthews who came first, second and third respectively.

In the male ‘Persons with Intellectual Disability’ category, 16 athletes competed with one athlete being disqualified, Calvin Thomas finished first, Ravindra Latchman placed second and Brandon Perreira was third.

The ‘Wheelchair Users’ category had two partic-

AS expected, Chapecoense have been declared winners of the Copa Sudamericana, while Atletico Nacional have been granted a fair play prize.

Chapecoense have been named as the winners of the Copa Sudamericana by South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL. Interim club president Ivan Tozzo confirmed at the weekend that the decision had been made following a formal

request from Atletico Nacional, who had been due to face Chapecoense in the final of the competition.

The plane carrying the Chapecoense squad and a number of journalists for the first leg of the final crashed en route to Medellin two days before the match was due to take place, killing 71 people on board.

Atletico have been rewarded for their gesture with a fair play prize.

“CONMEBOL’s Council has decided to declare Chapecoense as the champions of the 2016 edition of the Copa Sudamericana, as well as grant Atletico Nacional the extraordinary recognition of the ‘CONMEBOL Centenary Fair Play’ prize,” a statement released by the organisation read.

Chapecoense are to receive “all the sporting and economic prerogatives that this entails,” CONMEBOL

confirmed.

The decision to award Atletico a prize, which includes a cash sum of $1 million, came as a result of their willingness to “promote South American football in a spirit of peace, understanding and fair play in the pursuit of sporting values always having prevalence over commercial interests,” it added.

Football matches across the world have been preced-

Vlyssess Edwards (874) and Utpamkumar Isurdeen (875) after completing their race. (Adrian Narine photo)

ipants. Vlyssess Edwards placed first and Utpamkumar Isurdeen took second spot.

Five athletes competed in the ‘Amputees’ category.

However, only four athletes were able to complete the race. In first, second and third positions were Dennis Berne, Looklught Perreira

ed by moments of silence in recognition of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

A tribute was held at the club’s Arena Conda over the weekend, attended

by CONMEBOL chief Alejandro Dominguez, Brazil coach Tite, the country’s president Michel Temer and head of FIFA Gianni Infantino, along with hundreds of supporters.

Last week, Brasileirao clubs issued a joint statement

and Gavin Jeffers.

In the visually-impaired category, Paul Cotton and Silas Rogers finished first and second for males, with Mekyla Belgrave taking first spot for females.

The event was solely sponsored by Digicel Guyana.

Chapecoense confirmed as Copa`Sudamericana champions’

in which they requested that Chapecoense be made exempt from relegation for the next three seasons, while they offered to loan players to the club for free.

Former Barcelona and Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen has offered to play for the club if needed, while Brazil great Ronaldinho and ex-Argentina midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme have also been linked.

Blatter FIFA ban remains as the former president loses appeal P.24

Army continue perfect Elite League march P.22

… dismiss Topp XX 4-1

The GDF’s double goalscorer Olvis Mitchell in control against Topp XX at the MSC ground last Sunday night.

FIFA loses the man who led fight against match-fixing (REUTERS)-The man who was leading FIFA's fight against match-fixing has left his post, football's

FIFA head of security Ralf Mutschke.

world governing body said yesterday.

FIFA confirmed that former German police chief

Ralf Mutschke, who had been their head of security for 3-1/2 years, had departed, without giving any further details.

Mutschke was senior manager at the German Federal criminal police office (BKA), where he had more than 30 years' experience, and a former Interpol director before being appointed by FIFA in June 2012.

Mutschke travelled the world as FIFA attempted to clamp down on match-fixing, which is seen as a major threat to the sport.

He told Reuters last year that one of his priorities was to help national football associations set up integTurn to page 22 ►

GBA to be represented by 11-member team at CDB Championships AN 11-member team of boxers, along with two coaches and a management team, will depart Guyana tomorrow to represent Guyana at the Caribbean Development Boxing (CDB) championships scheduled for that island from December 7 to 12.

According to a Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) source, the Association had long ago planned to send a team to the championships based on the amount of funds garnered from their various fundraising activities, including the staging of its national

novices, intermediate and open championships.

According to the source, the Association was targeting a G$2M budget to send a full complement of 11 boxers plus two coaches and a management team.

Turn to page 22 ►

The GBA 100-mile walkathon ended outside of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Sunday. (Adrian Narine photo)

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016