Guyana chronicle e paper 07 01 2017

$121M for renovation of Supenaam Stelling Page 5

Nations girl tops No. 104960

SATURDAY , JULY 1, 2017

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–– Wind of change blowing in education –– NGSA recorded improvements in all subject areas –– Top Grade 6 students elated and thankful

Saskia Twahir of School of the Nations

Amna Guyana commences Ally new paddy export to Mexico PNCR GS Guard killed with own gun Page 11

Page 7

Page 12

‘Sacrifices must be made’ Page 4

–– Father of second top NGSA performer

Paddy being offloaded from two of the many trucks that lined the John Fernandes Wharf on Friday (Rabindra Rooplall photo)

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Best results ever

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday July 1, 2017

–– NGSA recorded improvements in all subject areas

By Shauna Jemmott WITH just five marks less for a perfect score, School of

the Nations Student, Saskia Twahir, secured the top performer spot in the 2017 National Grade Six Assessment

(NGSA) with a total of 524 marks.

Twahir ’s performance placed her above some 13,

328 pupils who sat the examinations on April 12 and 13 this year.

Education Minister, Nicolette Henry, made the announcement at a press conference in the boardroom of the Ministry of Education Friday afternoon.

Sharing second place with 523 marks each were Clifton Bacchus of Mae’s Under 12; Garbiella Roberts of Success Elementary; Xiana Chabila of Graham’s Hall Primary; and Amelia Sugrim and Antonia Dey, both of Academy of Excellence.

Brandon Gouveia, Emily Lalchand and Tristan Persaud of Academy of Excellence; Raj Seeram of Swami Purananda Primary; Jerod Roberts of Marian Academy; Tristan Richards of Dharmic Rama Krishna; Muhammad Bacchus of ISA Islamic; Tia Chung of Success Elementary; and Kripa Thani of Mae’s Under 12 tied in seventh position with 522 marks each.

Minister Henry highlighted that the exams saw improvements in every subject area, with Mathematics recording the highest improve-

ment.

She expressed joy at the performance of the students and hailed the dedication of teachers, parents and the Ministry of Education.

COMMENDABLE PERFORMANCE “Improvements were recorded in all the subject areas for 2017 as compared to 2016.

The most improved subject was Mathematics, which recorded and increase of over 30 per cent in the number of candidates gaining 50 per cent and more.

The Ministry of Education noted the poor performance in this subject area and implemented the Emergency Mathematical Intervention Plan (EMIP),” she stated.

In the execution of the EMIP, teachers were trained in content and methodology, regular cluster meetings facilitated in each administrative region, math coordinators and monitors recruited, officers and school administrators trained to supervise the teaching of maths, and a diagnostic assessment of pupils in the hinterland regions done.

The minister said parental involvement in education, public relations were enhanced and additional support material for students acquired.

Some 163 students from various schools gained places at Queens College, while a total of 291 pupils from Regions One, Two, Five, Six, Seven, Nine and 10 have secured places at President’s College.

Overall, she said, pupils performance in the NGSA exams over the past three years improved, with increases in the number of passes in all four subjects offered.

Each of the subjects offered – Mathematics, English Language, Science and Social Studies - carried scores of 132, except Social Studies which carried a score of 133.

IMBALANCE The 163 pupils who make up the top one per cent saw a gender imbalance with 68 males as against 163 females securing places at Queens College.

This was also the first time in many years that the NGSA examinations saw over 50 percent passes in a subject area, with English Language recording a 54.1 per cent pass rate.

The English Language recorded a 41.62 per cent pass rate in 2016 and 45.88 per cent pass rate in 2015.

Science recorded a 46.3 per cent pass rate in 2017, a 27.55 per cent pass rate in 2016 and a 44.12 per cent pass rate in 2015, while Social Studies recorded a 46.5 per cent pass in 2015, 46.1 per cent in 2016 and 47.6 per cent in 2017.

“This is the first time in many years that we were able to get over 50 per cent passes in a subject area and that is absolutely phenomenal,” Minister Henry said.

President David Granger last year said government was disappointed with the low pass rate, especially in mathematics. Inspired by the President’s comments, the Ministry of Education in 2016 launched an aggressive innovative campaign to improve students’ performance countrywide.

The Ministry in 2016 collaborated with the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) to improve the quality of primary school grade assessment examinations, including the NGSA. Education professionals came together at the Caribbean Examinations Council and addressed key areas, while candidates were also given several mock examinations.

“The Ministry of Education has continued its collaboration with the Caribbean Examinations Council to improve the quality of all primary grade assessments. Teachers, subject specialists and test development officers developed the test items with the technical guidance of the Caribbean Examinations Council, addressing key areas such as item construction, weighting of items, sampling and other psychometric elements,” Minister Henry said.

The candidates were tested in 400 multiple choice questions in the four subject areas along with essay and open-ended questions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday July 1, 2017

Top Grade 6 students elated and thankful

By Vishani Ragobeer

was not focused solely on academics, rather she was also engaged in extra-curricular activities. She attended the E.R. Burrowes School of Art and swims as a hobby.

studying.

With Mathematics as her favourite subject, Xiana is excited to attend Queen’s College and pursue her dreams of becoming a pediatrician.

ANTONIA DEY: The Academy of Excellence student, Antonia Dey, could not believe that she had managed to earn a spot as one of the top performers. The second-place holder, did not attend any lessons but would revise early in the morning, during the

AMELIA SUGRIM: Gaining second position also was Amelia Sugrim of the Academy of Excellence.

Gaining the second highest mark in the country came as a bit of a surprise for Amelia, but she was very consistent in achieving top positions throughout her school life.

GABRIELLA ROBERTS: With Social Studies as the hardest subject she wrote, Gabriella Roberts expressed her elation at being one of the five persons who scored second place for this year’s examinations with a total of 523 marks.

She is also excited about attending Queen’s College.

The young girl noted that

SASKIA TWAHIR

ANTONIA DEY

XIANA CHABILAL

EMILY LALCHAND

JEROD ROBERTS

many believed that she would have done exceedingly well, she did not believe she would emerge as the country’s top performer.

The trail she has begun to blaze is far from over despite her indecisiveness of her aspirations. She underscored, “hopefully in the future, I’d like to attend an Ivy League University.” The Ivy League institutions are ranked as the most prestigious colleges in the United States and have world-wide acclaim. Twahir also mentioned that one day, she’d like to be a businesswoman as she has plans to take over her father’s Knight Rider Bus Service business.

The top-performer nevertheless related that she

day and in the nights.

With English as her favourite subject, 11-year-old Antonia said that she would like to be a writer someday.

She is also excited about attending Queen’s College, following in the footsteps of her two older sisters.

SASKIA TWAHIR: Top Performer Of the 13,329 candidates who wrote the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) this year, on April 12 and 13, Saskia Twahir of the School of the Nations managed to garner 524 marks out of the overall 529 marks.

Gaining just five marks shy of the total, 12-year-old Saskia attributed her success to her parents, especially her mother and her God. Though

XIANA CHABILAL: Xiana Chabilal of the Graham’s Hall Primary scored 523 marks this year and second place.

She said that she gave up all her gadgets and studied relentlessly, and was confident that her sacrifices would lead her to achieve a top spot.

As a basketball player and a dancer however, she was able relax even with her rigorous

roller-skating for fun. As an aspiring pilot, he favours mathematics and highly anticipates attending Queen’s College come September.

JEROD ROBERTS: Also among the cadre of top NGSA performers, is Jerod Roberts of the Marian

among the top performers of this year’s examinations, 11-year-old Tia Chung of the Success Elementary School, was full of words to describe how she felt about gaining 522 marks and the seventh position in the country.

“I feel great, amazing,happy,” she exclaimed and added, “I did expect this because I was working very hard before the examination and I had a feeling it would have paid off.”

While she related that her hobby is to read novels in her spare time, she also

AMELIA SUGRIM

CLIFTON BACCHUS

GABRIELLA ROBERTS

TIA CHUNG

TRISTAN RICHARDS

KRIPA THANI

RAJ SEERAM

The young girl did not attend any extra lessons, as she was very diligent in her own studies. She expressed gratitude to God, her parents and her teachers.

she did not attend many extra lessons, rather she focused on her studies at the Success Elementary School and attended the extra lessons given by that school. Her success is attributed to God, her family, friends and teachers.

While not focusing a lot on extra-curricular activities, she adores animals.

Thus, she aspires to become a veterinarian.

Academy, who said he felt “really good”. Roberts was able to garner 522 marks, earning him seventh position also. For his success, he thanked God, his parents, his teachers and his principal.

Jerod related that he studied with his mother, and they both devised a strategy to “reason” questions and think outside of the box, in an attempt to apply the concepts learnt and not only regurgitate the notes given to him.

He aspires to be a pilot, and decided that to achieve this he will have to focus on prerequisite subjects for this field.

likes listening to music, look at few movies and playing cricket. Tia aspires to be a neurologist.

CLIFTON BACCHUS: Copping second position was a ‘50/50’ for Clifton Bacchus of the Mae’s Under 12 School.

“When you’re preparing for these examinations, you don’t need to go overboard with the studying. You need to have fun in between,” Clifton remarked.

The young man, who earned 523 marks, related that during this time, he only attended mathematics lessons and engaged in

* Emily Lalchand: “I knew that I would’ve done well, but I didn’t expect to do this well,” said Emily Lalchand of the Academy of Excellence who copped seventh place with a total of 522 marks.

Late-night studying with

her mother was perhaps one of the principle factors of Emily’s success, according to her. Another factor would be the continued support and encouragement from her parents and teachers.

Even with the late studying and the drive to succeed, Emily related that she didn’t forget that relaxation was necessary and she would swim as a hobby.

TIA CHUNG: Though expecting to be

TRISTAN RICHARDS: Tristan Richards of the Dharmic Rama Krishna Primary school scored seventh place with 522 marks.

The young man was at a loss for words but said that he knew that he would’ve done well at the examinations.

“My mother wanted me to balance myself,” Richards said and explained that it is for this reason, he didn’t attend any extra lessons and continued to See page 4

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Top Grade 6 students elated ...

From page 3

play games. Also, he participated in karate as a hobby.

KRIPA THANI: Another seventh place performer who earned 522 marks was Kripa Thani from the Mae’s Under 12 school.

“There are so many words to express how I feel right now,” Kripa said but affirmed that she knew she would have done well. The path to success was not easy for Kripa however, since she related that after her school ended at 17:30 hours she attended lessons and still went home to study after.

“Of course I did not sleep too late, because when you burn the midnight oil- chances are you might do as well,” she stated.

While her favorite subject is science, Thani wants to be a businesswoman.

RAJ SEERAM: Overjoyed, Raj Seeram could believe that he was able to earn seventh place with 523 marks despite all his late night studying. He related, “After doing my home-work, I would usually study late into the night.”

While not participating in any sporting activities, the Swami Purnananda Pri-

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 1, 2017

‘Sacrifices must be made’ - Father of second top NGSA performer

BRANDON GOUVEIA mary student participated in many science projects, which makes sense because he aspires to become a scientist.

MUHAMMAD BACCHUS: Proud of himself was Muhammad Bacchus of the Isa Islamic school who also scored seventh place with 522 marks.

“Well, I expected to do this well because I put in a lot of hard work,” Bacchus expressed but also related that leading up examinations, he was not involved in any extra-curricular activities.

TRISTAN PERSAUD

MUHAMMAD BACCHUS

He also exclaimed, “I like math!” and highlighted that his dream job would be that of an auditor.

his “dream school”- Queen’s College. Since his favourite subject is Science, he is aspiring to become a chemist.

BRANDON GOUVEIA: While disappointed that he could have done better, seventh-place-holder, Brandon Gouveia, related that he directed much of his focus and time on studying for the examinations.

“I studied a lot,” Brandon stressed. He noted that he attended extra lessons on Saturday and would sometimes stay back after school to push in some extra preparation.

Hailing from the Academy of Excellence, he exclaimed that he is very enthusiastic about attending

TRISTAN PERSAUD: Excited and happy about accomplishing “this great achievement” was Tristan Persaud of the Academy of Excellence who scored seventh position with 522 marks. He, too, expressed gratitude towards God, his parents, his teachers and friends.

Preparing for this year’s examinations, Persaud stated, “I did frequent revision and I read a lot.” However, he would also play sports like cricket and football with his family to relax.

A SHELL gas station pump attendant is thanking the almighty for allowing his daughter to obtain the country’s second highest score at this year’s National Grade 6 assessment.

“I am very proud of my daughter, very proud,” said Sugrim who was overwhelmed with emotions.

His daughter Amelia Sugrim was among four other children who secured 523 out of 529 marks at this year’s examination.

The elder Sugrim said he made many sacrifices for his daughter to excel at school and noted that in life, “Sacrifices must be made”. He explained that he chose to send his daughter to the Academy of Excellence, a private institution located in Region Three as his daughter was not motivated enough in the public school system.

Amelia attended public school up until Grade Five when she was moved to the private institution but her father credited work done at home to Amelia’s success, as well as he ex-

plained that while the girl was enrolled in the public school system, lots of after school work was done.

“Paying the fees was a sacrifice,” the proud father told this publication, while noting that he worked tirelessly as a pump attendant to be able to pay for his daughter’s school fees. He said he and his wife poured lots of resources into their daughter.

Sugrim described Amelia as a consistent and persistent child and noted that her academic performance started at the level of nursery school.

He said too that there was no need for extra lessons as his daughter was selfmotivated and studied on her own.

But notwithstanding his daughter’s stellar performance and dedication, Sugrim thanked the teachers of the Academy of Excellence, who he said worked relentlessly in their efforts to teach and support Amelia.

Come September, Amelia will be attending Queen’s College.

Second place performer, Amelia Sugrim and her father, Ryan Sugrim

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday July 1, 2017

$121M for renovation of Supenaam Stelling

GOVERNMENT has green-lighted a sum of $121M for renovation works to the Supenaam Stelling, near Good Hope on the Essequibo River.

The sum was among several contracts which Minister of State, Joseph Harmon announced on Friday, at a post-Cabinet press briefing.

Speaking on the allocation for the Supenaam Stelling, he said that it is one of several facilities which provide a benefit

for the residents of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). “It is a principle point of entry, particularly for goods and services “, said Harmon.

The Minister of State noted that it is important that the facility is properly maintained as he recalled several years back when the structure was plagued with issues. This resulted in long lines of trucks which were lined up for days while trying to get

to and from the Essequibo Coast.

He noted that it is part of the government’s responsibility to provide a reliable form of transportation to citizens. The contract for the works was awarded to S. Maraj Contracting Services.

Other contracts which Minister Harmon announced include: - The construction of a new store facility for the Ministry of Education at Plantain Walk, Vreed-en-

Campbellville man charged with attempted murder RODERICK Gibbot, a resident of Campbellville, was on Friday remanded to prison for the attempted murder of Mortimer John.

Gibbot appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly for the charge of wounding John with the intent to murder him on June 22 at Section ‘K’ Campbellville, Georgetown.

The unrepresented man was not required to plea to the indictable charge and told the court that John had threatened to harm him on several occasions, following his report to the police against John.

According to Gibbot, on June

22, John visited his Section ‘K’ Campbellville residence with several bleeding wounds and armed with a cutlass.

Thereafter, an argument ensued between the duo and Gibbot was able to disarm John, after which he took the weapon to the police station and reported the matter.

Police Prosecutor, Tracy-Ann Gittens, objected to the accused being released on bail since John is still hospitalised.

Magistrate Daly ruled in favour of the prosecution and remanded Gibbot to prison until July 24.

Hoop, to the tune of $17M. The contract was awarded to S & K Construction - Rehabilitation of sanitary facilities, dormitories and water systems at President’s College – the contract of $26M went to Z&H Investments -Construction of a new Hand-en-Veldt Nursery School at Mahaica - $19M

-Repairs and maintanenace works at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) - $20M -Construction of a new Health Centre at No. 77 Village Housing Scheme, Corentyne - $15M - Repairs to the Mazaruni wharf and dockyard - $43M -The Procurement of

plant design, supply and installation of water treatment facilities and upgrade of reticulation at Uitvlugt, Diamond and Sheet Anchor ($3.9B). The contract was awarded to Sino Hydro Limited, China - Wo r k s t o t h e Morawhanna wharf in the North West District -$27M

Grove man charged with armed robbery

A FATHER of two, who is accused of robbing a man of over $200,000 was on Friday charged with armed robbery when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Rabindra Dookwah of Grove Housing Scheme East Bank Demerara ap-

peared before City Magistrate Leron Daly, and was released on $50,000 bail after denying the charge.

Particulars of the charge alleged that on May 24, 2017 on Cornhill Street, Stabroek, Georgetown, Dookwah along with others, while being armed with knives robbed Win-

ston Miller of one: IPhone, LG cell phone and $10,000 cash, totaling $226,650.

The man, who was unrepresented, explained to the court that he has a broken leg and is unable to rob anyone.

Dookwah is expected to return to court on July 13, 2017.

Contractor charged with fraud AN East Coast Demerara contractor was on Friday released on $80,000 bail

by City Magistrate Leron Daly after being charged with fraud.

Hardeo Suraj of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara denied that between March

21, 2017 and April 19, 2017 at South Ruimveldt, he converted four Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) cheques valued $900,000 for his own use.

Suraj was given the cheques to complete the construction of a floor be-

longing to Michelle King.

The 40-year-old father of one was represented by Attorney-at-Law. Patrice Henry.

Police prosecutor Tracy-Ann Gittens made no objections to bail.

The case has been adjourned to July 21, 2017.

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 1, 2017

Addressing food security WHEN food is available and people cannot have access to, or purchase same, it contributes to hunger. Food was and continues to be used as a weapon, resulting in wars, famine, divisions in society, disintegration of values, groups, and other socio-economic and political ills. It is said, ‘He who feeds you controls you by determining your taste and influencing how you think.’ The early pioneers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) understood this truism and sought to guard against it, given the implication of newly independent societies trying to make their mark in a global economy, and the concern of subjecting the peoples to other forms of colonisation or dependency.

It is to Guyana’s credit that during the Forbes Burnham administration — one of the founders of CARICOM --- the policy of promoting and substituting local products in preference to those that originated outside of CARICOM was embraced. This was a step in the direction towards strengthening the nation’s independence, security and people’s empowerment.

This policy set in train not only employment and economic opportunities, but also created potential for further technological advancement through Research and Development, niche markets for Caribbean foods in the global economy, and boosting the Gross Domestic Product, local and regional.

The earlier sense of camaraderie in pushing the acquiring of goods and services from within the Region among member-states was considered a necessity. For instance, Guyana took a deliberate decision to purchase soap from the Commonwealth of Dominica at a relatively higher price than what would have obtained in the European market.

While on the surface this decision may give rise to questions, it should be not be lost sight of that in the first instance, the money Guyana used to purchase the product remains in the Region. Consequently, this created opportunities in the Commonwealth for the maintenance and improvement

of the company, its product, employment and economic opportunities.

Given that CARICOM and institutions of similar nature are built on the desires and aspirations of the member-states and their peoples, it augurs well when decision-making does not lose sight of the collective.

As the leaders look for ways to stimulate economic development in the Region, it is expected that uppermost in their plans would be to find a way to cut the ballooning and unsustainable Region’s food-import bill. It is hoped that as a matter of necessity, a programme will be conceptualised and developed to reduce this drastically. Presently, the bill stands at over US$4.5B. Reducing this bill can see the diverting of scarce foreign exchange to other crucial areas that beg for attention, such as education and health services.

A 2013 Food and Agriculture Organisation report warned that “A continuation of the current CARICOM food-import bill trends can only lead to further nutritional and economic impoverishment for the people of the Region for generations to come.” What is also disturbing, is that some of the foods imported can be produced here, are processed, over processed, low in nutritional value, and carry health consequences.

Non-communicable diseases which are on the rise in the Region are manifested in obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, which are based on lifestyle choices, including consumption of foods high in saturated fat, sugars and sodium, which are prevalent in processed foods. Longevity is also threatened with sustained patterns of poor nutritional intake.

The Region has all the natural resources needed to produce its own foods and also supply the global market with health foods, which is the new crave, given its value to nutrition, health and longevity. This Region, notably Guyana, Belize and Suriname, have more than enough land mass, potential and possibilities to carve a niche in the organic

foods market.

In the increasing global demand for herbal food supplements and medicines, many of the products are grown or can be grown here. What is required are sustained efforts and support to see them enter the market.

The responsibility to eliminate hunger, provide appropriate education and health services, the construction of roads, highways and bridges, creating and maintaining equity, equal opportunity, and ensuring an enabling environment for employment and economic opportunities is of that government, not the private sector.

Where the view was once held or encouraged that government relinquishes its role to the private sector via neo-liberal policies, such has been the major contributor to the global recession. Since then, governments, more notably in developed countries, have moved to assume their rightful role through laws, policies, programmes, checks and balances, and oversight institutions.

Addressing the food-import bill has to be a matter of priority for regional governments if the Region is to develop, compete in the global market place, and if its peoples are to be assured of health and longevity.

(Reprinted)

Berbice cricket in trouble

Dear Editor,

I WISH to bring to the attention of the Cricketing Public of Berbice and the country at large of the illegal action of the “De-facto Berbice Cricket Board”.

These people prevented the legally elected executives of the Berbice Cricket Board of Mr. Anil Beharry and others from functioning in 2015. However, this constrained board actually survived harsh times but functioned admirably by competing at levels of cricket in the region, without the legal subvention from the Guyana Cricket Board.

It is now public knowledge that the persons who would have acquired the Restraining Order against the then Berbice Cricket Board have teamed up /or joined hands with the gullible, power hungry members of the former Anil Beharry Administration to seize control of the Berbice Cricket with the help and advice of the power crazy individual who claims to have national cricket development at heart, but instead wants to satisfy his personal ego of controlling Guyana’s cricket and by extension the lives of so many young Guyanese people.

These people who are

portraying themselves to be good, honest and disciplined individuals, who profess to want to develop Berbice cricket are but pawns/ pimps in a wider net of an individual who is using them for personal aggrandizement and gains. They are not developing Berbice Cricket but destroying it. A typical example is the composition of the teams selected to represent Berbice, the overhaul of the First Division Level to include clubs supportive of this “De-facto “Cricket Administration, former national youth cricketers being told that they will never have a chance to wear national colours again unless they play

for a particular club and the list can go on and on.

It is therefore no wonder that this honest, disciplined and good administration would seek to have one of their own “bad fellows” be appointed to manage country teams who it is alleged to have in camp a non-selectee on tour for dubious reasons, so Mr. President, is this how we develop the Berbice Cricket?

Further, Editor it was bought to the attention of the Berbice Stakeholder Committee that Mr. David Black who portrays himself to be the chairman of the Competition’s Committee has circulated a Registration

form for teams wishing to play Second Division with a stipulation that $1000 must accompany the returned registration form. This is unheard of and a practice that the Berbice Cricket Board ruled against years ago in the interest of cricket development.

We wonder if cricket is now only for the elite and wealthy. The Berbice Cricket Stakeholders Committee endeavors in the strongest terms to elitist practice. We the Berbice Stakeholders Committee would therefore like to inform all cricket supporters, the business community and most importantly

cricket clubs and players of the anti-cricket policies of these power-drunk persons who want to destroy the powerhouse of Cricket in Guyana. We also reiterate that the sole surviving persons from the 2014 Berbice Cricket Board are: Qualis Winter, D. Sumwaru, Veeren Walters, Angella Haniff, Albert Smith, Hubern Evans, - Rabindranauth Saywack and Julian Cambridge. These members/ executives have not been removed in anyway by any elections since 2014.

Regards, Berbice Cricket Stakeholders Committee

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 1, 2017

Guyana commences paddy export to Mexico

GUYANA on Friday commenced loading 17,000 tonnes of paddy for export to Mexico following that Government’s decision to allow tax-free importation of 150,000 metric tonnes of paddy and rice products from outside of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) member states.

The value of the contract is US$17.7M, the equivalent of approximately G$3.8B. Witnessing the loading of the first shipment of rice to be sent under the Guyana/ Mexico rice agreement, at John Fernandes Wharf, was General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Allison Peters.

She said the contract to export the paddy is between two private companies although the government to government export to the Mexican rice council is pending.

“We are due to visit them sometime later in the year with the hope of

expanding on our exports,” she said.

The general manager said the first vessel will be loaded with 17,000 tonnes and the exporter has signed a contract for 60,000 tonnes to be shipped to Mexico, by next month.

Guyana will now be able to send paddy to the Spanish-speaking nation as the National Service of Health, Safety and AgroFood Quality (SENASICA) recently approved imports of paddy from Guyana.

The SENASICA is currently processing Guyana’s sanitary and phytosanitary certificate to import rice.

Guyana is among a group of countries set to make bids for exports into the market and negotiations are currently ongoing between the ministers of agriculture from both countries, to ensure Guyana satisfies the necessary criteria to be part of the bidding process.

However, applications from countries can only be made in quotas of 10,000 metric tonnes, and each country is only allowed to

apply for three quotas.

Representatives from the GRDB, the Guyana Rice Exporters and Millers Association (GREMA), along with private millers, earlier in the year attended the Expo Antad in Guadalajara, Mexico.

It was during this visit that Mexican Ambassador to Guyana and Plenipotentiary Representative to CARICOM, Ivan Sierra, made provisions for the team to have a liaison who related the information that was later published in the Mexican Official Gazette.

The Gazette stated that during the period January to December 2017, the Government of Mexico has granted approval for 150,000 metric tonnes of paddy and rice products to enter Mexico from outside of NAFTA, free of the payment of taxes.

Normally taxes for countries, other than NAFTA member states, trading with Mexico, are nine per cent on paddy and 20 per cent on rice products.

Tonnes of paddy being loaded on the ship that will head to Mexico

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday July 1, 2017

Wind of change blowing in education –– Chief Education Officer

By Shauna Jemmott WITH the unveiling of the best ever National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results, the Ministry of Education is hoping that it will mark the turning point for great successes in the education sector in the years ahead.

Chief Education Officer (CEO), Marcel Hutson, said government is working on both sustenance and continued improvement through its strong innovation campaign.

“We have done much better than previous years.

Personally, I sense that there is a turning around in our education system for the better. I sense fresh breath of air,” Hutson declared, before referring to a quotation by Chinese Philosopher Lao Tzu which says, “A journey into a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

The NGSA exams saw improvements in every single subject – Mathematics, English Language, Social Studies and Science – with Mathematics recording a 30 per cent increase in the number of students gaining 50 per cent and more.

Hutson said the Educa-

tion Ministry has taken not just one, but a series of steps inspired by a request by President David Granger, which resulted in this year’s success at the NGSA. “The turnaround we saw in the Mathematics involved a process. It just didn’t happen. It began with a mandate given by His Excellency, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana David Granger, to prepare an emergency action plan to improve the performance in Mathematics. Subsequently, a team of officers was put together for this purpose,” Hutson explained.

The plan was drafted and implemented with several steps to achieving Maths improvement in the 2017 exams.

More than 1000 teachers were trained in content and methodology and cluster meetings were held fortnightly with both public and private schools.

“These meetings in the past would have been held once a month, but taking into consideration the urgency that we wanted to move, we decided that we would have created a community of learners where teachers benefitted

from the experiences of each other.”

Mathematics coordinators and monitors were also recruited for all schools and special professionals employed to monitor teaching to ensure teachers stick with the curriculum and programmes implemented for maximum impact.

School administrators and education officers were trained to supervise teaching of Mathematics, and specialised treatment given to hinterland schools, resulting in vast improvement in performances in those areas.

DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT “We discovered that some of our regions operated under peculiar circumstances and so what we did, we conducted a diagnostic assessment with a specialised treatment for certain schools in the hinterland, so the treatment was a little different in terms of what we did in the other regions because of the special conditions that existed there,” the CEO explained.

Text blasts, radio commercials, stickers placed on

cars, visiting of homes and schools and several other public relations campaigns were done.

Special visits and intense conversations were held by a special team from the Ministry, which included the CEO and Minister Henry, with stakeholders in Paramakatoi, Mahdia and Monkey Mountain, among other farflung communities to ensure greater parental and community participation. A series of mock exams was also given to the pupils countrywide.

“There was a core team who worked continually…

There were teachers who worked hard. There were teachers who concentrated on getting the work done… these persons worked to make what we see here today, a reality. It’s all about team, one man can’t do it,” Hutson said.

Hutson, however made a call on all educators and other stakeholders to not just serve, but lead the way in fighting to help pupils realise their full potential.

“We are dealing with the lives of our children. We are dealing with fulfilling potential of our children. So we must practice servant leadership as teachers, as officers, as stakeholders generally we must serve… This is not an event… an event comes and

Watooka Primary makes Region 10 proud –– produces four of the top 10 pupils in the region

By Vanessa Braithwaite THE Watooka Day Primary School in Linden has again proven itself to be of great potential, stealing the spotlight from Regma Primary School with its exceptional performance at the 2017 National Grade Six Assessment Examination (NGSA).

Watooka Day Primary copped four of the region’s top 10 places and four of the country’s top one per cent at the examinations.

Those students in the respective top four positions for the school are : Miguel Emerson, Vinesha Joseph and Morissa Murray, who were awarded places at Queen’s College and Chelsey Griffith who attained the Bishops’ High.

Top performer Miguel Emerson said he knew he would have done well but not top the region. “I am very elated, my mom always told me to work to the best of my ability and I kept that in mind and I did my best; of course, I had to put away all of my gadgets, I studied every night and I would like

to thank my teacher Mrs Retemoyar and my aunt Niomi who came every day to help me study,” the younger posited. His teacher, Diane Retemoyar was happy with the performance of her class.

“We pushed them. I had good parental support so it wasn’t just me alone. I had parents that worked with me and it is as a result of collaborative effort,” the proud teacher said. Comparing this year’s performance to last year’s, she said it is a great improvement and the teachers would have worked very hard.

One Mile Primary School which has over the years battled many challenges has also proven that challenges can be overcome.

They took three places in the region’s top 10. Two of those children, Condoleezza De Silva and Micah Ford secured places at Queen’s College while Jamaine Jordon was rewarded Bishops’ High.

Darrell Saul of St. A i d a n ’s P r i m a r y w h o copped the number two spot for the region, made the school proud this year, and placing it in the country’s

top one per cent. Saul also expressed surprise at his performance. “Honestly, I did not expect to do so well in the examination. I had to work very hard, I had to leave for school at eight in the morning and I came home from lessons at eight in the night,” said Saul, summing up some of his sacrifices.

He added: “I also did one hour of revision so I guess all of that hard work really paid off… I would like first of all to thank God and my parents for all that they did for me in the good and bad times, all my teachers and also my lessons teacher for working with me so hard,” the young scholar said.

Saul’s Grade Six teacher, Debra Stephens said she feels very elated not only for Saul but for the school, since it would have gained a place in the national top per cent.

As it relates to Saul, she said that she is not surprised with his performance since he is a very hard-working child.

“I feel very elated… he is committed and because he is committed and he listens and he takes his work seri-

ously, I know that he would have done well and he has made us proud,” she said.

Sonnay Bacchus gave Regma Primary a sole place in the region’s top 10 with her 514 marks which placed her at Queen’s College.

Meanwhile, the Region’s lone private school Royal Halls of Learning also copped a spot in the region’s top 10 with Metthias Arrindell gaining a place at the Bishop’s High with 510 marks.

This year’s performance has been described as better than last year since last year the region gained four places in the national top one per cent and four pupils were awarded places at Queen’s College.

This year the region almost doubled that performance with eight spots in the country’s top one per cent and seven places at Queen’s College.

Photos attached to email is Region’s top 1 performer Miguel Emerson of Watooka Day Primary School and top 2 performer Darrell Saul of St. Aiden’s Primary School

Chief Education Officer (CEO), Marcel Hutson, speaking at the press conference Friday (Photo by Adrian Narine) goes, but a movement contin- well, you will push and you ues,” Hutson said. will cause them to do well,” Going forward, the Min- Hutson said. istry will consider all plans He added: “Accountthat worked and review the ability of students perprogramme for greater im- formance at the level of pact at the low grades and the school and classroom start mock exams in Grade will be brought sharply Five, and the CEO urged all into focus… schools must stakeholders to believe in perform… we can’t have each child. schools not performing “We will hold high ex- for decades and nothing is pectations of our students… done about that… We will If you feel our children can’t pre-package model lessons perform then they will not on videos for hinterland perform but if you believe schools… Our watchwords that there is something in will be sustainability and them that will make them do continued improvement.”

Former Police Sergeant charged with rape, granted bail

A FORMER Police Sergeant, who is alleged to have sodomised a recruit of the Guyana Police Force in 2011, was on Friday charged and released on $70,000 bail when he appeared before City Magistrate Leron Daly.

It is alleged that Dexter Clementson, the Police Sergeant, who was attached to the Tactical Service Unit (TUS) at Eve Leary, Georgetown, on March 3, 2011 at TSU, Eve Leary engaged in sexual penetration of a 20-year-old male police recruit.

Clementson of Versailles Line Top, West Bank Demerara was represented by attorney Patrice Henry.

Reports indicate that prior to the incident; the accused had been pressured by Clementson, who was responsible for the training of recruits, to enter a relationship with him.

When the recruit refused, he was allegedly victimised and subsequently raped.

Fish vendor bailed on armed robbery charge A 28-YEAR-OLD fish vendor was on Friday released on $80,000 by City Magistrate Leron Daly on an armed robbery charge.

It is alleged that Afiba Yankana of Hadfield Street, Wortmanville on June 17, robbed Sookram Singh of a cellphone, sliver chain, a Cayenne belt and other items totaling $80,000.

Yankana, who was allegedly armed with a knife on the day in question, denied the allegation.

Police prosecutor Tracy-Ann Gittens made no objections to bail but requested that reporting conditions be attached. As such, the magistrate ordered that the accused report to the Brickdam Police Station every Monday.

The matter has been adjourned until July 14.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday July 1, 2017

PPP was on path to kill sugar –– but gov’t committed to saving industry, says Harmon

THE former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government was on a path to “killing” the sugar industry, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said on Friday.

Harmon was responding to a question on the allocation of GY$348.5 billion in budgetary support, which Guyana received from the European Union (EU) between 2006 and 2017 to compensate for the cuts in preferential market price.

Speaking at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency, Minister Harmon noted “clearly” the monies provided by the EU went elsewhere and would be

through an inquiry into the sum.

He said when the Opposition and groups close to the PPP meet with sugar workers, the former should explain to the workers where the monies went.

“Why is it is now our sugar industry produces sugar with a cost of production higher than world market prices?” he asked.

Harmon said that under the former administration, there were trends in the market and when the APNU+AFC government assumed office in 2015, it made some hard decisions.

“The decisions the PPP were afraid to make, we decided to make those deci-

sions”, he said, noting that they were made primarily to benefit the country.

As regards the industry, he said that “the PPP were on a path to killing it”, noting that the government is working to ensure there is still a sugar industry in the future of Guyana.

On Thursday, EU officials told the media that it is possible on the request of the government, that Guyana can receive funding from Europe to assist in reviving the country’s sugar industry.

The EU officials were asked whether the body has received requests for assistance from the authorities here regarding the production of plantation white

sugar.

In theory, it was noted that it is possible that the EU can assist once the request comes from the government; however, it was noted that no such requests were made.

The decision by the EU to cut sugar quotas from the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) countries was made in 2005.

According to the EU, for technical assistance projects, such as those relevant to the sugar industry, funding is provided on a request basis.

Head of the Delegation of the EU to Guyana, Ambassador Jernej Videtic told reporters that the EU has

been supporting the sector here.

However, such support was not geared for policy design which he noted is the sole responsibility of the Government.

The sugar industry has encountered its fair share of financial and other setbacks, requiring over $38 billion in annual bailouts since 2012.

This has seen tax revenues being diverted away from critical social and infrastructural development projects, even as the demand for sugar on the global market continues to diminish.

The government has pledged to ensure that effective actions are taken to address the difficulties

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon of the ailing industry and foster the best solution for all stakeholders and the country as a whole.

Focus is on returning GuySuCo to profitability AGRICULTURE Minister Noel Holder said government has made the decision to privatise the Skeldon Estate, work to diversify Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt and lease the lands and assets of the other estates to return GuySuCo to profitability.

He conveyed the information to residents of Crabwood Creek during a community outreach on Wednesday.

Some residents led by opposition Members of Parliament picketed the community outreach, calling on the government to re-think their decision to close some of the sugar estates, as well as, voice their concerns over the challenges confronting farmers and residents.

The minister explained that sugar is important to the economy but the industry has been in decline over the years.

He noted that the cost of

production more than doubles the selling price per pound which is not sustainable.

Minister Holder said in order to maintain the infrastructure at Skeldon Estate alone, it would cost some $400M without planting a single cane.

“We are selling sugar at US 15 cents per pound and are producing at a national average of US 38 cents per pound, this is not sustainable.

If we look at Skeldon alone, we are talking about 20,000 acres of drained and irrigated lands that has been drowned with the sweat of our ancestors, at Skeldon we have over 217 miles of drainage canals, 750 miles of irrigation canals, 190 miles of access dams, we have 80 bridges, 21 aqueducts, 3847 drainage tubes… now this is massive infrastructure and if you do nothing, just to maintain it in this area, it will cost Skeldon $400 million.”

The minister explained that with such massive infrastructure, it is nonsensical to suffer a loss of 300 per cent at Skeldon since the cost to produce a pound of sugar at Skeldon is 60 cents as opposed to the national average of 38 cents.

“So we cannot as a nation using that kind of infrastructure and assets to get 15 cents per pound when you are producing at Skeldon 60 cents per pound, while the national average is 38 cents per pound. The national average is 38 and Skeldon is 60. Comrades I do not want to get into the investment at Skeldon and who invested, I am here to state facts as a Minister of the Government to the people.

I think we can all agree that producing at 60 and earning 15 with this tremendous amount of assets, billions of dollars in assets can’t make it.”

SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER Minister Holder went to explain that the costs of production of the three remaining estates are significantly lower than that of Skeldon.

Being in the region of the 22-26 cents per pound and with a little diversification it can get the cost of production below 15 cents per pound.

“Albion is producing at 25 cents per pound and selling at 15, Blairmont is producing at 22 cents and selling at 15, Uitvlugt is producing at around 25-26 cents per pound and selling at 15. Now the government’s take is that by doing some diversification within those three estates, like co-generation at Albion and co-generation at Uitvlugt and sourcing of packaged rice and so on out of Blairmont, we can cut the total return or cost of production to below 15 cents per pound … Now with regards to Skeldon the government has decided that it is going to privatise it. We

POLICE are awaiting legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the file of the eight-year-old Sophia schoolboy who was recently found dead.

Commander ‘A’ Division, Marlon Chapman said the file was sent to the Of-

fice of the DPP and three persons remain in police custody as the investigations continue.

The body of Isaiah David Smartt of Lot 148, ‘E’ Block Plum Park, Sophia, was found in a yard on Tuesday afternoon by a relative.

The boy was last seen

alive on Monday night when he left home to visit his father, who resides a short distance away.

A post-mortem on the body revealed that he died from asphyxiation and compression injuries to the neck.

Police have said Smartt’s death was unnatural.

His body was found in a swampy yard which was considered too shallow for him to drown. The boy’s relatives suspect his death was caused by foul play since he was an excellent swimmer.

Commander Chapman said Smartt’s body, which bore no visible marks of

–– Min. Holder tells Crabwood Creek residents

realise it cannot turn around 60 cents per pound to 15 cents per pound.”

The minster made it clear that while there are numerous proposals from investors who are interested in Skeldon and other estates, any agreement that is made will be done in the interest of the people and there is no intention of selling the assets but to lease them.

“There is no question of the government selling these assets to anybody, we are prepared to lease it… this is where we stand in a nutshell, privatisation of Skeldon and leasing of the assets, and a proviso is that whatever, whoever, moves into Skeldon must be producing a commodity that earns foreign exchange, and of course, provides employment to the people of this area.”

There have been several protests by sugar workers over the closure of the Rose Hall, Wales and Enmore factories. They have accused the government of neglecting the cries of the people.

Holder is hoping that his

violence, was found about 19:45hrs on Tuesday in water two feet high.

He related that after the child left his mother’s house alone and did not show up, a search was launched by relatives who discovered his body and summoned the police.

File on dead Sophia boy with DPP

explanation would help the people to better understand the reason for the closures of the estates and assured them that government remains committed to their welfare.

Also present at the meeting were National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Chief Executive (CEO), Fredrick Flatts; Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Manager, Allison Peters; representatives of the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC); Guyana Livestock Development Agency (GLDA) CEO, Nigel Cumberbatch; Prime Minister’s representative Region Six, Gobin Harbajan; and National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) CEO, Dr. Oudho Homenauth, among others.

All the representatives fielded questions on numerous topics on regional and national interests including rice, cash crops, drainage and irrigation from the packed audience gathered at Crabwood Creek Primary School.

Murdered: Isaiah Smartt

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 1, 2017

Several busted with ganja, gun, ammo RANKS from E’ Division (Upper Demera-Upper Berbice) successfully carried out several marijuana busts over the past two weeks, as well as, a bust on illegal firearm and ammunition.

The perpetrators were placed before the court and were all remanded to prison.

Courtney Sinclair called ‘Rastaman”, a 37-yearold Amerindian farmer of Wiruni, Upper Berbice River and Amelia’s Ward, Linden, admitted to owning a white salt bag that was retrieved by ranks of the Ituni Police Station after conducting a

James Torres Alvis Moore

search on a mini bus heading to Linden.

The white salt bag contained seven parcels wrapped

Gravey Peters

with black plastic and transparent scotch tape in which a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis was found amounting to

11.804 kilograms. Sinclair admitted that it was his drugs and that he was taking the parcels to Linden to sell. He appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate Court before her Worship Judy Latchman

Colwyn Sanders

where he pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded to prison.

On Saturday 24th June, 2017, ranks from Mabura Police Station during a stop and search at Mabura Hill retrieved an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. The occupants of the vehicle were two security guards, 38-year-old Garvey Peters of 16, Peters Hall East Bank Demerara and 30- year-old Alvis Moore of 11, Chateau Margot, East Coast Demerara (ECD). They are both employees of the Profes-

it with an intention to lodge it with the police. Neither of them however reported it to the police until after the police made the discovery. They were arrested and charged with the offence of Possession of Firearm and Ammunition without license.

On Wednesday, last, they appeared at the Linden Magistrate Court before Magistrate Clive Nurse and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They were both remanded to prison.

On Tuesday ranks from the Amelia’s Ward Police Station conducted a search exercise in the home of JamesTorres, during which a quantity of cannabis was found. Torres admitted to ownership of the illegal substance amounting to 27 grams and was subsequently arrested and charged with Trafficking in Narcotics. On Wednesday 28th June, 2017 he appeared before his worship Clive Nurse and pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded to prison.

Marijuana

sional Guard Service (PGS).

A search was conducted on the vehicle in their presence, and a black plastic bag was found at the back in a left side compartment in the extra cab containing a .32 semi-automatic pistol with the serial number filed off and nine .32 rounds of auto ammunition. While being interrogated, Garvey Peters claimed that he found the firearm in an excavator at Frenchman Backdam where they went to repossess the said excavator. He said he showed the firearm to Alvis Moore and they concealed

Similarly, 57-year-old Colwyn Sander of Lot 2 0 6 , Wi s m a r H o u s i n g Scheme had in his possession a quantity of cannabis amounting to 78.8 grams.

Ranks from Wismar Police Station were on mobile patrol on the Wisroc Back Road when they stopped and searched Sandar who was subsequently arrested and charged with trafficking in narcotics. He also, appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse where he pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded to the Georgetown Prison.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday July 1, 2017

Amna Ally new General Secretary of PNCR – Oscar Clarke retires

MINISTER of Social Protection, Amna Ally, has been appointed General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) by President David Granger.

In a statement to the media on Friday, the party said that President Granger who is Leader of the PNCR, appointed Ally effective today (Friday) as former General Secretary Oscar Clarke, CCH, who served the party through the tenures of three party leaders retired on Friday.

Clarke was appointed General Secretary of the PNCR on the December 1, 1968. He started his service to the PNC in its youth arm and at age 26 was selected to represent the Party in the National Assembly. In 1965, he was made a Parliamentary Secretary and served as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly from the 1st January, 1969 to 31st December, 1969.

“In a long and illustrious

career that spanned over five decades, Oscar Clarke served his nation as Minister of State, Minster of Regional Development, Minster of Home Affairs, Guyana’s High Commissioner to Zambia and the Front-Line States and Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba,” the release stated.

Clarke served as a Member of Parliament for 21 years and was awarded the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH for his exemplary public service to Guyana in 2015.

The Constitution of the People’s National Congress (PNC), at Rule 14 (2) (a), states: The Party Leader shall appoint the General Secretary from among the members of the Central Executive Committee as provided for under Rule 17 (1) (c).

The Constitution states, further, at Rule 14 (4): The General Secretary shall be the Chief Executive Officer in charge of the Party

Secretariat and shall be responsible for its efficient organisation and its day-to-day functioning.

According to the Party, President Granger made the structural changes within his party given the unfolding nature of the country’s politics.

“Taking into consideration the unfolding political situation in the country and the aspirations of the people, it is my opinion that, in this Diamond Jubilee Year, the restructuring of the General Secretariat would position the Party more advantageously to continue to serve the people of Guyana,” the President was quoted as saying, even as he expressed gratitude to Clarke for his selfless, unstinting service as General Secretary to the Party.

Meanwhile, Ally, is a long standing member of the PNCR and like her predecessor Clarke, she came through the ranks of the Party’s youth arm and served as National Secretary and on the Nation-

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally al Executive.

Ally is an elected member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the PNCR and before being appointed as General Secretary, she served as the Assistant General Secretary of the Party. She is a trained teacher who also holds a Degree in Management from the University of Guyana.

The new General Secretary also served as a member of the Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Parliament, 20012015 and is currently serving as Chief Whip and Minister of Social Protection in the Eleventh Parliament.

Additionally, President Granger has appointed Dawn Hastings-Williams, MP; Sandra Adams, MS and Brian Smith as the three Principal Political Secretaries (PPS) in accordance with Rule 14 (2) (c) of the Party’s Constitution.

Hastings-Williams, MP, is a member of the General Council of the PNCR representing Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and was selected by the PNCR to serve as a member of the National Assembly in February 2010. In 2011. She represented A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) in the Tenth Parliament and

currently serves in the Eleventh Parliament as the Minister within the Ministry of Communities.

Sandra Adams is a member of the Central Executive Committee of the PNCR where she represents the National Congress of Women (NCW), the women’s arm of the Party. She is a former legislator and represented the PNC in the National Assembly for seven years (16th February, 1998 – 2nd May, 2006).

The third Principal Political Secretary (PAS), Brian Smith, serves as the National Secretary of the Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM), and is a representative of the Party’s youth arm on the Central Executive Committee.

Smith is a final-year student at the University of Guyana (UG) reading for a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 1, 2017

Williams, Lionel make All Saints Primary proud

By Jeune Vankeric ALL Saints Primary pupil, Dimitri Williams and his competitor Medeina Lionel, worked ‘neck to neck’ as they rotated the first and second positions throughout their primary school days.

But, it was Williams of Lot 39 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, who grabbed 508 marks, two marks ahead of his classmate Lionel, which allowed him

Medelina Lionel

a placement at Bishops’ High.

However, 11-year-old Lionel, who will be heading to St Stanislaus College, said she is pleased with her performance.

For Williams, it was his mother, Abigale Bobb Williams, who would boast of having her only child attend the second top secondary school in the country, but, it was his confidence, which allowed him to make that wish, a reality.

“I believed in myself, as I knew anything could happen,” beamed the aspiring engineer.

“There were challenges, especially in mathematics, but I conquer

those challenges and I am pleased that I made my parents, including my father Esau Kosi Williams, grandparents, aunts, uncles, family, teachers and others proud,” he said.

Williams is an avid reader, especially adventurous novels such as the Hardy Boys series. In addition to reading, he likes swimming and playing the keyboard.

Meanwhile, Lionel of Lot 19 Locaber Village, West Canje, said she began

Dimitri Williams

reading books while she was still attending nursery school.

She aspires to become a pediatrician because she loves children, but more

primarily after viewing a video of a child who lost his limbs because of a medical condition.

It is not all studying for the pre-teen as she is also actively involved in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, where she is among the children preachers.

She credits God, her parents, Pastor Naresh, her younger brother Leal, her class teachers and Headmaster Bassant Jagdeo for her success.

Security guard shot by bandits A SIXTY-FOUR-YEAROLD security guard was on Friday night shot and killed with his firearm by two identifiable male bandits, at a supermarket located at Lot 8 Block X, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, whilst on duty.

According to police, initial investigation revealed that at about

19:00hrs, the victim identified as Gerald Henry, of ‘C’ Field Sophia and employed as an armed security of a registered security firm, was on duty at the supermarket when the incident occurred.

Henry was armed with a handgun at the time he was pounced upon by the suspects, who tried to relieve him of the firearm.

A struggle ensued, during which the victim was shot and the suspects collected the firearm and fled.

The security guard was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

No arrests have been made at this time. Investigation is in progress.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday July 1, 2017

Majek Fingers Drumming workshop today

MAJEK Fingers Drumming School would be holding its first Drumming Educational Workshop today.

The workshop which runs for two days: July 1 and 2 will be held at Majek Fingers headquarters, 23 John and Norton Streets, Wortmanville, Georgetown.

The programme begins at 14:00 hrs on the opening day (Saturday, July 1) and runs until 17:00 hrs. On day two (Sunday, July 2) it will begin at 15:00hrs and conclude at 17:00 hrs.

The workshop is intended to facilitate 35 persons and registration will be done on a “first come, first serve basis”; hence, interested persons are urged to pick up and fill their registration forms as soon as possible.

There is no fee attached to the training, but according to Founder/Director, Orlando Primo, if any person feels disposed to making a donation towards the School, it will be gratefully received.

The workshop will feature Master Drummer Orlando Primo, along with Dillon Philadelphia and Levi Jackson as the drumming instructors.

Primo said the workshop will be based on inspiring and educating 35 drummers about basic techniques of drumming, hand patterns, rhythms, the history and the art of drumming in Guyana.

On day two, participants will showcase aspects of what they learned on the first day.

Entreating the support

of the public in this event, Primo said: “As the Majek Fingers Drumming School celebrates our seventh anniversary, we see the workshop as an excellent opportunity to continue promoting our culture and art throughout the country. To make our first workshop a dynamic success, your support for cultural development would be greatly appreciated.”

He says that the school believes that every member of the Majek Fingers team understands the role of cultural behaviours and the sustaining of musical art, adding that this understanding permeates every action they take to promote the art of drumming.

Moreover, he said the initiatives in their strategic plan

Guyana, Brazil ink several agreements to enhance cooperation GUYANA and Brazil earlier this week held discussions in Brasilia on a range of issues on their bilateral agenda, including the development of infrastructure linking the two states, the promotion of trade and investment.

Technical cooperation in agriculture, water resources management and other areas, as well as collaboration on issues of interest to the communities in the region of their common border were also discussed. They also agreed to pursue cooperation in the oil and gas sector as well as to work towards an agreement on cooperation and facilitation of investment.

In a release the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that an updated Air Services Agreement was signed between the two countries to further enhance air connectivity and the operation of air services between the two countries. A complementary technical cooperation agreement was also inked to provide support for seed certification, pest risk analysis and modernisation of plant health services in Guyana.

The agreements were signed during an official visit

to Brasilia from Tuesday 27 to Thursday 29 June, by Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Carl Greenidge and Minister of Public Infrastructure, the Honourable David Patterson following an invitation from the Foreign Minister of Brazil, Mr. Aloysio Nunes.

During deliberations with Minister Nunes on Wednesday 28 June, talks centered on the development of infrastructure linking Guyana and Brazil, the promotion of trade and investment and technical cooperation in agriculture, water resources management and other areas, as well as collaboration on issues of interest to the communities in the region of the Guyana-Brazil border.

Moreover, in the area of infrastructure, focus was placed on steps to be taken jointly to advance the paving of the Linden to Lethem road as a complement to work already initiated covering the Linden to Mabura Hill segment and the bridging of the Essequibo River at Kurupukari. Additional discussions led by Minister Patterson with representatives of the Brazilian Ministries of Energy and Mines, Transport,

Ports and Civil Aviation, and Planning identified even further cooperation possibilities in support of infrastructure development, including capacity-building, and the opening up of opportunities to companies from that State to bid for contracts in the sector.

While in Brasilia, Minister Greenidge and Minister Patterson used the opportunity to meet with members of the Guyanese community living in Brazil, to update them on developments in Guyana and prospects for the future. Next year will mark 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two South American neighbours.

The Guyana delegation also included Director General of the Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Audrey Jardine-Waddell; Guyana’s Ambassador to Brazil, His Excellency George Talbot; Chief Planning and Transport Officer, Patrick Thompson; Legal Adviser to the Civil Aviation Department, Amanza Desir; Counsellor of the Guyana Embassy, Megayla Austin, and Brazil Desk Officer in the Foreign Ministry, Sondra Cheong.

Four-hour closure of DHB on July 1 THE management of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) wishes to advise commuters that the Bridge will be closed for three and a half

hours on Saturday July 1, 2017 to facilitate emergency repairs.

This closure, from 10:30h to 14:00h, will affect both road and marine traffic.

Management of the DHBC regrets the inconvenience but is focused first on the safety of all commuters using the Harbour Bridge.

are targeted towards creating a cultural transformation whereby understanding, supporting and education are the

principal focus of everything the school does.

Orlando Primo founded Majek Fingers Drumming

School in 2010, with a mission to provide a cultural support to the Guyanese music community.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday July 1, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday July 1, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 1, 2017

Finalisation of Sovereign Wealth Fund on the horizon - Manufacturing sector curtailed by several challenges

By Svetlana Marshall AN inter-ministerial technical team is being formed to oversee the finalisation of the draft Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) Bill, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said Thursday evening during the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association Limited’s (GMSA) business dinner held at the Pegasus Hotel.

The draft legislation forms part of a menu of measures being initiated by Government ahead of oil production in 2020.

The draft Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill was prepared by the Commonwealth Secretariat, and has benefitted from extensive consultations from a number of Guyana’s multilateral and bilateral partners.

“After that process is completed it will be made available to the public for wide consultations, before being introduced into Parliament,” he posited. Additionally, a Green Paper on the Sovereign Wealth Fund is also being developed.

“What is exciting for our country is, that as we work together on achieving a green growth pathway, the development of our offshore oil and gas natural resources has begun to feature in our medium term fiscal path, with first oil expected mid-2020. This certainly is a turning point in our economic history in the development of the country - one that has not been witnessed since King Sugar was introduced in the 16th Century,” said Jordan.

Already, private sector engagements with ExxonMobil have yielded business opportunities, and though this is a step in the right direction, Minister Jordan said the diversification of the country’s economy is of paramount importance.

“Let me categorically state that the diversification of our economy, with or without oil and gas, is our number one priority,” the Finance Minister asserted while adding, “we are passionate about this, having witnessed what has happened to many countries

with large natural resources wealth, which squandered the opportunity to use those resources for economic diversification.”

He noted that the painful consequences of crises and adjustment cycles have been observed, whenever oil prices drop sharply or persistently, or when the resources are exhausted, as they do ultimately.

“We have an opportunity to make Guyana a model country in terms of our responsible use of the oil and gas resources,” the Minister said as he emphasised that discussions on the importance of striking a balance between the amount to be saved for inter-generational

the Finance Minister said that in addition to the wide-ranging concessions granted by the previous administrations, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Administration has put several legislative and operational systems in place to further support the industry.

He pointed to the exemption of duty on the import of machinery for use in the manufacturing process and raw materials were maintained. Additionally, the importation of raw materials has been done free of Excise Tax since 2016.

Manufacturers are also granted waivers on duty and taxes for items that are not

has facilitated several private sector companies, over the past six months, in their approach to COTED. “In response to the numerous complaints of extended processing time to clear imports, several initia-

tor, he boasted, has benefitted from a reduced corporate tax rate, declining from 30 percent to 27.5 percent, and for those who generate sales of under $15 million, have been exempted from registering for Valued Added Tax

GMSA President, Shyam Nokta.

Some of the GMSA dinner participants.

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan.

security and stabilisation, and investing in the expansion of the economy will continue to remain on the front burner.

Turning his attention to the Manufacturing Industry,

listed on the approved list of raw materials, providing that applications are made to the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED). In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

tives were implemented by the GRA (Guyana Revenue Authority) that resulted in significant reduction in processing time.

“We have seen the introduction of the ‘Trusted Trader Status’ to compliant importers, including manufacturers. This status entails less frequent checks, and less documents and physical examinations that are subject to internal controls.

Manufacturers no longer have to over-stock to reduce the lengthy processing time to clear items, thereby facilitating better inventory and cash management,” Minister Jordan added.

The manufacturing sec-

(VAT). VAT rate was also reduced from 16per cent to 14 percent.

Growth in the manufacturing and services sector averaged 2.8 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively over the past decade; the share of manufacturing averaged 7 percent, between 2012-16, increasing incrementally between 2012 and 2015, before falling to 6.5 percent in 2016.

Meanwhile, GMSA President, Shyam Nokta, said while the Manufacturing Industry has been consistent in its performance, much more can be achieved but noted that progress is constrained by a number of challenges, many of which are not new.

These issues, he pointed out, range from access to finance at reasonable rates to the unreliable supply of electricity and high freight cost and market access.

Understanding the importance of finding solutions to these challenges, Nokta said last year GMSA submitted a paper called “Boosting and Sustaining the Manufacturing Sector,” which proposed a number of approaches.

He said too, that said while the government has announced its intention to move Guyana from being a primary producer to one where valued is added to the productive sector, recent measures have taken a toll on the industry.

“Tax measures introduced in budget 2017 such as the re-categorising of zero and standard- rated items to exempt, VAT on electricity and forest products among other measures have impacted negatively on the Manufacturing Sector,” Nokta told those present.

According to him, cash flow was reduced in some instances. “These measures have worked against the competitiveness of local manufacturers in both the domestic and overseas markets.”

GMSA, he said, has received reports of local manufactured products being replaced by imported products.

Nokta said too that earlier in the year, the association had cause to express concern over the “rate of deterioration” of the Guyana dollar.

While it has been stabilised, the GMSA is concerned whether there will be a reoccurrence considering the downturn of performance of key foreign exchange earners such as bauxite and sugar.

Nevertheless, he said, GMSA remains committed to working with the Government to address the challenges facing the industry.

The GMSA Dinner was also attended by Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin; Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; Members of the Diplomatic Community and some of the country’s Private Sector officials.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 1, 2017

Matthew Ramlochan is Region 6 top student

By Nafeeza Yahya

ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD Matthew Ramlochan who gained 515 marks and will be heading to Queens College is the top student of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) at this year’s National Grade Six Assessments (NGSA).

The humble young man told the Guyana Chronicle he wants to become a doctor and credits his success to the blessings of God, his parents and teachers for their encouragement and support.

He said he always aimed high and his hard work paid off.

“I used to study late hours in the night and I didn’t take any extra lessons in Grade Six but I would come home and continue my studies.

The exams weren’t hard only math had some hard questions,” he said.

Ramlochan was in class when his teachers broke the good news.

“My teachers came in and they were cheering that I topped the region. I was overwhelmed and ecstatic at the same time, everyone, all

Region Six top Matthew Ramlochand

my classmates hugged and told me good job.”

The 11-year-old carved his name is history as the first student from Belvedere Primary to top the region and placed among the top in the country.

Matthew is the youngest of three siblings and son of hire car driver, Ganeshwar Ramlochan, and Yashodra Ramlochan, a housewife.

His mother told the Guyana Chronicle she is extremely proud of her son’s perfor-

Dinessh Somai

Sherisa Chatturi

Allyssa Griffith

mance and encouraged other parents to pay keen interest in their hildren’s education.

“We are all excited because this is the first time this school produced a regional top and someone who scored over 505 marks. The entire school is proud of his achievements; he has always been a well-rounded child.

He also topped the National Grade Two and National Grade Four Assessment,” Matthew’s teacher Yamenie Jaiprashad said.

Another of the region’s

top student, Denish Somai of Tain Primary School, who scored 508 marks at the examinations, was overjoyed when he heard about his success.

When this newspaper visited the pre-teen, he was assisting his family picking up eggs in their backyard poultry farm.

Somai credited his success to the Almighty, his parents and teachers.

His mother Minachi Ghamandi broke down in tears of joy when she learnt of his

results. “I am very happy and proud of my son, me never teach he nothing because me nah know but we would support him in any other way …this bai would work so hard, he study when he come home long, long hours and sometimes he ask me and he daddy a question but we can’t answer cause we nah know but he would try and work around until he get it.” Denish, who will be heading to Bishops’ High, said he wants to become a

lawyer. “I don’t like to see injustices, everyone deserves a fair chance, because of poverty many times people don’t get justice, so I want to become a lawyer to help persons who cannot help themselves,” he told this publication.

Sherisa Chaturi of Port Mourant Primary, an aspiring scientist, was also very happy to be placed among the top 10 in the region. Like the other students, Chaturi credited her success to her teachers and parents for their support.

Sharing the top 10 position in Region Six are Yadram Totaram of Number 56 Primary who gained 510 marks; John Ramdin of Cumberland Primary and Allyssa Griffith of Cropper Primary, who all gained spots at Bishops’ High.

Dimitri Williams of All Saints, Nick Rama of Crabwood Creek Primary and Purnima Totaram of Sheet Anchor all gained 508 and secured places at Bishops’ High, while Medeina Lionel of All Saints Primary, who gained 506 marks will be heading to St Stanislaus College.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 1, 2017

GUYANA FOOTBALL FEDERATION INC. (GFF)

Extra Time

GUYANA TO HOST GROUP D OF THE 2017 CONCACAF WOMEN’S U17 QUALIFIER (9 –13th August, 2017, Guyana) DATE OF TOURNAMENT: August 2 – 27 & October 16 – 22 INTRODUCTION: The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will host Group D of the 2017 CONCACAF Women’s U17 Qualifier from the 9th – 13th August in Guyana at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora. Group D comprises Guyana, Barbados and Cuba.

The Technical Department of the GFF has recommenced the development of women’s football following the staging of the Women’s Development League held from September 2016 to March 2017. This league showed promise of women’s football and is now being integrated and formalized in a structured programme.

To this end, the GFF has employed a Women’s Development Officer with responsibility for facilitating the development of women’s

A: Trinidad and Tobago, US Virgin Islands, Grenada and Curacao; GROUP B: Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Anguilla and the Bahamas; GROUP C: St. Lucia, Bermuda, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba GROUP D: Guyana, Barbados and Cuba and Group E: St. Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Kitts & Nevis and Jamaica.

football.

PREPARATION: This is the first major tournament for the women’s national Team, commonly known as the ‘Lady Jags’ and will be used as a developmental activity for the said team.

In preparation for the tournament, national training

camps were held in April and May 2017 Additionally three proposed training camps will be held with the first one being on the 8th – 12th July PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES: The tournament will feature 18 countries in five groups including GROUP

This will serve to decide the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup; three teams will qualify for the World Cup GAME SCHEDULE FOR GUYANA: • Wednesday, 9th August – Guyana vs Barbados • Friday, 11th August – Barbados vs Cuba • Sunday, August 13 – Guyana vs Cuba Match times will be confirmed

GFF-NAMILCO TOURNAMENT CONTINUES IN FOUR REGIONAL MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS GFF-NAMILCO Flour Power National U17 Tournament continues with games in Essequibo/Pomeroon FA, Berbice FA, Bartica FA and the Upper Demerara FA See this weekend’s fixtures as well as results of last week’s matches on tthe right

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

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

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

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 1, 2017

Ready for the senior battle, says Narayan Ramdhani NINETEEN-year-old Caribbean champion Narayan Ramdhani is undoubtedly Guyana’s most accomplished badminton player. He also made his mark as the region’s leading player – a multiple silver medallist at the Caribbean Championships.

He has been medallng on the Caribbean arena since the age of nine, racking up a number of hardware since then.

Over the years, Narayan has amassed 11 silver and five bronze medals at the Caribbean Championships.

He also ended with bronze at the South American Youth Games in Peru in 2013 and at the Peru Junior International 2016.

The former Marian Academy student has represented Guyana at World Juniors, the Pan American Games and Pan Am Olympic Festival Games.

He was age Group Champion at Suriname Easter Internation-

al 2006-2016.

However, all of that was as a junior player, but at this year’s Caribbean Badminton

Definitely a difficult task, but the 2015 Junior Sportsman-of-the-Year is hoping that his years as a junior have

Narayan Ramdhani

Championships in August, Narayan will be stepping out for his first year as a senior player.

prepared him enough, to at least put forth a satisfactory performance.

Narayan will also be look-

ing to capitalise on his development over the past year in Canada, since taking up his scholarship at the Shuttlesport Badminton Academy located in Vancouver.

“I’m very confident playing in seniors for the first time because I was training very hard in Canada and I’m sure I’ll do well at Carebaco. It has been great, I had lots of fun training and going to school, so I think I improved a lot both on and off the court,” Ramdhani said.

“The competition in Canada is very tough, because Canada has the highest level of badminton on this side of the world; the training over there helped me to improve and to be a better player.”

In Canada, Narayan was able to have advantages that he did not have in Guyana.

“In Canada I can use the badminton courts anytime, and any day in the week with-

out problem. But in Guyana I have a specific time to train and when to leave. It was hard because to be a better player I need more training time,” he remarked.

Narayan is home on holiday for two months and is training locally here at the Yonex Badminton Club,three times a week. He attends the Michael Parris Gym two to three times a week. He is currently being supervised by trainer Theodore Henry.

Prior to leaving Guyana last year September, Narayan was undoubtedly Guyana’s top player, sweeping title after title, even in the senior category.

He is encouraged by his badminton family, which includes sibling Priyanna Ramdhani, Guyana’s top female badminton player at just 14 years old. He is following in the footsteps of his father Gokarn, a former national player in the 1980s, and now

president of the Guyana Badminton Association, as well as a coach. Even their mom is involved in the sport.

Destined to be a local badminton great, it was no surprise that he took up the sport at a really young age – four years old to be exact.

His profession saw him eventually peaking as number three in the Pan American rankings. But it was his world ranking at number 53 that has been one of his proudest accomplishments. What Narayan has loved most over the years is being able to travel and experience the world as he develops his badminton skills.

“The thing I love most about being a badminton player is the travelling all over the world, seeing different places and meeting new people. Also badminton is a very fun sport to play, and it’s a great source of excerise,” he said.

Beaten again!

Spinners bring swift end to WI chase ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Another abject batting performance sent West Indies tumbling to a 93-run defeat to India in the third One-Day International here yesterday, leaving the embattled Caribbean side with their ninth loss in 12 outings and on the verge of another depressing series result.

Opting to bowl first at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, they managed to restrict India to 251 for four off their 50 overs, with former skipper MS Dhoni top-scoring with a man-of-the-match 78 not out.

Opener Ajinkya Rahane carved out 72 while Kedar Jadhav struck an attacking unbeaten 40 and Yuvraj Singh, 39.

Fast bowler Miguel Cummins was the best bowler with two for 56.

In reply, West Indies never looked the part and slumped to a dreadful 158 all out off 38.1 overs – their second lowest total against India in the Caribbean.

Jason Mohammed led with 40 and Rovman Powell

chipped in with a breezy 30 but no other batsman displayed the type of enterprise required to put the Windies over the line.

Off-spinner Ravi Ashwin (3-28) and left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav (3-41) claimed three wickets apeice to lead India’s attack.

The defeat was also the hosts 10th in 12 ODIs at the venue, leaving them without form or confidence heading into tomorrow’s fourth match here.

With the victory, India took a 2-0 lead and will now target their seventh series win over the Windies in 10 years.

Needing a solid start to their run chase, West Indies got anything but that as left-handed Evin Lewis was bowled for two in just the second over of the innings with nine runs on the board, playing back to a quick one from seamer Umesh Yadav which kept a touch low.

The Hope brothers, Kyle and Shai, then came together to add 45 for the second wicket and stabilise the innings. Kyle, on debut, looked at ease in

his 19 which included three fours while Shai made 24 off 50 balls with two fours, to be one of only three batsmen to pass 20.

However, Kyle top-edged a hook at pacer Hardik Pandya and was caught at deep backward square in the 13th over, triggering a collapse that saw four wickets tumble for 33 runs in the space of 41 deliveries.

Roston Chase was completely flummoxed by the third ball he received and was bowled by Kuldeep for two in the 14th over while Shai Hope got himself in a tangle against a short ball from Pandya and top-edged a return catch in the 17th over.

When captain Jason Holder was smartly stumped down the leg-side off Ashwin for six, the Windies were reeling at 87 for five in the 20th but Mohammed and Powell came together in a 54-run sixth-wicket partnership to resist India.

Without being entirely fluent, Mohammed struck four fours in his 61-ball knock

while Powell freed his arms to strike five boundaries off 43 deliveries.

Wi t h t h e p a r t n e r s h i p threatening, India resorted once again to spin and the move paid dividends. The runs had dried up and pressure was mounting when Powell holed out to backward square off Kuldeep in the 33rd over at 141 for six and in the following over Ashley Nurse (6) squirted Ashwin to a diving Umesh Yadav at square leg with seven runs added.

All hopes then rested on Mohammed but he missed a sweep at Kuldeep and was lbw in the 37th over and the end came swiftly with Miguel Cummins (1) and debutant Kesrick Williams (1) offering no resistance.

Dhoni had earlier rescued India after they stumbled to 100 for three in the 27th over in difficult conditions, following a 45-minute delayed start because of rain.

With Shikhar Dhawan (2) and captain Virat Kohli (11) having fallen cheaply to

leave India 34 for two in the 10th over, Rahane put on 66 for the third wicket with Yuvraj before adding a further 70 for the fourth with Dhoni.

Rahane faced 112 balls and counted four fours and a six before falling to a brilliant diving catch in the deep by Devendra Bishoo off fast bowler

Cummins in the 43rd over.

But Dhoni belted four fours and two sixes off 79 balls and Jadhav struck four fours and a six in his 26-ball cameo, as they put on 81 in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand that saw exactly 100 runs gush from the last 10 overs.

SCOREBOARD INDIA INNINGS A Rahane c Bishoo b Cummins 72 S Dhawan c Chase b Cummins 2 *V Kohli c K Hope b Holder 11 Yuvraj Singh lbw b Bishoo 39 +MS Dhoni not out 78 K Jadhav not out 40 Extras: (lb1, w8) 9 TOTAL: (4 wkts, 50 overs) 251 Did not bat: H Pandya, R Ashwin, K Yadav, B Kumar, U Yadav Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-34, 3-100, 4-170 Bowling: Cummins 10-0-56-2 (w2), Holder 10-1-53-1 (w2), Williams 10-0-69-0 (w1), Nurse 10-034-0 (w1), Bishoo 10-0-38-1 (w2) WEST INDIES INNINGS E Lewis b Yadav 2 K Hope c Jadhav b Pandya 19 +S Hope c & b Pandya 24 R Chase b Kuldeep Yadav 2

J Mohammed lbw b Kuldeep Yadav 40 *J Holder st Dhoni b Ashwin 6 R Powell c Pandya b Kuldeep Yadav 30 A Nurse c Yadav b Ashwin 6 D Bishoo not out 4 M Cummins lbw b Ashwin 1 K Williams b Jadhav 1 Extras: (lb6, w17) 23 TOTAL: (all out; 38.1 overs) 158 Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-54, 3-58, 4-69, 5-87, 6-141, 7-148, 8-156, 9-157, 10-158 Bowling: Kumar 5-0-19-0, Umesh Yadav 7-0-32-1 (w5), Pandya 6-032-2 (w3), Kuldeep Yadav 10-1-413, Ashwin 10-1-28-3 (w3), Jadhav 0.1-0-0-1.

Result: India won by 93 runs.

Series: India lead five-match series 2-0.

Man-of-the-Match: MS Dhoni.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 1, 2017

Persaud backing youth ahead of second Race of Champions

By Stephan Sookram SUPERBIKER Kevin Persaud has backed his youthful approach as the determining factor when he takes the track aboard his superbike in the second National Race of Champions tomorrow at the South Dakota Circuit.

Persaud, who was part of the team that toured Jamaica recently, is optimistic that there are more podiums in his future, especially with the work he has been putting in locally.

The rider told Chronicle

Sport, “I’ve been getting in sessions from the last two Sundays as well as a couple days during this week, and I’m feeling really confident of putting out a good performance this weekend.”

“The bike is working fine, just some suspension tuning, which we have been working on over the past week as we try to get the bike ready and raring to go for Sunday,” he added.

He noted that track-wise, while he has ridden numerous race and practice laps around the South Dakota Circuit, he still feels that

practice is one of the key factors for success.

“Competitor-wise, I think everyone is in for a treat on race day and there are obvious reasons why. Guys have been producing the times to show they are putting in the ground work, and that shows that there are threats on race day,” he opined.

Persaud said, however, “I think my edge is that I am willing to go the extra mile, and do what it takes to get the win. I think that will give me the edge over my other competitors.”

His bike is sponsored by

Palm Court, Chico Ramas, Motor Trend, R. Kisson Contracting Services and Miracle optical with the number 93 branding.

Meanwhile, all things are on stream for the event, which begins at 08:30hrs.

The sponsors include: Ansa McAl, Prem’s Electrical, B.M. Soat, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Ready Mix, Special Auto, Japarts, Ticket Master, Palm Court, KGM, MAC Batteries, S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction, L Mahabir and Sons Cambio and Choke Gas Station.

Self-belief is key to Windies revival – Mohammed TAUNTON, England (CMC) – Veteran off-spinner Anisa Mohammed on Thursday urged her teammates to relax, rekindle their self-belief and simply express themselves, as the Caribbean side continued to desperately search for solutions to end their demoralising losing streak.

Speaking in the wake of their latest defeat at the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup – a seven-wicket loss to India Women at County Ground here – Mohammed said while the side comprised world class players, self-confidence was currently lacking.

“We just need to relax and keep believing in ourselves.

We need to find a way somehow to relax and recuperate, and keep believing that we are great players,” said the 28-year-old who has played in 103 ODIs. “I keep saying to the team: people say we are a great T20 team but this is the same team that helped us qualify automatically for this World Cup so we can win 50-over games as well.

“We just need to keep

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believing in ourselves and go back to what worked for us in the past three, four years and come out in this World Cup. It’s time we pull everything together.”

Women on Thursday.

Arguing that the side was a quality One-Day International unit, the Trinidadian Mohammed said the batters needed to up their game if the Windies

Anisa Mohammed

West Indies are winless since arriving in England a month ago, with losses to England Women, Southern Vipers and India Women in unofficial warm-up matches, and further defeats to Pakistan Women and South Africa Women in official warm-ups last week.

Last Monday, they were steamrolled by reigning champions Australia in their opening match of the tournament before going under to India

were to improve their form.

“I think we need to rotate the strike a bit more in the middle,” she contended.

“I think we fell short by about 80, 90 runs but I thought that the opener (Smriti Mandhana) played really well. But we need to score some more runs if we want to win games in this tournament.

“We have some of the greatest players in the world.

I think players just need to believe in themselves and

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believe they can go out and do the job, and just go out and express themselves. As West Indians, we love to express ourselves and we just need to go out there and express ourselves.”

Sent in, the West Indies batting collapsed yet again as they struggled to gather a modest 183 for eight off their 50 overs.

In reply, India were reduced to 33 for two at one stage but recovered to easily reach their target thanks to Mandhana’s unbeaten 106.

Mohammed said the Windies batters were good enough that once they got in, they could post big totals.

“We still believe we could still score over 250 plus. As you can see from today, we have batters all the way down so it’s just a matter of players getting in and staying in and valuing their wickets,” she stressed.

“It was important for us to get early wickets but defending 186 on a pitch like this we needed a lot more wickets. Unfortunately, the bowlers couldn’t pull it off today.”

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Team gives suggestions on coaching issue only when asked - Kohli CAPTAIN Virat Kohli has clarified that the Indian team offers its suggestions to the BCCI only when asked, as the board continues to look for a new coach after Anil Kumble’s resignation 10 days ago.

Kumble had stated his partnership with Kohli had become “untenable”, even though Kohli had said at the beginning of the Champions Trophy that there were “no issues whatsoever” between the two.

Kumble later said in his resignation that he was informed by the BCCI that Kohli “had reservations with my style and about my continuing as head coach”.

“From a personal point of view I can’t pinpoint anything or give details,” Kohli said a day before the third ODI against West Indies in Antigua.

“We, as a team, contrary to a lot of perceptions, only voice our opinions when asked by the BCCI for suggestions. So that is something we have always gone through as a process and that’s something we respect as a team.

“It’s been asked together, it’s not like segregation of anything so we respect that process and that same procedure, if and when it takes place, we’ll give our suggestions to the BCCI. “The suggestions are given to the board who handle the procedure and there’s no point saying anything out in the open because that is for us as a team to convey to the board as and when we are asked, and it’s something I’ve mentioned before.”

It became clear in Kumble’s resignation that there were “misunderstandings” between him and Kohli and ESPNcricinfo had reported a month ago that the captain, and possibly a few other senior players, had expressed a lack of confidence in their coach.

Kohli has hardly opened up on the issue since then, mainly saying he has “total respect” for Kumble as a cricketer, and did not want to divulge details, to “maintain the sanctity of the change room”.

Kohli stated on Thursday that the team was a “very closely-knit unit” and the players got along with each “really well”.

He also said their focus right now was on the ongoing ODI series against West Indies, which the visitors lead 1-0 after the first match was washed out.

“Right now we have a series at hand and this is what we are focused on,” Kohli said.

“The process (of selecting the coach) is taking place and that is something that is in control of the BCCI and the process has always been in place. We, as a team, are focusing on this series right now and we are not focused on anything else at the moment.

Our priority is coming here and winning this series, and preparing for the games that lie ahead of us.”

Once Kumble resigned, the BCCI decided to invite more applications for the position of the coach, extending the deadline to July 9.

Among the newer applicants is Ravi Shastri, who had applied for the position last year too, but lost out after the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, picked Kumble for one year. (ESPNCricinfo) CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday July 01, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Suzie Bates-106* (NZ) Lea Tahuhu (NZ) Today’s Quiz: Who was declared ‘Player of the Match’ in the first game of the Women’s World Cup 2017?

What was the result of the ENG/IND game on the opening day of the Women’s World Cup 2017?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, July 1, 2017

The Comeback Kid!

‘Candy Man’ Hardy makes ring-return against Eric Moon tonight

By Rawle Toney in New York WITH the legendary Colin Morgan in his corner, Guyana’s Simeon ‘Candy Man’ Hardy will make a comeback tonight after being away from the sport for approximately

two years, when he faces American Eric Moon.

The super middleweight fight will take place in Atlanta Georgia, at the famous Buckhead Fight Club.

Moon, 26, undefeated in four outings, winning all of his fights by TKO, is said to be one of USA’s up-and-

coming fighters.

Hardy’s last outing in the ring was against Vito Gasparyan when he suffered a Unanimous Decision loss, despite a good showing against the Armenian.

The defeat to Gasparyan was Hardy’s first blemish,

which puts his ring-record at 13 wins from 14 outings.

Ten of his wins came from knocking his opponents out, using his notorious right hand.

The 30-year-old Hardy, who hails from Sophia, is tipped to be Guyana’s next world champion.

With constant improvement in the ring since moving to the U.S. he is travelling the path to live up to that expectation.

Before migrating, Hardy had kayoed Iwan Azore to win the vacant WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) welterweight

title at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

H a r d y ’s l a s t f i g h t in Guyana was against Howard Eastman in 2012 where he picked up a Majority Decision win after out-boxing the former Commonwealth middleweight champion.

GBA’s Andrew Lewis National Novices championships …

Despite GPL’s interruption, GDF assured of retaining Champion Gym title

By Michael DaSilva THE finals of the Guyana Boxing Association’s (GBA) Andrew Lewis National Novices Championships got off to a blistering start at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue on Thursday evening and the upbeat tempo continued until the conclusion of the ninth fight on the 12bout card.

However, at 22:00hrs, the venue and surrounding areas were plunged into darkness due to a power outage by Guyana Power and Light (GPL).

At this point, defending champions Guyana Defence Force had already chalked up 14 points from five victories and four runner-up places, with another two all-GDF contests yet to be staged, and another involving a soldier and a boxer from the Republican Gym. Those three bouts were to be completed yesterday afternoon at the Andrew Lewis

Boxing Gym, Albouystown.

The most interesting fight on Thursday night’s card was one in the 69kg division between Jamal Leitch of Republican (Rep) and GDF’s Toney Gillis that saw Leitch emerge winner by a unanimous points decision.

From the start of the contest, the two `gladiators’ stood toe-to-toe and exchanged punches like raindrops for the entire three rounds. During the second stanza, Gillis received two standing eight-counts while in the third and final round, Leitch received one standing eight-count.

GDF had six victories two knockouts, two stoppages and two points-decision verdicts.

Fighting in the 75kg division, Okiemo Baker (GDF) knocked out his gym mate Torin Adams at two minutes one second of the first round, while in the 49kg class, Akiemo Watts (GDF) forced the referee to stop his contest against

Darmandra Shoepersaud at one minute 26 seconds of the first round.

Ewart Cobis (Rep) at 58 seconds of the first round, Delroy Fordyce (GDF) then secured a

Kevin McKenzie pounded out a points decision win against Delon Garraway (GDF) in

Republican’s Jamal Leitch (right) connects to the chin of GDF’s Toney Gillis during round two of their 69kg final at the National Gymnasium, Thursday night. (Photo by Samuel Maughn)

Delroy Murphy then gave the referee cause to halt his 52kg division contest against

points decision win against his gym mate, Delroy Leacock in their 60kg division fight before

their 64kg contest.

The other Elite Class fight that was to be contested on

Thursday night was one between Kelvin Moore of the Vergenoegen Boxing Gym (VBG) and Trevor Williams (Rep) in the 56kg division but Williams failed to make an appearance and Moore won by a walkover.

In the Youth championships, Keevin Allicock of the Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym caused the referee to stop his 56kg contest against Elton Calistro (Rep) at two minutes 29 seconds of round one, while Christopher Moore (VBG) won by a split decision against his gym mate Deson Elcock in their 60kg contest.

The other fights that were to be completed yesterday at the Andrew Lewis Gym would have brought together Joel Peters (GDF) and Jamal Williams (GDF in an 81kg contest, Germaine Williams (Rep) and Aubrey Headley (GDF0 in a 91kg bout and Emerson Farley (GDF) and Anthonio Williams (GDF) in an over-91kg contest.

Annual ‘Teach Them Young’ cycle programme set for July 10 to August 1 Bolt seeks quick fix for back issue with German doctor

NATIONAL Sports Commission’s (NSC) cycle coach/coordinator Hassan Mohamed will be conducting the 41st (NSC) Annual `Teach Them Young’ cycle programme from July 10 to August 1 around the inner circuit of the National Park.

The activity is open to anyone who has a cycle, regardless of type, like BMX, mountain bike, upright, racing cycle or otherwise. Interested persons are encouraged to attend the sessions, which will be held five days weekly (Monday to Friday) beginning at 09:00hrs and ending at 11:30hrs each day and participation is free.

T h e ` Te a c h T h e m Young’ cycle programme is the oldest such programme

conducted by the NSC, formerly the National Sports Development Council and

Hassan Mohamed

subsequently the Department of Sport.

Over the past 40 years, the programme has produced

many national cyclists who went on to do Guyana proud regionally and internationally to some extent.

Among those coming out of the programme and who went on to fly the Golden Arrowhead aloft include: Hector Edwards, Marcus Fiedtkou, Godfrey Pollydore, Dwayne Gibbs, Linden Dowridge, Robin Persaud, Eric Sankar and Tyrone Hamilton and more recently Geron Williams, Warren McKay, Raynauth Jeffrey, Michael Anthony, Hamza Eastman, Raphael Leung and Jamal John.

Participants will be taught the rudiments of the sport as well as setting of his/her cycle and rules of the sport.

(REUTERS) Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt believes his German doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt will fix the retiring world record holder’s back problems in time for the August world championships in London.

Bolt will see his long-time physician after suffering a stiff back in the build-up to his 100 metres run at the Ostrava Golden Spike meeting on Wednesday, a race he won in a modest 10.06 seconds.

“I am going to see my doctor now so I know he will fix every problem,” Bolt told reporters.

“Then all I need to do is train hard and get myself into some shape.”

Bolt also went to Mueller-Wohlfahrt with a hamstring injury before winning three gold

medals at the Rio Olympics last year.

The Jamaican is scheduled to feature in only one more event at next month’s Diamond League

ter to me -- it always comes down to the championship,” he added.

“For me it is all about getting myself into great shape and that is the focus for me right now.”

Usain Bolt

meeting in Monaco ahead of the championships but is not worried about of lack of activity.

“I tell you guys year after year, one run doesn’t really mat-

Bolt, who has eight Olympic gold and 13 world championship medals, is scheduled to retire after the world championships.

Annual `Teach Them Young’ cycle programme set for See page July 10 to August 1 31

Beaten again!

Kuldeep Yadav took his second consecutive three-wicket haul to scythe through West Indies' middle order © AFP.

MS Dhoni rocks back to cut © AFP.

Spinners bring swift end to WI chase See page 29

Persaud backing youth ahead ‘Candy Man’ Hardy makes ring-return of second Race of Champions The Comeback Kid!

See page 30

Kevin Persaud aboard his Kawasaki Zx6-r in Jamaica

against Eric Moon tonight

See page 31

Guyana’s Simeon ‘Candy Man’ Hardy

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SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017