Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 07 04 2017

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Chronicle springs minister into action

Stern action No. 104876

FRIDAY APRIL 7, 2017

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–– President warns against incompetence, corruption –– vows improvements in all sectors by 2018

Sound advice! First Lady Mrs Sandra Granger met with delegates, who are vying for

the crown in the 2017 Bartica Regatta Pageant, on Thursday at her office at State House.

In this Ministry of the Presidency photo, Mrs Granger is pictured in deep discussion with some of the delegates

Don’t rush –– UN warns against ‘rushed’ constitutional reform process

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Woman admits to killing best friend

U.S. strikes Syria

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Dead: Lloyda Renita Thomas

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Don’t rush

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday April 7, 2017

–– UN warns against ‘rushed’ constitutional reform process –– stresses meaningful dialogue, compromise among parties

A UNITED Nations team that conducted an assessment on constitutional reform here has warned that the process must not be rushed and that meaningful dialogue, negotiation and compromise on the part of government, opposition and citizens must be done.

Some members of civil society have been pushing government to move swiftly in tackling the issue, but the UN team in a report submitted to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, warned against “rushing the process of constitutional reform.” Explaining that the timeframe for constitutional reform varies and would be dependent on variables within different countries, the UN team said Guyana, it was surmised, needed to factor in the size

of its territory with regard to accessing pockets of citizens and the difficulties associated with reaching consensus.

Mr Nagamootoo had told this newspaper earlier this year that the administration intends to roll out its constitutional reform programme, with the establishment of a Constitutional Consultative Commission, and then the setting up of a secretariat to drive the process. Nagamootoo, who has oversight for governance, said his office had submitted a $80M budget for the programme.

In its report, the UN team said the process of constitutional reform in Guyana creates an opportunity for social cohesion and nation-building.

The report, which is up for consideration, speaks to the risks associated with the pro-

cess of constitutional reform on the basis that Guyana has a history of racial division and ethnic-political conflict.

In mid-2015, Prime Minister Nagamootoo had initiated talks with the then UN Resident Coordinator Khadija Musa, with the aim of acquiring support from the UN during this process. Talks continued with Musa’s successor, Mikiko Tanaka. Those talks resulted in a Constitutional Assessment Mission being conducted here by a team from the UN in February, 2017, in order to advise the Guyana Government and to provide UN decision-makers with context for its support.

MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE It is intended that the reUN Resident Coordinator, Mikiko Tanaka, presenting the report to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo port will be presented to all stakeholders with whom the mission team engaged. The report recommends that a successful constitutional reform process must emphasise meaningful dialogue, negotiation and compromise on the part of government, opposition and citizens.

Additionally, it states that the Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) must be independent, representative and inclusive of civil society, noting that the public at large must be provided with opportunities to participate. It said too that major attention must be placed on public education in an effort to facilitate effective participation.

To gather information for the mission’s assessment, the UN Delegation met with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Leader of the Opposition and the People’s Progressive Party, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the National Toshaos Council Chairman, Trade Unions, the Rights Commissions, Private Sector Commission, religious bodies, the Guyana Bar Association, international partners and several other civil society bodies.

The UN mission team comprised constitutional and peacekeeping experts Mr Gerardo Noto, Mr Rohan Edrisinha and Mr Jason Gluck,

who were assisted by Ms Tanaka and Deputy Resident Coordinator, Ms Shabnam Mallick, along with Mr Fabio Oliva.

The Terms of Reference (TOR) that guided the mission team provided that they would, among other things, assess the political environment in Guyana and the legal and institutional frameworks governing the constitutional reform process and assess the potential role of UNDP-UNDPA in assisting this process and resources required.

Meanwhile, the draft Bill to establish the Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission is being reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General, and would be circulated to stakeholders as soon as the preliminary revision is completed. Prime Minister Nagamootoo has indicated that the proposed Bill would be sent to the Special Select Committee for further review once it is tabled in the National Assembly.

A Steering Committee on Constitutional Reform had said in its report that the commission should consist of four or five constitutional law experts, two or three judges, foreign constitutional law experts (Commonwealth), experienced lawyers, civil society and academics. Accompanying this proposal was a list of experts, who

enjoy the confidence of the committee. These experts include: Sir Fenton Ramsahoye, SC; Miles Fitzpatrick, SC; Rex McKay, SC; Ralph Ramkarran, SC; Douglas Mendez, SC; Stephen Fraser; Dr Lloyd Barnett; Dr Nigel Harris; Sir Shridath Ramphal, and Rashleigh Jackson, among others.

Additionally, the report said a three-tiered system for the Commission should be considered, noting that a set of legal experts (6-11) should prepare a draft-based document, incorporating some of the recommendations of the Committee. That document, according to the SCCR, should then be shared with wider stakeholders, including representatives of political parties and civil society.

The expanded commission, the SCCR said, should include one representative from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Alliance For Change (AFC), the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the trade unions, a youth representative, the Guyana Bar Association (GBA), the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC), the Indigenous Peoples, the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA), the Hindu community, the Christian community and the Islamic community.

Stern action

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday April 7, 2017

–– President warns against incompetence, corruption –– vows improvements in all sectors by 2018

By Rabindra Rooplall

PRESIDENT David Granger on Thursday said his administration is moving to weed out incompetence and corruption in all Government ministries and sectors, pointing out that significant improvements should be noticeable by 2018.

Speaking on his weekly televised programme ‘The Public Interest’, Mr Granger said he is not blaming the previous administration, but the APNU+AFC Government inherited certain historical problems which cannot be fixed overnight.

“The performance of the Cabinet has to be measured in the context of what was inherited in May 2015; and I think the per-

formance has been quite good and adjustments made have improved the performance of the Cabinet,” the President said.

He added: “The public will judge and I have expressed my view on the Cabinet and I have not brought in any new persons and all the changes have been explained such as the appointment of Mrs. Cathy Hughes to the Minister of Public Telecommunication and the appointment of Dr Norton as Minister of Social Cohesion,” Guyanese can expect the Government to continue to overcome obstacles it is facing in all fields, including tourism, Mr Granger said.

He said through its overseas missions, Guyana can be sold as a tourist

destination.

“At the country level, we want to see a very active foreign service and at the community level, we want to see a stronger Caribbean, a stronger CSME. We want to ensure that our interests are protected by having a network of friends in UNASAUR, in the OAS, in Mercosur, in CELAC, in all these organisations which we belong,” the President said.

He also hailed the recently concluded Heads of Mission Conference hosted at the Pegasus Hotel, which aimed to identify ways and means of enhancing efforts to effectively promote and protect Guyana’s s abroad, a success.

“We are in the process of transforming the foreign services and the con-

Woman admits to killing best friend ANGELIQUE Williams on Wednesday pleaded guilty to stabbing her pregnant best friend, Lloyda Renita Thomas to death during a heated argument about two years ago.

She made the admission before Justice Navindra Singh, but her sentencing has been deferred to April 25, pending submission of a probation report, requested by her attorney, Mark Waldron.

Thomas of Sunflower Circle, South Ruimveldt Park, a mother of one and an aspiring model and trendsetter, was stabbed at least 10 times to her abdomen and head with a broken bottle by Williams, on May 21, 2015 at Versailles, West Bank Demerara, following an argument.

She was pronounced dead on arrival at the West De-

merara Regional Hospital.

Thomas and Williams had become best friends after meeting about five years prior to 2015 and were described as inseparable.

The duo could previously have been seen everywhere together ‘hanging out’ with friends; and they even shared an apartment. At the time of the incident, the Chronicle was told that the best friends went to lime with some friends at the Aracari Resort and as they were about to leave, a heated row erupted between the two while they were talking about seating arrangements in a vehicle.

Williams then grabbed a broken bottle and launched the assault on Thomas in a fit of rage.

Many of Thomas’ friends were left in disbelief and shock at her tragic death,

Dead: Lloyda Renita Thomas and had taken to social media Facebook to vent their feelings, which ranged from anger to absolute grief. It was reported that Williams, when under the influence of alcohol, could not handle her liquor, and would often act out of control.

President David Granger ference is very important in moving us to where we are to where we want to be placing a greater focus on economic diplomacy,” President Granger said.

Contending that more can be done to sell local products abroad, the President said he is happy with the work done so far.

The future holds greater potential, he told reporters on the programme.

CET, Rules of Origin to be reviewed THE consultancy to conduct a comprehensive review of the Common External Tariff (CET) and Rules of Origin is slated to take place in Georgetown from May 31 to June 2.

A release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the exercise is part of efforts to advance the process of regional integration and encourage free circulation of goods in the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

“Consequently, it is expected that new draft CET schedule and Rules of Origin will be submitted to the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) for approval by CARICOM ministers of trade for implementation,” the release said.

To that end, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge recently held Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge a briefing session with private and public stakeholders with a view to ensuring an effective outcome of the consultancy.

Participants expressed concerns about unfair trading practices by CARICOM member states, the preference of regional manufacturers for extra-regional inputs, use of technical specifications as a barrier to trade, and cases of alleged dumping of goods into the Guyana market, the release said.

The stakeholders included representatives from the Guyana Revenue Authority, the New Guyana Marketing Corporation, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Private Sector Commission, the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, and individual manufacturing entities, who underscored their commitment to a successful outcome of the consultancy.

Since 2001, Guyana had called for a review of the CARICOM trading arrangements, particularly as they relate to rules and procedures governing suspensions of the CET and derogations from the rules of origin relative to new trading arrangements, as well as developments in the global trading regime and the dynamics of supply and demand trends.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 7, 2017

US launches missile strikes against Syria U.S President Donald Trump said on Thursday he ordered a targeted military strike against an airfield in Syria from which a deadly chemical attack was launched this week.

U.S. officials said the military launched dozens of cruise missile strikes against an airbase controlled by Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad’s forces in response to the chemical attack on Tuesday in a rebel-held area. Facing his biggest foreign policy crisis since taking office in January, Trump took the toughest direct U.S. action

yet in Syria’s six-year-old civil war, raising the risk of confrontation with Russia and Iran, Assad’s two main military backers.

Some 50 Tomahawk missiles were launched from U.S. Navy warships in the Mediterranean Sea, striking multiple targets - including the airstrip, aircraft and fuel stations on an airbase in Homs, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Further details and damage estimates from the strikes, which were conducted at 8:45 p.m. EDT (0045 GMT Friday), were not immediately known.

Tr u m p o r d e r e d t h e strikes just a day after he pointed the finger at Assad for this week’s chemical attack, which killed at least 70 people, many of them children, in the Syrian town

have opted for measured and targeted air attacks instead of a full-blown assault on Assad’s forces and installations.

Trump, who was attending a summit with Chi-

The cruise missiles were fired from US ships in the Mediterranean (Getty Images) of Khan Sheikhoun. The Syrian government has denied it was behind the attack. Trump appeared to

nese President Xi Jinping at his Florida resort, said earlier on Thursday that “something should happen” with Assad but did not specifically call for his ouster. Officials from the Pentagon and State Department met all day to discuss plans for the missile strikes. U.S. military action put the new president at

odds with Russia, which has air and ground forces in Syria after intervening there on Assad’s side in 2015 and turning the tide against mostly Sunni Muslim rebel groups. Trump has until now focused his Syria policy almost exclusively on defeating Islamic State militants in northern Syria, where U.S. special forces are supporting Arab and Kurdish armed groups.

The risks have grown worse since 2013, when Barack Obama, Trump’s predecessor, considered and then rejected ordering a cruise missile strike in response to the use of chemical weapons by Assad’s loyalists. Only last week, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the U.S. diplomatic policy on Syria for now was no longer focused on making Assad leave power, one of Obama’s aims.

But Trump said on Wednesday the gas attack in Idlib province, which sparked outrage around the world, had caused him to

think again about Assad.

Speaking just before the strikes were announced, Russia’s deputy U.N. envoy, Vladimir Safronkov, warned of “negative consequences” if the United States went ahead with military action, saying the blame would be “on shoulders of those who initiated such doubtful and tragic enterprise.”

The deployment of military force against Assad marked a major reversal for Trump.

Obama’s set a “red line” in 2012 against Assad’s use of chemical weapons. When Obama then threatened military action after a 2013 chemical attack, Trump issued a series of tweets opposing the idea, including “Do NOT attack Syria, fix U.S.A.” Obama backtracked on the air strikes, and after the latest attack, Trump was quick to blame his Democratic predecessor for “weakness and irresolution” that emboldened Assad. (Reuters)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday April 7, 2017

Minister Henry elected to top PANCAP post

MINISTER within the Ministry of Education with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Nicolette Henry, has been elected chairperson of PANCAP’s Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM), while Professor Peter Figueroa of The University of the West Indies Mona Campus has been elected vice-chairman.

Minister Henry and Professor Figueroa were elected during the RCM’s first meeting which was convened from April 4-6 in Kingston, Jamaica.

The RCM is executing the new Global Fund Project.

The three-year grant, in the amount of US$5,075,234 began on October 1, 2016 and will end on September 30, 2019.

The grant aims to contribute to the removal of barriers that impede access to HIV and sexual and reproductive health services for key populations, thereby promoting the achievement of regional HIV targets.

The sub-recipient is the PANCAP Coordinating Unit, sub-recipients are the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), while the collaborating partners are the Caribbean Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (CRN+) and The University of the West Indies Health Economics Unit (UWI-HEU).

Minister Henry expressed appreciation to the RCM for electing her to the office, while committing to take an inclusive approach. She called on members to contribute to the work of the body and thanked former Vice-chair, Professor Donald Simeon, for his excellent leadership and guidance during his tenure.

Minister Henry has over 20 years of experience providing technical guidance and support required for the planning, implementation, and strengthening of HIV public health programmes.

She served as a programme development and public health specialist (HIV Prevention) for the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Global AIDs Programme Guyana.

Minister Henry is a Ph.D. candidate in public health and is the holder of a Master of Public Health and a Degree in Pharmacy.

The new vice-chair, Professor Figueroa, stated that it is an honour and privilege to serve in this capacity and committed to work with the chair and all members to achieve the goals of the Global Fund grant.

Dr Figueroa is Professor of Public Health, Epidemiology and HIV and AIDS at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, where he has developed a doctoral programme in public health.

He was formerly the chief medical officer at the Ministry of Health of Jamaica and for many years the chief epidemiologist and director of the National HIV/STI

Programme in Jamaica. He is also a scientific secretary of the Caribbean Health Research Council and the former chair of the Priority Areas Coordinating Committee (PACC) and vice- chair of the executive board of PANCAP. In addition to the election of the new chair and vicechair, the RCM conducted an

orientation of members on governance, oversight functions, management of conflicts of interest, and internal and external communications as well as a reviewing and endorsing of its oversight role and communications plan.

The meeting received a status report on the implementation of the new

PANCAP Global Fund grant, which highlighted the programmatic achievements, financial disbursements and expenditures as at March 31, 2017 and provided strategic guidance to the principal recipient, the CARICOM Secretariat, on how to achieve the goals of the grant.

COUNTRY Representative of Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), Dr. William Adu-Krow on Thursday paid a courtesy call on President David Granger at State House, during which they discussed the importance of the availability of potable

water and proper sanitation especially in outlying communities.

President Granger spoke of his concerns as it relates to pollutants in the rivers and waterways as a result of mining. He explained that citizens who live in those communities are facing numerous health risks and informed the PAHO

representative that this is one area in which Guyana needs assistance in terms of monitoring and implementing best practices. He also expressed his Administration’s appreciation for the work that the organisation has been doing.

Meanwhile, Dr. AduKrow updated the President on the ‘Smart Hospital’ ini-

tiative that the organisation has been working on with the Ministry of Public Health. This initiative is aimed at setting up health facilities that utilise ‘green’ energy and are also equipped to withstand any man-made or natural disasters.

The project is being funded by the United Kingdom’s Department

for International Development (DFID) at a cost of US$5M. Dr. Adu-Krow said that this initiative ties in with the ‘green’ development agenda that the Government of Guyana

has been pushing. Thus far, 70 health institutions have been reviewed and the Government has to now select 8-10 of them to be upgraded. (Ministry of the Presidency)

From left to right: Director of the PANCAP Coordinating Unit Dereck Springer, Professor Donald Simeon, new chair Minister Nicolette Henry and new Vice-chair, Professor Peter Figueroa during PANCAP’s RCM meeting

President concerned about pollutants in hinterland waterways

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 7, 2017

The chemical attack in Syria ON Tuesday, the world went to bed with the sad news of Syrian civilians being gassed. This dastardly attack saw the deaths and injuries of almost 100 persons, including infants. Since , the trading of blame has followed. While Syria President Bashar al-Assad has denied culpability, and Russia blamed the Syrian rebels, the United Nations (UN) summoned an emergency Security Council meeting on Wednesday.

Even in war there exist established codes of conduct, whereby warring factions avoid using chemical weapons on each other and targeting civilians. Syria’s more than six-year civil war has not only taken serious toll on the people, but also resulted in the dislocation of thousands, many of whom have fled to Europe and North America seeking refugee status. Infrastructures, some of which go back to earliest civilisation of the Christian, Jewish and Islamic faiths, have not been spared the casualties of war.

The UN Security Council saw members condemning in the strongest terms what happened on Tuesday. Even more egregious to the attack, outside of those who died, was looking at those who were gasping for breath and suffocating in their body fluids, accepting death as inevitable. Turkey’s Ministry of Health, which treated some of the victims, said the banned deadly nerve gas sarin was used. U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said this gas can cause death within minutes and is “one of the most toxic of the known chemical warfare agents.”

Humanity must never reach the stage where we become insensitive or immune to such atrocities, lest as a people we

lose the essence of our being. This on-going war has also created opportunities for extremists to rise and spread terror across the globe. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is one such. What happened in the Idlib province on Wednesday is reminder of similar method and attack on Damascus in 2013. The present reality is deserving of an approach where world leaders have to not only unite in condemnation, but move to put actions in place to curb a war where innocent lives are being seen as incidental and expendable. The Associated Press (6th April) reported that Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called the attack a “war crime of the worst sort” that “cries out for a strong response.”

Another forceful rejection came from U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Nimrata “Nikki” Halley in her presentation to the Security Council on Wednesday. Using pictorial aids of children in various stages of agony, the Ambassador accused Russia of involvement and said the “attack was a new low even from the barbaric Assad regime.” U.S. President Donald Trump on the said day called the attack “horrible, horrible,” and on Thursday evening ordered U.S. missile strikes targeting Syria’s airfields.

The Middle East is a valuable region for many reasons, though parts of it remain a volatile hotbed. Its cultural richness, oil wealth, coupled with internecine violent conflicts born out of disregard for the freedoms and rights of others by zealots and the fertile ground for terrorism are evident.

Leaving the conflict zones to resolve its conflicts, or leaving others to pursue self-serving goals at the expense of the denizens, and where apparently none is prepared to give, could pose further threat to global security.

ISIS, which comparatively to Al Qaeda is more extreme, influence and recruitment are spreading far and wide, unrestrained by borders. This presents a threat for the financing and spreading of terrorism. Electronic devices are now being used as purveyors of terrorism, which have since seen the United Kingdom the and U.S. moving to ban them as carry-on for some flights.

The crisis in Syria is real. It cannot be denied the jostling of interests of those who see opportunity to proceed with expansionist ambition by seeking to influence the local power structure and all out efforts by indigenous factions to silent dissent. However, when civilians, more so children, are no longer seen as exempt from being targeted and in such brutal manner, it is time to say enough is enough. World leaders have to come together and find ways to restore normalcy, and hopefully not through another full-scale war.

The PPP’s opportunistic quest of guilt transference I RECEIVED an email through the network that I am linked to the ‘Office of the Leader of the Opposition. Press release, March 24, 2017, I read its details and pondered why this exchange had taken on the nature of a crusade to destroy the Attorney General, Basil Williams, on a pretext of court banter that could be considered contentious, but lacked incriminating substance to merit the attention.

My legal curiosity was sated on April 2, with the experienced clarity and authority of the former chief magistrate and my friend, Juliet Holder-Allen, whose letter in the Sunday Chronicle enabled me to then fully understand the contention, as well as I understood what this contention meant to the Opposition PPP’s creed.

First, AG Basil Williams has done nothing remotely

heinous that amounts to a reproach to the dictates of his office or career. But that is not what is happening here; for years I’ve paid keen attention to the creed of the PPP, there is a reality that’s evident in the study of the culture of the psychopath that deals with the transference of guilt, where his/her victim is held responsible for their own destruction. This is not outlandish, as I will refer to substantial evidence that leads to the concept of ‘Transference of guilt,’ in this case political guilt, as a consistent practice in the creed of the PPP. Anil Nandlall was taped making references to using lethal, armed confederates against Glenn Lall; Anil Nandlall was the Attorney General then. When ‘he’ was ‘circumstantially’ and his body guard was more prominently linked to the murder of Courtney Crum-Ewing, were these, the very armed con-

federates referred to? Now the transference of that guilt is directed without substance against the current Attorney General and Anil Nandlall is the flag-bearing poster boy, coincidence?

A generation, in fact my generation, was raised hearing the mantra of rigged elections, of how bad Forbes Burnham was and how corrupt the PNC was. The guilt that it was the PPP who launched a Racial Civil war for power in 1961 was even attempted to be thrown on the CIA. This transference of enormous guilt that divided this country ethnically, which is kept alive by the PPP today, should have been in the forefront of our modern history, but it was not. They got away with it mounting a dogma of victimhood. Imagine Leslie Ramsammy, this once Minister of Health, who was drug dealer Roger Khan’s instrument of alleged

murder ( Roger Khan called and ordered him to make sure Ronald Waddell didn’t live) over all who entered the Public Hospital, that were considered deserving of death by this cabal and that influence is suspected to have extended to some private hospitals.

Ramsammy is now assuming a persona as a normal citizen, writing critical letters to the papers. Fervently again, cultivating the ‘Transference of guilt’ which is intended to once again convey victimhood to replace guilt, shame and judgement. The minds in APNU+AFC tasked with monitoring the psychological warfare of the PPP and its financial allies must place a behavioural timeline in perspective. Another example is the cartoon in the Stabroek News,March 26, March depicting a ‘Boat gone ah falls’ scene with President Granger at the fall in the boat of the economy with

Bharat Jagdeo and President Granger is asking Jagdeo for help, Fact: 1)Wasn’t it in the time of Jagdeo that we became a Highly Indebted Nation?; 2)Wasn’t this the most violent period in our modern post-independence history? 3)Wasn’t this the period when the coffers of the NIS and CLICO were looted for private investment? 4) And 82 % of our forest lands given to a foreign investor with no plans to employ Guyanese? 5)With a PPP promise of when re-elected to sell our waterways, and 6) concede to Venezuela part of our country because of an intellectual deficit to legally defend it? 7)Isn’t it true that to accommodate an inflow of drug money, the nation had to be criminalised to facilitate a philosophy that anything was applicable, as long as who needed to be paid was paid, a philosophy that still haunts us? 8) Isn’t it true that many

Guyanese survived on remittances, which have dried up because of a global recession, and most of the countries that our populations earned from are in financial trouble themselves?

Of the first seven, which one would the APNU+AFC require the opposition to help them with, according to this cartoon? Understand though, that I am not part of the Government, but as a citizen I have a strong perspective viewed from solid ground, and concede much work still has to be done by this Government.

The Attorney General and the accusations being levelled against him fit into a scheme of things, which the former chief magistrate has placed in its correct legal format, stripping the propaganda.

Regards Barrington Braithwaite

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 7, 2017

We must fight for what we want Dear Editor EDITOR, I have long reasoned that in Guyana, commonsense is not largely the modus operandi of some of us. The only time the citizens get what they want or what was promised to them, is when they fight.

When the PPP was in the opposition, prior to 1992, they fought for all the rights and privileges that should have ordinarily been theirs. For 28 long years they fought for free and fair elections and the right to peaceful assembly.

It took the magnanimity of President Hugh Desmond Hoyte to bring about the free and fair process of the electoral system in Guyana.

Then for 23 years the PNC fought against the PPP’s abuse of the State media and State apparatus. The opposition also fought for Local Government Elections and a de-politicising of the judiciary.

Then the AFC joined the PNC and fought for the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission.

Then they both joined the unions and fought the PPP for collective bargaining and increased wages and pensions.

Now that the coalition is in power, the opposition PPP is fighting for the regularising of the Public Procurement Commission.

They are fighting the PNC for the establishment of the Integrity Commission and re-establishment of the Ethnic Relations Commission.

Additionally, now that the coalition is in power, the Public Service and the teachers’ unions are fighting for some of the same things that they fought for under the PPP government. The unions are still fighting the government and begging them to return to the negotiation table. There is an unbelievable fight for collective bargaining, even though it was a campaign promise of this government.

The parents are fighting the minister of finance, begging him to reverse the VAT that he added to the tuition fees for their children. The business proprietors and vehicle owners had to fight

with the government and their city representatives to have the parking meter law revoked.

It is obvious that Guyanese will never get what they deserve without a fight. When the Alliance For Change (AFC) was an independent and objective party, they got fed up of the fighting and led the move for a no-confidence motion against the PPP government.

It caused President Ramotar to prorogue the parliament and the rest is history.

I am saying that Guyana needs a third party that will create the same kind of objective independence that the AFC once provided to the parliament. Guyana needs a party in the parliament that will objectively and unbiasedly represent the will of the Guyanese people.

Left to themselves, the two major parties will make the Guyanese public fight for everything that should be rightfully theirs.

Their collective actions are plain for all to see.

Regards Wendell Jeffrey

High officials must follow lead of President Dear Editor AS a kid, I heard my seniors talk of a popular news feature titled: “Things that bother me” and another, “Uncle Stapie pon de people.”

Looking at our beloved country, I follow their line of argument. I am and from listening to others high and low, there are things that bother me. From the beginning, let me make it clear that, I am a solid, strong supporter of President David A Granger, the PNC/R, the Prime Minister and the coalition government.

Recently, I listened to Prime Minister Moses at the Ghana Day celebrations.

His address was powerful and showed an understanding of recent history and the urgent need for this knowledge to put us on the path to realise our objective of One People, One Nation,

One Destiny.

His address should be made available to one and all, in particular, our young folk. With a show of a true guide, President David at the Seventh-day Adventist function called on us all to secure lofty values within the family unit, urging our men folk to be responsible fathers, strong, moral, bonded families, ensure a good community and a secure, safe society.

Again, this message needs to be repeated in schools, mandirs, mosques, churches and also shared among the media -- commercial and social -- and youth groups. Bravo to the Prime Minister and the press. But also, even as they point us in the right direction, some top officials and ministers seem seriously out of step.

The President is of a military and disciplined background. Nothing is uglier

to see ranks out of step on a parade. Government is like a parade, we citizens want to see all top ranks (ministers and high officials) in step with our leader. Those who cannot or will not keep in step must quickly remove from the national parade.

Our leader and his number two must not fail us; they must not be guilty of the ill deeds of the previous administration and give the impression that we are now being chocked and tarnished by a new set of ‘blue-eyed boys and girls.’ Editors, we have dealt with a number of mis-steps, but these ‘ranks’ are still in place.

No need for a recite of these unacceptable acts.

The reshuffle was too mild.

In addition, I write out of love for the President and the job he is doing.

Regards Eric Mosely

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday April 7, 2017

UG Council votes to increase tuition fees

DESPITE the objection of the student population, members of the University of Guyana (UG) Council voted to hike tuition fees at its March 20, extra-ordinary meeting.

A statement from UG on Thursday noted that the decision was made following intense discussions at the meeting, which was chaired

by Chancellor, Eon Nigel Harris.

“In making the decision the Council examined the University’s projected budget deficit, the pressing needs of the University, and projected alternative income streams,” stated the release.

It was outlined that the increase will be applied to tuition fees for all programmes and for both continuing students and new students for the 2017-2018 academic year.

- students to take action

Chancellor, Eon Nigel Harris The statement noted that input from the University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS) was considered, leading to an incremental roll out, where continuing students will now pay an increase of

15 per cent (about G$2500 a month), and new students will be required to pay 18 per cent (about G$3000 a month).

The Council also decided to incrementally increase the tuition fee by 10 per cent for the 2018-2019 academic year for all students and a further 10 per cent for all students for 2019-2020. According to the statement, before the decision was taken, comparative data on private high schools and Universities in Guyana and the Caribbean region were examined.

It was found that the tuition and fees at all the institutions examined were found to be several times higher than those of UG and even with the unavoidable

adjustments, fees at UG will still be ‘comparatively lower,’ the statement explained.

BURDENSOME Meanwhile, President of the UGSS, Ron Glasgow, told Guyana Chronicle that he is not in agreement with the increase, noting that students will not accept it.

“The fees are exorbitant and burdensome,so we will not stand for it…coupled with the increased taxes and so forth, it will be almost impossible to afford the tuition fee,” lamented Glasgow.

The UGSS President stated that his administration plans to meet with the students in order to derive a plan of action against the increase.

However, the UG statement noted that the Council also authorised the UG Administration to commence negotiations with the two University Unions for remuneration packages based on what the University could afford.

The Council received clarification from the Ministry of Finance that the claim by the unions that the Government of Guyana had provided a fixed sum of money for salaries, which would amount to a 15 per cent salary increase, was inaccurate.

“In this context, the UG Administration will continue to analyse the University’s budget to determine the fullest possible extent of affordability,” stated that

President of the UGSS, Ron Glasgow release.

The UG council also emphasised that staff performance will be a key factor in determining salaries and benefits, whether monetary or non-monetary.

4,685 charged for speeding SOME 4,685 persons have been charged for speeding and another 882 drivers booked for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) as of April 5, acting Traffic Chief, Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan,said.

He also noted that thus far in the year, some

26 fatal accidents have been recorded compared to 32 last year.

Statistical data in relation to applications for hire car licences for the year up to April 5 revealed that 491 persons applied,while for the same period 302 persons were charged for operating a private motor vehi-

cle as a hire car without licence.

‘Operation Safeway’, a joint effort of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, and the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is still in effect.

This campaign aims at bringing an end to road

accidents as well as to ensure that motorists adhere to the traffic laws.

Under ‘Operation Safeway’, traffic ranks have been conducting rigid exercises throughout the country, but more especially in Georgetown and on the East Bank and East Coast Demerara.

There will also be

an increase in traffic patrols, both day and night, re-introduction of spotting exercises, increase in the deployment of ranks in accident hot spots, frequent use of radar guns to target speeding drivers and random breathalyser testing, Superintendent Ramlakhan said.

Acting Traffic Chief, Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan

Distinguished banker laid to rest

By Shirley Thomas THE body of Lawrence Mc Lennon Farley, distinguished banker, former member of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) and Vice Chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, was on Thursday cremated at the Memorial Gardens Crematorium, Le Repentir.

His cremation came moments following a well-attended, but moving Thanksgiving and Home Going Service for his life, held at Smith Memorial Congregational Church, Brickdam.

Officiating Minister was Pastor Justice Oslen Small (also a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board), while Organist was Lynette

Cunha.

Farley died on March 29 last, following a period of illness. He was 80 and leaves to mourn, his wife of 57 years, Maud Farley; six children and several relatives and friends.

Among the distinguished gathering joining the bereaved family in bidding farewell to an iconic personality were Speaker of the House of Assembly, Barton Scotland; General Secretary of the People’s National Congress, Oscar Clarke; Managing Director of DDL, Dr. Yesu Persaud; Divisional Directors of the Salvation Army, Majors Emmerson and Carolinda Cumberbatch and officers of the Guyana Division; Chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, Mr Edward Boyer; and Minister within the Social Protection Ministry Keith Scott, among

The late Lawrence Farley others.

There were many glowing tributes rendered by family members, members of the legal and banking fraternity; members of Smith Memorial

Men’s Guild.The first tribute was offered by Divisional Commander of the Salvation Army, Major Emmerson Cumberbatch, who extended condolences to the bereaved wife and other family members of Farley, on behalf of the officers and members of the Guyana Division and the Salvation Army Advisory Board.

Acknowledging Farley’s passion for music, the major also rendered on Saxaphone a hymn: “To God Be the Glory” in his memory, while another was rendered by Saxaphonist, Keith Campbell, host of television show “Kool and Klassy Jazz”, introduced by Farley.

Major Cumberbatch alluded to and expressed gratitude for the outstanding service rendered to the Salvation Army by Farley in an advisory capacity for more than 20 continuous

years.

A stickler for discipline and one with strict regard for time, he was remembered by the major as being always on time for meetings to which he always made valuable contributions.

Meanwhile, offering a tribute on behalf of IPED of which Farley was a director, was Indar Singh, who recalled that Farley joined the Board of IPED 28 years ago, on December 1, 1988, when the institute, established in April 1986 was in its infancy.

A senior credit manager employed with the Guyana National Cooperative Bank (GNCB) at that time, he was approached by the founder of IPED, Dr. Yesu Persaud and willingly acceded to the offer.

Since then, his service and dedication to the institute have

been remarkable, Singh said.

Family members shared reflections of the great moments they spent together, attesting to what a wonderful husband, father and caring person he was – always kind and helpful.

The eulogy was delivered

by Farley’s daughter,Shabiki Cazzabon,and the prayer of Comfort by Pastor Oslen Small.

In the many other tributes, Farley was remembered as a devoted family man who was never known to complain.

After studying abroad, he returned and became a successful banker and banking was his first love.

He was a man of integrity with exemplary leadership styles who has left a legacy of honesty to be inculcated by his offspring and those around him.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday April 7, 2017

Diamond Hospital needs physical expansion … authorities working to reduce referrals to GPHC

By Zena Henry

LIMITED access to space and lack of equipment are major issues affecting the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, East Bank Demerara, even as administrators seeks to reduce the number of patient referrals to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Medical Superintendent, Dr. Maitee Camacho Vazquez expressed these sentiments when the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services visited the health institution on Thursday.

The visit sought to examine and observe the operational procedures of the diagnostic centre and the conditions under which patients are treated.

The parliamentary committee headed by PPP parliamentarian, Dr Vindhya Vasini Persaud, comprised Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman; Minister within

the Ministry of Indegenous People’s Affairs,Valerie Garrido-Lowe; Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings; Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valarie Patterson,and other PPP Parliamentarians, namely Indranie Chandarpal, Alister Charlie and Vishwa Mahadeo.

Responding to the committee’s questions, Dr. Vazquez explained that the centre caters for some 80,000 persons on the East Bank, also reaching as far as communities on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway and Timehri.

Between the Linden Hospital and GPHC, more than 100km apart, the Diamond Centre is the only major health facility that could be accessed.

“Our biggest need is space,” the medical superintendent said, explaining that the centre has to tend to persons on the East Bank Demerara,and since the facility

would only transfer certain cases, it means they would have to provide the service.

The doctor explained that a plan is in place where on specified days she would send out her available doctors to health centres such as Grove, Kuru Kururu and Herstelling, among other areas, to see patients, thus reducing the number of patients that actually go to the centre.

Outside of this, Dr. Vazquez said the centre has been working to be resolute with its services and to reduce the number of referrals to the GPHC, although it does not conduct deliveries and major surgeries.

It was highlighted that the majority of trauma cases coming to the centre are accident related, and serious cases are generally referred to the GPHC since the relevant equipment, particularly for head trauma, is not available at the Diamond Centre.

The centre also has no space to house patients and

From left, chairperson of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services Dr. Vindhya Persaud makes a point to Dr. Maitee Camacho Vazquez while other doctors look on that too contributes to the number of referrals, Dr Vazquez said.

The doctor is hoping that in the coming years, consideration will be given to significantly expand the centre given the wide area it serves.

As it relates to drug availability, Dr. Vazquez told the committee that the centre has had drug shortages, but it was not bad enough to jeopardise

the functioning of the facility.

“We have some issues with [Materials Management Unit] MMU because they do not have all the medicine.”

The doctor,however,noted that where a specific medication is unavailable, a substitute is used.

She explained that there are medication for surgeries and other treatments, but in cases of non-communicable

diseases, these items are “up and down.”

Construction work is ongoing at the centre, and this too has contributed to a reduction in surgeries and an increase in the referrals to GPHC. Prior to the construction, four surgeries were conducted daily but this has now been reduced to two, and in some cases, three.

Programme to end stigma Mechanisation will paddy pests against ex-prisoners vanquish –– say Berbice business chambers

THE Guyana Prison Service will soon be launching a public education programme to help remove the stigma attached to ex-prisoners, acting Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels revealed.

Samuels said the move was prompted due to the discrimination that ex-prisoners experience when seeking jobs. The program will be launched via a television series where inmates will be given the opportunity to share with the public the training opportunities they are exposed to while in confinement, according to a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA).

“We will be utilising the inmates to allow them to sensitise members of the public why they should not find themselves committing offences that would lead them to come to prison” Samuels was quoted as saying by GINA. According to the GINA report, the acting Director

pointed out that many times what people know about the prison is what they would have heard from uninformed persons or what they would have seen on television via movies. He is of the opinion that once the general public is better educated about what goes on inside the prisons, former inmates would be allowed to contribute meaningfully to society, without being stigmatised.

Samuels said that persons in prison are exposed to both literacy and skills training. Some of the skills training include masonry, carpentry, joinery, electrical installation and landscaping. While there is still some percentage of repeat offenders, Samuels stated that, “our records will show that several persons who would have entered prison and having being exposed to rehabilitative training they have not returned to prison”.

The program will not only educate the public but

Director (ag) of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels also create awareness and some level of guidance to potential offenders, so they can learn from the experiences of prisoners, Samuels noted.

The acting Director stressed that the main mandate of the Guyana Prison Service is to ensure prisoners are rehabilitated and properly reintegrated into society upon release.

THE Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce believe that mechanisation may be the answer to save the rice industry, which has been dogged by paddy bug infestations, among others problems.

A release from the chambers says over the past decade, rice farmers have been lobbying the authorities to move towards mechanisation, pointing out that if this avenue is not pursued, the industry would eventually “shrink” and become “irrelevant as an earner of foreign exchange to Guyana.”

Noting that emigration and alternative jobs have already taken effect, the chambers said mechanisation is needed to replace labour-intensive agronomic processes.

“The picture is becoming clearer. Old ways will have to give way to the new,” the chambers contended, noting that aside from meeting the labour shortage, mechanisation is now seen by rice-growers as a “saviour to the industry.”

Paddy bug infestation has been creating havoc in the industry, and according to the chambers, the best way

to counter this problem is by aerial spraying.

Rice magnate Nand Persaud and Company Limited at Number 36 Village, Corentyne, Berbice has long argued for mechanisation, particular in battling paddy

12 per cent loss to paddy bug infestation, farmers in Region Six stand to lose approximately $1.3 billion this year.

“Each year losses of labour, new diseases and pests and rising production costs see a reduction of acreage in

A rice field partially affected by paddy bug infestation bug infestation.

Paddy bug infestation is a recurring problem that undermines the viability of the industry and the marketability of rice.

According to the chambers, many farmers operate on a thin margin and the infestation has seen acreage cultivated drop to 58,000 from 61,000 acres last year.

Mathematically, the chambers said that with a conservative estimate of only

cultivation,” the chambers said.

In addition, they cited poor dams and little farm extension as contributing factors.

“Definitely, we have the means to improve the rice industry, but what is lacking is the policy,” the chambers said, as they invited the authorities to tour the rice- producing areas in the region to see the situation first-hand.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday April 7, 2017

CPGs celebrate 41st anniversary –– training programmes to be undertaken in several divisions

AS the country celebrates 41 years since the establishment of Community Policing here, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramattan is calling on more communities to join the unit in an effort to reduce crime.

At the same time, the minister highlighted several achievements of the CPGs, including training programs.

He was speaking at a briefing at his office on Brickdam on Wednesday morning. According to him, the training programmes will be extended to Liaison Officers and Rural Constables.

According to Ramjattan, the celebrations this year will take place at

Corentyne Berbice at Division A3, under the theme, “Celebrating 41 years of Partnership, Supporting Reform and Development.”

The activities commenced this week with a Church Service at Tagore Secondary School on April 1 and will conclude on May 27 with a Women’s Conference. Statistically, Rampjattan reported that during the period January to December, 2016 the CPGs conducted (15, 918) vehicular patrols, (5, 729) motor cycle patrols, (1, 521) bicycle patrols, (1, 427) foot patrols, (857) boat patrols and (254) ATV patrols. There were 89 arrests ranging from murders to domestic

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan

violence during the period.

Last year also, the groups provided sports equipment for youth groups as well as sewing machines for Women’s Groups. He said that the membership of CPOG currently consists of 166 groups with a membership of 4,347 persons. Over the years, members were exposed to training in several areas including policing, administration, domestic violence, Trafficking In Persons (TIP) and conflict and anger management.

Community Policing in Guyana commenced in the year 1976 with the objective being to harness the energies of willing members of communities

across Guyana in support of the work of the Police, to achieve a crime-free society, and to be responsive, together with the Police, to the needs of the communities in respect of the necessity to maintain law and order.

The groups were established with the aim of overlooking crime prevention at the community level as well as the protection of public property. The objectives were expanded to embrace development of youth, health consciousness, road safety, environmental enhancement and any other activities of benefit to the community.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday April 7, 2017

Peace Corps volunteers sworn in

THIRTY-EIGHT Peace Corps trainees, representing diverse communities and ethnic groups from the United States, were sworn this week by Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM),U.S. Embassy, Terry Steers-Gonzalez.

nent, within both the health and education sectors saw trainees engaged in field practicums in local schools and health centres.

This further enhances their ability to support the needs and priorities of the communities they will

fascinating and breathtaking natural beauty. This beauty is joined to a vibrant culture, a diverse and rich heritage, and some of the most hospitable and friendly people.”

The Peace Corps was first active in Guyana from

The Peace Corps welcomes the opportunity to work with the people of Guyana and extends its gratitude to the Government and people of Guyana for their hospitality and for the possibility they offer the volunteers

U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM), Terry Steers-Gonzalez; Health Minister Volda Lawrence; Government’s Cultural Policy Advisor Ruel Johnson and other officials with the volunteers The trainees completed 10 weeks of intense technical and cultural training on the Essequibo Coast, living with 38 gracious Guyanese host families.

During their orientation period, trainees were introduced to the Guyanese way of life; learning how to cook local food, negotiate in the market place, and participate in community activities.

The technical compo-

serve. These volunteers make up the 30th group of Peace Corps volunteers to serve in Guyana, complementing a further 70 volunteers already working in diverse communities throughout the country.

They now begin two years of service to the people of Guyana.

In remarks to the volunteers, DCM Steers-Gonzalez said, “Guyana has an irresistible combination of

1966-1971. The agency later returned in 1995 upon the invitation of then President, Dr Cheddi Jagan. Since its establishment, more than 800 American volunteers have served the people of Guyana. United States President, John F Kennedy, created the Peace Corps in March 1961 to provide human resource and technical assistance to developing countries that requested such engagement.

in working together to advance Guyana’s development goals.

Elderly Mabaruma man missing – relatives suspect foul play

ON Sunday last, senior citizen Eustace Marcelino left his home to cut wood in a nearby field at Hubu Hill, Mabaruma, but never returned.

Days later, the 85-year-old man’s relatives discovered his shoes and a cutlass some distance away from his North West District home. He resided opposite the Guyana Defence Force base, Camp Everard, near the Mabaruma airstrip.

They became worried about his safety after information surfaced that a close relative visited the post office in the area one day after he went missing and collected his pension by allegedly forging his signature.

According to a relative, Marcellino had been in a feeble state for months. She explained that one of his relatives would move into his home whenever the time is near for him to collect his old-age pension. She said that the relative was also in the habit of “beating” Marcellino and since his disappearance on April 2, they believe he may have been harmed.

“One of his relatives went and collect his pension the day after he missing and we believe she knew what happen to him,” the man’s relative noted. She said a missing person’s report was made at the police station at Mabaruma, but according to her, ranks there appeared unconcerned about the matter.

“We told them and they say we must keep searching,” the relative noted. She called on the police to question the man’s close relative in relation to his disappearance.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday April 7, 2017

Chronicle springs minister into action THANKS to a photo published in Guyana Chronicle’s Sunday PepperPot, the students and teachers of Dora Primary School, located up the Demerara River are now the beneficiaries of a spanking new landing accompanied by a shed.

In its September 25, 2016 edition, Guyana Chronicle had explained that the students there had little choice other than to use a “rickety ramp” in an effort to get to school on a daily basis.

In the past, they had the option of walking to school, but the track was blocked off by large sand-mining opera-

tions in the area. Hence, their only option was to use a boat.

Inspired by the photo, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson swiftly moved into action. He told Guyana Chronicle on Thursday that shortly after the picture was published, he met with the Ministry’s Sea Defence Department and the teachers of the school.

It was not long before a contract was signed for the landing to be built. It is accompanied by a shed overlooking the Demerara River and a walkway leading to the school. According to the minister, additional works are being done in the area.

Upon learning of this development, Neil Marks, Guyana Chronicle’s former Sunday Editor, who was very instrumental in exposing the plight faced by the students at Dora, expressed his satisfaction.

On his Facebook page he wrote: “A year ago I decided to carry a photo on the front page of the Sunday edition to highlight the plight the children of Dora face in getting to and from school. The teacher was actually afraid that she would be reprimanded if I carried the photo. Photographer Samuel Troy Maughn actually fell, with camera and all, just after

The new landing built by the Public Infrastructure Ministry we took the photo. What is more, we almost turned back from going to Dora because we… couldn’t find the place.

We are all pleased at the result.

This really warms my heart. Thanks Minister David Patterson. This shows that there are those who hold public offices who are

not afraid of the problems in society being highlighted and that they are also willing to do something to fix things.”

Corentyne farmer busted with unlicensed firearm, ammo The rickety ramp once used by the students of Dora Primary School

The gun and ammo which were found in the house

A FARMER is in police custody after an unlicensed firearm was found at his Letter Kenny Village, East Berbice Corentyne home on Wednesday.

Guyana Chronicle confirmed that ranks found an unlicensed .32 pistol with five matching rounds in the house. According to a police source, they received a tip that the farmer was in possession of an illegal weapon and a search was subsequently conducted.

The man was arrested and is currently assisting with investigations. Charges are expected to be laid soon.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday April 7, 2017

Firearm holders urged to renew licences earliest

HOLDERS of firearm licences who have not yet renewed same for this year are being urged by Police Press Officer Jairam Ramlakhan to do so earliest.

According to police sta-

tistics, there are some 4,500 licensed pistols holders, about 3,000 holders of shotgun licences, 347 holders of rifle licences and no more than five licensed dealers.

The amended Firearms

Construction worker accused of defrauding home owner CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday released a 33-year-old construction worker on $50,000 bail after he was charged with two counts of fraudulent conversion.

Claudius Peters of First Street Mocha, East Bank Demerara, was unrepresented and pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The first charge alleged that on July17, 2016 in Georgetown, he received the sum of $274,151.22 from Damalie Wilson to construct the lower flat of her home.However he converted the money to his own use and benefit.

It is further alleged that Claudius Peters August 2, 2016 in Georgetown, Peters received $282,800 also from Wilson to construct the lower flat of her home but he converted the money to his own use.

The court heard that Peters is willing to repay the complainant; he told the court that he had $100,000 in his possession to hand over to the woman. The Chief Magistrate then suggested that the accused speak with the Prosecutor.

Police Prosecutor, Alwyn Moore made no objection to bail which was granted by the Chief Magistrate in the sum of $50,000. Peters will return to court on April 24, 2017 before Magistrate Dylon Bess.

TSU rank on fraud charges

A POLICE Constable was granted $30,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on two fraud related charges on Thursday.

Constable David Singh, who is attached to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), pleaded not guilty to the first charge which alleged that on January 26, 2017, at Penny Lane, South Ruimveldt Garden, Georgetown,with intent to defraud, he pretended he would pay $6,000 per day to hire motor car PPP 9900 for 40 days from Troy Jacobs, knowing it was a false promise.

He further denied that between February 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016, at Eccles New Scheme, East Bank Demerara, having received $400,000 on the account of Latchman Mohabir from Rajindra Constable David Singh Harrychan, he fraudulently converted the said money to his own use and benefit.

Attorney, Patrice Henry, requested that Singh, who resides at Eccles New Housing Scheme, be placed on self-bail since he reimbursed both complainants. Police Prosecutor, Inspector Alwyn Moore did not oppose bail for Singh and noted that he is still on active duty in the Guyana Police Force.

The Chief Magistrate granted Singh $15,000 bail on each charge and transferred the matter to Magistrate Leron Daly for April 21, 2017.

Act 2016 makes provision for a range of fees in relation to shotguns, pistols, revolvers and rifles. The amendment secures a hike in firearm licences fees.

The fee for a shotgun licence has increased from $2000 to $5000; for pistol and revolver licences the fee has moved from $5000 to $25,000; the fee for rifles has jumped from $7,500 to $40,000; and dealers’ licence fee is now $150,000,up from $20,000.

These increases are expected to take effect from May 1.

Public Security Minister,Khemraj Ramjattan had noted that the granting of

firearm licences is a threetiered process, which requires resources. The increases, he said, are intended to recoup some of the expenses of the process.

He maintained that the increases are not “formidable” enough to cause a big problem for licensed firearm holders and applicants as they, especially in the categories of rifles, pistols and revolvers, are required to be persons who deal with a lot of money.

Shotgun holders, who are generally farmers and hunters, have only been asked to pay an increase from $2,000 to $5,000, which is, according to the minister, not such an “exorbitant increase”.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday April 7, 2017

Fmr murder accused on bail for wounding

FORMER murder accused, Terrence Taijpaul Narine, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, charged with felonious wounding.

The 47-year-old of Newtown, Kitty,George-

town denied that on January 1, 2017, at Stabroek Market, he unlawfully and maliciously inflicted grievous bodily harm on Sigbert Fraser.

Police Prosecutor, Alwyn Moore told the court that Narine used an iron rod to beat Fraser, which resulted in lacerations

about his body and a fractured arm. The Prosecutor did not object to bail but requested that the defendant be placed on substantial bail.

According to the Prosecutor, Narine was released from prison in 2013 after serving 30 years imprisonment. However, the unrep-

resented accused told the court that he was sentenced to death in the High Court but won the appeal after which he was released.

The Chief Magistrate released Narine on $15,000 bail and ordered that he reports to the Brickdam police station

daily. Narine will return to court on April 19, 2017 when the matter will be called before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

Pork-knocker remanded on illegal ammo, cocaine charges A PORK-KNOCKER was remanded to prison on Thursday by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan for the illegal possession of ammunition and narcotics trafficking.

Terrence Curry, 39, of Rosemary Lane, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown was unrepresented and pleaded not guilty to

both charges. Particulars of the first charge alleged that on April 4, 2017 at his Rosemary Lane home, Curry had in his possession .32 ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence at the time.

It is further alleged that on the same day at the said location, Curry had 173 grams of cocaine in his pos-

session for the purpose of trafficking. Police Prosecutor, Alwyn Moore explained to the court that the ballistic report on the ammo and the analysis report on the cocaine are still outstanding.

Bail was denied and the accused will re-appear in court on April 26, 2017 before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday April 7, 2017

First Lady hails work of GBCHA on health awareness

FIRST Lady, Mrs Sandra Granger, on Thursday said she was pleased that the Guyana Business Coalition on Health Awareness (GBCHA) has expanded its mandate to include issues such as mental health, in keeping with its overall aim to foster positive lifestyle choices among its members and in the wider society.

The First Lady was invited to the GBCHA Breakfast Meeting, which was held under the theme, “Our Health, Our Business” in the Ballet Room at Cara Lodge. In an invited comment, Mrs Granger said that she was interested in learning about all of the areas in which the GBCHA is working as topics such as diet and health lifestyle choices form part of the core syllabus of most of her programmes

Minister of Social Protection, Ms Amna Ally; Dr William Adu-Krow, Country Representative, PAHO/ WHO; Dr Util Richmond-Thomas, Director, Mental Health Unit, Ministry of Public Health; Ms Donna Roberts-Benjamin, Chairperson, GBCHA board; Mr Parvesh Bhola, executive board member, GBCHA; Ms Enid Thom-Alleyne, Programme Manager at GBCHA; Mr Andrew Astwood, Honorary Secretary, GBCHA board, also attended the meeting. aimed at empowering women.

“I was very interested to learn all the areas in which they [are] working and providing training and

counselling, to members of the business community, particularly those which are members of the said coalition. I’m very happy to see that they have expand-

ed to address issues such as mental health, domestic violence and of course, the health issues that affect people… We have to engage in lifestyle changes,

change our diets, eliminate all the oils and fats that we tend to imbibe and live longer and more healthier lives through these changes in diet, responsible use

of alcohol and, of course, minimal use of tobacco,” the First Lady said.

The GBCHA was founded in 2008 with the aim of providing HIV/ AIDS awareness education in the workplace. In 2015, it expanded its mandate to include services in general health awareness in keeping with its overall goal of fostering compassionate leadership in the workplace and communities.

The GBCHA provides technical assistance and mobilises the business sector in their response to HIV/AIDS and other non-communicable diseases, with assistance from their partners as well as from agencies such as the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO). (Ministry of the Presidency)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 7, 2017

She didn’t win SHE didn’t win, but when former “Guyana Top Model”, Nkechi Vaughn took on this year’s Caribbean Next Top Model Cycle 3 and finished in the final three, the St Stanislaus College alum did Guyana proud.

CNTM grand season finale aired last Monday on Grenada’s Flow1 network, and when all the models had posed their last pose, and strutted their last strut, it was Jamaica’s Shamique Simms who walked away with the title.

But it was Vaughn that had Guyana’s full focus and support. Week after week, as the herd continued to thin, Vaughn continued to showcase she had what it takes to make the cut.

At 5 feet 7.5 inches, Vaughn was one of the shortest models in the competition, but that girl still stood tall above all the rest.

“The experience was out of this world! It was

the good, bad and ugly, but I loved every minute of it, and would do it again in a heartbeat,” Vaughn told The Buzz when we caught with her earlier this week.

Though most Guyanese missed getting to see the 21-year-old (Guyana does not air Flow1) model cum aspiring doctor srut her stuff, Vaughn was feeling the love on social media, where many were keeping up with her week-to-week progression in the competition.

SHOT IN GRENADA The competition was shot entirely in Grenada, initially pitting 14 girls from across eight Caribbean nations against each other. Girls were eliminated across 14 episodes, with new episodes aired each Monday, and the first two episodes airing January 30.

The girls were judged by a line-up that included former Miss Universe

Wendy Fitzwilliam; designer Socrates McKinney; and photographer Pedro Virgil. And they always just saw something in Vaughn that set her apart from the rest.

Vaughn says she certainly took a lot away from the experience, and now has a more comprehensive look at just how tough the life of a model truly can be.

“All that glitters definitely ain’t gold! Being a model isnt easy!” she said.

“Yes, there’s the glamorous side; the after- product, but a lot goes into getting there. There’re sacrifices, discipline, passion and commitment; you must have all those traits if you want to survive.

“During the competition, we shot every single day for hours, and basically ran on little sleep. But I wanted it! I didnt care how much sleep I lacked; I was going to look my best with a pretty smile for the next challenge!”

A LITTLE OVERWHELMING There were a few moments, though, when things got a little overwhelming for Vaughn. There was one snippet of Vaughn breaking down in tears during Episode Four, when it came her turn to find out if she was through to the next round, or about to be axed. Vaughn told us a little about what went on in that moment.

“I was called out last for assessment, something that I was not accustomed to and I panicked! Especially since the challenge was an under-water shoot and I wasn’t sure if the photographer got the shots.

“I was one of the last persons shot; all the sunlight was gone and I didn’t feel like I was in sync with him.

“The judges didn’t seem to think it was a terrible pic though,” she said.

--but she didn’t lose either

Guyana’s Nkechi Vaughn who finished in the CNTM top three (Photocredit: CNTM)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 7, 2017

Manari beckons Miss Kids Fest 592 AOne Events presents...

ON April 16, event planners, AOne Events will host the Kids Fest 592 pageant where eight gorgeous little girls will participate in an exercise geared at building their confidence, and preparing them for the world ahead.

It’s not as serious as it

--as Rupununi Music & Arts Festival heads to Lethem

lika said.

“Introducing them to pageantry can give them exposure, and help them to be bold. While some girls are brave, there are other girls who aren’t; so we hope that when they see little girls doing this kind of thing, it will inspire them,” she added.

This is the first pageant

Akeelah Edwards, aged 10

also get to showcase a costume of their choice on stage.

Most importantly, however, Malika said that though there will ultimately be one winner, every contestant will be given prizes. “We want everyone to feel like a winner, so they will all receive prizes and other goodies,”

Kaylah Colymore, aged 10

Maya Bacchus, aged 4

“We wanted to do a Tiaras and Toddlers concept, but Natalya is so into fashion and modeling, that she wanted little girls to find themselves at a very young age. And we Angel Kyte, aged 5

sounds. In fact, co-coordinator of the show, Ms. Malika

that will be hosted, and the pair intends to make it an annual occurrence.

This pageant has eight

Kaira Latchman, aged 5 Trinity Greaves, aged 6

Harmony Davy, aged 5

Rupan explained that the pageant has in store many fun aspects for the girls.

Speaking to The Buzz, she said that the idea is really the brainchild of her sister, Natalya Thomas, who is the proprietor of AOne Events.

decided to host the pageant,” she said.

But it won’t just be a pageant. In fact, the young girls will be exposed to training sessions in public speaking and other skills, which are being conducted by trained professionals.

“We wanted them to start at an early age, so that, as they grow older, they can be more confident in themselves and be purpose- driven,” Ma-

Akayla Spellen, aged 5

contestants who will compete in two categories: The talent segment and a Disney Princess Gown segment. In the spirit of Easter, the girls will

she said.

The overall winner will, however, receive a crown, hampers, as well as one year sponsorship for lessons at the Pure Masters Academy, sponsorship for swimming and dancing classes and several other prizes.

The coordinaters are also hosting a Miss Photogenic contest for the contestants on their Facebook Page, AOne Events. Voting for this contest ends April 10.

Young filmmaker launches drive for ‘Daisy’ LAST year, we followed Guyanese filmmaker Yaphet Jackman on his journey to complete his film, Solomon Dasko as part of his MFA Programme in Film at the Ohio University.

It was a bumpy ride, with Jackman admitting that the hardest part of his journey being the fundraising aspect. Nevertheless, Yaphet is at it again as he seeks to produce his thesis film, Daisy.

During a live session on Facebook, Yaphet, who is well known for his work in the production and hosting of Upscale Poetry in the days

of its prime, talked about his experience studying for his Masters at Ohio State U, as well as the importance of monetary support in his quest.

“It is a great experience that I have been having here so far. The lessons that I have learnt to this day have all equipped me to challenge and develop myself as a filmmaker, and to understand the process of what it entails,” Yaphet said. “Before, filmmaking was a mystical thing for me; I had no clue as to the inner workings of film and what it is, but now that I have been

exposed and immersed in it, it is great.”

But, more importantly, the task at hand is to raise funds to produce his thesis project, which will serve as a major contributor to his final grade, and his ability to graduate. Together with his writing partner, who is also an international student, Yaphet hopes that the project will continue on time, and that the finished product will showcase their filmmaking and writing strengths.

The short film is directed

by Jackman, and written by Viviana Goelkel, his class-

mate from Colombia, and tells the story of an 11-year-old girl who lives in a trailer with her younger brother and their single-parent mother.

Daisy is a good runner, and is training hard for her first championship. Her dreams are pretty similar to the ones of other children wherever they live. But she struggles to have a life where water, food and heat are not an issue. Although Daisy does not conform easily to what people expect her to be, she couldn’t find her way out Turn to page 21

American storyteller, JJ Kent doing his thing at the opening of the 2015 festival

AFTER three happy years at Rock View, and following discussions with colleagues in the government, sponsors, local residents and other major stakeholders, the Rupununi Music and Arts Festival Team has announced that they are moving the event to a new site, at the Manari Ranch, near Lethem, this year.

The organisers have announced that the movement of location for the show, which is scheduled to be held from November 10-12, will enable the event to develop the site into an eco-friendly cultural space over the next few years. “Our vision is to create a ‘Festival Village’, which, in time, will become a functional cultural oasis, offering a range of cultural, educational, arts and sporting opportunities and become a resource for the Region and the country, throughout the year,” they said in a release.

Additionally, the town of Lethem, which is 20 minutes away from the location, will provide for more accommodation for patrons to commute to the Festival daily. However, the organisers have said that the Manari location will also feature a camping site for persons wishing to stay at the venue itself.

“There is much to be done in terms of infrastructure on the new site, but the Festival will undoubtedly ‘add value’ to Guyana and the Region, and in the longer-term create tangible economic, educational and tourism benefits for the country,” they said.

The Rupununi Music & Arts Festival is an outdoor camping music event taking place in the lush grasslands of the Amazon in Guyana, South America.

The event was hosted in Annai for the first three years, and usually lasts three days, allowing persons to unwind and enjoy traditional, folk and contemporary music in a stress-free environment.

Its spirit seeks to invoke a chilling weekend, celebrating the beauty of human existence.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 7, 2017

Memories of road tramp --and ‘de steelband museum’ “INSSSIDE! Outssside!”

This was the chant of the Steel Band tramp, when road bands took to the streets of Georgetown, with the music of the year lifting spirits and casting a grass root generation into the embrace of the enchanting rhythms of Steel pan.

This was the chant of row-after-row of youths, male and female, with hands embracing each other’s shoulders; with strong bodies unpolluted by addictions tramping for hours, high on music outpoured by tireless steel-pan men, through street-after-street.

Even the timid danced

on their bridges, because the multitude of the tramp were at times the toughest this city had bred, and our colonial prejudices for the culture of the steel band and its folk still haunted our social perspectives in the 70s.

The steelband cemented a camaraderie that was loyal by district and to its panmen; that loyalty was

needed along the route of the tramp to muscle the wheeled platforms that housed the pans and panmen.

Young folks would know the day before that Silvertones, through Leopold Street, or Invaders from Charlotte Street, or Atlantic Symphony from Campbellville would take the streets and from what time, more likely after work.

NO SURPRISE Many of the tramps continued in the workdays after Mashramani.

That the road band was so important rather than the sound systems that replaced them should not come as a surprise.

The steel band, the football team, the boxing gym, the weightlifting-bodybuilding gym, and under the house where the string-band practised were among other skilled services; the essence of a grassroot community a few decades ago.

But it was the steel pan that introduced and crossed social barriers with the music that those barriers attempted to attribute to themselves.

For many talented grassroot children, their first encounter with concert, jazz and classical music was not the movies nor Madam Ulita Anthony, James Sydney or Rashid Osman on the radio, featuring a classical piece on that specific programme. It was in the pan yard that they would musically converse with Duke Ellington, Beethoven and Puccini, adding to the jute box, punch box and the upgrade sound system’s rich reservoir of popular music across the seasons.

Steel pan culture and its heroes, ‘Pemya’ Rudy Bishop, Camo Williams and the eternal Roy Geddes among a host of others kept that

flame alive.

ROAD BANDS OF YESTERYEAR The Road Bands of yesteryear: Tripoli, Quo Vadis, Silvertones, GUYBA Invaders are all gone.

The names of today’s steel bands have been removed from that active stage of people engagement to the point that we hardly know their names, because, like our national festivals, they have become annual features: Exotic, appreciated, but seriously underused.

It will require management to return the steel pan to the active consciousness of the people; management that can sensibly merge art forms with justification to reach and stimulate both cerebral faculties and emotional senses. This can be done, as the facets are there, but just not yet envisioned on the same platform.

Nothing, however, in the interim can fill that void, but the educational experience of visiting a small museum and absorbing the explanations and exciting journeys offered from someone who knows.

THE PAN MUSEUM One such place; in fact, the only such place that exists for steel pan is located in Roxanne Burnham Gardens.

This is the Pan Museum created by pan icon, Roy Geddes, and it should be one of the mandatory places schools should visit, and then write compositions on their experience.

This Museum needs expanding; pan is too important a cultural experience for the State not to work with Geddes and bridge the

incredible efforts of this brother in recognition of what he has housed there.

I lament how this country procrastinates opportunities like the existence of the only pool of steel band history assembled in this country at the museum, without planning for its continuance when this brother is no longer there.

The year 2017 is the first of the next fifty years of building home-grown mental and physical landmarks. The youths of my day, including myself, who tramped to Sparrow’s “Ah come out to mass” in 1976 will not be there to tell that pan story in fifty years, a steel pan story that shaped communities. My anxieties are driven by daily experiences that alert me to the necessity of recording the physical timeline in its profound relevance.

Last year, our Jubilee Year, for Emancipation I suggested at a meeting that the children’s parade should be accompanied by a Steel Orchestra Road Band. I then learnt that no such thing exists anymore.

Fact is, the youngster at the Music School possibly never saw a road band in the streets of Georgetown.

Within my lifetime, we are forgetting who we were yesterday.

If this persists, somebody will write a history of who we are, within the social spaces between the significant dates that we record to memory; in fifty years, they will remember the events of 1947 and 1966, and 1970 and 2015. But, will they know what transpired socially between those years?

The Roy Geddes Museum is here today. Lest we forget, let’s ensure that it endures the seasons productively.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 7, 2017

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Young filmmaker launches....

From Page 19

without the support of others.

EASTER is just around the bend, and in Guyana, it’s all about coming together!

So, as the festivities start to roll out from this weekend, a lot of the events are highly family-oriented, with a specific focus on activities for the children!

But that’s not to say there’s nothing for the adults. Cricket lovers! The Pakistan and West Indies are finally here, after waiting for them for oh so long!

Well, when you’re done with the matches and are ready to chat up a storm about that game, the Palm Court just might be the place to be with all their cricket-themed parties and beer specials.

And you can relax on the admission, cause it’s free entry all weekend long!

TODAY

This week, the Tower Suites Poolside Afterwork Lime is taking your taste buds on a vacation to Trinidad!

Relax after a long week at work and taste some of Trinidad’s signature cuisines at just $2,000 a serving, buffet style!

So it’s Eat, Drink and Lime this Friday, ‘TRINI’ STYLE!

Cricket is in the air, and over at the Palm Court, they’re setting a sports mood with “First Innings Cricket After Party”.

It’s going to be Stag Beer Special from 17:00hrs, as DJ Ryan and Selector Carl provide the music mix!

Admission: Everyone FREE ALL NIGHT! TOMORROW

It’s “Seductive Saturday” at the Palm Court, and they’re celebrating it with Heineken Bucket Specials, starting from 20:00hrs!

Selector Carl is back at the turntable, and he’s joined by DJ Small!

Admission: Everyone FREE ALL NIGHT!

Kick off the Easter Holiday with some FUN at the Massy Stores Easter Fun Day! Loads of activities in the offing, including onsite DJing, Kite and Basket Desigining Competition, Bonnet Competition, a Kids Easter Parade, and oh so much more.

Also win amazing Easter Prizes, Hampers and Massy Tokens! The fun begins at 10:00hrs, and the judging starts at 14:00hrs.

Location: Massy stores at Providence.

Afternoon Delight Tea & Easter Fashion Event is on at the recently opened New Thriving Chinese Restaurant branch at Providence.

It’s time to enjoy sugar, spice, and style with a touch of sax. Part of the proceeds will go towards assisting women’s projects. There will also be a special prize for the person with the most creative hat!

The “One Awesome Worship Experience” hits the West Side this weekend. The entourage, led by the psalmist Samuel Medas, has been touring the country. They’ve been to Berbice, Linden and now it’s the West Side’s turn as they touch down at the Leonora Technical Institute Auditorium.

It’s time for an evening of exciting and colourful praise and worship in the arts, featuring all of your artistes from The Reveal Album, namely: Christina Richardson, Yonnick Adolph, Yadah, Melissa Vandeyar, Disi, Anesa Slater, Carl Damon, and a few other Guest Ministers like Pas. Sean Sobers.

Dont miss it! Tickets: $500.

SUNDAY

The Bunny Fun continues at the Promenade Gardens as Everything Makes Craft brings you a “Bunny Fun Day”.

It’s going to be fun-filled day of family- oriented activities for all ages! There’s going to be the hat and basket-making station, an Easter Egg hunt, egg relay games, sock hop races and bunnies galore!

Children under 5 are FREE! Adults pay $500, and older children $1,500.

And with every purchase of a child’s ticket, that child is entitled to arts & craft supplies, promotional give-aways and a photo op with Miss. Rabbit!

If you’re up in Berbice then you can check out the Gymkhana and Family Fun Day at the Port Mourant Race Track from 12 noon. Enjoy Horse cart races, running donkey race, motorcycle racing, buns eating, beer drinking and free rides for the kids! Lives performances from Bunty Singh and others!

The Juvenile Department of The National Library will be hosting its 4th Annual Easter Parade and Fun Day, which starts off at 09:30 a.m! The Parade runs from the National Library East into Church Street, North into Carmichael Street, West into Lamaha Steet, South into Main Street and ending right back at the National Library’s Compound! Refreshments and games will be featured!

The cricket craze continues at Palm Court with “HOWZDAT Cricket After Party”! And this time it’s the Corona Beer Bucket Specials! The specials begin from 5:00pm! DJ Ryan & DJ Anisah will be on deck! Admission: Everyone FREE ALL NIGHT!

ABOUT LOVE AND STRUGGLE This is a story of love and struggle in deep America.

Shooting for the film is expected to start in early May, and Yaphet is seeking to raise US$5,000 in funds to cover production costs for himself and skeleton crew of 10.

Much like his last film, a GoFundMe page has been established, but will seek to find another way for Guyanese supporters who do not have access to Online payment methods.

“Last year I had an account at Republic Bank where you could’ve deposited funds in Guyana, but I don’t know that we would be doing that this year,” Yaphet said, adding: “But we are going to find creative ways for you to lend your support, if you are so interested.”

Meanwhile, he says that he is still involved in pre-production for the film that has been ongoing since December last year, and explained that a good plan helps for a smooth production of the film.

As he begins his journey

Yaphet Jackman

towards the completion of his MFA, Yaphet is also very grateful for the support shown by persons both at home and abroad, and explained that he will continue to keep them posted on his progress.

“The people who are still in support of me, I give thanks for that; it blesses my heart. I will continue to show people every step of the process to keep people informed. I also appreciate any help that has

been given,” he said.

Even as he wraps up his Master’s programme there, Yaphet said that he also has plans of returning to Guyana to work on local projects soon as the production of local content is something he is passionate about.

Persons wishing to donate to the project Online can visit the GoFundMe page at: https://www.gofundme.com/daisyshortfilm

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 7, 2017

Petra Organisation supports WDFA U-17 Tournament PETRA Organisation, as part of its stated mission to assist in the development of football within communities, listed the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) as the latest recipient of its goodwill when member Mark Alleyne made a presentation of balls and the winning trophy, during a simple ceremony that was conducted at the Ministry of Education ground on

Wednesday.

The items were presented to WDFA secretary Adrian Giddings in the presence of Petra Organisation co-Director Troy Mendonca and Women’s Football Association president Charmine Wade, during the staging of the semifinals of this year’s Milo 18-and-Under Schools football tournament.

Mendonca, speaking at the occasion, said that the

Rahane, Smith clinch thriller for Pune

Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) new captain Steve Smith (L) and player Ajinkya Rahane ONE over can often change the course of a T20 game and yesterday it seemed as if Ashok Dinda had bowled that over. It was the most expensive 20th over in all IPL matches. It cost Rising Pune Supergiants 30 runs.

On another occasion, it could have cost them the match as well. On this occasion, however, Pune had already done just enough good work with the ball to keep Mumbai Indians, despite that 30-run over, down to a total of 184.

On a good batting pitch that seemed to quicken up under lights, it tested Pune’s batting, but proved just short of a winning total. Ajinkya Rahane set the chase up with 60 at a strike rate of 176.47, and Steven Smith steered them home with an ice-cool, unbeaten 84 off 54 balls.

The equation came down to 10 off three balls, but Smith wasn’t going to be beaten - he finished the match with successive sixes off Kieron Pollard.

If there was one decisive factor that separated the

two sides, it may have been the composition of the two bowling attacks. Pune went into the match with two leg-spinners in Imran Tahir and Adam Zampa and a purveyor of stump-tostump slow-medium cutters in Rajat Bhatia.

These three ended up with combined figures of 6 for 68 in 10 overs. In the other ten overs, Pune’s three faster bowlers - Dinda, Deepak Chahar and Ben Stokes combined to take one wicket and concede 114.

Tahir and Bhatia, in particular, had profited from the slightly two-paced nature of the pitch, where they got some balls to skid on and others to stop on the batsman. When the quicker bowlers bowled, however, the ball came on to the bat far more uniformly.

Mumbai had an attack full of quicks and short on bowlers who could take the pace off the ball. They had left out Harbhajan Singh, their most capped player, and picked only one frontline spinner in Krunal Pandya.

gesture represents what the organisation stands for: which is to help further the development of the sport and to foster better camaraderie among the various communities.

Giddings, in his response, thanked the organisation for its support which, according to him, will be used for the staging of the Association’s Under-17 tournament, due to commence shortly.

Petra’s member Marl Alleyne (second left) hands over the items to WDFA secretary Adrian Giddings in the presence of Petra’s Troy Mendonca and Women’s president Charmine Wade on Wednesday.

Ince-Carvalhal takes surprise victory against Low FOLLOWING his tear down of Gianni Carpenter on Tuesday, Samuel Ince-Carvalhal returned the following night and took a come-from-behind victory against Rebecca Low in category ‘B’ of the Toucan Industries Junior Skills level squash tournament.

Makeda Harding is also up to two wins as well, after she defeated Sarah Lewis, and Maya Collins.

As play in the tournament continued at the Georgetown Club squash courts, the night saw matches in six of the eight categories being contested, on the third night of competition.

Apart from category ‘B’ matches also continued in ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘F, ‘G’ and ‘H’ categories.

Demonstrating an improved form, Ince-Carvalhal secured his second win,

in as many games, by overcoming Low in four games ending 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-3.

Against Carpenter he won 11-9, 11-9, 11-7. Carpenter, however, bounced back on Wednesday and won 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 against Lewis.

On Tuesday Low had picked up a straight-set win against Maya Collins triumphing 11-5, 11-6, 11-7, in her first match of the tournament.

Harding then dealt Collins her second defeat when she took her out 11-3, 11-7, 11-4.

Over in category ‘C’ Madison Fernandes is the first player to get to three wins, after she played to 11-7, 11-5, 15-13 against Lucas Jonas.

Dominic Collins succeeded against Jason Gomes 11-8, 11-9, 11-4, while Abosaide Cadogan continued her winning ways by whip-

Makeda Harding Rebecca Low ping Aliyah Persaud 12-14, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5.

Results for the other matches are as follows: CATEGORY D Zachary Persaud beat Haley Carpenter 11-7, 1210, 11-4.

Mohyryan Baksh mauled Nathan Rahaman 11-2, 11-2, 11-3.

CATEGORY F Osmond Mack defeated Beau Fernandes 11-7, 8-11, 11-9.

Te i j a E d w a r d s trounced Isabella Ramjohn 11-4, 11-6.

GROUP G Angel Rahim bettered Lucas Persaud 11-9, 16-14.

Aishani Persaud beat Rayden Persaud 11-6, 11-6.

Dhiren Persaud got the better of Rayad Boyce 11-8, 10-12, 14-12.

Lucas Persaud beat Rayden Persaud 9-11, 112, 11-7.

CATEGORY H Joshua Verway thrashed Grant Fernandes 11-1, 11-2 Noah Rahaman triumphed over Christiana Fernandes 14-12, 5-11, 11-8.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 7, 2017

Pakistan great Misbah to retire after West Indies series THOUGH leaving with a sense of some regret, Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq spoke of satisfaction after announcing his retirement from Test cricket.

Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq will bring the curtain down on his astonishing international career after the upcoming series against West Indies.

Misbah will retire two weeks short of his 43rd birthday after a 16-year Test career, in which he briefly led his country to the top of the

rankings in the longest format last year.

Misbah had hinted at his impending retirement for much of the last two years but a 3-0 Test series defeat in Australia - in which Misbah averaged just 12.66 and has his leadership openly questioned - is thought to have prompted his decision.

The middle-order batsman emerged as the team’s leader in the aftermath of the 2010 spot-fixing controversy, while Pakistan have not played a home Test since the 2009

terror attack on Sri Lanka’s touring team.

Tensions between India and Pakistan have also kept the great rivals apart in the fiveday game since 2007, leaving Misbah feeling somewhat unfulfilled.

“Only regret is that I never captained the Test team in Pakistan and not captaining against India,” he told reporters in Lahore.

“I had some unfinished business, but that’s how life is. I had a dream of winning the World Cup for Pakistan,

Misbah-ul-Haq

but then I also had a dream of captaining the team in Pakistan. However, that is how life is. You don’t get everything you ask for.”

After leading Pakistan to

Misbah-ul-Haq

a strong 2-0 series win over England in the UAE, Misbah’s side earned a superb 2-2 draw against Alastair Cook’s side with the captain scoring a brilliant hundred at Lord’s, which

he famously celebrated with a set of push-ups.

The series draw took Pakistan to number one in the ICC rankings and will live long in Misbah’s memory.

He added: “(My) favourite moments were winning the Lord’s and Oval Tests, including the hundred I made at Lord’s.

“I’ve seen many ups and downs during my career. I was dropped from the team, played poorly as well at times.

But then I had some great moments too where we became the number one Test team in the world. So overall, I am satisfied with my performance.”

ODI and Twenty20 captain Sarfraz Ahmed is expected to take over from Misbah.

“We should not put pressure on Sarfraz; instead we should support him,” said Misbah. “I also believe that there should be only one captain, so all the players can support him.”

Cavs reclaim top seed from Celtics, Westbrook misses triple-double REIGNING NBA champions the Cleveland Cavaliers reclaimed the top seed in the east after beating the Boston Celtics 11491 on Wednesday.

The Cleveland Cavaliers swung the battle of the Eastern Conference back in their favour with victory over the Boston Celtics, while Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook missed out on a record-breaking triple-double.

Westbrook posted 45 points for the Thunder in their 103-100 win against the Memphis Grizzlies but he fell a rebound short of breaking Oscar Robertson’s single-season triple-double record.

The Golden State Warriors made it 13 successive victories and clinched the Western Conference by downing the Phoenix Suns 120-111, while the San Antonio Spurs suffered a shock 102-95 loss at home to the Los Angeles Lakers.

LEBRON DOMINATES AGAINST CELTICS The Cavs needed a big performance from their star

and they got it. In Wednesday’s blockbuster showdown in Boston, LeBron James put up 36 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two blocks.

The win put Cleveland a game ahead of Boston for the top seed in the conference with four games to play and also secured the season series 3-1 in the Cavs’ favour. Isaiah Thomas led the Celtics with 26 points.

WESTBROOK HAS TO WAIT FOR RECORD It was a case of so close but yet so far for Westbrook, who missed out on a 42nd triple-double.

Seeking to eclipse Robertson’s triple-double record, Westbrook had 45 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

WARRIORS EXTEND STREAK AS CURRY STARS It is 13 games and counting for the red-hot Warriors.

And the Warriors had reigning MVP Stephen Curry to thank after he had 42 points and 11 assists. Klay Thompson (22 points) was the only

other Warriors player in double digits.

DISAPPOINTING SPURS FALL The Lakers led all night as they downed the Spurs in San Antonio, who trailed by as many as 26 points in a game which ended their eight-match winning streak against the Lakers.

ROCKETS SECURE THIRD SEED, LOWRY LEADS RAPTORS The Houston Rockets made sure of the third seed in the Western Conference with a 110-104 win at home to the Denver Nuggets.

K y l e L o w r y ’s d o u ble-double saw the Toronto Raptors past the Detroit Pistons 105-102, the Miami Heat accounted for the Charlotte Hornets 112-99, while the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Dallas Mavericks 112-101.

CELTICS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK After falling behind the Cavs, the Celtics were away to the Atlanta Hawks yesterday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 7, 2017

Chase blank Sir Leon Lessons; Morgan overcome Masters

By Stephan Sookram A GOLIATH clash between Chase Academic Foundation and Morgan Learning Centre has been set up for the final of this year’s Petra-organised Milo-sponsored Schools U-18 football tournament at the Ministry of Education ground.

Following Wednesday evening’s semi-finals at the same venue, both teams had vast paths to their spot and only time will tell who the winner of the tournament will be.

Chase, playing the feature game against Sir Leon Lessons, were on the attack from the get-go, with several

enterprising runs that were kept out by the keeper.

They used their speed and tenacity to keep the ball in the Leon half for most of the first half, and came up empty-handed.

The best chance of the half came after Job Caesar latched on to a through ball when he was rushing into the half but before the shot could be taken, he was brought down in the box by a questionable tackle.

Nonetheless, the Chase side continued to press on and looked the more likely to score, even when the half ended with the game scoreless.

But Leon’s defensive

wall begun to show cracks and all it took in the second half was Caesar cutting in from the right side of the field to finally seal the goal and put the Chase side ahead in the 67th minute much to the pleasure of their fans who flocked the ground.

Leon seemed to now gradually dispose of their defensive mind and waded into the Chase half, their closest effort of the game pushed off target by the diving hands of the goalkeeper.

However, it was all over just before the whistle as Caesar made it 2-0 in the 90+1 sending Chase fans into jubilation and Leon’s fans sulking home.

Yassin for elite panel discussion PRESIDENT of the Guyana Olympic Association, K. Juman-Yassin departed Guyana earlier this week for London, England to be part of a panel to discuss Sports and Sustainable Development.

Juman-Yassin is included in one of two elite teams of panelists to argue for and against the motion: ‘Corruption in elite sport undermines the potential to promote development and peace through community sports’.

The discussion is organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. A veteran sport administrator and former Chief Magistrate Juman-Yassin is on the team arguing for the

English Racing Tips Aintree 08:40 hrs Thomas Campbell 09:20 hrs Mount Mews 09:50 hrs Whisper 10:25 hrs Sub Lieutenant 11:05 hrs Bright New Dawn 11:40 hrs The Worlds End 12:15 hrs Black Op Leicester 09:00 hrs Straight Ash 09:30 hrs Dontforgettocall 10:05 hrs Evening Attire 10:40 hrs Glassy Water 11:15 hrs Tobacco Road 11:50 hrs Present Tense 12:25 hrs Infiniti

motion. Other members include Mark Cutajar of Malta and Peace Proscovia of Uganda.

Arguments against the motion would be led by

The Right Honourable Lord Bates, Minister of State at the Department for International Development in the United Kingdom. Lord Bates would be supported

by Professor Cora Burnett of South Africa and Trinidadian Janine Thornhill.

Other topics to be discussed are: Strengthening sports for development and peace, sport integrity policy coherence, strengthening sport integrity and balancing the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development in and through sport policy.

The GOA president is a guest of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.

Sedgefield 09:10 hrs What a Game 09:40 hrs Cesar Et Rosalie 10:15 hrs Taws 10:50 hrs Our Thomas 11:25 hrs Master Burbidge 12:00 hrs Whatdoesthefoxsay 12:30 hrs Nicki’s Nipper

Irish Racing Tips Dundalk 12:55 hrs Royal Diplomat 13:25 hrs Go Kart 13:55 hrs Rubenesque 14:25 hrs Zabalan 14:55 hrs Tennesse Waltz 15:25 hrs Ligeti 15:55 hrs Temesek Star

South Africa Racing Tips Greyville 11:25 hrs Roy Is Slow 12:00 hrs Burnt Cherry 12:35 hrs Uprise 13:10 hrs Figaro 13:50 hrs Celtic Captain 14:25 hrs Silver Willow 15:00 hrs Bagger Vance 15:30 hrs Touch Wood

American Racing Tips Aqueduct Race 1 Madam Aamoura Race 2 Celtic Chaos Race 3 Kate Is a Ten Race 4 Curious Cal Race 5 Mastic Race 6 Are We Not Men Race 7 Donwell Race 8 Hot City Girl

President of the Guyana Olympic Association K. Juman-Yassin

In the earlier game, Morgan Learning Centre overcame Masters Academy 2-1 thanks to Daniel Floyd (18th) and Chris Macey (49th).

Mario Eastman’s 80th minute goal was the only scored for Masters and they will be ruing the referee’s decision to disallow a goal

in the 85th due to a handball infringement The final and third-place playoff is set for Sunday, April 9, at the same venue from 17:00hrs where the winners will take home $500 000 to go towards a school project and the championship trophy.

Second-, third- and fourth-placed teams will collect $300 000, $200, 00 and $100 000 respectively for a project of the school’s choice.

The tournament is sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health under the Theme ‘Stop the Violence’.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 7, 2017

‘Green Machine’ begin battle in Hong Kong today IT’S ‘D-Day’ for the Green Machine, Guyana’s National Sevens Rugby team, as they embark on yet another ‘David versus Goliath’ journey.

Guyana will feature once again at the IRB Hong Kong Sevens where they will attempt to show the rest of the world that they belong among the ‘big boys’ after dominating the Caribbean circuit.

Ryan Gonsalves was named captain of the team, and will be joined by Claudius Butts, Richard Staglon, Ronald Mayers, Avery Corbin, Patrick King, Vallon Adams, Blaise Bailey, Rupert Giles, Rickford Cummings, Peabo Hamilton and Rondell McArthur.

Robby Roberts will serve

Guyana’s sevens rugby team during one of their training sessions in Hong Kong as the team’s manager and Barrington Brown their physical trainer.

Guyana were placed in Pool G, alongside Spain, Uruguay and Papua New Guinea.

The ‘Green Machine’ as they are more popularly known, will open their account on

April 7 against Spain and would wrap up day one of the tournament facing the team from Southwest of the Pacific Ocean (Papua New Guinea).

The men from the Land of Many Waters will play their South American neighbours Uruguay on April 8 in their final Group stage game.

Green Machine head coach Shane Grant-Stewart is of the opinion that his team, collectively, are on-par with several of the world’s top rugby-playing nations, but more exposure at the top level is much needed.

Meanwhile, for Gonsalves, it will be a return to familiar territory, with the team’s captain highlighting, “This is no strange place for me, and for some of the guys

on the team. We all know what it takes to excel in Hong Kong. It’s no easy place because those teams are more regularly invited to the Sevens circuit when we (Guyana) have to wait an entire year to play and we have to actually qualify.”

“It’s going to be tough, so we’re going to see how much practice games we could get with teams out of our group and we’ll try to get up with the speed of the game because that’s one factor that works against us.

“Our chances are good and despite our showing the last time, we’re going out there to show that we belong at the top level and we’re not an underdog team,” Gonsalves added.

Sparta to play Sophia; Bent Street pull Back Circle THE four semi-final teams in the GT Beer/Petra Futsal tournament have been decided following quarter-final action at the National Gymnasium on Tuesday evening.

Sparta Boss, Sophia, Bent Street and Back Circle are the four teams who will contest the semis tomorrow.

Sophia had a hard-fought game against Tucville, and while they opened the scoring through Shem Arthur in the 7th and added another

through Dwayne Lowe two minutes later, they suffered a scare.

Jermaine Junior started Tucville on the path of redemption with his goal in the 13th minute, and the side looked well on the verge of a comeback before Sheik Kamal’s 25th minute strike put them 3-1 ahead.

However, Jahaal Greaves’ 28th minute goal ensured the game ended 3-2.

Bent Street, on the other hand, ended Gold is Mon-

Part of the action in the quarter-final round of the GT Beer/Petra Futsal tournament ey’s run in the tournament not reflect the intensity of by a 2-0 margin, which did the game as Okeene Fraser

(13th) and Anthony Abrams (16th) scored the winning goals.

Back Circle earned their place via a 2-1 victory over the Broad Street Bullies with Curtez Kellman scoring in the 26th minute and Akeemo​ Anthony in the 29th while Broad Street had Keiron Solomon (32nd) on target.

In the final game of the evening, Sparta Boss came from behind to beat off North East La Penitence 2-1.

Kevin Moore opened the

scoring for North East in the 30th, but an own goal from in the 35th minute and a single strike from Devon Millington (39th) piloted Sparta into the next round.

In the exhibition games, Green Ice overcame Pretty Posse 4-1 while Customs edged Upper Level Barbershop 2-1.

Semi-final action will take place tomorrow with the final billed for Saturday, April 15.

(Stephan Sookram)

International athletes set to return for AP Invitational in July A NUMBER of the overseas athletes who touched down on Guyana shores last year for the Aliann Pompey (AP) Invitational are set to make another appearance this year, when the meet returns to the National Track and Field Centre on July 15.

Organiser of the event, Guyanese Commonwealth Games gold medallist Aliann Pompey announced that athletes Eddie Lovett (USVI), Kenike Alexander (St Vincent), Brycen Spratlin (USA) and Ashley Kelly (BVI) have all confirmed that they will be returning to the meet this year.

“One hundred percent of the athletes who competed last year want to come back this year, except the two who have since retired. A lot of that was due to the amazing atmosphere the spectators created. The crowd was great and I hope even more people will come out to support the event this year.” Pompey commented.

The overseas athletes are in addition to the impressive

line-up of Guyanese who will be participating, including national record holder, and last year’s Fly Jamaica women’s 100m champion Brenessa Thompson, 400m women’s champion Kadecia Baird, and GOA men’s 400m runner-up Winston George, who had lost the 400m to Spratlin.

But this year both George and Spratlin will have to brace themselves for competition from newcomers Stephan James and Jermaine Griffith, both overseas-based Guyanese.

Both are currently experiencing outstanding seasons, each having broken the 400m indoor national record this year - James while attending Mississippi State University and Griffith while at Rutgers University.

The excitement is already brewing for the meet, with the 100 days countdown which officially began yesterday and Pompey herself is ecstatic to see the return of the event.

Pompey has already launched a website for the meet (www.aliannpompeyinvitation-

The stock of overseas athletes that descended on the AP Invitational last year al.com) and has been creating a lease. finalised. buzz on social media.

This year the Guyana “It’s with great pleasure “I am excited for this year’s Olympic Association, Interna- that we’ll be working with edition of the AP Invitational. tional Association of Athletics companies and organisations Last year I committed to mak- Federations, South American that will share the vision for ing it an annual event and this Athletics Confederation (Con- sports, and recognise the difwill be a true test of the ability SudAtle) and Ramada (Prin- ferent layers that are affected to do so. I am grateful for the cess) Hotel are all again on here,” Pompey said of the supsponsors that have already board as sponsors for the event. port she’s been receiving committed and finalised their The event is also supported “It’s a great way to concontributions. I am still work- by the Ministry of Education tinue to bring international ing out the details with a few and Trackalerts. Sponsorship exposure to Guyana’s shores.” others, but I am confident that from an international company It was last year that we’ll complete those shortly,” is also said to still be in the Pompey, now a retired athlete, Pompey stated in a press re- works, with the details being who currently serves as a sprint

coach at St John’s University in New York, finally says her dream came true to bring a premier event to Guyana that attracted international competition while showcasing what Guyanese had to offer.

Pompey is a four-time Olympian, World Championship finalist, Commonwealth gold and silver medallist, Pan American and Central American and Caribbean (CAC) medallist.

Pompey expressed how heartfelt it was to see her fellow Guyanese athletes perform as well as they did last year.

“I got a bit emotional watching Kadecia, Brenessa, Devaun Barrington and others win on their home turf with commanding efforts. It should be the norm. We have such a talented group of athletes in the pipeline that we owe them an all of Guyana to ensure that this is a tradition.”

The event is open to the public with an admission cost of $1 000 for regular and $5 000 for VIP.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, April 7, 2017

Holder content with underdogs tag … ODI series bowls off today

By Rajiv Bisnauth TWO of the most unpredictable teams in World cricket - West Indies and Pakistan - will commence the three-match One Day International (ODI) series today at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

However, West Indies captain Jason Holder says he has no issues with his team being branded the underdogs going into the series, but he believes they can prove a few people wrong.

“Pakistan have been hard on us. They have beaten us in the last series we played in the UAE and they started this tour well. So we probably are the underdogs right now … it’s not a bad tag to have.

“The expectations are pretty much on Pakistan to beat us and that is an incentive for our guys. We must go and must show that we can beat Pakistan.

“They are just a step ahead of us in the ICC rankings and I don’t think they are impossible to beat,”

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed West Indies captain Jason Holder Holder told media operatives at a press conference yesterday.

Further Holder said he expected a different approach from his side in the 50-overs format, as batsmen would have the benefit of time on their side to explore the Pakistan attack, especially leg-spinner Shadab Khan.

The 18-year-old (Khan) made his international debut in last week’s Twenty20 series and could hardly have been more impressive, cap-

turing 10 wickets against the world champions to be named player-of-the-series.

His main attacking weapon is the googly - a delivery that spins from the off side towards leg - baffling batsmen expecting the ball to turn the other way.

“He obviously had some success so far in this series.

He is something new. Everybody is now getting accustomed to seeing him but what I can say is that this one-day format you have a bit more

time than the T20. Having said that we have our game play against him,” Holder reckoned.

Meanwhile, notwithstanding carrying the favourites’ tag, the Pakistanis will also be wary of the conditions as well as the opposition.

Captain Sarfraz Ahmed said, “It is important that we continue the momentum and sustain the same kind of focus.”

Both teams have faded away in terms of performance, but the West Indies are under pressure to reverse

a run of poor form that could see them face the indignity of having to qualify for the next World Cup in 2019.

The top eight teams in the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI rankings at the end of September 2017 automatically advance to the event in England.

Pakistan are currently No. 8 in the ICC’s ODI rankings, holding the final automatic qualification spot for the 2019 World Cup; West Indies are ninth, with five ranking points separating the sides.

Failure to beat Pakistan

125CC SENIORS Emma Vieira and Bridget Singh will renew their rivalry in this fixture with Bridget coming out the victor last time around, but there are a few little cogs that could spoil the party; one being Matthew Phang.

Anyone who frequents the GT Motorsports facility knows

also could play integral parts in the result this evening.

would leave West Indies who will be absent from this year’s Champions Trophy - struggling to catch them ahead of September’s cut-off and facing the prospect of having to come through the ICC Qualifier.

Today’s match will be followed by another on Sunday and the final match of the series next Tuesday; all matches bowl off at 09:30hrs.

West Indies ODI squad: Jason Holder (capt.), Devendra Bishoo, Jonathan Carter, Miguel Cummins, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Kieran Powell, Rovman Powell, Chadwick Walton.

Pakistan ODI squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Fakhar Zaman, Asif Zakir, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt. & wkp.), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Fahim Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Asghar.

Sizzling action in second Georgetown Grand Prix tonight

By Stephan Sookram T h e q u i c k e s t re f l e x e s , smoothest driving lines and grittiest drivers will shine tonight as the second installment of the GT Motorsports Georgetown Grand Prix takes center stage from 18:30.

Set for the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC)’s Thomaslands facility, the best in the business will go wheel to wheel in several categories of karts with bragging rights and prizes on the line.

SUNBURST 60CC KIDS CUP Four Karters are in this class and it’s anybody’s game when the flag drops over the first 10 lap event.

The rich racing pedigree and recent form of Jeremy Ten Pow and as Champion Driver makes him the prime target for the three reaming drivers in the group but those in the inner circle know know that Justin Ten Pow is no slouch when it comes to wheel to wheel action.

Then there’s the contention of third generation racer and the son of Ryan Rahaman, Nathan whose first outing has shown that he has the ability to turn a driver’s slightest mistake into an almost irreversible

advantage.

One also cannot count out the lone female in that class Paige Mendonca, the daughter of superbike rider and Cross-Fit contender Carlos Mendonca. Paige, who after just over three months of driving has earned her place among the boys with a cool and calm de-

for the Champion driver award with mechanical issues only allowing Phang one win while Elan Rahaman copped a consistent second.

This time around however, bragging rights are at stake.

Don’t count out the others either; Gianni Carpenter is pumped ahead of this fixture and having hit rock

The 60CC Sunburst Kids cup is sure to be mouthwatering fixture meanor known to frustrate the boys.

125CC JUNIORS Mikhil Persaud, John Phang and Elan Rahaman are the youngsters to watch for this one as they are no strangers to the track, spending on average of 15 hours a week burning rubber.

In the last outing Persaud picked up two wins

bottom on the last outing with mechanical troubles, the youngster has sought the silver lining which posits that the only place to go, is atop the podium.

Toss in the likes of Rayden Persaud who also has the ability to put down blistering laps and fans can obviously see why this is expected to be one of the more heated events.

the Phang boys have more laps out there than most of the field combined and while it is rumored that Matthew can drive the track blindfolded; the ladies won’t let him off that lightly.

There are also the unknown quantities of Denzel Hopkinson and Terry Singh, both of whom are known to produce remarkable drives when the need arises and they

EASY CUP ROOKIE This is new addition to the family and while there six contenders in this class, namely Ralph Persaud, Raymond Baksh, Dhani Narine, Harold Hopkinson, Mahendra Boodhoo and Mark Morgan, the results of this one may very well be dependent on the qualifying that took place late last night.

EASY CUP LIGHT Stephen ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira has made his transition from bikes to karts quite smoothly, proving to be hell for some seasoned racers and he will have the chance to renew his battle with Trinidadian Ravi Singh, the two men sharing the wins equally.

The wins were shared equally, with one a piece but this time around, the introduction of Matthew Vieira, Clint Seebarran and Haniff Mohamed will definitely make for a more enterprising contest.

EASY CUP HEAVY Shan Seejattan was unstoppable out last time around and while there may have been times his victory was jeopardized, he found a way to make it to that Chequered flag first, both times ahead of Rameez Mo-

hammed.

Whether he can repeat that feat, remains to be seen tonight.

SHIFTER KART This is possibility the biggest battle that will take place on the evening, with Guyana’s karting czar Kristian Jeffrey expected to be the main target of the touring party.

With that being said, there are no spring chickens this time around and a real threat lies when he comes face to face with his arch nemesis, namesake and Trinidadian Kristian ‘Boodoostig’ Boodoosingh.

The duo has unfinished business from the Caribbean group four championships across the region during the last two years and while Jeffrey was the victor, those defeats have molded a fiercer Boodoosingh.

Their first order of business however, will be to overcome that hare-like reflexes of Elliot Vieira, whose hand-eye coordination and ultra-tuned launches rival those of international racers. He has consistently been the first man to leave the line once the flag drops and dead defensive line at times means he may be a handful to deal with.

The inclusion of Mark Vieira, Carlos Rodrigues, Matthew Phang and Denzel Hopkinson is sure to make a mouthwatering end to a night that is full of action.

Yassin for elite panel discussion See story on page 29

Sizzling action in second Georgetown Grand Prix tonight See story on page 31

Kristian Jeffrey leads the pack.

‘Green Machine’ begin battle in Hong Kong today See story on page 30

Some Pakistan players at their practice session yesterday.

See story on page 31

Holder content with underdogs tag … ODI series bowls off today

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Team Guyana in Hong Kong

FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2017