Guyana chronicle E-Paper 07 12 2016

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No. 104758

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016

Price: $80

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Scare tactics Page

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–Harmon calls out PPP for rebellion against order Bank of Guyana shines brightly as it ushers in the Christmas season

Foreign exchange reserves up Page

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–Govt, Central Bank slam KN story of shortage

20 Guyanese Bandits shoot man, grab bag deported from U.S 4 with $3M 15 Page

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Bartica massacre

Killers set sail from Kingston 7 Wharf

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

Scare tactics

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

–Harmon calls out PPP for rebellion against order

By Rabindra Rooplall

THE opposition mindset is rebellious against order as under their stewardship the country was in a state of lawlessness, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon told the National Assembly Tuesday in his budget presentation.

“Mr. Speaker the complaints by the opposition that the budget is murderous and it would lead to suicide and other forms of violence portrays an opposition mindset of a rebellion against order,” he said.

In giving an example of the lawlessness, Minister Harmon explained that licences were granted to persons who were not qualified to use the roadways. “This has wreaked carnage on our roadways and yet we wonder why there are so many deaths, when examined those persons that were given licence did not even go through the test,” Harmon said.

Harmon said that such an environment of lawlessness was the hallmark of the PPP administration. He further said that the scare tactics used under the PPP is well-known.

“The PPP always, and continue to utilise fear as an element of control of their dwindling support base. Mr. Speaker they aim to galvanise their support-base for congress, which is scheduled for next week, and that is what it’s all about,” Harmon said. He emphasized that Guyanese will recall similar language at the time of the debate on the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter the Financing of Terrorism Bill in the 10th Parliament.

CHOIR BOYS “They mobilise the same choir boys that you hear singing about the budget,

it was doom and gloom if the opposition at that time did not agree to the PPP provisions in the bill, all across this country Mr. Speaker they went about scaring people,” Harmon reflected. “ They were telling them business will shut down, no money transfer can come in, that contractors cannot walk around with more than US$10,000 to pay their workers because the provisions under the law were making it possible for a senior police officer to seize their money.”

HARMON CONTINUED: “So Mr. Speaker the PPP and the small ‘C’ is a party that has been known to raise the specter of violence to gather in the flock, and now it is no different as they attempt to vilify a well-crafted budget for their narrow political agenda.” “Withdraw the budget is the rallying call for a party whose numbers are dwindling,” Harmon charged even as he referenced Finance Minister Winston Jordon’s remarks that the government has made a budgetary allocation of almost $1B to implement a series of renewable energy and energy-efficient products.

SOLAR FARM Additionally, Harmon reminded the house that under the renewable energy programme in 2017 there will be a solar energy farm on a large scale in Mabaruma. This, he said will result in an overall annual savings of $193M and avoided carbon dioxide emissions of 1,674 tonnes per year.

Harmon said budget 2017 is a continuum of the programmes and policies which started in 2015 aimed at strengthening institutions

Minister of State Mr Joseph Harmon and restoring confidence. “These are works in progress even as we address the building of a diversified economy of a good life for all. Mr. Speaker the budget is demonstrative of the strength of government to take hard decisions to build our economy,” he opined.

Speaking of the President’s vision and development in agriculture, Harmon said climate resistant agriculture, eco-tourism, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and the promotion of renewable energy generation will ensure a diversified and resilient

economy, while promoting green growth, green employment and a secure, clean and healthy environment for future generations.

“The importance of the green agenda Mr. Speaker is underscored by the fact that the institutional arrangements for its realisation fall within the remit of the Department of the Environment within the Ministry of the Presidency and therefore under the direct supervision of his Excellency the President,” Harmon said.

Further, Harmon said under the PPP it was the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and it was equivalent to environment 101, but under the APNU the green pathway is environment 505. He said the PPP has a narrow vision of the potential for Guyana, while the ‘green agenda’ has become a reality.

“Mr. Speaker, the Department of Environment will ensure a more effective communication, cooperation and coordination amongst the agencies concerning climate change, energy generation, environmental protection, forest conservation, national parks, protective areas, rivers and wildlife protection,” Harmon said. “I’m sorry the time is so short because the green pathway is such a pathway that you can speak on it for a very long time,” Harmon declared as the Speaker of the House, Dr Barton Scotland lightheartedly asked the Minister to not engage in such a lengthy procedure.

He said current land use and national patrimony will promote learning and innovation. Further, Harmon said Prince Harry, who recently visited Iwokrama International Centre lauded the development and efforts being made to promote and conserve Guyana’s natural habitat.

Foreign exchange reserves up

–Gov’t, Central Bank slam KN story of shortage

FINANCE Minister Winston Jordan and Bank of Guyana Governor Dr. Gobind Ganga have both dismissed claims carried in a Kaieteur News report of Tuesday, December 6, that there is a shortage of foreign exchange in Guyana.

“There is no shortage of foreign exchange in Guyana!

The reserves at the Bank of Guyana have improved from approximately US$598M at the end of 2015 to about US$625M at present -- an increase of US$28M,” Minister Jordan revealed on Tuesday.

Appearing under the headline “Major foreign currency crisis looms”, the Kaieteur News’ article contended that a number of local banks had confirmed that, for the first time in years, they are restricting customers who want to remit large sums of money abroad

to pay for services and goods, among other things.

“Some of them are even calling cambios and each other for supplies. The shortage has been exacerbated by a number of factors, not least among them the severing of ties of a number of foreign banks with local financial institutions”, the article stated.

CARICOM Heads met earlier this year to discuss strengthening efforts to address the withdrawal of correspondent banking services from large international financial institutions –- a term referred to as de-risking; but Minister Jordan explained that when the holdings by commercial banks are taken into consideration, foreign reserves have also increased in the system -- from approximately US$955M at the end of 2015 to US$1.042B

at present.

As such, he noted, there is no shortage of foreign exchange; which therefore means that there is no “foreign exchange crisis looming”, and there is no need for the currency to depreciate. He said the Bank of Guyana would take all necessary actions to protect the currency and the reserves it has.

Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga, concurred with the minister’s explanations at foregoing, and said there is no reason for concern. “There is no foreign currency crisis looming in Guyana!” he said, as he deemed the article misleading.

Further, he pointed out that Guyana has a net supply of foreign currency in the system, and this means that there is no need for depreciation of the currency by any significant

amount. “It is not a situation where there is a piling-up of demand for foreign exchange at the commercial banks”, Dr. Ganga emphatically stated.

Moreover, he provided details which illustrate that the current foreign exchange reserves held by the Bank of Guyana and the commercial banks are in excess of the 2015 figures, as was also articulated

by Finance Minister Jordan.

Dr. Ganga said commercial banks have increased their foreign exchange holdings with a gross holding of US$357M in 2015, which moved to US$388.4M as at September 2016. He further added that it is expected that commercial banks will hold approximately US$403M by the end of this year.

“The (commercial) banks have money, and they have

Finance Minister Winston Jordan quite a lot. It is not a small amount,” Dr. Ganga said.

INCREASE IN TT, BARBADIAN CURRENCIES Meanwhile, Dr. Ganga revealed that there has been an increase in the circulation of Trinidad and Tobago and Barbadian dollars in the Guyanese economy; and this, he said, indicates that these currencies are being converted into Guyana dollars then used to purchase US currency.

Dr. Ganga explained that Guyana has had, since 2014, a significant supply of CARICOM currency in its system.

This was evident in the fact that, in 2014, Trinidad and Tobago dollars increased from TT$9.1M to TT$24.4M in 2015; and in November of 2016, the sum of TT$38.3M was in the system.

Guyana also recorded a significant inflow of Barbadian dollars, which increased from $8.3M in 2014 to $13.5M in 2015. As at November 2016, the amount stood at $12.3M. Dr. Ganga has also noted that Suriname has had major issues, and this trend of currency conversion has also been discovered at the border, where there is a conversion of cash from Guyana dollars to US dollars, which are being repatriated to Suriname.

Finance Minister Jordan has committed to ensuring that this issue is addressed at the soonest possible time.

“The issue as it relates to the Trinidad and Barbados currencies flooding our market will be looked at, and action will be taken to ensure that this occurs in a normal way, rather than it being here just to buy up foreign currency,” Minister Jordan said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 7,2016

20 Guyanese deported from U.S

APPROXIMATELY 20 Guyanese returned here on Tuesday after being deported by the United States Government following various periods of incarceration for a range of criminal offences.

The men, returned on a chartered flight, were handed over to Guyanese immigration authorities by US law enforcement officers.

The deportees landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at about 15:30h.

Guyana Chronicle was told that the men served time in US prisons for offences such as rape, murder, possession of firearms, fraud, drug trafficking and robbery.

Local police told the media that the deportees were all interviewed at the Criminal Investigation Department before being released to their Guyanese relatives. Over the past five years, there have been fewer deportees from the United States. According to statistics by the US Homeland Security Department, between 2008 and 2013, a

total of 1035 persons were deported here, 803 of whom were non-criminals. The department also stated that there has been a decreasing trend from 2008 to 2013 in the number of persons who were deported from the US back to Guyana. Statistics on the US agency’s website show that in 2008 some 508 persons were sent back, while 492 were deported in 2009. The following year saw 428 Guyanese returning, and 411 in 2011. Approximately 360 persons returned home in 2012, and another 292 the following year.

Police here have at their disposal the Amendment to the Crime Prevention Act of 2002, which gives them the power to monitor any deportee who poses a threat to public safety. The law also states that all involuntary remigrants will not be considered first offenders.

Only recently, President David Granger told reporters that this country does not have the capability to handle deportees from the

United States of America (USA). He told journalists during a ‘The Public Interest’ programme that his government needs to work with the US to ensure that measures are put in place

to make Guyana better prepared to handle those who are deported, especially if they are convicted of crimes in the US. “We just want to be better prepared, it’s something that the Ministry

of Public Security is aware of and we will have to make sure that we put measures in place to ensure that those persons, those deportees do not perpetuate crimes when they get back here,” the Head of State said.

According to the President, the US needs to notify Guyana whenever it decides to deport Guyanese who committed crimes in that country. “We need to work with the United States Government so that persons who might have been involved in violent crimes, you know, crimes of murder or narco-trafficking or people trafficking, are notified to us so we can build in Guyana the resources to manage them

when they come back here.

We don’t have the capability, as you know, there are still some degree of narcotics trafficking in Guyana, we have executions, murders and we don’t want to have people coming back here, who contribute to that form of criminality. So it is something that we can work out with the United States.”

He said it is within the jurisdiction of a sovereign state to expel illegal aliens. President Granger reiterated that no country tolerates illegality and if there are abuses, it is quite within the rights of a sovereign state to minimize the impact of those abuses to the host country.

Union issues warning as media workers get the axe

THE Banking Industrial and General Workers Union (BIGWU) Tuesday threatened to go to the Industrial Court after the Guardian Media Limited (GML) announced plans to lay off at least 16 workers.

“We intend to pursue this matter at the Industrial Court as a wrongful dis missal under the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act because we have seen several mis-steps on the part

of the company. I can’t tell you what those mis-steps are because I don’t want to sell ourselves out,” said BIQWU Labour Relations Officer, Wesley Francis. He said the retrenchment came as a surprise questioning whether the company “has engaged in any discussions with the workers with regards to the proposed retrenchment.

“What I know for a fact is that when the company invited discussions there

was an indication that they had already made up their minds with regards to surplus labour,” he said. Last month, the union also threatened to take the One Caribbean Media (OCM) group to the industrial court after it too announced layoffs. OCM, the parent company for the Trinidad Express and the Caribbean Communication Network (CCN TV6) sent retrenchment letters to 33 employees in November but BIGWU accused the company of failing to follow proper procedures. BIGWU deputy president Mario Als said under the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits (RSB) Act, when an employer proposes or has an intention to retrench more than five workers and there is a recognised majority union in that enterprise, the employer was obliged to serve notice of that intention to the work-

ers, the recognised majority union and the Minister of Labour. Since the economic downturn here occasioned by the drastic decline in prices for oil on the international market, thousands of workers, including those in the media have been placed on the breadline as companies adjust to the fall in profits and revenue.

The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) said that while many businesses are experiencing sharp declines in revenue, “the news and broadcasting business model is doubly affected by flourishing social media alternatives. “The impact of social media on the bottom line was to be expected; negative impact on the traditional advertising model has been observed globally over several years,” it added. (CMC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Trump to Boeing: Cancel Air Force One order

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday urged the government to cancel an order with Boeing Co to develop a revamped Air Force One - one of the most prominent symbols of the U.S. presidency - saying costs were out of control.

Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, pledged during his unconventional campaign for the White House that he would put his skills as a businessman to work for taxpayers, and had griped about the cost of President Barack Obama’s use of the presidential aircraft.

It was not immediately clear what prompted his complaint about Boeing on Tuesday, but a spokesman said that Trump was sending a message that he intends to save taxpayers’ money. “Boeing is build-

ing a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!”

Trump said on Twitter before making a surprise appearance in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York, where he amplified his comments. “The plane is totally out of control. I think it’s ridiculous. I think Boeing is doing a little bit of a number.

We want Boeing to make a lot of money but not that much money,” he told reporters.

It was not clear what Trump’s source of information was for the cost. The budgeted costs for the Air Force One replacement program are $2.87 billion for the fiscal years 2015 through 2021, according to budget documents. A March 2016 report from the Government Accountability Office, a

Air Force One sits ready for boarding on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in Washington U.S. December 6, 2016, the same morning that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump urged the government to cancel purchase of Boeing’s new Air Force One plane, saying it was ‘ridiculous’ and too expensive. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

watchdog agency, estimated the total cost of the two 747s, which have to be extensively modified so they can function

as an airborne White House, was estimated at $3.2 billion.

Boeing has not yet been awarded the money to build

North Korea ‘hacks South’s military cyber command’ SOUTH Korea’s military cyber command, set up to guard against hacking, appears to have been breached by North Korea, the military has said.

A spokesman told the BBC that classified information was thought to have been stolen, although it is not clear exactly what data was accessed. The North has previously been accused of hacking into banks and media outlets but never the South’s military. Pyongyang has in the past rejected allegations of cyber- crime involvement.

“It seems the intranet

server of the cyber command has been contaminated with malware. We found that some military documents, including confidential information, have been hacked,” a military spokesman told South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. It is not clear whether low-grade documents or more important details like war plans were accessed.

The military said that the compromised section of its network was isolated once the attack was detected.

North Korea is believed to have thousands of personnel involved in cyberwarfare.

Since 2010 they have been focusing on application programming interfaces (APIs), which can be designed to attack national infrastructures, North Korean defector and computer science professor Kim Heung-Kwang told the BBC. The North has a track record of alleged cyber-attacks in recent years against South Korean government agencies, banks and media companies. An apparent concerted campaign involving the plant-

ing of malicious code began in 2014, Reuters news agency quoted police as saying.

It was aimed at laying the groundwork for an attack on a massive scale, the agency said. The campaign was discovered in February this year after defence-related material including blueprints for the wings of F-15 fighter jets was stolen.

Some 140,000 computers at 160 companies were attacked up until this June, according to police. (BBC)

the two proposed Air Force One replacements. It is currently working on engineering and designing the aircraft. “We are currently under contract for $170 million to help determine the capabilities of these complex military aircraft that serve the unique requirements of the President of the United States,” the company said in a statement.

“We look forward to working with the U.S. Air Force on subsequent phases of the program allowing us to deliver the best planes for the president at the best value for the American taxpayer.”

Boeing shares dipped after Trump’s tweet and were down around 0.5 percent at midday.

Shares of several other major defense contractors were also lower.

NOT A ‘VANILLA’ JUMBO JET A wealthy real estate developer, Trump used his own Boeing 757 to campaign around the country, pledging to shake up Washington. A Trump spokesman said that his comments about the plane reflected the president-elect’s desire to keep down costs across the board, and so save taxpayers’ money. The U.S. Air Force, which operates the presidential planes, first announced in January 2015 that Boeing’s 747-8 would be used to replace the two current planes that transport the U.S. president.

The Air Force has two planes in case one breaks down or needs to be taken out of service for maintenance. The two replacements for the cur-

rent Air Force One planes are scheduled to be in service by the 2024 fiscal year. Boeing officials were caught off guard

by Trump’s comments since the company is simply meeting requirements mapped out by the Air Force in consultation with the White House, said defense consultant Loren Thompson, who has close ties to Boeing and other companies.

The cost of the planes is high because of the unique security requirements and communications equipment, Thompson said. “Air Force One has unique mission requirements, including possibly having to operate in a nuclear war,” Thompson said. “Of course it’s not like buying a vanilla Boeing jumbo jet.”

U.S. presidents have used Boeing planes since 1943, according to the company’s website. The 747-8 planes, 240 feet long (73 meters) long with a wing span of 224 feet (68 meters), can fly direct from Washington to Hong Kong, 1,000 miles (1,600 km) farther than the current Air Force One. In a September 2015 Rolling Stone profile of Trump, early on in his presidential campaign, he was quoted as gushing about the capabilities of his own Boeing plane. “I bought this from Paul Allen and gutted it top to bottom. It’s bigger than Air Force One, which is a step down from this in every way. Rolls-Royce engines; seats 43. Did you know it was featured on the Discovery Channel as the world’s most luxurious jetliner?” he said. (Reuters)

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Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

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

Editorial

Rates and taxes' collection RATES and taxes for properties and other services are raised by the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, towns, and the city of Georgetown, as authorised under the Local Government Laws.

These local democratic organs have the authority to establish their own police force and raise their own taxes, unlike the Regional Democratic Councils.

The City of Georgetown continues to attract widespread attention for various reasons. Within recent days, this had to do with City Council granting amnesty to citizens -- to pay outstanding rates and taxes minus the accrued interest. City Council is reportedly owed in excess of $16B. The council provides services such as garbage and refuge collection, day-care, public health, maintenance of city streets and Le Repentir Cemetery, management of the abattoir and markets, and keeping the surroundings clean. It is also responsible for drainage with a view to avoiding floods within the environs. This is quite a responsibility, and factually, these are services the people cannot do without. It is well known that the Council attracts criticisms and commendations on its management and delivery of services. The citizens, city mothers and fathers, and administrator are often at loggerheads for these very reasons.

The demands on the Council to provide acceptable services in every department are reasonable. Making demands for improved services comes with a responsibility incumbent on the citizens to pay their rates and taxes in a timely manner. Failure to make timely payments puts the council in a position in which it is unable to provide the quality of services expected of it. Non-payment affects the ability to pay staff and for the services contracted.

Quite recently, Central Government was asked for a $600M bailout. This request came at a time when the council is owed billions. Now is the time for the residents and businesses of Georgetown to take responsibility for the state of Georgetown. It is unfair to demand that City Council does its job when persons are refusing to discharge their financial obligations to the Council.

Nothing in life in free. To want a service carries a corresponding responsibility to be prepared to pay for it. Should paid service fall short of expectation, there is justification in being upset and demanding it be improved.

If truth be told, some are disinclined to honour their obligation for the services they expect. Withholding payment until Council provides quality service is an argument without merit. To provide services, resources have to be available, and the failure to pay rates and taxes is contributing to poor and non-existent services.

Georgetown has grown exponentially in size since the last tax assessment was done. Taxes have not kept pace with the growth of the City and its economic realities.

What is currently being charged is not reflective of the existing market rates the Council pays to provide services. For City Council to function, it requires resources; but those resources must be garnered in a manner that is consistent with its mandate.

The desperation that led to an agreement to install parking meters as a revenue earner has been met with criticism, some not without justification. This desperation needs to be looked at within the context of the criticism

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 7,2016

Gt. Mayor to sit on a Special Coordinating Committee for Latin America and Caribbean Dear Editor TWO weeks ago, Her Worship, Mayor of Georgetown Mrs. Patricia Chase-Green and Town Clerk, Royston King attended a special conference-the 9th Global Conference of Health Promotion in Shanghai, China.

The objectives of the conference were to provide guidance to member states on how to reflect promoting Health International Sustainable Development Goals responses and how to accelerate progress and sustainable development targets and how to accelerate progress and STG targets; to exchange national experiences in: (a) strengthening good governance for health through action across government sectors. (b) B r o a d e n i n g a n d strengthening social mobilisation and (c) promoting health literacy; to highlight the health sectors changing roles as the key advocate for promoting health and to

highlight the crucial role that cities-and municipal leaders especially Mayors-play in promoting health (creating healthy cities), in the context of an increasingly organized urban population.

Her worship represented not only Georgetown but the region of the Caribbean and was invited to address special forum which included: Liu Yandong, Vice Premier, china; Margaret Chan, Director-General, WHO; Wang Guoquiang, Vice-Minister, National Health and Family Planning Commission, China; Yang Xiong, Mayor of Shanghai, China; Roberto Morales, Minister of Health, Cuba; Chen Zhu, Vice-Chair, Standing Committee on the National People’s Congress, china; Zhang Hongming, mayor of Hangzhou, China; Shin Yong-soo, Regional Director for the Western Pacific, WHO, Mayors and other government and municipal officials.

Part of address read: “The conference, and in particular the Mayors Forum offers us a unique opportunity to exchange experiences, ideas and realities of integrating health in all polices to create better future to our citizens.

Our realities are vastly different, but some of the challenges we face in addressing the determinants of health in our everyday work are similar and we can learn from one another. As urbanization keeps increasing, our role as local and Sub-National leaders becomes more and more paramount in promoting health. As Mayors, we are key players and driving forces in creating conditions and settings for our citizens to live healthy lives.

A Healthy City makes for a healthy citizen. Through the promotion of community engagement, and making decisions that consider the health impacts of our constituents, we create not only

healthy settings but promote health empowerment of our citizens.

I would like to extend my sincere thank you to the local Government of Shanghai, as well as the Government of the People’s Republic of China for welcoming us to their home and opening up space for dialogue Mayor – to-Mayor on the importance of promoting health through the Shanghai Mayors’ Consensus on Healthy Cities.”

Also, Her Worship has agreed to sit on a special coordinating committee of Latin America and Caribbean Mayors to advance the achievements made at the conference and to promote healthy cities, in the Caribbean, through establishing linkages among those states and cities and mobilising resources.

Regards ROYSTON KING Town Clerk City of Georgetown

GuySuCo executives have declined some hefty benefits Dear Editor

The GUYANA Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) has found it to be very distressing to see the Headline in Kaieteur News dated December 5, 2016 titled “Cabinet to scrutinise ‘exorbitant’ salaries of executives at debt-ridden GuySuCo’.

The reported story suggests that Kaieteur News has accepted the fiction proffered by letter writers and did not seek, as good journalism requires, to verify the accuracy of the figures. Had Kaieteur News done so it would have discovered that, apart from the figures quoted

being fictional, all salaries and conditions of service of the executives and managers are strictly within the longstanding Corporation’s grades and scales for the respective positions. These were in place well before the appointment of the current Board of Directors, Interim Management Committee and specialist consultants.

It would seem that Kaieteur News has unwittingly allowed itself to be the vehicle for those who are bent on fomenting public mischief.

Indeed examination will reveal that current ‘executives’ have actually declined some of the longstanding benefits attached to their

levelled against the council for poor delivery of service, at a time when it has $16B outstanding. If persons honour their obligations, there may not be need for the exorbitant prices proposed for parking in the city.

It should not escape attention that waiving the interest on revenue past due questions how responsible we are as citizens. It is known that the law stipulates that if taxes are not paid on time, interest is accrued. Every citizen and business of Georgetown has a responsibility to obey

respective positions. These are facts of which the subject Minister would have been fully advised so that there could be no justification for peddling the myth that the Cabinet would have to scrutinize the objective evaluation of the relativities of jobs in GuySuCo. It is evident that there are elements within the society who are unhappy with the management and leadership of the Corporation and who, along with their letter writing friends, are hell bent on destabilizing the management of GuySuCo and are trying their utmost to derail the efforts being

made by the GuySuCo Management, Board and Government to find solutions for GuySuCo and its employees going forward.

The grossly exaggerated and fictional remuneration packages contained in the mischievous letters of one Sookram Persaud (November 30, 2016 edition of KN) and John Williams (December 5, 2016 edition of KN) can only be aimed at creating animosity towards the management by the Corporation’s workers and the public at large.

Regards GUYANA SUGAR CORPORTION

the City’s by-laws. As there are justified expectations that the Council would provide services and respect the by-laws, there exists corresponding responsibility on the citizens to discharge their financial obligations to the City. All rate payers who have outstanding taxes are urged to make full use of the amnesty, which ends on 16th December, 2016. Maintenance of the cleanliness of the City and delivery of other services are equally their responsibility.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

Bartica massacre

Killers sail from Kingston wharf

By Michel Outridge

SOME of the alleged killers in the Bartica massacre had begun their boat journey to Bartica from the Kingston wharf in Georgetown; and they later built a camp in the dense Essequibo riverine forest following the slaughter of 12 people in the mining community of Bartica.

This is the account of one of the accused, Denis ‘Anaconda’ Williams, which was read in the High Court before Justice Roxane George and a 12-member jury on Tuesday, at the resumption of the trial which was adjourned since mid-November.

Superintendent of Police, Trevor Reid, who is attached to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), read Williams’s statement, which he said he had written under the instruction of the accused. Reid said that, during 2008, he was the Sergeant-in-Charge of the Major Crimes Unit (MCU) stationed at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at Eve Leary. He related that relative to a report of the alleged murder of Ron Osborne and 11 others on February 17, 2008, he assisted with the investigations.

Reid stated that, on November 8, 2011, he gave instructions to the then Corporal Singh, who was under his supervision; and about five minutes after, he told him ‘something’, after which he gave further instructions to Singh and the then Constable Sarabo.

Reid told the court that Singh and Sarabo accompanied Dennis Williams, called ‘Anaconda’, to his office, where Williams was offered a seat at his desk and he put the allegation to Williams that he and others, on February 17, 2008, murdered Ron Osborne and 11 others at Bartica.

At that point, the officer said, he cautioned Williams, who responded by saying: “Big man, I gon tell you wah happen. Let this man go outside.”

Reid added that the accused pointed to Singh, who exited his office; after which he (Reid) told Williams that he intended to write down what he has to say, and that he (Williams) could write the statement himself or elect anyone to do so for him. The senior officer

said Williams was told that he can have a friend, a lawyer, or relative present, and Williams nominated Reid to write the statement for him, after which a caution statement form was prepared.

Reid told the court that he began writing the statement, and after each paragraph, he showed same to Williams, who looked at it as he was reading and said he understood what was written, after which he affixed his signature in the presence of Sarabo, who also signed as a witness.

… build camp in bush after slaughter

an pon wan land ah the back so. Me nah know the place.

About five or six ah them come in the boat with nuff big guns. Me nah know them man, is the first time I meet them man. Chi-Chi de driving the boat. We left the Saturday night and we had to stop in the river because some wata gone in the engine. Chi-Chi repair the engine and the next day we gone Bartica. Me and couple

ister them, but Chi-Chi gee me about three ounce raw gold.

He nah get no money and me nah bin dey when the canister them open. Them nah tell me wha bin in the canister. Me collect me gold and the same day me beat out to town. The night me see Chi-Chi in town.

The next day me carry the gold and sell it underneath the clock ah Big Market to a man.

Me nah know the man, but he

Mark Royden, called Durant

Roger Simon, called Goat Man

Dennis Williams, called Anaconda

The policeman added that after he had completed the caution statement, he told Williams that he had to attach a certificate (signature), and he asked Williams to write it. Reid read Williams read the statement and signed it in his presence and that of Sarabo.

Reid said that before, during and after he made the statement, neither he nor anyone in his presence used any violence, threats, or made any promises of any form of inducement to Williams. He said that if he saw the caution statement again, he could identify it by his handwriting, signature and the date.

Reid added that he gave evidence in the magistrate’s court, and the statement was lodged in his name at CID. The caution statement was however marked, tendered and admitted as evidence in the trial after an application was made by State Prosecutor Stacy Goodings.

Reading from the caution statement which was penned by him, Reid said: “Big Man, me and Chi-Chi left wid the boat from the back ah the wharf at Kingston, and we reach them

youth man stay in the boat, and them man gone pon the land with guns, and shortly after we hear shooting. The shooting last fuh about 20 minutes, and them man come back pon the boat with two big canisters.

Them youth man wah bin wid me stick up some man pon the stelling, and before dem go in the boat them shoot them man.

Me bin right dey when them shoot them man. Me can’t say who shoot, because me nah know them man name. ChiChi then drive the boat and we gone on the river side, and (then) we abandon the boat and we gone in the bush wid the canister them and guns. Me nah had no gun. We then go in wan four-runner and the vehicle carry we to another area, whey we come out the vehicle and gone in the bush. One man who bin wid the vehicle carry we to wan spot and we build ah camp. Me spend the night, and the next morning me and Chi-Chi beat out and come to town. Two days after, me goh back up dey and me meet Chi-Chi back ah the camp wid them man. Me nah see the can-

gee me two hundred thousand dollars foh the gold. Me buy some clothes wid some ah the money and spend out the rest pon food and other thing.

That is all I know bout. Me nah know who plan this thing.

Me nah know about the plan; me bin ah go wid Chi-Chi foh collect something in the bush.

Fineman and them man is nah me brethren, them ah Chi-Chi people. This is the truth, big man. Me nah kill no body. Me nah had no gun. Them man gee me the gold because me see wha happen. This ah the truth big man. Me vex about the whole itation.”

In cross-examining Reid, defence Counsel Saphier Husain asked Reid if he knew Williams before he saw him that day he wrote the caution statement, and Reid said it was the first time he had seen the accused.

Husain also asked Reid whether he shocked Williams to the chest and back, and Reid said he didn’t, nor did he kick or box Williams either.

Reid told the court that the caution statement was not

taken under duress, but it was given freely; and he did not have a pre-prepared statement which he had fabricated.

On trial for murder allegedly committed during the Bartica Massacre are Mark Royden, called “Durant”; Dennis Williams, called “Anaconda”; and Roger Simon, called “Goat Man”. They are each indicted on 12 counts of murder committed on nine civilians and three policemen at Bartica on February 17, 2008.

The accused are facing 12 counts of murder, one count of terrorism, one count of unlawful wounding, and three counts of break and enter and larceny. However, two of the five accused -- Michael Caesar and Clebert Reece -- have since separately pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Reece was sentenced to 35 years in jail, while Caesar will return to the High Court for probation report and sentencing on December 16, 2016 before Justice Roxane George.

Royden is being represented by Attorney-at-law Roger Yearwood; Williams is being represented by Attorney-at-law Saphier Hussain, and Simon’s

attorney is Peter Hugh. During the February 17, 2008 rampage, nine civilians and three cops were gunned down by a group of heavily armed men, who descended on Bartica at nightfall.

Those who lost their lives in this tragic incident were Barticians Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian and Irving Ferreira; Bartica-stationed policemen Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir and Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne; Deonarine Singh of Wakenaam; Ronald Gomes of Kuru Kururu; Ashraf Khan of Middlesex, Essequibo; Abdool Yasseen; Errol Thomas of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, and Baldeo Singh of Montrose, East Coast Demerara.

Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins, according to the police, led the gang on the rampage in Bartica, as well as on the rampage that occurred at Lusignan on January 26, 2008. Rawlins was killed in a joint services’ operation on August 28, 2008. With his death and the arrest and prosecution of the five suspects, it appeared as though the police had closed their investigation.

Housing rollout

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

… Min. Patterson unveils massive housing development plan for 2017

By Svetlana Marshall IN 2017, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) will pump $1.6B into its new housing project which will see the construction of town houses, duplexes and apartments in key areas across Guyana, Minister with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Adams-Patterson told the National Assembly on Tuesday.

She told the House that phase one of CH&PA’s new infrastructure development and housing pilot project will see the construction of town houses and single flat houses in Regions Three and Four.

Additionally, some 500 duplexes will be constructed in Regions Two, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10 while 3,360 condominiums will be erected in Little and Great Diamond, East La Penitence and Cummings Lodge.

“Mr. Speaker, the designs of this housing pilot will take into consideration: maintaining the existing macro road layout, functional internal road and drainage networks, landscaped open spaces, dedicated walkways and parking areas and community facilities and services,” Minister Patterson told the House.

This multi-billion dollar pilot project forms part of a large programme that will see billions being spent in 2017 to execute a number of housing and infrastructural projects in keeping with the Ministry of Communities CH&PA’s 2016-2020 Housing Plan of Action.

In addition to the $1.6B set aside for the new pilot project, another $2.3B will be spent on 2016 roll-over infrastructural projects in Regions Three, Four, Five and Six, while $471.3M

has been set aside for the Authority’s electrical programme.

It was explained that electrical networks will

Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Adams-Patterson be installed in 16 existing schemes currently without electricity. As announced

by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, Minister Patterson further pointed out that $100M has been budgeted for the Hinterland Project that will foster home improvement in Regions One and Nine.

A whopping $2.5B will also be used for the consolidation of existing housing schemes, the minister told the House while noting that a percentage of the funds will be used to upgrade roads, drains and structures in low income, regularised squatting areas and other planned housing areas, in Regions One, Three, Four, Five, Six Seven and 10.

ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE It was explained that Government is to upgrade and regularize areas that are suitable for housing and deemed environmentally safe. “The consolidation of areas will not only focus on investment in physical in-

frastructure, but revitalisation programmes that include social services and community development projects in keeping with the commitment to create wholesome and cohesive communities.

In view of the limited resources and the need to make informed decisions, the continued investment in the existing housing areas will be informed through current, comprehensive, accurate data and financial information for each housing area,” she further explained.

she told the House. These projects and programme, Minister Patterson noted, were prepared in keeping with the authority’s medi-

EXHIBITION Another $13M has been budgeted for the hosting a Housing Solution Exhibition where approximately 25 housing developers will each put on an exhibition to display two model houses.

This initiative is expected to encourage public participation in the building process.

Additionally, $31M will be used to strengthen the work of CH&PA; $120M for the installation, construction and upgrading of social facilities in planned housing areas; $30M for policy review and action leading to the development of a computerized beneficiary selection criteria/model, Housing Policy Document, Squatter Regularization and Relocation Plan; and $85M for institutional strengthening.

Lastly, $669.5M has been set aside to cover current expenditure such as salaries, the Minister responsible for Housing told the National Assembly. “Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance profoundly stated in his budget speech, and I quote ‘The Authority is expected to access its own funds to undertake this ambitious programme in 2017’... a total of G$8,011,292,170,”

PPP MP Indra Chandarpal um term strategy which is embodied in its Housing Plan of Action (2016 – 2020).

“Mr Speaker the strategic direction of the CHPA which embraces the notion of creating liveable and wholesome communities has to be taken within the context of local governance currently being promoted by the government.

In this regard one of the primary measures that will be adopted in its medium term strategy is enhancing collaboration with LDOs

and public participation in the housing and community development process,” Minister Patterson explained.

To achieve the long standing goals of expanding the supply of housing, improving affordability while ensuring access to housing and infrastructure to poor families in the context of the development of sustainable and cohesive communities, actionable policy recommendations will be realized through the development of a National Housing Strategy for Guyana, she said.

Increased taxation Meanwhile, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament, Indra Chandarpal, in making her contributions during the debates, contended that government’s interpretation of “a good life” is really increased taxation for hard working Guyanese.

She said within the two budgets laid in the National Assembly for 2016, there were approximately 185 tax measures proposed by the Government. Chandarpaul said instead of addressing the plethora of issues facing Guyanese, particularly the young pop-

ulation, the Government has chosen to compound the situation by increasing the amount of taxes to be paid.

As she continued to bash the Government over the proposed 57 new tax measures that were outlined in the 2017 budget, Chandarpaul said that while A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government has given its Ministers hefty increases, public servants are still awaiting the fulfilling of its campaign promise. “This increase was done without the establishment of a constitutional salary review commission which was proposed in the coalition’s manifesto to review periodically, the salaries and pensions and other conditions for persons appointed to constitutional offices, including the President (and) Prime Minister,” she posited.

Chandarpaul, like her colleagues, on Tuesday called for the budget to be drawn saying that the measures will result in greater hardship for the people of Guyana, a claim Government continues to deny.

Don’t close it down 9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

… Komal Chand makes plea for struggling sugar industry

By Rabindra Rooplall PEOPLE’S Progressive Party backbencher and veteran trade unionist, Komal Chand has made an impassioned plea for government to reconsider any thoughts of closing down the sugar industry or privatizing it, saying this will be a monumental mistake and will spell doom and gloom for workers.

Chand made the comments while making his contributions to the 2017 budget debate last evening in the National Assembly. He accused the government of appearing oblivious to the plight of the Guyanese people and claimed that the 2017 budget has only added to the woes of citizens.

During his budget presentation, on November 28 Finance Minister, Winston Jordan made it clear that: “the status quo of the sugar industry can neither be sustained nor maintained. As currently structured, the industry would require Government’s support to the tune of $18.6 billion and $21.4 billion for the years 2017 and 2018, respectively.”

This, he said is an untenable position, pointing out that it would seriously jeopardise the fiscal stance of the Government, while compromising resource allocation to other critical and important areas. “Radical re-organising of the sugar industry is required as a matter of urgency, for the continued postponement of the hard decisions on GuySuCo’s future would result in the corporation incurring even more debts (estimated currently at $80 billion) and an escalation of the demands on the

Treasury.”

Recognising this grave situation, a Cabinet Sub-Committee has been established, tasked with making definitive recommendations for implementation by the end of 2016.

This committee, Jordan said has been examining all options and will make a full report to the Cabinet shortly. For 2017, the Government has made an allocation of $9 billion to support the financing of GuySuCo’s operations. This brings to $32 billion, the amount of resources that would have been provided to the Corporation since August 2015.

VAMPIRE However, Chand had a different view. “At the outset I must register that Budget 2017 will certainly propel our people and our country down a perilous path.

It can, without fear of contradiction, be rightly described as an anti-working-people budget and, as a friend of mine remarked, it is a vampire one literally set to suck the ‘blood’ out of our people, from every walks of life,” Chand said.

He explained that in a short period Guyanese have seen the withdrawal of several initiatives which had benefitted the ordinary people. “Living costs are going up and living standards are on the decline. The Minister of Finance himself in his Mid-Year Economic Report revealed that food prices have risen by as much as 3.2 per cent for the first half of 2016 and in the Finance Ministry’s Monthly Economic Bul-

letin for September, 2016, we learnt about “increased prices for food, clothing and footwear and repairs.”

Turning his attention to labour matters, Chand said the Finance Minister, Winston Jordan spoke rather glowingly about the Government’s commitment to Collective Bargaining in the public sector, but said this is far from the real situation.

“Comrade Speaker, the promises of a bright future and a good life are now pushed down the drain by this Budget. For the employees in the sugar industry they are meaningless and delusional. It should be recalled, Comrade Speaker, that in the 2015 elections campaign APNU/AFC speakers promised the sugar workers twenty per cent wage increases and other niceties… today we face the painful reality that sugar workers’ purchasing has in effect been decreasing by no pay increases for two years now. At the same time, the workers long standing benefits and time-honoured traditions and practices are being whittled away by some of those very spokesmen who now hold high positions.”

NO TO PRIVATIZATION Adding that the government seems to want to condemn the sugar workers to even greater hardship and deprivation through the sale and closure of estates, the PPP Parliamentarian said that Jordan indicated that the Government

PPP MP Komal Chand would soon make known its intentions for the industry. “More and more there are signs that the sugar industry’s re-privatisation or de-nationalisation is being pursued with great speed.

Such a step, I believe, Comrade Speaker, will be a monumental mistake and one that will haunt us in the future,”

he said.

It is recalled; he said that former Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, in nationalising the industry with the full backing of the PPP and the trade unions, forty (40) years ago, among other things, alluded to the repatriation of the industry’s profits by its then foreign owners and their lack of investment in the country. “In these times when neo-colonialism is raising its head in the world, re-privatisation can very likely do much harm to our people, our economy and our independence.

The Jamaican experience whereby the new owners failed to live up to their promises and just simply, earlier this year, decided to close operations, an act which put at risk the livelihoods of thousands of workers and farmers there. Comrade Speaker, I urge the Government to carefully consider the decisions of divestment and closure of estates.

This will be condemning the affected workers to even greater distress and misery.”

Chand said the Finance Minister related that money invested in sugar is wasted. “I interpret this as one of the most an-

ti-worker statements made by a minister. It would seem that the minister and the Government have forgotten about sugar’s contributions past and present. Would, it be right for me to say, Comrade Speaker, that the nearly $70B, at today’s exchange rate, paid as sugar levy which went to support the country is also wasted money? What about the nearly $30B received from the EU for sugar and not spent in the industry, is that a waste?”

He continued: “What about employment created, directly and indirectly, is that a waste?

What about the industry’s dependable foreign exchange earnings, is that a waste? What about the long-standing subsidy of the local sugar price, is that a waste? Or, how about the drainage and irrigation and other services for communities, are they a waste? No, they aren’t, for us, Comrade Speaker, those contributions, among others, have redounded to the well-being of this country and its people in all times. They alleviated the pains in many difficult situations and still do today.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

Activists and protests

By Akola Thompson

IT HAS been three days since (Prince) Henry of Wales would have ended his two-week tour to eight Caribbean countries; countries that his family had a role in destroying socially, mentally and economically.

It has been four days since he was met with a small band of protesters outside the Commonwealth War Graves, and there has since been a flurry of social media commentators condemning the four protesters, me included, who dared to “have the audacity to fly in the face of diplomacy,” as said by singer Ryan Hoppie.

The thing with diplomacy is that while it can be good in some instances, it is largely an escapist

strategy used to pacify those who should be condemned -- not as individuals exactly, but for the organizations, institutions and empires which they represent and continuously uphold, despite the damages they caused and are still causing to a people.

Sometimes no matter how unpopular the decision, people have to fly in the face of diplomacy, because statements have to be made and accountability must be had. This does not always tie in with being nice and “respectful” to empires that killed, traded, raped and destroyed; but we seem to have short memories.

Many did not understand the purpose or aim of the protest, and while that was disappointing, it is okay. It is understand-

able that, after years of being regaled with blockbuster films, stories and anecdotes of the horrors of slavery (no matter how white-washed), we, as a people, have grown numb to the true experiences of our fore-parents.

It is understandable that having very little knowledge on the subject can see one pursuing more ‘progressive’ solutions, when all we are doing is fawning over the same monarchy and systems that our people revolted against.

The protest in question was not about breaking new ground; it was symbolic, and it was about addressing old violations that still have an effect on us. Persons may not be able to link our underdevelopment and social stagnation to the Crown, but not being able to see

it does not make it less of a fact.

Then there are those who believe (Prince) Henry to be a poor target.

From a narrow perspective, yes he is. However, one needs to consider that this call for an apology does not mean that Harry himself must apologise, but rather that an apology must be forthcoming from the monarchy which he represents. An apology would, of course, lead to heightened calls for reparations -- which we deserve, but which they would not want to give; hence we may never get an apology, because it might not be economically suitable for them.

But that does not mean we should never question them, and it does not mean we should have our children waving the flags

of their oppressors while fawning over the oppressors’ offspring.

As much as I try to respect different opinions, there are those which really try one’s faith in humanity. There are actually those who believe that there would be no civilization had people not uprooted us from our homes and placed us somewhere alien. One begins to wonder if those persons have ever seen the inside of a history book, and whether they even care to learn that we had civilization before we were uprooted.

What bothers me about some persons is not their lack of insight per se -as we all have different backgrounds, exposures and experiences, and may not be able to see the same thing similarly; what bothers me are those

who see activists and advocates as persons who are out to seek attention.

While some advocates do seek attention, the majority of those who stand up, speak up, and are on the ground helping are not doing that for recognition for themselves, but for recognition for the causes being fought for.

For the people wondering where we are when things happen in our country, we, too, wonder where you are when we are on the ground working to fight against marginalization of our people, standing up for women and children’s rights, and fighting against gender-based violence. It’s interesting that you are never seen or heard, but yet you always have an opinion about those who are.

11

We will fix education

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

… new medical school for UG, expanded school-feeding programme

By Svetlana Marshall

GOVERNMENT will be constructing a new school of medicine at the University of Guyana as well as 300-seat lecture theatre, Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine told the National Assembly on Tuesday.

He was at the time making his contributions to the 2017 budget debate, which opened on Monday. “At the University of Guyana, we are currently finalising the construction of a new 300seat lecture theatre, as well as a new student services building. In 2017, we will be commencing the construction of a new school of medicine on campus, as well as – under the Yesu Persaud endowment – a facility for clinical services attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation,” Roopnaraine told the House as he unveiled his ministry’s plans for next year.

The minister acknowledged that the education system is in crisis but the 19-month-old A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government will fix it. He told the House that though the Commission of Inquiry into the Education Sector is wrapping up its investigations, Government, without any prejudice to the recommendations of that report, will take key steps to improve service delivery in the sector.

As such, some $337.4M has been set aside for the Programme for Emergency Education Reform (PEER) initiative, which is being executed following the initiation of several measures in 2015, with the central component of it being the first significant and most sweeping curriculum reform in almost two decades.

“The PEER initiative will focus heavily on improving math scores through comprehensive diagnosis of

current constraints, methodology review, and the recruitment of a cadre of specialists for targeted interventions,” the Education Minister explained. Additionally, the subject minister told the house that the invaluable progress made by the National Center for Education Resource Development (NCERD) in 2016

Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine will continue in 2017 in the core areas of Curriculum Development, Special Needs Education Training and Awareness, Literacy and Information Communication Technology (ICT) integration.

“In November of this year, a total of 50 participants, including head teachers and DEOs from selected regions, were trained in an Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) initial workshop, one designed to generate awareness and support for the implementation of a pilot for ESD, linking the UNESCO micro-science experiments programme, Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development and the UNESCO Sandwatch coastal erosion awareness programme,” Minister Roopnaraine pointed out.

He said in 2017, Guyanese will not only benefit from the approval of the ESD policy and the implementation of a supporting action plan but would also witness closer collaboration between the Science Unit and the Cyril Potter College for Education (CPCE), in addition to a stronger public awareness education programme on the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education.

Even as the Government pushes ahead with a strong STEM programme, it has vouched never to lose sight of the important role that arts education is playing in creating well-rounded, civic-minded students. He said while 2016 has resulted in an increase in the number of students enrolling in the expressive arts and sports education, visual arts saw a worrying trend of decreased enrollments and as such, in 2017, the Education Ministry will target that decline with the training of 132 teachers in multiple visual arts disciplines.

Training for teachers in music, drama and dance will also be enhanced in 2017, while the Ministry will take active steps to equip three more schools with steel bands, bringing the total to 24. Zooming in on territory education, the Education Minister informed the House that 2017 will also see greater collaboration among the University of Guyana (UG) School of Education and Humanities, NCERD and CPCE. “These initiatives will

form the basis of a medium term Sector Review Plan 2018-2020, which in turn will simply be another phase in what has to be a process that fundamentally reforms and restructures the pedagogy at the heart of our education system in order to provide long-term, centralized integration within the national sustainable

PPP MP Dr. Frank Anthony

regional plans, enhancing our programme to ensure that schools are certifiable as child-friendly spaces, integrating climate change education more meaningfully into the curriculum, and strengthening the working relationship between our international partners, UNICEF and UNESCO in particular,” he further explained.

Additionally, the Ministry expects that in 2017 there will be greater autonomy of the National Accreditation Council and increased capacity for international accreditation and equivalency under the council. As in the case of other programmes within the Education Ministry, student welfare will continue to remain high on the agenda for this Administration, the subject minister emphasized, noting that in 2017 some $1.9B will be pumped into the school feeding programme with another $578M set aside for the provision of much needed text books.

development agenda,” he explained to the House.

In the area of service delivery, Minister Roopnaraine assured that his Ministry will continue to look for ways that will enhance service delivery of existing programmes.

“During 2017, we will continue the coordinating, monitoring and evaluating activities of the 20142018 Strategic Education Plan with particular focus on the implementation of

INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION Though he did not agree with the new measures of taxation that will come into effect in 2017, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament and former Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony told the House that he is pleased to see that the APNU+AFC Government is continuing the tradition of investing in education.

“I am extremely happy

to hear that the National Accreditation Council will be working assiduously over the next year to perhaps accredit the institution in our country,” he added.

Admitting that Math and English have long been a serious problem, the former Minister said he would have wished to hear about the concrete steps that will be taken to remedy the situation. Without concrete solutions, he argued that the problems facing students in these two key subject areas will not be solved. While acknowledging that Minister Roopnaraine has a passion for the Arts, Dr. Anthony said he was a bit taken back that the minister did not extensively address the area.

Additionally, the PPP MP said given a commitment made previously, he would have thought that there would have been provisions in the 2017 budget for the erection of the 1838 Monument Palmyra. “I would have thought that this Monument would have been soon unveiled. More so Mr. Speaker, that next year we will commemorate 100 years since Indentureship was abolished and we would have thought that the Government would have at least wanted to unveil this monument on this occasion,” Dr. Anthony said. Nevertheless, while applauding some of the programmes and initiatives outlined by the Education Minister, Dr. Anthony spent the majority of his time condemning the proposed tax measures outlined by the Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

Ansa McAl opens new Penta Paint Colour Shop at BV

ANSA McAl Construction Solutions Manager, Jared Kissoon, emphasised that a focus on customer service will be a big part of business at the new Penta Paint Colour Studio, when the facility was commissioned yesterday morning at the company’s office in Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara.

“Customer service is a very, very big part of how we do business and how we’re going to be doing business at the colour studio. Part of our training for our staff is a lot of customer service training.

I think a lot of Guyanese are disaccustomed to good service, and that’s not something we do here at Penta, it’s about

interactions with the customer. People want to be heard, they want to be listened to, and we do that here,” said Jared during yesterday opening ceremony.

This is the second colour studio that the company has opened with the first one located on Lombard Street, Georgetown, and plans are afoot to have more of the same all across Guyana. Ansa McAl’s Managing Director, Beverley Harper, explained that the concept of the colour studio is to improve on persons experience when purchasing paint. “This is the second colour shop we’ve opened. The idea of the colour shop is that you can go in and pick the paint that

they want, not the paint that’s available, but the paint that you want, mixed to perfection. We hope to have them all over the country eventually,” Harper related.

The well blended multi-coloured walls of the studio give patrons a perfect specimen of how they can mix and match the paint colours to brighten any environment. “There’s a colour combination that we’ve used to illustrate, and highlight how wonderful colours can look and can help to change the entire outlook of your abode, however humble it may be it can turn into a palace with our colours,” Harper noted.

Though not in place as yet, the facility will also be Two of the representatives show off some of the colour studio’s products.

Standing next to them is Ansa McAl’s Managing Director, Beverley Harper coming with a colour consultation corner where customers can discuss what works best for them, and get ideas on what colours to choose.

To celebrate the new opening, a buy-one-get-one-deal will be ongoing at the store all day today, where customers making purchases will have their purchase matched free

of cost.

Additionally, the colour studio will also be retailing clay blocks and pathway tiles. Kissoon outlined that the clay blocks are far superior to the widely used concrete blocks.

“Someone was asking me about the benefits of using clay blocks, I told them

to challenge any concrete block manufacturer to give an advantage of concrete blocks over clay because there really are none. Clay blocks are stronger, lighter, moisture resistant, thermal resistant, fire proof, and it’s not that they will take long to burn it’s that they won’t burn.” Kissoon reported.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

Beating tax evasion

13

Keith Scott: Budget 2017 crafted to help capture tax cheats

By Shauna Jemmott

MINISTER Keith Scott, the Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, with responsibility for Labour, has praised the 2017 national budget as one which meets the scourge of tax evasion head-on through the introduction of tax reform and other measures in several areas.

The 2017 fiscal budget, to the tune of $250 billion, was presented on November 28 by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, in keeping with the theme “Building a diversified, green economy: delivering the good life to all Guyanese.” Critical reviews and debates started in the National Assembly on Monday, offering each Member of Parliament –- from both Government and Opposition parties -- opportunities to comment.

Contributing to the debate, Minister Scott said tax evasion has been a major hindrance to economic development, and had become rampant under the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic regime in 2013. He said the budget this year introduces measures to curb the immoral trend and ensure, among other things, that more money is collected through taxation and more job creation.

Scott said the extent

to which tax avoidance and tax evasion have impacted economic growth continues to inflict harm on the efficient management of the country, and the APNU+AFC Administration will no longer tolerated such.

EMPLOYMENT The minister said Government is also not comfortable with the low rate of employment-creation realised this year, since underemployment leads to economic underperformance. “We are committed to sound economic planning, which must be driven by accurate and reliable data emanating from our statistical department, which, in conjunction with the Bureau of Statistics, has submitted that the unemployment level for the year is not comforting.

“Certainly, we are not proud of that, but more could have been achieved if the mischief of tax evasion and tax avoidance had not been so rampant,” Scott said.

Minister Scott said schemes and programmes have been deliberately concocted and initiated by some sectors of the local economy to prevent or limit employment-creation among youths in p a r t i c u l a r. S t a t i s t i c s prove the unemployment

Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott level to be discomforting, the minister said. He pointed out that his ministry, through its Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA), has ensured employment for some 3122 persons, a figure reflecting 89% of the agency’s initial 2016 target of over 3500.

The budget also provides for a reduction in inequalities through a more even tax regime, and an increase in disposable income, which allows citizens to spend more and save more, Scott said. “In this regard, there is provision to increase the income tax threshold from $660,000 to $720,000 per annum.

When we took office

in 2015, that threshold was $600,000 per annum, but, within 18 months, we have effected a 20% increase,” Minister Scott said.

Scott said that while the provision releases more disposable income to employees, it also allows for the removal of 7600 persons from the tax register, giving them a greater opportunity to enjoy a good life.

Also, the budget reduces personal income tax by 2% for employees whose monthly earnings are below $180,000 or annual income below $2.16 million. Those employees will now pay personal income tax at a rate of 28% instead of 30%.

Minister Scott also praised the success of Finance Minister Winston Jordan in producing three national budgets in 18 months, setting a record in Guyana’s history and raising the monthly stipend for old age pensioners to $19,000, from $13,125; showing respect to the elderly with a 45% increase within 18 months. Another measure presented in the budget is the Restriction of Mortgage Interest Relief to

loans up to $15 million, to relieve the burden of payment on mortgages for low-to-middle-income earners.

In the commercial sector, the prayers of manufacturers have been answered, Scott said, with the budget making possible a reduction in corporation tax from 30% to 27.5%. He said the 2.5% reduction now allows for manufacturers to become more competitive, pay better wages to their employees, and facilitate improved working condition. “ M r. S p e a k e r, i t is projected that these measures will result in Government sacrificing a total of $752 million in tax, but it is a sacrifice we are prepared to make in favour of a good life,” Scott presented.

Scott also debated that new measures for tender compliance for Government contracts, where NIS and Income Tax certificates are prerequisites to participate in procurement processes, are intended to make more accessible the proverbial playing field, encouraging stakeholders to be more compliant with laws.

The introduction of these certificates, available at a cost of one thousand dollars ($1000.00), Scott said, indicates Government’s eagerness to do business.

“The other compliance certificates, inclusive of the Trusted Trader Compliance Certificates and the Standard Income Tax and NIS Compliance Certificates, for relatively nominal fees, are intended to improve transparency and lead to a more equitable distribution of resources, as well as to make good corporate citizenship,” the Labour Minister said.

Minister Scott called the 2017 budget a “Christmas budget” with a lasting impact – one which offers joyful gifts to all sectors of society and all classes and ages of people. “It places the nation on the road to financial and economic prosperity in a clearly measurable and immediate way; but more so, its impact is one that will last for quite a long while in the future. It is a budget that will sustain,” Minister Scott said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

Bosai honours 2016 top achievers at Annual Bursary Awards

SIXTY students on Sunday were handsomely awarded by the bauxite company Bosai Mineral Group

za, Anthony Ferreira and Aryan Singh. For CSEC: Daicia Caesar, Asher Marks, KayshavTewari, Aadilah Ali

and he congratulated them for their academic achievements of greatness. He also expressed gratitude to Bosai

pointed out, adding that if Guyanese were to truly aspire to greatness as a nation we should strive to be prod-

Some of the top National Grade Six Assessment achievers posing with their certificates, From left at the head table are Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland; Head of NICIL, Horace James; Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira; Chief Engineer of Bosai, Orin Barnwell; General Manager of Bosai, Robert Shang; and other employees of Bosai (Guyana) at its 11th Annual Bursary Awards held at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre in Linden.

The awardees were categorized into three sections of top 10 for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC). The categories were employees’ children top 10, Region 10 top 10 and national top 10.

Some of the awardees for the NGSA were: Danica Wilson, Erenilda DeSou-

and Fatima Karim.

The awardees who represented schools across Linden and Georgetown were smartly dressed in their school uniforms and were given lots of advice on how to remain on the path to success. They were awarded cash prizes, trophies, gifts and certificates.

Giving the feature address was member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira, who expressed how honoured he was to be in the presence of Guyana’s brightest minds

for recognizing these achievers and awarding them for jobs well done.

He stressed on the importance of being academically inclined and the importance of acquiring higher education. “Only an educated person can consider himself or herself really free and master of his own fate.

It is only with an educated people, that representatives and democratic organs of the government can exist and exercise the influence of national progress,” Figueira

ucts of academia.

Regional Chairman, Renis Morian in his short address advised parents to continue supporting their children in every necessary way as they were on the journey of pursing their dreams. “The responsibility on us is that we need to recognize that it will cost us money. It will costs us time and support, but we are confident that our future is secured because these are the young leaders,” he said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by General Manager of Bosai, Robert Shang who also posited that Bosai was honored to hosts such an event as it had supported several other education community ventures such as sports, pageantry and tours. He revealed that Bo-

sai would continue to hold bursary awards even as this would be his last. However, with his successor, it would be bigger and better.

Bosai’s bursary awards started in 2005 but only employees’ children were awarded. In 2009, this changed and the bauxite company began to recognize regional achievers, and in 2011 national achievers. According to Human Resource Manager, Trudell Marks, the bauxite company would continue to take its responsibility seriously. Present at the awards was also Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland, Head of NICIL Horace James, religious leaders and other managerial staff of Bosai.

A section of the students at the ceremony

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

Brazilian national charged with murder of miner

BRAZILIAN national, Makeal Jackson Da Silva was remanded to prison for the murder of Ked Lewis known as ‘Keno’ or ‘Kennedy’ which occurred in the Cuyuni River. The 24-year-old was not required to plead to the indictable charge read to him

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

It is alleged that between November 29 and 30, 2016 at Dukwari Backdam, Cuyuni River he murdered Lewis. The Chief Magistrate transferred the matter to the Bartica Magistrates Court for December 15.

According to the police reports, the body of Lewis, who was a miner of Quataman Village, North Rupununi, was found in a pit with multiple wounds

Makeal Jackson Da Silva at Dukwari Backdam. The report stated that the defendant and Lewis were seen leaving their mining camp but only Da Silva, returned to the camp.

Wednesday December 7th, 2016 - 10:30 hrs Thursday December 8th, 2016 - 12:00 hrs Friday December 9th, 2016 - 13:00 hrs

Bandits shoot man, grab bag with $3M GUNMEN on Tuesday ran into the Ministry of Finance’s compound and grabbed a bag containing some $3M which was tossed in there by a fleeing victim of a robbery during the midday hours on Urquhart Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown.

In a statement police said a 29-yearold male supervisor is presently nursing a gunshot wound to his right thigh, having been robbed and shot by one of two bandits in the vicinity of the Ministry of Finance about 12:55h.

Investigations revealed that the victim John Brian was walking on Urquhart Street, North Cummingsburg, heading in a westerly direction when a white Premio motor car pulled up alongside him and two suspects, one armed with

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a handgun, exited and approached him.

As a result he became afraid and ran to the Ministry of Finance’s gate and threw a haversack which allegedly contained $3M cash into the said compound.

The suspects went into the compound, collected the bag and were exiting when the victim tried retrieving same and in the process, the armed suspect discharged his firearm in his direction, hitting him to his right thigh and they made good their escape in the said vehicle. The victim was rushed to the GPHC in an ambulance, where he is undergoing surgery.

Investigators have retrieved a spent shell from the scene. No arrests have so far been made. Investigations are in progress.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

GAWU accuses GuySuCo of frustrating collective bargaining

THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is accusing the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) of attempting to subvert the Collective Bargaining process in the sugar industry.

“The GAWU wishes to indicate that the Ministry of Social Protection has engaged the Corporation

and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) in two (2) conciliatory proceedings on November 23 and 29, 2016 with respect to sugar workers’ claim for a wage/salary increase of eight (8) per cent this year (2016). A third conciliatory meeting was soon to be fixed by the Ministry to continue the conciliatory

proceedings. To the Union’s surprise and, certainly, the workers dismay GuySuCo by letter of December 05, 2016 wrote inter alia:- “We also wish to bring to your attention that [the] Parliamentary debate on the 2017 National Budget will commence on Monday December 5, 2016, which will be addressing some aspects relating to the

sugar industry. We therefore, humbly request that our current conciliation on wages/ salaries and fringe benefits be put on hold during these engagements at the Parliament.”

However, the union said the current Parliamentary debate/discussion on the Budget Speech and the approval of the estimates cannot be

used as a pretext to what, effectively, is an attempt to delay or avert the legitimate workers’ claim.

“Certainly this is a yet another effort by the Corporation to frustrate the ministry’s conciliatory service.

The GAWU calls on the ministry not to be cowered and allow GuySuCo to succeed in pushing workers claims

to the back burner, especially in light that the workers were denied wage increases in 2015,” the union asserted.

It also called on the ministry to fix urgently another meeting without delay in order for the discussions to be concluded, and, indeed, for them to reserve their deserving pay award.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

Alleged serial bandits remanded THREE men accused of an armed robbery at ‘Wild Caught Fresh Fish Depot’ at the Meadow Bank Wharf, Ruimveldt were remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Tuesday.

Mervin Blackman,25, of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara; Neizam Benie,40 of Bushy Park, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, both fish vendors along with Jason Brotherson, 20, a miner of Gordon Street, Kitty were jointly charged with the offense.

The charge alleged that the trio on December 02, 2016 at Meadow Bank Wharf, while being armed with guns, robbed Shane Robin of $560,000 cash along with $1.5M worth in fish glue, property of Leonard Jettoo.

The three men pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Benie, who was shot to both of his legs, had to be lifted into the court by police; he was represented by Attorney Adrian Thompson who also appeared for Blackman; Brotherson was unrepresented.

According to information received, three men, one armed with a handgun stormed the Wild Caught Fresh Fish Depot at 00:45hrs on December 2 and held the supervisor, Shane Robin at gunpoint. Robin was gun-butted and the men took a camera, DVR, a radio set and other articles.

Public-spirited citizen witnessed the robbery and called the police, who responded and confronted the men as they were leaving. During the confrontation, one of the unarmed suspects was shot to both legs and the other with the firearm, ran in the depot and concealed himself in the ceiling.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES Meanwhile, Blackman and Benie were also charged separately with three counts of armed robbery, which they strongly denied. Particulars of the first charge alleged that on October 1, 2016 while being armed with guns, they robbed Bramanand Chatram of $500,000 cash and a quantity of items over $3M, property of Bibi Shafoor.

The men are also accused of robbing Bramanand Chatram of his cellphone and other items totaling $110,000, while being armed with guns. Lastly on the same day, the duo while being armed with guns robbed Parmanand Chatram of a cellphone and other items totaling $14,000.

Mervin Blackman shortly after being nabbed by the police at the Meadow Bank Wharf crime scene Additionally, Blackman was slapped with five other criminal charges, including illegal gun possession and attempted murder.

The first charge alleged that Blackman while being in the company of others and armed with guns on August 15 at Georgetown, robbed Carl Welshman of a cellphone and other items totaling $175,000.

He was also charged with discharging a loaded firearm at Welshman with intent to commit murder, on the said day and location. It is further alleged that on November 24 at Georgetown, Blackman while being in the company of others and armed with guns, robbed Dannie Singh of $40,000 and other items totaling $50,000.

It is also alleged that Blackman on December 2, 2016 at Georgetown had a Glock 17 Simi-automatic pistol in his possession when he is not the holder a firearm licence. He was also caught with 8 live millimeter rounds of ammunition. The fish vendor pleaded not guilty to the charges while his lawyer, Thompson begged the Magistrate to release his client on bail since he is not a flight risk.

P o l i c e P r o s e c u t o r,

Corporal Simone Payne strongly opposed to the men being released on bail based on the seriousness,

prevalence, nature and penalty attached to the charges. The prosecutor pointed out that Blackman

is currently on bail for a matter of similar nature, which is currently before City Magistrate Fabayo

Azore. They were remanded and the matters are adjourned until January 6, 2017.

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Courts/Bounty in m $5M Christmas Bo

By Shirley Thomas

COURTS Guyana Inc., in collaboration with Bounty Supermarket on Tuesday launched their mega $5M Shopping Bonanza which will see 50 lucky persons each winning $100,000 after making purchases of grocery items at Bounty Supermarkets for the Christmas holidays.

To qualify, here’s what you have to do. Simply make purchases of grocery items to the value of $49,999 from any Bounty Supermarkets countrywide. This will entitle you to coupons which you are required to fill and drop into boxes provided at the shopping facility where you’ve

made your purchase.

Drawings will be done each weekend, leading up to Christmas, with one final draw before the end of the year, said COURTS Marketing and Public Relations Officer, Roberta Ferguson.

“This promotion is all part of COURTS’ way of giving back to our valued customers, ensuring that they all have a very Merry Christmas,” said Marketing Manager Pernell Cummings.

Meanwhile shoppers were exhorted to make Bounty Supermarkets their choice of purchase, highlighting the wide range of much sought after items, including turkey, ham, goodies, snacks and treats for the children at

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

affordable prices and enjoying comfortable and secure parking.

COUNTRY Manager, Mr. Clyde De Haas, commenting on their successful partnership with Bounty Supermarket said: “We at COURTS are very happy. It is one of the most exciting moments for us, for we are going to make 50 customers happy this Christmas….getting home with a shopping spree worth $100,000 worth.

This is going to be one of the best Christmas bonanzas that COURTS will give to our customers.”

The Country Manager extended Christmas greetings to all, while urging customers to put on their running shoes

COURTS Country Manager delivers remarks at the launch o

Feliz Robertson is ready for the take off…

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mega onanza

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

Excited sprinter Sean Joseph tries to make the best of a deal that’s worth the while

of the Mega $5M Shopping Spree and exercise in preparation for the shopping spree.

Meanwhile, it was early Christmas for two lucky members of the media: Feliz Robertson of HITS and JAMS 94.1 and Sean Joseph of the National Communications Network. The two won from among complimentary tickets issued to the, media and allowed a ceiling of $30,000 worth of grocery items in a two-man one minute shopping spree.

It was both a spirited and hilarious exercise and Joseph who is a driver at NCN defied the traditional saying that ‘13’ is an unlucky number, proved it wrong, by winning with ticket number ‘13’ and driving home with $20,420 worth of grocery items.

Feliz managed to scoop up for herself $17,543, but still has an opportunity of winning $100,000 in the upcoming $5Million Shopping spree for Christmas, provided that she makes purchases to the value of $49,999 and gets into the competition.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

New legislation to aid e-procurement coming … procurement officers commence training

By Rabindra Rooplall

(From Left) UNDP Procurement Specialist Rodofo Sanjurjo, Senior Procurement Specialist Michael De Jonge, and NPTAB Chairman Berkley Wickham during their address to the participants

GUYANA’S weak public procurement system will be strengthened and upgraded in 2017 as existing legislation will be reviewed to facilitate e-procurement while the website will be improved to satisfy timely posting of advertisement of procurement opportunities and awards.

This is according to National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) Chairman Berkley Wickham who was speaking Tuesday at the opening of four-day workshop on Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).

The event is being hosted at the Regency Suites Hotel, Georgetown.

E-procurement (electronic procurement) is the business-to-business or business-to-consumer or business-to-government purchase and sale of supplies, work, and services through the Internet as well as other information and networking systems, such as electronic data interchange and enterprise resource planning.

Thirty participants drawn from all ten regions are participating in the certificate procurement training programme- level two. The programme is financed under the Inter-American Development Bank IDB Public Procurement Modernisation Programme and Financial Management Technical Assistance Programme for Guyana under the Ministry of Finance. The training is being facilitated by UNDP Procurement Specialist Rodofo Sanjurjo.

The NPTAB Chairman said two similar programmes involving 60 trainees from the public sector will be understaken in January 2017.

In explaining the initiative aimed at changing the long held perception of a tainted public procurement process, Wickham said the difficulty of the task was never underestimated but its success is

rooted in achieving transparency, accountability, fairness, integrity and efficiency.

“We are not there yet but significant advances have been made,” the Tender Board Chairman noted.

In highlighting some of the advancements, the Chairman said there has been an increase in the threshold limits for regional, ministerial/ agency tender boards; progress in developing a debarment procedure; functional Bid Protest Committee and the Public Procurement Commission has been established.

He said the programme is one component of an overall capacity building programme. This is a key element for improving efficiency and transparency of the procurement process.

Adding that pursuant to section 17 of the Procurement Act 2003, the NPTAB Chair said the board has been organizing training in public procurement and this year there has been enhanced expertise in procurement across the country to ensure knowledge of procurement policies and procedures are continually upgraded in line with best practices.

Wickham said recently two female procurement officers successfully completed a certification online programme in sustainable procurement provided by the Organisation of American States and also that a pilot programme in procurement planning was just completed in three of large ministries.

Focusing on some of the impacts and achievements of the present training, Wickham said the initiative will impact the following areas: (1) Bringing the current procurement regulation in line with best practices for 2017; (2) Strengthen the data base system to improve reporting requirements by far-flung areas of the country and facilitate analytical reporting on procurement which is required under the 2003 Act which has a January 2017 completion date. (3) A de-

barment procedure will be fashioned for implementation. (4) The CIPS Level two training is set to benefit 90 operatives in the procurement system. (5)The initiatives will prepare a strategy for the introduction of e-procurement along with improving the website.

He disclosed that there will be further training in February 2017 in contract compliance and management. Meanwhile, Senior Procurement Specialist Michael De Jonge in brief remarks said the first part of the programme was the preparation and dissemination of the certified training programmes which is done in three parts. “This is the first part involving the ten administrative regions of Guyana, the second and third quarts will involve procurement personnel from various ministries, agencies and departments and will conclude in the month of January,” he said.

Emphasising that the main objective of the training is to provide procurement officials and staff with a better understanding of the principles of effective public procurement, De Jonge said the mission is to promote and develop high standards for professional skills, ability and integrity. “This programme assures compliance with high international qualifications standard as well as offering participants access to the worldwide community of procurement professionals,” De Jonge said.

He told the participants that at the end of the programme they will have access to the UNDP sites. He said the programme has been customized for Guyana’s public procurement requirements. UNDP Procurement Specialist Rodofo Sanjurjo who has forty years of experience in procurement reiterated what was said but noted that the course will help to enhance the work of procurement officers tremendously.

Some of the participants of the procurement workshop

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

Drainage works to commence in Newtown, Kitty shortly

MPI’s Community Coordinator Neilson McKenzie (with reflective vest), inspects the Lamaha Canal during a recent walkabout in Newtown, Kitty. The Lamaha Canal is one of several spots identified for major works in the coming weeks THE drainage and irrigation system of Newtown, Kitty is slated for major upgrade in the coming weeks, as the Ministry of Public Infrastructure embarks on a new project to repair and replace culverts in the area.

Slated to begin next week, the project is expected to last five weeks.

Its first phase, expected to cost $13.7M, entails the clearing and desilting of several drains throughout the Newtown area, along with the clearing of alleyways.

Community Coordinator of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Neilson McKenzie, has said that two culverts have already been identified for repair and/or replacement. The Lamaha Canal, which serves as the main drainage system for Georgetown, will receive particular attention, McKenzie said; and it is entirely possible that more culverts will be identified, as works begin and the extent of damage is ascertained.

McKenzie stressed that the first phase of the project will cover critical intervention to lend to the improved efficiency of drainage.

“In living memory, no

critical intervention has occurred in the Newtown area to alleviate drainage issues,” McKenzie said, adding that the area is susceptible to flooding and other drainage-related issues.

The second phase of the project, scheduled for early 2017, would see rehabilitative road works being executed along D’Andrade Street, to lend to improved drainage. Additional drainage works are also expected to be completed in phase 2.

The works have been contracted to R&B Investment.

Meanwhile, it is also hoped that works are to be executed in drains close to the St. Winefride’s Secondary School, to improve drainage and alleviate unsanitary conditions.

McKenzie shared that one expected hiccup would be gaining the cooperation of the area’s residents in accommodating the extensive works. However, he said that some residents have already indicated their willingness to cooperate, and he sees this as a welcome and promising sign.

Streets that would benefit from this intervention include D’Andrade, D’Abreu, Lamaha and Duncan.

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Guyana attend child labour confab in Brazil GUYANA recently participated in the Regional Initiative for Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour meeting, held in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Vickram Mohabir, Senior Guidance and Counselling Officer of the Ministry of Education, attended the sessions, held from November 28 to December 2, 2016.

Co-organised by the International Labour Organisation and the Brazilian Co-operation Agency, the meeting was convened to identify joint action between the Education and Labour sectors of participating countries, advance efforts to reduce the incidence of child labour, and protect forms of labour permitted for

adolescents.

Principal of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), Viola Rowe, also attended a two-day forum for Higher Education and Teacher Training in Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The two-day summit was hosted by the World Bank, in collaboration with the Organisation of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI), and was held from December 2-3, a statement from the Ministry of Education has said.

The main objective of the forum was to create a Regional Centre for Teacher Development.

Cabinet approves new board for National Library GUYANESE writer Petamber Persaud has been elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Library.

The 10 other persons appointed to serve on the Board are: University of Guyana Librarian Gwyneth George; Archivist of the Guyana National Archives, Nadia Carter; Region Two Representative Mohini Ramlakhan; Region Six Representative Jagdeish Persaud; Region 10 Representative Jenny George-Parkinson; City Mayor

Patricia Chase-Greene; Deputy Permanent Secretary (Administration), Ministry of Education, Genevieve Blackman; Coordinator, Distance Education and Information Unit, National Centre for Education Resource Development, Pauline Stanford; Former Minister of Information and of the Public Service, Yvonne Harewood-Benn; and Working People’s Alliance member Lawrence Rodney.

The appointees were approved by Cabinet recently.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

ARIES You may be wondering if you’re heading in the right direction now, or if you should just scrap it all and try something new. The sensitive waxing Moon wants to make something grow, but the Sun is high and mighty in philosophical Sagittarius and won’t concede to just anything. On top of this inner conflict, you’re one quip away from provoking an argument with anyone who rubs you the wrong way. Fortunately, elegant Venus moves into intellectual Aquarius today, cooling the atmosphere and encouraging a more objective approach to social interactions. Bark less, listen more.

TAURUS Your sense of purpose is at odds with your delicate emotions today, and you may find yourself just wishing this inner dilemma could be over. Aggressive Mars crosses paths with mental Mercury, straining your thinking and shortening your fuse. You simply can’t deal with people getting on your case now, and you prefer to adopt a more detached perspective as your ruling planet, Venus, moves into rational Aquarius.

Embracing congeniality and compromise offers you the chance to cultivate peace.

GEMINI There’s a fork in the road, but which way should you go? You’ve taken a mental stroll down both paths to explore all your options, but you’re having trouble coming to a solid conclusion on which direction is best. To make matters worse, hot-headed Mars is busy picking fights and your brainy ruler, Mercury, is all too willing to take the bait.

You may find yourself sharp-tongued and edgy today, but chic Venus’ switch to aloof Aquarius soothes the emotionally charged tension. Ironically, taking the high road turns out to be the course of least resistance.

CANCER You’re not sure if a fledgling idea can stand on its own yet, or if it needs more incubation time before it’s ready to be released into the world. The last thing you want is to see something you’ve carefully cultivated be shot down, yet you’re not certain of your next move. Better safe than sorry is your motto, but is that always true? You may consider asking a friend for some objective advice on your situation once graceful Venus moves into open-minded Aquarius. Although you might feel out of sorts, staying open to all the possibilities ahead gives you the best chances for success.

LEO Wise cracks from a partner might provoke your ire today, yet you may find yourself too exasperated to even retort. Honestly, your mind is elsewhere as the boisterous Sagittarius Sun intimidates the fragile Pisces Moon. You act confident on the outside, but you might feel doubtful and a little scared about your position. Thankfully, charming Venus sashays into your 7th House of Relationships, encouraging you to notice the beauty and originality of others. Expect nothing and appreciate everything.

VIRGO You’re treading cautiously today as you doubt the stability of the ground beneath you.

It seems like one wrong move could be a big mistake, so you may agonise over this uncertainty for much of the day. This uncomfortable state of mind tempts you to latch onto the smallest of details, clinging to fruitless arguments. It’s a tense situation on all fronts, but there is a bright side just around the corner. Luckily, your attention to the logistics and your skill at executing your plan combine to create a reliable recipe for success.

LIBRA Something is out of whack today, and everyone acts as if they’re ready to defend their opinions at the slightest provocation. The tender Pisces Moon puts you in touch with your emotions, but your optimistic bubble might be easily burst now. However, your artful ruler, Venus, is here to deliver some much-needed diplomacy and help you maintain the peace, both within yourself and with those you love. Focusing on expressing your creative side rather than engaging in meaningless squabbles inspires others to do the same.

SCORPIO Verbalising what you want is a significant challenge today. The haughty Sun clashes with the moody Moon, causing uneasiness and a lack of clarity in which direction to take. Irritation sets in as passive-aggressive remarks fly in all directions, and you might just want to give the cold shoulder to anyone who tries to start an argument. Thankfully, caring Venus enters forward-thinking Aquarius, shifting the focus from inconsequential disagreements to more universal topics. Let your light shine so brightly that others can see their way out of the dark.

SAGITTARIUS You don’t expect your emotions to get in the way of progress today, but sorting out all your options is tricky when you’re hoping for a particular outcome. Arguing with yourself and others isn’t going to help, but it seems unavoidable as wordsmith Mercury is challenged by contentious Mars. Emerging from the turbulent atmosphere, affable Venus steps into unflappable Aquarius. Use this favourable planetary placement to zoom out, rise above the negativity and set a positive example.

CAPRICORN Decisions must be made, but clarity is lacking as even the steadfast are contending with doubt today. You just want some time alone to think, but you may find yourself defending your position against the most minor oppositions, cluttering your mind with irrelevant ideas. Thankfully, amiable Venus moves into progressive Aquarius, making it easier to take a step back and disengage from avoidable issues. The right perspective makes the impossible possible.

AQUARIUS An irritating vibe buzzes in the background today as everyone seems to be on edge and itching for a fight. Surprisingly, you’re not quite sure what stance to take to avoid trouble. However, the Universe has a gift for you in the form of delightful Venus gracing your sign with her presence. The Evening Star blesses you with an extra dose of magnetism and significantly enhances your unique charm. Don’t hide your true colours for anyone. John Lennon said, “It’s weird not to be weird.”

PISCES It may feel like people are out to get you today and you must thicken your skin just to make it through the day without losing your cookies. Try not to take sarcastic remarks and snarky banter too personally, as everyone is dealing with their own brand of insecurity. While you’re not alone in feeling anxious and tense, alone time may be just what you need as vulnerable Venus takes up residence in your 12th House of Meditation.

Lao Tzu wrote, “To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday December 7, 2016

Maria ‘Yvonne’ Niles - football fan for life

THE football fraternity of Guyana, around the world, was yesterday morning greeted with the sad news that Guyana’s 1986 ‘Sports Personality-of-the-Year’, Maria ‘Yvonne’ Niles passed away in Georgia, USA. ‘Mother’ Niles as she was more affectionately called, was the wife of the late past national footballer (50s and 60s) George ‘Father’ Niles and mother of former youth and senior national, Keith ‘Wila’ Niles (70s).

… passes on in the USA Her presence at football matches from the mid-fifties up to early 2000s was distinctive and in her own words, ’football fan for life’.

The former Pele FC vice-president who turned 80 years on August 6 of this year was also an Honorary Life member of the Georgetown Football Club (GFC). She migrated to the USA in 2002 and lived in Georgia with her son Keith up to the time of

her death.

Mother Niles, who is the foster sister of former National captain and coach George Green, leaves to mourn her four children and grandchildren.

The Management and Staff of the Guyana Chronicle, whom the late Mrs Niles represented at dominoes, would like to extend deepest condolences to the bereaved.(Ras Wadada).

Hero CPL pumps $102M ...

From back page August 7, 2016.

The EIA was to assess the Total Economic Impact for the Caribbean economy of staging such a high profile and successful event across each of the six Caribbean host countries, as well as Florida, as a direct consequence of hosting the event.

Independent research analysis was carried out at each of the venues with 15 399 attendees participating covering a range of topics based on the value of their visitor spend and length of stay in each specific

ENGLISH RACING TIPS Lingfield 08:05 hrs Carolinae 08:35 hrs Ballylare 09:05 hrs Ride The Lightning 09:35 hrs Artful Rogue 10:05 hrs Mornington 10:35 hrs Pearl Spectre 11:05 hrs General Hazard 11:35 hrs For Shia And Lula HEXHAM 08:45 hrs Clan Legend 09:15 hrs D’Nailor 09:45 hrs Champagne To Go 10:15 hrs Just Georgie 10:45 hrs Bescot Springs 11:15 hrs Halcyon Days KEMPTON 11:45 hrs Captain Pugwash 12:15 hrs Pobbles 12:45 hrs Mikey Ready 13:15 hrs Intermodal 13:45 hrs Gamrah 14:15 hrs Garter 14:45 hrs Towerlands Park 15:15 hrs Timekeeping

country.

This year marked the fourth edition for the biggest party in sport, and the figures released on Tuesday, December 6 made for positive viewing and wrapped up a fine year as the Hero CPL has firmly established itself as the number one sporting event in the Caribbean.

The EIA is measured by multiples of three key areas; spend by the organisers and tournament suppliers, visitor spend on transport and accommodation and media value during TV and digital media broadcasts.

Each of the host coun-

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Greyville 08:45 hrs Taegan’s Jet 09:20 hrs Aramouse 09:50 hrs Varsonic 10:25 hrs Star Sign 11:00 hrs Hot Mambo IRISH RACING TIPS Dundalk 13:30 hrs Ellaria 14:00 hrs Honor Oak 14:30 hrs Super Focus 15:00 hrs Thomas O’ Malley 15:30 hrs Secret Path 16:00 hrs Cresendo 16:30 hrs Magnification 17:00 hrs Heavy Weight AMERICAN RACING TIPS Aqueduct Race 1 Mini Megan Race 2 Hard Study Race 3 Andale Julia Race 4 Our Caravan Race 5 Picco Uno Race 6 Sea Pebble Race 7 Storm Cell Race 8 Katie Ice

tries benefited to a sizable financial windfall which is broken down as follows: Barbados ($15,878,628), Guyana ($15,447,309), Jamaica ($11,151,017), St Kitts & Nevis ($22,722,350), St. Lucia ($10,853,052), Trinidad & Tobago ($14,034,964) and Lauderhill, Florida ($12,583,246).

The economy of finals: host St Kitts & Nevis was the most notable winner overall and the combined total included the organiser spend plus the visitor spend multiplied by the media spend to make the total economic impact figure.

This helped the Federation generate an economic value of over $22,722,350 over the course of the four home St Kitts & Nevis Patriots’ pool matches in Warner Park, Basseterre, as well as the finals week itself, highlighting a significant windfall for countries who host the finals.

With the addition of Central Broward Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida, the staging of the final round of pool matches, which were held between July 28 and 31, helped generate a $12,583,246 boost into the wider Fort Lauderdale economy.

The Florida swing of matches marked professional cricket’s first official entry into the United States of America, and saw in the region of 30 000 fans descend on Lauderhill which indicates that playing a select number of games outside the Caribbean has proved to be a success.

Tourists who attended these matches also spent $4,751,872 in the local economy.(Sportsmax.com)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 7, 2016

SCOREBOARD

AUSTRALIA innings D. Warner c Williamson b de Grandhomme 119 A. Finch b Santner 19 S. Smith c Santner b Southee 72 T. Head c Munro b Southee 57 M. Marsh not out 76 M. Wade b Boult 11 G. Bailey not out 0 Extras: (lb-11, nb-3, w-10) 24 Total: (for 5 wickets, 50 overs) 378 Fall of wickets: 1-68, 2-213, 3-248, 4-319, 5-357.

Bowling: M. Henry 10-0-91-0 (nb-2, w-2), T. Boult 10-0-80-1 (w-3), M. Santner 10-0-47-1 (w1), T. Southee 10-0-63-2 (w-2), C. de Grandhomme 9-0-74-1 (nb-1, w-1), J. Neesham 1-0-12-0.

NEW ZEALAND innings M. Guptill c Wade b Cummins 45 T. Latham c & b Hazlewood 4 K. Williamson c Warner b Cummins 81 J. Neesham c Starc b Hazlewood 74 C. Munro c M. Marsh b Faulkner 11 C. de Grandhomme c Wade b Starc 12 M. Santner b Starc 2 B. Watling c Warner b Faulkner 17 T. Southee c Bailey b Cummins 2 M. Henry c Faulkner b Cummins 7 T. Boult not out 2 Extras: (lb-1, w-4) 5 Total: (all out, 47.2 overs) 262 Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-52, 3-177, 4-191, 5-229, 6-232, 7-236, 8-243, 9-254.

Bowling: M. Starc 10-0-52-2 (w2), J. Hazlewood 9-1-42-2 (w-1), P. Cummins 10-0-41-4 (w-1), T. Head 7-0-31-0, J. Faulkner 8.20-69-2, M. Marsh 3-0-26-0.

Six-ton Warner sees

Aussies clinch ODI series

toss under leaden skies in the Australian capital and made the decision to bowl on a Manuka Oval track where batting first has been an all but sure-fire path to victory.

Australia duly piled on an imposing 378 for five with the Blacks Caps able to

126 from the last 10 overs.

“It was a fantastic wicket, it always is down here at Manuka, and we know that if you keep wickets in hand you can take 100-150 runs off the last 15,” Warner said.

Warner’s two centuries were among the few highlights for Australia in their

(REUTERS) - Dave Warner smashed a sixth oneday international century of the year to drive Australia to a convincing 116run victory over New Zealand as the hosts wrapped up the series with a match to spare in Canberra yesterday.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the

David Warner strikes his sixth ODI ton of the year. muster up only 262 all out 5-0 humiliation in South in 47.2 overs in reply.

Africa in October and, six Warner hit 119 off 115 in one year, with the third balls with 14 fours and one match of the series in Melsix, combining with his bourne to come, is unpreccaptain Steve Smith, whose edented for an Australian.

164 went a long way to Only Indians Sachin winning the series opener Tendulkar (nine in 1998) in Sydney on Sunday, in a and Sourav Ganguly (seven second-wicket partnership in 2000) have hit more cenof 145. turies in one year.

Smith made 72, Travis “It’s the format that I Head 57 and Mitchell Marsh perhaps thought wasn’t my 76 as Australia plundered greatest but this year’s been

PA K I S TA N l e g - s p i n ner Yasir Shah hurt his back during a training session at the Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns yesterday, and will miss his team’s warm-up game at the same venue later t h i s w e e k a s a re s u l t .

He is being treated for the issue by a doctor in Cairns, and has been advised a few days’ rest.

Pakistan will play a three-day tour game against a Cricket Australia XI from December 8. The three-Test series starts on December 15 in Brisbane.

Since his debut in October 2014, Yasir has quickly developed into

picked up 116 wickets at 27.89, and became the joint second-fastest to 100 Test wickets (17 matches) in Dubai earlier this year in what was Pakistan’s 400th Test.

I n J u l y, h e b e c a m e the first legspinner since Shane Warne to be ranked the No. 1 Test bowler, and the first Pakistan bowler since Mushtaq Ahmed in December 1996 to achieve that feat.

Among the 16 players named by Pakistan for the Australia Tests, leftarm spinner Mohammad Nawaz is the only other specialist spinner.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

Yasir Shah to miss warm-up game with back trouble

Yasir Shah will miss Pakistan’s tour match.

P a k i s t a n ’s f i r s t - c h o i c e spinner and has missed just one Test, against England in Abu Dhabi in October last year - he had to sit out that game due to back spasms.

In his 20 Tests, he has

fantastic and I’ve got to keep going as well as I can,” Warner added.

The opener secured his 10th one-day century with a scrambled single and it took a brilliant catch from Williamson to dismiss him after 2-1/2 hours at the crease, the Black Caps skipper

getting down to take a full-powered shot inches above the grass.

Williamson top-scored for the visitors with 84 and put on 125 for the third wicket with Jimmy Neesham (74) but the writing was on the wall once they had departed.

Australian quick Pat

Cummins, playing in his first international series for a year, took 4-41.

The Australians, assured of retaining their number one ranking in t h e 5 0 - o v e r g a m e , re claimed the Chappell-Hadlee trophy which New Zealand had won on home soil in February.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Warner tops Ponting with another ton DAVID Warner’s Manuka masterclass not only flayed the New Zealand attack to all parts of the expansive venue, but also set a new Australian record for the most one-day international centuries in a calendar year.

Warner’s innings in Canberra was his sixth one-day ton in 2016, continuing a remarkable run of form that has been bettered by just two men.

India’s Little Master, the great Sachin Tendulkar, hit an incredible nine ODI centuries from 34 matches in 1998, while Sourav Ganguly’s seven

Ricky Ponting centuries in 2000 came from 32 matches.

Warner, now with six, sits joint third on the all-time list, in just his 22nd match this

year.

Other men to post six ODI centuries in a calendar year are South Africa’s Gary Kirsten and Tendulkar again, both in 1996, and Rahul Dravid in 1999.

Warner’s century from 101 balls, reached with a punch to mid-off in the 32nd over in Canberra, took him above Australia’s all-time leading run-scorer Ricky Ponting, and Matthew Hayden, who each scored five ODI tons in a calendar year.

Ponting and Hayden both hit five ODI tons in 2007 as

Australia steamrollered to a third successive World Cup crown. Ponting also achieved the feat in 2003 – another World Cup year.

The run glut continues an impressive dominance of the 50-over game for Warner in recent times.

“I think earlier in my career in the one-day form, I probably went too hard,” Warner said in June this year.

“And now I’ve worked out in the back of my mind how to actually play this game a lot better.

“We all talk about having back-to-back games playing with the white ball or the red ball, you get into a rhythm.

“I played the World Cup (ICC World T20), then the

Matthew Hayden IPL and now playing a longer form, I feel like I’ve got an eternity now when you go from 20 overs to 50 overs.

“You just feel so much more relaxed and there’s not that pressure to go after the ball as much.”

Not only has he set a new

Australian record, Warner could well have been eyeing off Tendulkar’s mark: the powerful left-hander was dismissed twice in the 90s this year.

Warner scored 93 against India at this venue last January, and 98 against this opposition in Wellington in February.

Warner’s ODI centuries in 2016 122 (113 balls) v India, SCG, January 23 109 (120) v South Africa, St Kitts, June 11 106 (126) v Sri Lanka, Pallekele, September 4 117 (107) v South Africa, Durban, October 5 173 (136) v South Africa, Cape Town, October 12 119 (115) v New Zealand, Canberra, December 6

Morgan, Hales back in England squads for India tour

(REUTERS) - England captain Eoin Morgan and opening batsman Alex Hales have returned to the one-day international (ODI) and T20 squads for the tour of India which starts next month.

Eoin Morgan

Both players are back in the international set-up, having chosen to miss October’s Bangladesh tour over security concerns.

Batsman Joe Root is also included after being rested for the 2-1 victory in the ODI series against Bangladesh, but Ben Duckett, Steven Finn and James Vince all miss out.

England have won nine of their last 12 ODIs and head coach Trevor Bayliss said there was never any doubt that Morgan and Hales would return despite deciding not to go to Bangladesh.

“No-one was annoyed that they didn’t go,” Bayliss told the BBC on Monday. “They are good mates of all the players in the team. There are certainly no problems at all.”

Asked if Morgan’s position as captain had been weakened by his decision not to tour Bangladesh, Bayliss said: “No, not at all. He’s been the captain for the last couple of years during a successful period in white-ball cricket.

“There have been no whispers around the squad or from anyone. In fact, everyone is looking forward to welcoming him back to the fold.”

The selectors on Monday also announced a 15-man IT20

squad for the India series on the ECB website (www.ecb. co.uk).

England will play three ODIs and three T20s on the three-week tour with the first ODI scheduled for January 15 in Pune.

ODI SQUAD: Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Liam Dawson,, Alex Hales, Eoin Morgan (captain), Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes.

T20 SQUAD: Moeen Ali, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Tymal Mills, Eoin Morgan (captain), Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey.

Faf du Plessis appeal hearing on December 19 THE International Cricket Council ( ICC) has set December 19 as the hearing date for Faf du Plessis’ appeal against his guilty verdict for ball-tampering. Michael Beloff QC has been appointed judicial commissioner to hear the appeal.

Beloff is the chairman of ICC’ Code of Conduct Commission. He has been part of independent tribunals involving ICC cases previously including the one that found the Pakistan trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir guilty of spot-fixing during 2010 Lord’s Test.

On November 22, the ICC match referee Andy

Pycroft found du Plessis guilty of ball-tampering and fined him his entire match fee from the Hobart Test against Australia.

Faf du Plessis The ICC chief executive David Richardson had charged him on the basis of TV footage that “appeared to show du Plessis applying saliva and residue from a

mint or sweet, an artificial substance, to the ball in an attempt to change its condition”.

Three days later, du Plessis launched his appeal against the verdict, with Cricket South Africa supporting his decision and hoping for clarity from the ICC over what constituted an “artificial substance” in rules pertaining to polishing the ball. In response, Richardson said there was no ambiguity over the definition as far as the ICC was concerned, and said he was “disappointed” with du Plessis’ decision to launch an appeal.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Djokovic splits with coach Becker after three years (REUTERS) - Tennis world number two Novak Djokovic has split with coach Boris Becker three years after adding the German multiple grand slam winner to his team.

Serbian Djokovic, who won six of his 12 major titles after hiring Becker but has suffered a slump in form over the past six months, confirmed their parting of ways on his website yesterday.

“After three very successful years, Boris Becker and I have jointly decided to end our cooperation,” Djokovic, who

Tennis world number two Novak Djokovic lost his number one ranking to Andy Murray last month, said.

“The goals we set when we started working together

Queenstown FC, Henrietta United to clash in EFA final

By Elroy Stephney

A R G U A B LY t h e m o s t successful football clubs, Queenstown FC and Henrietta United will reignite their historical rivalry when they meet this weekend to contest the final of the Essequibo Football Association’s (EFA) sponsored senior tournament.

Both teams registered semi-final wins last weekend.

On Saturday, Queenstown FC had better ball control during their encounter and found the net twice in the second half to gain a 2-0 triumph against Charity FC. Piercing the net were Deon Primo in the 67th minute and Genford Davids in the 83rd minute of the game played at the Anna Regina

Community Centre ground.

The second semifinal was played on Sunday as Henrietta United had to sweat in their eventual win against All Star XI. After 90 minutes of fluctuating fortunes both teams remained scoreless as they missed several opportunities. The final result was then determined by a penalty shoot-out that drove Henrietta United into the final with a 5-4 margin win.

The tournament is sponsored by the EFA and involves eight clubs.

Meanwhile in an invited comment, president of the association, Compton Haynes, expressed delight with the outcome of the tournament.

He stated that all the clubs were competitive

which ensured that the tournament was played at a high standard throughout.

He was also satisfied that more fans are returning to the matches and supporting their respective teams.

The final is expected to be keenly contested as officials from the Guyana Football Association (GFA) and the EFA will be present.

Cash incentives and trophies await the winners as well as the tournament’s most valuable player (MVP). Prior to the final, All Star X1 and Charity FC will battle for the third place with both matches to be played at the Anna Regina Cricket Club ground.

Kick-off time will be 14:00hrs. Admission to the ground will be $200.

Wicketkeeper Patel retained for fourth Test against England (REUTERS)-Wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel has retained his place in the India side for the fourth test against England after Wriddhiman Saha failed to recover from a thigh strain, the team said on Tuesday.

Pace bowler Ishant Sharma, who has not played any of the three Tests so far, was also released from the team after local media reports that he was getting married.

“The BCCI medical team has confirmed that wicketkeeper Wriddhiman

Saha is still recuperating from the strain in his left thigh, which he sustained during the second test match,” the BCCI said in a statement.

“As a precautionary measure, Saha has been advised rest. The BCCI medical team is monitoring the wicketkeeper-batsman’s progress.”

Saha replaced Mahendra Singh Dhoni as India’s Testt wicketkeeper after the former captain retired from the five-day format at the

end of 2014.

The 31-year-old Patel was brought in for the third Test in Mohali, which Virat Kohli’s side won by eight wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the best of five series.

Patel, who had not played a Test since 2008, opened the innings with Murali Vijay and scored 42 and 67 not out in the match.

T h e f o u r t h Te s t i n Mumbai starts on Dec. 8, with the last match in Chennai from Dec. 16-20.

have been completely fulfilled, and I want to thank him for the cooperation, teamwork, dedication and commitment.”

The pair joined forces in December 2013.

After winning the Australian Open for a sixth time and then claiming a first French Open this year Djokovic, 29, was on course to complete a calendar year Grand Slam -- a feat last managed in 1969 by Australian great Rod Laver.

But he bowed out in the third round of Wimbledon to Sam Querrey, lost in the

first round of the Rio Olympics to Juan Martin del Potro and then went down to Stan Wawrinka in the U.S. Open final.

Without a title since July, Djokovic also saw an 8000-point ranking lead over Britain’s Murray vanish.

Murray dethroned Djokovic after 122 weeks at the summit in November and then beat him to win the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals, snapping the Serbian’s four-year domination of the London tournament.

Djokovic did not reveal whether he would replace Becker and there was nothing to suggest long-term mentor Marian Vajda would be leaving his entourage, although the Belgrade native indicated he wanted to make his own choices.

“My professional plans are now directed primarily to maintain a good level of play, and also to make a good schedule and new goals for the next season,” Djokovic said.

“In this regard I will make all future decisions.”

Lucas hat-trick in Basel seals top spot for Arsenal (REUTERS)-Arsenal’s Spanish striker Lucas Perez seized his chance to shine with a Champions League treble as they outclassed Basel 4-1 away to steal the Group A top spot from Paris St Germain yesterday.

The Gunners enter the last 16 as group winners for the first time since 2011 and at least know they cannot face favourites Barcelona, who won their group, in the first knockout round.

Lucas, making only his fifth start since joining from Deportivo La Coruna for about 17 million pounds ($21.55 million)in August, struck twice from close range inside 16 minutes.

He netted again two minutes after the break to become only the sixth Arsenal player to score a hat-tick in the competition.

Alex Iwobi made it 4-0 after 53 minutes and it could have been even better for Arsenal as Alexis Sanchez rattled the crossbar with a fizzing free kick.

The St Jakob-Park crowd finally had something to warm them on a cold night when substitute Doumbia flicked in a consolation goal after a skilful turn in the area.

Arsenal topped the group with 14 points because PSG, on 12, were surprisingly held 2-2 at home by Bulgarians Ludogorets who qualify for the Europa League last 32 at the expense of Basel.

PSG would have guaranteed top spot had they won but instead had to

snatch a last-gasp equaliser from Angel Di Maria.

COMMITTED PERFORMANCE “I thought Ludogorets were a good side -- they made a great result that helps us top the group, which was what we wanted,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

“We did the job in a convincing way, we were mobile and overall had a committed performance.

“I think (Lucas) Perez took advantage of the fact we created good chances - he is a goalscorer you know, he has

Lucas opened the scoring after eight minutes when Sanchez’s chipped pass found Kieran Gibbs and his low cross was missed

by Eder Balanta, giving the Spaniard the easiest of tapins.

Eight minutes later Arsenal were cruising when Gibbs’ cross-shot was parried by keeper Tomas Vaclik and Lucas swept home following a move involving 33 passes - the most in the build-up to a goal so far in this season’s competition.

Basel captain Matias Delgado wasted a chance

Arsenal’s Lucas Perez celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Couldridge Livepic

shown tonight he has a good smell for the goal.”

Lucas’s only goals since joining Arsenal were a brace in a League Cup win over Nottingham Forest in September, since when he has rarely featured because of an ankle injury.

It did not take him long to double that tally though as Arsenal tore into their hosts.

to halve the deficit shortly before halftime with a wayward header.

Vaclik was then unable to keep out Lucas’s shot two minutes after the break as the Arsenal striker emulated Mesut Ozil’s hat-trick in a 6-0 home win against Ludogorets in October.

Iwobi’s close-range goal was his first in Europe.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Rio 2016, the most perfect imperfect Games - IOC

By Karolos Grohmann

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - The Rio de Janeiro Olympics may not have been perfect but organisers exceeded expectations given the political and economic situation in the South American country, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said yesterday.

Rio, the first Olympic host city on the continent, had to grapple with a protracted political crisis, the worst recession in more than 80 years and a string of organisational problems due to a lack of cash.

The run-up to the Games was an obstacle course for local organisers and the IOC had to put up hundreds of millions of dollars of its eventual contribution before the start of the Olympics to help out.

The Games’ anti-doping programme was also affected by a lack of funding amid a widening Russian drugs scandal while venues were hit by problems including water

quality in pools and a virtual absence of branding around the Olympic park due to issues with banner suppliers.

“From an operational point of view everything worked,” the IOC’s Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi told reporters. “Were they perfect? No. “But with the results we can really take our hat off (to Rio organisers). It is amazing what they delivered considering their standpoint,” he said.

Dubi said the IOC was satisfied with the Rio Games especially with athletes’ performances that yielded 100 world and Olympic records and brought several countries their first medals and with global coverage which beat past records.

“We are right on target when you consider the money that was spent for these Games,” Dubi said.

Rio was awarded the Games in 2009 amid Brazil’s booming economy at the time and a different set of expectations

Yane Marques carries the flag of Brazil during the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics. start of the Olympics. by the IOC before the plans. on the famed Rio beach.

They then had to deal A lack of spectators was political crisis and the “Someone called them sharp financial down- with a daily barrage of evident in even the most the most perfect imperturn changed organisers’ questions and criticism re- iconic venues during the fect Games,” IOC spokesgarding organisation, with 16-day event in August, man Mark Adams said. empty seats in venues and including the Copacabana “It’s actually quite a good unsold tickets marring the beach volleyball stadium characterisation.”

Enmore double-wicket competition set for Sunday ENMORE Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC) will be hosting a 20-team knockout double-wicket cricket competition for teams on East Coast Demerara on Sunday at the Enmore Community Centre ground.

Teams will battle for several trophies and cash incentives in what promises to be an exciting day of cricket.

Double-wicket or ‘pairs’

cricket is a form of cricket with two teams of two players each competing against each other for a limited number of overs.

A player who gets out in this form of cricket does not retire but continues to bat, but gets penalised a stipulated number of runs for each time he gets out.

A maximum of 20 teams will be accepted for this tournament, thus teams are urged

to register early in order to participate. Interested teams can contact any representative of ECCCC or call 6462040 for more information on registration.

Cricket action will commence at 10:00hrs, and there will also be a raffle among spectators during the course of the matches.

This event is sponsored by several Enmore businessmen.

Santos versus Buxton in U-19 League should be exciting … Pele FC against Uitvlugt Warriors too TWO more exciting matches are set for this afternoon at the Tucville Community ground where the Fruta Conquerors U-19 Academy 12-team League continues.

The clash of the only unbeaten teams in Group ‘A’, Santos FC and Buxton United, features in the opening game at 17:00hrs

and at 19:00hrs, Pele FC oppose Uitvlugt Warriors in a Group ‘B’ fixture.

The Buxton team, boasting several Elite players, should start as favourites but the Lloyd Smith-coached Santos are confident and ready for the test, as they battle for the top position in the group.

The group ‘B’ contest is also

a test for Pele and Uitvlugt who are both coming into this evening’s match with high expectations.

Pele just secured their first point from two games after holding Western Tigers to a 0-0 tie last Monday, while the Warriors recorded their first win by upstaging a weakened Fruta Conquerors 2-1 last Saturday.

Bolt backs Sebastian Coe’s ‘bold’ changes THE President of track and field’s world governing body has received the backing of the sport’s biggest name, Usain Bolt.

Lord Sebastian Coe, during a special congress, outlaid significant constitutional reform aimed at weeding out the corruption that has rocked the sport of track and field over the last few years.

Coe received backing

from 95 per cent of the member federations, who supported operational changes such as limits on the tenure of a president, an independent anti-doping management system, wider distribution of power, increased commercial value and greater gender balance and influence of athletes.

“I notice that Seb Coe is trying to make track and field more transparent and ensure

that no one person is fully in control, so for me, that’s a big move, that’s a bold move for him as the IAAF president,” said Bolt in response.

“I notice that Seb Coe is trying to make track and field more transparent and ensure that no one person is fully in control, so for me, that’s a big move, that’s a bold move for him as the IAAF president,” he added.

(Sportsmax.com)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday December 07, 2016) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) &

AUDREY’S TASTY SNACKETTE-176 Charlotte Street, Georgetown (Tel: 226-4512)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Anthony Alleyne-186 (Barbados vs Trinidad) (2) Larry Edwards-6/20 (Windwards vs Jamaica) Today’s Quiz: (1) Which Guyanese player has scored most runs in the WICB PCL to date?

(2) Which Guyanese player has taken most wickets in the WICB PCL to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Guyanese swimmers to compete at VOS Invitational Meet in Suriname

By Tamica Garnett

GOODWILL Swim Meet silver medallist Phillip D e N o b re g a , Tr u m a i n e Cole, Leon Seaton and Nikita Peters are some of the medal prospects in the Guyana team of swimmers, who will depart tomorrow for Suriname ahead of their participation at the VOS Powerade Invitational Swim Meet from December 8 to 12.

According to team coach Christopher McAdam, some of the other swimmers who are expected to do well include 8-year-old Ariel Rodrigues along with Antonio Rodrigues.

Twenty-six swimmers are expected to compete against swimmers from Curacao, Aruba, French Guiana and host nation, Suriname. The team have been training twice daily, six days a week at the National Aquatic Centre.

Sixteen-year-old DeNobrega, who clocked a number of personal best (PB) timings throughout the season, is hoping to continue on a high note as the season winds down to a close.

DeNobrega will be participating in four events in the Boys’ 18 and over category, namely the 50m and 100m freestyle, the 100m IM and the 100m breaststroke.

DeNobrega, who first

began participating at this meet back in 2013, is feeling particularly good about his chances in the 100m breaststroke and 50m freestyle. “ I ’ m f e e l i n g re a l l y good about it; I think I’ll bring home a medal or two. Because my times, in these events, compared to other swimmers in Suriname, in these races, are really close.”

Cole, who will also be in the Boys’ 18 and over category, is also looking at his chances in the 100m breaststroke and 50m freestyle. These were the events he was paying keen attention to during training. In addition to those two events Cole will also be in the 50m backstroke and 100m butterfly, as well as in the relays.

Meanwhile, 11-year-old Seaton will now have to show if he can withstand increased competition and repeat his last year’s performance where he claimed four gold medals and a silver, when Guyana returned home with a total of 15 medals.

However, this year has seen an increase in competition from last year when only Guyana and Suriname competed. Seaton will be in the Boys’ 11-12 category, swimming in the 50 freestyle, 100m butterfly,

The Guyana team after a practice session at the National Aquatic Centre, with coach Christopher McAdam (left).

100m breaststroke and the 100m IM. O v e r a l l t h i s y e a r ’s team consists a lot of experienced swimmers, while there are also a few new faces looking to capitalise on experience as they develop on their skills.

There are Ariel Rodrigues and Sarah Ramsammy in the Girls’ 7-8; and Madison Chichester in

T&T to bid for CPL opening at new Brian Lara Stadium PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) - The Trini d a d a n d To b a g o g o v ernment is planning to bid for the opening ceremony of the 2017 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) to be staged at the long-awaited Brian Lara Stadium which is nearing completion, according to media reports here.

Work on the stadium was restarted a year ago after a delay in construction that ran for several years but now officials are looking to finish work by January 2017.

The Guardian newspaper has quoted government sources as saying a bid will be made to CPL for the stadium to host the opening ceremony in July to coincide with the official opening of the ground.

Construction of the facility started in 2006 with an estimated cost of $500

Brian Lara stadium to be completed in January. million TT dollars. However this figure is expected to have increased significantly as a result of cost overruns and the increase in the prices of materials.

The Brian Lara Stadium, named in honour of the f or mer Wes t In dies captain and one of the finest batsmen of his era,

will serve as a training facility for cricket players.

It will feature four indoor cricket training pitches with computerised biometric techn o l o g y t o m e a s u re a n athlete’s performance, including two fulllength run-up pitches for fast-bowlers.

the 9-10 category. In the 11-12 age group are Nekita Peters, Krystal Brown, and Guvita Ramlakhan, while Harshannie Kundun is the only 13-14 girl and Tiffany De Moura is the lone15-17 girl.

Apart from DeNobrega, Cole and Seaton the

Boys’ team includes Jeremy Sookram, Jeron Sookram and Micah Chichester (78) Stephen Ramkhelawan (9-10). In the 11-12 group Seaton is joined by Vidjaz Mohamed, Stephon Ramkhelawan and Moses Persaud. The 13-14 boys are Jonathan Sookram, George

Telford, Nikhil Ramnarine and Garvin Gayadin.

Team manager is Leon Seaton. Chaperons Bisham Ramlakhan and Persaud Rampersaud and chaperones Rhonda Seaton, Shannie Rodrigues and Anita are the other officials.

Ottley confident recharged Red Force can topple Scorpions PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Captain Yannick Ottley says despite Trinidad and Tobago Red Force’s lack-lustre start to the new Regional Four-Day season, they are still confident of beating Jamaica Scorpions in the fourth round of the tournament which bowls off this weekend.

Red Force lie one from bottom in the six-team championship on 27 points after a win, a defeat and a draw in their opening three matches.

Ottley said the recent short break following the end of the third round had given his side a chance to regroup and there was a great vibe in the camp ahead of the trip to Kingston.

“We have had a couple rest days and a few practice sessions but the guys have been doing some one-onone work with the coaches and identifying a few areas we need to improve on, so it is good to see guys working on their skills and trying to be better at what we do,” Ottley told the Trinidad Express newspaper here.

“We are pretty good at the moment. The team is really gelling together. There is a

lot of unity in the team. We are like a family and we just need to keep supporting each other.”

Red Force made a strong start with a convincing nine-wicket victory over Windward Islands Volcanoes at Queen’s Park Oval but then showed little enterprise as they slumped to a heavy 292-run defeat

Left-hander Isaiah Rajah … struck a half-century on debut in the rain-ravaged game against Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

to arch-rivals Barbados Pride at the same venue in the following round.

Rain then ravaged their third round home encounter against Leeward Islands Hurricanes, allowing limited play in the game.

Kyle Hope (86) and debutant

Isaiah Rajah (69) both struck half-centuries in an opening stand of 162 but Red Force slumped to 287 for eight in their first innings, before rain ended wrecked the game.

Ottley said that outing had signalled a positive shift from the batting woes they endured against Pride.

“With that game against the Leewards, we started well with the bat and it could have been two wins and one loss at home and I think that would have been a pretty good start for us but the batting has really come along well (since the Pride game) and we just have to continue to play together as a team and make sure we keep the attitude right,” he pointed out.

He added: “Yes, it has been mixed results so far. It is also unfortunate the previous game was washed out and we did not get to showcase our skills in the field but going to Sabina we are obviously looking to pick up a win.”

Scorpions are one place above Red Force on 28.6 points with twotime reigning champions Guyana Jaguars leading the standings on 33.6 points.

Guyanese swimmers to compete at VOS Invitational Meet in See story Suriname on page 35

Low, Cornelius newest Banks DIH Sports Brand Ambassadors THE duo, karateka Kemo Cornelius and squash player Rebecca Low, have become the newest Sports Brand Ambassadors for Banks DIH Limited.

According to a release from Banks DIH, 18-yearold Cornelius will be sponsored under the Malta Supreme Brand. He is a 2nd Dan Black Belt karateka and a member of the YMCA Karate Dojo. On the international stage he has won the Team Kata gold medal at the 12th Caribbean Karate championship in Jamaica in 2016 and a silver medal in the Boys’ 17-19 years individual Kata.

He copped a gold medal in four categories at the 2nd international karate Daigaku World Cup in 2015.

Additionally he has also won medals at the Caribbean karate championships in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Grenada and St Lucia over the past four years.

Banks DIH Limited Co-Managing Director/Marketing Director Mr George McDonald (left) and Sales Executive Mr Carlton Joao pose with Sports Brand Ambassadors Kemo Cornelius and Rebecca Low.

Cornelius is pursuing a Diploma in Land Surveying at the Government Technical Institute (GTI).

The 17-year-old Low will be sponsored under the I-CEE brand. The prolific squash player won the Girls’ Under-17 Plate final at the United States (U.S.) Open in 2015. She has also travelled to compete in the U.S. and Canadian Open championships.

Rebecca is a member of Guyana’s successful National squash team and is a qualified Level Two coach who tutors on weekends and is Marian Academy’s head prefect.

The two sports brand ambassadors were introduced to Banks DIH Limited Co-Managing Director/ Marketing Director Mr George McDonald and Sales Executive Mr Carlton Joao during a simple ceremony at Thirst Park where they were presented with their sponsorship kits.

Hero CPL pumps $102M Maria ‘Yvonne’ Niles into host countries - football fan for life THE Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) continued its upward trajectory in 2016 with the world’s fastest growing T20 tournament contributing a significant economic boost of over US$102,670,565 across each of the seven host territories - Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago and Lauderhill, Florida.

The economic impact to the region has shown a staggering rise in recent years from $43,710,638 (in 2014) to $76,255,962 (2015) and now to US$102.6M. The Hero CPL commissioned SMG Insight/YouGov for the third successive year to conduct an Eco-

nomic Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Hero CPLT20 Tournament which took

place between June 29 and See page 30

Hero Caribbean Premier League continued its upward trajectory in 2016

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216.

… passes on in the USA

See story on page 30

Yvonne Niles and her first born Keith, in a photo taken earlier this year in Georgia, USA at Keith’s home.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016