Independent company to power Bartica Page 10
Get into business No. 104906
MONDAY MAY 8, 2017
Price: $80
(VAT Inclusive)
––Jordan urges Lindeners during outreach
Page 3
Mining issues, ‘soap opera’ nurses, bribes
–– Broomes commits to addressing complaints of Number 8 Village residents
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Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources Simona Broomes (right) listens to residents of Number 8 Village, West Coast Berbice at a Government outreach on Sunday (Kawise Wishart photo)
Wanted man chopped to death in Uitvlugt Page 9
Lindener killed in boat accident
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Ambassador Nylander concludes second visit to Guyana
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 8, 2017
Four in custody for Cornelia Ida robbery –– get-away cars impounded
QUICK response and diligent work by ranks of ‘D’ Division on Friday resulted in the capture of four of six bandits, who had executed an armed robbery on a grocery shop at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara (WCD). Charges are expected to be laid this week as the police continue the hunt for the two other bandits. The police also seized an illegal firearm and matching ammunition. According to a police report, at about 13:25hrs on Friday, four males entered the business operated by a mother and daughter and pretended to be customers. Minutes after, two of the men whipped out firearms, relieved mother and daughter of their valuables, and as they fled the scene in a waiting Toyota Spacio motorcar, discharged several
rounds in the air. The matter was reported to the police and ranks promptly responded and intercepted the getaway car several villages east of Cornelia Ida, with only the driver, who hails from ‘D’ Field, Sophia. Upon his arrest, he told the police that following the robbery, the bandits changed vehicles using one driven by another accomplice of theirs, and were headed towards the Demerara Harbour Bridge. Other ranks were duly alerted, and as the bandits approached the ‘Bridge’ in the second getaway vehicle and saw that the police had set up a “road block” at the western end, they quickly sped south along the West Bank Public Road. But they only got as far as La Parfaite Harmonie, where the vehicle crashed into a concrete
One of the two get-away cars that have been impounded by the police culvert. At some point during the escape bid, the driver of that vehicle, who hails from Section ‘K’ Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara, was accidentally shot in his upper right arm by one of the four bandits. The latter, meanwhile, in their
desperation to get across the Harbour Bridge at all costs, abandoned the injured driver and boarded separate passenger vehicles destined for Georgetown. Two of them were eventually nabbed at the Harbour Bridge; one of them, who hails from Lamaha Park,
Georgetown had in his possession an unlicensed firearm and five rounds. According to the police, the gunman has since admitted to committing the crime, and to accidentally shooting the driver of the second getaway vehicle. He, too, is now in police custody, after being treated at the West Demerara Hospital and discharged. Efforts are being made to have the other two suspects arrested. Both getaway cars have been seized, and investigations are progress. Meanwhile, the businesswoman’s husband, who gave his name as “Robin”, told this publication that one of the robbers walked into the shop and ordered a phone card and an “XL” energy drink. He said that no sooner had the bandit placed his order, than two others rushed in and shut the shop door behind them. “One of the men placed a gun to my mother- in-law head and took her jewellery,
and another rushed into the house and put a gun to my son’s temple,” Robin said. He explained that the child, who is about to write CXC, was in the middle of his studies. “My daughter was saved the trauma because she was on the veranda,” Robin said, “but one of the bandits wanted to rip off my wife’s ear and bite off her finger to get the jewellery. She even told the bandit it was her married ring, but the bandit didn’t care.” He told the Guyana Chronicle that one of the four men who have been arrested was the mastermind, and that he lives in the same Cornelia Ida, where the robbery took place. Robin recalled seeing two of the three bandits who entered the premises with handguns. He said, too, that it was a businessman in the neighbourhood who raised the alarm, after noticing that the shop door was closed and a stranger was in the yard.
Illegal explosives seized in Mabaruma raid THE police recently seized a quantity of illegal fireworks and explosives during a raid at a house on the Kumaka waterfront, in the Mabaruma sub-region of Region One (Barima-Waini). The police said that acting on a tipoff, they paid a visit to the apartment of one Loliwattie Singh, and there they found the items. According to the police, Singh and two adult children live in the apartment
where the explosives were found. Among the types and quantities of explosives that were found were: 100 Rocket Launchers; 33 Bin Ladens; 12 Big Bosses; 56 007s; 16 thunder supers; 100 Nugvo Fostonitos; 30 Crazy Kings; 880 mini Beng Begs; 540 Fostano Coretes; and 180 Fostonito Primuns. Police say all hands found in the house were arrested and placed into custody, while the explosives have been lodged pending institution of charges.
Some of the illegal explosives seized by the police
Get into business 3
GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 8, 2017
–– Jordan urges Lindeners during outreach By Vanessa Braithwaithe
BRINGING with them their concerns about taxes and where they see Linden headed, residents of Amelia’s Ward on Sunday afternoon came out in their numbers to a ministerial outreach featuring Minister of Finance, Mr Winston Jordan, and Minister of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Ms Valarie Patterson. Both ministers shared what is in store for Linden, while simultaneously rendering solutions and answers to questions that were being thrown at them. Joining them were Regional Members of Parliament, Messrs Jermaine Figueira and Audwin Rutherford; Deputy Director of the Community Development Council (CDC), Ms Sandra Adams; and regional and municipal councillors. Minister Jordan, who was the guest speaker, after outlining some of the strides taken by his two-year-old government in an effort to bring all Guyanese the promised “good life”, bluntly told Lindeners that he is not happy with the way things are in the municipality, and encouraged the residents to let their voices be heard for their betterment. “I need to hear from you; don’t just remain silent, Linden,” he said. “I want to see more than what I have been seeing over the last few years; you more than anybody else in this country know what pain is all about. “Linden got some of the strongest people I know, but you need to let that show; you will get nothing if you sit on your ‘fanny’ and not get up and get.” He suggested they not wait on local government legislation to
Finance Minister Winston Jordan and Minister of Communities with responsibility for Housing,Valarie Patterson, listen attentively to residents during the Linden outreach get cracking. “Begin to organise, whether individually or collectively! Get involved in business, otherwise this oil, like all the gold, will pass you by! Further goading the community into action, Minister Jordan said:“I heard somebody say, ‘Linden is the gateway.’ Well, Linden doesn’t look like no gateway to me! A gateway can’t be
a dilapidated, run down place; all the gold and the wealth coming out, passing you by. You got to do better than that!” READY TO HELP He said he is ready to support Linden in every way possible, especially in the area of value-added production, but he would strongly encourage that they
think seriouly about entrepreneurship. One resident, perhaps inspired by the dressing down, suggested that investing in a processing and packaging plant in Linden would do well to create employment and increase the tax base. “The people in Linden can plant fast-crop things the sand can take, like pineapple, passion fruit,
pumpkin, legumes and things of such nature,” the resident said. Minister Jordan concurred, saying it is the very approach he has been taking and will be supporting. “I am prepared, if somebody can prepare the project document and so on,” he said, adding: “We can find some financing to support any private sector individuals
who can get involved, with concessions and tax holidays and so, once you make the move.” At this, Ms Adams revealed that she is currently working with CDCs in Linden on a project involving the packaging of ready-to-cook meat and vegetables. “Women who are working want see page 5
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 8, 2017
Macron wins French presidency, to sighs of relief in Europe Emmanuel Macron was elected president of France on Sunday with a business-friendly vision of European integration, defeating Marine Le Pen, a far-right nationalist who threatened to take France out of the European Union. The centrist’s emphatic victory, which also smashed the dominance of France’s mainstream parties, will bring huge relief to European allies who had feared another populist upheaval to follow Britain’s vote to quit the EU and Donald Trump’s election as U.S. president. Pollsters’ projections gave Macron a winning margin of around 65 percent to 35 - a gap wider than the 20 or so percentage points that pre-election surveys had suggested. Even so, it was a record performance for the National Front, a party whose anti-immigrant policies once made it a pariah in French politics, and underlined the scale of the divisions that Macron must now try to heal. “I know the divisions in our nation, which have led some to vote for the extremes. I respect them,” Macron said in an earnest address at his campaign headquarters, shown live on television.
“I know the anger, the anxiety, the doubts that very many of you have also expressed. It’s my responsibility to hear them,” he said. “I will work to recreate the link between Europe and its peoples, between Europe and citizens.” His immediate challenge will be to secure a majority in next month’s parliamentary election for En Marche! (Onwards!), a political movement that is barely a year old, in order to implement his programme. President Francois Hollande, who first brought Macron into national politics, said the result “confirms that a very large majority of our fellow citizens wanted to unite around the values of the Republic and show their attachment to the European Union”. Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, told Macron: “I am delighted that the ideas you defended of a strong and progressive Europe, which protects all its citizens, will be those that you will carry into your presidency”. Macron told German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a telephone call on Sunday after the result that he would travel to Berlin soon for talks. Trump also tweeted his con-
French President elect Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Trogneux celebrate on the stage at his victory rally near the Louvre in Paris, France May 7, 2017 (REUTERS/Christian Hartmann)
gratulations on Macron’s “big win”, saying he looked forward to working with him. Macron’s team successfully managed to skirt several attempts to derail his campaign - by hacking its communications and distributing purportedly leaked documents - that were reminiscent of the hacking of Democratic Party communications during Hillary Clinton’s U.S. election campaign. Allegations by Macron’s camp that it had been targeted in a massive computer hack that compromised
emails added last-minute drama on Friday night, just as official campaigning was ending. YOUNGEST SINCE NAPOLEON The 39-year-old former investment banker, who served for two years as economy minister under Hollande but has never previously held elected office, will become France’s youngest leader since Napoleon. Le Pen, 48, said she had also offered her congratulations. But
she defiantly claimed the mantle of France’s main opposition in calling on “all patriots to join us” in constituting a “new political force”. Her tally of around 35 percent was almost double the score that her father Jean-Marie, the last far-right candidate to make the presidential runoff, achieved in 2002, when he was trounced by the conservative Jacques Chirac. Her high-spending, anti-globalisation ‘France-first’ policies may have unnerved financial markets but they appealed to many poorer members of society against a background of high unemployment, social tensions and security concerns. Despite having served briefly in Hollande’s deeply unpopular Socialist government, Macron managed to portray himself as the man to revive France’s fortunes by recasting a political landscape moulded by the left-right divisions of the last century. “I’ve liked his youth and his vision from the start,” said Katia Dieudonné, a 35-year-old immigrant from Haiti who had brought her two children to Macron’s victory rally outside the Louvre Palace in central Paris. “He stands for the change I’ve wanted since I arrived in France in 1985 - openness, diversity, without stigmatising anyone ... I’ve voted for the left in the past and been disappointed.” CONTRASTING VISIONS While Macron sees France’s
way forward in boosting the competitiveness of an open economy, Le Pen wanted to shield French workers by closing borders, quitting the EU’s common currency, the euro, radically loosening the bloc and scrapping trade deals. When he moves into the Elysee Palace after his inauguration next weekend, Macron will become the eighth - and youngest - president of France’s Fifth Republic. Opinion surveys taken before the second round suggest that his fledgling En Marche! (Onwards!) movement, despite being barely a year old, has a fighting chance of securing the majority he needs. He plans to blend a big reduction in public spending and a relaxation of labour laws with greater investment in training. A European integrationist and pro-NATO, he is orthodox in foreign and defence policy and shows no sign of wishing to change France’s traditional alliances or reshape its military and peacekeeping roles in the Middle East and Africa. His election also represents a long-awaited generational change in French politics that have been dominated by the same faces for years. He will be the youngest leader in the current Group of Seven (G7) major nations and has elicited comparisons with youthful leaders past and present, from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to British ex-premier Tony Blair and even late U.S. president John F. Kennedy. (Reuters)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 8, 2017
Get into ... From page 3
to get home to cook,” she said, adding: “It is easy to pick up a package of vegetables already cut and ready to cook; a package with meat already seasoned, cut up and ready to cook.” Minister Jordan told residents that he is currently working with the World Bank to secure funding for the resurfacing of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, and that, hopefully, it will also allow for lighting to be installed. He also spoke of the British grant and funding from the Caribbean Development Bank, which will allow for the commencement of the first phase of the Linden to Lethem road. He said he will be visiting the Islamic Development Bank later in the week to engage them on funding for completion of the road, which will properly position Linden to become the gateway to the interior. TAX CONCERNS Some residents seized the opportunity to voice their concerns about the implementation of taxes in the 2017
Budget and how it is affecting Lindeners. One Ms Esther Benjamin spoke of the subsidies that were taken away from pensioners’ light and water bills. “They are just getting the $20, 000,” she said, adding:“Say a pensioner is living on that; he or she has to pay for light and water from that $20, 000.” She also spoke out against the taxing of private school education, which, she said, is affecting her as a parent. “For me, I see it as a discrimination,” she said, adding: “We are all parents paying tax for our children in this country. Why should you tax the private school, when the private school is being monitored by the same education system? “Why doesn’t the government tax the private school themselves, instead of the parents?” Another resident, one Mr. Wayne Kitt , asked about employees not being paid a return on their taxes by the Guyana Revenue Authority when they make their annual submissions. He said he
A Lindener raises his concerns during the outreach finds the system grossly unfair, since the GRA wastes no time in collecting its money. Minister Jordan, when he could get a word in, asked residents to be patient with the government, since it has made overwhelming progress in the less than two years it has been in office despite facing severe challenges.
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Editorial France elects new president
THIRTY-NINE-YEAR- OLD Emmanuel Macron is France’s president-elect, having defeated challenger Marine Le Pen in the May 7 election. This election was of global interest, given the candidacy of the two and the platforms on which they campaigned. Ms. Le Pen made no pretence in wanting to change the country’s direction, which included a brand of nationalism less tolerant to immigration and wanting to exit the European Union (EU). Macron will succeed the 62-year old President François Hollande, who did not seek re-election. At the 23rd April election the two, in a field of five, emerged as the top candidates. Though neither secured a majority in the first round, the second round saw Macron emerging with a decisive win. France is considered a progressive society in terms of social issues and benefits, trade union and human rights, and its embrace of global diversity. As a country, France does not stand alone, nor can it stand alone. Actions that seek to remove country or countries from unions, be they political or economic, in the 21st century could undermine the fundamental essence of trade and development. Whereas slavery and colonisation were influenced by political domination, they had an underlying factor for economic prowess. Subsequent economic systems have been built upon trade. Consequently, any act that seeks to replace trade and development absent well thought-out philosophy -- which is not being heard from the new political elites and those seeking office that are decrying what presently obtained
-- could be catastrophic. To campaign and seek to win or be elected on the promise to exit unions, develop new policies and laws to curtail immigration, and go it alone on economic trade is to ignore that the world does not operate in like manner. The same countries and unions’ efforts are made to isolate or extricate from, where trade and economies are reliant on spending power, trade laws, including establishment of foreign businesses producing goods and services at relatively cheaper cost in host countries, the new brand of nationalism is likely to be tenuous. Those whom efforts are made to isolate are the said people and institutions needed for a country’s growth and development. France’s election in some ways mirrored the United States (U.S.) in terms of competing philosophies of the leading candidates and allegations of outside interference in the news and hacking of emails and websites. Reportedly, Macron’s email was hacked and the hacked data was mixed with fake news. Watchers of global politics given the likely reverberating impact a country’s decision can have around the world, could not miss Le Pen’s courtship and identification with Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. World leaders and the global markets were also vested. Former U.S. president Barack Obama made a not-so-subtle pitch for a candidate in the election’s first round. At the announcement of Macron’s victory, the Euro currency improved. In the arena of real politics, elected leaders are likely to work together or delicately navigate the contours, as event
GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 8, 2017
[sic] with President Trump, who was among the first to send out a conciliatory and congratulatory tweet. The EU Commission’s President Jean-Claude Juncker not only congratulated Macron on the commission’s behalf, but also made known that “For my part, I rejoice in the idea for a strong and progressive Europe that you have defended.” In apparent recognition of the local and international landscapes and what’s at stake in both arenas, Macron’s victory speech acknowledged both sides of the divide. He made known his awareness of why the people chose to vote for the “extreme party” and promised to address “the fears and doubts expressed.” According to him, “It is [his] responsibility to take on those concerns and guarantee our unity and responsibility for our country. From tomorrow we will modernise politics, recognise pluralism, revitalise democracy. This will be my first mission, respecting everyone.” The Netherlands’ election in March, where incumbent Prime Minister Mark Rutte won, was seen as an indicator that the tide was moving against the new “wave of populism” sweeping Europe and North America. The next election viewed as having similar importance and consequence is that of Germany, to be held in June, which will determine the fate of incumbent progressive Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Guyana Times editorials hypocritical Some questions for Harry Gill Dear Editor, GUYANA Times carried back- to-back editorials on Wednesday, 3rd May, 2017 and Thursday 4th May, 2017, on the issue of press freedom in Guyana. The editorials were clearly intended to throw smoke over focus on on-going probes into corruption charges against former officials of the previous government and to throw mud on the new government and, by implication, Guyana. This is not unexpected, since Guyana Times functions as the propaganda mouthpiece of the then regime, now the opposition. Most persons who read the Guyana Times would conclude that it is a PPP rag. I wish to respond to some of the unfounded and mischievous claims being re-
peated and peddled by the Guyana Times under the pretext of quoting a “reporter.” 1. “Officials often use its defamation laws to silence opposition journalists” The defamation Act has been in Guyana’s Statute books for the entire duration of the PPP’s rule. It was never amended or repealed. Guyana Times must say when and against which “opposition journalist” was this law used over the past two years, since the APNU+AFC Coalition took office. 2. “The members of the media regulatory authority are appointed directly by the President” Guyana Times knows that the Broadcasting Act was crafted and approved by the PPP Government. The power to appoint the board remains the same that was
used by Former President Jagdeo, the close friend of the newspapers’ proprietor. Former President Jagdeo abused these laws and granted licences for television and radio to his party and business cronies and relatives. Under the new government, no one has been denied licences, at least not yet. Mr. Editor, I know that Guyana Times will not publish this letter, as it is bent on publishing and repeating lies and misinformation. Much of the false news or fake news has been answered repeatedly by officials of the Government, but Guyana Times is determined to abuse the very freedom of the press that it hypocritically pretends to defend. Regards Earl Hamilton
Dear Editor, PLEASE allow me to reply to an article in the letters column in the Sunday Kaieteur News dated May 7, 2017, under the caption, “This Regional Councillor was dismissed from Gov’t services and charged.” MP Gill seems to be very upset after I said in an article that was published in the newspapers that he was chosen as an MP from the left-over votes. It is the truth Harry Gill, the scraped-up votes are what got you into Parliament. If that is not the truth, then I am willing to publicly apologise to you. Mr. Gill seems to be so upset that he did not deal with the contents of my letter which were important, but went on to lash out and
attack me personally. Well, Mr. Gill, I am not surprised because I know that people like you do not want to hear the truth and moreover, you know that I am a threat to the PPP by speaking out and representing the people no matter their race or political affiliations. I will now ask you a few questions: why is it that if Guyana is so economically bad, you still came back here to live? What are the contributions you have made to develop Region Five? Why you had to run from the country you so love to come here? Why is it that you do not visit communities in Region Five to listen to the residents? Why is it that you are always against development? Mr. Gill, we all know that you do what you like
best and that is why you were chosen as an MP with the leftover votes above many others who struggled for your party. I would like to educate this MP that Ms. Wade was chosen as the APNU+AFC Regional Representative in Parliament because in this region the coalition won only one seat in Parliament. MP Wade is making us proud as our regional representative, because she does not take false news to anyone and she visits all villages in the region, not some. Regards Abel Seetaram APNU+AFC Regional Councillor Region Five
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 8, 2017
Abel Seetaram has no credibility to judge me or anyone else
Dear Editor,
WHEN credibility is not part of one’s DNA, no one takes that person seriously. And anyone with an ounce of brain or self-respect would know it is not wise to draw attention to oneself. In a letter published in the Guyana Chronicle (May 6, 2017), the discredited AFC mouthpiece Abel Seetaram wrote, “MP Gill not fit enough to talk about Region Five.” This is funny coming from him. This is the dilemma that the AFC activist Abel Seetaram faces every time he voices his opinion publicly. In May last year, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo terminated Seetaram’s services as his Regional Representative for Region Five after he crashed an expensive government SUV into a fence on the Bath Public Road in Berbice. This occurred soon after leaving a wedding house where he had been seen drinking heavily. He was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital, and was later charged and fined $30,000 with an alternative of 32 days in jail for dangerous driving; $25,000 or 21 days in jail for being an unlicensed driver; and $15,000 or 21 days in jail for breach of insurance. And had he not pretended to be asleep
when the police visited his bedside at the hospital to take a breathalyzer test, he may have been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Recently, it was reported that he, along with his sidekick Carol Joseph, were taken into police custody to answer charges of fraudulently taking millions of dollars from the Mahaicony Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS). It is also alleged that he may have illegally used part of MARDS’ money to repair the badly damaged government vehicle and fence into which he had crashed. If this is true, both Joseph and Seetaram should soon be facing criminal charges. Abel Seetaram has no credibility to judge me or anyone else. In Matthew 7:5, the Holy Bible cautions people like Abel Seetaram, “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” While it is true that I have lived many years of my life overseas, I returned to Guyana at great sacrifice to my personal income and away from my children, to give back something to the land of my birth, and hopefully make a meaningful contribution by doing so. I am grateful to Dr.
Bharrat Jagdeo and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic for giving me this opportunity. Whatever “benefits” Seetaram believes I now receive as a Member of Parliament, is insignificant to what I had enjoyed in the United States for over 23 years. In an effort to discredit me as a Member of the National Assembly, Abel Seetaram said I was chosen as an MP from the “leftover” and “scrape up” votes.” Ironically, his name was on the APNU+AFC List of Candidates that contested the 2015 election, and the coalition selected Jennifer Wade to represent Region Five, and rejected him. Even the “left-over” and “scrape up” votes could not get him into Parliament. Doesn’t that send a message? I am proud of the impeccable character I have built over the years. I have never been accused of misappropriating monies from sports clubs across Region Five, nor have I ever been arrested for fraud. And no one can ever accuse me of being drunk and making a fool of myself in public. I doubt Abel Seetaram can say the same about himself with a straight face. Sadly, I must decline Abel Seetaram’s challenge to walk with him in Region Five. He is a despicable person,
A big thank you to the Rose Hall Sports Club Dear Editor, IT is with feelings of appreciation and gratitude that I write to highlight the support given by the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club MS to other developing clubs. Editor, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS, recently held its Annual Awards Ceremony and was given a cash grant from His Excellency The President to facilitate this venture, a tidy sum by any means. However, instead of using all of this money for the
benefit of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS, the management headed by Mr Hilbert Foster in his wisdom sought to use some of this money to assist other developing clubs amongst which was the Bush Lot Rising Stars Cricket Club. It is therefore with gratitude that we the members and executive of the Bush Lot Rising Stars Cricket Club take this opportunity to say a BIG THANK YOU to Mr Hilbert Foster and the members of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS. We pray
that you continue to enjoy continued SUCCESS and hope that one day we could also emulate your successes and be able to assist other clubs in our area . It is also our fervent wish that other clubs follow your example and provide assistance to so many needy clubs and help them grow. Once again, thank you – Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club MS. Regards Robby Saywack President Bush Lot Rising Stars Cricket Club
trying desperately to gain some form of recognition as a somebody. I will not help
his cause by being seen in his company.
Regards HARRY GILL, MP (PPP/C)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday May 8, 2017
Mining issues, ‘soap opera’ nurses, bribes –– Broomes commits to addressing complaints of Number 8 Village residents By Ariana Gordon
NUMBER 8 Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) residents on Sunday highlighted a plethora of problems affecting the advancement of their community to Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes. Minister Broomes visited the community as part of a Government outreach to hear from the people some of the issues affecting them. At a meeting held at the Number 8 Secondary School, residents complained about what they believe to be interference in the process of them obtaining lands to mine. According to Kester Wade, president of the Berbice Mining Syndicate, which has 200 members, the residents who hail from several villages, formed themselves into syndicates with the hope of being able to work. Wade explained that the body has submitted application for land to mine at Parish Peak, Upper Berbice and is awaiting the processing, but has information which suggests that a former Chief-ofStaff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and others associated with a forestry company are attempting to prevent the group from getting access to the land, which is deemed mineral-rich. “Minister, two persons are attempting to block it [permission to mine],” said Wade, who noted that the matter is one of “bread and butter.” He argued that those in the syndicate have mining experience and about 20 have dredges and are ready to work, once the location is approved by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission’s (GGMC) Land Management Committee. In April, the National Mining Syndicate, a body
representing the interests of all syndicates, responded to the Ministry of Natural Resources claim that the Parish Peak area located in the Upper Berbice area is restricted for mining. In a statement to the media, the National Mining Syndicate said the body was informed by Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, that there are environmental and forest certification considerations that have to be assessed before any decision can be made about accessing the area for mining purposes. “The minister informed that in the interim, the area will remain off-limits,” the statement issued by the ministry stated. However, the National Mining Syndicate said there are over 90 active mining properties operating in the Parish Peak area, and moreover, the GGMC has full oversight of these operations. “We find it disheartening to say the least that the Ministry of Natural Resources would in one breath say to the public that the area is ‘off-limits’ knowing fully well that mining continues to occur in the area. The past five years (perhaps longer), has seen active and unrestricted mining in the Parish Peak area,” the statement said.
persons to prevent 1000 persons from living? I think the Government should look at this very seriously. Any person or two persons that have means and are preventing persons that can hardly survive and don’t even have a job… something is really wrong.” Meanwhile, Leon McKenzie, a miner for many years explained his plight. He told a room of about 30 residents that his dredge has been parked for a number of years, because he cannot get land to work. McKenzie noted that he has lost nearly $10M as a result of his inability to work his dredge. “…The President has to see his people have bread and butter,” the frustrated man stated. In response, Minister Broomes, who was a miner all her life, committed to en-
chickens reach six weeks they are dying. “…Minister every time you buy the chicken they are dying… I complained to Bounty Farm, I carry back the chicken at six weeks because they are not growing but they said nah them business,” said Deenisahack. He called for veterinarians to work round-the-clock, as persons with animals must be able to access care for their animals when in need. He explained that on many occasions when his animals are sick, he would contact the veterinarians only to be told that they are not working. “This vet, don’t work weekend. I have 40-50 sheep and I called them on weekends and they say they aren’t working. When they finally arrive the animal died—they say Government nah pay them Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, speaking to residents at the outreach on Sunday (Kawise Wishart photos)
STRUGGLING Meanwhile, Wade was backed up by his Vice-President Lloyd Moore, who made it clear that there must be equity in the system. He posited that those who have formed themselves into the syndicates are struggling and are doing everything to ensure that they are successful to obtain land to work. “How could two persons… if the allegations are true… could you allow two
quiring about the situation, but noted that she is aware that the Berbice Syndicate has applied for land located in an area which has high interest.
Poultry farmer Mohamed Deenisahack makes a point on Sunday during the Government outreach at Number 8 Village, WCB
GOOD LIFE FOR ALL “I am a minister of Government for all Guyanese, I don’t care which religion, or creed. The good life is for all. I don’t know about the two-men army. I will find out, but I was informed that the area the Berbice people applied for is an area of high interest,” Broomes stated. Additionally, Mohamed Deenisahack known as “Tall Boy,” a poultry and cattle farmer, expressed frustration at the fact that he is purchasing chicken from Bounty Farm and Fung-A-Fat’s Hatchery, but by the time the
President of the Berbice Mining Syndicate, Kester Wade, makes a point during the outreach held at Number 8 Village, WCB to work on weekends.” Meanwhile, another sore issue for residents is what appears to be the disregard for property by schoolchildren. Cleaners of the Number 8 Secondary School complained of being forced to perform chores outside of their contracts and with limited resources. According to one cleaner who identified herself as Marsha, cleaners are not given enough detergent to properly sanitise the premises. NOT ENOUGH “Whenever we ask her [head teacher] for bleach and soap powder…she says the ministry hasn’t given her supplies and the half bottle of bleach and harpic to clean the entire school
got to do.” The woman said she and another cleaner are forced to lift a huge and heavy garbage bin to dispose of the garbage, resulting in both of them being injured. Another cleaner complained of exposed wires in and around the school compound and the constant destruction of furniture and washroom facilities there. “We have an issue throughout the region, where the students are deliberately breaking the lights off… breaking the pipes etc. almost every day we are getting emergency calls about the schools. “We are hoping that some aspect as it relates to the PTA, work with parents and children, to better care facilities and infrastructure,” said Deputy Regional Education Officer Singh, who noted that the regional engineer will be addressing the issue of exposed wires. SOAP OPERAS Meanwhile, a rural sergeant of the Rosignol-De Edward area called on Government to look into the operations of that community’s health centre, where he alleged that nurses stop working at 14:30hrs to watch Indian soap operas. He also alleged that law-enforcement officers of the Rosignol-De Edward Village oftentime encourage him to take bribes from wrong-
doers. “When you carry the people there, they suggest you take bribe...,” said the sergeant, who committed to penning all of his complaints to Minister Broomes. Other issues raised by the residents include the increase in rent for land and the charge for drainage and irrigation, the lack of telephone lines in the community and limited opportunity for youths. Minister Broomes committed to ensuring that all concerns raised at the meeting would be addressed by the relevant ministries. She said her Government is committed to ensuring that all citizens benefit from ‘the good life’. According to the minister, Government is continually assessing itself to ensure it fulfils all promises made to citizens. She said community involvement is critical and noted that her Government is “serious about business… we have an opportunity now to make a difference”. “What we have inherited here as a Government is not a walk in the park,” she said, as she told farmers that while she understands the hardship they are facing, there are many persons who are evading the tax system, which presents a problem. We have to take responsibility ourselves, if we are serious about moving Guyana forward and leaving a legacy for our children.”
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GHRA commends Natural Resources Ministry –– for prompt action against pollution of the Puruni River
THE Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) has commended the Natural Resources Ministry for its prompt action in issuing five cease and desist orders against owners of gold-mining dredges on the Puruni River. The GHRA, which in a statement had raised concerns about pollution of the river, also said it is encouraging that the Ministry has promised similar actions against others in the coming weeks. The accompanying announcement that a ‘multi-dimensional solution to a complex problem’ will be developed in the coming weeks opens up opportunities
for development of a more sustained response to protecting the life of Guyana’s major river systems, the human rights body said. But it noted that while mining is the most urgent danger posed to fresh water resources in Guyana, it is not the only source of concern in a country whose future has been defined by water since its inception. “Aquifers–the underground source of water for coastal communities – are also shrinking and need to be supplemented. The scale of the response must match the scale of the problem. Rather than the object of respect, the
prevailing Guyanese attitude to nature is that it is something to possess, dominate and cast aside when no longer useful. Other societies have manifest much more imagination and purposefulness, their starting-point being to recognise nature as a living being in need of legal protection similar to the respect afforded to human life.” Evidence of other approaches include New Zealand, which in 2012 declared the Whanganui River to be a legal entity, “having the status of a legal person with all corresponding rights, duties and liabilities”. The Whanganui Agreement aims to ensure that all
stakeholders and the river community as a whole are actively engaged in developing the long-term future of the river and ensuring its wellbeing. Two years later an Indian court appointed three officials to act as legal custodians responsible for conserving and protecting the Ganges and Yamuna rivers and their tributaries. Much earlier in 1972,the famous US Justice William O. Douglas argued for the conferral of standing upon natural entities so that legitimate legal claims could be made for their preservation. “The river”, Douglas wrote, “is the living symbol of all the life it sustains or
Ambassador Nylander concludes second visit to Guyana AMBASSADOR Dag Nylander, the personal representative appointed by Secretary- General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres in the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela has paid his second visit to Guyana. Mr Guterres was here during May 5-6. Ambassador Nylander met with a team headed by Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, which included officials and
advisers of the Ministry and representative of the Opposition Leader, Gail Teixeira. The discussions focused on the mandate of Ambassador Nylander in this final year of the “good offices” process authorised by the Secretary-General of the United Nations with a “strengthened mandate of mediation.” The secretary-general had outlined in his decision that “if by the end of 2017, the secretary-general concludes that significant
progress has not been made toward arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy, he will choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement,” unless Guyana and Venezuela “jointly request that he refrain from doing so.” Guyana has committed its full support to giving this final year of the “good offices” process the best opportunity of success, a release from the Ministry of the Presidency said.
Ambassador Dag Nylander
Wanted man chopped to death in Uitvlugt THE police are investigating the murder of a known felon who was wanted by the law in connection with several robberies. Dead is Clinton Walks, known as “Bongo,” 36, of Lot 3 Bus Shed Street, Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara. Police say that the man was found with what looked like multiple chop wounds to his back, left ear and abdomen around
07:00hrs on Sunday on the Uitvlugt Access Road. Walks, who was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in 2015 for Break and Enter and Larceny, was wanted in relation to several reports of similar offences, as well as for Simple Larceny committed in Uitvlugt, the police stated. The body is currently at the Ezekiel’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem. Residents in the area
say he had had many brushes with the law, and may have met his end because he had broken into one property too many. “The man was a pest,” one resident said. His father, Mr George Hunt, said he would not swear for his son, since he lived in the same yard by himself in a separate building. But he was “a hustler”, the elder Hunt said of his late son, adding that
although he lived alone and had regular brushes with the law, he was a father of three. Other relatives said that “Bongo” was a law onto himself, and did not have a close relationship with family. His sister, Julia Hall, is of the belief that her brother was attacked and killed at another location before being dumped in the street where he lived.
nourishes—the fish, aquatic insects, water ouzels, otter, fisher, deer, elk, bear, and all other animals, including man, who are dependent on it or who enjoy it for its sight, its sound, or its life. The river as plaintiff speaks for the ecological unit of life that is part of it.” Bolivia is currently embroiled in a widespread water shortage due to the disappearance of glaciers, which attest to the wisdom of formulating in 2012 the Law on the Rights of Mother Earth which includes the right to water. “Guyanese society has been too complacent in failing to appreciate that our proudest boast, name-
ly, of being the ‘Land of Many Waters’ is in danger of becoming a historical footnote. The transformational energies required to address this situation need to take many forms,” the GHRA said. The human rights body noted that in addition to the initiative announced by the Ministry of Natural Resources, referred to earlier, it is encouraging more purposeful climate action in Guyana. The proposed constitutional reform process, the GHRA said,provides an opportunity for a stronger and more explicit constitutional protection for non-human and bio-diverse forms of life.
Lindener killed in boat accident A 36-year-old man from Linden was killed in a boat accident in the Mazaruni River in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni district on Saturday. The dead man has been identified as Orson Gishard of Wismar, Linden. Three persons survived the ordeal. Commander of ‘F’ Division Ravindradat Budhram, told the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday that the accident occurred about 18:30hrs on Saturday in the vicinity of the Kaburi rapids in the Mazaruni River. The reports indicate that the boat, carrying four persons, capsized while negotiating the rocks in the Kaburi rapids. It is suspected that Gishard drowned during Dead: Orson Gishard the ordeal. The three other persons who were in the boat however swam to safety. According to the Commander of ‘F’ Division, Gishard’s body was retrieved late Saturday night. On his Facebook Page, Gishard’s family and friends expressed disbelief and sadness at his passing, while reflecting on the good times shared with him. One of his cousins wrote: “My Orson, what can I say cousin other than I love you. You are always the one in difficult times that brings peace & joy back to the forefront. The voice of reason in every situation, never judging, never failing to be a source of strength. You are my vault, the person who answers the phone at 2am & listens to all the crazy [things] then inspires beyond belief when one would think there’s no hope.”
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Endeavours of the Agency
YOU may have seen the advertisement on television where two women are walking in the avenue discussing whether one of them should get involved and report her neighbour to the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) for mistreating her children. Or you might have heard a couple of radio ads. One where adults are urged to look out for the tell-tale signs of child abuse and another where parents are advised to think about changing their ‘parenting skills.’ All these and other public awareness materials are being produced by the CPA, Ministry of Social Protection, as part of its public awareness campaign. The aim is to sensitize the public about child-related issues and child
abuse. The overall objective is to change the way the general public treats and views (children and) child abuse, which usually is without much concern or interest: And to help them understand the seriousness of abuse and the plight of the children who suffer as a result. Without help these children may become dysfunctional adults with various life-long issues. They may end up abusing their own child or even conspiring with others in the abuse of their child,thereby continuing a vicious cycle. We, as a nation, need to help children heal and deal with the effects of abuse. Our ultimate goal must be to prevent child abuse all together. In order to spur the public into action or even have them
work alongside the CPA , it is imperative that the public are educated and made aware of the facts. This newspaper article ‘4 minutes 4 change’ is yet another strategy being used to put across the correct information to the masses. It takes only 4 minutes to read this article (or thereabout) and we hope to initiate some positive change in our readers, through the information we share. Positive change is also the main focus behind the CPA’s training sessions currently being held in different parts of Guyana. In these sessions, parents can learn skills to help them improve their parenting capacity. With the correct information, education and guidance, parents can feel confident enough to try new methods of parenting.
The programmes are tailored to suit the different communities in Guyana. Part of the session addresses the issue of beating. It is widely accepted that parents beat children to initiate better behaviour or to correct them. But when we take a closer look at beating, it can be seen as a cultural practice that is usually inherited. If parents ‘acquired the knowledge’ of how to promote better behaviour in children and if they were able to use ‘effective communication skills,’ these two factors could bring about positive results in parenting, without having to inflict physical pain and anguish on a child. To find out whether there will be a training session in your area contact the CPA. For children who may
have experienced various aspects of abuse and/or who may have behavioural patterns that put them at risk, there are sessions such as the ‘Teen pregnancy prevention and empowerment programme’. These sessions are run weekly and in keeping with the agency’s mandate, provides counselling, while teaching life skills for teen clients who have been brought to the attention of the CPA through direct child abuse, ‘intake’ or referral. Together with the Director of the CPA, child protection officers work ardently to build the capacity of the agency through the work that they do on a daily basis. It is not an easy job: it is the kind of work that always needs a supportive, helping hand, from the media, from celeb-
rities, and from the ordinary ‘man in the street’ like you. So please join with us to build awareness and to spread the word about the hardships of those children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned. Look around you, think about it, and then answer this question: What can you do to help? By reading this article and learning about some of the work we do at the CPA and why, you have already made a start. Thank you. You can ring the CPA on 227 4082 and if you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or email chilcaregy@gmail.com A message from the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ministry of Social Protection
Going green –– independent company to power Bartica
By Svetlana Marshall AN independent company will power Bartica using green energy as the David Granger Administration forges ahead with its plan to make Bartica the first ‘Green Town’ in Guyana. Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams made the disclosure on Sunday, during a grand celebration in Bartica to mark its first anniversary as a town. “The Government has already moved to ensure the execution of the Green Plan. For instance, plans are already in motion for this town to have an independent company to produce electricity using renewable energy, as we are looking to move away from our dependence on fossil fuel,” Minister Williams said to a cheering crowd. The announcement comes at a time when the Guy-
ana Power and Light (GPL) has been battling to keep the lights on in Bartica. The power plant, situated on First Avenue, Bartica, in the heart of the commercial zone, has been a sore issue, not only because of its inability to supply the more than 14,000 residents with reliable electricity, but due to the fact that it is a constant source of pollution. The new project, which will see the town being powered by renewable energy, will be executed under the Public Infrastructure Ministry. Last year, the Government, through the Public Infrastructure Ministry, had signalled its intention to establish a solar farm in Bartica under a build-own-andtransfer (BOOT) structure, to supply 1.5MWs of power to GPL’s Bartica Grid, under a negotiated and agreed power-purchase agreement. “Additionally, through
the Office of Climate Change, Bartica was able to secure finance for renewable energy to power the Three Miles Secondary School as well as street lights,” Minister Williams added. COMMITMENT
He noted that President David Granger’s charge in June 2015 to make Bartica the first green town was in keeping with the Government’s commitment to sustainable development by transitioning to a green economy. According to the Unit-
ed Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), a green economy is “one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. It is low- carbon, resource-efficient and socially
inclusive.” This definition, the Attorney General emphasised, encompasses all that the Government will do to improve the lives of all citizens by transitioning to a green economy. “As Guyana transitions
A section of the gathering to mark Bartica’s first anniversary as a town
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AG appeals High Court ruling
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–– compelling him to appoint governing board of Deeds and Commercial Registries
ATTORNEY General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs,Basil Williams SC,has filed a notice of appeal against the High Court judgement by Justice Nareshwar Harnanan on April 19,which compelled him to appoint the governing board of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority. The AG is also calling on the Court of Appeal to set aside wholly Justice Harnanan’s ruling and that the Applicant/ Respondent, former AG Anil Nandall be ordered to pay costs. Nandlall in an application before the High Court called for Williams to be compelled to appoint the Board Members. He argued that Section 5(1) of the Act establishes a Governing Board of the Authority to ensure its proper and efficient performance and submitted that the failure to appoint the board represents an omission to perform duties imposed by the Act and can be seen as misfeasance in public office and abuse of power. Additionally, the former AG said that the non-appointment of the new board meant that meetings could not be held for over a year and that affected his ability to serve his clients effectively. However, the Attorney General in his defence said the High Court Judge erred and misdirected himself in law when he refused to attach weight to the fact that the Minister of Legal Affairs was “proactive in seeking to have a more efficacious board by seeking to strengthen and widen it, by the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority (Amendment) Bill No. 3 of 2017” which is awaiting passage in the House today. In his Notice of Appeal, Williams said the judge also erred when he “refused to attach any weight to the fact that it was Cabinet’s decision to take the proposed amendment of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Act to the National Assembly.” He submitted that the judge failed to consider that under the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Act,there were adequate provisions for the functioning of the Authority in the “temporary absence of the board including the Minister of Legal Affairs taking action to protect the assets of the State”. He argued that the judge did not take into consideration, despite the presence of a board, that there was a failure to unearth the fraudulent acts that were discovered and which occurred under the board’s watch by the Legal Affairs Minister, after they left office.
“The Learned Judge,Nareshwar Harnanan erred and misdirected himself in law when he failed to consider that the respondent/applicant had failed to make full disclosure and had concealed from Justice Brassington Reynolds the fact that proposals affecting the composition of the board were contained in the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority (Amendment) Bill No. of 2017.” COMMIT ILLEGALITY Additionally, the AG argued that both judges “committed a specific illegality when by their rulings they purported to dictate to the Minister of Legal Affairs, Cabinet and the Government of Guyana their own timelines to constitute the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Board in contravention of the doctrine of Separation of Powers”. Moreover, Williams contends that Harnanan by his failure to apply the overriding objective of the new Civil Procedure Rules to deal with cases justly and not exercise his discretion injudiciously,acted illegally. He also accused the judge of failing to apply the new Civil Procedures Rules to deal with cases justly so as to “effect a quick passage of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority (Amendment) Bill 2017 through the National Assembly. He submitted too that Justice Harnanan did not take into consideration that upon the expiration of the board in June 2016, two months were lost for the parliamentary recess August to October 2016, the reduced sittings because of the one-seat majority and the Christmas Season, to effectively make it about eight months since the board expired and not a year as contended by Nandlall. “The Learned Judge,Nareshwar Harnanan committed a specific illegality when he failed to exercise judicial restraint despite having knowledge that amendments to the board were engaging the attention of the legislative arm of the State, in breach of the doctrine of separation of powers.” As such, Williams contends that Justice Reynolds erred and misdirected himself in law when he granted the Order Nisi of Mandamus on March 8 and Justice Harnanan erred in law when he ruled that the Order be made absolute. That order compelled Williams to appoint members of the Governing Board of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority. Meanwhile, Williams sub-
mitted that the learned judges ought to have considered that the expired board was the inaugural board of the Authority and that reconstituting it would involve a question of re-appointment under Section 6 (1) of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Act. “The learned judges erred and misdirected themselves in law when they failed to consider that the re-appointment of members of the board
was in the discretion of the Minister of Legal Affairs and not mandatory,” the AG submitted. Additionally, he contends that Justice Reynolds did not consider that Nandlall had the burden of proving that the failure to appoint or re-appoint the board was as a result of his dithering dilatoriness or deliberate omission before granting the Order Nisi of Mandamus. “The learned judges both
erred and misdirected themselves in law when they failed to consider it is not mandated that the minister of legal affairs appoint the ministerial members of the board,” the appeal added. The appeal is filed by the AG on behalf of the governing board and chairman of the Deeds and Commercial Registries, the Registrar of Deeds, and the Registrar of the Commercial Registry.
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams
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Two charged with murder of schoolboy THE two suspects in custody in relation to the murder of Brian Charles Yearwood, 16, of Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara, have been formally charged with murder and are scheduled to appear before a magistrate today. This was confirmed yesterday by Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan. On Friday,the police were granted permission to keep the two suspects in custody. It is alleged that one of the suspects, a 17-year-old believed to be a school dropout, is the one who dealt Yearwood the fatal stab in the region of the heart during a school concert on April 29, 2017. The other suspect is reportDEAD: Brian edly a 20-year-old. Charles Yearwood The police have since recovered a knife, which they believe is the murder weapon. Yearwood, after being stabbed, was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, but it was too late as he was pronounced dead on arrival. His distraught mother, Beverly Yearwood, told this newspaper that it was only last September that her son, who previously had attended Central High, was transferred to the Covent Garden Secondary. The mother of five said she is puzzled as to what could have caused the older teen to react the way he did, as her son was not known to be a trouble-maker. She had never received a bad report about him, she said; he was independent, hardworking and even helped around the house without having to be told, and without any fuss.
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towards renewable, clean and cheaper sources of energy, it is the Government’s vision for Bartica to be at the helm of this transition,” he posited, while pointing out that the Green Bartica Development Plan was unveiled last year in keeping with that vision.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN “It is a comprehensive plan that will not only ensure economic growth in Bartica, but also contribute to the development of our country,” he explained. To ensure the success of the Green Bartica Development Plan to be successful, there must be effective disposal of solid waste in an environmentally friendly manner, and according to the Attorney General, the Bartica Mayor and Town Council has made significant strides in this area. “It is heartening to see the attention that has been given to effective solid waste management and on environmental protection awareness. Previously, residents had to contend with a poor solid waste management system, but the Mayor and Council’s rehabilitation of the Byderabo Dumpsite has no doubt brought residents relief,”
Minister Williams said. Additionally, he said the Town Council’s focus on developing green building standards is commendable, as this is needed to ensure that while development is taking place, the health of residents and the environment are not adversely affected. “High praise must also be given to the Greening and Beautification Project, which includes the rehabilitation of the Band Stands and the Green Recreational Park. You must be applauded because in such a short time, this town has risen to the occasion and has achieved much. Your efforts must be emulated by other towns and I urge you to keep up the momentum,” he said to loud rounds of applause. In offering his commendation, the attorney general encouraged the municipality to keep working as a team to execute the vision of transforming Bartica into a green town. The Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall; the Deputy Mayor Kamal Persaud and Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford were among the officials at the grand celebration which had hundreds of residents in attendance.
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PS McGarrell accused of disrespect –– regional councillors say lone engineer transferred without consultation
By Vanessa Braithwaite REGION 10 Regional Democratic Councillors on Thursday moved a motion calling for an urgent meeting with Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan and another to stop his Permanent Secretary Emil McGarrell from transferring the RDC’s lone engineer to Region One. They also called for the immediate return of the four staff members who were sent on administrative leave in January 2016. The motions were moved by Councillor Charles Sampson and Councillor Denise Belgrave and were unanimously accepted by every other councillor. Regional Chairman Renis Morian, reading a letter penned by McGarrell to the engineer, and copied to the REOs of Regions One and 10, Leslie Wilburg and Gavin Clarke respectively, revealed that the engineer would be transferred and that all arrangements are in place for a smooth transition. This letter seemingly angered the Council since almost all of the councillors including Morian say no consultation was done with the Council before making such a decision.
Morian said it is the Council that oversees the works and development in the region, and as such, a decision should not have been made without its input.
Region10 Chairman Renis Morian “The PS took on the role of the Chairman and councillor and took on the role of the minister to write the staff member to move him without any input from the Council… this man eyes pass this region and this must be the limit of the works of PS McGarrell on Region 10, this is disrespect, I have no confidence in PS McGarrell’s interest in the development of Region 10,”
Morian said amid cheers from the councillors. This sentiment was echoed by Councillor Charles Sampson who also described McGarrell’s missive as disrespectful. “In the middle of trying to get our work programme running, they want to transfer the main engineer in the region… without even consulting with the person, without even consulting with the regional administration and showing total disrespect to the Council to sabotage the work programme of the RDC,” Sampson said. The councillors are also upset that the four staff who were sent on administrative leave to facilitate investigations into alleged misappropriation of funds since January 2016, continue to be off the job, while the administration suffers from understaffing. UNDER PRESSURE Since the workers were not fired, the region cannot recruit replacements. The councillors revealed that the REO is under severe pressure, since he has to administer the region and perform duties as an engineer. REO Clarke said in a verbal discussion with McGarrell, he made it definitively
clear that as a result of the limited staff, the engineer cannot be transferred. “You cannot remove the engineer from Region 10. I
Permanent Secretary Emil McGarrell list all the reasons and that was a verbal discussion. It wasn’t anything in writing, it was just him saying to me that the engineers are expected to be rotated and I was telling him what is my position on that,” the REO related. He also gave an update on the fraud investigation. “The case was placed before a Disciplinary Committee appointed by PSC (Public
Service Commission) and that was three weeks ago and they would have had a hearing for those individuals and that committee was to make a recommendation to the PSC for their action, so there is where we at. I haven’t gotten a report from them as to what recommendations [were] made to the PSC, so here we are stuck.” Councillor Sampson who moved the motion, said that he supports the immediate return of the employees to work, since it is a grave injustice to have anyone suspended for so long. Efforts to contact McGarrell for a comment proved futile. The Council is also calling for an urgent meeting with Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan to hold serious discussions with the Regional Democratic Council, the Mayor and Town Council and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils in Region 10, in an effort to bring solutions to burning issues. ROTATION In an invited comment on Thursday, McGarrell said the Ministry of Communities would from time to time rotate various staff
members, including REOs and DREOs for efficiency and for strengthening their experiences. The decision to rotate the engineer, he said, was taken at the level of the ministry. “The Council may not have understood the thinking behind it and of course the Council is in its right to express its displeasure as any other Council would do,” McGarrell said. When it was put to him that the engineer is the lone one in the region, the permanent secretary responded: “What you need to do is to get the REO to pronounce on that specifically right, what is his component of his engineers in the region and you would find that that is not exactly the case.” He said he appreciates the Council speaking out on what they do not agree with as that is what the ministry is advocating: for Councils to voice its concerns as a means of exercising true democracy. He also urged the RDC to look into other developmental works such as making a decision on the regional flags and emblems and holding consultations with residents, as well as the execution of its work programme.
Morucans call for better health services By Vanessa Braithwaite
RESIDENTS of Moruca, Region One, say limited medical services available at the Kumaka District Hospital is forcing them to visit the Suddie Hospital in Region Two or the Georgetown Public Hospital to get medical attention. And the travel they say is costly. In the Barima-Waini sub-region of Region One, Moruca has been described as a community with limited
economic activities and while most of the residents depend on farming, fishing and hunting to earn their daily bread, their pittances have to be used to access basic services such as x- rays, ultra sound, optometry, some laboratory services and surgeries at the Suddie Hospital. Resident Tricia Rodrigues told the Guyana Chronicle that while these services are available at the Mabaruma Hospital, they are more expensive. She said the cost for
one person to travel to Region Two is on average $20, 000, including transportation, meals and accommodation, but excludes the instances where payment is required for medical services. “If you want to do an x-ray we have to go till to Charity and you have to find your own transportation for eye services, on average, if your child fall or you get injure and you go to the Kumaka Hospital, they would tell you, you have to go to
Residents in the market area of Kumaka, Region One
Suddie for an x-ray. It is farther to go to Mabaruma and more expensive. Four hours to reach to Mabaruma, ultra sound is another thing. They only come like once or twice a year to do ultra sound at the hospital,” Rodrigues said. Rodrigues, who was representing the other residents at the time, is calling for the hospital to become more serviceable to them, especially the pensioners who are advanced in age and really cannot afford it, as well as pregnant mothers. “The pregnant mothers have to be out at Suddie for two- three- four weeks at Suddie because they don’t have the services here,” Manu, another resident said. The residents are claiming that these complaints were raised on several occasions at public fora, but they are still waiting for the situation to change. “When they have meetings or when they come, we would bring it to their attention and they would promise and they in time and time
would go and time would pass…,” Rodrigues said. Meanwhile, Regional Executive Officer of Region One, Leslie Wilburg, said residents should remain optimistic that things will change in the sub-region, not only in the health sector, but with public and social facilities and services. He revealed that currently the x-ray department at the Kumaka Hospital is under construction. “We are completing the x-ray department here in the Kumaka District Hospital, we have just refurbished the transmission lines so that they can have electricity service there,” the REO said. The REO also outlined various projects that have been completed in 2017 and are slated for completion in 2018. These include construction of access roads, schools, doctors’ and teachers’ quarters, and community electrification, among other things. “They can look forward to improved facilities, the water system has been up-
Tricia Rodrigues graded, electricity will be handled, we are having a programme that cleans the river regularly, we are trying to improve the education facilities, same thing with health,” he said, adding: “We have just completed half a mile of bituminous road and then we are completing the x-ray department here in the Kumaka District Hospital; we have just refurbished the transmission lines, so that they can have electricity service there.”
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Colours/Guinness Greatest of the Streets…
Dave and Celina’s sweep Linden title By Stephan Sookram
IT was a blowout final as Dave and Celina’s all-star clobbered Swag Entertainment 5-0 to take the Linden title of the Colours/ Guinness Greatest of the Streets Football Sub-meet on Saturday evening. From the get go, the eventual champions looked the fiercer side, adopting a mixture of build-up and quick break plays to control the play for most of the evening on end.
It would be Kenard Simon however who would open the scoring in the 6th minute before Keon Sears added the second just two minutes later. By half-time, the Allstars were coasting and firmly in control of the match, with their ‘Swag’ opponents chasing the game. However, on the restart, there were several close chances for the Swag side to open their account and level up the game, none of which however
were able to materialise. The only time the ball found the back of the nets was when the All-stars put it there. Kennard Simon would again score on the return (25th and 26th) minutes to complete his hat-trick before slotting in his fourth goal and the team’s fifth of the evening to ensure that there were no doubts about the winners. For their win, Dave and Celina’s All-Stars pocketed $400,000 with second placed
Swag Entertainment taking home $200,000 In the third place play off, Jermaine and Family Silver Bullets were too much for the team 25 to handle, winning 2-0. Robin Adams (10th) and Jermaine Samuels (35th) ensured that the side finished third for the $100,000 prize with the Team 25 getting $50,000 dollars. The four teams will now move onto the National tournament set for later this year.
Police also had the female distance medley, the 4x200m mixed, and the male and female sprint medley relay wins. The men’s sprint medley in particular had the packed crowd thrilled as Police dug deep and climbed from third to emerge victorious. Tyrell Peters gave SUR a power start that made them seem almost certain for the win of that 1500m medley relay, but Police still had a card up their sleeve. It was Quacy Mo-
rian on the final 800m leg that really pulled the team through, as he closed in on SUR’s Ronaldo Thomas almost 50m lead, and took him down by the first 300m in. Another 300m and Thomas was almost at risk of even losing the second place finish as UG’s Salim Yussuf challenged him on the turn. But Yussuf had nothing left in him to fight with on the final straight, leaving the second place for SUR, and seeing UG finishing in third place.
Police rule at Boyce and Jefford Relay Festival Police ‘B’ ending with third place. The SUR women team of Tiffauna Garnett, Alicia Vanderhyden, Cassie Tixie and Cassie Small finished in third place. Running out of lane three, Police’A’started off with Kezia Bess handing over to Tandika Eastman, who blazed ahead of the pack on the straight.Coming around the turn the team de-
pended on Shauncel Adams to sustain the lead and she did not let them down. With Alita Moore on the final straight the team had no problem closing off with a gapping win ahead of SUR. Cassie Small ended for SUR, while the team also had Tiffauna Garnett, Alicia Vanderhyden, and Cassie Tixie. The Police ‘B’ team started off with Cindy Fraser, while Tasnica Lovell ended, and Tandika Burgess and Shauncel Adams completed the team.
South Africa Racing Tips Flamingo Park 08:25 hrs Grozny 08:50 hrs Red Special 09:20 hrs Downtown Danza 09:50 hrs Favour’s Pride 10:20 hrs Zaragoza English Racing Tips Stratford 08:50 hrs Zipple Back 09:20 hrs Lady Longshot 09:50 hrs Yorkist 10:20 hrs Free Stone Hill 10:50 hrs Code Of Law 11:20 hrs Anythingmayhappen 11:50 hrs Fled Or Pled Ayr 09:00 hrs Collingham Park
09:30 hrs Longroom 10:00 hrs Little Cupcake 10:30 hrs Arnold 11:00 hrs Jonny Delta 11:30 hrs Inaam 12:00 hrs Jabbaar Southwell 09:10 hrs Warfare 09:40 hrs Mark Of Approval 10:10 hrs Pealer 10:40 hrs Monsieur Jimmy 11:10 hrs Cryptonite 11:40 hrs Serenity Now 12:10 hrs Red Flute Irish Racing Tips Roscommon 11:55 hrs Act Of Valour 12:30 hrs Heat Of The Day 13:00 hrs Choclat Noir
13:30 hrs Chapter Seven 14:00 hrs Torrent Des Mottes 14:30 hrs Holeinthewall Bar 15:00 hrs Rock On The Moor 15:30 hyrs At Rainbow’s End American Racing Tips Parx Racing Race 1 Louie Lunchbox Race 2 Indian Song Race 3 Celebritry Star Race 4 Sweets Galore Race 5 Chippewawhitechief Race 6 Rockin Cowboy Race 7 Irish Colonel Race 8 Bennie Y Benny
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 8, 2017
Rampant Narine inspires KKR triumph SUNIL Narine equalled the record for the fastest half-century in the Indian Premier League as Kolkata Knight Riders romped to a record-breaking six-wicket win over rock-bottom Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday. The West Indies lefthander – not previously noted for his run-scoring prowess – shone after international team-mate Chris Gayle had flopped, racing to 50 off just 15 deliveries to mirror the feat of KKR colleague Yusuf Pathan against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014. In stark contrast, Gayle was out first ball in RCB’s total of 158-6, which the visitors – who climb to second – surpassed with 29 balls to spare, reaching numerous milestones along the way in Bengaluru.
Sunil Narine hit three consecutive sixes off Samuel Badree’s legspin.
Gayle’s dismissal set the tone for an underwhelming innings from the hosts, who were dragged to a modest score courtesy of excellent contributions from Mandeep Singh (52) and Travis Head (75). Umesh Yadav’s 3-36 included the scalps of Gayle and skipper Virat Kohli, while Narine had already made his mark in the manner he is more accustomed to by taking two wickets. The real fireworks started once KKR went out to bat, with Narine suddenly looking every inch an opener, albeit against a bowling attack that lacked cohesion. By the time Narine was dismissed with the first ball of the seventh over, he had bludgeoned six fours and four maximums to account for 54 of his side’s 106 runs, ably
assisted by Chris Lynn (50). Along the way KKR tallied the highest powerplay score in IPL history, while also becoming the quickest to reach the 50 and 100 marks. Of the RCB bowlers, Sreenath Aravind endured the greatest humiliation, conceding 26 runs off his solitary over. Reflecting on his mantle as the unlikely dual holder of a batting record, Narine said: “I’m surprised too. “Lynn just said keep your eyes on the ball, keep focused and swing at it. I try to keep it simple. “I’ll hopefully get used to the expectations, but it really was a team effort. Umesh’s wickets early especially were key and I’m thankful for it.”(Sportsmax)
Another Amla tond in vain as Kings XI suffer damaging defeat Kings XI Punjab once again failed to take advantage of a Hashim Amla century as their hopes of making the Indian Premier League play-offs were dented by a six-wicket defeat to Gujarat Lions in Mohali. Amla struck 104 not out from 60 balls against Mumbai Indians on April 20, only to see his team beaten. The South Africa batsman matched that score on Sunday before falling in the final over as the Kings XI posted a healthy total of 189-3. Yet Punjab could not capitalise on Amla’s superb performance, a dismal showing in the field enabling Gujarat to make it home with two balls to spare. Smith was dropped twice on his way to 74 from 39 balls for the Lions, while there was also a let-off for skipper Suresh Raina (39) before Dinesh Karthik (31 not out) completed a successful chase in the company of Ravindra Jadeja. The Kings XI therefore remain three points outside the play-offs, with one game in hand on fourth-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Hashim Amla struck his second century of the season.
Amla could hardly have done more as he progressed serenely to his second hundred of the competition with the aid of eight fours and five maximums. After Martin Guptill had fallen to Pradeep Sangwan in the first over, Amla put on 125 for the second wicket with Shaun Marsh (58) and continued to prosper after the Australian departed. A flat six over cover in the final over took Amla to three figures, but he did not emerge for Gujarat’s chase after being hit on the toe by the next delivery from
Basil Thampi, which trapped him lbw. Smith gave the Lions a flying start in reply, taking advantage of reprieves on 42 and 51 as he dominated an opening stand of 91 with Ishan Kishan (29). By the time Smith eventually fell to Glenn Maxwell, the Lions were in control and more sloppy fielding ultimately proved costly for the Kings XI despite Sandeep Sharma picking up two wickets in an economical 18th over. (Omnisport).
Root , Bairstow star as England beat Ireland JOE Root starred as England sealed a series whitewash over Ireland in their two-match one-day international contest courtesy of an 85-run win at Lord’s. Root scored 73 in a partnership of 140 with Eoin Morgan (76) before Jonny Bairstow’s rapid 72 propelled England to 328-6 at
the home of cricket. Paul Stirling struck 48 but Root’s 3-52 swung the game the home side’s way. Will Porterfield (82) gave Ireland a glimmer of hope but his dismissal spelt the end and they were all out for 241. Root’s Yorkshire teammate Liam Plunkett helped
clean up the tail and ended up with figures of 3-21. H o w e v e r, i t w a s a much-improved display from the tourists after Friday’s seven-wicket defeat in Bristol in front of a healthy away following and one they can use as further proof of their suitability for Test status.(BBC Sport)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 8, 2017
India confirm Champions Trophy participation ... squad to be selected today
By Sudipto Ganguly NEW DELHI,(Reuters)-India confirmed their participation in next month’s Champions Trophy in England and Wales on Sunday after initially delaying the announcement of their squad over a revenue sharing disagreement with cricket’s governing body. The dispute intensified when India failed to submit a squad for the one-day international tournament by an April 25 deadline after its cricket board (BCCI) was unable to stall a new income model being adopted by the International Cricket Council (ICC). “The Board unanimously authorised the acting honorary secretary of the BCCI to con-
tinue negotiations with the ICC in the best interest of the BCCI while keeping its legal options open,” the BCCI said after a special general meeting. “The BCCI... unanimously decided that the Indian cricket team will participate in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. “The all-India senior selection meeting will be held today, May 8, in New Delhi to pick the team.” At last month’s ICC meetings, the BCCI was outvoted 13-1 in its bid to halt the revised deal which considerably slashes India’s share from global events in the 2015-23 cycle. Unimpressed by the $293 million forecast, down from the $570 million it would
have received under a 2014 arrangement, the BCCI responded by refusing to name a squad for the June 1-18 eight-team competition. Acting BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary will now continue to negotiate with the world governing body to get a bigger share of ICC revenues during the next eight-year cycle. “The ICC welcomes the unanimous decision from the BCCI special general meeting this morning to confirm the participation of defending champions India in next month’s Champions Trophy,” the ICC said in a statement to Reuters. “The hundreds of millions of cricket fans around the world just want to see
India cricketers will participate in next month’s Champions Trophy tournament in England.
good cricket and now we can all look forward to a superb event in England and Wales starting on 1 June.” The option to boycott the event by revoking the Mem-
bers Participation Agreement (MPA) between the ICC and the BCCI had been gaining traction within the board prior to Sunday’s meeting despite a number of former players
opposing any withdrawal. The four Supreme Court-appointed administrators (COA), who currently supervise BCCI operations, however, instructed the board to ensure the team continued their preparations to defend their title. The COA stepped in to try and end the dispute with the panel also meeting BCCI members on Saturday to remind them that a confrontational approach would not be in the board’s interests. “We wanted them to take a middle ground and strive for a negotiated outcome with the ICC,” a COA source told Reuters. “We are glad that we have achieved that and the team will play in the Champions Trophy.” The top eight sides in the world rankings compete in the Champions Trophy with India winning the last edition in 2013.
Slick Arsenal end United’s long unbeaten run
By Neil Robinson
LONDON,(Reuters)-Arsenal scored twice in three minutes through a deflected Granit Xhaka strike and Danny Welbeck’s header to claim a deserved 2-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday and inflict a first Premier League defeat on the visitors in 26 games. The victory at the Emirates Stadium keeps sixthplaced Arsenal’s hopes of a top-four finish alive, but they are six points adrift of Manchester City, who currently occupy the final Champions League qualifying slot, albeit with a game in hand. The win also takes Arsenal within two points of fifth-placed United, who stay
four points behind City having played the same number of games as their local rivals. “Hopefully this result will give us confidence,” said manof-the-match Aaron Ramsey. “I said a couple of weeks ago we had to win every match and unfortunately we didn’t do that against Tottenham (in a 2-0 loss last weekend). But we will see.” For all of United manager Jose Mourinho’s prematch bluster about fielding a weakened team, his only concession to youth in eight changes from his midweek Europa League team was 19-year-old defender Axel Tuanzebe, who made his Premier League debut. Everything else was familiar, with United under orders
to produce the sort of bodies behind the ball performance that makes them so hard to beat. However frustrating the tactics, there is no doubting their effectiveness and the first half finished with Arsenal having spurned a series of chances and the Emirates again jittery. Twice United defenders had denied Welbeck on the six-yard area while darting runs from the ever impressive Ramsey almost saw him get on the end of pinpoint balls from Aaron Sanchez. United also had their chances before the break, with Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech saving from Anthony Martial. But after a battling firsthalf display, the visitors were
Maradona appointed head coach of UAE’s Al-Fujairah
(REUTERS)-Former Argentina captain Diego Maradona has ended a fiveyear absence from football to return as coach of Al-Fujairah FC, the United Arab Emirates club announced on Sunday. “I want to tell you that I am the new coach of Al-Fujairah SC, in the second division of the United Arab Emirates,” Maradona added on his Facebook page. The club posted a picture of the former Boca Juniors, Napoli and Barcelona striker holding their red and white shirt with his name and No. 10 on the back. It marks a return to management after a fiveyear gap for the 56-yearold Argentina great, who
Former Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona
as a player led his country to a 1986 World Cup title and runners-up spot four years later. player led his country to a 1986 World Cup title and
runners-up spot four years later. Maradona, who took charge of Argentina in 2008 and led them to the World Cup two years later, last managed at another UAE club, Al Wasl in May 2011 but was sacked just over a year later. He was named a FIFA ambassador in February by the world governing body’s president Gianni Infantino. The news of his return to management came on the day that Jorge Cyterszpiler, Maradona’s first agent and friend for many years, died in Buenos Aires after a fall, Argentine news media reported.
undone after the interval with Xhaka’s 25-metre shot looping up off Ander Herrera to catch out United keeper David De Gea after 54 minutes and then Welbeck adding a second against his former side with a header from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross. There was no way back for United and, for once in a
troubled season, the Arsenal fans could relax and forget the will he-won’t he concerns about whether manager Arsene Wenger will renew his contract. The win could not have been better timed and was Wenger’s first over Jose Mourinho in a league game. For United, the only realistic route to Champions
League qualification now lies in winning the Europa League in which they host Spaniards Celta Vigo at Old Trafford in the semi-finals on Thursday holding a 1-0 win from the first leg. “Yes is all on the Europa league,” said Mourinho, “but you cannot say we did not try to win.”
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 8, 2017
Clubs bemoan GFF/FIFA’s decision to disregard ruling - to seek legal advice By Rawle Toney THE Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) stated that the Sanjeev Datadin-chaired disciplinary committee acted outside of its constitutional remit in adjudicating on the matter involving the federation and four of its Elite League clubs. National champions Slingerz FC along with their usual rivals Alpha United, as well as the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) and Pele football club, refused to participate in the second edition of the STAG Elite League, calling it (the league) illegitimate since they felt that the GFF unconstitutionally added two more teams (Topp XX and Victoria Kings). A call was made by the aforementioned clubs for arbitration, stating that instead of a back and forth between them and the GFF, good sense should have prevailed,especially for Slingerz FC and Alpha United, who were named as the clubs representing Guyana at the CFU club champion-
National champions Slingerz FC
ship,which was a qualifier for the CONCACAF Champions League. The Disciplinary Committee noted that “it follows therefore that for the Executive Committee to sanction the Complainants for non-participation could not be a code or
rule violation. Their objection was on principle; a principle which we have found to be with legal foundation. “The Executive Committee was not entitled to punish an Elite Member for non-participation in a Tournament which they had ex-
ceeded their legal authority to convene” the Disciplinary Committee said in its letter to the GFF and above mentioned clubs. “Last year, the Executive Committee of the Guyana Football Federation took the historic and progressive de-
cision to expand the Elite League from eight to ten Clubs by adding two Clubs that are legitimate holders of Elite Club Licence. The Executive Committee’s decision is in full compliance with the powers conferred by the GFF Constitution according to article 36:21”Forde said. The GFF president said that the “rationale for doing so was obvious, timely and widely supported;we had a responsibility to get more players and regions of Guyana involved in the top level of football as a matter of urgency in order to accelerate the development of a sport which had been held back for too long.” The Disciplinary Committee, Forde noted, despite lacking the Constitutional authority, seized itself to adjudicate in this matter after the clubs had lodged a complaint. On April 14th 2017, it ruled against the Executive Committee of the GFF. Forde pointed out that the Executive Committee wishes to reiterate that the Disciplinary Committee had no Constitutional remit to deal with this matter. This position
was confirmed by FIFA in its correspondence to the president of the GFF, dated May 3rd, 2017. Additionally, the Executive is of the firm conviction that the process engaged by the Disciplinary Committee was thoroughly flawed. While the GFF president said the Federation’s Disciplinary Committee’s decision was illegitimate, FIFA’s Statutes states that the “function of the disciplinary committee shall be governed by the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The disciplinary Committee may pronounce the sanctions described in FIFA statutes and the FIFA Disciplinary Code on member associations, clubs, officials, players intermediates and licensed match agents. Meanwhile,when contacted,officials from the clubs stated that collectively, legal advice is being sought before responding to the GFF and FIFA’s latest decision. It is expected that the GFF’s May 27 Congress will be heated, with the Elite League matters expected to be a high-point of discussion among the 22 members.
Sammy not bothered by non-selection Guyana Girls Academy set for July NEW DELHI, India, (CMC) – Darren Sammy said he still cares about the game in the Caribbean, but he loses little sleep about a recall to the West Indies team. The former West Indies captain said he had little regret about publicly chiding the West Indies Cricket Board after winning last year’s Twenty20 World Cup final against England, which was the final time he played for the regional side. “It is sad that my last international was the World T20 final,” Sammy told the Press Trust of India news agency. “I am still available for selection in limited overs cricket, but I am not going to cry over non-selection. “I am still out there playing in the different leagues around the world, if selected I am available. But I am not crying over spilt milk.” The 33-year-old Sammy had modest returns in an international career for West Indies during which he played 38 Tests, 126 One-day and 66 Twenty20 Internationals between 2004 and last year. He was however, widely praised for his passionate leadership which inspired the
team to win the T20 World Cup twice (2012 and last year) and perform creditably in the other two formats of the game, even rising to fifth in the Test rankings. But his outburst following the T20 World Cup final last year was dimly viewed by regional administrators and he subsequently lost the leadership of the T20 side to World Cup hero Carlos Brathwaite. “What I said on the podium after winning the final, I said it from my heart,” said Sammy.
Kings XI Punjab all-rounder Darren Sammy
“I said what I had to. I expected things to happen. But I don’t lose sleep over it anymore. “God has blessed me tremendously. He is my selector. So I am not worried about what is going to happen. I still do care about West Indies cricket, but if I am not selected, I am not going to sulk over it.” Sammy is in India to as part of the Kings XI Punjab team playing in the Indian Premier League T20 tournament. It’s the latest of the T20 gigs of which he has been a part, as he continues to play the game around the world. He arrived for the tournament late following recovery at home in St. Lucia from an injury he sustained in the Hong Kong T20 league in March. “I am just waiting for my opportunity,” he said. “Obviously, the coaching staff is trying to get the right combination. I also came in late from injury, so I am just waiting for my chance.” Kings XI Punjab are currently fifth in the standings and were playing on Sunday, hoping to win and enhance their chances of making the playoffs of the tournament.
FIFTY young aspiring female footballers are set to benefit from a football training programme, the Guyana Girls Academy (GGA), a new football program created by Guyanese-American coach Colin Wilson. T h e G GA i n a u g u ra l camp will take place from July 25th – July 28th in Georgetown, from 09:30hrs to 17:00hrs each day. The four-day camp is for girls’ ages 7 to 11 years old. According to Wilson, the idea behind the programme is to create a football academy that develops, trains, and educate girls to compete at a collegiate, professional, and international level, as well as to ignite a strong women’s football culture that will continuously fuel the Guyana Women’s National Team programme. The camp will show young girls the technical, tactical, physical, and mental aspects of the game. Each partici-
pant will receive a camp uniform. Parents are encouraged to register this month to reserve their place at the camp. The GGA is working with the support and collaboration of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC). Wilson played competitive football for ten years. He has been involved in coaching for nine years and was a certified referee for five years. He currently holds a United States Soccer Federation National C Coaching
License and a United States Soccer Federation National Youth License. Wilson also holds a National Soccer Coaches of Association of America Advanced National Diploma and Level 2 Goalkeeper Diploma. Otis James, one of the coordinators here, is urging parents to register their children. He said the programme is a first and it would be a great opportunity for the young females. Persons interested in getting their children involve could contact James on 668-2014.
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday May 08, 2017)
COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Dennis Atkinson (2) Mustaq Mohammed Today’s Quiz: (1) How many players have now represented the WI in Tests? (2) How many players have now represented Pakistan in Tests? ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, May 8, 2017
Ming’s dominance continues in Monterrey By Stephan Sookram OVERSEAS-based Guyanese,Calvin Ming showcased a brilliant display of racecraft to pick up back-to-back podium spots when the formula 4 NACAM Championship rolled into Monterrey, Mexico. Ming and his teammate Manuel Sulaiman were both quick in the practice sessions on Friday and Saturday morning, with Calvin setting the fastest times. However, on the last lap of Saturday’s practice session, Ming’s car developed an electrical problem causing the engine to shut down. He was unable to drive in the qualifying session, since the technicians had to replace
Calvin Ming collects his first place trophy in Monterrey, Mexico.
the entire wire loom and some solenoids which took several hours, and was only completed just before the start of race #1.
Speaking exclusively to Chronicle Sport, Ming said, “All in all, it was a good weekend. We showed we had
the pace and we were able to pick up podium spots which is always what we are looking for. Big thanks to the RAM
racing team.” Starting at the back of the pack due to not qualifying,he proceeded to charge through the field and by about midway through the 21st lap he took over the lead. He ultimately finished seven seconds ahead of his teammate Manuel around the 3.2 km ‘Autodromo de Monterrey’ circuit in the 30-minute affair. He returned to be the quickest on Sunday morning before the 50% inverted grid meant that he had to start fifth by virtue of finishing the earlier race in first. Ming carried Saturday’s momentum into Sunday by getting off to a good start and moving up to P2 by the end of the first lap. He encountered some difficulty with gear
changing, but managed to hold on to finish the race in P2. Race-three was determined by the second fastest qualifying time and having not qualified, Ming again had to start at the back of the pack. Immediately after the race started the gear selection issue became a major problem causing him to return to the paddock at the end of lap #2. However, it could not be rectified, so the technician manually put it into fifth gear and sent him back out so that he could complete the race and pick up valuable points toward his championship, which he lead heading into the round. Ming returns to Miami tomorrow, before heading out on Wednesday to Indianapolis for the next round of the USF2000 series.
Three GFF executive members to participate in 67th FIFA Congress
GFF president Wayne Forde
THREE members of the Executive Committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will participate in the 67th FIFA Congress scheduled for Thursday, 11th May 2017 at the Bahrain International Exhibi-
tion & Convention Centre. The team members are Wayne Forde, president of the GFF; Brigadier (ret.) Bruce Lovell, first vice- president and Carmel Williams, executive committee member. Ms. Williams is also
First vice-president Brigadier (ret’d) Bruce Lovell
an Executive Committee Member of the Bartica Football Association (BFA). GFF president Wayne Forde, in an invited comment, said that among the key agenda items are reporting on development projects and amendments to
the FIFA Disciplinary Code. "The FIFA Development Department will be reporting on the status of many of the development projects which they have. The GFF National Training Centre is one such project
GFF/BFA executive member Ms. Carmel Williams
even though it will not be reported on. It is scheduled to go before the Development Committee at the end of May. "Meanwhile, this is the first time the BFA will be participating in the FIFA Congress and Ms. Williams
has expressed her pleasure with this move: "I feel honored to be selected to participate in the FIFA Congress and I hope I can do the football fraternity, including my Association, well."
No changes to Windies squad for decisive third Test ROSEAU, Dominica, (CMC) – West Indies selectors have kept faith with the same squad of 13 for the decisive third and final Test of the current series against Pakistan, starting on Wednesday at Windsor Park here. Buoyed by the side’s stunning 107-run victory in the second Test which ended last Thursday at Kensington Oval in Barbados, the selection panel will choose from the same group of players that have served throughout the threeTest series which is currently level at 1-1. Courtney Browne and his fellow selectors will how-
ever, face some key decisions ahead of the crucial match which West Indies will be aiming to win to claim their first Test series victory in four years and over a side ranked higher for the first time in eight years. They will have to decide if to offer a reprieve to the inexperienced, left-handed Guyanese middle-order duo of Shimron Hetmyer and Vishaul Singh, instead of going for greater stability in the more experienced Jermaine Blackwood. Though they have promised much, Hetmyer has had scores of 11, 20, 1 and 22, and
From left: Alzarri Joseph, Devendra Bishoo, Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder celebrate victory in the second Test in Barbados. (WICB Media)
Singh 9, 9, 3 and 32, hardly reassuring figures, but they have given brief glimpses
of what they may be able to accomplish given more opportunities.
The 25-year-old Blackwood has played 22 Tests, gathering 1,128 runs at an average of 31.33, not overpowering stats, but in a side light on experience, he could offer a bit more of a competitive edge. The selectors will also have to consider if the current bowling combination will be effective enough, especially if the Windsor Park pitch is typically unyielding. Though they bowled the team to victory in Bridgetown, skipper Jason Holder, Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph and Devendra Bishoo would crave a little more help from Miguel Cummins, particularly if the
local ground-staff fails again to cooperate. This too, may impact on the batting of the side meaning leaving out one of the batsmen to play five bowlers and asking Holder to shoulder more responsibility with the willow. SQUAD: Jason Holder (captain), D e v e n d r a B i s h o o , J e rmaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kieran Powell, Vishaul Singh.
Ming’s dominance continues in Monterrey See page 23
Colours/Guinness Greatest of the Streets…
One of the five goals scored during the finals which Dave and Celina’s All-star won 5-0 (Stephan Sookram photo)
Dave and Celina’s sweep Linden title See Page 19
Champions! Dave and Celina’s All-star collect their trophy from the Banks DIH and Guinness executives.
Police rule at Boyce and Jefford Relay Festival
Police’s Tiffany Carto maintains the lead during the women’s 800m sprint medley, as SUR’s Cassie Small tries to put up a fight in second place (Samuel Maughn photo) By Tamica Garnett AN impressive 4x100m anchored by Police’s Davin Fraser closed off the day’s activities as the Guyana Police Force (GPF) athletics club teams ran away with most of the spoils at the Boyce and Jefford Relay Festival and Fam-
ily Fun Day at the Police Sports Club Ground, yesterday. On a day loaded with excitement, however, it was Walter Grant- Stuart’s win in the men’s 5000m cycle race that really got the crowd animated as they unanimously backed the one-handed cyclist.
Differently-abled cyclist Walter Grant- Stuart gunning in the lead of the men’s 5000m race at yesterday’s Boyce and Jefford Relay Festival (Samuel Maughn photo) The differently-abled athlete started out with a 200m head start over his competiters, and that was more than what he needed as he maintained the lead throughout the race. As he gained momentum and began lapping a number of his opponents the crowd became even
more enthusiastic to see him succeed and many rose to their feet as they cheered him on, breaking out in resounding applause after he rode down his final lap and took the win. In the men’s 4x100m, Kevin Abbensettes,who ran the second leg, ran the race of his life as he established
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Police in the lead, taking over after a sharp start from Stephon Boodie. On the third leg, Linton Mentis simply needed to preserve that lead, paving the way for Davin Fraser to bring home an easy win. The second place went to Super Upcoming Runners (SUR) ‘A’ team, and
the Mercury Fast Laners (MFL) boys took the third place. The preceding women’s 4x100m was just another opportunity for Police to dominate, with Police ‘A’ team taking first place, and
Turn to page 20 MONDAY, MAY 8, 2017